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A HISTORY OF PRESBYTEMAI^ISM
IN NEW ENGLAND.

ITS INTRODUCTION, GROWTH, DECAY, REVIVAL
AND PRESENT MISSION.

! I

Alexander Blaikie, D.D.,

FOR THIRTY-THREE YEARS PASTOR OF THE (u.) FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BOSTON.
AUTHOR OP "the philosophy OF SECTARIANISM," ETC., ETC.

"T/iy saints talte pleasure in her st07ies,
Her very dust to them is clear. ^^

T-wo 'voiiTJiMiES xisr onsTE.

BOSTON :

PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR BY ALEXANDER MOORE,

No. 3 School Street.

1881.

Prloet2.00. Sold by subsoription. SentbymaU.

0"4- <o 5 - Nn/. I'd /^O

ALEXANDER BLAIKIE,
3X31 North i6th St.. Philadelphia.

FERQUSON BROS. li CO.,

PRINTERS AND CLEOTROTYPERS,

PHILADELPHIA.

IDctricatioit.

TO PRESBYTERIANS IN NEW ENGLAND.

Respected Fiiiends : — Our " Form of sound words," embracing doc-
trine, worsiiip, government and discij)line, is not ephemeral. As a more
exact embodiment of revealed trutli, than is found elsewhere among humaa
productions, it will be perpetuated.

Both Prelacy and Congregationalism borrow our axle to keep their
wheels in motion.

They could not usefully exist without at least some consultative, if not
judicial representation.

As we see, in the case of the seven churches in Lesser Asia, the influ-
ence of revealed truth is not always equable and enduring. It performs
its mission successfully, in proportion to the faithfulness of its professors.

Let us therefore be " valiant for the truth in the earthy" and be "judged
faithful to the Lord " — " followers of them who through faith and patience
inherit the promises."

This work is written, that, you may know something of the doctrine,
faitli fulness, endurance and success or otherwise, of Presbyterians in former
generations here— under the overshadowing influence of a different church
polity — sustained by the civil power.

It is " written for the generation to come : and the people which shall be

created shall praise the Lord."

(8)

■'A
i

PEEFACE.

TiiRO'U'N by Divine Providence among Presbyterians, who
were ''strangers in a strange land," and subsequently called to
reclaim (if practicable) the church estate entailed for their
denominational use in the New England metropolis, the equity
of title to which was once enjoyed by our pastor, church and
congregation, by our Presbytery and Synod "of tlie bounds;"
but, perverted tirst, by schism, and then by furtive and hasty
local legislation, impairing tlie obligations of a contract, in vio-
lation of the Constitution of the Unitt-d States, it became ne-
cessary for the writer to examine existing records of church
courts.

This duty and privilege opened to him a new field of study
and observation, of which, in common with others, he had
known but a little.

As the records were extensively lost, a knowledge of the prin-
ciples, privations, sectarian oppression, and toils, of his denom-
inational predecessors were floating into oblivion, and wliile the
name survived, those who then wore it were extensively suc-
cumbing before a different species of ecclesiastical }H)lity.

From these and similar facts, on consideration, he thought,
that a contribution, not yet written, miglit be made to the his-
tory of a portion of the church militant, tliat in an historic form,
it might " strengthen the things that remain and are ready to
die," while the workings of Divine Providence towards and
with our people, may afford a melancholy interest to those
whose hearts still '' tremble for the ark of God."

In attempting to do this, his ditticulty was much increased, by
the changes, wiiich have been (and are' being) rung, on and un-
der the specific name, Presbyterian, in two hundred years. In
the Council at Edinburgh in a.d. 1877, no less than forty-nine
divisions were found to take shelter under the general name.
Hence some type of it must be selected, as an api)roximation to
a standard, and finding, that, that one which British Pres-
byterians have ever brought to America, is more extensively
authorized by divine revelation than any other, the writer as-
sumes it, (excepting, the chapters, circa sacra), as the criterion

(5)

PREFACE.

of comparison and tho moat sciiptural oxistinpf Imman " fom
of sound words."

This (tlie Westminster (.'onfessioii of Failli and Catefldsms,
tlrawii up by K'xlly men undersolenni vnwi, prcscnt-s tliat ''form
of doctrine wliieli is according' to yndljiu ss"' (with tlie ahov(?
exeejitions). with almost tlieentii('a('cnrai'>of the exact sciences,
Avhile it stands out in contrast with the iiKxh'rn ideas, that, "" tho
manner in which Congret^ationalism took its rise in New Knjf-
land renders it sutliciently divine," and thai these two systems
of clmrcii polity are all l)nt tiie same. " Merely a <]uestion of
ciinrch government, where no substantial [)iiiicipl() of religion
is involved" (Hon. W. Willis).

The manly utterance of the editor of "tl-.e ('i>)>fnr(i(itinval!xf^^
of I)e(;ember, 1880. is'' wort liv of a 11 accept at ion : ""'such talk as
that Conffregjitionalism and Presbyterian ism ar<' l)ut twins, only
to be separately identilied liy blue and red riblions, is exceed-
ingly superficial and unworthy tlie diunily of serious and candiil
minds." In honor to the truth, he dist in:.juishes thinijs that
d'ffer, he has a full right to his own opinions, is able to express
them, and in so far as this work maybe in o]»i)osition to liis
views, it is trusted that he will have only honorable eom])e-
tition, while the writer endeavors to shew the " more excellent
Avay."

The task undertaken is one of vast diflfioidty. If it were sim-
ply to write the history of Presbyterianism iii any other part of
the Union, so far as fa(;ts could be presented that might be
easily done.

Take Virginia for example. In it also Presbyterians were
ostracized by (uvil law.

" In 1642alaw was passed forbiddinganyotherthan an Episco-
pal ministerto othciate in thecolony." The restraininginllnences
of tlie civil ])ower were for generations fell . (Joiisequently, says
the Itev. Dr. Miller, when the Rev. Messrs. Tennant and Find-
ley were sent for, in 1745, to ])reacli to a com])auy of sii;ners, who
l)ad been awakened by reading tlie liible and practical religious
books, they must obtain license of tlie governor, before' they
could, to them, "jn-each Christ." Tliere also, the governor
could, only with great dilhculty, ])revail on the com-t not to re-
voke the license wliicli lu^ had granted to the eminent Kev.
Samuel Davies, and send him out of the colony, and there also,
the venerable Rev. John RogiMS, 1). 1)., who died so recently as
1811, was forbidden to ])reacli, "under jjcnalty of i;oOO, and a
year's imprisonment, without bail, or main prize.'' Prelacy,
however, did not "take its rise in Virginia," and while in its
three divisions there, it has lil'ty perc -nt. of tln^ chnrches. yet,
all the different forms of religion found in that State, are alike,
under the eye of the civil law, abreast of each other, and Pres-
byterians are not badgered by the dominant sect, while if any
new ones appear, they are almost wholly, if not altogether
imported.

PREFACE.

By tracinpc records and from other sotirces of information a
liistory of Prcshytcrinnism in that State could without much
dilliculty Ik* iircsmtcd. tor tlie population are not religiously
"driven to chanijfe-."' wliile (exceptiuij amonjj the some lio,UOO,-
000, iu Kii;flau(l and Wales, there are oiu' hundred and thirty-
three sects), we have ainouj; the 4,100.4118 peojile in New Euli-
liind, tiie most sliiftinti (piicksands of relijjious opinion in doc-
trine and worshij) to he found in Christendom,

Conjir(%'ationaiism, spiiut,'in<,' up within the Northern Virgi-
nia i)iautatious as a colonial reliixion, had from its infancy an
ex'clusive theociacy. " He (tlie Rev. Jolin Cotton) found tht^
wiiole country in a perplexed and divided state as to th^'ir civil
constitution, and was lecpiested. from the laws wherewitli (t(uI
governed his ancient peo])li', to form an nhstrdct of such as wero
of moral and lastinjz eqwify, which he did acceptably and judi-
ci(uisly. Hut ina.^mui II as an Athfuinn Demovrfdii was in tho
mould of tiie (ioveruuuut hy tlie KoyalCharter, whicii was then
acted upon, Mr. (Jotton effectually recommended it unto them,
that none should !)(» electors, nor elected therein, except such as
were visilile subjects of our Lord Jesus Christ, ])ersonally con-
federated in onr churches. In these and many other ways, he
propounded unto them an endeavor after a theocracy, as near
as mi}j:lit be to that of Israel."

(Mather, Miif,'., vol. 1, pp. 265, 6.)

It was tiieuceforth, widle the charter was in force, "the
sword of the Lord and of Gideon." When, in after fjenerations,
this was partially set aside, by " half way covenants " aiul other
customs, from her ecclesiastical ord(U', there sjirang forth not a
few sects, which by division and combination are still being
multii)lied.

These, when combined by the tie of species, to Presbyterian-
ism and Ei)iscopacy, present a very formidable opposition,
whicli extensively compels them, in New England, at least, to
conform to her usages, customs, logic, and vocabulary.

Hence, their "church order," being ''sutliciently divine by
the maimer in which it took its rise in New England," has so
far permeated Presbyterianisrn itself, as to subsist at times im-
der its shadow and to increasingly revolutionize all that was
formerly reliable : iu)t only by its spurious effects upon govern-
ment, but extensively in doctrine and especially in the matter
and manner of praise in divine worship.

Here tlien, beyond i)aucity of material, a limited field and
local hostility, while the writer cannot harmonize with the
largest portion of the Presbyterian family in the United States,
who, from the standpoint of their own ecclesiastical constitution
for the first fifty years of their l)istory (the Westminster Stand-
ards), especially in tlu^ matter and manner of divine praise in
religious worship, have become not a little Congregationalized —
his task is still much more difficult. Sir, by " thus saying thou
reproachest us also. " (Luke xi. 45.)

PREFACE.

This offencplm would dosiroaacrodlyto avoid, did truth pormlt.
*' It is im|)()ssibh', but that olToiicrs will come " (Luke xvii. 1),
and while" woe is unto him throuKh whom they come" yet, by
presenting those symbols of Uw eonunon I'lcsbyterian I'iiith,
which have stood the test ot tune lor cenluiies, jind n(»tinf? (h'-
partures from them as they hav(! arisen, the diversity of secta-
rian divisions domiciled by the elasticity of conscience in our
iijT*', under the Jiame can be thus more iutelligently arranged
and correctly value<l. Heside this, here we especially see, Llie
vast disadvantajje under vvhich Presbyterians are placed in New
England, while they with their nioial worth, industry and zeal
support that civil fjovernnient vvhich is snii[)osed to i)rotect them
iu the enjoyment of liberty and tlie i)ursnit of happiness.

Again, in order that the reader may be aided in ascertaining
what Congregationalism is and in discovering tlu; utter irrecon-
cilability of the two species, it and Presbyterian ism, the author
liere presents from the pens of their own writers, mider the
fornu'r i)()lity, 'first, the ''covenant," which isthecorner-stono of
their ulliliated superstructure, the germ, the mother one of their
existence.

The first church Boston " was gathered August 27th, 1030,
vuider the following Covenant : " In the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and iu obedience to his holy will and divine ordinance,—
We, whose names are hereunder written, being by his most
wise and good providence brought together into this part of
America, in the Bay of Massachusetts; and desirous to unite
ourselves into one congregation or church under the Lord Jesu3
Christ, our Head, in such sort as becometh all those whom
he hath redeemed aud sanctified unto himself, do hereby solemnly
and religiously (as in his most holy i>resence) promise and bind
ourselves to walk in all our ways, according to the rule of the
gospel, and in all sincere conformity to his holy ordiiuinces, and
m mutual love aud respect to each other, so near as God shall
give us grace."

This " Covenant " remains unchanged, although the church
is now Unitarian, as is also the first church of their order, that
of Salem, Mass. (Dr. 11. Ellis.)

Secondly. The following clear statement is given 235 years
after " Congregationalism took its rise in New England," and
to it the writer trusts, no exceptions v/ill be taken, as tue sys-
tem is, he believes, here in theory fairly i)resented. It is from
the '' Ev. 7Vac,," of April 23d, 18(i4, which says :

" A writer in the liecorder of this week thus defines Congrega-
tionalism :

" The indei)endent churches of this country who adhered to
the faith aud worship of the Puritans, were early driven l)y their
isolation to congregate together for mutual encouragement and
counsel. This necessity originated Congregationalism, or at
least first gave it currency. If it is not an American term it
came into general use first in this country, and to this day is
but little used among our English brethren.

PREFACE.

•' Its tlioory is that the local diuroli i^arts with nnno of its rijjlits
to .s('lt'-()rj?ani/iiti«)ii and scll'-^jovcniiiiciit l)y cons*'!!!,!!!^ to tho
usajjje of set'iviii^ ii(lvi(U' i'lom in iu,lilH>i in;; (•huiclics, in (■(■rtaiu
<;iis(S, Wiicn tln^ pastors iind dclc^falcs oT invited chnrciu'S
ass('inl)le, tlic convocation is called an Kcclesiaslical ('tutin-il,
whose jn'ovince is to jjfive advice only on the subjects leleired to
in the letter missive. It has no judicial or le^Mslative functions.
It can bind nobody by its decision without the c<>nsent of tliu
jiarty. It has no authority to try, or punish, or to perpetuates
its doiups by lu-rinauent records." IL has no Manual of Discip-
line, no Kules and Orders t > ;;oveni its proceedinj^s. It is sini-
l»ly a transie;it convocation, which expires forever when it ad-
journs without day. How such a body can be coidonmled
with an Ecclesiastical (Joint, it isditlicnltto understand; and
yet there has scarcely been an important council, from the days
of Cotton Mather to tlu' present time, which has not piit
on judicial airs and assumed to appropriate to itself the terms
of established couits.

''It is a beautiful exhibition of Christian liberty and cliurch
order when brethren, or local chui'ches. • heir jierplexities
or their important movements, call to;j;ether their sympathizing
neighbors, who are i)erliai's as well informed of the facts in tlio
case as the parties themselv(>s, and bett«'r (lualilied to judge,
simply to ask their fraternal (M)unsel, without the forms or
pleading or of trial. Advice, when so given, in the spirit of the
system, is more truly i)otent than any decision.s of (ieneral
Assemblies, or orders (d' the Bishop, or bulls of the Pope.

" In these times of progressive lil)erty, it is vital to the exist-
ence' of the Congregational jiolity that the simplicity of its theory
should be i)erpetuated in its jyractice. Pure Congregationalism
will not bear the least mixture of authority from without the
independent church. The touch even of Const)ciatioJi soils
it. If the churches do not like the action of councils, the
remedy is always easy ; they have only to fall back upon their
Independence. If a code of laws is thought to be needful for
;heir government, they may well take one of the numerous sy.s-
tems already <'xtant in other denominations— it matters little
which. David would probably have lived about as long if he
had gone out into the valley of Elah, with Saul's armor on, to
meet Goliath, as Congregationalism can at the pr(!sent time, with
a code of statutes and precedents and ecclesiastical lawyers to
enforce them." That these polities are distinct s|)ecies, which
can never be transmuted, the subse(pient historical statements
will verify, while their specific intluences upon the welfare of
man maybe extensively learned ; where the one has had the full
oi)i)ortunity of developing its entire nature and tendencies, of
which the other, on the same soil, has been by it deprived.

" The question is always, not whether accomplisliments, and
virtues and piety exist within this or that system, but simply
whether the system itself be good or evil'' (Isaac Taylor).
Hoping, that imperfect as it necessarily is, it may stimulate the

1 1

PREFACE.

inquirer after truth, in distinguishing things that differ, to
" earnestly contend for the faith whicli was onee delivered unto
the saints ; " in subserviency to the honor of her King and the
glory of the Head of the Cliurch, this work is submitted to tlie
candor of the reader, by

The Author.

Philadelphia, 1881.

INTRODUCTION.

Pilgrim Fntlicrs — Tlicir Cliiirch order defective — Presbyterianisra
— W;il(leiises — Calvin — Knox — (Scotland — England — Puritans —
Ireland — Comparative Notice — Sliawmnt— Tlie Pnritans — Biaek-
.stoiie— lu'presentalion — Mr>. Hnleliinson — A Synod — Wood bridge
— ILrv'tic-i — TJie" J'^agle Wing" — A Providential Return — Clarke's
^Vlla^^ — Kirst Stoves — Scotch Bondmen — Scot's Charitable So-
ciety.

Ox tlio mere mention of Now En!];land, onr thoughts are
immediately direeted to " Plymouth Hock."

Tliere, not only was the civil i)oiity, but, also, the
"church order" of" tlio old colony " adopted ; and what-
(^ver mii^ht liiivo heen "the form of sound words " chosen
by earlier emiirrants, if there were any, to neighboring
localities, " the Pil.nrim Fathers " on landing at tliat spot,
selected and determined their future ecclesiastical govern-
ment.

Notwithstanding the influences, to some extent, of the
specific religious views of their previous pastor, the Rev.
John Koi>inson, l>eing a people extensively familiar with
the Bible in its varied ndajitations, in doctrine, worship
and d!scij^line, tiiey i)rej)ared for themselves a code of
church [ol'ty almost wholly in unison with the teachings
of the word of (iod.

For their views of sound doctrine and their scriptural
order of j^overmnent, they were previously on the Conti-
nent extensively indebted to the labors of John Knox in a.
former general !(.)n. I refer to this, tlunr chosen system, as
the fir.st tangible outline of doctrine, worshij) ami of ecele-
siastieal or-.ler adoptt'd in those colonies, which eventually
formed New l'jv:land — the history of Presbyterianism in
which I undertake { D. V, ) to write. First, "As to faith and
the holy siieraments — they believed the Doctrinal Articles
of the Church of England, as also of the lt(dbrmed
Chr.r;'hes of Scotland, Ireland, France, the Palatinate^
ri:r.-'.eva, Switzerland and the United Provinces, to be
agreeable to the holy oracles: allowing all the pious mera-

(11)

INTRODUCTION.

i I

bors of the cliurchcs commnnion with them, find differing
from them onlv in matters imrehj ecclesiastical.^^ — {Prince^
K K. Chron., vol i., p. 91.)

The successor of Mr. Francis Johnston as pastor in Am-
sterdam in 1594-5, was " the learned Ainsworth." He
prepared a version of the Psalms in metre. These the
Pilgrims in all their pilgrimage used. In their "perils in
the deep and perils in the wilderness" they gave to "God
the fruit of their lips," and "let the word of Christ dwell
in them richly," not in the sickly sentimental tones of
modern organ-lofts, but from the fulness of hearts made
joyful by the Rock of their salvation. In their adopted
version tlie poetry was very defective, yet for sixty years it
continued to be the psalmody of the First Church in Ply-
mouth. In the utterance of their praise to God as an
act of worshi[), they sang by note ; and while the version of
Ainsworth continued to be used, tliey sa'^g without reading
the line. Their church order is thus recorded:

" Rule 3d, of church government: sec. Gth.

" That the oflicers appointed by Christ for this imbodied
church are, in some respects, of three sorts: in others but
two, viz.; 1. Pastors, or teaching elders, who have the
power both of overseeing, teaching, administering the
sacraments, and ruling too, and being chiefly to give them-
selves to studying, teaching and the spiritual care of the
flock, are, therefore, to be maintained.

"2. Mere ruling elders, who are to help the pastor in over-
seeing and ruling; that their offices be not temporary, as
among the Dutch and French churches, but continual.
And being also (pialified in some degree to teach, they ara
to teach only occasionally, through necessity, or in the-
pastor's absence, or illness ; but, being not to give them-
selves to study, or teaching, they have no need of mainte-
nance. That, the elders of both sorts form the presbytery
of overseers and rulers, which should be in every particu-
lar church, and are in Scripture sometimes called presby-
ters or elders, sometimes bishops or overseers, sometimes
guides, and sometimes rulers. 3. Deacons, who are to
take care of the poor, and of the church's treasure, to dis-
tribute for the support of the pastor, the supply of the
needy, the propagation of religion, and to minister at the
Lord's table." {Prince, N. E. Chron., p. 92.) In this, so

INTRODUCTION.

far as It extends, we find pure Presbytcrianism defective
only in two essentials, that of supplanting tlie ministra-
tions of the ruling elders at the I^ord's table by the inferior
order of deacons, who in this arrangement are thrust into
the office of tiieir superiors, and in consequence of which,
as the elders were thus shorn of their most solemn official
duty and honor, the office was eventually by the same in-
trusion, totally superseded in New England.

This otherwise scriptural order of government was also
defective from its isolated ])osition, having no court of
reference, review, appeal, nor of iinal decision — nothing be-
yond mere advice. It consequently bore within itself the
seeds of dissolution, the germinating of which caused Jon-
athan Edwards to declare, " I have long been out of con-
ceit of our unsettled, independent, confused way of church
government in this land."

Presbytcrianism, while it has been extensively retained
in much of its early scrij^tural simplicity from apostolic
times till to-day, by tiie faithful Waldenses, had, at tiie
commencement of the seventeenth century, in those lands,
which then enjoyed the labors of the Reformers and their
successors, but partially recovered from its oblivious sleep
during '' the dark ages."

As early as a. d. 1585, the immortal Calvin had, in his
" Institutes of Religion " (including doctrine, worship, and
discipline), presented the scriptural form of church gov-
ernment; and from a. d. 1541 till a. d. 1564,^ he successfully
labored to apply this ecclesiastical polity in the scene of
his ministry.

John Knox returned from Geneva to Scotland in April,
A. D. 1559, and the First Reforming General Assembly
of the Kirk of Scotland met in Edinburgh on Dec. 20th,
A. D. 1560. In their First Book of Discipline, "the great
lines of Presbyterian government and discipline were
marked out,"

It was '' ratified and established by an act of Parliament
in A. D. 1567 — as the public and avowed Confession of
Faith of the Church of Scotland," and afterwards further
established and confirmed by acts of Parliament, and by
lawful General Assemblies — until, in that realm, it was
superseded by the Confession of Faith agreed upon by the
Assembly of Divines at Westminster, as examined and ap-

II i

<4^

INTRODUCTION.

proved in a. d. 1G47, by tlio Church of Scotland,, and rati-
fied by act of Parliiiniont in a. d. ]()49.

En<iland had preceded Scotland in the Reformation ; but
had by no means obtained equal purity.

The. doctrine of her church respeetinff the leading truths
of the gospel, as laid down in the ihirty-nine articles,
"vvhich are commonly called doctrinal, was, for substance,
the same with that of the Church of Scotland (excepting
on the tenets of the imi)Utation of the guilt of the first sin
of Adam to his posterity, and the im])Utation of tl:(i
righteousness of Christ to the elect) : but her Avorship was
disfigured by a great nund)er of Popish sui)erstitions.

The Romisli prelacy was retained in her form of gov-
ernment. The supremacy of the Pojje was indeed re-
nounced; but, the sovereign was const' Uited supreme
head of the church, in all causes ecclesiastical.

Many, who were nearly of the same principles of the
Church of Scotland, and who consequently were dissatis-
fied with these corruptions, struggled for the further refor-
mation of the National Church of England ; but, without
success.

" The Queen and Bishops growing more severe on the
PMr?7a/w, it only alienates them more from the ///era /r^y,
as well as the ceremonies^ and turns their minds to the Pres-
byterian Discipline. And though many of their clergy were
deprived and silenced. ;i:et many others by the favor of
several great men iu court and council stay in their places
upon using the less otiensive parts of the liturgy, -without
subscription. And now Bancroft and Cowell tell us, that,
on Nov. 20th, 1572, this Puritan part of the clergy began to
erect a Presbytery at Wandswtjrth, in Surrey ; Avhicli Ful-
ler says was the first-born of all Presbyteries in England,
and names sixteen of the clergy belonging to it ; that INlay
8th, 1582, there was a synod of sixty ministers of Cam-
bridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk at Cockfield, in Sufl'olk ;
and the summer following another in Cambridge at the
commencement; that April 10th, 1588, there was another
of the Warwickshire's classis at Coventry; that by Sept.
1st, 1590, the Presbyterian Discipline so grew in the church,
that their classes spread into diverse other parts of the
kingdom and had their Assemblies at London, Cambridge,
Oxford, Northampton, Kittery, Warwick, Rutland, Leices-

INTRODUCTION.

ter, Norfolk, SufTolk, Essex and other places: but in 1591,
the Pligh Commii^sion and Star Chamber courts dissolved
them. In the spring of 1603, there were 750 ministers (t. g.,
church ministers) in twenty- five of the forty counties in
England, and twelve of Wales, who petitioned King
James 1st, to remove the ceremonies, the publick reading
of the books of the Apocrypha, Nonresidence, Pluralities,
and the Popish canons. And Rushworth tells us that in
](;2G, the country was so overspread with Puritans, that
A\'illiams, Bishop of Lincoln, would not meddle against
them, and Said, he was sure they would carry all at the
last. Yet all this time there were but few separations from
the established church, nor would the law allow them in
England till King William's time." (Prince, N. E. Chron.j

iStill, their labor was not lost, for their efforts were much
blessed, as means of promoting the real interests of rcli^don
in that kingdom, and preparing the way for the reforma-
tion which followed.

These were commonly called Puritans. The name was
probably given in a. d. 1564, and was designed to stigma-
tize those who did not conform to the Episcopal liturgy,
etc., etc. Afterwards when Arminianism arose, they
were called doctrinal Puritans ; and the term became a
stigma for all Christians who were sound and pure " in
the faith."

In Ireland, although the great body of the natives con-
tinued to be Papists, a considerable part of the people who
were descended from English ancestors embraced the refor-
mation, nearly after the model of their mother country,
and while many emigrants froiji Scotland had settled in
that kingdom (and multiplied until afterward, in 1734,
they numbered 700,000) and retained the profession and
worship of the Scottish church ; yet Episcopacy was es-
tablished by law in that part of the British empire.

In attempting to purify the Anglican establishment, the
Puritans, finding their labors unsuccessful, a part of them
removed from " the tents of Kedar," and a church colony
of their people reached Holland in a. d. 1608.

After sojourning a year in Amsterdam they removed to
Leyden. "In 1609, Mr. Robinson's church there chose
Mr. Brewster assistant to him in the place of an elder,^^

'I!

INTRODUCTION.

(Prince, p. 20.) Finding licentiousness prevalent, their
sons often leavinj? them to be soldiers and sailors in the
Dutch service; and fearin<j;, that in a few years, their chil-
dren would have become Dutch and tlieir church become
extinct, they, in 1617, began to think of removing to
America. And in 1G20 they record, "the greater number
to stay with Mr. Robinson at Leyden. Their elder Mr.
Brewster to go with the other party. Those who go first
to be an absolute church of themselves as well as those
that stay: with this proviso, that as any go over or re-
turn, they shall be reputed as members, without further
dismission or testimonial, and those who tarry to follow
the rest as soon as they can." {Prince, p. 66.)

The history of their designs, sufferings and successes,
until they adopted their "order of church government,"
has been all gratefull}-^ chronicled by their descendants —
and it is doubtful, if time can ever obliterate the interest-
ing story.

lie this as it may, we return to their " church order," as
our only tangible point of departure, and with the previous
comparative notice of its want of identity with Presbyter-
ianism the writer shall now attempt to trace the intro-
duction, growth, decay, revival and present mission of the
latter ecclesiastical polity into and in New England.

We have had our attention directed to Plymouth Rock,
yet but a very small proportion of the population of New
England are the descendants of those who made it mem-
orable, and who became the founders of " the old colonv."
As the tidings of the prosperity of the " Pilgrims," reached
their native land, encouraged by " good news from a for
country," colonies of Purit.an emigrants pre])ared in a few
years to follow them. Of these, the most important was
that of Massachusetts bay, which witii a royal charter,
and many of the conveniences of life (so far as they were
then known) made their final settlement on the Peninsula
of Shaivmut.

Here, an ecclesiastical transition took place, of which we
present an account in appendix A. ^^ Ceremony mongers^
says Mather (Mag., vol. i., pp. 249, 250), " drove these wor-
thy men out of their native country into the horrid
thickets of America — and the first planters in New Eng-
land at their first coming over, did, in a public and printed

IXTRODUCTTOX.

iched
a far

ti few

was

irter,

were

isula

[\\ we

wor-
lorrid

Eng-
liiited

arldroPR, call the Clmrch of Enfjland their dear mother, de-
pirinfT their friends therein, to " recommend them unto the
mercies of God, in their constant prayers, as a church now
sprinLnntj out of their own howels ; nor did they think
that it was their mntJicr wiio turned them out of doors, but
some of their an<.';ry brethren, abusing the name of their
motlier, wiio so harshly tr(>;ited them,"

Previous to ^anding and while they were engaged in pre-
])aring places if habitation, the less objectionable portions
of tlie Ei)iscopal prayer book were in use on each Sabbath
among the lifteon hundred persons on board of the four-
teen ships in wliich they had at different times arrived.
Now, a cliasm ensues — and we find them some time after
landing, no longer Episcopalians, but Congregationalists.
A wide remove was soon made from tlie form, under which
tliey had been trained in their native land.

Blackstone, who (so far as is known) was the first white
man Avho slept on Shawmut, and who claimed the
whole i)eninsula, for thus upon it obeying the demands of
nature, although a stern E])iscopalian, was not a thorough
Conformist, and he told the newcomers, "that, he came
from England, because he did not like the Lords Bishops;
but, he could not join with them (the Governor and colon-
ists) because he did not like the Lt)rds Brethren." To avoid
their "theocracy," he retired to a life of solitude on its
banks and g ive his name to the Blackstone river. (Hutch-
inson''s Hist, of ]\[a.<^., p. 26.)

On the arrival of the Rev. John Cotton (with the Rev.
Messrs. Hooker and Stone) in 1633, "the Governor and
council and elders in Boston received him for their
teacher, in which office he was ordained and installed
October 17th, in the same year.

" Mr. Thomas Leverett,an ancient member of Mr. Cotton's
church in P^ngland, Avas at the same time ordained ruling
<dder." " The order of proceeding in INIr. Cotton's ordina-
tion was intended as a precedent, and the Congregational
churches of New England have generally conformed there-
to ever since." (Hut., yt. 88.) Cotton had officiated for
twenty years in " holy orders," yet, when he became iden-
tified with this new form of ecclesiastical polity, they gave
him a new ordination. Hooker, " a preacher of great ce-
lebrity," in like manner received antiprelatical and anti-
2

INTRODUCTION.

presbyterian ordination. This new form became enfliirinf]^
witliout "tiictual succession." As the froemen of tlio col-
ony were so increased in a. d. 1634, that, it was ini practi-
cable to debate and determine niatlcrs in a body, tlu>
Presbyterian element of rejiresentation was forced upon
thorn in their civil allairs, as a necessity, but, no provision
"had been made for it in their charter." (//>., j). 40.)

A similar necessity was soon forced upon them in their
ecclesiastical matters also — "for which, no provision had
been made in their charter," When "Mrs. Hutchinson
set up meetings of the sisters and sixty or eighty prin-
cipal women attended them," it was found necessary
to resort to Presbyterial order (at least in part) and to
ignore a usage of our modern (.'ongregational churches
(then unknown) " the result of council."

Mere advice and recommendation, 'ministers and elders
knew from the Scriptures, were not the order " in the house
of God, which is the church of the living (Jod, the pillar
and ground of the truth," and " in a. d. 1637, a synod was
called and held, before which, Mrs. Hutchinson was
charged with two errors. 1. That the Holy Ghost dwells
personally in a justified person — and 2. That nothing of
sanctifica'tion can help to evidence to believers, their jus-
tification." illuL, p. 57.)

In that synod (which was commenced on the 30th day
of August and continued three weeks) above eighty points
or opinions were condemned as erroneous. The "de-
crees " of this synod were signed by all the members ex-
cepting Mr. Cotton. He maintained, that union to Christ
preceded faith in him. (//>., p. ()8.) Ministers and elders
(not deacons) constituted that synod ; and in their whole
polity, as thus founded, "the elders had great influence
with the pcoi)le. When the great influence of Mr. Cotton
inclined Mr. Hooker to go to Connecticut, to be out of his
reach, they, the people, by aid of the elders carried the
point." {lb., p. 47.) Presbytcrianism crei)t so closely into
all their church and educational matters, that the civil
power alone could at times prevent its influ(Miccs.
" On February 22d, 1633, the Rev. Messrs. Roger W'illiams
and Skelton, of Salem, were afraid, lest an association of
ministers in and about Boston, who met once a fortnight
at each other's house, may tend to promote Presbyterian-

n' ^|

INTUODUCTIOX.

iism and so cn(lan<]:or the liberty of the ehnrchcs." (Felty
JIi.-<t. of Sakm.) ''In 1()42, nine persons (the iirst grudu-
ating class) left Harvard.

"Bcnjatnin WoodhridL'e, the first-horn of that college
(who became successor to Dr. Twisscjit Newbury j, altliough
inclined to I'reshyterianisni — (to use Mr. Mather's wordsj,
was not maliL'nantly all'ected." (lb., \). 107.)

While " Congregationalism took its rise in New Eng-
land," it was in due time carried to England; and " the
oldest churcii of the Congregiitional order in London," the
Rev. Dr. Joseph Parker's, was founded in 1640, by Dr.
Thos. Goodwin, PresiiU'nt of Magdalen College, Oxford, and
afterward chajilain to Cromwell. (Vhridian Imir., Feb,
lOtii, 1(S77.) '" The Pilgrims, with their elders and deacons
had a different order in 1020, and the ' ecclesiastical tran-
sition,' noticed, by wliich Elpiscopalians became Congrega-
tionalists, confirms the position, that 'it took its rise in
New England.' "

Although they had no bishop nearer than London, they
(according to the Papal order in England) divided the
Bay colony into parishes, each having its " church of the
parish." ''Of the 22,000 emigrants who came over before
1640, no less than 4,000 it is said had been Presbyterians
in England," and while this persuasion were so far in the
minority, yet the first churches, such as Salem, Charlestown
and Boston had ruling elders, possibly by way of com-
promise, and in 1646, the ministers, with probably an
elder from each church, met in synod at Cambridge, 5Lass.

They "came together, not to enact a code of ecclesiasti-
cal laws, not even to construct an original system of
church polity, but simply to compare notes and usages,
and commit to writing that system which had already
sjirung into use among them, and thus make a declaration
of the church order, w'l.erein the good hand of God had
moulded them." Ilence, " the manner in which Congre-
gationalism took its rise in New England renders it suffi-
ciently divine." (Bofiton OhrUtian Observatory, vol. i.,
no. 8, Aug., 1847, indorsed by the Year Book of Congrega-
tionalism for 1853.)

"Those who lived in the next age, speak of this, as the
aurea aetas (golden age) when religion and virtue flour-
ished." {Hut, p. 91.)

INTRODUCTION.

The ministry, supported morally by the scriptural order
of rulirif? eiders arul in ten)))oral atlairs i)y the stronj^ arm of
the civil law, under their theocniey, were now, not only re-
spected in the colonies, iiut, some of them were invited to
return and assist in deliherations in Great Britain. "Cot-
ton, Hooker, and I)avenj)ort were invited to the Westmin-
ster assenil)Iy in IVAo.

"Cotton would have gone, hut h'^ had no company.
Davenport, of New Haven, would have gone, but his con-
gregation having but one minister could not spare him.
Hooker did not like the business " (7/"^, }). 112); and as
Congregationalism often on the popular breath makes a
man absolute and affords ample scope for ambition, so he,
remembering doubtless the dominant swa}' of Mr. Cotton
at Boston, and the opportunity which was now offered to
liim, to be at least his peer, in a sister colony, " was about
that time framing a system, or plan of church government,
which was dcfiigncd for the New England churclicx, let the
determination at Westminster be what it would." iJh.,
p. 112.) In his oj)inion they had as yet, reniemijer, no
plan of church government in "the New England
churches."

Vast events are at times suspended on trifling consider-
ations — the want of company on the part of Cotton ; the
want of an ardent desire for the welfare of the entire church
in the British Empire on the ])art of a congregation at
New Haven, and the spirit of " Diotrephes" in Hooker, pre-
vented the identifying of these ministers, with the only
grand inquest of competent men, made under vow, on the
systematic doctrinal teachings of the word of God, which
was ever held.

" I, A. B., do solemnly vow, that in this assembly of
which I am a member, I will set down nothing in doctrine,
but what is most agreeable to God's word, and nothing in
form of discipline but what will make most for God's
glory."

If they had gone thither, imbibed the spirit of the as-
sembly and returned with it to bless New England — possi-
bly, the sword of persecution might ( in these colonies) have
slept in its scabbard — or, they might at least have pre-
vented those "usages of the churches," which now allow,
by a figment of local statute law under their Athenian

iNTnonrrTTox,

y of

jtrine,

he ns-

possi-

have

flcmocrncy, "nn incronsc of sinful mon " to 5?woop awny to
tlie niooiiiight of (Ihristianity, to Unitiiriunisin, the ond'ow-
lucnts estiihlishcfl and the trusts? created hy pious persons,
for the glory of God, Father, Son and Holy (Jhost.

I say possibly only — for tiicir theocratic form of union
of church and state allorded too much scope to the am-
hition of civil rulers here, to he easily foregone, and '' the
first authoritative and ollirial civil action against I'reshy-
terianism, in New England, was taken in 1()4M, or 1G44,
against those, who wouKl sustain the teachings of its sym-
bols" — for, "several persons, wiio came from England in
1()48, made a muster to set up Presl)yt(!rian government
under the authority of the asseml)ly at Westminster; but,
a New England assembly, the General court, soon i)Ut
them to the rout." {Ih., p. 112.) In this, we see the atti-
tude of New England towards Presbyterianism from the
lirst. It must not be tolerated.

" Lechford in 1(541, says, of late, divers of the ministry
have had set nicetings to order church matters, V)y which
it is conceiviMl, they bend towards Presi)yterian rule."
{IIuL, Boston, 1704.) As the Star Chamber, in 1591, extin-
guished Presl)yterianism in England, this persuasion were
ecjually powerless in New England under tiie theocracy.
Tliere for generations they were not allowed to exist.

"From 1G.'37 till 1656 they had general quietness on
ecclesiastical matters, yet, no religious o])ini()ns but their
own could be tolerated, or, they wouKl take the lives of here-
tics:' (Jlid., p. ITo.)

The hand of Divine Providence prevented such a mani-
festation of the spirit of their theocracy in one i)articular
case; which I now mention. PresbyteriauM in Scotland,
being assured by letters, that they miglit exercise tiieir
church government in New England, sent over an agent
who pitched upon a tract of land, near the mouth of the
Merrimac river; and in IGoO, the "Eagle Wing," with 140
])assengers, accompanied by those eminent servants of God,
Blair and Livingston, sailed from Carrickfergus to found a
colony of Presbyterians on the Merrimac. The overruling
of Divine Providence was seen in the failure of their en-
terj)rise. By stress of weather the vessel was forced to
put back and the project was abandoned.

This portion of the wilderness was then assigned to an-

^f]

^ili

INTRODUCTION.

other pooplo, and these ministers of Christ had lar^ije doors
of n.«efuhu'ss opened to them, in nnd on helialf of their
native land at one of the tryin;j; periods of her iiislory.

It was providential that they returned, as they would
assureflly, notwithstanding their letters, have })e('n driven
otV, if they had found their way to tiie Merrimae. Noth-
inj^ could have saved them then, as residents in New Ku;;-
land, but clanginj^ their relifjion — and they were not the
men, nor were those whom they accompanied the j)eople,
to do this.

Such was the ovorrulincj of Divine Providence that they
were (with others) instrumental in raising' in their own
land a peojjle, who nearly a century afterwards should
come to tlu! Merrimae and found a colony of Presbyterians,
at a time when Preshyterianism was permitted under cer-
tain conditions to exist in the unclaimed wilderness.

With the hermetical seal of the sword upon Preshyte-
rianism in these colonies, those, of this persuasion, who, as
adventurers, durinn; this century, found their way hither,
liad to succumb in conscience and principle to the "Lord's
Brethren."

Individuals of this character entered the colony at an
early period in its history — and Clarke's street and Clarke's
•wharf in Boston }»erpetuate the name of one, a Scotch
pliysician, who in his profession accumulated a consider-
able amount of ))roperty in the town. As we learn from
a codicil in his will, he in all probability, first substituted
stoves tor open fire-places in chimneys.

But, "tell it not in Gath," the first numerous arrival of
Prusbvterians in New England after a. n. 1G40, were bond-
nier. "They were transj)orted from their native land and
sold in America, for fidelity to their oaths of allegiance to
King C;arles the Second. Their misfortunes overtook
them for a great fault. They had sworn to their own hurt
to a Papal monarch, and tliey would not change. Not
only did they with many others invite him to ascend his
native throne, but, they were disposed to aid him in his
ambition to restore Popery to the three kingdoms, and for
this purpose (most blindly it would seem) placed them-
selves under him in opposition to ' the State of England. '
It was therefore (continues Dr. D'Aubigne) a remarkable
and a sorrowful spectacle, which might then be viewed, on

INTRODUCTION.

and

'Q to

ook

uirt

Not

his

11 for

icm-

n.l. '

able

oil

tlio hnrdors of Scotland; one Christian army advancing
against another Cliristian army.

"This sight has no doubt teen too often witnessed in
liistory. liut, in most cases, the troops which march
against eacli other ar(^ Cliristian only in name, while the
two forces of Scotland and England j)ossesse(l (to speak
generally) both the spirit and the reality of Christianity."
Tliey read the ni))le in the same tongue, sung the songs of
Jiliorah in tiu; same version/*" and prayed each for the
overtlirow of tlie otlier to the same (iod, through the one
Mediator.

(iladly would I say, "publish it not in the streets of As-
kelon," for at such a spectacle the " uncircumcised tri-
umph." Hut, so, it was. At Duid)ar, on Se[)tember .'}d,
KmO, the Scotch wer(^ discomfited, besides slaughtering
•1,01)0 men, ('roniW(.'ll took 10,000 prisoners, exclusive of
ollicers.

Of these "the Governors of the kingdom" banished at
least a great number to the colonies, where they were sold
to several years of servitude to defray the expenses of their
trans])ortation ; or, to increase the wealth of those who
bought and sold them. As men were of old to "buy
fields lor money, subscri1)e evidences, seal them, and take
Avitncsses in the land of Ilenjamin and in the cities of
Judah " (Jer. xxxii. 44), so, in the capital of New Eng-
land, Presbyterians were bought for money, evidences
subscribed and sealed, and witnesses taken in the trans-
action, and the entire matter ])laccd on record, as if they
had been sim))ly ))arcels of real estate, instead of living
men. By ordinance of Parliament, dated the 20th day
of October, 1051, in the cargo of the 'iJohn and Sara,"
planters' stuff, provisions and Scotch prisoners were im-
j^orted at Boston free of duty ; and at the recjuest of
Thomas Kemblc, the consignee, the following entry was
made on the Registry of Deeds, for Suflblk county, Mass.,
on the 13th day of ^lay, a. d. lbo'2.

List of passengers in "the John and Sara." Of two
hundred and sixty-two I give the following names:

* Cromwell on one occasion, on the Scottisli border, before eiifrnpincr
in battle, sang with his army the 117th Psalm in the Presbyterian ver-
sion, and he with the t)8th led his men to victory ut Dunbar.

> I

INTRODUCTION.

Donald Roye, Jas. Moore, Walter Jackson, Daniel Sim-
son, John Rosse, Daniel Hogg, Hugh McKay, John Mc-
Donnel, Wm. Stewart, Alester Grant, David Patterson.

These were "Registered at Gravesend, at the Search
office, on Nov. Sth, 1651, by John Bradley, Sealer, with
the arms of the Commonwealth," and entered in Boston as
stated above by " F. Edward Rawson, Recc^rder."

" Captain Greene had orders to deliver them to Thomas
Kemble, of Charlestown, who was to sell them, and with the
proceeds to take freight for the West Indies." (iV. E. H.
and O. R., vol. i., p. 377.) " By order of the ' State of Eng-
land,' many Irish Presbyterian people were also sent to
New England. On their arrival they were sold by those
at whose expense they had been brought over to any of the
inhabitants who were in want of slaves or servants. There
arrived in 1654 a ship called tlu; ' Goodfellow," Captain
Geo. Dell, with a large number of emigrants of the above
description, two of whom were thus sold." (Froni an ori-
ginal paper of the time, in possession of Frederic Kidder,
Esq.)

"May 10th, 1654, I, George Dell, master of the ship
called ' Goodfellow,' have sold to Mr. Sanmel Symonds two
of the Irish youthes I brought over by order of ' the State
of England ' — the name of one of them being William Dal-
ton and of the other Edward Welch — for the sum of six
and twenty pounds, in corn, merchantable or live cattle, at
or before the end of Octol)er next. Geo. Dell."

(In Salem Court File-'^, p. 77 ; vol. viii., //. and G. li.)

" It is probable-that some, or many of these Scotch were
sent to Barbadoes, as all their names do not seem to app(\ir
in any other way in this country excei)ting on this list."

Governor Hutchinson's collection of original papers gives
an extract of a letter from the Rev. John Cotton to the
Lord-General Cromwell, dated at Boston in New England,
28th of 5th month, 1651, respecting some prisoners of the
same class of persons included in the above list, sent over
before these arrived. "The Scots, whom (Jod delivered
into your hands at Dunbar, and whereof sundry were sent
hither, we have been desirous (as we could) to make their
yoke easy. Such as were sick with scurvy or other dis-

INTRODUCTION.

eases, have not wanted pliysic or chyrurgcry. They have
not lieen sold for slaves to perpetual servitude, but lor six,
seven or eight years, as we do our own — and he that
bought the'most of them (I hear) buildrth houses for
them, lor ev(.ry four a house, and layeth some acres of
ground tlureto, which he giveth them us their own,
requiring three days in the week to work for liim by turns
and four days for themselves, and j)romiseth, as soon as
thev can re[)av him the money he laid out on them, he
will set them at liberty." (//>., p. 38U.)

As these Scotch and Irish were considered "dissenters,"
their religious o])inions could not be tolerated under tho
charters of any of the New England colonies.*

Consetjuentiy, when their years of servitude expired,
thev found themselves in a position of much trial. They
were expatriated from their families, from the places of
their fathers' sepulchres, and from tlieir chosen form of
religious worship.

They had entlured defeat, oppression, toil and poverty,
and now when "strangers in a strange land," they still set
their trust upon the Lord, and endeavored (according to
their o])p()rtunity ) to do good.

Their trials taught them to '' know the heart of a
stranger," nnd their charity promjited the adoption of
a])i)ropriate means of relief on behalf of those wlio might
in future come from their native land and require as-
sistance.

Consequently, tliey obtained the honor of establishing
the oldest eleemosynary society in America — "the Scots'
Charitable Society " of JJoston.

Of it, the llrst nu'eting was held on Januar}' Gth, IGoT,
when the following preamble was adopted and signed :

" We whose names are underwritten, all in tho most part
])resent, did agree and conclude for the relief of ourselves,
and any otlier for the which we may see cause, to make a
box, and every one of us to give as (iod shall move our

•ff

* Plynioutli and MnssacluisottH colonies contiiiiKMl separate iinlil Oc-
tober Till, 1(J!)1, wlieii tlu'v were united bv Kini; William and (^neen
jMarv as tlie I'rovinee of Massachusetts liay. Conneetient and New
]I;iven colonies were- st'parate governinents till April 'JiM, ]()t!2, wiien
KiiiLj Charles made tiieiu C'onnectit;ut Colony in New England. (Hint.
17-14, p. 73.)

^il

INTRODUCTION.

hearts, whose hlessinf? and direction wi- do from our hearts
desire to have iVoni liiiii wiio is able tod') i'lmndantly above
all that we are able to ask or think, both in the be<,dnninj5
and inanaj^in}^ of that which Ave do intend; and therefore
that we may express our intention and become our own in-
terpreters (jeavinji; those that shall come after us to do l)et-
ter than we havt; begun) hojjing that by the assistance of
the great God, who can bring small beginnings to greater
perfection than we for the present can thiidc of, or exjjcct,
and likewise we h()[)(^ that (!od, wiio hath tlie hearts of all
men in his hand, and can turn them which way soever ho
pleaseth, will double our spirits upon tiiem and n)ake them
more zealous for his glory, and the mutual good one of an-
other, and therefore knowing our own wi>akiu>ss to ex])ress
ourselves in this particular, we leave ourselves and it both
to God and to the word of his grace, and do desire to declare
our intentions about which we have ajxreed.

" That is to say, that we whose names are inserted in this
book, do and will, by God's assistance, give as (iod will
move us and as our ability will bear at our first entering.

" 1. But it is agreed that none give less at their first en-
tering than twelve jjencc^ and then quarterly to pay six
pence.

" 2. And, that this our benevolence is for the relief of
ourselves, being Scottish men, or for any of the Scottish
nation whom we may see cause to lielp (not excluding the
prudential car^' of the respective prudential townsmen
whose God shall cast away any of us or them) but rather
as an addition tliereunto.

" 3. And, it is agreed that there shall nothing be taken out
of the box for the first seven years for the relief of any (the
box being yet in its minority).

"4. And it is agreed that there shall be one chosen (one
of good report, fearing God and hating covetousness) quar-
terly to receive the duties of said box, likewise what lega-
cies may be left unto it.

"5. And that the first box-master shall give up all the
revenues of said box unto the next one that is chosen, and
so continue until the company may see any inconvenience
in it or cause to alter it.

" 6. And it is further agreed, that our children shall have
the same privilege with ouraelves; they entering (when
they are grown up) orderly.

INTRODUCTION.

Icga-

"7. And it is further agreed that those who doth wilfully
neglect to pay their duty, and have entered for the s])aco
of a twelvemonth, together, shall have no benefit hereafter
by said l)ox,

" The names of those who first began to enter the l)ox,
sixth of January, 1657: Rol)ert Porteous, first chosen l.ox-
niaster; William Cosser, Alexander Simson, George Thomj)-
son, James Moore, Janus (Jrant, Thomas Dewer, William
CJil)son, Alexander (Irant, Andrew Jameson, William IJal-
lantyre, William Speed, James Inglisli, John Clark, Peter
(irant, John Knccland, Thomas Palsous, A\'i]liam Ander-
son, James M'ehster, Thomas Shearer, John McDonald,
George Trund)le, Alexander Boyle, John Hennet, James
Adams, Malcolm Maktallome, John Mason."

I present this long instrument, not only to show their
manner of doing good, l)Ut especially that the reader may
discover from its tone and sj)irit what manner of men they
were ; men " fearing God and hating covetousness."

By an ex})ression in their preamble to " rules and laws,"
adopted in 1G84, it may be inferred that to many of them
their wives and families had not come, and that others had
married in the land.

The surname of three or more of these expatriated men
exist in their descendants in Boston after a lapse of two
centuries. What efforts they made to obtain public or re-
ligious worship in the Presbyterian form and a ])astor, if
any, we know not, ])Ut in 1(5()2 the Rev. James Keith can)e
from Ab(;rdeen to Boston, and it is reasonable to conclude
that, considering the '' clannishness of the Scotch," he nmst
liave done what he could to have gathered together these
" dispersed of Israel " here, who, although they were then
slaves, were by birth his countrymen.

The record of his labors previous to 1664 ap])ears to be
lost. At that date he was settled as pastor at West Bridg-
water, where he died in 1719. {Barb., p. 531.)

il the
1, and
lience

have
kvheii

'I !

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIAMSM

'It

i I

CHAPTER I.

Huguenots, 1686 — First Presbyterian Cluirch — Their Lot in 1704 —
Forbidden to build for eleven years — 1716, first I'resbyterian Meeting
House built in Boston — Prayers in P>ench — House sold in 1748 —
LeMercier — Bought by enemies of Whitetield, and it became a Muss
House — French Presbyterian ism extinct.

No ecclesiastical orjxanization being permitted to the
Scotch, these fletached Presl)yterians in due time either re-
turned to their native land, went to other provinces, or be-
came absorbed by the churches of the colony. "Absorbed."
Thus, of the one hundred souls given by tiie " Privy Coun-
cil" to the Laird of Pitlochie, who sailed with them in
September, 1685, from Leith road for New Jersey, and of
the surviving one hundred and forty |)ersons, out of two
hundred others (three hundred in all), wlio in the same
vessel left Scotland voluntarily to escape persecution — •
when pursued by Mr. Johnston (the son-in-law and sur-
vivor of Pitlochie) for their four years' service, the most
part came to New England.

In Waterbury, Connecticut, the Rev. John Eraser, one
of these exiles (and afterwards minister of Alness, in
Scotland), married Mrs. Jean Motfat, who had sufiered
prosecution in the same manner as her husband did, and
for whom, her father had j)aid at sundry times one thou-
sand merks of fine, on account of her absenting herself
from the parish church, and frequenting field meetings,
prior to her transportation. They continued in New Eng-
land until they heard of King William's accession to the
throne. Tlien they returned to Scotland." (Acct. of Rev.
Jax. Frnse'r, of Pitcalzian.)

Those speaking the English language were not allowed
to introduce Presbyterianism into either of the New Eng-
land Colonies. It, however, was brought in, in *' an un-
known tongue."

IN NEW ENGLAND.

''I

>, one

5S, in

ffored

|1, and

thou-

rsolf

tin^rs,

En.ti;-

() the

f Rev.

lowed

En^r-

|i un-

"About the middle of the 16th century Tsays Mosheim)
all tlie French churches without exception, entered into
the honds of fraternal communion with the church of
Geneva," and on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, Oc-
tober 24th, 1685, nearly a million of tiiese Preyl)yterians
were obliged to escape from their native land. The term
Huguenot, by which this people were known, has puzzled
etymologists, but, "on November 11th, 1560, the Count de
Villars, Lieutenant-General in Languedoc, in a letter to
the King of France, calls the rioters, Calvinists, Hu-
guenots, and this is the first time the term is found
in the Registers of that province applied to the Protes-
tants." {lb.)

As " godliness is profitable for all things, having prom-
ise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to
come," and as Calvinism is the most perfect embodiment
of " the truth which is according to godliness," so, those
who consistently profess it, are always " diligent in busi-
ness," maintaining " good works for necessary uses," and
are "not a whit behind tiie chiefest of any sect in subdu-
ing the earth, obtaining subsistence, stimulating commerce,
promoting convenience, and jiroducing trafiiekers, who
' are among the honorable of the earth.'" Consequently,
this masterly characteristic stroke of policy of the Jesuits
and of "the prince of this world," drew from the arteries
of the nation, a large portion of her vitality. *' During the
])ersecution which ensued above 800,000 lied from France.
England gained innnensely by this : at least 50,000 arti-
sans souglit refuge in London and introduced the manu-
facture of silk, crystal glasses, jewelry and other fine works,
many of them before unknown, but ever since successfully
prosecuted in England." (Andersoii's Hist, of Commerce.)
" They carried with them a vital faith, frugal habits, and
the knowledge of new sources of useful and elegant indus-
tr3\ Their ])osterity are living witnesses of what France
lias lost by the atrocious cruelties with which she forced
them from her soil." While most of those who fled to
America went to the colonies which now form the South-
ern and Middle States, still, not a few of them came to New
England.

I mention first those who came to Rhode Island, where,
by law then, it was supposed, it is said, every Christian sect

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

iiiiilit

f III

excepting Roman Catholics, should enjoy all the privilogeg
of freemen. "On Oct. 12th, 108(5, an agreement was made
by the Rev. P]zekiel Carre and P. l^>ert()n -with the Narra-
gansett pro])rietors for a place called Newberry plantation,
but, this being too far from the sea, (Rochester) now
Kingston, was selected and a new agreement made at 4s.
])('r acre, payable in three years at six ])er cent. Each
family were to have one hundred acres if they desired it,
and a ])ro{)ortion of meadow. The Rev. Mr. Carre was to
have 150 acres gratis, 100 were assigned for a glebe and
fifty acres to su))port a Protestant schoolmaster.

"Forty-five families commenced the settlement; built a
church and twenty-five dwelling-houses." Of the dimen-
sions t)f their church and its appearanee, we have no re-
cord, but, as their soil Avas lawfully o])tained, probably
they were not unduly hindered in building it on their own
land by their surrounding religionists.

As Presbyterians, after tlreir distress as fugitives from
persecution was relieved, they fovmd no sympathy on New
England earth, and even as early as "1687, the Atherton
company petitioned for the Refugees' land to be sold to
them." If not "the filth of the earth," they appeared to
be in the colony as " the ofiscouring of all things."

In 1689 (England being at war with France) a French
fleet appeared off the coast, and for fear they should
aid their countrymen in their native land, to whom they
had been so drrpli/ ivdchlcd in 1685, for banishment, and
slaughter and loss, the refugees were required to present
themselves to John (Jreen, Esq., at Warwick, and take the
oath of allegiance to the British crown. In consideration
of which, they were to remain undisturbed, behaving
peaceably." (Arnold. )

"They prospered for some years until they were dis-
persed by the lawless conduct of their neighbors." (76.)
Contests for jurisdiction among the plantations made
their surroundings disagreeable, and while they were for
peace, they had to abandon in a few years their wilderness
homes on account of the distress to which they were sub-
jected.

By or before Sept., 1699, all the forty-five families but
about two had left for New York or elsewhere, excepting a
few who had removed previously to BosliOn. " In 1705

I
1

IN NEW ENGLAND.

dis-
(Ih.)
;iuidc
for
rncss
sub-
but
iing a
1705

(Aup;ust 20th) Dr. Pierre Ayrault represented the outrage
oil the FreiK'h setthn's coniinittcd tsomc years before, to
(lov. Dudley in a retnonstranee with great minuteness."
" It was the most iiagrant case that could be brought
aL^ainst the p(!0})le," but it was considered to be, "one of
those acts of l)order violence with which the histories of
all new countries abound, for which the government could
not b(; held fairly responsible." {Am., vol ii., ]>. 21. )

"' In J>r. S. P. b.. New England, vol. xiii., is a ])lot of the
French town, containing the names of all the families on
their separate lots." {Jh.)

While their ])lantation was being abandoned by border
violence and distress occasioned by factions contending
for jurisdiction; of them, individuals emigrated to New-
port, and when an effort was made to establish an Episco-
pal church in Rhode Island, the petition asking aid from
the home government (through the Earl of Pellemonte) was
signed by sixteen ]jersons, headed by two of the Hugue-
nots, Gabriel Jiernon and Pierre Ayrould. Though they
were Presbyterians, they became Prelatists for the means
of grace. They a])pcar then {8e])t. 2Gth, 1699) to Imvo
been the only individuals of the race remaining in the
colony. With what results Ayrault represented the md-
rage on the French settlers to the Governor we have seen.
For them, as Presbyterian settlers, the Gongregationalist
sects, of Anabaptists and Quakers, as well as the others,
had no sympathy — and the fruits of their labors, for some
thirteen years, in "subduing the earth,"' were abandoned to
their oj)pressors. Their habitations, hund)le in structure,
which had been dwellings of the righteous, in which
had bqen daily heard the voice of joy expressrd in the
melody of thanksgiving, were now left desolate, and their
" little sanctuarv," which had on Sabbaths echoed en rime
Francoise, " the word of Christ in the book of Psalms,"
became now to them of less value than "a lodge in a gar-
den of cucumbers."

The oidy further vestiges of their connection witli the
soil of Rhode Island is thus stated by Arnold (vol. ii., p.
55). About "June 13th, 1715, the Yemassee war desola-
ting South Carolina caused many of the j>lanters to remove.
Several females, whose names indicate their Huguenot
origin, lied to Rhode Island, bringing with them a few

::ll

III.STOIIY OF PUKSBYTKUIANISM

Indian slaves. These ladies petitioned the assembly for
relief from the import duty upon their slaves, wliich was
granted." So far, for Rhode Island ; we now turn to
Massachusetts.

As this edict was not revoked till October 24th, " few or
none of those against whom it was directed (says S. Drake)
arrived in Boston until the following year. Contributions
on their behalf were made in Salem in September, 1()SG."

With those who came to this colony were Mr. Daniel
Bondette, Mr. Laurie and Pierre Daille. ministers.

Among the first thirty families who arrived in IJoston in
1()86, was Mr. Daniel Johonnette, with liis uncle, Mr.
Andrew Sigourney, from Roclielle, said to have b( ( n
with Admiral Coligny. Of those who arrived in KiS?
was Mr. Baudouin, progenitor of the Bowdoin family.
lie fled from France to Ireland, thence he removed to
Maine, and thence to Boston. At this date there a})])ear
to have arrived too many persons of this class for conve-
nient location in Boston, and to improve their condition,
not a few of them removed to the towns of Oxford and
])ouglass, Mass. There, their minister, was the Rev. Daniel
Bondette.

In tlieir settlements neither the native forest, the sterility
of the soil, nor the ungenial climate compared favorably
with their native land, and they must have lieen exten-
sively ignorant of the manner in which, and reluctant to
spend the labor by which, the earth must be met and en-
couraged to yield her strength for their comfortable sub-
sistence. Still they toiled on under many ])rivations until
August 25th, 1G96, when, by an incursion of Indians, not a
few of them were killed, their homes destroyed and their
settlements broken up. The survivors removed to Boston,
and afterwards aided their brethren in the erection and
support of the French church in that town. (Barh.)

There, maintaining their Presbyterian forms of church
government, worship and discipline in a language not
generally understood by the Puritans, who had, in sympa-
thy for them as exiles from Papal fury, allowed them to
occupy, as a place of worship, one of the two school-houses
in the town, not silenced by civil law — and increased by
the remnant who fled for life a second time from similar
instruments of desolation and death, the Huguenots here
for a season prospered.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

erility
3rably
exteii'
ant to
d en-
sub-
until
not a
tlu'ir
oston,
antl

Althoii,2;h their existence was in so far viewed as an in-
trusion on " the church of the i)arish " in the school-house
on School street, one; or more ot' tlieir ministers })reached
fur many years rctiularly to them, and they were organized
into a. Presbyterian church l»y the 'election, ordination and
installation ofruliuLT elders and the settlement of a ])astor.

What became of the llev. Messrs. J3ondette and Laurie
is not ascertained, find whether the Rev. Pierre Daille was
tjieir first minister does not ai»i)ear, as the first notice of
him as the ])astor of the French church in Boston is found
in l()'-)(j. lie was at this date tlie twentieth minister settled
in that town.

it is probable that he had then officiated there for sev-
eral years, and he continued in oflice until his death. He
luul been thrice married, and was represented {Bost. Notion,
p. 101) as "pious, charitable, courteous and correct in
life."

As a fjlance at the customs of " the times " then, and a
little more extensive acquaintance with the man, I detail
an account of his will and burial. In his will Mr. Daille
l)rohibited the use of wine at his funeral and directed that
srloves should be given only to his wife's relatives. To the
ministers of the town and to Mr. Walter, of Roxbury, he
gave gloves and scarves. His French and Latin books he
gave to form a library for the; church ; for the benefit of the
minister the interest of CKK), and £10 to be put at interest
till a meeting-house should b(! erected, "if one ever should
be built," and then that sura was to go towards its erection.
To old man .Fohn Rawlings, the French school-master, £o;
to loving wife, Martha Daille, ,i!'2o(), my negro man, Kifiy,
and also all my })late, clothes, furniture, etc., etc. The res-
idue of estate to " loving brother Paul Daille, Vaugelade,
in Amsfort, in Holland." "Good friend Mr. James Bow-
doin, executor."

It was dated 2()th April, ITlo, and proved on May 31st,
the same year. Mr. Daille was interred near the centre of
the Granary Burying Ground, opposite to Horticultural
Hall, Boston, and upon the headstone of his grave (which,
D. v.), we will have to notice one hundred and forty-five
years afterward (in June, 18G0), is this inscription: " Here
lies ye body of ye Rev. Mr. Peter Daille, minister of the
French church in Boston. Died the 21st of May, 1715, in
3

: ■ Ml

"■fll

HISTORY OF rUKSBYTEUIANISM

the C7th ypur of his ajie." Near him is tlio prnvo of a for-
mer wife, "Seyrc Dtiille, wife of tht! Rev. IVter Daille, ajred
about GU." She died August .'iUtli, 1712. His first wife,
Kstlier Latonice, died 14tli December, IGUG. (I)r((k(',
p. 48S.)

Notwithstanding that the application made by '" Mr.
Toutonn for himself and other e.\i)elled Iluj^uenots to tiie
General Court to inhabit here was granted," and that tliey
were by courtesy allowed to worship in a town school-
liouse, still "the iron entered into their souls;" they had
not then, as Presbyterians, liberty of conscience.

Hoi)ing to obtain a })ermanent settlement, they, on
Januii.rv 4th, 1704,* purchased a lot from one of their own
people for a church site. The transfer of which, as stated
on Sullblk Records, Fol. 22, pj). 102-3, reads thus: "From
James Meures, of Boston, hatter, for £110, current silver
money of New England, to John Tartarien, Francis lircdon
and Jean Dei)uis, elders of the Frinich church, and to their
successors and assigns in the same oflice forever — in the
behalf of themselves and the rest of the congregation of the
French church aforesaid, the lot northerly on Schoolhouse
Lane 43 2 feet, easterly 30 feet, westerly 3SJ feet, and south-
erly 35 J feet, on the lands of Sarah Robbins, to build a
meeting-house on for the worship and service of Almighty
God, according to the way and manner of the Ileformed
Churches of France."

Owing to the individuality of Roger Williams, IMassa-
chusetts was then and is now far astern of Rhode Island in
liberty of conscience.

While no English-speaking people were then allowed to
sell to them land on which to build a Presbyterian church,
they manifested their submission to the laws and petitioned
the select men of the town for liberty to erect a meeting-
house (thirty-five by thirty feet) of wood upon their lot.
But this prayer was refused to them on the plea that " the
new school-house would well accommodate them, as the

* In this year, 1704, the first paper, railed the Nfwa Letter, was pub-
lished in Boston by John Campbell. The name indicates him to have
been a Scotchman, and by implication a Presbyterian, and if so, our
modern New England enterprise was then dormant, and beaten by the
tartan.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

iliont'd

;ir lot.

at " the

as the

ivas pub-

to have

f KO, our

n by tlie

old one had done for some years past," and that it would
accommodate tor the time to coiue "a far ^M'eater nuuibcr
of persons than hclon'jcd to their contrretiation."

" Fivt'doni to worship (lod " like tiiose movinji; mys-
teries, the meridian of "no variation," and "the star
of empire" havin;«;, aI)ove eighty ye.n's suice, taken its way
westwanl, was sui)posed to Imve crossed the Atlantic and
to have perched on I'lyniouth Rock, yet it had not at this
(hite arrived so far west as iioston. The facts that they
wen^ njfui^ees, and that they conduct(Ml their religious wor-
siiip in an unknown ton,;^ne, ])rotecte(l them from seourtx-
in^ and eroppinjr, yet it took twelve years (after they had
l)urchased and paid for their lot) of humhie supplication
to allow them to erect a Preshyterian church on the soil of
Massachusetts.

By their " continued coming " they in so far wearied the
select men and innovated on the estahlished reli^^ion as to
obtain lihcn'ty, civil and reliLdous, to carry out their ])ray-
(>rs nnd pur})oses, and about a. d. 1710 'a brick church
thirty-live by thirty feet, was erected. From and after
tliat year Presbyterianism had at least one roof, under
which it found '' ;i ])lac(^ of habitation for the mighty God
of Jacob" in tiie province.

Being in "fraternal communion with the church in
Geneva," their Articles of Faith, forty in number, have the
clear Calvinistic ring. Among them there is no "'(/'" sal-
vation.

A " form of sound words," which could, under Divine
grace, educate, strengthen and sustain these " sons and
daughters of the Lord Almighty " to suffer wiiat supersti-
tion, bigotry and fanaticism had intlicted upon their fore-
fathers under Charles the Ninth of P^rance, or to endure
the atrocious scenes of horror, cruelty and devastation
which they had witnessed among their native homes, and
which had inspired them witii an endurance which made
themselves also under the fiendish cruelty of the priest-
hood during the reign of Louis the Fourteenth a spectacle
to God, angels and to men, such a creed ought to be ])er-
petuated in time, as it will be " in spirit and in truth " in
eternity, and I here present it to the reader as an appendix,
translated by my daughter, the late Mrs. Joseph Stone. —
Appendix B.

' H

1 ..i-

* 'a. ;1
! c5 I

HISTORY OF rHKsnYTEIUAMSM

^ I

:i I

Their riilocliisms, otlior minor " forms of sound words"
nnd directory for worship iire all wi'ilten on the same key-
note, while the JhioL of Ps<ihn)< exclusively, " Mis en rimo
J''rancoiso, par Clement Marot et Theodore do JJezo," set
with musical notes to every line, I'ornied ti)C matter of
their )»raise in the worship of (lod.

Thus, takiufi; to themselves '• the sword of the Spirit"
and the whoh; "armor of righteousness on the rij^ht hand
and on the left," they passed throu;:h the fuinace of per-
secution like <4old ol'the seventh relininj;. Althou^di they
were "scattered anion^ the eountiies,"' they now, like their
brethren formerly in Rhode Island, even in Massachusetts
found "a little sanctuary."

This "their i»ious, charitable and courteous" Daille was
not i)ermitted to see, but in 171'.) he was succeeded by the
Kov. Andrew LeMercier, a graduate of (leneva, who was
the thirty-seventh minister settled in IJoston. His eccle-
siastical connection will be subsequently stated.

lie continued for many y(>ars pastor over them until,
owinf; to the death of the ajred and the assimilation of the
young to those by whom they were surromuled, the
French language was no longer by tliem cxclusivt.'ly spoken.

From these causes the society became too much dimin-
ished lor self-support ; the church was broken up, and on
May 7th, 174<S, the house was sold for £3,()()0 "old tenor."

The sale was made by Stei)hen Botineau, the only sur-
viving elder, the Rev. Andrew LeMercier, minister, by
Johonnots, Arnault, John Brown, James Packenctt, ^Vm.
Bowdoin, and Andrew Sigourney, ])roprietors of said
church, to the trustees of the Rev. Andrew Croswell's new
Congregational society, " for the sole use of a Protestant
church forever." Said proprietors only conveyed "their
right and interest in it." The house stood on lots No. 18,
20, and 22, now in 1881, on School street.

The Rev. Mr. LeMercier, while pastor in Boston, in
1732 wrote and i)ul)lished a history of his native city, Ge-
neva, presenting it under its three forms of religion. Pagan,
Papal, and Protestant; a copy of which is preserved in
the library of the ^lassachusetts Historical Society, and a

synopsis of which will be found in appendix C. He,

as lately as a. d. 1753, styled himself " pastor of the French
church." He was " a gentleman of great benevolence and
highly respected."

IX NEW ENGLAND.

In viow of tho (listropsinf; slunwrorks wliioli liapprncd
on the " Island SaMrs," ho in 17'").S petitioned the Ciov-
ernor and Council of Nova Scotia " for tho in'oporty " of
that island, that lie niiuht stock it with such domestic
animals as would ho useful in |>r('sorving alivo any mari-
ners who mifzht esca))o from wrecks.

His ])otition was granted, and through liis rfibrts and
])ersevoranco, tin; lives of many were saved. Yet evil-
disposed lishormen stole his cattle and his goods; and iu
17-14 he oflorod through the Boston newspapers a reward
of £-U\ for the discovery of the depredators. ]lo contin-
ued in full occlesiasticMl standing with his Presbytery un-
til his death, which occurred aliout theend of Marcli, A. D.
17()4, at Dorchester, in the 72d year of his age.

Thus ended the second introduction of I'reshytcrianisni
into New Kngland, and .although with its extinction tho
decay and change of their language^ had much to do, yet,
why, it was not more permanently engrafted ui)on that,
which was for some years co-existont with it, and whicli
immetliately .'uiccccded it — in other words, why thoy did
not ])erscvcringly retain and maintain their Pr 'shyteriau
principles, sealed hy the blood of a martyred ancestr\ —
does not quite fully ai)pear. To Boston and the whole
region, they were materially, morally, and spiritually an
accjuisition — not "an increase of sinful men." Yet, by
the overshadowing influences of the Colonial religion,
these Presbyterians liad not "freedom to worship God,"
by holding and enjoying their church estate, and even
when Mr. Croswell was to have been installed, on October
5th, A. I). 174<S, as a Congregationalist, in their house
which liis peoi)le had bouglit, his settlement was delayed
one day, by a sort of "remonstrative injunction from the
Old South Society," as " the church of the parish." So
rigid and exacting was the ecclesiastical law of their quasi
theocracy.

The fate of this church, as well as of the one in Kings-
ton, R. I., was astonishing. It was bought by certain oppo-
nents of the Kev. Geo. Whitefield, that they might have a
puli)it open to o])i)ose him, as it would seem that most
of the then existing churches of Boston ap})rovcd of his
course. After the cleath of Mr. Croswell in a. d. 1785, the
house, strange to tell, as it was not needed by Baptists,

1 1'

1 V

'. '■ I

.1 ;ii

W -tTT

HISTORY OF PRERBYTERTANISM

■i|

nor Episcopalians, wlio were supplied, nor by either ^SFetho-
dists, Universalisls, nor Unitarians, who had not yet been
fully d(>vel()ped in Boston, was sold in violation of the
deeds both of ITC-i and 174S, by Trinitarian ('oniiregation-
nlists to the Roman Catholics. The mass, which was made
it is said for the tirst time in Boston, on (ir(>en street, and
afterwards on Nov. 2d, 17SS, on l)()ar<l of a French ship in
the harbor, had now a domicile on the soil of Massachu-
setts ; and was planted by an ecclesiastical successor and
probaoly a lineal descendant of those bloody men, who
had murdered the ancestry of these irutruenots in their
native land, a ])riest from France, "the Abbe la Poitre."

Tlunr Presbyterian proi)erty, thus, throu<;h Con^reija-
tionalism, })assed to the use of Po])ery, in less than ninety
years, and their case stands probably without a jiarallcl on
the i>age of history.

Of them, we see nothino; left. Their limited ])rivile<res
in New Eiitjland, their trials, the absorbing of their dis-
tinctive ])rincii»les by the "social comj)act''as a govern-
ment religion, left nothing to mark their existence on the
sands of time in the land of their adoption, but the
deeds which, twice violated, swell the record.'; of Suflblk
county registry ; their church site, now dedicated to iNhun-
mon, and those acts of beneficenc(\ which sprang from
their Calvinistic principles and which will be conveyed to
posterity by such erections and objects, in aid of civil lib-
erty and the di (fusion of knowledge among men, as Fan-
ueil Hall and Bowdoin college.

Well and truthfully is it said by S. G. Drake, Esq. :
"Few of those who established the French church in Bos-
ton could have thought that a branch of that })ower, from
which they had lied their native land ui)on the })ain of
death, would so soon flourish on a spot, which they had
chosen for a place of refuge."

How strange, that these children of ]ierSv''cution, after
having escaped ibr their lives to New England, should
have had to plead year bv vear, for twelve vears, under
the JBritish crown, for liberty to erect on the soil which
they had lawfully ])urchased a house of prayer!

How astonishing the fact, that the refusal was made by
those whose ecclesiastical ))redecessors one century and
one-third before, had braved the horrors of a waste, howl-
ing wilderness for "freedom to worship God."

IN NEW ENGLAND.

il lib-
Inin-

Tlicy did not say — you are " lewd fellows of the baser
Bort," but, being of the Presbyterian persuasion, this was
"tlie front of their oflending."

Auain. how passing strange, that in less than forty years,
tlu'ir '"little sanctuary '' should, through the workings of
Congregationalism, b(>conie a foothold for their blood-
thirsty i)ersecutors; and the first s))ot on whieh Papal su-
])erstition should i)ennanently adorn the soil of Massachu-
setts with a mass house! The French Presbyterian
church in New England as an instrumentality had fulfilled
its mission, and the Master was now by, or before 1753,
pleased to lay it away until the day of final leckoning.

Esq. :
Bos-
froni

I in of
had

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

ill

CHAPTER II.

1718-1743 — Scotch Irish — Loft Home for Consclcnrc Sake — Puritans —
Siege of Londonderry— Dissenters — An o|)en IJihle — I'aldacliins — •
Grievances set fortli — (.Vaij^iiead — Fiveship-ioads in 1718— Me(ire<.'or
and otliers — An address to tJovernor Sliute — I'otatoe: — Caseo l>ay —
Jsuttield — First Sortiion in Londonderry — lulioes — First Pa-^tor — ■
Kzekiel xxxvii. 2G — Four Schools —Worcester — Meetinii-llonso
liewed down — Kev. Wni. Joluisoii — Tax — Presliyterian Property
Destroyed — Say brook Platlornl — A l're>l)ytery — I'drpoodiic — A ease
referred to the Synod in Ireland — I'.liler's Admission of— Palmer — •
Duniraer's Indian War — lioston — Mtjoreiieail — J lis People Poor — ■
A Vigorous Tradition — John Little — Ciuirch ()r;;anized — Barn —
Five Eiders — Miss i*arsons — A Tru.-t — A Barn Converted — "Two
Wings"— A Pew— "Sinidry Disputes "—An Award— A Deed— A
Compact — A Second Church Built — Little's Will — The Londonderry
Emigration 1718— James Doake — Aid to Clarke in ransoming liis
son from the Indians — A C(jllection also for Wni. M., who lost two
cows by a tree — Tiieir Code of Morals — Dea'ii of Plev. Jan)es Mc-
Gregor — How he went toCiiurch — Zach Walker — Three Sermons and
two Indians on one Sabl)ath — Rev. M. Clarke, a Vegetarian and a
"DerryBoy" — Pastor's Salary in Derry £110, < Jovernor of Colony
then £100— Rev. Thos.Tlionii>son, Installation and Death— "Tokens''
—Tables— West Parish— Rev. D. McGregor— Rev. W. Davidson—
A Strife — "Tenents" — Tlie .\ wakening — Residts in Londonderry —
Enthusiasm — Settlement^ — Assimilated — Colonies — Parish Tax —
Hireling — Presbyterian Ministers — Voluntown — Rev. S. Dorrance —
Kev. Jas. Hillhouse, he split the Presbytery — Rev. J. Ilarvey sus-
pended, Mooreiiead rebuked — Rev. D. Mctjrregor's Ordination — A
Sorrowful Spectacle — Rev. R. Rutherford — Temple's Colony — A
Town Sued — Colonies — Colonel Dunbar's Colony — Waldo — The
"Grand Design" — A Quarrel for two years — Rev. W. McClenahan —
Porpooduc — Early decay of Presbyterianism near Casco Bay — "The
Oppressed Irish Brethren" — Xo Svnod — Johnston and Worcester — ■
"The Old (Jarrison House"- A Prolilem Solved— Distinct Species-
Chester — Two Presbyterians who would not pay the Congrejrational
Tax, imprisoned — Rev. John Wilson — The New Fnglaiid Primer —
Worsliip — Rouse — Ainsworth — Bay State Version — The lirst i'rinting
Press — Tiie Imitations— Matter of Praise, an Iniiex — A (piaint title
page — Mental luhlability — Edwards had lo.st ''conceit" — Radical
Landmarka.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

)iis niul
ami a
Colony
okens''
son —
irrv —
Tiix—
rancL' —
:vy sus-
iii — A
)iiv — A
,-The
(hail —
I—" The
t'stor — •
lecies —
,ratiuii:il

illUT—

'liiitiiig
lit title
Kudicul

We must now revert to that division of Presbyterianism
"wiiicli was coexistent with the French Church for some
vears, and which iniino(Uately succeeded it " in New Eng-
land. Tliis was introduced by the Scotch Irish in a. d.
17 b-}.

IJeforc enterino; more fully on their arrival and its con-
scciuences, "" it may Ije useful to advert brieily to some of
the circumstances and occurrences in tiieir native land,
which constituted the great and leading cause of most of
their New England settlements." In doing this, 1 shall
extensively jiresent the statements of the late llcv. Edward
L. Parker,' in his history of the town of Lonflonderry, iu
New llamjishire — a work of great interest, connecting with
these extracts illustrative matter drawn from collateral
sources.

" It will clearly appear, that it was religious principle
which brought our fathers to this land ; that it was for
conscience sake they left their country and their homes,
and 'souglit a faitii's pure shrine' upon our bleak and
unhospitable siiores."'

As we have seen, although at the Reformation Protes-
tantism IxK'ame the-^^stablished religion in England, yet it
was not fully ch)thed in the simplicity and jiurity of the
g()sj)el, whili; it was by law enforced with sucii rigor that
many, rather than endure it and conform, preferred self-
banishment and voluntary exile. The fires of Smithfield,
which liad raged violently during the days of "bloody
Alary,"' had, it is true, been <]uenched b}' the accession of
Elizabetii, ''but toleration (it has been justly remarked)
was a virtue beyond her conception and beyond her age.
She left no example of it to her successor. James the First,
and it was not to be expect(Ml tiiat a sentiment so wise or
so liberal could have originated with him." During their
reigns acts were passed requiring, under certain ])enalties,
(hat all should ado])t the established religion in its articles
of lielief and modes of worship. These aroused resistance
b(;i!i in Scotland and in England, and as we have seen,
tliose who resisted the invasion of their rights of conscience
Avere called " Puritans."

This term, designed as a stigma, deterred all but those
of true Christian principle from uniting with them, while
they on whom it rested gloried in it, withstood the

:i <i'

-ST^

HISTORY OF PRESBYTKRIANISM

iiiii i

1 1

encroachment upon their riglits, and (lemanded greater
sini])hcity and purity of worshij) than they were allowed
in the Church of En<:;land. >Sonie of their ])roniinent traits
of character arc thus })resented by a member of that estab-
lishment — Macaulay :

''We would sjjeak," says he, ''of the Puritans as the
most reinarkal)le body of men which the world has ever
produced. The odious parts of their character lie on the
surface. Nor have there been wantinji; malicious observers
to point them out. For many years after the Restoration
they were the theme of unmeasured invective and derision.
Most of their absurdities were external badges, like the
signs of Freemasonry, or the dresses of friars. We regret
that these badges were not more attractive. But the Puri-
tans were men whose minds had derived a peculiar char-
acter from tiie daily contemplation of superior beings and
of eternal interests.

*' Not content with acknowledging in general an over-
ruling providence, they hal)itually ascribed every event to
the will of that Great Being, for whose power nothing was
too vast, for whose insi)ection nothing was too minute. To
know him, to serve him, to enjoy him, was to them the
great end of human existence. They rejected with con-
tempt tlie ceremonious homage whicli other sects substi-
tuted for the pure worshi)) of the soul. Instead of catch-
ing occasional glimpses oi" the Deity through an obscuring
veil, they aspired to gaze full on the intolerable brightness,
and to connnune with him face to face.

" Hence originated their contempt for terrestrial distinc-
tions. They recognized no title to sn})eriority but the
divine favor, and, confident of that favor, they despised
all the accomplishments and all the dignities of the world.
If they were unaccjuainted with the works of philosophers
and poets, they were dee])ly read in the oracles of (_Jod.
On the rich and eloquent, on nobles and priests, they
looked down with contempt, for they esteemed themselves
rich in a more precious treasure, and elcK^uent in a more
sublinK^ language — nol)les by right of earlier creation, and
priests by the im])ositi()n of a nnghtier hand. Those had
little reason to laugh at them who encountered them in
the hall of debate or in the field of battle.

" These men brought to civil and to military affairs a

IN NEW ENGLAND.

itness,

istmc- 1
ut the '^

world. !;

ophers <
t' (lod. 1

S they 1
iiselves 1

I more |

m, and f
)se had |

hem in .I

flairs a

coolness of judgment and an immutal)ility of ])urpose
which were the necessary efiect of tlieir zeal. The inten-
sity of their feelings on one siihject made them tran(iuil
on Cvery other. One overpowering sentiment had suh-
jeeted to itself j)ity and hatred, amhition and fear. Death
liad lost its terrors, and })leasure its charms. They had
tJK'ir smiles and their tears, their raptures and their sor-
rows, hut not for tlie things of this world. They had tlicir
minds cleared of every vulgar passion and prejudice, and
raised above the influence of danger and corruption.

" Such were the Puritans, and such were they made by
th(Mr religion. Not always faultless, and their logic at
times unsound, they 'fell into extravagances occasionally —
the effect of the age in which they lived ; yet, in tlu> excel-
lence of their principles, and in the wisdom and result of
their lal)ors, they formed a no))le race ol" men, sujx-rior to
the ancestors of any other nation.' To this class belonged
the Scotch Irish Presbyterians. Although, as we have
seen, they differed from 'the Pilgrims' on two ])oints, and
in government were entirely diilerent from that Congrega-
tionalism which sprang up in the colony, still (as C'alvin-
ists), in their other views of divine truth and rijligious
duty, in zeal and iirmness to resist civil and ecclesiastical
domination, th(>y were in harmony with them, and were
their fellow-suiferers for conscience sake.

"'The Scotch Irish' are dc-scendants of a colony Avho
migrated from Argyleshirc? in Scotland about the year
1(112, and settled in the Province of Ulster in Ireland. In
suppressing a rebellion of his Roman Catholic sulijecls in
that Province, two millions of acres of land, almost the
whole of the six northern counties, including Londonderry,
fell to the king, James the First. l>y liberal grants he
encouraged his Scotch and English subjects to leave their
homes and settle there, as an increasing ])ower to awe and
control the natives. This fact accounts extensively for the
enmity with which the natives regard the Protestants, and
intensities their sectarian rancor — the echo of which is still
heard in 'Ireland for the Irish.'

" In this animosity tlie great Irish rebellion, thirty years
afterwards, in the reign of Charles the First, originated, in
which, according to .some historians, one hundred and titty
thousand persons were massacred. The settlers of 1612

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERTANISM

'II

' il

received accessions in succcedinf.!; years, and near the end
of that centnry tlio nilHtary and barharous cxc cutions of
Graliam of C'laverhouse, in the r('i,u;n of James the Second,
in Scotland, drove njany more thither. These l^rotestants
were (Un*ing the time of Cromwell and for a few years sub-
sequently protected from the bitter enmity of the Pa{)ists;
hut they had afterwards to undergo privations and sufl'er-
in^'s almost unj)aralleled.

This monarch, supi)osing that ho could subdue the con-
sciences of his peo))le and l)ring them again under papal
su])erstition, was the cause of the siege of Londonderry,
1GS9, a citv containing then about ten thousand inhabi-
tants. Just as his soldiers were about to enter, "the 'Pren-
tice Boys," thirteen in number, drew up tlie bridge and
locked the water gate. The other three gates were soon
securely fastened.

Famine, bombshells and destitution scattered death
within, while, under the intrepid Walker, Puritans (of the
stamp above described by Macaulay) held their position
for one hundred and three days, until relief arrived from
England. In the course of the night the Irish army — hav-
ing lost eight or nine thousand men and one hundred of
their best officers, in their abortive attempts to reduce the
city — ran away. Although James, during the summer of
1690, received supplies from France, yet he was soon after
defeated by the Protestants under king William in person
on the banks of the Boyne. At Aghrim, the next year, his
army was again com})letely routed, and by the capitulation
of Limerick, which soon followed, his last stronghold in
Ireland was lost, and an end put to all his hopes of the
recovery of his crown.

"The protracted siege of this little city in all its connec-
tions and consequences, when duly considered, will coni-
])are favorably with the battle of Bunker Hill, as a stand
made in the cause of ireedom. And yet, im})ortant as it
was, how few comparatively even of the descendants in this
country of the brave defenders of the place, who had even-
tually to subsist on dog-tlesh, cat-tiesh, rats, mice, tallow,
salted hides, horse blood, etc., are familiar with the history
of that event upon which was susjiended the rich inheri-
tance which they have received from their fathers, and
which they are to transmit to future generations! So

IN NEW i:N(iI,AND.

important did tlic king and Parliament consider the defence
of this city, and so hi^dily did they appreciate the vah)r,
the endurance and the worth of its defenders, that, in atldi-
tion to certain grants, an act was passed exemi)tir.,<; from
taxation throuj^diout the Jiritish dominions all who liad
Itorne arms in the city durinti the sie.^e."

!Such t?'ied spirits when they emi^^rated to America, such
lovers of Christian liherty, were well prepared to encounter
the hardshijjs and endure the trials of forming new settle-
ments. ^\'e here also see the result of the labors, in com-
mon with others, of lilair and Livingstone, who were provi-
dentially hindered in IG.'iO from coming on the " Eagle's
Wing" to the jNIerrimac. The grandchildren of their
hearers and iieojjle in {]uo time fultilled the mission which
they and their one hundred and forty fellow-passengers
had attempted in vain.

Notwithstanding their firm allegiance to the crown, the
Irish Presljyterians found themselves after the downiall
and departure of James to France, in unpleasant circum-
stances, which continued under William the Third, Queen
Ann and (leorge the First.

They were dissenters from the Church of England, and
had to exj.)eri(_'nce many embarrassments. " They were
indeed permitted to maintain their own forms of worship
unmolested ; still, they were compelled to aid in su})port-
ing a minister of the established religion — and a tenth part
of all their increase was rigorously exacted for this i)ur])Ose.
Thev also held their lands and tenements bv lease h'om the
crown, and not as projirietors of the soil. With an inex-
tinguishable thirst for liberty, they could not bear to be
thus trammelled in their civil and religious rights." They
•were surrounded l)y the native Irish, and " on the same
soil (says Macaulay) dwelt two })opulations locally inter-
mixed, morally and politically sundered. The ditlerence
of religion was by no means the only difference, and was
not perhai)S even the chief difference which existed be-
tween them. They sprang from different stocks. They
S})oke different languages. They had different national
characters, as strongly o])posed as any two nations in
Europe. They were in widely different stages of civiliza-
tion. There could, therefore, be little sympathy between
them ; and centuries of calamitios and wrongs had gener-
ated a strong antipathy."

iSiHi

1 f'

HISTORY OF PHESBYTERIANISM

,' I

"Tlio n]')p(']lation of Irish was tlicn trivcn to tlio Celts
and to those I'aniilies Avliich, tht)ULrh not of (VUie oriirin
had in the eourse of a^ies doLfenerated into Cckie niainie»"
These |)eo))le, ])i'ohahly somewhat mider a million in n'
her, luid with few exc(^])tions adhered to the ("hnre.
Home. Amon.i!; them resich'd ahont two hundred th(>us;u..i
eoh)nists, proud of tlieir Saxon hlootl and of tiieir i^rotes-
tant faith.

"The f^n'eat superiority in intelliirenr(>, viLfor and orirani-
zation of the minority over the others more than eompeii-
sated for their excess in nunihers."

The one ])eople had an ()j)en liihle and faitliful ex-
])ounders of its truth — the otlier. tlieir holy watei'. origans,
haldaehins, heads and erucitixes. Mental nourishment,
so varied, necessarily produced lives, manners and intlu-
ences of a totally ditlerent nature, it was in view of these
associations, emliarrassments and evils experiencf-d in their
native land, that emii^n'ants to Anieriea, and esjieeialiy the
first colony of Preshyterians who came to New En;,dand,
were disposed to leave toeir homes and the many coin forts
there enjoyed, for an untried reirion and the lal)ors and
suirerin<i;s incident to a settlement in a new countr}'.

''In the sixth year of (ieor^e the First, in 1719, the Par-
liament of Ireland ))asse(l an Act of Toleration (so called),
under which dissenters must suhscrihe the doctrinal Arti-
cles of the Church of England. This the Irish Presby-
terians would not accept." ( lfW>., ]). UG.)

Beside this, '' they were chartred with persecuting; their
Ei)iscopal countrymen, forced to submit to the 'sacramental
test,' blamed with ]>erverting the royal l>ounty from the
jHU'poses for which it was designed, and were accused of
uniting with 'the disgusted i)arty ' of the Established
Church, and with Deists, Socinians and all other enemies
of revealed religion, anv^ even with the Papists themselves,
in order to destroy the constitution of the kingdom." For
these false charges they sought redress.

In November, 171o, three Presbyterian ministers, the
Rev. Mr. Kirkpatrick, of Belfast, the Rev. John Abernethy,
of Antrim, and the Rev. Mr. Iredell, of Dublin, laid before
the Lord-Lieutenant "a re))resentation of the state of their
cliurch, setting forth the grievances under wdiicli ministers
und people were still aufiering, and they state how discour-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

tlio C'clts
ic origin
inniiiK"'
I in IV
hnrc.
Llu)Usu...i
r Proterf-

1(1 DririHii-
c()nii)L'n-

tliful ex-
■\\ organs,
rishinciit,
11(1 iii[hi-
,v of these
;(1 in tlu'ir
cially the

England,
' comforts
ibors and
trv.

, {ho Par-
;o called),

nal Arti-
Prosby-

mg their

'a mental

Vom tlu!

used of

ahlished

enemies

emselves,

For

.tors, tlic
)ernethy,
id before
e of their
ministers
discour-

aiiod tliev were by tbe frequent disapi)ointment of tbeir
liopes ofVelief; and they assure his jiraee that 'the nielan-
chdlv a|)|irehensions of these thin<:s have put several of us
upon the thouuhts of transplantintj; ourselves into Anu'rica,
tiiat we may there in a wilderness, enjoy, by the hlessiui;-
of (Jod, that ease and (piiet to our consciences, jxtsohs and
fauiilies which is denied us in our native country.'"'
( Jicid, vol. iii., |). '.)•').)

Although after the accession of Gcorfje the First to the
throne.' in 1714, some of their <frievances were removed, yet
))reviously thi'ir ])ositi()n was uncomfortable, for in 171o
"the oppressed brethren from the north of Ireland " (as
blather calls them) beiran to eini^irate to New Kniiland.

The Rev. Thomas ('rai;ihead, who came anionir the first
ministers thus self-l)anisiied, arrived in ITlo. His i)iety
was highly commended by the liev. Cotton Mather, yet his
views of ecclesiastical polity did not coincide with the es-
tahlished relifiion of the colony, even while the ])urity of
Puritanism was untarnished. He remaint-d in New Eng-
land about eight years. He was emj)loyed in the ministry
at Freetown (or Assonet), Bristol county, Mass., and in
172.'] he went to the .Terseys. He was afterwards for sev-
eral years jiastcjr at Pe(iuea, in Pennsylvania. The Presby-
terians of that colony requested him to write to Presljyte-
rians landing in New England, and be accordingly wrote
to the Kev. John ^McKinstry and the Rev. .John Camphell,
urging them to remove to his vicinity. In their cases he
was not successful. They died in the service of Congrega-
tionalisiu. Pie also, in 17oB, wrote to the It<3V, J(jlni
Moorehead and his congregation in the name of the Synod
( UV/>.). urging them on the sus])(Mision of their ])astor to
unite with them, but neither dependence nor control re-
suhed from bis solicitations. No connection was ever
formed between the Boston congregation and that Synod.
»Soon after being installed pastor of Upi)er and Lower
lIoj)ewell, now Big Spring, be died in 1789.

No associated, nor considerable number of tbis people
ai)i.)ear to have come to New England Ix'foro 17 IS, when
live shiploads, about one bundred and twenty families,
arrived in Boston on August 4th, in that year.

A young man, a son of a Presbyterian clergyman, called
Holmes, had visited New England^ and of it had taken to

HISTORY OF PRESnYTEUIANLSM

Ireland a very favorable nccoiint, Consoquontly his fatlior
ami tlircH! other Presl>y(erian ministers, Jain(>s McClrei^or,
William Connvcll and \\'illiam JJoyd, with a jjortion
of their resi)ective con;i;ro.<]i;ati()ns, determined on a removal
to these colonies. To jjreparc tiie way and secure a recep-
tion, they early in the year 1718 sent tii(^ I'ev. Mr. P>oyd
Avith an address to (iovernor Shute of Massaehnsclts,
oxpressinj; a strong desire to remove to N(!W lMii,dand
if lie should afibrd to them suitable encouracremcMit.

They also em])loyed Mr. IJoyd to make all the necessary
arrangements with the civil authority for their reception.
This address, concise and appropriate, is signed by two
hundred and seventc^en ])ersons. Nine of them were min-
isters of the gospel, three of the others were graduates at
the University in Scotland, and all but seven (who made
their marks) subscribed their names. Tiiis fact shows tiiat
they were su))erior to the common class of emigrants.
]Mr. Boyd received from the (lovernor the desired encour-
agement, and so soon as his friends in Ireland were thus
informed by him, they converted their ])roperty into
money, and embarked in five shi))S tor I)Oston.

Their motives for colonization and removal we gather
not only from the facts above stated, but lUso from a manu-
script sermon of the Rev. James McGregor, one of the four
jiastors wdio accomjjaniinl their Hocks to America. It was
addressed to them on the eve of their embarking, from
those very ap])ro])riate words of Moses when conducting
the chosen tribes to the promised land : '* If thy presence
go not with me, carry us not u]) hence." In the a])plica-
tion of the subject to tlieir emigration, he states the follow-
ing as reasons of removal to America:

1. To avoid o})j)ression and cruel bondage.

2. To shun persecution and designed ruin.

3. To witlidraw from the communion of idolators.

4. To have an opportunity of worshi[)])ing God according
to the dictates of conscience and the rules of his inspired
word.

The fir.st minister of Aghadoey (sui)])0sed to be the Rev.
Thomas Boyd) was dej^osed in 10(11 for non-conformity,
but continued to minister to the ])eoi)le for years. He re-
tired to Derry, and remained in tlie city all the time of the
siege, and he died in that charge in IGDU. He was suc-

IN NKW ENGLAND.

cccdcd by tho Rov. James ^rrGrcfior, wlio wfis ordained in
A.u'hadocy on Juno 27tli. 17U1. In 1718 he -esigned the
clKirL'O und cainc to Anicric:!.

Sixteen fiunilies of these eniijirnnts left Boston and went
to Cusco Bay, now I'ortland, in Maine, to found a settle-
ment. They arrived tiiero late in autumn. Many of the
families had to remain on the ship all winter, and they
sud'ered mueh.

Before ^'oing in sprinp; to select their territory, to which
they had been directed by Governor SiuUe, as they disem-
barked (aceordinLC to tradition), they united in acts of re-
liiiious worshij), devoutly aelv.no\vledj:;in^ the Divine good-
ness in preservintj; tiiem from the danijers of the sea and
durhiL: the unusually severe winter. No one of their num-
ber had suffered by sickness or was removed by death.
fStandin;x on thi; shore of the ocean which separated them
from their native land, they offered their devout praises in
that " most touching of all songs," the lu7th psalm in the
Presbyterian metrical version :

"By Bahel's fitreams we sat and wept
When Zion we tliouprht on."

neting

resence

)plica-

follow-

le Rev.
ormity,
He re-
e of the
as suc-

"Oli. liow the Lord's sons: shall we sing,
Witliin a foroij;;!! land !
If thoo, .lonisaioiii, 1 forfrct,
Skill part from my rigiit hand."

Although the arrival of the shij^s at Boston on August
4th, 1718, was duly noticed, yet not a favorable word is
said of tlie passengers. They Avere called "a parcel of
Irish." / ^

Nay, the story is more than tradition, that they were
not favorably received by the inhabitants. They were not
pelted with rotten potatoes on leaving the wharf, for there
were none in New England until they then brought them,
but with other missiles.

They were Irish and not English ; and although they,
as Presbyterians, esca})cd better than the Quakers and
Anabaptists, who preceded them, had done, yet their pres-
ence was not agreeable to those who had hitherto dwelt so
nearly alone, under the union of the government of the
colony with their ^peculiar ecclesiastical regimen, which

-n

.1 Ml

[

• i

HISTORY OF PKESnYTEUIANISM

" had tnkon its rise in New England." rf)nsoqiicntTv, tlioy
goncrally wont to the interior, to t)i(^ wilderness, and less
cultivated parts of the country, while individuals of then),
by indemnifying, obtained a residence in BostcMi and other
prosj)erous towns.

As wo hav(! seen, a part of them went to Casro Bay.
They were informed hy Governor Shute, that there was
good land in that vicinity which they mi^dit have. This
was to them ])leasant intelliu'enee, as they desired to carry
into effect, as a community, their particular dositrn and
secure the enjoyment of relijj;ious ()rdinanc(>s under the
ministry of their favorite teacher, the Kev. James ^Fc-
Gregor. In the meantime he, Avith the remaininti families,
retired from lioston into the country; some to Andover,
others to Dracut, until a suitable tract of land for perma-
nent settlement should be found.

On the openino; of sprlnfr, they commenced an examina-
tion of their territory in the wild(M'ness. After havinn; ex-
plored the country for some distance eastward from Casco
Bay, finding no tract that pleased them, they returned,
went westward and ascended the Merrimac to Haverhill,
where they arrived on the 2d of A))ril, old style.

While at Haverhill they heard of a line tract of land,
about fifteen miles distant, called Nutfield, on account of
the abundance of the chestnut, butternut and walnut
trees, which grew in its forests.

Leaving their families at Haverhill, the men examined

.the tract, and, ascertaining that it was not api)ropriated,

they at once decided to here take up their grant, wliich

they had obtained from Governor Shute, of a township

twelve miles square.

Having selected the spot on which to commence their
settlement, and having built a few temporary huts, which
they left in charge of two or three of their number, they
brought from Haverhill their families, provisions, im])le-
ments of labor, and what little household furniture they
could collect. A ])art returned by way of Dracut, where
!Mr. McGregor had spent the winter in teaching, that they
might bring him with them. As tradition says, the two
parties arrived about the same time, April 11th, old style,
1719.

Mr. McGregor made to them an impressive address on

IN NKW ENGLAND.

1(1 less
' tlicni,
I ollii'r

o V>ny.
re was
This
o carry
Lin and
ler the
OS Mc-
iniilios,
ndovcr,
pernni-

camhia-

n Casoo
L'turncd,
xverhill,

of land,

onut of

wahiut

aminod

priaU'd,

which

ownship

ice their

, which

)er, they

s, im])le-

Lire they

I, where

hat they

the two

)ld style,

dress on

tlio s]")ot so happily selected, conirratulatin? Ihoni on tho
propitious teriiiinatioii of their wan(U'rinu'S, their siixnal
pi'iscrv.ition as a company while crossinL' the ocean, and
sinci' their arrival in this country, and exhorted them to
continued eonlidenee in (iod, planted as they now wen;
iu tile wildi'rness, and " strangers in a sfraniie land." On
April rJth. under a larj;e oak. he preached to them (from
Is. x.wii. 2) his first sernu)n in the town. Then, for tin;
lii'st time, did th it wildt'i'ness and solitary j)lace, over
which savage trihi'S had for c<nturies roanieil, resound
with the voice of i)raise and |»rayer. and echo to the sound
of the iTospel, The s])ot and tree were lou'^^ after reirarded
with a dcLiree of reverence, hut in the last one-third of tho
nineteenth centurv, veneration for a Calvinistie ancestry,
their monuments, hopes and i)i'os|>ects, is nearly, if not
(ptite, a lost virtue. Tinar rude dwelliuiis were erected on
the two hanks of W'estrunninu; hrook, called '' tiie common
Held," and stood thirty rods apart. \\'hen the intervening;
forests had heen (as they soon were) cut down, in sunnner
evcnintis "the voice of rejoicinLr and salvation " was heard
ascendint!; from these " tahernacles of the righteous," and
few scenes this side of heaven tould he found more touch-
injx than the echoes of the surroundintx forests to the voices
of these devout worsluppcrs, as they lifted up their even-
inn; sonujs to their Father in heaven, iis\ally a])()nt tho
.'^ame liour, sometimes in the same tunes, •' Dundc^c's wild
AVarhlin,<j;s," or " Plaintive Martyrs," Colcshill, or, tiie Old
Hundred. Uj) or down the stream, it was the same.

They did not delay in securing; the means of f;racc, and
as soon as it could l»e done in order, they called the llov.
James Mc(Jrc^^)r to he their pastor. They had to suhniit
to some informalities, as there as yet existed no Preshytery
of the hounds, from whom they coukl ask the moderation
of a call. This was not ahsolutely necessary, for Mr. Mc-
Grcfror had heen ordained in a. d. 1701, and some of the
families had formed a ))art of his pastoral change in Ire-
land. "Accordinfily, on a day appointed for the purpose,
the peo])le having assemhled, he. in connection with ap-
])ropriate reli<j,ious services, solemnly assumed the pastoral
charjze of the church and congretjation ; and they, with
like solemnity and hy a formal act, received him as their
pastor and spiritual guide, lie preached to them on the

, t

^^-^

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

* 11

occasion from Ezekiel xxxvii. 20. To the infant settle-
ni(;nt these were aj)i)roi)riate, and for o(>npnitions, pro-
plietic words. IlavinLi; shown that it is t!ie Lord who
places a jx'ople in a huid, multiplies tluMu therein, and
affords to them the ordinances of religion, he reminded
liis hrethren that ' they should devoutly aeknr)wled,u;c the
providence of God in all j)ast chan<:es, particularly in their
emigration to this new world ; that they should live hy
faith in what was before them ; fervently ])ray that CJod
would continue to bless them ; be firnily united with one
another; walk in the fear of God, and keej) his cluuye.'"

These discourses show that their removal and settle-
ment was from religious principle, and in reliance on the
divine ijuidance and protection. God in his jjrovidence
multi})lied them, so that from this settlement many others
were early formed, even in some towns where they met
with legislative as well as ecclesiastical opposition.

Having; thus the opportunity of dwellin<r alone in their
town, which was incorporated in June, 1722, of (lontrollin";
its civil matters, and favored from the first with moral
and religious institutions, they soon became a thriving,
prosperous and respectal)le connnunity. In 1723 they
built a house for their minister, and, in the next year, a
meeting-house. In six years they had four schools in
town — kept, each of them, for one-half of each year — and
within nine years of its first settlement, Londonderry paid
one-fifteenth of the State tax.

It was not only a place of rest to which not a few of
their countrymen resorted, Init it soon became a nursery,
from which several other towns were formed.

Instead, however, of tracing the organization and estab-
lishment of churches in those towns, which princi])ally, or,
in ])art, obtained their population from this maternal one,
thus civilly and religiously, so favorably situated, we now
chronologically direct our attention to sketclies of the his-
tory of other i)ortions of " the ojjpressed brethren from the
north of Ireland."

I begin with those who sought a home in "Worcester,
Massachusetts. "This town (savs Wm. Lincoln, Esq.,
Hist. Wor., pp. 47, 48, 191, 194, Ed. 1837) shared liberally
in an accession to the population by a colony of Scots, in
the early years of the lust century. Loaded (in Ireland)

■■-■J

IN NEW ENGLAND.

settle-
is, pi'o-
I'd who
11, und
nindod
l,«j;c the
n tlu'ir
live by
at CJod
itli one
.r>re.' "
settle-
on tlie
vidence
: others
ley met

in their
I troll inn;
1 moral
hriving,
23 they

yearj-Ji
lools in
ir — and

ry paid

few of
nursery,

d estab-
ally, or,
nal one,
we now
tlie his-
Vom the

orcester,
n, Esq.,
iherally
■^cots, in
Ireland)

with the tythes of the harvest, and with lands held by
tenancy under exorbitant rents, they embarked for a coun-
try, where " (they supjiosed) " rc'li<j:ious freedom was united
witli civil lilKU'ty, and neither tytliin^-man nor tax-jjath-
ercr had oppressive juriscHction. A company of them ar-
rived in 1719, and it is said they were accompanied by the
Kev. Edward Eitzgerald from Londonderry, who preached
to them for some time in the ohl [garrison house. Tiiey
suffered ilhberal opposition and even active hostihty.

" Having formed a religious society, tliey coniinenccfl
the erection of a mectimr-house on the west side of the
Boston road, north of the house of Frederic W. Paine,
Esq. The material had been procured, the frame had been
raised, and the buildin<:; was fast in {)rogres8 of construc-
tion, when the inhabitants gathered tumultuously by
night, hewed down and demolished the structure. Per-
sons of consideration and respectability aided in the riot-
ous work of violence, and the defenceless foreigners were
compelled to submit to the wrong.

" The riotous act was sustained by the intolerant spirit
of the day, and the injured foreigners were compelled to
mourn in silence over the ruins of their altar, profaned by
the hand of violence."

In our boasted "hght of the nineteenth century" to
many, such violence by a devout peo])le making a high
profession of godliness, will appear almost incredible, but
it was even so.

*' The strangers were not treated with common decencj''
by their P]nglisli neighbors," whose fears were excited lest
they should outnumber thgm in town-meeting and com-
pel them to support a Presbyterian minister. " Let us
deal wisely with them, lest they multiply and they Ix'come
more and mightier than we," was the language of the new
king over Egypt, tliat knew not Joseph. And the same
principle, the fear of the loss of civil power, then actuated
those, who, as yet, controlled the compulsory sui)port of
the gospel in this town. " Little care was taken (says Mr.
Lincoln) to ])reserve the memorials of this unoffending,
but jiersecuted people, whose history discloses only tho
injustice and intolerance of our ancestors. Few facts can
now be ascertained of tlieir struggles with the prejudices
and hostility, which linally drove them away to seek an

''if

I 1.

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISII

nsylum in otlicr colonies. The numher of the Presbyte-
rian eoniniunicants is said to have b(^en nearly ecjual to
those of the ('ongre<2;ational Church, and the Presbyterian
elerirynian was once invited to occupy tlie vacant ])ulpit,
but the request was not repeated." (P. 11)2.)

How lon<^ the Rev. Mr. Fitzgerald labored amonj; them
is uncertain, but it was not ])robably long, as he (t^ays Mr.
Lincoln) "removed for want of maintenance, and left
A\'()rcester belbre the settlement of the Rev. Mr. Purr," on
October 13th, 1725.* "At his settlement, it was under-
stood, that if the Presbyterians would aid voluntarily in
liis support, they should be permitted to place in the
pulpit, occasionally, teachers of their own denomination;
and the foreigners united with the other iniiabilants."

After some time, they found that their expectations would
not be realized.

They then withdrew, and the Rev. Wm. Johnston was
installed as their minister.

This took ])lace some time near 1736. When, from the
loss of the records of Presbytery, does not api)ear.

Being comiJeHed to contribute to the sup))ort of Mr.
Burr, an a])peal was made to the justice of their fellow-towns-
men in 173G-7 by the Presbyterians for relief from a tax
inconsistent with their religious ])rivileges, as British
sul)jects, but without avail. The Congregational oppo-
nents, in their answer, said that "the ordination of
^Ir. Johnston was disorderly. The recorded answer to
their api)lication furnishes a curious specimen of mingled
subtlety and illiberality. " (P. 103.) We insert it, as a
fact from which the reader can make his own deductions.

" In 1736-7, the Scotch Presbyterians, ten })ersons, resi-
dents, ])rayed to b(^ relieved iVoni suj)])orting Mr. ]]urr, as
they had settled the Rev. Wm. Johnston. Their petition
was refused as unreasonable," for 1st. It does not appear
from their names who they are, and it would be too much
at random to do so.

2dly. It does not ap]>ear that they arc actuated by just
principles of conscience, as should necessitate their forsak-
ing us. Wo hold to the Westminster Confession of Faith,

*Tii 172() tlicrc was due by the town "to the Rev. Mr. Fitzgerald
je2." (Town Kecordri.)

IN NEW ENGLAND.

left

which, thoy sny. thoy promised to adhere to. We do not
snl)stantialiy diirer from the divines at Westminster as to
the worsiiip, di.seij)line and government* of the church.
They may enjoy their way, which they call Presbyterian-
ism, witii us and their consciences not be imposed upon in
anytiiing. A number of those now withdrawing were
jointly concerned in settling Mr. Burr and in our fellow-
ship. " We know not why they should not continue with
us,

3dly. We look on the matter as disorderly, not to men-
tion that the ordination of their minister they speak of
was disorderly even with respect to the ])rinciples by
whicii they pretend to act by, as well as with us, up to whom
they stand related, and they enjoy with us all proper
social, Christian, and civil rights. Their separating from
us being contrary to the ])ublick establishment and laws
of this j)rovince and contrary to their own covenant with
us, and also very unreasonably weakening to the town,
whose numbers and dimensions, the north ])art, being ex-
empted by the vote of the town from })aying to Mr. Burr,
will not admit of the honorable support of two ministers
of the gospel, and tending to breed division, destructive of
our peace, and u])on which and other accounts, the town
refuse to comply with the request of dismissing said peti-
tioners." (Tova Records.)

"Many unable to endure the insults and bitter preju-
dices they encountered, removed to Otsego county, N. Y. ;
others joined their brethren of the same denomination,
who had now commenced the settlement of the town of
Pelham, Mass., and were se)me years afterward under the
pastoral care of the Rev. Halj)h Abercrombie."

"About thirty " (it is nuieh to be regretted that ^Ir. Lin-
coln does not say which, persons, or families) "remained
in Worcester atter the dispersion of the rest."t Their pas-
tor, the Rev. Wm. Johnston, was settled in Windham, N. H.,
early in 1747. '" Their settlements in other places were ap-

( ■-. If 1

III

* \h to "government," this is simply imtnie.

+ Tlie ancestry of tlie Hlairs of political fame In Washinj^ton, D. C,
•ind in Missonri, as well as of those in Tniro, Nova Si't)lia, and Doston,
after the middle of the lUth century, were buried in Worcester before
tiie dispersion.

,-<lf1" 'WrSSSEE

HISTORY OF rRI-:snYTERIAMSM

preached by bodies of armed men, and thoir property in
some instances wantonly destroyed.'' "Tlicy were every-
where abused and misrepresented as Irish.'' (P. 48.)*

To remove this odium, they i)t'titioned the General
Court of Massachusetts to call them Scots, yet their relig-
ion contributed much more to produce and vivify it than
did their race and nation.

The germ of all the opposition shewn to them was
in their scriptural form of church government. If they
had, like the Scotch, who were hrought over in a. d. 1652,
made (so far as now appears) no ed'orts to organize Pres-
byterian churches, but melted away religiously into the
common mass, this odium would have been soon lost by in-
termarriages and the iniiuenct.'s of the other social relations.
The General court, never surcharged with love to Prcsijyto-
rians, nor their principles, does not appear to have granted
the desired relief. The Sayhrook ])latform, adojjted in a. d.
1708, sufficiently verifies the i)osition, that the "front of
their offending " was, that they were Presbyterians. In it,
this order of polity is ignored, if not opposed.

To these strangers, however, it was dear — not only be-
cause that to its blessings, under the kind providence and
grace of God, they were indebted for all their heroism of
soul, which they possessed, but, because, in their belief, it
was the only form authorized by the Holy Scriptures ; as
both Prelacy and Congregationalism must borrow from it,
while it cannot, in safety, borrow anything from either of
them.

How early measures were taken to form a Presbytery
in New England and to unite its subordinate courts, we do
not precisely know, as time and neglect have wasted not a
little of the records. Of these, the earliest extant are the
sessional minutes of the First church in Derry, X. II.,
which commence in a. d. 172o. From these, and other
collateral sources, such as, references of matters to the
Synod in Ireland, from town records, and direct references
to the action of Presbytery, in controversial communica-
tions published by its members and still extant — we
gather, that a Presbytery was formed probably between
1726 and 1729.

*"At this (late (.iboiit 17r?(),) one ounce of silver was wortli, or eciual to,
twentj-nine shillings in paper." {Liacola.)

IN NEW ENGLAND.

Not only (lid tho oiniofration from Ireland of 1718 in-
clude four Presbytorian ministers (the Rev. Messrs. Mc-
(Jre^or, Cornwell, Boyd, and Holmes), of whom a part re-
mained in New Eniiland I'or years, l)ut the Uev. Andrew
LeMercier, a ^rraduate of (Jeneva, commenced his pastoral
labors in the French church in Boston in 1719, and in the
same year (as we have seen) the Rev. p]dward Fitzgerald,
accompanied (as is supposed) l)y some of his people, came
to Worcester. He miglit possibly have been a member of
the orit^inal Presbytery.

In the absence, then, of records, we find not only num-
bers of ministers sufHcient. but also, the api)ointments of
ruling elders by sessions to meetin;:s of Presbytery, and
references from this court to the Synod in Ireland. We
find also, as early as a. d. 1720-o(>, men ordained to the
Avork of the ministry, whicli among Presbyterians is done
always and only by Presljytery. This Presbytery at its
organization was called the " Presiiytery of London-
derry," and nicknamed, "the Irish Pr^-sbytery."

We are not to understand, however, that all who were
Presbyterians in their native land, upon their arrival in
New England, united with it. Where a particular denom-
ination liave the ascendencv in a region, thev absorb not
a little and often contrt)l large ])ortions of tin; mmor sects,
who dwell with them. This a))plies extensively to the
ministry, who are "men of like passions with t)thers; " es-
l)ecially, where tenacity of principle might demand re-
moval, a lower social position, or a gra])i)ling with poverty.
Consequently there were those who came to these colonies,
"who departed from " their avowed principles, who "went
not with " the Presbytery "to the work," and who hired
themselves out to serve Congregational parishes ; such as
the Rev. John McKinstry, from Brode, who settled in Sut-
ton, Mass., in 1721), the Rev. .James liillhouse, at New Lon-
ilon, Ct., in March, 1722, the Ivev. John Campl)ell (said to
be a Scotchman), at Oxford, Mass., on October od, 1722, the
Rev. John Graham, in Stafl'ortl, Ct., on May 21)th, a. n,
1723, and the Rev. Samuel Dorrance, who w;is settled at
Voluntown, Windham county, Ct., in a. d. 1723.

Others again, on surveying the field oc<'U]ii('d by their
brethren, returned home. In 171S the Rev. Wm. Boyd, who
had been minister of McCaskey, in Ireland, was among the

-IJ

\ :
5>

i
t

! ; t

HISTORY OF PRKSBYTERIANISM

emiffrants. Ho ofiTipiated onro at "tho wockly Incturo" in
Boston (on March IDth, 1719), and of him th(» Rev. Increase
JNIathcr, on Man^li 2.',th, 1710. says : ''Tiic Rev. Mr. IJoyd
arrived hist summer. He was educated in Edinhuruh,
studied in (fhisirow (i)rohal)ly divinity), and was ordained
at McCaskey, in Ireland. The issue of this aHiiir, the com-
ing to America, lias a (jreat dependence on his conduct —
and since the Rev. author (of the sermon delivered at tlio
lecture aforesaid) is returning to his native country, let the
grace of Christ he with him."

This " prayer of a righteous man " was prohahly at lea.st
as "fervent" as it wouhl have l)een on his behalf if Mr.
Boyd had remained in New England.

He returned, settled at Taboyne, and lived to a good old
age.

At the same time the Rev. William Cornwell arrived.
He formerly belonged to the Presbytery of Monaghan, and
settled, witli a number of families, in Porpooduc. on Casco
Bay. While there 4ie probably lielonged to said Presby-
tery, but how long he continued or to what i)art he re-
moved is not known. A Mr. Woodside, who came from
Ireland, succeeded him in taking charge of that peoj^le, but
he, exposed to many privations and discouragements, soon
(it is l)elieved) returned home. fStill, so far as numbers
were concerned, there remained among the emigrants min-
isters enough to form and sustain a Presbytery, and, as we
have seen, this was not long delayed. We su|)i)ose it to
have been organized l)efore the death of the Rev. James
McCJregor, on ^Nlarch 5th, a. d. 172'.).

Who were, or how many were members of it in its early
existence, cannot be fully known, i)ut within twenty-five
years of their first settlement at Ivondonderry, it is be-
lieved that LeMercier, James McCJregor, Edward Fitzger-
ald, William Jolmston, John Moorehead, William Mc-
Cltjnahan, Matthew Clarke, John Harvey, John Caldwell,
Thomas Thompson, Clarke, of Kingston, N. H.. I)alrym])le,
Wilson, Morton, Rutherford, Davidson, probal)ly Urciuhart,
and, it may be, others, were members of said Presl)ytery.

We glean some items of their manner of ])roce(iure from
existing documents, by which we ascertain their strict ad-
herence to Presi)yterian ])rinciples.

lu the Synod of Ulster in 1705 all candidates were

IN NEW ENGLAND.

re " in

crease

. Hov.l

l)uru;li,

daincd

e coin-

duct—

at tho

let the

'^V

at least

if Mr.

00 d old

arrived.
I an. and
n Casco
Presby-
t be re-
iie from
pie, but
its, soon
lumbers
Us min-
d, as we
)se it to
James

ts early
nty-tive
t IS be-
FitzL^er-
un Mc-
aUlwell,
yni])le,
rcjubart,
)ytery.
lire from
trict ad-

tes were

required to subscribe the Westminster Confession of Faitli.
To these standards they expressed a firm adherence in
17"J2. Tills, those now in New England did not as yet
abate.

On Marcli 2d, 1721)-30, James Reed was ajipointed
as the ruling elder from the sessiori of I.ondonderry to the
Presbytery at Boston, by wliich Mr. John ^h)orehead was
ordained to the ministry on the 8()th of tliat month. The
session also ordered "that his (Mr. K.'s) expenses for man,
horse and time be paid by a collection," which, when taken,
amounted to £3. 8,s.

We gather from his own record that, in order to larger
usefuhiess in gathering the people prepjiratory to their or-
ganization as a church, Mr. Moorehead was then ordained
without charge.

The liev. Mr. Clarke, of Kingston, was invited by the
Rev. Mr. McCregor and his session to assist at the dispen-
sation of the Lord's .Sui)per at Londonderry on the loth
day of October, 1727. April T^th, a. d. 1731, T. S., who had
by previous appointment of session, " ah'eady appeared
three several yal)bath days before the congregation, and
had also appeared belbre Presbytery," was on tliat day be-
fore and b}' the session " absolved of the heinous sin of
adultery."

At tiie communion, on the first Sabbath in June, 1732,
Mr. ^Moorehead and the Rev. Mr. Wilson, of Chester,
N. IL, were invited to assist, and on a similar occasion said
sessional record states : " October Uth, 1732, liaving had the
sacrament yesterday, we had of communicants GOO. Our
collection was £li). ll.^'. 1()(/. All charges being })aid, there
remain £7, which is given to the Rev. Mr. M'ilson."

To install the Rev. Thomas Tliomi)son, who was or-
dained by the Presbytery of Tyrone, in Ireland, for Lon-
donderry, N. PL, and who arrived October 3d, 1733, the
said Presbytery met on October 10th.

The session make this record in their minutes of October
5th: ''There being a Presbytery to be here on Wednesday
next. Justice Duncan and Mr. McKeen are to attend
them." " October loth, session met. There being a col-
lection for tlie Presbytery, there were; £10 5., of which was
given to Mr. LeMercier and Mr. Moorehead and their
elders £8, and the rest for man and horse to bring them
from Haverhill, and to take them there again." (lb.)

'•I

).|

ill

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

November 11th, 1733, a case of severe discipline " was
recommended to the Presbytery.'' Another similar case,
Fel)ruary 19th, 1734, which session were requested to
review, they resolved " it should go to the Presbytery."
" October 7th, 1734, Thomas Wallace and John Crai<i were
af)i)ointed by session to attend tiie Presbytery." " March
9th, 1735, James Reed was aj)pointed to attend Presbytery "
as an elder, and William Lyon to appear l)y order of ses-
sion before Presl)ytery to undergo discipline. "April lOth,
1735, a case of discipline was receivcMl back by session
from Presbytery." December 11th, 1735, the sacrament
deferred " until after the Presbytery, and William Coch-
rane to attend the Presbytery."

"January 8th, 173G, John Stewart appealed from the
session to the Presbytery, and to give his reasons in ten
days."

On "June 19th, 1734, a case occurred, which said Pres-
bytery could not settle, and the ^loderator, the Rev. John
Moorehead, was appointed to refer it to the Synod in
Ireland."

These facts from existing records show their orderly and
formal Presbyterian way of conducting business in church
courts.

Their manner of admitting ])ersons to the eldership also
partook but little of moilern looseness and congregational
l)roclivities, as said sessional records, while they collater-
ally prove the existence of a Presbytery, will verify.

In enlarging the session on "March 25th, 1736, the
elders-elect were nominated to the Presl)vterv, and the
session agreed that their names should be ])uhlished before
the congregation. At a meeting, June lUth, 173G, the ses-
sion having deliberately ])roceeded with the above-named
(six) men to he added to the session, ])y nominating them
to the Presbytery, as also their names to the congregation,
do agree that they sliail be ordained elders on the 23d of
June inst."

The ordination of probationers to the work of the min-
istry was also performed by said Presbytery. Mr. Josej)h
Harvey, licentiate, who had received his education in Ire-
land, was elected pastor of the church of Palmer, Mass.,
and was ordained and installed in said charge by the Lon-
donderry Presbytery on the 5th day of June, 1734. The

IN NEW KNGLAND.

" was

• case,
cd to
tcry."
r were
March
.•tery"
of pes-
l lOth,
;cPsioii
•anient
Coch-

>m the
in ten

d Pres-
V. John
nod in

irly and
church

lip abo
ational
ollater-

36, the
uul the
d heloro
the ses-
b-nanied
\ir thein
eiration,
23d of

he min-
. Joseph
in Ire-
r, Mass.,
lie Lon-
i4. The

records- of that town show tliat it was settled by emip^rants
from KuL'land and the north of Ireland in 1727, and the
church was formed in 1780. Thu Kev. Mr, Kil[)atrick
first visited them, and preached there live Sabbaths.

He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Weld, who ])reached
to them for three months, and was then succeeded hy the
Kev. licnjamin Dickenson for six months.

We then learn also from tiie " Troprietor's Records" that
"after preachin<]t to them for four years, the liev. Jose])h
Harvey was, on the 5th day of June, 1734, ordained and
installed the iirst minister of the church in Klhow settle-
ment hy the Rev, the dele!;ates of the Presbytery of J.on-
donderry upon a scaflbld standing on a plain on the east
side of the meadow, called Cedar Swamp Meadow, within
Mr, Harvey's lot. The Rev. Mr. Tiiompson, from London-
derry, ])reached the sermon, and the Rev. Mr. Moorehead
gave the charges."

Thus, although its records are lost and the steps taken
in (and the date of) its formation are unknown, yet we
liave the original Presbytery of Londonderry mentioned
by name in existing records, and we can speak of it with
certainty. It continued, as we may subsequently see, for
about forty years.

We now ])roceed to trace the origin and progress of what
was probably the third church formed by "the oi)pressed
brethren from the north of Ireland," in New England.

Londonderry having civil })rivileges, and no rival, nor
overshadowing sect to whose church funds it must contrib-
ute, was not, for the same number of years which it had
then thus existed, surpassed, if ever equalled in New Eng-
land, for the ])rosperity, civil and religious, of its people.
Consequently, it was now preparing by its sources of in-
crease to send out, even in the first quarter of a century
of its existence, its offspring as colonies.

The Church of Worcester, on the contrary, was pros-
trated in the dust before the bitter influences of sectarian-
ism, and those of its members who were possessed of strong
gospel principles had to remove to the deeper toils and
dangers of the wilderness, for '' freedom to worship God."
After the departure of the Rev. Wm. Johnston, parents
were obliged to take their children to distant towns
for baptism, and after the destruction of their church edi-

'I ■

^■f^

HISTORY OF PRKSBYTERIAMSM

fico a hiv^e proportion of tliem rcmovod to Otsonro county,
New York, us well us to diilVrent tt)wns in Massachusetts,
Bucli as lYilliani.

llesidcs those Scotch and of Scottisli ])arenta;j:e who
resided in Jioston, enii.:rants of the Freshyterian ])ersna-
sioii api)ear to have eoine annually in these years from
Jreland* and Scotland to N.-w l']nj.ian(l; and notwithstand-
in<,' tlie in-ejuiHecs with which they had to contend, in view
of the accid(!nt of hirth, not a few of them, as artisans,
ohtained hondsmen, irave security to the authorities that
they would not lie disortierly, and estahlished themselves
in that town.

As Jh-itish suhjects in a P>ritish colony, they supposed
tliemselves entitled to liherty of conscii-nce. This was,
liowever, only with trri'at reluctanc(>, or rather as a matter
of necessity, accordi^l to tlieni at all. The overshadowing
influences of "the Church of the I'arish." which had cast
no encoura^inu; smiles on tlie I'ri'ueh I'reshyterians, viewed
the collectin<>: of an Irisii Church as an almost unwarrant-
able interference.

Boston contained about KJ.OOO inhahitants, and had five
cliurchcs of the estahlisiied oider, when, a. n. 1727, an
eil'ort was commenced to collect a second l*res1)yterian
Church. This was done hy Mr. .h)hn Moorehead, a native
of Newton, near Belfast. He was hoiMi of pious })arents in
17(t'3, received the rudiments of his education in In.'land,
and linished liis collegiate course of study in Edinburgh.

*It is stated by tlic Hon. Win. Willis (Mass. II. (i. EoRr. p. 'J.'^G,
July, l.S."),S) that "in 171'.» and 'L'O Hvi- .sliips ntider Captain Rohort IVin-
))!e landed several hinidred families on tlie shores of the Kennebec; tliat
J>innuier's Indian war broke ii]) the colony, and that the larjjier part of
them went to Pennsylvania, while some fragments of it settled in Tops-
liam, Brnnswiek, lioothbay, IV'macpiid and the Waldo Patent."

"Sir Robert Temple landed at Hoston in 17'20, looked at Connccticnt,
went to Maine and settled Corlc, Maine; bront^ht over three ship-loads
of the children of the Kirk of Si-olland, and f)lante<l several hundreds
of t'le Seoteh Irish on the Ki'nnebeo at 'Merry Meetintr-IIoiise.'

" He, on the west side of tlie Kennebee, laid the foundation for Dun-
bar's (sL'tl lenient) on the east side ten years afterwards.

"hi 17122 the sivajres destroyed 'Merry Meeting-Iiouse settlement.'
(Sewall's Maine, p. 2'M\.) •

"Searcitv of corn almost equal to a famine drove many from Ulster in
1728 and '29." (Willis.)

IN NEW ENGLAND.

ounty,

USL'ttS,

wlio
)t'rsu;i-
8 troiii
istand-
[\\ vii'vv
rtii^ans,
es thiit
iiselves

ipposcd
lis wns,
niatter
idowinr;
i;i(l cast
, viewed
viirrant-

liad five
727, an
)ylerian

' native
rents in

n.'land,
nbiir;^h.

p. 236,

)ert Tcm-

)ec; tliat

t>r part of

in Tops-

Ill

nocticnt,
lip-loads
hundreds

for Dun-

^>ttlement.'

Ulster in

:ll

He was licensed to preach before lie came to America.
Some families of his ac(iuaintance, it is said, about or before
that vear, canje over, and bein<.' kindly wi'lcomed by their
countrymen tiien living in it, settled in the idwn. Upon
liis arrival here, this pe()j)lc (several of whom appear to
have come with him) became attached to him and ilesired
him to l)ecome their minister. As a licentiate, he labored
.^otne tin-ee years to collect them and i>re|)are tiiem for
or;:anization'as a church, and with this desi<i;n he was, in
order to l)e more successful, ordained on March 3Uth, 173U,
beibre a church was oruanized.

Whether ids peoi)le were hindered by the civil ])ower
(as the Frencii Presbyterians had for above twelve yeai*s
been prevented) from erectinc a ))lace of worship, or not,
we are not informed. Tliis is hi;j:hly ])robal)le, tor it is
a vi.trorous tradition that, being Irish, it was j)roposed that
they should give bonds to the town that any meeting-house
whieli tiiey might erect should not l)ecome Koman Catiio-
lie, and if they had, in the usual way, asked an Act of
Incorporation, tlie recpiest would of course not have been
granted. Indeed, it was with dilliculty that they could as
Presbyterians remain in the town at all. Hence we have
such recorils as the following:

To secure the good town of Jioston against harm and los.s
by Presbyterians, tliey must indenniify the authorities.
Hence we have entries as follows :

171M. August 13th. Town to l)e secured against passen-
gers lately, August 4th, arrived from Ireland.

1711). April 27th, Geo. Gliim, tailor, from South Caro-
lina, ordered to dej)art the town.

Robert Holmes and wif(\ and Wm. Holmes and children,
ordered to depart on tlie 15th of April.

Alexander McGregory, from Ireland, to depart.

1719. July 25th. Joan INIcCuUoch (widowj, from Casco,
to depart.

1719. June 9th. Persons arriving from Ireland, John
McCannis. wife and cinldren, John Henderson, \\'m. Mil-
ler, wives and children, John Criehton, Samuel Severiglit,
Francis Ciray, wife and three children, were ordered to
de})art on June 13th.

1719. October 24th. Several.

1719. January 22d. Many farmers from Ireland, twcnty-

ei' ' 'I

:l I

W:\

i :

I' I , )

I;!

HISTORY OF PRESBYTKRIANISM

ono in nil, wcrn on Novenibor oOth last warned to depart;
also .John Walker, wile and tlirco children.

Ilavintr, MS toivi^riuTS umlrr hoiids, to rompote in tlio
trades with the natives and with ICn;^lishnien, these "op-
])ressed brethren " were too poor to ))nreliase land and
erect a nieetin^'-house ; yet Divine Trovidenee raised up to
them a IViend.

A Mr. .John I.ittle, who was a ^rardenor and market man,
and who app(.'ars to have resided in lioston for some time,
as he was married there in ITIS, and whose dwellin;j; was
in Milk street, ])nrchase(l i!i May, 172!>, a lot of land on
Lonii; Lane, on which there then stood a harn. Into this
*'rude and lowly structure," after some tinie, when his
dw( llin<f would not contain them, he invited his country-
men to enter, and worship that Saviour who was born in
'"a. stable and laid in a nian;j;er,"

From all that is known of his history, he appears to have
liad, until late in life and after his second marriaire, no
olfsprini;. ConscMjuontly, by industry he was en;vbled to
accumulate some ])ropeity. Althouuh unable to write his
own name, his first, tln-ilty and pious wife, ]\[ary, through
whose counsel and promi)tin<:R he was encouraired to create
a Trust, which should in subserviency to the .ijlory of God
and the honor of our Lord Jesus Christ per])etuate his own
name to comin*? generations, was able to write her own,
and so far as was necessary to keep his current accounts.
His business, as a gardener, kept him in and near the
town, in which he may have been one of the earliest Irish
settlers.

He had, on the l-lth day of May, a. n. 1729, bought of
Ilcniry Deering for jCooO, ''in lawful ])ublic bills of credit,"
the aforesaid lot, nearly one-quarter of an acre, and about
one twenty-four-liundredth part of the original site of Bos-
ton. Disposed to "honor the Lord with his substance" —
feeling dee))ly for the best interests of his then present and
future resident countrymen in the town, and the duty of
providing for his own spiritual welfare by enjoying the
])ublic ordinances of religion, he alterwards devoted said
land to religious use for ever. That Mr. Moorchead was
ordained ]\hirch 3()th, 1730, we gather from two facts — the
appointment by the session of Londonderry on March 2d,
1730, of James Reed, ruling elder, to attend the Presbytery |

IN NEW ENGLAND.

epart ;

tho
e "op-
1(1 iintl
d up to

ot nii^n,
ic tiiuf,
\\v^ was
land on
ulo this
hen his
-ountry-
born in

s to have
riairc, no
KvMed to
write his
, thronijli
to croate
y of (ioil
J his own
her own,
aceonnts.
near the
host Irish

l)on!j;ht of
ot credit,
and ahout
itc of Bos-
bstance "—
Ircsent and
duty of
Dvini: the
v»")ted paid
ehead was
facts— tlie
March 2d,
Presbytery

at Boston, and tlio statement of Mr. Moorelicad, which he
Jjas written on his l{c<j,istry of Marriajies and Baptisms,
that "1 h('}j;aii to hapti/c on and after >hn'('li .'Jlst, ITod."

"This religious socii'ty was estahhsheil hy his pious zeal
and assiduity."' It recjiiired years of lal)or to coUeet the
scattered fragine\its, to j^alher together even tlie few dis-
persed hretlir* n of tlie I'reshyterian faith then resi(h>nt in
Boston and the neiuid)()ring towns, t.'X|iosetI us those had
heen who had for any len^tii of time resicU'd here to the
iidhienees of jnuttiier eeelesiastieal <»(>vernnient.

IV'rseveranee, under the hKssin<4 of Heaven, brought
success, and in a few montlis after his or(nnation lie had
the i)h'asure of seeing u eliurch organized. Having "sown
in tears, his reajting time ol'.joy " n<»w began, and "the first
meeting of the i)rethren with their minister, for the election
of ruling elders, according to the government of the Cliurch
of Scotland, was held in the house of Mr. John Little, in
Milk street, on the Mtli day of .Inly. 17;-!(). The elder.s
iheii chosen were ,h)hn ^'oung, Hohert I'atton, Samuel
McClure, Uiehard MeClure and Thos. McMullen." (Mc-
Clure's Sketches, ISOT.)

^^'e have seen the manner jnirsued by the church .session
of Londonderry in a similar election, and whether each of
th(! stejis there enumerated was now taken with these
brethren or not, we know not; but they ''were (in due
time) ordained," and the organization of the Second Pres-
byterian Church in jloston was then com])leted by their
installation. How soon alterwards a call was made out
for Mr. ^b)orehead, on tlu> acce))tanee of which he was
installed as their i)astor. we know not; but it was doubtless
done at an early day.

He had lahortnl among them with an increasingly nui-
tual attachment, and the consummation of this oflicial
spiritual relation would not be unduly delayed.

He was the forty-sixth minister settled in Boston, and
"soon after his induction he married Miss Sarah Parsons,
an English lady, who survived him about one year." As
the congregation met for the important purpose of the
election of elders, when a full meeting would be desirable
and almost certain, at the house of Mr. John Little, on
Milk street, it is at least reasonable to suppose that they
met often, if not statedly, there on the Sabbath for public

t Ml

il!

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIAXISM

worship, for montlis or for years. Indood, these " Preshy-
terian stran;;ers " luul no other ])la('e in which to meet,
until th(!y went to his hani. The overshadowing inllu-
enees of " tiie C'hureh of tlie I'arish." ■■; we have seen in the
case of the Preshytcrian Cimrcl )reester, and in the

inii)edini('nts east in the way of Vi.. ^ .ench Churcii in the
same jtarisii in F)Oston, when endeavorinti resjx etively to
su|)i)ly themselves with phices of worshi)), wonhl ailord to
these '' oppressed Irish l>retiiren '' hut little eneourajiement,
Avhen they desired to find "a place of hal)itation for the
mighty (lod of Jacoh." Their ease, in view of the aspect
of colonial law and its tljeocracv towards them, could not
have heen Mattering. C'onse(]Uently the inconvenience of
a dwelling;, or the associations of a harnyard, were hy them
readily home, in order that they miiiht "sini: the .A7/o/7///'.s'
Bong in a foreit^n land" (Ps. cxxxvii. 4), and perjietuate
those principles which had descended to them sealed hy
the l)lood of a martyred ancestry.

As " a man's house is " said to be " his castle," so John
Little, with his faithful wife, a|)|)ears to iiave projected the
idea of turninii his harn into a meetin;:-house.

By makin<^ it a trust with a eharitahle use, for Presby-
terians to hold and enjoy forever, he, as a Pritish subject,
■with his counsel, supi)osed that they could avoid troubling
the selectmen or the j^eneral court. Trusts for the wor-
ship of (lod, for education and tiie aid of the poor, they
BU))posed to be sacred throULdiout tlu' British empire.

At what time he heyan to '' convert" his " barn " into a
meetin<r-house does not appear, but it was obviously after
the 14th (lav of July, 17<iO, when the work of church or-
ganization was in projiress. Previously to the election and
ordination of Kulinu' Elders, there would be no stroni;
probability that a house of worshij) would he recpiired.
lie had owned the land from the 14th day of May, 17lii>,
and probably he soon after the 14th of July, 173U, began
to "transform " his barn.

Some months afterwards, these people had a buildini,'
separated from former uses to the worshij) of (Jod, and
liow delightful to them must have i>een their " little sanc-
tuary!" According to the autobioiiraphy of the Ivev. Dr.
David McClure, who was one of Mr. Moorehead's j)Uj)ils,
"This little colony of Christians for some time carried on

IN NKW KXCiLAND.

ini'C't,
inlUi-
i\i iho
in tho
in tho
;(ly to
lord to
I'liR-nt,
for tlio
uspoot
lid not
■nee ol'
y tlu'ni

|)ctu;itu
lied by

;o John
;tt'd the

Prosby-

subjcct,

ultlinjj;

le NVi>i'-

or, they

re.

" into :i
dy after
urch or-
ion and
) stron!^
('(luired.
y, 172'.>,
l), begun

)uildin'^
od, and
lie sanc-
Uev. i)r.
j)U})ils,
rried on

worship in a ])arn, and as tlie conp;re<j:ation increased by
eniij^raiits from ?5eotland and Irclantl, tliey added to it
two \vin<;s/'

In preparin;^ the bnildiiii,' for this nse, he eri'oted for
liiinsrlf, in eonnnon with tlie others, a "pew and scat,"
and as tlie con<;re«,Mtion ;j:athered stren<5th, they iii)j)()inted
"aconnnittee for nianaizinii: the ))rudential atVairs tiiereof."
After years (tf ownership lie ollered the premises wholly
to them on certain conditions. In this attemjtt nnanimity
was eventnally lost between the donor and the innnediate
beneticiarics. Part of the history of this strife is ascer-
tained by verbal statement and part is on record. As to
the Ibrmcr, the writer was informed in a. d. 1S41), by Mr.s.
I. Cossington, a j:randdauuliter of the liev. John Moore-
head, and who was above fifty velars of a<j;e when her
mother, Mrs. A<:ncs Wilson, deceased, who was thirty-
seven years of age when her lather died, that it was tho
unvarying account of the church estate founded by Mr.
Little, that "he would give to them his lot of land forever,
if they would pay him for his work on his meeting-house,
and keep a meeting-house on the land, and keep a scat or
pew in it for his heirs forever," ami that the congregation
all agreed to do this.

They, however, soon dilVcrcd as to the amount of pay-
ment which he should receive, and in less than four year.s
after the ordination and settlement of their pastor, "sun-
dry disputes and'diflerences arose between " them.

Little not only owned the land and the house, 'lit lio
also controlled "the outstanding debts due by the said
congregation." Instead of attempting to compel him by
a suit in civil law, to deliver U|) their " outstanding debts,"
as they would, in all probability, have done, if he wero
only their agent or factor, they asked him to subnnt their
''disputes and diflerences " to peaceful arbitration, and in
order to this, they "signified their mutual consent by
their several obligations, called bands ol" submission." liy
this ])rocess concord was soon re-established, The award
was made by persons wdiose names indicate that they
belonged to the French Cliurch of the town, and was as
follows •

;-|H

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••k

HISTORY OF PKESBYTERIAMSM

Awai'd nf Jacob Shcafc^ Stephen Bnnlincau^and Hugh Va7is.

To all ])oo]>le unto whom this ])res(*nt writinjr of award
shall ('OHIO, Jac(>l) Shoafc, (n-ntlciiiaii, Stephen Boutincau
and IIujzli Vans, Merchants, all of Boston, in the county
of Suffolk, and province of the Massachusetts Bay in
New England, send greeting:

Whereas, upon sundry disputes and differences arisen
between John Little, of Boston aforesaid, Gardner, on the
one part, and Cieorge Glen, Taylor ; Edward Allen, Taylor ;
Andrew Knox, Mariner; (Jeorge Southerland, Shopkeeper;
William JIall, Leather-dresser; Daniel Macneal, Laborer*
Samuel Miller, Gunsmith; Abraham All, Taylor; and
William Shaw, Taylor, all of Boston aforesaid, of the other
part, they the said partys for the determination thereof
and by their mutual consents signifyed by their several
obligations, dated the fourteenth day of Jaimary, Anno
Domini, 1735, appoint us, the said Jacob Shoai'e and Ste-
phen Boutineau, arbitrators of all their diilerences till that
time, and agreed that either of us, in case of our non-agree-
ment, should choose a third person — and we being willing
and desirous to determine the disputes and differences
between said partys, in order to effect the same, havo
chosen the said Hugh Vans to assist us therein. And the
said partys by the said ol)ligations further agreed, that we,
making up our award of the sanu? under our hands and
seals, ready to be delivered to the said partys, on or before
the fifteenth day of A])ril current, should finally determine
the premises as by their several obligations, with condi-
tions for the performance thereof, will more fully appear.
Now in pursuance of the said submission and to answer
the end proj)osed therel)y, we, the saide Jacob Sheafe, Ste-
phen lioutineau and Hugh Vans accept of the burthen of
the said award, and having fully heard both i)artys,
])erused, examined and deliberately considered on all
oapers, matters and things disclosed or jjretended to us
oy either party as the cause of their variance, do make,
])ul)lish and declare this our award between them con-
cerning the j)remises, in manner following, that is to say :
— Imprimis, we award and order that the said George
Glen. Edward Allen^ Andrew Knox, George Southerland,

IN NEW ENGLAND.

William TTall. Daniol Macnoal, Samuel ]\rillcr. Abraham
All and W'illiani Sliaw siiall, witliin the s])a(.'(' of two
months I'roiii the date liereot", pay or cause to lie ])aid unto
the said Joim Little tiie sum of one hundred and forty
jtounds and five pence, in Publiek Wilh of Credit, ■\vhicli
is and shall i»e in full of the claimes and demands which
the said John Little had a^'ainst ye conj^rej^ation hclont,'-
injz to the Presbyterian meetinij-ho'use in Long Lane, in
Boston aforesaid, with respect to his attendance upon and
lookinn after the building of ye sd meeting-house, and all
his accounts of charixes and disbursements al)out the same,
and the land whereon it stands, as also touchinf:f and con-
cerriin<r th(i said I^ittle's purchase of the said land of
IL'in-y DeeriniX, Kscp, ut the time of entering into the said
Bands of sul)mission.

Item. We award and order that, upon ye jiayment of
ye sd sum, the said John Little shall make and execute in
due form of law, imto the said contire^'ation, a irood Law-
ful Deed of Conveyance of the Land whereon ye sd meet-
iufi-house stands and is thereunto appertainin<r, with the
])rivaledges and ai)purtenanccs thereunto beloniring, which
the said Little bought and j)urchased of the said Deerinj;
as aforesaid, To Hold the same unto the said congregation
according to 3'e Tenures and after the same manner as the
Cliurch of Scotland hold and Enjoy the Lands whereon
their meeting-houses are Erected.

Item. We agree and tletermine and do hereby ascertain
the Right and Interest which the sd John Little hath in
the said meeting-house to be the pew and seat therein
now in his possession, which is to remain good to him
forever, in the same manner as the rest of the proprietors
in the said meeting do liold and enjoy tlu-ir respective
Rights and Interests therein.

Item. We award and order that the said John Litth;
shall assign Transfers and make over unto the said (Jeorgo
(den, Edward Allen, Amlrew Knox, George Southerland,
\\'illiam Hall, Daniel Macneal, Samuel Sliller, Abraham
All and William Shaw, as they are a committee chosen
and appointetl by the said (Congregation for managing the
prudential affairs thereof, the outstanding debts due to
the said congregation amounting, as by account ap|)ear8,
to the sum of tifty-fbur pounds five shillings, and shall in-

Via

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

,! mm

vest them with all the power he ye said Little is possessed
()i\ in onlrr to recover the same for the use of the said
c()n<irejj;ati()n.

Lastly. We award and order that the charrre of this ar-
hitration shall be l)orne and sustained by the said Partys
(iliare and share alike. In Witness whereof we have here-
luito set our hands and seals, the ninth day of April, Anno
Domini, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-five.
Jac'ol) Sheafe, and a seal; Stephen Jioutinuau, and a seal ;
IIujj;h Vans, and a seal. Si<rned, sealed and delivered in
ve presence of ( liy tlie said Stephen Jioutineau, and lluixh
Vans) Daniel Marsh. And by the said Jacob Sheafe in
the presence of us Daniel Marsii, Anth. Woulfe.

These two months soon passed, and as the dervish in the
desert, who from time to time found his spring of living
water rendered nearly valu(>less for a season by the feet of
the camels of the pilgrims, in order to do good to himself
and to future generations, surrounded it with a sale stone
curb, so that tiie thirsty might drink and thank their
benefactor while he lived and l)less his memory after his
death — so John Little, on the Dth day of June, A. i). IToo,
devoted a lot of his land, for he had other lots in town, to
the worship and glory of God and to the welfare of men, in
connection with a si)eciried and definite " form of sound
words" indx'dded in the affeetions of Presbyterians, and
sealed by the blood of the martyrs of his native realm.

His deed reads thus :

"This indenture, made the ninth day of June, Anno
Domini, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-five, and
in the eighth year of the Keign of our Sovereign Lord
CJeorge the Second, by the (Jrace of (iod, of Crreat Britain,
France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, tV'c. :
Between John Little of Boston, in the County of Suffolk
and Province of the Massaeliusetts Bay, in New England,
(Jardner, on the one part, and (Jeorge (Jlen, Tailor, William
Hall, Leather Dresser, and William Siiaw, Tailor, all of
Bostci: albrcsaid, and Andrew Knox, of said Boston,
Marini;., for themselves, and as a Connnittee chosen and
api)ointed by the rest of the Congregation belonging to the
Presbyterian Meeting House, in Long Lane, in Boston

4
■yt

IN NEW ENGLAND.

aforesaid, for mfinnGjinp; the PriKlential Affairs thereof, on
the other part witnkssJ'-.th : —

" Tliat the said .h»iin Little, for and in consideration of
the sum One llun(h-ed and Forty Pounds and five jK'ncc,
in u'ood puhlick l)ills of credit of the Province aforesaid, to
liitn in Fland, at and before the ensealing and delivery of
these Presents, well and truly paid by the said George
( JU'n, William Hall, William Shaw and Andrew Knox, in
behalf of themselves and as a Connnittee chosen as afore-
said, the recei])t whereof the said Jolm Little doth hereby
acknowledge, and thiM-eof doth ac(iuit. and discharge the
said (ieorL''e (Jlen, William ILill, William Shaw and
Andrew Knox, in behalf of themselves, and in their
ca))acity aforesaid, and their successors in said trust, and
each every of them forever by these Presents, hath given,
granted, bargained, sold, aliened, enfeoffed, released, con-
veyed and confirmed, and by these Presents doth give,
grant, l^argain, sell, alien, enfeoffe, release, convey and con-
firm, unto the said George (ilen, William Hall, William
Shaw and Andrew Knox, a certain Piece or Parcel of Land,
situate, lying, and being in lioston aforesaid, and is
bounded in the Front Westerly U])on TiOng Lane, so called,
there measures one hundred and twenty-nine feet; North-
erly by land of Mr. Jonathan Loring, and there measures
ninety -eight feet; Easterly by land of Nathanael Green,
Es<i., and there measures one hundred and fifteen feet;
Southerly by liury Street, so called, and there measures
one hundred and twenty-six feet and an half foot ; or, how-
ever otherwise butted and bounded, or be the dimentions
on either side, more or less. Also, the Meeting House on
the said land standing. Together with all and Singular, the
rights, members, profits, priviledges, fences, improvements,
and ap])urtenances, whatsoever to the said granted and
bargained piece or parcel of Land, and Meeting House, be-
longing, or in any wise appertaining, or therewith now
nsed, occupied or enjoyed. Also, all the Estate, Right,
Title, Literest, Inheritance, Use, Possession, Property,
Claim and Demand whatsoever, of him the said John Lit-
tle, of, in and to the .said granted and bargained Premises,
and every Part and Parcel thereof, with the a])purtenances:
and the Reversion and Reversions, Remainder and Re-
mainders thereof, saving and always reserving to the said

j
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11 "1' "FT"

mSTOUY OF PRKSBYTKKIANISM

John liittle, his heirs and assigns forcvor, the "Rijzht and
Interest which the said John Little hath in the s;iid Meet-
ing; House and Land, to wit: the IVw and seat therein
now in his possession, which is to remain fj;ood to liini, liis
Heirs and Assigns forever in the same m;nmer as the rest
of the Proprietors in the said Meetin<r House do hold and
enjoy their respective riirhts and interests therein, which
rijilit and interest hy a certain Listrumcnt of award made
))y Jacob Sheaf, Gentleman, and Stepjien ]V)Utinc;iu and
Hugh Vans, >h'rchants, all of Boston aforesaid, Ix'tweeu
tli«.' said John Little on the one ])art, and the said (jeoriro
(Jlen, William Hall, William Shaw and others, a Connnit-
tee, chosen for the purposes aforesnid, on the other ]>art;
l)earing date the ninth day of April, <»ne thousand seven
hundred and thirty-live, was ascert;iined to the said John
Little, as by the said Award, reference thereto being had,
may more at large apjx'ar.

" To HAVK AM) TO uoi.i) the said ])iece or parcel of T^and,
Meeting House, and Premises with the aj)j)urtenances
(saving and reserving as aforesaid ), unto the said (ieorgo
Glen, William Shaw and William Hall and Andrew Knox,
in their capacity aforesaid, and to their successors in that
Trust and oflice forever, but to and lor the only ])roper use,
benefit and behoof of the said Congregation (according to
the Tenures and after the s^ame mann(>r as the Church of
Scotland hold and enjoy the Lands whereon the Meeting
Houses are erected), forever, and for no other use, intent or
purpose whatsoever; with Warranty against him the said
John Little, and his iieirs, and all and every other Person
and Persons, whatsoever, from, by (jr under him or them.
Together with the IJenelit of a Warranty in a certain Dec.'d
mentioned from Theodore Atkinson, (Jentlcman, as the
afore-named Nathanael (ir(H!n, ])urchased tlie same as in
and by the said deed, bi'aring date the twentieth day of
November, 1723, of Record in the Registry of Deeds, for tho
County of Sutlblk, may a])pear, which granted Land and
Premises, with the ai)purtenances before th(> said Meeting
House was thereon erected, the said John Little purchased
of Henry Deering, Es<ir.

''In Witness whereof, T, the said John Little, and ^lary
his wife (in toktni of her free consent to these Presents and
Release of her Right and Title of Dower, and Thirds of, in

1
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:;•:

l:il^

IN NEW ENGLAND.

and nnto tlio afiire-L'rantcfl and harijaincfl PromiPOia, with
the apjiui'tcniuuM's I, 1iav(> licrcunto set their liands and
srals. tilt' Day and Year lirst aforcwritti'n. John X Little,
his mark and a seal; Mary Little an<l a seal. Sitnied,
seah'd and deh veiled in presence ot' William Morto. John Sale.
I'eccived on the day ot" the date of tin; aloi'ewritten Deed,
o\' the at'orenanied Cleorue (ilen, William Hall, and William
Shaw and Andrew Knox, Connnitteo as aforesaid, tho sum
of One Hundred and Forty Pounds and five pence. I»eini^
the Consideiation Money aforementioned. John X Little,
his niiirk. Sullolk. SS. — Uoston, June 'Jth. 17')''). Tho
al'oreiiame(l John Little, and Mary his wife, pi-rsonally ap-
jiearin^', aeknowletlnt'd the aforewritten Instrument hy
them executed to he their act and Deed, iiefore me,
JosiiiA Wi.Nsi.ow. Justieo of the I'eaee, June ID, 173").
Received, and accordingly J'^ntered and Kxaiuined

" Per Samiki. (Jkhiush, 7iV///.s7rr.

"A True Copy from the Ivccords of Deeils lor the County
of Sullolk, Lilj.ol, folio 14.

'* (Attest) Henry Alline, Register.''^

Thus, not only was harmony re-cstahlished, hut a com-
})a('t of the most solenm nature known in the alienation,
conveyance and )»ossession of landed property on earth
was made i upon, or at lea.^^t) relating' to, this estate. A
trust was on that day hy him created, and hy the "pru-
dential committei! " aci-epted for the heneliciaries, which
they mutually designed to have per])etuated while British
civilization should continue (or he succeeded hv its
e»iuivalent) uiK)n this soil.

From that day forward, "the said jiremises formed a
species oi' property, whi<Ji is not the suhject of any ex-
clianiieahle or marki-tahh; value." 'See corj)orate oath
of the trustees of the occupants in 18-')-l.)

This chueh, unfettered hy j)ew patronafi;e, entitled to
the inununities of trusts under the Britisii constitution,
free from the o\ersliadowinir influences of the ";j:reat and
jicneral court "' of tlu; colony — haviuir a faithful ])astor and
at times, twelve diligent ruling elders, now started on a
career of prosj)erity.

\\'hen "'the (^mviM'ted l)arn " hecame too strait for
them, "they added to it two wings," and in less than six

I '

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'Hflfir

7-1

HISTOUY OF rUESBYTKUIANISM

years a muoh larger lionsi; was required, Avhich was erected
and occupied in a. n. 1742.

Of this man, who {lavc of liis Co')') in " puhlic bills of
credit," at least, .£4(M). Ills. 7(/., fur the cause of Christ, it
may not bo without interest to give a more extended no-
tice.

In dii-jposition, he was sociable, charitable, and unusually
libera!.

When "on March I7th, 17''J7, twonty-six ,c;entlemen of
the Irish nation," resident in Hoston, formed '* the Irish
CJKiritalde .Society " of that t(»wn, his name is the twentieth
on the list. With htm were (ieorge Glen and Andrew
Knox, while in 17'>7, Win. Ilall was i*resident.

In his will, which was made July 'ioth, and probated
September 1st, 1741, after provision for the payment of
all his debts, the allotment of one-third of his real estate
to his wife, a small sum to his father, to his brotliers, sis-
ters and mother-ill-law, he gave two j)onnds to Charles, son
of Peter Pelham, schoolmaster, for the friendship received
from his father and family — and the rest of his estate, real
and personal, to his two sons, his dear children, John and
Moses, in efjual ])ortions — and if they should both die
before thev should marrv, or arrive at twenty-one vears
of age — "Then, I give all my real and personal estate and
profits thereof remaining, to th(? overseers of the poor of
Boston forever — for the following ])urp()ses, and no other
use whatsoever, viz.: to improve the same to the best ad-
vantage, and of the annual jirofits to employ some able
and proper person from time to tiinc^ forever, as a school-
master, to teach ])()or Protestant children whose parents
are of the kingdom of Irtdand, and inhabitants of Boston,
m reading, writing, and arithmetic, and j)ay hiin a proper
sum ft)r the same. To provide for such (Oiildren books
and utensils, with a Psalter, Testament and Bible to each
of them.

" None to be admitted to this charity, but such as are
propt'rly recommended and seven years old, and to leave
at fourteen years of aj^e. ' Their number to be regulateil
by said overseers and directors f«)rever.' "

He did not with this charity, as he did with the trust
created on June 9th, a. d. 1785, for a vastly higher purpose,
put it beyond the contingencies of human life; yet it

mnnif(st? a kind,

111:111, Wll

COIllirctinll

ristinn spirit in tlio
ilc it ?;li('\vs us, to sonic extent, the inseparahli!

IN NEW ENGLAND.

jTonprous, and

bet

ween

true l*res))vterianisin and the dif-

l"usiit;i of elementary edueaiion.

W'hetiier either of his sons eaiiie to nianliood or niar-
rie<l is now unknown.

IIo had by this date, Auiiust, 1741, not only "served liis
generation hy the will (>f (Jod ; '' hut had created a trust,
(lesi<:ned, if not j)ervert"d, to subserve tiie glory of Jeho-
vah, tlie honor of Christ, and the welfare of true J'resby-
terians forever — and " he being dead yet sjieaketh," and
serves vM'h succeeding generation, so that out; hundred
and forty-six years have not yet erased his name from tlie
list of I'iiristian benefactors."'

A (juarter ol" a century had not given these '' o}>prosse(l
Irish I'resbyterian bicthren "' civil and social free<loni yet,
as we see by the record of such examples of indeninitica-
tion as the following.

172S. Marcii oth. Kobt. (lardner, from Scotland, on in-
demnifying in the sum of .£l(M), was adniitted to open

lUsme

as a wiirnial<er,

1741, April loth. Matthew Campbell, from Xutfield,
(Derry, N. II.,) obtained leave to open a tol)acco shop.
W'ui. More and Ikj to give bonds for tJoO indemnity for
five years.

1741, April 22(1. Andrew Craigie and family admitted
for five years for .i'loo.

1741. April 2Uth. McCregor and wif(> and two children,
from Drunswick, "to be here next Wt'dnesday."

1741, -lune 24th. Robt. Henry indemnities tor five years
as a blacksmith for i!l(JO. Green and Walker were his
bondsmen.

We now chronologically return for a tinui to the church
of Londonderry, in view espi-cially of its early loss of
its beloved friend and pastv)r, while, at the same time wo
look at the ecclesiastieul usaLres of this people, in common
with all scriptural I'resbyti'rians. in some of their di.s-
criminating features, as tli-sliiict from Prelacy and Congre-
gationalism

In d<

Mr. Parker

)ing this, I again (|Uote extensively from the Rev,

The text from which the Rev. Mr. McGregor preached,

■ I

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HISTORY OF PRElsnYTKUIANIPM

W'hon lio look tlio ])nstf)ral rare of the infant cliiiroh in
Londonderry, tlicn literally in the wilderness, was Kz.
XXX vii. 'J('>.

"This promise as a))]>lied to this band of oinijirants,
has been strikingly fuliilled, in the permanency, onlarjro
nient and prosj)erity of the settlement, then devontly
eonnneneiMl. It has l>een shewn, that the leadinir motive
of these colonists in comini^ to this country was the more
full and free enjoyment of reli^'ious ])rivile,L'es.

"Like the I'ilirrims, they S()Uii,ht a home and a place,
with ' frcfMlom to worship (Jod.' The Londonderry emi-
gration, in 171'^, so called (as they mostly i-ame from that
citv and its vicinity,) included four I'resbvterian nunisters.
Of thes(>, Mc(ire;ior was chosen pastor. The records of
the church commence .June 27th, l7-'"i. The first session
w;is comi)osed of ten ruling elders, and one was added
in 172()." The following extracts from their records may
shew how they "took heed to the Hock over whi(;h the Holy
Crhost had made them overseers. The first case presented
was the report that James Doake had quarrelled with his
father and had beaten liim. * The session came to the
conclusion: that after a great deal of pains taken, they
cannot find it proven, that James Doake did beat. his father,
yet the session agreeth that James l)t)ake should l»erel.)uked
before them, for giving his father the lie, and to be ex-
horted to respect and honor his parents in words and ac-
tions."

The next case of discii)line was a charge brought by
John Archibald against James Moor, for using unjustifia-
ble expressions of a ])rofane character, which Moor denied ;
yet he was (,'xhorted by the session to be watchful and
more circumspect for the future.

A trait of character which distinguished this jicople
was a generous sympathy for their friends in aflliction,and
a readiness to tender relief, llenci' we find, that at the
early jjeriod of 17-5, tlie session ordered two i)ublic col-
lections on Sabbath. One was to aid a Mr. James Clarke,
residing in Rutland, Massachusetts, to ransom his son
taken l)y tlu; Indians; the collection, straitened as were
their circumstances at the time, amounted to five pounds.
The other was for the relief of William Moor, who had
two cows killed by the falling of a tree ; three pounds and

IN NKW KNfiLAND.

ninotoon sliillinprs woro roroived. It is most evident from
these uneient reeonls. that, whatever iniperteetioiis ap-
))e;irt(l in the ehar.icti r ot" the ]ie(i]ih\ the ehh'rs did not
sillier sin to i»ass unicpvnved. Ini)turity ofspeceh oraet;
the circulation of slanilerous rej)orts, dishonesty, or,
ne^rlect of social rrli;_dous duties, were suhjects of promjjt
and faithful dis('i|iliiu'.

Thev wen- pure I'rtshyterians, and no jteopjowcrc more
distinjiuishcd for stuind Christian doctrine and order, or
for a more strict and iiillexihle code of morals.

On March •')th, IT"-".*, the conurciration experienced a
heavy loss in the di"Uh of the lltv. Mr, Me(Jrc^M»r. lie
died at the a<ie of iiity-two. llal)ituat<'d to liardships and
self-denial, he was well prt'pared to share with his people
the toils, (lanirers and >acritice of ease and comfort ever
attendant upon a new settlement. Jt was the custom at
that day, and for thirty years afterwards, for all "ahle-
hodied men " to ^o to chm-ch well armed, in oriler to he
]»rc])ared to repel any sudden attack from the Indians,
and their j»astor always marched into his j»uli)it uith ///.•*
(1(1,1 veil hxuird (iihI primed.'* The K(.'V. Matthew Clarke
hecame the successor of Mi". Me( Jreuor, and on Januarv

5Hh, 1

( .).>,

married, as his third wife, his widow. He never

ate of aiiytliiuji which had possessed animal life, and while
a minister of the Prince of Peace, as he had served as an
oflicer in the Protestant aitny, and was active in the de-
fence t)f Londonderry durin.>r tlu? memorahle siejie, his
martial spirit would not unfrtMjuently be revived. He
died January 25th, 173.'), a,<!;ed seventy-six.

There were in thost' days no theolo^dcal seminaries in
America, and previously to the death of Mr. Clarke, the
peo})le made application to the Presl)ytery of Tyrone for a

* Tlio Rev. Zacliarv Walkor, of Woodb'iry, ("onnccticnt, on one Sah-
balli piTaclitMl tliroi' sfniiDiis ami shot two IiuliauH. ile was ilie tirst
iiiiiiisHT of tliat town. So, during' the eight years of savafje warfare in
the ('iiiaberlanil vaUey, in IVniisylvania, tiie Presbyterian minister, tlie
Jiev. John Steele, "often exercised his ministry witli his ^un at his side,
while the men of his contrrej^ation hud then their wea|>i)ns within their
reach.'' (('haml)ers' Tribute, y. So.) The Norridt,o'walks were langht
by tiie i'rench missionaries to believe, that the Mnirlish murdered the
Saviour of mankind, and the Indians would kill all of theni they could."
(Sewall, j), 317,) Wolfe's victory in 17o.) put a slop to this savage cur-
nagL, and uftcr tliut date garrisuiis and bluckhouses wt^re not iiebdud.

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HISTORY OF rriKSnYTEfUANISM

camlifliitc, " Ji suit:il)l(>, \v« llwuiiiliricd. iuul iurrcditcd inin-
istcr, ti» tiiUc clijir^io of tlicfu in tin- l-<tr<l, ciiLTiiijiii;: to ])iiy
liiiii one liiiinlicd iind lurty |»(Uiii(ls ;iiiiiUiilly. licsidc tlu'
<'X|t('ns('S ol" his voyiij:(', with (»iic-halt(il" a hoiiu'dot and a
hundred acre out-iut," as it was then termed. The ••over-
nt»r of the colony liad tlien hut one hinuh'ed pounds an-
nually, '['his shows the zeal and liherality ol" the early
settlers in supporting the ^osj)eI. They had heeii tau;_dit
the value of divine (trdinane«'S, and they appreciated them
l»y " honorin<r the i^ord with their sidistance.'' On the
10th dav of Oetoher, IT-v'J. the I'ev. 'I'homas Tlioni|ison,
ordained, nuirried and fully accredited, at twenty-nine
years of aj2;e, was installed as their pastor. As t'Xpenses
attendant upon his installation, there were jiaid to the
Uev. M«'ssrs. LeMercier and Moorehead. and their elders,
,i;<S, and £2. o.s. for man and horses to i»rin«f them from
and take them hack to Haverhill, Massachusetts. lie
died Septend)er "i'Jd, I7.")S. Thouudi his ministry was
short, it was liiirhly acceptahle to the jteople, and attended
with the divine hlessimi, the church hein^ very considera-
bly increased durini^ the period of his connection with it.

At a sacramental occasion in 17H4 (only lifteen years
after the settlement of the town t, there were present seven
liundn'd conununicants. As not a few of these came iVom
other conjrretrations/* tokens " (as cheap and convenient
little certificates of church meinl)ershii», for such they
were,) were dispens(>d to i>rev(>nt unworthy intruders.

Thursday hefore the connnunion was ohserved as a
sacramental fast with much strictness, while preachin;^ on
Friday and Saturday and thanks^fivintr on >Ion(lay, were
j»art of their stated communion servic(\s. There would
sometimes he three or four tahles, alter which a short
recess, then a discourse and the usual devotional ex'jrcises,
which wi're often extended to sunset.

'"Such scdemn and devout convocations, such assem-
bling of the j)eoj)le for several consecutive ilays i'or jtrayer,
praise and preachimr; if the ])ractice were revived hy the
churches, would hapjtily serve, it is believed, to j)romot(*
their spirituality, and hrinjj; down the <iivine influences in
more copious eiliisions." (Parker.)

"The settlement continuin<f to receive accessions from
Ireland and elsewhere, and the remoter sections of the

IN NEW KNOT- A NO.

townsliip bcroTninf; iiili:il)it(Ml, sundry pcrsoi.a in tlic
tcrlv pint having; nctitidUiMl lor that oliji-ct, wen- set

(ill' as a r('li_M'»us sncicty. and. in \~'.'>\K were, liy tlic {.'cn-
cral court, invrstt'd witli priviU'^M s, ami slylud the West
rarisli in Londonderry.

" Ui'V. David Mt'(ir('),M>r, son ol* tlic |{cv. .lames McdrcL'or,
took the pastoral eliar;re (d' the ncwly-t'tirnicd conizrcLiation.
lie reciived his litt-rary and iheolojiical education chietly
\nidcr the Hev, Mr. Clarke, his lather's successor, and was
ordaineil in IT-'IC)."

The Kast Parish, in IT-'iO, cidlcd the llcv. William David-
son. They jiave him one hundred and sixty p(»unds ;is ii
settlement, and the sanje sum annually as his salary.
Amidst all their general prosperity and the enjoyment of
the means ot" fjjraee, unsanctilied human nature ltei::in to
♦ tperate, and, at an laily day, harmony hecame impaired
hetween the two eon^'re^'atious. A nundier ol" families
residin;r in the east one, hein;r dissatisTuMl with Mr. David-
son's ministry, an<l particularly attaciied to .Mr. .Mc-
(irej^or, as he was the son ol" their former )>ast«>r. more
evam^elical in his doctrinal views, and a more talented
])reacher than Mr. Davidson, united with the newly-lbrmcd
jtarish.

\ chancre of about a mile in the site of the West Church
imlueed about the same lunnber of fandlies (about forty)
to withdraw from the West and unite with the ICast. Thi.s
unhapi)y tlivision. which lasted for nearly forty years, was
](roduetivi' of evils ion^ lelt in the conjire^'ations, not only
oecasioninj; alienation of feelin<; and often bitter aniniosi-
tii'S between the niend)ers of these two churches, but also
preventinu' all ndnislerial and even social inli-rcourse Ix^-
tween their pastors. The following' minute from the
re(;ortls of the session (of Juno 1st, 174.'>), nuiy servo to
show the want of Christian fellowship which then ex-
isted : '

" James Wilson came to the session and desired to bo
admitted to the sacrament, to which Mr. Davidson told
him, with the si'ssion, that we admitted none that |»artook;
with Mr. Mc(ire<ior; and was inipiired of whether or not it
was a |>ersonal (piarrel with his minister that made him
decline from him. lie answered it was not, but only tho
teiuiUa (, tenets; they held iij) aiuong.st them, and that he

VV I

Ii ' I ' >

ii '

-m" "" y ipi

IIISTOUV OK rUlsnYTKUIANISM

would not join with tlimi for tlio futnro. jnul upon tlioRo
lie ^ot ii tnkrn ol ;i(lnii>>i<)n."'

This alienation is Curtlirr shewn hy their resiKctivc
viowH ol' th(^ preat awakenin;.' or e.\tra<>r<linaiv s( rio\isn(ss
and attention to reliLMon which, in 1711, in the days oCthe
Tenants, ol' I'ldwards, and of W'hitelield, si» extensively
jirevailed in this conntry, peivadin-j: New Kni:land and ex-
tondin^ to this town. ,Me(ireL^iir |»reached and entei<(i
fiirncstly into the awakenini^, and a ha|i|iy addition was
made to his ehnieh. havidson and his ehureii stdod
ai(*or from all jiartieipation in the work. The Uev. (JeorL^e
Whitdiehl preached t(t a v<ry iai-^e (Mtllection of penple in
the open Held, the nieriiii.:j-hMus<' nti( hein;/ lai'^c enontjli
to ac(-onnnodale them. '■.\ltlioUL:h Davidson antl those in
llu! Preshyterian coiniection who sympathized with him,
adhered to the Confession of ]*'ai!h and catechisms in their
families, sclutols and con jrct^at inns, yet in their |>reachin'4
they left out. as has heen justly said, the flistinctive doc-
trines of the ( 'alvinistic system, dwelt chielly on moral and
practical <luti<'S, won; not /eal')us for the c(»nvei>i<tn of sin-
ners, and in their preachin.! and tievotional seivices lacked
that unction an<l iervor which disiin<^uished the advocates,
promoters an<l suhj<'cts olthe ^reat revival."

The result was that vital Liodliness greatly declined in
this church, few were a' ed hy pi-olessinii. disci|iline was
much ne;j;Iected, and the distinctive lines hetwcen the
chund) and tin* world wei<' nearly ohlilerated.

Mr. McdrcLior, vindicatin^r the work from the cliar;_'es of
antinomianism and fanaticism ( /V///'v\' //^-^;/•//l, says:
'' For my own part, I have seen little or no ap|)earance of
the }j;rowth of antinomian ermrs or ;niythin^ visioni'.ry or
cnthusiastie, either in my own conL'r<'^ation or anion;: the
])eople in the nei-jhli'trhood where 1 live. Indeed, if as-
serting justilication hy faith alune. and denying' it hy the
law as a covenant of works, wtiih? the eternal (>!>liijatit)n of
the law as a rule of life is strongly maintained in practice
as Well as ])rofession — if this, I say, Ix- antinomian <loc-
trine, tln-n we ha.c a ;ireat i^rowth of antinomianism.
Airain, if us.'^ertin^f the necessity of supernatural iidluence
or divine (iier^'y in conversion, or the reality of tin* imuM;-
diat(! witnessing and sealing' of tli<' S|»irit he nillinsin.siit,
tlit'ii vvc have a remarkable spread oi" eatliusia»m ; and in

IN NKVV FNOLAND,

tho?o spncos nmv nnfinonii:inistii nii'l ontliusiasm ^o\r
Tiinn- .mihI juori' till tlicv ovcrspp-inl the whole liind."

W'l' now look a litllr. (Ill what was farther done in the
extension of I'resliyteriar.isin (jiirinir the first twenty-five
years at'tfi' the st'tt Itniciit ot" l><Try. N. 11.

In all towns wIhtc I'rrsitylt rians niiiitrled with tho
]ialiv<'>^. they had to mrounter stronti prejudiees, were
vi. wed. to sotni! extfut, as iiitrud<rs, and were conipeTled
to support a t'onn of chui'i'!) 'j-ov«'rnni<nt .in<l worship for
which they had no allcftion, ( onsecjuetitly, if they
ohtaincd u |>eaeeal)ie sctth-nient and were not driven olV
or rxpellrd. they wti-c in a urncration or two ol'ten assiini-
latcd to ami alnorl.t I hy tin' ovt-rshadowin;; iidlnenee of
the colonial religion.

Hence their nieetin'.'-lntnscs in many towns lirivo passed
into the |)ossession of ("onLrrc/ationalists. These i<ettle-
niiiits were made almost wholly of I'rcshyterians from the
north of Ireland, and the S.'otch i excepting' those wlio
Went t(» the Province of Maine i do not appear to have
collie into New Kn;_dand in colonies until after the middle
of this century.

At this period, however, minister- tVoin the Kirk, tljo only
rder of Pre.shyterians then in Scotland («'xceptinj; a lew
of the Reformed i c.iiiie over, 'j'jie mini.ster of tho majority
of the voti's of a town was su|iported hy a parish tax col-
licted hy civil anthoiity. and alt lioujh this was les.s secure
than patronau'e in Scotland, yet individual adventurers
from iJritish i'reshyti ries were not unfri<|Uently liire(l to
M rvt ( 'on'.ii'e:,.Ml ional soi'ieties.

Ahout this period .lame- Keilli. John ('anij)hell, IIuEtli
<"aniphell, llu-h II en rv. John .M( Kinslrv and John (Jra-

lani. as we have .^-eeii. S'vvimI as pastors m this way.

'■ .M.uiy of the enii' rants (who came to the Hav in and
h( fore ]{\:',:',) jiad. while in l-ln'rhiud, Ixlon.L'ed to the eon-
,L'r( 'Ration of the jlev. Thonias Iloolcer, a preacher of great
ctlehrily, who, to ( -(-ape lines and imprisonment for non-
ci'iilormify. ha<l lied into Holland. Iteiii'.'L'rca y attaehe<l
t" him. at their e:irnesl reipiesi he came to them and \)vr-
Miaded Mr. SanuH I Stone to accompany him as an
a«-i

-tant. They arrived in I'.oston Septcjiiher 4th, lt».").'i.
<Mi Oeidhcr Jllh thev Were ord.aiiied to their resjx'ctivo
ollii.i's as pastor and teacher in the church at Cumhridiro

i u

T T

iii

I*!

mSTOUY OK rUKSHYTEKIANISM

in thn now way. Finclinj^ liiiiipclf ovorsliiulowod l)y thn
great inHiiciK'c of the Kcv. Mr. Cotton, in Hi.'JO, he (witli
Jjis wliok* churcl) uiid coii^n'cj^Mtion, consist in<^ of. -il tout one
Inmdn'd persons) reiriove(J to C-onnecti^ut iind eoniiiujnct'd
the settlenicjit of Ilurttbrd." ( Cam. C»n. Fnith.)

" l'r('sl)yteriiinisin lias not tx-cn \vitlir)ut ri^ht in Con-
necticut. 'i'he |iiin('i|»al friends !in<l patrons of tlie colony
at tlie time of its seitleinent were I'resln'teriiins : and so
were many of those who eanu; over at an early day.
Some of th(? first ministers of this colony were avowed
J*reshyterinns. That is snch as were; I'reshyterians in
En<.dand from loT'i until loill. Thc! later I'liritan enii^Ma-
tion itroLiuht with it ' a leaven of I'reshvterianism,' savs

Dr. liacon (('oiifrih. J list, <

onii.

p. 1

t K :in(

1 it

s workni'jH

sy.^

'<• to l)e traced in the Sayhrook Platform. IJuhr the
stem of church iiolitv thert; defhied, the consociation

dicial

could he made, and was made; to a ^rreat extent a jut
and authoritative trihunal (p. I'J'J), corresponding' very
closely with the l*resl»ytery. In kcepin;^ with these facts,
the name I'reshyterian has heen appli(.'d very connuonly to
the churches of ( 'onnecticut, aiid on more than one occasion
it has heen atlirnKMl, upon hiirh authority, that the system
of (ihurch order prevailinj^ aiuonji them was really Preshy-
terianisrn." (J/id. Dine. Ibid.^ p. G.'i; Dr. DwujhCs Truccls,
vol. iv., J). 410 se(i.)

" Hut the churches in this Stato that have been in a
stricter and more usual sens(; i'lV'shyterian have never
been nuin<'rous, and they have come into existence \nider
special conditions. In Voluntown, now Sterling, Wind-
ham conntv, a church was orL^•lni/.^d on the 15th of
October, 172.".." {Rrr. ('has. W. Jiaml.)

'Iho. Rev. Samuel Dorrance, a native of Ireland, was set-
tled there on that flay, and, on AuL'U><t Mth, 171.), a peti-
tion from said town was received hy the oritrinal i'reshy-
tery at its meetin;^ in Poston in the LeMercier Church, on
which he and his conLrre;^ation was received, lie was dis-
missed in 177'>, and the church hecanH? Con!:r(\L^•ltionaI
Junt; .'lOth, 177'.). Of this Prcshytery he was prohahly
durinjr its existence a memhcr. I le died then; on Novem-
ber 12th, 177''), in the ninetieth year of his a^'o and the
forty-seventh of his nunistry. Peters ( 7/m/. dJ Citnn.) says:
**lu Voluntown tliero is one Presbyterian purish. This

IN NKW K.Nlil.AXD.

il.i

port ]in.= rx)oi wllli ns littlo Cliristinn rlinrity nnd linmnnity
in this liiiiiliraiiifd <'(»niiiniiiily as the Aiiahaptists, (Qua-
kers and < 'liurchiiH'ii. The ' sdlur (lissciitcrs ' <it" this ti)\vn
(as thcv slvli' thcMisclvcs) will not attend the t'lnural of a

Preshytt'i-ian ' ( p. MVI

ht. however, aj»]>ly o

nlv

to the state of that eoniinunity in the time of liis succes-
sor, llie llev. .Mr. (iihiiore.

Of all the in(lueti(»iis of Presbyterian ministers to sorvo
C'onL'i'eL'ationalist societies, that which as the occasion was

iro(

hut

ive ol the most extensive eonse([uenees for evil was

the settlement ot' the I {ev. James II illhouse with the second
]>aiish of New London ( callcil Monlvillcj in that colony on
Uctoher ;;d, 1722.

Kor several years matters apjx-ar to have prospered with
him, hut wlietlaT his doctrine did not suit his audience or
his |>raetiee hccamo impropt-r, does not appear. For some
cause, hitwever, he became iuipo|)ular with his people.
Jle also proseeuteil one of his nei'^hhors an<l was non-
suited. The power of his employers was now exerted to
remove him. The people shut the church door on him

mil withlield his salarv

.\ Council," not " mutual,"' hut

■X part(

as held, and instead of advisin<_f him to ask for

a dismis.'^ion, they in ITo-') ''ordered him U) risign liis
oil

ice

This ho did not do; hut continued to preach and do-

mand Ins salary.

To protect himself (ecclesiastically, he applied to the
Preshyt«'ry for admission.

Kxcitt.'mcnt l>ccame rite. The correspondence between
the ConuMcirational and Presbyterian ndnisters of an iAW-
cial and especially of a fraternal character was now i'Up-
turc(l, by specific vi(!ws of church j)ow(>r.

If the I'resbytery should adnut inm, while "ordered"
by :i council to resiu'u bis ollice, a par value would not bo
placed on their standiuL' and authority.

On this (|Uestion the Presbytery divided.

A majority were for rejectint,' him, but at amectiuLr held
in IT'lC). when but live ministers wen; |>res<nt, by the aid
(tf tiie votes of riding elders, Pey. Messrs. .Moorehead
and Harvey ha<l him admitted by a majority of one vote.

Afrainst his admission, the three other ministers then
present protested. They could only protest — not appeal,

.11

! ,;li

.1 ^
• r

t ;

;

Jii •

»|i

■i

li i

m I

$4 msTOHY OK IMCMSnYTERIANISM

for tlicrc w.'is not until iif.'irly forty years nftor, nny pynorl

iicMrcr lliaii IitlaiiW, witli wliicli tln-y liad any <'onnc( tion.

Mr. Moon-licad maintained, that tluMiuh hired l»v Con-

pre;rati(»Malists, as he was not ordannd hy any ol their
councils, he was n<»t anienalije or subject to them.

lie )»rosecuted his |»arish for his salary, lost his case in

court, and on .June 'JSlJi, 1

I 'U

he was cast, out and de-

»()se(

I (

savs

I.e.M

ereien hy a couju'd, who also appo

in ted

another ni his stead

l''rom 17-JO, peace and the I'reshytery shook hands and

lai

le.l. I

Jccours(! was had, not only to vindications Ite-

fore the I'reshytery. hill criminations and iccriinination.s
Were spread het'ore tjic people, hy hot h the pul|)it and IIk;
j>ress. Anion;; those, thus aliciiatecl, were the pastors of
th(j IJoHton churches. Le.Mercier advocated tin! expc-
ilieucy, if not the princi|»le ol' reco^ni/inL'' the action of tlu?
council as valid while .Moorehead iiiainlaiiied, that its
''power (as e.\ercised in the ciise of Mr. ilillhousc) was
.Jesuitical and usurped" — and that as he had rec«'ived his
<ii(lination heiorc he (lanie to the colonies, tin* I'reshytery,
in 17'>'>, " recc.'ivcd him as a memher ol" the Church of
.Scotland. "

I''n»m th(» pulpit also, cviden<M'S of alienation wen; pre-
Hcnted, and hom jaike .\vi. lo, Mr. Moorehead preache<l

le.xtually to the I 're.shylery. This of course produced deep
feelinLS which was iiwacased hy Mr. ilillhousc, who per-
sistently |»ressed his admission on the court.

Such was the furor of the contest, that, in Octoher, 17.'>n,
the Kev. Mr. Harvey was siis|»enr|ed hy I'reshytery -
Avhile th<! K'ev. Mr. Moorehead was twice rehuked and
iinally suspended from nHice and emolument. When un-
der process, '* hoth Mr. Moorehead and .Mr. Harvey wen.*
)ermitted to ^ive their reasons and defend their c(»urse
tefore I'ri'shvtcry." Uesides Monreliead. Ilarvev, and

illhouse, then' were in and remained in l'resl»vt(>rv

liv(! ministers —LcMcrcier, Thompson, Wilson, McdiCna-
lian. and .lohnston.

The ricshytery which met in I'.oston Oct., IT-'Ul ("that is,
tht'Hc live clergymen with their elders;, forhade their
inemheis to preach or cxtrcise any ministerial ollic*' (says
J.,e.Mcrci( i) within the hounds of the other ministers,
without the kuowk'dgo of tliu rrcsbytery — that is, tlicy

I'M

IN NEW ENOLANP.

woro not In proncli in tlio fiulpits of ^Tr. !\foorolic;i(l or
Mr. ii.irvfv, iiii<l lir iMrllicr s:iys. ";is tin- ministers ol' tlnj
tdwii ol' lldstoii li:ivi' lici'ii iilwiiys williiii; to live in Irimil-
nliip with the I'rcshylcrian ministers, nnd to shew tlirir
rc^iiird lor nood order, tlicy have not preached tor 'John
I'nshyter.' since they lieard that he had heen susjtended
l»y the I'reshytc ry.

"To receive Sir. Ilillhouse would make I'reshytery
verv riiUcllloUS in the eyes of the people of New Kuj^-
land." I llemarks LiMn-ri<i\ p. 1 1. 1 Thus, "the l»e-
;jinniu<; of strile was like the httin<f out of water,"' and
the I'leshyteiial harmony, whicli it had ie<piired years to
esiahlish and maintain, was now forever hroken l)y parti-
nan passion.

While " .Mr. Ililllwuise forced himself into the Preshy-
tery, not at all to the satisfaction of its mend)erH (says
LeM.) this was not the only j^niund <if ^'rievance of which
tli(> majority complained, and which made the separation
final.

"In tl»e IM'cshytery held in I'.oston in Oct., \~'M\, when
the names of the several memliers wire called, amonji the
rest was that of Mr. David Mc(lrepore. '.\s he had never
sat with them hefore, the llev. Mr. Kutheilord desired to
know how he hecame a memher, and who pave the or-
dainers power to do it? As the major pait desired to
he satisfied in this, helori' they admitted Mr. Me(ireLM)re,
Mr. Moorehead, previously or<lainer, and now moderator,
not jiivin^r u satisfactory answer, the majority denied Mr.
Mc(ire<j;ore's rip:ht to a seat. After much deiiate and sonn^
Irnitlfss propositions, Messrs. Moon head and Harvey de-
clared, that tliev Wduld not sit in I'reshvterv with tin;

rest, if Mr. Mc(.

rej^ro

»re was not permitted to vote

This

iiein^' still refused, "Mr. Moon-head left thechairaml the
)iiceliiijr-|iouse (the French one', followed hv Ilarvev and

M((

re).or(

All

■solicitation was in vain.

lev re

\\\!H'{\ to return. I'erhapsthey resolved to set lij) a I'reshy-
tiry of their own to screen themselves from justly deserved
<ciiMire." (I.(M.) This was a sori'owlul s|tectacle, thai
these few ministers, nearly all of the same race, from lands
of martyred ancestries, professedly Itelievin;^ the same
tliiii<:s, under the same vows and walkin;,' hy the same
ruli, should now utterly 'fail out by the way.' Yet'tho

I I

! ;

-..

■ 1

HISTORY OF PRriSBYTimiANI.SM

;i ' !

contention w.'is so sharp botwoon tlu'jn,tliat tlioy doprirtofl
asunder the one tVoni tlic otlicr.' and liccanic ' two hands.'
jNIoorchcail and llarvcy ( and possiMy sonio others) had,
in 17''><i, orchiincd and rccciviMJ Mr. McCircirorc when ob-
viously hut a minority of the Prcsliytrry ( probably owinj^
to their distance* iVoin IJnstont were in attendance. To
the suspension, which tbilowed. they were jirohably
liroui^ht, by the impulsive temperament of Mr. Mooreh(>a(l
jMid his Strom: attachment to his i-ountryinen, while Le-
Mercier's sympathies prol»ably were somewhat misled, by
his early associations and then present surrounding's of
church and state, i'lie un|tlcasant beariu'.: of Mr. Ilill-
liouse also mado his fi'Uowship witli tiie I'resbytery to bo
of a short duration, and it did not nullil'y the action of tho
council in his case.

Owinj; to the widely scattered position of tho members
of Presbytery, and consefjuent prohai)le n(m-af)pearance at
stated occasional mcH'tinirs, especially in winter, we can
account for the absence (»f a majority of the ministers at
the ordination of Mr. David .Mcdreuore (who had been pre-
viously licensed); but why tlu^ Kev. .Mr. Rutherford, "who
was ot an amiable and excellent disposition." should aim
to exclude him, does not so fully appear, 'i'he younj^ man
was much beloved, eminently poi)ular and useful. Per-
haps the fact that he had not graduated at any colle<remay
in part account for the ojjposition of the majority of tho
ministers. Jud^dn^ fr(»m the ])art which the Uev. Mr.
Rutherford took in excludim; him, it is not easy to deter-
mine whether he intensely desired to have order observed
to the letter, or acted from a love of |»rc-e!nineiice. or both,
lie live<l on the then most remote; bordi-rs of civilization in
the Province of Maine. To the shores of the Kenn»'l>ec
Mr. Rol)ert Temple, from Ireland, hail brought a colony
in 171'.>or 1720.

Wiiile some of them, diseoura<ied by the climate and
the wilderness, had sought in the middle or southern colo-
nies a more pleasant home, others remained antl had occa-
sional supplies of preaching.

In Scdi'lioro, Maine, in 1720, tiie Rev. IIu'_di ('am|)bell,
from S(;otlan(l, preached. He remained oidv about one
year, and was in June, 1722, succeedt'd by his countryman.,
the litjv. Hugh Henry, who, although he was not formally

IN NKW KNGLAND.

pcttlofi, in 172') suod til'' town fur liis snlary, which was
61'vnity pounds piT niinuni. l»nt did not recover it.

As tliiit wiis the ;il:<' of colonics tVoin Inlmid to America,
wr (indtli;it in 172!) :i Colonel hunliar hrouj^lil over a num-
her ot" I'reshyteriiins. " His culonists ( we a^'ain refer to the
]Ion. \\ m. \\'illis) in two years aniounlcd to more than
one iiundrcd and twenty families, and with the first of
these lie hrouj^dit as minister the Kev. Kcdnrt Hutherford."
^hissaehusetts, wliieh then claimed jurisdiction over the
I'rovince of Maine, protest- d aijainst his usurpations, and

ns troV(

rnment over his colnnv ceased, for he was (h'iven

out hy tiie forces of the tornier in Au-iust, 17''>2. He, how-
ever, when in possession, had ceded to his (Countrymen tlie
towns of Hristol, iNohlesboro and Boothhav. He returned
to Britain in 1737.

Of Andrew Reed, a principal settler in Townsend, it is
paid that lor a whole winter ( that of 1780) he read iiis Bible
and (;ut and piled (>ordwood alone, exposed at all times to
the sava^'cs, and when asked on his return, " Were you not
afraid?"' answered, "Had not 1 the Bihle with me? I
was neither alone, nor afraid of the Indians." (S., p. 264.)
Of the descendants of the Dmihar ciniL^ration, says Sewall,
)). '2iV.\. "they are intelligent, enterprising, fearless, thrifty,
peaceful and viiiorous."

Waldo, who hatl. as the ajrent of Massachusetts, a]ipeared
suceessfully agaiiist Dunhar in l^iigland, next hrouirht over
emigrants to Maine. 'I'wenty-seven families of Scotch
descent from the north of Iri'land, who in 178.') arrived
under his direction, were each hy him furnished with one
hundrecl ;ieres ol' land on the hanks ol" the rivir St. (leorge,
in the town of W'arrt'U.

Hutherford had thus from his arrival an ample field of
'He ))reached in Bristol four or live yeai's." ( W'il-

lal

>or.

namson s

line.! To assist him, the Rev. William Mc-

Clenahan came over ahout 17'>1. Neither of them, jjow-
ever, appears to have had in Maine a permanent settlement.
An increase ti> tlu'ir numl)ers, in this region, occurred in
this way: About 17M)the "(Jrand Desiu^n," with passen-
gers for Pennsylvania, was wrecked on .M(»unt Deser*, and
many of the survivo's settled in Warren, IVunujuid,
81ieepscot and Damariscotta.
While, at this date, it is supposed that no part of New

'in
d

; '■'

■ V

}

1 .

» - 1

■J

1 .,

<'''^i

lIISTOItY OF rilKSBYTKiaAMSM

England was so str<>ni:ly I'ri-sliytcrinn ;is was tlio PDuntry
lyinfj; between the Kciincltcc ;m(l I'ciiohscdt, yet, to etleet
settlenuMits of this ehiireh order was dillieiilt, owinj; to the
tenacity or ohstiiiaey of thi- ('(»ii;j:re;iati()n;dists in the (hf-
ferent parishes. 'I'hey seldom heejime I'reshyterians, while
the others frecpiently united with them.

From 17^^4 till near 17.17 tiie IJev. K. Uutherford preached
chiefly at Pemaquid, and in 17o7 he preached at lirnns-
wick, where he was settled as the first minister of that
town, and continued there till 171'_'. "Williamson.) In
3747 Mr. Kuthertord was clia|dain in Hendersons Fort, at
Pleasant Point, lie asked a suitable sum for his table
expenses and was refused. Perhaps his bein<,' a Presbyte-
rian as well as a friend of (iovernor Dunbar's op(.'rated
af^ainst him. (P. o*.}, Katon.j He died at Thomaston in
October, 175(5, aued (J.S years.

The Rev. William MeClenahan was invited in 1734 to
settle at Georj^etown, but the ('onifre,i.;ationalists kept up a
quarrel for the two years in wiiieh he occasionally prtached
to them. On the loth of November, 17'X), he was installed
at Cape Elizabeth, as apjiears by the ''Journal of the Hev.
Thomas Smith, of Falmouth,'' who()|»posed his usi'fulness.
His temperament was such that lie was ollen in dilliculty,
and in this place "he stirred up a controV( rsy which eniled
in his dismission," and he returned to (Jeorj^'ctown and
vicinity.

Cape Elizabeth had been partly settled by the McGrep^orc
and Boyd emij;ration, and now, seventeen years afterwanls,
the number (jf families which had settled at Porpooduc, on
Casco Bay, in Falmouth Township, is supposed to have
been about twenty, who. alihouudi tliey at lirsl enit)yed the
services of the Uev. William Cornwall, antl afti-r he had
left them the labors of the ivcv. Mr. Woodside— still, such
were their disadvantaircs civilly as well as physically that
they were unai>le lonj; to sustain ordinances.

Congregationalism obtained the' ascendency in the town,
and now after some twenty years of struji^de for a perma-
nent existence, with the departure of Mr. Mcf'lenahan Pres-
byterianism becamt' prostrated, so that when, some thirty
years later, a Presbyterian cleru'yman i)reached a iSabbatli
or two in the vicinity, while his teaehinfzs and usa,tj:es in
worship were hailed with great delight by the aged, yet

IX XF.W KNtilAND.

the Prrsbytfrinn flrmont Imd liccomc nrarly extinct, either
liv rciiiovMl or I'V ronrnniiity tn <itlier usML'es, or l>y hotli.

W'e liiive. then, the early decay <tt' I'rt shyteriaiiisiii in
tlie iitiuh''<»fh()<)(l t»|'('a-e(t I5ay, and it never revivecl.

Midin;ihl violeui'e was not proitalily einpUtyed towards
this |)e(t]iU', as il was al'ont tiiis (hite to the ehtireh in
Worcester, yet, iVoni the "Journal of the IJev. Thomas
Smith, ol' Falmouth," and other sources, we lind that they
Were treatetl in an ind<ind manner, on ac(;ount of their
views (»r church ;:ovcinm(nt and Christian worship.

The rraiimcnlary and opposing condition ol" '•the op-
]ir(sseil Irish hrctiiren" and their ministry at this time,
tVnin IToO till \'i \'K and later in New Knj.dand. was luimil-

latMi'j; and trymu to tho-e who were triuy piou-

lev

had no < oun( ctinii with the rrcohytcrics and Synods whii-li
had since the commencement ot" that ('('iitury spruns: up
in the central colonics, and they had no Synotj with which
tlicy w< re identified nearer than Ireland to which they
could ixo hy review or appeal. Conscijueiitly, order and
jieacf in tiieir churches sulVered exten.-ivcly. Several
cases were, l>v relcrcnce, t'roni time to lime carried to tlio
Synod of I'lster. After Moorehead .and llarvcy were 'in
l(.')7j suspendi'd and Mc(ire;,'ore's ordination uas i<_'nored,
Ihitherford, LeMercier, Thomson, Wilson, McCleiiahan
and .Johnston (their con^M'e^ations wdiere thcv were settled

n<l

lose adlierin'i' to tlieni in the varied vacan

jiastors. a

cies and settlements i coiirftitulcd and pcrpctualetl the

I'ri'shytery of Londonderry.

Notwithstandimr the destrtiction of their house of wor-
ship, the l're<liyterians in Worcester continued for some
vears'to sup|)ort their past(»r, the Kcv. William .lohnstoii.
riie date of his ordination does not apj)ear. It took place
ill Worcester hclwccn 17-'.> and 17-".(t. for in IT-''* his con-
irri'.Mtion ap|>ealed '"to the justice of their fellow-townsmen
lor relief litxii " the parish-tax for the sujiporl of the Con-
irre^rationalist niinisler, and while, instead of reei-ivini^
c(iuity, they were answered with "suhtilty and illiheral-
ity," they were also told that '"his ordination was disor-
(liiiicoln.' How U>n'-t he lahored there is not

<lerly. '
known.

hut h

peop

douhtl

ess, hecaine weary oi sup-

piutinj; hoth their own pastor and the parish minister,
uiitil, owing to their discouragement and general disper-

'}
( r
I ' I

,*•

,'»li

IlISTOUY OK ri{i;sHYTi:iUANISM

pion. lie lin<l fiiiMlly to loiivo thoni. Tlicir clmrcli ortrnni-
ziitioii MS l*rcsl»yt»'ri,'iiis cchsimI within iwciity-tivo years
ol" their first sctthim-nt in the town.

It' tohration to «'rr('t their house of worship had heen
allowed to them, they wouM jtrohahly, in a tew years,
liav(! hee(»ine"the church of the |)arish," instead of heiiv^
i\nt o(;cu|)ants ot" the " ohl j^arrison-house." Their cas<!
Holvos a jtrohh-m on which much specuhition has existe<l,
that is, the harmonious co-hahitation ot" I'reshyterianism
and ('onjireLrationalism.

Many |>ersons iniaLMue that they are similar, or, as they
Hay, "there is hetw«'en them only a little dill'erenee, only
a iittle al)out elunch ^ovennnent — and they are so nearly
identical as inutually to support each other," while in
reality they an; irreconcilahly antaL'onistical. " Ohey them
that have the rule over you and suhndt yourselves, lor
they watch for your souls, as they that must n'wo an ac-
count" — tirst to the I'rcshytery, and finally to ''the chief
Shenhcrd," is essentially and totidly dillcrent from, "(Jo
to, let us," or, that, "all chur(;h power resides in the
church, and not in church oflicers ; and resides in each
particular church directly and oritzinally, hy virtue of the

express or nn|

ilie.l

compact ot Its memhers. .So it was

then in New Knixland hetween these two form.s of church
gov((rnment. So it is now, and ever must h

'I'liey ar<' distinct species, radically dillcrent and esse

tially opposed to each other. Coiiseipicntly, so lonj; as
liny (!onj;reifations were kept purely I'reshyterian, they
])rospcre(l as such, and just so soon as this form of re;„dmeii
was ahated or i;.rnore(l, ('on^^regationalism controlled the
j)arish.

We have in Mllford, New Haven county, one of those
ehurches. which came to I'reshyterianism. The Kev,
Samuel Whittlesey was settled here in l)(C('mher, 17')7,
and " rc;.rarde(l as unsound in docliine" hy a considcrahle
minority of the people, who professe*! themselves to hi;
Preshytcrians accordim; to the Church of Scotland, they
left th(! State rdiuion, and the I'reshytery of New liruns-
wick took them under its care. The Rev. Samuel Kind-
ley, aft<'rwards ['resident of the (.'oUej^e of New Jersey,
was sent to preach to tlu^m. Uut the conj;rej_'ation had
not obtained recognition, either by the civil or ccclesiuisti-

IN NKW KNOI.AND.

5)1

ml .'lutlinritios ns a n'liL'ioim poricty; nn<l for thr ftfTcrn'o
of |ir';icliiti^' to them, tlic Doctor was iiidictJMl, nrn'strd
:ni<l s('Ht<nc<<l to lie tr;iiis|tort('(l, ;ir a Viitrraiit and a dis-
tiirhcr of tin' |>nl»lic jtrMcc, out of the colotiy.

In 1717 Mr. .lol) I'niddcn w.-is liy tlw simic IVosbytrry
ord;iiin'd and installed their |>astor. The j)eople, however,
(•ontiniu'd to he t:ixed for the sii|t|t(irt of the jiMfish minis-
ter. The Stiite, while it then exempted fntm such taxa-
tion eert.'iin reliirioMs societies, <luly ;i\ithori/,ed to hiivo
worship in their own Wiiy, refuse(l to exempt seecdinj.^
('on<_'re>jjition;dists ;ind l*reshyteri;ins. In 17o<l they wero
released fntm t heir hnrden ; ten years later thev ohtained

an ineorp<»ration from the Leiiislature as the se<'ond eccle-
siastical society in Milford, and their connection with
I'reshytery ceased. (Tnnnhull. Hist. ( 'oim., vol. 'J. pp. 'VJo-
;>.)'.>.) i'rudden was a lahorious. prudent and faithful pas-
tor, sound in doctrine and experimental in his jireachm;^.
His talents, metUness and ]»iety, ^ave innversal satisfac-
tion to his |MMi|)le. lie died June 21th, 177-1. ( H. ) Cases
of such expediency are n latively nmnerous.

Not only I'orpooduc and Worcester hut also Chrstor in
New Hampshire now hp;;an to manifest the truth of this
position. 'I'his town, contiguous to Kondonderrv, was
settled lirst hy I'reshyterians, and from 17.''>(ltill 1734 they
had the sorvi(!es of the Kev. Moses Hale in the ('on^'rej.M-
tional way, as the parish minister, some of the townsmen
who came to it from time to time heiuL' of that order.

In 17'M, however, the I'reslivtj-rians lindin;; themselves
ahle to su|)|)(a't him, had the l\'V. John Wilson* s«'ttled
over them, "after the rules of the Church of Scotland."

In 17'I(>, after resistinj:, as far as practicahic, the settle-
ment of till! Kev. Mhene/.er I'^laj/LS as a Coni^reuMtionalist
minister there, the Preshyterians were c<»mpelled hy law
to support him also. Many of them refused to pay tho
tax for his sujtport. l''or this 'wo of them, .lames Camp-
hill and Thomas Tolford, we;e put in jail at Kxeter, hy

* His fatlicr, llu' Krv. .T<iliii ^V'Isoll, caiiu' fri»m IrclaiKl, ami wa^< rr-
(vivcd liytln'SyiKMl of I'liilaililpltia in 17'J!). "On Jamiarv I'Tlli, I7:!(l,
till' i'nsiiytcry (if Ntwcaslii' nirivctl a U'ltt-r from Aiiiia;;li i'ri-.-hyliiv
(•oiurniiti); liiiii, and llicy rcsulvi-d iioi to i-iiijiloy liiiii. lit- iviiiovni
WM)ii afit r to Huston, mul dii-d iIktc on Januarv Gtli, ITolJ, aged Hixty-
Mix voar.s." (\V.)

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HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

the town collector. They afterwards obtained a decision
in law in their favor and were released. Taking encour-
agement from this, the Presbyterians, in IToS, erected a
meeting-house, and persevering in sustaining the pvstor
and worship of their choice, they, by im])ortuning the
liCgislature, were, in 1740, allowed cor])orate powers, and
after this date se|)arate congregations (one of each order)
were niivintained in Chester for many years. The Rev.
Mr. Wilson preached in this town for forty-five years.
(N. H. Gaz.) This case also fairly illustrates the irrecon-
cilable nature of these two systems of church government,
and things which differ should always be distinguished.

In doctrine, at this date, Presbyterianism and New Eng-
land Congregationalism differed very little, as the latter
was, as yet, Calvinistic in her theology. The New Eng-
land Primer was the basis of instruction in the pulpits, in
the family and in the daily schools. Witness Prince's
Thursday lectures on the Shorter Catechism, in the Old
South Church in Boston, for several years.

In ivorship the difference became increasingly greater
wth time. The Presbyterians, now expatriated from their
r .tive homes, had for above two generations cherished
with sacred affection the songs of Zion, and sang in their
families and churches only the book of Psalms, in the
version appointed (to the exclusion of all other poetry)
by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, to be
sung by her congregations. This version had been, after
careful examination by her Presbyteries, adopted and ex-
clusively authorized by the Kirk on May 1st, 1650.

In later times, by ignorance, ])rejudice and bigotry, it
has been called " Rouse," because many of the ])salms
were, after revision, adopted from his metrical translation
of a part of the Psalter. While the Pilgrims had brought
with them to Plymouth Rock, in 1(520, Ainsworth's ver-
sion ; and the Puritans had, with their Episcopal service,
brought the version of Plopkins and Sternhold to Shaw-
mut in l().'->0, when these last turned a soniersault ; in 1(>1*)
the Rev. Messrs. Mather, Eliot and ^^'el(l were ap])()int( il
to make a new version, which they c<^m))leted in lour
years. To print this, the first press was brought to the
colony.

After the Freeman's oath and an almanac, their version

IN NEW ENGLAND.

try, it

isiilnis

'■^

latiou

■*i

(m<i:lit

s ver-

'''«'

'vvice,

^■•

Shiuv-

1 uvr,'\

';,c

iiiiiti il

1 liiur

Lu the

of the Psalms was pu1>]isherl in 1640, anrl was the first
hook printed in this ])art of North Arnorica, books having
Ix'cn previously printed in Mexico. (Thomas.)

This version^ was called "the Bay State Psalm-Book."
It passed throuujh at k^ast ei<rhty-six editions before it
was, in the next century, supplanted by "the Psalms of
David, imitated in the language of the New Testament by
Isaac Watts, D. D." The matter which men emi)loy in
})raise to God often, or usually, forms a correct index of
their ac(iuaintance with " the truth as it is in Jesus," and
of their living under " the i)o\ver of an endless life," or
otherwise. Hence, tersely said Matthew Henry, "con-
verting grace makes men very fond of the Psalms of
David." The Puritans in the course of a century added
to this \'ersion of the Psalms several pieces from the other
scriptures, susceptible of a poetical rendering, and when
it was reprinted in Scotland these poems were bound up
with the Bible and with the Psalms. The title-page might
shock the nervous system of the devotees of modern " cul-
ture," and runs thus, as I have copied it from a Bible
printed in 1755 : " The psalms, hymns and spiritual songs
of the Old and New Testament, faithfully translated into
English metre, for the use, edification and comfort of the
saints, in pubHc and in private, especially in New Eng-
land, 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17; Col. iii. 16; Eph. v. 18, 19; Jas.
V. lo. The twentieth edition, Edinburgh, printed by
Adrian Watkins, His Majesty's Printer, 1754." If our
modern sentimental New England hymnologists, per-
meated with " culture," will condescend to read this title,
I fear they might in future swear by Darwin.

A co])y of the second edition is preserved in the library
of Harvard College. But two copies of the first edition are
known to be in existence, and of it eighty-six or more edi-
tions were published. Destitute as it would now be con-
sidered of elegance, it formed the matter of praise to the
pious Congregational ists in New England for generations,
and of it the immortal Jonathan Edwards said in 1735 :
"God was then served in our })salmody." But the mental
insta])ility incident to, or inherent in Congregationalism,
which that good man deplored in 1737, induced the minis-
ters of Roxbury, Mass., to agitate the setting aside of this
version and the introduction of that of " Tate and Brady,"
which had been first published in London in 1698.

'. •

" I I

SBiSHMl

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIAXISM

i '■'■!'

, „''i

■ :

■|

The question of the identity of these two species of
church government in (liscipUne was tii;it on which, in
17'5(), the Presbytery of Londonderry wus ruinously di-
vided — the our [)art recognizing tiie action of a council as
right in suHpendiv;/ the Rev. iMr. liillhonse from the minis-
try and compelling him to leave his pastoral charge, the
other considering it "a Jesuitical " transaction.

To "the trutii as it is in Jesus," to the "olfering" of a
"pure" worship to Jehovah, to the ])urity and increase of
the church of Christ, it would, under die influences of the
Holy Spirit through "the word,'' ])rove an inestimable
blessing if these radical landmarks were understandingly
observed throughout Christendom.

Men would then walk together only so far as they were
agreed, and our modern Joab and Amasa charity, "Art
thou in health, my brother?" and then stab "him under
the fifth rib," would, like Adam, run and hide. The ten-
dency now is in an opposite direction.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

CHAPTER III.

1718-1743 — A thrifty branch — Practical Godliness — Trregnhirities—
Sessional Records Ijiiriit — An increase — Bhindf'ord larjjely Irisii— Re-
liiiious \'i('is-i tildes — Whitetieid — Tennaiit — Davenport — An Earth-
(jiiake ill 1727 — Alarm wore oil — Novelty and P^lotjiience of White-
field — "Aiiplaiided by about one-fifth of the Clergymen of New Eng-
land " — Wondrous work — An unfrnitful ministry — Aroused —
I'.nmpteil — lOdwards at Enfield — "Shy of it" — Communion four
times each year in Mooreliead's Church — Whitefield assisted him
once — '' Rotation " — Stood aloof — Irregularities — Declension — Relig-
ion, what it became then — Discijiline neglected — A dead letter —
Cliurclu's of New Englaixl before "' the awakening" — Vitalizing in-
stnicliiiiis of Edwards — "On their lees " — A dull routine — f^ceptical —
"The Church of the Parish" — Trances and revelations — The Scrip-
tures a dead letter — Screaming — Faiiitin<;s — Conversion — Psalms set
aside by Davenport — Men less cart'ful—" Separatists" — Benjamin
Franklin — Turnell's dialogue— Dr. Coleman — Caldwell — Letters to
Scutiand — Antinomianism — Attestations to llie revival — Harvard
College, Prol'essors of, against it — Retractions — Presbytery prospered
in some towns — Churches formed — The Press not employed by Pres-
byterians, except by LeMercier — " The wrath of man."

iii

..■ ' I ! 1

! !| !

il I

Sucir was then the condition of tlio Presbyterian churches
ecclesiastically in New Entiland at the end of the first
quarter of a century after the emigration of .1718.

They continued separated from Congregationalism, and
a two-thirds majority of their Preshytery had (by an abuse
of authority) suspended tiie others I'rom their ministry.
To them, however, their })eo])le remained attached, and in
a f(!W years a more thrifty branch sprang up in the form
of a Prcsliytery. Witii the exce))tion of tiie Rev. iNIr.
Rutherford, wlio was susj^iccted of '" new light," the minis-
tors ap])ear to have ;dl been doctrinally sound according to
the Westminster Standards. In ])ractical godliness thev
were generally ])re-eminent. In their attendance on the
means of grace, in private and in public, the i)eo))le were
punctual and exemplary, as we see abundantly shewn
during this period by the history of the church in London-

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

li^

1 i_

IL.

(lorry, N. H. It mnst not, houevor. he conccnled that not
ji low of thoni nuini tost 0(1 irro<jfulnritios oi" a criminal
chaniotor in youth, and hrou<iht njion thomsolves the
(hscro(ht of (hs('ii)Hiu! ity thoir sessions — as woll as a sonse
of criniinahty and shame, which memory preserves and
time cannot ohlitorato.

In one clmrch at least so numerous -wore the records of
antenu))tial crimes that tlie minutes of the session, even
Avlien wrontrfully ol)taine(l, were hy an Unitarian pastor
favored ( like IIuss and Jerome of Prague) witli " a warm re-
cejition." The " culture " of the nineteenth century de-
manded tins.

Beside those arising to them annually from their own
youth, each year hrought to their churches from tlieir na-
tive lands an increase of memhership. In 1741 the Rev.
William INIcClentdian left tlie Province of Maine and came
to Blandford, i\Iass., i)reviously (tailed New Glasgow, where
lie was afterward settled. A church had heen organized
there in 1735 hy the Rev. Thom'as Prince, afterwards pas-
tor of the Old South Clmrch, P>oston. Ikit the i)eoj)]e
were nearly all Irish, and after the incorporation of the
town on A})ril loth, 1741, they determined to have a
Preshyterian minister.

Having thus soon the condition of these "oppressed
Irish brethren " during the last few years of the first quar-
ter of a century of their residence in New England, we
now turn to some of the religious vicissitudes through
which they i)assed, induced hy their surroimdings.

The country in the southern and central colonies had
been visited, and in ])arts rc^visitod ])y tlie renowned White-
field, and he reached Boston in Soptomhor, 1740. He was
assisted in his itinerant and revival lal)ors by the Rev.
Gilbert Tonnant,* and soon l)()th were followed by the Rev.
James Davenport, of Southfiold, T.ong Island.

On October 2yth, 1727, N(;w England had heen visited
by an earthquake so powerful in its nature as to exten-
sively alarm, and in connection with the moans of grace,
bring not a few of the people to a more solenui i)ersonal

*"He was ordained in 1727, and is supposed to have been the first
candidate licensed in the Presbyterian Clmrch in America who waa
educated within its limits." {Log College, p. 43.)

IN m:\v ]:ngi.and.

; i

tough

had

'hite-

-vvas

Rev.

Ucv.

'isited

}xton-

rrace,

i'isonal

le first
ho was

inquiry in n^lation to their s))iritual welfare. In the
course of ten or twelve years th(,'!?e ini])ression«! were hy
tliat licnei'ation measurably I'ornottcMi, and ])rohiil)ly were
now ainiiist lost, in such days of declension the atten-
tion of many was arrested by the a])pearance of Whitctield.
Tlie novehy of his manner and his i)Owerful eloquence at-
tracted lar^v audien(;es, and as he visited the prominent
towns and villages in the (;olonies, his influence became
very extensive. lie had not yet (in 1740) separated from
WeVley (which he did in the n(;xt year).

It has been estimated that ])roba])ly by about one-fifth
of the clergymen of Mew England he was welcomed and
a])plau(led.

Tlu! doctrine of the Congregationalist churches was at
this date still generally Calvinistic, consequently Rev.
^Tessrs. Thomas I'rinee, Jolm Webb and A\'illiam Cooper,
«)f Jjoston, who were the warm advocates of the revival, not
only described it on January I'Jth, 1742, as "the wondrous
work of God making its triun)phant jjrogress through the
land,"' but they also declared that " in vain do its remain-
ing enemies attemijt to brand it as enthusiasm." Thev
then state, " We are glad that our brethren from Ireland
agree with us on the Shorter Catechism." Yet at this
]»t'riod, while the doctrine of the churclies was extensively
Calvinistic, the union of Cnurch and State was operating
in n)any cases to jiroduce an unfruitful ministry, if not a
lifeless formality, and both })astors and peoi>le were now,
at least partially, aroused to in([uiry.

In view of tli(> resnlts of the labors of Messrs. Whitefield,
Tennant and I)aven})ort. some of the most powerful and
sanctified minds in the land (such as that of Jonathan
Edwards) were promi)ted to greater diligence in the work
of the ministry. Not only did he " cry aloud and spare
not" in his own charge in Northampton, Mass., but he to
some extent itinerated.

Among the many ]>laces which he visited none was
more highly favored by the blessing of heaven upon his
labors than Enfield, Conn., where, on July 8th, 1741, from
the words, " Their feet shall slide in due time,"* he was

* A ooiiforcnce of Baptist ministers in Boston in October, 1880, after
discussli:,"; the .subject, euncluded that " it would not be for edification to
7

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HISTORY OF PRKSnYTEUIANISM

instrumental in awakening hundreds from spiritual
lethargy.

V.'hen this revival of 1740-4 coniTnenced in New Eng-
land, Mr. Moorehead was "shy of it," but, when its elle(;ts
were more extensively exhibited, he, witli the Kev. D. Me-
Gregore entered zealously inti) the measures adopted for
jjrospering it.

In his ehurch, the saerament of the Lord's supi)er was
usually disi)ensed four times in the year. After his sus-
])ensi()n in 17o(), he was generally assisted by the liev.
Mr. MeGregore. When the Presbyterian form is con-
sidered, and it is remembered, that the services were con-
tinued from Thursday forenoon till Monday afternoon
(with the exception of Friday^, it will be seen that aid in
the })ulpit became necessary. He availed himself of the
opportunity, and had on one sacramental season, the as-
sistance of the Kev. George W'hitefield. His meeting-liouse
tlien was tlie old " barn,"' which John l^ittle liad "con-
verted into a house of worshij)," and to which building
the congregation had before this date — between 1735 and
1741 — 'added two wings." In "this rude and lowly edi-
fice," (Mem. Fedl. St. Ch.,) at this date, 1740-1, even his
own growing congregation could with difficulty be accom-
modated. " On this occasion the house could not contain
the audience, and the doors and windows were lilled
with the spectators," especially on the Sabbath, when
"each minister served a table in rotation."

It was now a little unusual to see the position of ^loore-
head and McCJregore. They had, in 1786, been suspended
by the Presbytery. This had the elTect (according to Lc-
Mercier) of preventing any of the Congregational ist min-
isters for years from preaching in exchange with Moore-
head, if they ever had done so, yet, now the majority
of the ministers of the town received him as a fellow-
worker in the revival — while from it, from year to year,
the whole remanent members of the original Presbytery
stood aloof. In this respect, as Presbyterians, taking part

have any man preach such a sermon from tliat text to-day." It was nn
Old Testament text, and they are in the lust iiuartcr of " the nincteeiitli
century." A sermon from that text must be " dark and Jewish and
cloudy." The times are changed, and such men are changed with them,
while truth is unchangeable.

IN NKW ENGLAND.

•with tliootluTS who assoc'iiitod with Mr. WhitcfiolH, Mooro-
licud ;in<l McCire^ore were aloiu'. 'I'iicir jjrcvious unhaiiiiy
action in snsi)on(linL: Moorehuad and Harvey and iiinorint!;
the ordination of Mc( JrcLrorc would (h)ul)tl('ss iironipt hi-
^IvTcivr, Davidson, UutLcrrord, Wilson, McClonahan. l)un-
lap, and Johnston to avoid such associations, or ministers,
as would join in fcllowshi)) with them.

]}('side this, howt-ver, other iniluenees were in O])oration.
As will he suhse(iuently seen, many irre<rularities and ex-
cesses suhversive of decency and order, judging from a
Presl)yterian standi)oint, attended the "awakening,"

Some of them, as licMercier, Wilson, and Davidson,
mi_dit fear the disturhanee of their parochial peace, and
dreading the iniluenees of excitement on the growth in
sjiiritual knowh'dge and mental stahility of tlieir j)astoral
charges, stand aloof tVom its supporters. From whatever
cause, they gave tlie '' awakening '' no encouragement. By
others, it was hailed with joy.

" Deep declension was now pervading many of the New
England Congregational churclies."

The Puritanism of Shepard, Cotton, Norton, Mitchell,
Hooker, and Htone was now. under an increasing worldly
prosperity, diminishing in spirituality. Godliness was
manifestly declining. Religion hecame more of an outward
jn-ofession and less the reality of "newness of life." Be-
tween the church and' the world, the ditference was fast
diminishing. The eldership were more lightly esteemed.
Their ofHce, work and "faces were not honored" as in
times past.

Church discipline v/as increasingly neglected. Immorali-
ties grew apace.

"The preaching became less discriminating and pun-
gent. The doctrines of the ancient faith, long neglected,
and reduced in the minds of the people to n dead letter,
were fast gliding away from the popular creed, and were
on the eve of being displaced for another system.

"Such was the condition of a large j)ortion of the churches
of New England when the great awakening broke upon
them in its power." (Stearns.) Under the faithful preach-
ing of the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, at Northampton, the
covenants both of works and of grace were exhibited to
sinners in their connections and dependencies. The Holy

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IIISTOUY OF PRKSnYTERIANISM

III ^^

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Spirit owned his own trutli, and in the salvation of niim-
hcjrs honored his own worch

Edwards was sctthd in that town in Fehruarv, 1727, and
Ins vitahzinu; instrnctions had uinU'r the Divine hh'ssinj^
])crvaded his jK'oplc; extensively helbre Wiiitelield visited
these eastern eolonies. " Under the preaching ot" Wliitc-
iieid and Tennant the impnlse s])ruad rajiidly, even to tlie
remote villages and rural distriets, as well as to the larger
anil commercial towns. Saj's the Rev. Jona. F. Stearns,
whom I freely quote (Hid., Di^^., p. 8): "C-hurchc^s
which had long * settled upon their lees'" now hegan to feel
within them a strong fermentation. Old .vspectahility,
proud of its decent forms, began to lind the sceptre of its
influence loosening in its grasp, and the legitimacy of
its long dominion boldly ([Ucstioned, hy a people, })rofess-
ing to have been just now turned from "darkness into
marvellous light." The efl'ect of this new impulse fell, as
might have been expected, most heavily upon the pastors
of the churches.

Secure of their support, by the aid of the civil law
pledging all the real and personal estate, witliin certain
geographical limits, for the fulfilment of their pecuniary
contracts (destitute of the supervision of scriptural Pres-
bytery, and of all courts of reference, appeal, or review),
and ministering to a people not desirous of great pastoral
fidelity, to the disturbance of their &luml)ering consciences,
a large part of them had settled down into a dull routine
of Sabbath day performances, and were spending their
week-day hours, when not employed in the preparation
of their hasty discourses, in the improvement of their
parsonage lands, the indulgence of their literary tastes,
or in friendly correspondence and in social intercourse
■with each other, and with those distinguished men in civil
life, who courted their society and respected their respec-
tability, or sought to avail themselves for their own pur-
poses of their unbounded influence.

Many of the ministers of tiiat day, it is supposed, were
men who had never experienced in their own hearts the
power of '' the faith " which they professed to teach.

Not a few had become very sceptical in regard to the
inspiration of the Holy Scriptures ; and one evil of the law
was, that by a majority vote a Calvinistic minority were

Ji.... ,.l

IN NEW KNTiLAND.

101

roiiipollod to siii)port an Arniinian or P(^la,^ian toaolior. or
if llicv built ail house lor tliciuselvcs on the volunlnry
principle, tlicy wore still taxed U) support "the church of
the ));irish."' Thus, in seasons o|' deelension, the law he-
came an instrument ot" oppression iu the followers o( the
Puritan doctrines.

As we hav(> seen, ahout one-fifth of the ministry hailed
the arrival of Whitetield and Tennant ; hut of the others,
at least not a few, oi)posed the " awakenini:;."

In their visits to the leadinj^ towns and villa.u;es of New
I'aii^land, they were i'ollowed by the Rev. James Daven-
jiort. Of him tin; Rev. Mr. W — n, of FarmiuLiton, Connecrt-
ieut, in which colony he labored much, says: ''Laying;
yreat stress on trances, visions, revelations and impulses,
speaking of the Holy Seri])turcs as a dead letter, and that
it was not worth while for tlu> unconvert('(l to consult
them ; encouraging negroes and the most ignorant of tho
jieople to become exhorters, even in considerable assem-
blies, and women to become teachers. Laying such weight
on their agonies, screaming out, convulsions, faintings,
etc., etc., wherein' the worship of God is disturlnid, and,
suddenly, when they came out of them, with some seem-
ing joy, declaring their conversion." As Mr. Davenport
set light by the " Holy Scriptures as a dead letter, and that
it was not wortli while for the unconverted to consult
them," so he carried out his measures by introducing
human ])oetry to excite appro|)riate feelings, r(>jeeting tho
songs of Zion, " written not with ink only, but with and
by the Spirit of the living (Jod." Hence, coivtinues Mr.
W — n, "thrusting out, and bringing in a reproach uj)ou
our sacred ])salmody, by bringing hymns into the worship
of (Jod of a mere human composure."

Up till this ])eriod the Psalms alone were the matter of
])raise used in the public formal worship of God, but now
the agitation of the churches made men less careful about
the Divine landmarks. Copies of the imitations of the
V]\) of the Ps.alms, which the Rev. Dr. Watts had finished
in A. I). 1718, were from time to time imported and used
inider the grace of better rhythm and l)eautics of smoother
jioetry (while he did not pretend that they were a /m>j,s'-
latinn, verdon, or copy of the sacred original, but only an
imitation, the Psalms of David imitated in the language

i I

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102

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

^;l

llliii^'

fliiwiiiiii^

of the Now Tc'.stam('nt\ yet, as tliis autlior was an avowed
(Icfeiuler and a l)()astc!(l oniaiuent of indopenclcncy, if not
of ('()nLM'(';!;;itioniilisni, the Uev. Mr. Mtither said, in ad-
drL'ssin^ him, '" Is this an an^cl, or a Watts that sinys?"

It is prohahh; tliat, havinir drunk so lon;^ the old wino
of the pure word, the New En;,dand ehurelies wouhl not
yet, for years, liave said, the new wine of the l.'ii) iniita-
ti<>ns is hc'tler, but they were |)roi)ahly extensively used
by Mr. Whitelield, and they suited the views and aims of
^ir. Davenport and the other ''separatists."

Consequently a demand was created for them, and in
1741, a Mr. Edwards puljlisiied at Dock .S(4uare in Boston,
of them the first American edit' )n. His " three books of
liynms"were not scriptural enou<i;h to warrant the pub-
lication of them in New Kn;j;land as yet, but Benjamin
Franklin, who thoujiht it as well for his father to " bles.s
the whole barrel " of meat " at once," keenlv saw how tho
tide was flowing, and that a market for them was spring-
ing up in connection with the rc'ligious movements of tho
day. Conseciuently in 1741, at Philadelphia, he published
of them the first American edition.

The introduction of both the imitations and his hymns,
especially the latter, was in strong opposition to the Puri-
tan feeling of the jjeriod. " Plence," says Turnell's Dia-
logue (published in 1742), ]). 13, " we are much obliged
to Watts and others. What I am against is every preacher
bringing what hynnis and sonnets he pleases, to be sung
among us. I have reason to fear, that heresy may creep
in at this door."

''A few years ago, when some worthy ministers (probably
the Congregationalist ones of Roxbury, aire idy mentioned)
moved for another translation of the Psalms, there was
made a loud cry of innovation ; but now, it seems, the
Fsahns themselves may be almost ivhoUij laid aside in private
meetings and evening lectures, and mere human compo-
sures (and some of them low enough, too) introduced
without much opposition. This cannot be from the Spirit
of God, who will ever put honor on the word."

The same feeling was expressed by the Rev. Dr. Cole-
man of Boston. ^

AVhen time had somewhat enabled him to see the fruits
of this unscriptural innovation, he wrote, on August 14thj
1744, to the Rev. Solomon Williams, of Lebanon, thus :

IN NEW ENGLAND.

103

"T honrtlly wisli tliat no nion^ liUDinn liymns? niny 1)o
l>r()ii'ili( into tilt' pulilic \vorslii[) of (lod. No, not the
very Ix'st in the world, even tlio.se of Dr. Wntts hini.si'lf."

Wo thus? sec tiM' hold which the son^s of Jehovah had
for iihovc ii ('cntnry upon the Puritan mind, when the
soul recoiled at the idea of plaeinj; "strange lire upon the
altar of (iod " in praise, even while it mi^lit he the "very
l)est mere human hynms in the world." " How has the
p)ld hecome dim I J low is the most line ^old changed !"
\\'e have seen that, on the eharaeter and results of the
''awakening'," the Presl)ytcrian ministers were divided.
The Preshytery a|»i)ear to have, if nt»t op|)osed it, at least
to have taken no positive interest in it. One of their
lunnher, who a))pears to have joined them since the sus-
]»ension of Moorehead and Harvey (in 1786 ), was a Mr.
John Caldwell, of whom, jwinii; to the loss of the Records
of that Preshytery, we know but little, heside the fact, that
he zealously op' ;ed "the awakenintj; " and its authors,
and preached ht-tore the Presl)ytery in the French Church
a sermon on "the marks of false prophets." l^aven])ort
was at this time in a frenzy of zeal, animatinfj; and inereas-
\\\\l " the soparatinc: brethren and sisters in Long Island,
Connecticut and Massachusetts." "He was borne away
by a strange enthusiasm in 17-10-41. He encouraged out-
cries, l)y wdiich religion was disgraced. His voice he
raised to the highest pitch and gave a separate tune (tone)
which was characteristic of the separate preachers. In
his zeal he examined ministers, as to the reality of their
religion, and warned the peojile against unconverted min-
isters. Davenport having denounced the Boston minis-
tors was presented to the grand jury and by them declared
to be insane. (W.) In 1742 the Assembly of Connecticut
directed the governor to transport him from that colony to
Southhold, Long Island. He i)ublished a retraction and
confession in 1744 and died in 1755."

On his departure from Boston, in 1742, Mrs. Moorehead
wrote to him an address in })oetry, " by way of dream."
In a pamphlet of eight pages 16mo., she not only praises
Mr. Davenport and " censures Mr, Caldwell," but also
"addresses a sinner," saying:

" We merit nothing but our utmost cares,
But plead the scars his human nature wears."

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HISTORY OF PKESBYTEUIAXISM

ill If:

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ill

1 MliBiiiiiii

In the moantiine INIr. Caldwell labored zealously to
counteract wliat he l)elieved to be a wide-spreading and
dangerous enthusiasm.

In 1742 he i)r(;aciied and published in Boston a sermon
on the "trial of the present si)irit,"' a second on "the
Scripture character, or marks oi' false teachers," and a
third "against uncharitable judging."

In these views and l;ibt)rs he a])[)ears to have been sus-
tained by the Presbytery. In June, 1742, he received by
the recommendation of their ])astor, the Rev. William
Davidson, I'rom the congregation of Dorry, "a little help,
tin uu of eight i)0unds," (Kec. of Sess.) Letters were
written to Scotland speaking dis})aragingly of "the awak-
ening" and its results. Hence, sniil the Rev. Joshua Gee,
of Boston, to the Rev. Nathaniel Iv'lls, "The shameful
misrepresentations of the state of religion among us, whicli
have been given by Mr. A. ]M. ([jrobably the Rev. Andrew
LeMercier), by the famous ^Ir. John Caldwell and by tlie
Rev. S. Mather, according to the accounts of the revival in
England, which come to us from Scotland, seem to bo
this: that since Mr. WhitelieUrs coming, antinomianism,
familiaistical errors, enthusiasm, gross delusions and scan-
dalous disorders have been ])revailing in the churches."'
What action the Presbytery took, or what deliverances it
gave to the churches under its care, in view of tlie distrac-
tions which were introduced (from the loss of their Re-
cords), we know not, only we see that C!aldwell laboretl
at least occasionally in Londonderry, but xMoorehead and
McGregor (who were not then in connection with any
Presbytery) joined with others in ap[>roving the entire
movement. Mr. McGregor preached in favor of the awak-
ening, and })rinted one or more sermons on the subject.

On July 7th, 174'3, a meeting of ministers called for the
purpose of approving tlie labors of Whitelield, Tcnnant
and Davenport, was held in Boston. Moorehead was
present and Joined in the approval. MeC}regor could not
attend, l)ut afterwards coneiu'red l)y letter, saying, "I look
upon this to be the hapj)y effects of Divine inlhu'uces. 1
have seen Itut little growth of antinomi;uiism but what
arises from justilication by faitli alone, and of enthusiasm
only that wliich springs from the witnessing of the Si)irit."'

At that moeting, or subsequently by letter, there were

IN NEW ENGLAND.

105

given in nil one hundred and eleven attestations to the re-
vival : one from Rhode Ishind, ei<j;ht ironi New Hampshire,
twelve from Connecticut, and ninety in Massachusetts —
and of these only two wc'-c uivcn hy I'l'cshyterians, hy
those two named. Only seventy pastors were ])rescnt at
the said meetini^ of approval. Of these th.ivty-ei^ht voted
ill the allirmative. ►Scarcely one-third of the pastors were
j)rrsent, and " tiie aw:d<enin,i:; " was favorahly "attested by
less tlian one-tifth of the pastors of Massachusetts."

The last i)uhhshed " testimony against W'hitetield and
his conthict" was l)y the professors of Harvard College on
])eceinl)er "JSth, 1744. For their objections they gave as
reasons :

"1st. The man himself was enthusiastic, censorious, un-
charitable, and a deluder of the people. 2dly. As an ex-
tein|)()re and itinerant ])reacher, as opposed to study and

to meditation.

Tlicv

concUul(.'

I»v suuru'cstmu

to tl

})astors and associations that it is high time to make u
stand iigainst tiiese mischiefs coming on the churclies."
Signed liy Edward Holyoke, President, and seven Pro-
lessi)rs.

To end this matter, so far as this chai)ter is concerned,
it is enough to state that in 1744 Mr. Davenport ])ublished
his confessions and retractions. They seem to have l)een
addressed to the Uev. Solomon ^\'illiams, of Lebanon, and
were by Iiini sent to the Rev. Mr. Prince, of Boston, under
date of August 2d. In these he states :

"/"Vr-s/. I opindy exposed in jirayer or otherwise those
whom I thought unconverted. l:<ecoii(Uy. I advised to sep-
arations from tliem. T/iinU;/. I was led astray by follow-
ing impulses. Fduiihl;/. Hy encouraging private persons to
a ministerial juid authoritative kind of method of exhort-
ing. Fij't/ilij. 1 did not i)revent singing with others in tiie
streets. I make this })ublic recantatii>n. May Ciod
bless it. "James Davkni'okt."

Such, then, was the state of Presb3'terianism in New
England in relation to doctrine and worshij> in 174."]-4, at
tlu' end of the tirst (piarter of a century afteT it had been
introduced by Metiregor and his associatt^s. In some
places it prospered exceedingly. This was the case in all

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HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

the towns where it had the ascendency and was established
by civil law. In others it was worried for want of " free-
dom to worship God," and in some cases, as we have seen,
it succumbed to Congregationalism. . The precise number
of congregations now, nor yet the exact number of settled
pastors, we cannot state.

Tiiere was, however, a Presbytery in full operation
which had no intercourse with the ministers whom they
had suspended. Emigration and domestic increase added
largely to their aggregate numbers. New towns were set-
tled, churches were formed, and during the next twenty-
tive years Presbyterianism had an increasing vitality in
New England.

For the diffusion of knoAvledge or the support and vin-
dication of "sound doctrine'' up till this ])eriod, the Press
liad not been employed by Presbyterians in these colonies
excepting by the liev. A. LeMercier in publishing his
" History of Geneva." See appendix C.

To it both Moorehcad and LeMercier afterwards resorted
in their controversies, and the pamphlets of " John Pres-
byter " and LeMercier's " review " and " answer " each
betray not a little of " the wrath of man."

IN NEW ENGLAND.

107

:'l

CHAPTER IV.

1743-1708 — An cfFicient Elderslup — Projiidicc — Formntion of a second
Preshytcry — AlH'rcri)iiil)it' — Pclliani — Its Ih-II — Work ';j do — ColiMTiin
— A "PreshylLiiul visitiition " — Daniel Mitriu'll lictnsc ' — Kiitland —
Georf^t'towii — SliL'i'i»s('ot(.' — If ''he slionld judge sale "'— Wiscasset —
Soidie^aii — Kint^^ston — < ilasgow — Boyd licensed — DifTieullies in Pel-
liani — ['arsons received — Double taxes — First pro re mita, 1749— Ke-
liefsouiriit l)y Parsons — Strife in Pi'liiam — Re; *''v. — A |)lea — Rea-
H'His — Abercronihie suspended — "Rejoinder" — .. > precision of llie
Scotcinnan -Four persons tit — His iinprndence — An exotic— The na-
son — It grows — Better counsels — Palmer — Harvey — A scandal — Dis-
nnssed — R. Rm-ns examined a part of two days — Installed there — Mr,
Kiiihiows — C'oh'raine — The Foit precedt'd the church — Its hell from
Lonl ('. purloined — Alexander McDowell — Another phast — I^aston —
Rev. 8ol. Prentice— Troubles— Voted -Nov. 5, 17.")2— ".My wife at
it" — Vagrant lay teachers — The millennium — Pri'sbyti'ry suspended
him — He entertained not "angels unawares" — An address to " tlio
Kirk"— Zeal in tlieir work — Calls — I'.oyd and Mary Ihichan — I'A'ld
Psalm- -Boyd installed at New Castle— Winslow a disturber — \'olun-
town — Oorrance — Pioneers — Peterboro — ,)ohn Morrison — A compro-
mise — /•'(■A; dc w — The plain of Onci — Tampirs with principle— Wind-
ham— Rev. John Kinkead — Rev. S. Williams — fo'.i=Sol).")U in
specie in 1720 — Scarlxiro — Rev. Thos. Pierce — A specimen — London-
derry Presbytery — Respectable but their Ministry died out — liev. Mr.
I)unloi)^He saw his liouse and family bin-ned by the Indians — Brad-
ford^Rev. John Houston — A change in a church in New York — ■
Kliects Presbylerianism — Scots — Rev. D. Mc(iregor — Animosities —
Teachings — The imitations — Rev. Jolin Mason — "Incurably dissatis-
fied " — " Seceders" — Overborne — If principle had prevailed, Presby-
terianisiu in this land woulil have had a bright future — The blight of
Socinianism — The little cloud, floods of error and division — The
rancor of a century — " Time but the impression deeper makes."

In cnterino; on this period, it may be useful at times to
rpcii])it\ilate a little.

Notwithstanditio: the isolated position of INlooreliead and
]\It(ire,ti;()r, their eoiio,re,ij;ations prospered. A hir^e and
efficient eldership assisted them in their respeetive ehar;j;es.
Family worship and domestic discipline were attended to.

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HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

Hcavinfj cntnrcd warmly into the spirit of Wlutcfield, and
being in the prinio ol' niiuisterial usetulncss, they Avere caeh
extensively })rosi)ered in their Ahistcr's work. Htill, they
found tiieir situation relatively uni)leasant, as they were
subject to and pn^teeted hy no eiiureh etjurt. To return
to the original Presbytery was well nigh an impossibility.
Prejudice; with other evm inferior operations of our un-
sanctihed natur(>, .-^ueh as sarcasm, was at work, and cher-
ished sectarian rancor. Thus they passed about or abt)vo
eight years of isolation, until eventually they acconii)lished
that with which they had been charged at their susi)ension
Vjy licMercier — the formation of a l^resbytery. This, by
themselves, they would n(jt probably have attem})ted, but
Providence eventually enabled them to accomnlish it by
bringing to t'lCir aid the Rev. Roljert Abercrombie.

He, on being licensed, left Scotlan<l with testimonials
from the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Kirkaldy, and re-
connnendations from the Rev. Mr. Wilson, of Perth. Ho
came to New England in the autumn of 1740, and after
laboring nearly four ycnrs in different places as a proba-
tioner, was ordained in Pelham, Mass., on August 30th,
1744, by a council, consisting of tlie Rev. Messrs. Moore-
head, McCJregor, Edwards, of Northampton, Parsons, of
East Hadley, Billings, of Greenfield, and White, of Ilard-
wicke.

On this occasion tlic Rev. Jonathan Edwards preached
from John v. 35 : " He was a burning and a shining light."

Pelham was incorporatec' on January loth, 1743, about
"which time they called the Rev. William Johnston, for-
merly of Worcester, and then pastor at Windham, N. H., a
metnber of the then existing Presbytery, but he refused
their call.

Lord Pelham gave to the town a bell, but it remained in
Boston until it was sold for the freight and storage.
Others say it was purchasc'd by the Old South, in Boston,
from the Pelham church.

The inhabitants of this town were to be Presbyterians.
The church was organized in 1743. Mr. Abercrombie was
a profound scholar and had a fine library, which, after the
vicissitudes of above a century, is owne(l by one of his de-
scendants. His early Presl)vteriiin education and the
mental instability inherent in Congregationalism, prompted

IN NEW ENGLAND.

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Abercrombie to seek tbc more scriptural order of ecclesias-
tical govcniinont.

Why he did not ask a connection with the original
Prc'shytery, which was still in its viyor, is not known, and
we find that liis views of tiie standing of Moorehead and
Md iregor did not prevent him from seeking their fellow-
ship.

Alter due conference on the suV)iect and much prayer,
they resolved that if their congregations concurred, they
should soon, and in an orderly way, assume Presbyterial
res|)onsihilities.

Having agreed tlmt the organization was desirable, they,
with tlieir congregations, observed '' tiie tliird Wednesday
of Marcli, 1745, as a day of fasting and humiliation to ask
counsel of God in this im[)ortant matter,"

This Ix'ing done, they met on "the IGth day of April,
1745, at Londonderry, and being aided by ]\Ir. James j\Ic-
Kean, ruling (>lder of that place, Mr. Alexander Conkcy,
formerly of Worcester, and then (])robahly) of Pelliam,
and Mr. James Hcnighs (probably) of Boston, they did l)y
prayer constitute themselves into a Presbytery, to act, so
far as their (then) present circumstances Avould permit
them, according to the word of God and Constitutions of
the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, agreeing with that
perfect rule."

Mr. Abercrombie was chosen Clerk and Mr. Moorehead
^loderator.

To whatever extent their conduct might, when exposed
to a rigid scrutiny, meet the approbation of true Presbyte-
rians, they had now placed themselves in working order as
a church court, and they had work to do.

Among other matters a reference from the session of
Pelham was on that day laid before them — and a letter
from the inhabitants of the town of Colerain, Massachu-
setts, was read, requesting the Presbytery to take them
under their care. At their next meeting, in Boston, on
August IMth, 1745, both of these cases received attention.
Mr. Abercrondiie had (as directed) visited the Presl^yte-
rians of Colerain, and now i)resented a request from them
for the services of a Mr. Graham, who, "having a design
to remove from these parts very soon," did not a.GGede to
their wishes.

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HISTORY OF PRKSBYTERIANISM

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Not only in name did those con2!;repjntions adhere to
Prcshytcrianisni. Tii(,'y viewed its arrauixeinents as Scrip-
tural, and the session at IVlliani re([Ueste(l a Presl)yterial
visitation. Wlica'c this is laitht'idly jjerlornu'd, and no-
where else, is tlie full spirit otthe (hvine injunetion hroui^ht
into oi)eration — "Obey them that Irive tlie ruU' over you
and sul)mit yourselves, ibr they watch tor your souls," etc.
(JI(;h. xiii. 17.)

To the Presbytery comiu'^: tot2;eth(M', constitutiuL', in the
name and "hythe power ot" the Lord Jesus C'In-ist," tii
})astor and ehlers in all spiritual matters, and th(; deacons
in "tiie outward atlairs of the house of (iod,"' in answer t(;
formal ollicial in(iuiries, detail tlu; deliniiuencies or faith-
fulness of each other — and to these under-shepherds, sittin,<>;
in jud<^nient, their ^'' accounts^'' in the highest sense on earth
are "rendered with joy and not with grief," where no dere-
liction of duty is found, it forms a prt'nionition of the
appearing of "the (Jhief Shepherd." Without suital)le
attendance to this duty, doctrine, worship, government and
discipline cannot usually long be continued scripturally
pure.

These were not, however, the only demands made upon
the court. Comi)laints were entertained and adjudicated.
In 1746, Mr. Daniel Mitchell, from Ireland, was, after due
examination, and on subscribing the Westminster Stand-
ards, licenseil to ))reach the gospel as a jn'obationer for the
ministry. In some towns, where the number of Presbyte-
rians was large, althoimh not a nuijority, they made reouest
at times to have the Sacrament of th(? Lord's Su[)])er ad-
ministered in their form, and have the tables served by
ruling elders instead of Con^regationalist deacons. From
a })ortion of the church in Rutland, Massachusetts, a ])eti-
tion was pres(>nted on iNIay 12th, 1747, on this subj(>ct, and
before the Presb^^tery would act ui)on it, the ^Moderator
was ap})ointed to confer with the Rev. Mr. Eaton, of that
town, in the case. After an extensive conference the appli-
cants were duly "congregated" as a Presbyterian (.'liurch.

On August 11th, 1747, Mr. 1). Mitchell was ap])ointed to
supply in Georgetown and Sheepscote, from wliich jilaces
a])plications for his labors had been })resented. They
"leave with him also a discretionary ])ower to go to any
other places there {in Maine) as he should judge safe." On

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November 11th he was also appointed to supply till !March
in Wiscasset, Souhcgan and J.itclitield, and al'terwardss in
Kingston and (j(las(>ow, lor the same reason that from those
])hices requests were made for his serviees.

To meet these inereauin;^ demands Divine Providence
now be.yan to hrinji to tliem assistance. One Mr. Alexan-
der Boyd, who had studied theolo.L^y in Glasgow, was in
due form, aiter suhs(;ril)ing the \\'estminster (Standards,
licensed at Pelliam on June 15th, 174S, and directed '"to
supply at Georgetown I'or tlie next three months, with dis-
cretionary power to go to Wiscasset and to Sheepscotc, as
he may judge it to be sale." There were no coaches,
steand)oats, nor rail cars in Maine in those days, and to
hreak "the bread of life" to the dispersed families in tlu;
wilderness was often, in many ways, a ])eril()us undertak-
ing. Hence the indulgence to Messrs. Mitchell and Jioyd
to consult their i)ersonal safety.

At this meeting another, a less pleasant phase of Pres-
byterial duty, was presented. Several persons ap|)eared,
expressing dissatisfaction with some parts of the conduct
of the })astor of Pelham, and he also requested a release
from his charge. Both parties were very suital)ly advised
in relation to their respective duties to each other in the
future.

At Londonderry, on October 4th, 1748, "the Rev. Jona-
than Parsons, of Xeuherry, with the Presbyterian congre-
gation under his care, oliered tliemselves to join with this
Presbytery. After impiiry, made with respect to Mr. Par-
sons' testimonials as a minister of the gospel, and inquiry
also into the circumstances of the congregation, so far as
the Presbytery judged necessary, and sufficient satisfaction
being had upon both these heads," tiiey were "unani-
mously received, and he and .Mr. Thomas Pike took their
seats accordingly." This was a substantial increase to the
Presbytery. Their choice of Presbyterianism was partly
a matter of couipulsion as well as of choice by both pastor
and people. They had left the first parish, Is'^ewberry, on
January 3d, 1746, had settled their i)astor on i\[arch IDth,
174(), and the dissentients from the third parish were
received into their fellowship on the l()th of the following
October; but still they were compelled to i)ay double
church taxes until 1770. As this congregation " continues
unto this day," it will receive further notice.

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At this meeting: (October Itli, 1718) tlio probationers,
i»I('ssrs. lioyd and Mitchell, had didy to ii,'wv. an account
ol' their labors ; and the ()])inion is ollicially expressed that
in the vacancy of Rutland, while " the con<ire<i:atin«; of the
])eo[)le was deemed valid, the administration of the Lord's
»^upl)er ouuht not to have been gone into without a Pres-
])yterial ai)i)ointment.''"

On October 5th the Rev. " ]Mr, Al)ercrombie pctitionrd
ibr a dismission I'roin his pa.storal charj^c. lie was recom-
mended to give the reasons of his ' uneasiness ' to the
])eople, who with him are to rei)ort the circumstances of
things against the next Presbytery,"

At a ])}'() re mdd meeting in Roston, on March 14th,
1740, the moderation of a call was granted to Kim..ston, or
Elbows, Nt!\v liamjishire, and on May 2d, at Newberry,
ji moderation lor a call was granted to Ruthmih

At this meeting the congregation of Pelham did not
make the statements ])reviously ordered, and consequently,
in their ease with their ])astor, the Presbytery could not at
present proceed. A sup})lication from Messrs. Samuel
Poor, John Emory and others, to become, for several
weighty reasons, members of the Rev. Mr. Parsons' church,
"was considered ; and as it a})[)eared, that said " peoph; had
used all proper endeavors to get relief on the Congrega-
tional way witljout success, that their reasons are suflicient
to legitimate their withdrawal, and it is directed that IMr.
Parsons and his elders should upon request admit them,
linding them, ujjon examination, to be persons of a gosi)cl
conversation."

On June 13th, 1749, at Pelham, both ]\Ir. Abercrombie
and a committee on the behalf of that town appeared, and
now "the beginning of strife was as the letting out of
■waters." Contention was (not only) not "left off, but
meddled with " for several succeeding years, again " wound-
ing the Saviour in the house of his friends." Among the
varied forces in nature " action and reaction " are equal,
and it has at times proved to be not a little so in the visi-
ble church. The extraordinary results of the labors of
Whitefield, Tennant and Davenport we have noticed, and
now reaction in religious zeal was taking place, and " the
love of many had begun to wax cold."

This was the case to some extent in Pelham. Mr. Aber-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

113

crombie, bcinjj from conviction a Presbyterian (altbon^h
from necessity ordained by a Conncil), considered it to be
Ihh duty to ai)])ly the disrijiline of the church to the igno-
rant and innnoiiil in rehition to chureli ])rivilef;es, and
especially to those of tiiem in Pelhani, who demanded for
their children the ordinance of ba])tisni.

Thou^ih the Preshytciian rule in relation to baptism is
alike Scriiitural and ])lain, vi/.. : that " baptism is not to be
administered to any -who are out of the visilAo church till
they profess their I'aith in ('hrist, and obedience to him;
bul tiu' inlanls of such as arc members of the visible church
are to be bai)tized '' — yi't it is slran,n;e that, wherever men
have not, in otiier religious matters, the ami)lc faith of
Prelacy, which on this ])oint maintains that baptism "is
to lie refus(>d to none " — or. on the other hand, the less
Scrii)tural belief that the Abrahamic covenant was not
"confirmed of God in Christ," but ])rofess to believe that
"the infants of such as are members of the visible church
are to be baj^tized " — tliey will often habitually live without
any connection with the church on earth, excepting the
formal oflicial sprinklinii; of their infants with water, which
they usually consider to be "christening," or, otherwise,
giving to th(nr child a name! The criminal indulgence
of careless parents in this unscri])tural and wicked whim
by ministers has given more weight of argument to the
o])inions of the Anabajitists than all that can be found in
the volume of divine revelation. This evil had now for
yenrs a])pcared in Pelham, and as the support of the min-
ister was a town business, so such persons had apparently
a ])lea for their demands.

Hence, says Mr. Abercrombie, ]\lay 30th, 1755, in a let-
ter [o a friend : " When the late remarkable Divine influ-
ences were withdrawn, and religion began to decline among
us, some fiiicdsine.'oniYose in my congregation, which I soon
perceived would increase unless I preached smooth things,
and unless I eom])lied with the Presbvterv in all their
measures. This T thought I could not in faithfulness do;
and therefore resolved to learr my congregation. I once
and again desired IVeshylery to dl.<<mis>! me from my pas-
toral charge.-' But this they would not do. He presented
reasons: "1st. Ignorance and the neglect of the means of
knowledge, particularly their defects in attending on cate-
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HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANI8M

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chising." "5th. The town, on January 21 st, 1747, voted
that 'Mr. A. should not be allowed his next year's salary
without a discharge for the former years.' "* This fifth
reason the Presbytery eonsidcred "injurious to Mr. A.'s
moral character, and ought tp be recalled," and " tiiey en-
join him to bestir the unbaptized children in case the
parents shall in some proper manner '' st'cure his necessary
SU])port. This the town as such did n(jt d(», while "a
great number of the town distin^niished themselves accord-
ing to the >rder of rresl)ytery, and Mr. A- was enjoined to
continue their minister agreeably to their request."

He, however, insisted \\\un\ tiie iijjplication of the dis-
cipline of the Church of Scotland (to which the Presbytery
professedly held) to the parties to whom it ought, in his
judgment, to apjily.

By so doing he was chnrged with "insinuating things
against the Presbytery, evidently false and groundless."
Mr. Moorchead was "ordained to baptize the children of
those whom he finds on inquiry to have a right (in P.) to
that privilege." Thus matters continued from year to
year, becoming continually worse, until at Boston, on May
14th, 1755, he declined their authority, and they sus-
pended him from the ministry and from the ])astoral
relation in Pelham, because, say they, " he refuses to
retract from or make satisfaction for the false and injurious
things insinuated."

His friends had also, on April 15th, 1755, addressed
Presbytery on his behalf, but both for himself and for
them there was no redress, as they were not in connection
with, nor subject to, any Synod as a court of appeal or
review.

In reference to this he says to Presbytery : " 'Tis plain,
the sum of both my representations U])on which you build
your awful procedure is to plead with you to receive the
discipline of the Church of Scotland in her purest times,

* " Pelham, March 2ith, 1748.
"Accounted with James Coukey, Treasiinr, for my salary from tlie
year 1744 to August the 30th, 1740, and received tifty pounds in hills of
the new tenor, which I accept of as uiy salary for said year, and hereby
discharge him and the town from all further demands of the same.

" R. Abercrombie."

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115

find prartiPO in surh a innnnor Hint irmmnrnl and ilVitcrdlc
jK'ivoiis may not ho admitted to tho sacred odicc of tho
iniiiistrv, and tliat those who are unworthy atnon^' tho
jicople may he kept hack iVoni seaHiiii onhnanees."

•'The hite remarkahh> l)i\'ine influences '' thus apjx'ar to
liave heen "withch'awn, and religion to have (h'clined "
jrciicrally in tlie houn<ls of tlie I'reshytery, and ch)nhth'S.s
also aniouLT their surroundiuL'S when such occurrences luid
tak< n place.

Jjike the stimulant of stronc; (h'ink u])on the human
pyftem, the "awakenings" which had popularly ran into a
''revival," had now, in a few years, sunk the churches
heneatli the level of the usual results in the ordinary en-
joyment of the means of <i;race, and either in sympathy
with, or in deference to, the oj)inions and lives of the
church memhers and dwellers in the tt)wns, the I'reshytery,
accordinjz; to Ahercromhie, adopted new " measures " and
'■ preached smooth thinus." It is (pn'te possilje that now,
in the hist (piarter of the nineteenth century, in these
things, as in others, history may ''repeat itself."

Notwithstandinji his suspension "the con<jfrep:ation liad
never brought any charirc ajrainst" Mr. A. and the Presln'-
tery "could not hreak in upon the conu;r(>aati()n l^y the
session." The select men, however, by the order of Pres-
bytery, shut the meeting-house doors on tiie Kev. ^\y. A.,
not on Habbath, but on Monday. Thus matters continued
for three years. A narrative from Parsons, Moorehead
and McCiregor was issued. This was followed by " Re-
marks " by Ahercromhie, and these by a '" Kejoinder " from
Parsons and McGregor in 1758.

As Mr. A. had declared that if he "had a superior court
to which to carry his case, he could vindicate his conduct,"
so "at a meeting at Newberry, on May 24th, 1758 (Mr.
Moorehead being Idoderator and Mr. McGregor Clerk),
they agreed to let him a])peal, jK.'cording to his proposal, to
the associated ministers of l^oston ov to the Synod of New
York," not as having any jurisdiction over the Presbytery,
hut as a friendly court, who could act as um])ire, and by

vice, ])roinote ])eace.

Til

ev so wrote to him.

Here, howi!ver, the preciseness of the iScotchnian ajipears
in his answer to this proposal, dated at Pelhani on June
21st, 1758. He says : "A Synod to whom the Presbytery

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^vas not joinrd could give liiin no lawful nor sntipHictory
redress."'

'Die representations of tlie l're>l)ytery on the points at
issue are, iiouevir, ol'ten very ilillerent I'roni those ot' Mr.
Al)t'reron»bie. They appear to iiave believed that lie
Kouuht to (piarrel with tiieni, say that "tiie society iiad
been Ion;,' witiiout tile iiord's Supper, as lie would not clis-
jiense it to them, considei'ing that only about lour persons
m the town were W(M'lliy to receive il, that a considerable
number ol" ehildren, whose ]tarents were; jn-rsons ol' j^^ood
character, luul been loii;^ deprived ol baptism, that he
could never be prevailed upon to make any addition to the
session, and ballled the aggrieved when tlu-y would atti-mpt
to brin^' their matters of complaint before Presbytery."

W they were iiuleed ;^uilly of conformin;j; to their sur-
roundinus, he did not shew prudence, much less wisdom

m U])l)rai(lin,i,' them witli their (lelin([Ue

th th

ncies, while he de-

clined their authority be'cause he viewed them as a party,
tmd must have reconciliation only l.)y measures of his own
j)roposinj,', which, when acceded to by Presbytery, ho
•would a^ain i<i;nore. Whether his course of condu(;t in
the matter arose from " a zeal for (Jo<l, not according to
knowlcdjie," or, as the autiiors of the '" Kiijoinder " say,
*'Some of us would still ho[)(! that his conduct towards
his brethren is the eil'ect of a xtroiuj (cmptdtion,^^* still it

* "A strong lemptnllon.'' It is possible that the following vigorous
tradition iviy give to us "a bird's-ese view" of the state of morals in
the town (alter the "awakening" had jjassed away), with bulb the
})rea('her and llie people, as he eontinued to reside among them, and \>o
far as we knowj Lo olliciate among them after lie and they had ceased to
be Presbyterians.

A story nf jlip d(i;/s. The old .Vhererombie honse at Pelham is said to
liave once l»een the scene of a praetical joke l)y Rev. Mr. Abercrombie,
the original oeeiipant of the honse and minister of the town, hi his
days, of course, Hip was the common beverage of eiergymen and tlio
laity, and no objection was ever maile, unless iieojile became iiotorioi;-;ly
over-indulgent. The elnrge was (inally brought at a chureh-meetiiig
that tile minister was (irinUing too freely, and a committee was appointed
to tell bini of his fault and warn him of the ilanger of continuing in it.
Warned of their coming, the erring jiastor told his wife to prepare the
iirst round of flip, which even this committee would expect, with e(pial
jiarts of rum and waier, the next with more rum, and the next mostly
rum. The committee soon after their arrival partook of the Hip, whieli
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IN NKW ENGLAND.

117

liad a pnralyzinj]; ofTcct, in f»i»rc';i(lii\Lr " roots of liittcrncss,"
iind of Icndinii to make I'rt'sltvti'i'iiiiiisin still inoiv cxten-
eivi'ly an exotic in New Kujiland. In view of their jiusi-
tion, the authors of the " llejoinder " near the dose rf it,
say, "The reason why we keei) up a church government
and administrations, in some things ditU-rcnt from our
fellow-Christians in the country where we live, is not frtra
anv fond desire of si»i;:ularity, hut l)ecaust' we are con-
scientiously persuaded that these are most conlormahle to
the Scripture })latform, and have the most effectual ten-
dency to promote purity of faith and j)raclice." 'j'his
"reason "has lm'owu manifold stronger in a century, not
only in view of the growth of Arminianism, I'elagianism,
Universalism, Arianism, Socinianism, Transcendentalism,
Spiritism, Spiritualism, Infidelity and Atheism, hut also
hy the introduction among the ])rofessed adhering Ortho-
dox descendants of the Puritans of "(ierman douhts, con-
jectures, negations and hypotheses "into "tlic country
where we live." While the townsmen of Pelham could
not ohtain, as easily as they desired, baptism for their
children, tlie i)rofessing Christians among the C\)ngrega-
tionalists of to-day, either have very few of this " heritage"
of God, or care but little about having the seal of his cove-

erran<1. The pastor admitted tlirit tluio might be need of tlie reproof,
niul that he would he governed hy it. Tiien came the second round of
tlij), and, as the husiness had been dispatched, the eommittee M'ere dis-
])()sid to Ije talkative and social with tlie pastor who had so humhly ad-
mitted his sin at their n hiike. Tlie (lip came around the tiiird time,
and it is said near sunrise the next morning two ol' the eommittee man-
aged to reacii tlieir homes, hut the third lay prone on the floor, unable
to stir from theefleets of the flip, until broad daylight. At the adjourned
(liurch meeting, when this committee made their rejiort, it is said they
made a very conci.se report of their visit to the pastor, and the kindly
way in which he received the it proof", by n porting: "We liave called
on the jtastor, as directed, and he gave us Christian satisfaction."

As his name appears upon fiie Eecords of I'resbytcry, the Rev.
Ilicliard Ciraham succeedctl Mr. Abercrombie in IVlham before 1770,
and oiv May 29th, 1771, Presbyte y made a request to each congregation
for aid for Mr. (Jraham's wido>N and family. Down to 1775 Pelham
received supj)ly fro..i Presbytery.

On Septendier 27th, 17S(i, Pelham requested .some assistance and sup-
ply from the Associate Reformed Presbytery of Londonderry. On
May 80th, 1792, this peoj)le re(piested suj)ply from the Associate Re-
formed Presbytery of New Kngiand. September 11th, 1793, Mr. Oliver
wai> installed as their pastor.

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HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

nant placed iipnn those whom thoy nurture, perhaps,
Avithout it, " in the achiionition of the liord." For, says
the CkriMiaa Jn.-<tractni' t)t' Phihidelpliia, of May loth, 187-"),
" In more tium two hundred Con<j;re<z;ational eiuirches, of
Massachusetts, there were no haptisms of infants last year.
The same is true of one hundred and thirty Congrega-
tional churches in Maine."

As a thunder-storm tends to ])urify the atmospliere, so
tliese controversies and " vain janglings," even while "the
wrath of man will not work the righteousness of Clod,''
had to some extent the ellect of hringing hack the jiarties
to the anchorage from which they were driftiiig. Better
counsels api)ear, at this date, to have increasingly pre-
vailed, and at a meeting held in Boston, on May l()th,
17")S. "all the ministers and probationers present, being
required by tlie Presbytery, did readily subscribe the
Westminster Standards."

We have seen that the Rev. Joseph Harvey was or-
dained by the Londonderry Presl)ytery, at Palmer, Massa-
chusetts, on June 5th, 1734, and that with Moorehead ho
was sus])ended by the same court in 1736. What corre-
spondence, if any, was kept up between him and Moore-
head and McGregor, is unknown. One thing is certain,
lie did not unite in forming the Boston Presbytery, and
whether he ^vas restored by his Presbytery or not, he con-
tinued to live and labor in Palmer.

He does not. however, a})j)ear to have conformed to the
Scripture requirement — "A bishop must be blameless, the
husband of one wife." Hence, his usefulness was im-
paired and his jiastoral labors were cut short. Where
there is no " present distress," a minister, if he have com-
mon-sense and understands human nature, so soon as he
can " provide things honest in the sight of all men," will
be one of the first to know that " it is not good that the
man should be alone."

Mr. Harvey does not appear to have made this discov-
ery, and after a ministry, which otherwise, so far as we
know, was, and might have continued to be, largely use-
ful, he fell under temptation, and, "as the result of a dilH-
culty between him and his church, arising irom a scandal
between him and a female," he was dismissed in 1748.

At the stated meeting of the Presbytery of Boston, at

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IN NEW KNGLAND.

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Newhorry, on Aii,mist 14(]i. 17^3, Mr. Koherl Burnp, a licen-
tiiite IVoiii the north of Ireland, was achnitted, "promising
suhseription to the ,Stan(hirtls when reiiuired." From his
iiimiediati^ appointment to "supjily in Palmer till next
sederunt," hut, i'rom the fact, in connection with it, that
the ''Rev. Mr. Ahercromhie moderate in a call lor liim in
f<aid Palmer, some convenient time hefore next meeting,"
it is nearly certain, that he had previously preached there
and that they had expressed a desire for his settlement
over them.

In proof of this, the adjourned meeting of Preshytcry
was " on desire of several memhers of J'reshytery convened
at Boston on October 18th, ai)pointed to be held in Pal-
moY instead of Boston."

They met there, and after an examination, during a part
of two days, on the loth day of November, 1753, he was
ordained and installed as jjastor of said church. The con-
gregation, it would a|)pear, came voluntarily to the Pres-
bytery. They, while a vacancy, had not been very satis-
factorily sujiplied, for we find that "at a vote taken on
August 23d, 1754." the claim of a Mr. Kniblows, then un-
])aid, was deci(k>d in a very discriminating manner, but
one which might ])uzzie many a modern congregation to
imitate, and ought to ])rove suggestive to the occupants
of the i)ulpit.

" He was charged with ]ir(>aching other men's sermons.
He was to have ibur pounds sixteen shillings, which was
eight shillings lawful money for each sermon." and after
due exaon.iation he was paid at this rate for all, " except-
ing three, whicii wo can ])rove were other men's sermons."
]\lr. Burn 3 was didv dismissed from Pahner on May 5th,
175S.

^\'e have seen that at the organization of the Presbytery
( A])ril l()th, 1715), a letter was received from tlw; inhabi-
tants of the town of Coleraine, Massachusetts, requesting to
be taken under their care.

This parish, setthnl about 1736, was then a frontier set-
tk^nent and originally called Boston Township, probably
because many ot tlie pioneers were Irom that place; others
were from Ireland, Londonderry, New Ilamj)shire; Wo-
bin-n, Stow, Boxhury and Pelham, Massachusetts. For
them, as early as 1742, Mr. James Fairservice (formerly

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HISTORY OF niESBYTKRIANISM

from Mr. Moorohead's church), built the first grist-mill.
Tlicy erected ;i iiieetiiig-hou^e in 1742.

Being clisa|)Dointed, as stated, in not obtaining the ser-
vices of Mr. Graham, Presbytery still gave them suj)])ly.
They also occasionally experienced the dangers of frontier
life, hi May, 174G, Matthew Clarke, his wiie and daugh-
ter were fired upon by tiie In(Hans. He was killed, and
his wife and daughter were carried to the fort.

This is a specimen of what was not uncommon in re-
claiming the wilderness from savage num. The fort
usually preceded tiie church.

This town was Presbyterian from its commencement.
The name was given to it in honor of I^ord Coleraine, who
handsomely and gratefully ])rcsented to them a church
bell, which, "through the unfaithfulness of the agent, Avas
kei)t in Boston, where (says Barber; it is believed to still
exist and to be in use in one of the churches."

This was one of the ways in which Presbyterianism was
not promoted in the colony.

The supply which Presbytery was able to afford was but
limited, wbile their requests were fre({uent and earnest.
At length, on June 4th, 1750, "the Presbytery a]))K)inted
Mr. Abercrombie to visit tliem, and, if he find it expedient,
he is to ordain elders among them," and in 1751 they had
made out a call for Mr. Daniel Mitchell .to become their
pastor. This, from the want of order, Avas not sustained
on March 17th, 1752, and a new moderation was then
granted.

At the same meeting Mr. Alexander McDowell, after
having satisfactorily sustained the prescribed "trials,"
and having subscribed his adherence to the Westminster
Standards, was admitted as a probationer for the holy
ministry, and was now apjiointed for some Sabbaths
among other places (Rutland, Kingston and New Ilutland)
to Coleraine.

On August 14th, 1753, he acce])ted the call from this
town, and was, on September 2Stli tbllowing, by a commit-
tee of Presbytery, ordained and instalKd as tlu'ir pastor.

He was a native of Ireland, and })robably the first
graduate of Harvard College who entered the Presbyterian
ministry. His [)astorate began with ])roniise. but the in-
fluence of artificial appetite in a few years blighted his

IN NEW ENGLAND.

121

prospects of usefulness, and he was dismissed for intemper-
ance in 1761.

On June 30th, 1761, this town was incorporated.

We now (Hrect f)ur attention to anotlier phase of ecclesi-
astical development hy which Picsl)yterianism was intro-
duced into the town of Easton, Mass. Tlieir second Con-
^fretrationalist pastor, the Rev. Joseph Belcher, died in
1744. During liis ministry, and, so far as he knew, during
the ministry of his predecessor (the Rev. Matthew Short),
the society had no church covenant.

As this instrument forms the vitalizing hond of the de-
nomination, Mr. Relclier declared to a committee wlio
waited on him on the subject, that the society had "no
records, no covenant and no ciiurch.''' On A})ril 6th, 1747,
they subscribetl one. What their fellowship with surround-
ini;; cliurches had previously been is not stated in their
records, if they had any, but from the fact that they had
had two pastors settled in the usual form, we may infer
that matters in their church were no more loosely managed
than in some otliers.

On August 28th, 1747, they voted to call the Rev. Solo-
mon Prentice, who was installed on the 18th day of No-
vember following. ''August 18th, 1748, voted, that we are
a Congregntional church." (Rec. of date.)

In a dilliculty which arose in 1748 about who have a
right to ba|)tism, it was voted that " Presl)yterian3 coming
with certilicatcs may obtain it." '"Two elders were chosen
June 16th, 1749." Troubles now arose about the location
of a new meeting-house, in which "the select men re-
quested Mr. Prentice to attend worship on November 20th,
17.')0."

^\'hy, instead of occupying this house statedly, he
] (reached tor four successive Sabbaths at two or more pri-
vate houses alternately, does not fully ap])ear, but in 17')1
he met with his friends in it, while a ])arty was formed who
''charged him with inconsistency," and on May 20th, 17ol,
charges against him were preferred by Deacon llayward
anil others. As it exhibits the working ability of the
church ])olity always prevailing in New P]ngland, I (juote
from their recortls :

"()ctol)er 17th, 1752, the church met. Voted aflirma-
tively and unanimously ' Considering the brokenness of tho

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HISTOltY OF PUESnVTEKlANlSM

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Constitution of the Conjiro^zational Church in New England
(this ciiurcii bcintf hitlicrto profei^sedly one), because tlie
churches themselves don't stand by, l)Ut occasionally, and
as cases suit, break in upon their Constitution, whereby an
injured church or l)rother cannot obtain ri<iht (as we can
see), witness the deplorable state of the church of Christ in
this place by the acts of Council, which the disatl'ected
brethren of this church have called : To renounce and come
off from the broken Congrcfrational Constitution, and de-
clare for, and come in with, the disci]iline and order of the
renowned Church of Scotland.' " Voted, to keep a day of
fastiuf?, and to request "the Presbytery, which is to meet
at Londonderry on next Tuesday, to assist them in carry-
ing on said fast." Their committee reported tliat they
" were favorably received, and that the Kev. Jonathan Par-
sons was a])pointed to assist them on the 22d day of No-
vember.*' Mr. Prentice on "November 5th (a famous
day)" preached for the last time in the old church, and
*' voted previously, on November 2d, that on November
12th and thenceforward, we will attend ordinances in the
Presbyterian meeting-house in Easton."

" The church made a declaration to the town for coming
off." An " exparte council " was soon afterwards held, but
its '' result" rather made bad worse in the community.
The Rev. " Mr. Prentice, as a Presbyterian minister, com-
menced catechising in December, 1752." "March 7th,
1753, elected four ruling elders and signed for Presbyte-
rianism."

Says Mr. Prentice : "• I preached on May 19th all day at
home, and on Sabbath, the 2()th, I dispensed the sacrament
in the Presbyterian form. My wife at it. We had a
blessed day. I i)reached also on Monday, the 21st."

He was admitted as a member of Presbytery at Boston
on May 15th, 1753. At Newbury, on August 14th, the
Presbytery received "a letter of excuse for absence from
tlie Rev. S. Prentice of Easton," and on the 2Sth of Sep-
tember following, he and his elder, Mr. Hartwell, assisted
at the ordination of the Rev. A. McDowell.

At the meeting of Presb"tery at Easton on November
12th, 1754, on their minutes it is recorded: "The reason
■why the meeting was not o})ened with a sermon as usual,
was because no public intimation had been given, Mr.

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IN NEW ENGLAND.

123

Prentice not beinjr acquainted with the custom of the
Pr(^sbyterv herein."

He luul not been a Presbyterian formerly, and under
tills order of church jzovernment his "course'' was short,
for on the next day lie was arraif^ned by the court on com-
plaint of four persons, members of his church.

''Fir,^t. For countenancintz; va^i^rant lay teachers, particu-
larly in his own house in December last."

The Presbytery judged that said conduct is of dangerous
tendency to the interests of true religion, and deserves a
severe rebuke.

'\S(ri>n(Ui/. It is the judgment of the Presbytery that the
expiration of tiie time of the concert for ])rayer in Scotland
is no argument that the millennium is commenced, and
that ]\Ir. Prentice should be cautioned against advancing
any such opinions aljout the millennium as may prove
hurtful to the interests of true religion."

" Presbytery judged that he should be rebuked, particu-
larly for the first article, and restored, if humble. If not,
that he siiould be suspended till next Presbytery." He
would not submit and was accordingly suspended. Sup-
ply was then appointed to Easton, but, as the records of
Presbytery are discontinued or lost after the next meeting
on April 16th, 1755, at Pelham, for fifteen years, we learn
notiiing farther from them of Presbyterianism in this town.
The domestic history of this man presents one curious
phase. His wife had, under the influences of the '■ vagrant
lay teachers" (who ai)pear to have been by him coun-
tenanced for several years), without his knowledge and
consent, been immersed. Hence, on his record he leaves
this statement :

"Sarah Prentice Ipsa Anabaptista Immersa Indignis-
simo Laco, viz.: Dec. 5th, 1750, absente marito." "Sarah
Prentice had herself baptized again by immersion in a
small lake, viz. : December 5th, 175U, in the absence of her
hushand."

Whether she had returned to his views or not, she joined
with his church at the communion on May 2()th, 1753,
and it is probable that he had ahowed his kindness to con-
quer his judgment when he had again i)articularly coun-
tenanced them in his own house in December, 1753. la
view of the action of Presbytery, he writes :

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HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

" Because I received a few of my fellow-creatures TancI fel-
low-Christians, so far as I know ) into my house, and sufl'ercd
them to pr;vy and talk about the Scriptures, and could not
make any acknowledgment thereof to some of my brethren
that were offended thereat, nor to the Presbytery, I have been
suspended from the dischar<i;e of my ministry until next
April, and because by said vote I was deprived of my
small subsistence which I have amon^' my people in Eas-
ton, I thought it necessary for the honor of God and the
pood of my family to remove with my family to Grafton,
N. H., whicli accordingly was done April 9th, 1755.

" N. B. — I have never heard a word from the Presbytery,
neither by letter or otherwise, nor the}'' from me, from the
day of my suspension to this day, viz. : September 5th,
1755. ''Sol. Prentice."

There appears thus to have been in their official inter-
course with him at least as much of the fortitcr in re as of
the suaviter in vindo, while it cannot be supposed very
probable that he "entertained angels unawares."

This Presbytery then recjuired those who took " care of
the house of God " to be discriminating in their hospital-
ity, especially with " unruly and vain talkers, who crept
into houses and led away silly women."

Existence was not always and only with the Presbytery
a matter of administration, of receiving ])etitions, granting
moderations, ex;imining candidates, ordaining ministers,
receiving congregations, or of suspending pastors. They
at times, also, considered their ecclesiastical position and
disadvantages.

There was at this period no Synod nearer to them than
New York. They were not connected with any, and whil(!
nearly all of the members of Presbytery were from Ireland,
still thev held in remembrance their mother cliurch, tl.)
Church of Scotland.

To inform her of their position and enlist her sympa-
thies, at their meeting in Boston on August loth, 1751, "' it
was agreed that an address should be sent from this Pres-
bytery to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
relating to the common cause or interest of Presbyterians
in New England."

What said address was, if it were ever prepared, when

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IN' NEW ENGLAND.

125

Fcnt, and wlmt its roco])tion, consequences and fruits were,
their niinutcs do not say.

l>y this ULrrceinent, liowever, they manifest 7-(>al in th(Mr
distinctive work and resi)ect for tiie vcncraMc kirk, as
most of them were trained in her schools of the jjropiiets.
They had in lier also, beside the accident of origin, oeea-
siomdly an indirect interest, by the admission of individu-
als from lur fellowship. As noticed, a Mr. Alexander
Boyd, from Glasgow, had been by them licensed on June
loth, 1748. From the infant church of Kinirston, N. If.,
a call lor his labors was presented .on March 14th, 1749.
This was on May 2d sustained and recommended to him
for acceptance, and on August 14th they "received from
(leorp;etown, eastward, a call to him with an attested copy
of the vote of the town, relating to his tem])oral support."
DilHculties now beset him. He had to a])pear before
l^resbytery at Londonderry on the first Tuesday of Octo-
ber. There he " acknowledged his irregular marriage with
]Mary liuchan, confessed his sorrow for the oflence he had
thereby given, and declared his resolution to adhere to her
as his wife." He stated that " he had written for her, and
also to the Rev. Mr. McLaurin, of Glasgow, declaring his
grief for the otfence which he had given that congregation,
and moreover, that he stood ready to give the Presbytery
whatever further satisfaction was needful to remove the
offence, eithei; for being married in a clandestine way, or
in concealing his marriage from the Presbytery when taken
on trials by them, etc., etc." They " rebuked him sharply,"
and as they could not proceed to any higher censure, they
gave him employment and reserved his case for future
consideration.

In view of the above case, as Mr. Boyd did not appear
at their meeting in Boston on the 14th of August, the
Presbytery returned, to the resi)ective congregations, the
<'al]s which had by them been made in his favor. Ho
i'ulfillcd his ap))ointments from year to year, but "he
could not altogether vindicate himself" on Mi^ 141 1:,
17'')1, when they " saw fit to give him a gentle reproof," to
wliich he submitted, and they continued him as supply.
A renewed call from Georgetown was by him acccjtted on
November 13th, 1751, but, owing to new difficulties, his
ordination was from time to time deferred, until, on Octo-

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ber 29th, 1752, it was " dolayod till sprinjr, when tho poo-
pl(> there were to lmvc li^ht to the I'reshyterv in the ease."
Their li^ht does not appear to have j)r()ve(l suHieient, and
we aijain find that "among the Newcastle, Elaine, pa])ers,
at a meeting at Boston, on May 14th, ITM, is a call for
Mr. Boyd." "The commissioners from Newcastle" in-
tended to have met Preshytery on the matters of his set-
tlement among them, at Newbnry on August 2()th, 1754,
" hut in Brovidence they were frustrated hy contrary winds,
and they had no ()l)iections against Mr. Boyd's ordination."

Tiiis took place at Newhury, Mass., on tSejjtemljer lUtli,
1754, by a committee consisting of Messrs. Moorehead,
McGregor and Parsons, and it is recorded that " the sol-
enmity concluded by singiiig a part of the 182d Psalm."

His installation was also performed by a committee of
Presbytery. The community was a mixed one, and al-
though the majority of the town were Presbyterians, the
Congregationalists. led on by ]\[r. Winslow, so distur])ed his
})eace, that he finally left New(!astlc in 175S. A similar
irritation had probably prevented his settlement at George-
town, which may ])ossil)ly have been aided by ecclesiasti-
cal discord, as Mr. McClenahan, of the Londonderry Pres-
bytery, had previously labored in that }>recinct, and his
friends would form no strong attachment, either to Mr.
Boyd or to his ecclesiastical connection. "The Presbyte-
rian minister left Georgetown in 1752" (Willis), and when
" in 17()4, the Kev. Alexander Boyd revisited Georgetown,
he found that the people had left Presbyterianism." ilb.)

Two distinct species of church government can never
cordially dwell together. Every ecclesiastical form of
thought, and every idea of governmental order forbids it.
" Two cannot walk together," much less dwell together,
" unless they are agreed."

At their meeting in Boston, on August 14th, 1749, Pres-
bytery received a petition from Voluntown, Ct., with a
number of ])apers relative to it, and on the 15th they say:
" Wheveas several appli(!ations have been made to this
Presbytery at different times, by a number of people in
Voluntown, the case concerning which appearing to us in
such a light, that, if the niajt)rity comply with the late
proposals of the Kev. Mr. Dorrance, the Presbytery shall
then be willing to assist in settling a minister among them,

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IN NEW KNr.LAND.

12T

agreeably to said proposal. But otherwiso, they see not
at ])rps(.'nt how they can concern themselves in the affairs
of Voluiitown."

'riic case was ])rohal)ly one similar to tliat of Campbell
or ]\IcKinstry, or Graliam, an attempt to identify these
two discordant species, by hiring a Presbyterian minister
to ])erform the duties of a CV)n<fre<i;ationalist ])aytor.

He had then labored in Volnntown (now Sterlin*];) about
twenty-five years, and bein<i; a native of Ireland and a
graduate of Glasgow University, his hal)its of thought
might have constrained him to ]>ress his Presbyterian ten-
dencies too strongly ui)on the C'ongregational portion of
his clmrch, or he might have joined tiie First Presbytery
since 1736, and a portion of his people might have now
sought connection with the Boston Presbytery, It is more
probable, liowever, that liis attachment to his early eccle-
siastical principles was now not a little abated by his posi-
tion and surroundings, and that consequently an increas-
ing number of his ])eople might desire the settling of a
Pres])yterian minister as their pastor. Hence tiiey niust
comply with the late proposals of the Rev. Mr. Dorrance.
This '' number of his people " were, however, for some time
afterwards Pre byterians.

As we have r-cen, emigration and domestic increase com-
bined, induced the settlers of Derry and other towns to
send pioneers into the wilderness, and we now trace briefly
the settlement of the town of Peterboro, N. H. This
was first attempted in 1739. In 1744, under the alarm of
war, their clearings and homes were abandoned until the
peace of 1749. In 1752 they built a meeting-house, and
in 1759 there were forty-five or fifty families in the town,
which was incorporated in 1760. The Rev. William John-
ston, formerly of ^^'orcester and Windham, came to them
in 1752 and remained about one year, when the Rev. Mr.
Harvey supplicil them for a time. They met on July 18th,
1700, '' to see if the town would embrace the present o})-
portunity of sending by the Rev. IMr. Kinkead (who was
then })robably at ^\'indham, N. H.) to Philadelphia to the
Synod or Presbytery there, for a su])ply or gospel minis-
ter to preach. Voted ; and also voted, not to mention any
certain sum for encouragement, but, that if any came, he
should be treated like a gentleman." "In 1761, voted to

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IIISTOUY OF PRKSnYTEPIANISM

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raise £ir)0 for tho support of tlio frospol," and a committoe
Avcro aj)p()iiitc'(l ''to invite ri'.u'uliir ministers, and renew
the snpplieation to the Synod ol' Philadelphia."

A Mr. Towors supi)lied them in 17('»4, :ind on January
8d of that yoar the town " voted to commission tlu; Rev.
Mr. Morrow to send us a minister when lie returned to
Ireland, iind that lie should hiiveaf^ood new heaver hat
if he would acoej^t this eommission. luirlit persons pro-
tested against sendinjx to Ireland." At a snl)se(iueiit meet-
intr '' it was voted to authorize tlu^ IJev. Mr. Morrow to act
with full ])ower to send a laithl"ul minister of the gospel —
a (' ilvinistic of the Presbyterian Constitution. Mr. Mor-
row should receive ei^ht dollars for his service." He did
not succeed, for none came; .'ind in March, 17()5, they
"voted to commission Ilu^h Wilson to <2;o to Philadeli)hia
or elsewhere on this continent, to obtain a gospel minister,"

In May, 17GG, a INIr. John Morrison landed in lioston.
He was born in Pathfoot, in Scotland, in 1743, and ii;ra(lu-
ated at Pxlinburgh in 1700. On November 2(lth, 1700, he
was ordained at Peterboro by the Boston Presbytery,
the original Londonderry Presbytery being then dissolved,
for it may be here mentioned that "in 170o (according to
M'ebster), the Dutchess I'resbytery at Cherry Valley, New
York, received the Rev. Samuel liunlop, a former member
of the Presbytery to the eastward of Boston," which, wlieu
he left "was terminated, being incapable of sitting by rea-
son of dis})ersion." Also the Rev. \\'illiam Johnston, who
"was born in Dublin in 1713, educated and studied the-
ology in Edinburgh (who married a Miss Cunnnins, a
fellow-passenger), and labored as we have seen in Worces-
ter, Mass.; in Peterboro and Windham, N. H. ; about this
time moved to the region of Sch(!nectadv, bought a large
tract of land near Cherry Valley, and according to docu-
mental history, gathered a number of lanulies of Scotch
and Irish descent about him.

" Plis ])a])ers, goods, etc., were burned at the massacre at
Cherry Valley." Sonie of his descendants now occupy
rominent positions of usefulness in the State of New

ork.

Thus, in a rivalry of twenty years' duration, the first
Presbytery " finished its course." Such is the i)ower of
Boctarian rancor, that the nearer divisions are to each

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IX NEW ENGLAND.

129

othor, tlicir antipntliics niv nsunlly or often stronp; in arl-
viTso |)r()i)i)rti(»n — lliL'V "bite iin(l ditvour one; luiothcr,"
;in<l are at hast at times "consumed one of another,"
Tliese two (lid not now say, " We are l)r('thren ; let there
1)(' no strife hctwccn us, for the Canaanite and Perrizite
dwell in the land.''

The extinction of the orijjinal Presbytery was a natural
result of exi)edieney and conciliation, of a compromise with
])riiieii>le.

The disease bet^an in tiie Ilillhouse case, and with all the
undying' ^rasp of the leprosy, permeated the Presliytery,
while those who stood on Presbyterian princii)les under all
the disiidvanta,u;es and odium of suspension, and even at
times inconsistent outbursts of passion, amidst all their
difheuhies survived and trrew. Presbyterianism, from the
ordination of Timothy down to the present hour, never
^^ained any ])ermauent L'ood by compromise. When it (>m-
liraeed the ])rison and the stake, " the bh)od of the martyrs
lieeame the seed of the church," But when the London-
derry Presl)ytery liowed down to expediency, custom, to

popular o})inion (the <j:reat "ima,Lre set up

New

En-land), "rottenness entered int(; its bones," and sep-
ulture became only a question of time. The terror held up
by LeMercier, and sanctioned by the majiM'ity of his Pres-
bytery in IT'iO, was that '"to receive Mr. Hillhouse woidd
make Presbytery very ridiculous in the eyes of the peojilo
of New P]nuland " (p, 55). By recognizing the action of
the "council " in his case as valid, said Presbytery l)asked
undtn* the sunshine of ])o])ular favor for h.'ss than thirty
years, then committed /c7o de se, and had a burial so deep
that we cannot find its records, epitaph nor mourners. Ou
the other hand, the principle advocated by the minority,
that to receive a man who had " received his ordination be-
fore he came to the colonies as a member of the Church of
Scotland " (p. 54), even when he had hired himself to do
con,ii;re<,fational service, and served the ])eople until an " ex-
parte council " " ordered him to resijj;n his office," shewed a
l>rinci})le of vitality and consistency, which, while it made
those who held it "very ridiculous in the eyes of the ])eo-
ple of New England," has, under ''the good-will of liim
Avho dwelt in the busli"ir)eut, xxxiii. 16), extensively
maintained " the truth as it is in Jesus," and perpet-
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IIISTOUY OF I'UKSnVTEUIANISM

uatod its existenco in tho bounds of that Presbytery
until to-diiy. I'rosbyteriiinisin, wberevcr or ulicnever
it refuses to meet its opponents in any "of the villa;fcs
in tlie i)lain of Ono," and ^'oes "up to Jerusidenj unto
the apostU'S and eUh'rs al)out this (or any) (luestion,"
is always "stron;; in the Lord." Whentjver it tampers
witii principle, and bows down at the chinior, or for tlie
favor of the niullitude, it becomes like Samson, shorn of
liis locks, weak as expediency itself. Its "glory is de-
parted/'

'I'he history of Morrison is a lamentable one. "He wns
the first settled minister in the town of I'eterboro, N. II.
Althou^di he was jmssesscd of more than ordinary talent,
he soon proved to be intemperate and licentious. I'res-
bytery suspended him for a time from his ollice. nnd
finally ternnnated his pastorate and ministry in March,
1772. He then visited South Carolina; returned and
joined the American army at ('and)ri(lfre, Mass., in 177o.
He soon after went over to the liritish, and remained with
them till his death, which took place at Charleston, South
Carolina, on Dec. lOth, 17.S2" (///W. of Pel.). "Deceitful
men shall not live out half their da^'s." " Stront; tlrink is
rajj;in<f." He became a jtrofessed atheist, and (HimI an
abandoned prolligate." Readi-r, "who niaketh thee to
difter?" The frecjuent attention given by Presbytery iii
watch and care to his case will be subsequently noticed.

Windham was another town which during this (piarter
of a century was settled by Presbyterians. It had pre-
viously formed a ])art of Londonderry, and was incorpor-
ated in 1742. In 1747 the Rev. W'm. Johnston was in-
stalled pastor, and the ruling elders wer(? then Messrs.
Hemphill, Kinkead and Kyle. Sim{)ly for want of sup-
port, the ])astor was dismissed in July, 1752.

In 1753 a meeting-house was erected, and on applica-
tion by their connnissioner to the Synod of New York and
Philadelphia, the Rev. John Kinkead was, as their pastor,
Installed in Oct., 1760. Although he possessed resp(?ctable
talents and acquirements as a jjreacher of the gospel, yet,
not maintaining a Christian and ministerial tiei)ortment,
and being chargeable with immoralities, he soon lost tho
confidence and respect of his people, and was dismissed in
April, 1765 {Parker). It thus appears that both Johnston

IN NEW ENdLAND.

131

nnd Kinkcad wore hero iiistnllc(l hy tIi(M)ri(;inil I.ondon-
(IciTV I'rcsliytt'ry, and as Wiiidliaiu svas ori^dnally a pait of
I)('rrv (or the old parish i, so up till ITC)") tlu'ir aHiiiitics licld
thciil in ('cc'li'siastical rdlowsliip with the Kcv. W'ni. Havid-
son and his associates. lUit " soon after the <lisniissioM of
the Itev. Mr. Kinkead, the parish pi'esented a, call to Ivev.
Simon Williams, who was ordained their pastor Doc, ITOO,
l)y tlie Boston I'resl.ytery." ( /*. )

Ashasheen noticed, the Kev. lluiih Camphell and the
llev. lluj^di Henry preached in Maine from 1720 till 1721.
The former " was the re^'ular minister of tlie town" of
Scarhoro in 1720-21 on " a salary of £50 (then ('(pial to
iihout 8o().oO in specie), i)eside his meat, drink, washing
and lod^in^^" But he soon left on account of the small-
iiess of his salary, and in .June, 1722, the town unani-
iiiously invite(l the Kev. Iluuh Henry to become their
minister, and \iv, continued with them till 172'). From
172S till his death in 1702, the Rev. Mr. Thompson oflici-
ated as town minister, and during that pttriod the coulto-
pition were with him ('on^n'e;iationa lists. On Au^nist 23<1,
17(i2, the chureh called Mr. Thos. I'ierce to settle in the
work of the ministry in the first church and parish in
8carboro, and " voted that Mr. Thos. Pierce be settled in
the Presbyterian orde;, and a}i,reeal>ly to the Westminsl(>r
Confession of Faitli " (C/i. Rcr., p. lo). Mr. Pierce was
born in Newbury, Oct. 11th, 1737, and ^^raduated at
Harvard College in 17o0. He was ordained at Newbury
Port on Nov. 24th, 17(;2. In 17()3, on Sept. 22d, four
ruling (;lders were elected ''for the year," Mr. Pierce in a
few years sunk down "as a common drunkard, although
he continued to preach up to the time of his death, June
2()th, 1775. Immediately after his decease the church re-
nounced Presbyterianisni " (St(nrr). This church forms a
s])ecimen of several in New England, which for years had
a vibratory existence between these two forms of polity,
and which eventually settled down into Congregationalism
— such as Chester, Ackworth and Goff'stown, in New
Hampshire.

During a part of this time at least (1743-1768) the Lon-
donderry Presbytery was respectable in numbers — LeMer-
cier, Johnston, McClenahan, Harvey, Caldwell, Davidson,
Wilson, Rutherford, Urquhart, Dunlop, and probably

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HISTORY OF PRESnYTKRIANISM

) 11

others, as Clark, of Kiiifrston, l)clonp;e(l to it, yet it did not
j)()s,se.ss vitulity. iiesido the ctauscs of its decay already
stated, tliey had no means, or seem not t') liave taken any
l)ain>: to instruct younti; men for tlie ministry.

Some of tliem, as Davidson and IvUthertbrd, were prol)a-
l)ly not a little " imsound in the faith," while the immorali-
ties of others, such as Kinkead and IIarv(\v, were highly
injurious to ('hristianity. In these twenty-five years the
3^'rench ("liurcli and others became extinct hy the assimila-
tion of their memlx'rs and their of1''-!])rin<i; to thcMr svnvround-
ings. The death of LeMercier and Rutherford, and, it may
he, others, ilw removal from their bounds of ^IcClenahan,
Johnston and Dunlop, with other infliienccs, all conspired
to blot it out about the end of this (juarter of a century,
after an existence of about forty years. Dunlop ai)pears
to have been connected with it about twenty-five years.
" lie was a native; of Ireland, a graduate of Trinity College,
Dul)Hn, and having removed in 17G5 to Cherry Valley,
N. v., at the massacre of that jjlace, on Novendjer 11th,
1778, his family were slain. He alone, with one daughter,
escaped. Under the protection of an Indian chief he stood
and beheld the destruction of his earthly hojx's, his home
and the homes of his friends, melting away with the flames.
He survived the massacre l)ut a short time. The misfor-
tunes of that day carried ' down his gray hairs with sorrow
to the grave.'" (P.)

The reader may here see one of the difficulties of the au-
thor in preparing this history. He has followed Presbyte-
rian writers (Parker and Webster) and given what they
liave presented above, stating that the Rev. Samuel Dunlop
was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, that when
Lindesay became the ])atentee of Cherry Valley, N. Y., and
located there in 1740, he " induced Dunlop by liberal
offers to aid the settlement," which ho did by influencing
emigrants to come from Ireland and New Hampshire, tliat
he had ministered to them for nearly forty years (Parker,
198), and that his misfortunes at the Cherry Valle}'- mas-
sacre in 1778 " brought down his gray hairs with sorrow to
the grave," that, coming from New England, "he was, in
1765, received by the Dutchess Presbytery " ( Webster),
while Greenleaf, in his Ecelesiastlcal Sketches in Maine, says:
" The Rev. Samuel Dunlop was born in Antrim in 1715,

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mafic M. A. at Edinhiirjxh at nineteen, that on heinq
licen.sed he oanio to America in 17'^(>, that he was >^]\\\)-
wrecUcd on Sable Island, landed at Canso, that he taiiglit
school in Draeut, Mass., removed to Nr)l)lesl)oro, in ^Taine,
that he resided at Booth Bay, Sheepscott Ih'idj^e, New Cas-
tle, and then in Brunswick. In 1747 he was ordained in
LeMercier's meeting-house in Boston for Brunswick (l>y the
Kev. Messrs. LcMercier, Morton, of Coleraine, Davidsim,
A\'ilson and !McLenahan), and was pastor there until Octo-
])er, 1760, when he was dismissed (p. 05) by a council ( W.y
J). 33),tliat he was never settled again, and lived in Bruns-
wick until his death, June 2Gtb, 1776, that his history is in
nianuscri})t, and was in the j)Ossession of th(! Dunlop fam-
ily in 1821, and that he was the grandfather of the ex-
Governor of Maine of the same name."

It is true that the Rev. H. Dunlop of Cherry Valley per-
suaded four or more families to remove from Deiry, N. H.,
to that place (p. 195), and that he ministered to them for
nearly forty years (p. 198), and just as true that the Rev.
Samuel Dunlt)p lived from 1736 till 1776 in New England,
and conse(|uently never " became a member of tho
Dutchess Presbytery." They were different mr-n.

xVmong other towns reclaimed from tlu; wilderness dur-
ing this quarter of a century was Bradford (formerly called
Souhegan East), N. H. "In 1750 they gave a call succes-
sively to the Rev. Alexander Boyd, Rev. Alexander Mc-
Dowell, and to Mr. Samuel McClintock, but in each case
without success. A meeting-house was erected in 1755,
and on Se})tember 28th, 1757, the Rev. John Houston wiw
ordained by the Boston Presbytery pastor of this church,
which had been organized in the Presbyterian order. He
was born in Londonderry, educated at Princeton, N. J.,
where he took his degree in 1753, and studied divinity
with the Rev. David ^McGregor. He was a, conscientious
and a good man." (P.)

During this (piarter of a century a change, hearing most
cxtensivelv u])on the Presbyterian interests in America,

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tooiv j)la('e in New York, and as a prominent member of
the P)()ston Presbytery (the Rev. D. McCregor) became an
actor in it, I now brielly present the case :

After the atrocious oppression of the Rev. Francia
Makemie by Lord Cornbury and hid minions, An effort

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HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

appears to liave been made to have Presbyterian preach-
ing and worshi}) in tlie Enj^lisli lanr^iiage maintained in that
town. We find the case referred to by Vesey [AHxidij
Documents) in December, 1709, when writing to a friend.
He says " that the dissenting preaclier is likely to gain no
ground." His stay was brief, but the peoi)le kept togetlici:
and met for worship with few interruptions and with
a gradual increase of numbers until 1716, Avhen they took
measures to form a regular congregation ( IF".), the same
year (W.) in wliich the French Presbyterians were per-
mitted to erect a churcli in Boston. Thev called a Mr.
Anderson and worshipped in tlie town hall. In 1718 they
purchased a lot, and on the following year built a church.*
Beside collections in the town, they were aided by the
Governor, Council and Representatives of Connecticut.
When they asked incor})oration from the Legislature of
New York as Scots, in conseciuence of opposition made by
the vestry of Trinity Church, their request was refused.
Their petition was in 1724 transmitted to the " Lords of
Trade." They ol^tained aid also from Philadelphia and
Scotland, and in 1730 their house was finished. Two lead-
ing men opposed the settlement of Mr. Anderson as pastor,
and the trustees of New PLiven College sent missionaries at
their request to erect a new congregation. This Congrega-
tionalist effort to produce division did not eventually suc-
ceed, and the missionary left them in 1726. Pembertou
and Cumming served them several years. " In 1753 Peni-
berton was blamed by some of the people (Scotsmen) for
neglecting family visiting, Cumming and the session for
introducing Watts of their own accord, and both ministers
for neglecting to recommend the catechism at baptism and
for praying when asked at funerals." ( W.)

Both were soon after dismissed at their own request.
Failing, on July 18th, 1754, to obtain the Rev. Mr. Bel-
lamy from Connecticut, he, in 1755, reeonnnended to thciu
"the Rev. David McGregor, of Nutiield, N. H., as likely to
suit their religious peoi)le and the Scotch." They sent to
him an " invitation," and even the Governor himself came

* Presbyterians formed a congregfition speaking Englisli in New York
in 1716, and in 1716 the French Presbyterians obtained permission to
erect tlieir first meeting-house in Boston.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

135

to New England to persuade him to go to New York, Imt
his Prcsbyterv, when met at Boston on May 14th, 1755,
declared that they luid no authority to remove a minister
out of their l)ounds, and he saw no eneouragement to
ach'enture himself among a people so "divided among
tlicmselves." (W.)

I)Ut about what should a congregation aided by gov-
ernors, colleges, councillors, representatives, by the town
of New York, the town of Philadelj>lna, and by North
Ih-itain be divided? They had now, for above a quarter
of a century, a large finished house of worship, and full
effort was made to have it ])roperly i)er})etuated to its ap-
propriate use. The secret was, divers doctrines, usages and
worship had been hitroduced, and strife ensued. As we
have already seen in the cases of Hillliouse and others, to
iiarmonize the two species, Presbyterianism and Congrega-
tionalism, is simply impossible, and the latter had now
increasingly permeated this church. As far back as " 1724,
out of seventeen ministers in a delegated Synod, six were
from New England." (ir.) Early associations and cus-
toms have a powerful influence upon the mind, and these
men could not easily totally divest themselves of their
Congregational training. Hence, when a committee was
a])pointed by Synod in 1752, "the general plan of the
Church of Scotland as practised by the Synod of New
York " was viewed as the true standard of Presbyterian-
ism, and they conclude " that as to the methods taken to
introduce a new version of the psalms in the public wor-
ship, the Synod judge it to be disorderly, and always to be
discountenanced when the parties in matters of debate in a
church do carry about private subscriptions." (Digest.')
Said committee reported in 1753 that " it is not expedient
at present, judicially, to recommend a change in the ver-
sion of the psalms, lest the animosities in the congregation
sliould be more inflamed." (Diged.) McGregor did not
see his way clear to leave a devoted and confiding pastoral
charge in order to dwell in a tent of Kedar among " ani-
mosities."

Owing to this commingling of English, Welsh and New
England, as well as Scotch and Irish teachings, he at
nomination had in 1728, according to the Re\ Tohii
Thompson in his overture, " not any particular system of

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HISTORY OF PRESBYTERTANISM

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doctrines composed by ourselves or others which we by
any judicial act of our churcli have a(lo])ted to be the arti-
cles or confession of our faith, etc. The most that can bo
said is, that the \\\'stniinster Confession of Faith is the
confession of the faith of the generality of our members,
ministers and people."

Notwithstanding that they had, in 1736, avowed their
adoption of " the Westminster ("onfession and Directory
without the least variation or alteration " excepting the
clauses anent nia<j!s!ra(( s drca. mcra, they shewed tlieni-
selves to be gradually falling into Congregational usage.-,
as we have seen, until at least a few of the ])eculiarities i)f
Scotch (or proi)er) Presbyterians were abandoned in New
York, and a "session intn^dueed Dr. Watts' imitations of
the Psalms of David, the constant use of which much dis-
eatislied a number of congregations." But this was not all.

According to the historians, Hetherington and ^MeC'rir,
"the secular allairs (in Scotland were and) should be un-
der the management of deacons." The deacon " had the
special oversight of the revenues of the church and of the
poor." "The second Book of Discipline recognized three
ofiicers for three things, ministers, elders and deacons for
three things, doctrine, discipline and distribution, the dea-
conship to have the care of ecclesiastical goods." " TIh;
collections made by the first deacons of apostolical a])-
])ointment were not only of that which was collected in
manner of alms, as some suppose, but of other goods,
moveal)le and immoveable, of lands and possessions."
The Presbyterians of the Synods of Philadelphia and New
York had adopted Stuart of Pardovan's collections for
their government, which directs " that the money received
by contributions be faithfully delivered up to the session,
according to whose judgment and appointment the deacons
are to distrlhvte the church (joot.U.''''

These Presbyterians now resorted to policy, to a Board
of Trustees, or a connuittee to gain the strength necessary
to support the gos])el, and after fighting it over for two
years the old Scotch j^arty compelled this solitary board
of intruding trustees to agree that they should be no l(»ng.'r
elected in their present form : the Synod "ap])roved said
agreement, and judge that if the congregation think it ex-
pedient to form a committee for the management of their

IN NEW ENGLAND.

137

temporal concerns, the said committee shall bo chosen,
after tiiat time, by the ministers, elders and deacons, with
consent of tiie congregation, and be accountable to them
for tiieir conduct."

Tlio development and influence of this fibre of Congre-
gationaHsm will appear a century hence.

From these innovations the proper Presbyterians of New
York were delivered, by returning to the simi)licity of
their scri|)tural worshij) and government under a minis-
try from Scotland and li'eland. On Deeemlier 8th, IToo,
Niithanicl Ilazzard, of New York, wrote to Dr. Bellamy
that "(JfUatly has sense, learning and piety," and on No-
vi'inbcir 17th, 17'")S, "the Scots })eople have got ui) a new
iiici'ting-house, Mr. Gellatly lias been preaching in it for
lour W(H'ks." ( W.) Thus, wliile tlie Presbyterians of tlio
country had drifted fntm their moorings, there were found
tlio.se wlio continued to walk in "the old })aths and good
way," and who ought to have been sul)se(iuently regarded
as the true or pro})er representatives there of this scriptu-
ral regimen.

It is well at such times to hear disinterested observers,
anil William Douglass, M. D., an Ei)iscopalian, in Ills
sunnnary (vol. 2, p. 147, Tjondon, 17()0), having investi-
'SAlvd the case, tells us: " The dissenting congregation iu
New York, though under a Congregational minister from
r.oston, is called Presbyterian. The Scots Presbyterians
tlp'rc are modelled according to the Westminster Stand-
nnls ajjpointed by the Kirk in 1(5-17. These are projn'rly
called Calvinists and follow the Heidelberg, Geneva, Hol-
land and the Huguenots. They use an established form
of psalmody."

As the Erskines left not the Church of Scotland, Init
lier corruptions, so these men in withdrawing from the
"animosities," engend(>red by unseriptural customs, ought
to he honored for their attachment to gospel ])rinciples.
They were the continuation of true Presbyterianism in the
central and soutlu>rn colonies. In conse<p)enee of their
earnest and r(!peate(l applications to the eeelvsiastical body
to which lu; belonged, the Rev. John Mason came from
Scotland to New York in 17')l. As the Erskines were
nick-named Scceders in Scotland, so a certain kinil of char-
ity, but not that which is " the very bond of perfectness,"

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HISTORY OF rUi:.S15VTi;iaANiSM

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attcmptod to fasten this f!])itliot upon them. ITenee, s:\vs
the hio<i;rapher, in his " Memoirs of Dr. Ivouers," tliey had
seceded from the (irsi Presl)yterian chmeii heeaus(,', " in-
curably dissatisfied with the system of {)sahnod3', which
the majority " (not the denomination, nor any church
court, hut one session,) "had cho.sen to adopt." By "re-
ceiving!;, observing, keeping pure and entire '' the religious
worship and ordinances which God has appointed in his
word, "tliey, the ' seceders,' grew and prospered." With
the excejition of the congregation of Newhuryport, which
was forced out of Congregationalism by civil endtarrass-
ments, and which was admitted with its Congregational
" Bay State Version " of the j)salms h}' the Boston Presby-
tery, all tile Presbyterians in New England had previous!}'-
and during tins quarter of a century, continued to use the
version api)ointed by the (icneral Assembly of the Church
of Scotland in IboO, to be sung in congregations and fami-
lies. So far from seceding from the first Presbyterian
church in New York, tiie proper Presbyterians were over-
borne by those of New England origin, who had artfully
imported and introduced the 139 psalms as " imitateil ■'
and Christianized by the liev. Dr. Watts, by "carrying
about private subserij)tions in a disorderly manner,"
{DUjed.) Instead of being justly charged with seceding
from the first church, they simply, as Presbyterians, be-
lieved that lawfully constituted church courts were the
proper authorities to determine and change the worshi})
of God as to matter and manner in " the churches," and
not the simple " majority " of one congregation operating
on, through or by a session. For this attachment to i)rin-
ciple and to their church government, they are sneered at
as " incurably dissatisfied."

Plad this " ineurabU' dissatisfaction" taken and held
possession of " the first church " of New York, and of
those wdio have folh)wed the example and practice of that
" majority," Presbyterianism to-day in this land, instead
of l)eing divided into its ditferent "schools " and sectarian
bodies, would have stood forth with a majesty unequalled
and a moral j)ower unaj)i)roachable by, either separately or
combined, the divisions of Prelacy or the ramifications of
Congregationalism. It would also have so permeated New
England as to aid, if not enable, Puritanism to throw off

IN NEW ENGLAND.

139

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the hlif]^lit of Sociniaiiisni — possibly to have prevented its
existence.

As the '' little cloud, liicc a jiian's hand," ]>rouf,dit alniiid-
ance of rain, so "tlic Ix'.uinninu; of strife," and not the
"leaving off of contention " by that " majority " (on Con-
grcjiationnl principles; in a sin,!j;le con^zreuation, has
j)0ured floods of error and division anionti those who were
(and ought to have continue(l to be) l>rethren; and after
the experience and sectarian rancor of above a century —

"Time but tlie improssion deeper makes,
As streams tlieir channels deeper wear."

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HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

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CHAPTL. v'.

1768-1793 — Development — The era of growth — Prior possession — Diffi-
culties — J»)]in Miirniy— " Woolers" — A dileninia — Ordained in Pliil-
adelpiiia — Poothbay — Dismissed himself" — He developed Presbyte-
rianism in Maine — Watched — The first minute respecting him — Pres-
bytery of Hoston, twelve pastors — Yet they could iiot extinguish him
— Presbytery at Eastward — Its constitution — A Fast-Day — Fiuida-
nientals in five articles — Each certifies his former standing — A
question — "Tiie town clerk read the contracts" — "Judged" — Anil-
lustration of the ductility of Presbyterianism — Samuel AVheeler —
Newmarket — Boscawen — ''Brute Beasts" — Ready to join with other
Presbyteries — Send a mission to Halem Presbytery — "Various ani-
mosities" — Murray at ',^2 — Loss of minutes for fifteen years — The
Roll in 1770 — Division into a Synod j)roposed — Rev, Geo. Gilmore —
John Eliot — Mr. Noble — Petitions — John Morrison — His case fearful
— Joel ii. 17 — Parsons and Moorehead in strife — A citation — Mr.
Patrick — Blaiulford — Nottingham — Hampton Falls — Gilmore or-
dained in 1773 — McLean installed at Bristol — Moorehead to apologize
— An expedient disapproved — Moorehend's death — Dr. AVhittaker
and Salem congregation admitted — Rev. N. Merrill — Psalmody — The
" felt want " — Rottenness — Valve defective— Supply — Com. to Boston
reported — Voted — Presbytery at Eastward — Animosities — Strict dis-
cipline — Murray rejected — r)eclinature by Long Lane — They called
Murray, he promised if — A remonstrance — " Qiaun primum" — A mu-
tual comi)act — Translation of M. oi)posed — Valuable congregation — •
Ten years' ownership — Moonlight of Christianity — Tilt — Calls — July
4th — 1776 Presbytery met — Debate — Parsons' death — Sermon on Orig-
inal Sin — Reason No. 5 — No. 8— Murray " transported " — A day of
desolation.

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Development stands prominently forward amonp; the
beauties of nature from inception to maturity. This is
api)licable not only to the animal and vegetable king-
doms, but also to benevolent associations of men, and es-
pecially to the visible churcli in all ages — in all lier de-
partments — as " the pillar and ground of the truth."

We have sketched the introduction of Presljyterianism
into New England, and we enter upon the era of its
growth. In doing this, we must remember that the field

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IN NEW ENGLAND.

141

■was not only limitod, but unj]fcnial, iindor the Procrustean
domination of another species of ecclesiastieism sustained
by its own civil ])ower.

" Hence " the oppressed Irisli hretliren and Presbyterian
strangers" had to '•contend earnestly for " their "faith"
from their first coming to New En^hmd.

The exceptions to this were Ibund only where, as
pioneers, tliey in colonies obtained jirior i)ossession of the
soil, and removed the forest, as was the case in London-
derry, N. II. From 174o till ITOS, by native increase and
innni<:ration from this ouv, othei- eoniirei^ations were
formed in new towns, and during this (piarter of a century,
under the original "'Irish" and Boston Presbyteries,
some of them were ])rosj)ering and otiiers d(!clining, or,
like the French Church, were dead. In tlie meantime, in
entering on this period, we labor under dilHculties in not
knowing in many cases what was done by the churcli
courts, and how they took care of the flock as overseers ;
for the minutes of the first Presbytery have perished, and
the records of the other, if kept at the time from 1755 till
1770, are lost. From fragmentary sources, however, we
learn not a little of what was done by way of church ex-
tension.

Before I revert to church courts, to congregations and
families, I begin with one man who fills a large space in
the history of Presbyterianism in New England. John
Murray was born six ndles from I>allymena, on May 22d,
1742; united with the church at fifteen; was educated at
the University of Edinburgh, where he took his degree of
M. A. ; received a license (as he claimed) from the class in
Wooler, England, signed by Isaac Wood, Moderator,
Robert Trotter, clerk, and nineteen other ministers, and
began to preach at eighteen years of age. He was soon
after charged with forging his certificate of licensure, and
other acts were alleged against him in connection with the
matter before he was twenty-three.

When the Presbytery of Ballymcna questioned his li-
cense, he sent it to some in Edini:>urgh to have it attested
by such as knew the hands that signed it. Instead of
taking better steps, they wrote on the back of the same
sheet a certificate attesting that " he had indeed gone to
Northumberland ; had certainly been licensed there ; had

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HISTORY OF PRESnYTERIANISM

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preached several times in Scotland in consequence thereof,
and was well aj)i)r()ved hy them ; " and then sent it to him
sitrned hy themselves, with the words moderator and
clerk of Prcshytery annexed to their names, winch tliey
were not. This certiticatc caused him troui)le durin<^ his
whole life; for heinj:; shown in the Synod of Ulster at
Londonderry (allhouj^h hy another in his ahsence h(^ al-
ways said), it immediately hecame an ohject of attention.
He was now accused of forjzery.

Meanwhile his Scottish friends had written to him, own-
ing the fraud, hut heseechin^ him not to ruin them, as
their i)rospects in the churcli wen? ;j;ood. Kather than
ruin them and fijive his own enemies a triumph, which at
that age he was too proud to endure, he (U'lended the
paper as genuine. {Vc.r.} "When hardly twenty-one he
came from Ireland to New York, and was in ^hly, 170-'),
ordained and settled for several months as successor to the
Rev. Gilhert Tennent, in Philadelphia. The charge fol-
lowed him, and while the l*reshytery of Philadeljihia
acted in the matter with wisdom and ])rudence, the first
wrong step had j)lunged him in the mire, and each suc-
ceedins; one sunk liim deeper. He wrote, "the frown of a
holy CJod was on the thing, and everv mensure of defence,
either pn^nised or actually taken by the authors of the])(i))cr,
only increased the emharrassment of him whom they
meant to defend." His whole character now hecame sus-
picious. Other things were alleged, hut never judicially
investigated, although inlluencing the result. ( Vcrmibjca.)
He ohtained certificates from the Preshytery, from the
ciders and from 115 heads of families in his congregation
in Philadelphia, and removed to Boothhay ; while some
months after, not appearing to defend himself, the case
a})peared conclusive, and Presbytery excommunicated him
on April 7th, 1767.

His retrospective view of the case will (D. V.) be after-
wards presented.

Such is the written account of him, and without casting
away current liistoric statements, I hero present the fol-
lowing. The reader can judge the discrepancy, if any, in
facts. We cannot at sight ap])reciate the spiritual condi-
tion of the colonists who formed the Temple and Dunbar
emigrations and their descendants, for many years after

IN NEW ENGLAND.

143

l.'UidinL: in Maine, llcniovod from the cxtonsivo cnjoy-
mcnt of the means of^raco, to liavc in tlu' wilderness only
'"silent Sal»l)aths,'' their pri'vioiis knowledge, love and Tear
ol' (lod could not increase, and many Ui'canie (it is he-
lieved) extensi\ Iv indill'erent. They did not totallv
ne<j;lect '* tlio asstmblin^^ ol' themselves toi^ethcr '' on Sai)-
hatlis, to sini,' jjsalms, to pray, read the Divine word and
portions of sermons, or other religious works, which they
had brought with them. Vet, after years of deprivation,
even when visited occasionally by transient ])reaehers,
their case became deplorable — "" No man cared ibr their
souls." Even the Boston I'resbylery, whin applied to,
nej,deoted them. (Sew., )>. 272.)

Jk)othl»ay was incorporated Decemb(T 22d, 1763, and
the inhal>itants were cheered by the comin*:; of Mr. John
]\Iurray in the same year. (An imcle by marriajie) Mr.
Andrew Heed, by iir<i;ent solicitations, drew hini to visit
them. Ueed, when a younij;er man, spent at least one
winter Ibr weeks at a distant lonely spot, cuttinjj; wood and
hvin;^ in a cany). On his return, as he was constantly ex-
])osed to the Indians, to wolves, as well as to the often in-
tense cold, ho was asked if h(> were not afraid? His an-
swer was ener;2;etic and to the i)oint: " JIad not 1 my IJible
with me, and was not that enou-di?"

Besides his influence, Robert, the father of John Mur-
ray, had come to reside in 'J'ownsend. Hence, says SeW-
ali (p. 34(3), "Ninety })oiinds sterling ])er annum as a
salary was subscribed at once." They were to give to him
two hundred ticres of land and build for him an house.
As the church record has it, " The Lord s})irited up the
inhal)itants so that it was (piickly tilled u]>." Still, ho
left them in Fel)ruary, 17()1, and on the 17th of May the
Presbytery of New York reported to the Synod " that they
have received Mr. John Murray, a candidate Iron) Ireland,
under their care." On a request " made from the First
Philadelphia Presbytery, also from Mr. CJilbert Tennent
and his congregation, praying supplies," Mr. Murray was
aj)pointed there four Habi3atlis, in July, 1704. There, as
his successor, he was ordained, and his labors were emi-
nently blessed in building up that church. The dew of
his youth was now upon him, and not a few rejoiced in
his ministry, until his " sin found him out." Consequently,

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HISTORY OF PRESnYTKIUAMSM

on Miiy 22(1, ITHd, tho first Prosbytory of IMiilndcliiliia re-
])orU'(l, " that tlu'v have ordained Mr. .lohn Murray since
our last Synod ; hut that some char^zcs since that were hiid
in ajzainst him rcsjicctin;: liis moral character, which arc
not yet decided hy the I'reshytery/' His casf was then
delerred, and (»n May 21sl, ]7<)7, said Presl)ytery report,
"that they have de]iosed Mr. Murray since our last."

l'crha|is the people in Jioothhay did not know all tla;
uhove particulars, i)ut, it* tlicy did, tlieir connnissionors to
the I'reshytery at J'hiladelpliia reported ditlerently. To
liim, Andrew iU-ed wrote, '"We are lirmly resolved to in-
sist upon your [iromise, to the uttermost, as we l)elieve
they have <j!;ot you settled there l)y IVaud and treachery,
by stoppin*;' both your letters and ours" (]>. 347). Tho
I^ri'sbytcry ol' rhiladelpliia did not heed their a])peal, and
their commissioners went before the Synod of New York
and Philadelphia. '"Tho jx^tition ot" the town set forth
puch a statement of facts and documentary eviden(;e, that
they did not doul)t their success, if once they came betbro
so conscientious a court as the Svnod." iJh.) "Andrew
Reed was at tlu; head of the commission in prosecutmg
their cause. Tlie papers W(M'e all returned with the min-
utes of Pr(>sl)ytery whereby ^Tr. Murray was liberated, in
manner and form as full as desired." ilh. 848.)

" In three months he returned. The town oflicers and
people <!;athered under the new frame of their mcctinj.?-
house, the meetinj: was o'pened with praver, and ^Ir. Mur-
ray stated fully all their transactions with him." Whether
true or false, their town and session records, and his own
j)rivate diary, jjive extensive details of their })ast, then
present and subscMpient procedure.

In the meantime such a mind could not be hermetically
sealed, even in the i)rimeval forests of Maine. On coming
to New England, as he thought he had, as an ordained
minister, dismissed himself from the Philadel[)hians, and
finding a number of his own countrymen in or near the
j)lace of his adoption, he gathered a congregation, ordained
elders, eventually associated with himself other clergymen,
previously Congregationalists, and tbrmed the Presbytery
wi '•'' tlie Enstwardy He regarded his dei)osition as an at-
tem])ted assuni])tiou of authority, whioh he disclaimed.
As the Synods of New York and Philadelphia then alone

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IN NE^V ENGLAND.

145

existed, and as ncitlier of the two Presbyteries of New
ICnirland hud any connection with, and no suhordination
to them and as ho did not trouhU' cither of them, so lie
(without h't) spread hiriiscU" out in his woriv of the min-
istry. While lie was not hiiulcivd, ho was, however,
clost'ly watched.

On May 12th, 17G8, aconiniunictation, "sij^Mied by eleven
' associatcfl pastors' in J^ostoii, with Mr. John Moorehcad
at ihcir foot, was pui)lislicd in the M(issarhii,settM Gazelle,
and in answer he sayn, in an ' appeal,' dated Hoothhav,
June 22d, 1708: 'If I speak, I am suspended; if 1 preach,
1 am ^'azetted ; if silent, tleposed.'"

While their regular records, covcrinfj; the date, appear to
be lost, the followinjj; statement from a fragmentary paper
has heen ])reserved, and it speaks ])lainly :

"The first minute respeetiiiu; tia! Kev. Mr. Murray at
Londonderry, 17G'.), when llev. y\v. Moorehead was present.

'•This Presbytery, findin;;' that the settlement of Mr.
Jolm Murray, at Uoothbay > Eastward), is irregular; tluit
lie (though })rofessing himself a Presbyterian minister)
has not otlered to join himself to any Presbytery of New
England that we know of. That he stands charged with
gross immoralities, for which he is now actually under a
sentence of deposition by the General Synod of Ulster, in
Ireland. That some parts of his conduct in America (to
say the least) are exceeding dark and doubtful. That he
is living under a censure, and has been rejected by the
Presbytery of Philadeli)hia, by which he was ordained.

'' In consideration of these things, this Presbytery is
unanimously of opinion, that it is proper to caution their
members from having any communion with the said Mr.
John Murray, as they would not practically renounce
communion with the whole body of Presbyterians in the
Synods of Ulster, New York and Philadelphia ; and as they
would not expose themselves to the discipline of this
Presl)ytery;

"That a copy of this minute be transmitted to each of
the congregations belonging to this Presbytery.
"Attest, J. Strickland,

" Presbytery Clerk."

The Presbytery of Boston then consisted of twelve set-
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HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

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tied pastors/with their elders, and tliis "minute "manifests
an average " taking heed to themselves and to the ilock
over the which the Holy Ghost luid made them hishops."

In view of the ])ower and activity of tiie man, it was all
necessary, yet it did not extinguish him ; ibr within two
years we have regular records connnenced, from which
these extracts are taken :

"Minutes of the first Preshvterv at Eastward, crechMl
June 27th, 1771, at the meeting-house in Boothhay (^now
Maine).'' After jileading their destitution, in their con-
stitution it is stat(!d : " It having pk'ased Almighty God in
his adorahle i)roviilence hy a series of wonderful steps to
bring and tix one minister of Presbyterian principles, and
to convince and bring over thereto two others of the Con-
gregational way, it seemed to ht^ a special and very ))artie-
ular call to them to associate themselves into a Preshy-
tery at this time, and they judged that they could not be
safely accountable for the neglect or delay of that im-
portant step."

" For all these reasons, the said three ministers, after the
most mature consideration and diligent weighing of this
affair, did resolve to con.stltKtc themselves into a Presbytery
by the name of the FirM Pm-^hi/U'rij at the E<iHtw(ird, and
having tor that purpose conversed with their own, and in-
vited the other regular Presbyterian churches here that
are destitute of pastors to accede to it by sending each
their elder to take a seat with them, and finding that this
stej. is much desired ]\v the generality of God's pcoph^ in
these parts, and that several vacant chunihes have sent
their elders here for that purpose. Theretbre the said
ministers, together with the ruling elders assembled, did
resolve that this day ])e set a])art as a day of fasting and
prayer, and that the intended Prcsbi/tcry be constituted
after the public worship is concluded, and that the ]\ev.
Mr. Murray is chosen to lead in that business. Put that
this i^resbytery may stand distinguished from all sectaries
of every class, we think it our duty to declare expressly
the principles on which as fundamentals the same is now
constituted, which are as follows :

" I. We hold the Scriptures as alone of absolute authority
in all matters of faith and duty.

IN KEW ENGLAND.

U'i

" TI. The doctrines of the Westminster Confession of
Faith, catechisms, hirger and shorter, we beheve to 1)0
founded on tlie Word of Ciod, and as such take them to he
tiu' (confession of our faitli.

"HI. We adopt tiie Directory, etc., for substance, re-
ceive tlie form of ])rocess, first and second Booivs of Disci-
])line, with tlie Acts of Assembly that are collected by
fetewart and Dundas for the subst:ince thereof.

" IV. W(! ])roniise (.hie submission to the authority of
this Presl)ytery in the Lord.

'' V. We will lay ourselvc^s out for the peace and up-
buildinsi of the visible church in this rejiion.

" VI. We will never withdraw from this Presbytery but
by its rules, etc.

'"Vll. We will receive ministers and churches on this
plan, etc.

" Vill. This Presbytery shall be joined to a Synod as
soon as one can be formed within our reach.

" IX. We confess our sins, etc.

" X. We will do all in our power to counsel and assist
our brethren, etc.

" Uj)on all which articl(>s, we, the subscribers, do, in the
name of (lod, constitute ourselves into a Presbytery by
solenm prayer, etc., and in conse(iuence thereof, dechire
ourselves ])oss(.'ssed of all powers and rijrhts, etc., lawfully
claimed by any Presbytery in the Christian Church, and
therefore we take instruments.

"JosKPir Phinck, ^b)derator,

"JoH.N iMiLLKH, Presbytery clerk.

"John Murray.

" John Hkatii, rulinu: elder from the church at Roothbay.

" D.vvii) l)u\MN<;, elder from the church at Brunswick.

" W.M. Inks, ruling eld(T from Bristol.

"John Mkrrill, ruling elder from Topsham.

" 'p.

To ))revent slanderous reports before they enter on any
other judieial acts, each minister certifies his former
standhig."

Joseph Prince was ordained by a council in IToT. After
laboring fourteen yenrs Ik? was dismissed by a council
and recommended l)y them, appi-oved hy the church, and
is now in contract with the North Parish in Pownalboro,
etc. His standing was approved.

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HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIAN ISM

John Miller, ordained at Brunswick in 1762 by a connril,
and is now the settled pastor tliere. lie is now convinced
of the detects of tliat constitution, and cannot lontrer Ue-
long to tluit sect, and is fully convinced of the seriptund
character of the Presbyterian yjlan, and is himself a Pres-
byterian from principle, and his people mostly desire to
bo under this government, and have sent an elder for this
purpose, etc. They then enrolled him and his church.

C^ucstion. Can Congregational ordination bear these
brethren out in a judicial capacit}^ as Presbyterians, act-
ing in the alTairs of other churches?

Answer. A distinction is to be regarded between the
efsence and the circumstance. All that is essential to or-
dination is a lawful call — imposition of hands of ordained
Presbyters with fasting and prayer in circumstances qtiud
fieri nu)i d eh u it factum valet.

The ordaining to particular churches is very erroneous,
as we judge ordination makes a man a minister through
the whole visible church.

llie Ree. John Murray presented his declaration, main-
taining that in 17G5 he was ordained a minister by the
first Presljytery of Philadelphia, and installed pastor of
the second church there — that he was dismissed on two
testimonials (intending to go to Euroj)e on account of his
health) as a minister in good standing, which testimonials
he produced to this Presbytery — that some time after said
Presbytery suspended and then deposed him. Being con-
scious of the illegality of these their acts, he took no no-
tice of them — that he came here and was installed here on
the first Thursdav of August, 17G6.

No Presbyterian minister being near enough, he led in
that work himself. The town clerk read the contracts be-
tween "himself and this people, the history of which, at-
tested b}' the session, he read from the session book. He
has, consequently, exercised the pastoral office in all its
parts. He is really sorry for the said controversy with the
said Presl)ytery, and desires admission here, his church
sending their elder for this end. Judged. — That, as the
action of that Presbytery in Philadelphia was after his
regular dismission, and therefore irregular, he be now re-
ceived, and they now repone him. Resolved — to cultivate
friendship with other Presbyteries by correspondence, and

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IN NEW ENGLa-ND.

149

SO to write to the first Presbytery of Londonderry, N. H ,
and tluit the Rev. Mr. Murray be our delegate to meet witli
the same Presbytery about the erection of a Synod. Meet-
ing's to be held third Tuesdays of May and Septendjer.

We have here an illustration of the ductility of Presby-
terianism, almost equal to ]irelatic apostolical succession
itself, and which during the lifetime of Mr. Murray mani-
fested vitality. Their meetings, according to adjournment,
Avere held from year to year until June 13, 1792, and tlieir
records manifest at least an average amount of oflieinl
faithfulness. For example: On May 19, 1772, they assigned
trials for license to Mr. Samuel Wheeler, a graduate of
Cambridge, whom they had taken under their care. Thuy
met a second time on his trials on September 7, 1772, and
again on October 6, 1772; and at Georgetown on Novemhcr
18, 1772, they met a third time pro re natn, "examined
him in the usual matters — and as to his piety."

In view of his "small opportunities and ver}' scanty pro-
gress, they are only constrained by the urgent necessity
of the churches to think of licensing him at this meeting."

Surely this is a hard account of a graduate of Harvard
College, but perhaps " his small opportunities " may refer
to a neglected religious education, as well as to his literary
disadvantages. He subscribed the formula, and M'as
licensed November 19, 1772. "The charge, with many
particular cautions, was given by the moderator. He was
appointed to Topsham for three or four Sabbaths, and
then to study in private till next meeting." From year
to year, as seen by the records, they conducted their judi-
cial business "decently and in order." At Topsham, ()cto-
hcr, 1773, tlie Rev. Nathaniel Ewer and his church of New
Market, N. H., recjuested admission. To prevent difficulty,
" the moderator was ordered to go to New Market — state
tlie order of this Presbytery, and see if they are willing in
all things to conform." "The same to l>e done at JJos-
eawen, whence a similar ap])lication is made." "Ministers
to perform pastoral visitation this fall." Ordered — tliat
" tile brute beasts killed by the children of one church
member, belonging to another cliurcli member, be paid for
by the parents." Tins was cMiuitable.

After due examination, as ordered, the Rev. Nathaniel
Ewer and his New Market congregation were, on May 31,

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HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

1774, received, while, for varied irregularities, Wliecler
was at the same meeting suspended.

As Presbytery al)hors isolation where "there is one
faith," so they at Pownalhoro, on August 16, 1774, '"Jie-
snlced that they stood ready to join with other Prcsbytca-ies
in New England upon Christian terms, and that on tliis
Kuhjcct they send a commissioner to the Presbytery at
.Sahnn, for which purpose the Rev. John Murray was ap-
l)ointed, and to carry witli liim a copy of their constitu-
tion." Their congregations wore, on October 12, 1774,
^v■len they met in Brunswick, four, beside some vacancies,
of which the Rev. Messrs. Joscjth Prince, John Miller,
John Murray, and Nathaniel Ewer were the pastors.

Tiieir commissioner reported that he had waited on tlie
Presbytery at Salem, Mass., but various animosities still
prevailing among the ministers that way, render the synod-
ical union purposed a very distant object." The Presby-
tery, considering that tiiey had done what they could in
the matter, resolved to proceed no farther in the matter at
present.

We thus find the Rev. ^Nlr. Murray at tlie age of thirty-
two the clerk of a Presbytery of which he could say,
quorum magna pars fui — "of which I have been a great
part," and we must leave him for a season, and chronolog-
ically notice some of the matters now transpiring else-
where connected with our subject.

While the minutes of the lioston Presbytery are not re-
corded from 1755 till 1770, still, in dilferent ways, from
town records and other sources, we learn in i)art the pro-
gress made in sustaining and ])ropagating this scri])tural
church order in their bounds, or tlie gospel through it.

At Pelham, April IGth, 1755, on the roll arc the names
of John Moorehead, David McGregor, Alex. McDowell,
Robert Burns, Jonathan Parsons, Solomon Prentice, and
Alex. Boyd, and we find their records resumed thus:

"A true and correct cojjy of the minutes of the reverend
Presbytery, now called the Presbyterv of Boston, consist-
ing of twelve congregations, whose ministers are as follows :"
John Moorehead, Boston ; David McGregor, London-
derry ; Jonathan Parsons, Newl)uryi)ort ; Daniel Mitchell,
Pembroke; John Houston, I^edford ; Moses Baldwin,
Kingston ; Richard Graham, Pclhaui ; Samuel Perley,

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IN NEW ENGLAND.

151

Sea Brook ; Thomas Pierce, Scarboro, Me. ; John Morri-
son, Petersburgh ; Simon WiUiams, Windham ; John
Strickland, Oakham.

Met at Boston according to appointment October 24th,
1770, when it Avas unanimously resolved that a time and
place be appointed for an actual division. Mr. Gilmore
had fulfilled his ap])ointments of the last session, and was
now appointed to Voluntown for the winter. They de-
ferred presenting a call from Mcrrimac to JNIr. Noble until
tht'V receive more light res])ecting a greater unanimity.

Mr. John J^liot oflbnxl himself as a probationer, pre-
sented testimonials very satisfactory, together with a nar-
rative of the work of God on his soul, of which the Pres-
bytery unanimously approve, and he was received.

Finding peace increasing in their bounds, and their
members scattered at inconvenient distances from Palmer,
Mass., to Scarboro, in Maine, they now resolve upon pre-
paring the way for the formation of a Synod with Presb}'-
teries of convenient bounds ; at their meeting in London-
(krry, May 29th, 1771, owing to the absence of Moorchead
and Parsons, the project of forming a Synod was further
delayed. Infer alia.

Received the complaint of David Steele and Wm. McNee
against the Rev. John Morrison, of Peterboro, and ap-
])ointcd a committee of five ministers, with their elders,
to meet there and finally determine the afl"air now
l)cnding.

At Seabrook, N. H., August 20th, 1771, their meeting
was opened with a sermon by the Rev. D. MoCiregur from
Joel ii. 17. This subject might have been suggested by
the attitude of Moorchead and Parsons towards each
other. They had '' fallen out b}' the way,'' and whether age
was or was not maturing for each of them '* a crown of
righteousness,"' in them "the wrath of man was not work-
ing the righteousness of God."

^^'hile Moorehcad's reasons for absence were sustained,
Parsons, when asked his reasons for non-attendance for
some time ])ast, stated that ''a jiersonal dilference between
thorn so controlled his feelings, that he could not in con-
science sit in court with INbmroluvid until it be settled."
By his statements to members of l^resbytery, it was found
tliat the conscience of Moorchead operated iu the same

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152

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

^i H I

way toward Parsons ; and Moorchead was enjoined to lay
his grievances in a legal way before tlie Presbytery at its
next meeting. The dividing of the Presbytery was po?;t-
poned ; the moderation of a call to Blandford was granted ;
Nottingham was received under Presbytery ; ]\Ir. Morrison
was restored to full standing, and to the exercise of his
ministry in Peterboro, N. 11. And in view of this, the
Rev. Mr. McGregor was appointed "to write to the con-
gregation a letter suitable to their circumstances, recom-
mending to them a punctual attendance on the stated ad-
ministration in their own parish. At Newburyport, May
13th, 1772, six ministers present and live absent. As Mr.
John Morrison had left Peterboro, a citation was sent to
the Rev. Mr. Sproat, of Philadelphia, to present to him,
and an account of his late conduct was to be forwarded to
the same.

The Rev. Messrs. McGregor and Williams were ap-
pointed a committee to endeavor to effect a reconciliation
between Moorehead and Parsons before the next meeting.
The dividing of the Presbytery was again " postponed to
the next session." Mr. Patrick was recommended to take
the call presented to him into his serious consideration,
and the Elders of Nottingham were to be installed by the
Rev. Mr. Williams before next meeting. It was voted,
That the Rev. Mr. Williams engross the papers belonging
to Presbytery in a book; that Messrs. McGregor, Houston
and Williams direct the missionary labors of Mr. Gilmore
in the vacancies under Presbytery ; and that a letter be
written to the society of Hampton Falls, respecting their
late conduct since they were received under our care.

Mr. Patrick accepted the call from lilajulford, and his
ordination and installation were a})pointed to take place
on the last Thursday of June next.

"Voted, that the Rev. Messrs. McLelland, Jones, Smith
and Thair be invited to take part." Londonderry, May
2Gth, 1773.

"Resolved, That Mr. Parsons' excuse be suspended ; that
]Mr. Moorehead be cited once more to appear before Pres-
bytery to give an account of liis non-attendance, to apolo-
gize for his absence several years })ast, ' and to (jxjjlain
some things in his last letter wliich in our opinion need a
comment.' "

II ' 'l'-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

153

lat

:'S-

lo-

II a

Definite arranj»ements were now to be made l)y ap-
pointed parties for tlie erection of the proposed Synod.

Presbytery now si;inified, very properly, " its disappro-
bation of the expediency of an adjourned nieetin"; of an
equal number of Prcs1)yterian and ('(Miurruationalist min-
isters in order to settle the afi'airs ot" Oakham, and con-
sider the Rev. Mr. Strickland and the Presbyterians there
inadvertent in coming into such an expedient. Presby-
t' ry now appointed to sit on tlie last ^^'ednesday of May
next (1774), at llev. Mr. Baldwin's:" now, without statins;
when or how Mr. Baldwin was removed from Palmer to
Kingston, called '"Mr. Baldwin's" on their minutes.

Londonderry, July 2d, 1773, Presbytery met according
to adjournment. A connnittee reported that they had or-
dained Mr. George Gilmore, who had landed in Philadel-
phia September Dth, 1769, and installed the Rev. Alexan-
der McLean at Bristol, Maine, on May 2Gth, according to
appointment. Mr. Gilmore was instructed to consult
Messrs. McGregor, Houston and Williams, respecting his
preaching in the vacancies in their parts. The Rev. Alex-
ander McLean was received on testimonials from the Pres-
bytery of New Brunswick.

We have seen the Rev. John Moorehead suspended by
the Londonderry Presbytery, and nt)w he lias fallen under
the disjdeasure of the one which he was, more largely than
any other person, the agent in erecting. The opposite
positions toward Murray which they took, was the par-
ticular "root of bitterness " which had sprung up between
them. Parsons sustained him and Moorehead oppos(.'d
him. They were " men of like passions with others," and
they had parted sorrowfully. Moorehead for years suffered
under "a cru(^l disease," which might have somewhat
alt'eeted his e(iuanimity and patience, and which at last
brought him suddenly to the grave. '"On the Lord's day
he preached twice, seemingly in better health than he had
been for a long time before. But his disease returned that
day and continued till his death, on Thursday, December
2(i; 1773."'^

*0f liim a v«rv favoiubk' iiolico is given in the MaxsuchuatUs Uazellc,
DiHTinbcr 9lli, lt78.

"Ill tliiity-nini' years (1730-17r)9) yiv. ^Mooreiu-ad baplized 091 per-
.>-ons», and in forty-tlivce years married 447 cuiiplert. lie ceased to bap-
tize (as sliown by his record) four years before his dealli, yet continued
to marry until August, 1773."

) :

• "i

1 r ;

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154

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

But to return to tlie Boston Presbytery. We find thnt,
.•ilthoup;h Conj:]^rep;;itionalism was now 145 years old, it did
not bind the churches on the spot of its birth in Salem in
harmony. It was not "sufliciently divine" to do this.
Hence, at a meeting at Kingston, N. H., on May 2Gth,
1774, the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Whittaker and his congrega-
tion, of Salem, Mass., were admitted.

Rev. John Morrison was ai^ain cited to appear for trial.
Not only did tiie Presbytery take heed to the; wrong-doing
of pastors, such as Morrison, but also to the membersiiip
of the church, for Thomas Quintin, James Kelly and their
wives, under discipline, were at this time acquitted of
charges antinuptial and re-udmitted to church j)rivileges.

Then the Rev. Messrs. Nathaniel Merrill and Aaron
Hutchison appeared, gave good satisfaction respecting their
standing, and stated their motives for embracing the dis-
cipline of the Presbyterian church. In view of which they
were received into full fellowship, and a committee were
appointed to sit in the congregation of Boscawen, N. H.,
to consult matters there between the Rev. Mr. Merrill and
that society, and to inquire into the propriety of receiving
it under watch and care. A sin)ilar committee were ap-
pointed to visit Blandford, and finally determine matters
respecting the Rev. Mr. Patrick and that society.

Changes are usually, or at least oftentimes, rung upon
all departments of the Christian church each half century,
and so it was here. Up till this i)eriod. May 2r)th, 1774,
those who were trained up Presbyterians had, in worship,
used the l:)Ook of Psalms, while those who were novices in
Presbyterianism, or viewed it as a good ex^pedient, or
adopted it as the path to thrift, brought with them what
they previously used in praise as Congregationalists, pro-
bably in most cases " the Bay State version " of Elliot,
Mather and Weld.

The fathers had passed away, and now a new generation
were acting "who knew nut Joseph." The loD psalms,
imitated by Dr. Watts, liad been offered in the Boston
market since 1741. Thirty-three years of warfare had al-
most silenced "the Bay State version," and now the Rev.
Moses Baldwin has for the imitations " a felt want," and
the Presbytery " having discoursed upon the atiair," give
him liberty to use them at "discretion."

IN NEW ENGLAND.

155

up,

or
,-hat
])ro-
liot,

give

Rottenness now ontcrod into the bones of their Prcsby-
terianisni, and altlioujj;h their con,ti:re^ation.s were exten-
sively increased in numbers, and expanded into a Synod,
yet it only lasted for a few years, and collapsed like a bal-
loon in mid-heavens when the valve became defective.
The division of Presbytery was farther postponed. Hutchi-
son and Gilmore were appointed to sujiply the vacancies,
Pelhani, Dunbarton, Francestown and Weirtown, New
Erection.

Salem, Mass., September 13th, 1774, Presbytery met.
Morrison was af^ain cited. It was found that a committee
hud been, since Mr. !Moorehead's death, sent to Boston.
They reported, their minutes were read and approved by
Presbytery.

"Voted unaninioii-lv, That, in consequence of his peni-
tential confession, thi- Rev. Mr. Patrick l)e restored to good
standinjr, and while he is jicrmittcd to exercise his minis-
terial function, his dismission from his congregation is
continued till next meeting. The appeal from Blandford
was sustained, and it is to be tried at next meeting.

"Ordered, That the Rev. John Houston be appointed to
table complaints against the Rev. John Morrison at next
meeting," at Salem, September loth, 1774.

As noticed, the Presbytery at the Knsitrard a))])ointed at
Pownalboro, on August 16th, 1774, the Rev. John Murray
to go as a commissioner to the Boston Prcsl^ytery to meet
at Salem at this date, and that he rejjorted that " variou.s
animosities still jirevailed between the ministers that way,"
but he did not state that he was the cause, or, at least, the
occasion of them. He had previously intimated a desire
to unite with the Boston Presbytery. This Mooreliead, in
view of his case, sternly opposed, while Parsons, admiring
the man, and having less veneration for strict Presbyterian
discipline, advocated it. Hence, during the last years of
their lives, " brotherly love" between them was not per-
mitted to " continue."

On considering at this meeting th^ propriety or impro-
priety of "receiving him in charity as a Christian brother,
it was carried in the negative," Parsons, Houston, Williams,
Cross, Smith and Crawford dissenting. These were for
receiving Mr. Murray and probably his Presbytery. Dur-
ing the past nine months, aince the death of the Rev. Mr.

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1141^

156

HISTORY OF PRESBYTKRIANISM

: V I

Moorchend, tho Long Lane con<];rop;ation in Bof^ton had
become anxious to call him jis their jmstor, and this could
be done only by the authority of the Boston Presbytery.

In order to present to him their call and install him,
that court must first receive him, or reco<;ni7,e the lawful
construction of his Presbytery which, spider-like, ho had
])roduccd from his own personal treasures of Presbyterial
power. This they did not do.

Hence, not only the "animosities," hut also the fact,
that on Septem])er 20th, 1774, the [.(Onfi; Lane conprefjatioii
enttn'ed their " declinature " of the authority of the Boston
Presbytery, while a minority of thirty adhered to it.
Hence, the succeedintr fact, that at Brunswick, on Octoher
r2th, 1774, Mr. John McLean presented a call from the
conjiregation in Boston to have the Rev. John Murray re-
moved there. This call was by "the Prcsl)yt(M-y at the
Eastward" considered regular, as the congregaiion had
declined the authority of the Boston Presbytery, and it
was (as such) sustained.

Now " Greek met Greek," and " then came the tug of
war." His host of friends in Boothbay became arouseil.
When the call was presented to him, he ])romised, that if
his " people first had a hearing by their commissioners,
tiiat he would then submit tlie matter entirely to tiie
Presbytery, and endeavor to be obedient to their decision."'

On the next day Mr. John Beath (formerly from Long
Lane congregation, but now), the Elder from Boothhay,
presented a remonstrance on behalf of said church and
town, against any m(!asure being taken for Mr. Murray's
removal to Boston, which was read and ordered to be kept
in rcienth and copies given to both parties.

At an adjourned meeting at Jirunswiek, on Novcnd)er
23d, 1774, Mr. John McLean, as commissioner, was con-
fronted by Messrs. John Beath and Paul Reed as connnis-
sioners from Boothbay, and by commissioners presenting
a remonstrance from the church in Bristol.

The argumentation was earnest and long on both sides,
and McLean, resorting to delay, adduced various reasons
why his request should be granted, which, owing to tlie
thinness of the meeting, occasioned by the severity of the
weather and the desire of having the judgment of the full
Presbytery, was agreed to, and the matter was deferred.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

1 *''■
1>(

At Bmnswiok, May 8th, 1775. Wliilo Mr. McLean (Yu]
not ai>i)i'iir, still tlu.' niinuti'S and his piipiTs were ht'lori^
the court, to|j;t'thcr with a h'tter from the session of th<^
Lout,' Lane cliurch. These were read, and the I'reshytery,
alter "mature cor.sich'ratioii of the case, owin^ to tho
jtaucity of memhers pHv-^ent, resolved to adjourn the deci-
sion of that att'air till next me(!tin;ij, and the clerk was or-
dered to enclose in his answer to said letter a copy of the
minute (]nutn jn'tnium.''^

Measures were now taken for some relief for Topsham
eon^rreuration, which was then vacant, while Sanuiel
^\'lleei('r continued to roam ahout and preach there, hav-
inir thrown off all restraint, and vexed the people so, that
they refused almost universally to hear him. Any minis-
ter of the hody, when recjuested hy their session, was nu-
ll lorized to haptize the children of parents recommended
])y the session.

An application from the Prcshyterian church in New-
huryport, praying that said church and the Rev. Jonathan
I'arsons, their j)ast(jr, he receiv(>d under the watch and
care of this Prcshytery, was now made. Tiiey were re-
ceived accordint^ly. Mr. Parsons was installed there on
!March 19th, 1746, by ii mutual compact between himself,
and the clerk replynifi for tho rest. His constitution was
delieat*' since 1754, and in 1772 his public labors were sus-
] tended by sickness. He had years previously asked for a
eelleairue, and as he had entertained friendshij) for Mr.
Murray, so his cono;refi;ation now extended to him a call,
and " Mr. Moses Little, their commissioner, was heard on
his reasons therefore." The translation was vigorously
opposed by the congregation of lioothbay, who had now
for years actively endeavored to maintain their rights
against those who, as well as themselves, " coveted ear-
nestly the best gifts." Hence the prosecution of the case
was deferred.

On " Thursday, May 9th, 1776, upon reading the min-
utes, as to the lioston call, it was moved and seconded,
that as there was now a full meeting of members, and that
the interest of that valuable congregation, of which the
utmost tenderness is an especial duty in its j>resent dis-
tress, might greatly suffer by our deferring judgment any
longer." The call and relative papers, the i)rotest and re-

, I

1 1

158

HISTORY OF PUESBYTERIANISM

'f. Si

monRtranco, and tlie al)stract.s of tho reasons of })oth par-
tics were read. The I'r(.'sl)ytery tlion considered tluir
junvers in rei^ard to the removal of any ])ast()r within their
l)ounds, and that they had now ajn|)hi li^ht in the matli r
of th(! IJoston call, rc.solced as folh)Ws, ( /. r.) : "It is the jud;^-
nu'iit of this Presbytery, after a serious consideration of
the matter, resjjectin^ th«! removal of the Rev. Mr. Muri'ay
from his pastoral relation to the chureii in Hoothhay to
the ehur(;h in Boston, that it is hy no means exi)e(lient in
th(.' |)r(.'sent state and circumstances of that town and
jx'ople."

Thus, iifter nineteen months of exertion, tho ])cople in
JjOiif/ Lane were disappointed. It is true the ])eople at
Boothhay had a lawful claim of ten years' ownership, and
were the man's own ecclesiastical oflsprin;.', hut they were
now estahlished in the faith, and miuht liave found
another pastor, although not of o(iual i)ower and attract-
iveness. Not only so, as Presbyterians had then and havo
now no abiding hold of their church estate, so that they
can under civil law enjoy the use of it; and the ])eople in
Lonj; Lane held theirs, amountiufj: then to al)out one
twenty-four hundreth j)art t)f the town of Boston, by a trust
deed of a charital)le use and nature, Mr. Murray, with his
])owers and piety, miiiht have instrumentally retained the
foothold which I'resbyterianisni then had, (ixtended widely
" the doctrine of (iod our Saviour," and curtaihul exten-
sively that volume of error, which eventually culminated
in the moonlight of Christianity, Unitarian Congregation-
alism.

lie had, however, other missions to fulfil ; after taking
the steps which we have noticed, the Pri'sbytery the sanii,'
day heard the commissioner from Newburyport in sup-
port of the call from that church to Mr. Murray.

On July 8d, 1770, the Presbytery met at New Market,
when the clerk reported that in obedience to the order of
our last, he has transmitted the minutes rcsjiecting tho
Boston call to the session of the Presbyterian chuicli
there. After reading the remonstran(!e from Hoothbay,
the petition from Newburyport was heard, and on Thurs-
day, July 4th, 1770, Presbytery met according to adjourn-
ment, when the respective reasons for and against the
Newburyi)ort cull were heard in detail. After long de-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

159

bate, the commissioner from Boothbiiy movo(^, nnd tlio
otlitTs concurred to detV-r it.

On that eventful day l*resi)ytory also ^nuitcd vacant
churi'iujs the lil)irty to send each two ruliu;^ elders to each
lucetiii^i of Preshytery. '' Eventful " heeausc that while tiio
declaration of indc-'pendence was not sijxued until tho
peeoiid day of Auyust loUowing, it was adopted on July
4tli. ITTC.

At the next mcetinjj:, on Octoher Dth, at Fahuouth, it
was reported ♦hat tho Kev. Jonathan I'arsons had dit'd
July I'Jth, 1770, at the a<^e of seventy-one— some two
years, seven nionthii and seventeen days after his former
co-presbyter, Moorchead. It is matter of sorrow that they
Were alienated from each other at death.

As Parsons and his conj^rej^ation (at his demise) were
under "the I'reshytery at the Eastward," Newburyport,
now, that Boston was out of the way, desired tlu' ser-
vices of this pre-eminent man. For him they persistently
ap|)lied, and for years Boothhay as vigorously protested,
licuce we find that at " ('ai)e Eli/aheth, on June 14th, 17>S0,
after a sermon by Prince on the doctrine of original sin.''
as exj)ressed in the sixth chai)ter of the Confession of Faith,
a;,'reeal)le to the order of our last, Mr. Murray's removal
from Bo(jth))ay w'as oi)})Osed, and answered hy a series of
reasons. Of these, number live was "for preachinjf to and
kee|)inj< from desolation the larg(,'st conf2;regation in New
England, where there are not less than ten times the nnm-
l>er of hearers he can preach to at Hoothbay." ''Eighth,
for saving that numerous society from being overrun with
errors, its government overcome, and itself split untl
ruin(>d."

"For these reasons the Presbytery rcijuired and en-
joined said congregation at Newburyport to receive and
acknowledge )iim, the said Rev. Jolm Murray, as their
st.ited pastor in the Lord, by virtue of their call, his ac-
ceptance, and the soleum a(!t of transp(^rtation as fully to
all intents and purposes whatever, as by any other sort of
installation or induction thereunto, and to yield to all
liis legal and constitutional acts of oflic(>, all faithful sub-
mission and obedience in the Lord. And at all times to
do what in them lies to strengthen his hands and en-
courage his heart under the peculiar difliculties of the sit-
uation in which he is hereby placed."

160

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

This waf5 a day of desolation for the conp:rcc:ation at
Bootli^av. Thov liad for nearlv lourtceii years liiinjj
^vitli tli'V(»tii>n on liis li]>s; in seasons of vast and imniincnt
dandier they had sli.ired witli him perils of which he was
extens'' 'v hoth the eaiise and tiie occasion; and now
they )y the d(;inands of Divine I'rovi(Knu,-(! and the

authoiiiv of tlieir own Pr(>shytery hereft of hini for wlioni
for some six years they had witii luroic fortitude con-
tended against judicious and ahie connnissioners from
otlier churches. All that can now bo oflicially done is not
neirlccted.

For them Presbytery express and record their pro-
found " sympathy." They were then " sheep having no "
under "shepherd ; "'and wiiile on August 11th, 1781, Pres-
bytery " received a letter from IJoothliay, re(iuesting a
HUpply," tliey do not ajtpearto liave received any of a per-
manent character, and they eventually in the subsequent
eight years in common witli all Presbvterianisni in Maine,
fell asleep in the ol)livious embrace of surrounding and
assimilating Congregationaliam.

TX NEW ENGLAND.

lot

CHAPTER VT.

1708-179.?— Difllciilties—Thoy kept watcli— ' Disamiexed "—Routine
(liitits — " riiiiilisci'Miliiiir " — Ft'iiiiih' nii'inluM's to \)v rt'ci-ived it" tlicy
ri'tiini — L 11 iiiliait"-l>;i it'll — Mfriill's (ii-.ini>>.i()ii — I'.ostoii society cittil
— Noveinb(.T, I77i — '•Cdii-itli-iiiif,' liio man" — A plan lur a Syiitttl
ovortmvd — Salt'in ("imrcii luirnt — Aid — I)artniontii Coilefri — Iliitiii-
iii-oiis |u'!iliun — HfconiiiK'niiatioM (tf a plan ot" Synod — Tliri'f I'rcs-

livti'iit.

-iM.rl

n'arancc a duty — I astoral visitatum and ratochisnig

ni'oniiMi'ndi'd — Not too cl(wi' to tlirir iioiis in llio pnlpil — Kxp ositioi
ncDinMii'ndfil — License — I'uMitalion (if Hanns reconiim-nded -Snp-

lillcs-

'vnod tni'MK'd Mav 31 , 177') -Mit at

;ua. m.

iinie

Isl-

Inpiliart oni.iiiifd at St. ( iror<,'i'"s in SipteinlKT — Mi'irill at IVlhaiu

ni Sfpti-ni

l>.r— T

(•'"art asks lor lici-nst'

IS (.xaniination

urn.-e

Third (,'lnnrii, Salfiu — Witiidiawing invuularly — TIk- circiun-
Ktanci's of tlio times— Till' siiii-ll of gun-powder —A priori — A pos-
teriori — Adopted the ^Vestlllillster ( 'oiifessioii of K.aitli and falle<i the
Synod of Ni'W Miiiilaiid- -Some divelopment ami some decay — Appre-
ciated — A generation goiu' -t'omforts — An era of prosperity now
openiiiii: -Population too (K'lise — Ilmiu'ration — Truro, Nova Scotia — •
Civil and reli>j;ious lilieily tiiere — ( 'lurry Valley, X. V., dwelling
safely — TroiiMe came- War ( olonies revolt— Ivcv. !•'. MaKemie —
Meekleiibur;j;li I'onvention — I>eclaralioii of Independence- -This per-
Mciition, .says Hancrofl — Hishops-Septemher 4tli, 177(>, "are any
inimical? can have no seat lu'ri-"' — .lohu M(»rris((n (U'posed - K»'V.
.Iiilm Houston falters and promisis t'ealty, hut does not s.itisfy Synod
or I'.i'dford ei'.her^ — dismissed — I'l'ril — I'rencii war in 1741 (>!( -('a|)e
i^iTiiiii — i)r. Thornton — • ,)Wii Point — Three Captains from Derry —
Two StarUs and Kouer.-— No surplus of alli-etion for Hritain after the
"Huston Mas.-arre" -John Stark in his Sawmill, and in ten mimitea
left tor Cambrid>i;e — " Disinssini,' apprehension.s " — Future homes—
Tile loyalty of the Scotch Irish dissipattd — Troops in IU)ston, 17t)S —
Blood Drawn — The drama opened — Tlu- slalt- of society domestically
— Home j)rothu;ts — Lartre Spinning: Wheel — Wives and mothers
Worth liavin<j — The little wheel — Flax — Linen — Inspectors of it ap-
poiiued in Derry in 171S — I'orty pounds and a diamond ring premium
for linen woven for Washington aiitl his otlicers — Females industriouH
— K.vti:ivaj;anci>— Spinning; schools — Daughters of Liberty, in his
house in one day they spun 2C>- skeins and gave it to Mr. Moorehoad
— Times, anthems and liberty songs in the evening, animated by the
"«{)iis of liberty" — 1(K) spinners in Mr. Moorehead's society — Notices
of one man — (ieorge Keid — r.unktrllill — ^Ili;; commission January
Ist^ 177(5— Colonel of the Ariuy of the U. S. in 1783 — Served during

I I

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162

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

the entire war — His wife — Their correspondence— The means of
^'ract — Not merely a nialti-r of intellect— Not yet modem "f;iisli " —
" Valley Foij^e" — A eoiuiiiiiaini — 'riiese items form Imt a small pari
- — Not only ill tlie bounds ol" liie Synod, Imt hy Jolm Miinay and I/h
i'resliytery, was palriotisni di>played — He was known and telt in I^oii-
don, and i;'«00 sterling were ollered for his person, but no man in
Maine would laUe the money — His Presbytery release him from I'ooll;-
bay — Aids ilie comiuillee of safely of New Hampshire at Kxeter — He
Wandered lor aiioiil two years stirring nj) Hie jieople — A comparative
view with Samuel Adams and Hancock — The race in America — The
Key Note— Tile Scotch Version — Waxhaw — Captain I). McCleary —
The iiullet — We turn to ecclesiastical matters— (,'areer of liev. .1.
Murray — His power as a prcacln'r — Filled a comiiany in two hours,
where tiie oHicers had labore<l three days in vain—" Let the dinner
go" — Succi'ssiul in the ministry — Awakening uiuler it -Plan of \ is
Iting— His meekness, etc., etc. — Active in promoting relii:ion--His
daily views — Died March 13th, ITUo — A burse — His widow aske«l the
fund which he had given lor it.

Pi:i{soNS wcro a|)j)()itito(l by tlie Boston Prcsliytory to
nuikc ddiiiiti' aiTim^^cinciits for tlic I'oniiatioii (d'a Si/ii<><l.

They for some years e.xpciieiieed dijlieiilties in e.xet-uliiij;
tlio trust V)y the death ot" Moorehead, and the withdrawal
of Parsons, to say nothinj^ ot" several nunor untoward nuit-
ters. Still they kept watch and ;.M-ew. At a three days'
UKHjtiiij^ (it the court in Salem (Sep. loth-loth i, 1774, lie-
side till' jittention jjiven to Morrison's etise, Merrill's tiiid
Patrick's "tillairs," the minute of the committee sent to
Boston was read and ajiproved. The society at Canter-
bury was taken under their care, instructions were jriven to
supplies of vacancies, the .society at Hampton Falls wa.s
"disannexed," the Jif)peal from Blandford was sustained,
and to he tried at a future scs.sion, supply of ])reachinj;
and the moderation of a call were f^ranted at Pelham. Dr.
Whittaker and the ajr^rieved memhers of liis (church are
tendered counsel ; his hearing to the disturbers of his peace
wjis considered "condescending," and the turbulent ones
were ordered to be dismissed.

'^Resolved, That as there are a number of female mem-
bers not adverted unto in the fore^^oinj; minut(\ who have
absented themselves from this (Salem ) church, that if they
see tit to return any time before; next January (1775;, they
be received, if not, be dismis.sed also."

The license of Mr. John Unjuhart, from the Presbytery
of Allon, Scotland, appeared Batisfactory, and on it he was
received as a probationer.

I*!'

' I

IN Nr.w i::cf;LA.vD.

163

lili

Tho Rov. Ronjamin Balcli, on prcsontinf? tostimonialH,
prmiiisin;^ tliic i^uWmission, strict adlicrnu'c to our stand-
ards, and to sul)scril)e the I'ornuila when reciuired, was, on
rti|U('st, n^oeivod in^ a nirniltcr.

" No ohjiM'tions a])))C'ariim atrainst tlu> dismission of tlio
Itt'V. Mr. Merrill, the conduct ot" tlu' connnittcc is ajtprovcd/'
The Ilov, Mr. McCircior was now apjxjintcd to write a let-
ter to the Boston society, respeetinir their conduct in en-
tering their declinature, ami to cite them to appear at tln^
next Session. Halch and Urquhart were appointed tt> sup-
ply vacancies.

At Xewl)uryport, Xovend)er Sth, 1774, eij:ht ministers
and seven elders were pri'sent. and seven ministers were
alist'ut ; ot" Mitchell, an ahsentet', the excuse was sustained,
'■ considerinjj; the man." Others excused and some not.

A lar^M' amount of business was transacted, and they
notice that they ''are ^lad to lind so larj^e a numher of the
church ;ind eoiijzregation of Lonj^ Lane, .some thirty per-
sons still adhering to this Presbytery, and ji;ood order, in
ojiposition to the Decliners."

A plan for a Synod was now ordered to be ''laid befon;
the ehlerships of every congreiiation respectively (or sent
down in overture), in order to prepare matters, to adopt
the same at next stated sittinL^"

On behalf of the church of Salem, who have lost their
nieetinfi;-house by lire, it was ordered that "their case bo
recommended to the charitable contributions of each con-
ureiration in this body."

.As th(> founders of Dartmouth Collefro (the fourth in
New Enjiland, founded in 17()tM were extensively Presby-
terians, "the \lvy. Mr, Hutchinson now petitioned witli
re^riu'd to forminir a Presbytery at Dartmouth. Tt was
rt'c.)nnnended to him to use tlu> utmost prudent antl edec-
tu:d means to carry that measure into execution, and to
report his doings theret)n at the next meeting of Pres-
l.ytery."

November 10th, 1774. Opened with prayer. "After
snleuni and serious consideration of the plan of our Synod,
the following conclusion " was reached, viz. : *

"That Messrs. Parsons, Whittaker, Perley, McTA\an and
IVarce, with their congregations, and also tlie congregatii)U
of Boston, now under their care, with the other vacancies

lillfi

; t

164

IIISTOliY or I'RESIJVTKlilAMS.M

in their bounds, tojrctlior witli tho Rov. Mr. Balch, sliall
(if tho plan be ail(»|)ti'(l acconlinjj; to the jjrccedin^' niinnte)
be the Ka.stern Presbytery and be called the Presbytery of
Ise\vburyi)(»rt.

" Mes^srs. McGregor, Mitchell, Williams and Strickland,
witii their conL'rcgations and the vaciancics within their
bounds he called the Presbytery of Londonderry, or Mid-
dle one. Messrs. Houston and J>ald\vin, with their con-
gregations, together with the congregations of lilandford,
Pelham and ("oleraine, also ^lessrs. Hutchinson, Merrill,
Gilmore and Patrick, shall be the Western Presbytery to
be called the Presbytery of Palmer.

"Appointed to meet in Seal)rook, N. H., ^^ay olst, 1775,
then the Synod lo h( actually formed and receive its name."
It is furtiicr stated that "charital)le mutual forbearance
in lesser things appears to be a plain duty."'

"Yet, as uniformity, so far as it can be obtained, is
V)eautiful in its nature and salutary in its conse(juences,
it is reconnnendeil to every minister in this Preshyter\',
that he perform a pastoral visitation and catechising of
his whole flock once a year, or, at least, once in two years,
or, if the adults will not at lirst suhmit to tlie latter, that
lie will catechise the children and youth, and us( his best
endeavors gradually to introduce it among the adults. It
is also reconnnendeil to ministers, and ('specially to preach-
ing probationers, that they do not too closely conlhie them-
selves to their notes, but that they commit tlieir discourses
to memory, at least in part."

" It is recommended to all preachers that they make tho
exposition of the Scriptures an ordinary part of their pul-
pit work."

"As much (lifTiculty arises from marrying with license,
and though it seems impossible, under our present circum-
stances, to ])revent this practice, yet we prefer the publi-
cation of banns, as is practised l)y the Presbyterians abroad,
and earnestly reconnnend to our several congregations to
j)rocce(l in this matter accordingly."

Dr. Whittaker, about to rebuild his church, was reconi-
inended to the liberality of the public when lu; scdicits aid;
and Parsons or McGregor is to preach before the Synod,
on condition they agree.

"Messrs. Hutchiiison and Merrill were appointed to

iiiii ii

n-H

IN NEW ENGLAND.

1&5

supply at ?>lan(lfor(l, Pelham, Coloraino, Petersburgh and
Mitldii'town, as oct-a.-^iou may lUMiuirc."

"Appointed to meet in Scabrook, .'Hst of May, 1775."

Soabrook, X. IL, May olst, 177''). After a sermon by
tlio Rev. David McGre^ror, from Matt, xviii. 20, which was
api)roved, constituted witii prayer.

.Sliiiisters jiresent, MeCirefj^or, MitclicU, Houston, Ferlev,
Htrickhmd, MeliCan, Merrill, Patrick and Williams. Ilul-
int; Elders, James Taij:<4art, John Moulton, Es(i. ; from
Canterbury, Henry Hah3 and pjzekiel Morrell, Clain Ar-
mour; from Salem, Miles Ward. Absent, Parsons, Bald-
Avin, Gilmore. Hutchinson, Whittaker and Balch.

Kcv. D. McGretror was chosen Moilerator.

They then continued for two days to act as a Presby-
tery, and did much business, incinirin^ into reasons for
ai»sence, post|i(tiiin<i^ the declinature from Salem, reponed
Merrill in uond standing, as no accusi^rs appeared against;
liiiu, presenting to him a call from Pelham, which he took
into consideration.

Opening at 7.80 .\. m. on June 1st with ])rayer, the Clerk
and his Elder ol)tained leave of absence, and Alexander
McLean was chosen Clerk, pro tem. They then consid-
ered the state of ail'airs between .Mr. Patrick and Bland-
ford, and approved of the conduct of the tirst committee
"in dissolving the pastoral relation." ''They gave no
reoonnnendation to Mr. Patrick, i)ecanse the tirst connnit-
tee are all absent, and tlie last out; had not rej)orted."

Mr. Uriiuhart accepted the call at St. (Jeorgii's. He was
ap|)()inte(l to serve tlie Edict. It was ordered that he be
ordained there on the second Wednesday of September,
l)y Rev. Messrs. Perley and McLean, witli the assistance
of one or two neighboring ministers.

Elders were apjtointed to be ordained at I>l;indforil.

At 8 F. M. opened with prayer. Mr. Merrill to be in-
stalled at Pelham on the second Thursday of September,
by MctJregor and Baldwin, with some assistance.

"Mr. Sanniel Taggart applying for license, they exam-
ined hi.s diplonia from Dartmouth, satis(ie<l themselves
with his moral character, and appointed him to deliver
an exegesis on the subject: ati, neccssr fitcrit ('firistnm. pro
)ii)l)i.s sdtisfacere Judiiia Divinaf and a po|)ular sermon
from Matt. xiii. 11, both of which were aome time ago
prescribed to him by the Moderator,"

166

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

III

Iff'

i. ■

" Ho havinjT witlulriiwn, his disicourscs were approved.
After examining him on personal piety, lie ajijiroved of
the doctrines of tin.' ^\'estnlinster Confession of Faitli.
jiromised subjection in the Lord to the I'rcshytery, dc-
<'lared his readiness to sul)scril)i' the f(jrmula, and they
then licensed iiim to preach the <i;ospel."

They then desij:;nate the parties who "are entitled to
the immunities and j)rivileji;es of the third church in
►Salem, Dr. \VJiittaker\s, of which the Rev. Messrs. Dudley,
Leavit and John Huntington were formerly pastors."

" The congregation of ►Seahrook are to use the most
elfeetual means to settle their existing dilliculties, or, the
Presbytery will feel solenmly bound at next meeting to
inquire narrowly into them."

June 2d, 1775, opened with prayer. "On account of
their withdrawing irregularly irom this I*res])ytery, the
Moderator, with tStriekland, Williams and Mitchell, was
api)ointed to write to the congregation of Xewbiu\v)iort."

The process against John Morrison was forwarded one
stage.

" They deferred entering ui)on ' Boston affairs ' for this
time, owing to 'the circumstances of the times.'" The
smell of gun})Owder wils becoming too strong.

After "aimexing Petcrboro to the Middle Presbytery,
and changing the name of the Eastern Presbytery from
Newburyport to that of Salem, the plan of the Synod was
otherwise amended and subscribed by the members
present."

The court " proceeded a priori, to shew the necessity of
governnient in the state and in the church ; a. posteriori, to
shew that there is in fact a government of Divine institu-
tion in the New Testament church. Nor will it be dilli-
cult for the judicious and unbiassed, to find that Pres])y-
terian church government has upon it the stamp of Divine
authority, that the churches of Jerusalem, Antioch, Cor-
inth, Ephesus, etc., etc., were Presbyterian churches."
After shewing that there cannot be a single Congrega-
tional organized church, without a pastor ])r()]terly author-
ized " with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery ''
this plan states the powers, the mode of lawful increase,
where the necessity exists, and the lawfulness of local
separation into co-ordinate church courts, from which, by

IN NEW ENGLAND.

167

rcftTcnco, review, or a])pe:il, matters for uniformity in doc-
trine, <;overnnieut, discijiline and worship can be brou<,'lit
for tlie purity, jjeuce and growth of the whole ehureh, as
was done by those entrusted witli the word and doetrino
at Antioeh to the Syno<l of Kkh'rs (for Peter and John de-
eliire tiieniselves to be elders ) at Jerusalem."

After stating these and several other " points wiiieh no
Presbyterian will eontrovert/" they gratefully aeknowlcdge
thf smiles of Divine Providence on their common cause in
N\'W J'highnul, and having had tlie matter under con-
sideration for several years, they now, in aggregate, as tho
Presbytery of Boston, subdivide into Presbyteries as before
stated.

Tiiey then ordered a meeting of each of the three Pres-
byteries twice a year, beside what may be required pro
re nata. Tlie manner in which their records were to bo
authenticated, business brought l)efore the courts, the de-
portment with wiiich mend)ers should conduct themselves
when oflieiating judicially, the equal standing of each
Presbytery without prefc.'rcnce, the appt)intment of a stated
clerk of Synod, his duties, the preservation of the records,
and other matters recpiired for i)ernianent organization
were now duly arranged and ordered.

The Synod now adopted the Westminster Confession of
Faith and (Jatechisuis, and then the standing rules of the
Church of Scotland, as collected by Stewart of Pardovan,
"so far as our local and other circumstances will allow."
. An annual meeting of Synoil, its duties and its oflicers,
was now provided for. Correspondence with the Synods
of New York and Philadelphia, by a committee, who are
to write to them, was now proposed. As there can be no
a[)i)('al from the Synod, parties not satisfied with its deci-
sions, can enter their protest with their reasons on tho
Synod's books. These, their then present " regulations,"
may be altered from time to time, as God may give them
liu'Iit; and while they have right in ecclesiastical cases to
meet as courts, in the name of Christ, independent of the
power and authority of civil princes, yet, in all civil mat-
ters they own their sul)jection to civil authority.

As a part of their statute law, each Presbytery was to
keep a record " and shall enter this covenant and agree*
nieut in tlie beginning; of it"

■

168

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

They then "solemnly covenanted the one with the
other, that, by the helj) of Divine LM-ace, they would en-
deavor to promote tlic union, peace and prf>.s}>erity of this
court, now named 'The Synod of New En^ziand,' and all
its Presbyteries and churciies, lookini^ to the great King
and Head of his church, for his presence with, and bless-
ing on, all its departments, that they he guided to such
measures as may issue in the rxaliation of Christ to his
tiirone, kingly authority and rule in these churches."

'' In testimony of tiiis our covenant, consent and solemn
engagement, we do, in tlie I'car of (Jod. hereunto subscribe
our names, tbis 2d (Uiy of June, 177')."'

Ministers — David jMc(Jrcgor. John Houston, Daniel
Mitchell, Sanjuel Perley, John Strickland, Natiianiel Mer-
rill, Alexander McLean, John rr(|uhart. Nathaniel Whit-
taker, Benjamin Jialch, tSimon Williams, Moses iialdwin,
Sanuiel Taggart.

Ruling Elders — James Taggart, Miles Ward, Henry
Hale, Ezekiel Merrill, John Moulton. Hubartous Miittoon.

The moderators of the respective rresbyteries were now
api)ointed, and the Rev. D. McGregor is, as Moderator, to
open the Synod at Londonderry next year with a sermon.
Closed with prayer.

We have, since the opening of the French church in
Boston, in 171G (in lifty-nine yearsj, some development
and some decay.

The means of grace were now. in their varied congrega-
tions, not only enjoyed but extensively a])j)reeiated. One
generation of ministers and j>eoplc bad |)a.ssed away;
homes were not only increased, but they were also fur-
nished more extensively with the comforts of lifi". and
their churches with an increasing nundter of mendjcrs;
whil<>, having church courts, sessions. Presbyteries and a
Synod, an era of j)rosperity seemed now to open before
them. It is wise, however, to " ndx trembling with nnrth "'
in view of earthly mutations.

For them the pojjulation became too dense, while the
means of su))sistence were not always superabundant.
Of the three crying sins of Suduni, " prich'. fulness of bicad
and abundance of idleness," they were not extensively
guilty. Hence, to better their condition, they not only
emigrated to new portions of the forest in New England,

Iff

iii'.i

IN NEW ENGLAND.

169

h\it to otlior roloniop. In 1700 :i thrifty company from
and nciir I Jerry, X. II., rcinovcd to Truro, in Nova Scotia,
got lip Presbyterian worship there, where, not bcinj? under
the control of hiw, enacted by Con,<!;re,i:;ationalists, they
could hold ;ind (Mijoy.ns l'r(>sbyterians, tlieir church ))rop-
erty. In tliat c(jlony they, and those associiitin;,' with
;ind succeodin}^ them, have wielded an important inllu-
cncc in establishin;jr, maintaining^ and jx'rpetiiatin;^ civil
and reliLMous Hlx-rty. Few spots on earth, if any, enjoy
tiu'su blessin;;s more extensively tlian docs that province.

This was the First Presbyterian church or^^anized in tho
Dominion of Canada. It has had but three pastors — tho
Ilrv. Daniel Cock, from \"2 till 17'.>S, the Rev. John
Waddeli, from ITDS till IS.'JC, and tho Kev. William Mc-
Culloch, D. D., from l-SotS until now.

It has sent out live or six liranches, two of which arc in
the cit}' propir. The orijiinal church is relatively stronii,
for the Doctor maintains that '"tiie law of the Lord is i)er-
fcct,'' botli for doctrine and worship. The praises of (lod
are not there vitiated by machinery. For, while he fully
believes the teachin;,' of his illustrious father, the late Ilev.
Tiiomas McCulloch, I). I)., S. T., P., tiiat "Calvinism ia
the doctrine of the Bible," he can also say, with the princt!
of Arminiaiis, the Ilev. Adam Clarke, D. D., the Methodist
Connncntator, " If there was a woe to them who invented
instruments of music, as did David, under the law, is
tiicn; no woe, no curse to them who invent them and in-
troduce them with the worship of God in the Christian
church? 1 am an old man and an old minister, and I
lure declare tliat I never knew them productive of any
•rood in the worship of Cod, and have reason to believe
tlicy were productivi^ of much evil. Music, as a science,
I esteem and admire, l»ut instruments of music in the
house of (lod I abominate and abhor."

Durin;; this(|Uartcr of a (M'litury another colony of theso
iMuplc '^(■ttlcd at Cherry \'alley, I'nadilla and other towns
in OtscLio county. New York, wluM-e their moral worth
aided not a little in elevatinii society. Extensively for<i;et-
\\u<: the scalpiiiL'-knife and tomahawk a quiet tide of
prosperity seemed to l)e now carryinix them onward in the
enjoyment of the means of iiracc, and, in common with
the Congre^ationalists, then Trinitarians, and Calvinistic

M £^

170

HISTORY OF PRESBYTKRIANISM

Baptists Calniost the only otlicr rclij^ious jKrsiiasions tlicn
ill Nt'W lMi;:liiii(l ), tlic rnshytcriiins wvrv extensively
"dwelling.' Sillily," sitlinj^f "under their vine and lij^-tree."
*' hut Iruuhk' eanie." Of our " lusts eonie wars and li;j,ht-
in^," and («od now arose ''to shake terrihly the earth."

The nations of Continental JMU'opewere not all at j»eaeo,
nnd (Jreat iJritain eonnneneed a series of operations wliieli
eventually heeanie so o]»j»ressivo as to cau.so lier thirtetu
Anuriean eolonies to revolt.

The atrocious imprisonment of a Preshyterian minister,
the Rev. Francis McKemie. hy Lord Cornhury, in New-
York, in 17<>7-S, and makiii;;' him pay some seventy
))ounds for the costs of his jiroseeution, though deelareil
not ^'Uilty, was the ''little eloutl not hi^'^^er than a man's
liand,"' which eventually assemhled the M»'cklenl)ur;:,
Kortli Carolina, Convention, in May, ITT^, and caused the
Declaration of indei)endence in 1T7(), with all their untold
results.

►Secondary and suhordinate matters, of course, conspire d
to the jireat issue, hut this ])ersecution occupied the
j)rimary ])lace, not simply claimiuf: redress, as did taxa-
tion without representation, in the Stamp Act and other
oi)j)ressive fornjs, Init cryinji for vengeance to the .Judge
of the opprt'ssed. Hence, says the eloepK.'nt Bancroft, a
Conjzregationalist, "The first voice j)uhliely raised in
America to dissolve all conn(iti<»n with (Jreat Britain,
came not from the Puritans of New England, or the Dutch
of New York, or the j)lanters of Virginia, l)Ut from Scotch-
Irish Preshyterians. The}' hrought to America no suh-
missive love; for England, and their exjierience and their
religion alike hade them meet oi»pression with prompt re-
sistance.'' (Illfit. of r. S., vol. T), p. 77.)

The next stop, which Pres)»yterians foresaw, would he
the setting up of a hishop in each colony. The arrange-
ments for this were alreadv heing made. Hence, when
Synod met (agrecahly to its adjournment ) at Londonderry,
N. H., on Septend)er 4th, 1770, two months after the hirtli-
day e)f the nation,* innnediately after, it was constituted
in the usual and only Preshyterian Ibrm, with })rayer hy

*Tlie Declaration of Independence was adopted July 4th, but signed
on August 2d. 1776.

IN NEW ENT.LAND.

171

the Moderator, in the mime of Christ. We liave tiiis
rrconi :

'* The (luestiou hcin;^ put wlicther any susjxTted to l)e
iniiiiical t<» the lilnrtirs of the indcpench'nt States ot*
Aiiicricii, which they art' now eoiiteiKhiii,' tor, ami ntuscs
tn deehire his attachment to the same, should have a seat
ill this ju(hcaturc? \'otcd, they shouhl not."

'riicii it was asked "if they a|>proved of the Deehiration
of lii(h'i»cn(h'nci' hitcly pulihshed l)y the American col-
onies as the cause of truth and justice, and thoujzht it
should he supportc(l l»y all ranks and decrees of jursons
in these colonics ? " Tlie consideration of this (lucstion ( as
the hour of adjournment had arrived) was " suspcmlccr'
till the morr(»w, when we have this: "HV/f/w/.s the l»i'V.
John Morrison, formerly a mcnihcr of this hody, has heeii
under ecclesiastical pi'oces-;, ami has clojied to the nunis-
terial armv, and shamefully hehaved himself, tlicrelore ho
is (lei)(>se(l from the ministerial ollice, and likewise from
the privilege's of a ))rivatc Christian.*' He had joined the
American army at ('aml>ridue in ITTo, hut S(»ou wi nt over
to the British, and this fact now uave j)romptilude and ap-
j)arent severity to their deliveranee. Amonj; Seotch-lrisli
I'reshyteriansforsuch conduct there could he no foririvcness.

Kut this was not all. Whether the Kev. John Ijouston,
of IJedford, was, like Judas, the last to say, '' Is it I ?" or
not, he was now not (piitc in sympathy in tiiis matter with
the Synod, and ohtaincd the honor of their ollieial atten-
tion on Septend)cr -"ith, 177<>. ]Ie had come iVom the
church and college at Newark, N. J., in 17o4, and had ap-
jteared for ahovo twenty years to i)erform his relative and
oiliiial duties well, hut now he falters, and this luinuto
of that date is on record:

"As tlie Kev. John Houston is susi)cct(>d as inimical to
the States of America, and lu; hein;^ interrojxated res))eetin;^
this matter, prondsed that lu^ would satisfy the civil
authority, and in consetiuence of this, he would satisfy this
Svnod ; and on this the Svnod reeonunended to him to
hrin^' evidence of such satisfaction to his I'reshytery, so as
throu^di them to hring the same to the Synod at its next
incetiuf^'."

Failing to fulfd his promises and shew his fealty to the
government, he was, in 1778, suspended from a seat in

5^^'

172

HISTORY OF PnESnYTEUIANISM

Synod, and having l)rok('n the peace of his eonfjrejjatiou
until his uscrulncss ainonj; thcni was (h-stroycd, the Synod
evrntually dissolved his ])ast()ral relation to the con^^rega-
tion of l>)(ltoi-d.

The Scoteh-Irish iiad previoiislv heen loval to the Homo

I » •

Ciovenunent. In the year 1714 hostilities hetweijn En;;-
land and Franee were renewed. This hroiiglit war he-
twe<'n tile Fri'iieh and the Indians on the one side, and tli(>
En;.ilish eolonies on the other, wliieh eontinned witli little
ahatenient tor lifteen years. ( 1\) I'ntil Canada was eetled
to liritain in Fehruary, ITO.^i, the fort and l)loekhouse were
necessary in New En<xland.

To the defene(f of these eolonies, in eonnnon with others,
many I'reshyterian volunteers (hesidc other serviees)
joine(l the noted expedition against Cajx- Ihvton. " iJr.
Ahitthew Thornton, of Londonderry, subse(iuently one of
the signers of the Dt'claration of Indi-pendenee, served ill
this ean)j»aign as surgeon."

When hostilities were renewed in IToO, tlie towns settled
l)y I'reshyterians were not behind the oihers. As they
found the New England eolonies in imminent danger, so a
regiment was raised in New Hampshire to assist in an at-
tempt to destroy Crown Point, and it heing distinguished
for hardihood an<l adroitness in traversing the woods, from
it three companies of rangers were selected. These were
})laeed under three captains iVom Londonderry — John
Stark, William Stark and Ilohert Rogers. Rogers was
Boon promotetl te) l>e a UKijor, and John Stark afterwards
became celel>rated as a warrior, and arose to \h: a brig-
utlier-general in the army of the Revolution. He was
with iiord Howe, when that general was killed in storm-
ing the French lines at 'IMconderoga in IToS.

While faithful to Great Britain so long as she was ecjui-
table to iier colonies, yet he had for her no surplus of alKr-
tion after the lioston massacre. On receiving the report of
the battle of Lexington, wdien he was at work in his
saw-mill, fired with indignation, he shouldered his musket,
mounted his horse, in ten minutes left and hastened to
Cand)ridge. He was at the battles of Bunker Hill and of
Trenton, and achieved a victory at Bennington.

So long as their clergymen considered loyalty to Great
Britain a duty, so long the Scotch- Irish were pacific ; but

llJ

IN NEW KNOLAND.

173

after what we have sccti in the Synod, liclcl on Soptcnihi-r
4Ui, 177<l. ill !( lalioij to Mttirison and Houston, and even
yt'ars hj-forf tin' Dt'daration ol" Indcpcndi-nct' wjis made,
every idt a of turthcr h>yalty to the House ot" Hanover was
(Hssipatcil. W'c now take a few notices of one man, il-
histrative ol' the eharaettr and prowess of many others
of tin' same raee. .

At thi' time of the hatth' of Kexinirton, Cleorjje I{ei<l was
in eoinmaiid of a company of minuie men, and no sooner
(hd the inte|li<.M'nce of tiiat event reach Derry, than
jeaviiiLt lii-^ wife and ehil(h'en, he j)roeee(h'd with his lom-
jtany to Medford. With them he took part in the hiitll(?
of l)Unker Hill, and Ids lirsl commission under the C'tinti-
ncntal Congress is in these Words:

"The dele;^'atcs of the united colonies of New Hanij)-
sliire, Massachuset^ Bay, Rhode Island, Connectii-ul, N» sv
York, New .lersey, INiuisylvania, the comities of New-
castle, Kent and Sussex, on the J)elaware, >hiryhuul, Vir-
^'inia and North ('an»lina to (Jeorj^e luid, l']s(|. :

"We, reposinii especial trust and conlidcne(> in yt)ur
])atriotism, valor, conduct and fnlelity, do, liy thesii
j)resents, constitute and appoint you to he captain of a
company in the lifth regiment of fo(»t, commanded liy
Col. .lohn Stark. JJy order of the Con<,'ress.

"John Hancock, President.
(Attest) " Chas. Thompson, Secretary, Jan. 1st, 1770."

In 1777 he receivt'd the ai)pointmcnt of lieutenant-col-
onel, and in 1778 that of colonel of the second New Hamp-
shire rejiiment.

In 178.'l he was by act of Congress appointed colonel hy
brevet of the army of the United States. Having hcen in
connnand of New Hampshire forces during the entire war
of the devolution, he was in the battles of lUinkcr Hill,
Long Island, White Plains, Trenton, Brandy wine, (ier-
mantown, Saratoga and Stillwater. He bore his share in
the sufferings of Valley Forge in the winter of 1777.

For aljove seven years, with the exception of a few hiu'-
ried visits, he was absent from his fannly, diwing which
time his wife, beside her duties to their children, had th(;
entire charge of his farm and other domestic business.

if.

174

IIISTOllY OF rRKSnYTlMlIANISM

SoiiH! (if flu'ir letters ItrcMtlic a conslaiit rrfrrmrc in tlie
Almiiilitv. :iii(l the <'uiili<liii^ trust in liiin, in regard \o

tlicir

(lailv rar<-s, trials and aiiMiiic

lifWii l)V each (it

tliciii, Ion I IS a |il(asiii<j: feat tire of t In ir inrn s)»(iii(ltiic<'

mill Mt'dlord, Ma\' .>(

/ / ••, Ik' savs

I I

lavr imt

time 111 yiv*' yoii an accMHint. of <»iir late eima;^eineiit, only
tli.il (iud has a|i|teared lur us in nmst iniinineiit daiiLicr."

.\ii;j:nst loth, I77'>, " May < idd j)r<>s|ier and |>ri»teel iis.
I kiHiw \vi' have your prayers, witli many oi'dnds |ieo|ile.
I eoniiiiejid voii an<l niy dear ehililien to the Shepherd oi'
Israel."

On Sepleinher iSth, I77<>, she writes to him at 'rieoi!-
<|eroj^a : "I received your letters «»!' July tltli, L'lst, also
Auirilst Inth.and to the I'linmr of those tu(t would say
that, (iod has laid yoii nmler the ;^freale>t oMi^ations.
Mvery nierey, every escape, must he accounted lor. May
we he prepared lor the ;rreat day tW account.' Ai'trr
Htatin^ many matler.s relat.iii'j; to the rarm, stock, etc., she

s with voiir ;id\iee, n(»l otherwise,

conelinles

All tl

(CO-

Mav 'Ihe ;,'o(»d will of him who dwelt in the hush rest
aii*i ahide with you."'

It i.s of till' iiiiiiost importance to know whether a |
j»le in the lull possession ot" the means o|" t^race are jirolii-
niL^ hy them, or, whether they are livin;^ " according' to tiie
course of this world." Multitudes su|tpose proper I'ns-
)>yterianism to he only a matter of intellect, of mere doc-
trines, of forms and customs, unless it runs into modern
'' ^jjusli ; " lint here we find, amidst the din of war and llic
lowly lahors of a hackwoods New Hampshire home, the
utterances (d" lu-arts ennohled hy the iiidwellin;r<>f < Iod. the
Spirit vivifying: tli.it, " fonn nf dnetrine which is aceordin:'

lo ifodimcss.

Ullilreils ol otiier wives ol tlie same lac

nd reli^zion, as well as multitudes of others, amon>f tjic
hills in the granite Stah', and thioui^hout New l']n;.daiiil,
under similar circumstances would then have put lorlli
just such ulteraiices, and many of them did so. To thdii
also their hiishands would, under similar circumstances,

rite: "Vallev Kor-'c, Dee. 2lM, 1777. We mv i

II iW

making huts to winter in. I feel sympathy for you, hut
cannot he with you; honor forhids it. May happiness iit-
t(!nd you nnd the (lear «'hildreu."

As ''godliness i.s j)rolitublf," this Christiiui woman was

!«

IN NEW ENOT.AND.

17:

"(liliijjcnt. in businpss," MS well :is " rnvnil in s|tirit," iiiid
nililrcssc*! her litisliiiixl while in ('nniiiiaiKl :it Alltanvon
,lulv "»tli. ITS- : *■ I int't»rnif<l ynu in im\ Inst tlinl I IkkI tni-
l>lo\ii| Mr. Neil, wjin \v;is iilhndinj at »unrl, (o n|iit>rii(,

Ilic line stale u| llie a

Hair

likewise to ask a eoiilinnaiiee

till vol! Were aci|iiainte(| with the matter. Tlie jinii^e in-
loriiu'd me, tiuou^ih Mr. Neil, that I need ^ive niy.seH' no
uneasiness alinnt (he mailer, l"(»r i( shonhl he rnntiinnil till
ifiHir ritiiin, il thai shi>ulil he ///c iiikI lunili/ i/nns.''

Such are some items, seleeteij alnmsl at r.indnm. enii-
cerniii^ (jonieslic life and |iul>lie duty ;im«>n;^' I'reshyleri-
ans in New I'liujl.ind in Ihose years of tri.il. ^'e| tliev
lorni hut a small |Mrl of ilhi^iralions m|' eiidniance sup-
|»(»rted hy prineiple, whieh mi^hl he pl-esi-nled.

Ketorr passini: the helliuc'ent part nl mir hislorv, as if
all that was done i'nr independenee hy Treshyterians in
New I'lnnlaiid, was dune nnly hy Ilu>^.e under Ihe oriuin.al
l'resi»yt«'ry of Londonderry, or Ihe Synod of New I'ln^i.and
and its sul>ordinate Treshyieries: as (his was no| Iho
case, I nnist recall the jlev. John Murray of r.oothI>ay.
Me a|>pears to have lar;r<'ly imitated the .\poslle I'eler in
liis impulsive rashness, as well as in his ranicsl piety.

"In I77"> he was a dele;jale |o the I'roviiieial (onuirsn
which met in Wahrtow n." Mninc Hislnrinil Suriili/ Cul-
/o'/o;/.s', vol. (1, p. K'tO. Mis I'reshylery met (as we liavn
Seen inn. Inly the |lh,;it New Market; a^ain ( )c|oher Till,
177<'», at l"'alnioiith; at l'ownalhor<t, .1 une 1 Itli, 1777, and
Ml r.oothhay, Ocloher Slh. 1777.

Thus, hiisy ecclesiastically, ap|taiently at the \ery vcriM^
ol civili/.ation, il mitdit l>e supposed, thai, of him. tho
liiivernnieid, army and nav\' ol (ireat Urilain would know
l)iil little, an<l that his inlluences in Ihe rehellion would
I'c so small MS (o appear unworthy of notice, amou).': Ihe
'li'iu'is of the 'J.'>!,7'M .\mericMn soldicvs who were en[.'M^'cd
ill the war of (he llevolution. r.iil il was otherwise. With
il mind of more than ordinaiy power, ami an utierance
<ii) the jiidiMnenl ol' ileniamin l<'r.iiiklin) not much i>il°erior
te that of W'hi' licld, he was known Irom I'.otdhhay to
he^iun. and Irom I'oslon to London as " a pestilent I'ellow
Jiiid a mover of sedition "' ajrainst the throne of Mn^land.

Hence, ;i| Ihe ahovc dale, il was de«'l;ired ill I'reshylery,
tlial Mr. .Murray wan "ixiuiliarly c.xposcd hy the cominuii

jl"

176

HISTORY OF rni:snvTi:ui.\NisM

t'lKTiiios of tlio T-nitcd States," and for sjifcty lie wns tlicn
invited to remove \<> Ne\vliniy|»f>rt. I li;ive statt d lliat lie
w.is tile cause and oeiMsion ui' li'ouldt; in liis re;.>;i()n, and
Ills is proved l.y the seijUej.

IFe wa- not only active mi the land. Init alx* onee ncii-
i iiid on the sea. Sir (ieor^e ('oilier came t(» tlie <'oast of
l I line in 1777, and his sail<»r.s tliou^ihl il l.iwl'td to pill, r
li'om the W'liiL's. p.driots or nliels. In this there umh d.ui-
; er as well as unplea.^antness to those <»n shore, and a re-
monstrance must lie mad"'. To this occ;i-ion Murray was
eipial. Tuttini on a white wi;.', ;:;own and hinds, he wimiL
on hoard and '* till<ed " against such impro|tri(!ties. < Ih.)

inler llic (iisuuise ol Ills nian-miinnerv he was

mil

vlloWll

und escaped safely to shor<', with m.iny points <»!' infonii;i-
tion not pr(!vioir-ly posses.x d. When this came to \h>
known it hrou-^ht drwn threatening', and to seeuro veii-
};;eance, a premium was set upon him.

•' llenee, at l*ownalhor<». on Oitoher 21st, 1777, Colonel

Iteid reported to the rreshytery. that till' town of ]Jo(»lti-

liay had held a piiMic mi'ctiii'j in ( oii-eipieiice ol' tlio

he|(M't men .hein;^' ser\cd with a eiij>y ol' dur last, and s

im,' that the situalion of Mr. .Miiiiay"> duellin^r -the par-
ticular Venj;eaili'e threateiii'cl hy the Coirinion ClieinV
against him, and the lar;^*- reward of ii\<' hundred pounds
Hterlin;; ' U ")'>") on.'ied hy them to .'iny |M'ison that shall
ileliver him up render hi^ lou'^er residence in lloothhay
ut this junctui'e e.xci cdiiijly danu'crou-. and that they are
iherefon! willing that. I'«ir his own salcty, he should iv-
inove for Ji few days to .my secur(! |dace, exceplinu' New-
Ituryport (whither they would consent to his nnntviii;^'
upon in» terms whatever 1, and that they miuht the nmre
iippareiit niako their displeasure at the applic.ilion Ironi
H:i\<\ Newhuiyport, tley h.-id not sent any answer in writ-
iii'i, :iiid li;i<l forhidden tin- clerk to record any minute of
Haiti iiieclinji."

TIk- r res hy tcry, ta kill},' the report into serious consitler.'i-
lion, ami having; reasoned on the suhject, iudL'<'d th;it the
peo|>le of l)Oothhay, alter coiisentini.r to his removal, acl'd
very indiscreetly in not leaving' to this judicature the
<'lioi(!(' of his retreat, as they can he^t jud'j^e where his ser-
vices would have heeii of most Use to the cause of ( 'hrist.

"And allhuugh this I'rcshytery uro uiuuiimuusly uf

.l!i

IN NEW EXGT,AN'D.

opinion, tlint Mr. Alurmy's safety rcfiuircs his epeedy re-

uiKViil tioni that plarc lor the present, his dan^'er heinj: ho
iiinnineiit, yet. as theehnn li at Ncwhuryport re<iuest<'(l him
to l>e stilt Ihfif. oiily loi- si> Idiij/ as his jtnseiit ehiirire, whr!i
iisl<i'<l, shonltl eniisciit tn : and. sinee they have not a^rrccd
uiioii unv tinic at alK thi> i'n >hvterv (-annot now onhT his
sojournin;^' then- !'<ir aiiN- Icim a-rrcaldy t«t their re(|UeHt."

■■ ^'et, that this I'lc^hyteiy may not .appear to countc-
iianee any stfp that wears tlie aspect ol" nnteiuh'rnes.s lor
.Mr. MiM'ray's safety, thi-y think it their ihity to lulvise him
s<as(»nal)Iy to takr any pn (•■•nition of |>in<h'nee to i)r('V«'Ut
liis falhn^: into the iiands of our foes, and therefore to r<'-
iiio\<' hims< h' :ind his family to any place (»f retreat ho
sliali thiidv proper, w'thout any exception, whenever ho
apprehends liimself and them in su<h danj^'er as retjuires
it, and there to eontiniK- until he sh.all jud<_fe it K!»fe to
return, or until this l'rcsl>yteiy sli.all take further order
coMctrninj.' him. .And he is hcrehy i^-ieased j'rom ail
ohliuations to tin- ehunh at r.i»othhay, that are anyway
ctintrary to the purport of this result."

'•At Topsham, on .)une 7th, 177H, it was resolved, that
Mr. .Murray have hi.s license continued to go where he
jileases for s.afety."

" .New M.irkei. .luly 1st. 1770. A letter from the session
• )f lloothhay ehureli was hroU'.dit in and read, purporting
their utter dissent fmm the removal retjucsted, hut, with-
out inforndn;; the Preshyt<ry of a descent of a British
;irnianient made in their neiMfhhorhood. which has so
al.iinied .and end;inueiTd tiia! town, that tliev could n«)t
attend to this meetiiitr."

'■•Inly '2i\. .Mr. Murray re]»resent<'d the necessity of his
JiHclin'i tiie conmnttee of s.ifety of New Hampshire at
l'!\eter this .Mlternoon, to trans.act with them some husi-
iHs< rel.'itim: to the (h fenee of the I'lastward at this crisis,
and lie'_r:;ed leave to wilhdiaw. <irante<l."

'"With the splendid hounty of .L'oiHI sterling ou his
li'iid, valued at the s;ime jiricc with .l(»hn Hancock and

* Si( ltcmI \v;is iIic iiillihiici- <«(' "(lie I'cv |)iivi'l (".ililwcjl, I). D., n>-
fidiii;^' litit a lew milts iroiii liiiiUnnl ( uiiri-linMx*', .Nnrlii ('aroliii.i, tliat
Hut only wan lii-^ lioiist' |iliiiMl<'rt'il, lii-t Hhnirv mid |^:i|)cr.s liiiriicil, iiiit
a No a purse (if CL'tiO \v:ih ml iiy l.cinl ( (irnw.illiH on IiIh head, lu uny
oiii' wliM would Ijjiiig liiiii in a iiri>uiKT." {(Jlidmbfis.)
12

178

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

t-y^

Samuel Adams, this outlaw, while under Divine Provi-
dence he kept himself safe from shot and shell, wandere*!
for above two years, liel)iinu; coiiniiittees of safety ami
stirring up llie people to continue unreniitpu^ resistanee
to their foes, and on "October 7th, 1779, lie informed his
Presbytery, then in session at Newlauyjiort, that th(! dan-
gerod situation of the p(>o|)le at iJooihbay is such as to
render it impraetical)le for tiiem to attend at this iiieetiiiLr."'
Such was the sj)irit wliich he had instrunientally dillused
amon}? tlwj inhabitants of the coast of Maine. In his
Presbytery there were no Joim Morrisons nor John IIous-
tons. None amon<^ his ac(juuintance who would betray
him for £5(X) sterling.

When we consider the power and innuence of TTancock,
the richest merchant in New England, and of Samuel
Adams, the far-seeing and relialile statesman, " po.ssibly
the most powerful and sincere of all the advocates of in-
dcjjcndencc, to whom Lee, Jefferson and John Adams
ever turnetl with singular resjtcct " ( /v/</. Ltiirrcnre), nud
lind this Scotch-lrisli j)reacher, in tlic woods of Maine,
such a potent enemy to the king, lords and parliament of
Great Britain, that his person is tiuancially worth as much
as either of theirs, in sulxluing the r','bellion, we lind tlie
position of llancroft vciificil, he "brought to America no
submissive love for England, and his religion bade him
meet oppression with prompt resistance."

The "resistance" of the race in America was ))rom])teil
more l>y their religion than by their experience, or even
the experience of their fathers. Their "form of sound
words,' which was the key-noti- from Maine to (leorLiiii
among Congregationalisls, Calvinist Baptists and Presby-
terians (and the Uevolution bad in its aid a very small
fragmentary shewing among the other sects, excepting it
may have bc'cn the Low (lnu'eii Episcopalians who weii'
Calvinists), was the New lOngl.ind Primer. Beside this,
their creed; the Scotch-Irish throughout the revolted
colonies, had their religion animated and made strong, by

"Those strains that oiitv cliil HWCft in Zion j;ii(le " — {Jiurux)

the Scotch version of the Psalms. They considered those
good to "sing," and if they were not good "to whistle nr
to play," they found them as Cromwell did in his day,

l.\

IN NEW ENGLAND.

179

"pood for fifrhtinp;." Honce, those who sung thrm wore,
nt times, "trciitt'd with sprcijil cruflty ;in(l rcvcjiixc."
Says Kc'IhImI. ill his unliiiisli(Ml history ol' (ii'iicr.il .hicU-
suii, "Tlic liritisli olliccr who iiiarclicd liis troops into tlio
sctth'inciit of W'axhaw, South Carohna, Innnod the I'n-s-
liytt-rian <'hur( li and tlir li«»us«.' ot' the preacher, and everv
Ilihie he could lay his lian<ls on ctintaininj; tlu; Scotcii
translation of the I'sahns of David." {ChriMiaa //i.-<'., vol. 4,
1>. 217.)

The I^ihhs with thes(> Psalms, was tlieir cliosen coni-
jiaiiion when they had leisure or rest from their daily du-
ties in the army. Hence when Captain David McC'leary

fell at lienninnton (on Au};ust Kith, 1777) in his p()ck(!t
was found an Kdinhurj^h edition of the Hihle, with which
was hound up " the S(;otch translation of the Psalms."

This volume and tiie hullet i)y which he was killed were
kept as heirlooms in tlu; family for ahove seventy years.

When 1 saw them the days (»f the war, of the psalms,
anil of the catechism ( 1 would not like to say also the day.s
of the liihle) were ])ast — the ^'I'ncrations were ;:one who
viewed them from time to time with a melancholv vet iki-
triotie interest ; and they wer(> tlien /// tninsitn in tho
hands of the minister of Londontlerry, to he conveyed to
and deposite(l amonj; the relies and curiosities collected ill
the State museum in Concord.

Sih'iit In/rs inter unnn, and from fields of rarna;ro, scenes
of donu>stic alarm, hereavenu-nt and sorrow, we now re-
turn to the ecclesiastical arena, and recommence hy no-

tiiiiii,' hrielly the suhsopU'Ut career of .Mr. .Murray

v his I reslivterv, owm

'A to 1

us Muminen

td;

muer inero

til

lie was on ()et(>her 21st, 1777, relieved of ]\iii jiastoral
clKir<j:e, his sorrowing people at Boothhay, and after nearly

iree iiusy years ol aiumj; Mate an<l oilier connnillees ot
s;ifety, and in other ways (accordinn to his ahility and op-
jKirtunity) assistin;^ those en<ia;;e<l in the revolutionary
strutr^de, he was hy his Preshytery, on June 14th, 17.S(),
tninsliiiiil to Xewhiiryport, wdieH' he was finally "settU'd as
pMstor on .lune 4th, 17.S1, a few strenuously opposinj; his
settlenient."

We have already iu)ticed his power as a preacher.
*' Few ever drew larj.^er audiences, or held them in more
fi.\c'd attention through discourses, which were ordinarily

180

niSTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

nn hour and often two liours in loii^th. " Tt is rolated tlmt
• lurin;^' tlic war in a crisis in public uiTiiirs, N(!wlturyj)()it
M;is callccl \i|)(»n to funiisli a lull ronipany for actual ser-
vice. I)Ut owin^' to (liscdurairciiicnt iirisin^' IVoni a depre-
ciated currency ;ind the state of the army, theoflicers laixireil
three days in vain. On the I'ourth it was moved that Mr.
^Murray he invited to address the re;iinient then under arni>.
Having' acce|)ted the invitatitm. he was escorteil to the
])arade, and hy the re;:inient to the church. There he pr<i-
iiouncc'd an address so spirited an<l aniniatinj:, that tlu;
audiiMice were wrapt in attentioji. and tears I'ell iVnni
many eyes. Soon after the assend)ly was dismissed a
memlx-r came forward to tak(! the command, and in two
hours the company was fdled. W'iien he preached his
ihanks^'ivin^ sermon of two lK)urs' len^'th lor the peace,
a ^'cnth'man from another society, heini.' meanwliile
mider <s,rc:il concern of mind lor a spoiling dinner, fre-
ipiently and resolutely took his hat to leave. Hut Mr.
Min-ray's ehwpience as often arrested him, till at last ho
whi-j)ere(l, " j,et the dinner <^o\ I inust hear him out."

1 le is said to have heen sliiilitly pompous, hut diimilied iu
l)resence, courteous, sincerely kind, and i)y his people en-
thusiastically hejoved. In various lahors he w;is ahundant,
and under the divine favor was extensively successful in
the ministry. Durini.' his sojourn in IMiiladelphia of a
few months oidy, the iicv. Dr. (ireen mentions that more
Were a<ld(!d to tin' church than there were duriuLj the
whole ministrv of the Rev. (iilhert 'reimant. When he
went to Bt)othhay, there was no organized church, and a
j^eneral inattention to religion. I'ndtjr his ministry a
])owerful awakenimr commenced, which continued thnjU'jli
two years and e.\tende(l to adjoinin;^ towns, his own
loduin^'s hein<^ often crowded with empiirers, even till

thi

•ee ( > I

•lock

le iiKtrnin^'. His jirivate (hary of thi-

]»eriod indicates deep |)ie(y and unusual ministeriid faith-
fulness. As it may he useful to others, 1 j^ivc; j)ortions of
it from (ti'cenltutfs EfdcK'm.sdntl Shtchc.s :

"Mr. Murray\s plan of visitiiiLr as noted in his diary is
orthv of attention. /•V/•.^•^ salute* the house. Sccdiid,

rom]»are the list with the family ; mark them who c;ni
read, catechisahlcs. »!ovenanters, church mond)ers. Third,
mldrcss, 1st, children to en<,'age in curly religion; 'Jd,

IN NEW ENGLAND.

181

yoiinp: onos to rondin^, st'crct prayer, the Sal)l)ath, pood
cninpaiiy, pxxl hours, ^ood toiijiiics, conversations. Fourth,
a<l(lr('ss parents — 1st, about tlieir spiritual state; 2(1, secret
devotion; .'id, laniily worshijt, ;iovernnient, catechising;
4th, Sahhalh, etc. If church ineinhers, see \vhat prolit ;
it" in error or vice, reclaim; il' in divisions, heal; it" j»oor,
help, /.ffs////, exhortation to all, |)ray."

"To his prayerf'uhiess, meekness, ^lood-will and p;.tient
endurance of injuries in iiis lat<'r years, as well as his
faithfulness in his calling, hio;^raphers hear ample testi-
mony ( Vcrm.)^

"As his prondnent wronir-doiiiir was in early life. Mr.
I'arsons took .speciid pains to write to Kngland ahout Inm,
and the result was a decide«l conviction, that the faults
conmntted connected with his own humhle acknowledi^-
nient should not deliar him from Christian charity." {V>.)
lie was active in promoting relii,Mon heyond his own con-
gregation. He was the guiding spirit and chief supporter
of a society which aided many young men to enter tho
ministry.

He had unquestionably h'S faults. His great fault,
forging signatures to his credentials, and jiersisting in this
tiu'ough lifi', rather than disgrace his friends in Scotland,
was an heinous sin. This he committed at eighteen.
From twenty-three his life was jtuldicand unimpi'ached —
a Ufe of great devotedness, and in wdiat extenuating pen-
itence passed, a letter will show. In 1771 he writes:
"Th«' daily views I have had of the multiplied enornntic^
it occasioned me. all of which, with the unhap|»y conse-
i|Uenees to the churcii of Christ, have been continually be-
fore my eyes — have made me wish my name blotted (»ut
of remembrance by all mankind, and 'Vt-n regret the day
of my i)irth times without number. The Searcher of
.'ill hearts knows my agonies of nnnd on every review, and
that no restoration to th«' fav(»r of men can ever give mo
'•iise ; and that but for the application of (iilead's heavenly
halm, 1 h;id perished oi" my wounds years ago not a few.
1 fmd my condbrt in my oljseurity — tlxre I iiope to tind
lay (Jod; and tiiere 1 see less danger of being a slundilin;:-
hloek in Zion, the very itiea of which t(» me is worsi; thau
death. 1 have not a. wish to be drawn from my retire-
muiit (Bootlibayj; there will 1 remain in secret places,

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182

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

looking to liim wlioiu T piorrod, and tvioiirninu' as for an
only son, and strivinu' to wc.ir ont the rcinjiindcr of my
cumbrous life in the lM'f^tt'ndcaVi»r.s 1 can in iiis service," etc.

" No lartlirr •'t'il< lii^ mi'rit>< to (liticlnsc,

Nor i\\i\vf lii.x iVuiltiis from tlii'ir dn-itd nlxMle;
Tin n" tlu-y aliki- in trcniMin); liopu rtposc,
TIm- bosom of his KatliiT and liin (Jod."'

He died Marcli loth, 17*.):i. He left a widow. Susiui. the
eldest daniihter of (Jeneral Lith;.M)W, of IMiipiishuiLih. an<l
live chilchcn, yjl minors, and as lie had dcviscil of his
puhstancr for a Imrsc to aid pious youn^ men in entering
tin' ministry, she, six months afterward, petitioned his
Preshytcry, to whom it was entrusted, to i('liin|uish their
claims to the sulistanee thus (k'visech This, from the
facts set forth in her )>etition, tln-y (h>uhtless did — oth(>r-
wise they might have been constructively charged with
devouring a " willow's house."

IN NEW ENGLAND.

183

. CHAPTER VII.

17(53-1793 — A year of mark— Slavory aholisliod in tin* colony — Stone
walls — Kilfy carried tli*' root-.ttovc to «'liiir(li tor" Missa" — "Attiicks"
— Tin- Synod and l*rt'sl)vti'rifs — llouHton ^nilty of a hroacli of promise
— Siis|H'iHK'd — Kt'stortMl -A (Mhi- of liij^auiy — iK-ad, yi't alive — IVler-
lioro tonj;ri'natioii ri'tjiu-sli'd a (lismission— ( iraiited — Tlie Aasoi'iate
Clnirch — HraHH instead of jjoldon sliiclds — Tlio camp — Ki'duci'd to
Htraits as for snl).-iiMlt'nce — Artisans - Miinsters who arc not parish ofli-
ciids — Voluntary snjiport - The extravagant jirice of food, etc., a
ri'comnieniiation — (,'oinnnitalive Justice — Divine i»rovidt'nc»'s traced in
llieirtroiihUs — Causes — Iloary — Assassination — Nioney can he mad*' —
.lolin Lowe — John Adainsand the Sahhath — The Centennial c(»n>miH-
sioii — Claverhonse — \';cst iilessinj^s — An address — A letter totJrafton
I'ri'shytery — Of it hut little is known — Mend»ers of it^Oalvanized —
i;tli)rl to unite with it — UnavaiiiiiK — Records of Synod defective —
Huiiston restore<l — Families conlincd to their own parishes in I)erry
e.ist and west hv the civil coiu't — I'elhani not hv a town tax — Advice

ams itro

asked — Cases of apiieal — luv. Messrs. Annan ex oflicio — Willi
tests — Revision — Williams' reasons —Synod concentrating' power-To
avoid John Murray — Williams declared jjuilty and suspended hy
Synod — These hiessed eflects — ,\s.sociate I'reshylery of New York—
I'nshytery on Coimecticut river —An act of I're.-<hytery over-rule<l —
Past noon-day aixl ehhin;,' —Causes -A hurse wanted- W;ir times —
I'dVi-rty — (iastric juice -Violent tempers- The want of the stated or-
dinaiuH's— Conj;re<,'ations canu- ti> I'reshyterianism -Contused way —
So mi Id — The church oft he town, if not of the l.oid -The war produce<l
liclclerious elK-cts— I'aucity of ideas—The power — 'i'ook its rise in
New Kufjfland- -The sword — To <'onform to the local system — The
ni;irria^e relations — Mrs. Coloru'l ReitI Mental inst.diilily — ho^ic —
liilrii(U'rs Nor set n a drunkt;n man — The ;iir of iiithusiasm - Theo-
lip;;ical thou>;hl imported -Of one man- Souls annihilated The soul
iif Jesus Christ the lirsl thinu made -Ry it t iod made all things el.se
— Fointeeii particulars -The outpiinn;s of the .soul of the doctor — ■
I>avid turne<l into a Chri.>tian- -Columan — The whale with Jonah —
"A felt WMiU "- Tile iiijoyment of it — .\ hiimhle remonstrance —
"Iclialiod" — No union was etliited — Last meeting; of Synod Sep-
teiiiher I'JtIt, 17St* — Thev suhmitted Rrcshvteiv of Salem— Decav —

rii

ices where il for a time existed

lis new thinjj-

le worshiu —

Tlu' loaves and lislies were small Tlu* collapse

1770 was a year of mark in Masi-;i<;husctts. Ky an
aiiKudmcnt of her coiiatitutioii, slaves were made free in

184

HISTORY OF rRFSnYTKIUANISM

tho colony. Altlmimli liavin;,' ji (•(itiinn'rciiil vjiluo,* (hoy
liiid iin';isiir:il>ly Ihi-m ;i liuitlcn to iiiiiny owners. iVom tlic
<l:iy on wliidi .\o<Mlf (;ilfti' wlioni Nmlillr's IsliintI, now
Kiist Itoston, \v;is r.-illcih liml inlrodiifcd tlic lii>l one. ;ni<l
on ol»tiiinin<^ iVrcdoMi, tiny Idl I'rw, it;iny, monuments in
Jirool" ol' the ser\ile system, exce|it Iult those nin^'es ol' stone
•walls, es|te<'i!dly old line lenees, wliich may yet i»e oeea-
hionally I'oimd, all htit hmied, hy thr I'oree of ^Mavitation
constantly applied loi- ahove a century. In those; winter
days, when steam-pipes and I'urnaees were uid<n(»wn for
the distrihution ol' heat in ehurehes, •' Killy, or " I'ele," or
l>y whatever »)tlu'r name known, loimd it to he his duty
to earrv the (not stove and hot liriek lor "Mann," or
" MisHH," and deposit it in position in her pew, an<l to take
it home when it had perlormed its olliee.

How tar " iH'cessity " wa.s in this cumi "tho niotlHT ot"
invention" iti hrin^dn^i in the general application ot" larj.'o
Ftoves lor heatinji cliureli( .•«, I know not, hut assuredly it
is well that .sliivery has ^oiie. In owniim persons of color,
ministers, uh well as others, participated. They often, if
not generally, had eai^h one or more slaves.! I'rcshytf!-
rians as well as otlurs took "stock" in the institution.
.John liittle, the patron of I'reshyterianism in liost(»n, dis-

1>osed of one of his hy will, while a man lielon^ino; to the
{ev. John Moorehciul olitaiiied his Ircedonj, went to
]{ritain and dii d there. The letters from him in l']n;.dand
wer«' matters of pleasure to the Mooreheail family lor many
y(!arH. Mis education, common and reli^dous, had not
neen nejilccted in the parsonajie. l{i,sin'4 iVom indiviilual
hondaj^'c to personal iVeedom, from hein^ thini/s to Ik;
men, they aided in ( reatiu).' a de.viie for civil liherty in
the colony, 'i'licir release from honda<;e did not hinder
the dillusion of this species tif sentimentality amon;z the
" spimiers " and their adnurers. The " sons " and " <lau^di-
ters ot' liherty " heeame in a few years a force of inereas-
inu;ly inlluential pr(>|)ortions in the colony, whih; "Attucks"'
was anion;j; the first live whose hlood ( fidm under his hiack
Hkini |)rccipitated the mortal enmhat of the licvolution.

* III 17t»<( A. .loliuiiiitll's lie;,'!!) mull \\;ei v.iliii-il ril U.V! *>s. S(/., iiiiil ;i
iH'Hro woman :it tlti.

fill IT'tlllit* lv<'V. .loiialliaii Iviwanis and wil'u wutilt-d lo Imy llio
liev. Mr. Ufllauiy'.s m-gro wuiuaii. ( \V., [k tiiiU.)

IN NFAV MNOLAND.

185

e li:ive previously liotieefl a lew of the ilieitJentH CfUl

iieeteil with the period, wliieh illustrate eharaeter hoth ill
the peo|ile and tin- ministry diirin^i the seven years' war;
iHid wr now return to matters e«(|<'si;istieal - to the Synod
and lo the Treslis icries.

'{'he annual inettin;: of the Symul ot" New Knj.dand in
1777 was held in I/aidonderry on Septiinher .'Jd. Anion;;
other matters they examined the re;rular ollieial staiidini;
ot.lohn Houston as a elemyman. lie professed to Synod
that he had, us directed, satislie*! the le^al aulh<»rities of
his town as to his hiyalty to the Declaration of Indepcn-
(Icnco, and that he had made due report, as he was directed,
t<» his I'resltytery.

r.ut their minute reads, " I'ev. Mr. Houston hein^r in-
terrouMted respectiiM.' the minute in his ease in our last
III) ct in;:, and it appe:irini; that he h.as heen <_Miilty ol a
liiiiich of promi-e and ;il so of con tempt to the Synod, they
do therefore deem him iiiiwoi-|jiy of a seat in this l»ody,
till lit! shall make >atislaclion to the Synod lor the same,
and do now ai^ain reeonimeiid it to him, to proceed in iIm;
nianiier hel'ttre directed, to hriiii: the satistaclion desired
at our next sitting', either to his rreshytery or immediately
to tiir- Synod." This he was reluctant to <lo until they
siis|»ended him. when he made ••oiilessiou. proniise(l ohrdi-
ciicc and was re»;t(M'ed to lull ollieial stamlinL'.

To this coid'ession of wioiiu'-doin;; towards the j^ovcrn-
iiicnt, he was rather hastenitl hy his people, for throutdi
tlicir committee they madi- " application to the Synod lor
advice respecting' the all'air of the Uev. Mr. Houston and
tliiit con.L're^ration,'' and the case was remitted to "the
I'resliytery to hear and jud'je in the ;illair/'

lie cniiiiniied for several years to he till' pastor of I'lcd-
lord con;,'re^Mtion, and was dismissed in ^'ood stuuding hy
the ['rewhytcry of Salem, on Junu 1st, HJ^o.

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186

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

A matter of reference from the session, of Nottinfjjlium,
brought before Synod, touching the purity of a meniljer,
was- settled in this way : " The Synod conclude that the
session committed an error in judgment, and do restore
Elder Emerson to his former good standing."

By a case of bigamy brought before them, the Synod
appear to have been puzzled, and gave rather an accom-
modating deliverance, somewhat different from the record
of Ezra and Nehemiah. It runs thus :

" Tins Synod are of oi)inion, considering his first wife
dead in law to him, though yet alive, she having married
another man, he may now lawfully live with the woman
to whom he is now married, and upon a proper public
manifestation of repentance he may have the privileges of
the church."' "^

" Moreover, considering the heinousness of this crime,
we judge it proper his confession be repeatedly published,
he being present in the congregation where he resides, and
that he be not restored till after the next session of this
Synod." To them, at their annual meetings, references
and appeals were frequently made, and at times requests
for separation were i)resented.

Thus at Londonderry, on October 1st, 1778, the church
and congregation of Peterboro presented a petition, re-
questing a " dismission and a recommendation to the
(Associate, styled by them the) reverend Seceding Presby-
tery of New York." This lenomination, " Seceders," we
have previously seen was brought into existence by the
Congregational element in a church in New York city, in
which the rulers of it were overruled by a faction intent
on changing the psalmody of the congregation. In 1774
the Rev. Moses Baldwin agitated the matter successfully
for the use of ''the psalms imitated to the ignoring and the
rejecting of the Presbyterian version, and feeling the ef-
fects and seeing the consequences (as they had now become
general through the Synod of New England), this congre-
gation thought proper to "ask for the old paths," and to
"walk in the good way," as sul)servient to the "rest of
their souls." This the Ai^.wdate CUiurch of Scotland had
done. For being Calvinists, they could say with Calvin,
nobody has yet appeared who could prove that we have
appointed any new thing contrary to His word. They

IN NEW ENGLAND.

187

considcrccl that the law of the Lord, of whicli the Psalms for
tluir appointed use forn; a ])art, is perfect.

Consequently the Scoteii-Irisli of Peterboro, not yet
ready, through poetical sokitions, the imitations, to dilute
and dissolve their doctrine, but especially their worsliip,
ilcsired an union with those who (under some disadvan-
tages) were " contending more closely for tlie faith once
delivered to the saints."

In doing this, they acted orderly, respectfully, and yet
firmly, and to this court their application was perplexing.
''They were hopeful that this their Synod would exten-
sively, if not eventually, embrace under its broad name all
Presbyterians in New England." Still they dismissed them
in peace, saying, "Taking the case into solenm considera-
tion, and observing the fair prospect of having the gospel
rcgidarly settled among them, do hereby dismiss and
recommend them in good standing with this body to that
Presbytery." This was honorable.*

The years of the revolutionary struggle have been well
called " the times that tried men's souls." A large part
of the productive industry of the provinces was drawn off
to the camp. The tillage had to be extensively conducted
by the mothers, the youth and the children. \\'here any
surplus could be produced, they Avere far from good
markets, and, as a consequence, those who did not own
soil, and had but skill and industry on which to depend
for their subsistence and the support of their households,
were measurably reduced to straits. They did not often
partake of " dainties." While this was trying to me-
chanics, it fell with ef{Ual power on not a few of the min-
isters, especially the Presbyterian ones, who were in many
towns not the first nor parish ollicials. For them no salary
could be collected by the town constable. They nmst de-
pend on the voluntary support of their congregations and
in all the afflictions of their people be afiPlicted.

lienee on October 1st, 1778, after dismissing the congre-
gation of Peterboro and instructing their clerk to obtain
from the executors of the late Rev. David McGregor some
papers belonging to the Synod, on their records tliey enter
the following minute:

* Being thus dismissed on Oct. 1, 1778. in the same month, Mr, David
Annan was called and he was ordained in Wallkill, New York, by the
Associate Presbytery, " with Peterboro for his destination."

188

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

1 ' « >»'■■

l?i

" The Rev. John Strickland, intimating that he cannot
subsist his family through the extravagant price of the
necessaries of life — the smallness of his salary, and the
neglect of the people to pay up his arrears — the Synod be-
ing sensible that this is the case, do recouimend it to the
society of Nottingham to pay up his arrears and make
such addition to his salary as shall compensate for the
rise of the price of the necessaries of life for the year past,
as well as for th" time to conic; and in case they shall not
do this, we think it Mr. Strickland's duty to })reach occa-
sionally to vacancies as he may have opportunity, as a
means of adding to his support, he still continuing his re-
lation and preaching to them except as above." This was
during the war.

" The Synod, taking into consideration the distressing
case of the ministers of the gospel in general, and those of
this Synod in particular, on account of the smallness of
their salaries, compared with the exorbitant prices of the
necessaries of life, whereby many of them are reduced to
the greatest straits and indigence, therefore the Synod do
recommend it to the several congregations under its care
to exert themselves to make a proper compensation to
their ministers and supplies, according to the rise of the
necessaries of life, which is no more than simple commu-
tative justice ; and they think it the duty of the re-
spective Presbyteries to pay a due attention to the necessi-
ties of their ministers, and make the best provision in
their power for relieving their distresses, by appointinj^
them to supply vacancies and other ways as the Presbytery
shall think best."

Tl)is was not all. As watchmen, they traced the mani-
festations of Divine Providence in their troubles, domestic,
social and civil, and on the same day record : " The Synod,
inquiring into the cause of God's controversy with this
land, are of opinion that among many causes the follow-
ing are the principal : 1. TJie great and general declension
of religion, occasioned by too general a neglect of the duties
of public and family worship. 2. By the neglect of church
government, which has opened a door for the s))read of error
and increase of erroneous teachers in the churches. 3. For
the neglect of family government and religion, and for the
neglect of civil government. Heuoe arises the dreadful

IN NEW ENGLAND.

189

increase of vice and immorality, injustice, oppression, de-
frauding and injuring, a neglect of the ministry and of their
support."'

Ln these post-centennial years compared with 1778,

" Time but tlie impression deeper makes,
As streams their elianiiels deeper wear,"

These specified neglects and declension have become
hoary in productiveness, and in a century their conse-
quences and effects are increasingly felt. Among tliese
effects is a searedness of conscience, until multitudes in
our land would rather say with the pagans of old ; " It is
a chance which has happened to us " than '' it is the Lord :
let him do what seemeth to him good ;" while truth is
extensively fallen in our streets, while equity cannot enter,
while blood touches blood and the safety of liuman life
from assassination is daily diminishing, rather than admit
that God has (or is capable of having) any "controversy
with tliis land."

In the meantime, in this region, the ministers of religion
are extensively like the ox in Egypt, a " victim " or a "god."

The " beautiful man," the " smart man," the " powerful
man " wlio, with " gush draws large houses," is pampered
with his thousands, while the faithful ambassadors of
Christ, as a rule, under any name, have (" as good sol-
diers ") to "endure ha; aness." Yes, money can be now
made in New England in the pulpit as well as by the lan-
cet, or by delving into Blackstone. Hence we have " like
people like ))riest," as well as " like priest like peo|)le."

Another " cause of God's controversy with our land,"
now when vice, immorality, injustice and fraud are
prevalent, manifested by an overwhelming commercial
depression, which none will deny, from 1873 did exist for
years onward, is our desecration of the Christian Sabbath.
It had not then lost so extensively its hold upon con-
science. For example, when John Lowe came to Boston
from Scotland, in June, 1773 (as his son informed me), he
found his hoarding-house at noon on Sal.)bath too noisy to
allow liim to read Ins Bible in quietness, and he went out
to the common and commenced to do so vmder a tree. He
was forthwith visited by a select man, who said, " Young
man, I cannot allow you to stay here to-day." " Why,

190

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

sir? I am doinp; no harm, only readinp^ my Bible. I
found my boardintr-house (wlion T catno l)ack from nu'ct-
ing) ratlicr noisy, and 1 thoULilit I would ho (^uiet and do
no harm here." "That may all be, and 1 can give you a
room in my house to read in, hut [ eannot let you stay
here." He oceupied the room until the hour ot worship
came, wlu'ii lie revisited the Presbyterian meetingdiouse
in Long I jane.

Not many years from the same date, Governor John
Adams liad oiHcial Inisiness in mid-winter, beyxmd the
site of tiie present cit}' of Lowell, when a severe storm
brouglit an unusual depth of snow, and delayed his return
to Quincy until "the roads" were " broken." It was as-
certained that the path could be travelK-d on 8abl:»ath, and
his informants urged liim, as he hud left Mrs. Adams
severely, if not dangerously ill, some days since, that he
had better return on that the Lord's day. But no; Puri-
tanism had as yet too firm a grasp of his mind, and ho
answered, " I could do so with a clear conscience, hut
many might imitate my example who would not know
my motives." Hence he "rested (tlun-e) on the Sabbath-
day according to the commandment."

Tru(.', we have still the evidence that the Christian Sab-
bath has 3'et an extensive grasp upon the American mind,
when the (Vntennial connnissioners did, 80 to 9, at Phila-
delphia, in 187(), iirndy oppose the opening of the ex|)()si-
tion on tliat da}', for, perhaps, no greater combination of
the odds and ends of creation could be brouglit to bear
U])on any board of managers than that to which they were
BubjectcMl b}' the combined influences of Papal bishoi)S,
Unitarian ])reachers, Jews, native, French and German
Infidels, Atheists and drunkard manufacturers. These
all gav<> warning of a persistent determination that, for the
sake of sensual })leasure, under the plea of lil)erty of con-
science they would (with Graham of Claverhouse, when
lie had murdered John Brown of Priesthill), " take (iod
in their own hands," and defy any "controversy" which
he could possibl}' have with our land.

The assailants of our civil and religious privileges are in
growing fellowshi]> and combination, and " etornal vigi-
lance " must ever be (under God) the price to us of these
.vast blessings.

Ihese

IN NEW ENGLAND.

lai

The above assij^ned reasons of " controvers}'' " their mod-
erator was "ai)i)ointed to transcribe, corrof't and print in
the form of an adch'ess for distribution amonu; the l'ri'sl)V-
terifs, at the char;j:e of the Synod,"

The Rev. Dr. Whittaker was then appointed "to write a
letter to the Presbytery of Grafton, si;^nifyin,i; tlieir desire,
that the said Presbytery would join this Synoch"'

The date of formation, members, boundaries, vital force,
usefulness, as well as the length of its days cannot now be
fully asc(!rtained, as the iiiding-place of its minutes, if tiiey
exist, is known only to a few. It seems to have existed m
central New Hampshire and eastern Vermont from al)out
1776 to 1796, as it is called not only Grafiou Presbytery
but also, in existing minutes, " The Presbytery of Connect-
icut River." Of it the Rev. John M. Whiton, of IJenning-
ton, N. PL, wrote, in February, 1856:

" It is well known that both the founder and the origi-
nal church of Dartmoutli College were Presl)yterian, and
that the Presbytery of Grafton in that vicinity was large
and flourishing for some fourteen years; that Presbyterian
churches, or ministers, were once found in Hanover, lOast
Hanover, Croyden, Lyme, Orford, Piermont, X. H. ; and
in Norwich, Hartford, Fairlee, Royalton, Tunbridge, Ran-
dolph, Thetford, Barnard, Newbury, Topsham, and ])er-
haps other towns in Vermont; tliat the two Presidents
Wheelocks, Professors Smith and Ripley, the Judges
Ik'zalcel and William H. Woodward, and Rev. Messrs.
Burroughs of Hanover, Conant of Lyme, Potter of Nor-
wich, Hutchinson of Pomfret, Bowman of Barn:u*d, Powers
of Newbury and Burton of Thetford (who was at one time
its clerk), were prominent members of that Presbytery."

It appears to have been a close body or corj)oration,
springing by Congregational vitality, as to its worship,
doctrines and usages, into a galvanized existence, formed
from ))artial convictions of the Divine authority of Prcsby-
terianism, as the "more excellent way " of taking "care
of the house of God," or, as more " agreeable to the word
of God, and the nature and reason of things." Hence,
says Whiton, "These churches have since become Con-
gregational."

I have called them a close corporation, for they resisted
efforts, whieii were made to bring them into Prcvsbyterial
fellowship and Synodical harmony.

V:i

192

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

Letter after letter was Avritten to them, but these elleitccl
no perinanent respons*- which has come down to us, and,
"at a meetiiitr of the Presl)yter3' of the Eastward at Deny,
Sei)t('inber l.'Jth, 178"),'' we have it tliiis:

"Tiie Prcsln'tery, sensildc thai a ureat part of tlio
strenjith and beauty of Zion consists in love and union
amonsji; the churches and ministers of our common Lord,
lias long lamented the divisions and animosities wliich
have defaced tiie comeliness of the l'rcsl)yterian church in
this country, and impaired their jjowcrs of resisting tlie
enemies of the truth around." "Comforted with the in-
formation that the Lord has irioved the hearts of a num-
ber of our brethren in the ministry, in the interior parts
of this State, to unite together in seelcing tlie good of liis
Israel by reviving the ancient and Scri])tural form of gov-
ernment in his church ; that they have formed themselves
into a regular ecclesiastical judicatory, ])y the name of the
Presbytery of Grafton, and continue to walk together in
the order and ordinances of the gospel."

"Tins Presbytery rejoice to take tlie earliest opportunity
of o})ening a friendly correspondence with them, and offer-
ing to them the right hand of fellowshii), and for tliat end
they did and hereby do conmiission and appoint tlie Kov.
John Murray, a worthy and beloved mem]>er of tliis body,
to be their commissioner and re]n'esentative at the said
Presbytery of Grafton ; willing and re([uiring him to rejjair
thereto, to present to that Rev. Judicatory the letter now
delivered to his care from us ; also to lay before them a
copy of the eonstitution of this Presbytery and of our pub-
lic testimony against errors ; to request their concurrence
therein, or in some other })ublic testimony for the truth as
it is in Jesus ; to solicit their counsel and advice in what
further steps are necessary to be taken for the su})pressi()U
of error and vice, for the reformation of what remains
amiss, and for the revival of vital religion among us, and
especially to concert with them some measures for iirovid-
ing a supply of regular and qualified preachers for our
numerous vacancies, and for ])reventing the intrusion of
such as are not so, and in general to consult and transact
with that body in our name whatever may conduce to the
peace and order of the churches, and to the estaldishmcnt
of visible union and harmony among Presbyterians, agrcea-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

193

ligrcea-

ble to the word of God and tlie constitution of this Pres-
bytery, and rei)ort liis duinL's to us at our next nieetinpf.
"Signed by order, " Wm. I^vvidsox, Moderator."

Sonic years expired belbrc tliis or these attempts at
iniidu torniinated.

Wt" now trace some of the transactions of said Synod
AvliiK' it existed.

Tiicy often liad cases of reference from tlie lowe»* courts,
and at some oi' their annual meetinirs their sessions were
protracted for days. They have not, however, transmitted
to us clear records of their transactions, for at tlie same
meeting in October, 177S, wlien Mr. Houston was found
deluKiuent. it is said, ''And as Bedford was annexed to the
Kingston (possibly tlie Salem, if not, it was the Palmer)
Preshytery, till they should be alile to stand by themselves,
which they now are, therefore this Synod now dissolve that
relation and annex said Bedford congregation and Mr.
Houston to the Presbytery of Londond(^rry, and appoint
that Presbyt(n'y to take cognizance of any alfairs that may
roHipect Mr. Houston, and if they need, to call in one or
two neighboring Presbyteries to their assistance."

Windham, Septeml)er loth, 1779, met and after "ser-
iiiou constituted with prayer." Present — Whittaker, Bald-
win, Houston, Strickland and Williams. Absent — Perley,
McLean, Urquhart, (lilmorc, Hutchcson, Taggart, Merrill
and Balch. Perley, Palch nnd Taggart's excuses sustained.
'"Strickland and Williams reported that Houston brouglit
from the State of New^ Hampshire a testimonial satisfac-
tory, and Synod now restored him to full standing." The
Synod, while they acquitted Elder (libson of Nottinghan),
west, of removing his neighbor's landmark, with which lie
had been charged by Asa Davies, Esq., admonish him for
threatening to do so, and restored him to his privileg(.'s.

At Nottingham, September 13th, 1780, six present, live
ministers absent, six elders present. As the Presbytery
of Grafton did not receive the letter of Synod in time, so
from them tliere is no reply.

As the civil coiu't had lately confined the families in

each parish to their own bounds, the "Synod judge that

members in the East Parish of Londonderry, belonging to

the Western congregation, have right to act with them

imnii

194

HISTORY OF TRKSBYTERIANISM

still in all orclosiastical afTairs as fully as before, even
thou^jh tlu.'y continuo to pay loi* the support of thu minis-
ter of tlieir own parisli only."

This was their deliverance on "the aj)j)eal of the
RfrirrieviMl lUfMiihcrs ol"th(» eoiiL'refration formerly hcloiiLMUi^
to tlie IJev. David Me(ir(';^'ore/' "and I'urther, tliat at; there
are a numl)er of the Western Parisli who eannot conve-
niently attend at tiie Western meetinL^-iiouse constantly,
in ord(;r to accommodate them, we judtre that tliey ou^dit
to be allowed at the old house one tSal)hath in ei<iht of all
the j)reachinn; that ' liall be in said West Parisli, and one
sacrament in four, and also occasional lectures, till circum-
stances shall l)e altered."

The session of Nottin<i;ham West had condemned Rich-
ard Cutler for intemperance ; he had appealed to the Pres-
bytery, and on the case now referred to them " the Synod
confirm the sentence of the session, require him to submit
to the admonition of the moderator; that he did and was
restored."

At Pelham the Rev. Mr. Merrill had been laboring. A
large majority desired to call and settle him, and to ])acify
"a number still averse thereto," the majority concluded to
support him '* by subscription," not by a town tax, " so that
the dissatisfied may not comj)lain of ojipression." Oil
their behalf "Rev. Mr. Merrill and Elder David (iray de-
sired advice as to his continuance." They do " not advise
a permanent settlement only from year to year, or for a
longer i)eriod, and to have their children baptized by other
ministers of our own, and, if they think best, have certili-
cates of standing given to them when they apply to any
other minister of this Synod for special ordinances."

A case of ajipeal from a session, even when sanctioned
by the Presbytery, was now reversed, the individual ac-
(piitted and restored to fellowship. Other cases of ai)i)eid
from the lower courts they settle with discrimination, and
the accused, in the spirit of meekness, submitted to dis-
cipline.

Londonderry, second Wednesday of September, 1781,
Synod met. Present — Rev. Messrs. Whittaker, Baldwin,
Houston, Williams, Strickland and Taggart, with elders
from Derry, Salem, Jiedford, Windham, Pembroke, Pel-
ham and Coleraine. Absent — Merrill, Gilmore and Balch.
Excused — McLean and Urquhart, for reasons given.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

195

"Tlio Synod worn favored witli a oonforonco with tlic
Kov. Messrs. Annan, relative to a union witli their l)ody,
iind ;j;reatly rejoiee at the motion they have niacU? and at
the L'reat harniony of sentiments, hoth as to doctrine and
(hs(i|)lin(\ which exists hctween them and us. Wo feel
wilHn;^ even to drop our l.'Uh artich^ and alter our 1 Itli to
coineido with their sentiments, but decision is deferred to
the next meeting'."

As when the declinature was taken by the Boston con-
gregation on September 2()th, 177-1, some thirty persons did
not join in it and continued their connection with tlio
I'.oston Presl)yt(^ry, now the Synod ; so, on ^hiy loth,
17<^2, the Synod met pro re luthi in Boston (as we will see),
on September 11th, 17.S2 (stated by the Rev. Simon Wil-
liams). An item of business there was the case of tho
Ivcv. Nathaniel ^lerrill, char^cMl with j^'cttinf; his wife,
through dec(nt, to sign two instruments, and who had
made gross charges against her. " II(! had disturbed the
peace of the Presl 'tcry and ])ut Presbyterianism as well
us Christianity to ;.•. open shame."

Tho Rev. Mos«.o iialdwin, who "exhibited tho charges
against Mr. Merrill, not being ])rescnt, the Synod proceeileil
ex ojficio.^^ "Rev. S. Williams })rotested against our pro-
cce(ling at present and withdrew."

"The S^'nod sent a letter to him desiring him to deliver
up the papers of the two last sessions and received a re-
fusal in writing."

" ^lerrill acknowdedged tho fact charged, denied the de-
ceit, made confessions and retractions of his statements
about his wife and family, asked fo^Hveness of his wife,
of God, the public, and of the Syr. ' oigned his written
retraction," and " They admonished him to greater circum-
spection, relying on Divine grace, and recommended him
to the churches." ^Ir. Houston desired it may be added,
"That this may be open to a revision at the stated meet-
ing."
Londonderry, September 11th, 1782, Synod met.
Present, seven ministers witli five elders. Absent, five.
Rev. Simon Williams, upon the electing of the clerk, with-
drew, saying, he would have no more to do Avith that
body ; retained the papers of Synod ; offered to read a
paper containing his declinature, which was laid on the

ili'4

it-
j
i

■■■m

106

UISTOUY OF rUESIJYTKUIAXISM

ill"

table, and afterwards read by tbo moderator. Witli bim,
united bis elder IVoiu W'iudbani, Jobu l^iiismorc, JJcnja-
niin .Siiiitb, I'Jlder ofJiedl'ord, and James Robertson, Elder
from l*('nI)r()ok. 'J'bey (jxprcss nv'n'i' and trouble at wliat
tiiey Jiad that di'.y beard in Synod, viz.:

1st. Ill reeeivin^i' tbo llev. Solomon I'crley, settled under
Ibe Conj^regational discaplinc, as a lej^al member ol' your
l)ody.

2d. In not allowinfi; tbo elders of vacant conjxre^ations
to vote in (Jioosin;^ tbo moderator and clerk. Dr. W'bil-
takcr called, and you attended a meetinjf in lioston, wbicb
was" a direct violation of tbe .'>d article of our constitution,"
wbicb says, "Ai)pea]s aiul references from sessions to Pres-
byteries, and from Presbytery to tbe Synod, and no link
of tbis chain of subordination shall be overleaped, or this
order invertiid,"

<k\. The Synod at a previous session decbired, that
"from tbe re[)resentation of the Jlev. Moses P>aldwin re-
speetinn; the Rev. Mr. Merrill, they would take no notice
of his affairs until bo would, according to order, clear his
character with his own Presbytery,"

In tbis Mr. Williams maintained, that "order" was
"heaven's first law," and in ignoring tbe Presbytery, its
duties and privileges, Synod was (at least api)arently)
concentrating ])ower to its own destruction.

" Not being able to concur, nor passively to submit," they
say, " we take this lawful liberty to exonerate our own
consciences," and that tbey did " meekly, quietly and
peaceably withdran'."

The Synod fouid themselves under tbe necessity of
proceeding against them. As tbe Boston Presbytery (now
the Synod of New England) had in 1769, and twice in
1774, prohibited the ministers of tbe churches of their
body from holding communion witli tbe Rev. John Mur-
ray of Boothbay, as Williams had invited bim to assist at
the Lord's Supper, and bad, without consulting any of his
brethren, read tlie papers, and did what was done for in-
ducting said Murray at Newburyport, as be had conducted
himself in the time of Synod in a very disorderly way ; as
he has indulged in very indecent reflections and even
mockeries of his brethren in time of Synod, and has shewn
ungoverned, sudden passions, contrary to the express com-

ly)
ley

^t at

f his

iu-

cted

Icvou

IN NEW ENGLAND.

197

mand of Clirist ; that ho lias induced somo ciders to nnito
with him, and for several other reasons reconh'd, the Synod,
with irrief and i-cinctanco, di'('lar(> the said Williams ^Miilly
of contumacy, schism and hypocrisy, contrary to the laws
of Christ anil the peace of the church.

''Therefore, we do suspend said Williams from his ofTico
as a minister of Christ, and from all eonnnunion with anv
of this body, till he shall manifest repentance for the above
olfences. And we earnestly beseech him and the ciders
joining with him to consider their ways and humble them-
selves before (Jod, and seek ]>ar(lon throujudi the blood of
Christ, and speedilv heal the breach which they have
made in the church, and we will not cease to pray for
these blessed elfects of this censure.

" Voted, That this censure be subject to the revisal of
the next meetinji;."

These brethren were allowed till the first day of Novem-
ber next to manifest their repentance.

" Ordered, that a letter expressive of a desire of union
with them be written to the Associate Presbytery of New
York."

The Rev. ^Ir. Pcrlcy was directed to instruct his people
in Presbyterianism " and lead them to a union with this
body, or the Presbytery on the Connecticut river."

" Whereas the Presbytery of Londonderry have dismissed
the congregation of the West Parish, in Londonderr}', from
their Presbytery, yet the Synod judge they retain their
relation to this Synod."*

From the notices given and extracts taken from records,
it will be seen that Presbyterianism hi New England had
passed its noonday, and that its tide had begun to ebb.
Different causes conspired to produce this result. The
want of a fund for the aid of young men preparing for the
ministry, had its influence. For this, the hopes of ^lur-
vay and others, to establish a Burse at Dartmouth, were
from time to time expressed. But, in Avar times, with a
deep commercial depression settled on the land, threaten-
ing to drive the ministry from their ])ulpits, and but a

, *The Rev. William Davidson and his congregation joined the Pres-
bytery at tiie Eastward on October 23d, 1781. They consequently formed
no part of this Synod.

ilMi'i'

198

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

limited amount of pul)lic spirit developed in the few who
had means, nothing for the support and increase of Pres-
byterianism was estal)nshed, but what was soon assimilated
to its surroundings, especially in the bounds of '' the Pres-
bytery of Connecticut river."

Another cause was the violent tein]iers of not a few of
the ministry. Thus to one it was said, "Mr. Moorehead,
you have double as much grace as any other one of us,
but you have not half enough for yourself." And we have
just noticed a part of the cliarges of a hasty spirit and a
violent temper, but too truly made against the Rev. Simon
AV^illiams. The inmioralities in life of not a few of the
ministers consi)ired to the same end. But by the want of the
stated ordinances of the gospel in many cases, and by the
teaching of erroneous doctrines in otliers, " pure and undo-
liled religion," during this quarter of a century, among
Presbyterians in New England, " gained much harm and
loss."

In many towns congregations came to Presbyterianisra,
Bomotimes to avoid Jonathan Edwards' " confused way of
church government in the land," as did the congregation
of Newburyport. While those coming from the British
Isles took it the natural way, their ])osterity in a few gen-
erations, had Presbyterianism so mild that it ran out of
their systems. They did not " take heed to the doctrine "
'' sealed by the blood of the covenant," and in not a few
cases, ceased to be "valiant for the truth in the earth."

In some towns " the earth helped the woman," and men
must honor the church of the Parish, if not the Lord, with
tiieir substance, or be cast into prison as Avere those two
of Chester, N. H. Upon the churches, as well as the other
interests of the connnunity, tlie war produced deleterious
etlects in lowering the standard of morality and giving in-
creasing vitality to crime.

The main conflict was, however, partly between the dis-
similarity of the races in juxta position as this was moulded
and iniluenced by the form of church government and by
worship.

As Christ executes his kingly ofTico, not onl}' by subdu-
ing his people to himself, but by ruling them, so, where
men view the Bible as simply adequately inspired, and
not plenarily nor verbally, it is not a difficult process to

iJ^ i

IN NEW ENGLAND.

199

cliniinato (from it) ordination "by tho layinpf on of the
hands of tlie Presbytery " and all that is peculiar to that
species of churcli polity. Hence, so lonp; as '' the church
of tlie Parish "' was maintained by the sword of the civil
p(>wer, cornp(>lling all within its ])rescribed limits to sup-
jtort the minister of the town, and if they were of a differ-
ent persuasion, forcing; them in addition, to sup])ort their
own ministry, large inducements were extended, in almost
all cases, to Presbyterians in New England, to conform to
tlieir surrouncHngs. A large source of change, conspiring
to the enfeebling of Presl)vterianism in these bounds, also
iiH reasingly flowed from the influence of the local system
on domestic life and tlie social relations.

" Let the wife see that she reverence her husband " (Eph.
V. 8.3), when viewed as only adequately insi)ired, is not
friendly to the rule of elders in a church, nor to the sj'S-
tem, the very existence of which implies it.

The idea of honoring "the faces of the elders," when col-
lated with, " let your women keep silence in tlie clmrches "
iind levelled to adequate inspiration, has seldom a very
salutary influence on that oneness which constitutes the
iHiirriage relation, esi)ecially where a believer in verbal in-
sjjiration " renders to the wife due benevolence," and " so
loves his wife even as himself." It requires plenary and
verbal inspiration to make " the weaker vessel " realize the
moaning of husband, that is " housel)and, tb.e band and
bond of the house, who shall bind and hold it tooether."
We have seen this illustrated in the case of jMrs. Colonel
Pxc'id, "All this with your advice, not otherwise." (Letter
to him, September 8th, 1776.)

It must be remembered tliat these statements are made
in reference to the causes then commencing operation, for,
until after the Revolutionary war, the New Englanders
were Puritans and believed in the plenary inspiration of
the Scriptures very literally. They at one time believed
in the verbal insi)iration of Ex. xxii. 18, " Thou shalt not
puffer a witch to live," but, when the mind recoiled from
this too literal an interpretation, it did not stop at the
analogy of faith and ]>lenary inspiration, but went on to
the perfection of mental instability and, in our modern
times, rested in an adequacy of the supernatural, or in
sentiment, or in mere opinion, taste or feeling.

200

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

•

Hence, " I will not believe what I cannot understand,"
has become at times a practical aphorism with some of the
descendants of tlie Puritans.

Consequently, where faith and logic of such diverse
kindt' were found in father and mother, the chilch'on would
usually take the course which led to "the largest liberty,"
the easiest, the most honorable and ])opular form. In
doing so, they were not always required l)y "the customs
of the churches " " to sufi'er affliction with the people of
(iod."

It would take the faith and logic of Moses to make this
choice. ^

When the Pres])yterians came among them they found
the New Englanders ahnost universally " sound in the laith
of God's elect," and pure in morals. As nnsanctiliod
Imman beings, they were not perfect nor free from sectarian
rancor, and they viewed Quakers, Anaba])tists, Episco-
palians, and Presbyterians as intruders. Still, while four-
fifths of them statedly waited on God in public worship
in all seasons of the year (witli rare exceptions), and a
man under oath before a committee of the House of Com-
mons (in 1G60) could declare " I have lived seven years in
New England, and I have never there heard a profane oath
or seen a drunken man," the calamities and immor ilities
of war a century afterwards extensively marred this T)ur-
ity and simplicity in almost a single generation.

The air of enthusiasm introduced by breaking the fetters
of colonial dependency and introducing with national ex-
istence national liberty, had (not ncK-essarily") apparently
an extensive tendency to throw off the whok'sonic re-
straints of superiors, to induce the young to forget their
position, and to undermine "the things which are true,
pure, lovely, and of good rcjiort." Like Jerusalem in
ruins, "the faces of the ciders were no longer honored."'
It also gave ample " scope and verge " to theological
thought, as it was imported from Continental Europe,
until their various " sehemes " su])p]anted the logic and
theology of the New England Primer.

These and other co-o])erating inilucnces in the sam(^
direction were bursting the bud during the sliort years of
the existence of the Synod of New England ; but the skill
and application of one man probably surpassed them all.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

201

The Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D., the guest of men of rank
in EnL^land, not only Avrote " On the Improvement of the
]\Iincl " and " Lojj;ic "' — very useful works — but also set forth
tlic belief that '"tlic souls of the ciiildren of unbelieving
parents dying in infancy are annihilated" ( Buck''. s Die.},
and '■ that the first thing which (iod made was the soul of
Jesus Christ, and by this his first production he made all
things else."

This fanciful and false idea wasby Jona. Edwards ( Works)
refuted in fourteen prrticulars, and it lies harmlessly
among the mental lumber which has been consigned "to
the moles and to tlie l),as." Not so the outgoings of the
soul of the doctor in poetry. For his " Cradle Hymns,"
multitudes would have remembered his name with pleasure
if he had sto])pev^ tliere, but of the liook of Psalms, given
by God the Holy ..ost, he undertot)k to imitate 139 '"in
the language of the New Testament," and concerning them
declared, " 1 would like to see David turned into a Chris-
tian."

The nourishing deep roots of a Christian Church are
found where families and households evening and morn-
ing shew forth the loving kindness of the Lord in sweet
])salms, and from their childhood youth are taught to
know the Scriptures; where, out of the mouths of babes
or infants, praise is given to God beneath the parental
roof. Wiien such flow together to the heights of Zion, her
assoml)lies are blessed with times of refresliing.

At tiie risk of intelligent contradiction, 1 state that just
in ))ro]iortion as the ])oetry of the Rev. Dr. Isaac Watts is
introduced into any church or by any denomination, "the
\-i)\re of joy and rejoicing in the dwellings of the righteous "
is diminished. His '" David turned into a (.Christian," even
u lull sujiplemented by the skejitic, Joel Barlow, and sanc-
tilied by the Rev. Dr. Timothy Dwight, is not adapted to
express the s])iritual joy of ( Jod-loving families, who abide
under tlie shadow of tlie Almighty, in shewing forth his
loving kindness in the morning and declaring to Inm his
liiithfulness every night. Th(\v must sing i)salms to him
with grace to ex|)rt'ss the emotions of their souls, for his
command is, "is any merry? I^et him sing ])salms."
And assuredly, if his fragments of the psalter imitated in
the language of the New Testament will not express such

III

( i

202

HISTORY OP PRESBYTERIANISM

licaven-born joy, his hymrivS for the use of " vulgar Chris-
tians" will not. Not any one of thcni is a portion of the
living and incorruptible seed of the Word -which livcth
and ahideth for ever, and '' what is the chaif to the wheat?"
I present the early psalm-singing New England in contract
with the present as irrefragable proof, "impugn it who
lists." 80 Presbyterianism there has found it.

This innovation, exchanging a reality — a perfect whole
— for an imitation, desolating to "the truth as it is in
Jesus," we have seen was o])posed by Coleman, of Brattle
street, Boston, and other faithful men, but in vain. For
in the course of a generation or two, it in the Congrega-
tionalist Churches sup])lanted "the Bay State Version of the
Psalms," silenced the Jehovah's song in thousands of fam-
ilies, and finally ])layed the whale with Jonah with the
Presbyterian version almost universally. When and
wherever "godliness" existed in New England, its vitality
was always and only commensurate witli its " sound doc-
trine " {alias Calvinism), and tlie daily use of "those glo-
rious psalms let down from a higher plane " (Rev. Joseph
Cook).

In 1774, the Rev. Moses Baldwin, who in early life had
been trained to the Imitations and Hymns, became (as all
religious poetical innovators do) a "man of feeling." lie
had "a felt want," and he not only obtained liberty to in-
dulge it, but, as " forljidden fruit is sweet," his exam})]c
became prevalent. Among those congregations whicii
came to Presbyterianism they were both jmbulum and
condiment. Into most of the churches composing the
Presbyteries and the Synod they Avere s})eedily introduced,
and the new tunes required for tlie enjoyment of them did
violence to the feelings of many of the aged.

When the use of the Imitations became general among
them, " Ichabod " was written as frontlets between the eyes
of Presbyterianism in New England, and rottenness had
entered into its bones. Emigration to their towns had (ex-
tensively ceased, and their youth witnessed with diminish-
ing inter(>st the abandonment of the "sweet ])salms " with
winch their fathers and forefathers had caused the wilder-
ness and solitary place to rejoice, as their morning and
evening songs went up from "the dwellings of the right-
eous."

IN NEW ENGLAND.

203

There is something magnanimous in contending for a
just cause under adverse circumstances, and this tlie Synod
of New JCngland, so long as its diminished lorccs wore the
name, earnestly did. Their hounds were extensive — from
Palmer, ^hiss., to Eastern Maine — and tlieir disadvantages
were consequently great. They could not at any time,
owing in part to the expenses, during the seven years' war,
connected with travelling for days on horseback, oiten in
inclement seasons, over bad roads, have a ])ertectly full
meeting. From time to time their roll was diminish(;d by
tiie wrongdoing of some, requiring the exercise of disci-
pline, and occasionally among tliem there "arose men
si)eaking perverse things," " causing contentions," and
eventually withdrawing from their fellowship, Tiiey had
also, doubtless, l)een somewhat disappointed from the fail-
ure of the anticipated co-operation of the Presbytery of
Grafton.

While carrying on their watch and care as the Boston
Presbytery, on November 9th, 1774, at Newbury port, the
Rev. Mr. Hutchinson, of Pom fret, Vt., had ])etitioned
them i probably with others in his region) " with regard to
the forming of a Presbytery at Dartmouth College," founded
by Presbyterians, and then five years old. They recom-
mended to him j)rudence in his exertions in the ease, and
to report to them; but "the Presbytery of (Jrafton " or
" of Connecticut River" (which, on October 21st, 1783,
not only licensed Mr. Simon F. Williams, but excommu-
nicated tlie Rev. Mr. Burroughs) stood aloof from the
Synod, while " the Presbytery at the P^astward " formed
extensively an ecclesiastical asylum for the troublers of
their Israel.

Conse(;[uently, of the thirteen ministers, McCregore,
Houston, Mitchell, Perley, Strickland, iMerrill, Mcljcan,
Urquhart, Whittaker, Balch, Williams, B.ddwin, and Tag-
Uart, with six ruling elders (while Parsons, Oilmore, and
Hutchinson were absent), who at Seabrook, on June 2d,
1775, signed their constitution as a Synod, but a ))art were
present at their last meeting at Londnnderr}! ( West Parisli )
on September 12th, 1782, viz., Whittaker, Houston, Wil-
liams, Strickland, Taggart, Merrill, and Perley, with five
elders, while McLean, Urquhart, Balch, and Baldwin were
absent. At this meeting, Williams (with the elders from

! '

Ifi!l

204

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

I/' ,

Windham, Bedford, and Pembrook) -withdrew, and, as
stated, ho was suspended.

The varied causes which have been noticed, and proba-
bly others, were all consi)irin^ to prevent the growth of
l)nre Presbytcrianisni, and whether understanding denomi-
nationally or not, the iniluenees brought to bear upon
tiieni, they I'eli the reality. They " knew that the heavens
do rule," and instead of endeavor' ig further to uphold,
that on wliich their ]ie;irts were sc . at their organization,
they submitted to the developments of the Divine pleasure.
On September 11th they record: "The Synod taking into
consideration the broken circumstances to which the Provi-
dence of God hath brought us by the death of several of
our members and otherwise ; therefore, we judge it neces-
sary to dissolve this Synod for the present, and form a
Presbytery of the whole, by the name of the Presbytery
of Salem.

" Voted, That a committee be appointed to wait on tlie
Grafton Presbytery, in order to open the way to form a
union with them, in some manner that may be for mutual
advantage." Dr. Whittaker was appointed. Then came
the fact, solemn, indeed, to those whose " hearts trembled
for the ark of God," for on September 12th, 1782, the
record reads :

" The Synod being this day dissolved by an uiianimous
vote, the members convened at the house of Elder Fisher
in order to form themselves into a Presbytery."

Nature produces maturity in the animal and vegetable
kingdoms, which by inevitable law is succeeded by decay.
Empires and renowned cities have their growth, their
grandeur and dilapidation, and Presbyterianism in New
England did not escape the common doom. Between
1768 and 1793 this polity was extensively si)read in this
region where all its surroundings were hostile to its ex-
istence.

In the following-named places, as well as probably some
others, especially in Connecticut, it was for a time planted,
viz. : Boston, Derry, Londonderry, Worcester, Cli ester,
Palmer, Oxford, Porpooduc on Casco Bay, Oakliam,
Blandford, Pelham, Newburyport, Salem, Saybrook, Pem-
broke, Windham, Gofistown, Bedford, Kingston, Coleraine,
Easton, Lunenburg, Peterboro, Rutland, Paxton, Boscawen,

IN NEW ENGLAND.

205

Princeton, Groonwieli, Groton, Candia, Antrim, Deer Isl-
and, New Boston, I)un))arton, Greeniield, Litchfield, Not-
tinjiluun, Canterbury, New CUoucester, Canaan, Sylvester,
Topshani, Turner, Francestown, Gray, Winthrop, Machias,
Lincoln, Anieshury, Boothl)ay, Jiristol, Brunswick, liellast,
Pownalboro, Warren and St. (n'oriics, Voluntown, Daniar-
iscotta. New Market, Falmouth, Hanover, Fast Hanover,
Lyme, Croyden, Ortord, Piermcjnt, N. IL, Norwich, Hart-
ford, Fairlee, Uoyalton, Tunhridge, Randolph, Tlietford,
Iku'nard, Newbury, Topsliam, Pomt'ret and ])erha])S otlier
towns in Vermont; ai)art h'om Gral'tsburv, Barnet, Rye-
gate and South Rycirnte, which may be afterwards noticed.

In but a few of these (above seventy) places was it fairly
planted. In many, perhaps in most cases, Edwards' " un-
settled and confused way " induced not a few towns to
give to this new thing a trial, as w.'is done in Newburyport
and Easton. Beside this, while the form of government
might be ap]»roximated, the doctrine.^ extensively main-
tained and discipline executed, the great difficulty was in
and with the worship.

One class of Presbyterians, maintaining that all scrip-
ture is plenarily inspired, found their matter of praise ex-
clusively in the Psalter. This was the case not only with
the Scotch-Irish but with the French. They used it only,
and to their metrical version they had to every line musi-
cal notes placed. Not so the New Englanders. In some
cases they might have brought with them the Bay State
version, but, during this period, they seem to have used
only the 139 psalms " imitated," together with the Doctor's
three books of hynms. In such cases, while order might
have been more extensively kept by the use of Presbyte-
rial forms and faithful pastors and elders encouraged and
sustained, yet the overshadowing wings of the civil power
made the sustenance of the ministry more secure, hence
they easily appealed to Caesar. In all but a very few cases
the " loaves and fishes " of Presbyterianism were but small
and somewhat uncertain. Hence, INIcKinsiry, Keith, Hill-
house and others of that generation, while indebted to
Presbyterianism for their moral worth, were sustained as
Congregational teachers by civil law. And while we have
seen McGregor, Taggart and Brown of the next generation
supported in the same way as ministers of towns, still, to

206

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

younc: nnd aspirinp; nativos, it was n(»t ahvays desirable to
risk the truthfulness of the blaster, that " the lah(M'(,'r is
worthy of his hir(\" Ilenee, we fnid not only MeKecu
leavintjj, but the two sons of the Rev. Simon ^Villiunls of
Windham, after obtainin<2; aid from Presbyterian eliurelus
as Bursars at Dartmouth College, entering deelinatures to
Presbyterial authority and becoming Congregationalist
l)r(;achers.

In all tliis, hoAvever, we have the collapse of the Synod
of New .P]ngland, after a life of seven years and three
months, and "a nation" must be found to "change tlieir
gods" before another comes into existence in tlie same
territorial bounds.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

207

CHAPTER VIII.

17G8- 1793— Presbytery of Snlcin— Rev. R. Annan— Rov. Mr. Morrill—
(jniltoii Prtsljytcry — -(Jroton — (iiari^os uiit'oinxlc'd — Ta},'t,Mrt— His
ovcrtiirfs — Milliinore " our camlidati.' " — No pn)L,'ress in nnioii ytt —
(jlroton received — To be cautions in n'eeivin>,' members, unless I'res-
byterianH — Wliittai<er slandered — A diliienlty between McLean and
Unjiiliart al)oiit Uniiibart's wives — liesult — Wbiltaker and a ('on<,n-e-
gational Couiicil — ('barges refuted in 1771 — l)r. Wbittiiker exliorled
to a scarcb wliile be is a wortiiy minister — Merrill from bad to worsu
— McLean dismissed — (tray — Notes of tbo cluncb and of tlie town —
Five, wbo call tliomsclves Baptists, dissent — Dr. Wbittaker dismissed
— Settled in ('anaan, .Nhiine, 1784 — New towns apply — Si/!vckIci' set-
tles Strickland, 1781— (£50)— Creditable to botb parties— A bearty
wisb — To ask an " Incorporation" — An exbortation — I'resbytery now
in tbe luunor — Uniformity recommended — Lnion River received — ■
>SV;i^ (//e— Called meeting at Turner — I'rqidiart deceives — Perley of
Gray a!)sent— ("ongregation not bospital)le to Presbytery — Expedi-
ency — Minutes defective — Williams cut off — Merrill deposed — (ieorge
Oilmore long absent is dropi)ed — Final meeting of Presbytery at (iray
— 1791 — Perley to be dismissed from (Jray — Adjourned Sine die — We
have seen development, growtb, vitality and decay of tlie Boston
Presbytery, the Synod, etc. — We now turn to the Presbytery at tlie
Eastward.

We turn now to tlie Presbytery of Salem. It was formed
in tli(! house of Elder Fisher, at Londonderry, N, IL, on
8L'i)t(inl)er Pith, ITS'i, and eonsisted of Rev. Messrs. Whit-
taker, Houston, Strickland, Perley, Tajigart, ]\[errill, with
KuHn^- Elders Thomas ]\[cGee, Ilnhbard and Oliver. The
next re(^orded meeting was held at Salem, on Sejitemher
loth, 1783, when four ministers were present and seven
were absent.

As ]Mr. Williams did not appear his suspension Avas con-
tiniKHl. lie and the elders who Joined with " him in his
deelinature," were cited again. An answer to a letter pre-
viously written to the Rev. Dr. Clarke, of Salem, N. Y.,
was then read, " expressing a desire of said union and an
engagement to lay the matter before their body (the Asso-

! 1:

lli

208

HISTORY OF PRKSnYTERIANISM

ciatc Reformed Presbytery of New York) at their next
meeting,'." "A reply was now ordered to l)e sriit tlirou-li
tli(.' liev. Kohcrt Aunau of IJoston." The Kcv. Mr. Mi rrill
heinti; ehar;i('(l with crime now i'aiicd to apprar.

Dr. W'hittalxcr was diri^eted to eontinne his eorrespond-
enee with the (crafton Preshytery. (.'oinniissioners a|»-
])eare(l from a so(;iety in (Iroton a.^kinu; to he recciNcd, hut
Preshytery ascertained that said associated jxTsoiis were
\mder censure, and lliat tlie Coniireuationalist eliurch to
Avincii tiiey hclon;i<,'d laid refused tliem a copy of said eeu-
i^UYQ. Tiiis procedure was (hcmed unjust and tyranni(!al.
]*resbytery received tliem and i-ecpiested "said church to
give all the li;:;ht they can in the all'air."

The Ivev. Jno. I'njuliart i)resented severe charges against
"tlic i)eople of Warren and St. (icrges lower jilantatiou,"
and desired a dismission from his charge. Preshytery
<lealt with them, and investigated the charges which they
])referred against him, which, after the investigation, were
considered unfounded.

The Rev. 8amuel Taggart hy letter now informed the
Presbytery that " he had made overtures to the Assoeiatii
Reformed Presbytery of New York for a junction with
them as far as may be without a dismission from this
body." This step was deemed to he "irregular and un-
])resbyterial," as he had not previously informed them, and
as this Presbytery were now "endeavoring a union with
the same body." So be lias pn judged the matter, and
they ordered liim to appear liefore them at their next meet-
ing to give satisfaction. A Mr. ]\liltimore now api)ears as
" our candidate."

Groton, June 9tb, 1784. Presbytery met. Present, seven
ministers, with two elders; absent, four, with "their el-
ders."

No answer liad been received to the letter written to the
Rev. Robert Annan resi)ecting union; nor had any been
received from the Grafton Presbyt(M'y, to whom Dr. A\'hit-
taker had written. On receipt of letteis iVoin Mr. Tagj^art
and the A. R. Presbytery, they are to be informed that
while " Ave are willing to hold Christian correspondence
and communion with them, it appears to be somewhat ir-
regular to dismiss Mr. Taggart under present circum-
stances; therefore we must wait for further light." They

IN NEW ENGLAND.

209

ask also " to liavo their continued a])plication for union
])iTs;onte(l before the A. R. Synod lor their judfj^ment."

Upon thi! spot, they found that while it was represented
that the whole soeiety in (Iroton applying' for admission
to tlic Presbyterian ])('rsuasion were under the censure of
the Congregational Chureh, that ''only three of said per-
sons were so at that time." As to the three, the churcii
would give no ''light on the subject" as to the grounds of
their censure, excepting that " they had used their Chris-
tian lil)erty in joining said society," and ''after mature
consideration they were received as a regular Presbyterian
station." "After care/'ul and judicious investigation, they
state, they ought to be considered to be in good standing
in the Church of Christ." A caution was then given to
thcin as a society "to cultivate harmony with our Congre-
gational brethren; to be cautious in receiving any mem-
bers, unless to occasional connnunion, who are not of the
Presbyterian persuasion ; and espeeially to reject all whoso
moral chanicter is such :is to bring discredit on religion in
general or to the Presbyterian interest in particular." A
copy of this minute was ordered to be served on the Rev.
Mr. Chaplin, minister of the town.

As Dr. \\'hittaker A-as now walking in trouble arising
from slanders, his cubC at this time received an extensive
investigation, the results of which were favorable to his
Christian standing. In the meantime, Presbytery "called
upon all who iiuve reported scandalous stories respecting
him to give regular and authentic testimony of his im-
moral behavior to the Presbytery," at a time and place
then a|)])ointed.

The ^loderator was now ordered to exhort the Rev. Mr.
Merrill to watchfulness in his conduct for the future.

At this meeting at Groton, June lltli, 1784, a letter
which Dr. Whittaker wrote to the Rev. R. Annan was read,
as was also their niinut(\ jjrcvioush' noticed, respecting the
dismission of the Rev. Mr. Taggart while negotiations for
'ti union of the two bodies was jiending; and they conclude
the matter at this time by expn^ssions of good-will and an
earnest desire for a union with the Associate Reformed
Presbytery of New York. This Presbytery has also a New
England history, which will in due time appear.

Another matter then received official attention. It was
14

iitH

ff^

210

HISTORY OP PRESBYTERIANISM

a difiiculty which had arisen hotween tlio Rev. Alex. Mc-
Lean and tlio Rev. Mr. Uniuhart. The hitter, as we liavo
S(;en, leavinj; iiis wife in ScotUnid, and liearini; that she
was dead, liad married another. A hltcr iVoin tiic tna;
wife, ad(h'e.ssed to his care, Mr. ^lelvcan had shewn to tlie
American wife hefore he ^'ave it to Mr. lJr([uhart. In Ins
resentment Ids letters and expressions lie had " not
kept within the rules of tenderness," "and we heartily
recommend it to them l)oth to expi'css their forgiveness to
each other for any imprudences the hour of tem])tati()u
may have ])rodueed, and resolve to hury all, and emhraeo
each other in the arms of cordial tVii'udship. W'e lind
nothinjj; hut what may have Ix.'en the ellect of incautiou
and infirnnty." This was voted by the Presbytery, and
acquiesced in by both ])arties.

Concerning the Presljyterian Church in Sahnn, of whom
a part had called in a Con_u;regational councnl to Jud;i(' in
their quarrel with Dr. Whittaker, the Presljytery say, " We
with abhorrence detest and cannot but lament, that an-
other denomination of Christians, in these frei; States,
should claim authorit}' and jurisdiction over us Presbyte-
rians, who have behaved j)eaceably and lived in love with
our CJongregational l)rethren."

''That, as said Council was wholly preconstitutional,
called wholly without the knowledge of Dr. Whittaker,
and a court to which he was in no sense subject any more
than to a court of Kpiscoj)alians, his refusing to be heard
and tried by them Avas truly commendable, and can by no
means bear any mark of contumacy."

The charge was brought that the third church, Salem,
was Congregational when Whittaker settled, and that ho
brouglit them over to Presbyterianism. This was strouff
language in reference to that system, which " took its rise"
in that very town on August of.h, 1G29. As " an old smug-
gler " is said to " make a good custom house search oilicer,"
so the Doctor knew the tactics of his op])onents. This
Presbytery now show, that said congregation Avas ev(>r
deemed a Presbyterian church from tht; settlement of Dr.
W. among them in 1709, when it was received as such "by
their own desire, choice, and request," and that these
charges were refuted "in 1774, when the same objections
were made by his adversaries."

IN NEW ENGLAND.

211

The ftncieti/, the Parisli jxnvliolch'rs connected -.vith tlie
church, had refused to iichuit tlic Doctor's labor- since tlio
^oth of March hist, and alter a lon^' c(»nsi('('iai .jn of tlio
suhjct't, in which thev shrw that he iiad iahorcd ijilhfullv
and spent niueii of his jirivatc substance for tiicir ^ood,
and for whieii Ik; was now, hy tijc jfcnius and spirit of tho
State reh^ion, reeeivin;:, so far as partisan leelin^' could
reach, only i)ersccution. The Treshytery exlu)rted tho
Doctor to "a careful search why the Lord was now con-
tending with him," and to watchfulness, while they reconi-
niendcd him to the churches as a " worthy minister of
Christ."

The Rev. Nathaniel ^[errill was now proceeding from
bad to worse, by lying and in view of scandalous stories,
lieside reading a pajjer l)efore Presbytery, advocating his
idea that vox poixili i:4 cox Dei. — "the voice of the j)i'o])lc is
the voice of God," and he was bv them suspended from
liis ministry till the next session of the court.

The Uev, Alexander McLean, " on account of some pecu-
liar circumstances of his p(!ople," now asked and very re-
luctantly obtained a dismission. Presbytery " hoping that
a way may soon be opened for his union with us again."

At Gray, in Maine, four ministers met (while six were
absent), and the church in that town having adoi)ted tho
Presbyterian plan of church government, souglit union and
was admittetl under the care of Presbytery on Se])tember
8th, 1784. "A call from the town for the Rev. Samuel
Perley was presented, and considering the whole of tho
votes of the church and the town, the Presbytery adviso
him to accept their call." Before his installation, which
took place on tho same day, the town were called upon to
ol)ject, and "only live who call themselves Baptists lifted
up their hands against it." " The service was concluded
with prayer and a psalm."

" Ordered, That Dr. W'hittakcr write a consolatory letter
to the congregation in Groton and appoint Mr. Strickland
• to preach to them as often as he can."

xVbout forty heads of families in New Gloucester, Maine,
now i)etition to be received, and Dr. A\'hittaker was ap-
pointed to write to the Rev. Samuel Foxcraft of that toAvn
to learn if the way be clear. All means having failed with
the twenty malcontents in Salem to re-establish peace be-

5!!!*

T,:\

212

HISTORY OF PRESBYTKRIANISM

tween them and Dr. Whittakcr, a few " unreasonable," if
not '' wicked men," beinjjf often able to pull down what
they eould not build, and, in the spirit of Diotre])lios,
bein<jj willin^j; '" to rule in hell rather than serve in lieaven,"
the Presbytery now dissolved the pastoral relation, which
had subsisted lor fifteen years.

A petition was now "received from the Plantation of
Canaan on Kennebec river," in answer to which the Pres-
bytery received them, and afterwards, at tlieir reciuest,
over them as their pastor, settled the Kev. Nathaniel Whit-
taker, D. D., on September 15th, 1784. lie had (in his
case) realized the term Salem to be a misnomer. He was
" for peace," but the twenty were " keen for battle." Rc-
movinjx from the vicinity of "Gallows Hill," he found in
the wilderness of Maine, what he could not realize in
Numkeafi;, even after its inliabitants had for a century nnd
a half enjoyed the civilization introduced by Skclton, Hif;;-
ginson and Williams as reformers of the Church of Eng-
land.

As settlements were annually forrning in the wilderness
by people, not a few of whom were }>rouf2;ht up Presbytr-
rians, so, from these new towns application was at times
made to have Presbyterian ecclesiastical connection. Thus,
"the church and congregation of a jdantation, then called
Sylvester, had voted unanimously to accept the Presbyte-
rian Church Discipline, and the Rev. INIr. Strickland at
their request gathered them as an organization with ruliuii-
ciders, and he now desires the ap])robation of this body."'

" Voted, That the said measure is approved."

The town not yet ineor])orated, and having some ]Hililie
incumbrances when a call was })resented to Mr. Strickland,
the Presbytery advise him and his ])eo})le, as their eircuni-
stances may change, to submit their matters to its jurisdic-
tion, and while the sum voted (filty jiounds) was small, it
"ought to be increased as their alnlity shall increase." To
this they mutually agreed before his installation, which
took ])lace on September 20th, 17<S4.

While this settlement was unanimous, the people had
considerations of their own to which they required att( n-
tion. According to Congregational jiolity, tlie ])eople could
fit any' time dismiss a minister, es])ecially l)y the advice
of a council; but these people saw that at times the Pros-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

213

bytcry conld and would remove a pastor -vvlien his charge
were anxious to liavc liim continue, as had been done at
lioothbay by another Presbytery. Hence, some of tbe peo-
])le at Sylvester had " some dilKculty in their minds with
respect to his removal from them by tiie Presbytery."
These he removed, l)y statinjji; tliat he had "not known an
instance in his Presbytery," and by engaging never to ''re-
move from tliis congregation as long as it a])])ears that E
am useful as a minister, and this people fulfil their con-
tract with me,'' Neither tlie '" hay-fever," tlie "minister's
sickness," nor the " louder call," could draw him from ;i
confiding, aflectionate and dutiful people. This was credita-
ble to both parties.

As the Rev. Mr. Foxcraft was requested to give light on
the aflfairs of New (lloucester, he, with two of his people,
now appeared before Presbytery, where matters of disi)ute
were heard, and judgment rendered thus:

"We cannot but fear that many have treated Mr, Fox-
craft unkhidly, and could heartily wish that the disaffected
could sit quietly and profit under him.

" But as a large number profess that they cannot profit
by his ministry, and that, on close attention to the subject,
they arc conscientiously Presbyterians : therefore we can-
not say that it is their duty to act contrary to their judg-
ment, but declare that they, as all, have liberty to worship
God agreeably to their own consciences wherever they have
o]>portunity. We wish that said disaffected could profita-
bly unite with the rest of the town in settling a minister
agreeably to the Rev. Mr. Foxcraft's proposal. But, if they
cannot, we recommend them to wait on (Jod, and be much
in prayer for light and direction, and seek for a regular
incorporation, that they may be in a capacity to support
tlie gospel among them."

They tlien exhort them to avoid " vain janglings," study
the peace and prosperity of the town, and be steadfast in
doctrine.

At a meeting hold at Sylvester, June 1st, 1785, at his
own request, the Rev. John Houston was dismissed and
recommended to the churches ; and so also was the chureli
and congrcgjvtion in (iroton. The Presbytery being now
geemingly in the humor, also dismissed and gave a gen-
eral recommendation to the Rjcv. Mr. Taggart and the
church of Coleraine.

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214

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

" Voted, Thcit the minute made in 1775 at NcNvhurj^port,
delating to uniformity, be recommended to the several con-
gregations under our care."

At Tojjsham, September 7th, 1785, a call was presented
from Number Six Westward, and Number One Eastward
of Union Iliver, in Lincoln county, for tlie settlement of
the Rev. John Urquluirt, A. M., in the gosi)el ministry
among them, and desiring annexation to this body. They
■were received. He was dismissed from Tojjsham and forth-
with settk'd at Union River. " Ordered, to r(>ad tlie con-
stitution." The delinquents, AVilliams and Merrill, were
to ])c again cited to ap])ear.

Tlie Presbytery of Sakni met at Gray, June 21st, 17<S6.
Present — Rev. S. Perley and John Strickland. Elder John
Keen. Absent — Whittaker, Baldwin, A\'illiams, Merrill,
Gilmore and Benjamin Balck, with Miltimore, their candi-
date. After prayer the following minute is recorded :

"Whereas most of the members of the Presbytery are
absent, and there being no business of importance to be
transacted in it : Voted, therefore, that this meeting be ad-
journed Sine die."

The pressure of their surroundings brought the members
of this Salem Presbyterv, who now seem onlv to have "a
name to live partly in two years, to their senses, and in
response to a call of the moderator, a meeting was held at
Turner, the charge of the Rev. Mr. Strickland, on August
13th, 1788. Present — Perley and Strickland with three
elders.

" Voted, To send a consolatory letter to the people of
Number Six and One on Union River."

This will be explained under the notice of their meeting
at Gray, on January 15th, 1780. There and then Captain
Matthew Patton tabled the charge " of a design to deceive"
against the Rev. John Urquhart, in saying, in a letter to
his wife, six days before his installation, "that he was
obliged to go, but he knew not where, and therefore could
not inform her where to direct a Ittter to him. That he
lias two wives, and will not receive his lawful wife, but
keeps a concubine. Also to answer to said Patton's in-
sinuation of forgery of the letter informing of the death of
his lirst wife."

Mr. Patton was duly " cited to appear at the next stated

IN NEW ENGLAND.

215

session to sustain the above charges taken from his letter
to the Presbytery of September 8th, 1788." ^Ir. Perlcy,
of Gray, was absent at the meeting in his church, on Jan-
uary 15th, and liis congregation made then no preparation
for tlie accommodation of the Presbytery, who now, while
they excuse him for absence, "think him truly faulty in
not notifying the members, and not making some provi-
sion for their acconnnodation in his absence."

Neither pastor nor ])eople seem to have been "given to
hospitaUty." They were not permeated with this Scotch-
Irish grace.

We again and aheady find Dr. Whittaker in trouble
with a Mr. \Vm. Steward, and tlie Presbytery appoint a
meeting on the 12th of March, 1789, in Canaan, for inves-
tigation. Resort is again had (perhaps necessarily now,
owing to the paucity of members) to expediency, to ask
two Congregational ministers to sit with the Presbytery
(among these the Rev. Alex. McLean, of Bristol). Cita-
tions are issued for the second Thursday of February,
1700, but here the minutes become defective — they do not
record the result.

At Gray, January loth, 1789, citations were issued in
the case of Urquhart, both to him and his accuser, Captain
Matthew Patton, to appear before Presbytery at Whithrop,
on the first Thursday of October, 1789, at which place and
time Presbytery met. Present, Whittaker, Perley, and
Strickland, with Eiders Peter Heywood, ICsq., and John
Keen; absent, Baldwin, Williams, Merrill, Balch, Milti-
inore, and Gilmore, with their elders. We have previously
noticed the Rev. George Gilmore. When a licentiate he
landed in Philadelphia on September 9th, 1769. For
nearly four years he supplied in diflerent places (it is be-
lieved) in Congregational vacancies as well as in Presby-
terian pulpits, and while he does not appear to have been
sufficiently attractive to have obtained a call, yet the Bos-
ton Presbytery ordained him on May 2(3th, 1773. Of it
he continued a member until the formation of the Synod
in 1775, when, residing (as is supposed) in Voluntown,
C'onn., he was allotted to the Presbytery of Palmer.

At the dissolution of the Synod, on September 12th,
1782, his name remained on the reunited roll, and under
its change of name to the Presbytery of Salem, and they

■1

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216

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

record, on Octo])er 1st, 17S0, "As tlie Rev. Geo. Gilmoro
has been long absent from this body, aiul we not knowhis;
where he is, the Presbytery concliicle tu drop him out of
their list."

As the war of tlic Revolution approaclied, being loyal to
Great Britain, he with great difliculty and mueh loss es-
caped to Canada. As Presbyterianism had not as yet any
existence in the Provinces then of that name, excepting a
mere coriimencement in Montreal, so in due time lie
reached Nova Scotia. Tliere he was welcomed and useful.
He for many years officiated at Newport, and lie there
died. Some of his posterity, it is believed, were persons
of much moral wortli.

The Rev. Simon Williams, having years ago withdrawn
and been censured, he was at tliis meeting " adjudged
guilty of wilful contumacy, cut oft' and excommunicated
from this body."

Not only so, Nathaniel Merrill had for five years spurned
the citations and despised the authority of Presbytery, and
in his " moral character becoming more and more infamous
and utterly unworthy of the sacred office. Therefore, this
Presbytery depose him from his ministerial office, and ex-
communicato him from their body and their Christian
communion."

This was indeed a sorrowful exhibit.

We come now to the final meeting of the Presbytery of
Salem at Gray, on the 14th of September, 1791. Members
present. Revs. Dr. Whittaker, Samuel Perley, and John
Strickland ; absent, Baldwin, Balch, and ]\Iiltimore, with
their elders. Opened as usual with prayer. Mr. Perley,
Moderator, and Mr. Strickland, clerk.

" Taking into consideration the state of matters between
the Rev. Samuel Perley and the church and congregation
of the town of Gray, and having examined the proceed-
ings of the church and peoi)]e, and finding nothing exhib-
ited by any against the Rev. Mr. Perley, eitlier as a Chri.--
tian or a minister of Christ, but, on the contrary, that th(;
I'resbyterian church at Gray have recommended him as
faithful, and with reluctance consent to his dismission from
them — to which, they say, tliey are necessitated by a divi-
tiion of the town by an act of the general Court of this

IN NEW ENGLAND.

217

Commonwpnlth, nnd clirorfully submit to this Presbytery
the time and manner of hU dismission.

"Tlie Presbytery, hoi)inu- that events may so oecur that
tlio cliureh and eonurciintion at (jra/j may yet continue
liim as their {)ast()r, juiljie it best not to i)roc(HHl to dismiss
liim immediately, but still continue him there for further
trial, and then leave it to tlie judgment of tlie parties to
say when he shall be dismissed, unless some dilliculty
should arise which may require the presence of the Pres-
bytery.

" They now recommend Mr. Pcrlcy as an able and faith-
ful minister of the inospel in i^ood standinir, and then earn-
estly recommend this church and people to use their best
endeavors for Christian love and union for the continuance
of the Rev. Mr. Perley.

"Gm^, ^September 14th, 1791. The Presbytery adjourned
sine die. Concluded by prayer.

(Signed) "John Strickland, Presby. Clerk."

We thus see the development of Presbyterianism from
1718 till 1791 in part. Tlie original " Irish " Presbytery
of Londonderry became extinct about 1765. We have
now seen the growth, vitality, and decay of the second
Presbytery, commenced in 1745, forming a Synod with
three Presliyteries for seven years and three months, and
dwindling down under the title of the Presbytery oi Salem
until it iinally, after a life of forty-six years, expired at
(ri-aii in Maine, and we nov»^ return to " the Presbytery at
the Eastward."

218

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

CHAPTER IX.

1768-1793— One man— Vamped— " AVoolcrs"— Ordered— The doctrine
— Cobbiaiiente — The Baiuier Church — Davidson alone — Williams asks
aid to allay Parish diflicnlties — A place of ecclesiastical refuge — Four
aided by a Burse at Dartmouth — Good men formerly came to aid — Eliot
— His mantle — Indian school — Occiini a Mohegan — A College — Com-
mittee, a letter of, to the Boanl — For comparison with — A reply — To
remit entirely the fees — Auspicious rnys — Rev. John Hubbard — Sol.
Moore of New Boston — Messrs. Annan and W. Morrison invited to sit
— A colleague for Mr. Davidson asked — "White Creek, New York —
Cambridge, N.Y. — Miltimore — A. R. Presbytery — Four observations —
Prore nata — Westof the Green Mountains — SincetiieWar — Tendencies
— Free will — Universalism — Rellyite John Murray — In New Hamp-
6hireinl773 — Measures of hell — Testimony emitted — BathKol — Deism
— Family worshipastranger — Sot's holes — A cold stateshewn — Twelve
years, 1771-1783 — A wide field — Eliot saw twenty-four Indian ministers
— For Witchcraft nineteen — Revival 1739-44 — Arminianism now re-
spectable — Individuals in Newburyport did not believe the perpetuity
— Pastor and session of Newburyi)ori approved — Actual reformation —
Presbyterial visitations — Rules — An account — Advantages of it —
Learn to sustain — Such duty has the promise.

This Presbytery obtained its vitality from one man, as
our modern " Reformed Protestant Episcopalians " in
America obtained through a lineal ecclesiastical descend-
ant of John Wesley, who, through a bishop of the Greek
Church (according to Toplady), received the thread of
.'ipostolical succession, and have had it vamped with refrii-
lar prelatic ordination given to him in the Protestant Epis-
copal Church in the United States ; so John JNIurray, oli-
taining his ministerial standing from the " Class at Wooler "
(whoever they were), and having it vamped by a regular
Presbyterial ordination in Philadelphia (though on forged
papers, as was supposed), became, as we have seen, the
father and vitalizing force of this Presbytery.

It was erected at Boothbay, ill Maine, on June 27th,
1771. At its first adjourned meeting, September 17th,
1771, at Brunswick, " Ordered, that the doctrines of the

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IN NEW ENGLAND.

219

Confession of Faith be discussed in their order." This
was a wise beginning, for the doctrine is tliat which saves
or damns the souL It is all important to know "the doc-
trine of God our Saviour," and to be able to detect ''doc-
trines of devils " where they exist. Hence the Divine in-
junction, " Take heed to the doctrine, for by so doing thou
shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee."

Euphonious names of aboriginal origin are not unfre-
quent even now " down East," and their minutes then pre-
sent one : "As a commissioner has come from Cobbisuente,
we each give them one day's sermon." This was well.

We have previously seen the desolation of Boothbay liy
the translation of Mr. Murray to Newburyi)ort, which now
formed the Banner Church of the Presbytery, and we find
that the Rev. Wm. Davidson, who had been settled in Derry
in 1739, was now alone. Belonging to the Presbytery
which had suspended Moorehead and McGregor, he could
not recognize the court which they were instrumental in
erecting, and now, in 1781, he seeks admission to "the
Presbytery at the Eastward." Of it a meeting pro re nata
was held in Derrv on October 23d, when the Rev. Solomon
Moore, of New Boston, and the Rev. S. Williams, of Wind-
ham, were invited to sit as correspondents ; and " the Rev.
William Davidson stated that he had been ordained by a
Presbytery, had for many years been pastor of his present
charge, and a member of the Presbytery of Londonderry,
which had been dissolved by removal and death of its
members," and that he' was then unconnected with any
ecclesiastical judicatory. He (with his elder, Moses Bar-
nett, and the church and congregation by them rei)re-
sented) was now oflicially admitted.

The Rev. S. Williams " made a statement of difficulties
existing in his congregation in Windham, and he requests
some of the members of this Presbytery to attend his Pres-
bytery at Windham on the 14th of next month."

The Synod of New England still existed, and his would
he the Londonderry Presbytery, probabh'^ so far reduced
in its working force as to be unable to allay human pas-
sions when in vigorous conmiotion. How far the request
was granted does not appear.

As we have seen, the Long Lane congregation had
entered their " declinature " and stood upon it^ while some

ifi.

220

HISTORY OF PREPBYTEL. .NISM

thirty persona of a minority continued to be subject to the
Presbytery, and it was now " Ordered, That if they should
desire it, Mr. Murray has permission to transmit a})})liea-
tions from them to any n)inist(T they may have in view,
or to any Presbytery to which sueli minister may belonfr,
in regular manner and form, as by the api)ointment and
consent of this Presbytery."

On June 14th it was reported to Presley tery that the
Rev. John Murray had been settled as i)ast()r in Newbury-
port, on June 4th, 1781 ; and on October 1st, 17<S2, at Derry,
the Rev. Simon Williams gave his version of his declining
the authority of the Synod of New England, for " various
illegal stei)s which they had taken," and under the shadow
of this Presbytery as a })lace of ecclesiastical refuge, he
(with his congregation) and Mr. James Miltimore and
Joseph McKeen, candidates, now placed themselves.

On the original '' Formula of the First Presbytery of the
Eastward," their names were at that date duly enrolled.

These two young men, with the two sons, Gilbert Tennant
and Simon Finlay, of the Rev. Simon Williams, had en-
joyed, or were then enjoying, the aid each of a Burse at
Dartmouth College. This was one of the ways in which
the ever-active mind of the Rev. John Murray was for
years engaged, ^\'hether he, after graduating at Edin-
burgh, had felt himself deficient in relation to a full course
of study or not, he knew that the office of a Presbyterian
minister would not be honored, if he were not abreast of
all men in the other professions.

This was a grievous drawback to the spread, support
and perpetuity of the truth as contained in their " form of
sound words " in New England.

Good men came in the first and earlier emigrations to
them to labor in the work of the ministry, but, in time,
defective characters, such as John Morrison and Urquhart,
polluted their ministry.

Dartmouth College, as noticed, was, in its early stages
of existence, said to be essentially Presbyterian.

Soon after the settlement of New P]ngland, the immortal
Eliot was blessed, as an instrumentality in the hand of
Christ, in turning many of the dusky sons and daughters
of the forest " from darkness to light, and from the power
of Satan unto God," and when "taken up," his mantle fell

IN NEW ENGLAND.

221

upon others. Amon.c: these was, after the middle of tlie
('i«j;ht(^('ntli century, .J()hn Sar^L'iint. Ilr lahorod anioni:;
the St()c;khri(lj^e trihe, and knowini:;, by abundant ohscrva-
ilon, that "for tlie soul to be wiliiout knowhxltrc was not
good," he aimed at dilfusinj,' useful, but es|)<'cially saving'
kiiowledj^i! aniouj"; his Indians. Out of his Indian school
spnniu up a college. Aniont:; his i)Uj)ils, Sampson Occum,
a Mohegan, obtained a standing in the Christian ministry,
and, in api)ealing to generous stewards of his Master's
goods, he, with the llcv. xSathaniel Whittaker, went to
Cireat Britain about ITOG.

(In 17G7 the University of St. Andrews gave to Whit-
taker the degree of Doctor in Divinity).

The novelty of the appearance of Occum, his ability,
earnestness and the interests of his race, excited the atten-
tion of many benevolent persons, who were willing to
"honor the Lord with their substance" until his "mis-
sionary school " obtained the means to take rank as a col-
lege. Not only the common people, but some of those of
rank, vied in the enter})rise, and as Lord Dartmouth gave
for the purpose the most munificent sum, the town of
Ihmover, N. H., was honored and much of New England
bl(>ssed by the founding of Dartmouth College there in
1769. The man for the place, the first president, was the
Rev. Eleazer \\'heelock ; succeeded during the first century
by his brother, by Jirown, Dana, Tyler and Lord, the in-
stitution has become an eminent "success," and is "not a
whit behind " any other seminary in tlie land in develop-
ing mind and making men useful. Others there are on
which funds are more extensively heaped, but few, if any,
can be named where reputation, during the perilous years
of college life, is more safe, or future usefulness, on the
average, more extensively secured. Though rnly and
nlways a college, the names of Webster and Choate, among
her graduates, are names of which any university would
feel })roud. Many of the early friends of this seat of learn-
ing were Presbyterians, and to it, among the others, " the
Presbytery at the Eastward " looked for an increase in the
gospel ministry by forming Burses.

Paper after jiaper antl letter after letter from the prolific
pen of Murray testify this.

In February, 1784, a committee of the Presbytery wrote

i>!il

tl'

222

HISTORY" OF PRESBYTERIANISM

to tlio "Honorable Board and Immediate Governors of the

Institution."

To this a favornljU' r('))ly was in due time ol)tainod.

" Impressed with a (h'cp sense ol' the ()hn<i;ati()n con-
ferred upon us by the ])ioi;s and generous proposal of the
worthy patrons of tiie cause of rehgion and literature
which you have so ])oliteiy connuunicated : Tlie Pres-
bytery entertained the enclosed resolutions on their
records as a jx'rpetual monument of the charity and
pious zeal of the university over which you worthily
preside.

" We were not a little animated by the generous engaL'o-
ment of the Board, and authority to remit entirely the
fees and tuition money of such Bursar ns at any time miyht
be sent by us for education to that highly favored fountain
of learning.

"Long may the seminary under your care flourish liy
those auspicious rays of the Sun of rightemisness which
have hitherto distinguished it as the favorite ])lantation of
the Divine hushiuidry.

" The lion. President Wiieelock."

It will be thus seen that not only Grafton Pres])ytery,
but also the Presbytery at tlie Eastward, had a deep inter-
est in Dartmouth College.

As a matter of courtesy, the Presbytery at Windliam,
on October 2:id, 1782, invited the elders from Bedford and
Golfstown, then i)resent, to sit as correspondents, and on
May 2()th, 1783, the elder from the latter place presented a
commission from a Presbyterian jsoeiety there and was re-
ceived.

Other congregations continued to come to Presbyterian-
ism, and on the same day the K(!V. John Hubbard and
Mr. Thos. Tewksbury as an elder i)resented their constitu-
tion as a Presbyterian society.

The Rev. Solomon Moore and William Moore, his elder,
of New Boston, ))resented themselves to this Presbytery,
and were received.

"Diligent in busin(>ss," the Presbytery in due form, after
satisfactory ''trials," licensed Mr. Joseph McKeen to preach
the gospel.

Nor was tins all. At this May meeting they were vis-
ited by the Rev. Messrs. Robert and David Annan and Mr.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

223

William ^lorrison ("to be subsequently noticed), who were
inviti'd to sit as covrcspoiKlcnts.

Oil (-)t'tober .Stli, 178.J, at Caudia, a " j)etition from Doer
Island was answered in a friendly manner." Pastors Wil-
lianis and Davidson were appointed to l»a])tiz(! cliihh'en at
Duiibarton, and on tbe ai)plication of the Rev. John Hub-
bard and n)enil)ers of lifs society, Presbytery adjourned to
meet in Aniesbury, Mass., which they did on November
loth, when the iirst parish of Londonderry requested a
supply as a colleague to the Rev. Mr. J^avidson, when a
plan for forming,' a Rurse was encouraged by tlie Presby-
tery, and tiie "respectful letter to the authorities of Dart-
nioulh College " (inserted above) was voted to be sent.

In 1784, February loth, a petition was received from the
New England congregation at White Creek, New York,
])raying to be received, and to devise some proper way to
inod(«rate in a call, and to this the Presl>ytery sent "a
ehulk-nge to shew (uiuse, if any, why the ])rayer of the
petition should not be granted at next meeting."

On October 8th, 1783, a petition had been received from
Canil)ridge, New York, Avhieh, when " considered with what
the Itev. Dr. Thomas Clark wrote to the Rev. Mr. Murray
res})ecting that aliair, the Presbytery sent ^Ir. James Mil-
tiuiore thither some Saljl)aths. If his preaching there
gave ofl'ence to the Associate Reformed Presbytery, ho
must return to this Presl)ytery ; and we cannot allow Mr.
Miltinioro to preach at White Creek either, if by so doing
the said Presbvtery are ofi'ended."

Whether they were offended or not, preach at White
Creek he did, and received a call, which he subsequently
declined.

This called forth an urgent letter from " the Hon. I. Wil-
liams on behalf of the Trustees of the New England con-
gregation of White Creek, praying that the answer of Mr.
Miltimore be revoked and that, he be sent to that place."

Tlie Presbytery recorded four observations anent this
letter: 1st. That they had used no intluenceto induce him
to decline their call, and they did not know Avhat his
answer would be until they heard it in judicature, 2d.
They had reasons to believe that the state of said congre-
gation and its connections were such that Miltimore would
have given the same answer if he had not had a call from

:, f

Ill

224

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

'^l

» ,

the Eastward. 3d. Tliat tlic Presbytery had no reason to
revoke liis answer or alter their jiuii^nient. 4th. Tliat no
reason is oll'ered by said hitler why they shouhl do so;
therefore tlicy do not "order him to While Creek."

"Mr. Miltiniore, l)eint,' eallid on to make iui.swer to that
call, replied, that ho had very serionsly and prayerfully
considered that same throiii^hout the .season ])ast, anil
viewed himself aceountahle to the ^M'cat Head of tlu!
Church for the result of his deliherations ; hul tliat, on the
whole, aecordinj^ to the hest li^dit he had, he could not see
it to be his duty to settle there!."

At a previous nieetinji, the congrefration of Cambridge,
N. Y., if their eircumstanees re([uired it, in connection
with the ])reaching of Millimore, were allowed to call a
pro re luita meeting; and at " New IJoston, Se])teniber 8tli,
1784, at such a meeting, Mr. .lohn ^Morrison appeared as a
commissioner from Cand)ri(lg(>, N. Y., and presenting a
coi)y of a call, requesting Presbytery to sustain it and i)re-
sent it to Mr. Miltiniore."

" Voted : That as dilliculties subsist, they cannot sustain
the same."

What these difficulties fully were does not clearly appear,
and his reply in declining the call from White Creek j)ut
a terinination to all eflorts to obtain his services west of
the Crreen Mountains, lie received, September <Stli, 1784,
a call from Deer Island. This he did nt)t probably accept,
as he was settled at Stratham, N. II., in 1780, and dis-
missed in October, 1807. On July oOth, 1878, the town
clerk wrote : " I do not find any record of the settlement
of any other minister since the said JMiltimore." A town
without a pastor for seventy years ! " Tell it not in
Gath."

As we liave seen, for y(>ars it was their practice to open
their stated meetings with a discourse continuously on one
of the chapters of the Confession of Faith by a member
})reviously appointed, and they a])i)ear for several years to
obey the injunction, " take heed to the doctrine." Their
surroundings (as stated) were sulTering much morally
since the war.

The State churches became in many cases less careful
about the doctrine, the elders were ignored and their oilice
dropped, and tendencies were running from a theocracy

IN NEW KNOT, AND.

225

pear,

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ollice
jcracy

vostofl in an oli*!;ar('hy and an Athenian deinocrary to an
(■(•(•l('!<iastical (Icinoeracv. While l*resi»yterianisni was
•IccHiiin^, some Ibrnis of Ct)n,:^'re<:i;ationaiisni were increus-
in.ir.

The iiinnersinix Conure^iationalists (self-styled Baptists)
were in some cases diviTLiinif tVoni their former Calvinism,
and, tmdcr the tith> of j-'retwiil, wer(> *' sul)vertin;,' houses."
When thns so far removed from a belief in the existence
of "a remnant aecordinji to the election of grace," as to
suppose, with Arnunius, "That .Iesusi.'hrist, by his suller-
iiiLis and (h'ath, maih' an atonement for the sins of all man-
kind in general and of every iiuhvidiial in particular; that,
however, none but those who believe in him can b(; par-
takers of divine beneilts, ' it would not do violence to Con-
}:re<iational louic, to maintain. That " if Christ's atonement
is of such value as to save all n)en, he would not die at a
venture, but, ])ossessed of inllnite power, he would save all
for whom he died." This, taken in connection with the
l)resum|)tnous ass('rtion of ignorance, that ''(rod is too
^ood to make any man to ilamn him," oriirinated, (jr, at
least, helped to perfect the tenet, that "as Christ died for
all, so before lie sliall have delivered u]) his mediatorial
kingdom to the Father, all shall b(^ brouiiht to a participa-
tion of the benelits of his death in their restoration to holi-
ness and happiness."

In the conrse of a few years afterwards, those who in
lMi'j;land associated with Morgan, in 17-i), diverf2;ed, Wes-
ley i)ropa!j;atin,<jj the opinions of Arminius, Whitelield thos(i
of Calvin in relation to the way of life, and James Relly,
upon a chan;>o of views, maintained "that Christ, as a
.^Iediator, was so united to maidcind, that his actions were
theirs, his obedience and suH'erin.u-s theirs, and, cons<>-
<iueritly, that he as fully restored the whole human race
to the divine favor as if all had obeyed and suffered in
their own ])ersons." About the middle of that century a
^Ir. John Murray, l)elonu;in(r to Hclly's society, emigrated
to America and propagated his doctrines. After laboring
some time in New Jersey, he first preached in New York
in 1770. He soon aft(n'wards visited Boston and obtained
a kind of resting ]->lace for his o])inions in Gloucester, Mass.
He first preached Universalism in New Hampshire in 1773.

This new type of Congregationalism, that is, new in New
15

urn

\'",i

I III

:iilll'

226

HISTORY OF PKESBYTERIANISM

the

Englanci at that timo, as ponl-dostrovino; and God-dishon-
oring, the Presbyterians conscimitiously opjjosed, ami on
May 21st, ITSo, eniittcd a testimony concorninLi; it. Tims
"Nvarnin<jj tlu'ir ix^-oplo of danijor, which had now hcconie
the more insidious, l>ecause that "the Bay State I'snliu-
l)ook " had been supplanted among the C'ongregationnlists
and many ot" the I'rcsbyterians, especially those who canio
from Congregationalism, had beeomi^ enamored with the
iuiitations and other poi'tieal eil'usions of the Ifev. Dr.
NV^atts, which, witlwi breadth and a dei)th ec^ual to all
measures of hell, niiiintained that

" Christ came to make his hlessings How
Far as the curse is foiuul."

His poetry formed a rapid diffusive stimulant for " divers
and strange doctrines."

To counteract, so far as ])ossihle, the effects of the doc-
trine of universal salvation, tiie Presbytery emitted their
Ih'^tiniony, with what salutary effect we cannot at this dis-
tant period of time determine. It, however, showed how
they endeavored t(^ "take heed to tiie ilock."

Reading material did not then abound, and Presbyteri-
ans in New England did not often emj)loy the ])ress in
that generation. The almost only excei)tion Avas a publi-
cation by the Pr(>sbyterv, an anii)liflcalion of their testi-
mony, imder a ])i'euhar title which read thus:

''Bath Kol, a voice from the wildern(\^s. Being an hum-
ble attempt to su])poi-t tl e linking truths of (Jod against
some of the i)rincipal errors raging at this time. Or. a
joint testimony to tlu> churches under their care. IW the
Presbytery of the ICiistward. Boston: N. ("overly, 1788."

They begin Avith Deism and Origenism as lying nearest
the root of all impiety and wickedness now leading the
fashions in ])laces of pulilic resort. Then an incjuiry into
causes which have brought down these judgments on the
church. Next, by way of introduction, they state, "that
the regard for rehgion for which New England was ouco
distinguished, has now vanished from among us in a
lamentable degre(\ W'e have sutlen^d eight years of war.
and for this awful cakunity there are moral causes.

"Never was the public worship of God as generally
voted away as at the present. Many grudging the ex-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

227

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IncrallY
[he ex-

pcnsc of supporting]!; it, liavo dismissed God's ambassadors
ami locked up the doors of his hous(\ Others have ex-
changed a learniMl, godly ministry tV)r iixnorant fanatical
intruders, merely Ix^canse they jjri'tend to deal out to thiMii
their wild and indit^^ested elVusions without salary, while
of th(! remaiiuler amon;f whom their minisU-rs still mako
a shift to continue, the ^greatest numhcr seldom atttaid, and
not a small proi)ortion of those who attend pass the sacred
hours of worship in saunterin_Lr, <:a/.inir, dozinii; and sneer-
in,^. Family worship is a stranucr to the dwellinus of
thousands. Sahhath profanation ahounds on wharves, in

eoll'ce-houses an(

HI sots holes, and the answer is: ' tis
Av;ir times.' Country youtli learn i)rofanation on boaril
of i)riv;itcers and in the camps.

" Benevolence is not cultivated now. Intcmi)eranco sends
man helow the brutal hertl. Multitudes of men each year
are destroyed by it, and women take it too.

'"Anti-nuptial offences are almost forj>otten to be a crime.
Adultery increases; vile books are priutetl and read with
avidity ; extortion, theft, fraud and lying increasingly
abound.

•' It is in view of this alarming state of things among us
that we have ventured to deliver our souls in the follow-
ing testimony, and to that step we judged ourselves bound
at this time, for the following reasons. Nothing of this
kind has come to our knowledge from any (piarter in the
l;nul — not from Presbyteries and Synods, nor associations
and conventions."

These "reasons'' show a lamentably cold state of zeal
for the interests of gotUiness when none among professors
of religion, and they were then in the land nominally
nearly all evangelical, could be found to lift \\\) their voice
ill warning and remonstrance.

The moral sentiment of th(> church seems to have fallen
from what it was before the war, when, on iMay 2()th, 1771,
the Rev. D. Mcdregor, at Seabrook, jireached from Joel
ii.l7.

These twelve years, from 1771 till 1783, sliow not only
the eil'ects (jf a desolating war, but also the worth lessne.ss
of a State religion in supporting godliness and good morals.
The earlier way of publicly prol'essing faith in Christ as
"the Redeemer of God's elect," and then from faith in him

lis

228

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

and love to him, "living soberly, righteously iind godly " as
his peojtle, had now measurably jjassed away. Hence the
description of society in New England here given.

In their Balk Kol (a voice from tlie wilderness) the
Presbytery now take under notice a wide field, from which
I select a few items, such as: "Plymouth colony was
erected by letters patent from King James I., Ai)ril lOih,
IGOG, for the purpose of planting and ruling the t(>rritory
(then called Northern \'irginia j, now called New England,
which liad been disc(}vcrcd by Partholomew Gosnold on
May 11th, 1G02. This society consist<'d of a number of
nobility and gentry, but ibr fourteen years gath(>r fish and
fur was all they did. Money was, on tlie whole, their
object, and money was the snare in which their scheme
■was entangled and lost; for a Cajjlain Hunt, in their em-
ploy, carried off twenty-seven Indians and sold them in
Spain for £20 sterling each. This innn<'diately broke olf
their commerce with the Indians. (P. 'lb.) A colony of
French Protestants went to Brazil about IGTO, and had
seventy-five ministers from GenL-va, l)Ut they faile(l.

Eliot saw twenty-four Indian congregations with twenty-
four Indian ministers.

The Baptists began at Swanzey and at Boston in IGGo,
and were condenmed by a Synod in 1G79. Quakers began
in IGoG.

For witchcraft nineteen were executed between 1648 and
1G92. Revival from 1739 till 1744.

2Gth of January, 1744, war on Louisburgh was carried
by one of a majority in Boston Cieneral Court.

From these and various other topics, apparently totally
disconnected, somewhat after the manner of " Mather's
"\\^onder-\\"orking Providence," they trace a connection be-
tween moral wrong-doing and calamity under I)iviu(;
providence, and state that " ungodliness had now l)een in-
creasing for twenty years," and as an evidence, if not a
cause, an effect of it, "Arminianism " has (had then) now
"become respectable." Think of this!

Their Bath Kol they ])ublished in an octavo form. So
they describe it. By ret]uest, the Rev. Robert Annan, of
Long Lane, did the proof-reading.

Notwithstanding their diligence in spreading before tiieir
people through the ,pr(jss their testimony iu Bath Kol, in-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

229

dividuals, with an inconsistency usually in keeping with
attachment t(^ error, imagined tliat they could deny the
trutli of the stantlards of the cliurch and still (so far as
they pleased) enjoy full ])rivileges as memhers. This was
attem{)ted hy individuals in Ne\vl)uryj)ort. They "were
not free to profess their l)elief of tiie future eternity of
hell torments," and yet claimed "all the special i)riviieges
of Christians."

"After serious consideration" of a communication from
the session of s.'iid church, the Preshytery at Derry, Sep-
tember 13th, 1785, say, " We cannot see how any church
connected Avith us could, after the issuing of our testimony
on the 21st of May, 1783, judicially condemning the doc-
trine of universal salvation, allow any special fellowship
to any adherent to those errors."

"This Presbytery, firmly adhering to our said public
act, highly a})prove of the conduct of the pastor and ses-
sion of said church in the facts stated in the resolutions
now presented, and we solemnly enjoin on all our mem-
bers and all churches under our care, to adopt the same
rule of conduct towards Origenists which has been ob-
served ))V these our brethren in this case, as thev would
avoid the pains of the discipline of Christ's church against
schism, heresy, and disorder."

"On motion, Resolved, That in the present low state of
religion among us, this Presbytery judge that it is not
enough to bear as the}'' have done open testimony against
errors and vices, without seriously attempting to push for-
ward an actual reformation in the matters comj)]ain( vl of
among the churches under our care. And as Presbyterial
visitations have ever made a standing part of the adminis-
tration of government in the Presbyterian ('hurch, and
have always been found to be a blessed means, under God,
of reforming abuses and keei)ing peace and order in tho
church, this mode, long disused by this body on account of
tile pul)lic perils and distresses of the late war, ought now
to he revived among us without further delay."

This duty was to "be commenced at next mee'r./ir, and
to be continued only at state.'. mettJ -.g^ until ah ■ , -> con-
gregations were visited, and in perfoiniing the ruits laid
down by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
shall be observed, excepting such parts as are local."

^ iWWH

•
••

•

230

HISTORY OF PRES. ro'EniANISM

This was a wise movement, as siieh visitation of each
church, pastor, ehlers, deacons, and people by the Presby-
tery is a necessary eh;nient in "takinjj; care of tlie lioiise
of Ct()(L" ''Ol)ey them that liave the rule over you."
Submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls as they
that must give an account, not only to the Chief yhepherd,
when he comes from a))ove, but now, to those wlio arc
constituted " in the name of our L(jrd Jesus Clirist," as
thrones of judgment, thrones of the house of (our New
Testament) David.

In no other way can delinquencies be so completely
reached and the church kei)t pure, vital, active, and ag-
gressive as by sworn official watch of all its members,
rulers and ruled.

If this course were pursued by every Presbytery at each
stated meeting, " pare and undefiled religion " would,
under the Divine blessing, see brighter days than the
visible church has yet seen. Where the pastor teaches
publicly and from house to house, where the elders bear
rule well, where those who are "over the outward thin;j;s
of the house of God " use the office of a deacon well, they
individually, in their respective relations, purchase to
themselves a good degree and great b(^l(ln(>s3 in the faith."
Individual members and pnrents thus seeing those who
are over them in the I;ord examined, not only become
divested of any i)etty jealousy of feeling, but learn to sus-
tain with pleasure their spiritual guides and overseers in
every department of demanded duty ; while children be-
come increasingly accustomed to them, and, by the obser-
vation of such visitations, more familiar with the bulwarks
of the church, and learn to go (not to be driven) " by the
footsteps of the flock."

That is not all. Such official duty has, the promise of
an efficacious blessing. " Occupy," " Be thou faithful . . .
and I will give," " Digging about and dunging," is the
only sure way to productiveness and abundance. (Acts
XX. 28.)

IN NEW ENGLAND.

231

CHAPTER X.

1708-1793 — IIow were the means of grace relished? — A revival — Pres-
bytery of (iraftoii — A letter to — Wliat rcsjponse we know not —
"Hoitcs to be excused" — Odiorne — The State religion "the most
lionorablest" — D. F. Williams' dwliiiature — "Not consistent with
our principles" — Visitation — lIow conducted, shewn — A decisive
part — Congii. stimulated — Innovations — Principle had not yet evapo-
rated — The Precentor — E'resbytery recommended — Delusions and dc-
tihng sins — A Fast-Day — Observed November, 1780 — Jeremiah Pear-
sous informs Rev. J. Chandler about their receiving Murray — Things
tliat were ready to die in Church and Town — Hence letter to Sea-
brook Congn., 1788— The people obeyed the Presbytery and pros-
pered — Rev. Thos. Hiijbert from bail to worse — His lawsuit — De-
posed and excommunicated — An imicpie scene — Washington goes
"down East" — The Presbytery address him — His answer — The
stigma — Murray's usefulness limited by it — The three Presbyteries —
Three Churches — Rev. 8. Williams anxious— lie wrote earnestly to
Mr. M. to seek rccoticiliation with the Philadelphia Presbytery — Mr.
M. persisted in denying the forgery — Atkinson and Moore licensed —
Mr. Jona. I5rown i)romised So.OO per Sabbath and his ferryage —
Death of Rev. William Davidson, Feb. lo, 1791 — His character —
Miuitles now worn by natives — Pungent letter to Seabrook — Its effects
— Lust meeting of the Presbytery at Eastward, of which we iiave
records there, June 13, 1792— First Church, Derry, ask supply — But
they object to Jona. Brown — Broadstreet examined and approved-
Win. Pigeon recommended as a Bursar — Tiie proposals for a union of
Presbyteries considered, and (Commissioners appointed to meet the
Conniiissioners of the other Presbyteries at Dartmouth on the 23d
of August, 1792 — Adjourned to meet in New Market, on October 4tli,
1792 — A recapitulation — Regular meetings of this Presbytery held for
a lew years, but how long is uncertain.

In tracing our ecclesiastical ])olitios, it is a matter of the
hiuhcst importance (and one which we can only reach ap-
proximately) to ascertain with what lite the means of
P'ace, where they were enjoyed, were relished. " The cares
of tiie world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of
other thintrs entering in, choke the word, and it becometh
unfruitful."

'! 'S

Hlf

I i

232

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

Wc have seen in n former crencration liow it was in Lon-
donderry and elsewhere, while the ntterances of BdtJi Kol
are disc()urajj;in^', indicating an extensive destitution of
those " Avorks of righteousness " whose " fruit is unto holi-
ness."

This is noticed in connection Avith a statement in the
following letter, in which we tind that a nn'ival was expe-
rienced in the interior parts of New IIani])shire, and that,
as a (lonsequence, a Preshyterv iiad heen there formed.

it is dated at Londonderry on Se})tend)er l-'Uh, ITSo,
"To the Rev. Presbytery of (irafton, the first Preshytery
of the Eastward, wish grace, mercy and jjcace, etc., etc. ;

^'Rev. and dearhj beloved in the Lord : — Animated, we trust,
hy a dutiful zeal for tlu; faith and order of the gospel,
which, with pain, we behold lameritably set aside by too
many of all ranks among us." They now state the cir-
emnstances of their organization ; the name of their Pres-
bytery, their standards i\s to doctrine, government aiid
discipline, ignoring their matter and form of worshij).
"Conducted by this platform, through the indulgence of
Zion's King, we have maintained brotherly love among
ourselves, peace and order in the churches under our care,
and have received various additions of ministers and
churches to our number from time to time.

"Beside the organized churches which compose our
body, a great number of towns and settlements in tiiis ex-
tensive eastern region a])ply to us for supi)lies of tlie gos-
pel. To the utmost of our ])o\ver we have endeavored to
answer their calls; and had we candidates suHicient for
our vacancies, we should not doubt but by the blessing of
God, in a very short time to see Presbyterian churches
planted throughout the Eastward. To this happy event
nothing has been a greater obstruction than the want of
visible union among Presbyterians. To form a counter-
poise to this, it has been ' as cold watcn- to the thirsty soul,'
to hear that the Lord hatli been ])()uring out his Spirit on
his ministers and churches in the; interior ])arts of this
State, and that a goodly nund^er of tiiem have been thereby
moved to revive the ancient and scriptural form of govern-
ment in that country, and have actually formed them-
selves into a regular Presbytery, and walk together in the
faith and order of the gospel.

IN NKW ENGLAND.

233

" This Prosbyteiy rojoicc to tnko this opportunity to
ojfcii a tVicndly corrospondciicc with you. as a sister judi-
catory in Christ's liousc, and as such, to otl'or to you tho
ri^lit hand of trllowsliip. To make these our s(>ntiinents
known to your reverend body, and in our luuv.e to nejioti-
ate wiiatever niav \)v necessary ibr the union and h

ar-

mony of this part of Clirist's mystical body among us, "\ve
liave sent a worthy nienil)er of this Presbytery, commis-
sioned and instructed for that ])uri)oso,

'■ We rcMpiest you charital)ly to receive liim in the Lord
as our own souls, to uive full crecU'nce to him as our repre-
sentative, and treat with him as you would with us if ])er-

lally present. lleguing an interest in your prayers,

SOI

wislnng vou

needed grace and all desirable success in
the gospel vineyard, witli great veneration and afi'ection-
ate esteem, we are, etc., etc."

Whetlier any and wdiat response was returned to this
letter we know not, Init negotiations for union were for
years continued. It also brings out the real existence of
Grafton Presbytery.

From Iragnii iitary minutes we are able to trace the
doings of this Presbytery a few y(,'ars longer.

At Amesbury. .June 7th, 178G, there were present Revs.
J()se[)h ]*rince, Thomas Ilibbard and Simon Williams,
with i<]lders Jonat!)an King, Ivlward Harris, Deacon
Tukesbury and John Moulton, Esq. xVbsent — Revs. \\'il-
liaiii Davidson, Solomon Moore, John Murray and Na-
thani(>l Ewer.

In answer to ii ])etition from Boothbay, Presbytery de-
(>ired their candidate, Mr. (ililbert T. Williams, to go, but
he re(|uested the Presbytery to "indulge him, as he finds
a <iveat reluctance in taking such a journey " even in sum-
mer, as I'ar as from ^\'indllam, N. II., to Roothbay in
Maine, therefore he " hojies to ho. excused."

''Send, Lord, by whom tluni wilt send." I cannot "en-
dure hardness," much less "all things for the elect's sake,
that tlu'y may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ
Jesus with eternal glory."

Having declined going, he was " appointed to su])ply tho
vacanci(>s in these parts at his own discretion." Plis Pres-
hyterianism was too feeble to resist his surroundings, and
liis proclivities run to Congregationalism.

234

IIISTOUY OF pukshytehiamsm

Presbytery had control of tlio taxes for the supjiort of
the j)arish ii •"''•^^or in only ;t few towns. " The loiives and
iish(>s" WO' a then, to some minds (indebted to Prcs-

bytcriani' all their moral worth and consequent

])rosper i more importance than the dictates of <:rati-

tiide. the old Swiss ^'cntlonian, Odiorne of Ifalifax,

Nova bi^wtia, when with his dan«ihter, who, after her mar-
riajj;c, went with her husband (a son of the Attorney-(!en-
eral of th(; Province) to tiie Episcopal ciuirch, and when
an elder remonstrated witii him, sayin<jj, '' why do you
leave our church, do you not know that the Presbyterian
is the best reli^don?'' "Oh," says he, " the Presbyterian
relif^ion is the best religion, but the Ciiurch of England is
the most honorabk^st." So it was with McKcen and the
Williams as Pursars. The State religion was in their
estimation '' the most honorablest," and to it they went.

October oth, 178G. "Presbytery proceeded in the busi-
ness of tiie visitation of this church (Newburyport). The
pastor being withdrawn the elders were examined accord-
ing to the rules about the })astor, and then the elders l)eing
withdrawn the ]iastor was examined as to the session and
church ; a full statement of the order, government and dis-
cipline thereof was laid before us, and on the whole noth-
ing found objected tt> or complained of, unless that the
pastor in session confined himself solely to the ])lace of
moderator and executive oflicer without taking a deciding
part. To which he answered by reading certain instru-
ments, which passed between him, the session and church
previous to his settlement, in which certain reforms were
solicited by him and })romised by them ; he withal declared
that whenever these were actually complied with, he was
"willing to take as decisive a i)art as is usual for gospel
ministers to do, but until then, he declared himself bound
in conscience to go no farther than he has done."
" Unanimously ai)prove of the conduct of said ))astor in
the j)remises and encourage him to persevere therein."'
The "go to let us" part of their })olity, in which their
Presbyterianism was defective, is thus disclosed, while by
thus "taking heed to all the Hock," the Presbytery havo
before them a reliable knowledge of their average spiritual
condition. The congregation in the meantime are stimu-
lated to higher attainments in the Divine life, and see

IN NEW KNGLAND.

235

more cxtrnsivdy tho rosponsiljility of thoso who watrli for
their souls and i-csolvc to hokl them more "hij^hly iu lovu
for then- work's sake."

l*ro re natd at liondonderry, Novcmher ^)th, ITSIj. A
rcinoMstranee from the session of Louilonderry, si.uned hy
eleven rulin<f elders, in refereneo to innovations introdueiMl
1)V a party in relation to the manner of sinujinif in the
ciuirch was now suhnntt(Ml. 'J'ho Sci)teh-lrish Presl)yt«'-
rian hlood and jjrinciple had not yet evaporated, eonse-
((Uently they sun^ ])salms. lUit tlie style had heec^me all
iin])ortant with a l)r. Isaac Thom and some of the ])arish.
When forhidden l)y their a<,a>(l ])astor to disturh further
the ))eaee of the church, they rehelled, and persevered iu
their innovations.

In times i)ast, the ])reccntor had stood in his desk faciuf?
the conp'e<Tation, so that his countenance as well as that
of the minister mi<:ht he seen, and draw the sym|)athy and
co-operation of his fell()w-worshi})pers ; hut in the surround-
ing regions this decent and time-honoreil Scriptural order
had been supplanted by pitch pipes, gallery singing, and
tunes not only n(nv to tho aged, hut unsuitable for the
praise of God, with his "sweet psalms."

The casting away of the "Bay State Psalter" and the
introduction for nearly a generation of the " Imitations ''
had trained the sentimental New England mind for new
usages, and the good " ould twelve tniies, which," in slang
phraseology, "the Lord made in Ireland," now, like John
Barleycorn, " must die."

Upon '' ])articular incpiiry, it was found that neither the
elders nor Dr. Thom were clothed with proper authority to
represent their respective parties. Therefore the Presby-
tery resolved, that they cannot constitutionally jtroceed to
hear and judge on the merits of this cause at this time,
and they earnestly recommend it to l)oth parties to forbear
all animosities and contentions on this subjec^t, and to ex-
ercise forbearance and Christian candor on i)oth sides until
Ave have o|)portunity to determine the case regularly in a
judicial way."

Newbury})ort, October r)th, 1780. "Taking into serious
consideration the manifold delusions and land-deliling
sins now prevailing in this land, and the awful })ublic
frowns and judgments of Almighty God now justly pour-

■ M

23G

HISTORY OF PRESBYTKIIIANISM

ini? out upon it, in the liimontablo state of our public
iili'airh!, I'n.'shytcry a<;r('c that tho (irst Tuosday of Novem-
ber next be set apart and observed in all the eoni;re<;ations
under our care as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer,
that we and our people may then put)liely confess our sins
and imi)lore tlie (lod of all ;:;race to avert the judgments
which he is now threatening and we as a people justly
deserve."

So far as is known, that day was duly observed.

At Topsham, June loth, 1787, an "elder from l>()othl)ay
expressed the desire of that congregation to receive a can-
didate, who has a view to settlement."

Tiieir next meeting was at Seal>rook, ()eto})er 17th, 1787.
Murray, Prince, Ewer, and Thos. lliljbard present, with
six elders.

On August 25th, 1787, a Rev. Jas. Chandler wrote to an
elder (Jeremiah Pearson) in Newbury port, to " know upon
what grounds they had received Mr. Murray " as |)astor,
as lie had seen the character of him given by the first
Presbytery of Philadelphia; and received the following
reply ;

"Principally these: Beside his appeal to an impartial

Eublic, arc his examination and confession before his Prcs-
ytery ; his letter to the Rev. Mr. Parsons, in which is con-
tained such a confession as satisfied the Boston Presbytery
when read at their session both at Palmer and at Salem,
and satisfied our church ; his trans])ortation from Booth-
bay to this place by the Presbytery of wliich those
churches are members ; to which might be added, his being
one of the greatest Calvinistic divines of the age — a mirror
of patience, of a godly life and conversation during his
residence at the Eastward — are some of the grounds upon
which he was received by our church. Sir, I might give
many more."

At Candia, June 11th, 1788. Present, Prince, Ewer,
Williams, Sol. Moore, Robt. Moore, John Murray, and
seven elders. Oi>ene(l wdth a sermon by the Rev. Mr.
Moore on "Effectual Calling" (10th chap. Conf. of Faitli).
By this time some of their congregations were becoming
like the seven churches in lesser Asia. They had things
which were " ready to die," where the church and town
Jiad alike sunk into indifference, and to which they gave

IX NEW ENGLAND.

237

oflfioi.ll attontion. Honoe tlie following; from the pointed
and proliiic \)vn of Murray to tlu' cliurcii and congregation
of Srabrook, dated N('\vl»ury})ort, July oth, 1788:
" Dearly Ijcloved in the Lord :

"It is with much rchictance and regret that I am now
obliged to sit down to the painful task of sencHng to you a
letter of re)>roof an<l admonition, in the nanie of the Rev.
J*resl)yt(,'ry under whose care you are placed, for the long
sinful neglect of seeking for the public means of grace for
your congregation.

'"At the last meeting of Presbytery, when, in the course
of their in([uiries into i\\c state of the churches under
their care, they found that, after all that had been said oh
that matter at Seabrook. yet no steps h;ive been taken on
your ])art to obtain even occasional sujiplies for the j)ulpit
since that time ; the information was received with equal
horror and surprise.

''Considering themselves as a judicatory bound to watch
over you for good, th(>y thought they could not accpiit
themselves to their own consciences, nor to the great Head
of the church, if they continued any longer to stand by,
and by their silence seem to connive at so open and de-
liberate a neglect of Christ and of his gos])el.

"Therefore, to discharge the part of faitliful friends and
watchmen towards you, they ordered their clerk to testify
to you, in their name, that this practice is e<iually dishon-
orable to religion and dangerous to your own souls. They
beseech you as brethren to consider wliat an aspect that
church must have, that professes the Christian religion, is
planted in a Christian land Avhere the means of grace are
plenty and the fullest lilierty to enjoy them indulged, and
yet continues quiet and easy from year to year without
sermons, without sacraments, with the house of the Lord
shut up and lying waste.

" They intreat you to recollect that, in the meanwhile,
time is wasting ; death is hastening on ; the awful day of
accounts drawing near; and that when it arrives it will be
an unavailing plea to say your parish was ])Oor, since that
God, who provid(;(l you with that little, will surely assert
his right to require some part of it for his own service.

" They wish you to reflect whether the continuanc«j of
that poverty may not be a judgment for tiiis habitual pub-

■i

'■»■

238

IIISTOUV OF PRKSnYTEUIANISM

lie contonij»t of his word, nnd wliotlicr it is not prohnlilo
that your jx-r.^islint: in thiit sin may i)rovulvi; thi; l.oni to
inllict yet soror jud^'nicnts ; whether it docs not tend to
l)rin<; up your chiith-eu in fatal i;ji;uoranee of (iod, and to
nialvi! way lor (h'isni, infuh'lity. and atiirisni itself, to taki'
their full sweep anions- the risin^^ j^eneration; whethi;r, if
ninners go on hardened in inipeniti nee and jierish at last
for lack of vision, thiiir hlood will not he reijuired at vour
hands, and whether, in that sad case, the saving a little
earthly interest lor your children and jjosterity will hu
enough to coinitevvail the damage?

"The I'reshytery remonstrate tiiose serious things to you
with the sincerest respect and lovo for your souls. They
pray you to take the warning in good part, and giv(! them
the comfort to know at their next meeting that you are
sincerely resolved on such a reformation in this respect as
may give them occasion to rejoice in the pros])ect of your
finally escaping the wrath to come.

"As for myself, you may be assured that nothing hut a
conscientious obedience to tiie solemn injunction of that
reverend body to whicii I am sul)ject, could have i)ersuaded
me to undertake tiiis painful task — and jiermit me to re-
quest that you believe that every word 1 have written is
dictated from the t^incerest desire for your greati'st happi-
ness in time and eternity, and thus I hope to ])e still con-
sidered as, gentlemen, your aflectionate friend and very
humble servant in the gospel of Christ."

May not Presbyteries be found to-day who recjuire to
profit by this exai. p^e of official fidelity where churches
are allowed to commit suicide or die out without such a
solenm remonstrance? "These (as well as inspired)
things were written aforetime for our learning."

" ilow forcible ^ye right words ! " Tiie people ob(>ycd
them who had the rule over them, resumed })ul)lic worship,
and, as we shall (D. V.) see, the last meeting of "the Pres-
bytery at thd Eastward," of which we have full records, was
lield at Seabrook.

Our next item of record is dated "Amesbury, Novem-
ber Gth, 1788, 7 A. M. Presbytery met in intedoquitur.^^
The cause of their meeting was an aggravated case of
drunkenness. The congregation was one Avhich had come
to Presbyterianism, and the habits of the pastor, the Rev.

IN NEW ENGLANP.

239

Thomas TTHtliort, liad grown from ))ii(l to worse. T)V tho
" j);irisli hook '' it appeared that on " Dcccmhcr l.'Jth ( 17S7),
thiy voted CIS to he paid to him for all services as a miii-
isti'r, on condition that he cancel all the nunister's tax(\s
till the 24th of May, 17<SS, and also continue to jireach to
us till tiien." This was recalled. He offered to leave the
matter to relerees. He proseciiti'd them. J)eacon Tucker
a,<;reed that tho society pay their part of Mr. Hihhert's
cliar<;es in ii lawsuit witli tliat parish, accordintr to cove-
nant, and also to ]>ay up tlu; C")!) contained in the al)ovo
vote and suhscription on the condition therein men-
tioned.

" Mr. H. said he would a<,M'ee to fulfil his part, on condition
that the Preshytery peaeeahly dismiss him.'' Instead of
(l(»in<:; so, he was arrai<ine"l and tried, and the evidence was

only too conclusive. Altera tectious ]iroeess, all parlies
and witnesses i)ein<i; heard until they had nothin*,' to add,
I'reshytery ordered them to withdraw, and carefully
oxamini'd all the papers left with them.

'' Ilesolved unanimously that the complaint of intoxica-
tion is lully proved, as were also two other charLM's, and they
dciioxcd iiim from the ollice of the holy miidstry." They
then declared the ])uli)it vacant, and exhoited the society,
so soon as may he, to ohtain another minister. Is not
'• wine a mocker and strong drink raging " in view of such
occurrences?

" The Preshytery gave to him the position of a ])rivate
nieinher in the clinrch. Thio he spurned, and on April
29th, 1780, the session gave him till the last Wednesday in
Juno to express his sorrow for his sin. If then impenitent,
the session will ask' the Preshytery to rxamnnuuiratc him,
which was done on the 20th day of July, 1789, hy the ap-
pointment of Preshytery hy the Rev. Solomon Moore,
Moderator."

From this humiliating scene, a minister eranmnvnicnted
for drunkenness, for indecent conduct in the house of 'wor-
sliij) on the Lord's day, and for lying, avc now turn to an
'inii(|ue occurrence — a "Scotch- Irish '' church court in per-
sonal communication with the '' President of tho United
•States of America."

In October, 1789, George Washington went " down
East," and he who had " lifted up his voice like a trumpet,"

• * • ' ■

240

HISTORY OP PRESBYTERIAN ISM

who liad Milled succossl'iilly " coininilti^cs of snt'ctv " niul
ooiistraiiu'd iiu'U to fill the (U'|th't('d raidvs in the anuv,
Avhosc head was previously for years in the Uritish mar-
ket worth live hundred stcrhu^ pounds, standini;,' in part
in the shadow of tin' then travelK'r himself. ;is " the lirst in
war, the lirst in peace ''in the pulpit, and where he was
not positively hated, " the lirst in the heaiis ol" his coun-
trymen," now, with his eo-preshyters, addressi's the Chief
iMayistrate of the nation.

Whiii> the address, like tlu^ clerk who pr(>pared if, mav
be by some considered a little " pompous." those only who
can produce one more ap|)ropriate are cntitK-d to cavil at
it. The criticisms of interior nunds cannot deteiaorate it.

"The Address of the First Presbytery of the Ivistward to
(Jeor'4e Washington, I'resident of the United States:
"Sir: Wc, the ministers and ruling elders icsident iu
Massacliusells and \ew Hampshire, which compose '///<;
Firnt Prc-^hjilcni i)J the Eitstnutul,'' now holdiuij; a. stated ses-
sion in this town ( Xi'wI'Ury |iort t, hei:; h'ave to approach
your presence with genuine feelings of the deepest venera-
tion and hiuhest esteem.

" We ask the honor of a place amouij (he multitudi^s of
good citi/ens who ai'c amhitious of expi-essin^ the heartfelt
satisfaction with which tln'v hid you a cordial wcK'ome to
these eastern parts ol" your /Government. In unison with
rejoiciuLi; millions w<' felicitate our country and ourscKcs
on your unaidmous election t(t the highest ollice which a
nation can hestow, and on your ac<'i>ptance ol the trust
with every evidence which a citi/en can give of heini:: ac-
tuated tlu'ret(> hy (he |)un>st principles of patriotism, of
piety and of self-denial.

"(Ireat was (he joy of our hearts to see the late tedious
and destructive war at leniith terminated in a safe and
honorable peace; to see the liberty and indepi'ndenc(> of
our country hai)pily siH'un'd ; to see wise constitutions of
civil government pi>aceahly established in (he several
States, and (>sj)ecially to see a confederation of them all
linally agn-ed on by the general voici*.

" Jhit with all our joy, we ever contemplated with regret
{lie want of eHiciency iu (he l^'ederal government ; we
urdeutly wished for a Ibmi ofnutioiuil union which ahould

IN NEW ENGLAND.

241

Hvaw tlio cord of annty more closely around tlio several
Stntes, coiu'cntrMte their separate interests and reduce tlie
tVet'iiun ot" America to our ^reat body, ruled by one head
and animated by ont" soul.

''And we now devoutly olVer our hund)le tribute of ]>raiso
and thanksaivinu" \o the all iTvaeious Father of lights, wlio
lias inspired (;ur publie councils with a wisdom and lirui-
iiess which have etlet'ttHl that desirable purpose in so <j;reat
a measure by the ydliniidl Coiistitntioii, and who has tixcd
the eyes of all America on you as the worthiest of its citi-
yA'US to be entrusted with the execution of it.

'■ Whatever any may have supposed wanting in tho
eriginal ]»lan, wi; are hap|)y to llnd so wisely providing in
its amendments ; audit is with peculiar satisfaction that
we behold how easily thi' entire contideui'e of the j)i'ople in
thi' man who sits at the helm of government lias eradicated
every remaining objection to its form.

"Among tluse we nevta* considered the want of a relig-
ious test, that grand engine of perseciUiou in every tyrant's
hand. lUit we should not have been alone in rejoicing to
liave seen some (\\plicit acknowledgment'^ of ' /Ar duli/ true
(uul and Jrsiix ClirisI \\\\o\n he hath S(>nt ' inserted some-
where in the Magna Charta e)f our country.

" We are hai)py to lind, however, that this defect has been
renuHlied in the face ol" all the worhl by the piety and de-
votion in which your lirst ]»ublic act of oiru'c was j)(M'ft)rmed
— by the rcliuious obsi'rvance ol" the Sabbath and of the
])ublic worship of (iod, of which you have set so eminent
an example — and by the warm strains of Christian and de-
vent all'ections which rui\ through your late proclamation
for a gent'ral thanksgiving.

" The catholic spirit breathed in all your jmltlic acts sup-
]hm1s us in the assurani'c that no religious establishments,
no exclusive privileges tending to elevat(> one denomination
el' Christians to the depression of the remainder, can bo
ratilied by the signature of the President during your ad-
ministration. On the contrary, we bless (Jod that yt)ur
wliol(> deportment bids all tlcnominations ctadldcntly to
expect to liud iu you the watciilul guardian of their ei|ual

"All (irk-uinrlt'ihiiiinil would pick no man's pocket and break no niun's
leu." — ( '/'/">«J«.s Jefferson.)
IG

242

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

liberties, the steady patron of genuine Christianity, and the
bright example of those peculiar virtues in which its dis-
tinguishing doctrines have their proper eli'ects. Under the
nurturing liand of a Ruler of such virtues and one so de-
servedly revered by all ranks, we joyfully indulge the hope
that virtue and religion will revive and llourish ; that inti-
delity and the vices ever attendant in its train will be ban-
ished from every polite circle, and that rational piety will
Boon become fashionable there, and from thence be dilfused
among all other ranks in the connnunity.

" Captivated with the delightful prospect of a national
reformation rising out of the inlluen(;e of your authority
and example, we find the fullest encouragement to cherish
the hope of it from the signal deeds of pious and patriotic
heroism, which marked the steps of 'the Father of his
countr}',' from the nujmorahle hour of his aj)j)earance in
Congress, to declare the disinterested views with which he
accepted the connnand of her armies, to that hour not less
memorable, when, having gloriously acquitted himself in
that important trust and C(^m[)letely accomplished tiie de-
sign of it, he ajjpeared in the same great Assembly again,
and resigned his commission into the hands that gave it.

" But glorious as your course has been as a soldier in
arms, defending your country and the rights of mankind,
we exult in the presage, tiuit it will l)e far outshone by the
superior lustre of a more glorious career now before you
as the Chief Magistrate of our nation, protecting by just
and merciful laws and by a wise, firm and temperate exe-
cution of them, enhancing the value of those inestimai)le
rights and })rivileges which you have so worthily asserted
to it by your sword.

" Permit us then, Great Sir, to assure you, that while it
ever shall be our care in our several places, to inculcate on
our people those ]>rincii)les drawn from tlie pure fountain
of light and truth in the sacred Scriptures, which can best
recommend your virtues to their ijnitation, and which, if
generally obeyed, would contribute ess'Uitially to render
your people hapi)y and your government prosperous ; our
unceasing prayer to tiie Great Sovereign of all nations shall
be that your i4nportan.t life and all your singular talents,
may be the special care of an indulgent Providence for
many years to come; that your administration may be

IN NEW ENGLAND.

243

continued to your country under the peculiar smiles of
hetu'cn, long enouc^h to advance the interests of learning
to the zenith ; to carry the arts and sciences to their
destined i)eriection ; to chase ignoranee, bigotry and im-
morality ott' the stage; to restore true virtue and the reli-
gion of Jesus to their deserved throne in our land, and to
found tlie liherties of America, both religious and civil, on
a basis which no era of futurity shall ever see removed;
and, linally, that when you have thus done, free grace
mav confer on vou, as the reward of all vour i>reat labors,
the unfading laurels of an everlasting crown.

"•Signed in tiie name, presence, and on behalf of the
First Tresbytery of the Eastward.

" Joseph Prince, Moderator.

" John Murhav, Pres. Clerk."

ltKW(

The President's answer to the above address :

To the ^Ministers and Ruling Elders delegated to represent
the churclies in Massachusetts and New llam)>shire,
which compose the First Presbytery of the Eastward.

"Gentlemen: The affectionate welcome whicli you aie
pleased to give me to the eastern part of this I'nion, would
leave me without excuse did I fail to acknowledge the
sensibilit}' it awakens, and to exi)ress the most sincere re-
turn that a grateful sense of your goodness can suggest.
To he ai){)roved by the praiseworthy, is a wish as natural
to l)econnng ambition as its conseciuence is flattering to
self-love. I am. indeed, much indel)ted to the favorable
sentiments which you entertain towards me, and it will be
my study to deserve them.

"The tribute of thanksgiving which you offer to the
gracious Father of lights, for his inspiration of our public
councils with wisdom and firmness to complete the na-
tional Constitution, is worthy of nu^n who, devoted to the
pious purposes of religion, desire their accom])lishment by
such means as advance the temporal ha|>pincss of man-
kind.

'"And here, 1 am jiersuaded, you will permit me to ob-
serve, that the path of true piety is so ])lain as to require
but little political attention. To this consideration we

'rnr^T-

244

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

Guji^ht to ascribe the absence of any regulation respecting
religion from tlie Magna Charta of our country.

" To the guidance of the ministers of the gospel this im-
portant o])JL'ct is, pcrhajis. more projx'rly committed, it
will be your care to instruct the ignorant, to reclaim tlio
devious; and in the i)rogress of morality and science, to
which our government will irive every furtherance, we may
expect confidently, the advancement of true religion and
the com])letion of hap})iness. 1 pray the munificent re-
warder of every virtue, that your agency in this good work
may receive its compensation here and hereafter.

" George Washington."

■s

At the risk of being charged with needless repetitions,
I now revert to tlie anomalous j)osition of the Rev. Mr.
Murray. His usefulness was limited and his life made
bitter by the stigma cast on his character.

In Newbury port the i)uli)its were generally closed
against him, and some of the pastors would not even
speak to him. This was not all. The union of the throe
Presbyteries — his own, that of Grafton and one called the
Presbytery of Londonderry (to be subsequently noticed),
now became to him a matter of earnest desire. But the
Presbytery at the Eastward, as well as Mr. Murray hiui-
self, was denied to be in regular standing, and from it, it
was feared, that unless order and Presbyterial harmony
could be obtained, the three Western churches would
finally withdraw.

This pressed heavily (among others) on the mind of the
Rev. Simon Williams, of AN'indham. He had borne odiiun
for the part which he had taken in the installation of Mr.
Murray at Newburyport, and years did not diminish it.

He wrote to the liev. l)r. Robert Smith, of Philadelphia,
who "earnestly reconnnentled the jjersonal ai)pearance of
!Mr. Murrav before that Presbvterv, in order to take oil the
censure and restore him to uood standuig with the Ameri-

can Preslnterian chureiie:

\W 1

lavmg this done

.All

"Williams tluai saw tlie way apjtareiitly clear for a union
of the three Presl)vteries in New Kntiland, and the further

projjagation

of Presbvterianism in the reuion, as well us

inter-denominational intercourse and fellowship with the
fiurrounding regular Congregational churches. He wrote

IN NEW ENGLAND.

245

earnest!}' to Mr. Murraj', stating liis motives — the glory of
God, the honor of tlic American Preshytcrian chureli. tlic
wcll-heinf]:; of his Presbytery, and the lionor and dignity
of his own person, as a lawfully ordained mini^^ter. So
earnesllv did he desire tliis, that he submitted the letter
from Dr. Smith to his own session, then to tiie session of
Londonderry, again to his own session, and then wrote in
earnest terms to Mr. Murray, l)egging him to eomj)ly with
the proposition stated by Dr. Smith. He says:

"I trust that you yourself, and all that fear God in your
society, will view my conduct in the most favorable light.
If yourself and session think it best to drop the matter, I
shall only britfly by letter inform Dr. Smith ; but, if you
and they (considcratis considcrandis) judge it best that I
should go on and use all my endeavors to bring this affair
to the happy union of the said Presbytery of the Eastward
with the other Presbyterian churches, then let this further
inform you that when you concur, I will lay a proper
memorial before our Presbytery that it may be corrected
and authenticated by the moderator, in order to furnish
our agent to wait upon the Presbytery of Philadelphia."

Dr. Smith also wrote to Mr. Murray, and while his friends
prevailed on him to answer the Doctor, yet he never
changed his position. He persisted in denying the forgery,
and finally " intimated the utter impracticability of so
great a journey,"

His "judgment respecting the importance of his Presby-
tery continuing in a state of indejjendent separation from
the other Presbyteries," was very different from the opinion
of the pastor and session of "Windham ; and his own ses-
sion, if they urged on him the propriety of the course recom-
mended by jNIr. ^^'illiams, had on his purjjose and course
no productive influence.

We have seen the frame of his mind in 1774, when he
wrote that ''the searcher of all hearts knew his agonies of
mind on every review, and that no restoration to the favor
of men could ever give him ease ;" and now. after fifteen
years (and ev(>n till the day of his death, four years after-
ward), none of th(> considerations })ressed upon him by his
friend, the Rev. Simon M'illiams, changed his mind.

Returning to the Presbytery. In 1790 they held two
meetings — one at Windham and the other at Londonderry,

246

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

and after duo examination in natural and moral pliilos-
ophy, natural reli<j;ion and the evidences ol' Divine revela-
tion, in systematic divinity, their personal exj)erience and
their motives, they directed them to deliver their poj)ular
sermons, all whieJi l)cing satisfactorily done, they licL'Used
Mr, Atkinson and Mr. More to ])reach the gospeL By
elders Moulton and Tukesbury aj)plication was made tliat
Mr. Jonathan Brown (candidate) i)reach in Ameshury,
Seabrook, and iSalishury (old town) in rotation. They
promise him five dollars per Sabhath and his ferryage.

lie was so appointed. Mr. More preached with accept-
ance in the town of Brunswick, and on June 4th, 171)1,
they petition for his return to them i'or "further tryal."

Business meetings were held at New Market and New-
buryport in 1791.

On February loth, 1791, the Rev. Wm. Davidson, of
Derry, died, after a pastorate of above fifty years, at the
age of seventy-seven. He was a man of an amiable char-
acter, exemplary in deportment, and a devoted pastor.
As a theologian or as a public sjieaker he did not excel,
and his doctrinal views were not always distinctively Cal-
vinistic. lie was beloved for his suaviter in modo more than
he was relied upon for hh fort iter in re. Thus the " Scotch-
Irish" in the ministry were called away, and their mantles
(so far as they could fill tiiemj were increasingly worn l)y
natives of New England, who had not the advantages of
studying at the University of Edinburgh, which Mr.
Davidson and many of his predecessors and associates
enjoyed.

We have already seen the })ungent letter of Presbytery
written by their clerk to the society in Seabrook, who had,
through alleged poverty, " silent 8abl>aths and a shut teni-
]jle door," and to all who have the charge of souls as pas-
tors, elders, or church courts, the result ( under the blessing
of heaven) should prove admonitory and encouraging.
They not only asked for supplies in 1790, but on June
13th, 1792, the Presbytery there held their last meeting,
of which we have minutes fully recorded. There were
l»resent Revs. Nathaniel Ewer, Solomon ■Nloore, and John
Murray, with ruling elders Josej)!! Young, Abraham
Moore, Jeremiah Pearson, David Tukesbury, John Moul-
ton, aud Thomas Kennedy ; and the Rev. Simon Williams

IN NEW ENGLAND.

247

(absent) was appointed to open the next meeting by a ser-
mon on the 13th chaj). of the Conf. of Faith (on Sanctifi-
cation), " Voted by Presbytery, that they meet for the
future at some central ])hice, which shall by them be ap-
pointed, with the proviso that the next meeting be at New
Boston, on Wednesday, the 4th day of October."

"Mr. Moore was reappointed to Brunswick for two
months. A call from Salisbury for Mr. Jonathan Brown
was sustained as regular ; the answer to the call was post-
poned, and Mr. B. was ordered to preach there for four
Sabbaths. Messrs. David Adams and James Choate ap-
peared as a committee from the first church, in Derry for
supply. The clerk was ordered to give to them a copy of
a letter from Mr. James ^IcGregor to the Rev. John Murray,
stating olijections against Mr. Brown's going to Derry as a
preacher."

" The Rev. Mr. Murray was appointed to assign places
to the candidates after they have fulfilled their appoint-
ments."

" Mr. Nathan Broadstreet, a graduate of Dartmouth, was
now examined for license. His extensive examination
was satisfactory."

" Mr. William Pidgeon, a student from Exeter Academy,
having given satisfaction, was as a Bursar recommended to
Dartmouth College."

"The proposals for a union f which avc shall subse-
quently (D. V.) notice) between the Presbyteries of New
England being laid before the Presbytery, voted, that they
be received as preliminaries to a general })lan, and that
the Rev. ^Icssrs. Nathaniel Ewer, Simon Williams, and
John Murray be commissioned by the clerk as delegates to
attend a Synodical Convention at Dartmouth College, on
the 28d of August next (1792), for the purpose of uniting
the several Presbyteries into one Synod ; and this Presby-
tery engages to ratify as their own act whatever may be
done therein by their said delegates, or any number of
them, who may attend at that meeting."

"Adjourned to the meeting-liouse at New Boston, there
to meet on the 4th day of October next (1792), at 10 a. m.
Concluded with ])rayer."

Thus the Synod of New England, formed at Scabrook in
1775^ ignoring the existence of the Presbytery at the East-

ii!i|

; i I

■' I

248

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIAMSM

f.ii 5
1 Si t

ward, continued some seven years ; and the Presbj'tery of
Salem, to which it was reduced, becoming extinct on the
14th of September, 1791, at Gray, in Maine, this Presby-
tery survived it only nine months.

It may be said, that while its re<^'ular records are not
found, it may have prospered for years. This was simply
jjossible, not probable ; lor one man was " the author and "'
api)arently the " finisher of" it. He who had (for above
twenty-one years, throu<rh evil report and throiitrh good
report) been the cmbodimiint of this Presbytery, finished
bis course at Newbury port, on March 13th, 1793, aged
fifty-one.

His funeral sermon was preached by the Ilev. James
Miltimore, parish pastor of Stratham, X. II.

After his death regular meetings of the Presbytery Avcro
held for a few years, but how long we cannot determine.

Thus, on April 19th, 1798, the three selectmen of tlie
town of Belfast, Maine, gave power to "Deacon John Tufts
to procure for the parish some i)erson of good moral char-
acter to preach for three months, for the sum of £14 or £15
in money."

If Mr. Abraham Moore could not be obtained, he was
instructed to consult the sessions of Windham or of Lon-
donderry, for " our benefit, in this wilderness country,"

IN NEW ENGLAND.

249

CHAPTER XI.

1768-1793— "Incnralile dissatisfaction" in N.Y. carried North— Arpyle
settled and iiaiiu'd, 1771 — KfV. Thos. Clarke's Colony — Salem, N.Y. —
The N. 11. Ki'iU'tf* — l\'ttrhoro, N. H., notices of — W. liondondtrry —
AVhi. Morrison— a. K. Synod formed — Its third Presliytery extended
into N. Iv — I'reshytery of Salem (Mass.) desired to mute with it —
Frnsiratetl hy Kev. S. 'I'afjfL'art — Irrtj^ular yet valid— May HI, 178.3,
K. Annan stated the ease of Long Lane ( ongii. — "As he saw tit" —
Notices of this man and that Con^;n. — Their application to I'reshytery
— Received — Their danuer — \. installed Sept. 2"), 1783 — "A pi'cnliar
item of hnsiness" — Installations asked — Snpplies, etc. — Litchfield —
Whipple — A deep want of Ministers now felt — What Anderson was
to read — Snpplies asked — The statemert of R. Annan — Synod's ride
— Rev. ,J. Hoii.-ttin — (iroion, its trials and activity — Their case received
attention — \Vhii>ple — Ivv. R. Annan edited Jiath Kul — Boston not
Paradise — A.'.secientricilies — Recalled to Wallkill — Yonnj; preachers
much wanted — A reconciliation desired — Not etlected — An overture
reqnesteil — Supplies, etc.. asked — Clnu'ch privile<;es — Oliences in Cole-
raine — Directions — .Jonrneys performed to supply vacancies — Annan
not nnwillini; to leave Roston — Bedford asked him — Worry — Local
is.sncH avoided hy reference — Positive convictions — A time set — A
Providential interposition — Dilapidation increasing — Elders said to
be of no good, only to settle iiuarrels — N'oted themselves into Congre-
gationalism — The pious grieved — Little's Trust now ]>erverted hy
xchi.vn — No redress — Fourteen families forced out — Blotted out in
Boston hy injustice— Preshytory of Londonderry from June 2d, 1786
— Records — Supplies asked — Difficulties in Coleraine considered — La-
borers much wanted — " ( )rthodox," its meaning in 1787 — The political
field —The U. S. Oinxtitxtidn — Simply Presbyterian church government
adapted to the State — Brattle Street Church — "The Irish meeting-
iionse " in Long Lane — The structure — The I'. S. Cons, adopted in it —
An appropriateness — Federal Street Church — Patriotic delight in this
spot by every t ^'i citizen in Massachusetts — A breacli of moral hon-
esty — The wan ' ,' vestiges of this polity in our field — Antrim — Mer-
rill unworthy — Six members of Poterboro .anent a new version of the
Psalms — The A. R. Synod — Supplies wanted — Reasons for non-attend-
ance at Synod — " The broken Stale " — Presbytery of (irafton — At the
Eastward the expediency of a coalescence with October 1, 1788 —
Overborne — Response from Grafton Pre.sbytery acknowledged — Bar-
net incorporated — Cannot attend Synod — Modr. to write thus — Good
feeling growing — Resignation of an Elder — " Devoutly to be wi.shed "

¥mp

250

HISTORY OF PUESBYTERIAMSM

— Concurrence on the matter of Rev. Jno. Murray asked — Colby and
plan of union — Supplier anked — " Void'" — A change coming over —
Toil — Letters of inquiry — Toombs — Oliver — Advice craved — I). An-
nan demits— Attends Svnod — Called October l',», 17U1, A. R. Presby-
tery of New England — Clamour — Dog-killers — Praise silenced in
families — Imputaticm — A vote of thanks to the Rev. Dr. Huntington
of Conn., for his defence of it — Supplies asked — Rev. D. Annan's
troubles — Requests a dismission, granted — A Synodical Convention
called — Grafton Presbytery absent, and no further notice of thetn is
to be taken by the others — The A. R. and fragments of the P. at
Eastward eventually "coalesced" — (irafton an amateur PreKi)ytery — ■
fjona. Brown as colleague to Ewer, remains of (list Derry session, ask
admission to the A. R. Presbytery of New England, and are admitted
— Oliver inslalleil in Pelham — Instructions asked — Toombs called to
Newburyport — No attendance at Synod for three years — A source of
grief — Numbers and not |)urity now in the A. R. Presl)ytery, hence a
"coalescence" — The terms of imion — Four parallel 1;. R.'s in Iowa,
from Cheyenne one track — Similar here at the close of this quarter of
a century (in 1793) with Presbyterianism in New England — Now one
Presbytery — Introduction —Growth while the early Ministers survived
— Yet they were not all faithful — John Morrison a disgrace and
David Annan nothing better — Deposed — Notices of him — The Bible
and family worship preserved religion (under God) in Peterboro for
50 years — A dark period — A noble testimony — Periods of existence
of Presbyteries — A working Presbytery.

I::

We li.'ive seen that about a. d. 1760, those Presbyterians
in New York City wlio endeavored to receive, observe, keep
pure and entire the worship " of God in ])sahnody," were
sneered at as "incurably dissatisfied," and tliat the Revs.
Alex. (tcUatly and John Mason ministered to them. Tliis
dissatisfaction was from the city carried to the towns in
northeastern New York by emigrants I'rom Scotland and
Ireland. One of the oldest of the pioneer churches in
that region is that of Argyle, Wasliington co.

In 17(34, (Jeorge III. granted to Archibald Campbell,
Duncan lleid, Neil Shaw, Alex. McNaughton, and Neil
Gillespie about 47,()U() acres, for about 140 Presl^yterian
emigrants, wiio came soon afterwards from Scotland.
500 acres were reserved for the gosjiel and for schools.
The town was organized and named about 1771.

In 1764 the Rev. Thomas Clarke, M. D., came from
Ballibay, Ireland. Part of his colony of 300 people went
to JiOng Cane, in South Carolina, while he, with the rest,
in 1767, settled in Salem, N. Y. He had the honor of
first raising the standard of Presbyterianism in that region,

IN NEW ENGLAND.

251

D\)ell,

beriau
tUind.
bools.

from

went

R rest,

lor of

3gion,

none beinp; farther north at thnt time. Ho left Salem
about 17<So, and went to Lonp; C'ane, wliere he died.

The town of Salem l)ordL'rin<^ on the'State of Vermont,
coinuuuiication, such as was attainable then, was in due
time opened up. We have also to remember, that " pre-
vious to the American Revolution, that part of tiie coun-
try known as 'Vermont,' was called 'the New Hampshire
Grants,' and was claimed by both New Hampsiiire and
N''W York. The General Assembly- of New York divided
it into four counties, two on the west and two on the east
side of the Green mountains."

As ])opulation puslied westward throufrh and from New
nanjpshire, up the Connecticut river into these "Grants,"
Presbyterians were sandwiciied in amon<; other sects, and
Peterboro in the southwestern part of the State was, as
early as 1749, settled by emigrants from Londonderry.

Tiiey built a house of worship in 1752, and their town
was incorporated in 1700. After making varied efforts,
and obtaining some temporary sujjply of preaching, on
March 18th, 170G, "Article 4th in the town warrant made
provision for public action in regard to the settlement of
John Morrison." As the first settled minister of the town
he was ordained there on November 2()th, 17(56.

His wretched career we have already noticed ; and he
was succeeded by the Rev. David Annan, who was ordained
by the Associate Presbytery of New York " at \\'allkill,
N. Y., in October, 1778, with Peterboro for his destina-
tion."

This congregation, on October 1st, 1778, asked and ob-
tained a dismission from the Synod of New England, and
on uniting with the Associate Presbytery of New York,
they were brought into ecclesiastical intercourse with those
beyond " the Green mountains," who had the "incural)le
dissatisfaction." After the death of the Rev. David Mc-
(rregor (on May 3()th, 1777), his congregation, Vjeing as yet
"incurably dissatisfied" with hymnology, found it diffi-
cult to obtain a pastor. As the colony, which some fifteen
years before removed to Truro, Nova Scotia, had procured
one from Great Britain ; to them they made application,
in hopes that they could inform them how to proceed with
success. From that quarter they obtained no relief. After
continuing a vacancy for six years, they made an unani-

252

HISTORY OF PHK.SnYTEHIANISM

nious choice of Mr. William Morrison, a licentiate of the
Ai<sociiito Presbytery of New York, iintl placed themselves
under its care.

The Associate Reformed Synod was formed on October
1st, 1782, at Philadelphia, and consisted of three Presby-
teries, the third one ext«'ndin,ti into New Kn;j:land. With
it the Presbytery of Salem, Mass., were desirous to unite.
They wrote to Dr. Clarke at Salem, N. Y,, the answer to
which application expressed a desire of said union and a
l»romise to submit the proposal to his Presbytery.

While negotiations were in progress, the Kev. Samuel
Taggart, as noticed, informed the others by a letter, that
he had made overtures to the Associate llelormed Presby-
tery "for a junction with them, as far as may be without
a dismission from this body," and this was deemed to be
" irregular and unpresbyterial," as hopes of a union were
now entertained.

He was allowed to depart in peace and in good stand-
ing, yet the Salem Presbytery did not dismiss him till
June 2d, 1785. Hence, at Londe/udcrry the Presbytery,
composed of Rev. David Annan and the Rev. Samuel Tag-
gart, ministers, with Elders (leorge Duncan, of London-
derry; David Harours, of Coleraine. and Roliert Morrison,
of Peterboro, ordained and installed the Rev. William
Morrison, on February Pith, 178o. A ;>/v) rr nata meeting
was held in the same place, on May IDth, ITS.'), in which,
with the others, the Rev. Robert Annan was associated.
By the court '"Mr. Morrison's ordination, though deemed
to be irregular, was approved as valid and constitutional."

" Mr. Robert Annan then laid the situation of tiie con-
gregation in Boston before the Presbytery, as being desti-
tute of the powers of government." He "was ajjpointed
to moderate in an election of ciders in that congregation,
and to admit them as he saw tit," and it was voted to de-
lay his installation till after the next meeting. This man
and that congregation now recjuire our attention.

He was born at Cupar of Fife, in Scotland, in 1742, and
came to America in 1701. At the comnuMifeiiMMit of tlio
lievolutionary war he was settled at or near Little Britain,
now Walden, on the Wallkill, N. Y. When Boston was
besieged and reduced nearly to starvation by the British,
it was proposed in his congregation to send to them relief.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

253

A mootinfj; was callcil and lu-ld in his cliurcli. A lawyer
('ndeuVDi't'd Ity his ('Nxukmicc to shew to the people their
d:in<ier and |)n»sp('ctiv(' ruin, if they should thus ajrjrravato
the displeasure of lOuiihuul. The " Scotch " of the Scotch-
man heuan to i»(til. \\v spoiled the oration and drove the
orator into insi^'nilieance. Listenin<i' to the jilausihilities
uttered for a short tinu', he sprang' to his feet, crying',
'' toot, man, we have had enough of that," and. naniin<; a
l)rotninent man present, he exelainu'd, "All of you who are
willin>i to send aitl to our hrethren in Boston follow Mr.
out to the ^reen, and all who are a<rainst dt)in<: so will

le Jiouse was

remain in the house and hear the sijuire.'' T
innnediately emptied, aind the si)eaker was left alone in
his glory. Aid was sent, and the name of Hohert Annan
hecame known in Boston. W'Ihmi visitinjf iiis hrother in
I'eterhoro, and extendin<i his jt)urney to Boston, he was hy
the ]>uhlic, and especially hy th(> Bresi)yterians, eordially
reeeived. As the eongregation in Lon;,' Lane, after nine-
teen months of earn.est lal)or for the services of the Bev.
John Murray, had, in 177(), entered their declinature, and
were 3'et smitten with the "incurahle dissatisfaction," so
soon as they liad opportunity of hearing the Key. Bohert
Annan, they made aj)plieation for his serviees as follows:

Cop} I of the Letter dated September l\th, 17f*'2, addrc.'^scd hy
William MeXeili Andrew lilaek, Jiohert IIV/V, Hector Mc-
Neill, and Simon Elliot, a Com)niltee of the Coneireijation in
Long Lane, to the Associate Presbytery of Sew Yurk.

" To the Associate Preshytery of New York, to meet at
Peterhurough, the 3d Wednesday in Septemher, 1782 :

"Reverend Gentlemen,

" Convinced of the necessity of a Religious Life, and
dwelling in a Ijand where the means of grace are ))lenti-
fully enjoyed hy others, we ardently wish to see (jurselves
upon a footing with our fellow-Christians, in ohserving the
institutions of the Gos|)el.

"And whereas the ])reaching of the word hath hoon made
(through, the divine hlessing) the means of convincing and
converting sinners, and building them up in the ways of
virtue, and Holiness, it is our earnest desire to provide

254

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

\ I

ourselves witli those meiins, which God lias alwaj's ])oon
pleased to eontimie and hless, j'or the sjjiritual <j:ood and
edilieation of his church, lii'iidy persuaded that our wait-
ing U)K)n him in the way of his own appointment is not
only our duty, i>ut the surest way to ohtain his hlessinir
here, and of heing jjrejjared for a Blessed Eternity with
himself in (llory.

" Ft)r this salutary ]>urpose we have (wo trust in riod\
hy till! special ^aiidancc of divine providence, lixc(l our
choice upon the Kev. Mr. Kol)ert Amian, to Adnunister
the word and ordinances of the(Jospel amon<ist us; Ilumhly
hoi»ini: tliat the liord will I'avor this our choice, with his (H-
vine presen(;e and lUessinir, and make him the hapj)y instni-
ment of colh'ctinjr our disj)ersed people ( who have l)een loni^
wanderiuif like sheep without a shepherd) and reviviui^

once more the ])rmciples ot piety an<

d re Hi/;

.non amonifst us.

From the <;()od character we had of tliis Kev. (Jentlo-
man heforo In; came to ur, from tlu> knowledge we have
had of himself since our ac(iuaintance witlj him, and from
every i»h'a we h;ive heen ahle to form of adospel Minister,
we plaiidy see the suitahleness there is hetween his al)ilities
and our necessities.

" Wherefore, having stood singh^ and unconn<M'tiMl with
any of the I'reshyteries in this Country for s(;veral years
past, and liniHng that Mr. Annan still inclines to continue
his conne(^tion with vour reverend hody, we find ourselves

imix

died 1

)y every rational motive to make our application

to you at this time, earnestly Besee(;hing you to take tlio
ease of our society into your serious cttnsideration, That our
dissolution as a \\'orshi|>ping Assemhly may he prevented,
wdiich otherwise must surely hapjjen, unless the Lord he
pleased to hless us very soon with a faithful minister.

" We are persuadi'd. That our necessities will plead for us,
as well as our danger of falling into nothing as a society, if
our jiresent re(iuest he not attended to. and we hope tiiese
considerations will induce you to use your interest and in-
iluence with tlu* Rev'd Mr. Annan, and all concerned, to
bring ahout his settlement with us at Moston.

" V\u)\i this express design, we have sent our trusty
friends Hector McNiell, Simon KUiot aiid Francis Wright,
or any two of them, as our connnissioners to confer with
you, and coiicludo on such measures as may be thought

IN NEW ENGLAND.

255

with

inu»'

itio\i
the
itour
•nl«'<l
(I bo

'or us,

I4y, if

these

1(1 in-

eil, to

[rusty

[riiiht,

with

lou'^ht

most likely to effect this purpose in the best and speediest
manner ])ossil)le.

" We arc, C'rcntlcmen, with sincerity and IJrotherly Love,
for ourselves, and on belialf of the I'resbyteriiin Con-
gregation in Long Lane, in tiie town of Boston,
'' Your Friends and Huni])le Servants,
" William McNiELL, Axninav Bl.m k, Simox Elliot,
" Koiu'.UT Wkik, Hector McNiell, Committee.

''JiosTox, Sept. Ufh, 17S-i.
"To the Kev'd Associates Presbytery of New York, to sit
at Peterburough od Wednesday tliis instant Sept'r."

This Presbytery on that day received them, and they
were "Associate" Presl)ytcrians for a few weeks, and then
this congregation forme<l one of those who, on ()ct(xbcr
31st, 17''^2, entered into the union with the Reformed Pres-
byterians, in hai'niony with tlu' t(.'rms of union agrccfl to
at Pequa, Pennsylvania, on the l.'Uh day of the previous
.lune.

Thus, the Long T>ane real estate, the gift of John Little
in IToo, became legitimately tlu^ i)ropcrty of the new de-
nomination, as the congri'gation became a part of the As-
sociate Ivcformcd <;hurch.

When the Synod was. on November 1st, 17S2. arranged
into Presbyteries, the thii'd cndiraccd llev. Messrs. Thomas
Clarke, John Mason, Robert Annan, David Aiman, minis-
ters with their ruUng elders. It was constituted lirst in
l'hiladel]»hia on November 1st. This Prcsl)yt(>ry met at
Londonderry (»n February 12th. and ordained Mr. William
Morrison; and at the same plac(\ on May IDtli, \~S:\, '* Mr.
llobert Annan was appointed to moderate in an election
of elders."

In su|)plying the pulpit during sunnncT, he made the
(liscoverv that thev were in some "dan-icr of falling into
iKilhing as a society." The thirty who would not Join in
the declinature were ))robably scatt<'red ; they had been
without a pastor for ten years, including a seven years'
w;ir, which brought in a llood of immorality, and were
''destitute of the powers of govi-rmucut ." having no ruling
elders, whih; the ollice and position of the Prect-ntor
(facing, in his desk, the congregation ) had been exchanged
by the assiniilution of the juvenile mind to their congre-

256

HISTORY OF PRE9BYTERIAXISM

gational surroundings, and, as he stated it, "a band of
conciliators " j)liiced themselves at the opposite end of the
buil(lin<]^, behind the audience, and wiien he, in Divino
worship, would nnuounce a [)S dm, tlu'V would 8in<j; ac-
cordinjjt to their own "tastes," a portion of the 1-'}*.) imita-
tions of Dr. Watts'. Beside this, a few of the families had
become comparatively wealthy, and the parents did not
<liscouraj<e their youth from })romiseuous dancin;j, all
which were a grief to the pious part of the church. Nor
was this all. Not a few cases of anti-nuptial oiicnce pol-
luted the church, and when, for the honor of Christ, he
and the pious part of the congregation thought that they
who had thus "sinned" should be "rel)uked l)efore all,
that others also may fear" (1 Tim. v. 2U); such persons,
who had "dishonored their own bodies between them-
selves" (Rom. i. 24), became ''hardened through the de-
ceitfulness of sin," and were unwilling, not only to submit
])ublicly to the authority of the Lord Jesus, but even to be
rt'buked before the session in ))rivate. In short, to ac-
knowledge that they had sinned at all.

Finding, that in such cases "the word of the Lord had
not free course," and that the " Moly One " was not " glori-
fied," in a year or two his ]>astorate became less i)leasant
and change increasingly desirable.

On revisiting W'allkill, and saying to one of his former
elders (a Mr. McClurej, '' 1 wish you would come with me
and serve as an elder in Boston," he was answered thus:
" because you have made a fool of yoursell", that is no rea-
son why I should make one of myself." '" The course of
this world, the deceitfulness of riches and the lust of other
things had entered in and choked the word until it had
become (extensively) unfruitful." While his eccentricities
were not a few, he was "a master in Israel" in tiie pulpit,
declared to be, during his stay, the ablest, or, at least, one
of the ablest divines in Boston, lie was "held highly in
love ft)r his work's sake."

Wiien the Presbytery met, according to appointment at
Tetcrboro, on Septend»er 2d, 17<S.">, "A letter from Boston,
em|K)wering the J{ev. David Annan to act as a commis-
sioner for and in behalf of the church, as also an earnest
request of the society for the speedy settlement of Kev.
Robert Annan," were read.

IN NEW LNGLAND.

257

In answer itwns " votod," tlmt his instullmont be on the
2atli inst. ; thnt the saciiiiiiiMit of the Lord'ti Supper ho dis-
pensed on the next Sahhiith, and that tlie Kev. David
Anniin preaeh the installnuut sornion and perlorni the
(ttlier oflic'ial (kitics, wliilc Mr. Morrison Avas to })reaeli in
ilu' altcrnoon. Thi< was pcrt'ormed at date, and he pro-
ceeded to dischar<re eonseientiously his oflicial duties.

At this stated meetintr i September 2d) the Rev. Dr.
Clarke, David Annan and WilHani ]\h)rrison were })resent
with their elcU-rs. and a )u euiiar item of business was to
"invite the Kev. Samuel Ta<jr<:art " (who had assisted the
Kev. David Annan on February r2th to onhiin Mr. Wil-
liam Morrison) "and iiis elder, Daniel Dtjnaldson, to sit
as eorresponiUnits."

A petition from New Perth (Salem, N. Y.) requestinji;
the installation of tlie llev. James Proudlit, was read; and
a re(iuest from All)any, from persons who were not of the
Associate Keformed i)ersuasion, asking the constituting
the Rev. Thomas Clarke. M. D., as tlieir pastor; and one
from Fleming's Creek, requesting supi)ly by Dr. Clarke.
''Re!<()lri'(i, To supply Ryegate and liarnet, if possible."

The installation of the Rev. James Pi'oudlit was ap-
pointed to take place at New Pi'rth, N. Y., on October 22d,
17^3, and " Dr. Clarke to sui)jtly in Albany as far as it is
('onsist''nt with his duty to this body."'

At the amnial meeting at " liondonderry, September 2d,
17'S4, Mr. Morrison j)roj)osed to go a Ktng journey, and re-
({Uested some supply for jiis pulpit."" On behalf of the
committee of the town of Litehlield, N. II.. Mr. McQuiston
:iske(l preaching. A vot(> of the town of Redlbrd was read,
asking ministerial labor, and a Mr. Whipple (whose
iKuiie does not ]>r(n'ionsly ajijx'ar) " was appointed to sup-
])ly the tirst two places alternately for six Saltbaths."

Also ordered, that "Mr. Morrison, when at the Soutii-
wanl, endeavor to obtain sujjply for Bedford." "Presby-
tery earnestly recounneniled Messrs. R. Annan, Taggart,
I'l'oudtit and Clarke; to attend the next meeting and j)ress
Synod to write in a svn»)dical capacitv to anv sound iudi-
cature m Scotland or in Ireland, for a supply of ministers,
or young preachers, as in this part of the world 'the har-
vest is plenteous, and the laborers are few.'"

On his own application, Mr. James Anderson, previ-
17

258

HISTORY OF rUESUYTEltlANISM

ously in connection with iinotlier Prt'sl)ytery, w;is received
as 51 student of divinity and *' reconiniended to read Owen,
Boston, Hervey and the Krskine's writings, to stiuly with
Mr. >h)rrison and ]tr('[)are ]»reseril)ed 'trials.'"

At a meeting in Peterboro, Marcii 2d, 1785, ])etitions for
supply were received ironi llenniker and Antrim.

Jlis healtii taihng him, the Rev. K. Annan stated that
lie purposed to go south lor the improvement of it, and U)
iitU^nd tlie next meeting of .Synod.

On Ins re(iuest, during his absence, ^Ir. Whipple was
appointed to supply in lioston. Proposed to ask Synod
to set aside its rule, ''That nienil)ers be received from any
Presbytery of any other Synod than the Associate Kr-
formed Synod, simply by i*resbyteries, without synodieal
action, as such rule does not ajjpear to be for general edili-
cation." The Rev. John Houston was admitted as a cor-
respondent.

June 12tli, 17S5, pro re nnta, at Londonderry. Present —
Annans, Morrison and Houston.

Mr. An(U'rson (k'hveri'il jKirts of his "trials." The Rev.

II. Annan was appointed to write to tliii Rev. Mr. of

Londonderry, Ireland, for his removal to Ryegato and
Barnet. On February 2()th, 17.S(>, the aggrieved Orotou
])eople, whos,! case in counc'ctinn with another l'resi)ytery,
we have seen, were represented l»y four commissioners to
diifend said society against any accusations whicih might
be brought against it, for a letter from the \U;\'. Mr. C'ha|)-
lin and the' ('ongregationahst church there, was just rciul.
Said C'onnnissioners also reipu'sted a recommendation that
the I'resbyterians might b(! set oU' as a Poll parish in (h'o-
ton. International law being considered as of a very
liigh character, so their interdenominational case received
full attentittu, and tiiey then "voted. That the letter from
the ('(Migregational minister and church in (Iroton con-
tained nothing of any force or validity against the Presl)y-
teriaii soci(>ty of said town, an<l as to the letter from >Ir.
Dana, it contained a favorable rei»resentation of said
society to the Presbytery."

"Saitl (committee of CJroton being neither confronted by
accusers nor witnesses against them, voted, tiiat said snci-
ety be continued under our care and inspe(;tion accordini,'
to u former vote; that they tell their numbers and bo rcc-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

259

omniendcd to tlie civil authorities to })e sot off as a poll
]);irisii ; that tiu' Rov. R. Animn })r('acli to thcio from time

to tiiiu', aiul tlmt our |>a]>i'rs and iimiutcs aiui

it tl

icir

matters be si'ut to Syimd lor advice." To them Mr. Hous-
ton was also to preaeh. With tne unknown, I'reshytery

dealt summarilv thu.-

Dissolved eoinieetion with Mr,

W'hippU

jtossiUle,

Mr. Morrison to sup])ly Redlonl as much as

W'hilo the Rev. R. Amiaii was husy in Massachusetts
in his own I'resljytery and amon^ his own people, he also
found time to proof-read and issue llntJt k'ol for '" the
I'reshytery at the Eastward," to attend other church courts
and conventions, yet lu; iliil not lind it in his case to be a.s
it was said a century before, " ]U)ston is tlu' ])aradise of
ministers.'' ills people continued to be divided — the
richer part carin;; less about sound doctrine and pure wor-
ship, which the jioorer |)ortion of th(> people prayed for
and craved. \'et he said both jiarties used him we"

lli^

■centricities were such that of him it was said

" When he wat; in the ])ulpit, it was a pity he should ever
come out; ami when out, it was almost a pity he should
ever lio in." lie did not, it seems, imderstand human na-
ture well. During his [>astorate, tJaptain Ak'.\ander Wil-
son died abroad, and the owners of his ship, on hearinj; it,
thought it best to have her j)astor hear the solemn tidinjjja
to Mrs. Wilson, a damihter of the late Rev. .b)hn Moore-
jiead. This he a|;reed to do. As her daujihter, Mrs. (.'os-
sinuton (in 181*.)), told me: "lie came when we were at
dinner. One t)f usi!;irls '' (three sisters) ''saw him throujih
the window, and said, ' There's Mr. Annan.' Another said,
'Ih^ nn<fht havc^ manners enough not to come at dinner-
time.' Jiut mother said, ' There's news.' The motln-r and
daiijihters left the table and met him in the hall. Mother,
icarimj that something was wrontr, inciuired at once, ' Is
there any news from the ship, Mr. Annan?' and received
thi! overwhelming response, * Yes, you're a wiilow!' No
l>iitient, wise, soothinjr, sym))athizin.i^ introduction, but the
Worst first.

"All enterinu; the j»arlor to;_fether, and there trivin^' ex-
l)rt'ssion to their sorrow, the dinner was not tliouuht of for
a lonjf time. \\'heu they ri'turned they found that the
dog had gone up and taken their lamb below the table,

260

HISTORY OF PH. SBYTERIANISM

!k!,

and of it Imd niadc^ his meal — which inci(h'nt had riveted
it in the memory of the narrator for some sixty-four*
years."

Ifc assuredly possessed hut a little of that symi)atiiy
which is akin to common sense, for in this case he acted
with the hest intentions.

The shrewd oliservers in his former charu^e, with wliom
he Icept a friendly corresi)on<h'nce, saw that, while he went
from tliem partly in order to ohtain an education for his
family, who, he claimed, had a riL^ht to liiLcher instruc-
tion than they could enjoy on the Wallkill, entertained
hopes that if he were not suiuu'ssful amidst the relinements
of lioston, they could again have him as their ))astoi'.
Accordingly, on Fehruary 2()th, 17^(1, *' a call to the Kev.
K. Annan i'rom Wallkill and Little Jiritain was laid hefore
Presbytery." The consideration of it was " deferred till
next meeting, and the congregation of lU)ston were notified
to show reasons, if any they have, why such call should
not he sustained."

"Voted, that the Rev. R. Annan, in case of a voyage to
Scotland, be impowered to apply to any sound ecclesiastical
judicature in that land for the purpose of obtaining a
number of young preachers, such as shall ap})ear to be
well ([ualilied to promote pun; and vital religion and evan-
gelical doctrine in America, and that he use his best en-
deavors for that purpose; and also, that he he further im-
poweri'd t ) give a fair re[)resentation of our churches in
America, and nse his best ellbrts to accomplish a recon-
ciliation between our Synod and that of our brethren in
Edinburgh."

These matters, of deep interest to the denomination,
were not eflected, as the journey was not performed.

At Coleraine, on May lOth, 178(1, the Presbytery was
constituted by the Rev. Mr. Taggart. Present, R. Annan,
Jas. Proudfit, S. Taggart, D. Annan, Wm. Morrison (and
the Rev. John Houston as a correspondent), with their
elders.

Salem, X. Y., requested the installation there of the Rev.
Jas. Proudfit, and further asked for " an overture from
Presbytery to the next Synod upon church communion,"

* Mrs. C. died iu Maiden, Mass., in 1850, set. 89.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

2G1

and, as if tliis were not onoutrh, "tlirv dosircd Presbytery
to potitiou Synod to sut aside tlieir prtsent consjtitu-
tion."

A petition was presented from lilaek Creek (now Hebron,
N. V. ) to l)e a distinct congrc.^'ation.

Lieut. Jas. Dickson appeared from Middlefield and
Chester, Mass., askinji supply, and that said })lace8 be
taken under the care of Presbytery.

Salem, it was ordered, must "))ay up Mr. Proudfit'a
arrears before; he be installed there."

The question, '" What is necessary to entitle a ])erson to
churcli ])rivile^a'S? " they answered, " Not merely a credible
appearance of a man's bein<r exercised unto <r<»dliness in
itself, but also soundness in the faith, a comjietency of
knowledge, a willingness to submit to the diseiitline of
Christ in his church, with a regularity of life and conver-
sation."

" Voted, Not to petition Synod to set aside their j)resent
constitution."

" It must needs be that offences come," and diHicultiea
had arisen in Coleraine congregation on account that their
meeting-house was not built in the most central i»hice. In
tliese it would ai)pear that the jjastor had become involved,
lor he " assigned reasons for a dissolution of the connection
with his congregation."

Those dissatisfied were advised to return, and Mr. Tag-
gart was directed to j)rcach to them as e(iually as ])rac-
tieable. The peo])le were also to be notified "and ex-
horted to do their <hity " to him.

While travelling was still dillieult (as, eleven years before,
it took seven days to carry the news of tlie battle of
bunker Hill to Xi'W York), ministers and elders on church
l)usiness were then usually in earnest, and journi-ys which
would at times appear insuperable to their leeble successors
would he jierformed with promptitude. Thus, the Itev.
Mr. Morrison was ap])ointe(l to travel from Lond(>nd(>rry,
X. II., or at least from Coleraine, Mass., to supjily Wall-
kill, X. Y., on the third Sal)l>atli of that month (May), a
flistance of nearly two hmidrcd miles, over mountains,
throuLdi swam|)s, and in paths through the wilderness;
while on May 11th, 178(), Captain .himes Wilkin, i-lder,
appeared as a commissioner from Wallkili and Little Bri-

262

HISTORY OF rRESRYTERIAXTSM

IMI

tain to prosocute their rooall for Afr, Annan. Tliat he
could \h'. iii(hi('(.Ml to h'iivc JJoston was extensively under-
stood, I'or at tills meeting' the eon^'rejiation of IJedt'ord
made petition to have him on trial as a candidate for the
modest period of only "ei^dit weeks."

He does not express determination, in view of the action
or inaction Of his pastoral ('har;i;e, to remain; and remem-
herini; it may l)e not a little worry in the dischar«;e of
duty iimon^ his former lloek, he leels no eager desire to
return, especially as it would deprive his family of their
educational opportunities.

The advanta.i^'c of a Superior Court is now realized.
These per|)lexing local issues are now avoided, and attt'r
"the call was considered, voted, that the consideration of
his removal from Boston to Wallkill and Little Britain he
referred to the ensuint^ meeting of the Synod."

lie had found, with every other minister of his persua-
sion possessed of })ositive convictions, who has tried the
experiment in Boston, tl t the Preshyterian polity is (and
is alone) warranted hy the Bible; that it is not simply the
l)est exi)edient; and that he must " sjjcak (to the people)
the gospel of God with much contention" (1 Thess. ii. 2).
When the matter came before Synod, they limited to hiui
a time, at which period, if he did not accept the call from
his former charge, he should ha considered still to con-
tinue to be the |)astor of Long Lane congregation.

In the meantime, he was providentially relieved of the
(lilliculty l)y receiving a call Irom a congregation in Phila-
delphia. With the varied inducements for a removal
which we have noticed, he had had but little encourage-
ment in his labors, but few additions to his church-roll.
He had baptized but two or three; children and solenmized
but two marriages in three years. Of "consolation in
Christ, comfort of love, fellowship of the spirit, bowels and
mercies," among them, there was not enough to " fulfd his
joy, that they be like minded, having the same love, being
of one accord, of one mind ; in lowliness of mind esteem-
ing each other better than themselves." Too much that
was done by them and among them was only ''through
strife or vainglory." He was doubtless glad to be removed
from them in an orderly manner anil by a j)rovidential
way. They could no longer, with their parents and grand-
parents, sing :

IN NEW ENGLAND.

263

" Behold liow pood a thinp; if is,
And how hiromirijj; well,
To^jfthiT surh as luelliri'n are
In unity to dwell." — Ps, exxxlii.

For, as lie exprosscd it, "Tlioy sanj? and they sanj;, till
tlicy suiijr all their j)iety away, and he had to come away
and leave them! '' He was hy no means the only Preshy-
terian minister who has realized the same hitti'r experience
in New Knufland. Where the divine hedtres of governnient
and <lis('i|)iine are not kept "entire," other " fruits " than
those ''of rijzhteonsness, which are hy Jesus Christ, to the
<;l()rv of (iod,"' speedily grow. tSo it was in Long Lane in
17S(;.

During the past thirtiM'n years, since the death of their
first pastor, especially during the seven years' war, dilapi-
dation increased with time. Their former elders, who
were men of understanding, had fallen asleep, or had left
th(> town, and the ollice among them had not heen well
filled. So long had "the faces of the elders " not heen
'■ iionored," that the ollice hecame des])ised, and the saying
lu'came law, that "the elders were only good to settle
(luarrels, and that the minister and the old men could do
that."

Consequently (as Mr. Annan left for Philadelphia), those
who had imhibed C'ongregational ideas ])assed into the
ascendant, and ahout August 4, ITSO, "at a meeting of tho
])roprietors and others of the Presbyterian church. Long
Lane, Robert Wier, Moderator — Voted nnanimously, that
this church and congregation do embrace the Congrega-
tional mode of government, and that all difliculties in the
church hereafter be settled by the ministers or male mem-
bers of the church."

The gay and thoughtless were now triumphant, while
tin; pious were grieved, to see only the " rubbish and tho
stones" of a church which at one time had been watched
over by a session cd" twelve elders. The trust established
liy ,h)hn Little was now perverted hy schism, and tho
Presbytery had not in it vitality (for it soon had trouble
with David Annan and others) to deal with the case, while
for them, in the civil courts, there was, as Pres])yterian9,
no redress ; they were from their lirst appearance deemed
to he intruders, and, as in the ca.se of Newburyport, the
law-makers did not smile upon them.

2G4

HISTORY OF PRESRYTERIANISM

HNI

The majority huvinEj become, })v their own vote, Con-
pre<5!itioniilists, ns they <li(l not, like Potcrboro, ask tlus
Presbytery to dismiss thciii, with them vox popiiJi bccaiiK!
vnx. Dei, and they went on swinunin^ly. "The Irish nieet-
in<^-house," built in l7-b')-44, was now "swept and gar-
nished," in view of their suceess, in order to make tho
]>laee more attractive for a new minister. When a tax was
laid upon the pews, to i)ay ibr the paintinj^, Mrs. (.'ai)t;uii
Aleximder Wilson ( widow), who owned a pew in her own
rij^ht, rather than se(; such a jx-rversion of the sacred trust,
and a teacher of " divers," if not " stranu;e, doetrines," stand
in the pnlpit, in which for twenty-nine years she had seeu
her father stand as " the messenger of (Jod " and as her
own Presbyterian pastor, she resolved (as diil thirteen
other heads of families with her) to forsake the ])laee. and
to ehan<;e, if she could not forLret, her Sahhath surrctund-
ini^s. As the occupants knew there was force in the trust
deed, his "pew and seat'' was still kejjt free for the heirs
of John Little. Presbytcrianisin had to be<; twelve years
before it was allowed to l)uild its lirst church in School
street, on its own land, and now, after an existence of above
seventy years, it is blotted out in Boston.

On April 4, 17S7, the Rev. Dr. .lercmy Belknapp was
settled as their minister. On .June 2, IT.SO, by the As.soci-
ate Reformed Synod, the third Presbytery was called the
Presbytery of Londonderry.

We now return to the records :

At Peterboro, September 27, 1780, the memlxTs were
D. Annan, Jno. Houston, S. Taupirt and Wm. Morrison,
niinisters, with their elders. From them llye^ate and
IJarnet (Vt.) request sujtplies. To these ])laci'S *' the lUx.
Jno. Houston was aj)jH)inted, and instructed to ordain
elders for them." " Flder Thos. McCiee, of ('oleraine, pre-
scnte(l a liiiiiii vote of th(; town re(iuestinu; Mr. Tag<iart to
continue ainoni; them."' On May oO, 17S7, at London-
derry, but little business was done, and the Rev. James
Proudlit was to " be earnestly retpiested to attend their
next meeting," which was held at Coleraine on October 1,
1787, and winch (with Mr. Robert McxMurray, his elder)
he did.

The Rev. Mr. Hubbard, on request, sat with them as a
correspondent. Pelham requested some assistance and

IN NEW ENGLAND.

265

pupply. Order was taken for the ordination of oldors at
MiddlcCicld and Clicstcr ; " tlicv are to I'md a sound
])rcacluT. if tliev can, and when (>l>tained, tliey and he aro
to ho achnitted uucUt the (^are of I'reshyterv." Dillieulties
liiid arisen in I'oh'raine, wliieh were now consich'red — and
'•A'r.>o/rrf/, 'IMiat, nnh'ss they have union and harmony, and
])ay no their arrears to Mr, Ta.L'^Mrt, his e(»nneetion with
thciu IS to l)e (Ussolved hy n(;xt nieetinfr." The then stato
of their ease, a nienihcr of the session and one from tho
eontireu'ation are to re]>ort at next meetintr. AUhcuiLdi it
is said that '" necessity is the mother of invention," theo-
loiiical seminaries liad not yet hecn opened in America.
'I'heir liehls for harvest weri' now more numerous than
their lahorers. 'J'heir intercourse with lrelan<l was dimiji-
islied,and to supply tiieir va(,'ancies their native iireacher.s
were not sullicient. " Jiedford is granted some supjdy — and
Mr. rrouihit is to apply earnestly to Mr. Vountr, now at
(iunhridue, X. Y., to come anil supply P<'!hain some Sal)-
l)aths, or, upon failure with him, to apply to any other
orthodox clertryman, wIk nver Providence may open a
door." Jk' it remembered, tin; term orthodox, in 17>)7, did
not hy any ni(\nis convey the idea in New En<rland of a
piniile remove from Unitarianism, a.s it does now, hut ono
who l)elieved in the oxi^stcnce of tho covenant of ^'race, a
Calvinist, a I'reshytcrian, or ono willini; to come to Pres-
hyterianism and do work according to the Westminster
standards.

We now for a season turn from the ecclesiastical to tho
pilitical field. From year to yt'ar, after the conclusion of
)i' ace, did the representatives of tho coUmies lahor to d(!-
tail constitutional |)rineiples. such as would mutually
interest anil conihine all in oik^ harmonious union.

The matter was both important and dillicult ; but at
last the Constitution of the I'nited States was drawn, and,
when conji>leted, not oidy was it modelled almost entirely
after the form of Presbyterian church jrovernment, but a
vital princi|>le of this order of eceh'siastieal polity was fol-
lu\ve(l. viz., that, before tiie constitution is finally ado|)ted
and beconu's bindinL% it must be overtured. Haviuir bor-
rowed the model, the best ever drawn in Cliristendoni, it
was both natural and necessary to overture the constitu-
tiouj in doing which it was agreed, that if nine out of the

2CG

HISTORY OF I'RESnYTKRIANISM

tliirtcon colonics would ratify it, it should bn declared to
1»(! fully a(l()|»t»'(l and to l)c hindinj; on tlu'in all. Mind in
Massa(;Iiusi'tts, cast in their Conj^rc^'ational mould of iso-
lated ,uroui)s, or of " an Atiicnian (h'Ujocracy," is not partial
to Federal representation, and when this heeanie neces-
sary, the jijreat number of .'5')') dele^iates were chosen to
form the convention, which was calK-d to ratily or reject
the prepared constitution, 'riiese assend)led in iJoston,
where the famous old church of Dr. Colman, on ih'attio
street, had been marked by a cannon ball, and after seven-
teen days of earnest and even stormy debate, it was found
that the echo was so troubh'some that some place of more
correct acoustics must be obtained, and obtained it was in
".Johnny Moorehead's jneetinif-house " in Lonj; lane.

This structure was of wood, in form like not a few of
such edifices at the time, such as the old South, with tho
]iulpit hi;i;h u)>on the back wall, which stood on the lane.
The principal door was throuudi the base of the steeple and
beliVy at the corner of the lane and llury street. To this
structure the convention adjourned, and after debating:; tho
matter there for seven days, on February ()th, 178S, tho
Federal Constitution was adopted by the small majority
of nineteen votes. Ten wron;: votes more would have lei't
the colony of Mass ichusetts Hay, notwithstandini,' all tho
patriotism of her Adamses and her Hancock, "out in tho
colli." There was |»rovidentially an aj)propriateness in
the place, the only spot in the colony lU'Voted by a deed
declaring a use and enjoyment of it by Presbyterians for-
ever, "to and for the only proper us<>, benelit ami behoof
of the saiil couirreuation laecordini; to the tenures and
after the same manner as the Church of Scotland hold and
enjoy the lands whereon the meetiuir-hou.ses are erected)
forever, and for no other use, intent or ])urj)ose whatso-
ever, with warranty."

Although jierverted by schism, it was still dr jure under
the Associate Ivcforined I'resbytery and Synod of New
York. Such was the spot on which Mnssachusetts ])asso(l
from the leading strings of colonial rule to the \vt)manhoud
of " the old liay State."

When the fact was announced by Slicrifl' Henderson at
the State House, amidst triumph and joy, Long Lane, the
Boil and " the Irish meeting-house " were not then, as they

IN NEW ENGLAND.

207

arc now, forjjjotton — thoy were called Federal street and
Federal Street ('hun;h.

As tlie huildiii^f in wliirh and the soil on which, in
I'liila(leli)liiii, the Constitution of the I'nitcd States Wiis
adopted, are matters ot" patriotic delight, hordeiint: on
veneration to every true American, and arc preserved in-
violate from (MMitury to century; so, in like manner tho
intense vitaHty of national life is shewn hy the citizens of
each State, to tiie huildin.!S and ])laces of conc(.)Urse whci'o
tln> inspiration of State existence, as a part of prospec-
tively the tireatest nation on the earth, was heu^un. After
Faneuil Hall, which was also a I'reshyterian foundation,
the next place to it in importance, jtolitically and civilly
in Boston, was the "Old South Church,"

where

town's j)eopl»!" were hy j)atriots aroused to the demands

)f dut^

'o preserve its identity a century afterwards,

hcsid(! ten thousand dollars ji;rantc<l hy the Le^dslaturc
oratory has heeii spread out in lectures, dances on "tlio
liudit fantastic toe," and exhihitions of colonial relics,
enouirh to decorate a pil^rimaue to an holy ground, all
crying, j^ive, jrive money (and tliousands are yet wanting),
''to sav(! the Old South ('onuren;ational niectin^'-house," or
it will he desecrated hy trallic.

On this national feelin<r, honorahlo to ev(Ty true citizen,
" Fideral Street Church " must he perpetually pointc*! out
with pride hy fathers to their children from jj;enerati(^n to
generation, and the care taken to j)reserve it distiiuitly in
location, and so lar as practicahlc, intact in structun.' and
use will shew the vitality and force of national patriotism
and zeal in the hreasts of the sons and dauuhters of the
Old Bay State, and especially of those re>ident in 'Mho

" There is Concord, there stands [Junker

town of Boston.
Iliir' ( Wt'hstcr), and there is, stands, or there was, or
there stood Federal Street Church! That this national
name should continue for all time, would he a matter of
sini[)le honesty, as it was an honor to the Con)monwealth,
Init then it was born out of wedlock, hoth church and
State denied to it jtarentaire, and it contained "a pew and
scat" for the heirs of John Fattle. a Breshyterian, forever,
which then and now represented in part the (•(.•<tii!,-< tjnc
trust of the whole estate. It could not be votc^d out of the
position in which he had placed it, so long as ecjuity should

26S

IIISJTORY OF rnrsHYTKISIAMfM

roinaiii .'i virtue, ft is also jtossihh? that the seat of Mrs.
^\'ils()ll had iKit y«'t itrcn "soM to pay lor the paiiitiiiL' of
the church," as ihc criiiiiiial iiKJuction of |)r. I'xlkuaii IkkI
taken place less than a year heloir.

We leave these pews and seats in this national house to
trace other waninu; vestiires of this polity in our field.

In the minutes at Peterhoro, April .""loth, 17SS, it is re-
t'onh'd that *' the Associate Iicfonned i'reshylerv of. New
Kn-fland met." '^Salrnint, Annan, Houston," Taj}i;art ami
Morrison, ministers, with their elders."

\\\ a^'cnt from the town of Antrim, \. Fr.,!isked I'reshy-
tery for the ortraui/ation of a church. This, hy a|i|ioin"t-
nient, the Kev. William Morrison eii'eete(i on Au,L:ust .1(1.
It oouHiste*! of seventy-two niemhers under three ruling
elders, hut did not ohtaiu a pastor for twelve vears.

''Thilip l{ih'y he^^'an this settlement in 1711. Tliero
was no reli^dous meeting', prohaitly not even u praver-
lueetin^' in the town for thirty years. The iirst sermon
■was jireached to tiiem in Septi'inher, 177.'), hy the Kev.
William Davidson, of Derry, and after that thev * were
not ne«,di;,'ent in reli^dous thing's.' They tau.^ht their chil-
dren at home. The Hihle and the eateeliism were the
chief literatiu-e in every house. They kei)t the Sahhath
with great reverence. Jlavinjj; no trash to n-ad or for their
children to read, tliey studied over and over the Holy
]{ook, and canu; to hold its «loetrines rigidly and intelli-
gently.'' illis. .sVr., p. 1!).) From their organ izati-on thev
had no jjastor until the liev. Walter Little was settled ov(T
th(;m, on Sei)temher ;;d, ISOO, and hensigneil Septemher
4th, 1S()4. *

A Mr. Merrill, previously notice)', had appeared in I've-
gate and Jiarnet, and they ask I'resliytery, wh«-ther tliev
can safely employ him or not? They were ans\\(red":
that " this Preshytery are totally opposed to him as heing,
in their opinion, unworthy of the ministerial character and
ollice, and that tins Treshytery caiuiot hut totally disap-
prove of said jieople continuing to ( nijiloy him to pr( ach
uuiong tiiem."

"A ju'tition from six memhers of the clnn-ch in IVter-
])oro, respecting the propriety of introducing a new ver-
sion of the Psalms, was presented, and as the ministt r and
eession had already written to the Synod on tlu; allair, all

tlifV
Iv ViT-

r unci
liir, all

IN NKW EN(;i.ANI).

269

procrc(lin<rs of Proshytorv upon it wcro waivod for the
j)r('S('iit." Tlicv were iulvisi'd to "wait tlic decision of
Svi'iod, and adiuouislicil not to hical-: the pi'acr of tho
rliiircli, ami if tlicv can no otlicr way . iiswcr a i:<»od con-
science tlu'V do it under coviit t)f a protest to l)e recorded

mi tiK' session

liook.

The "incuralile dissatisfaction" was thus hnried ^' do-
cciitly anil in order." On their re(|uest, a limited su|)ply
III' preachinji was jfiveii to the town of IIanct>ck. " Sir.
TauLMit was still to lalioi- in ("oieraine, and the peo|)Ie are
rcconnnended to do their duty towards him.'

The " Kev. .lohn Houston was a|)pointed to sup|)ly
Middlefield and Chester, and to certify to them when there,
it" he judu'c proper, that they are an oru:ani/ed I'reshyterian
church." liedford to \h' supplii'd one Sahhath.

I'eterhoro, May 1st, IT.SS. " Vote<l, that .Mr. .Morrison
write to the Synod and ^dve reasons why the attendance
of this I'reshytery has heen so much <imittcd. and also rc-

lestinj,' tho appointment of sctme landidates to New

Kn'di

ind

Londonderry, Octoher 1st, IT^S. The I'ev. Aaron

Hut

chinson sat as a c(M-respon<

lent.

Hev. J). Annan was

;i|ipointed to ni'cach in Chester, Mass., to make farther in-
(|uiries into tlieir circumstances, to see if the eertili<'at«',
wliich they ask to the civil aiUlntritii-s, siirnifyini: that they
lire a pro|)erly orirani/.ed conLM'cjiation. c;m he tirantt'd."
Ui'side minor items, they record, "This I'reshytery taking
into serious consideration the hroken state of the I'reshy-
tcrian interest in New I'jitrland. and the importance of,'
(loin^r soniethinu' to unite the varioii-; hodics of j'reshyto-
ri;iiis. Voted, That letters he written— one to the I'reshy-
tery of Grafton and another to the i'reshytery at the Kast-
w;ird. relatintr to the expediency of siuiie proposals of ji
ciiale^cciwe of the several I'reshyteries."

W V have seen a similar teelinir e.\pr»'ssed hy the Saleni
rrcshytery and the one at the Kastward — " I'nion is
stnu>,'th," and they now mutually felt the need of it, as
tlicy were ^M'adually heini: overhorne hy the semiscriptural
ii><;iL'es ot' the Stale reliudou «>n its native soil.

.\l Coleraine, May tt, 17«S{), in answer to the one sent, on
the ahove recorded vote, "a letter was ri'ad from the clerk
ot'tTrafton i'retjbytcry," responding in wordw. An ucknowl-

270

IIISTOUY OF IMtKSin'TKRIANISM

(!(l;^'m(>ut jind nply was ddw ordcnwl 1(» he written liv Mr.
'liv^iiiirl. Petitions were nccivrd tVom I'.ariicl and (Irulon,
ilic last a<'(uni|iani('d witli a cntirKate ol' tlicir incoi|iinii-
lion, si;^n<d liy the |(»\vn diik. I''ti|- carli jiJaiT >onic miii-
])ly l»y sclllcd pastors was i^ranlcd.

"Tliis l'n'sl)yt<'ry lindin;^ it iin|iossilt|r Inr any of tlidr
nKinlxTs to attend tin- next nicctinL' <•! Synod, and at tin-
hanic time cfjnseions of the ini|iintanec id' considciin;,'
with attention the overture lalelv |»nl>Hshed tor illn-tr
lion of the (h>etrine ('(tntained in the Westminster ('(tiitr
sion of I'^nth, do thiid< it their (hitv to intimate tl

I-

H'M'

jnihcial a|i|»rohalion ol tlie same, s<» lar as it is eonlined to
and takes njtand <'xeeiites the ilhistration of the doetrii

II 'S

of th(; said ( 'onl'ession, and (h> appoint the mothrator nl'
this I'reshytery to write to the Synod on the snhjeet.''

I'eterhoro, Oetoher 7, I7S!)- the Associate !{<•!

onrieil

I'reshytery of New lOnuland nn't. The llev. Aaron lltil<li-
inson, Ji iiKiniher oftJrallon I'reshytery, hein^r iiresent, was
invited to sit with I'reshytery. Mr. Annan read a eopv nf
the letter whieh he was appointed to write to (iial'tdii
I'reshytery, and also their answer." .Mntnal ^'ood leehn;;
.Mjtpears to have heen j^rowin;^ hetween them. The resij;-
iiation of his olliee, hy l']lder Samilej Moore, was accepted,
hho\vin<i th.at this was not done merely to and hy his ses-
sion, hut to and hy the- superior court, in which, when ;ip-
]iointed, Ik; o(r(;npied an ecpial seat with theollmrs. It this
wer(! retpiired universally, it would constrain those wIki
are worlliy to " ma^mily their ollicc." " 'Tis a consunima-
ti(»n devoutiv to he wished."

" Londonderry, .M.iy '20, 17'.>(). The Associate! Ilerorincil
I'reshyjery of New Mntrland ii\c[, srdrnnil, .Messrs. .\nnaii,
M(»rrison and Houston, nunisters, with elders Davidsdii
and (Jrillin. The Kev. Mi-.ssrs. Ilutchin.s(»ii and Williams
sit as correspondeiitM.

";\ memorial addressr-d to the I'reshytery of I'hiladelplii.i
l»y the I'reshytery at the Eastward, res|tectin;^' Mr. .lolm
Alurray, was laid hefore the |'reshyt<ry hy the Kev. Simon
Williams, of Windham, entreatiuij; the concurrence of tliis
bodv with the jMuport of the same in an address to tlic
I'hiiadelphia i'reshytery." " Voted, That .Messrs. Ann.iii
und Morrison draw up a n-pn-sentation concurring with
thu lueuiorial, und tliut they report the waiue."

IN NKW i:.\(;/.AM).

271

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272

IMSTOKY OF I'KKSHYTKUIAMSM

nlijiro of the hiirdi'iis laid on cimrcli courts in "tukin^'^ cnra
of tlio lions*' (»f ( lud," tlir wjint ol' tlu' " provofiitioii to lovr
iind to ;^ood work^ " ;isii:illy enjoyed, hcsidr the ne;:l< <•!
of the *' f<';i.^t f)f irason ;in<l the jh>\v of sold," n\\ such omis-
sions U-nded to ii luiatioii, i.-olalin;^' and eontraeliii^ to the
ov(!rH«!ers of (Jods herita^'c. Ilrnec, hy non-attenchinrc
they were diseouia^/iii;,' others and not henelitin;: them-
selves. ( 'onse(|ueiilly, they were |»lied willi hi hrs of iii-
«|uiry fof their n-asons of ahsencr. On Se|iteniher "iS,
17*M, Mr. Samml Toonihs, fi<»ni N<'W ^'orl< I'reshytery, was,
on his own r»'(|u<'st, taken under earc M r. < )liver delivered
j»aits of his "trials." .\ v<rl»al re(|U('sl for supply from
J)«'rrvwas pres«'nt,ed, and a similar our from Antrim. .Mr.
Toonihs was appoint<'d to supply in th(! Kast I'arish four
Sahhaths, in Chester one, and in Antrim four.

"A commissioiH'r from Ufdjoid eraveil advifv in their
eritieal siluation. and also supply. .Mr. ( lliver was lieenscd,
which was, on ()el»ihrr 2llli,du!y announced to Synod.
Mr. D.Annan presented the drniission of his chaise - nad
and laid on ihr tahle. This was tran-ndtled to the Syimd
for counsel, and th<! eoiii^rej^ation ol" J'rIerlMiro nolilied to
adduce thr-ir reasons, at ne.\t nie«'tinj^, why il, should not
be sustaine(|. \'ulrd that Mr. Annan repres<nl this l'r«s-
)>ytery in Synod at their next mcetin!/,'' which he did at
J'hiladelphia on Ocloiter IDth. lie was also char^^ed " to
make in«|uiry respect in^' the atfairs <»f tin; l{ev. .lohn .Miu'-
ray .'it the I're.sltylery of I'hilailflphia." At his recpifst,
the I'reshytery of liondondcny was, on said <lay (Octnher
r.), IT'.M /, hy Synod, calh-d the ^Associate Reformed I'ro-
hytery «if New Mniiland.

W'hiU' the rrcshytery weri- yiildin'_' not only to the
clamor of the youn)j: and imthinkin;^ in ri lation to hyniii-
olo;iy, hut also to town meetings, which voted (»ut the (iDtl-
jiiven psalms and voted in tin' " imitations," or dtlirr
liuman productions, as the mall<r of divine praise in tli<'
i)arisli for the ensuin;; ys'i", •''•'^ ''"'.v V(4.<<l in the poiini!-
Keepers, (lo;.(-killers and the constahhs; they found nf-u
that just U.S the appointed "pure olftrin;,' " of jtraise was
hupplanted in tlif ihurchcs and silenced in the famili'H,
that " divers and straiiji' doctrims ' were jiropauiited.

As the <l«i(:trine of imputation alone can <lisplay the wil-
ful ruin of a race and the tiatisfuction of divine justice for

IN NFW KNC.I.ANI).

273

>»

tlio sins of tliJit " multitndc wliidi no man can numhor
so it lies at the roini<l;itioii of "redemption tlirou^li tlio
lilood of ( Mirist ; " and :is lor ne.irly a ^^eneration human
|Mi(try liad been incre.'isin'jly smi;^ in the State ohurclK^s,
so in proportion "the truth ;is it is in .lesuH " liad he(!onjo
(if less im|)itrlanee ; eniise(|U(iitIy, those wlioHc; "hearts
tremhh'd for the ark of (iiid";ii, times "Hl'ted up their
voices hke a tnnnpet." Ilenee, " V(»te(l — that the thank.s
III' this Presbytery l»«' presented t(» the |{ev. Dr. Iluntinj^-
titu, of ( 'onneetient, for his l.de ahh- and judieioUH di-leneo
of the all-important doelriue of impnt.ition."

At I'eterhoro, .M:iy .".(>th. I7'.»2, .snlnimt. I{(;v. MessrH.
Annan, Ta^'^ari, and >h»rrison, with l>ev. .lohn Houston,
(ornspondenl, and four elders. Mr. Toomlts. clerk.

j{i(|nesls for siip|iliis, heside from other plac^^s, were
made hy Mr. I'arks from ( Jroton, Mr. John Dinwan from
Antrim, Captain 'riiompson from I'clham, and Mr. Mor-
rison from .New lloWJey.

Ijcv. .Nh'ssrs. .Miles and I *a;:e sal as correspondents.

A petition iron) the A. \{. I*reshyt<'ry of .New York was
read, askinir the lahors of .Mr. Oliver for some time iimoni^

their ViKlincies.

.Mr. .Xnnan's troiddes were now considered,, ami eommJH-
.sioiiers from tin; town of I'eterhoro were he.ird. He askj'd
t'lir ,1 ilisiiils.'o'oii, which was <irjmted, and the pastoral ndji-
tinii w;is dissolved. His further history hereafter.

We h:ive :dre;idy seen the Tresliytery at the Kastward,

• 111 June j.'ttli, 17'.>2, at Seahrook, a|ipointinjjr as dtde^ates to
a Synodic.-d convention, to he hild at Dartmouth ('(diejje,
oil .\uL'iist L'od, 17''-, for the purpose of unilinj,' the several
I'nshyleries into ji Synod, the llev. Messrs. Moon", W'il-
liaiii-!, and Murray, and it was, on .Miiy .'ilst, 17*J2, " vot«;d,
tliiit the liev. .Nhs-is. .\nnan and .Moiii^on .'ittend the ne.xt
iiiteliui: di" the delcii.iles iVoiii the respective I'reshy tcries
at h.irlmoiilh Colle^'e." It is prohai>h' that the I'reshytery

• if (it-Ml'ton made similar appointmints, :ind we luiV<! ( in tho
iiandwritiini; of .Mr. ,\iui;mi ) " preliminarv articles of union,
tu III' suhmitted to the eoiisider;it ion of tlie respective I'res-
'•ytirics. Miislwanl. .\. I!, of N. Iv,and ( Irafton, when they
^liall meet iit I )iirlmout h ( 'ollei:e,on the day aftiTeonnnencte-
iiieiil, Mild endeavor to settle the whohi plan of (joalofleenc**,
and shall ai>]M)inl tjine yunl ])lace for next ineetin}.;." In

* 1

274

nrSTORY OF PRESBYTERTAXISM

I''

\i^

la.

the n,l)sonco of tlic minntoH of the doinjrs of the said con-
vention, we know tho fart that tlic l*n'Hl>yt«'rv of (Jrafton
(lid not unite, that (hey did not attend the adjoiu'ned unvt-
in!4 of said e(»;iv( ntion at Pendnoise, N. II., and that after
tho death of tiie Rev. .John Murray (on March l-'ith, ITU.'ij,
th(! fra^rnicntsof the Presbytery at the Eastward and tlie A.
Jl. Preshytcry of New Kn;,dand eventually " eoaleseed." In
the ineantinio, "th(! first I'reshvterv of the Eastward" met
at Derry, on the first Wednesday in Oetobcr, IT'Cl, and to
them the following letter was addressed:

•' Windham, Si-ptnulxr Alh, 1703.
"This session having received a letter from tlie Preshy-
tery of Londondc^rry, of date of May 'i'Jth, 17'.)o, reiiui'Stiiii,'
them to take into serious consideration the utllitj/ and jtnt-
pr/d// of uniting injudicial capacity with their Presltyttry,
taking no further notice of the (Jrafton Presbytery, as they
liave roluntarih/ declined connection with us by not attending
the convention at Pend)roke:

"This session do cordially concur with the proposal,
and solenndv recommend it to vou (as a Presbvterv) to do
the same. We jtra)' that this union may ct)me to a happy
issue, that harmony may be promoted, that tin.' unity of
the t^pirit may be preserved in the bond of peace.

"Simon Willia.ms, Mod'r."

In the absence of its minutes, this Presbytery of (Iraf-
ton appears to have been a kind of amateur one, ])robahly
galvani/ed into existence by the Wheelocks and their iii-
Huence, as a good or, perhaps, a little better expedient
than the "loose, disjointed way" of Congregationalism.
It, like the seed sown on the rock, endured for a time, hut
was afterwards otl'ended wdien called t)n to sustain Preshy-
terianism as the Scrii)tural-ism in government. Its con-
gregations returned to bask under the fostering care of tlie
State, each one to act its own part without Presbyterial
])arity or Synodical unity. This was well, Ibr the expe-
dient of a merely nonanal Presbyterianism yields no
advantiige in doctrine, win'shi|), or discipline over a thor-
oughly associated Congregationalism ; it is simjily calling
Jesus " Master and Lord," without d-jing the things which
he says.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

276

The momontnin '/wvn by tlio Rov. '^^r. Murray to his
Pr('sl)yt('ry at I'^istward did not wlidily (-(MSf at his (h'ath,
;iii(l wt' liiid the town of Ni-w >hirl<('t. in July, 17-'-J, takinjif
the usual stc|)S [(rt'scrilicd hy civil law and then l>y that
Trt'shytiTy for tlio settlement of Mr. Jonathan l>rown as
colleague with the Rev. Nathaniel Kwer. Also:

" LoXDONDERliY, St'ptnnber 2d, 1793.

"We, tlie feeble remains of the late Hev. Wm. David-
son's ses!?ion, which was formerly luxler the I*resl»ytery at
the Eastward -but it hath ifleascil the Lord of the harvest
to call home the ;j;reater jjart of tiie members of that Pres-
bytery, so that we can have nt) more ludp from them in
that way — and now, in thc;.M)o(l providence of (Jod. having
a desiral)le oi)i»oi1unity of joiiiin;^ with the bondonderry
I'rt'sbytery, whercot" the Kcv. Wm. .Morrison and the Uev.
Samuel 'i'a^'".;art are mendxrs, do ciieerfully embrace it, l)y
all our session that were present, hopinj,' that it may be for
the honor of the ^rcat lli'ad of the Church and for tho
comfort and i-nlarucment of it.

"Signed by ordi^r of six elders in session, by

"John Moou, Clerk."

They tlius were accepted and identified with the y\. R.
Presbytery of New England (probably) at I'elham, on tho
11th of that month.

At a meeting of this Presbytery pro re luild, on July 22d,
17'Jo, a call was accepted by Mr. Oliver, and on " Septem-
l)er 11th, after the; prescribed trials had heen sustained, ho
wa.>^ ordained and mstalled over the; west (which was not,
it would sei'Ui, the lirst) parish of Pelham.'* On asking
liis services, this congregation also " recjuested some direc-
tion respecting psalmody and singing." They had doubt-
less for years used tli(^ " \'\\) Imitations," and as this Pres-
hytiiy had not as yet "so learned Christ,'' they j)roperly
iislv for instructions, and to tlnni all indulgence connectcnl
with the exislen<r i»f this form of ecclesiastical i)olity was
shewn. The prayer of their petition was "left to the wis-
dom of the session, who may lie l>est acquainted with that
mode which is most conducive to public usefulness. But,
in partieular, if the congregation sing without reading,
that they be all advised to have books."

276

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

At " Pctorboro, October Otli, ITOri, a mil from Nowbiiry-

Itort lor Mr. Tooinlts, prcscntcil ihrou^xh the JCastcni I'ns-
•ytcry, was received,' and when presented ho asked tinu?
to consider it. wlii<'li was jfrante(l.

The r<as()ns lor not acctptin^' the call from Antrim,
Avhi(;h he stated, were approved. Supplies were granted to
Antrim and JN'terlHtro. The calling of the jtru re imla
jjjeeting was aitprovetl,

Dnrinj; the years 17i>2, ''I, and '4, no mendxr of the A. |{.
Treshytery of New Knirlanil had appeiwed in Synod, which
Avas a sonrco of grief to the denonnnation. Nundters, »)!>-
tained even hy cxjudlfnri/, appeared now to he of more
importance to them than pmity of worship and fnltilhd
vows. Ilenco, they say, "The expeiheney of forminif a
miion with the Eastern I'reshytery was c(»nsidcred anil ap-
l»roved. \'()ted, (t't/i), agreeahly to the jiroeeedings of th(!
i'onvention at I'clnhroke, that the delegates he appoiiiled
to form a union." " Rev. W'm. Morrison, with ekiers lull
nnd Smith, are lierehy empowered to meet in convention
■with the \U\\ Solomon >loore and elders ( amphell and
Moore, of the I'^iistern Preshvterv, to foi'm a coalescence,
und to dissolve hoth I'ri'shyteries into one. on the last
Friday of this inst. Jf no nnion is formed. Treshytcry is
to meet in Pelham on the last Tuesday in May, 175M ; and
if an union is forniecl, the new court will appoint its own
time and i)lace, the clerk of sai<l conveniion to give
liotic(> to the dlderent members that they may govern
themselves accordingly."

Fronj the "Minutes of the Convention, which met at
Londond( rry, October I'.'ith, 17i>''i, for finishing the union,"
we learn that the meeting was held ace<)rding to the ap-
pointments of l)oth rreshyteries ; that there were " jiresent,
Kevs. Sol. Moore, \Vm. Morri.<!on, and ./no. Houston, min-
isters, Iv^ip'. John r.ell, Captain John Moon,', and Samuel
Campbell as ciders."'

"The Kev. Mr. Ab)ore preached from John xiii. 'M, oo. a
gormon very suitable to the occa.sion." lie presided a.s
chairman.

"This convention, being fully invested with power, ])ro-
ceeded to form the union.

"After j)rayer and di'liberation, vot(>(l :

"1st. To adopt the Westminster Confession and Gate-

IN NEW ENr.T.AND.

277

chisms, (liroctorv for worship and form of povrrnniont, as
tliP standards ot tliis Prosbytory, in suliordination to tho
word of ( lod.

"id. That tho Prcshytcry shall he called tho Presbytery
of liondondcMTv.

"Md. That Dorry oast and west parishes alternately ho
the places for stateil nieetin,t.'s, unless otherwise speciallv
r(t|Uested by sonu; other town or parish, for special busi-
ness there.

"Ith. That the Presbvterv meet at the east meeting-
house on the last Wednc^sday of May. \'\)\.

5th. That upon these principles the union bo and

herd

)V IS (

losed.

Tho Kev. \V. .Morrison, on rcfpiest, pave a partinj; ad-
dress, and is to open tho first meeting' wit'i a sermon.

Since tho centi'tmial year ( l.s7<ji, tlu; travt'ller westward
can traverse tho .Atlantic watershed by soifio four or mor
partly parallel railroads throuudi Towa, and whether hu
('i\tor the eye of the needle at Omaha or make a detour of
a few hundre(l milo by Uenvcr. still, when ho reaches
Cheyenne, all travel is concentrated on one track over tho
Rocky, tho Wahsatch, and Nevada M(»untains. Similar
has Iteen and is, at the close of this (piarter of a century,
in 171>.'), our Presbyteriaiiism in New Kmzland. We have
had four — or, including the Synod and its three, in all
seven — Presbyteries in sixty-liv(^ years in' the land of tho
Puritans. Tho ni(»unt;nns, the slutre of Salt liake, and th(j
desert nuist be travclN-d by rail on only one track; and
now we have, in this rej^ion, to end tho Presl»yteriaiusm
of Now Kn^dand with only one Presbytery at tho close of
the ei^^hteeuth century! To it :is a plant tlu^ soil was
must un<,'enial, the climato unproi»itious. and the malaria
noxious, l^ider tlu^ shadow ol a native s|)ecies of church
l)olity supported bv tho civil power, it existed only in op-
position to u'reat disadvantatres, and these were doubled
liy the "tastes"' of men who did not "receive, observe, nor
keep pure and entire all such reliL'ious worship and ordi-
niuutes as (io»l had appointed in his woril."'

We have thus seen the introdurtiitn ;iiid riwlh of F*res-
hyterianism in New Kn^dand. Duriu:: tlir li:>t ;;eneration,
while those who brou<;ht it to the rcizioii survived, it was
niaintaincd on divine authority, as a gt)vernment adminis-

278

HISTOUV OF rUKSnYTKUIAMSM

terofl bv men who were "njithercd together in tlio nnnift
of our fiord Jrsus Christ," "witli the power of our litird
.Ief»u.s Christ," to "take care of tiie liouse of (Jod;" t'anii-
lies were nurseries for the eliurch, in which the " h)viii;,'
kin(hiess of (iod was shewn forth in the niorninj:, and
Ins faithfuhiesH (U'clared every nij^ht;" the Sahhath was a
day not only of rest, hut of joy and, in the words of a
nio(h'rn errorist, wearing the I'reshytcrian name ( Swing i,
their " Calvinism was a jneachahh- and a |)rca(;he(l dor-
trine." NVc are not, however, to su|)|iose that all, who
came from Kurope as ndnisters, " magnilied their ollice.''
Some of them ended their career as desperate villains,
especially the first two incunihents of I'eterlxtn*, N, II.
To prove this awful assertion, in relation to Annan, 1
• juote the Rev. .1. II. Morrison's century address.

" He was (Icjiosed from the ministry in ISOO, and died
in Ireland in 1802. He jxisscssimI respectahle talents, and
might easily have retained the confidence of his people.
But his int<'m}terate habits, his licentious and corrupt con-
versation, and his haughty, over-hearing manner at length
deprived him of their respect and regard. So brutal was
liis treatment of his wife, who was an estimable woman,
that she was compelled to pass the whoh; night with her
children in the woods; she finally obtained a bill of
divorce on the ground of extreme cruelty."

"They, Morri^ton and Annan, were the only settled pas-
tors in the place fcr fifty years. During this dark |)criod
religion was kept alive by religious exercises in the family,
rather than by pui)lic nnnistrations."

"Our people were always readers, and tl^e Bible was
almost their only book. Here they went for counsel and
support; it was to them prophet and priest. Family
imiver" (that is, as we have seen at West Running-brook
in /^erry, worshin by j>rayer, reailing and singing psalms)
" was faithlully oltserved. Morning and evening the Scrip-
tures wen? read, and if the flame of devotion burned <liiii
in the liouse of public worship, it was not ptM'mitted t<> go
out upon the family altar." A noble testimony. \Vhil(\
"from the earliest lime, that church was Calvinistic an<l
Presbyterian" till 17*J'2, "it is a matter of surprise that
those two ministers were Imrne with by the jn'ople." " R
is accounted for in part" by Mr. M — ," because of the

ill!

IN NKW KNiil-AND.

279

proat voneration attache*! to tlir profession." " Ministers,"
said oinj at the i-oinmeneeinctit of the diHieiilties with Mr.
^^)rris(m, "are e(l;;eil tools and we maun aye he earefu'
how we haiidh' them." " Keep yoursel' to yoursel'," sai«l
an elder of the church with ^reat solemnity to his son,
who waH he^inninj^ to intimate that Mr. Annan was not
what he shouhl l»e. A^ain, those iidnist«-rs, though wron^
in pra(!ticc, were supjiosed to he "sound in the faith, and
an error in helief was <'steemed to he far more dnnj^erous
than one in heart or hfe."

Thus, the original Londonderry, or '' Irislj " Preshytery,
had an existence of prohahly t!iirty-five or thirty-seven
years; the Jioston I'reshytery a career of forty-six years;
the I'reshvterv at the Kastward of tAventv-one years; the

tit . V ?

(iralton rreshytery an e.xistence of prohahly fifteen or
more years, and the other, under the names of the As.so-
ciate Ilefornied Preshytery of Londonderry, the Associate
Reformed Preshytery of New Knj;Iand and again of lion-
donderry, "coalesced" with the scattered frajzments of the
others and continued to bo a working Preshytery for
Boventy-six years. Its history, with those of the Preshy-
teries of Newburyport, Connecticut, Boston, Vermont and
Bccond Boston, together with the congregations of the Re-
formed Presbyterians in New England, will (D. V.) form
our second volume.

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HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

NEW ENGLAND.

VOL. II.

1793.

1881.

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HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

283.

CHAPTER XII.

1793-1818 — Four parallel railroad lines — The one no wider — Frag-
ments of Presbyteries — Not so — An expedient — Setni-Krastianism —
Batii Kol — Tiie force of truth — .Starved out — The ofHce of elder — A
corresponding eHLrt — Tlie tliird vital power — Tripod — Contest —
"(Jenevan jigs" — Control — Truth — Tlie leaven — The rear rank — A
matter of opinion — Tlie Bay State Version — Producing for a genera-
tion — Assimilation — A change — The Godhead — Sapped — The Old
South — Repaired — King's Cliapel — The thread of Apostolic succes-
sion — Discarded — In 1785 — The protoplast — The clerk — Their rea-
der — By power — Metamorphosis — Freedom idolized — Disregard —
Murray since 1773 — A through ticket — "Arminianism respectable" —
Freewill Baptist — New gods — Extensively shorn — Revived — Chev-
erus — "The town's people" — The golden age of Boston — The influ-
ences of these conil)ined ingredients — Weight and force assimilate —
Oversiiadowed — Pew patroinige — No reinforcements — " The elect's
sake" — Less a matter of ambition — Like passions with others — Easy
to see — Domestic training — Could not be expected — Fragments —
Death of Rev. W. Davidson — Brown — Opposition — His ordination
unwise — A pretext — Prepared the way — A single life — Abandoning
relations — Baldwin — Taggart — Dana installed in N' vburyport — Dis-
Jruption — Mr. Milton from Trevecca — "Better ediiication " — "Inde-
pendent Calvinistic Church" — Form of installation — And behaved
well — A charge — Prospect Street Church — The deacon pla ■] the
Apostle — A spectacle — "Thin and tenuous film" of power — i'l nary
— Vowed to obey — Submit yourselves — Claims ignored — For six
years— Concessions — Removal of censure — Average admissions — S.
Foiub called thrice — A remonstrance — Dissentients — Opposition to
Dana a misunderstanding — A peace measure — Second Presbyterian
Church — First Church aflectionate — To escape oppression — Another
denomination — Murray unwilling — Not customary — Parish districted
— Safety of the church — Session the safety of the church — Records of
Presbyteries — A convention, October, 1793 — An union — Approved,
Newmarket and Antrim — To have "Bedford act consistently with
Christian character" — Pickles — Action of employers condemned —
The action of Newburyport session confirmed — Supplies — Nearly the
whole mass — Absorbed — "A felt want" — Joel Barlow — His callings —
National Convention of France Atheists — Revised 139 psalms — As a
morning star unsavory — Dr. Dwight employed — Imitations allowed
in 17S7 — Moral sentiment waxing feeble — Changes — "Imitations"
vamped — General Assembly, U. S.j 17S9 — West Derry petitions—

284

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

r:s > V. Jti:

Session to act — Varied matters — Toombs installed — Amherst Associa-
tion — Pidgeon — Eight ministers and fourteen elders meet — Abimd-
ance of business — Advice — Peterboro call sustained — Coleraine to l)e
seasonably notilied — Jordan — Morrison to answer a letter I'roni Synod —
Presbyteries to deal honorably with I'ongregationalists — Coleraiiu' to
agree — Morrison to say so to them — Presbytery attenuated — lUtlicid
in "strife and vain glory" — T;iggart asks releasi'— Not granted —
Windham asks preaching — lioddily's installation valid — Kast I)errv
asks the "imitations," Septemljer 0th, ]7*.)7 — West Dcrry three years
in advance — Synod grieved — Ajjpliances in vain — (Character of the
causes imperfectly comprehended — Oidy a little ditli^rent — The one
will root out the other — Answer to a letter and one to an address —
History repeating itself — Prentice forty-five years ago — Now creeping
into houses — The emotional powers — This class increased — Brown
obeyed — "Straggling persons" encouraged by Ewer — "Voted" —
Vacant churches warned — "Such as I am" — Maine — Well, to "go
and do likewise" — Rhode Island sects — A peculiarity cf Presbyterian
church government — A painful interest — Washington, N. Y., Presby-
tery, May 30th, 1794 — Synod, Rev. R. Annan to write for it to Lon-
donderry Presbytery — lie reported — "(Certain information received"
— Town meetings ruling Presbytery — Reproached — A committee to
visit Presbytery — To be informed also by letter — The letter, June 1st,
1795 — A strong remonstrance — They answer and glory in nund)ers
and light — A new king enthroned — A contrast to Westrunning Brook
and Casco Bay — "Most plaintive" — A letter from Synod, January
24th, 1797 — "Stating their views and grounds of complaint" — A
masterly argument— M.itcliless and unanswerable — A rei)ly on May
30th, 1797 — Good intentions — Providentially {)reventea — Case de-
ferred — None froni J^ondonderry Presbytery next two meetings — To
see if to dissolve the connection would be beneficial — Only ^Morrison
and Taggart now appear to have been trained as Presbyterians— A
mild form — Advantage — Ignored a Synod which prevented will wor-
ship— "Changes borrowed"— "P\dt want"— The harp— Voted, Oc-
tober 9, 1799, to obtain and peruse — R. Annan reappointed in 1799—
No reply to him in 1800 — No member in Synod in 1801 — Minute —
Presbytery disclaimed — The process of assimilation Cduipleted — Ex-
cepting in godly families "to the moles and to the bats" — In both
versions — The Presbytery, Se}>tembcr 6th, 1797, " Moor, Whipple and
Boddily correspondents" — "The act valid" — Little licensed — New-
bury received and Toondis installed, November 28th — June r2tli,
1799, assistance to ordain Mr. Slea at Byelield not granted — Necessity
for sending preaching to the frontiers of New Hampshire — The letter
to be answered — D. .Vnnan's case attende<l to — Presbytery now incon-
sistent — They would not lend to ordain Slea, and now borrow to or-
dain Little at Antrim — A peace-oficring — Little asks Presbytery to bo
so kind as to excuse him — Excused from giving his popular sermon
on account of visiting so many sick — He is ordained September 2<l,
1800 — Constitution to be considered, sermons to be criticised — D.
McGregor licensed, June 9th, 1802 — Taggart applies — Dana directed
— Assembly's Constitution adopted, October 13th, 1802, in substance,

IN NEW ENGLAND.

285

'-A

not In toto — Still unprepared to unite — Giles installed — Colby — Pem-
broke — (JliostiT — Prcsl)_vti'ry cannot p;rant ( Joil'stown's ri'iinest — D.
Met irej^or oa He'd to Hfdl'ord — Letter iVom town-cliTk of i'l'terhoro — •
Tiieir fatiier's property— I'rcsltytery reconuiiend intrreoMiniunion —
Proiuiseiious, not in use iiitluTto — Oliver demits — lie is eiTtiliod —
Tlie Associate Presbytery of Cainhridu'c, ()ctol)er l")tii, bs()4 — IFe
broke bis pledu;e to tiie Associate Presl)ytery — Rev. D. Mctire.LCor and
lie<lford — Little released — Jinie I'itli, ISO"), recommended to tlie Ah-
soeiate Reformed Presbytery of Wasbington, N. Y. — October 9ili,
PLirris installed in Windbam — "Tbe enticing words of man's wis-
dom " — A new eertilicate granted — New Boston — Rev. E. Ibadl'ord —
Presbytery meetings — " Pidgeon reprehended'" — Appointments made,
June 11 til, 18U7, for Synod at Cooperstown, N. Y. — Pidgeon sus-
pended — Minot, in Maine, want bini, and they are '' informed of the
rf,su/< of Presbytery" — Winton settled at Antrim — Letter from Dr.
John Smith on L'nion — An inference — Cluirch at Dartiuoutb to con-
nect with Presbytery — Rotation meetings — Litchtield received — Pel-
ham peojtle inconsistent — S2o() additional — "To negotiate a connec-
tion " — Moderator to answer a vote of the (reneral Association of New
ILimpsbire — Octolicr L!()th, KSOl), residt of nussion to Synod — Dana to
the Assembly, IslU— Baldwin dismissed from Palmer — End of Pec-
ords of Second Presbytery of Londonderry at 1810 — A copy — By loss
of Records we intist draw from incidental sources — In Vermont Kec-
ords of psalm-singing churches — The pleasantness of domestic worship
lost extensively — "Expressive silence" — Federal Street Church —
Belknapp published history and poetry — Poi>kin — EHicts of misrule
and no rule — Trust-deed operative formerly with the owners — Not so
now — Like savages — Pay as Oiey pleased now — Chaiuung — Neither
orator iu)r nund)ers brought peace — Nabotb's ofll'r— Legislature in-
voked — Acti(m taken — Not too far off to whisper to its owner — Con-
science yet extensively a power — That oath — Aided by the bar — The
seasons — The want of legal authority — The occupants make " their
coiu'age cheery" — A document — The religious society — Act passed —
Furtive legislation — The last i)arish — Presbyterianism robbed of a
place of sepulture on its own groinul — Channing installed as a Trini-
tarian — All were sinking togetlier — Controversy was rife — Little com-
munion among churches with each other — Hopkiusianism, Emmon-
ism — Sapping — The new preacher has at times a charmed character
— A contract made seveiUy-foiu* years before — A parsonage — Smooth
things — Tiie tidal-wave— lie was not a perfect exccjdion — VciinoiU —
A coeilicient — The sovereignty of the Green motuitains — Barnet and
Ryegate— Dr. Witherspoon — Whitelaw — "The Scots-American Com-
pany" — This purchase from Dr. Witherspoon — "The Farmer's Com-
pany" — Harvey — iMiiigrants worshipped God in their families —
Eilbrts to obtain jiuiilic religious ordinances — Dr. Witherspoon's visits
to them^Saihlle bore the mark of the ball that killed his son —
"Caledonia" Company — Crime but little known — A form of religion
chosen in Barnet — Petition for a minister — Kev. Thomas Beveridge —
r.«v. D. Goodwillie — Rev. W.Gibson settles in Ryegate — Polls, clocks,
scholars, town valuation — Their lives often endangered — Endurance

.. \

28G

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

required in winter to attend public worsliip — "Tntermipsion," Low
Hjii'Ut — '■ S;il)l)atii-(l:iy lioust's '' — Miss II. SuaviT's lioiise — Stoves came
slowly into use — So far as lo apiircciatc— ( Jooihvillic lor above twenty
years — Oiitgrowib— Their vow.- — Dwelt alone and prosiiered — No
voice of Joy east of the Connecticut while they read and prayed — The
lU'Us and others — " Kxjtressive silence" — The one conne(•tin^ Hide —
OfHcial duties performed by Pnsbytery — Connecting link between
Synods — I'resbytery of Londonderry, their actinjrs, till 1818 — Key.
W. Morrisoti died 1818 — Kev. S. MOore died in IS(lt) — lialdwin an
inevitable const'tiueni'C — E. I^. Parker lieensetl by (irafton I'resbytery
in 1807 — Extinct in 18]() — Ecclesiastical and educational matters now
increasingly controlled by the State religion — This brought strife in
1817 — Spoliation of property increases— ,Eirst Parish, 1809 — Jonah
and his luiion — Parker ordained, Septend)cr 12lh, 18](), by a ludf-
way arrangenu'Ut — In ninety-one years the old mother-chiMch hiid
only one life aruniity, and had settled her last nominal J'resbyieriau
minister — It took forty years to shunt her ofl^ — A new form of opposi-
tion — Unitarianism — Negations — The ])rinciples and doctrines — Jesus
liad no more pre-existence than any other man — None will perish—
Elevated to the highest plane.

"^.ViiiLE we can easily understand liow nil tlic passengers
and trailic from four or nioro parallel railroad lines can l)o
taken ujion one, and yet that one tloes not grow an inch
wider from Cheyenne to Saeramento ; still we would natu-
r.'illy expect, that when the fragments of the Preshytery of
Salem (which seemed to ho in modcritte working order,
Avlien it was conijiosed of \\'iiitt;iker, I\.'rley and Strick-
land, present ; and Baldwin, Ualeh, Miltimore and Urqu-
liart, absent ; and wlien tit (Jray, in Maine, on Septenilier
14th, 1791, it adjourned sine die) saw the other two Pres-
byteries unite, some individual ministers, or congregations,
\vould seek their fellowship. Put not so. They were ]irob-
al)ly all (excepting ]^)aldwin) witli congregations, Avhich
liad come to Presbyteritmism as an exjx'dient, not on ])rin-
ciple from positive convictions of its divine origin and
authority, and in some cases tlic :jemi-Erastianism of tlie
Sttite church controlled tlu^ ministry and eldersliip. Since
the war, as noticed in Baf/i KnI, tlio force of truth Avas less
felt, God was less honored, the love of many waxed cold,
and iniquity was abounding inrre.'isingly ; hence, some of
them as Dr. Whittaker, after being starved out, emigrated.
Urquhart removed eastward, and died near iNIirimichi,
New Brunswick.

The return of peace to the colonies had a further effect

IN NEW ENGLAND.

2S7

on the State churches of New England, in allowinf]^ the
oiricc of ehler to Uout into oblivion. ( 'onsequently, the in-
llucnce of this one of "the customs of the churches" had
witli the flight of time on the I'resbyterian vitality, pre-
viously existing, a corresponding etlect.

As, in this last one-third of the nineteenth century, the
introduction of the third vital power of Po})ery into Pro-
testantism is, pari ])fW6», weakening it ; as the confes-
sional, transubstantiation. and choirs with the organ are
the tripod upon winch Popery mainly rests, so any of
tliese, hut especially the last, being removed, it would
to[)i)le, its proselyting attractions would tiien be lost, for
Protestants could not 1)C proselyted with either the confes-
sional or transubstantiation, or with both, or with beads,
baldachins and holy water thrown in. The contest lies
mainly between the "Genevan jigs" (as the })aj)ists nick-
named the Psalms when sung) and choirs, hymns and or-
gans. So the increased ai)ing "the gorgeous conij)ositions
which are heard in the Romish church " by nominal Pro-
testants, is obtaining progressively that control over the
mind which the Divine authority of revealed truth ought
ever alone to maintain, and permeating a large part of the
so-called "evangelical" churches witii the leaven of will-
worship. In a similar manner the purity of the doctrine
and the excellence of the morals of the Puritans fell into
the rear rank, while Congregationalism, in worship, be-
came increasingly a matter of opinion under the elastic
forces of "the customs of the churches." The psalmody
of the pilgrims was gone, and the Bay State version of the
Puritans, about this period, became increasingly super-
seded by the parts of 189 of the Psalms imitated and in
use, producing for a generation much " strife and vain-
glory " — all which, by tiie })rinciple of assimilation,
brought the Presbyterians to give up, in several particu-
lars, their "thus saith the Lord'' for the "tastes" of

llUMl.

The State religion had always maintained, under the
severest penalties, the Godhead of the Trinity. Until 178()
it was blasphemy to deny this, yet, witli the increasing
diversity of human opinions, as these supplanted the au-
thority of the Divine word, even this foundation was in
du3 time sapped. The Old South meeting-house having

288

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

been desecrated liy tlie British military, on the evacu.ation
of JJoston, that conureuation (K'('U])iL'(l tor years Kin;j,'s
cliapel (founded in lO.SIJ), from which all orders of jjrelacy
had departed; and wlien, having' repaired their chureh,
they returned to it, ieavint; the other nnoeeui)ied, and it
eontinued so for some time. The tin'ead of apostolical
succession over the jiremisrs held formerly hy the Bishoi)
of London became too attenuated to retain in it even the
doctrine of the Trinity.

Every vestige of prelac}' (exee})tiii<i a few outward forms)
was discarded by tiie overwhelming force of C(jngregation-
alism, and while in that chapcil, in 1785, it was introduced
into America, the Protestant Episcopal Chui'ch was guilt-
less of tlie crime of reprochicing there the; i)rotoplast of
Socinianism. On reoccupying the editiee, the only de-
nominational otiicial remaining was the clerk; and in
order to give form to their religious assemblies, the })eople,
by vote, elected him to be their redder, by the ])ower uf
Congregationalism, which they assumed and adopted.

Tlie next thing in their metamorjihosis was to change
the doctrine, and they adopted tlie theological views in
part of an English h^ocinian of the name of (Tarke. The
liuman mind ever idolizes freedom, and, as a counterpart
to national existence and inde])endence, disregard of doc-
trine grew apace. ^Murray had previously, since 1773,
propagated (where he could) the doctrinal opinions of ^h'.
James Relly, giving a through ticket to Paradise univer-
sally to the race. "Arminianism " (as we have seen) had
"btcomc respectal>lo," and one lU'njamin Randall, in 1780,
began to preach as a "Free Will Baptist "in New Dur-
ham, N. H.

With the return of peace " new gods came newly up."
" Divers and strange doctrines " were propagated with a
zeal worthy of a better cause, and in 1791) the State religion
in Massachusetts was extensively shorn of her preroga-
tives. Protestant prelacy and Wesleyan Methodism l.)otli,
in a few years (after peace Avas concluded), returned to and
revived in New England. " During the war, according to
D'Arcy McGee, the AbV)e la Poitre, a chaplain, collected ;i
papal congregation in Boston, wliich bought the French
Presbyterian cliurch, and alter 171)G Priest Cheverus, with
his beads, crucifixes, ointment, organ, chrism and man
millinery, gradually attracted ' the town's people.' "

IN NEW ENGLAND.

289

3al

Tlio closo (if tlint oontnrv ;\as considororl to ho "tho
fioldou Mtic " of l^oston, iuid l)y Lis l)landishments, liis
xniivHcr ill modi), liis Frcncli Ctlie laiiiruauo of courts i, ho
made ail incrcasiiiLdy lavoralilc imiircssiou on tlie chiklrcii
of llu! I'uritans. Tlio inlliu'ncos of tlicso combined inure-
dicnts of the social compact were such as to "gain" to
'']»ui'o and unddiled rcli'jion" "much harm and loss,"
t'spccially ainoni^; l^'oshytcrians.

W'lierc any form of roliiiion stronp;ly predominates, the
Avoight and force of sectarian numbers proportionally as-
similates to itself minor existences; and Avhile I-*reshyteri-
auism continued in sonu^ places to have "a name to live,"
it was overshadowed, its doctrine deteriorated, its govern-
ment supplanted and its ])laces of Avorship alienated hy
the pew patronage of the State religion. 'J'hc ministry re-
ceived no reinforcements of such men as McGregor, or
]\Ioorehead, or Robert Annan, from lands sealed by tho
blood of martyrs.

To "endure all things for the elect's sake, that they
might also ol)tain the salva H>n which is in Christ Jesu3
with eternal glory" became less a matter of ambition with
the occupants of the jndpit in New England generally, and
succeeding Presbyterian preachers only showed that in this
ihrccition they W(.'re "men ol' like ]»assions with others."
Taking into the account that " forbidden fruit is sweet," it
is easy to see that, with not a few, the law of Christ's
house might be viewed as a burden, and young men (such
as the two sons of the Kev. Simon W'illianis; might enter
the ministry of an opposite polity.

When we again remember the system of domestic tr.in-
ing, in doctrine and family worshij), which enter into tiie
vitality of Presbyterianism, and lind these gradually ne-
glected by those surrounding them, we see that, in every
way, on this ungenial soil, extensive growth could not be
expected, llencc, the dving out of Presbvteries and the
course of fragments of churches succumbing to Congre-
gationalism, with which we enter on this quarter of a
century.

On February 15, 1791, the TJev. ^^'illiam Davidson, of

Devry, died, and the congregation remained destitute of a

settled ministry till 1795, when Mr. Jonathan Brown (a

native of Pittsfieldj N. H.) was ordained and installed. A

290

IIISTOUY OF I'ltKSnYTEllIANLSM

nnnibor of cluirchos wore thon vacant, and ■vvliilo, as a
liccntialo, lu! was i)()|)u!ar in otlicr places, still " a stronf^
and (lelcrinincil ()|)pi)sitiuii to his st'ttlcnicnt wa,s nuidc by
a lart!;e minority. '

The court did not act "witli wisdom in ordaining him.
His situation hccamc tryinjj; and nnplcasant, a\id thi; agi-
tation cn!j;cn(U'rcd wcaUt'iu'd the chui'cli hy l'ormin,^• a pre-
text to thos(! thus inclined to introduce C'on<j;regationalism,
both ecclesiastically and civilly.

While this oH'shoot maintained worship for twcKc years
in a hall, it "jiroduced n(/ only hitterness and contro-
versies, which for a time ji;reatly marred the peace and
hajipiriess of the conmiuinty," I»ut ]»repared the way, in
the course of half a centuiy, tor the ahandonment of I'res-
byterianisni by this mother church and the alienation of
lier projjerty. "At his own recjuest, he was dismissed in
18U4, and died in bs;]S, at the a;;e of eighty. He was a
man of sincere piety, but l(>adin,<>; a single life (when he
ought to have had a wife to 'fjjuide' his 'house'), he sub-
jected himself to many uncandid and unkind I'emarks,
and was recjuire*] l)y the Presbytery not to preach, nor to
l)erform any otlicial acts alter his dismission. Jle had se-
vere trials, and toward the end of life endured many spir-
itual conflicts." {P.) The Presbytery were now gradually
abandoning their Presbyterial relations.

Palmer continued tt) enjoy the jjastoral laljors of tlie
Rev. Closes Baldwin, while the Rev. I\Ir. Taggart was still
fulfilling his ministry at Colcraine.

At NeAvbury])t)rt, on Novend)er 11"', 1794, ^Mr. Daniel
Dana was ordained and installed as the successor of the
Rev. John Murray. He was born in I]iswich, INbiss., ou
July 24, 1771, ;.nd graduated from Dartmouth in 17.S.S.
" His settlement was i)receded and succetded by disruji-
tion. The i)ulpit had been sup})lied during the winter of
1792, at Mr. Murray's invitation, by the Rev. iMr. IMilton,
a young missionary from Lady Huntingdon's school at
Trevecca; an earnest, elo(iuent and original ])r(>achcr, al-
though eccentric as a man. ]Many were delighted with
him, and would have retained him as colleague paster.
But the majority being unwilling, his friends M-ithdre\v,
and, under the })lca of ' better cdilication,' established wor-
ship in a private house." After Mr. Murray's death, and

Mr?

IN NEW KNCiLAND.

29t

nj?

\in.

]tVO-

while nmlor piir.]»onsi()n for !i bivacli of covcnnnt, tlioy ro-
nouiK'CMl tlio ^'ovcrnincnt. built a bouse of worsbij), jiiul
orLranized an " iii(l('|)('ii(l(iit Calvinistio" rlmrch. Six
males and nine females si'iiied the covenant; ii session was
a{)|tointed, and Mr. Milton Ix'cami' pastor.

The forms of installation were (piite anomalous; for
after sermon, Deacon Solomon Haskell i)Ut tin; call to vote,
and declared him their minister. Having' delivered {]\^^
Jlihle to him and told him what system oi" doctrines ho
was to i)resi nt, he informed him that "so lonp; as he did
this and bi'have(l well, they should aelcnowl(Ml;re him as
their teacher, and no longer." He then ])r()ceede(l to <i:ivo
to him a "t^har^'e" how to i)reach. Thus oriy;inated the
Prospe(!t street ehurch.

Here was spontaneous Coujirejiationalism (T''.,p. oG) pro-
(lucinjz; a no' .lal I'resbyterianism — a church with a ses-
sion. The deacon played the apostle in the name of four-
teen members and himself to his " son " in the ministry
(1 Tim. i. bS). The transaction looked a little like "a
spectacle unto the world," if not "to an,i,'els;" yet it pivo
to Mr. Milton "the jiower" contained in nine women and*
six men, " under suspension for breach of covenant," to
"make full ])roof of his ministry."

Altliouixb tliis was "a more thin and tenuous film" of
"the i)ower of a church court " than Murray's, in ])erme-
atimr the two Conn;re<rationalist ministers and three congre-
gations and constituting a Presbytery, it was, according to
the '■ l^oston Congregational Almanac, bS47, p. 43," not
only adequate, but ])lenary ; lor "all church power resides
in the church, and not in church oflicers, and resides in
each particular church directly and originally, by virtues
of tlu! exj)ress or implied compact of its menil)ers." Their
"suspension for breach of covenant" was only the act of
"church ollicers," whom they bad solemnly vowed to obey,
aiul"(io to, let us," Avas more congenial to their wishes
than " Ohcy them that have the rule over you, and submit
yourselves ; for they watch for your souls." Species can-
not be transmuted.

Murray's ecclesiastical claims were ignored by all true
Presbyterians, while this " church of Jesus Christ " flour-
ished in its own way for six years, wdien it made " some
concessions as to the manner of withdrawal, and the ses-
sion removed their censure." (lb.)

■':: i

Flaw.

292

HISTORY OF rUKSBYTKHIANISM

Tho finnnal :ivornp;o admissions to this clinrch had hcon
— under Parsons, ten, and under Mnrray, seven.

A Mr. Sainu(>l Tond), a, lici'Utiate, an old-fasluoned
preaclier, was ealli'd tlirie(> l)y a niajority of this ennn;re!j;ii-
tion, hut un(h'r strong t'eehnj; tho reciuests all Tailed, and,
"while Mr. Dana was ealled in Jun(\ he was not installed
till Novend)er, and then in tlic lace of "a decided ()])j)()si-
tion and after a remonsl ranee to I'reshytery." His father,
by vote of I'reshyterv, jireaelietl the <»rdinati»»n sennon.

'""J'he dissentients then in their turn withdrew, ineludiuij:
most of the session and many of the nuist suhstantial and
go V niend)ers of tho rhureh. This opposition to Mr.
Dana was ])rin('ipally owintj; to a nnsunde'rstandin^ of his
doctrinal views." (//>., ]>. .'U.) They were strenuous ahout
*' sound doctrine," hut could not ])erceive it (while it
was there}, conceaUsd extensively hy the graces of hi.s
style.

" In July, 17".)o, they pro])osed, as a p(>ac(^ measure, that
the Row Mr. lioddily should h(>conie colleague with Mr.
Dana. This failed, und in Oetohor next the Preshytery
organized them as tho second Preshyterian church, with
thirty-three mcmhcrs." (/"/>., j). 31.) The lirst Preshytin-ian
church, though weakened, nMuained with him (Mr. Dana)
an all'ectionate and united peo[)le.

This church (wo have seen) was one whi(!h came to
Preshyterianism while its nuMnhers were of that stock, tu
escape the opj»ressi(»n of Cor'M'egationalism.

As tlu! law (enacted always hy a C'ongregationalist l(>gi.s-
lature) " then was, they were forced, in ovdia- to ohtain
liherty and rights from Church and Stad , to hecome an-
other denomination ; and to guard thenv."lves and their
children so far as ]K)ssil)le against the evils they had seen
and sutlered, against false dot'trine and o))pression, they
])ecame Preshyterians." Like Edwards, tliey were "out
of conceit with what was unsettled, independent, and con-
fused."

" Their first act was to choose six ruling elders." Tlu;
Ilev. John Murray was unwilling (wdten called) to settle in
this congregation, heeause "the visitation of lamilies, as
I'reshyterian ])astors do, was not customary with the Pev.
]\[r. Parsons, except on extraordinary occasions;" and "in
1780, the session districted the parish."

IN NKW ENGLAND.

293

lolitaiu
\\\v ivn-
tlieiv*

'' out
lul oou-

rtilc' in
lUos, ;is
[u> Uev.

" Tlio session lins oftcMi Ixvn tlio safety of tlio church,
])r(>s('rviii,<i its unity an<l niaintaininii; its disciphne and
])urity, when otherwise false doctrine nii^lit have intruded
and onh-r liavc hccn lost.'' (Ih.)

Having!; seen the dm Prcshyterian churelu^s in NcAvhury-
]>()rt, after Octolx'r, 17!)"), pressing; forward ahrcast, 1 now
turn to the nieairre records of Presl)ytery.

On Octoher 2-')th, 17*.)''^, a convention met at Londonderry
" for finishinti: tlie union hetween the Associate Reformed
rresl)y<ery of I^oiidondcrry and the l*reshytery at the
]''astward, and heini!; fnlly invested with ])ower, formed a
union," and style(l themselves lienceforth ''the Preshytery
of Londonderry." On the last ^\'(Mlnesday in May, 17'.t4,
;it Dei'rv, there wove \)vv^r]\t Vwv. >h'ssr<. Si>lonion Moor(\
"William Morrison, Nathanii'l iMvcr, .lolm Houston, David
Annan, Samuel Tatrnart, Andrew Oliver, and nine rulinj;
elders, who unanimously a|>]irov(Ml of the Tmi(Mi fornu'd
hy the convention. Petitions for the services of ^h'.
Toomhs Avere )»resented from New ^larket and Antrim,
and one from ''tlu^ I'rcshvtcM'iau society in Bedford, ask insj^
to liavc the inhahitants of that town net consistently Avith
Christian character." They had cmiiloycd a Mr. Pickles —
who had heeu de[)osed hy the Preshytery of Philadelphia,
and who was immoral in character — and tlu^ ])etitioners
nsk, "Have any of the inlinhitants any s}iccial right to
spt'cial ))rivih',a'es from thi'' Pri shytery or from any of its
nienibers?" The action of those who employed him was
condcnmed.

In reference to irregulariti(>s already referred to in Xew-
bnryport, in answer to a petition, the action of session was
coiilirmed.

On their request, supplies were granted to Derry, and
j\Ir. Brown was, in answer to their verbal petitions, ap-
liointed for fom* Sahhaths to Hampton.

Chester jx'titioned for suiijjly, and ^Tessrs, Toomhs,
r>rown, and Wallace were ajipoinled to lal)t)r in assigned
vacancies.

The leaven liad now ])erm(>ated nearly the Avhole mass
of )>rolessed Presbyterians in New I'aigland, and we havo
seen about a score of these congregations absorbed by tho
►State religion. Among those which had stood llrm for
iSyine fifty years in reference to the oU'ering of "ii pure

nii

294

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

■!!■'"■-':: >

offering " to God in praise, was "West Dorry. But she
had now become under that njysterious identity " a felt
want," enamored with ''the enticing words of man's
wisdom."

" jNIr. Joel Barlow, who, on receiving a degree from Yalo
College, in 177^, then first came before the jjublic in his
poetical character by reciting an original poem, was suc-
cessively a cha])lain in the Revolutionary army, an editor,
a bookseller, a lawyer, and a merchant."

lie published in London a poem, called " The Conspir-
acy of Kings," and "in the latter part of 1792 he was
ap])ointed one of the deputies from the London Constitu-
tional Society to ])resent an address to the National Con-
vention of France," with which they were in sym])athy.
This body had " formally disavowed the existence of God
and the immortality of the soul, and disseminated atheism."
(llorne.) llis most popular i)oem, published before 17i*-'),
was entuled ''Hasty Pudding." He had, however, in his
earlier days, before 1787, " revised Dr. Watts' Imitation of
David's Psalms " (Pres. Dig., p. 208), that is, the loU imi-
tated.

Whether this was a labor of love to improve liis poetical
talent, or done 1)y the request of "the General Association
of Connecticut," his " advanced thought," as one of the
morning stars of the nineteenth century, was unsavory to
the pious in " the land of steady habits " — and " to sanctify
the ticket," as among modern politicians, Frelinghuysen
w\as put in nomination with the duellist, Henry Clay — so
"the Rev. Dr. Timothy Dwight, by order of the said asso-
ciation, revised the version as revised by Mr. Barlow, and
versified a number omitted by Watts."

In " 1787, the Synod of New York and Pennsylvania
allowed the Imitation of David's Psalms, as revised by Mr.
Barlow, to be sung in congregations and families under
their care." (lb., 208.)

Since the close of the war, as we have seen in Batli K'll,
the moral sentiment of the land had l)een gradually wax-
ing feel)le, and this abatement of force, like "judgment,"'
began Avith " the house of God." Changes in material jjros*
])erity seem to have been accom));mied l)y innovations in
doctrine, worsiiip, and discipline in the churches.

" The Imitations " were, among the Presbyterian churches

IN NEW ENGLAND.

295

elt
irs

ale
his

iUC-

qiu-

w;is
litu-
Con-
ilhv.

{.\vA

u his
on of
J iiui-

potical
■ ilion

to the pouthwavfl, in 1S02 (Dip:., p. '200\ vamped -svith his
tliree books of hymns; and wliile in no way was either
(lepencU'nco or control estahlished between any of tlio
ri'c.shytw'ies of New Knirland and what became, in 178'J,
th(! Cteneral Asseml)ly of the United States of Ainerica,
still they were (kdy infonnc'd of the changes introduced,
and at tiiis meetintj; (in 17';) 1* "a petition from West Derry
(was presented) to use Dr. Watts' psalms, corrected and
enlarged by Mr. Joel Barlow, and reconnnended by the
CJeneral Association of Connecticut and by the General
Assembly of the Presbyterians in the Suutliward." This
was "referred back to the session, to act for the general
good of the society in that case."

At meetinp:s 0]i October 1st, 1794. and subsequently, the
varied matters mentioned in relation to +iie settlement of
I\lr. Daniel Dana received attention, while a call from New
Market for Mr. Toombs was read and s ained. His instal-
lation took ])lace on October 21st, when .lev. Messrs. ]McClin-
tock and Miltinjore (Congregationalists) sat as correspond-
ents. '' The llev. Messrs. Moore, Annan, and Morrison were
ai)pointed a connnittee to wait on the Amherst association,
res[)ecting sometliing for the p'cneral good of the church."
Trials for licensure were assigned to Mr. Wm. Pidgeon.

Eight ministers and fourteen elders were present at the
stated meeting at Londonderry, on May 27th, 1795. Nine
]iap(rs were ])resented, and the court had abundance of
business, as the opposition to the settlement of Mr. Brown
was then considered. Presbytery "advised the Congrega-
tional church of Hampton to give up their negative power
over the town in the settlement of a ftiinister." That is,
let the town meeting rule the church and vote it Presby-
terian.

At Londonderry, on October 28th, 1795, a call from
Pcterboro was sustained. Coleraine did not then appear
to be walking in harmony with this court, and the town
was to be "seasonably notified, by the clerk, of our next
meeting, and that they show reasons, if any they have,"
Avhy their conduct should not lie investigated. Mr. Pidgeon
accepted the call from Ham])ton, and this congregation
was received b}'' Presbytery. A Congrcgationalist church,
by the advice of Presbytery, yielded to a Presbyterian
parish. Jordan was rolled backward once.

•'f i

296

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

A letter from tho A. R. Synofl was now received, and tlio
clerk (Rev. Win. Morrison) was ai)pointed to answer it,
" when he thinks most eonduc-ive to the i)uhlic good of
this Preshytery, and to uivo a general aecount of that iiart
of our conduct respecting ])salnio(ly and our absence from
Synod, with the reasons therewith."

January 7th, 11\K\ A pro re wita meeting was held on
account of Mr. Pidgeon and those against him at Ilami*-
ton. They tiien and there ordainc'd him, and ''voted — •
that we advise our Presl)yterian brethren to deal honor-
ably and justly with the congregational part of the town,
resjx'cting the ministei'ial ])roperty."

On May 4th, at Coleraine, the eourt advised tliat congre-
gation to "no longer (piarrel about the locality of their
place of we 'ship, and appointed Mr. ]Morris(jn to draw up
un address to them for Presbytery."'

The vital force of this form of ecclesiastical rc(jimeii had
now become so attenuated that occasionally Congregational
societies desired to wear the name, es])ecially wfiere dilli-
culties had arisen, and on June 14tli, ITUt^, a pro re nata
meeting was held in Byelield.

A " petition from jtarties there to be received as a Pres-
byterian society Avas presented." On investigation, it was
found that the movement liad originated in "strife and
vainglory," Satan acting as the chairman of their church
extension connnittee. Hence, it Avas " Voted — That we
address the Middle Essex association to advise the church
here to keep the ])ea('e."

" It must needs be tiiat offences come," and so unyield-
ing Avere the disputants in Coleraine about the location of
their church, tluit their pastor, at a meeting held in T.on-
donderry, on October 12th, reijuested his release from the
charge and a dismission from tiie Presbytery. As his use-
fulness among them Avas not obviously at an end, and
their spiritual prosperity required an oversight, Avhich, in
the event of his removal, might not easily be obtained, so,
to prevent them from being, :is a church, "consumed one
of another," his petition was returned to him.

Windham noAV petitioned for a supply of ])reaching.

1797, at Londondi^'i'v, on May 17th, a reipiest Avas ])re-
sented by the second church in JS'eAvbur\'port, to have .M''.
Boddily settled as their pastor. On September 6tli, 1797,

IN NEW ENGLAND.

297

^Ir. Boddily was reported installed, and the act of the
conmiittt'c (U-clared to l)e valid.

Anion,!,^ the ])etitions ))roscnt(Ml at this meetinfj, nnmlxT
six "was a reriuest from Kast Derrv for liliertv to use Dr.
Watts' Imitations of the Psahns." ' The oifsh'oot of ITM'y

Lon

KloiKicrrv) was iinis m advance o

f th

le motiier ennrc'i

•h

of 171'.) three years, in eonfctrmini;; to the '"taste"' estah-
lislied hy "the customs of the churches" in New En<:land-.
Tlie consideration of this petition was i)ostponed until
next nlcetinL^

These varied irregularities on tlie part of the A. 1!. Pres-
hyt(.'ry of Londonderry had (as has l>een noticed) ^^rieved

le hvnod

irietl a])])liances (nni)iie(l m review an(

contruul") had Ijcen used hy tlie Sujierior Court, hut
in vain. The results were ])ainfully ohvious; Init the
character and full course of the causes were hut im])er-
fectly com}>rehendcd. As it is mnw Congregationalism
was then sup])osed to 1)e only a little (Htl'erent from Pres-
hyterianism — "only a little diHerence aljout .uovernment,
you know, yet suhstantially the same " — while they are in
their nature, origin, iniiuence, and tendencies, irreconcil-
ah]y antagonistical — the one will root (nit the t)ther.

The clerk was a])])ointed in 1795 to answer a letter, and
now, in 17U7, the " Pev. Messrs. Annan, Toomhs and Mor-
rison were a])pointed to answer the address IVom Synod."

History is here, and at tliis date, rejieatinir itself. The
troul)les which disturhed the jjcace of the Rev. Solomon
Prentice forty-five years ago, are now reproduced in the
region of Newmarket. Ever since the days of the ajiostles
])ersons have heeii (at least at times) found, wlio "creep
into houses and lead ca])tive those silly ones," Avho in-
dulge the emotional ])owers or feelings of their minds, in-
stead of "getting wisdom and with all their getting ohtain-
ing understanding." As the ]>urity of Puritanism was
diminished, so in New England we find this class of ad-
veiUurers increaseil. The l\ev. Jonathan l^rown, wlien
silenced hy Preshytery and nMluced to ])rivate memher-
sliip, which he held till the day of his death, was forl)idden
to preach, and he oheyed. Not so with " unruly and vain
talkers" under the aus))ices of the other ])olity. In the
one case, the "mouths" of such ])ersons ''must he
stopped," in the other, the ahettors of divers and strange

« •' •

1 t

298

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

doctrines and corresponding practices may steal the hearts
of coinniunities.

Hence, we have on record, "The Rev. Mr. Ewers is com-
J3lained of l)y Mr. Toomhs, as cncoura^inL!; stni^j^ding per-
sons, calling theinsi'lvcs preachers, to tiie great injury and
dishonor of rehgion, ia many places, particularly iu ]S'cw
Market."

• "Voted, unanimously. That this Preshytery solemnly
recommend to vacant churches under their care, that tli /
encourage or employ no strangei's as ])reachers amoag
them without they see his liceneic, or apjjrohation from
regular ministers, and that he have a good ciiaracter."

Few oj)erati()ns of tiie soul are more powerful than this.
"I would to God, that all were, not only almost, but alto-
gether, such as I am," and where this has in ])rospect good
large " loaves " and a nund^er of " fishes," or even " a j)iece
of money, or a morsel of ])read," proselyting errorists
would Ije seldom out of sight, excepting for the discipline
of C'hrist's house. " Peace and good-will among men," as
well as "pure and undeliled religion before God, alike re-
quire, all who are lawfully i)ut in trust in the ministry,"
to rebuke all such " liars, evil beasts, slowdiellies, sharply,
that they may be sound in the faith " (Tit. i. 12). lly
neglect of this, the Province of Maine, where the last Pres-
bytery met in 17*J1, has become, religiously, not unlike a
"waste howling wilderness." And so numerous are the
sects in the small })opulation of Rhode Island to-day, that
there is extensively truth as Avell as humor in the saying,
"If a man lose his kind of religion, let him go to Rhode
Island and he will find it " among the crowd there, said
to be some forty sects in number.

In enacting this statute, and taking care that it should
be executed, where required, the court " took heed to all
the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost had made them
bishops to feed the church of God," and well would it be,
now and hereafter, for all others in a sindlar jjosition, to
"go and do likewise."

It is one of the ]ieculiarities of Presbyterian church gov-
ernment, that, while each has its legitimate field, s])liere
and work, the courts have interest and responsibiUty i)ro-
portionate to their authority. Hence, in these changes of
constitutional law and violation of official vows, by the

IN NEW ENGLAND.

299

■■■'.;

Associate Eoformcd Prcsbytory of T.ondondcrry, the Synod,
and through it the denomination, had a j)ainl"ul interc.'^t.
Tliis they nianit'et^tecL Hence, on tlie erection of tlio
Washin;4ton, X. Y., Prewbytery, on May oOth, 1794, Synod
met "no representation from tlie New England l'resl)y-
tery," and the "Rev. K. Annan was a))pointed lo write to
them, reqLiirin,si; an acconnt of the state of religion anionj^
them and a de))Utation of a member, or members, to reprcj-
sent them in Synoch" In 1795, on May 21st, Mr. Annan
reported tliat lie had "\vritten to the New England Pres-
Lvtery but had received no answer."

" Tlie state of that Presbvtcry being imdcr considera-
tion, it was stated that certain information had been re-
ceived by the members of Synod, that Watts' ])salms are
generally used by the members of that Presbytery in their
churches, that th<?y hold jtromiscuous communion with
exceptionable denominations; that they have yielded to
the town meetings several ])oints of Presbyterial govern-
ment, that for tiiese reasons our peoi)le are uneasy and re-
proached. A]i])ointed Kev. Messrs. Annan, Mason and
Clarke a committee, to visit these brethren in their con-
gregations and deal Avith them alTectionately, to remove
all grounds of uneasiness, and endeavor to })revail on them
to conduct their government and disci})line, according to
the "word of (!od and the rules of this churcli."

They were also to be informed b\' letter of the a])point-
mcnt of the visiting connnittee. The letter, written on
June 1st, 179o, reads thus:

"Rev. and nKAU nitKTiiP.EN: — It gives lis no small un-
easiness to hear of some things, Avliieh have been intro-
duced among you, inconsistent with the comely order to
be ol)served in the house of God. Some of these are the
introduction of \\'atts' hnitdtious of the Psalms into the
worship of God ; holding unnecessary and improjier com-
munion with other denominations, and in the regulation
of your congregational affairs, acting repugnantly to the
spirit of Presbyterianism.

'"Hearing these rejtorts in 1794, we, by letter, ' earnestly
reciuested your attendance at this meeting.' We are sorry
that you have not responded. Our members from the
Southern States come greater distances and at greater cost.
Your inconvenience cannot excuse your constant neglect

I ,

III

300

HISTORY OF TRESRYTERIANISM

I < :^

I'.

of our Synodical moctin^r!^. You could not 1)ut know,
tliiit the usu of Watts' imltatiavH in the worship of (iod,
liiis always met with our disapijroljation. Your con-
nisteney, while you prolessed a connection with us, should
Iiiive prevented this innovation, cspreially in view (jf our
Jadic'ud Tc.^timoiijj as a Synod. Feelintz; for you, as mem-
bers of the same body, iind anxious, in the Spirit of our
Lord Jesus Christ, to reclaim to the ])ath of duty those
whom we de(;m to have ^one astray ; the Synod have ap-
pointed and authorized a connnittt'S to visit you before
their next meetin<!;, who are to in([uire into the i)remises
and other matters of grievance, if any such exist, and deal
with you as the circumstances of the case may demand.
We hope you are not insensible of the obligation of your
ordination vows, when you solenmly engaged to be subor-
dinate to the Synod. Our principles are now ])recisely
the same they Avere at that time. Sulfer us then, in the
spirit and words of the apostle, to beseech you, by the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same
thing, that there be no divisions among us, but that we be
perfectly joined, together in the same mind and in the
same judgment. " John Duni^ap, jNIoderator.

"Alex. Dobbin, Clerk."

New York, May 30th, 1796. jMcssrs. Annan and Mason,
the committee appointed to visit our brethren in New
England, reported, " That several unexpected dispensa-
tions of Divine Providence had rendered the fulfilment of
it impossible, lleasons sustained." "June 7th, appointed
the Rev. Messrs. Annan and ]\hison, Avith Ruling Elders
Ebenezcr Clarke and James Stephenson, in view of the
situation of that Presbytery, to visit our brethren in New
England."

The "situation" of that Presbytery was, in answer
stated (by the Rev. ^^'illiam Morrison), thus, on August
l-^Gth, 1790: "Distance renders jxn'sonal interviews whh
our Southern brethren very inconvenient; Ave have ten
settled ministers; we consider ourselves conijietent as a
judiciary ; avc are best accpiainted Avith the customs, tem-
per and manners of our churches and their situation Avith
respect to other denominations ; avc have voted to rei)ly to
the act of Synod respecting Psalmody as injurious to the
cause of Presbytery in New England.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

301

"Your cotnmittco stating your terms would gratify a
few and mortally wound otlicrs. Common observation
and ex[)('rit'nee concur with revelation in teacliing us tlio
necessity of govi'rning a ])eople in a manner best adaittc.-d
to tlieir circumstances, for tiieir good and for the honor of
religion. America sl»ould have tiie most generous and
benevolent system of religion."

Hero the ai)))eal is not '"to the law and to the testi-
nion," to the authority of God, but to what was adapted to
America, to the customs, temjx'r and manners of their
churches and of those around lliem in New lOntiland.

The Syno<l met in Philadelphia on May 21)th, 1707.
On the 31st tluit committee reporteil. The dillicultics of
going to New England a])i)eare(l not a little similar to the
return of* the Eagle's \\ ing" from mid-ocean. The com-
mittee say " That owing to an evident interj)osition of
Providence, the appointment was unfullilled," and in this
the Synod acciuiesced. It would only have been labor in
vain ; for ])ure worship and ollicial voavs, if not sound
doctrine had (by that date) been virtually swept away by
the flood of pine-board (pew) patronage. Annan, sus-
tained l)y the majestic i)resence, fervent i)iety and match-
less elo(iuence of" Mason, would have found the changes
introduced by the i)ermeating influences of the " social
compact" in eleven years, to have made these congrega-
tions, to the voice of truth, the jiresence of princii)le and
allegiance to vows, ''as deaf as the adder."

They had, ''August 26th, 17'JG, ten S(>ttled ministers-
Rev. Messrs. Moore, Ewers, David Annan, Taggart, Oliver,
Dccua, Toombs, Brewer, I*idgeon and Morrison." They
had increased from three or four to ten. {Morrison.)

"A new king, who knew not .Joseph," was now, through
the rapidly diffusive stimulant of tlie imUations in tlie
churches in New England, enthroned in the afl'ections of
the descendants of these " ])ersecuted Irisli brethren,"
who had lifted U}) their sweet ])salms to Jehovah on the
banks of "Wcstrunning Brook," or had made the sands
on the beach of Casco liay, their " jdace of habitation for
the mighty God of .Jacol)," not only by '' ellectual fervent
prayer," but by presenting to him the emotions of their
souls, as they were about to enter the "wilderness" in that
most plamtive of all songs, the 137th Psalm.

302

IIISTOUY OF niKSnYTKUIANISM

All tills the PoqiK"! Avill verify. "A Utter, statinij tlieir
views iind grounds of coiiiplaiiit," in the massive tiioULiiits
of ^Nlason, was written as an evidence of the faillilul-
ncss of the court to tlieir trust, [)ortions t)f wiiieh 1 pie-
sent.

After referring to "reports of ahuses," already noticed,
the eH'orts of ai)])ointed eomniittees to visit tlieni Inr
conference, their own motives, the unforeseen "dillieultics
interposed," and their personal disappointment, tluy
say :

" We have done what alone remained in our power, and
rcpres(Mit concisely in writing, with all hrotherly ail'ection,
yet with the most undisguised plainness, a few of tliose
suhjects of complaint, on which we should have remon-
strated more largely face; to face.

" You cannot he ignorant, hrethren, that your discarding
from ])ul)li(', worshij) the Psalms indited hy the Holy
Ghost, and substituting in their room the e(jmi)osures of
men, is highly displeasing to the Synod and to the body
of Christians untler their inspection. Whether the use of
such composures in the pul)lic worship of (iod he in itself
lawful or unlawful, is a ([uestion we do nt)t mean tt) discuss,
because it is a (luestion with which, at present, we have
nothing to do. ]^ut, whether considering your relation to
the Synod, th(> edification of the church of whicdi you are
a branch, and your ol)ligations to su|)i)ort the truth of the
gospel, the use of them was allo\val)le in you, is a question
which demands your solenni regard. You certaiidy know,
brethren, that the controversy about psalmody was warndy
agitated both at and before the formation of your connec-
tion with the Synod.

" You know, too, that they were decidedly and zealously
opposed to these innovations in the praises of the ciiurcli,
■\vhich have since become fashionable; and you know, also,
that, under the im})ression — unaccom])anied with a single
dou])t — that you were perfectly joined in one mind with
them, were the vows of (Jod laid upon you.

'' How, then, does your departmv in so material a point
from the testimony of the body to which you belong — from
the princii)les which, in one of the most serious moments
of your lives, you unei^uivocally es])oused, and adherence
to which is notoriously implicated in the fellowship

IN NEW ENGLAND.

303

you as yet own — how docs it comport witli your duty?
llow with siiii{»lic'ity uiid <,'(jdly sincerity? And since,
as there is reason to l)elieve, vuur lirinness niiizht liave

rding

llolv

■es of

body

ise ot"

itself

scuss,
have
u to
\i are
f the
tion
a\ow,
ivndy
unec-

lously
lurch,
,!dso,
sin;ile

d with

Y)ouit

-from

Innents

lercnco

)wship

revented the evih how does vour viehlinu at tl

le ex-

j)ense of your j)rofessed convictions consist with the ohU-
<:ation to obey (»od rather than nian, and with your enpau*-
nu'uts not io foHow any devisive courses hv coniplviny;
with the defections of tiio times? Finally, as this step, so
important in its nature and extensive in its conse(|tiences,
was taken without endeavoring to ol»tain tlu; consent of
►Synod, witlnnit askiniji: tiieir advice, without so much as
acquainting them with those circumstances which arc^
thouj^ht to plead in its favor: how is it reconcilable with
a decent deferenct^ to tliat judi<'atory to which you have
deliberately promised subjection in the Lord?

" lUit apart from this, your ])roceedinus, brethren, liavc
greatly marred general cdifK.'ation. W'e ar(f all mend)ers
one of anotluM" ; and ther(> is no maxim in Christian ))ru-
dentials more sound and useful than this — that in matter?;
of liberty, the edification of the whole must be preferred
to tlu; ])redilections of a ))art.

"You will not pretend that you wereliouud in conscience
to throw away the Psalms of the book vi Ciod. It was,
then, at best a question of expediency, and we cannot but
lament that in detennining it no regard has l)een paid to
the desires, to the feelings, to the conscience of by far the
most of your In'cthren.

"Was this conduct tender? Was it Christian? Its
effects have been deplorable, ^hmy who love 'the truth
as it is in Jesus' .M"e alarmed, lest what has hitherto hap-
])ened is but a prelade to deviations mor(> unscrijjtural and
fatal. The Synod on your account have lain under odium,
not only from those who lie in Avait for their halting, but
even from a number of their own ])e()ple. Conlidence in
their integrity and in their faithfulness is, of course, dimin-
ished, and the good cause of God and his trtith in their
hands ])r()portionably suffers. They have already preju-
dices enough to comljat ; and it was not kind to strengthen
tluse ])rejudices l)y furnishing even the candid with
ground of real objection.

"Furthermore, we beseech you, brethren, to reflect, that
the principles, on wliich the plan you have adopted is too

■■:: p

304

HISTORY OF I'UlvSnYTERlANISM

commonly dcfondocl, renders your adoption of it peculiarly
unhappy.

" It JH justly dccined an osi'ential doctrine of Christianity,
tliat belioverH in every aire and undci' every dispensation
liiivc one t'aitli ; tliat whetlu'r the rivelation ol' the way of
lilc be more eoniplete or partial, more elear or ohseni'c,
thoy ohtain ])ardon of sin. enjoy access to a reconcileil
(iod, and rejoice in the hope ol' jiiory, throu^ii faith in
'the Idood of sprinlxliiii.' linl hy many whosi! numhers
cotitinualiy increase, that udorions tiiith is presumptuously
denied — (h-nied for tlie express [turpose of expiocHni;' as
Unlit for Christian worshij* tiie I'salms. wliieh Jesus liatii
l)e([Ueathed unto his clmrch. As this noti<tn is hecomiuir
j)revident, it is tne duty of all who would 'earnestly eon-
tend for th(^ faith once delivered to the saints,' to set their
faces like Hints a^jainst its proj^ress ; and it is with inlinile
re<rret that the Synod see so important a part of their body
fallin^i into tin; ctun'se which it is ])roi)ap;ated to i)romole,
and thus sancLioninj; an error which, in their jud.Ljment,
stands in open contradiction to the ex})erieuce of Christians,
is fundanientidly subversix'e of the doctrine of redemittiou,
and oives the lie direct to the Spirit of tlie livini;' Cod.

"•Jiut l>esi(l(! this iniU)vation itself, the mninu'r, l)rethreM,
in which it was eilected i.s auotlier cause of serious dis-
satisfaction.

''If the Synod are rightly informed, the Psalms of the
Bible were laid aside and their substitute introduced by
the vote of a town meet in;/. You arc no less sensible than
ourselves that this was not only prostrating; at the feet of
the multitude the Seri[)tural authority of judicatories, but
Avhat is yet worse, was allowinti; a civil corjioration to
meddle with the interior and spiritual arrangements of tho
church.

" The evil and offence arc ajjf^ravated by the little resist-
ance which even the ministers of the word made to a
measure not less dangerous as a precedent than corrupt in
its ])rinciple. It rests with your consciences, \)rethren, to
vindicate your conniving at an open sacrifice of the chureli
order, which you have professed, and still do ])rofess, to re-
ceive as the institution of your Master in heaven ; and at
violence offered by a political body to his glorious Il(^a(l-
ship — of which, as far as your ollicial agency is concx'rnetl,

IN NEW ENGLAND.

805

^>%

of
ivo,

ika

,isly

'X «'^

:i;ilu

uin'4

c<»u-

llu'u-

linilo

body

mole,

nic'Ut,

ititins,

])liou,

(I.
llavn,

lof the
lod by
than

,eft of
>s, but
lion to
of tUo

resist-
to a
Kipt in

Ircu, to
-UurcU
, to ve-
land lit

you havo sworn to be tlio jiuardians — connived at them
^vith()Ut one nianlul stni^'udc, and esjiecially when tho
probubility is tliat your judicial interfirenco, prudently
and laitlilully diicctCd, \vt)uld have prt'scrved both tlu;
]irero^ative oi' your Lord iVoni invasion and his ai)point-
nicnts IVoni insult.

'"Tlic! whole of our expostulations, brethren, are framed
accordinij; to our best infornialioii. If in anythinj^ we
wrunf>; you, it is witiiout desi;in. J Jut sliould this be tlie
case, th(,' fault is your own, and our very mistake wouUl
eorroljorate exceedingly tin; last reason of complaint on
which we shall now insist, and this is, your habitual re-
missness in attending on meetinirs of Synod.

"You will not (iispute that, humanly speaking, the
respectability, usefulness, an<l ellicacy of Presbyterial
government depend materially on tlie regular and harmo-
nious eo-o])cration of its judicatories, and that its Liove-
ments are impelled and its system disordered in projjor-
tion as this '•o-oi)eration is frustrated.

" B}' neglecting, therefore, the meetings of Synod, you
have not only failetl in your own duty, but liave embar-
rassed them in doing theirs. Your distance from the cen-
tral ])arts of the country may indeed exemi)t from constant
attendance, but it is a very insullicient apology for ])er-
petual absence. Our Kedeemer, it is true, will have mercy
and not sacrifice; but he has not ])Ut mercy and sacrifi(;e
at eternal war; and it is but a discouraging symptom, if his
servants, when calknl to act in his name upon the largest
scale which their connections permit, ordinarily prefer
their own convenience to his honor. Y'ou have been for
some time so numerous, that by visiting the Synod two by
two, if no more, you nnght make it a very easy, as it ought
to be a very ])leasant, fa- k. Others of your brethren
attend, although at double your distance and through
double your dillicult'es. J'rom every Presbytery on the
continent some usuady come uj) to Synod, Ijut from the
I'resbytery of New England, hnjuiries are anxiously
made, and not a single member nor a single oflicial docu-
ment appears to answer them. The Synod can learn the
state of their affairs onlv from detached fragments of in-
tt'lligence or from uncertain rumors.
"Nor is this a recent complaint — it is of years' standing.
20

f -

II'

4 : i

.1 '.

306

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

The Synod liavo time after time caused their requests to bo
communicated to the Preshytcry in writiiiLj, and their re-
quests liave been passetl over iu contumelious silence.

"They have been treated with this indi.i;nity, even wlien
their communications specified the evil reports against the
Presbytery, and earnestly solicited thereon direct, candid,
and ex])licit information. Wv leave it to your own sense
of decorum, not to say of rectitude, whether this is the
carriage which, from your engagements, they liavc a right
to expect.

"Such, brethren, is a sketch of tlic representation wo
would have made in conference, had tlie Lord ])ermitted.
We have not consciously misstated the sentiments of our
brethren among ministers or p(}ople ; and it is not less our
duty to you, than to ourselves, to them and to our com-
mon Lord, to tell you, witliout (lattery or concealment, the
real light in which your procecnlings arc viewed. For our
own parts, wc will rt^joice with thanksgiving, should we
have mistaken facets, or erred in opinion; and our joy will
be full, should tiie removal of all just grounds of uneasiness
enable us to ' keep the unity of the Spirit, in the l)ond of
peace, striving together for the faith of the gosjx'l.'

" We entreat, tlierefore, that, on mature consideration of
this letter, a copy of which is })reserved for synodical pe-
rusal, the I'resbytery, besides sending some of their mem-
bers, will transmit, in W'riting, to the Synod, to be laid
before them at their meeting in Philadelphia, on the last
Monday in May next, a correct account of their worship,
discipline, communion and other matters relative to relig-
ious concerns. And we trust, that if the union of the
church i" dear to their hearts — if the vows of subordina-
tion are esteemed binding — if the authority of the Lord
Jesus Christ hath any connnanding inlluence — and the
edification of his body is an object of (lesir(\ the intreaty
will meet with prompt and j)oin(ed compliance.

''Now, that t!i(! Lord himself may direct our way in wis-
dom and in righteousn(>ss, revealing to us the ])atli of duty
and giving us grace to walk therein ; without turning aside,
either to the right hand or to the left, is the prayer of your
brethren. " Kobkut Annan,

" J NO. M, Mason.

''January 24, 1797."

IN NEW ENGLAND.

307

bo
re-

\v\\
\\\o,
did,
?uso

.•ight

;\ "VVG
itted.
f our
;s our
coin-
it, the
)r our
Id ^yo
>y will
isiucss
ond of

ion of

•al V^-
incni-

hie last
•ovship,
lo reli^-
of the
lovdina-
,c Tiord
,nd the
Liitreat.y

I' in wis-
1 ot" duty
\it af^uh't
of your

Innan,

Lason.

This prompted a reply, written hy tho moderator, whioli
was received in Synod on May oO, 17'.)7, and which stated
"that tliey had received the letter at too hite a (hate to he
laid heibre Preshytery, or to iiave any nuMnher or menihers
attend Synod; hut tiiat Pi'cshytery were to meet in a short
time, when the h'tter would he laid het'orc tiiem, which ho
was solicitous should he treated with duo respect, and that
he intends to come to tiie next meeting ot" Syno(h"

On Jun.^ 11, 17*)S, at i'liiladelphia, the Synod were in-
formed that the Ivcv. William Morrison was i)rovidentially
l)revented from heinii; present — and as they iuid not sulli-
cient evidence of the true j)Osition of affairs, so as to come
to a fmal decision, the case was deferred, and the Rev.
Robert Annan was aj)pointed to write to the Presbytery.
At the next two annual meetings no re[)resentative of tho
Presbytery app<>ared, and Mr. Annan rciMirtinl that, to his
lett(>r, sent to the Presbytery, he liad " received no reply."
The letter of January 24, 17t)7, galvanized the Presby-
tery a little, and at their meeting in Londonderry, on Sep-
tend)er (>, 171)7, it was " Voted, That Mr. >b)rrison, as agi'ut,
should attend the Synod in Philadeljfhia, tt) see whether
it would be bcnelicial to dissolve the connection that sub-
sisted between them and the Presbytery, and that his desk
should be supplic(l for lour Sahbatbs in his absence."

This a[)pointiiient, as we have seen, ho was " j)roviden-
tially ])revented from" fullilling, and the si)ecific character
of their Presbyterianism was now very extensively changed.
Only ^b)rrison and Taggart a]>pear to have had a training
as Presl>yterians, after the type of ^McCJregor, senior, antl
]\h)orehead. Some of the other nuunbers, educated amidst
Congregational surroundings and associations, had taken
a very mild form of Presbyterianism; Avhile others, who
had been always C'ongregationalists, assumed this Jiolity
where it would Ik; to them an advantage to ofliciate in a
Presbyterian congregation. The forms were in the mean-
time observed, but in a free and easy way, as they virtually
ignored the advantage, authority, or even the very exist-
once of a Synod, which might not allow them to introduce
will-worship into tho house of (Jod — by a vote on town
meeting day, when they elected in the same manner their

i)ound-keepers, fence- viewers and dog-kill(>rs Ibr the year.
Reside this, although the Assembly of the Presbyterian

' " • i jj

, i
'1 ;

308

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

Church in tho United States (formo'l in 1789) Had never
had any control in New EnffJand, yet, in tho chanp;es
which it lui I borrowed from Contrrej^ationalism in reter-
encc to Watts' imitations and liynms, not a few in this
Presbytery had a growing dehght.

From 1774, when Bahlwin was smitten with the " felt
want," which has now for a century been tlie " harp of a
thousand strings," with all sectarian poetical innovators
who want new poems, " taste " and " culture " have had
an increasing ascendency over Divine authority, and they
became a ])ower in the Associate Reformed Presbytery of
New England. Hence she was now coquetting with the
larger body, and on Octoljer 9, 1799 (present, seven minis-
ters and six elders) " Voted, To obtain and peruse the
Confession of Faith of the Synod of New York and Phila-
delphia of May 10, 1788, and to prepare our minds on the
propriety of adopting it as the constitution of this Presby-
tery at their next meeting."

In 1799 Mr. Annan was again appointed to Avrite to this
Presbytery, and in 1800 informed the Synod that he had
done so, and had received no reply. No meml)er ap-
peared in Synod in 1801 from it, and on May 30th, at
Philadelphia, we find on the records of Synod this minute:
"After serious and mature deliberation, the following reso-
iution was adopted :

*' Whereas, the Presbytery of Londonderry has for sev-
eral years been in a state of virtual separation from this
Synod, entirely neglecting attendance thereon and due
subordination thereto; and. Whereas, the repeated at-
tempts of tliis Synod to o].)tain from said Presbytery infor-
mation of its condition and jirocedure and p compliance
with the order of Presbyterial church government, as main-
tained by the Associate Reformed Church, have proved
abortive; therefore,

^^ Resolved, That this Synod no longer consider the said
Presbytery of Londonderry as in their connection, and do
hereby disclaim all responsibility for any of its trans^
actions.

" Ordered, That a copy of said resolution be transmitted
to the Presbytery.

"Alexander Proudfit, Moderator,
"John McJimsey, Clerk."

IN NEW ENGLAND.

309

" 1802, October 2'2cl, the said clerk reported thnt he had
transiDitted to the luock-rator of tlie I'resbytery of London-
derry the resolution of J-'ynod concerning them."

Thus, after a history of aliout twenty years, we sec the
process of assimilation to their surroundings c()m))leting
its o])eration, and the Presbyterian version of the Tsalms
are now, after expressing the joys and sorroAvs of the hearts
of thousands of God's people, cast (excepting in godly
families) " to the moles and to the bats." For about eighty
years these songs of Jehovah (Psalm cxxxvii. 4) instru-
mentally increased the faith and strengtliened the hearts
of the "persecuted Irish brethren" and their descendants;
but the same " imitations " which had worm-eaten the
" Bay State version," and punctured it to death in the
previous generation, and also increasingly bleached the
truth out of the creeds and godliness out of the lives of
the oli'spring of the Puritans, now supplanted the " hymns
and spiritual songs " of God the Holy Ghost in both ver-
sions, from the St. Croix to the Connecticut.

We now return to the transactions of the Presbytery,
and find that at Londonderry, on Se[)tember 6, 1797,
^^Scderunt, Annan, Morrison, Toombs, Dana, lirown, Oliver
and Pidgeon, ministers, with seven ruHng elders, and that
Rev. ]Messrs. Moor, Whipple and Boddily sat as corre-
spondents."

At tiie same time it would appear that the Rev. Mr.
Boddily must have been a member of Presbytery, for a
part of the minutes roads thus: The " rei)ort of the com-
mittee to instal Mr. Boddily was considered, and the act
of the committee declared to be valid." " ^Ir. Walter
Little, a candidate for licensure, was then examined and
assigned trials," and at Pelham, on ^lay 17, 1798, after a
satisfactory examination, lie was licensed.

An item at Londonderry, October 31, 1798, is not easily
understood: ''Mr. Boddily petitioned to be admitted a
member of Presbytery, and was admitted." He was, above
a year before, installed in the Second Church, Newbury-
port, which liad been organized by Presbytery in October,
1795. "The Second Church and parish in Newliury re-
quested to be received into Presbytery. The congregation
was received, and a call from them for Mr. Toombs was
presented to him ; he declared his acceptance of it, and his

1 1
I

1
i!

310

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

II?

installation was appointed to take place on November 28th,
which, notwithstanding a remonstrance, Avas then and
there eflV'cted.

At their meeting at Derry, on June 12, 1799, a request
for the assistance of Kev. Messrs. Brown and Boddily to
ordain a Mr. 81ea (a Congregationalist) at Bytield, was
made, *' wliich Presbytery does not grant."

At " Newburyport, October 9, 1799 — Read a letter from
the committee of the New Hampshire convention on the
necessity of sending ministers to the frontiers of that State
to preach." Rev. Messrs. Morrison and Dana were ap-
pointed to answer it and report tt) Presbytery.

At this meeting it was ascertained that the Rev. David
Annan had become so immoral that Presbytery now com-
menced those investigations by which he was eventually
deposed from the ministry.

At Londonderry, June 11, 1800, sederunt, eight ministers
and eight elders. On the appointment ot" the ()r(hnation
of Mr. Little, to take place in Antrim in September, while
this Presbytery would not gra.it the request tiiat at tiie
ordination of Mr. Slea at Byficld, the Rev. Messrs. Brown
and Boddily might assist, and lend their libre of apostolic
succession — yet, they now formally re(|uest the Rev. Messrs.
^' Barnes of Hillsboro, Bradford of Francestown, and Page
of Hancock to assist at liis ordination."

The light of the nineteenth cdntury had now dawned,
tlie consistency of the previous one was " behind the age,"
Congregationalism was increasingly in the ascendant, ai d
at its shrine a peace offering was to be immolated.
Whether they formed a part ''of the Presbytery " who laid
hands on him or not, does not appear, yet the record of
September 2, 1800, reads thus :

" Met to ordain Mr. Little. When called to deliver his
popular sermon he said that lie had daily to attend fun-
erals, sometimes two to four in a day, to visit a number of
sick persons, and he hoped the Presbytery would be so
kind as excuse him for these reasons. Excused accord-
ingly. Examined him and ordained him."

At " Londonderry, June 9tli, 18;)1, the Constitution of
the General Assembly was considered,, imd a continued
attention to it was recommended to tlie churches under
their care, with a viev/ of its being adopted with some few

W" 'r'

IN NEW ENGLAND.

311

exceptions, at the first meeting of Presbytery." " Presby-
teriul sermons are in future to be the subject of mutual
private criticism."

On June 9tli, 1802, Mr. David McGregor was licensed,
and the Rev. Mr. Taggart applied for a certificate of min-
isterial standing. Trials were assigned to Mr. Matthew
Taylor. The Rev. Mr. Dana was directed to obtain for
sale and distribution eighteen copies of tlie Constitution
of the General Assembly.

Ahhough this was done, yet many of the people had
read in an old book, " Meddle not with them that are given
to change," and when, on October 13th, they met, the
record runs thus :

" Will the Presbyter}'' now adopt the General Assembly's
Constitution in toto? It was negatived, and they adopted
it in substance as a directory."

They were still unprepared to " explicitly unite with
any particular Synod and with tlie Assembly at the South-
ward." On June 8th, 180o, they considered the "official
documents of a Rev. Mr. Giles, and on a request from the
Second Cliurch in Newburyport, they voted to induct him
there " in July. When the time came, they found that he
"made some difference on the subject of baptism from
Presbyterians," yet " they installed him."

On July 19th a Rev. Mr. Colby, it was aj)pointed, should
be installed in Chester, but when the day, the 12th of Oc-
tober, came, a ^Ir. D. Baker, of Pembroke, tabled a com-
plaint against him. Yet, as the pastoral relation between
him and that town had, by a '' result of council," been
dissolved, "Mr. Baker's complaint and that of Pembroke
were dismissed as disorderly," and he was on the next
day installed in Chester.

"This Presbytery cannot consistently grant the GofTs-
town request, considered as a I^i'csbyterian incorporation,
because in that capacity they had united with the Congre-
gational incorporation in Goiistown, in the call and settle-
ment of Mr. Morrell as the minister of both incorporations."
A Mr. Robert Heath Noyes was now examined and taken
und(.'r the care of Presl>ytery. At Londonderry, on June
loth, 1804, Bedford presented a call for Mr. David Mc-
Gregor.

Relative to the Presbyterians in " Peterboro, a certificate

•
« «■ •

(iji

312

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

from the clerk of that toAvn was read, and they were
allowed the use of tlic church one Sabbath in the year for
communion in Presbyterian form," ye>, positively allowed
to use their father's property and their own, as Presl)yt(>-
rians, one Sabbath in the year, liut this was not all.
Unwilling as the Presbyterians were to forepjo the use of
their property, their elders must not any longer " distin-
guish things wliich differ " in relation to the Lord's tabl(\
For, " Presbytery recommended to the Peterboro church
to admit to occasional communion all regular members of
Congregational churches."

This not only shews, that " the things Avhich (then) re-
mained were ready to die," but that promiscuous commu-
nion had not l)een hitherto practised. At this meeting the
Rev. Andrew Oliver demitted his pastoral charge of Pel-
ham. They gave to him a certificate of good standing,
and promised him a hearing there again in October follow-
ing. At Argyle, N. Y., on October loth, 1804, he informed
the Associate Presbytery of Cambridge, tliat he " labored
under difhculties in his mind f"or some time past, respect-
ing his connection Avith the Presbvterv of Londonderrv,
and had resolved to leave them and join the Associate
Synod of North America. After hearing him fully he was
admitted and assigned i)laces in Avhich to preach." He
returned to Pel ham in November, 1804, and broke his
pledge to the /Vssociate Presbytery.

Consequently, on his representation and petition to
Presbytery, in November, 1805, they wrote to him, and
charge him with leaving his religious i)rofession irregularly,
and cite him to appear at Argyle on a day specified, in
February, 1806. At that date he did not attend, and tiiey
sent him a summons to ajipear at their next meetiuir, at
Florida, N. Y., on May 5th, 1806. This did not bring
him ; and on October 12tli, 1807, at Florida, they agreed
to ask the advice of their Synod in his case.

On June 13th, 1804. Alexander Conkey was taken under
care as a student in theology.

The town of Bedford concurred in calling Mr. David
iNIcGregor, and he was ordained and installed there on
September 6th, 1804, To aid the Presbytery, though
eight ministers and ten elders were present when the ap-
pointments were made in June, they " invited Rev. Messrs,

IN NEW ENGLAND.

313

vcro
r for
iwed

,\ilL
,e of
stin-
,al)lo.
lurch
;rs of

i) re-
iimii-
ig the
i' Pel-
nding,
bllow-
ormed
ibored
jspect-
iderry,
sociatc
he was
" He
•ke his

ion to
lin. and
;ularly,
|fied, in
iid they
jtinsx, at
It brine;;
agreed

I under

. David

liere on

though

the ap-

Messrs,

Burnap and Barnard to be at Bedford as correspond-
ents."

At Derry, on October 4th, 1S04, the Rev. .Jonathan
Brown was released IVoni liis charge. He was then olHci-
ally reprelicuck'd and achnonished by the moderator. On
his own request, the Rev. Walter Little was thvn released
from the pastorate of Antrim, X. H., and on June Tith,
1805, he was dismissed and reconnnended to the Associate
Reformed, Washington, X. Y., Presbytery.

At this meeting a call from \\'indham for a ^Ir. Harris,
of Fitehburgh, was sustained as regular ; and on October
9th, when twelve ministers and fifteen ruling elders formed
the court, he was examined, ordained and installed there.

At X\Mvl)ury)iort, on December 4th, 1805, "the Rev. Mr.
Oliver stated, that he had joined the Associate Presbytery
of Cambridge prematurely, as they would not give him a
certificate (for no other reason, but because he had sung
Dr. Watts' psalms and hynms in public worship), and he
then requested readmission."

He was by no means the only man under vows to pre-
sent to (iod " a ])ure offering " in praise, who has em})loyed
"the enticing words of man's wisdom in preference to the
words which the Holy Ghost teacheth." He was not only
readmitted but was ])r()mised to receive, when he might
ask it, '' a new certificate to any of the General Assembly
Presbyteries." The Rev. Mr. Toombs, at this date, re-
signed his pnstoral charge.

He was "furnished with a certificate to the Presbytery
nf Columbia, X". Y., or any other one belonging to the
General Assembly."

At Xew Boston, on February 25th, 1806, a call from that
congregation for Mr. Kphraim P. Bradford was sustained,
and on tiie "26th he was examined, ordained and there in-
stalled by Presbytery.

On June 11th Presbytery met at Derry West, and again
at Pelham, on September 3d, wdien papers were presented
and some ordinary business was done.

At Derry, on June 10th, 1807, Mr. iNFcConkie Avas dis-
missed in good standin<jf, wliile " Mr. Pidgeon was pub-
hcly and solemnly rei)reiiended."

They, by this date, had am[)le opportunity, as pastors
and congregations, to examine the standards of the Gen-

314

HISTORY OF niESBYTERIANISM

ill

6 ■■ ,

r'.

Itfl

-1 ■

*-f

».

eral Assombly, and tlioir minutes state: "Appointed Rev.
Messrs. Morrison, MoCJre^for and Bradford, to represent
this Presbytery in Albany ISvnod next October, at Coopers-
town, N. Y."

Not heeding the Divine injunction, "lay liands sud-
denly on no man," in the ease of Mr. Pidgeon, iiis con-
duct i)roduced trouble. He was accused of im])ro])ric-
ties by a young woman, and was dismissed on July 15th,
1807, from Hampton. Py the report of the connnitteo
appointed to take the evidence of Jane C'larkson, of New-
buryport, his guilt was established, and at Derry West, on
June 8th, 1808, the Presbytery susjjended him from the
ministry. On September 28th, on the strength of papers
from Minot, in iNIaine, he was restored " to ])rivate church
membership, and if Minot wish him to j)reach, he may do
so till next meeting." "The moderator was aj)}»ointed to
inform the town of Minot of the rcsidt of Presbytery on
this subject." Finally, on June 14th, 1809, their record
states : " Restored Mr. Pidgeon to the ministrv for one
year." Joseph was not his patron saint, he " fell into re-
proach," and wounded his Saviour "in the house of his
friends."

At Derry West, October 14th, 1807, a call from Antrim
for Mr. Jolin M. Whiton was sustained, and on Sej)tcmber
28th, 1808, he was ordained and installed in that town.
At their meeting on the 14th of October, 1807, a letter
from Rev. Dr. John Smith was received " on the imion of
the church of Hanover with the Presbytery," from which
it may be fairly inierred, that (as represented above) the
Presbytery of Grafton no longer existed. C<)nse(iuently,
on June 8th, 1808, " Granted the request of the church at
Dartmouth College to form a connectit)n with this Pres-
bytery."

At this date, " appointed the stated meetings to be in ro-
tation, excepting at Coleraine and Dartmouth College;
there they will be specially appointed."

In April, 1800, Litchfield was received into the Presby-
tery. On request of the town, a Mr. Kennedy was, on the
12th, ordained and installed there.

At Bedford, Presbytery met and was constituted, when
eight ministers and eight elders formed the court, on June
14th, 1809. " Presbytery declare the people of Pelhara to

IN NEW ENGLAND.

315

\ntrim

itcmber
town,
letter

uon of
which
e) the
uently,
urch at
Fres-

Ic in ro-
bollege ;

'resl)y-
on the

ll, wiicn

In June

Iham to

bo inconstfint, and dismiss the Rov. Mr. Brainard from
tlicni, to take place on the 14th of yepteml)er next, if they
j)ay uj) his full salary till tlu'n and 8250 in addition. If
they do not ])ay, he continues there till next nieetin*:;."
June loth, " Voted, to send a delegation to All)any Synod,
with powers to negotiate a connection."

At New ]3oston, on October 25th, 1809, Presbytery met.
Sederunt, Morrison, Dana, McGregore, Harris, liratUbrd,
AVhiton, and Kennedy, ministers, with ruling elders Aiken,
Barnes, Craig, Duncan, Dinsmore, and McNeil; corre-
spondents, Uev. Messrs. Chapin and Bradlbrd, of Frances-
town. " Mr. Walker, a student, preached a ])rol)ationary
discourse." " Read a vote of the General Association of
N. H., and ap])ointed the Moderator to answer it. Ap-
proved of Mr, Walker's discourse, and licensed him to
preach the gospel."

Octol>er 2(ith, 1809, attended to the result of the mission
from this Presbytery to the Synod of Albany. Read the
report of the comtnittee a})p()inted by the Synod to confer
with our delegates. Rev. Daniel Dana was appointed our
delegate to the General Assembly, to meet at Philadelphia
in May next i SIO), Rev. Wm. Morrison to be his alternate.
Presbytery to supply his desk four days during his ab-
sence.

"Appointed the next meeting to be in Newburyport, on
the first Wednesday in May next, the Rev. Mr. K(>nnedy
to open it with a sermon." The Rev. Moses ]>al(lwin, who
was installed in Palmer on June 17th, 1701, was dismissed
June 19th, 1811, and then the church became a Congrega-
tional society.

Here end the existing records of the second Presbytery
of Londonderry. Tiiey were continued subsequently for
sixty years, yet at that time, through the carelessness of a
clerk, they were allowed to perish. Our quotations till
date are taken from a copij of the volumes, transcribed by and
for the writer in 1855.

While we have now, in the absence of continuous rec-
ords for thirty-six years, to draw from incidental sources
in relation to the Presbyterianism east of the river Con-
necticut, yet in Vermont we still find records of the psalm-
singing churches. The others, whose history we have so
far chronicled, became so extensively permeated with the

' M

•- •
1

316

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

snporinciimhcnt native polity, as to bo " part Jew and part
Ashdod," especially in jmhlie worshij) and the matter of
Divine praise. By ai)andi)ning the Psalms, as presented
in the liay State or Presbyterian versions, for the Imita-
tions and relijjjions i)ocms of Dr. Watts, domestic worship
lost (almost totally tlu'onLrhont New luiLrland ) the ])leas!nit-
ness of "shewinjf forth the lovinjx-kindness of Clod in tlu;
morning and of declaring liis faithfulness every night."
The scenes of West Running P>rook (by the descendants
of the "oppressed Irish l)retiiren") became decrcasinLdy
continued for half a century in their families, until Thoni])-
son might say,

"Come, then, expressive silcnco, muse Iiis praise."

The majority in Federal street church as Congrcgation-
alists settled, in 1787, the Rev. Jeremy Belknaj), D. I).
" He was one of the founders of the Massaciiusetts His-
torical Society, and devoted much of his time to the jiro-
motion of its objects and interests." He not only pub-
lished works on history and biograpliy, but also compiled
and published, in 1795, a volume of i)oetry, which in some
congregations supplanted the Bay State versif)n of the
Psalms. He died in 1798, and was succeeded on Julv 10th,
1799, by the Rev. Jolm S. Popkin, D. D. From his pas-
toral charge he w^s dismissed on November '28th, 1802.

Sixteen years of ])erversion of a sacred trust, misrule
and no rule, produced their effects on the people. The
church estate liad been held and enjoyed for fifty-one
years by a trust deed of a charitable nse, which, in the
hands of the lawful owners, the Presl)yterians, had proved
to be operative for all ecclesiastical purposes. But now, to
the occupants, it brought trouble. Like savages who, when
they had boarded a ship and overpowered the seamen,
were not able to navigate her, so it was with th(>se depre-
dators. While Little owned the house he could collect the
pew-tax, and so, by virtue of his deed to them, could the
Presbyterians easily, while they were in possession ; but
Hot so with the Congregationalists. Persons would occupy
seats and pay as they pleased. Hence, less pleasant times
came, and this even after the Rev. Wm. P^llery Channinj,'
was, on June 1st, 1803, ordained their pastor. The de-
scendants of "the Scotch-Irish" had been, under their

IN NEW ENGLAND.

317

I part
tcr of
:cutc(l
Iiuila-

\\\ tlu!

lulanls
isindy
'homp-

^cffition-
,, I). 1).
Its His-
he pvo-
ily pu^'-

in sonic
11 of the
10th,
lis pas-
.S()2.
misrule
The
fifty-one
, in the
proved
t now, to
10, when
seamen,
;o (lepre-
)ncct the
•oiild the
n ; hut
d occupy
lint times
::banning
The de-
der their

adopted cliurcli regimen, since 178G, pernnittcd to dwell
alone; but iVom this date otluirs, attra('te(l l^y the snaviter
hi modo and oratory ot" the youn^ preacher, voluntarily
as.so(dated with them, until '' the Presbyterian meeting-
house " was tilled with Trinitarian Congrej^ationalists.
Yet neither oratory nor nund)ers brou^ijlit abidinij; peace.

When Ahab, wicked as he was, desired to have tlie vine-
yard of Naboth for a garden of herbs, he offered bun an
ccpiivalent in money or in land. Not so here. They had
entered in and taken possession, while the trust deed was
on record, and tiie heirs of John Little and the Presbv-
terian minority (Mrs. Cuptain Wilson and others) might
at any time, apparently, invoke the equity of the law.
Consetjuently, as '' they experienced inconvenience in the
management of the prudential concerns of said society,
from the want of legal authority to assess and collect"
under th(;ir perversion of schism, they invoked the arm of
the Legislature to sanction their perversion of the trust.

To this end the following action was taken:

"At a meeting of the proprietors of the meeting-honse
and lot in Federal street, held at the school-house on said
lot, on Monday evening, March 5th, 18U4 " (nine months
and four days after the settlement of Mr. Channing), "being
the annual meeting — voted, that the standing committee
be authorized to apply to the General Court for the passing
of such law as they may think necessary or beneficial to
the society,"

This germ they incubated for above fifteen months.
The trust deed stood out in bold relief; Little's reserved
" pew and seat " could not be totally eradicated ; the seat
of Mrs. Captain AN'ilson, which had been forced to a sale,
was not too far off to whisper to its owner, so that, if appli-
cation were made for a Legislative strangling of the Pres-
hyterian rights, a remonstrance might possibly be made;
and withal, conscience was as yet extensively a power in
legislation — that "oath" which is, in Christendom, to men
''for confirmation an end of all strife," had not yet been
substituted by the fear of Cliarlostown or Sing Sing. In
framing, interpreting, and executing law in Massachusetts,
men yet swore by the ever living God, Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost, one God. Hence, to ascertain what was
"necessary or beneficial to the society," which the General

,1" '■»"[

318

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIAMSM

it',!

Court mi;,'ht prnnt, could not bo dotorminofl in three
montlis l>y said coMuuittt'c, iiidcd by any dcsirrd anioiuit
of the wisdom of the SulVolk bar. S|)riii<i: sjtread (lut her
foliage, tlie doj^-star ukuIo his annual visit, autunui pro-
duced the "«ero and yellow leaf," winter returned and
assumed his domain in New Kn<j;land — tiie " rrojirietor's
annual meetin<f '' recurred ; spring; witii her precious iidlu-
CMices ajjain bespread the land, and still the " law" '' neces-
sary or beneficial " in their opinion had not Ix^mi (Miacted.
" Tlu! want of Icfjal authority to assess and collect " l)ecamo
increasin^dy a realization in their experience, and at last,
before the members of the Legislature from tlie rural dis-
tricts should atrain rusticate, the occu|)ants make "their
coura<:;e cheery," and the document of which the Ibllowin;^
is an attested copy was placed in the archives of the
State :

"To the Honorable the Senate and the Honorable the
House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, in General Court assembled,

" Respectfully rei)resent :

"The proprietors of tli(> meetincj-house and lot in Fed-
eral street, in Boston, that (hoji experience in convenience in
the m(in(i(/nn('iit of tlic priKhntial conrcrnK of said Socictij fr<nn
the want of Icf/al nnt/iorit;/ Id r/.s.so'.s and collect the sums iicccs-
sari/ for the t^tipjiort of rellyious icurship and other exic/encies of
said Socivti/.

''Tliey th(M'eforo pray this Honorable Court, that tlie
proprietors of pews in said meelinu-house niay be consti-
tuted a body politic and corporate, by tlic name of the
^ReHgioiiH Societi/ In. Fcdcrol iSlreet, in the Town of Boston,''
with the usual powers udven to like corporations relative
to the choice of necessary ollicers and holding of meetings;
■witii power also to hold in tliat capacity the meetingdiouso
and lot aforesaid with the ministerial house lately erected
on said lot by said ])roprietors, and such other estate, real
or ])ersonal, as may be ac(piired by or accrue to said society
and be by them appropriated to tlie sui)port of i)ublic wor-
ship and the maintenance of a teacher or teacliers of piety,
religion and morality ; and that said society, so incorpO'
rated, may be authorized to make contracts with any

m^yrr

IN NEW ENGLAND.

819

three
loimt
it luT
jiro-
iind
('tor's
hiilu-

l\<'('fS-

ai'tcd.
foauie
it last,
ill (lis-
"tlioir

of the

)lc the
ilth of

in Fed-

iciice bi

\c(jj from

as neccs-

■ncies of

Ihiit the

consti-

|c of the

jrehitive
loc'tiniis ;
ig-houso

erected
Into, real
ll society
l)lic wor-

)f piety,
lincorpo'
lith any

teacher or toacnors of the {loscrij)tion aforesaid for tlicir
sii|)|)ort and niaintcnance, to make any perinaiuMit or
animal j^rant to any such teacher or teachers which they
may judjjfo expedient, and to lay and assess such taxes
from time to time on the pows in said nieetin;;-house, or
any other meetin;2;-]ious(> that may he erected in place of
the present house, as they shall lind necessary lor tho
fore^oint:; purposes, and also for the npairint: said nieetinL";-
houso and their ministcriid house? aforesaid, and for dis-
char«j;in<; any arreara<j;es arising IVoni th(> erectinu; and com-
j)leting said n)inisterial house, and for tlu; other necessary
expenditures of said society. And as in duty bound shall
ever prav, etc., etc.
"Boston, June lOth, 1805.

" Jxo. Davis, Tiios. Lamr, ") r> • i ^

Simon Elliot, Tiios. Thompson, \ <-^"""ittco.

" Edward Tuckeuman, Jr., Daniel Dennison Rogers,
Henry Hunter."

"In the House of Rei)rescntatives, Juno lOtli, 1805.
Re.'id and conunitted to the Standing Comniittee of Incor-
poration of Parishes, etc., to consider and report. Sent up
for concurrence. "Timothy Bigelow, Speaker.

"In Senate, Juno 11th, 1-805. Read and concurred.

" H. G. Otis, President.
"Passed Juno 15th, 1805."

Prohahly not on record does there stand a inoro furtive
Legislative enactment, signed, and then read three times
on the lOth, three times on the 11th, and the moni(}nt tho
five days (which any such enactment required the Clov-
ernor to ])ause hefore ho signed any hill) are ])assed, it
becomes "such law as they think necessary or beneficial"
to the " Proprietor's committee."

This, prohahly, was the last Congregational parisli formed
in Massachusetts, and now i\'eshyterianism in the town of
Boston (like "John l^Arleycorn ") under " solenm oath,"
"must die," and be robbed of a place of sejiulture on its own
ground. The text of the act will (D. V.) be afterwards
co^isidered.

3'20

IITSTOin- OV rHKSnYTKHIAMSM

i'i

As a 'rrinilnrian society, tlu^ occup.'iuts lloiirislKMl in
iiumlxTs uinlci' tilt' IJcv. Mr. ( 'iKiimiiiL'. I'roni ;) coinitiira-
t ivcly sm:ill muiuImm" of tnicc Irish looki.i^ ri't'sl)yt(M'i;uis,
by ;issiiuil;itiii,u cMcnsivt'ly tluir siuTdUiulinLis, tlicy, in a.
it'W years, more llian lillcil the • xcr nu inoralilc old " 1'\m1
(M'al Strcti ri'csltyti'rian Clinrrli." tlic cvcr-jrlorions cfown-
inu; spot, llic hiiiliitlacc of national lil'i' anionij; the sistcr-
liood ot' States, to Massaehnsetts. Clianninu' W'.'is not onlv
instaileil as a Trinitaiian preacher, Imt yi>ars atterwaiils
lie (then helieved to lie sneli > hapt i/ed a iM'andeliild of t lie
Kev. John Moorehead (the Ilex. A. W. MeClnre, D. !>.,
resident ii; 1ST.) in Maiden, Mass.) when said MeClni'e's
])a rents, in eonnnon with many ( it" not alh othei's, helieved
jiini to he (and enjoyeil his ndnistry as ^ a lujievi r in the
Oivinily ot' (lod tin* Son. Tin' depai'tnre iVom Treshyic-
vianisni in ^oxaaannent and worship soon hei'aine exten-
j^ive, ii" not eoniplele, while "the doetnne oj" (hxj our
Savionr," tanj-hi hy Morehead. was more lei^nrely ahaii-
doned. Ihit all were sinking; touet hiM".

"At the he.uinninL!; of this eentnry tsays Waanilye. pa;'t>
'Ai')) «ireal theological diHta'taiccs existed in Xewhm'yport ;
jind in this the town was :\i\ epitome of New i'-iiuland.
Conf roxaa'sy xxas rile and alienations existed. Seari'elv
:iny two ehnrehes maintained conminiuon with each
oth(M', anti i>f six miinstiM's ol' near denominational eoni-
])lexion. scarce two aurced in theoloi:y."' In tinu's past,
o\\ the doctrine of the New Mnuland Primer and in the
ns(» of till* common matter ol' praise, the " I'.ay State l*sahn-
boolc," they had to som(> exttait " maintained the nnity of
the Spirit in the hond of peace."' Ihit now I lopkinsianism
was (>\tensix'ely dilVnsed, xxhilc it with I'anmonism and
other kindi'cd speculations wer(> sappinsi; the fonndations
*)f the once Puritan ehin'chcs ; and Hr. Channinu' (who was
Itrouiiht up at the feet of i)r. llojdsins, of xvhose *'hun'h his
father was a niemher) hecame progressively unsound in
the faith, until in a lew years he, with all the ministers o\'
the toxvn, exct'ptinu; possibly Ilunlinuton, of the Old South,
by the shiftiuii; tpiieksands of ('onurei:;ati(Mialism, always
"suHicicntly divine," o|»posed "tln> faith once delivci'ed to
the saints," which had. as held by the I'ilurims and the
J*uritaus, iHMilo Now Eiigkuid very extensively " ii pruisc
ill tlie ear til."

TX NF.W KXr.I.AN'n.

321

1 m
;iva-

i\\ :i

islt'V-
oi\ly

i>. IK.

hive's

n tlu'
s\>ylt'-

1(1 'Uir
;\l>:iu-

i-y|HMt ;

As IIh" new prraclicr in a New Mimlaiid town lias usu-
ally a clianui'ii cliaiMi'ttM' as "iln' roiuinu' man," .so tlio
Itrcslim' of till- l\('\. W. 1!. ClianiiiiiL; iiu'i'cast'd S(>riuin^ly

on in 1 III' wooilcn " Irish Vvvs-

I t.

wilh a Lit'onictniMl pro

liytcfian nicriini^-lioiiso. ' unt:l ni .m\ yoais it apitcarrd lot)
ni-;ti(', ItoiMino loo anti(]ii.ili'(l. and in \S'J\) a lu'ick huild-
iii'i, capalilr o|' scat imr VIS iicrsuns, was t

•rccti'd on .lolin
Lilllr's lot. in wliioli new lioiisc Ids " pew or soat," iici'ortl-
iiv_!,- to tho diM'd ol" trnsi. \\a-> rclMiilt and pn'scrvi'd. In
tins point 'Milt' oltli«j,at ions ol' the con tract."' luadc soviMity-
I'our years Ix-I'orc. wci'c not yet "impaired." while, hy tho
piiri'hase ol" MS s(pi,ire Icct Irom t he adjoiniiii;' lot.makiiiiij
II, with the I'rcsl.vtcrian lot ..I' {."..('.('.i t'cet. lt,lS'J stiuaro

in a

Iret.they were enalilcil to creel a "mnusterial house, pri
laiieally cillcd a p;i

rsonaiic

Iv lipsiiiL;- in a I'ew yen's the other ministers of the town,
llunliniiton, Lathrop, Me!<ley. Mliot, West and KirUland,
ill " proplu'syiiii^- smooth ihinus," his t"ame heeame exteii-
sivi\ as he iimored eventually the divinity ol'(iotl (he Son,
and preat'hed " another .u;ospel. which was not another."

Tlu" tidal wa\e ol" I nitarianisni now hroke over much
el" New I'-urland. especially in Massachusetts, and many,
who were " lovers of pleasure niitre than lovers ot" ( Jod,''
hc-an to .id'^i'y in the niornin;j; li^ht ol" "taste," eulturo
and "advanccil thou dit "" in "he nincleenlh century.

Not withstandinu' his increasim:- popularity, he was not a
pcirci't. (>xei'ptiou (o the rule. (hat. "a prophet, is not with-
ciii honor, save in his own house." tor when an admirer
WiMiid (as (he story tclls^ llatter i>ne of his aunts hy (Hilo-
u:i/inu' him (o her. (Iu> person was answered: " 1 know all
thai; th(> devil never employs a fool to do his business.''
"How l"oreii>le are riuht words."

Ilavinu' seen the Tsalnis iunored and t"<>rsaken east ot" (ho
river ('oimecticut. we now trace their history hrielly oudie
\"erinon( side. 1 use (he word I'salms as a eoeirieieu(. of
the lypc of l'iTshy(erianism which settled liOiulonderry in
l.l'.>. ,\ loim", lierce controvirsy existed hetweeu New
\erk and New ll;impshire as to (he sov.M'cimdy of (he
(ireen mountain rcLiion. This was amieahly adjustetj in
1 Till >, and in IT'.H Vermont was admitted ti> ("ellowship
anioiiir the I'niteil States. Lom;- before (his, however,
iVshytt-riaus settled in iJarnot and Uyogate. In 1775
21

i I

322

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

Barnet began to be settled by emigrants from Scotland,
■Nvho soon composed the great majority of the inhabitants.
The Rev. John \Vithersi)oun, on Sei)teniber !Sth, ITGo, he-
came owner by charter from New Hampshire of 28,000
acres of land in Vermont on the Connc'clieut river. Com-
panies were formed. Gen. James ^\'hitelaw, an emigrant
sent out as tlieir agent, purchased in 1773 a large body of
land ibr the '' Scots-American Com})any," of Kfmfrewsliirc,
composed of 140 families, most of whom were farmers. It
hap])ened in tiiis way. Providentially meeting Whitelaw
in Philadelphiji, on his arrival, May 24th, 1773, Dr. Withe i-
spo(m said that if he (and David Allen) could not suit
themselves better, he would sell to them. After hxjking
around for five months, they bought from him. This pur-
chase embraced the south half of Ryegate. It was ol)tained
from Dr. Witherspoon at *' three shillings York money"
per acre. Col. Alexander Harvey was another emigrant
from Scotland, sent out as the agent of " The Farmers'
Company, of Perthshire and Sterlinpishire," to j)urchas(!
land for them. In 1774 he })urchased 7,000 acres in the
southwest iKirt of Barnet, the price being fourteen })enco
sterling (about twenty-five cents) an acre. The emigrants
from Scothmd in these two towns were distinguished for
religious knowledge, being well acquainted with tiie lluly
Scriptures. Tliey daily observed tlie worship of (Jod in
their families, making their numerous hill-tops resonant
with " Dundee and plaintive martyrs " in the use of

"Tlio.se strains that once did sweet in Zion glide."

They were careful to bring up their children "in tlio
nurture and admonition of the Lord." They strictly
sanctified the Sabbath and loved the house of God.

Feeling the Avant of the public ordinances of reli<;i()ii.
they made strenuous endeavors, ))efore and during the
revolutionary war, to obtain them, and after repeat(Ml ef
forts they succeeded, lieibre; tiie war, during and after it,
several clergymen, most of whom were Presbyterians, came
and preached in these two towns.

Dr. Witherspoon visited liarnet and Ryegate two or
three times, and preached and ba])tized The lirst visit
vfaa probably in 1775, and in 1782 he returned, when he

IN NEW ENGLAND.

323

md,
.uts.

Joiu-

:rant
iy of
siilve,
s. U
itclaw
itlirv-
>t Buit

is pvAv-

)t'cun<'d
umcy "
ui'firant

s in the

iiiv;

\\\c Holy

rode the saddle on wliioli Ids son sat at the battle of Ger-
mantown, and which Ijore the mark ot" the ball which
killed him. As these enniirants purchased lart^e tracts of
land in the county, had llourishinir settlements in liarnet
and Ryeffate, and were distinuuishcd for their intelliirence,
integrity, enterprise, industry and jjatriotism, as well as
for their religious character, the county was called by the
ancient Roman name of Scotland — "Oaledonia." County
buildings, u courtdiouse and jail, wen; erected in due time,
but for nearly half a century the latti'r of these especially
did little else than protect the sheep as a ]>lace of shade on
hot sunnner days. As they " glorihed CJod in tlie highest,"
so they " on earth " maintained " peace and good will to-
ward men."

Hence, among them for a generation or two crime was
but little known. They " lived quiet and peaceable lives
in godliness and honesty."' In 1775 the Rev. Thomas
Clark, of Salem, N. Y., ])reached in these towns, and re-
turned two or throe times. The Rev. Robert Annan, when
pastor in Boston, preached to them in 1784 and in 1785 —
his brother David also in 1785. The Rev. John Houston,
of Bedford, N. 11., visited them in 1785, returned in 1787,
and remained a year. In 1780 the town of Barnet voted
unanimously "to choose the Presbyterian form of religious
worship, founded U])on the word of (lod, as expressed in
the Confession of Faith, Catechisms, Larger and Shorter,
with the form of Presbyterian church government agreed
upon by the Assembly of divines at Westminster, and
I)raetised by the Church of Scotland."

In 1787 the town and church of Barnet sent a joint peti-
tion to the Associate Presbyterian Synod of Scotland for a
minister, offering to pay the ex])ense of his passage to this
country. They were directed to a])ply to the Associate
Presbvterv of Pennsvlvania. Thev did so, and the Rev.
Thomas Beveridge came and ])rcached in 1789, and re-
turned in 1790. The Rev. David Goodwillie, in conse-
quence of an a])])lication to the same Presbytery, came in
tlio autunm, and continued his ministrations in '»i)rn ,t
and Ryegate until February, 1700, in which year l.e was
unanimously called to be their ])astor, Ryegate receiving
one-sixth i)art of his olBcial labors. In September, 1790,
he returned, and was aettled as the minister of the town

« •' • ■

mm^

324

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIAXISM

!■!

of Rarnct and pastor of the chuvcli. In 1707 a mceting-
liouse frame was erected at Rve^ate Corner. It was the
first in the town, but was not finished till LSOO. We see
that Ryegate was to receive only one-sixth of the lal)()rs
of the pastor. The reason appears to have l)een that a
new clement of Pr(>sl)yterianisni had heen introduced.

The RciV. \\'illiam Gibson, of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church, had visited them and become a cnndidate for the
ministry of the town and pastorate of the church ; conse-
quently, on July 2Uth, 17iH), a meeting was cidled "to see
if they will settle the Rev. Mr. Gibson as their town min-
ister — or make a])i)lication to any other Piesbytery to
furnish them with one."' "Adjourned till September 3d,
then till December 8d, 179'), when th(!y voted — 33 for, and
13 against it. On December lOth the conmiittee rejjorted
to the town me(>ting that the Rev. William (Jibson will
settle with them.'' There were then in Ryegate (58 polls, 5
clocks, 90 scholars in their two schools, and the town
valuation was S(),71().85. To these 13, out of 40, and those
whom they represented the Rev. Mr. Goodwillie gave the
one-sixth of his labor.

In common with all frontier towns, these pioneers were
not only at times alarmed by the Indians, but their lives
and substance were often endangered by wolves and
bears, which, being "very numerous, were not so easy to
subdue."

Another matter may be here noticed — the endurance
which it required in winter to attend j)ul)lic worshi]). The
modern fair weather worshipper, with his furs, seated on
a cushion in an audience chamber, warmed up artificially
to 65° or 70^, while the thermometer may be near zero
without, can but ver}' inqoerfectly comprehend what was
endured by the Calvinists of New England (Congregation-
alists and Presley terians alike) in the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries. To show this, I quote from a sermon
" preached in Townscnd, Mass., on October 10th, 1870, by
Rev. G, H. Morss, acting Pastor." " The only meetings
enjoyed by the fathers in the early days of the church
were the two services of the Sabbath.

" The public services were enlivened and spiritualized
by the singing of the Psalms of David." The Bay State
version was reluctantly exchanged by some congregations

IN NEW ENGLAND.

325

t\ie

see

Dors

at a

>nan
r the
[)nse-
,() see
iiiin-
ry to
2r 3d,
r, and
^)uvte(l
in wil}
)oUs, 5
town
1 those
ive the

ys were
4r hves
es and

easy to

llurance
p. The
lated oil
iiicuiUy
■iir zero
Kit was
icgatlon-
th and
scrniou

870, i)y

ineethvjs

church

itualizPt^
jay Btate
j-egations

only after tlio Pvevohition. It was nsod in Townscnd
eliurch till 177<>. The intermission hctween service was
usually spent in the meeting-house, or in some of tin)
houses near iiy, or in what were known as " tSahha day "
or noon houses. In these they enf^aiied in private discus-
sions of tiie topics of the morninu's discourse, or Scrijituro
reading, or in the personal reading and study of God's
word.

These houses consisted of four rooms, ten or twelve feet
square, with a fire-phice in each room. They were gen-
erally huilt at the expense of four or more i)ersons, to be
occupied only on the Sabbath by their families or such
guests as they invited to join wdth them. Dry fuel Avas
kept ready for kindling hre, and usually a barrel of cider
for each family was j)laced in the cellar.

On the morning of the Sabbath, in cold weather, the
owner of each room dej^osited in his saddle-bags the neces-
sary refreshment for himself and family, and took an early-
start for the sanctuar}'. He lirst called at his noon house,
built a fire, deposited his luncheon, warmed himself and
family, and at the hour they were all ready to sally forth
and to shiver in the cc)ld during the morning service in the
house of worship. "At noon they returned to their noon
house, with invited friends, where a warm room received,
them. The saddle-bags were now brought forth and their
contents discharged on the table, of which all partook a
little." Then each in turn drank from the pitcher or mugs
of cider, which had been brought from the cellar.

This service being jx'rfornied and thanks returned, the
remaining time was s})ent in reading notes and discussing
the morning sermon, a cha])ter from the Bible, or from
some other book of a religious character; not unfrequently
])rayer was offered before retiring to the sanctuary for the
afternoon worship. At the close of the services of the
afternoon, if the weather was scvxTely cold, the family re-
turned to the noon house to warm themselves before going
home. The fires were then extinguished, the saddle-bags
gathered up, the house loeked and all returned to their
home. "One of these houses still remains in 1870, on the
north side of the (Common (in Townscnd, Mass.), owned
and occupied by Miss Hannah Seaver." The invention
of Dr. Clarke (stoves jj p. 22, Vol. I., came very slowly into

326

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

!| 1

rr:

i:l-|

^m i'

use. In Rycp^atc, at a meeting called on INfarch 20tli, 1S12,
the third item of business was "to see it' tlio proi)rietors
will agree to have a stove put u]) in the meeting-house."

The conscientious perseverance ot" such persons, in order
to enjoy their gospel privileges in Avinter, we can hardly
imitate so far as to reasonal)ly appreciate. Tliey "endured
as seeing liim who is invisible," saying, " Lord, I have
loved the habitation of thy house."

J3etween these two towns, in the proportion above
named, the Rev. Mr. Goodwillie, for above twenty years,
laljored. Both congregations, with an outgrowth into the
town of Peachain, adjoining on the west, up till the end
of this quarter of a century (in 1818), continued consistent
with their vows. And notwithstanding the sterility of tiie
soil, the ruggedness of the surface of the country and their
long winters, as a people they prospered. In common
with the usages by wluch they were surrounded, they
"voted, jNIarch 9th, 1813, that the select men deed the
seats of the meeting-house to the proprietors thereof."

Thus this Scotch " people dwelt alone," engaged in agri-
cultural i)ursuits, promoting education, sustaining the
ordinances of religion ; sanctifying the Sabbath ; the hills
and forests not unfrequently resounding (when in prox-
imity to " the dwellings of the rigliteous ") as the morning
and evening sacrifice of praise ascended.

While the remaining exercises of family worship, viz.,
reading the Scriptures and prayer, were still general
throughout New England, the observer, standing on tiio
sunnnit of Mount Washington, on a May morning or
summer's evening, with an ear cai)able of hearing every
human intonation within the bounds, could not, it is
probable (with one exception) listen to " the voice of re-
joicing and salvation in the tabernacles of the righteous."
The exception noticed was the Bells and others of London-
derry, who, in their generation, not finding the "imita-
tions " suitable for promoting the glory of God (at least)
in fjimily worship, and viewing them as too vapid for
"godly edifying," continued, while health and strength
remained with them, to use, in their households, tlic
Psalms in the Presbyterian version.* Beyond this, from

* In an observation of nearly fifty years, I have found but about twelve
families, wh ^ sang anything to God, as worshippers, who did not use the
Psalms.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

327

.812,
L'tors

0."

ivder
vv<lly
lured
have

above
years,
:o the
,e end
distent
of the
\ their
iminon
1, they
■ed the
)f."

in ajrri-
ns the
he hills
In prox-
Inorning

ip, viz.,
general
on the
Ining or
,or every
lot, it is
ce of rc-
Ihteous."
iLondon-
"imita-
lat least)
japid for
strength
Ads, the
lis, from

Jpont twelve
Inot use the

tho river Connecticut to the Bay of Fnndy, " expressive
silence" reigned in liunian hal)itations at the end of this
quarter of a century in our liistor}' (in l.SlS).

The one ])atli or comieetiii^- link, ecclesiastically, hetwecn
llu; former K?ynod of New England and the now ISynod of
Albany was the Londonderry Presbytery. They a{)i)ear
to have held stated semi-annual meetin<j.s, inculcated fien-
erally the teachin^j; of tiie New En<i'land Primer, sup])lied
vacancies with settled })astors, and to have maintained
l>resl)yterial order, if not, as alone, of Divine authority, at
least as the best expedient.

On October 9th, 1805, they ordained and installed ]\Ir.
Samuel Harris in Windham, which church had been then
vacant for twelve years ; the Kev. Ephraim Bradford at
New Boston, on February 2Gth, 180G; the Rev. John M.
A\'hiton, on September 26th, 18US, at Antrim.

"In Mansfield, Tolland county, Conn., a minority of the
church, together with tlie bulk of tho congregation under
the ministry of the Ivcv. John Sherman (171)7 to 1805),
went over with him to Unitarianism.

"A majority of the membership of the church, however,
held on to 'the faith,' and by a formal vote changed their
ecclesiastical organization to the Presbyterian order, upon
the ground of its more scriptural character. This form of
govi'rnment continued for many years. The last ruling
elders were ordained in 1833. Since their death or re-
moval, conniiittees have occupied in their places, although
there has never been any direct vote of the church to
return to Congregationalism." (J/. S. Inf. Ecd. Hist. Ct.,
pp. 2()0, 419.)

"To Presbyterianism, as an expedient, the second church
in Cornwall, Litchfield county, Conn., came about 1790, by
members seceding from the first church, and denominating
themselves 'Strict Congregationalists, or Separatists.' The
Rev. John Cornwall, their pastor, was a member of the
Presbytery of ^lorris County, N. J., and united with others
in 1791 in forming the Associated Westchester Presbytery.
The congregation continued its relation to that Presbytery
until the year 1807, when its dill'erences with the first
church were composed, and it was dismissed to the North
Association of the county." {MS. Records, pp. 1, 7, 85 and
131.) "This church is now prosperous." {^Eccl. Hist. Ct.y
p. 449.)

-"} I

328

HISTORY or PRESBYTERIANISM

" The Presbyterian concroiratior* which liavc boon formed
more recently in Connecticut hv mi composed larfidv

ol" persons helon^dng original!' rcsljyterian churches

in the Middle States, or hav . across the sea. Three

of these have ceased to e tud a fourth has joined

another ecclesiastical body.

In 1809 the congregation of Litchfield was organized.
The Rev. Nathaniel Kennedy was settled there as i)asti)r
on April 12th, and in 1812 he was dismissed. On So|)teiii-
ber 28th, 1814, the Rev. Gardner Perrv was ordained and
installed in Bradford. On October 18th, 1818, the Rev. S.
Taggart was dismissed from Colcraine. He had been, even
•while pastor, a member of Congress for fourteen years, and
annually read the Bible through in Washington.

Among the "divers and strange; doctrines" which have
captivated individuals, "ever learning and never al)le to
come to the knowledge of the truth," wearing the Pri^sby-
terian name, are the reveries of Ennnanuel .Swedcnborg.
These a Mr. Worcester began to promulgate in Boston in
1818.

After fulfilling a faithful ministry in the west parish of
Londonderry for thirty-five years, the Rev. Wm. ^Morrison
died, on jNIarch 9th, 1818, at the age of seventy. His lite
was consistent and his death trium])hant. The Rev.
Solomon Moore died at New Boston on May 2Sth, 1803.

The Rev. Moses Baldwin, who. as far back as 1774, was
instrumental in introducing the "Imitations" into the
Boston Presbytery, had continued to act as pastor in
Palmer ever since, and was dismissed from that town on
June 19th, 1811. As an inevitable conse([U(;nce, that con-
gregation became forthwith a Congi-i'.i;itional "society,"
carrying with it the Presbyterian cliui'cii property.

In 1807, we find some traces of the (irafton PresbytiTv.
On October 29th, a committee of that body licensed Mr.
J-Cdward L. Parker to ])reacli the gospel. His license was
signed by John Wheelock, John Smith, Roswell Siiurtleif,
President and jH'ofessors in Dartmouth College, and the
Rev. James \\'oodward, of Norwich.

The first church in the college continued to bo a con-
stituent part of said Presbytery until ISIG; but the si)irit
of the times then fully overtook it. Congregationalism,
abandoning in many ])laces the absolute authority of

■If I UN I'll

-mcd

i-ches
jiued

ptom-

(.1 l\U(l

ivw S.
1, even
rs, ami

ii liave
able to
Presby-
enborii;.
ston ill

irisli of
lovi'isou
Iliri life
le llev.
1803.
1 4, was
.nto the
as tor in
town on

■;()

cietv

,>sbvtovy

1)0 a con-

ional

IN NEW ENGLAND.

329

Divine revelation for metaphysical tastes and human opin-
ion, now with iucrrasin^ vitality controlled ecclesiastical
and educational niatU'r.s in tlie land. It must now control
this cliurch of the colle;,^'. This was Ibr a tinie resisted,
and brouuht on a hitter strife, and, in 1817, those who
were "\<iiven to change'' were successful in contr(»!hng both
the church and the college, llenceiorth both the sub-
stance and the honor of Presbyterianisni there were assim-
ilated by the New England church polity.

Annually the s[)oliation of Presbyterian church prop-
erty became more connuon. Thus, in 18U'J, the Congrega-
tional dissentionists, after a separation of twelve years,
became ''united to the Presl)yterian society, and by an act
of the Legislature were incorporated as Tiie D'r.^t Parish of
Londondcrri/."' In this "coalescence" a union occurred,
and a suitable incumbent W'as soon found. Mr. Kdward
L. Parker was, on Septeml)er I'itli, 1810, ordained, not by
the Presbytery, but by the Rev. Messrs. Abishai Alden, of
jMontville, Conn.; Samuel Worcester, \). 1)., of Salem;
Rev. .Samuel Woods, I). D., of Jioscawen; the Rev. Wm.
Morrison, of Londonderry ; the Rev. Daniel Dana, D. D.,
of Xewburyport; Rev. Jas. Miltimoro, of Xewl)ury; and
the Rev. Jno. Codnian, D. D., of Dorchester — a kind of
half-way arrangement, not under the Synod of Albany.

Thus, at the end of ninety-one years, the old mother
church of "' the oppressed Irish brethren" had only one
life annuity of the name Presljyterian, of her live acres of
land, of her parsonage, burying ground, sacred with the
dust of hve generations of pastors and people, her town
h.all, her nine thousand dollars of the Pinkerton fund, her
church edifiee, and now she was deprived of

"Tliose strains that once did sweet in Zion glide."

This mother of churches had now settled her last nom-
inal Presbytcri;ni pastor ; but the vital momentum i)re-
viously given to lun* it took forty years to counteract,
1)i'fore she could l)e shuntetl otf on the gauge of Congrega-
tionalism.

In this (piartor of a century a new form of Congrega-
tional opi)osition to Presbyterianisni in New England was
developed. The germ had been budding for above fifty
^ears, yet " up to the year 1810, no party cspousinj; Uni-

330

HISTORY OF PRESBYTEIilAMSM

tarianism had been publicly and o]ionly formed, but now
the cxistoncc and ]»revalenc(.' of this oi)inion in Boston
could not bo nuu'.h lonjj;c'r concfak'd. Its ojx.Tations wcru
for the nio.st part secret, for tlie pulpit Wiis silent until
"1815, when a full and unecjuivocal development wa.s
made," {Hark.)

A low .state of religion and morals existed, especially in
Massachusetts, from 1775 till 17'**.), and the change (hen
•yvas only I'rom bad to worse. Preachers began to doubt
whether there was any Holy Clhost, or that Ciod the f^on
existed; and as "an Athenian democracy was from the
first in the mould of their civil government," so, in 1811,
the civil law gave the ])arish full ])ower to counteract, or
rather to rule, the church. Still, tlu- church was enamoured
with her polity, even when she saw '"the enemy coming in
like a flood," and was for her life forced to secede from the
parish. Thirteen out of the thirty-nine churches whoso
delegates, in 1(548, formed the Cand)ridge i)latrorm and
declared the system to be "sulliciently divine," about this
j)eriod renounced that faith, and of the one hundred and
fc;ixty-four I'nitarian societies in the State, ninety of them
were once Trinitarian, and in all cases took Avith.them the
})a.rish pro])erty. In all such cases our courts of law per-
sist in declaring the residuum, when the Trinitarians
eecede, to be the original church — a declaration which
connuon sense, to say nothing of common honesty, persists
in denying.

As the coml)ination exists on negations of the super-
natural in Divine revelation, it is diflicult to group their
sectarian oj)inions ; but in the fifty years succeeding 1810,
they j)rofess to have collected the '" ])rincij)les and doc-
trines " of tlieir association, and in 4th series, No. 17, wo
luive these set forth. Some of the first, such as " the right
of private judgment," they hold in common with Protestant
Trinitarians. In '' doctrines " they have no authoritative
creed — these " nm.st bo gathered from their leading writers
and from a general acquaintance with the men and women
of the body" (p. 9). "They l)clieve in the exigence of
God, a creator, a jii.st one, vho rclcs the irorld hi/ hnrs as a
loving and tender FatJier. They believe with Trinitarians
?ft his unity, and as to man, he is the head of the orderly sys-
tem of organic creations, he has a sold. On this fact they are

IN NEW ENGLAND.

331

now

ostou

wen;

iiulil

i NVUS

illy in

; i\\vn

doubt

;e Son

ni tlie

1 1811,

•act, or

n cured

iiing in

on\ the
whoso

■m and

)iit this

•ed and

:)l' tlu'm

iicm the
w pcr-
larians
Avliieh
icrsists

snper-
in> their
1810,
nd tloc-
, 17, wo
le right
otestant
oritative
.• writers
women
M^tencc of
iir.i as a
litarians
Jcrly sys-
they are

generally arjrccd. This gives a diynity to liim wliicli is a
poMibillty of the whole hunutii nice. They hdvc no doynui
lOxjiit tJie Ilr4 In ii'in. jxtlr. or th(> first creation of the race —
where it was, in Asia or Ainorica; when it was, (»,()l»() years
ago or 000,000 years ago; in one pair or one hun<h'e(l pairs;
or by development iVoni lower races; yet they believe that
the race is an unity, and that all njen aru s[)iritually chil-
dren of God.

"They believe also in the acliud imjn'rfeetlon of men, but
not in any transaction between God and man in the matter
ot" salvation. A man is saved in the spiritual world as ho
is in the natural world — by obedience to the laws of his
being." "'Unitarians believe, too, that heathen religions
have saving (pialities as well as the Chri-^tinn reliyion — that
the Chinese are saved from sin by the teachings of Gonlii-
cius, and the Persians by the teachings of Zoroaster; yet
the broadest and most spiritual religion is that which holds
the name of Christ (p. 18). Christ saves men " ^say they)
"by his tr.dchiity, cctinple, the spirit of his vork, ]]]y^ Jortitude
in siilferin;/, and as he shows the life of a Divine many
"Men are not saved by his miraculous birth, or by his
miraculous de:ith, or by anything in his history that is
ajKU't from i)ractical adtiptation to the human soul."
"They arc saved by the Christianity which has yoi into the
customs of society, which has been fixed in tiie statutes and
laws, which has entered into the relations of life, of ))usi-
ness, of the State, or of the church " (p. ID). They have
also " various views of the nature and being of Jesus of
Nazareth, such as his being dillercnt by constitution from
all other men, with no human father, or that he was the
son of Joseph, or that he lived in an angelic state before
he was born, or that he had no more pre-existence than
any other man."

'"Some think that his rising from the dead was in the
flesh in which he died ; others think it was a spirit whicli
api)cared in the form of a man ; and they all find this sulli-
cient Avithout any scheme or contrivance by which God
has to appease his own wrath in the slaughter of an inno-
cent person for the sins of a guilty world." "Unitarians
have no doctrine in regard to rewards and jnmishments
in the future life separate from their general doctrine of
law axid its violations. They believe that the spiritual

332

IIISTOUY OF rUKSnYTERIAMSM

ponnlty of sin will ondnro ns lon<; ns tho sin Insts and until
jt liiis wroiiL^it its ilui' iind needful relornuition, yet it is
tho Lord's will that not one of his rational creatures should
utti'rly and forevci' ])erish."

T\\v. reader may thus see that this nio()idi;_dit of Chris-
tianity, tlieso "cunniuLdv devised fahles,' must strenf-dhtu
the other Conp'etiational sects as aL^ainst Preshyterianisni
in New lOnjiland, when now their we;iltii and culture ele-
vate them to the liighest plane of modern sentimentid
civilization.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

333

CHAPTER XriT.

1S18-1843 — History here lianl lo write — f'<>np;rop;:ition.il antaponism re-
inforced liy |K)i)ery — Al)l)e In I'oilre (iuvirii!- — I'rsuliiies, tlieir iiiin-
iicry — .Swe(ieiili(»rj.Maiusiii — Naliinii i'arUer, .liis. Melletl<,'e, Kev. Jas.
iSaltine — The deacon included — I'niitn Clnnrli — Tlif Loudnndernj Pren-
bijtenj — ('iiiircii Street IJniircli — Hrazeii shields — lint little cotninereial
expansion yet in Hoston — A pastoral letter — A more powertnl sei't —
Mixed np with them — Suhdned — An infatuation — Ciphers — ['reserved
in standing — The proprietors — Duty pljtin — Episcopal — Advice — The
too coMJinon apathy — Ready to change — Naturally drawn to his bene-
factors — "Took orders" — Under the Synod of Alhany — No assistance
alliinled to the proprietors — House sold — Accessions — Presbytery of
Newburyport formed — Six churches — And twelve ministers — For a
Reason — Kev. Styles Ely quoted — The fruits of expediency — A con-
ventional agreement in l^Ol — Dig., p. oTo — A substitute — This breed
— Protests — Honeycoiiroed — This plausible scheme — With increasing
readiness — Dana — Williams — The new I'resbytery j>robably niost
heterodox — " I'lan of uidon " — Assembly of ISIi? — The nu)ther Pres-
bvterv dt cided — The new one dissolved — Rarnet and Kyegate stead-
fast—Rev. Wm. (Jibsou— Rev. Jas. Milligan— Rev. J. IM. Beattie—
Topsham — Craftsbiiry— A division on the elective franchise — Eflect
felt in Ryegate — Rev. I) (Joodwillie in Bariiet — His son Thomas —
Rev. Thos. Ferrier in Ryegate — Presbytery of Cambridge, N. Y. —
Wm. Pringle — Said Presbytery rent by faction in 1840 — Rev. James
Mc.\rthur settled — Associate Presbytery of Vermont constituted in
1810 — How was it that these churches prospered, while others con-
tinued merely to exist? — Answered — To supply vacancies recpiired
much toil — The demand was met — Mrs. (iray's statement — John
Pinkerton, Esq., of Londonderry, wise directions — His tombstone and
its contract — The society of Derry lower village — Dr. Morrison suc-
ceeded by Dr. Dana — Hayes — Adams — Town meetings opened with
prayer — Brainard pastor — Ltmdonderry East, by enactment in 1827,
called Derry — Rev. E. L. Parker there — His forte — His advantages —
Efliciency of his church — Youth the seed-time of life with him — For
them his early working plans — His other forms of labor comprehen-
sive — First temperance and Sabbath-school in the State led by him in
Derry — Mrs. Agnes Wilson's refusal — The contract impaire<l — Her
mortification — Four occupants — She witnessed two revolutions-
Changes in Newburyport — Mr. Milton continued "fencing'' — He
adopted Murray's course — Arminians, etc., etc. — Potent, though now
barbaric — Dr. Proudtit — Efficiency of the means of grace under him —

1 I

HISTORY OF I'UESnYTKIlIAMSM

A four davvs' mectini]j in Milton's churcli — Ntim])ors nnitod — Tvoaotion
— TwoMty-niiK! iiskfd (iisiuissions, l)Ul could not t'orin a cluircli — Tlio
nu'»'tinj;-liousi' ra/ird — Tlu' rrypt of Wliiti'luld — His arm lionc |)iir-
loincd— A whispi'rini; pdlcry — l>r. I'.'s last (■(unmiminn in 1S:1"J -
His di'|i;irtnrc' ludiapiu' -Many (aiididati's — luvoiiitioiiists liindcivd
by tlu' I'ri'shylfrian civil oruaruzation — One or two calls — TKc ctlcr-
vcsoi'iicc — Stearns settled — IVace and i;(>od success — lied i'onl and I).
Mel Ircf^or— lU'dt'ord less carried away willi winds of doctrine — Kev.
'I'll OS. Savage there in IS'Jli — (^uite ecpial to others — Antrim — Tlie
Ivev. J. M. Wiiiton — Twelve rnlinj,' elders— A sncccssfid niinisiry —
lMi7 — Windham— Harris— ("alvin Cutler — The days of sorrow in
IVterboro— They observed the Lord's Supper as I'resbyterians once
annually — In lS2"_'aparl wire fornu'd into a I'resbyterian chin-ch —
I'eter Holt — Mr. Pini — Joshua Harrttt — Jas. K. i'rencii- In twcniy
years three pa.^lors — A due appreciation necessary — I^ondonderry —
Four calls voted — Dr. Dana — His sahiry — First disinis>;d there in
nearly a century — i)ana soon pastor in the Second ( hiui'h in New-
bnryport — Its history noticed — Calls not unanimous in LondoiuKrry —
A. A. Hayes onlaincd by three of each kind .1. K. .\dams ordiiincd
by four and three — The odice of rulin;;; elder maintained, with the
name — Common sense— Kev. Mr. .\dams — His marriai,'e displeased
l)is people, and he resiy;ne<l in si.v years ~ '1'. (i. llrainaitl pastor in
1810 — I'resbyterianism in New l-lnuland only alxiut live psalm>ini,'int,'
churches and about ten others — Conj,'ref^ationalism now at ease — l.pis-
copalianism and Methodism now increa.sing, and Toiiery liad now
three chapeLs in Boston.

The history of lliis poriod it is dinieuU to write. The
(latM are lew and tlie material is setinty, as tiie reeords of
Ijondonderry l*resl)ytery are lost. Not only so, l»iit in lios-
toi), where, as a local oruaiii/atioii, it had l>y spoliation, in
1~S(\, ceased to e.xist, it now. when revived, nu't ('on^rei:a-
tiontil antaironisni reinforced hy l*o))ery. The nuiss, heads,
orirans. caudles, chrism, m;in-millinery, holy water, and
extreme unction, were introduced in 17SS, or hefore, ami
(luring this period of Unitarian ])rotoplasm amono; the
Con^rcL^tiliona lists, I'riest C'heverus, from l^'rance, htid,
id'ter IT'.H), made an incriMsinuly favorahle impri'ssion
Uj)on the descendants (tf the I'ln'itans. Ills predecessors
Jiad hou^ht from Mr. Croswi'lls C\)n,i;re<xalionalist sot'iety
the French I'reshytcrian meetin<ji;du)iise in School street,
and had oceu))ied it as a mass-houso lor yetirs.

As converts were ninltiplii'd and munhers increased, so
"sisters" were "led ahout,'' ut least to "^Miidu tlu' house"
(1 Tim. V. 14). Aeeor(lino;ly, in June, 1S20, nuns of the
Ursuliue order were planted in Boston uud vieinity. They

IN NFAV ENGLAND.

^action
I— riio
10 luir-

is:;-i-

ndcrcil

:uul l>.
.— Krv.

.1— 'n.o

\isti\v —
row in
jis oiU'c
Inirili —
l\vei\ly
idi'l'i'V —
lliiTO in
in Niw-
niirry —
iinlaiiH'il
willi llu*
ispU'asctl
|>;istoi- in
u>ini:int,'
se— I'-l'is-
hiiil now

.. The

ords »)t'
ill 1h)s-
tion, in

[;, ln'iuls,
(•i\ and
)\\\ and
)i\<j; tlu'
'(', liad,
•n'ssion

|l stri'ct,
ascd, i^t>

1U)US0"

of tlu'
They

brouglit a fow new "notions" in tho lino (/f instruction for
youn;:; women into the once Pui'itan nielrtipolis, and evcMit-
uallv established tlieir nunneiv at Sonierville, ^hlssllchu-
setts.

There they j^nnv, and in IS.'vt (says J)"Arey Me(!eo),
"rumors were eireulated of ;i vounti ladv beinu- innnurecl

in ;i dumieon of the I'onvent.

On Auuust KHh, the

iiev. Dr. lU'eeher preached in thrin- ditlert>nt churche.s
a.^ainst the institution," and " on Monday, the 11th, tar-
barrels were lighted near the house hy u i;roup of ineendi-
arii'S, who were joined by a tumultuous crowd from

Charlestown and Hoston.

Ten adults and sixtv female

children were within, and the female who had biH'U tho
immediate cause of the exciti'Uient was, bv the anitatiou

of the nitfht, in a ravinir delirium.

Alter the iirst attack

the assailants paused a while, and the uoverness was ena-
bled to seeure the retreat of her little tlock anil sisters into
{hv ii;arden."

Soon after 1 a. m., on the 12th, "tlu; torch was a|)plied
to the convent, the bishop's lodu'c. to the farndiouse for-
miM'ly occupied as tlu; I'onvent, and to the extensive barn,
and tlu! four buildinys were reduced tt) ashes/' These
two systems of church polity — I'relacy and ('on«j;rej^ation-
alism — wi're now in this ease ))itteil airainst each other.
The scene was unjustiliable, eriminal, and disiiraceful on
the j)art of the invaders, while it Ibrmed a leeble echo of
the demonstration made a<:ainst the Presbyterians in I'arii^
km August L'ltli, IoTl'. Here extremes met.

in ISIS, the Ibrces op])osin^ I'reshylerianism in Boston
/ere furnished with a new t'on,Lrre<j;ationalist recruit. The
)»anner of the Swedish bart)n — who, under the name of a
Lutheran, lauuht that " the last judirnient took place in tho
spiritual world in a. n. 17')", who denied the doctrine of
tli(^ atonemi'nt of Christ, or vii-arious sacriliee, together
with justilieation by faith alone, the resurrection of tho
luati'rial Inxly, predestination, tte., etc."' — was by one of
his followers — Mr. Worcester — unfurled in that town.

\\\' now revert to rresbyterianism. For many years
]irevious to the war of lSl'2-1!, a Mr. Nathan Parker, a
native of Maiden, Mass., did luisiness in Newtbundland,
Nvliere he and a Mr. James MelKduc a nalivi' of IU)ston,
together, erected a houae of worshi]> fur "the first Calvinist

336

HISTORY OF PRKSBYTEUIANISM

cliurch in St. Jolins." Returning!; to Mnspnchiipott?! in
1818, and bcinjjj uttaclicd to the Rev. Jiunes Subinc, of th;it
town, an Intlejx'ndent Ironi Kn;il;nid, \\v ])er.<Uiitled him to
relinquish a large balance ot" overdue salary (said to b(>
alcove £800) and come to ^(jston lo continue to be his
pastor.

Mr. Parker at this time, althoncih a deacon in Park
Street Church, thought that a third orthodox (or Trini-
tarian (!ongrcgationalist) society was reijuired in the town,
and to the erection of a meeting-house on Essex street ho
contril)uted thirty-three thousand dollars. " In January,
181t), a Congregational church was gathered in Boylston
Hidl, under the ])astoral care of Mr. Sal»ine, who had ar-
rived in the })revious July, and tin' house was dedicated
in December Ibllowing. Here, within two years, the power
of the popular church ])olity became increasingly mani-
fested. The deacon being the controlling force, having
"loved the nation and (virtually) built the synagogue" (as
it was said), founc' he had not the right man to "fill the
pews." " DiHicultics resulted in the witlxlrawal of the
})astor with the church, as a body, to Jioylstou Hall." ''A
minority" of pew-lu»lders (the tleacon included) "con-
tinued to worshij) in the Essex street me(>ting-house, the
premises being chieily their own property."

Mr. Parker was left extensively " alone in bis glory,"
Avhile the church were too poor, as yet, to build another
edilice for that persuasion, which now was obviously un-
necessary in the city.

On March 28th, 18:22, the deacons, Parker and Mellcdge,
with three other male and tivt^ female niendters, were, on
their own "request, dismissed from the church in Boylston
Hall," and on June 10th, with one from Braintree, three
from the Old South and nine from Park Street, beside two
from Halifax, ^lass., they were, l)y an ecclesiastical coun-
cil, organized as the Uinon Church. Sabine, although a
moderate Calvinist, was not yet acfiuainted with Presby-
terianism. Being left with his " society " severely alone,
and having the whole continent from which to choose as-
sociation, they sought fellowship with the Eondonderry
Presbytery, and were l)y that court organized as a ehureli
on November 2.')d, 182o. Thus, after a jxriod of tliirty-
seveii years, this church polity liud again a recognized ex-

•wr

IN NEW ENGl.AND.

837

lory,
lotber

■VC, oil

lie two
coun-

>rrsl)y-

;ilono,

lose ns-

Itbirty-
ted ex-

istence in Boston. Xot a little friction attended their
operations, when they attomptetl to transmute the species,
or rather |)roduce "a Itreed.'' Those who had previously
been deacons did not id ways exactly till, even when elected
and ordained, the office of rulin<j; elders. Yet, having no
sympathy from those whom they had left, they for some
years worked hard. In 1S'J5 the congregation obtained an
incor|)oration ; and, encouraged witii hope, they, on a lot
which had been deeded to them as Presbyterians on July
29th, 1825, on July 4th, 1827. laid the corner-stone of a
church edifice. As the building was erected on a new
site, then only partially reelaimed from the tide, the street
Avas called Church street. To buy land, erect an edifice
and support ordinances, imposed on them a heavy bur-
den, as they were all comparatively i)Oor.

This was not all ; they were one in name, but not so in
race, nor in early Christian education, nor i)erchance in
doctrine. In the offering of praise, the}' conformed to
their surroundings. Hence, when worshippers came to
tiicm from British Presl)yterian churches and found only
the imitations, instead of their ''gnarled" version; in
short, finding only Congregational usag(>s in worship, the
brazen sldcids of lichoboam instead of the golden ones of
Solomon, Avhile more brilliant men occupied the pulpits
of tiie Old ^South, Park .Street and Essex Street meeting-
hf)uses, they would not do lionor to the mere name.
^\'hile by the force of circumstances Mr. Sabine and his
people became Presbyterians, they were not only opposed
by the orthodox, but at least partly "chilled off" by the
Presbytery. This we see set forth not only in his "Eccle-
siastical M(>moirs of Essex Street Religious Society," but
from his correspondence.
On March l.s'th. 1825, he wrote to the Rev. E. L. Parker:
"The troubles of my peoph^ arose from their former con-
nection. A meeting and sitting was institute<l by Presby-
tery. Essex Street Church (that is, his own) met it, and
they were admittt'(l honorably. They then expected fel-
lowship with the Presbyteriaji Ciau'eh as often as oppor-
tunity might oceiu', but tiiis is noi the case. A Itrotlier
l)resbyter told me next day tliat he 'lid all in his power to
]»revent our admission; still, he said our adnnssion was
orderly and complete. We are led to suspect that there is

■':! I

838

HISTORY OP PRESBYTERIANISM

'J i

something out of order, or out of the spirit of it. Many a
ministerin*^ brotlior conies and goes, and though we are
lying wounded and bloody, robbed and maimed, as left by
our enemies, they ])ass by on tlie other side. Professor
Hodge, from Priut^eton, last June, while I was from home,
■was applied to l)y our session for a sermon, as the pul])it
was unsupplied. He objected, and finally refused, saying,
that our 'admission to Presbytery was not to him ([uite
clear.' This want of order, if it be so, is declared at length
by Synod, and a copy given to me last October. Our
opposers insinuate that wo will be rejected and cast out
before long.

"Do you know anything about this? You, as clerk, can
see manv thin<2;s I cannot. All 1 want of vou is to tell
me all you know of this matter, not ollicially, but as a
brother. An expose of this deep-laid plot will save me,
yourself and the Presbytery a ileal of trouble. St) con-
scious am I of deserving all awarded to nie ibr damage,
service and sacrifice in the result of ("ouneil, in 1S22, that
I am afraid to see no man, and am wilHng to stand at any
trilnmal of the Presbyterian CTiurch; but, to be stabbed in
secret and privately buried as a malefactor, I have no
mind, but I will, if I can, expose their agents.

"The honor and si)read of religion are de(>[)ly interested
in the ex[)osure of such num as Drs. Oodman and Woods.
None of my troubles or of the ciiurch were by me, or
them, entailed on the Presbytery; we are guiltless. Yet 1
trust a way will be found out in Avhich they can clear
themselves. You may siiew this letter to our moderator,
if you pledge me that no advice or intimation of matter in
this passes over the limits of our body. To this 1 hold
you ])ledged. T should hav(^ st;ited al)ove that Brother
Williams, of Salem, and Profiler Parker, of Chester, have
exchanged with me, but there ends, thus far, all inter-
course with the Presbyterian body. Tlie distance of most
of the churches is a bar, others are willing, if opportunity
were favorable, but the i)ulpits of our opposers have been
decidedly preferred and ours totally neglected.

" Jamks Sabine."

This statement gives to us a bird's-eye view of the case,
and upon it we need not dwell. There was as yet but

IN NEW ENGLAND.

839

y a
ure
by

Lll>it
■ii>;j,

Our

L out

c, can
tell
, us u
•e mo,
) cou-
iniaixo,
2, Unit
at any

ive no

,V(K)(ll^.

me, or
Yet 1
n eleur
Aerator,
alter in
1 \\oV\
iBrotlH^r
"V, have
1 iuter-
of most
rtunity
live

been

IbiNK.

Ithc case,
yet but

little of commercial expansion in Boston to attract foreicrn
rresbyteriaiis, and to obtain an inercasc of numbers from
tlu'ir surroundings, anndst intense oi»})osition, was exten-
sively im])ossible.

Under tlieir trials "tlic love of" some "waxed cold.

•\v

hi]

onlv 1)V 11 similar erueial test can the worrv and

"trembHu*: of heart Ibr tlie ark of (lod," which the pastor
experienced for years, he known, for '' the heart knoweth
his own bitterness," This, for even a few years, he was
unable to endure.

Hence "a jiastoral letter was addressed to the congre-
gation in ]March, 1827, stating tlieir history as a people
gatiiered out of the wide world under ])eeuliar circum-
stances," But, as "no notice, either good or load, had l)ecn
taken of it ft)r two yi>ars, and as he did not know wlu^ther
it wrought any spiritual benefit to them or otherwise," so,
in April, 182!), he again "stirs up their (inactive, if not)
pure minds, by way of rememl)rance." At"ter stating that
he was ''crossed and disajipointed," because in comj)etitioii
with more inlluential sects, in providing the ordinances of
religion lor the in(!reasing population of our city, he and
they had been unsuccessful, until he was " overwhelmed
with despondency," he says: "The ecclesiastical de-
nomination to which we belong is so subihuMl b}' another
and more powerful sect, and so mix(Ml np with them, that
no hope remains of rei)lenisliing our Society from their
nuniliers." This unfolds exactly the relative position of
Preshyterianism east of the Connecticut river, or rather in
all New England, from generation to generation. It is
"subdued by and uiixed up with" Congregationalists.

By this stibduing and mixing, "the truth, as it is in
Jesus," invariably "gains" much "harm and loss," while,
so i)owerful is the infatuation, wherever modern charity
prevails, that to see it, reipiires an absolute belief in plen-
ary ins[)iration. j\Ir. Sal)ine continues: "lie expected, as
was natural, that what was lacking on ilw part of his peo-
))le, owing to the sniallncss of their numbers and tlu- de-
l»resst-d state of their means, would be, in some measure,
supplied by the sympathy and benevolence of abler
churches in our own body, or their rules and ordinances
are mere cyphers, only calculated to make up an appear-
ance, where the reality is wanting. (Such complicated

[Ifi.

lb'

i I

^40

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISJI

trials, so lonpj borne, have at lengtli prostrated my hcaltli
and reduced me to a state of (lepression truly afflictive,
from which nothing but a change ot" condition, with tlie
blessing of God, ciin deliver me." He then states tliut
"friendshij) raised u\) in a circle beyond the bounds of his
own society, had ])reserved him and his people in stand-
ing in the Christian church, and had enaljled them to
erect their place of worsiiij)."

" The proprietors of tbe house are pledged to the dis-
charge of certain ol)ligations, under which the church can-
not be brought, and in which case the church, in its
present form, can aiford them no assistance."

The proprietors were here the incorporated pew-owners,
over which, according to Congregational civil statute law
(under which they were incorp(n'ated), the then existing
Presbyterian church of Boston had no control. Tiie
church, that is, the elders and members, rulers and ruled,
had no recognized existence in civil law, by which they
could hold and enjoy any part of the property obtained.
Hence, " the i)roprietors of th(} house are pledged to the
discharge of certain obligations, under which the church
cannot be brought," and in which, "as a pro])erly organ-
ized Presbyterian church, it can afford the pro})rietors no
assistance." If the reader will please kee]) this recorded
fact in memory, he can clearly see what has signed the
death-warrant for Presbyterianism in Congregational New
England.

" My duty then is plain, nnd that is, to secure the entire
apparatus of the church upon a foundation that will pro-
vide for its exigencies temporal and s})iritual. Those of
you who can go into these measures, cheerfully and with
a good conscience, will l)e able to exemj)lify the common
principles of our Christian faith ai)art iVom all sectarian-
ism. Others of you, not so minded, forbidden by a ten-
tier conscience, will lind another way, and no damage will
be sustained by either party."

His letter presents the too common apathy of the exotic,
Presl)yterianism, and its almost hopeless struggle with
modern Congregationalism in tiie land of its birth.

As Mr. Sabine was trained under and iuto Independency,
and not taking Presbyterianism " in the natural way," he
was " ready to change." His aid had come from Episco-

iiti

IN NEW ENGLAND.

341

Ith

Lve,

tho

.hut

' liis

ind-

1 to

ais-

f an-
il itri

rners,
c law
isting
The
ruled,
1 tbcy
Lained.

to the
church

ov'f<;an-

0V3 no

corded

cd tlic

al ^^c^v

|e entire
;ill pro;
lose of
lul with
ttnnmon
jctarian-
Iv a ten-
Iv^G will

Ic exotic,
jrle NY ith

fndency,

Ivay

"he

Episco-

pal friends, while Prcshyterians liad, like the priest and
the Levito, "passed l)y on tlio other si(U!." As "that
which is natural is first, and afterward that which is
spiritual," so, hy relievinLr Idin and liis, when in distress
and want, lie was naturally drawn, ccck'siastically, to his
benefactors. Consc(picntly, within a year lie "took or-
ders" in the Protestant Episcopal church, and it is said a
part of the conizreijation went with him.

Thus "ended the first lesson" of Presbyterianism in
Boston under the Synod of Albany; and thus there,
within ninety years, were three churches of that order
blotted out. " Tlie jiroprietors of the house" were moored to
their " oblii^ations," and the churcli in its tlien i)resenb
form, destitute of a pastor, was in no position to atlbrd
tliem assistance.

They liad forgotten the wise counsel of Jolni Rodgers :
" Build not your house too high." Consequently, for a
debt of some 88,000 due to the builders, the fine brick
edifice of "The First Presbyterian Society, Boston," was,
in July, 1834, sold to the Metliodists.

About 1824 congregations appear to have been multi-
plied by accessions from different towns, which came to
Presbytorianism, and, in 1825, out of the Londonderry
one, the Presbytery of Newburyport was formed, of course
by the authority of the Synod of Albany. In 1828 it em-
braced six churches and twelve ministers, including the
Rev. Mr. Sabine, Church Street church, and one in Mill-
hury. Mass,

Why said Presbytery was formed, is matter of conjec-
ture. It appears to have received as its " form of sound
words," the Westminster Catechism oidy " for substance
of doctrine," and the congregations which composed it
seemed generally only to have graspetl this form of gov-
ernment lor a season, as something tangible and com]iara-
tivolv stable. Hence, in 1811, says the Rev. Dr. Ezra
Styles Ely (Contrast, pp. 278, 270), '' The Now England
ohurches formerly had a confession and system of ecclesi-
astical government; ))ut the admission of multitudes, who
disregarded those standards, to every jiriviiege and ottice,
has finally produced this effect, that few churches acknowl-
edge the authority of their ])latforms of governnjcnt, and
very few have any government at all. That the Saybrook,

B(f

842

HISTORY OF PREPnYTKRTANISM

Cambridge avid Boston platforms slioiild be in many
churches disregarded alter the most solemn adojjtion by
the original churches of Connecticut and Massaeliuselts, is
not wonderful, when we remember that those valuable in-
•struments contain the marrow of Calvinism. The llop-
Ivinsians, Sabellians, Arians und >Socinians cannot be ex-
pected to like them.

" When any individual is admitted to the Presbyterian
church in the United States, he either ])rofesses, or tacitly
consents sincerely to ' receive and ad()i)t the coni'ession of
faith of this church, as containing the system of doctrine
taught in the Holy Scriptures,' and 'no ])rrson, who is not
fully convinced of the truth of this system, or who is not
a Calvinist in sentiment, can conscientiously unite him-
self to the Presbyterian church, by assent to its confession
of faith. Neither can such a ))erson, without jirevarica-
tion, consent to tlie standards of anv Presbvterian coniire-
gation in the United States. This should be well undcr-
Btood by private Christians and by all the rulers in the
household of faith. A confession of faith should be a bond
of union ; l)ut it will be of no utility, when ])ersons of con-
trary opinions. U])on the fundamental articles of religion,
Bul)scribc it. It then only becomes the bond of perpetual
discord.

" Should teachers and private Christians, scceders from
the Calvinism of the reformed churches, continue to enter
the Presl)yterian church, the result must ])robably be,
that the confession of faith and form of government now
(in April, b'Sll ) used with the most hapjn' etl'ect, must
Boon, like the Cambridge, Boston and Saybrook platforms,
without any re[)eal, be consigned to the garret, there to
moulder until the antiquarian shall deem them worthy of
a place in his library."

I thus quote extensively from this candid author, bo-
cause the fruits of expediency were now (in 182S) a]ipear-
ing as apples of discord, and ministers nnist, in modern
phraseology, settle down in their " athnities." The Pres-
byterian church in the United States then reijuired assent
to a creed, not so since 18()'.).

"In the year 1801 a conventional agreement was en-
tered into with the General Association of Connecticut, by
the Assen)bly of the Presbyterian church, for tin? ])ur])ose

"Y ' "^ ^ f"! ~ ^ M

IN NEW ENGLAND.

343

)lV 1>^N

here lo
i-tby of

hor, be-

Iniodern

le I'rcs-
ll assent

Iwiis en-

liciit, by
purpose

of prcventinfT alienation, and promoting: harmony in those
new settlements which were tiien eomposed uf persons
adlierin*,' to botli these bodies." {D'kj.^ p. 57o.) By thia
"a standinii; eommittee for the exercise of discipline,"
chosen by the church, were to take the place as a substi-
tute for a constituted session of ordained rulinj; elders in
church courts, and from whose "result" no appeal could
be taken to a Presbytery, as they were not under the juris-
diction of any.

Til is " breed " (by the crossinfr of two species) had now
grown for one-fourth of a century, and ii\ the face of dis-
sents and protests, these "mixed societies" even forced
their unordained men into the Assembly as constituent
members. (//>.) This body being now honey-combed in
governnuMit, it was, of course, proportionably leavened in-
creasingly with "seceders from the Calvinism of the Re-
formed churches." \\\ such cases, as kSocinianism had
now extensively permeated the Congregational societies
of iMassachusetts, so this plausible scheme of Joab and
Amasa charity, to gratify the lust of numbers, brought
members into churches, and congregations into Presby-
teries, until many were "defiled by roots of bitterness."

With increasing readiness also, Presbyterian churches
in New England called ministers of the State order, to
occupy with tiiem as their pastors. Thus, when the Rev.
Daniel Dana was called to the Presidency of Dartmouth
College, in 1820, the Rev. Samuel Porter Williams, a Con-
gregationalist, who had in'eviously labored in two churches
of tiiat order, was settled, February Sth, 1821, as pastor of
the First Presbyterian church in Newbury port. How far
pastors and peoi>le in both Presbyteries, had become
"seceders from the Calvinism of the Reformed churches"
(in the absence of their records), we can but approxi-
mately ascertain. It is probabl-:" that the new one em-
braced the greatest amount of i- :erodoxy, for, when the
"plan of union" of ISOl, was, as an "unnatural and un-
constitutional svstem " (7)/^., ]). 710) abrofjated in the As-
sembly by a vote of 143 to 110, in 1837, "the Presbytery
of Newbury])ort, not being disposed to decide between the
two bodies (Old and New Schools) claiming the name and
rights of the Assembly of the Presbyterian church, has
(says the Rev. I. F. Stearns, in 18-lGj remained separate."

•■■•I n

I .' ; ■■■

344

HISTORY OF PRESnYTERIANISM

(Cen. Ser., p. 47.) Tliis the mother Presbytery, mneh to
lier credit, did not do, and the churches in Newhuryport,
always holding the catechism ''for sul)stance ol' doctrine,"
Koon rejoined her, while tiie other congregations, '• not
being disposed " (when in Tresbyterial lorni) "to decide
between" the theology ot'tlie Itcv. Albert liarnes and tliat
of Princeton, were speedily disintegrated, carrying with
them into Congregationalism, whatever ecclesiastical sub-
stance they occupied.

Thus, the ninth Presbytery in New England in one
hundred and ten years (with its predecessors), after an
existence of twelve years, floated into oblivion in I808.

The Presbytery of Newbury port was formed in 1825.
The pretext seemingly was, tiuit as tlie State of Massachu-
setts was more influential than that of New Hampshire,
she ought to have a Presbytery, and there were now
enough of pastors resident in tiie May State for the pur-
pose. When constituted by tlie Synod of Albany out of
the Presbytery of Londonderry, it consisted of the first
church of Newburyport, the church of Salem, of Princeton,
Mass.; of Dracut, Milbury and Church Street church, Bos-
ton. It continued as a court until the sej)aration of the
schools, in 1838, after which it drifted, and by 1847 only
the First clmreh in Newburyport retamed the name, in
part owing to their arrangements in their civil matters as
Presbyterians, and to their experience in the early years of
their existence.

Again we look west of the river Connecticut, and we find
Barnet, Ryegate, Tojisham and Craftsbury steadfast in their
profession. Near the end of the last century the Rev. Jos.
McKinney, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, preached
in Ryegate, and in 1800 his brother-in-law, the Rev. Wm.
(iibson, of the same persuasion, was settled there as town
minister.

In 1802 they ordained the Rev. Saml. B. Wiley, D. D., in
later life a pastor and teacher of high position in Philadel-
phia.

Until 1815 Mr. Gibson labored faithfully and success-
fully in the ministry in Ryegate, and in 1817 he was suc-
ceeded by the Rev. James Milligan, D. D. Previously to
settlement there he had preached a good while to a peojile
in Tunbridge, and a little congregation was there formed.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

345

n their
'. Jos.
ached
. Win.

s town

This wns cruphod out hy rosuscitatin^ tho Conpfrcj^ational-
ist society ot'tiiu town. Ho wan then settled ])asl()r (»!' tho
con{jjre<rations ol" this order in Vermont, tlien eoiisistinir of
ahout ei^dity re;_adar members, exteiidin*^ from Tunl)ridge
to Barnet and ('raflsl)ury, a territory nearly forty miles
sijuare. His eoutiretfatiou increased ra])idly in all that
ranpje of country. He preached frefjuently in Chelsea,
Corinth, Newbury, Toj)sham, Peacham, iJanvillc, Cahot,
Hardwieke, etc. About iSol Mr. Milli<fan ^^'lve a branch
of his con<ire;iation in Toitsham to the Kev. AN'm, Sloan,
who obtained the minister's lot of that town. He labored
faithfully there for some years, but his support was inade-
quate and he left.

Although To])sham never returned formally to the jvis-
toral charge of Mr. Milli^^an, still he sup]»lied them oeca-
sionally, took a friendly care of them as far as he could,
and as they needed. In the meantime he pave Craftsbury,
a church of above sixty mendxrs, over to the care of the
hev. Samuel M. Wilson, who, alter a fcAV years, removed to
Delaware county, N. Y.

He was succeeded by his nephew, the Kev. R. Z. "Wilson,
who at the end of this quarter had chnri^e of that con;jfre-
gation. Mr. Milli^^an laliored still in I{ye<:atc and IJarnet,
and with the consent of his jicople, jieriormed several mis-
sionary tours into Canada, ujijjer and lower. DilKcultics
arose in his contrrejiation about " linintr the iisalms." The
>^ew En<rland peojtle I'avored book sinjiinir, and the Scotch
were zealous for lininff. He took part aj^ainst the Scotch,
and had on account of the diilieulties to leave them in
l^.'JU. After his removal the Kyejiate and Jlarnet people
called the Rev. James Milli<ian Jycattie, who has since, not
only to 1843, till 1808, but till 1881 been their pastor. In
lSo6 the Rev. N. R. Johnston was ])astor of the To])sham
eongrepiation, anrl Mr. R. Shields, a })robationer, was
preaching in Craftsbury.

During the ministry of Mr. Milligan a division took
]ilace in the Reformed Prcsl)yterian Church in America re-
specting the use of the elective franchise — one j'arty main-
taining that those who exercised it under the Constitution of
the United States ought to be subjected to the discipline of
the church; the other maintaining that this should be
made a matter of forbearance. This resulted, in a. d. 1833,

!'■

Ill

34G

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

in the formation of two separate synods. The efloct was
soon f(']tiii Kvt'jrato, and in 1S4.'> tlic church was hoj)cl(^ssly
divided. Those who woukl make it not a matter of disci-
])hne hut of forbearance^, were recoj^nized as the conj^ret^a-
tion of the General Synod of the Reformed I'reshyterian
(Jhureh, or New SciiooL Those who considered it a mattiT
of (hity to abstain from tlie us(! of the elective franchise
were and are called the Ileformed Presbyterians, or Old
School.

Soon after Mr. Milli^'an left, tiie New Liiiht division ob-
tained an or<;:mization in South Kye^xate, and had (in
185(5) one or two congregations in Caledonia and Orange
counties, Vermont.

During the pastorate of the Rev. David Goodwillio in
the Associate church in Jiarnet from 1790 to 1<S.'>(), more
than four hundred persons were enrolled as members, bo-
side more than one hundred and fifty ])rol)ably in Ryegatc,
which from 1790 till 1S22 shared one-sixth of his labor.

In September, 1826, his son Thomas was installed as his
assistant in Barnet, while in 1822 the Rev. Thomas Fcrricr
Avas inducted as pastor in Ryegate, which charge he held
for live years.

In June, 1880, by the Presbytery of Cambridge (N. Y.),
Mr. W'illiam, son of the Rev. Alexander Pringle (who was
for more than sixty years pastor of tlie Associate congre-
gation of Perth, Scotland), was ordained as their pastor,
and continued in that ollice till IS.VJ.

In 1840 the Presbytery of Cainl)ridge was rent by faction,
and from 1840 the Rev. James McArthur ministered one-
half of his time in R^'egate, and tlu; other half at SteviMis'
village, in Harnet. He resigned these charges in 18r)7.
This was well, for it would have taken a much longer time
for the wrath, i)rciudice and partisan spirit of man there
to " work the righteousness of Clod."

Living remote from Cambridge and being prospered as
pastoral charges, the ministers and congregations in the
State adhering to that Presl)ytery were, on July 10th, 1840,
according to the decree of the Associate Synod, constituted
the Associate Presbytery of Vermont. It might not be
amiss here to ask how it was that these congregations
under Milligan, Goodwillie, Pringle, and, others prospered
as Presbyterians, while not a few (as noticed) sank into ob-

IX \E\V ENGLAND.

347

was

lisci-

reya-

it'uiu

uittrr

ic\\iso

I- Old

111 ob-

1(1 (in
)ran;^o

11 io in
), inoro
prs, bc-
-yo-^ate,
ibor.
a as bis
Fcvrier
^e belli

(N. Y.),

vbo was

coniiro-

pastov,

faction,

:od ono-

Stcvons'

in IS.')?.

lo;er time

[Ju tbcro

[pored a«

lis in tbo

T)tb, lS4i\

InstituU'd

it iu)t be

k-esatious

llvion, or, if lioldins tbcir form of nrovrrnmcnt, they merely
contiinifd to exist fntin iSlS till l.S-l.'J?

One reason obviously was that *' the doctrine of Clod, our
Saviour" was to thcni ol' more importance than the "divers
and stranire doctrines'' with which Conjrre^'ationalism had
Hooded New Knirland. 'I'he Shorter Catechism was inva-
rial)ly their " form of sound words." Jiut their |i;rasp of
this was strengthened by the us(; of tlic inspired psalms

Tiieso as a jiortion of "the word which lias proceeded out
of the mouth of Clod," and by which alone man is ever to
liv(>, formed a ])art of their daily hr(>ad.

Their toil must vary with the seasons, but with them it
was as imperative as it was j)leasant to " sbcw forth the lov-
in;,' kindiu'ss of (Jod in the inorninLr, and to declare to him
bis faithfulness every ni^ht." Like the dwellers oii
" West Runnini:; Brook," in I)crry,a century before, they be-
gan and ended cacli day with family worship, and by them
"the house of (lod" was not "forsaken." "This formed the \
axis of their (daily; mind ; this made tbem steadfast in

their good old way

U 'P

The church in the house " was with

^n-ospercu
i into ob-

them a power subservient to the purity of doctrine, the
fulfilment of daily duties, the ]iatient endurance of toil and
trial, the support of ordinances, and the growth of the di-
vine life in their souls and the souls of their children.
Family worship is set up and maintained only where that
"fear of (Jod which is the ix'ginning of wisdom " (^xMsts,
while its " fruit is unto Ijoliness and tbo end everlasting life."

Households thus trained, with less difliculty than
others, " serve their gcneratit)n by the will of (Jod." They
abide und(>r the shadow of the Almighty, and "render to
Cicsar the things that are his." For all this, the use, the
increased uiderstanding, and the spiritual realization of
"the glorious jisalms, which have been drop])ed down
from an higher ])lane " (Uev. Joseph Cook), not the "en-
ticing words of man's wisdom '' in j)oetry can alone avail.

h\ some four or five towns of Caledonia and Orleans
counties, Vermont, at the end of this (piarter of a century,
the Psalms, while they were ignored or consigned to ob-
livion in all i)laces elsewhere in New England, Avert; there
used as the matter of jiraise to Jehovah. To sup|)ly the
congregations named wdien vacant, and to occupy in
growing stations, required not a little labor at this point

.: «

. i^;

348

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

SO distant beyond the Green ^Fountains, yet the demand
■was mot. As an item illustrative, I present the statement
of Mrs. William Gray, of Kyiinrate, made Oetobcr 'Jl.st,
1876, who was married in 1813, and was "given to hos-
pitality:"

"I 1. tertained " (here naminf; them) "in sixty-

three years tliirty-eifjjht ministers, who all eame from the
State of New York and beyond as pastors and supplies to
our vacaneies."

During the pastorate of the Rev. Wm. Morrison, D. D.,
the chureh of Londonderry reeeived substantial aid from
the estate of Elder John Pinkerton, who died in May,
1816. " He bestowed nine thousand dollars upon each of
the two Presbyterian congregations in town for the sup-
I)ort of the gosi)el, and thirteen thousand as a fund for the
support of an academy." {1\)

He wisely directed how his earnings should be used,
and of his will so much is transferred to his tomi)stone as
shews that so long as the doctrine taught in I'rinceton, N.
J., should be inculcated there, so lung suould said funds
be enjoyed by that Presbyterian church. To teacli
another doctrine would "impair the ol>ligations of the
contract; " hence the Londonderry church continued to be
Presbyterian, while those "given to change "(some twenty-
three members) about 1830, united with forty from East
Dcrry, and formed the Congregational " society " in Derry
Lower village. (Pert.)

Dr. Morrison was succeeded, January loth, 1822, by the
Rev. Daniel Dana, I). D., who was called from the presi-
dency of Dartmouth College, and on his own recpiest he
was released in April, 1826.

He was succeeded on June 25th, 1828, by the Rev.
Amasa A. Hayes, who died October 2od, 183(1, greatly la-
mented. On October oth, 1831, the Rev. John R. Adams
was installed, and on his own re(]Uest he was dismissed by
the Presl)ytery in September, 1838. In Londonderry the
ti»wn n)eetings have always been opened with prayer.
'I'll is was a not unfrequent custom in niany towns when
sound doc!trine was maintained and godliness was shewn
in New England, although to infidelity now it looks very
much like "church and state." The Rev. Timothy G.
Brainerd was installed pastor in that church on November
6th, 1840.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

349

,f the
L to be
vcnty-
1 Kast
Dorry

hv the

issed hy
h-vy the
prayer,
us when
; s\u'\vn
)ks very

)vein

Since 1827 the old or cast town had hccn by lejrisLative
enactniont calh'd Dcrri/, and in it the Ki'V. E. L. Parker,
who was orchiined and installed on Si'i)tenil)cr 12th,
1810, continued successfully to labor throu;j;li this quarter
of a century. His fort was not in th(> teachin<iof "the
doctrine of (}od our Saviour," distinjiuishinj^ things which
diifer, but in practical instruction and diligence in pastoral
labor " /Vo»i hon.se to house J^ " No one ever heard from his
j)ulpit the distinctive views or modes of philosophizing
adopted l)y Edwards, Hopkins, Dwight, Burton or Em-
mons." Yet in his charge of nearly four hundred fam-
ilies, and nearly two thousand souls, it was aflirmed by
others that he knew the name of every child. The people
had now for a century formed religious habits of liunily
catechizing, i'amily worship, attachment to the house of
God, Sabbath sanctiiication, and respect to their pastors
when worthy of their conhdence, so that he had "other
men's lines of things made ready to his hand."

Beside this he was surrounded by a large number of
ruling elders, who "magnilied their office" in "taking
h(Hid to the ilock over whicli the Holy Ghost had made
them bishops;" so, notwithstanding that the disturl)ing
parties, wiio had previously sold their Presbyterian
"birthright" for less than a "mess of pottage," had re-
turned, and confidence in them must have been exten-
sively "like a broken tooth, or a foot out of joint," the
congregation as a working church thus manned were
])robably not surpassed by any (and probably not
«'(|ualled) in New England for efficiency. While all
things were thus condu- ted well, "decently and in order,"
the pastor acted on the princii)ie that youth is the seed
time of life, and "years previous to the establishment of
Sabbath schools in New England, he adopted measures to
give the youth of his charge a more extensive and exact
knowledge of the Bible.

"As early as 1815 he established monthly the 'Adclphi '
society for young men and (meeting at a different time
with the same frecpiency) the Young Ladies' Cateehetieal
Society." These were expected to illustrate and esta])lish
particular assigned subjects by texts of Scrij)ture. Few
congregations had a more ))r(^n)ising circle of young men
than this one, before the advantages held out to them from

If
f

'nir?:

350

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

abroad induced thorn to leave their native place. He
wouM pcrsuiido tht; youth to commit to mrmori/ tlic Shorter
CatccJu.siit, and lor many years his (aistom was to trive a
pocket Testament to every child who would rei)eat it per-
fectly. This was wisdom. When Sahhath schools and
temperance societies were introduced, he was earnest that
all the children mi^ht take an interest in them; and to
promote general education, he durin*:; almost the whole of
his ministry visited the ei-^ht or ten week-day schools
each four times a year. The scholars knew that their
proirress was marked, and were thus (quickened to nohkr
exertions for the next school visitation. In the diffusion
and enjoyment of hiiiiher education, both ])astor and people
were active, lie was a trustee in both the Pinkerton
Academy and in the Adams' F<Mnale Academy from their
tirst establishment, and was President of both boards at
the tim(! of his death. \n favorable weather he usually
preached three times on the Sal)l)ath, in the evenini,' at an
outj)ost in one of the school-houses, and it is judiicd that
on an average he preached three lectures a week. The
first temperance society and the first Sal)bath school in tlio
{State, it is believed, wen? hy him established in Derry."'

As we have seen, in 17SG Mrs. Atrnes Wilson refused to
have her })ew, owned in her own rijjlit, taxed for tin; re-
pairs and ])aintinfr of the church, when a majority of the
pew proprietors and others '* im])aired the ol)li.iations of
the contract'' made between .fohn Little and the bene-
ficiaiies of his trust l>v votin;^ Presbyterian property into
Con<j;regational use. And while she had the mortification
to see a stran;j:er of another denominati«->n ibisted into her
father's j)ulpit, and soutrht reliirious instruction for her-
self and her familv elsewhere, she lived to see not liss
than four other occupants in tb(! desk of Federal Street
Church — Helknap, in 1787, Popkin, in 17U'.), Channintr, in
1S<.I3, and Gannett, in 1824, when she was eighty -seven
years old.

Sh(! witnessed at least one other revolution beside that
of colonial independence, but of an opposite character-
one in which "the Sonof (lod was trodden under foot, the
blood of the covenant where\vit!i In; was sanctified (M)unte(l
an unholy thing, and desj)ite done mito the Spirit of
grace," and all this in " the Irish Presbyterian meeting-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

351

ve a

por-

and

t\uit
\d to
lie of
;\i(H)l3

tlu'ir

I'u^ion

kerlon
n tlifir
irdri at
Lisually
,r at an

liouse " in the presence of John Little's pew, hy the opera-
tion ol" Congregationalism, in the space of thirty-eight
years.

Durinsxthis period, 1818-1843. several changes in the way
of worshij) were introduced in Newbury port, such as not
rea(Hng out the hymn, line by line, drojjping, in connection
with tlie ol)servance of the Lord's Sui>i)er, tlie week-day
meetings, all except the fast on Tuesday, and the "fencing "
of the table. Tliis implies that they still sat down at
a table, and did not hand the elements around.

In tlie Prospect Street (,'hurch, after the usage had been
discontinued l»y Mr. Miltimore in the lirst Presbyterian,
Mr. Milton, wlio was a foreigner, it is said, continued
the ])ractice till his death. Adojiting a course similar
to the one pursued by Mr. Murray in the close of his
sermon, he wouhl say: ''From our sui>ject we learn who
liave and who have not a right to come to this holy
table. Suruly they have no right here, who trami)le under
thciir feet the blood of the everlasting covenant, and do
desjiite to tlif Spirit of grace I do, therefore, solemnly
enclose and fence this table; 1 do warn all unregenerated
j)ersons not to draw near; I debar all who deny the impu-
tation of sin and righteousness, for thev can never have
known the jilague of their own hearts, nor the need of
righteousness answerable to the demands of tlu; law — all
Armmians, for they de]»end on and seek to justify them-
selves by their own works — all Antinomians, who ])rofess
to receive liim by faith, but in works deny him — all
Arians and.Soeinians," etc., etc.

Although such exercLses wear a barbaric aspect, not
only to those who "live according to the course of this
world,"' under modern culture, Imt to all hymn-sing(^rs,
yet th(\v were ])otent, under (iod the Spirit, in "warning
the unruly and comforting the feeble-minded," while they
made those who were "strong in the Lord" "])onder the
paths of their feet," as they were about to "take the cup
of salvation."

The Uev. John Proudfit, D. D., was called from Rutgers
College, New Jersey, and installed pastor of the lirst Pres-
byterian (church in Xewburyport, on ()ctol)er 4th, 1S27.
At this date the elliciency of the means of grace seems to
liavo continued, and while, during his ministry, two com-

352

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

munions passod witliout additionp, still his annunl avornsre
lor five :m(l one-half vt.'iirs ahout cMiualledthe entire united
annual increase ot" his j)redeeess()rs. Parsons had an annual
increase a veraj^dn;; ten ; Murray, seven ; Dana, eij^ht ; Wil-
liams, fifteen; and Proudtit, thirty-nine.

Ills health failed. On July .'Jd, I80I, he sailed for
Europe, and was ahsent till January, l<So2. His ])ulpit
was supplied hy Rev. Mr. Cheever and the Kev. Joseph
Ahhott, Conjire^ationalisls.

On June 21st, a four days' nieetin*!; was comtnenced at
.Mr. Milton's church, as most central, by Drs. Beeeher,
AV'isner, Adams, and Rev. Messrs. Cunuiuni:, Cleaveland,
IManchard, and others — all Con<rre;:ationalists. In four-
teen months one hundred and twenty united with tliis
church, and by October, 1832, the usual njaction took
place, when, ''owinj^ to some recent ditru'ullit's," twenty-
nine asketl disnnssions, and Mr. Cheever would j)rohabiy
liave been settled in town, could a church have been ob-
tained for him. ( K ) On razeeing); the house, in 1829, by
winch "the inside was somi'what reduced in size, the ceil-
inii; lowered, new galleries put in, tiie ])ulpit removed from
tiie side," and a monument erected over the crypt of tlio
immortal Whitelield (whose remains, excepting; the ])ur-
loined mi<rratinii; arm-bone, taken to Entiland, and after
years returned, liad rested in this venerable buildin!j: sinco
soon after his tleath, on iSeptember o(Jth, 1770), "a * wlii.s-
pering gallery,' unsurpassed, it is said, unless by St. Paul's,
in London, was accidentally discovered. This forms a
conspicuous feature of the building at i)resent." (lb.)

Dr. Proudlit was dismissed on January 24th, 183;i. To
the people, or rather to the cause of "order" among them
after their revival, his departure was ]>artieularly unhappy.
An "awakening" ])rodueed by the insli'umentality of nine
or more Congregationalist preachers, with their "'exereisc.''
"taste," "substratum," and other "schemes," could hardly^
be supposed to make a church of Presbyterians nioro*
"steadlast and innnovable in the work of the Lord.''
Consequently, during two years and a hall', many caiuli-
dates were heard. Some ])rofessors were disjjosed to have
the church (as in 1741-(1) turned over to Congregation-
alism, and were oidy hindered in their revolutionary enter-
prise by the parish under its civil organization. One or

' l!

IN NEW ENGLAND.

353

nited

Wil-

(1 for
[)ulpit
ose\)h

ced at
jecher,
rt'land,
\ Ibuv-
th thi^^
n took
twenty-
vobabiy
ecu uh-

the ceil-
:ed fi»in
)t of Uio
tlic pur-
ud after

a'-wliis-

oxereii^e

two cn]]^ wore L'iven. but witliout success. They had to
let the etVei'veseence ));ir;s oil".

On ?e|)tenil)er Kith, \>>'-V), Mr. Jonutlian F. Stearns was
ordained over them. His ministry was faithfully con-
ducteil tVom youth to rii)er years with peace and good
fjuc(;ess.

" In .\pril. l'S2"), the pastoral relation which had sub-
sisted between the IJcv. David McGregor and the congre-
gation of lledford. N. II., tor above twenty years, was, l>y
mutual consent, dissolved l>y Presbvtery. Ilis ministry,
it is believed, was greatly blessed." (P.)

This church, being formed of descendants of the "Scotch-
Irish "' rac(> more extensively than almost any other one in
New England (excei»ting I.ondcjnderry and Windham),
has been less "carried away with every wind of doctrine,"
and consequently has vitality as well as "a name to live."
Over it the IJev. Thomas Savage was installed on .July oth,
1820, and at tlu' end of this (juarter of a century (1M43)
we find him and them "prospering in all things," at h^ast
equally with others around them who, as they had done,
havi^ abandoned the apjiointed jiurity of Divine worship.
Their fust meeting-house served nearly eighty years. A
new one was built in 1832.

Antrim, X. II.. where the first sermon was preached in
September, ITT-"), and wlicr(> the Kev. Walter Little was,
from 1801) till iNOh their lu'st pastor, during these twenty-
tive years, enjoved the stated ministry of the I{ev. .lohn
:M. VVint(»n, D." D. He was ordained Se|)ten)ber 2Hth,
1S()8, and, sui)ported by a session of tw»'lve ruling elders,
his ministrv was I'lninentlv successfid. "The year 1S27
was tlistinguished by a rcmarkaltle attention to religion,
and resulted in the addition of one hundred pcnsons to
liis church." (7*.^

Over Windham — which was incorporated in 174i^ and
which had enjoyed the labors successively of the Rev. ^^'m,
•lohnston, Ilev. .lolm Kinkead, and the Kev. Simon ^\'il-
liams — the IJev. Samuel Harris was ordained in 1805. In
182(5, owing to the failure of his voice, the ])astoral rela-
lion was dissolved. He was succeeded, in 1828, by the
IJev. Calvin Cutler, who was ordained in Ai)ril, and minis-
tereil to this congregation until his deatli, in 1844.

Of the days of sorrow and shame in Peterboro, by the
23

( :i

4 •

, i.

354

IIISTOIIY OF rnESRYTERIAXISM

In.

i'i

atrocious mi.'^conduct of Morrison and Annan, avo Imve
Bvvn luoro than (Miou^ii. At iho bepiinninL;- of this ccntuiv
the "society" a(h)pted Con^r(',i,'ati()nal loi'nis, and voted,
that oiK'c; in each year the eonnnunion should be observ('(l
in I'resbyterian order Ijy a i'resbyterian niini.>^ter. '"This
service was for many years iV-riornied bv the Itev. AVm.
Morrison, I). D." '

In 1<^L''2, a i)ortion of the pc'ople, who had n(>ver been
]»leased with the ( 'on^M'eu'atioiial eustoins, and others. wIkj
hnd not been (juite at ease under an Ariuiiiian preacher,
Avithdrew, and were, on aj){)lication, l\)rn)ed into a I'lcsbv-
terian cliurch. In ISii") thev built a nieetin^r-house, and
in 1827 the Rev. i'eter Ilolt.was instaUed tlieir pastor, in
Marcli, 1H;)0, he resi<i;ne(l the oflice, and th(> Rev. Mr. Pine,
"who was installi'd the next year, was dismissed in January,
1837. For two years tlie Ui'V. Joshua liarret was stated
supply. On March ISth, 1810, tlu; llev. James |{. French
"Was ordained their pastor, and he was still olliciatin^' there
in 1843.

They had tlius in twenty years three pastors and one
suj)j)ly — rather too many teachei's for "<i(>dly iMJifyinir,"
yet tiiey shewed a due apj)reciation of the means oij^race,
without which no community can lonj; and truly prosper,
relifj;i()usly, socially, or civilly.

In West Derry, alter tin; death of the Ilev. Dr. Morrison,
in 1818, the Rev. Dr. Dana was, with ^^reat nnanimity,
elected. Of his salary of seven hundred dollars, one hun-
dred were added, by subscri|)tion, to the income of the
Pinkerton fund. He was installed on January loth, 1S22.
This pastoral relation was, as we have notiee(l, on his re-
quest and by their consent (most unwillingly LMV(>n), dis-
solved in April, 182(i. This was t\\v first instance of a dis-
missal in that (;on^re«];ation since its orjianization.

I)f. Dana was so(m aftcn'wards installed pastor of the
second Presbyterian church in Newburyport.

Over this |)eople in West Derry Mr. Amasa A. Hayes
was ordained June 'Joth, 1S28, by some six cleruymui,
three of whotn — Bradford, Holt and Savage — belonu'cd to
the Presbytery. In a little over two years he had " (in-
ished " his pastoral " course," He died on October 23(1,
1830.

Mr. John R. Adams was ordained on October 5th^ 1831.

IN NEW K.NGLAND.

355

Of the ?ovpn ininistors who then instnllofl liiin, four bo-
lonj^'cfl to tlic rreribytcry, vi/. : Holt, Parker, Savage and
JJradford. Jii tliesc con^rcpitioiis it must bu rcnicinbercd
that the; onico of rulinu; eUlcr was maintained so h)n<^ as
they won^ the Pri'sbytcrian name. In order to it, there
must 1)0 rulers and ruled. The common-st'nse of persons
trained in Presbyterian families insured this, llenee, us
space does not permit, 1 make no mention of the ordina-
tion of this class of church rulers. Ordination and in-
stallation are implied in the oilice.

While a i)art of ''the course" in our '"schools of the
prophets " ends oftentimes in the conversion of students
tt» a belief in the text, '' It is not <:ood that the man
should be alone," and not a few discover the "])li^hted
])nrtners of their future lives," while they fvrc d(>lvin^ into
llehrew and theolotry, yet not so with the Rev. Mr. Adams,
lie (lid not do even so wise a thinu, but married a Miss
McCJrcfror, of Londonderry, in l.S.">2. IJesults seldom vin-
dicate the wisdom of such an important step in or near
the seminary, and it should bo esj)ecially avoided by a
jKistor in his ov.-n couLM-eL'ation, where; a very superior
force of character built upon and endx-llished by divine
grace can alone conmiand resj)ect and insure usefulness
to one amon^ her mere eipials, who has the duties to
])erform connected with one of the most important posi-
tions, if not the most important, which woman can occupy
on earth.

Not only in common with those of other <2;odly mothers
should '' her children rise U|) and call her blessed," but by
lier influences and daily life, '"her husband" should be
'■ known in the gates when lie sitteth among the ciders of
the land."

It is suppos(!d that his action and experience justified
these statements. In Septemher, LSIvS, he resigned, and
in October the pastoral relation was dissolved by Presby-
tery.

Sh. Timothy O. P>rainar{l was ordained on November
r)tli, bS4(), and in bSh'i was still the ])astor in Londonderry.
We thus lind Presl)yterianism in New England at the end
of this (puirter of a century end tracing only the congrega-
tions of Barnet, Kyegate, Toi)sham, Peaeham and Crafts-
bury, retaining as the matter of praise to God in tlie sane-

uf' ■

356

HISTORY OP PRKSBYTKRIANISM

tuary and in tlioir families, as their fathers did, "the
words which the Holy (ihost teachcth in the Psalter,'' and
in the use in their churches of " the eiiticinj; words of
man's wisdom," which hrouixht "expri'ssivc silence '' into
their households, to " mcMlitatc his praise " in the coulm-c-
^ations of Derry, Londonderry, Windham, Litchlield, Am-
herst, Peterhoro, Antrim, Bedford, New Market, New lios-
ton, with the first and second ones of Ncwhuryport, while
})ossibly others continued to retain the name and this form
of government.

The S3'stem of doctrine, jrovcrnment, discapline and
worship restin<; on a ''thus saith the Lord,'' was now so
compresswl hy that Iniilt U])on '' (io to, let us," from the
Connecticut river to Great Menan, that it was no lonuer
felt to be a distinct force in upholding and emhellishiiig
the social relations as it had ])een in those days, when the
town of Derry ])aid the one-l'ourteenth of the taxes of the
entire State. Congregationalism was now al»*ost wholly
"at ease in her possessions " in her "native l.,iid." The
forces of Protestant Episcopacy and Methodism were how-
ever increasing, and Popery had now three chapels in
Boston, beside foundations in many other New England
cities and towns.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

357

CHAPTER XIV.

18 13-68 — Marked clianpos appear — Enterprise — Scotland aiid New Eng-
land — Watt, Morse — Tlie fartory and its siirroinulin;^s — Thomnun-
ville — First company — Worsliippeil at Knfield — Mitchell — A huild-
\nfr for school and church — Supplied hy Professors until IS.'JS — Home
Missionary society — KHi)rt» to sustain ordinances — All l»ul two for
Presbyterian orj^anization — Kev. Dr. Harvey — A }j;o(h1 thing out of
Nazareth — Kiglity-two mend)ers — Eirsl Presbyterian Church in Con-
necticut, excepting Voluntown — ('ar|)et company built! a house for
them — "Customs" and the town of Herkeley men — Old School organ
— Instruments — The choir — Above four hundred dollars of the salary
moved out — Meetings — A society — An organization asked — (Jranted
— KH'ected — "A peculiar people" — Kev. W. McLaren — Tears — Now
the scene was reversed — Kev. P. (lordon — A rare class of operatives —
Within one year — A i>astor settled — The Carpet company failed —
Gordon resigned— Ti»e brea<l of life — McLaughlin — Spiritual condi-
tion good — He returned to Ireland — Kev. J. M. Heron — His pastorate
— Sccessicm — Men left — lie resigned — They called others — An elo-
quent deception — Pirnuiess of the congregation — Rev. Li. M. Hall
called — Four and a half years — Kesigned — Boston — The name ex-
tinct for seventeen years — A Scotch preaching — March Gtli — May
20th — On the seventeenth application for a hall was successful — The
Mount Zion — He awoke to zeal — " We are not informed " — Men of
distinction — Others — Vice increasing — Kneeland, Kallou, Parker —
I'liitarians — IJut three families — A "Derry" girl — A "lassie" — A
case I mention — " You can never be my minister" — The pr»;judice of
race — The Mull of Kintyre — Fairhead— Each aimed to have »
|)reacher — The pioneers — "Preaching as liigh as the top of the State
House"— "Out West"— The Scot hehl at bay— "Conflict of ages"—
Invoked in vain — The jiioneer in his work — Mr. .lohn Fisher fleshy
and "lli'shly" — The pioneer installe<l — To go into the highways —
Years of prosperity — An exotic — A change — Friction must ensue —
Divisions lowered the standard of discipline — He sought relief —
Events roncurrcd — One man full of zeal — He left — .V minister com-
ing— The church prospiTcd till s«cession came — I'liion — I'nited Pres-
byterian ( luirch — An episode — Our holy and beautifid house — An
ominous silence— Could not be sold — "Obi Harry" Adams — protein
— You could not make a better dee<l — Dejure till now — Little — Hene-
ficiaries bound to prevent the ju-rversion of the trust — The oath — AVe
entered suit — No range of equity — Attorney — Appointed — A surprise
—They concealed the " Memoir " — Records of Session — This religious

!||

VK 1
if.

858

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

Jl-

society — Tvocords did iJomc of tlieni no honor — Sent to tlie li,e;lit — Car-
rvin;^ rtrunls across tlif strtrl— Awry shapes — Atli(hivit — Ah takm
very mild and sale — " Tnitli in a iiorii" — Mr. Choate — A most elab-
orate ease — Shaw's hold — Metealf — Oiilra^'ed — This was no— (1 'i'iin.
ii. 5) — His lo^ic — lUasphemy — Tiie decision stirred up eoiisi iiruM —
Too stnmj^ lur justice — An intolerant spe»'ies ol" ileism — A reiiiii.int —
The occupants did not fully suppose tluy owned —They invoUnl the
Legislature — The society worth $"J2,0UU,0(H)— liegan to think -And
they now paused — This could not he done — May loth, IS').") — Out ut"
love and fear they spent $1,700. on repairs — What ('. Cusliiiig said
— Oh, how 1 woidd like — The decision has no etpial on tins continent
— A technical <piihbk' — The restriction — One-liftysixth jiart of its
value — They refused to take T'nitarian money — 'I'lie auctioneer's (if-
lice — A protest — A group for I'unc h — No sale, no pay — 1"J(I laniilies
— Kespectahle — I>ought ilamaged — lit plication — Review — i>ill to hill
— Filed- — Waited long — I'rinteil— A sworn oliicial — Never to have
been tiled — A contrast -Prohyterians should pray — A shaky thing —
The result hchtre the National Court would have been dilleicnt — l)r.
Lothrop — I)id not desist — Might '* lay judgment to llie line" — "An
unco s(piad " — " lA-ave to withdraw '' — A plea — Oltlained the same
consideration and courtesy — This jiioneer church prospered — Preach-
ing — Week-day services and the I'ress — l']iglity-six reviews — Mc( ice
— Phillips — Asso. Kif )rmed and Tnited Presbyterian — Fall liiver — A
high jxisition — Operatives — To them the Associate Presbytery of
Albany sent supply — I'haunccy Welister — Kev. II. II. IJlair — 1.S3G —
Two elders chosen — Rev. ]>. Oonltm — Associate Presbytery of Nt'W
York gave supplies till l.s4i' — I'onnnercial depression of 1837 — Un-
able to sustain— Their c;i-e tor five years not known — Kev. J. R. Daks
visited them in IShi — Rev. Andrew Johnston organized them as
Associate Reformed — No preaclu rs to supply — Kev. Wm. McLaren—
liuilt — Every shingle mortgaged — Rev. T. (J. Carver — Called January,
181'J — Kxcliange their house — lJel>t, hopes ami energies increased —
Carver preaelu'd "another gospol " — Coidd not save hearers — With-
ered rapiiilv — Went intorni ally in lcS4'.> to the Methodist Kpiscoind
church — The church in 1S")0 in an encouraging position — Rev. I). A.
AVallace — Installed — Energy, diligence and faithlnlness — Perhaps a
"pent-up I'tica " — Removed by Prcsbyt»ry to East I'mston in 18')4—
Kev. Wm. McLaren installed — .\ ripe scholar — \ superior llel)raist
— A ter.«e speaker — His sermons good — .V jiastcu'ate of nearly twelve
years — Keasons lor resigning — Kev. J. -K. Kyle installed, June,
181J7 — Progressive sjjirit of the age — Imbued with it — Continued
until ISlo—Pn/viihticf — Successful industries — May, 1818, com-
menced collecting a church — OHi(Mal acts — Organization August l(iili
— Supplies defective — A change of connection — Dr. Skinner — Riv.
Jos. SanderM)n — ''Foolish jesting" — Delilah won — A development
not of early New England training — Separation came — Rev. Mr.
MctJauchy — He deceived them — Returned and made trouble — Left
the denomination, but still made strife — Years of confusion — TheV
ap|)lied to the Asnociate Keformed Presbytery — Connnittee to inquire
— The way not clear — Application renewed in 1857— Committee of

A,t

IN NEW ENGLAND.

359

inf|iury — Petition not priintod — Rov. A. Thomas — Remodelled — Came
to I^acliiiie, tlii'iuc to lidstnn- -Served in I'lovidniiv tor two yearn —
Alter till' uiiioii on May 'HUU, ls,'»,S. order was n-stored — Slatonientrt
ofa icadtr in tlie clnircli — Tin- vcneralilr iuv. I)r. A. Heron, a liealer
ol' tlu'ir divisions !)((•( inlitr "itli, ls">'.». Mr. Jolin ('. ll(»lili cnliid —
C)rdainfd and insialicd April li7lli, 1S(»(» — i)isnii>sid liy I'rtshytery
January U'Jtl, 1871 — I'ri'sltytory eonstitnled in ISVI— Twfnty-one
ministers l)(.don;;('<l to it in t'onrlcen years — Loire// — Mareii 'JOtli, 1S")()
— Till" dance — The pioru'er and llif watilirnan — I'nl>iir worship Ih^juii

— Dcei-mher Isl — Organize*! — (Jordori ealltd — \'ain talkinj; — A rural
home — I'nder eonllictin;; wmsirainls he returned the call, went to
Ausiraliii and returned — W. McMillan — llis sense of otHcial duly
detictivt — An illustration — He lelt— No condensed spiritual vitality
atlainaltle — Tendency of events — A. ( '. Junkin — Coinniercial doj)res-
sion in IK07 — Released — "Owinjj to the times" — No other settlement
before IStJS — 7ffH»/i»n — Supplies — One man— Removed — I)iseontinued

— Il'ilynkr — Supplied ahove a year— Trans atlantic leelitiK ot" sect
split them, and Holyoke was dis( (intinued — Kttsl Jionltni — Noddle —
In l.S-t7 active industry there— The wits — April, l^'»'A, a station —
Rev. I). A. Wallace in lH"t4 pastor — Attentive — His theidoyy of New
flnuland — Encomium — IS")') a hoiisu in hiuidin^i — Opt-ned — Chosen
to l)e I'residL'iit of Monmoinh ( 'olh-ye— Leaves — Rev. H. H. John-
ston — He was jjiven to chan;,'e — Took the property away trom the
Associate Retonued church— iKstroyed much poo<i, and went to the
Dutch — .V new element introduced — Kllervescetice liolter> — They and
the I'orMur iVayiuents unite — ( Jrtraiiized — Rev. (i. M.Hall installed
April 17tli, iSi)."). till Hecendier liilih, 1>«)7 — Lawnuicf—lu IS."):} in-
corporated — The"scuil" — How coiinnenceil — A. Mt-Williams — Retail
on Jidy 'Jil, 1S">1 — Rev. S. !•'. 'llionipson pa>lor I'rom Auiiusl 7th,
is.").'), till .January 2!)tii, 1S")7 — ronimeieial de|)res»jion — .la-. Dinsmore
from Octoher ISth, ]S')'J, till September loth, iMi:}— Their religions
interests now sud'ered, and I'reshyttiy ilis.-olved the coiii;re;jation —
Jlnrt/orH, C'onnectieut — Supplied after Kehrunry 2M, iN'Jli— Organi-
zation ninety-four persons on May (ith — Rev. W. M. ('Iayl)auf,di in-
stalled April 30tli, IStJo— Resigned .lainiary Slh, 1S»>.")— Rev. J. M.
Heron installed Jamiary 17th, IStJli — Hy fever lo.st his voice — Rela-
tion lernnnaled December yist, ISO" — .V(<«//i 7/ii.s<ou— ( iathered by a
prayrr-meelinj; — A station opened on October 9th, ISdl— Rev. W. M.
(.'iiiybaiifrh settled — He wanted " more liberty '" — Dismissed December
2(Jth, lSt)7 — \Vilkiii»i)nviUi: — Operatives — .\sk and ol)tain supply be-
fore IS.JS — Dernj — Death of Rev. Mr. I'arker — Their }:ood order —
I'risbytery disappointed — Derry only "a parish' — "Half and half"

— Ickuhoil — Loiuliiuilirry — Pastors — .V basis of aid— Krint — IMnker-
ton's (gravestone — ( '()n>,Mejiation I'resbyterian — The pastor's choice —
Deviates — Families — Di-votion iti them— Ditlerent in the church —
Daua saw a Psalter in the pulpit — .\ndovtT to te.ach the New Kng-
laiid primer — L'haiiires of |»astors — 'J'lie pulpit losing,' eHiciency —
Causes — Hood — Ap|)endix — Hearers of four classes— A modern inno-
vation — Charles II. — Pilgrims — Edwards — Watts — Modes — Antrim —
Two ministers — Dr. Whiton genial — Rev. Mr. liate.s — His organ and

360

IIISTOIIY OP PRESnYTKllIANI.SM

revival — It ahaforl — Ili^ doatli — WtndlnDn — llcv. I.ann Tli.iypr —
Faithful — IIi-< ministrv — /)V'//>*n/ — Ht-y. Tlio-;. Snvn^c — A Imit; |i,m.
torale — I'rfnhnni — Kt-v. .). K. Frciu'li disniisscii in IS I7-- Itrv. A.
J^aiiil) ordairu'ti .Inly i4tli, lSt7 — 170 — A iiiiiiilKr wi'iv disiiiisini liv
letter in IS'il — iMirnied a ('(in>;ri'j;alional " Hdricty " — Lanili disniis^i II
in 18')U — lioll down to sixty-scviii, and no ]>:\Mi>r -SivlmnjpDit —
DiiriiiK this (iiiartiT both conj^n-Kations enjoy ordinanci-H — First
(■Inirch — Kev. J. F. Stearnn — lli« early history — Ordained Se|itendH r
llitli, 183") — After years aeeepted a call to Newark, N. J. — iJiv.
Jus. (iallaher a )«ii})|)ly— Rev. A. (r. V'erniilyea — May 1st, iS'iO— He,
as well as Dr. Stearns, was a faithfid i)a-.t(ir — Increase— (Vntiiinial
coinnieniorations — |{uildin>? rededieated — Dr. I)ana " snyyrsled a tt w
tlioiights as to the proper manner of preaching and hearin>; the j^o--
pel " — Siieeeeded hy other previous pa>tors — Pr(pudtit looUini,' at tliu
tornl) of Whitefield, said: '"Aineriea well entitle<l to his nniains " —
V'erinilyea, after thirteen years, dismissed — Of the ei^;hth pastor, Kev.
K. II. Kiehardson, we know hut little — /Sfrnud cltineh — A human
change — Dana's opponents heeame his friend«, and eall him — The la-
bors of his riper years not lo-.t on a wiHin;,' peoph — He was ^rnat
among Christians, and aeeepted of his brethren — Ills pen not idle -
To him the truth was j)reeious — A remonstrance foreii)le, hut lost on
Helf-8ufficiency — A perversion of trust — .Alter eij,'hty-ei)^'ht years and
one month on earth, "he fell asleep" — A suecesM)r to .such an one
obtained— The Kev. W. W. lu-Us— Instalhd July Nth, ISKl-A
Rpecinien of his way of "handling the wonl of (iod" — In this wi- sie
the man — His teachings no verified that he was released on April lilst,
1855 — Rev. H. R. Timlow, December 3Uth, 185(5 — Pastorates j^rowini;
shorter — Tiie character and results of his labor we can oidy inter, as
the records of Presbytery are lost — April '21.-t, IS")!), dismissed — Suc-
ceeded June (Jth, ISOO, by Kev. Jas. CruiUsli.inks — Preachins?
"another gospel" in the pulpit of Dana and Kdls, his stay was short —
Dismissed August 1st, iSti'J — In his best estate in New Kngland he was
only "a foreigner" — Those tietached sojourn where they can tind a

()lace, and in modern light from twelve to lifty-two can<li<lates may lie
leard in one year — The Rev. B. Y. (icorge installed April *27th, ISO!
— Cause of removal on Sipteml)er 2tJlh, ISOtJ, miknown — The Kcv.
Jas. (i. Johnston succeeded him in three months, and was dis-
missed Septend>er 22d, lS(i8 — husl Huston — We have seen the origin
of this church bv Rev. J I. II. Johnston anil a societv in 1858 — Tin;
Kev. T. N. Haskell settled December \k\, ISb'i— This new mail
comitig to Presbyterianism gathered some new people — ^How eHicitiii
he was as a pastor we know not, but he resigned on October "Jod, ISOtj
— The Rev. M. \. Dei)Ue was installed on .Inly 11th, lS(i7, and n-
signed July I'Jth, IStj'J — lioMnn in-npcr—'Vhc Kev. A. S. Muirarriv.d
December D, ISoM — He was intensily Scotch, even to the I'salins and
paraphrases — Man n)illinery — " He received " a call, but many |iersoiis
lost confidence in him; it was not unanimous, and he went to Scot-
land — The ordination of elders by him, the Presbytery of Halifay d>-
clared to be unauthorized, irregular and void — A youjig man, Ross,
supplied a year — The audience dwindled — In June, 1856, congrcga-

IN NEW ENOLAND.

361

linn voted to iinito with tlio Pro^hvtorv of Montroal — Ctoml siipplitw
jrivrn— The lU'V. Wm. Mcl^aivti ciiIUmI .Inly 'J^d, ls:.7 — K.'v. Mr.
McLanMi was iiistalU'il mid rt'iiiaiiicd till Nnvfiiilii r "JSili. iS'tS
Tia- spirit i»r till' tiiiiiM now aitiiatiii« tliis |if(i|iK', and llu'v miihi
liavi' a Kailocli or a Stont — Tlii-y iiniti' lU'ceiidiiT 1st, l.S')S, willi
I.oinlondirrv I'n sliyti ry — licv. havid .Mas^'ill invitfd - lit- put away
'■ Uoiisf" — Installed over a society on .lidy 1 llli, IS.",}), and on Mareii
'Jiltli, 1S()(), his chnnli was or;:ani/.«'d hy the install.ition ol'two chh-rH

— IkMch strt'ot clinrth hout^lit 1 ticcnilur, l.S.'iH — lint lucould not raise
till' money and rtsiu'ned and preachid his last sernioti lliore on Si-p-
i.nditT Mill, ISC.I — Till' KfV. 11. M. I'ainlir snpplitd a part ol ISd'J —
ill V. it. A. l)iL;iiiey .ils.i till OctoiRr U.iil, \»(]\ fnited then with
Oak s r»'et ('on;;rei;ational <'lnireli. and liev. Mr. I'ixhy eaine with
IM) nuinlier», and wm> pa-tor till (K-tohcr 1st, l.sHt! — They were then
Mippiii'tl Inr two vrars — '['linmiw»irHh\ (t. — 'I'ln iniddh- ot' the ii'ntnry

— Lalior savin;; niaeliintry— I'll enlerprisi — Scotland and New V.\\\i-
land e.xttnsivtiy coven d with laetories — iJr. l>onis (. larke- Watt and
Morse — Whitney — .Vronnd the lai-lory a villaue must spring up —
Thoinpsiinvillc in ls2S--( 'arpct company — I, ahor, skill and int«'«rity

— An a>,'ent 'cnt to Scotland — First company religions, and appreciatetl
the uieanH of ^niee — Anarehy and despotism — The IJev. .Mr. Kohhinn
in Knlicld — In 1>>:>1, .Mr. .Mitcliill, a Scotchman— In iSIil a hniltlintr
— I'lolt ssors -.npplicd them till ISMS — .\ppiied lor aid-.\nd rc'hised

-Kedouliiiil tluir etilirts- l)r. ilarvey now jireaclied to them — They
wonld not adopt liis polity — All lint two lor rre^hyitriatdsm — ()ry'ani-
zation — Kij,dity-two enrolled — This the lirst exeepliny Vuhintown—
House hnill liy ihe company- They <iccnpied it tree, luitdid notohtain
a liil'l ol' it — The pa-tor a scholar -The uioinidwork of his preachinj^
— Three sermon^ — On the trne hasis of I'ellowship— Dr. Tyler criti-
cised hy him — Keleased— luv. ('. W. Adams, I). 1). — l)eeeinher,
18'j7 — Not like lloiden, Massatihiisetts, ^e«'kinp; a jia^tor for nine
years hy hearing li-10 candidates— Such a caxin<,'-stock — I)r. Adams
dismissetl — ihe company failed — tiood intentions nnfnllilled — No
work for twoyears — Yet prayt-rantl dt
cesstid — They prospered — Turijj'cilU-

eoiistitnled T'resliytery of Comieeiient erecte(l Oetolier 15th, ISoO^
Seven niini-ters c(impo-ied it-- IJev. 11. < i. Thomp-on, of Turitlville; one
— Failiir*' in Taritiville prostrated this place — Operatives could no
lonijer sustain ordiminces — t'hwreh lu'cjiine e,\tiiiit — Ilartjord — In
.Imie, IS.'il, Uev. .James illy ((jnuneneed tlu-re — Kly staled supply —
-Mr. riioiiiK S. (hil.ls applied to -Came to tlu'm — From Ireland and
Scotland — Karnest ('liri-tiiins — Childs settled here — An or^'anizatioii

— I'Pper room — .\ church edilice — 'I'lie pastor has to saeriliee most —
So lure — Ordained .June llOih, ISVJ — .\ biinlen on the pastor for sev-
eral years— Hail to advance all his ,-alary unci — ■"Secular" — I'resliy-
tirian ministers have to do this in New iMiuland often — His health
failetl — He preached the yuspel with niajesly -liad to leavu ii dehl —
lI5i) persons received hy him — Took care of the youth — .\ide<l men to
enter the niitdstry — The customs of the churches overtook him —
When an instrument was employed thirty or forty withdrew — He be-

work for twoyears — Yet pr.'iyerand determination imtlerliud were suc-
prospered — Turijj'cilU- —Operations there — \ ehnreh

*f i

3G2

IIISTOKY OF I'KESBVTEHIAXISM

('!\mo n thpolofrlcal profonsor — Rpv. T. A. TTfirlcfo instnllod "Sidy 2'1,
lst;(i -"Till' a^'i-' lKHoiiiiii« iii.iti'rial — An aii.K'liroiiisiii — Had now
a i»lain briik iMiildinj? — Mrs. J. W.'n odor — IW'uk biiildiiij^ sold —
A IK'W cIiuihI — So nuuh lor sixti-t'ii yiars - .AVic Ilayfii — A clmnli
rcctivi'd — I'iiLts not llio iiu-ans to know — 'Iran^linvd in li(i|n' — \'.\-
tinrt — Till! sanii' may l>c sftid of /Acy) llliwr — ()ri,'ani/.i'd in IS.V; —
iSlmnford orKanizi'il Filiriiary litllli, IS."»;> — Its Pastors— />Vi(/(/(y)(/)/
Ocloiii-r KUii, l.S.");5 — lOijilitytwo willidrtnv — Ktci'ivi'd l»y I'ri'siiytiry
ut'Ni'W Y(trk — [)r. Ihwilt — Hinsdale his associati — Clniroli didicainl
An^Mist Hill, IS").')- Iliinit — Kfliuill — Novciiihcr Itli, \H{')'.\—l>(irlni —
Its lirst pastor inslalird Manli 4lli, ISdt— In ollice in lSt;S-lii
J{ri<li/('i>orl — A (iiriiian I'lTshyti-rian iluircli organizi'd in iStio — In a
fi'W vi-arsiliHiiiissid to join the ( iorniaii Kel'onued — yeuliuslon — ICtv.
K. IJ. Allen was calli'ii in l8o;{.

P<1

As, (Inrinj:: tin* last <]ii!irtor of ;i rontury, the doctrino,
^..vcrmncnt, nnd iiriiicii)lt"S (cxrojitin;!; the force of chiir-
uoter tmnsmissilile through them from one jieiu^rntioii to
another, by tlu; coiumoii laws of our nature), which made
ohl Derry, for ahove ii ecnttiry, a praise timonj^' the
(•hureheH, were fading, so, during this one, they passed
into oblivion.

The " inod(^l pastor." the Kcv. Edward T.utwyehe Par-
ker, ordained Scptcinlier Tith, ISIO, was on Salilitith, July
14th, 1851), ealled to his reward. In viewing his congre-
gation he liad reason to rejoiei'. It contained nearly tour
liundred families. Tlieir "good order, intelligence, solid
religious character, harmony, 8teady jtrognss, and the
' luimher of youth they educated anil sent t'orth to useful
jind honorahh^ stations, were hardly excelled by any other
town in New lOngland."

On the 17th, amidst sorrowing thousands, hi.s remains
were deposited with the dust of his live ecchvijwtictd pre-
decessors. The Presbytery supi)o:»e(l that they stood in a
relation and had duty to jxM-fonu to this old mother
church of "th(» oppressed Irish brethren," and were soon
duly notified. JUit they found that she had hiken counsel
"in the plain of Ono," and renomieed tliwir authority.
About ]7*to. at tl;e settlement of .\ir. llrown, " the indi-
viduals who oppos(>d ■' rresbylerianipm withdrew, "and
Were incorporated iks ji Congregational society."

" In \H{)\) each society modilied some of it^ peculiarities
in resijcct to church government," to a kind of'' hidl-and-
lialf," and were by an act of the legislature incorporated

IN NEW ENGLAND.

3G3

as tho" First Parish of Tiondondcrrv." And now, altliouudi
eleven rulinu' elders were olliejally in cliar^'e (»!" the eliureli,
as was sup|ti.sed, under I'resWytery, yel they relused alle-
giance to the court, which was confronted hy the Kev.
I'rof. Park from Andover, who sent to them and had set-
tled over them one of his students, the Kev. .1. W. Well-
man. As has been noticed, they having; existed as a
I'reshyterian (dnircli for l.'JO years, wero now shunted oil"
on the tlu'oloMrieal schemes, usages and customs of New
England — Irlmhod.

At the heginning of tliis quarter of a century, the Rev.
Timothv G. Hrainard was pastor in Linulondfrri/. Ho
faithfully occupied the position till April ■_'")th. In")'), and
was. on October 7th. ISoT. succeeded hy the Ivev. William
House, whom we find in the pastorate there in iSliS.

Its (h'st pastor was so "steadfast in the faith," that, not
])y a governor, a |>resident, trustees. minist<'rs, nor hy tho
rash itself, could he he induced to remove to tlu* liynni
au<l imitation singers in New ^'orU.

At that time the i)astoral relation was not placed on
wliccls. to he sunnnoned elsewhere; ])y a '"louder call,''
anti those sacred feelings, hetween pastor and peojile, sur-
jiassed oidy in the family and hy a hlood-rclation, were
cherished as anioiiu' the most precious fruits of tlu' gospel.
This will he discoveretl wherever families "sing psalms to
(iod with gract; and make a joyful noise morning and
eveniiej;." Their pastor may not always he the foremost
man in all th(> earth, l)Ut he is "our minister " while he
can say " I " dwell among my own people, So it was
with th(^ Ilev. David >h'(iregor and his congregation.

The sanie was true of their second pastor, so long as he
(lid not deviate from his ordination vows. P>ut when he
not oidy le(l his Presl)ytery into a ''coalescence'' with
those who hatl only come to i'rcshyterianism as an expe-
dient; hut also, in IT'.Hi, to his Syno('i attempted to vindi-
cate the conduct ol' his co-|ireshyters, stating, that ex-
pediency should outweigh the duty of going up to the
a.-sendiled elders alter apostolic example, his ndnisti'rial
etlieiency was n..i inercaseil, and while the llame of di\ inc
t^oiig still ascemled morning and evening from "the dwell-
ings of the righteous "' undt-r his charge, he and his Hock
became increasingly assimihitcd to their surroundings.

iri!

nr,i

HISTORY or PIlKSnYTKUIANISM

ir Um'V snn;^ as fiiniilifs at all, after tlic manner (if tlnir
lorcl'atlicrs at " W'rst Kimniiijr-i»ro()k/' it must lie in IIk;
sauM! wonls, lor " imitations" anil iniiiis|»ir<<l liynms,
wiicntivcr and vvlicrcvcr introdnccd into clinrrlics, pru-
(Incc " cxprt ssivc siN-nc*' " in lionscliolds. In the dnnili
it was dilif-rcnt. y\ll the vari<'d aruMnncnts used by tlioM'
aronnd tlimi and l»y tin- clnnvli connrils with whom tiny
associated, wonid constrain them to chMn;.'c the lire npun
the altar. Hence, when his sncccssor was ir.dncted, he
"found a copy of the j'salms in the piil|)it,'' hut hy him-
Helf < he said I they had never heeii used.

As the seminary at Andover, .Mass., was eonnneuced du
the theo|o«iy of the New l']n;;land Trinier, and as the pro-
fiJKSors solenndy vowed, or swore to te;ich only its (loc-
trines; so, anion;; I'reshyterians, ohl.iininvi^ one of its
j^raduatf'S fer a pastor was, for years, con-^idcred no dis-
respect to j'rinceton, \. ,). The i^morin;; of the tc.icli-
\u^H of the catt'chisin, however, produced re;d results, not
only iiy the introdtidiou of " divers and stran^^^e doctrines,"
but hy its inlluencus on the |>astoral relation.

Jlence, we see that thi' lirst two (the i'resityterian ) pas-
torates, e.x tend inir fi'om 17.'>()till l.slS, were lon;/er in dura-
lion than the last six, from ISJ'J till 1S7'.), hy ;i (pmrter of
a centtuT, while the years, in which this chinch was with-
out a pastor hefon; the settlement of the iti'V. William
Morrison, were six, and from his death till this date, l.S!Sl,

\\v.

iind

seventeen years ol destitution.

of all reli^Mous instrumentalities, the piil|iit has ^'ained
tho li'ast in elliciency in the last lifty years, not hecaiiscj
faithful, as well as ^rrandilofpient, men lia---e not occupied
it, hut perchance, from th<' ell'ei-ts produced upon llie
family as the trdiiiiiiii-plnn' for those \vh(» ou;.dit to attend
to the preaching of tin; word " with flili^'ence, preparation

and pray«'r.

I'nder the old rreshvt<'rian, or earlv N

eu'

I'aiidaiid stvle, hearers vastlv more e\teiisivil\- received

le word |>rea(

•hed

with dili;.^encc, with preparation, with

faith, with l(»ve, with readiness of mind, and searched tlx;

Scriptures daily whether those thiiejs were
this

lereloie many ot

hem lie||e\e(|

so." .Mark
As the jlev

Dr. Tinjothy l)wi;.iht informs us, '• for ahove seventy y<'ars,
the time was onc,«! in New Mn;^land, that few persons caiiio
to the yearH of undt^rstandiu}^ without professing their

IN NEW EXfiLAND.

365

faitli in (!liri.st Jcsiis." That was in 'tlic (lays of the
(atcchisin," wIhm tin- niutlicrs wen' tlic IcaclnTS, aixl
wlirii the llililc was r('a<l <laily in .scImioI as well as in tlio
laiiiily. 'I'licn tlir <l\vt||»rs in N<-\v KuL-'land trrncrally, as
lluod (Hist. Mu>icj intoiiiis n«;. san;^ tin- llnnU •»!' I'salnis
throu^di as uHcii uh "hix times in ji yrar,'" in lioustliold
worsliip.

Tlir inndcrn ''<Mistonis" Iiavc anotli*'!' indirect cllcct
n|iiin llic |itd|iit ; tiny |)ri-v<-nt the- (inalil'yin^r oi' tli<> ndn<i
fur |»ro|M'r li<-arin^', just as lannly \V()isld|» is ncfrlcctcd.
Iltaicrs arc of lour classes, l»y the "wayside," «>n th«;
"rock "and ani<tn'.r the " thorns." These do not demand
that iiill, thnron-jh indoctrination in laniihes which " tho
jj;(M)d ground" (h»es, and in themselves they never have it.

In order to he |)rolited individnally, hearers must
'■ hrin<i lorth Irnit with |tatience," they must, hy " prepara-
ti<»n,' have '"an honest and j;ood hc.irt." This c;in h»;
nhtained, under the inllucnn-s of the Holy Spirit, only
where they seek doctrinal intelli;_rence and "ke»p it,"
' Lid<e viii. I').) To teach such a people and preach to
them .Jesus Christ, is an «'a.sy and most pleasant <iuty,
while critical, fastidious and <'arpinj; hearers, having no
sympathy with "the truth of (i(»d," will send a s|tiritual
chill ijit(» the heart, and frost itself into the lips of him
whose (on^u<' shoidd he as "the pen of a ready writer."

Hence, the temptati«»n to "prophesy smooth thin;rs,"
to please, to he |to|tular, is too j:reat oftentimes lor un-
sanctilie<l Innnan nature. The "Spirit is ^rievcil " hy tin!
unfaithfidness of tin; occupants, even while the; pulpit
jtrofesses to " not shun to declare the whole c(»unsel of
(jod." When "standing between tin' livinj^ and the dead,"
HO lon^;, as the messen^'i r of (lod is constraine<| hy any
torc(! or !nlluenc(; to please men. his "doctrine cainiot
dntp as tin- rain, nor his spee(;)i distil as the «lew."

Amonif the modern " us.-ijies " which deteriorate the ]»u]-
pit, is the suhstitulion ot' readin;^ for preachini,'. " I'reacli
the ;^os|»el t(» every creature " is ol heaven. It has l«'<'n in
every a^M', and must <-ontinue to he, the princijuil instru-
ment of salvation. It is noi only scriptural, which should
lie enou^di, hut prinuti\e, used hy the ajiostles and re-
formers, while readinji is entirely :i modern imiovation.
I'ruhubly tlic iirst record of it tluit history iimkus, is tho

li^'!!^;*!:'' '

p. •

3G6

HISTORY OK PKi:SHYTi:iUA.\rSM

ordor of Cli;irlos 11. r<)rl»i(l(lin<,' it in the llnivorsity of Catn-
liridL't', <iii ( )(;t()bL'r «^Lli, HJ? I, '"as ;•. si!|>iiir mikI slnihrul wav
of prcacliiiii^."

"TIk; ril^M-im Fathers " 'icvcr rcatl llicjr smnitns. \\f
first hear of it in New lvi^'lan<l in 17<>S, ap.il " altlioii;:li
JOduanls read his Sfniioiis, he livtti <|t(|ily to rc^irct it,
and to Itcar his ti'stimony a^^ainst the uht»h' |ira('ticc nf
th«' Htcral reading of a scnnon lully written nut.'' " l\v
lool<('(i upon usin^ liis notes as u<h'li('i(ncv and inlirniity.'"
Of it the l{cv Dr. Isaacs Watts snys:

" W'licn a sermon, howev-'r irood, is read to the au(nt(>r,s,
tlioiiudi read even with eorreetn<'Ss, it nniy in some denjic,.
resemhh' spealsin*;, hut, the resenddanee at hest. is taint
and (hstant ; the tone is not the natin*al sound of our
or^^ans of speech; it is still, that which we mujuirnl wluu
We were learinnj^ to read, and savors of coldness and lau-
j^uor. When such a man would reprove sinni'rs, he only
rrdil-^ to them a chidin;,'; when he would pluek them as
brands from the hurniiiii, he mnJ.^ to them some wi>rds of
j)ity or of terror; and if he wotdd lament ovei- their iin-
])enitenc(; and approachin^j; ruin, he can do no Jiiore than
rc(i<l to them a chapter of lamentation."

For full writing, and committinii the whole sermon to
memory, or for thorou<_di mastery of the suhjcet and the
use of a hrief, readin<^ is a poor sul>stitute. It is a loolisli
kind of, hut not "the foolishness of, picaehim:.''

In A III rim, N. II., durinL; this period » 1^ h'i OS i tin' coii-
jire!j;ation had two ministers. Their fiithl'id pastor, the
Kev. John M. Whiton, I), D., after a service ot' torty-live
years, resigned Januai'v 1st, l-S'):!, and '■fell on slee|("
on Septi'mher 27tli, 1S">(>. II(Mvas universally helovid,
and hy his peo|»Ie suppos<'d to ho "as |)Ure and ijooil as
this world allords." '* Slany of the hearers of his last ser-
mon were the ^grandchildren of his ori-jinal Hock." Their
inherited t'orce of character remained with this people, tnr
they were n(»t yet "j,dven to chanj^e.'' Where a man is
thus held ''liiLihly in love for his work's s.ake," his peoph;
will, when deprived of a faithful minister, " covet e.arnestly
the hi'st ^dfls." ( 'onse(|Uently, t he l!ev. .John II. liates, a
graduate of N'ermont I'niversity, was called and settled as
tiieir [)astor, on the KUh daj' of March. ISo.'!.

"As a scholar his power conmianded general respect,

IN NKW KN(il.AM).

307

CuTn-
l wiiy

\Vr

ivt it,

icf ol"

•Ml.'

inity;'

iditors,

(lc;_'l(t'

s t'uinl
of our
(/ wlnii
11(1 \a\\-
lie only
licin :is
•onls ot
icir iui-
Mi'. lliiiu

lion to
iii.l tlic
loolish

ic Con-
or, lilt'
rtv-livt'

iclnVfd,

fooil as

ilist S.T-

Th<ir

oj)lf. for

iuMU is

•iirufslly

rllU'd us

respect,

Imt ho was loss soflal Mian Dr. \\'Iiiton. For rlovon yoars
tilt! incrciisc fjiilnj to keep his nicnihcrsjiii* to its former
.standing:, !»m1. in I.Stil, lie ' a|i|ioinfc(| ;i scries of moctinu's,'
aii<l 'hiorctlian twenty im inlicis \v<ic ;i<l<l(<l to tlicchnrcli.'"

In IS'JC), wlicn tlicii' lioiis',- was opened, the only musical
instrument was "a hass viol," hut. hy the exertions of Iho
pastor, seven natives of the town living elsewhere, con-
trihuted t'unils enouirli in l-S('»l ti> procure an or;.'an ; and
hardly had the force of this revival ahate<l, wIh'U, on .hdy
l-t. 1<S()(1, Mr. I»;ites nsimied, ;ioiiiu at once to the desk in
Merrimack; thence, soon aT'cr, to Charleston, S. C, wheni
he < lied Miiy Kith, 1«70.

\\'iii(lli<im. 'J'he liev. [.oren Thayer was ordained here
oil Novemher oth, ISI.'). He was "faithful unto the
death." His ministry as their pastor ended on A|>i-il 'ioth,
lS(i(>. lit; died of consumption, Septeinhcr IDth, 1^()'.>,,T^
f)\ years.

At Jirilfnrtl. The Hev. Thotiias S.-ivatre, installed July
Titii, IS'JC), continuetl to olliciate till IS.")!), and afterwards.

I'«'t(rh<tri). The Uev. .lames U. French was dismissi^d
ill .\pril, 1SI7, ai\d the Rev. Henry .1. Lamb was ordained
«»ii July 1 Ith, IS17. The numiier of menihers in iH'td wa.s
(Hie hundred and seveiity-live, hut many of these hecaim;
('oni,n*c;^ationali/.ed, and during is.')l a nuinher wen; «lis-
iiiissed hy letter, who or^faiuzed and I'ormcil a State society.
This "}Zo to, let us'' form a ('onLn'et:ational parish so
Weakened the rresltyleriau church, that Mr. Land* wa.s
<li>mi.sscd, Decemher .'ilst, l.S')-J. In iSoC) their roll was
nduced to sixty -seven memhers, and in iSo!), l're:shyt<;-
riaiiism hecame (>xtinct in I'eteriioro.

The ycirhiii'i/iKirt churches eonlinue(|, (lurinj; thi.s rpiar-
tcr of a century, to enjov the ordinances of the pos|tel.
The Uev. .Jonathan V\ Stearns, a native of IJcclford, .Mass.,
a Lrraduate of Harvard, a student of Andover, and a licen-
tiate of the W'ohurn Ass<»ciati<»n, was ordained and in-
f^f;dle(|, on Septcmher lOth, IS.'*'), hy the Londomlerry
rreshytery, in the I''irst church. After a ministry of four-
teen years there, he accepted a call from the coiiL'reu'ation
ol' Newark, .N. .1. This pulpit was then for some time
supplied hy the |{ev. James (lallaher. a revivalist, not un-
known in the West, especially for his "earnestness and
Kuoh a iiiuss of it." On May let, lUbO, the Kev. Aslibel G.

I't

368

HISTORY OF rUKSHYTKRIANISM

Vormilyc was installed. He was tlic son of the Hcv. Dr.
Vcrniilyc, of the ('oil(';.Matc Dtilcli I'cfornicd churcli in
New York, and had cnjoytd the advaiitaucs of a sound
th('olo;j;i(',il traiiiiii'T. He, a;> well as the \U\\ .Mr. Stearns.
Avas a taithlul pastor. In the lirst si.\ yeai's of his pastur-
nte his annual nuinerieal increase was twenty-two, while
that of Mr. Steai'ns was (ifteen.

On Xoveniixr 2>tli, IS-'*!*, the one hundredtli anniver-
sary of the huildin^i; of their nieetinLr-liou>e was ohse-rved
— as the centennial connnemoration of the ori:anization of
ihv. cf I Kir h had hcen, under the llev. .Mr. Stearns, in IS-IO —
])y an historical discourse. The luiildinir was now somewhat
inodernize(l wnd repaired tliroUj:;hout, and tlien rededicaled
to l)e;;in another century.

The venerai»le Dr. Dana (then ei;.dity-five years f)f a};jo)
of)ened his remarks with a fccliir^f allusion to the occasion,
and then " suLTjicsted a tew thoujj;hts as t(» the proper man-
ner of preachin<r and heai-in^ the ji'ospel," in which "days
did sneak and the nudtitude of (his) years tauiiht wis-
dom.' lie was succeeded hy other previ(»us pastors of the
<;hurch, the J{ev. Dr. I'roudht, an<l l.y the l{( v. .1. F.
♦Stearns, who had, in l.SoO, received the de;iree of S. T. 1).
from the Colleu'c of New .It-rsey. I'roudlit, looking at the
tomh of W'hitefield, said :

''As njy (!y(! rests on that monument, let me recall tlie
way in which it came there, us it may hereafter he a tradi-
tion of some interest. I was calling,' one evenini; ujion
Mr. Hartlett, when ahout to leave lor an ahsence of scjnie
weeks, lie told me thai he had heard W'hitelichl when a
boy, and had never for;.;olten the impression made upon
liim hy his preachinL^ He e.\presse<l a desire to have a
suitable monunn lit erecte«l to his memory in this church.
JUi asked me if I would look after the matter, iind emplo
an ennnent artist to do the work. 1 incpiired how nnuh
be was willing it should cost. M)n that j»oint,' he replied,
'1 leave you entirely at liberty, bet it he something
worthy of a great and good man.' That monument — <1<'-
signetl by Strickland and executed by Strothers — is the
result. 1 used the liherty he gave nie m(»<lerately. Had
it cost ten times as much, he woukl, 1 have no doul)t,
have paid it cIk erfuUy. Wiien the artist presented his
demand, Mr. Uurtlctt gave bis cbeck fur one hundred

IN NEW ENGLAND.

389

V. Dr.

•eh in
sound
Lciini!*,
\;isttir-
, \vhil«'

lunvor-

(scrvi'd

tion ot'

ISIG—

iicwhat

•dic.iiU'd

of a«io)
(I'l-asion,
(i-r inan-
li "days
>^\\\ wis-
»vs ol" tlie
V. .1. F.

^. T. 1).
i<: lit the

ocull the
a tiadi-
lu'j; ujion
ol' some
[I wIh'U a
\dv upon
|c) have a
Is church.
]l nuph'V
li)W unuh
\v n'|>li''d,

lit— «

Iv. Ihi'^

ho (I

huudad

dollars abovo Iho amnnnt. Wlion T was in England, tlio
con^rc^alion of 'I'olti'nhani Court and the TahiTnaclc inti-
iiiati'<l a dcsiri' to liavc his remains roiuovod toKnglaiul;
liul \vhci\ I tohl thciii what Mr. Martlctt had done, they
said, that if an Ann'rican iicnthinan was willing to trivo
thrci! hundred )Miunds to do honor to his nu.'niory, Amer-
ica was wi'U entitled to hi-^ remains."

After a sueeessful pastorate of thirteen years, Mr. Vcr-
iiiilye was (Hsmis>ed in April, l-SC).').

Of the antei-echnts. joice of eharaotor, sympathies, and
usefulness of the eigiitii pastor of this ehurch. the Hev.
Iliehard II. lliehardson, we know Itut little, exrepting that
\v' was installed on April 2>ith, 18G4, and disnnssed in
Ueloher, l^tW."^

Second ehureh, Xrirhuri/port. We now notice one of
those' manifestations of human change whieli at times per-
vades all mei'tal operations ;ind even reli'_dou^ associations.
Ill 17"-i">, a parly oppose»l tt) the iJev. Daniel Dana as a
pastor, had so agitatetl matters in the church which came
to the I'reshytery in 17l<», that ratlier than lose them f'roni
the deiiominatioii, they then reeeivecl a distinct ecclesias-
lical organization, and were now known for t'ull thirty years
as the second Presbyterian chunli in Newburyj)ort. Al-
though they iiad "despised his youth," they iia<l observed
his career as pastor, jiresideiit, and pastor, and they now
iK'tilioned him to take charge ol" their souls.

The generation ol' active opponents in 17i)5 had now
]>a-sed away, and wiser counsels prevailc(I. As we enter on
this (|uarter of a century, he had "Ibiight a good light'' of
tifty-one years as an ordaiiud minister, and was now "fin-
ishing his course;" as a })astor, while he still "kept the
laith."

* PrcMbylt'rians in New ILiniiwIiirt', i'nim Alouzti.J. I'ojrj^'s xtatisticfl
fif 1>7I: 111 l.S")() tiny liidi i;; cliiirclifs, (l.oOll scats, wortli STl.OOU;
in lS(i(» they iuul Iti i-liiiiclas, O.'.ibti sials, worlli $.s;{,liili ; in IblO tliey
liiiil 7 rimiclics, ;{,t7(( Hi-als, wmili S(1.'),()U(».

Ill lS7ii tiny li:t(l l."» cmmn •L-'aliiiiis; '.♦ nf tlit'ir -irj iiiitiistcrs arc ])a3-
I'll''* anil slalcij siijiiijics t'l.r I'n -liytrriaiis, ami 7 are pastors of ('oiim'f^^a-
tioiial M) 'ivlirs ( Mniiil) .< I.

.\l-i». ill iMSi), liu-y liaii (1 iliiirilics in Nfw Haiiipsliiri', 1 in Vrrmoiiti
I ill iJliodu Island, ami ."S in Massacliiisiau; 1(5 coii^jri-jfations ami 'J,!M1
nil iiiliiTs ; I (((iiurc^Mtiniis ill (oiiiK'cticiit. In ISSl tliry return U,G87
lutiubers in the I'rcsbytcry oi Bontun, bcfiidu liiose in Cunnecticut.
24

,;'

370

HISTOUY OF I'llKsnYTKHIANISM

Tho lalmrs of liis ripr yoars wen; not lost on a \\\]V\r\(T
])e()i)Ic'- Tlicv uiidir liis ininistrv had Imcoimc more '* rnotfd
and ;,M'(»iiiid('d in tlic laitli," and incrrascd in nniulirrs.
Such a (londition in a j»ast(»rat<: was a ^mod time (<• ic-i'^Mi
it, wIk'U, as once '"in Judah. thintrs went well." Acconl-
inj^dy, at his own rc(|ncst, havinj^ "served them in the ;.m»s-
jMd" nearly twenty years, he w;is, on Oetoher mOiJi, Imi,")^
released iVoin his |»astor<d eharue.

The autumn of his lif«! was spent in placid contenipla-
ti(Mi, in fellowship with (lod. lie was ''<j;reat aiiwm^ Chris-
tians, and accepted ol" the mullituih! of his hrelhren, seek-
inj; tho (Spiritual) w<';dth ol" his people, ,'nid speaking
:)eac(! to all his seed." lie had not in early lite eaten the
tread of idleness, and he now did " ^^odi] ;is he had opiior-
tunity unto all na'U, es])ccially to the household of laith.''
Jlence his pen was not i<lle. On Auiiust 1st, IS 17, at his
native jtlace, Ijiswich, he jtreached a sermon on "The I'aitli
of Former Times," in which, " without fear, he jhiIs tli<>
(piestion, whether, in some modern modes (»f explainiii}^
human depravity, atonement, re;:eneration, etc., < tc, tin ro
are not found tin; siiminal principles of gross and funda-
mental errors?"

In 1<S")1, on April .'U)th, \w preached ''a sermon addressed
to till! Preshyteiy of Londonderry, at r>edford, N. 11., on
JSIatt. ix. lo, on the (pieslion, 'Do our churches at lar;,'e
enjoy the presence of their Saviour?' If so, all is well.
Jict them l»(! thankl'ul and rejoice. 1 f this presence is with-
drawn, so far as it is withdrawn they hav<' reason for hu-
miliation and ^rief. With grief of lieart 1 advert t(» that
low stittt; iif r< liiiiiiii in our connnunity, which living ( 'hris-
tians coid'css and lament, and which gives joy and triumph
to a careless world. Has not tlu; Sdhhitth lost much of its
n^verenee, (iven in the v.yrs of ('hristian proless<jrs?

" 1 advert with incxprcssilih- rehictanc(> to a jiraclico
"which incrcasiniily prevails in our cities, and from which
I |)ray (iod that our country congregations may keep
themsi'lves |iure. I refer to tix' custom o\' f<ift!iuj injiraiin'
— a custom sanelioiud neither iiy f>icty nor di'corum -;i
custom which wonhl ahnost seem to say that we have \V"'i-
Bhipped our Maker with too much reverence in foruKr
time, and may now approach on ti-rms of greater familiar-
ity the High and Holy One, whom i)rostrate angels udoru."

IN NEW ENOLAND.

371

V(iot<'«l
llultt'l'S.

li, 1«15,

tcrn|>lii-
n; Clivis-

:itrn tlio

,1" tailh/'
17, :it Ww
:\\v F:>ith

|.UlS lilt'

siilaiuiu!!;

I Ic, til<10

ul I'umb-

roll! nvIi'k'Ii
Jiiiay ktr|)

1. have wnr-
in loninr

Lcls iidoro.

To liiiu "tl>o truth aR it is in Jesus" was precious, and
^villl "a nhictaucr nut to he cxpn'ssed," he rriiioMstratcd
with tin- trustees of I'liillips Aeatlemy. Amlover, in ISI'.),
ami aijain in l-S.'j.'l, (tn the stale ol'tlie theological seminary
under their eare.

"Having' hern a nienil»er of their Hoard lor forty-livi!
years, he viewed his responsihility as jzreatly enhanced
after the TheoloLMeal Seminary was annexed to the aca-
demic estalilishnicnt." Me was "inlimat<ly act|uainte(l
with the fonndcrs of the seminary, and knew th«'ir favorite

(ihjeets and (h'siunis.

e now states

vtry professor

must, on the day of his inauguration, puhliekly make and
suliserihc a solemn declaration oi" his faith in divine reve-
lation and in the doctrine of the Westminster Assenddy'H
Shorter ( "alcehism. lie must solenmly promise to di-fend
and ineuleate the Christian faith as thus cxiiressed, in op-
position to all contrary doctrines and heresies. He must
repeat tiie <leeIaration and promise every live yenrs, and
should he refuse this, or should he te;ich or endirace any
of the proscrilie(| heresies or errors, he shall h«' forlhwilii
removed from ollice."

Such are the provisions of the Constitution. "The As-
pociate Statutes are in perfect acc<»rdance. They provide,
indeed, an additional < rceil, hut a creed in entire h.irmony
with the calfchism, and mnvise desiifuctl to supersede or
invalidat*' it." "Such was the desi^rn of the founders, a
(lesion not oidy easily understood, hut impossihle to 1)0
misunderstood, if there are words in the JOnj,dish lan;^uago
which can make anythin;^ plain."
"Our duty then as trustees is made plain."
" Has the orthodox character, which for many of its first
years it maintained, hcen sulisecpu-ntly preserved? Have
the picachers recently s«'nt forth licen champions for the
doctrines of the cross, presentinji; distinct and luci<l exhihi-
tions of human d<'|travity, of rcL'cneration, of thi' atone-
ment, of justilii'ation hy faith, of the nature of experimental
and savinji reliu'ion? These chan;j;es are delended oi\ tliu
^Mound that, 'if these doctrines ol' the Catechism are not
taught aecordinu' to their proper and oii;:inal nu'aninjr,
tliey are tau;,dit in a mode which is more ajireeahle to tho
l>rin(;ij>les of philosophy and to the improved taste of tijo
times, but the Constitution deuiauds that they sliould ba

■*if{

372

IIISTOUY OF l'Ht:SIJYTi:UIANIS.M

t il!

18 ^

■T-r

the rrry mwr. It is with rc.il jmiii .'uid trrirf tli;i1 I niiiko
tlirsi' st;it«'iiM'i)(s."

Iliiviiiir sl:it('«l criiiiiiial violiilinns of llicir Coiislilution,
:is if liir actual violations of it I'V tlir |iroiiiiiiciit lu'olcssor
■were ( like his " ciiiiiiiniily dcvisnl laMi ." Ili.it " oriniiml ,sin
is) not sill," Im" says," I have not a jiarli( h; ol" |KT.soniil in-
inily against tht- prolrssor."

This, all who kiu-w him would hclicvi'. After this datn,
ill is.').'), he wrote his intloduetiou to "The Theolovrv of
New l'hi;,daiid," iiotieed ahove. On his last visit l(t tlit>
writer his heart wa.s still " treiiihliiiLr tor the ark of (Jod,''
as lie declarefl, " if our orthodox ehiirehes ^o on for tlio
iU!Xt thirty years as they have done in the past, \ do not
sou how ;^odliii«'SS call exi.st ainoiu tliein, as there will iwjt
bu left one «loetriiie on which il c m he sii>Iii;ied."

He knew that the IIe:id <.f ih.chnieh "livelh,"lliat"tlio
■walls shall he Idiill a^'aiii even in Irouhloiis limes," and
having' "served his -leneratioii hy the will of (lod, he tell
aslee|» in .lesus'' on the •JCdh day of .\ui,'ust, lS.")ll, haviiij?
passed one month »»f his .silth year on earth.

To succeed one so " valiant for the truth," to watch lor
liis hi)ihlv favored lloek and "feed them with the hrcid of
life," th.''i:<v. William \V. Kells was called. His installa-
tion took |»lace on July 1 Ith, INKI. As a spicimeii of the
way in which he " handled the word of ( iod," I (piote fmrii
his sermons on Fast Hay. April (ith, iSj.S, from .M;itt.
ill. J): " Is it iittt true, now as then, that when Meshiiriii
waxed fat, then he forsook (lod who made him, and
li^ihtly esteemed the rock of his salvation?' Ami while,
like the .lews of <dd, wc cease mit to hoast 'we have the
Puritans to our fathers,' and pride ourselves in their char-
ucter and their works, and count ourselves the favorites of
heaven on their account and look iip(»n all the j_'reat nicr-
cicsol"(iod alMiiit us as secure through them, and say in
our hearts, '<)iir mountain stands str()n^^ and we shall
never he inoved,' may it not he true after all that we havt-
forsaken the principles of oiir fathers ;iiid iire hiisteiiiiii: to
use up and to consume the Messin;: of (Jod upon the hniil,
for the fathers' sake? And if this Ik; so, then is it time for
us to hush all our i<lle hoastiiiir, and to ' reineinher wheiicti
we have fallen and re|ient,and do the first works, lest <io(l
come quickly and remove our candkfcitick out of lii.s place

III

fl«l

IN NF:W KNdLAND.

373

if wo ropont not ;' lest tlic livrlit of our |»rivi]('j;rs Ix* turned
aw.iy U|i((M soiiK! (itlur iialion, aii<l wi; ^ropc in tlio
darUiHss.

"TIh'V snflVn'd no forci^'U autliority to usurp tlirir ri;/lit.
to tfiicli tlicir littlt! oncM, to prcscrilx' liow nnicli or liow
littl(! of ( iud's. U(»r<l, their s^treiejtli iiM<l their salvation,
lliey shonhl impart to tho.-e upon whom would soon de-
V(»lv«! their hurdens. TImv heaitl the I |n|y Spirit deelarinir
that all 'thing's revealed helon^'ed to thenj and to their
children;' and who W( le ihev, that thev hh(»uld liirht
aL'ainsttlod and f^'iv*- liiit a part where he had ^iven all?
All — all that they hi hi dciir to themselves -the jlihle in
the utmost freiilom of use, and the (atechisni, aH a eoni-
iiientarv upon the I'.ilile— all that strentithened the soul in
heavenly wisdom they put into tlu' eonniion every-da}'
(dueation of their little ones, and thus (theyin;: the eom-
niands of (lod, it was their hi;:lM'st aim, even in the tinu'H
(»f ^reat distress, to train these up in the nurture and ad-
monition of the liord. An<l Intw is it now? Alas! every
line in the commendation of our fathers is a hurnin^ sen-
tence of condemnation a;_Minst ourselves. That ehurcli
which they jdanted in prayer, and watered with ttars, and
cultivated with assiduous toil, now easts oil' its tender
fruit to ripen on the unwholesome soil of the world. Liko
an unnatural mother, hIic exposes her oUshrin^, almost
without care or prol<'etion, to every evil inlinenee. Y«'a,
the j)rofessed people of (lod are upholdini: and sf ren;,'tlien-
iM'4 l)y all their mi^ht the en).dnes of inlidelity and irrelij;-
i(»n. Th(! church has siiU'ered that duty, which she alono
(Mil properly diseharLre, t(» fall into the liands of the state.
And as the state knows no n'li,L:i<»n hut that which is com-
iiioii to all its component |>arts, so it can teach no religion.
And that education which l(>aves out tlu; reliLrious element
is es-!entially an unirodly, an irreli^'ious. an inlidel educa-
tion, it virtually (h'|»reeiales the value of that which irt
(tiiiilted, and leaves tin; (le|)raved heart unrestraine<l to fol-
low out its native hatred of (lod. if we compare our y>/-//i-
'•'/)/(>■ with theirs, it is an undeniahlc fa<'t that very litth?
•locirinal preaehin;; of any kind is louiul in the pulpits of
the present day in this land of the Puritans. A .sickly
maitimentalism, or, at most, the indelinit*' and indirect
l>r( aching about the gosi)el, is set bcfon; their sonn. This is

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

''/.

C/j

(/.

1.0

I.I

1.25

If 1^

2.2
20

1.8

1.4 IIIIII.6

374

HISTORY OP PRESBYTERIANISM

"\1

a truth — an awful trutli. The po]-)ular theology of the day
is a direct contradictiqii in every important point to the
doctrine of our fathers."

In tliis mere outline of his utterances wo see the man as
a worthy successor to the venerahle Dana, and his teach-
ings hecame so verified in his surroundings, that he
sought, after a few years, a more congenial field, and on
April 21st, 1855, he was released to lahor in Pennsylvania.

He was sut-ceeded, on Decemher 30th, 185(3, by the Rev.
Herman R. Timlow. Of his antecedents (as the records of
Presbytery are lost) we have no definite information. The
spirit of the age (as noted above) was now becoming more
vigorous and pastorates growing shorter.

How far he taught " the same things " with his predeces-
sors, what the state of religion was among his people, what
his faitlifulness to God and man, we can only infer, for, on
April 2Lst, 1859, he was dismissed.

Mr. Timlow was succeed(^d on June 6th, 1860, by the
Rev. James Cruikshanks. He was brought (when a lad)
from Scotland, but the little doctrinnl instruction which he
had there received was extensively bleached out of him,
and he, after a course of study in it, became a champion
of the New England theology. Being thus engaged in
preaching " another gospel which was not another " in the
pulpit of Dana and Eells, his stay was short. He was dis-
missed on August ■'st, 1862.

He occupied in other places in New England, but not as
a Presbyterian. His speech always " bewrayed " him.
He could not intone vocables but with a foreign peculiarity.
In his best estate in New^ England he was only "a for-
eigner," and he emigrated to \\'isc()nsin. Demand regu-
lates supply. Ministers detached have to sojourn where
they can "find a place." Hence to obti^in a hearing in a
vacant church under the light of the las' half of tlie nine-
teenth century, is at times diflicult, and pastoral settle-
ments take place oftentimes, at least, not ra[)idly. From
twelve to fifty-two candidates may be heard in one year.
In this Second church the Rev. Ik'njamin Y. George was
installed April 27th, 1864. Cause, reason or occasion of
removal we cannot give, but he was dismissed September
26th, 1866.

Demand became now forciblcj and in three months, on

IN NEW ENGLAND.

375

December 27th, 18G6, tlie Rev. James G. Johnson was in-
stalled. With him, among the pastora of this church, we
end this quarter of a century. He was dismissed on
September 22d, 1868.

East BoHton. The origin of this congregation by the
manipulations of the Rev. H. H. Johnston and a " society "
in 1858, we have seen, and also how that, after his de-
parture, the Rev. T. N. Haskell was, on December 3d,
1802, installed pastor. During his ministrations, although
the thirty-seven de jure owners of the church estate were
scattered, and none of them (it is believed) united with the
" society " of twenty-two persons, yet as a new minister
usually gives a new impulse to a congregation, so this new
man, coming to Presbyterianism, collected not a few new
people. From the days of Mr. Johnston they were under
the care of the Londonderry Presbytery. As the records
of that court at this date are lost, so of the efficiency of his
pastoral work we can say but little. On October 23d,
1866, he resigned. On April 1st, 1867, the Rev. M. A.
Depue commenced as a stated supply, was called on July
3d, and installed on the 11th. His resignation was ac-
cepted on July 12th, 1869.

We turn now to Boston proper.

As we have seen, the Rev. A. S. Muir arrived on Decem-
ber 9th, 1853. "He preached from December 11th till
June, 1854, at the Melodeon, and then until June, 1855,
in the Freeman Place Chapel." In public worship he ad-
hered closely to the Ps-ilms and Paraphrases, and was in-
tensely Scotch. Standing in an ample surrounding of
man-millinery, he stated that "the silk was bought from a
Scotchman by Scotch people, made by a Scotch tailor and
worn by a Scotch preacher, and it is a real Scotch gown."
I again quote from his church "memorial." "During
this time three elders had been ordained. A call was ex-
tended to Mr. Muir to become ])astor of tlie church, but
many persons had lost confidence in him, and it was not
unanimous. He went to Scotland and did not return.

" The elders ordained by him also lost the confidence
of the church, and the Presbytery of Halifax declared
their ordination unauthorized, irregular and void. For
his passage-money to this country and back, some S400
(previous to his coming), the committee became responsi'
ble."

v ,

376

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

" The Presbytery sent out a young man named Ross,
who supplied the puli)it for a year, duiinjj^ which time the
audiences dwindled to a mere handful. In June, 185G,
the congregation voted to unite with the Presbytery (jf
Montreal, which gave them good and regular sujjplics.
After some delay the society was received into connection
with the Canadian church, and on July 'I'M, 1857, the
Rev. William McLaren, of Amherstburg, Ontario, having
received an unanimous call, was installed as pastor. He
remained till November 3Uth, 1858, doing a good work,
having consolidated the worshippers, established prayer-
meetings, Bible-classes, literary meetings for the young
men," etc., etc. (Hist, of Beach St. CL, p 5.)

" The spirit of the times " was now taking jjossession of
this people, and while during his ministry, sixty-seven
members had been added, and he preached the gospel in
its purity, two or more of the leaders declared, '' We must
have a Kalloch, or a Stone." Tliis first beau-ideal of })ul-
pit holiness and power was then linishing his course as a
Baptist in Tremont temple, preparatory to wading through
the mire of politics in Kansas, to the pulpit in and (under
the patronage of the immaculate Dennis Kearney of '' the
Sand Lots ") to the mayoralty of San Francisco.

Sensationalism now became the governing force. Con-
nected with the preaching of the gos})cl in its purity and
power, by the Rev. Mr. McLaren, the congregation had
hitherto sung only the psalms and paraphrases. There
was too much "Scotch" in this order of Avorship, and
"the church, with but one dissenting vote, decided to
unite with the Presbytery of Londonderry, the vote to
take effect on December 1st." {/6., p. 5.)

Before him, in Canada, a wide door of usefulness, as a
professor, was opened, which he has for above twenty
years honorably occupied.

" In the spring of 1859, the society, by a divided vote,
invited the Rev. David Magill, of Philadelphia, to the pas-
toral office.

"He was installed on July 14th, and on the 25th of
March, 1860, the church was fully organized by the ordi-
nation and installation of R. K. M. Baynum and D. D.
Morrison as elders." (lb., p. 5.)

For the building, purchased in December, 1859, on

IN NEW ENGLAND.

377

LU'se as a

Beach street, and opened as an Old School Presbyterian
church on the 8th of January, 1860, it became apparent
that the Rev. Mr. Ma<,nll could not raise the money re-
quired to pay. Consequently " he resigned in August,"
and preached to them his last sermon on September 8th,
1861.

" The pulpit was acceptably supplied a portion of the
year 1862 by the Rev. li. M. Painter of Booneville, Mis-
souri. The Rev. R. A. DeLancy, D. D., su])plied part of
the time witliout remuneration until October 28d, 1864,
when an union was effected with the Oak Place Congrega-
tional church, and the Rev. Mr. Bixl)y, ])ringing with him
lOU members, was installed as pastor." {lb., p. 5.) He
preached his farewell sermon in Beach Street church on
October 1st. 1866. They were then for two years depend-
ent on su[)plies.

As we ai)proach the middle of this nineteenth century,
marked changes a])pear in social life and in the varied in-
dustries. Railroad cars sujjersede the stage-coach, steam
propels the i)rinting-press and gives to commerce an un-
precedented impulse, both on land and on the sea. Labor-
saving machinery, while it cUminislies toil, like the confu-
sion of tongues, scatters many " abroad upon the face of
the whole earth," and to enterprise, those classes of men
especially give tl) .aiselves, who liave been trained to know
the New England Primer.

Hence, both Scotland and New England are extensively
covered with manufactories, all calculated to promote con-
venience, accumulate wealth, or provide embellishment.

To " the days of the Catechism " we turn, and we iind,
that the "promising circle of young men in Derry, N. H.,
had advantages held out to them from abroad, wliich in-
duced them to leave tlieir native place," while the Rev.
Dr. Dorus Clarke, in his very valuable lecture, entitled,
"Saying the Catechism," has shewn the inward life, not
only of the town of Westhami)ton eighty years ago, but
also the extensive usefulness in tlieir generations of many
who stored in their memories the logic and truth contained
in this " form of sound words." To it Watt and Morse
were deei)ly indebted. The invention of the cotton-gin
by Whitney opened the door to ease and wealth to mil-
lions, and prompt(3d the utilizing of the ungenial soil of
much of New England for spinning and weaving.

f "i

%' 1

378

HISTORY OF niESBYTERIANISM

Around the factory a village must be gathered, and the
varied appliances, springing from (and characteristic of)
modern Christian civilization, in due time appear. In
this way, in New England, Presbyterianisni received an
invigorating impulse.

Thompsonvilk, in Connecticut, "in 1828 had a dis-
tillery, a carding-mill, a linseed-oil mill, a flouring-niill,
one store, and a population of less than forty souls."
Through the energy of Mr. Grin Thompson especially, the
"Carpet Manufacturing ConjjKiny was organized and char-
tered."

Labor, skill and integrity Avere now required, and for
qualified weavers an agent was sent to (Scotland. The
first company arrived in October, and those who came
were annually followed by others. These people had been
accustomed to worship God, and, appreciating the privi-
leges bought with the toil, sacrifices and blood of their
fathers, they did not forget that " Scotland owed all that
was noble in her history to Divine revelation, and that,
when found without the Bible, anarchy and despotism had
ruled and ruined her.''

They considered that "half a loaf was better than no
bread," and waited on the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Rob-
bins, the orthodox minister in Enfield.

In lcS31 a Mr. Mitchell, a Scotchman, who was engaged
in teaching through the week, preached to them on the
Sabbath. After his dejiarture, tiiey returned to the min-
istry of j\Ir. Robbins, from wliich, by distance, the aged
and the young were excluded, especially in winter.

In 1834 a building was erected, the lower story of which
served for a school-room, and the upper one for a church.
The professors at East Windsor supplied them usually on
Sabbath until 1838.

Being poor, they applied to the " Connecticut Home
Missionary Society " for aid, and could not understand
why they were refused.

The reasons might have been two. East Windsor was
Calvinistic, and " the society " was less so, and could easily
see, that of these sons of the heather, i^- would not have
been easy, to make modern Congregationalists. Trusting
in God, they redoubled their efforts to sustain ordinances
and sought an organization. Dr. Harvey, who had been

IN NEW ENGLAND.

379

previously a Congregationalist for twenty-eight years, and
who hud now preached to tiieni for several months, sought
lo have them adopt his own polity, but they loved the
cliurcli of their fatliers. They could not believe that "the
manner in which Congregationalism took its rise in New
England renders it suihciently divine." (Chri.stian Ob-
scrvdtur;/, 1854.) When their votes were counted all but
two were given for a Presbyterian organization. As the
man of old, "when the mountain would not come to him,
he went to the mountain," so the Kev. Dr. Harvey became
a Presbyterian.

A petition for an organization was forwarded to the New
York Presbytery (Old School), who Avere surprised to find
"a good thing come out of Nazareth," and granted the re-
quest, whieli was carried into cfl'ect on July 5th, 1839,
when eighty-two members were enrolled, and on the 6th
four elders were ordained. Excepting the congregations
of Voluntown, ]\Iilford, ^Mansfield and Cornwall, which ex-
isted for a time during the previous century, this was the
first Presbyterian church organized in Connecticut.

On July 10th the Rev. Dr. Harvey was installed pastor.
Their house of worshi]), built by the Carpet company, was
dedicated in the sunniier of 1841, and in 1845 its capacity
was enlarged by the same benefactors, and while the con-
gregation were ])ermitted to occupy the edifice rent-free,
through good intentions unfulfilled, they never became by
gift owners of the property.

Their pastor was a man of positive character, "fully
persuaded in his own mind," "a student and a scholar.
The distinctive features of doctrine embodied in the West-
minster Catechism formed the groundwork of all his
preaching."

In 1856 he preached three sermons on " the true basis
of Christian and minist'^rial fellowship," which by request
were published, and which embody (it is feared) too much
truth to be now, one-quarter of a century afterwards, ex-
cepting by a very few individuals, read in New England.
In 1855 the Rev. Dr. Tyler sent to him a discourse, which
he had published on " Human Ability and Inability."
To this he replied : " My first remark is, there is a want of
atlinity between the doctrine of your discourse and your
text, and not only so — there is a manifest variance be-

380

HISTORY OP PRESBYTERIANISM

tween the two. My second remark is, your doctrine is at
variance with other parts of your discourse. My third re-
mark is, the arji;unients by which you attempt to sup[iort
the doctrine extorted from your text, so far from sustain-
ing, do not even reach the doctrine. My fourth remark is,
that in the face of your doctrine, and of various passages
of your discourse, to which I have already referred,
you a])parently, if not intentionally, concede the whole
ground in question by saying, 'My meaning is, that God
does not require of men what they might not do, if
rightly disposed.' My next remark is, your reference to
authorities in support of your theory of natural ability is
unsatisfactory. My next remark is, the doctrine of your
discourse is in discordance with the language and teaching
of the Scriptures."

Thus " valiant for the truth upon the earth," he contin-
ued in the pastoral office until April 28th, 1857, when at
his own request, owing to ill-healtli and the weight of
threescore and ten years, he was released. lie removed
to the upper peninsula of Michigan, on the banks of Lake
Superior, where he died February 4th, 1873, aged eighty-
six years. To feed a people thus docirinally trained, Di-
vine Providence sent to them the Rev. Carson Wilson
Adams, 1). D., then resident in Virginia, who iissumed the
duties of the office on the first Sabbath of December, 1857.
We here see one of the advantages of "sound doctrine,"
viz. : an early pastoral settlement, quite in contrast with
what is said of " the Congregational church at Ilolbrook,
Mnss., which has been seeking a pastor for nine years,
listening during that time to sermons from two hundred
and forty candidates." ( W. Star. ) No people familiar
with " the New England primer " ever did or ever will be-
come such a ga zing-stock.

On June 1st, ISlkS, Dr. Adams was dismissed. Good in-
tentions unfullillod on the part of Orin Thompson, Esq.,
overtook this congregation in 1851. In that year the com-
pany failed, iind in 1854, among the assets which passed
into the hands of the Hartford company was the Presbyte-
rian church ))roi)crty. While they had had no work for two
years, yet ])rayer and determination were employed, and
as the blessing of God comes through sacrifice, with not
over four hundred dollars of outside aid, the property was
secured to the congregation, and they continue to prosper.

is at
rd re-
pport
stuin-
vrk is,

"erred,
whole
t God
do, if
nee to
ility is
if your
inching

contin-

•lien at

iiiht of

I'niovod

af Lake
eiffhty-
cd, Di-
Wilson

ned the
1857.

»ctrine,"
t with
Ibrook,
years,
undred
aniiliar
will be-

lood in-
n, Esq.,
le com-
passed
resbyte-
f or two
led, and
lith not
Irty was
ivusv^'V.

ist

IN NEW ENGLAND.

881

Tnriffvilh in 1840 contained less than four hundred
inhabitants, but finding the car])et nianulaoturinf; at
Tliompsonville profitable, the company extended their

f>l

)er

;)Soni
ations to tliat pUice. One establislinient erected there

cost $900,000, and gave employment to from (ioO to 800

operatives

The church w;!S ci.nstituted October 24th,

1844." In IH.');} the i)opulatioii was n(>arly 2,000. On
October 15th, 1850, tlie Synod, out of the Presbytery of
New York ( O. S.) erected the Presbytery of Connecticut,
which held its first meeting in Thonipsonvjlle on October
29th.

Of the seven ministers who composed that Presbytery,
the Rev. R. G. Thompson, of the Presbyterian church in
Tariffville, was one.

Built up by similar if not identical interests with the
company in Tliompsonville, the failure there prostrated
this leading industry of the village. Consequently, de-
prived of emitloyment the operatives could no longer
sustain ordinances, and the church became extinct.

In 1851, an individual of another persuasion called the
attention of the Rev. R. G. Thompson to the number of
Presbyterians living in Hartford, and in June he laid the
case before the Presbytery of Connecticut, then in ses-
sion in New Haven. The services of the Rev. James Ely
were secured to commence the work, and on Sabbath, the
13th, about fifty assembled and Mr. Ely preached to them
twice.

Mr. Thompson conducted services on the next Sabbath.
Mr. Ely, acting under a commission of the Presbyterian
Board of Domestic Missions, became their stated supply.

Very soon application was made to Mr. Thomas S.
Childs, a recent graduate of Princeton Theological Semi-
nary, and a licentiate of the Presbytery of New York, to
take charge of the enterprise, and to them he preached his
first sermon on the 24th day of August. The congregation
numbered about 75 persons, nearly all from the north of
Ireland and Scotland.

They had neither wealth nor special influence, but
among them were godly and earnest Christians.

Declining a call to a pastorate in the city of New York,
he cast in his lot with this people.

At a meeting of Presbytery at Thompson ville on Novem-

882

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

ber 4tli, a petition for the organization of a church was
granted, and in due time tliirt y-tuo nicnibcrs wore enrolled,
two elders ordained and installed. They assemhled in
their "own hired" large " U|)[»er room" until tliey were
able to ol^ain a church eililice. The ])salnis of the version
of their native lands were used in public Avorship by his
liearers, till January 21st, 1852. The introduction of tlio
Assembly's ])salmody and hynnis was attended with some
opposition and loss. This was to be expected.

in due tine, a house was purchased, and as is often the
case, in sue! an enterprise, tiie i)astor had to sacriliee most.
So it was here. Receiving an unanimous call, Mr. Childs
was ordained and installed on June 3(,)th, 1852, and the
great secular burden (as well as the s))iritual) fell on the
pastor. This was prosecuted under great difliculties, and
continued for several years, and at one time he had to ad-
vance the whole of his salary, to meet an emergency. It
is not uncommon to hear men, even preachers of great pre-
tensions to holiness and zeal, denounce a j>astor, who views
"the very dust of Zion dear" to him and "spends and is
spent " for " the house of his God." 8uch an one is ready
to cry, "secular," while he is too slothful or lifted up with

f)ride to assist in the work. In his own way he "magnilies
lis office." In order to success in the Master's work where
all the surroundings are hostile to Presbyterianism, God-
fearing-men as pastors in New England have often to do
this. Mr. Childs did it, until his health failed antl for
years afterward. In the meantime, he preached the gos-
pel with a majesty, which nothing but " sound doctrine"
could produce, until the autumn of 18G5, and while he
was forced to leave a debt (i)rinci])ally for repairs) of S2,OU0
on a church estate worth $25,000, 250 persons had been
received into the communion of the church during his
ministry.

He also took especial care of the youth, aiding and en-
couraging promising young men to enter the ministry.
"The customs of the churches" overtook him in l(St)l,
when the introduction of instrumental music led to the
withdrawal of between thirty and forty members. The
Rev. Dr. Childs became a theological professor in Hart-
ford, and afterwards at Wooster, Ohio.
To the Vixant church the Rev. John Aspinwall Hodge

IN NEW ENGLAND.

383

proacliod on tho first Sal^bafh of Jai^unrv, and* was in-
stall«;(l on May 2(1, l.S()(). That '"the a<ie " liiis bccnnic ox-
tensivt'ly " niatorial," is shown by many places of worship.
In their structure, while entirely to future ages an ana-
rhronisni, (Jothic arches have l)econio increasingly in
l)uilJing (not as tbrnierly an house of praverj but a repro-
duction of some of the })ile8 of " the middle ages," called
cathedrals. This taste is found even in "the land of
steady habits." Plis people had now "a ])lain comforta-
ble brick building well adapted to their wants, and capa-
ble of seating some 7oO people." As is customary on the
settlement of a new pastor, it required some repairs and
embellishments. To be abreast of the extravagance "of
the times," Mrs. J. W. offered $5,000 towards a new
house. This otter was i)resented to the trustees, one of
whom, on finding that in the market their building would
bring l)Ut 8b3,000, gave for it $17,500.

On February 28th, 1868, they dedicated their chapel.
So much for seventeen years of their history.

During these years (from 184o till 1S08) a church in
New Haven was received by the Presbytery of Connecti-
cut from a Classis of the Reformed Dutch church.

The date of its organization, the field which it occupied,
the influence which it wielded, the manner and time of
its extinction are facts which the writer has not the means
to know. The doctrine and form of government would
make it an exotic in that nursery of " New England
theology."

Being remote from its own ecclesiastical kindred, it ap-
pears to have been transfc" ^ in the hope that it might
be perpetuated to " contenu earnestly ibr the faith," but
with Tarifl'ville it has finished its course.

The same mav be said of Deep River, which was organ-
ized July 27th, 1850.

The First Presbyterian chn^'ch of Stamford was organ-
ized by the Third Prcsl)ytery of New "I'ork, February 2()th,
1853. The pastors have been the Rev. J. Leonard Corning,
April 19th, 1858, till October 15th, 1850. The Rev. Robert
R. Booth from Mnrch 4th, 1857, to February, 1801. Rev.
Dwight K. Bartlett from April 14th, 1802, till February,
1804. The Rev. Samuel P. Halsey from March 8th, 1805,
to February 7th, 1867.

i r-

iff

884

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

Bridgeport. On October Ifitli, 1853, in tin's city, eirrhty-
two pc^rsons, who iiad witli<lr;i\vn I'rotn tin; Second C()n;:;re-
gational churcli, entered into a ehnrcli relation, and re-
<|Uested the I'reshytery of New York to receive them under
its care. They were so received, und their lirst ])astor, the
.Rev. Nathaniel Hewitt, 1). D., was in.stalled October .'>lst,
in that year. Tiu; IJev. Horace G. Hinsdale was installed
associate pastor October 2<Sth, 18G2.

The Rev. Dr. Hewitt died February 3d, 18G7, in the
seventy-ninth year of his ago.

The first church edifice was dedicated Aujrust 8th, 1855.
It Wvis burnt and rehuiit in its present beautiful form.

By the Fourth Presbytery of New York, a church was
organized in Darien on November 4th, 18(33. Its first pas-
tor, the Rev. James \\ . ('oleman, was ordained and in-
stalled on March -Ith, 18(14, and continues pastor ' the
end of this quarter of a century.

In Bridgeport a (Jerman Presbyterian church was organ-
ized in 18G5 by the Presbytery of Connecticut. It was,
after a icw years, dismissed, to ])lace itself under the care
of the German Relbrmed churcli.

In 1853. the Rev. Ji. R. Allen, previousl}^ a pastor in a
Congregationalist church in South JSerwick, in Maine, was
called to the pastorate of New Boston, N. H. He was
afterwards, until his death, pastor of an orthodox church
in Marblehead. "Valiant lor the truth," be reunited with
the Presbytery, so that if voted out by "the spirit of the
age," and ; breed " to go West," a certificate from a clerk
of a Presbytery would to him be of five-fold more value
(as his compeer, the Rev. Dr. Cam))bell, informed me)
than a dismissal in " (,'ongregational form." He " fought
a good fight and kept the faith."

The cburcli in Thonii)sonvillc prospered until 1845,
when they found, that while they were Presbyterians, the
circumambient "customs" of New England must receive
liomage. A town -meeting in Berkeley, Mass., bad de-
clared, in 1733, that "an organ is an instrument of the
devil for entrap]>ing men's souls" (/^^r.), but since 1827,
the orthodox Old vSouth church in Boston (which wanted
but one vote, in 1809, to carry it and its wealth, with all
the others in the city, into Unitarianism), had led off to
the organ, and it had been preceded and followed just so

IN NEW p:ngland.

385

and ro-
ll \inil(T
5tor, the

)ev :nst,

.nstalled

1, in the

th, 1855.
or in.
urch wfis
lirst pas-
L and in-
or ' the

iTas organ-
. It was,
r the care

far and so fast, as "advanced tliouglit" had diversified
taste and iiuTrascd cidtnr(>.

'i'he mother orthodox or^^an was bnilt at the above date
in Lon(h)ii, and srt U|> in Uuston. It cost ^7,<HH), and not
a few of the ('(in^rcuationaHst churclics had now, in 1^45,
so far reached manhood, as to "put away the cliihUsli

thii

los

sin^in^- psahns to God with firacc." Rcjoicinj^
in the i)ahuhnn of the 18U Psahns " imitated," and other
'• enticinu' ^vords of man's wisdom," they, accordinji to their
wealth, must have the con(hnient of instruments. The
viol, hass-viol, or cornet did not cost much, and were usu-
ally the inoneers to the soul-trap of the lierkeley men. So
it was here. Tin; choir, forming- oftentimes, if not always,
the most ellective force, Ibrtlnvitli jtetitioned " the session
for permission to introduce an instrument" — "a bass-viol,
or two."

When tlie session would not grant this, they and those
in sympathy had three elders added to tlu; session. "Tiie
])arty in the session o|)])osed to the use of instruments re-
frained from voting," and the choir were triumphant.
This flank movement was lawful, as the Old School (Jen-
cral Assend)ly had three.' months before "left to each ses-
sion the arranging and conducting of the nnisic." It A'as
also one remove towards Presbytca'ianism. The rulers and
not the ruled were the voters whom the choir governed.

On the lirst Sabbath in Sei)tend)er, 1S4'), "ji bass-viol"
was "promoted" (Judges ix. 18) oj)positc to their pulpit,
and began to "cheer CJod and man." The new movement
was connnenced, and as the hymn was ])resented on, in,
with, or, by, the " thing without life-giving sound," a scene
in miniature, similar to that which was presented on May
23d, 1848 (when the disrupted ministers left the Kirk
Assembly and sang their psalm to the tune of Balerma as
they enteretl Tanlield Hall), was now enacted.

The congregation were generally seated, the choir had
placed themselves in the front gallery ; and as the violinist
drew his bow, and the holy sounds began to go forth in
the ])relude, the senior elder, Robert Galbraith, wlio was
tall and, as the Scotch say, " black-aviced," turned his
head over his shoulder, looked at the artists and then at
the door. But a le\v weeks betbre this day, the annual
subscription for the support of the gospel had been taken,
25

386

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

and as he found himself and his associates vanquished in
"tliis lioly war," he with(h'ew under a franu' of nnml
known only to those wliose "liearts tremble for the ark of
God." (ISam.iv. I'D

While tliey did not dance, they moved to and from the
music, and in a few minutes above four hundred dollar^i
of the salary was outside of the church. A iiu'cting was
called ibr the next evening, Se])tember 8th. To one, iickl
on the 11th, a paper, settinjij forth their grievances, was
reported, and on the 15tii they formed a "society" for
worshij), appointed a conmiittee to aj^ply for ])reacliin,ii; to
the Associate Kclbrmed Presbytrry of Nvw York, bciian a
subscription to defray expenses and jirovided for a weekly
prayer-meeting. On the lUth of October they asked for an
organization. This })aj)(>r came lielbre that court Decem-
ber 9th. The l\ev. William McLaren, then of New York,
was api)ointed to organize on the 22d. Si\ty-four certiii-
catcs were presented, and ten were admitted on ])rofessi()n.
Four elders were installed, and on DeccMuber 2.'>(1, lS-15,
the second Presbyterian church in that town had "a name
to live." They were "a peculiar })ct)j)le." They had en-
joyed their P>il)les and their catechisms, and the "sweet
psalms" in their families, but, not as yet, these last for
seventeim years in the sanctuary.

This "anatomy of the soul" (Cal.) went to the very
depths of their emotions when the first j^salm in their ser-
vice of song, the <S!)th, was announced — "(Jod's mercies I
will ever sing." As Mr. McLaren read his selection and
repeated this line, their feelings were poured forth in tears.
The aged and the middle-aged, men and women, wcj)t
through the first stanza. They then "sang with the spirit
and with the understanding, although, j)robably, not with
taste and harmony." To them, lor many years, the Con-
necticut had been as " the rivers of Babylon " were to the
captive Jews in their day. But now the scene was re-
versed. After the use for seventeen 3'ears of the songs of
the land, they could now jiour out their souls unto Jeho-
vah, and express to him, as "the fruit of their lips," their
every conscious emotion in liis own hymns. They were
"merry," and few now can aj)proximatc the a])preciatioii
with which they sang as they " went on their way re-
joicing."

li^inEfi

IN NEW ENGLAND.

887

oui the

jes, ^vas

•Inivjj to

I wiH'kly
.,1 Inr ;m
, Dccciu-

.'\v York,
IV certili-
i-otV'SSum.
>:;a, lS-15,
" a wiuue
^' bad en-
^e '' sweet
c last for

the very
tlioir ser-
lueveies I
.'tion aiul
li in tears,
lien, NVi'i't
the sin^*'

h sones

By the appointment of Presbytery the Rev. Peter Gor-
don jn'eaclied to them from .huuiary imtil ^hiy, 1846.
This separation from tlie other church was not temporary.
"The determined spirit of one ])arty and the (k'cidcd con-
victions of the other, made an ai^reemcnt impossibk;."

Jn buihUnii an house of worshij), they found no sympa-
thy at lirst from the com])any, nor from those around
them ; even athnission for tlie measurement of the lirst
cliurcli buildinuj was refused to their connnittee.

They formed a chiss of operatives, which the cornoration
couhl not advantageously spare, and for the nominal sum
of one dollar from them they afterwards obtained a lot.
Their building was opened i'or worship on August olst,
184G. A call extended to the llev. P. Gordon was by
him, on June 18th, acce]>ted.

Thus, within a year afu-r the first tune was played to
please those who had, as they said, ''denied themselves the
pleasure to acconnnodate you,"* an organized church had
built a good meeting-house, called a pastor on a salary of
$500, and had added more than twenty to its membership.
Mr. Gordon continued i)astor of the church until May 11th,
ISol, and 130 })ersons were admitted during this period.
In tiiat year the carpet company failed. The mills were
closed for nearly two years, so that many had to go else-
where for subsistence. Though thirtv were admitted to the
church in the next three years, when they had no pastor,
yet the increase was less than the oflsets by deaths and re-
movals. ''The bread of life" was, however, to them pre-
cious, and Avliile they honored the faces of five elders who
had great boldness in the faith, to enjoy it in the midst of
all their trials, they called jNIr. James McLaughlin and
promised to him a salary of $G00.

This he accepted, and on the 12th of September, 1854, he
became their pastor. During his incumbency of less than
three years, seventy-four were " added to the church." The
spiritual condition of his Hock was good, yet, on June 10th,
1857, at his own request, Presbytery released him, and he
returned to Ireland.

* Here was an honest confession, tliat, in playing their bass viols and
orgrn, it was not '."or the glory of Uod, nor the honor of Christ, nor the
salvation of souls, but for their own personal and social " pleasure."
"We denied ourselves the pleasurCj to accommodate you," that is, to ac-
commodate your consciences.

388

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

(: I

On July 17th, 1858, the Rev. John M. Heron was called,
and on November ITtli he was installed. At the opcninp;
of the civil war not a few of the young and middle-aged
men enlisted. Two of the merchants in the village belonged
to the church. One of these sold liquor, Avhich brought a
standing discord between him and tlie pastor. The other,
foreseeing that he would have to sell to the uncm])l()ycd,
now urged the pastor to resign, as the war would be of long
duration and the people "could not," as he said, ''supi)ort
preaching." lie brought an elder to press this argument
upon the pastor, and they were successful. While he sav\^
that the dealer had not a little self-interest in the counsel
and persuasion which he tendered to him, his nature and
principles constrained him to " rather suffer the wrong."
Whether wisely or unwiseh^, the congregation, although
with great reluctance, concurred with him in asking his re-
lease on the 11th day of June, 18G1. Mr. Heron was a logi-
cal, terse and sound doctrinal preacher, rather than a popu-
lar one. lie could not " prophesy smooth things." Under
liis ministry sixty-one were admitted to the church.

While " we know, that all things work together for good "
under the "Chief Shepherd ; " to human wisdom, when we
look back on the years of anxious and disheartening
struggle, which followed their sei)aration, it would seem
better that he had remained. lie was " much respected by
his people," and their period of trial and darkness, which
then began, was so long that only those who loved the
church and its })rinciples could be ex])ected to remain.

In January, 1864., they called the Rev. John Jamieson.
Their call he did not accept. A similar fate awaited their
call made to Mr. W. H. Torrence, on September lOtli, 1865.
They were apparently more successful with the Rev. W. B.
Sutherland, who was especially a fine speaker, and was in-
stalled on July 18th, 1866. In him they did not "entertain
an angel," but a sinner, that " destroyed much good."

For a season he concealed his slavery to strong drink, but
"it could not be kept secret." Some withdrew, and the
wonder is, that, after the trials of the past few years, the
church did not ask to be disbanded. After some ten months,
notwithstanding official admonitions, vows and pledges, he
had to resign. The pulpit was declared vacant on June 1st,
1867.

^-m^/'m

IN NEW ENGLAND.

889

1 called,

Ue-aired
clonjicd
•ou<ilit 11
ic OtlU'V,

aploycd,
c of ionu;
' support
^vcvument
Lc he savv-
c counsel
\ture and
c ^YVong."
althou«^h
ng his le-
pras a logi-
\n a popu-
^." Under

I'ch.

r lor good"

1, ^Yhen we

lieavtening

oukl seem

^pectcd by

^ess, winch

loved the

remain.

Jamieson.

uited their

19th, 1865.

Rev.W-B.

nd was in-

" entertain

food."

. drink, b^^t

kv, and the
vears, the

xm months,
i)ledges, he
m June 1st,

The congrcpration asked supply, wliich was granted, and
a call was, on December 2()tli, 1<S()7, i)resented to the Kev.
George M. Hall, which, on April 7th, 1SG8, he accc])ted.

He was not only above sixty years of age then, but also
enfeebled by a lingering disease; yet he was measurably
successful. " lie Avas an earnest, excellent man. He was
noted as a preacher, for regularity and clearness in the
framing of his discourses and impressiveness of delivery."
During his ministry of four and a half years, sixty-two
were admitted to the church. His resignation took efiect
on June 30th, 1872.

As we have seen the manner in which Thompsonville
congregation was gathered, so, during an ajipointment there,
as supply, ii- 1846, the writer embraced the opportunity of
visitinir Boston. In it then the name Presbyterian had
been ex '!t for seventeen years. And so it would have
been left, had it not l)een for the request of a man who had
previously been a slave of strong drink, but was now an
abstainer. He requested "a Scotch praeching," for he had
heard none for two years. Consequently, a small hall
(connected with the then " Lowell Institute") was ob-
tained and occupied for public worship on Friday even-
ing, March 6th.

The persons convened were to each other nearly all
strangers. A common impulse, however, actuated them,
as

" Those strains, wliich once did sweet in Zion glide,"

and which had made their parental habitations vocal, were
now employed, as they had not been in Boston (excepting by
Mr. AMnslow and other Sandemanians) since August, 1786,
and they desired to know where and liow they could be
statedly sup])lied. To an application addressed through Rev.
Dr. McCarrol, of the Associate Reformed Presbytery of New
York, eleven names were subscribed, but from it no benefit
was enjoyed. In May, from them two letters were received,
stating that if anything Avas to be done, to them the Avriter
must return, and they would " stand by him," and they
did so. Arriving on the 2()th of May, a place to meet in
became necessar}'. It was "Anniversary week," and church'
goers were in the city by thousands, so that for the time
being some halls were occupied on the occasion as dormi-

t ■ !

390

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

torief?. By perseverance, under the Divine blessing, we
obtaincil, on the seventeenth uppliciition, the use of a small
hall at oG Washington street. We advertised. The strung
man, Congregationalism, had long been quiet in his pos-
session of " the Mount Zion of the whole earth " (so called
by the Rev. Dr. King, of Dublin), and now he "awoke " to
zeal, if not " to righteousness."

On June 4th the Puritan Recorder^ the best of New Eng-
land papers, put on record :

^^ Presbyter ianism in Boston. — On Saturday it was an-
nounced that there would be public worship after tlie
Presbyterian form, at Chapman place in School street, and
all friendly to the collection of a Presbyterian church in
this city were invited to attend. Whether all such at-
tended, and who they are, we are not informed."

In another paper " New York " was represented as " su-
perintending Boston " — an audacious interference ! This
metropolis, in 1846, contained about 130,000 inhabitants.
Some of the evangelical pulpits were then occupied by men
of distinction. To omit mentioning others, such among
the orthodox were Drs. Blagden, Adams, Kirk, Watcrbury,
and especially the Rev. W. Rogers, a native of Cuernsey.
He was then a force in the pulpit there, his large church
in Winter street being usually packed ; Drs. Sharpe, Neale
and Baron Stowe, Calvinists, among the Baptists; Bishop
Eastburn and Dr. Vinton among the Episcopalians. Beside
those held statedly in the other churches, the Old South
prayer meeting, at eight a. m., wag daily open to all. A
young ladies' association met monthly, or oftener, in which
prayer was offered ; and among other ])ractical works, some
of the sermons of the Rev. James Hamilton, of London,
were, with his sanction, read. Smoking in the streets was
extensively prohibited, and in one instance a profane
swearer w^as fined. Drunkenness had not yet flooded the
city, and lager beer was then unknown in it. Our modern
gambling " hells " were watched closely by the compara-
tively small force of police. " The South cove " had then
a limited growth of " young Arabs," and but seldom was
the Irish heard in the streets. Still, vice was increasing.
The later occupants of the Huguenot Presbyterian meet-
ing-house had, in 1843, ramified into three papal churches.
With them and their increase a bishop was nestled down,

i K:i4 \

IN NEW ENGLAND.

391

ig, we
, small
strong
is pos-
i calkd
.ke " to

w Eng-

vas an-
t'ter the
eet, and
urch in
such at-

as " su-
e! This
iiibitants.
1 by men
h among
atcrbury,
jUiernsey.
•e church
[pc, Keale
; Bishop
Is. Beside
|ld South
lo aU. _ A
in which
,rks, some
Bondon,
,rcets was
profane
•odcd the
r modern
jcompara-
had then
dom was
Increasing,
an meet-
[churches.
.ed down,

while his "sisters " from tlie Somerville nunnery were com-
passing the unwary to make i)roselytes.

As ho had been instrumental in the banishment beyond
the Mississippi of the pantheist, Abner Kneeland, but a
few years buforo, Hosea Ballou was now a force in 13oston,
and the head of nearly one thousand societies of Univer-
salists in New England, while Theodore Parker was di.'*^cnt
in propagating in his "twenty-eighth Congregational so-
ciety " (Jerman Transcendentalism ; and for its nearly one
hundred and eighty societies in Massachusetts, Unitarian-
ism had wrested about ninety-six of these and their church
estates from the Trinitarians, by their parish pine board
(pew) patronage. Amidst these, beside others, who, under
the presence and by the working of " the prince of the
power of the air," formed the lower grades of civilization,
we began to gather those who were then " strangers in a
strange land." Such was the competing zeal of the city
missionaries of the leading sects in Boston, that in it we
found but three families of Presbyterians, which had not
been visited. The others did not all, however, remain
among their new friends. M'here the Shorter Catechism
and the I'salms had, by parental fidelity, been ingrained
into their minds in their youth, the choice of the worship
of the God of their fathers, when contrasted with " the
customs of the churches " in New England (excepting
where they had become entangled with social alliances), it
was not difficult to make.

Servants were sometimes allured by their employers.
"Sarah, if you don't go to my church, you may leave my
house." "Get who you jjlease, this day week, Mrs. D. ; I
will go to my own church," was the reply of a '* Derry "
girl. It had a more business air than the answer of a
"lassie," who, on return from church, Avas asked by her
employer how she liked the meeting. She had been
amongst those who were entertained with the organ, and
pensively replied : " It's an awfu' way to spend the Sab-
bath, yon."

A ease I mention where the persons were not servants.
!Mrs. T. attended the services at Park street church, enter-
ing after the organ had ceased playing, and leaving when
the sermon was done. Her husband, a man " mighty in
the Scriptures," attended at Essex street church, made ap-

392

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

1,1' '

plication for fellowship, was informed by the pastor that
he and the examining committee were now ready to receive
lifm, and replied, '' JJr. Adams, I am plad to hear that, but
1 have two questions to ask, to which 1 request positive
ansvers." Assent Avas tiiven. " Do you believe in the im-
putation of the p;uilt of Adam's first sin to his posterity?"
" I do not." " Do you beli' :e in the imi)Utation of Christ's
riiijhtL'OUsness to hispeopK.?" " I do not." "Then you
can never be my minister." Mr. T. afterwards served un-
til the day of his death, nearly twenty years, as a ruling
elder in the First Presbyterian Church in Boston. He did
not " despise his birthright."

An impediment was, during summer, encountered. The
])rejudice of race was invoked. There exists two sides to
the " Irish sea," and although it is only twelve miles Irom
the Mull of Kintyre, in .Scotland, to Fairhead, in Ireland,
yet the Scotch and Irish are not much nearer to each other
in their feelings of nationality than are the two ends of a
fiddle to each other, ^\'hen, on July 25th, the pioneer re-
turned with his family, he found this prejudice in full
operation. With their preachers (and justly) generally,
both are enamoured ; and as there Avas now a prospect of
the gathering of a Presbyterian church, individuals of each
people aimed to have one from their own side of the Irish
sea. While on the one side, as they debated the matter
from week to week, when one man wanted to " have
preaching in Boston of an high order, yes (said he), as
high as the top of the State House," he was answered that
"the preaching which they were then hearing might do in
Scotland, or out West, but it would never do in Boston."

This speech, made l)y an f)rthodox adherent, if not a
member, an admirer of Channing, while in harmony with
the other as to the honiage due to the sensibilities of Bos-
ton " culture," stranded their enterprises on " the rociv of
(Uvision."

The Hibernian held the Scot at bay, and although the
wisdom of the author of the " Conllict of Ages " was
invoked, which, lest Presbyterianism might obtain a foot-
hold in "the Mount Zion of the whole (^artii," was cheer-
fully given, yet only on condition tliat when the foreigner
should come he must be identified with the said gentleman
and his Association.

T""^

IN NEW ENGLAND.

893

By their agitation " a mixed miiltitiide " of five persons,
Episcoi)alians. J^aptists and Orthodox, slon,<ihed, and the
pioneer was allowed for a time to proceed in his " work of
tiie ministry," To him, on the first Sabbath in October,
o])position l)ecame a reality. A Mr. John Fisher, wlio
liad been dei^^adcd from tiie Presbyterian ministry for for-
nication, and who hailed from the Socinian Presbytery of
Armagh in his native land, had a hall oi)ened in Boston.

When the Unitarians or Arians in Ireland were cast out
by the Synod, they associated themselves and laid claim
to all the ])owers of ordination, of which they had been
judicially deprived.

On his first Sabbath only seven of his nationality
attended the Presl)yterian place of worsiiip. For months
his eloquence drew large audiences from the floating popu-
lation of the city, and while financially assisted b}^ ri(;h
Unitarians, as well as by some of his own countrymen, he
declared tiiat he did "not want the co-operation of any
Trinitarians." This fleshy and " lleshly " man "finished
his course " here in twenty-five months, and then went to
Cannelton, in Indiana.

After fourteen months' labor, on the 18th of July, 1847,
the writer was insttdled as pastor of the church which ho
had been instrumental in gathering. His work was
lal)orious. His peojile, living in Boston, Charlestown,
Uhelsea, Cambridge, Brookline, Iloxl)ury and Dorchester,
he had almost literally to "go out into the highways and
compel them to come in." Then, before the introduction
of iiorse cars, excepting some ])onderous omnibuses on a
ft'w streets, his common mode of locomotion was " the foot
and walker " line.

Six years of prosperity, spiritual and outward, were
granted to the congregation, and if it only could have ob-
tained a church edifice, it would soon have become a force
in the city.

As an exotic, its hired halls, and simple Scriptural wor-
ship were not entertaining to those who thought it good to
be where they could "rejoice at the sound of the organ"
(Job xxi. 12). Ui)on the use of the varied means of grace
the Divine blessing extensively rested. Parents wci'e
measurably faithful to their vows, the i)rayer-meeting and.
Habbath-school were well attended, and " the house of
God " was not " forsaken."

i ■

i; I

394

HISTORY OP TRESBYTERIANISM

■ f'-^^-m

Hi-

■ "»'• (1

Still, a chanpje came. "While a true Presbyterian can say
with Calvin, "Nobody has y:3t aj)pcare(l who could ])rovo
that wo have altered any one thing which (Jod h;is com-
manded," yet, being men "of like passions with others,"
they at times ljecon)e extensively influenced by their sur-
roundings. Amoiig })ers(jns coming from Scotland, Ire-
land, varied British colonics, tiie Mitldle and other States,
from local habits, in the exercise of religious liberty, I'ric-
tion must necessarily ensue, and the first i)crmancnt " rock
of division" was our ignorance of "the Aughinsaugii
Bond." Dis])utati()n and separation began and continued.
In April, 18')o, it was deemed advisable to open a station
in East Boston.

In June, 1853, some families of the Reformed Presbyte-
rians resident in Boston, were, upon request, visited by the
Ilev. Mr. Stevenson, of New York, their manner of meeting
in " society " was established, and in due time the Rev. Mr.
Lawson (from New Brunswick) took charge of them as
stated supply.

While these divisions gleaned the field more thoroughly,
the}'' induced weakness. This was done, especially, by
lowering the standard of discipline. Towers of refuge were
now opened to delinquents, and another division was, in
the autunm of 1853, made by the api)lication of it. An
obstinate man was visited by a committee of the session.
While he acknowledged (what he could not deny) his oc-
casional drunkenness, he raged because one of the elders
who visited him was an Irishman. Tl.is he considered
unpardonable, " that a man of that nationality should rule
a Scotchman," and he sought relief. By consorting with
two of his countrymen, also lovers of strong drink, he with
them projected the importation of some one from their na-
tive land, and events concurred to prosper the enterprise.
In the congregation one man had been elevated to tlie
eldership who was more than full of zeal for the Free
Church of Scotland. He became exasperated when per-
sons from the Kirk applied for membershij). "You are
residuaries ; rcsiduaries, there are no Cliristians in the
residuary cluirch " was the note on which he harped.

After due examination of an unusually intelligent indi-
vidual from the Kirk for membership, to the reception of
,whom he made obstinate refiistance, the other four elders

IN NEW ENGLAND.

895

can say
I pvovo
LS com-
jthers,"
uir sur-
ud, Ire-
i- States^,
L'tv, iVic-
it " rofk
linsau^h
ntinued.
I station

?resbyte-

id by the

[ meeting

Uev. Mr.

them as

told him tliat " cither thoy would rcsifjn or he must." lie
left, and soon found in the above-mentioned men suitable
association, and they must now have a church. Commenc-
ing by applying to the Rev. Dr. Forrester, of Halifax,
N. S., they were by him informed that the writer was
" competent to minister to all the Presbyterians in lioston."
David Thompson then renewed their apj)lication, signing
it as a ruling elder. They were then referred to the Rev.
Dr. Bonar, of Kdinburgh, whose first letter they could not
read, only "there was a minister coming."

Another application was answered in ]ilain handAvriting,
and it was reverberated by the CHohe of Toronto, that " the
Scotch in Boston were about to have a Secjtch minister."
He came on the 9th day of December, 1853.

Notwithstanding this force of com])etition the First Asso-
ciate Reformed church prosjjcred until secession was inaugu-
rated. After long overtures between the Associate and the
Associate Reformed churches, the one of which sang the
Psalms of David and the other sang David's Psalms, a
union was consununated on May 2Gth, 1858. Into this the
First church of Boston (while continuing an integral ])art
of the Associate Reformed Synod of New York) heartily
entered, and since that date the denomination has been
designated the United Presbyterian Church of North
America.

The May anniversaries in Boston of the Congregational-
ist family have been mentioned, and while attending the
Unitarian one in Federal street church on a Wednesday
evening in 1847, the attention of the writer was especially
arrested by an episode.

In what would have been called in Trinitarian churches
" a narrative of the state of religion," the speakers here pre-
sented their sectarian groAvth. One from Portland had
encouraging things to say, and was succeeded by the Rev.
Mr. B., from Baltimore. He was all aglow, and while set-
ting forth ills attachment to the shade of Channing, assured
his audience that tidings from that s})ot, since their last
anniversary, had made his " heart heavy." " I heard (said
he) that this, our holy and beautiful house, was to be sold
and given to merchandise, and my heart sunk .vithin me.
Upon making inquiry I found it was not so, and my heart
rejoiced, for this is our holj and beautiful house in which

;' \

■ t

396

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

■J

' »■

our fatliors wors]»i|)po(l, and here a Chnnning breathed and
hiinu'd." When he had thus eonchided, a most stran},'o
expression of countenance was seen iVoni the IVont of the
side ;;alK'ry over much ot the house, and a most ominous
jsilenee rei^zned lor an unusual period of time. The regular
course of spei'ch-making was arrested until relief eanie
from Deacon S., who gave to them three sentences in Latin,
assuring those who coukl untlerstand him 'Hhat the land
was entailed and could not be sold." This i)r(jduced a halo
unmistakable upon the countenances of the audience, and
their conference was resumeth

In May, 1S4S, in tiieir anniversaries, nothing of this na-
ture could be heard, and after much consideration for
months, the matter was suljmitted to John C Adams,
Esq. His father, who led tlie trials against the Masons iu
the A[organ ease, was well known as " Old Harry " Adams,
of Canandaigua, N. Y., and he himself had filled the chief
chair in tiie Law School in Harvard University p/'o tna. for
ten months. He knew that the occupants had i»roposed to
sell it, but could not give satisfactory title. When his copy
of the deed as found in the registry was presented to Ilufus
Choatc, showing its design, as we have ])reviously seen,
solelv for Presbyterian use forever, he, after examination,
declared, " If you had one-half of Boston, you could not
make a better deed."

As the landed estate from the third Wednesday in Sep-
tember, 1783, had de jure tiW now and de facto till 178G, be-
longed to the Associate Reformed congregation of Boston
under the Synod of New York, as it was the gift of a por-
tion of his substance to Almighty God by John Little, the
owner, in 1735, to be enjoyed l)y those of like faith until
the end of time, the beneficiaries, to whom it was Cby one
of the most solemn transactions known among men in the
alienation of property) conveyed under the brc^ad shield of
British civilization, where " conscience " has not become
" seared as with a hot iron," were bound from generation
to generation to prevent the perversion of the trust from its
charitable use.*

* Seven men in 1854 declared under their corporate oath that it was a
"species of property which was not the subject of any exchangeable or
marketable value," because it was set to the use of religion.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

397

Actinj; under tliis hcliof, for our property, wc ontorod
Buit. Jiut, bc'l'oro (loin;; so, wc nMiuuvd lo liuvo an Attor-
ncy-Clcncnil of the Connnonwealtli appointed, as the then
existing ran^^e of ecjuity was inad('(|uate i'or our case.
Nothing of tliis nature, and ])rol)a'tly no ease of e(|ual
uia^niitude and importance had jireviously been tried in
Massachusetts.

Tliis appointment, by lol)l)ying a little, our counsel,
^Ifssrs. Choate and Adams, obtained.

An Act to establish an Attorney-deneral was approved
by the Governor on May 1st, 1S4I). "Section 8th. He is
to suj)ervis(> all fuiHN I'or jtublic charities."

We j)roved our identity and the manner in wliich, in
Septendx'r, 17(So, said congregation, with their trust, eamo
to the Presbytery at Peterboro, N. II. When served with
a leiral notice of our claim, th(> fact did not astoni.;h tho
occupants so much as how we ol)taini'd our information.
Tins was to them a surprise. To a sermon ])rcachc(l by
the Ivcv. Dr. CMiaunin^f at the ordination of the Rev. Ezra
Stiles (lai.nctt, on .June 3()th, 1^2-^, when jirinted, was
added by hitn "A Memoir of the Federal Street ("hurch
and S<x'iety.' The sermon was reprinted in Enp;land, but
the memoir 'vas not. In the libraries in Boston could be
found co])ics of the Enirlish edition of the sermon, but not
one of the Boston edition with tlu; memoir. They saw,
after it was })ublished, that common honesty would say,
" This is Presbyterian j)ro])erty." Hence, as it could do
them anything; else ])ut good, the circulation being almost
wholly among Unitarians, they concealed and suppressed
the memoir.

The watchful eye of Adams, who had advised us to buy
a pew in said church, so as to have good standing in the
corporation, however, found one of the concealed copies.
This surprised them. Their greatest advantage, however,
lay in the possession of our records. Not the records of
the session, for these at times registered human delinquen-
cies in relation to the reproduction of the species, which,
while they were not under the control of the members of
this " religious society," did some of them no honor, and as
John Huss and Jerome of Prague met " a warm reception "
from the Council of Constance, so, the immaculate doc-
tor sent these "forth to the light" where no chemical

« ,

398

niSTORY OF PRKSnYTERrANISM

Pi 1

skill could roprodncc tho patios. This statcmont was
HKido 1)V the Kt'V. Dr. Giinnclt to tho Ucv. Dr. Alexander
W. Mc("'lun".

While the suit was in prou'vess our counsel were promised
by theirs access to the husincss records uf the cougrcjjfatitjn
from 1774 till 1803.

These, when they had boon inspected by the occupants,
for them only made hi'd worsi-, and in order to make
a clear (hnilaratiou by way of denial in relation to the pos-
session of them, the ex|)edient of carryinj^' them across tho
stre(!t was adoi)t(tl. 'hiey were no longer in Unitarian
I)ossession, but were placed " in safe<iuard " in the iron safe
of an adherent of the New Jerusalem ('hurch. This fjavo
scope to the actor, their junior counsel. Wlien the writer
called for them other volumes were produced from a
trunk, and when it was saiil, " None of these is the riyht
one," tho gentleman's face took awry shapes.

He was " sorry to say it was once there, but it was not
now. It was f2;ono." When asked if there liad boon any
lire in the buildin*:; to have destroyed it, he said, " None in
his apartment." The incjuiror did not then comprehend
tho emotions of soul which wore now playing contortions
on a usually jdeasant countenance.

At trial, the actor's allidavit was put thus on record:

" When 1 next, after some months, went to the trunk
(containintij the books and i)a})crs of tho society), it Avas in
search of said quarto MSS. volume; but to my ,<;reat sur-
prise and annoyance it was not to bo found in tho said
trunk, nor after tho most diligent search and in(iuiry has it
ever been found since.

" Its disappearance is entirely inexplicable to me, and I
cannot recall the least hint or clue which might lead to its
recovery.

" During the interval which elapsed between my return-
ing the trunk to Mr. B., and my subsequent recurrence
to it, I should have boon willing to swear, that tho said
volume was, with the other books and records, in tho said
trunk, and my astonishment at not finding it was equal to
the confidence with which I expected to find it. G. S. H.

" Boston, Fel)ruary 28th, 1854. Sworn to before me, S.
B., Justice of the Peace."

This oath was taken, we are not told by what. While,

IN NEW ENGLAND.

899

^i was
xiindcr

■oiuisci

(.'gatiDU

•upants,
() luako
llu; pos-
•rorts the
uitavian
iron sale
his ^avo
10 writer
I'roiu a
the right

, -was not
boer\ any
'' None in
inprohcnd
ntortions

L'cord :

,ho trunk
it was in
rcat suv-
tho said
iry has it

and I
lead to its

|y rcturn-

-currcnco

the said

equal to

g! S. II.
ire me, S.

While,

amonp: Trinitarians, "an oath forms the adamnntino chain
•\vhieh hinds the inte^irity of man to the ihrone of (Jod,"
tiiis one was perfectly safe; not only as to any fear of his
"appearing at the judijtnent-seat of Christ" {'2 Cor. v. 10),
hut hy the manner in which tin- expectation of the depo-
nent was (>clipsi'(l hy his astonishnu-nt resiing on his con-
fidence. IJis astonishment, his expectation luul confi-
dence were un([Ucstionably equal.

"When truth into the earth was born,
Slie crept into ii liinitin;,'-horn,
The liinitiT came, a lilnst was hlown,
J!iit wliere trntli went was never known."

Hero was, in the opinion of tho clerk of the court, the
turninii-point in the trial. " Tlu! man who spirit(>d away
vour records was the one who caused you to lose vour
case.

These records have lon<? since been taken to Arlinp;ton
Street church, and, to assist in the pr(^paration of these
annals, ins counsel were informed that the writer could
"have access to tliern, if ho would promise not to use their
contents against our sjioilers."

As to the allidavit, there was no poriury in makinp^ it.
Tho expectation and astonishment wcrc^ precisely e(pial,
iind wore regulated by the facts on which his contidenco
rested. He was " fully persuaded in his own mind." He
told the truth, if not tho wiiole truth. Tho records woro
ronioved, as hero stated, hut some iViend mi<j;ht jKissibly
have done for him the carryiufr when he did not know the
time of transit nor tho ])laco of doi)osit.

After hoarinti tho allidavit, ^Ir. Clioato addressed tho
deponent. " ^Nlr. II., I do not dcsiro to have any un-
])leasantncss here, but, I ask, as tho records were removed,
do you think that they were abstracted by my clients?"
"Oh, no," was tho reply. A facetious smile played over
the countenance of tho elotjuont man when ho received
this reply to his (juestion.

An earnest trial l)y tho al)]est tident at the Boston ])ar,
of a most extensive and elaborate cuiso, roachin<? into a
variety of facts and fundamental principles in law, lasted
four days. R. H. Dana, Jr., whose forte lay in ships and

: f

§.

400

HISTORY OP PRKSBYTERIANISM

h!<l'l'' Lid

fe'--:

churches, occiipiod a part of two dnys, wliil(> Riifus Choate
spoke contiimouslv I'or three liours and ten minutes with
a cknirness and an earnestness peculiarly his own. Tiic
repiv of the senior counsel for the det'eiKhuits, while )»ro-
found in conij)arisou with the "ulitterinu; ^-eneralities " of
liis junior, was entirely distanced l)y the "dialectical suh-
tleties " of the Chief-Justice, an Unitarian of the Unitari-
ans, who was unwillint^ to allow others on the Jieiich
heside him to express their opinions, especially Judjre
Metcalf lie was an Ji]piscopalian, and had delivered tlie
0])inion of the same Suiireme Court in the J>oy]ston case,
in which it was dcn-reed, that the theoloiiies of the Trinita-
rians and Unitarians are so irreconcilal)ly dilVerent tliat
funds given to support the one are totally }K'rverti'd and
misapplied when used to su]>port the other. I'his Avas a
case in which an Unitarian fund was em})loyed to supi)ort
TrinitiuMan preacihinti;, and it reverted to the d(*si,<jjn of th(!
donor l)y that decision, as in all equity it should. Not so
now. The Unitarian's hull was all riuht when the Trinita-
rian's ox was tfored and the value returned ; hut now, "it
is your ox which has <rored my hull." Your decision then
is now inoperative, as 1 an* greater than you are.

This must not rc^vert, as we will see, hy the holdinirs
(of the Chief-Justice, in this case, called), "the court."
In reading and talking his d<>cision, which he accom-
plished in two hours and ten minutes, he let esca|)(^ some
curious utterances, Wlicn on(^ of these was repeated to
Mr, Choate, who was not ])resent, his solenni countenance
and penetrating eye hecame peculiarly his own, and in
tones, such as he alone could utter, exclaimed, " It is a
lie."

While, said Mr. Dana, " If I could only prevail on tlio
Chief-Justice to helievc, that there existed any spiritual
])()wcr, whidi a bishop or a Presbytery could exercise, I
could win the case, but I might as well try, with an etiual
hope of success, to run my head through that brick-wall
as do so. He can see nothing beyontl men and nunil>ers."
This was so. To imagine, that a man denying all J)ivine
or supernatural revelation, exce])ting (1 Tim. ii.5) "There
is one God, and one ]\Iediator between Cod and men. the
man Christ Jesus," could see, believe, realize, or achnit
that those acting under the power, by the authority and

IN NEW ENGLAND.

401

Choate

Lcs with
11. Tho
lilc ]^\'o-
tic's"()t'
iral sul)-
Uiiitari-
e lU'iu'h
y ,lu(l^e
cved tiio
Aow c:\s(>,

rcnt tlnit
'Vted uiul
his was a
o siipi^ort
i<vn of the
[ Not so
ic Trinita-
t now, '' it
nsion then

> holdinirs
lie couvt."
[le acconi-
eapo some

'1'

itod t(

nntevianec

:n, an(

I in

>.' I

t IS a

»in

■ail on tho
tuul
I
I
U

• xin-cistv
li an 0(1 via
|ln-ii'k-wa"_^
ninnliovs. '
11 Divine

There

men. tnc

or admit

hority tm^

in the name of God the Son were a reality, would be an
iin])ossihility. His exercise of Ids own species of logic
Ibrhado Idm to boHin-e him, who "spake as never man
spake" when he said, "i\ll power in heaven and uj)on
earth is given unto me." The criticisms given to tlio
man, wlien the Bench retired to their room, were not pub-
lic pro])erty, but they eK))ressi'd with finding tlie opinions
of the judges i)resent (Dewey, Metcalf and Bigclow), in
view of such a decision.

One of them, an Unitarian, insinuated the wrong of the
opinion, not only because the projierty was Presbyterian,
but because, in 1735, as Unitarians tliev coukl not even
liave had liberty to hold Unitarian opinions, or, as he said,
to walk the streets of Boston, as it was blasphemy down
till A. D. 178(5, in Massachusetts, to deny the doctrine of
the Trinity. Metcalf, in view of what was supposed to be
settled by the decision of the court, delivered by himself,
in the Boylston case, felt outraged. Ho razeed his 0])inioii
as ])ublislied in the Daili/ A<lr('iii.'<('r, and it rested iinally
in its present shai)e, as report(Ml in the od of Gray.

Wiien the decision was [)ul)lished it stirred up "the re-
mainders of conscience " where they existed. Hence,
wrote one from Newburyport, who could investigate and
thoroughl}'- discriminate in the case, "I regret to sec, that
the Unitarian intluenco has again been too strong for jus-
tice in the case of your church. However, the Lord rules,
and the day of truth's vindication cannot be postponed
forever. This ' Liberal Christianity,' so called, has been,
from its birth, the nmst intolerant species of Deism ever
known. And, with regard to tho pure truth, the only
gospel of salvation, modern Congregational orthodoxy is
fast hastening to the same unenviable })osition. More and
more am 1 convinced that God will punish the ])roud
boastings of New ]']ngland. I trust a renmant may be
saved, but by })resent ap})oarances it will be a very small
renmant."

As thei'o remained " som(^ Puritan conscience" in some
of tho occupants, they did not fully suppose that tluy
owned the ])r(Mnises b(>vond men^ ()C('Ui)ancv, even with
the '■ held " of their own Chief-.) nstice ; some were actually
willing to return it to the Presbyterians.

In after time meeting after meeting (when they were
26

402

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

■

%•:'

II^HI''.

•

- ' 1

^Hl

^H;

p5 ,

^H:

^^^H

f ;

■,

able to brin'g together a majority of their pewholders) -wag
lield, to find out what to do. At length, as was done in
1805, by the Trinitarian occupants, in the perversion of
the trust, the majority invoked the Legislature, and being
reputed in the street, as a society, to be wortli twenty-two
millions of dollars, whetlier this had any inlluence or not,
the desired enactment or resolve in due time, on May 15th,
A. D. 1855, was passed.

Presbyterianism, being thus "left out in the cold," hav-
ing no rights which a Congregationalist Unitarian Chief-
Justice was bound to respect, Non-Congregationalists be-
gan to think. The property of the Romish church being
held in defiance of civil authority by their bishops, felt
safe, the Episcopal Methodists, as " their people have (ac-
cording to Judge Nelson) no part in their governmental
organization and never had," their preachers holding all
their church estate, were not alarmed, but some Protestant
Episcopalians began to realize their situation.

"The Church of the Advent" had subscribed, in order
to erect the most attractive church edifice yet in the city,
one hundred and forty-two thousand dollars, and they
now paused. They saw the pine-board pew patronage
might alienate their church estate under Mr. Shaw's ruling,
and before they would proceed to build they appointed
three men eminent in the law, two of them officially fami-
liar with our case, to see if they could form a deed which
(as they put it) " the Chief-Justice could not break as he
broke Blaikie's Deed." After three months they reported
that "This could not be done." They then bought a
Methodist meeting-house for twenty-nine thousand dollars,
considering a property of this amount " enough to be put
on svheels."

At their meeting on November 12th, a. d. 1855, the
pew "proprietors " were requested to enter on their records
the "Protest" of the pew proxy, representing the benefi-
ciaries and ceMids que trmt. This they did, and while forti-
fied by both the Bench and the Legislature, they, out of
love to the spot which Channing's feet had made their
" holy ground," and fears of the I'orce of the " Protest" and
what supported it, spent four thousand seven hundred
dollars in repairing and refitting the building. On Octo-
ber 1st, 1858, they voted 62 to 11 to sell our land.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

403

irs) vras
(lone in
rsion of
1(1 beiiif;
L'nty-lwo
le or not,
lay loth,

.Id," hav-
m Chief-
alists bc-
rcli bcinf^
shops, Mt
have (ac-
crnmcntal
olding all
Protestant

J, in order
in the city,
, and they

patronage
uv's ruling,

appointed
.ially I'ami-
leed which
jreak as he
ley reported
bought a
land dollars,

h to be put

1855, the
.leir records

the benefi-

while forti-
[hey, out of

made their
>rotest" and

ni hundred
On Octo-
Ind.

After the death of Mr. Choatc, in July, 1859, and the
removal of Mr. John C. Adains to New York, the Hon.
Caleb Gushing seeing in the above decision and legislative
enactment, " a viohition of the tenth section of the fh'st
article of the Constitution of the United States," carried it
to the Supreme Court in Washington, saying, " Oh, how I
would like to have plead this case before Chief-Justice
Taney." " I do not know (said he) what there may be in
Europe, but I do know, that on this continent there does
not exist such an indirect and disingenuous decision as
that of Chief-Justice Shaw in tliis case." As our former
counsel in framing tlieir bill, h.ad inadvertently called the
occupants proprietors, while Mr. Cushing admitted this
pro tanto, or, so far as the legislative enactment to make
them such had any force in equity, and as they had not
quarrelled, the Act of June 5th, 1805, totally, he was not
allowed to be heard there, from the technical quibble of
the want of jurisdiction.

While "the destruction of the poor is their poverty," yet
Mr. Cushing, being a Presbyterian, again on behalf of the
claimants, invoked the judiciary in equity. John H. Clif-
ford, Esq., was succeeded by Stephen H. Phillips, Esq., as
attorney-general, and the occupants were by the course of
events embolde.i 'd to forsake their "holy ground," and
profane it for and with " merchandise," even while seven
men of their company, under their corporate oath, swore
that " the said premises form a species of property, which
is not the subject of any excliangeable or marketable
value." The restriction imposed on it by John Little
made it truly so. On the day of sale their junior counsel
for them oflered to the claimants twenty-five hundred dol-
lars, or about one-fifty -sixth part of its value, for a total
obliteration of all their demands and of the demands of
future generations, who might be beneficiaries. While this
would have enabled them to give a warranty deed, the offer
also evinced some " remainders of conscience." The cestui
que trust, to whom the ofl'er was made, were but a part of
the whole, either in the past or the future, and they
refused to take even Unitarian money for " the inheritance
of their fathers," which was not " exchangeable nor mar-
ketable." Naboth (1 Kings xxi.) would not sell his -'ine-
yard even for a better one, because it was entailed, luu the

» ,

404

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

offer of five thousand "shekels of the sanctuary" of
Samaria was now spurned by the lawful beneficiaries of
John Little's trust. Possession can be obtained only by
stoning Naboth, according to the counsel of Jezebel.

They did not venture to sell John Little's donation on
the lot itself. The auctioneer's othce was ])rivate property,
but ceased to be so when he announced liis business and
described in glowing colors the varied advantages of the
estate. Then a scene, which would have afibrded a happy
group for Punch, was presented. After reading all the titles
and descriptions, for " Naboth 's vineyard " here was now di-
vided into three lots, the colonel flourished his hammer.
As he began to do tliis, a protest from tiie beneficiaries,
which was handed to him, he was requested to read. At
this he raged, declaring " tliis was no ])lace to settle titles."
While no sale, no pay, he became excited for a first bid.
There were no volunteers. The property was desirable,
but capitalists remembered the nature of the title. After
a time, incredibly long, the leading one of the seven men
came from behind the auctioneer's desk and stated: "We
represent one hundred and twenty families as respectable
as any others in Boston, and we can give a warranty deed."
The "solid men" then began to breathe, and the estate
was bought by Baker, Sheafe & Weld, while the protest
damaged the sale above twenty thousand dollars.

Not only w\as a replication filed against the proprietors,
so called, but a bill of review also. And afterwards- a "sup-
plemental bill to the bill of review " was filed against the
purchasers. I have said " filed," but there are difi'erent
ways of doing some things in Boston, and the filing of this
bill was one of an extraordinary character, in keeping Avith
the concealment of our records from 1774 till 1803.

Mr. Gushing was now usually in Washington, and the
plaintifis waited long to have their case called. "The
original bill, answer, petition for review, and supplemental
bill to the bill of review," had been all printed, and for
years supposed to be in their proper place under a sworn
official. The conclusion of it ran thus :

"And your orator shall ever pray.

" C. Gushing, " Stephen H. Phillips,

" Spofford & TuTTLE. "Attorney-General.

"Attest : George C. Wilde',

''Filed March 3d, 1860. " Clerk."

IN NEW ENGLAND.

405

When counsel v;ent to inquire for said bill, petition and
review, these, like our records, could not be found. " These
bills have not been found. They seem never to have been
filed." The attestation of the sworn otficer to the fact and
to the date were placed on the document, before it was
printed, but then it was only a matter in which the reli<>;-
ious interests of Presl)yterians in all time was contrasted
with the pockets, convenience and pleasures of " one hun-
dred and twenty families, as respectable as any others in
Boston."

Such was the " Suffolk S. S." of the Supreme Judicial
Court of the Commonwealth, and, amidst all the irrev-
erence connected with doin^ so, Presbyterians should as-
suredly pray, " God save the Commonwealth of Massa-
chusetts." Contrasted with what it was an hundred years
before, it is a little shaky, so far as equity is concerned.
This long liti^^ation would not have been continued, but for
" equity and a good conscience." It never was a matter
of private interest. Hence, as we are wronged, we are
resigned, for we know that there is a "Judge of all the
earth," " a God of knowledge, and by him actions are
weighed." If the case could have been presented before
the National Supreme Court, the result would doubtless
have been diflerent. But a court established and main-
tained by the church polity of " the Bay State " theocracy
and Athenian democracy, has a logic of its own. Hence,
said the Rev. Dr. Lothrop, of Brattle Street (Unitarian)
Church, " We all know what that property was intended
for, but by the laws of Massachusetts you (Presbyterians)
can never have it." True.

With this exertion, in endeavoring to reclaim our church
estate, we did not desist. We supposed it possible (though
not probable) that " the Great and General Court " which
had, out of a Presbyterian trust, created probably the last
Congregational poll parish established in the State, might,
even in this material age, "lay judgment to the line,
righteousness to the plummet," and counteract the wrong
which, in 1805, they had done to the boneficiari(\s. Here Ave
found "mankind an unco squad." Our first petition was
referred to a committee on parishes, and " one hour was
allowed " to make men understand who we were, what we
were, whence we came, what our rights, our wrongs and

406

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

our complaints were. In that time "\ve must so make them
to "mark, learn and inwardly digest," probably the greatest
case ever considered in their Supreme Court. After an
hour broken by interruptions, they noted what pleased
them, and when we were handed over to the Legislature,
they, most graciously, gave us "leave to withdraw."

While it was simply hoping against hope, it was thouglit
the better way, in renewing our petitions the next year, to
employ the press.

Hence a plea was prepared and handed to each member
in both houses, so that if the name were not beloved by
them, they might not remain ignorant of our claims, in
their origin and character. This will be ibund as Apjien-
dix E. to this work, and we conmiend it to the intelligent
and candid reader. It eventually went through the same
"hour," the same formal presentation, and obtained the
same most gracious " leave to withdraw." I do not, how-
ever, say that the majority of them "sinned wilfully after
coming to the knowledge of the truth," for it is doubtful
if the one-half of their number read it. It had no political
significance. As a part of the " History of Presbyterianism
in New England," it will afilbrd food for thought to every
lover of our American civil institutions and liberties ; and
the matter will (D. V.) be farther noticed in our next
chapter.

We have seen that this pioneer church prospered until
secession came. The field was wide, and almost weekly
" Presbyterian strangers " were arriving. Beside stated
public worship, conducted usually three times on Sabbath,
and a week-day evening meeting, the pastor at times em-
ployed the press, not only in contributions to periodicals,
but in pamphlets and in book forms. As every man is
born an Arminian, this fact induced him to republish, in
1847, a sermon by the Rev. James B. Rcntoul, of Garvah,
on " Wesleyan Methodism and Calvinism contrasted in the
light of Divine truth, especially on the subject of Election
and the Divine Decrees."

Finding that few knew anything about the government
of the Presbyterian Church, he in the same year repub-
lished a catechism on that subject, which had been pub-
lished in Ireland in 1835 — to which he added olyections
to the system of congregational ecclesiastical polity. This

IN NEW ENGLAND.

407

them
-eutest
tcr an
leased
lature,

nought
:ear, to

nemhcr
ved hy
linis, in
Appen-
■elligent
:ie same
ncd the
ot, how-
.11 y after
doubtful
political
erianism
to every
ies; and
aur next

red until
weekly
! stated
Sabbath,
imes em-
riodicals,
man is
iblish, in
Garvah,
cd in the
Election

;crnment
lir repub-
Icen pub-
Ibiections
|ty. This

provoked the " Old School " to good works, and in 1849
the board re))ublished the original catechism of his (from
the third Glasgow edition, enhirged) ; he, in 1850, pub-
lished the fourth American edition. In lcS49 he prepared
aivtl published a manual, in the form of a catechism, on
the nature, duty, matter and manner of Praise, with an
appendix from Komaine, which reached the fourth edition
in 1854.

Where men are " set for the defence and confirmation
of the gospel," tliey have to grapple with immediate diffi-
culties and menacing oppositions, according to their specific
character. Thus, "Paul as his manner was," on Mars'
Hill, reasoned in one way, and in a different way before
the Jewish council. Hence, to classify the varied sects of
religionists by which he was surrounded, the writer pub-
lished " The Philosophy of Sectarianism," in 1854. Of this
volume, out of eighty-six reviews seen, above fifty were
commendatory, and some of them flattering, while it
awoke sectarian rancor in some bosoms. Nearly three
months after its publication, the junior partner of the firm,
Phillips, Sampson & Lee, met 3lr. McGee, the agent of
"The Methodist Book Concern " in Boston, and, in con-
versation, said : " How is it, Mr. McGee, that we havejre-
ceived no orders from you for months? " " I do not intend
to give you any more, because you have published tliat
book, 'The Philosophy of Sectarianism.'" "That is not
against you, is it? " "Yes. It is the worst book that was
ever written against Methodism, and wc have from you
withdrawn our trade."

As Mr. Phillips stated, he came to their office and said:
" Mr. Phillips, we must throw out that book," naming it.
" Why? " " Because Mr. McGee says it is the worst book
which was ever written against Methodism. He has quit
dealing with us on account of it, and his trade is to us
worth one thousand dollars a year." " If you are done,
Mr. Lee, allow me to speak. 1 am a Unitarian. I have
taken that book home and read it. You may depend U]ion
it, that if it is hard on Methodists, it is harder on Unitari-
ans. I am not ashamed to ask any man a dollar for that
book, and you can tell Mr. McGee that I will lose his trade
before I will quit selling it. It is a book for thinking
men."

i [

408

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

Of it a second edition w,as publishod in 1855. After the
union, wiiich formed "the United Presbyterian Church of
North America," the writer, for the use of Presbyterians,
published in 1860 a small work called " The Schools," and
in 1865 another on "The Organ and Other Instruments
as Noted in the Holy Scriptures."

From 1846 until 1854 the Presbytery of the bounds was
the Associate Reformed one of New York. To attend its
meetings was inconvenient and expensive. Hence, in
answer to a petition to Synod, one was constituted on July
11th, 1854, and called the Associate Reformed Presbytery
of Boston. The members composing it were the Revs.
Alexander Blaikie, James Otterson, David A. Wallace and
William McMillan.

On September 12th said Presbytery ordained Mr. James
McLaughlin, and on November 2d installed the Rev. Wil-
liam McLaren as pastor in Fall River. From year to year
in their quarterly meetings the usual business allotted to
such courts was by its members transacted, which aided
in sustaining Presbyterianism in New Elngland, In 1858
it went into the union of the Associate iind Associai Re-
formed Churches. Previous to May 5th, 1868, twenty-one
ministers had for a shorter or a longer time belonged to it.
During this period (1843-1868) we have to notice are-
turned loan — we will not say the recovery of stolen
property. One hundred and forty-five years ago in our
history we read this inscription, "Here lies ye body of ye
Rev. Mr. Peter Daille, who died the 21st of May, 1716,"
etc. This is a few rods within the gate of the Granary
burying ground, opposite to Horticultural Hall, Boston.

He had left an unblemished reputation, and to mark the
resting-place of his dust, a headstone of blue flag had been
erected.

Of some minds it attracted the attention, a. d. 1715
probably was long past, and at a period Avhen Presbyte-
rianism was probably extinct — at a time unknown to any
man now, when town officials or private proprietors were
extending the sewerage lu'low the Common, covering stone
was a cash article in Boston, and to sonic one the thought
occurred that instead of marking where a man of the
Presbyterian persuasion was buried, it would save a trifle
and make some good covering to bury the stone. This

IN NEW ENGLAND.

409

iftcr the
lurch of
>rtorians,
)ls," and
ruments

mds was
ttend its
cnce, in
. on July
•esbytery
he Revs.
lUice and

Ir. James
Rev. Wil-
ar to year
Hotted to
lich aided
In 1858
3ciai Re-
^venty-onc
ngcd to it.
itice a ro-
of stolen
igo in our
)ody of ye
Lay, 1715;'
|e Granary
Boston,
mark the
had been

lA. D. 1715

Presbyte-

Ivn to any

letors were

}ring stone

10 thou^dit

Ian of the

ive a tritle

)ne. This

showed economy and utility, besides it would prevent any
one in future by this object discovering the grave of a
Hufiiuenot. Hence it liad for generations been useful to
the town or city.

But in A. I). LSnO, in June, as men were improving or
enlarging the sewer, one struck his pick into the stone,
and wliiie unal)lc to " make ai^y thing of " tiie letters on
the fragments, his Honor Mayor Shurtlefl", although pro-
fessionally lie could not aid the case by "pouring in oil
and wine," yet he "bound up" the fragments with rivets,
and made the epita}ih legible. Being not only a rare em-
bodiment of elevated humanit}', a gentleman, but possibly
of the same "stock," this labor of love and the ex))enses
connected with it were Ijy him most cheerfully borne.
With its broken top, the stone can be readily seen through
the gate. Let Presbyterians " keep their eye upon it," so
that the ghouls may not again hide it from the light of
day.

Fall River. — Among the many advantageous sites for
manufacturing purposes in New England, this place has a
high position, ^\'ithin one-half of a mile the river falls
150 feet, almost e-very yard of which descent is appreciated
and appropriated, and to it, of course, operatives from
similar departments of industry in North Britain and Ire-
land at an early dav emigrated.

To those of the Presbyterian persuasion, in 1833 the As-
sociate Presbytery of Albany assigned a licentiate, Mr.
Chauncy Webster. How long he preached to them 's not
exactly known, but the Rev. H. H. lilair, of New York,
who was ordained in September, 1836 (some fourteen
months before Mr. Webster), taking a iriendly interest in
them, as a station, after that date visited them from time
to time.

So much progress was made that two persons were
chosen to the eldership. These the Rev. David Gordon,
supplying there by the order of the Presbytery of Albany,
ordained and organized the church. By others, sent by
the Associate Presbytery of New York, they had supplies
until 1840, when owing to the removal of the senior elder,
and the cd'ects of the commercial depression of 1837 and
onward, as employes, they became unable to sustain and
retain their organization.

410

HISTORY OF PRESnYTEIlIAMSM

11:

It is not known tliat durinp; tho next fivo years .'iny-
thins was dono towards rcsuscitatinj:; tlio cause here. JUit
in January, 184G, tlie Rev. .Ino. ]i. Dales, on visitinji a
family formerly from his charge in Philad(;lphia, wrote
thus: "Throuo;h them I soon became acquainted with our
prospects there. On Sabbath I met tho people in a
pleasant upper room. They had known the prhici])les
and practices of truth, and now fjir from anythinfj; like
either, they hungered and thirsted for the provisions of
grace. Never have I ])reached to more solemnly attentive
audiences than in that place. During the week I visited
between twenty and thirty families, all of whom are ripe
for an organization under our name, and some of those
men are men of Gody

In June the Rev. Andrew Johnston, by the appointment
of the Associate Reformed Presbytery of New York, or-
ganized them as a church. What rarely happens in such
a case, the men to " magnify the oflfice " of the ruling elder-
ship were easily found. The great difficulty was that
Presbytery had not the preachers to occupy the station.
On visiting them in August, the Rev. Wm. McLaren, of
New York, wrote : " The prospect is encouraging. The
audience on Sabbath was about one hundred and fifty.
They are resolved to go forward, and are about purchasing
lots for a church edifice." This thoy did, and while by
years of toil some of them owned their own dwellings,
■when they opened their house of worship on April 23d,
1848, " every shingle owned by the congregation was
mortgaged " to secure the builders. On June 15th, 1848,
the " Rev. Thos. G. Carver, of the Congregational Union
of England and Wales," was admitted as a member of
the Presbytery of New York. On being assigned by
Synod to their care, he was appointed to officiate in Fall
River for eleven months.

On November 30th they extended to him a call to be-
come their pastor. This he accepted January 24th, 1849.
Their n.ext movement was to exchange their house of
worship for a large and commodious one built in 1843 for
an Unitarian Baptist society. This they entered on Sep-
tember 22d, 1850. By this their debt was increased, but
BO were their hopes and energies. " Measures for the in-
stallation of Mr. Carver were deferred until the next stated

'!!•>

IN NEW ENGLAND.

411

ars any-
re. Hut
isitin^ a
a, wrote
with our
pl(; in a
)rincii)U'S
[lin^ like
isions of

attentive

I visited
11 are ripe
) of those

pointment
York, or-
is in such
aing chlor-
was tliat
he station.
cLaren, of
ging. The
and fifty,
ipurchasins
[\ Avhile by
dwellings^,
April 23d,
ration was
15th, 1848,
,nal Union
member of
isigned by
.te in Fall

, call to be-
24th, 1849.
\ house of
lin 1843 for
\ed on Sep-
[reased, but
¥or the in-
tiext stated

meeting of Prosbytory in May." "Coming events" were in
his case "casting their shadows before." With the floating
popuhition he was popuhir, but when he preached
"another gospel, which was not another," lie had in his
audience men "mighty in the Scriptures," who readily saw
that while he did not "take heed to the doctrine," ho
could not "save those who heard him."

"The fruits of righteousness, Avhich are by Jesus
Christ," withered rapidly, and in March, 184*.), he "left tho
connection informally, and united with the Methodist
Episcopal church." At Synod, in August, 1850, their
Presbytery reported, "Like the l)ush on Jloreb Mount,
this faithful church has survived what in all human ex-
pectation would have destroyed it, and at this day is in
the most encouratring position."

On June 3d, 1851, the Rev. David A. Wallace was or-
dained and installed pastor. Bringing with him energy to
his work, his diligence and foithfulness were crowned with
success. Yet he perhaps rather thought the field to be a
"pent-up Utica," and on January 17th, 1854, he was by
Presbytery removed to East Boston. This people, " cov-
eting earnestly the best gifts," next called the Rev. Wm.
McLaren, formerly pastor of Franklin street church, New
York. Over them he was installed on November 2d. He
was a ripe scholar, uncommonly well acquainted with the
Hebrew Serii)tures, a clear writer, a terse and energetic
speaker, and his sermons, even when repeated, were by
his people realized to be good. He enjoyed more than did
his ])redecessor the quietude of his study, and probably
taught less " from house to house." After a pastorate of
nearly twtdve years, he, on September 18th, 18G6, tendered
his resignation for reasons — 1st, impaired health ; 2d, the
leadings of Divine Providence; 3d, the congregation are
prospering and free from debt. The Presbytery, on Oc-
tober 18th, with great regret, granted his request. On the
28th his pulpit was declared vacant, and on April 16th,
18()7, he was dismissed from Presbytery.

His successor was the Rev. Joshua R. Kyle, who was in-
stalled on June 27th, 1807. By this date the United
Presbyterian church was agitated by the progressive spirit
of the age (to be subsequently (D. V.) presented). This it
is supposed formed the second reason of the retiring pastor

412

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

above pivcn, and with it the present incumbent was not a
little imbiiod.

While by no means equal to either of his two predeecs-
Bors in pulpit power, and in difheulty with one of his
elders, there were those who thought well of hiru, and on
April 0th, 18G9, he received a call from tlio United Prcs-
l)yterian congre^jation of Princeton, Indiana. As liis
■usefulness in Fall River was not extensively impaired,
the Presbytery refused to dissolve his pastt)ral relation.
In it he continued until 1875, when, owin<,' to the impaired
health of his wife, an estimable woman, he resigned, and
was dismissed in good standing.

In Providence, a city of great commercial wealth, as well
as of very active and successful manufacturing industries,
the enterprise of collecting a psalm-singing church was
commenced in May, 1848, and by the appointment of
Presbytery on June 25th a committee received into fellow-
ship twenty-one persons. To these, sixteen others were
added, and on August 15th Mr. Daniel Mcintosh was ex-
amined and found well qualified for the otlice of rulinp
elder. On the 16th he was ordained, and Mr. Thomas
Patton, formerly in the office in the church in Fall River,
was with him then installed. By these olliciid acts tiie or-
ganization of the cliurch was com))lete(l. For tiiree
months they were supplied with preacliing by a licentiate,
Mr. D. C. McVean.

The Rev. Joseph Robinson, received by Presbytery from
the same denomination, and at the same time with the
Rev. Thomas George Carver, was appointed to supply
them until the next meeting of that court.

Both his ignorance of Presbyterianism and his habits
operated against his usefulness. VVithout habits of indus-
try and a willingness to " endure hardness as a good sol-
dier of Jesus Christ" in such a field, success in "winning
souls " could not be very extensive. There did not at that
time exist any superabundance of laborers, and as he did
not to satisfaction fill the position, after being informed by
their Presbytery that they could not, for at least three
months, afibrd to them constant preaching, " they called a
congregational meeting and voted unanimously to petition
the Associate Presbytery of New York for supply. Tlu'V
were answered favorably, and after some time were identi-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

418

j»

ficd with tliat porsiiasion. When to n " Tvov. Dr. Jolin
ykinner, of Scothind, they ^nw n ciU, wliich lie did not
arcei)t," they in ;i short tinu; were more Huceensful with
Mr. Joseph Sanndorson. He Ix'c.iiinc their pastor. TIih
dew of his youtii and tiie heaiity of manliood were iipoii
liini. While Ins nnnistry wa.s for a time sueeessful,
eahunity overtook him. J lis hmdhidy had a dau;j;hter
who had separated, or had hi-eii se[)arated i'rom h^r iius-
hiind. Sh(! (as Mr. Saunderson supjjosed in jest) asked
liini to marry lier, and in j)leasantry he gave an aflirnia-
tive answer. When, some weeks after, she inquired, '' Mr.
Saunderson, are you ready to fulfil your promise?
" When you present the gentleman and proper papers, I
am." " You said nothing ahout ])apers ; you promised me
marriage yourself." " I never thought of sueh a thing,"
said he. The mother overhearing, doehired that she
" heard him say so, and further stated that in the event of
refusal, lie would he prosecuted." Here wius manifested a
development of modern^ not of the early New England
family training, religious enlightenment and social life
which he hegan now experimentally to understand.
" Foolish talking and jesting are not convenient." So
Delilah won.

As not onl}'- did her husband live within a day's jour-
ney, hut according to the statement of the Rev. H. H.
Blair " before Presbytery, no evidence was produced that
even the civil law had been invoked," so, notwithstanding
his popularity with his own nationality and the people
generally, separation came.

They next gave a call to a Mr. McGauchy, and I now
quote the written statement of a principal actor on both
sides, at times with each party, the oldest elder in that
church :

" He went on to New York, ostensibly to accept their
call, but he did not do so, and would not. He was th.n
;ipi)ointed to some other place, and the Rev. Dr. Alexan-
(Hi lUillions was sent to Providence, and arrived there in
due time, but Mr. McGauch}^ was before him, and next day
took forcible possession of the })ulpit. A lawsuit was in-
stituted " and his adherents were cut otF by Presbytery.
"They, with Mr. McGauchy, joined the Old School under
the agreement that they were to sing the Scotch version of

414

HISTOKY OF rUKSBYTEUlANISM ■

i '

the Psjilma and nono otlnT. All iliis M-ns cordially a,?rood
to and put upon rrcsbytcry's record ill Deep IJivor, I'on-
iieetit'iit, l)Ut it was not kept, lor they soon Idimd pretences
to use Watts. They then trietl hy fraud to keep possession
of the ])roperty, hut they were loiled, and at last gave it up
to the i\ssociate Church."

During tlie period thrit this strife was pending the Asso-
ciate peoi)h! W()rship|)ed in a hired hail, '"i'lu; gn^ater
j)art of the oiiiers for a time went nowhere."

During tiiesi^ years of confusion sonic thought their hest
interests would he hetter suhscrved if they wer(> again iu
connection \Yith the Assoeiat(! [{ctornied Church, and on
A])ril 11th, hSo'), they made application to the iJostoii
Treshytcry. in granting the rt'ijuest conditionally, the
court appointed a comndlh^e to shew to the Associalo
Preshylcry why they were induced to reoccupy in I'rovi-
dence. The way was not yet clear, and the application
was not renewed until May I'ith, 1<S.')7, when the appli-
cants pr(\-;ented themselves as "the First Scotch l*r(shyte-
rian Church " of that city. Again a coniniittee oi" iiKpiiry
was appointed, and on ,Iune Dth, ISoT, hy I'rtshytcry, tlu'ir
"})etition was not granted."

Jiy or hefore ISot), the church in the hall ohtaiued tho
Bervices of tlu^ Kev. Andrew Thomas.

lie, although a Scotchman, was formerly an Independent
preacher at Kuncorn (Quarries, in luigland. lie was led
oil" from his early I'reshyterian training hy fellow-students,
and remodelled under the IJev. Kalph Wardlaw, 1). D., hut
engaging as a preacher, he soon found that the church was
Jndependont, while his hearers and himself were suhjeclcd
too c.\tiM»sively to tho control of the owner and I'lnployer.
After trying city nussionary work for a time, he came to
INIontrcal and supplied duiing the winter of IHl'.l-oO in a
kii'k at Jjachine. Knamoured with i\\v system of his
choii'O, he supposed lu; could lind and enjoy it to perfec-
tion on its native soil, and lu^ camo to Boston. Jk' was a
Calvinist. and after a lew hearings, had to seek fellowship
elsewhere. Among other places, he served in Providence
I'or ahout two years, and was minister of the Associato
Church then' when their property was to them restored by
the other litigants.

After tlie union on May 2Gth, 1858, order was cxten-

IN NEW ENOLAND.

415

ihtaiiu'd tlu)

sivrly rostorod, and IVoni tlic Uiiitod Prosl\vt(TV, on Octo-
!)('!' IStli, IS.")'.), tlH> moderation in a oall was requested and
made in lavor of a lici-nLiate, Mr. K. Ci. Wallace. Tliia ho
did not ai'ci'])!.

On .Innc 1 Itli, ISoO, it, was stated by a leader in tho
ohnreli (Mr. K. Iveekie) that th(5 three rnlin^j; elders who
had tollowed tlu^ fortunes of the liev. Mr. McCraucdiy to
Deep liiver and since, were "now retiirnini^, althouu;h tho
hymn mania is still rauiin^ hii^di in Broadway (in the then
Old School church), and hy all appearances tho lines will ho
more distinctly drawn and people ho tho more ahlo to
judji;e Unowiuiily in tlu^ case. American IVcshyterianisni
has always hcl'orc this hi'cn helori' the puhlicU in i'rovi-
dence dressed in colours that did not helonjj; to it, hut we
hoj>(> now it is gointj; to throw od' tho mask and treat ua to
a view of its inconsistencies."

On Dcccmher 1st the Kev. \\'m. .>h'Tiaren wrote, "^Fr.
Ma^'ce, the Old School minister, has lt>l"t Providence, ami it
is thought that all will join our church and occupy tho
huililinu- on Uinulway. Tlu! Old School here can't coni-
])ete with us out this way."

Anioui!; other supply durinu; this s(>ason of turmoil was
the vencrahle lh>v. Andrew Heron, D.D. ircM'amc to dis-
])ense the eucharist and managed to unite the two, the ono
which came out with 'riu)mas, and the jtart of the church
M'hich opposed his prenchiui^ in the Associates church.
"After the iimovation of Watts' |)salms the Old School
kept to the church, hut when the 'riiomasites and thoso
they had put out of the cihurch camo together, tho Okl
School i)arty <;ave up,"

On l)cceud)er r)th, IS')!), atiother mo(h'ration waf' urantod.
This was presented to Mr. ,lohn 0. Kohh, a licentiate, on
April 'Jlst, and In; was ordained and installed on Ajjril
27 th, 181)1). After a successful i)astorate of ahovc thirteen
years, he was, on Septeml>er *)th, l.S7.'>, released and tlis-
luisscil hv Preshvtcrv on .lanuarv 22d, 1^^7-1.

l.oivcU was incori>oratcd as a city in ISod, and \\\ LSfiO
it contained a population of .'l-'v'i.sr) souls, suhsistins^ jtrin-
cipally on the nianufacturin«f industries, .\hout one-third
ol its poj)ulatir»n wi-re lorci^ncrs, and, amoULi; these, it was
deemcil advisable to seek expatriated Preshyterians.

Oil going thither in tho evening on March '20th, the

416

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

It'ii '

writer fonnd the extensive factories all illuminntcd. The
sight was pleasant and the question, "Wliy?" was an-
swered by, " It is the blowing out ball." For the next six
months the factories would not be operated by artificial
light. Hence the dance to-night. Evening visits were
made for some time, so that before any were invited to
public worship in the Presbyterian form, it might be
known wliether the experiment would probably succeed.
Then a hall must be found, and next a constant sup[)ly of
preaching. All this it took weeks to accomplish. In one
of these evening visits he found Mr. George Cathcart, who
agreed when he returned to guide him to some of his ac-
quaintances. His house stood detached, near the wall of
a factor}'-, and with unoccupied land in the rear. He
found him, to his God, offeiing his evening song in a
psalm, and he was in no hurry. The little "Arabs"
gathered, and he went off the street into the vacant lot to
pass time. When he returned, jNIr. Gathcart was reading
his Bible and he had to retreat. Before he had proceeded
far in his prayer a burly watchman tliought this man re-
quired a share of his " tender mercies," and a colloquy
began :

"Captain, I want to know what you are doing here?"
"Friend, I will do j^ou no harm." "I guess I have some
right in these 'diggings,' what business have you here?"
The urchins were now around .us, a])parently by dozens,
with a rapid increase. " Neighbor, if you must know, I
am waiting until a man is done his prayers."

This was ])eyond his comjirehension. To him it was
solemn mockery. If the intruder had spit in his face, or
knocked him down, the insult would probably have been
less. The idea that a man was praying so near his premi-
ses, if one were praying aloud in his family in Lowell at
that hour, was to him an incre(lil)ility, and he magnified
his office. To avoid his grasp, the stranger ran and he
impelled his propellers.

A few steps outside led up to the door of which I seized
the handle, and he caught me. Before he had time to
wrest me from my gras}), Gathcart, the son, answered my
call and opened the door, leaving this man to "nurse his
wrath and keep it warm," while quantities of sand and
gravel were by the urchins thrown against the windows.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

417

Encouraged in the enterprise, public worship was bepjun
in this station on Sabhath, the IGth of June, 1850. Con-
stant supply of proacliin;^' it was then difficult to obtain,
and after a want for three Sabbatlis continuously the case
appeared to be almost hopeless.

So soon as the supply hocanie constant matters revived,
and on October 7th a])i>lic;itit)n was made for an organiza-
tion, which was effected on December 1st by the admission
of seventy persons to niem])er.shii) and tlie installation of
two ruling elders. The oliservance of the Lord's Supper
by them in the simi)le scriptural form of their fathers, was
in Lowell a new thing.

To then), on re([nest. Preshyter}', on February 25th,
1851, granted a mcxlcratioii. Their call was accepted by
the Rev. Peter Clonlou. This congregation elected to
office, as trustees, men fond of argumentation. Their
meetings, ostensibly to promote the financial interest of
the church, grew extensively weekly into "unruly and
vain " talking, not productive of " brotherly love."

The wife of the ])astor rcjceived from her first husband
a rural home of much l)eauty in Cambridge, y. Y., which,
by his bequest, she must occupy, or of it forfeit the en-
joyment.

This drew the minister away from Lowell more than
was profitable to the people. He would occi'ijionally have
some one of the city sui)[)ly for him when absent, and be
told that the congregation could hear' these (and such
men) without the cost of supporting ordinances at their
present expense. He was " an excellent preacher," and a
most estimable man, yet, under conflicting constraints,
Hence, while holding their call, he did not ask for in-
stallation, and at Fall River, on May 19th, 1852, ho re-
([uested to and did return it to the Presbytery. He lelt,
and after laboring as a missionary (at least a part of the
time) in Australia, he returned to Cambvi'ige in 1855.
Supply was now given to Lowell, and on ^lovember 2d,
185o, Mr. William Mc.*'iilan vas ordained ^nd installed
there. His hearing Wi;;> defective, or lie would (it was
said) have sought admissioi^ to the Bar. His ideas of
official responsibility were defective. He took his vaca-
tion at the Isle of Shoals so long in autumn, that in keep-
ing an appointment to assist him at the communion, the
27

ti it

418

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

Eev. D. A. Wallace found him (as he had been for weeks)
absent from the city on Saturday evening, instead of liav-
ing attended to the previous necessary preparations. Tliis,
of course, marred the good feeling of the congregation.
He resigned on November 15th, and left on December 9tli,
1854. Having had no full oi)portunity of obtaining a con-
densed spiritual vitalit}', this ])eople became " faint" while
"yet pursuing." Among other supply, Mr. Anthony C.
Junkin served them for a time after June 2d, 1855, and
continued with them ai'ter February 1st, 1856. On iMay
6th he was, at Thompsonville, received by Presbytery, and
ordained on the 7th. As a stated sup})ly he couhl not
control the tendency of events, and on June 9th, 1857, he
asked to be released. Commercial depression now reigned
in the land. Labor, even where obtained, ceased to be re-
munerative, and, on October 27th, as a congregation, they
informed Presbytery that they liad " ceased to meet as a
church owing to ' the times.' " In view of their condition,
they were, on January 13th, 1858, by Presbytery dis-
organized.

Years passed, during wliich but little eflbrt was made to
revive them, and while individuals and families of Presby-
terians, as employment could be obtained, caine to the
city, yet no permanent settlement was eflected during the
period ending with 1868.

Taunton, Mass., next received attention.

Several families and numerous individuals of Presbyte-
rians were there employed, and on February 25tli, 1853,
the Rev. William McMillan visited them. Supplies were
sent to them with encouraging prospects, during summer
and through the year 1854. Much of the hoj)es of Pres-
bytery in this station, however, centred in one prominent
man in a remunerative ])Osition who soon afterwards re-
moved to Bridgewater, ^lass. Encouragement suthciont
to warrant an organization was not given, and on Septem-
ber 12th, 1855, the Presbytery discontinued Taunton as a
station.

For some years previous to the commercial depression
of 1857, the manutacturing villages of New England en-
joyed prosperity, and into almost every town Presliyte-
rians were scattered. Among other j)laces, Holi/oke, Mass.,
"was visited, aud from it, on May 7th, 1856, two commis-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

419

sioners met Presbytery at Thompsonville, asking for a
supply of preaching. This was granted.

Among others who officiated there, was the Rev. D. B.
Jones, a native ot" the neighboring town of Ludlow, Mass.,
who had some years before, in Ohio, united witii tlie Asso-
ciate Reformed persuasion, and wiio, on January 31st,
185G, was received ])y the Boston Presbytery. With it he
continued but a year, and was dismissed on February
10th, 1857. Owing, it is believed, to the prejudices of sect
which these comn)issi()ners (Messrs. Campbell and Robert-
son) and their respective local adherents brought with
them from Scotland, the attempt became a failure, and,
as a station, Holyoko was discontinued by Presbytery on
September 10th, 1856.

We now turn to Edst Bo>^ton.

East Boston was, in 1630, occupied as a homestead by
Samuel Maverick, at the same time that John Blackstone
cultivated the Peninsula of Shawmut. It was for above
a century known as Noddle's Island, this man being at
one time the owner of much of it. He brought disgrace
upon himself and the Bay colony, by being the first man
in New England (according to story) who owned slaves.
It was not demanded for commerce until about 1830, and,
in 1847, the principal ship-yards of the city, a large sugar-
refinery and an oil-mill, together with forges, a factory for
the preparation of dye-stuffs, and the wharves of the
Cunard steamers, all gave work to an industrious popula-
tion, beside those who daily obtained employment in the
city proper and returned there to rest. It became espe-
cially famous for ship-building. Among others, a Nova
Scotian, the late Donald McKay, alone on it, built in com-
paratively a few years 146 vessels, nearly all of large size.
In doing so he disbursed above one million of dollars, and
the " Island Ward " prospered.

From it a considerable percentage of the Associate Re-
formed church came to the city to worship, and the wits
would sometimes notice, that as many as fifty-nine Pres-
l)yterians would follow, or accompany, the father of the
ship-builder when he, on Sabbaths, would leave the ferry-
hoat as he returned home. Consequently, to these per-
sons occasional supply of preaching was given on Sabbath
evenings, until in April, 1853, when a station was formed.

420

HISTORY OF PRESnYTERIANISM

ii : ■ 1

W>i^>

The first supply obtained, for tliroe months, was the
Rev. George C. Arnold. A loving and beloved man, faith-
ful above many — "whom the gods love die early." He
was "sanctified wholly" in the mid-time of his days, and
after a pastorate of eight years in Phihidelphia " fell on
sleep."

He was succeeded for months by the Rev. A. G. Wallace,
D. D., who now, while still a pastor, is the energetic actu-
ary of the Board of Church Extension of tlie United Pres-
byterian Assembly.

In due time a church was organized, and on November
15th, 1854, the Rev. David A. Wallace was installed pas-
tor. He was then in tlie vigor of life, and few congrega-
tions have enjoyed more intelligent activity in a pastor,
than he expended among this ])eople, as he gave his atten-
tion to every part of ofhcial duty.

He was now in a new field, the scat of modern " cul-
ture" among Unitarians, and surrounded by the varied
"schemes" of the orthodox. In "contending for tlic
faith," he entered the field of authorship, and published,
in 1855, his " Theology of New England."

While he draws it mildly, his collated fiicts and testi-
monies present on the leading points of doctrine a most
perfect contrast to the " form of sound words," which
made the early New England — the New England to which
Christians look back with emotions of joy.

In his work he shews the changes rung especially on
the " inspiration of the Scriptures, election, Adam's rela-
tion to his posterity, sin and depravity, human inability,
Christ's satisfaction, regeneration, conversion, effectual
calling and justification." To him also it was not dis-
couraging that the venerable Rev. Dr. Daniel Dana, " the
Addison of the New England pulpit," should thus express
in relation to the book his opinion by way of introduc-
tion. " Can it be for a moment denied that within a few
years words have so entirely changed their meaning, that
the Christian pulj)it emits darkness rather than light?
Can it be denied that the terms depravity, conversion, re-
generation, atonement, justification, etc., have lost their origi-
nal sense, and assumed a meaning altogether new ? Can it
be denied that in the principal theological seminary of New
England the religion taught is depravity without sin, re-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

421

,vfis the
n, iaith-
^." He
lys, and
"fell on

Wallace,
Lie actu-
,ed Pres-

ovenibcr
lied pas-
jongrcf^a-
a pastor,
bis attcn-

srn " cul-
tie varied
y for the
)ublished,

and testi-
ne a most
s," which
1 to which

generation without lioliness, and justiffcation without the
righteousness of Christ? Can it bo denied that pious
liearers often retire from the sanctuary, and from tlie in-
structions of a ])reacher, wliose leading views are entirely
o[)posite to their own, yet honestly believing that they
have heard the verv gosijel which thev loved? Can it be
denied that different classes of hearers widely distant in sen-
timent have each come away in the contidence that the
jjrencher was of their own opinion?

"^^'hcre are the Cliristians who have occupied the stage
for twenty or thirty years, and have not witnessed a real
revolution in religion — iij its doctrinal views, its experience
and its practice?

"The decline and abandonment of the truth, so prev-
alent and undeniable, have unquestionably sunk our
churches into a sadly depressed condition. Yet how can
it be expected that evils will be removed until they are
distinctly seen — seen in their causes and connection, as
well as in their magnitude and aggravations?

"The Avorthy and respected author of this pamphlet has
executed a task of no common importance. Mr, Wallace
has laid our New England churches under great obliga-
tion " (pp. 21-24.)

In 1855 the congregation undertook to build a house for
public worship, the lecture hall of which was opened for
service on April 10th, 1856, the expenditures so far upon
it being $4,200.

During summer the pastor entered into negotiations
with the trustees of the college, then opening at Mon-
mouth, in Illinois, to, of it, become the president, and on
the 9th of September, 1856, he was, on his own request,
dismissed by the Presbytery. On November 3d, 1856, a
moderation was granted to the congregation, and on Jan-
uary 29th, 1857, the Rev. 11. H. Johnston, who had been
received by Presbyter}' on the 14th, was installed pastor.
Being a native, while most of his congregation were born in
the Ih'itish dominions, he published a good sermon on
"The Stranger's Inheritance." He found the church ed-
ifice unfinished, and the congregation in debt. lie with-
out success solicited aid by circulars from his own denom-
ination. This became to him a jilea for change, and in
order to place the property where it could be perverted by

422

HISTORY OP PRESBYTERIANISM

M »

11' \*

B( , his people formed a "society," and ostensibly im-

k to build pews in the clum;!), wliile tlie Hoor was

lully laid. This answered eHuetivcly, and by allowing

small amount of interest to remain uni)aid, they, by
loreclosure, sold the property, and had it bought for
themselves by a third party.

This man professed to belong to the Associate Reformed
church, which on May 26th, 185(S, united with the Asso-
ciate Synod, and formed the United Presbyterian church
of North America.

On April 28th, 1858, he had resigned his pastorate. As
his proclivities were towards another denomination, he be-
gan to see that if he were separated from the congregation,
he alone could not carry the church estate witli him, and
on June 8th he withdrew his resignation, ostensibly pro-
fessing to enter the union. The Presbytery, however, at
their meeting, on the lltli day of August, took him at his
word, and dissolved the relation. He and his party then
had a meeting called on the 24th of August by " the clerk
of the society," not by the elders, to wiiom in trust the
deed was executed on May 1st, 1856. At this meeting he
and his wife appeared, and exclusive of them, thirteen
men and nine women voted the property over to the
*' Old School," while afterwards two of the twenty-two de-
clared that Avhile they were present, they did not vote.

At a meeting of Presbytery on September 8th his anger
became " fierce," and he and his friends withdrew. On
September 12th his pulpit was declared vacant. On Sep-
tember 14th the two senior elders, with thirty-seven others,
prepared a ^jrotest against the action of "the society,"
■which was presented to Presbytery on the 4th of October.

He had now "destroyed much good," and after loitering
beside the wreck for above two years, he left both it and
the Old School denomination, for whom he had done so
much, for Hastings, Westchester county, N. Y., on June
12th, 1861, where he united with the Reformed Dutch
church. After December 26th, 1858, to see what number
might yet be gathered of those who had been spoiled of
their church estate, w'orship was held at intervals in East
Boston on Sabbath evenings. This continued for years.
In the meantime, in 1862, those who occupied tlie house
called a Congregationalist, the Rev. T. N. Haskel, and he

IN NEW ENGLAND.

423

was on Dcrcmbor 3(1 installed. IIo brought in an dcinent
in synipatliy with liis own views, and as those who had
previously worshipped there were nearly all liritish-born
Presbyterians, an eflVrveseeiuie bcL^an.

Tlie elder wht) had for years ollieiated as the superin-
tendent of the Sabbath school was set aside by vote, and a
native put in charge. This and other matters not in ac-
cordance with ])revir.us usage jn'oinpted not a few to
leave. These were called bolters. They were occasionally
supplied by the Kefornied Presbyterian minister, and as
those who had been deprived of their house on January
od, 1S()4, commenced in a hired hall, by a sense of duty
the prejudices of the former were overcome, and they
united with them.

On April 19th they asked for sui)ply and a reorganiza-
tion, and when on November lith they were visited by the
Ilev. G. M. Hall, they so soon rallied around him that on
the PJth of December Presbytery granted to them a mod-
eration, and he was installed on April 17th, 1SG5. We
have alread}'' noticed some of his characteristics and the
feebleness of his health. Among the fragments of Presby-
terians in East Boston he was considered ratlier a rigid
disciplinarian, and when, on December 2Gth, 1867, he re-
signed, the congregation concurred.

We now direct our attention to Lawrence, Mass. In
1845 capitalists here built a dam across the Merrimac, and
80 rapid was the increase of poi)ulation, that in 1.853
(having the necessary 12,000 inhabitants) it was incor-
porated as a city. Plerc, as usual, the "Scuit," "the wan-
dering Scot," was soon found. On June 5th, 1854, by
one of these, the writer was by letter inlbrmed that while
a large part of the 300 or upwards of that nationality, then
in Lawrence, would on "Sabbath visit and travel in the
country," and say " that they would rather stay at home
than conform to the American forms of worship," still
some others of them " kept up a weekly prayer-meeting
on the old principle of singing Psalms and standing
during prayer." " Something," said he, " must be done soon
to save this people from perdition." Consecpiently on July
2d, 1854, Mr. Alexander McWilliams, a licentiate of the As-
sociate Reformed persuasion, connnenced conducting pub-
lic worship in the Presbyterian order, and on December

424

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

19th a church was orcjanizccl. On August 7th, 1855, Vr.
S. F. Thoinjjson, in answer to their call, was ordinnod a id
installed pastor. Although he made a good heginnniir,
and was nieasuraljly successful, he resigned his pastorate
on January 'JUth, 1857, and on March 25th he left the
city.

Amidst the severe commercial depression of that year,
they called on June lOth the Fvev. W. T. McConnell. He
did not accept, and they became dependent on supplies
until October I8th, LS59, when the ilex. James Dinsmore
was installed. His entrance into the ministry was ex-
tensively the result of bis father's wishes perhaps more
than of his own s(Mise of (lualilication for the work. Pres-
bytery, at his own re([uest, the congregation concurring,
released him on September loth, 1803. From this date
he did not officiate in the ministry, and being a man of
strict integrity and unl)lcmished Christian character, lie
soon afterwards obtained permanent employment in the
financial department of the house of A. T. Stewart & Co.

The congregation gathered from diflerent divisions of
the Presbyterian household in North Britain and Ireland
did not altogether harmonize in their views of the value
of the ordinances of the gospel, and as "thrift" sometinies
" follows fawning," some of them l)ecame assimilated to
their ecclesiastical surroundings. Their prospects for per-
manent employment were not diminished by this course.
Here Presbytery interposed, dissolved the church, passed
the Session roll over to their own clerk, and authorized
him to give a certiticate to every member in good stand-
ing, if they should desire it.

All but five or six were so dismissed, and the meeting-
house was (for years) let to the city for school purposes.

Hartford, Ct., being near Thom])sonville, was supplied
with preaching by the Boston Presbytery after February
23d, 1862. That court, on April loth, in answer to an ap-
plication from ninety-four persons, to tliem granted an
organization, which was elTected on May Gtli. One of
those who officiated among them was tlie liev. ^\'m. M.
(Jlaybaugh. In answer to llieir call, he was on tiie day
of the national fast, April 30th, 18G3, installed as their
pastor.

His father had been pastor at Chillicothe, and, by tho

IN NEW ENGLAND.

425

1855, Mr.
inod a id
iMrinninsr,
pastorate
} left the

,hat year,
ncU. Ho

supplies
Dinstnoro
y Avas ex-
ia]-)S more
irk. Trcs-
oncurrin.^,

this date
a man of
iractcr, ho
cnt in the
art & Co.
.visions of
nd Ireland
f the value
sometimes
milated to

■ts for per-

his course.

ch, passed
luuthorized

od stand-

Ic meeting-
]urposes.
supplied
February
h' to an ap-
Iranted an
One of
I. \Vn\. M.
\\ tlie day
U as their

Ld, by tho

flppointmcnt of his Synod, Professor of Thcolo«ry at Oxford,
Ohio, lie was pre-eminently a " messenger of (Jod," and
ns sueli would bo ri>eo;j;ni7.ed at sifi;ht. He in early life
(after the death of his mother) suffered much from bodily
infn-mity, but such was the sweetness of his disposition
and the power of his mind, that one of (Jod's " honorable
women," a widow, Mrs. Marjjjaret MacLandburgh, of that
town, took him under her care, and, with a gentleman of
the i)laee, '' put him through college." He '" was an eloquent
man and mighty in the Scriptures."

His son was slow to learn that "there is no roval road
to geometry. HcMice in liis early ministry he had
changes, llartford did not suit iiim long, and on January
8th, ISI).")^ he resigned his charge.

To them the Rev. .John M. Heron was appointed supply,
and on December 22(1 he was by them called. His instafl-
ation took place on .January 17th, 18GG. Hoping to ol.>tain
pul)lic worsiiip permanently, the congregation purchased
a lot, while they had from year to year on Sabbaths the use
of ouQ of the city school-houses. During the next year
their pastor was for several months confined to his cham-
ber by a severe fever, which eventually for years deprived
him of the necessary power and command of his voice.
His resignation became a necessity, and the pastoral rela-
tion terminated on December 31st, 1807. On May 5th,
18(38, they called the Rev. R. M. Patterson, but of their
call he did not accept.

South Bo.-^ton. Of the congregation organized on Decem-
ber 20th, 184G, several mend)ers were residents in this part
of the city. Beside the Sabbath services and the weekly
meeting for prayer, one of the ruling elders, Mr. John Tay-
lor, the man who believed in iminited guilt and imputed
riuliteousness, for several vears conducted evening meetings
weekly in South Boston. In these ho usually read an in-
structive Scriptural essay. In 1804 the attendance had so
increased that on May 27th those resident there requested
to be recognized as a station and to obtain preaching. The
station was opened on October 9th, and supply ai)pointed.
An organization was requested on December 19th, and on
January 8th, 1805, so soon as tliey were recognized as a
church, they extended a call to the Rev. W'm. M. Clay-
baugh. This he accepted on the same day on which he

— I

aS > ' '■

.if" >

llj"?

■ ?

|||4'|-— ;-

^,---1

H^l

i^4:

426

HISTOIIY OF PRKSBYTKUIANISM

was rolcfisod from Hartford. Tho congrojiation was small
but spirited. They a|)j)r('('iatod their ))rivih'U('S, hut tho
eastern eeclesiaslieal atmosphere soon nuuh' him wiser (in
his own estimation) than his fatlier was. The jjrineiples
involved in his ordination vows, in this ajj;(^ of modern
conscience, lie began to think were too rigid, for he wanted
"more liberty," and tendered his resignation on I)eeemi)er
2d. In tliis the congregation concurred on the bSth, which,
being on tho 2l)th of December, 18(57, made known to Pres-
bytery, they ofllieially granted his reciuest. Supply was
then to them appointed.

Wilkinsonrillr. Probably no stream of its size in New
England furnishes more manufacturing villages in the
same numlxn' of miles than does the Blackstone river.
Among these, Wilkinsonville was early favored witii a col-
ony possessed of much moral worth from T^ondondcrry
county, Ireland. In common with many other expatriated
Presbyterians in this region, they found religious usages
from which they derived but little spiritual advantage.
This contiijued for years, until the Rev. Josei)h Cooper,
D. D., of Philadelphia, visited them.

They were afterwards supplied by members of the As-
sociate Presbytery of Albany. In 1855 the church was or-
ganized, and on February 28th, 185G, the llev. James Wil-
liamson was installed pastor, and was in this position on
May 2Gth, 1858, when the United Presbyterian Church of
North America was constituted.

Tile congregation and its pastor subsequently became
identified with the United Presbyterian Presbytery of Bos-
ton. The held was limited, yet when manufacturing was
prosperous they built a neat place of worship and mani-
fested liberality in sustaining ordinances. In the course
of years trouble came. Their pastor was possessed of
good abilities, a pleasant and a faithful man, until he was
overcome with artificial appetite, not with the fearful
maelstrom of strong drink, but by an article much more
genteel, scholarly and martial in the estimation of too
many, by tobacco. To it he fell a slave, and as it brought
on delirium tremens, he became obscene, until facts in the
matter were brought before Presb3'tcry.

His character was now irretrievably stained, and his
usefulness in his pastorate worse than gone, for while he

kii'fi-l -:,,-.-.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

42':

was (lismissod on April 20th, 1804, tlio conrlition of tlio
('onjrr('}.';iti()ii, uiulcr nartisan t(Tlin;jf, had become such that
the I'rcshytery (lisHoIved tlie chiircli.

It is one of the anomalies of modern Christianity (sa}'
nothing; here of the drunkard's drink) that a pa^'an vice
should he allowed to destroy soul, body and eliaraeter,
even among the ministry of reconciliation, of purity, and
of holiness. When James ('artier \vint«'red near where
^Montreal now stands, in lo-'i'M), he found amonpj tho
])afians the dis^ustinjj; " weed." Such was its control as an
artificial stimulant over the stomach of the " poor Indian,"
that traders of that race hrou^dit it, when they brought
notliing else, from "the sunny South," and such is its con-
trol over thoughtless youth, criminally indulged, that mul-
titudes "have their wealth" by the production, jirepara-
tion and sale of this vile narcotic, whik; the slaves of this
habit arc living under the doom of diminished usefulness,
and (as a rule, with comi)aratively few excejjtions)
shortened lives.

It is only less destructive in its nature and tendencies
than opium, over which, as a spectacle before God, angels
and men, we have to-day the pagan government of China
saying to Britain, the bulwark of Cliristianity on the earth,
as the heathen stands in an im])loring attitude in negotia-
tion : " Flooding our country with oi>ium from your Indian
Empire is with you only ' a fiscal ' matter ; with us it is a
matter of conscience." Yes, the feeble, partial ])agan con-
science at war with Christitm cupidity and avarice. This
a})|)ears to be incredi))le.

in wavs not a few, this unclean habit hinders Sabbath
sanctification itself, even when the filthy perfume of secu-
lar time, by its change of dress, is partially removed. Tho
use of it in youth gives no promise of vigorous manhood,
even in military life. Hence, not only does Germany pro-
hibit the use of it to her coming soldiers, who include her
male ])opulation, but to the honor of the United States,
her cadets at West Point are ])rohibited from, by its use,
becoming imbeciles; the proniinency and exception of
ex-President Grant to the contrary notwithstanding.

To the minister of God it imparts no increasingly clear
penetration into the mysteries of redeeming love, no angelic
tones to his utterances, no " crucifying of the flesh with the

428

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

affections and lusts " in his own soul, and at times, as in
this deplorable one, it f^ives to the enemies of Christ the
oi)portunity of being "partakers of other men's sins," and
presents detiance to the command of him who says to each
ambassador of Emmanuel, " Keep thyself pure."

To this station supplies were sent, and on September
19th, 1<S()5, a reorganization was granted. Pursuant to a
call extended to him, Mr. Philip Young Smith was or-
dained and installed pastor on October 2Sth, 1866.

Thus stood the United Presbyterian Presbytery of Bos-
ton at the end of this quarter of a century, in 1868.

The Reformed Presbyterians.

1843-1 86S — Liibors of their ministers in Vermont durinjj the first half
of tliis century — Their division about the elective franchise — The set-
tlement of Mr. Beattie in Ryegate and Barnet — Of them families
came to Boston about 1848 — They met " in society " — Rev. A. Steven-
son and others preached to them — Organized as a church — Takiiifj
heed to the doctrine — Patrick Hamilton — Jas. Reiiwick — "With them
the truth of the Bible is invincible — Do not allow collateral systems
— Ever ready to associate — In a tew years obtain a pastor — Rev. J. R.
Lawson — Rev. Wm. Graham — His cause established by 1808.

We have seen their labors at an early day in Vermont,
where the Rev. Messrs. McKinney, Gibson, Milligan, Sloan,
the Wilsons, Johnston and Shields preached during the
first half of the present century to the scattered dwellers in
the wilderness, instructing " inquirers into the principles
of Bible faith. Christian testimony and social order." We
liave also alluded to their division about the use of the
elective franchise ^ and noticed that the Rev. James M. Beat-
tie was, about 1840, called to be the pastor of Ryegate and
Barnet, where he has labored during this quarter of a
century.

Among others, families of this persuasion came to Bos-
ton about 1848-9 and onwards. Beside worshipping occa-
sionally (and some of them statedly) with the Associate
Reformed Church, they (it is believed) generally ol)served
tlieir Sabbath meetings " in society." To them occasion-
ally, after May 5th, 1850, the Rev. Andrew Stevenson, of
New York, and others, ministered, and on July 12th,
1854, a church of twenty-one members was organized by a
commission of their New York Presbytery. As ministers,

IN NEW ENGLAND.

•429

es, as m
iirist the
ns," and
s to each

^ptembcr

lant to a

L was or-

V of Bos-

i8.

he first half
se — The set-
lem faniilK'S
V. A. Steveii-
rch— Takins
-^Vith them
teral Hvstenis
:— Rev. J. K.
1808.

Vermont,
;an, Sloan,
Lluring the
dwellers in

principles
Ider." We
luse of the
ts U. Beat-

egate and

[arter of a

Le to Bos-
|)ping occa-
Associate
()V)served
oceasion-
lehson, of
iuly 12th,
hiized by a
[ministers,

in order to "save themselves and their hearers," must witli
vigilance "take heed to the doctrine," so among this peo-
ple "sound doctrine " lies at the foundation of their hopes
of heaven and of tlieir associated existence upon earth.
To errorists tliey never " bid Godspeed."

In order to know the truth, they have to learn it and to
teach it diligently unto their chilch'en. From the death of
Patrick HamiUon down to tlie murder of James Renwick,
for sixty years, they never did bclii^ve that " ignorance was
the mother of devotion," and iind them wliere you will,
they are believers in " getting understanding." While they
possess an average amount of the knowledge "of science
and philosophy, commonly so called," to them the truth
of the liible is invineiMe and irrefragable. Hence, in
teaching it to their children they ])lace little dependence
on the less slavish and more genteel way of modern api>li-
ances outside of the family. They allow no collateral sys-
tems to supersede the luUilment of }»arental vows, and,
while scattered like "two or three berries in the top of the
uppermost bough," they nre ever reudy to associate, when
opportunity is to them afforded, in Divine Providence.
Consequently, for above two years they labored to obtain
a pastor, and over them, on November 20th, IboG, the Rev.
James Reed Lawson was installed by u commission of
their New York Presbytery.

In coming to them for their encouragement, until they
might become more steadfast, he left his previous pastoral
charge in New lirunswick. To it he returned, and after
September 28d, 1857, this vacancy was dependent on sup-
plies until the first Sabbath of March, 18G0, when ^\r.
William Graham, a licentiate, commenced to labor among
them.

To them his services were acceptal)le, and in answer to
their call he was ordained and installed i)astor on July
12th of the same year by their New York Presbytery.

The membership of the church was then thirty-two.
Bringing with him to the work business habits, experience
and tact, notwithstanding the a])parently exclusive charac-
ter of his " form of sound words," he (under the Divine
blessing) was prospered as a j)astor, and at the end of this
(juarter of a century, 18G8, his cause was firmly established
ill Boston.

430

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

CHArTER XV.

1868-1881 — Derry — A monument — An applc-trce — Only an echo re-
mained — Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord — Londonderry —
Rev. W. House— Rev. L. B. Pert — Fiscally not ahle— Kev. Ira C.
Tyson — Membership — Antrim — Rev. Mr. Bates removed — Variable
provender — Twenty poor fellows — Rev. W. Cochrane — His roll —
Newburyporl — First Church — Rev. C. Diirfec — Kev. W. W. Newell,
Junior — Eleventh pastor — Rev. Dr. C. C. Wallace— His church roll —
Second Church — Rev. Dr. W. M. Baker — Pastor— Supplies — A Metho-
dist — Progressive with the youth — Presbytery invoked — Tlie struggle
— His name dropped — Membership — ^inKion — Rev. J. B. Dunn — An-
tecedents — He is called — Examined by Presbytery — His humorous
account of their action — Farcical procedure — Admitted — Pastor —
Outlying Presbyterians — Large numbers — Well entertained — Their
gifts praised — A committee — An eclectic field — Rev. Mr. Angler's
statement — The executive oflicer — Twelve de{)artments — Mr. Roe's
account — Reception easy — Simplified — The Press employed — His
iinancial skill — Results — Springfield Street Church bought — By men
of substance — The loss of the helm — A tour to Cape Breton — Suc-
ce.s.sful — " If there was ony way to feed them " — One man demon-
strative in devotion to the pastor — Was inmiersed — Opens a Theologi-
cal Seminary — Two other professors — Three students — Results — Books
for .sale — The enterprise not successful — Noveltv, etc., etc., " waxed
old "—Great— Must travel— A delegate— Went to "the Old World"
— One difficulty met — Made a good sale of Beach Street Church es-
tate—Up town now— 2,000 sittings— $90,000— His building— Reli-
gious light — Emblems "dedicated " — Chafed — A deaccm — Arrearages
— The blessednes.s — Removals — The day of trial — Succumbs to his
own crop — Numbers reported — His farewell — Tact its value — So far
as he preached the word his ministry was successfid — "Shady
side'' — Of it nothing said — Engineered a Second Boston Presbytery
— The reader can determine — Rev. W. B. Green, Jr. — Installed — In-
crease — Decrease — Roll in 1881 — Faithful jireaching indicated —
WInilham — Kev. J. Larmian ordained — In less than four years dis-
mis.sed— Kev. C. Packard— His installation — Death — Faithful — The
age of the church— Its pastors — Rending — Lynn— liav. A. S. Gard-
iner, Reading — Installed — House dedicated — Dismissed — Mr. P. M.
McDonald called — Ordained — Labors in Boston — Pastor of Reading

IN NEW ENGLAND.

431

1 ccTio re-
donderry—
,ev. Iriv C.
—Variable
His roll—
\\. Newell,
mrch roll—
—A Metho-
:he struggle
Dunn— An-
s linniorou3
a_.Pastor—
ined— Tlieir
|lr. Angler's
Mr. Koe's
tloyed- His
[hi— liy mm
rulon — Suo-
lan demon-
a Theologi-
;>ilts — Books
■tc. "waxed
)ld World"
Church ea-

[ding— Kt^li-
Arrearages

|ini"bs to his
idue— So far
[ul-" Sluidy
li Presbytery
istal led— In-
indicated—
r vears dis-
ithful— The
A. S. Gard-
Mr. P. M.
of Reading

clmrcli and of Boston chapel — Ilia prosperity — Roll — East Boston
— De Pew — Acicernian — Dr. Riciiards — p'itfui eiianges — Etlwurd
Annan — Tiie held good — He was i'aithful — His death — A tiling
not easily done — A want — An agency — Kev. K. F. Marston — His roll —
Sprinfjlield Sired Church, Boston — Some active men purchased an edifice
— Third cliurch organized — Pastor called — Settled — The lield a failure
— Other services not appreciated — A redundancy — South Boston a
faihire — A hall hired — Services — Rev. L. H. Angier — Rev. Dr. W.
M. Baker — A liouse built — Debt — Not aided as they ought to have
been — Rev. W. H. Sybrandt — Faithful — His roll — The Gennan Pres-
byterian church, Ldwrence, Mass. — Tiie Rev. Augustus H. Hager —
His roll and increase — Lowell — Vicissitudes — The Kev. Soltau F. Cal-
houn — His services — Rev. R. Court— No other in the city, and he is
prosperous — His roll and increase — Providence, R. I. — Tiie Old School
party there — Advanced — Built a ciiurch — The (ioihic contagion —
Pav — Rev. J. Dickson initiated — Rev. T. Parrv — Some change their
colors — Rev. Mr. Morrill recently there — Elders report a roll —
Connecticut — 18()8-1881 — Three congregations and a fourth — Kncour-
aging continuations — Rev. H. W. Ia'C in Thompsonvillt — Notiiing un-
nsual — Short vacancies — Dismissed — Rev. F. Shepherd Banium —
Working force efficient — Roll — Ilartjord — Erected an edifice — De-
scription of it — An unhappy change — Trouble — Courts invoked — Pew
patronage — The pastor's experience — "Seven suits" — Mandamus —
Pastor continues — Congregation increases — Roll — Stamford — Kev. A.
8. Twombly, horn 1868 till 1872— Rev. E. Van Slyke— Rev. R. Vail
— Installed — His roll — Brid(jeport — Rev. H. S. Hinsdale resigned —
Rev. H. A. Davenport succeeds — Installed in 1878 — His roll — J)arien
— Rev. J. W. Colenian installed — Resigned — Membership in 1881 —
July 7tli, 1881, Rev. E. P. Cleaveland installed there — Ihufncnut
Memorial Church — Roll — New Haven — C-hurch organized in IHl'.i —
On account of financial embarrassment abandoned — Creenwich — Per-
sons withdraw from Congregational Society — Organized April 2()tli,
1881 — Elected Rev. Dr. Sawyer their pa.stor — Roll — New Boston, N.H.
— Rev. F. Allen, pastor — His roll.

Eacti of the last six quarters of a century to which our
attention has been turned, we have ben;un with Old Derry.
Tn our last we saw her as to her distinctive princi])les in
doctrine, government and worsl:ip, extinguished on her
own soil by the quasi theocracy supported by the Athe-
nian democracy, which gave specific identity to New Eng-
land, socially, civilly and religiously. Before the linal
sparlc had iled, it was almost agitated to procure for the
germ of all tiie worth, moral and material of this old
mother congregation, a monument. Hence the editor, son
of the author, in concluding his history of the town, says :
" In regard to the erection of a monument to commemor-

432

HISTOllY OF PHESBYTERIANISM

ate the spot on wliich the first sermon was preached in
Londonderry, it may be remarked, that mucli interet^t is
felt in the execution of such a work at an early day. It
is believed that a shaft, or obelisk of <j:rnnite may be com-
])leted for from two to four hundred dollars. The editor
is authorized to say, that the sum of fifty (bjllars may be
eonsidered as pledged, provided an additional sum ol' not
less than three hundred dollars is contributed during; the
year 1851. As an inscri))tion, on tlie front side, Isaiah
xxxii. 2, the text from whicii the first s(>rmon in this town
was preached (under the wide-sjH'eadin,:^ branches of a
venerable oak, wdiicli, for nn)re than a century, marked
this spot) by the Kev. James McGregor, on A[>ril 12th,
1719, would be appro|)riate.

In 1851 Presbyterianism in this town was dead and
buried, and the " mu(!h interest fell "' became a thin<^ of
the past. An ap))le-tree is said to mark the spot as a
monument of their Presbyterian worth. In enterinsj; on
this quarter of a century, we find her eulopy ])ronoun(!ed
on the one hundred and fiftietii anniversary of the settle-
ment, or on April 12th, 18G1). The orators were the Hon.
Charles Bell, Horace Greeley, Dr. Taylor, Professor Patter-
son and others.

The compilation of their speeches, and other matter
joertinent to the occasion, was made by 11. G. Mack, Esq.,
of Londonderry, and forms ''a nicely bound book of 124
pages. It has gone into the hands of the antiquarian
stores, and is held at high prices."

The occasion called out intellectual powers, which it
would not be ea,sy to surj)ass, inherited from tiie Scotch-
Irish ; but as to the logic and sound doctrine of "the
oppressed brethren," only an echo remained. There was
in the town no longer " the voice of rejoicing and of salva-
tion, even in the dwellings of the righteous," after the
manner of " West Running-brook ; " no longer the singing
of "sweet psalms" in Uie house of tiie Lord; no longer
"the doctrine of God our Saviour" in the ])uli)it, which
had, even then, become one of the bulwarks of New Eng-
land theology! But " Blessed arc the dead which die in
the Lord."

In Londonderry the Rev. William House, settled Octo-
ber 7th, 1857, continued to be pastor till February 26th,

IN NEW ENGLAND.

433

! i!

icrl in

■rt'r^t is

ly. it

le corn-
editor

nay l»o
of not

mil, the

, Isaiah

lis town

es of a

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'il 12tli,

ead and
thin*]; of
,pot as a
evin<j; on
inounced
he sottle-
the Hon.
L>r Patter-

;r matter

cl<, Esq.,

bk of 12-^
Aquarian

hvhich it
Scotch-
of "tlie
fhere Avas
, of salva-
laftor the
le sinjiinp;
l»o longer
lit, winch
;e\v Enix-
3h die in

led Octo-
lary 26th,

1873. Ilis pastorate appears to have been harmonious.
The generation were gone who required doctrine, worship
and affection between jxistor and |)eople of the Rev. David
McGregor type. Tlic passing audiences did not receive
and hear the doctrine, maintain the worship, nor feel that
aifection. After tw^o years of spiritual subsistence on sup-
ply, the congregation called the Rev. Luther B. Pert.

He was settled over them on February 23d, 1875. In
his ministry, it is believed, he was faithful under his cir-
cumstances, but the si)irit of the land in the last quarter
of tlie nineteenth century overtook him, as well as accumu-
lating years, and he was dismissed in September, 1879.

" There is that scattereth and yet increaseth." Whether
it is religiously so, with this old church, or not, I know
not. But a candidate for the vacant pulpit was told, that
fiscally they are not able to support a pastor, even while
they have the interest of the nine thousand dollar Pinker-
ton fund by way of supplement. In the statistical returns
for 1881, the Rev. Ira C. Tyson is reported as pastor elect,
and the membership is 141. So that, in the one hundred
and forty-fifth year of her age, this church is fulfilling her
mission. Let it be remembered, however, that the in-
scription on Elder Pinkerton's tombstone is no insignifi-
cant force or factor in keeping her in her denominational
position.

From Antriin, N. H., the Rev. Mr. Bates removed in
18G6. " For u year and an half this church then lived on
the variable i)rovender aflbrded by candidates. It is said
that about hccnty of these poor fellows came and went.
Some of them were desirable men whom the congregation
could not command."

On January 1st, 18G8, ]\Ir. Warren R. Cochrane (a
graduate of Dartmouth) i)egan service here, and was or-
dained on March 18th, 18G9. Having "another man's
line of things made ready to his hand," and, in 1877, a
staff of six " deacons " ( this word is possibly in the vocabu-
lary of the land used here for ruling elders), being now in
the vigor of manhood, he is prospering in the Master's
work, returning, in 1881, a roll of 2G0 church members.

In tiie First church, ycicbiiri/jxift, the ninth pastor, the
Rev. Charles S. Durfee, was installed September 8th, 1869.
His opportunity for leaving any very permanent impres-
28

HISTORY OP PRESBYTERIANISM

sions of the value and power of Divine truth upon his peo-
ple was short, as he was dismissed on July 29th, 1872.

He was on May 7th, 1874, succeeded by the Kev, Wil-
liam W. Newell, Jr. What his antecedents were, I cannot
affirm, but his pastorate was acceptable and successful.
He resigned on June 3d, 1880, and is officiating: as a hqc.yc-
tary in New York city. The Rev. Charles C. Wallace, 1). D.,
the eleventh pastor since 1746, was, for y(;ars, a prominent
orthodox Congrcgationalist i)astor at Manchester, N. II.
What his type of theology is, is not affirmed, l)ut his
beginning has been numerically very favorable. In Iqss
than one year, as pastor, he reports a roll of 821, an in-
crease over the report of 1880 of 47 meml)ers.

After continuing as a vacancy for nearly four years, the
Second Presbyterian churchy Kewhuryport, called the Rev.
William M. Baker, D. D., who was installed on June 20th,
1872.

For seventeen years the mantles of Dana and Eells had
not fallen on any of his four other i)redccessors. Their
Presbyterianism appears to have been of a very mild type.
Consequently, to teach and uphold the doctrine of "salva-
tion by grace," he found to be difficult, and he terminated
a pastorate of twenty-tv\'o months on April 14th, 1874.

How far the commercial depression (began on Septem-
ber 17th, 1873) affected his people in sustaining ordi-
nances, cannot be stated, but, from different causes, they
had become " men of like passions with others " in the re-
ligious communities by which they were surrounded. Con-
sequently, after his departure they had sup})lies for above
three years. Among these, one of the Methodist persua-
sion, the Rev. J. A. Bartlett, became attractive, and was in-
stalled on July 5th, 1877. He was (in his way) a pro-
gressive with the youth and the less informed part of the
congregation. New methods, more attractive than preach-
ing "the unsearchable riches of Christ," were enqjloyed to
allure sinners into " the kingdom," and, in a few months,
those whose hearts " trembled for the ark of God " had
(after much trouble) to invoke the Presbytery for the pre-
servation of their ecclesiastical existence.

Men in the ministry are at times " held highly in love,"
not so much " for their work's sake " as for inferior con-
siderations. So it was here by the inexperienced, the gay

IN NEW ENGLAND.

435

and thoughtless ; and the strnfrgle was not short. Still it
was terrninatrd l)y his dismission by the Presbytery on
Aiiij;ust 31st, 1879. But not until they had "bitten and
devoured one another," and became extensively "con-
sumed." For, in ISSl, his name does not appear on the
roll of the diinomination, wliile the congregation, reduced
to a memberslii]) of 52, is vacant.

Among the variations which occurred during the first
lialf of this quarter of a century, we liave to note tlie ar-
rival of the Rev. James Blair Dunn in Boston. He luid in
New York entered the ministry (according to the Rev. Dr.
Baird of his own Synod) at first among the Methodists.
He was a ready speaker on temperance subjects, was re-
ceived by the >s'ew School Presbyterians, and in their con-
nection had i)efore 1<S()8 officiated in New York city.

The congregation in Boston gathered by the Rev. A. S.
^luir, as in connection with the Canadian ])orti()n of the
Free Church of Scotland, and cared for by the Rev. John
Ross and the Rev. Wm. McLaren, since 1858 had from
" the Old School party " enjoyed as pastors and stated sup-
ply the Rev. Messrs. ]Magiil, Bixby and De Lancy, and it
was now vacant. A Rev. Mr. Cochrane, then resident in
New Jersey, was willing (it was said) to serve them, but
took excej^tions to the debt of twenty-five thousand dol-
lars, at that time resting on their church estate (purchased
from the Unitarians by the Rev. Mr. Magill), and it is
said reconnnended his friend to (as they were for years
called) " the Beach Street church people." Although he
had on previous occasions visited them, liis permanent
services began with September, 1868. A Mr. Weston had
been successful in walking from Mtiine to Chicago, and
from this walk, by drawing an allegory, the preacher as-
tonished his hearers, and with each succeeding Sabbath
"still the wonder grew," until before the equinox he
liad become the man of their choice. The Londonderr}''
Presbyter}' had long held one of its stated meetings on
the last Wednesday in October, but in order to expedite
a call and settlement, by examining and admitting this
gentleman, for a certificate of oflicial standing was not
then a sutiicient passport from the New to the Old School
division, tiuit court was convoked to meet in Bostoa
before the first day of said month.

436

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

Of the mombors from the rural districts, the moderator,
the Rov. Mr. House, of Londonderry, and the Rev. Dr.
Allen, from Marblehead, attended. A working force was
improvised by calling to their aid some three or more pas-
tors from the ortliodox churches of the city. Dr. Allen
■was a Calvinist, " a master in Israel," and Mr. House in-
sisted that he should examine the candidate.

This duty fell officially on tlie moderator, who, but too
fairly, represented the s])rivelled court by asking as a
first question, "Mr. D. Are there more Gods than one?"
This and the next one were answered satisfactorily.

But "the decrees" disturbed their harmony, and "the
special act of providence " in the twelfth question in the
New England jn-imer being to some of them a " foolish
and an unlearned question, gendered strife,"

The applicant was a master of tact, and as two consider-
ations pressed upon his mind, the fear that he might be
interrogated through the book, and that his sus})ense
might last till " the going down of the sun," he of the de-
baters began to ask questions. This Hank movement pro-
tected him, but it did not stay their sectarian ranct)r.

" Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?"
when by him answered aroused in some of them "the
wrath of man." They "waxed valiant in fight." This
could not be controlled when it was asked, " Wherein con-
sists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?"
Polemic " New England theology " against Calvinism, with
the aid of the opinions of the New School Presbyterian ap-
plicant, made their " anger fierce." " Brotherly love," even
of the tj'pe of " Joab and Amasa," and the quasi Presby-
tery now "shook hands and parted." For when the
question was reached, " What is the misery of that estate
whereinto man fell?" it was no longer, "Blest be the tie
that binds," but the termination of their associated work.
They fell "out by the way," and separated. With this
question unanswered, the applicant was admitted.

The combatants ceased l^efore they had completed " the
first man Adam " and the history of his covenant.

"Tlie second man, the Lord from heaven," although it
was supposed that as a Presbytery they had constituted by
his " power " and " in his name,' they did not reach.

The electing love of God in Christ Jesus, his person, of-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

437

ficcs and work, and the application of his redemption to
men by tiic Holy Spirit were not overtaken.

TIic applicant attorwards f:ave *'the conclusion of the
matter" to the late Rev, John Brash in this way: "They
be^an by asking me if there were more Gods than one?
and left me in a state of misery. In this condition they
admitted me, and I am a good Old School Presbyterian."

This farcical procedure shewed how far a part of the
actors "had learned Clirist," how far they had "been
taught l)y him as the truth is in Jesus," how competent or
otherwise a majority of them were to " take care of the
house of God," and just to what a degree the charity of
the last half of the nineteenth century will subserve or
maintain " sound doctrine," promote the salvation of
souls and the glory of Jehovah. If historical truth did
not demand it, gladly would I say, " Publish it not in the
streets of Askelon."

Thus admitted to Presbytery and placed in charge of the
congregation, he spread himself out in eclectic style. Be-
side the one hundred and ten members brought there by
the Rev. Mr. Bixby from the Pine street orthodox church,
and outlying Presbyterians gathered in by his predeces-
sors, colonial agitations providentially favored him. The
confederation of the provinces forming Canada was ex-
ceedingly disagreeable to many persons, esi)ecially in
Nova Scotia. They by it believed their prosperity to be
retarded, and large numbers in the morning of manhood
and womanhood left their Presbyterian homes, and came
to Boston.

Having (in many cases) no well-informed conscientious
views of "truth" and "sound doctrine," much loss of "a
pure offering " of the appointed praise to God in worship,
thr "\ame Presbyterian was to them too generally enough,
wh: J they were well entertained with a teacher in "gown
and bands," and associated with a large compound congre-
gation " rejoicing at the sound of the organ." He praised
the people for their gifts in prayer. He arranged prayer-
meetings for the junior men and women in juxtai)osition
of place and time, so that when their devotions were
ended, they readily met one another.

Beside this, a connnittee were employed to see the ladies
home. For a Mr. Philij), who had left his betrothed iii

4;?8

HISTORY OF PRESnYTERIANISM

Sootliind, this (luty of continucrl escort lost its rharms.
lie would not " bo won by the conversation of" the ladies,
and lie left tliem.

This pastor entered the eclectic ecclesiastical field so
freely in his arrangements under the Presbyterian name,
that in addressing his people once on a convivial occasion,
the Kev. Mr. Angier, then supply of the 8outii Boston
Presbyterian Cluirch, said to tliem, " You here in liench
street, are substantially Presbyterians ; you are part or-
thodox C'ongregationalists, and you have adopted the best
parts of Methodism. Tiiis makes you a strong church, and
that is what you are."

According to rules noted by a ^Ir. Roe, which he
adopted, "the pastor considered himself the executive of-
ficer and leader of the churcii, and every member, either
as ofHcer or private, had something to do." The work
was arranged in twelve departments, and the numerical
increase was very great. In three years (according to Mr.
Roe) the church had added to its roll the names of six
hundred and fifty persons.

His process of reception was easy. " How do you feel,
Mr. A. ? " answered all purposes in one case. His require-
ments for admission became not a little simplified after
the reunion of tlie New and Old School parties, on No-
vember 12th, 18()9, when an " assent to a creed "was no
longer considered to be necessary, excepting for ministers,
elders and deacons.

If this had been the manner of the Old School before
the reunion, tlie church rolls of his predecessors might
have been ujuch larger.

He also employed the press to advantage, not only by
inserting on Saturday, under some odd designation, the
topic for Sabbath, but as one of his elders was on an ed-
itorial staff, a scholarly presentation of his subject was
very generally given on Monday. Beyond all this ability
in eccle.si;istical administration, his financial skill was su-
perior. Here he was "the executive officer and leader of
the churcii " also. Under his })lastic hand tlie finances
increased from about S2,00() previously, so as to secure to
him in three years $5,(J()0 per annum.

"Riding the whirlwind" of prosperity Avas, however,
easier than "directing the storm " which it raised. In co-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

439

operation w'lih liitn, men of suhstiinco bouffht a clnirch es-
tate on Sprinjjjlield street, over which (as in " IVacli Street
church") he endeavored to " consider himself the exec-
utive olUeer and lender." M(mi are creatures of opinion,
and others did not thus view the enteri)rise.

The loss of the helm hecame a heavy strain on liis am-
bition ; his "strength became weakened in the way," and
with his physician (Dr. W.) he nuide his first tour for re-
cuperation to Cape Breton. As " nothing succeeds liko
Fuccess," not a few ministers in that region consigned their
members to his care, and to him in autunui they came by
scores. This process was (tluring another summer) re-
peated with success. The increase of Ids charge from
all these ap])lianees was decidedly very great. So much
so, that an intelligent Calvinist, from Belfast, told the
writer, " We are getting in large numbers, if there was ony
way to feed them."

He had not a few who were read}'' to " say amen at his
giving of thanks," but one of these, who gave more de-
monstrative evidence than others (boldly declaring that
" Mr. D. was the man, every sermon which he preached
converted a soul "), after a few years thus extolling his
pastor, was immersed.

Not content with the duties of the pastorate, in imita-
tion of the Rev. Charles Spurgeon, he opened a theologi-
cal seminary.

Assuming the position of president, from the Rev. Dr.
Hodge's Lectures as a text-book, he gave his weekly pre-
lections. The Rev. Soltau F. Calhoun, then of Lowell,
filled the chair of languages, and the Rev. ]\Ir. Gardner,
of Jamaica Plains, as a third professor, supplemented all
needed instruction not given by the others. Three pupils
sat " at the feet of these three doctors of the law." One;
of these, trained (near d'Alsace) under a parental roof,
where family worship was maintained, " evening, and
morning and at noon," had acted as a preacher among the
regular Ba))tists before he united with this pastor's church.
He had also sought licensure from the First Boston Pres-
bytery. But as they required the equivalent of a course
ot' study at a college, he withdrew, and not knowing that
"there is no royal road to geometry," he sought it here.
Work, church work, Bible reading, services of song and

440

HISTORY OF PRESnYTERIANISM

lay prcachin!]j wore now in vojjiic cxtonsivoly, as substitutes
for the work of tlic ministry," .'Uid lie tli()U<,'ht to transcend
these by a course of study at IkMch street.

The otiiers also were men " dcsirinjr a pood work, tlio
ofHce of a bisliop." The pracc of novelty gradually wore
of, and as the professors found only t(Ml in the enterprise,
it was abandoned. Mr. A. resumed his "eraft"as a e;ir-
vcr, Mr. M. his " occujiation " as a carpenter, and Mr. W.
was afterwards settled as a minister in a Free-will Baptist
congregation in South Boston !

To make so much inculcation cfTective, Calvinistic books
■were entrusted by the business superintendent of the
Board of Publication at Philadeli)liia to a Mr, F. W.
Walsh; who attempted (it would almost seem) "to beard
the lion in his den," by exi)()sing them for sale in a part
of the " Wesleyan Association Building" in Boston. "Ar-
minianism had," a century before, " become respectable "
in New England, and now in its geometrical ratio, amidst
its varied ramifications and products on the common
mind, this enterprise could be but a little more hopeful,
than the case of the winter traveller on the uninhabited

1)rairie, when he strikes his last match to kindle brush to
:eep himself from pcirishing.

Beside Mr. \V. a saleswoman was employed, wages ran
on, the sales did not become extensive, and the enterprise,
like almost any other instrumentality which, there, would
bring men to a knowledge of " the truth as it is in Jesus,
was chilled off.* Mr. W. seems to have been a failure,
and when his stock was scattered, the manuscript records
of former Presbyteries, lodged there ])y the thoughtless
custodian, were lost. One volume of them was a<'ierwards
discovered and restored by a clergyman of the Baptist
persuasion. Beside this volume (as their clerk informed
me) they have no records anterior to 18G9. This were an
irretrievable loss, if said minutes had not been copied.

Novelty, agitation, sociables, receptions, concerts, pic-
nics. Roe s arrangements and sensationalism had now been
invoked; but, not having the abiding character of doctrinal
truth, they "waxed old." With the pastorate, the semi-

*N. B. — ^Tlie books of that Board can there still be obtained at tlie
Congregatioiialist House on Beacon street.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

441

nnry .irifl bnok-storo, bosido (for a scnson) a pnrochial
ro;i(lin;i-rooiu on his hunds, he hccainc f^rcat, Jiiid to re-
cuperate, if not to beeonie greater, lie must travel. Hav-
ing previously persuaded his General Assembly, that ho
"Was the lit representative man of their denomination
beyond any other, to appear before similar church courts
in North Jiritain and Ireland, and the equal of the Kev.
Dr. Cuyler, " whose ])raise is in all the churches," he,
early in March, 1872, proceeded to Europe, Africa and
Asia.

By weekly paying communications to a pood paper in
Boston, and, of course, his expenses to and from Great
]')ritain borne by those who sent him, his expenditures
Avere not severe. In the meantime he garnered enough of
tlie " Footsteps of St. Paul " to form many a popular dis-
course after his return. One difficulty had in the previ-
ous year crossed his ])ath.

Some persons, familiar with the writings of the late
Rev. R. M. McCheyne, thought they could trace an anal-
ogy bordering on identity, between a manual of that au-
thor and one published by this pastor over his own name.
Some of those eml)arked in the Springfield Street fihurch
enterprise were credited with this discovery. They had
now refused his counsel, and went the length to say, that
in that church they " must have an educated man."

From his mission he returncxl in time to aid in making
a most advantageous sale of the Beach Street church
estate. At some twelve dollars, or so, per each foot square,
it brought 8115,()()U. By applying to a judge of the
"Supreme Court in Chambers," he sanctioned the sale
and gave to the city a title, while the city attorney de-
clared, that in no otlier way, as Presbyterians, could they
give a relialjle deed. The debt of $25,0(JO was now re-
moved, and the city afterwards sold the part not taken to
widen the street, for less than five dollars per foot square.
" Up town " had been the idea with him, so that he might
allure the dwellers in the " Back Bay " mansions to be-
come Presbyterians. The "Court in Chambers," when it
created for the city a title to the church site, sanctioned
their occupancy by the congregation of a selected lot.
The new building must have a capacity for two thousand
sittersj or it would not please the pastor. After keeping

J 8

442

inSTOUY OP rUESBYTKRIANISM

him nt l)ny for n yoar, durinp; wliicli tiino tlicy liircd a
Ji;ij)(ist clmrcli, tlu.'ir house was (inally coiislriuli'd to scat
twelve ImiHlred and forty persons, leavin;^ a lot unoeeii-
jtied. Knti'rin^ the niiirket with ninety thous;ind dollars,
an<l havin^j: tlu; niMterial, stone, brick, iron and wood c(»n-
tainc(l in their former eiUlicc to use, they oifuht to havc!
completed a iiouso larj^o enough for ;n»ythin^ then; under
the I'reshytcrian name, hut it was otherwise. 'J'he struc-
ture has four ^ahh-s and on each of the north and west
ones he placed a massive stone cross, while the steeple
"was carried up to the sumniit of the roof and remaiMs a
monutnent of hi}j;her aspirations, even far ahovo the in-
tendiid ones hundred and sixty feet of spire. Amonu; " Mos-
ton notions" you can, in Hoylston street, huy " reli}:;ious
floods." "Keli^Mous goods'' must, in order to ^dorify (iod
and save souls, ho exposed to use; under " relifj;ious li},dit,"
and they cannot all he j)laced in one market. Some <tf
them n)'ist he ])ut in ])osition, before they are consecratetl
and enjoyed relijiiously, such as vestries (2 Kin^s x. 22),
altars, or^^ans, holy water, baldachins and hells. Nearly
all others, probal)ly, may be found at the countt-r.

" Religious li<:;ht" is costly, yet two larjj;e windows from
the street, not unlike " extra vasated blood," were ])Ut, one
in the north aiid one in the west wall. " in one are em-
blems of the Laml), liible, Cross and Crown, Alpha and
Onu'jifa, and two line li)j;ures of Matthew and Mark ; in the
other, the emblenis are the Cup, Anchor, Dove, /. II. S.,
and the other evan^j^elists."

The old Unitarian "orjjjan became essentially new by
new adornm(!nts, frescoed pipes, greater capacity and en-
largement." All this wa.s "dedicated" on January Ath,
1877.

Failing to see Presbyterian scriptural simplicity in these
decorations, the people allowed him to extensively us«! his
own means in the i>urcliase. This chafed him anew,
v/hile twenty thousand dollars more had to l)e borrowed
to pay up till J.S7<'), tin; date cut on the house-corner. On
a second niortyatje six thousand dollars adtlitional were
obtained, while lifteen hundred dollars, to cover a " lloat-
in^i; ' del)t. had tiu; endorsement of oiu; of the deacons (a
man of substance) on the note of the connnittce. 'IMie in-
tereat of tliia the deacon ccaaed to i)ay, by having the uu-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

443

ocoui)io(l p<>rlion of tlio oliurch lot sold for two thousjind
dollars. This rclit'Vi'd him, hut it only reduced the ar-
rearages claimed t(t (il'teen liundre(l dollars, "'riiehless-
ediiess they spoke of,'' and the " ])luckin^ out of eyes to
jxive to " him in fornu'r years ((jial. iv. ib), were now llout-
in;.r into tin; past.

Removals from the city, althoujjh nuniorous, wore not
the only caus(^ of decrease in his nmnlxTs. I'opery <lrew
back, perhaps, hut onc^ of those taken fro«n her fold ; the
other two persuasions, of i'reshyterians a, lew, while tlu;
I\Iethodists, {]\r. lOpiscopalians, and several of the ('on;ir(^'
j^ationalist species, such as the Orthodox, Baptists, IMy-
mouth Hrcthren and Unitarians came each in for a share.

Trips to Florida wore now of no permanent aviiil. Dis-
appointment WMs ujion him, and his health failed in tlu;
day of trial. Ili' had undertaken a twenty-live thousand
dollar I'Uterprise on Se))teml)er 1st, ISOJS, and had now to
succumh to the crop proiluced by the seed sown l)y iiis
own hand.

To his Assembly, in May, 187H, he reported a church
niembcrship of l,i()<); to the same court, in 1S7*>, he re-
ported 1)10, and on September 28th, bST'.), h(; j)reached to
them his farewell discourse. Tact, even when aided by
inodirn inventions, in j)rol"essedlv proclaiminii; the ^'ospel,
•will not, without '' the doctrine of' Clod our Saviour," faith-
fully preache<l, bo owned l)y the Holy Spirit in aj)plyinf;
"the redruiption purchased by Christ" to immortal souls.
In so far, as he " preached the word," his nnnistry was
blessed and successful.

Of the "shady side" I say nothin;.:;, and only further
state, that, in ISC*!), he en^'ineere*! a new rr<sbytery into
oxistcmte. The old historic one, Londonderry, ha vin;.^ ex-
isted (oir ami on) about l'i4 years at the above date, ho.
and those associated with him, were pleased to have calleil
the I'resbytcry of Boston.

The Synod haviufj; jurisdiction over the Pn'sbytery to
w]ii<;h tlu' Hev. Robert Annan an<l the Federal Street
church belonLM'd in IV.So, had, on .luly 11th, iSol, consli-
tutetl (he Bo>ton I'resbytcry. It. mi^ht not have he»'n to
eclipse (lie lirst, that the second on*' held its stated meet-
ings on the same day of the same month, which had for
years been chosen l)y the other. "Peradventure, it was

444

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

an oversight." How much increase of spiritual volume
and power, Prcsbyterianisni unci " the truth as it is in
Jesus," received through it in those eleven years by liis
instrumentahty, 1 do not profess to say. The reader, for
himself, can determine.

On June 4th, 1880, the Rev. W. Brenton Greene, Jr., was
ordained and installed as his successor. The salary was
razeed to $2,000 per annum, and the cliurch (notwith-
standing the increase of its debt) when vacant rolled up
numbers, reporting in May, 1880, 688 members, or an in-
crease of seventy-eight over the last year of the pastor's
ministrations.

While all the Rev. Mr. Greene's antecedents were most
favorable, and his future is very promising, yet his case
shews a lack of judgment but too often witnessed in call-
ing a pastor.

Instead of (in this large congregation) selecting one who
from years of previous study and inurement to worry,
could "endure hardness," the inexperience of youth was
chosen for the forefront of the hottest battle, and whether,
from the continued reaction of the '' Tabernacle," the
turgid state of the previous pastor's roll (if purged) from
removals or deaths, notwithstanding the admission of
thirty-four on examination, and fifty by certificate (a fine
increase) his return to his assembly in May, 1881, was
only 402, or 286 less than at his induction. These results
would there indicate the faithful preaching of "the truth
as it is in Jesus," and not the " prophesying of smooth
things."

Windham, N. H. On June 2d, 1868, the Rev. Joseph
Lanman was ordained over this church. He was not par-
ticularly successful, and the relation was dissolved on
February 6th, 1872.

The Rev. Charles Packard was installed on April 29th,
1873, and died on February 20th, 1881, leaving a widow
and three children. The church, during its existence of
one hundred and thirty-nine years, has had eight pa.stors,
and he was the fifth who has died among that people.

Fifty-three were added to the church during his min-
istry. As a pastor he was faithful. The four elders re-
turn to the Assembly a roll of lo6.

In his days of upward and onward the Rev. J. B. Dunn

IN NEW ENGLAND.

445

volume
it is in

•s by his
lader, for

!, Jr., was
ilary was
(notwith-
roUed up
or an in-
e pastor's

were most
t his case
ed in call-

ig one who
to worry,
youth was
i whether,
lacle," the
ir<ied) from
nission of
cate (a fine
, 1881, was
'Uese results
' the truth
of smooth

rev. Joseph
kas not par-
Issolved on

Lpril 29th,
liir a widow
Ixistence of
Vht pastors,
■people,
^p; liis min-
elders ro-

Ij. B. Dunn

had a station opened in Lynn, Mass. His ambition was
to " hive olF n cliurch every yc^ar." The enterprise was not
successful. Neither was one of a similar kind commenced
in Januiica Plains, where the Rev. Abraham 8. Gardiner
preached for a time.

He, Rev. !Mr. Gardiner, then removed to Readinj;, Mass.,
and preached some seven times in 1872, and in autumn,
on request, took char<j;e of the new enterprise. At its or-
ganization, the church consisted of twenty members.
The Rev. Mr. Gardiner was then chosen pastor, and in-
stalled on May 7th, 1873. Their " society was incorpor-
ated in June. An edifice was begun in October, and it
was dedicated on February 26th, 1874. In August, 1875,
the pastor resigned.

About the ist of September, 1875, Mr. P. M. McDonald
was invited tosujjply the pulpit.

On September 3d, 1871, a j)rayer-meeting in the Gaelic
language was begun in the lecture hall of the United
Presbyterian (.'hurch in Boston by a Mr. Ewen McDougall,
assisted by others, which was very beneficial to scores in
the city, who but imperfectly understood preaching in
English.

This j)rospered for years, and as it was the mother
tongue of Mr. McDonald, when he came to Reading, he
took these people under his care. When he was ordained,
he was installed pastor of the clmrch in Reading and of
the chapel in Boston (nine miles apart) on June 15th,
187G. The meeting-house in Reading cost six thousand
dollars, the lot and one thousand were given by Mr. B.
Boyce, and the pastor, by giving five hundred himself, was
enabled by exertion to see the whole amount paid. The
attendance at the chapel on Sabbath evenings has in-
creased yearly, and when the meeting-house rented from
the German Reformed Church became too small, they
removed in 1881 into the church in Springfield street, for-
merlv (for a season) occupied by the congregation gath-
ered by the Rev. John H. Munroe, now pastor of the Cen-
tral Church, Philadelphia. The pastor reports from Read-
ing a membership of 152.

End Boston. The Rev. M. A. De Pew, who was installed
July 11th, 1807, resigned, and his resignation was accepted
July 12th, 1869. The Rev. E. P. Ackermuu was called on

\ i

446

HISTORY OP PRESBYTERIANISM

the same day, but liis health so failed that he could not
accept, nnd he left in about two nioutlis. On Janunrv
I'Jtli, 1S70. the Hew Dr. James Kiehnrds was called. He
was installed on February J)th, 187(\ and liis resiuiiation
was acce])tt'd on Fel)ruary .^th, 1872. After these litful
chanjres, Divine Providence next sent to this contrre^ation
the Rev. Edward Annan, a faithful man, and much
blessed his ministry. The field was a jrood one, and it
was well tilled. Durinjj; his years of labor here (for he
had been previously pastor of a church in Ilalifiix, Nova
Scotia), his health failed, and as he saw his own "strength
weakened in the way," to the utmost of his al)ility he
"censed not to warn everv one" to be "readv." From
April 2(1, 1872, he "occupied" till January lOth, 1878,
when in the midtirae of man's allotted days he entered into
rest.

Churches are directed to remember and follow the faith
of those wlio liave spoken to them the word of God, but
where " an Athenian democracy " permeates the reli<.>;ious
mind, this is not easily done. Tliis peo]»le had now to
look for another pastor, and while hundreds of excellent
men in the denomination are "standinjj; idle in the
market," a})i)arently from the; want of a judicious arran^re-
ment, the sup])ly and demand are not properly at all
times brought into contact.

Hence even those of another persuasion may stej) in, as
did Bartlett in Newburyi)ort, and olttain the confidence
of a people. So many who are not })astors desire labor,
that an agency is kept in Boston to meet supply and de-
mand, and on an application here the Rev. F. E. Mars-
ton, of the State persuasion, was obtained. He preached
" another gospel " from Annan, but the children (it was
said) like(l him.

He obtained a call on October 1st, and was installed on
the 14tii of tlint month in 1878. In May, 1881, he reports
a roll of 2()0 n)endjers.

Spriiiffficltl Street church, Bn-^Om. As has been stated,
some active men connected with li(;ach street congregation
in January, 187(\ purciiased the Congregational church on
this street, tlien not occupied.

In it, on tlie 8d day of February, 1870, the third church
of the Reunited order was organized. While they fully

IN NEW ENGLAND.

447

Id not

I. Ho

>-nati<»u
(. litt'ul
ejjatiou

miu'h

j\nd it
(for be
X, Nova
■;tr'-'nsith
ility he
' From
h, 1878,
i>red into

the faith
God, but
relijuous
d now to
excellent
! in the
^ arriiniie-
jly lit all

lte]> in, as
lontidcnce
lire labor,
and de-
E. Mars-
preached
n (it was

Italled on
]iu risports

in stated,

lgre;Lr;ation

church on

kl church
ley fuUy

appreciated the activity of the pastor of Beach street, they
annod to liave here pulpit talent of an hij^h order, and
carryin^j; forward their purpose, a merchant on business in
Brilaiu went over to Ireland, and hearing tiie Uev. John
H. Munroe, on his report, when returned, this congregation
extended to liim a call to their pastorate.

This he accepted, and while he brought to the position
unexceptionable fitness, it was at an early day discovered
that there Avas too little suitable material in his Held of
labor, and the future there was not bright with inducements
for him to remain in Boston. After making " lull proof of
his ministry " there for sixteen months, he accepted a call
in Philadelphia.

This congregation had also the services of the Bev. Dr.
Wm. A. McCorkle for some time, and did not expire from
the want of talent in the pulpit, but from the mental and
social nature of its surroundings, connected with the fact
that but a few of the hearers could apj)reeiate the talent
which they enjoyed in the house of prayer. It was at best
a redundancy.

South Boston. After the failure of Claybaugh in this
ward, the Bev. John l^rash lal)ored in it for u season, and
when he left J*resbytery appointed the Bev. George Clark
(pastor of P]ast Boston ) as moderator of session. He was
informed by a man of promise, who became a failure, that
if the United Presbyterians placed another man tiiere, he
would hire a hall and establish an opposition. The men
employed as above became extensively assimilated to
their surroundings, and the field was dropped.

As there were not a few Presbyterians resident in that
part of the city who found it inconvenient to attend any
of the churches in the city proper, a hall was hired, anil
the Bev. L. H. Angier labored tor years as supply.

•After the churcli was organized, they extended a call to
the Bev. Dr. ^^'m. M. Baker, who labored among them
some years. His subsistence was not superabundant
among them, and eventually separation came. They also
undertook the enterprise of building a place of worsliip, in
which they ought to have been liberally aided by their de-
nomination, but it was not so. Having a few men of busi-
ness and of substance, they obtained as pastor the Bev,
Wm. H. Sybrandt, who for years has occuj)ied faithfully,
and returns a roll of 112 members in May, 1881.

448

HISTORY OP PRESBYTERIANISM

Beside tho Enplish-sponkinp; people, occasionally Ger-
mans are collcctcHl into Pnshytcriaii oliurclics. One of
this nationality has lor rears existed in Lawrence, Massa-
chusetts, and in May, 18S1, tlieir ])ast()r, the Rev. Auu\islus
II. Ilager, presents a roll ol" 127 niemhers, having during
the year 1880 had an increase of llfleen.

In Lowell Presbyterianisni has had vicissitudes. After
the false pretenses of the Rev. John Robertson in 18G8, tho
Rev. Soltau F. Calhoun supi)lied the station here for some
time in 1870-72. But his services were not acceptable to
all his hearers.

They were more fortunate with his successor, the Rev.
Robert Court. They years ago purchased a place of wor-
ship, and as there is no other Presbyterian church in the
city, they are prosperous. He returns a roll of 170 mem-
bers, with an increase of twenty-six in 1880,

In Providence, R. 1. As wo have seen in the last quarter
of a century— 1843-18()8— the " Old School i)arty " occu-
pied for years. Since the reunion they have advanced —
have built a church, and have had ministerial labor. Tho
Gothic contagion, so prevalent in New England, of build-
ing God and his people out of doors, they have not es-
caped. The beam out of the wall or timber cries, "Debt,
debt. Pay what thou owest."

To them the Rev. J. Dickson came and became initiated
fully in the labor and worry incident to the work of a
Presbyterian clergyman in New England. A few years of
such a peculiar position were enough.

After his de|)arture, the Rev. Thomas Parry served them
in the gospel lor some years.

Not only the fluctuating character of the Presbyterian
population in this, as in other cities in New England, im-

f)eded progress in the work of the kingdom, but, it is be-
ieved, that of those indebtetl to th(jse Ibrces which unit^'
the Scotch in Scotland, viz., the Psalms and Shorter Cate-
chism, not a few have changed tlieir colors and enlisted
under other banners. Social life has its Ibrces as well as
the gospel.

The Rev. George W. Morrill has not yet had oppor-
tunity to there " make full proof of liis ministry." Thw;
elders return from this vacancy a roll of 150 members in
1881.

IN NEW KNfiLAND.

449

ly Gcr-
Onc of
, M;iss:i-
n i:\isUis
5 durini:;

;. After
l8G8,tho
for some
)table to

the Rev.
e of wor-
-h in the
70 mem-

st quarter
tv " occu-
Ivanced —
bor. The
of builcl-
ve not OS-
es, " Debt,

e initiated
work of a
,v years of

Irved them

icj^nyterian
[land, iiu-
;t, it is be-
iiieh unil^'
)rtcr Cate-
Id enlisted
as well as

lad oppor-
Iry." Tho
Umbers in

New nostim, X. H.—At this date, 1SG8-1S81, the Rev.
Frank II. Allen is i)astor, and returns a roll of 137 mem-
bers.

Bed ford, i\. II. — Vacant; in May, 1881, the nine ciders
return a roll of 141.

From Soidh Ri/ec/nle, Vt. — Vacant; the six elders return
a roll of 107.

Litchfield has one elder who returns a roll of 16, and re-
ports two adult baptisms during the last year. Hy tho
generosity of some jx-rson they have an annuity, and can
obtain supplies for a part of the time.

Total mi'mbcrs rej^orted by Presbytery of Boston, in
Mav, 1881, 2,()87. Total in the seven churches reported
in ('onnecticut in 18h], 1,127. Total, 3,814.

C()ui)(rti<-itt. — As we have seen, " three of the congrega-
tions, formed more recently in this State, have ceased to
exist, and a fourth has joined another ecclesiastical hody."
Yet, in entering on this (juarter of a century we have en-
couraging (Continuations.

As successor to the Rev. Dr. Adams in Thoinp.^onville,
the Rev. Henry Ward liCe was installed on July 13th,
18()9. Nothing unusual marked his incumbency, and he
Avas dismissed on December 20th, 1873.

During these short vacancies no stated supply was en-
gaged ; they were filled w<?ekly, and on July 20th, 1874,
the K<v. Frederic Shepard Barnurji was installed. Al-
though Popery has control over a large percentage of the
])opulation, and other denominations have societies in the
vilhige, yet the working force in this church is ellicient,
for tiiey had, in 1881, a membership of 244.

Of tlie Presbyterian church in ILirtford we have seen
the history for seventeen years. They now (1808) occupy
a chapel at the cost of sS17,0(M).

lietween July 12th, 1809, and May 17th, 1870, they
erected, in so far, an edifice, leaving the tower unfinished.
"The building is of Connecticut granite, with trimmings
of Ohio and Portland stone, and in an area of above 7,0<)0
sipiare feet (or 123 by 57 feet), the audience room will
seat about ()00 people. With an organ at S2,800, the total
cost of the lot and buildings (so far as finished) was, when
opened, $07,948.02 " (or ahout S113 for each sitting). That
perpetual motion, " the prince of the power of tlie air,"
29

« ;

450

HISTOUV OF PUESBYTERIANISM

while they were occupying; "a plain, comfortable brick
building, cu))able ot" scatin^f some 7o() ])e()pU', and well
adajitcd to the^ wants of the conj^rciiation," perhaps had
nothing to do with tliis enterprise, of changing it for a
seating capacity of about GOO.

Here pride di<l not " come l)ofore d(>struetion," but before
trouble. " Contentir)n (was now) meddled with." Tlie
courts, ecclesiastical and civil, were invoked. The "Athen-
ian democracy was in the mould of the society " by i)ow
patronage.

The i)astor, being a I'ennsylvanian, supposed that the
property of a I'resbyterian congregation should (as is the
case geniM-aliy out of New England) be under the control
of the church ; but trustees, appointed by its members, in
an organized capacity, the State di<l not here recognize.

The pew jiarish (or society) and its api)ointees, not trus-
tees or dea(H)ns, 'losen by the elders and other memi)ers
of a church, musi shut or ojkmi "the doors of the house of
God." 'I'he pastor, in connnun witii other l*resl>vterians,
profoundly ignorant of the fact, had to "come to the
Knowledge of the truth " in this bitter way, in which not
less tiian "seven suits have bt-en instituted," and, "in
March, 1S77, the trustees were sustained by mandamus."
It is not easy to estimate the loss suffered by " ])ure and
vmdefiled religion " through these unfortunate proceedings
by which Preshyterianism has h(>re l)een "wounded in
the house of her iViends." Still, the ]>astor continues, the
church increases, and in 18(S1 he re[)orts a roll of 280
members.

In Stamford, New Scliool, the Rev. Alexander S. Twom-
bly, on Ai)ril oOth, 18()S, entered as i)astor, and continued
in office till May 1st, 1872, followed by the Rev. Evert van
Slyke, April 28d, 1873, who ofliciated till October (Uh,
1875. The j)resent pastor. Rev. Richard P. H. Vail, was
installed on May 11th, 1876, and to his assembly, in 1881,
rej)orted a membership of 297.

In Bruh/cport, Old School, the Rev. TTorace S. Hinsdale
resigned his charge on October 4th, 1877. His successor,
the Rev. Henry A. Davenjjort, was installed February 14th,
1878. In 1881, to the Assembly, he reported a membcr-
Bhip of 198.

In Darien, New School, the pastor, the Rev. James W.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

451

hrick
1 well
)S hinl
, for a

before
' The
Athcn-
)y pow

lilt the
8 is the
control
hers, in
nizc.
ot trus-
iciuhors
ousi' of
ti'rians,
to the
lich not
ill

nd,
hunus

ure ant
M.nlin^s
ided in

IK'S, the
of 280

Twom-
ntinuod
crt van
ler (Uh,
ail, was
n 1881,

nis(

lal

•cessor,
■y 14th,
I'ombcr-

nes

Coleman, installed March Ith, 1804, rcsijincd his pastorate
January 4th, 1874. Ah'inhcrshii), in 1881, 40. On July
7th, 18S1, the Rev. K. V. (K'avcland was ordained and in-
8talled ])astor, llujiucniii Memorial church, 87.

Tlic First Presbyterian church of AV;r Ilnmi was organ-
ized by the Presbytery of W'er^tchester, March 11th, 1873.
This year began a vast financial end)arrassnuMit, and it
became necessary on this account to abandon the ent(?r-

i»ris(\ By the same court the church was dissolved on
anuary PJth, 1875.

At Greenwich, Fairfield county, thirty-two persons with-
drew from the Second Congregational Society of the town,
and they were, on A])ril 'iGth, 1881, by the Presbytery of
Westchester, organiz-ed as a church. They have since
elected the Rev. Rollin A, Sawyer, D. D., as their pastor.
Membership, May, 1881, 31.

1868-1881— U. P. Church of Boston— Hopes diminishing;— liiiild or
abandon — Two other branches — Want of sucoi-w — New poetry ad-
vised — The cure — Any eouhl find their position — Inducements to
abandon were realities — Hindrances — The flock — Resolved ( D. V.)
to buihl — Lot — C'hurcli and two dwellings erected — Favorable inter-
positions — Trustees of the Assembly — Reincorporated — Powers — C'on-
grcfjation prospered — Interest and debt —1873, commercial dei)ression
— (jhurches pray — Lindell and the organ — "Musical pioneer" — In-
crease of i'opery in Hoston — The organ-loft divides — Jsot satisfactory
— Moody — His tabernacle — His services — A religions lady's view of
Sankey — An unsettling tendency — Moody's "talk " — Newman Hall's
estimate of Moody's results — Seed sown in four phices — Kesidls — Two
days' attendance in orthodox churches — No supposed aids wanting —
The ]>ioneer Presbyterian church siiflered — Yet it stood the shock —
Doctrine tauglit — Versions — Garnering — No surplus veneration — Our
debt — Its consequences — Some had no sympathy — A goodly price —
This tried people — Trustees and Boards to report in 1880 — Their
plans and report — Pastor must go and pay debts — Or the sale miglit
become a fact — Double toil — An optimist — The congregation aston-
ished — None asked him to resign — Did so .June 29th — Licensed June
28th, 1830 — Progressives now to adopt new methods — Congregation
had been prospering — Force spent — Never disabled for dutv — He
must now stop — Relation dissolved — Not to disturb he removed — His
course of jiastoral life unusual — Nothing popular — Only the riches of
Christ and the word of God — This the Spirit honors — At the end of
thirty-four years he leaves one priest and two Unitarian doctors in
Boston who were there before him — He must go, for the increase was
less than some other years — This not so — His disadvantages — Hia
success — Boasting excluded — Divine appointment reigns — Rev. John
Hood — Installed — Thompsonvilk — ^A pastor settled— Set off by Synod

452

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

to New York Prosbvfcry — Eust EnMnn — Rev. G. M. Clarko — Trouble
came — lit- sowod si-tds of discord — The eliiirch roll — Kast Boston and
Ilartlonl dissolved liy I'rcsltvtery in IST.'J — I'rnvide.nre ~ \{k'\ . J. P.
Kohl)— Released — Mr. M.S. McCord called — Ordained ami installed —
An iiitilliu;ent |K'o|>le — He makes t'ldl pniol— Roll — Juill Jliirr — Rev.
J. R. Kyle— Had for a lime competition — .Vn Asyin:n — Rev. J. IF.
Tiirnhull — Installed — Roll increased - I rMt;/*//ir///f' —Rev. P. Y.
Smith — ContinueH jtastor — His ndl — H7ii'<///,sr///c— Rev. K. Hark-
ness — The people not peaceable — He left — The chiir(!h dissolved —
Reorganized — Mr. James L. Thompson called, ordained and in>
Rtalled — The church prospering — His roll — Lmvrenc.e — Rev. John
Hogg — Successful — !u harmony with the "dissenters" of 1807, in
tlie McCune case — McCune's changes — Tried by church courts —
Leaves I'resbyterianism — Reoomcs ortlio.lox in 'J'exas — As "acting
pastor'' — "Dissenters" — Who sympathized with Mc(June — In some
views — Overtures — On the psalms — To pave the way for orijans —
Tunes prepared — Children "clamour for sprightly music" — Accom-
modated — With fragmerUs called *' Hible Songs" — Actions and opin-
ions — "A very serious ern)r" — The demand met — Overture to i)ave
the way for organs — Mr. Hogg insubordinate — Mr. A. (}. McCoy's
view of the church — Rev. John A. Rums faithful — \)t, McAyeal —
His view of versions — His roll — If4)aiiiH were taken — The ol.l version
wonid be most eilective — Presbi/'ery of Vermont — linnid — Rev. John
Seivice pastor— Vacant — Rev. R. S'. Hammoml — Installed — Con-
tinues — Roll — HijejaU' — Rev. A.Y. Houston pastor till l.ST-j — Rev. J.
R. Clapperton installed — Release*! — His roll — (ireensboro — Va ant
long — Rev. A. S. Stewart installed — His resignation — N'acaiit — Roll
— To complete we rerpiire information — None would then be uniio
ticed — A supposition — The whole mendtership and adherents — Others
careless — Thousands with other persuasions — Men of Israel help —
Who will care for their souls?

Boston. — As the United Prcsl)yterian congregation of
Boston entered on this (luarter of a century they found
their hope of recovering their property diminishing, and
the alternative was presented, build an house for public
worship, or abandon the field.

They had, in twenty-two years, entered their seventh
hired hall and paid nearly ten thousand dollars for rent.

It is doubtful if any other congregation in the city would
have shewn equal steadfastness to principle under so many
disadvantages and discoiu'agements. Two other branches
of the Presbyterian family were now competing in the
field, and in two divisions (in East and Soutii Boston ) they
had had more than one experiment of their own " })rogres-
sive" element in the U. P. Church, and their want of suc-
cess, just as they became assimilated to their surround-
ings, in doctrine and worship.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

453

Pastor anfl pooplo wove continually urpod (o bccomo
mow popular; it' not to ohtaiu an ortMU, at least to adopt
iu)\v po(>try to please the tloatin^r poi>ulation; to renienilirr
that "the days ot" the catechism" and the psalms were
])aHt; to say nothing ajrainst any error, or corrupt system,
at the risk of heinj; hranded as hiiiots. The cure lor all
this, however, was to teach the jjeople "the first principles
of the oracles of God," and to shew, that we had not "ap-
])ointed any new tiling contrary to what hv had com-
manded;" in short, to keep pure and entire all such "reli-
gious worship and ordinances as (Jod has aj)pointed in his
■word." Conse(juently, if any were dissatisfied they could
find their ])osilion in one of the varied fields of do<;ma,
lyinjj; hetween "sonnil doctrine " and the opinions of the
advocates of "advanced thou<j;ht."

Still, tlu; inducements to abandon the field were reali-
ties. The fluctuating character of the pe(»])le especially,
•who in manv cases onlv remained Ioiil' » nouuh to ]tro(!ure

* ^ ' ■ I

the means to carry them elsewhere, av;;s iiiily discourag-
ing. In this way there can be traced into sixteiMi States
of the Union, the different Provinces of Canada, to Aus-
tralia, to Mexico, to St. John's, Antigua, Id Ireland, to
London, to Berwick upon Tweed, to (ilasgow, to Paisley,
to Perth and elsewhere, individuals, who for a season wor-
ship{)ed with us; while others, indebted to Presbyterian
training for their moral character, the basis of their use-
fulness and material prosperity, when they became no-
ticed for their ]>ossessions, were in some cases induced to
])lace themselves with the more rich and gay. Where
such persons were ])arents, their daughters readily " went
out to see the daughters of the land," and their sons easily
"pleased themselves with the children of strangers," in-
stead of seeking "the ])lighted partners of their future
lives " among tlunr own persuasion.

Among the hindrances to " the work of the ministry "
here, as elsewhere, mixed marriages were not the least.
In all such cases, as a rule, it is believed that ])roper
])arental training " gains much harm and loss." At times
the children, for whom, before God, angels and men,
parents, by vows, acknowledged their responsibility at
"the judgment-.seat of Christ," were allured by some other
denomination.

i^'i

454

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

Other inducomonta to almndon the field wore not want-
ing:, but "thf ilock" licloti^fcd to tin' Master, and }dlh(ni;:li
neither rieli, nor numerous, they wen- not only vahi:il>lo
as the j)rotessed iolk)\vers of the Saviour, hut tliey lorined
a nuekius lor future leHowshij) Tor those who might, like
many of themselves, yet eome to the city.

Hero we were met l)V tlie faet, that it was liopelesa for
those tiien and there in fellowship to attempt the enter-
prise alone. Still, we resolved {!). V.) to ask aid and to
buihl.

On September 1st, 18G8, an elijrihlo site was ])ou;j;ht, and
in due time a building, ineluding two dwellings, was
erected. The house, with a seating capacity for five hun-
dred, was opened lor jtublic worsliij) on February (Jth,
187U, and although under debt, the church jirospered so
far as it was j)ossible, when the pastor had very often to
go abroad to seek aid, while he ought to have been " in-
tsUmt in season and out of season " in his Master's work at
home.

Many were the favorable interpositions of Divine Provi-
dence seen in completing the enterprise, and a Hording to
the congregation a quiet resting ])lace on Sabbath. While,
under the ruling of Chief-Justice Shaw, trustees chosen by
a Presbyterian congregation were incai)ai)le of holding
and enjoying estate for their denominational use in Massa-
chusetts, the only safe course was to invoke the official
service of the trustees of the General Assembly of the
United Presbyterian Church of North America. This aid
the Board (afraid of "inconvenience") at first refused to
give, but, after explanation, in them, as a body incorpo-
rated by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, the title vested ;
and when it was discovered that their agency, as a foreign
cor])oration, was inoperative, on proper application being
made by the pastor, said board were re-incorporated by
the General Court of Massachusetts, and authorized to
hold, for religious use, in the State, property to the amount
of three; hundred thousand dollars. The congregation con-
tinued to prosper. The Sabbath-.sehool, though not large,
was viewed as an aid, and but on one occasion in the his-
tory of the church was there acomnuniion season observed
without some increase. Order was maintained and disci-
pline was but seldom demanded.

IN NEW KNfiLAND.

455

Itiou fon-

To moot tlio intorost and roduro tlic dcltt ro(Hiiro(l vl;jil-
aiu'f. ConscMiiicnlly, when the coniiiM-rcial dcpri'ssioii of
1878 ocournMl, the cou^n'^^ation brcainc uiicfiiial to tlio
burden, and had to obtain incToased assihtanco iVoni tho
Assi-ndtly.

At this time the "cliurclics of Jesus Clnist," in tlje city
and the country, all but those which sunj; psahns, wero
"rejoicing; at the sound of the or^^ui," and one of tlio
"craftsmen" desired us to ))urehase. As history should
be impartial, 1 here j)i'esent a vindication, by one of those
most familiar with the manner in wiiich instrumei»tal
ent<'rtMinm('nts j»romote the },dorv of (Jod in the salvation
of lost sinners, and if any other lover of "things without
lift'-ji;ivin^ sound " con j)roduee more cogent arguments for
their ado})tion and use, let him do so.

" Boston, Ihxember 23(/, 187:1.

" Di^AU Siu : — Being special agent in getting uj) liartlett
and llorsford s (.'hoir Directory, your reply to their rcfjuest
was handed to me on last Sunday, in which I read somo
curii>us objections to the use of the organ in the house of
worship, and if not oflensive, I would wish to advance my
opinion regarding your objections. Knowing scarce any-
thing of the doctrine of Presbyterianism, save a little in-
sight of the history of its origin and founder, I shall take
UJ) my ])oints from your own statements, viz., that you
ado|)t the Kii)le alone as authority in matters of faith.

"This [ judge from the fact that you abrogate the use of
organs because it is not mentioned in the Jiible. How,
then, do you digest thirtieth verse, chapter twentieth, and
twenty-fifth verse, chapter twenty-lirst of St. John? Here
we are told that Jesus did many other things, which if
written all, the world could not contain the books.

" Who in your church, with a faculty for apjirei'iating the
sublimity of God, with only ordinary musical taste will
not say on hearing the beautiful strains of the church or-
gan, ' it is heavenly? ' Hence its sacred intlucnce.

" In 2 Chron. verses 12th and loth, we are told the Levites
bad lifted up their voices with trumpets and cymbals
and instruments nJ'itniHic to the praise of the Lord.

"The harp is mentioned in 1 C.'hron. xxv. 30, and has
been seen in mortal visions of heaven. Rev. v. 8. That

450

IIISTOUV OF PUKsnYTlCKIANrSM

■i? '

jil:

I'll

'the Jow^ will not liiro ;i ninn to do scculnr work on tlm
Salihiitli (l;iy ' niiiy \h\ true, :is is also that tlicv jxTscciilcd
lit to slav .Icsus hccausc lie had cured tiir man ol"

and SOU''

thirty years' ' inlirinity ' on the Sal>ltatli <l;iy. It was al.>
in this (lay that .lesns went out with his apoi^tlcs into tin;
(•<»rn-liel<l to pluck corn, which elicited their indi;:naliuii,
followed hy a reproof from him for their hlindness con<'ern-
in;,' the day. If Calvin and Knox instituted as strict ohserv-
ance of the F-ord's day as this doctiine of no instrtunmt.d
music, fitly may the words ofthe Snn (it"(l«)d apply to tin in,
' Kn»)W ye that the Sahhalh was made for man, not man
for th(! Sahhath.' It in a day for -food works. Ih it not
good to assist in protlucin;! that music which inspires the
houls of the faithful with ( 'hiistian foititude, as the martial
Htraiiis of a national anthem on the hattle-lield ur;ics tla;
tioldier to victory ? There n-mains still the most serious
moral ohjection in voiir eves, its concomitance with tlu;

lu'ad

s ami liolv w

liter of the Ijoiiiish church, 'riicse out-

ward forms of catli(»licity appear very ridicrulous to us
sceptics, stoics and cynics, hut .s« also mi^^ht it appear in
the present a}Z<> of the progress of civilization, it" .h'siis
Christ ajipearcd to-day in our midst and he.ded the
Itlindness of our 8oul hy ointment made from his spittle
and tin? dust of the earth. I'erhaps in a crisis of saitl
' progress,' tlu^ ap|ilicatinn of the water of tin; river .lor-
tl.in may Ik; teriiic(| or deemed an ahsurdity. Coniiieua-
tioiialists do not hase their l»eJief on anta,;:onism to tho
Catholic l'ap;il church, hut re^rard them as fellow-laliorers

in the vinevard i hear Kev. .Mr. \\'ri'_dit's vi(

ws,

elUi

l.'V

gtreet), and in jud^iii'^ for themselves, rejitice in every (on-
formity with that church to which you ow(! the hist(»iy
and preservation of Christianity l"njm it." origin to the six-
teenth cenlurv.

W'ry respectfully,

W. M. IJNDJCI.I,

Having thus for the instruction of the reader presenu d
the "opinion" rr aitlmlni of this "s|)ecial ag( nt in
getting up <'hoir directori<'S." it may not lie amiss \r, let the

U/iini

I I

lititt'or (

.\. V.i t

line

>•>.

le.'ik oil the

liomage paid to " the suhlimity •>!' ( itid " hy "extraordinary
inusi(!al taste."

A moru correct judgment can bo tiien fornieil of tho

IN NEW ENGLAND.

457

" lio.'ivonly oliar.'ictor " ami "HJifnid influrnco " of tlic or^'an
in " tuniiiij,' incn from <laikncs.s l-> li^l't, and IVom tin* powrr
of Satan unto ( iod.''

"In the roiuitrv clinrclics, where the inemhers of the
i'hdir an- usnally ni(iul»ers nf the etm^re^ation, it is a laii-
thin^ lor any of the sinj^ers to leavo hefor«' th»? service is
over; hut anioni.' the sin^'ers in city ehnrehes— in tho
fashionahh' well-paid (|uartette— it is a fre(|nent praetiee."

"■ In Mpiseojial ehnrehes partienlarly, where, in tin- nn)rn-
in;; service no hymn is snnu after tho sermon, it is almost the
rnle for the choir ti> sneaU otit, on<; after another, as soon
as the text is <j^iven t>nt. The sopranc* will first j^ather np
her skirts, perhaps hend her head a little, so as to avoid
the notice of the coni:re<:ati(!n, and step jfin;;erly out ttt' ilir
(iri/nn /f;/y, not uidVetjuently, however, sweepini; down ;• lew
liooks or n|»setlini: a chair, in spite of all her care. The
basso, liavinL"; no skirls to impede his pro^'ress, darts (»nt a
few njiimtes after. The alto and tenor follow, uidess. in-
dee<l, tin y prefer to remain and hav«,' a <iuiet litth' llirlation
ioLM'ther dnrim: sermon time. The or;^'anist, havin;z to play
the conelndin^f voluntary ' >iow the |)ostlnd«!), ^M'oans in-
wardly hecausi' he is thus deharred the privih'jre of lliLdit.
And how seldom is it, even dnrinir the time that they are
in the house of prayer, that tliese sin^^n-rs |)ay the least at-
tention to tile service ! From friv(»h»ns ;j:ossip, from piipiant
and amusiiiL', and often unkind criticisms of other sinj.'ers,
or of each other, they jum|) n|», s(aillle round to lind their
|)laccs in their liooks, and, without thinkiii;^ lor a moment
of the holy words they an; to use, join in ascriptions of
praise, which, under tlu; circumstances, are really simple
mockery. * We praise thee, () (Jod; we acknowledj^e tlico
to i>e the Lord ' thev siiijn with meanin;f|ess disre^'ard of
the import i»f tliose iiohle phrases. * They praise him with
their lips, hut their heart is far from him.' Kroin meru
thoiiLihll'Ssness, Sal.'iiath after Sahhath, they hreak that
eoiiimaialmeitt which says, ' Thou shalt not tak(! th(' name
of the Loril thy (iod in vain.' They forjret that the Lord
will not hold tiiem <;uiltless that take his name in vain, and
for all this • inspirin^i the souls of the faithful with Chris-
tian fortitude," they are W( 11 paid.'

Aceonlin;.: to " tlu! Kev. Mr. Wright's vicfws," as pre-
sented by Mr. Lindell, Congrc^'ationalists " rejoice! in every

«?'

458

HISTORY OF PUEMnVTKniANl.HM

(oiirorniity with tluit (^liurch," und it will not now t.'iko
more than a pronlutt s ken to sec tliut, in not ahovc lilty
years, Mie New r!n;^laiMl nielr(»|)oli.s, thirty liv(! years apo
"the Mount /ion <»! the whole earth" (so .sai<l l>r. Kiiif.',*,
may, hy thii superior " laeulty lor appnteialin^j; the; suhlini-
ily orCJoil" i)o.ssesse(| hy "the j'ajjal (Miureh," heeonie th(5
most intensely Irish " Cjilholic " city on llu; ('(tntinent.

In l.S|.'> I'xtston |)ro])er was repdrteil to have three;
churches ol' that denomination. In less than lorty years
iliL'SC hiiVM! increased to ahove one score, exclusive of th»;
lar^^est cathedral and the most capacious residenet; for an
anthhishop in the j.nid. Who wdl not say that this has
be»;n accomplished more hy "the heautilul strains of th<!
church orjj;an," '" appreciatinj; the sultlimity of (iod," than
( to say nolhin}/ ol, Ity an o|i(!n Hihh;) hy all the he.-ids and
other appliances ol that " mother church " of fellowdahor-
crs with the Hev. Mr. Wright. .Ierusal(;m may not hav(s
been, nor he, the only city of which "the Romans (may)
come and take away i)olh the place an<l nation."

While the "or;j[;an loft," in the full performance <)f its
functtions, divided the attention of congregations with the
desk, denominational growth among the evan*;e|ical
chuntln's was not in Hoston in these; years satisfactory.
|jar;i;e cities had heen visited and aroused in (ireat iJritaiu
und Ireland hy "Moody, Sankey, and the Americtan
or;^an," and there; wen; not wantin^j; men of suhstancu; to
provifle for them Imtc in due tim(; a " Tahernacle," havii>)^
a platform accommodattin;^ ahout one tht)usand persons
and a hall furinshed with o.JMO chairs. On January 'Jotli,
1H77, this was opened. From night to night, for months,
the utterane'cs of this energetic man, " mighty in the; Scrip-
tures," reverherated throughout the huilding, fdh'd to its
utmoHt caj)a(:ity, while others coid<l not ent(;r. And then,
if those wlio made the concourse; e)f sweet sounds had e^acii
individually "a faculty for ap|ire'ciating the; sublimity of
(Jod with only ordinary musical taste-," the; prese-ni-e- and
inteinatieMiH ol two organs there and then must have been
(by the' leigie; e)f Mr. Mnde'H ) eloublv " heavenly."

These' "sacred iidlueneus," pnxluceel by the- singing and
•laying of an Arminian " master e»f semg," enele-d on Sab-
latii. May 27th, when the eurnitst man gave; te) his converts
a charge to unite with wluiicvor society might Hccm ge)ejd

IN NFAV f^Nr.LAND.

459

to tliom iiMlividu.'illy, Imt to t;ik(^ can! ihsd ihcy did not
diU'cr with (»n<! jiikiUmt, lor said lie, " Mr. SaiiU»'y uiid I
have lahorccl loj^fcllicr for l\\v years, and I can appeal to
liitii wlicii I say w<' have never diderecl Keridiisly, wliile I
am a (!alviiiisl and lie is an Arniinian." Mr. Sankey (ii
nativi! of Western I'ennsyivania) lias a niaje.sti(! preseiieo
and a eoinitenaiiee diflerin^j; in many points Irmn the aver-
af^e man ol tJiose hy whom he was tlien surrounded. This
Httracl.ed tlie attention of al hiast one of the reli^dous
ladies on the platloriii, who, when the Assendily was «lis-
iniss<d, addnssed the pastor ol" "the OhI South'' thus:
"hr. ^h•lllnin;I, I !iave heard something jmw to-ni)jlil."
*'(iuit(! prohahh'," Haid he, "what was it?" Answer. — '" 1
always thou^^dd- Mt. Sankey had a very Oriental cast of
(•ountenanee. Now I know !iow to aecouid. lor it, lor he is
an Armeuian!" The Doctor was innocent eiiou}.di to tell
this at the laying ot a corn<>r-Ktont! (to ahout out; thousand
jx'ople) the next <lay.

On I'Vhruary Idtfi, 1K7H, MessrH. Whittle and M<Oarra-
lian resinn<«l exercises in the Taherna( le, and on M.ik h
od, loth and 17th Mr. M(»ody olliciatcd, closing his lahors
in tin; HtrucluH! hy a ten!pcranc<5 nuelinj^ on the '2'j^i\.
Jlowever |)rorMal»le his " lorcihhi " ar;^un!ents and " ri).dit
uords " im^dd have heen (as they douhtless were) to many,
upon "the work of the ministry," tluj lonj^ oxcilement ha(l
an unsettling tendency.

No clock can always strike ttii, eleven and twelyc. Tho
avera^M! nmst come down to tmv. as often as strike twelve,
and pastors felt this. This \h not all. "Action and reac-
tion an; e(|ual "' and ollen inseparahlc. In such eases seed
is sown hy tin; wayside, on nnks and anionic th(»rns, as well
lis <»n th(! ^ood ( pnpared ) ^Mound. and the results eorre-
H|tond. Those wlio " hrou^dit forth fruit with paticnci! "
<-ontinu(!. Mut: the elVectivene.ss «)f \\\i' pul|)it was not in-
creasiMJ. "TJie work of the ministry" was less ajipre-
(iated and the house of pruyer gradually niori! forsaken ni
the coming months.

While it is not he!i«'vcd that the ehurches (»f the I'.aptist
ami Methodist orders wtn; more permanenlly revived than
>ven! those of the orthodox ( 'oii^re^'ationalistH in tho city
j)rop(!r — within two years, in IMHO, the attendaiuic was
cnunieruted on an average of two Subhutlm i!i the most

460

HISTORY OF PRESBYTEniANISM

m>.

propitious rhurch-poiriK numth, Fobruary, and in tho ton
orthodox cIiU'cIm's, with a seating; ('aj)ncity «)f"alM)V(' 1(),(KK),
tlwrc worshipped '.i,{W,\ persons, while the Kov. J. ]i. Dunn
rcturnod in l;S7'S to his Assenihly 1,1(K), and in 1871), 010
mem hers.

Nothinj; of the supposed aids in convcrtinp; sinners —

f>relu(k'S, liynms, ehou's, organs, services of son^ and post-
udes — were wanting; in thw(! churches. They were all
ahreast of "the tinu'S," rejoicin;; in the li^^dit of the last
<|uarter of the nineteenth century, as they |»reached their
"New ICn^dand theolo^'y," yet, Mr. Moody's "overflow"
nieetiuRS two years before, after the " Tahernade " WiW
lilleil, in nei^hl)orin,i? churches, at times, did not como
much, if any, short of the now stated weekly attendance in
the ten churches.

"Mr. Mood}' indulfiied in a 'talk to niinistors' not l(mj:;
Kinco at a Northlield (Convocation. Ainotijt; other things, ho
advised them not to Malk hy the yard.' It was, ])erhaps,
good advice. It mijjcht not he impertinent, however, to
su<r^est to Mr. Moody that it is not j)reeisely in the line of
his oallinp to lecture the preachers.

" The character of his own ' talk ' does not prove bis
rip;ht to act in that capacity, and if he were put in the ])lace
of a pastor who ])reaches two or three times a week and
does a man's work besitles, he would learn })rctty quickly
his unfitness for acting as an imi)ronijjtu professor of jtas-
toral theology.

" Nobody likes to say a word against the revivalistic work
that was so po[)ular a year or two ago, and that is yet, to a
certain extent, depentled on ; })Ut facts in r(!gard to it
should neither be denied nor withhehl. One of the most
earnest njen in London is the Rev. Newman Hall. He is
als<> a man ready to take liold of any reasonable method
of helping in the work of the kingdom, and will not be
blamed by any one with being restrained by ])rejudice
from acknowledgment of a go(Ml cause. He has heen re-
peating recently what he said some time since; respecting
the results of tlie work of Messrs. Moody and Sankey in
liontlon — that it was not permanently of great value.

" Thus, speakinij; of the effect of it in connection with tho
admission of church niend)ers, he says: '1 haih^d that
visit, took part in it, assisted in tiie " intiuiry room," and oc-

IN NEW ENOLAND.

461

cnsionally pronclud in ronnoction with it. Some of tlio
services were held in Surrey ('liiipci. yt't out of a nicnibrr-
sliip of oiu! tliousjiiid tlircd liuiulred, we linvc not thri'O
who an; the fruits of tliat mission.'" {"' L'ltUcd rrcfbi/te-
r/r/>j," VUtshvnih, S'pt. Hlh, llK.Sl.)

In tlie nu'iintinic, wiiilc aniidsst tlicKO surroundings tlio
jiionccr Prishytcriiin churcli in the city sullcrcd notahttlo
i»y tho ]M»itular a;^itiiti<»n for years, still (hity saifl, " Jio
stCadfjist and ininioval)l(', and "the New Kn^dand
Primer" and its inculcations, under '"the good will of
him who dw(,'lt in the husl;,"' stood the shock.

In teaehinji the doctrine of this lUMnual for id)ove tliirty
years, tho matter of praise in this cliurch liad ever been
"the iJook of Psalms sijtj ointed hy the (Jenernl A.'isenddy
of the ("hurch of Scotland " in 1<».')(>. even after ehan}_fe came
in their own denomination and the "revised " j»salms were
in order. The old version had " a gnarled vigor " ( Cho(ite)
liliich the others have not, and never can have, and coidd
he committed to memory for night enjoyment, or lor hlind-
ness, for journeying or lor the l»ed of sickness and death,
while the other, as ca.st into the mould and ])eculiar metres
of the varied sectarian hymns, has, excepting in removing
a ftrw obsolete words and improving some dd'ective rhyme,
weakened the sense, destroyed the dignity and Ix'auty of
the old vei"si()n, without adding to its faithfidness, by sub-
stituting a dej)leted and impoverished English for their
standard text. It has been the attainment of many tor
th(;ir spiritual i)rolit to let this portion of "the word of
(Christ dwell in them richly."

Now, but few persons will inidertake to say, "Thy word
I in my heart have hid," by garnering in their memories
"the words which the Holy (Jl.ost teacheth " Jis they are
liere set forth, revi.sed, and increased by "the multiplied
versi((ns of man's taste." ('onse<|Uently, their nundters
(above three hundred) must be reduced, or the coming
generation, finding the same metres in modern po«;try, will
have for tlu; revisi(jns and new versions i\n surplus of ven-
eration nor h)ve, and enter (►ther f(»lds.

Our debt and its conseipienccs. Our people, being
nearly all employes, obtaining small wages, and, in cases,
long out of employment, found themselves unable to con-
tend with the debt. Some at least, among the progressivo

462

HISTORY OF PRESBYTKRIAMSM

11:

party in the denomination, had for tlio ("ntorprise no sym-
])atliy, and pr()j)<)sed to liave tlie Assembly sell out tlu^
substance, employ it on spots in the West, and giv(> the
money, t(ul and jJrMyers of the ])oor here to the winds, so
far as our "disj)hiyin<j; a banner for the truth '' in IJostou
(the second commercial city of the nation) was concerned.
As a certain field was valued at a pjoodly price, so, wliih*
the property cost S*1(),(MI0, more or less, tliey could sell it at
least for ^;}(),()0(), jiay the debt and clear (beside receivinjr
hack the aid alreiidv given by the Jioard of Church Exten-
sion) $li\(M) to $]L>,0()(). The existence of this tried peo-
])le as a Christian church, and tlic salvation of souls liere
now and in the future, were secondary matters in such
minds.

To maturely consider the case, in 1S70 the Boards of
Church Extension and Home Missions were associated
with the trustees to report in 1880. As only three or four
of these persons (twenty -six in number) had ever seen the
iiold or the i)roperty, the others must judju'c all matters by
a distant western standard. The pastor desired to have an
assistant, and, taking this into account, this joint commit-
tee re])orted to the Assembly that he be recommended to
resign, and if he did so the Board of Church Extension
was in three years to pay one-half of the debt, the Com-
mittee of Home Missions to supply the preaching for five
years, or until a pastor was settled, while with the rents of
the dwellings (about SGOO per annum, exclusive of taxes)
the congregation were in five years to pay the remaining
debt.

Of this recommendation to be reported in May, the pas-
tor was informed on April 22d.

This he must do, beside removing some hundreds of dol-
lars of a floating debt and paying the arcliitect's bill of
8750, or the sale of the estate by the sheriff might become
a fact. After twelve years of double toil he might say,
''Save me from my friends!" But, as an optimist, hu
" know that the heavens do rule."

This committee recommended to him to call a meeting
of his Presbytery to receive his resignation in ^lay. Aftt'r
considering the case he, in eleven days, replied, that, as
the ecclesiastical year of the Assembly commenced with
July, he would await the stated meeting of Presbytery on

IN NEW ENGLAND.

4G3

the 2ntli (lay of June. This ho did to coniploto his fifty
yoars, as ho was li(MMised to preach the jiospcl on Juno
2Sth, 1(S;^(). When he had to inform his ('on<,M-cjj;ation tliat
ho must stop, so that "a new man with now motiiods "
mi^ht stop in, a thuiidorholt out of a ok'ar sky couUl not
liavo astonished them more. No "roots of l)ittornoss Avoro
trouhlinfi;" them. Neither the cliuroh, the pastor, nor the
Proshytory asked for this ohani^o, nor thought of it, hut in
the ahovo way the (h'ht (it was su[)posod) could ho more
than ])aid, while the jjrogrossivos would control the liehh

When one, wiio had heen for thirty-nine years a j)astor,
said, "How can you en<Iuro this? it would break mo
down," the reply was, we must ''glory in tribulations."
This had to bo done. Tiio elders had boon for months
thanking (Jod for the j)rosi)ority of the congregation, and
as the commotions of 1M77-7<S iiad spent their force, hope
was in the asccnuhmt. Tiio pastor now must shut his
nioutli. Tliis was to him the " lamentation and for a
lamentation " the woe of " preaching not the gospel "
imder the " necessity "

The Presbytery took their own time in dissolving the
relation, and they declared the pulpit vacant on July IStii,
the pastor (after gathering his ciuirch in fourteen njonths)
liaving been installed on July 18th, 1H47.

Lost he might in any way bo a disturbing element in
the j)rosperity of the congregation, ho soon afterwards re-
moved from the bounds.* To moderns his course of pas-
toral life appeared to be suicidal. Nothing popular, no
hynms, no organs, no choirs, no preludes, no postludes,
nothing sensational, .simply "preaching the unsearchable
riches of Christ " and singing " psalms," to keep a church
alive in the very focus of " advanced thought," immedi-
ately beside the temples of Theodore Parker and Thomas
Paine !

Jiut God honors his own word. In the last twenty-seven
years the pastor saw above twenty Presbyterian ministers
leave the city, while the mutations of those of other de-
nominations were superabundant. Father Fitton and tiio

* For the toil of twelve years and private funds invested, he was
allowed anmiaily the amount now paid l»y the sexton, for the inferior
one of the two dwellings in the church eritate.

464

HISTORY OF PRESnYTKRIANISM

Unitarinn Doctors Bartol nnd Froomnn Clarko. wore the
onlv ones lelt by him there, who were ofliciating in Jk);--
ton'on May 20th, 1840.

Duriiij; the hist year of his pastoral relation the appre-
ciate averape inerease of ineniixTshi)) in the denomination
was only 2.oo per eent., while his was l.'>.7() per cent. To
this extent God was pleased to " work In' him." (Acts
XV. 12.)

While the ten orthodox ministers of the city, in preaeh-
inp "New Enpland theolopy," had (aeeordinp to the- Rev.
Dr. Cuyler) an increase in all, in 1871i-!S(), of twenty mem-
bers, the Calvinistic preacher keepinp"the faith *' of the
New Enpland Primer, ipnorinp all "thinps without life-
pivinp sound," and usinp only "the liook of Psalms"
(Luke XX. 42) in Divine worship, was honored by the
Master with a numerical increase, beyond deaths and re-
movals, of nineteen souls.

*' Boastinp is," by Calvinism, ''excluded," yet, it is law-
ful to say, "What hath (iod wroupht." Divine appoint-
ment reipns in his service and worship. Hence, to promote
his own plory, he honors his own aj>pointed instrumentali-
ties exclusively. To all others and their " new methods,"
he says, "Who hath required this at your hand." (Is. 1.

11, 12.)

In answer to their call the Rev. John Hood, formerly
of West Hebron, New York, was installed pastor of this
congregation on September 7th, A, d. 1881. In May their
roll was 147, it, owing to the varied su|)ply, being reduced
11 in the year.

Durinpthis period, 1868-1881, Thomsonville, Ct., sus-
tained ordinances, and on October 28th, 1873, Mr. Clarke
McCracken was ordained and installed pastor. This rela-
tion still pleasantly continues, and for convenience, some
years since, at their own request, as ))astor and people,
they were by Synod dismissed to the First U. P. Presby-
tery of New York.

Between these dates East Boston run its course. On
October 8th, 1868, a call made by them for the Rev. Georpe
M. Clarke, formerly of Nova Scotia, was sustained. He
was installed, and much promise seemed to be in the en-
joyment of his services for a season. But he could not be
limited to the use of the Book of Psalms in his pulpit

IN NEW ENGLAND.

4G5

>rc the
lU lios-

' appro-

inution

M. To

(Acts

proach-
he- Ucv.
V niem-
'' of tho
M\i litV-
i'salnis "

by tho

and re-

it is law-
appoint-
proiviote
imcntali-
lethods,"
," (Is. I.

urmerlv
of this
ay their
it'duccd

Cf., sns-
r. Clarke
his rohi-
ce, some
])eopU',
Prcsby-

ise. On
CJcor^'e

>ed. Ho
1 the en-
d iu)t be
s pulpit

dntiPS. TTo prnvod to ho po much attached to"para-
j)hrases"' that trouble came, and on July ITtli, 187U, ho
resij^ned and went to Canada.

The connrepation were in <rood workinfr order. Ono
penerous adherent aided tlieiii liseally very nuich, and did
nnieh for the coniire^ation when vacant, but it was in vain.
'J'iie jiastor had sowed seeds of di.scord, which could not
bo rooted up, and alter Si)n)(> supply for months, tlie church
roll was by Presbytery deposited with its own clerk, who
■was authorizetl to jxive certificates to those entiiled to them.
After years of delay, on Ai)ril 11th, 187Ji, finding; both
]Oast Boston and the station at Hartford, Ct., hopeless,
I'resbytery odieially dissolved these organizations.

In 'j'i'ondrntr, R. /, tlu; Kev. John P. Hobb had ofliciated
as pastor ;m the 11. P. church) from April '.'"th, 18G0,
until 1874, when he was, on January 2d, releast ..

After varie(l candidates had \iv\\ heard, the conprepa-
tion called Mr. M. S. McCord, who was ordained and in-
^<talled on December 21)th, bs74. With the morning of
manhood upon him, a wdling and intelligent peo|>l(^
around him, in one of our most prosperous manufacturing
and connnereial cities, he continues to " make full proof
of his ministry," and returns a roll of 'Jl.') members.

The ministry of the llev .bisliua li. Kyle was (notwith-
standmg a want of attachment to the principles of the de-
nomination) coiitinued from April, a, I). 18()7, until Sep-
tember Sth, 187'), when he was dismissed from Fall River.

During i)art of this tinu; he liad competition, tor tho
►Second Moston Presbytery, on October '.ith, 1872, "ap-
pointed committees to organize churches in Heading, Fall
Iiiver and Providence whenever the way seems open," and
to this eity the Rev. Sollau F. Calhoun, from Ix) well, soon
afterwards came. By this movement an a.sylum was
opened for seme who had diiliculties to brood over, but
from it no permanent good eauie.

A year jiassed, and on Septend>or Ath, 1876, the Rev.
J. II. Turnbull was installed as [)astor. In this, tho first
cotton manufacturing city in X«'W England, for a genera-
tion Presbyterians have aboimdcd, and in a. u. 1880 tho
church ro'l was increased nine, while it stands in a. d.
1881 at iCl).

In Willcliisuiivillc the Rev. P. Y. Smith was reported at
80

4GG

HISTORY OF PRESnYTKRIAXISM

the end of the last quarter of a rontury as pastor. Tlioro
ho still continues, as a county olliccr, suiM^rintcndiiiti its
educational interests, and, as pastor of the U. 1*. church,
"takinj; heed to the tlock."' In his limited field lu; re-
turns a roll of ^t'i in a. d. 18S1.

In W'hitinsvillc, M<(n8., the Uev. Rohert Harkness
]>reached from January 8th, IST.'J, till April 2"Jd, 1S74,
Avhen, not lindinfjj congenial surroundinL^'^, he left. Not
so much, or perha])s at all, from any fault of his, hut from
b(!lligerent manifestations among tlu; people. After re-
ceiving his resignation, I'reshytery dissolved the church.

It was re-organized on Deeetnher .'iOth, 1S74, and had
various sui>j)lies until .Mr. .lames !>. Thoiiipson was or-
dained and installed there on June 11th, 1S78. ('onsider-
ing the liniited extent of the field, th«'y are prospering in
all things, and his roil numhers ScS memhers in a. d.
ISHl.

In Lmn-encr, the Rev. John Ifogg, as pastor, ofTiciated
from April 7th, ISdt), till November 2.']d, 1875. He was
successlul in gathering the peojile, and, with them, in ex-
changing the small meeting-houses for a new one with
modern conveniences. In his mind the lust of numhers
obtained a ])repond(>ran('e over his attachment to the nrin-
ciples of his churi'h, as he found himself increasingly in
liarmony with those who had entereil their " dissent" in
the Assembly of IStu in the McCune case.

That man (McCune) had, while a student, imbibed Con-
gregationalism, and the ^b)nongahela A. R. Presbytery
declined, on A.\n''\\ 12th, 1854, to license him. He was,
liowever, quietly licensed on I)ecend)er 2511), by the First
A. R. Presbyterv of Ohio, and ordainecl without charges by
that court in Xanuary, 1850. He organized a mission
church in Cincinnati, to which he ])reache<l until July,
18G7. He was brought into the church courts in LSGG for
u work, which he published on church fellowship, and the
case having been aj)})ealed to the (ien<'ral Assembly of
18G7, it was then decided that he was guilty of "holding
and defending serious and fundamental error on the sub-
ject of church fellowship." He then uniteel with the
Presbyterian church, organized a non-denominational
church in the ahove-named city, which resulted in his
trial before the Presbytery of Cincinnati ; and although

IN NEW ENGLAND.

467

Thorn
Wws. it!<
chuvch,
L he rt-

[iirkncsrt
1.1, 1ST4,
.ft. Not
l)ut from
After re-
•liurch.
and IkuI
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in A. V.

ofTieiatod
Ho wj\s

cm, in ex-
one with

f iiunihcrs
the urin-
sinjily in

nt" in

)ihpd Con-
'roshytory
lie was,
' i\w First
chivrRo hy
,a nnssion
Imtil July,

|), and the
Iscmhly of
" holding:;
m tiu> snb-
wilii the
rtinational
,ed in his
although

not oonvirtod of positive error, it shewed his trne views,
:nid he transferred his relations aeeordinuly. l']sp(»usint;
the "sunieicntly (Uvine" eeclcsiastieal polity which nri;j:i-
nated at Sah'in, Mass., on AiijiUst ('>th, KJ-JO, lie occupies
at Dallas, Texas, as an "acting pastor" {Coiiyrtyitional
Yritr Hook, IHSl ) to 2."» nienihers.

Kronj the " decrees " of the Assenihly in his ease, there
w<'r(> "dissenters" who sympathized with him in some of
his profiressive views. None of these were found amon{]j
men ol" experience, ami " the spirit of the age " demanding
iimovation, the chin-ch has hanlly heen recently a yeur
without the agitation produced hy " overtures." Psalmody
was tossed like a weaver's shuttle. l!evisions, new ver-
sions, psalters, selections sent down and reported u|» from
year to year, did not increase ohc<licnce to the Divine* in-
junctions, " Take heed to the doctrine," " feed the flock"
As a natural secjuence to agitation ahout the matter of
praise came the manner of rendering it. and in ISTO an
overture was demanded to eliminate from the avowed
principles of the church, sec. A, art. 2. chaj). 3, of her Di-
rectory for Worship. While, in 1S70, this did not ohtaiu
the necessary two-thirds vote to send it down, yet it
marked tlu^ progressive force of the "dissenters," as it
stood 8() for change to 74 for " letting well enough alone"

New versions of the Psalms were |)r(*|)ared, not for psalm
tunes, hut for such tunes as were popular among the varied
forms of human hymns, KVKM) of which tun<>s (according
to Fitz) have perished in New England, all the o(Vsj)ring
of modern tastes. As domestic insubordination aug-
mented, as family worship became of less importance,
children and youth came to the front and "clamoured for
Gprightly music."

'J'o this, " the s])irit of the land," she must yield, and to
make the hope of the church, her children, steadfast United
Presbyterians, they must be sujinlied with the "rub-a-
dub" applied to portions of (Jod's word. As the " I'iS
versions, embracing 117 i)salms," in addition to the former
version, making in all ."301 songs, were obviously too
numerous for children to become acquainted with them,
and especially to learn them as portions of Divine truth ;
so l.'jO selections must be made, and " what God had
joined together man must put asunder," and call the frag-

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468

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

mcnts " Bible Son^s." Of tlie General Assembly of 1881,
but one man, a ruling elder (it is said), bad been a mem-
ber of tbe ])receding one. Consequently tlie action of
1879, wbicb opened tbis flood-gate of childisb doing, was
not fully approved by tbe Assemldy of 1880, and while
tbey could not stop tbe " sprigbtly music " wbicb bad
been writton or selected for tbese "songs," and was scat-
tered by thousands of copies prematurely among the
oburcbes, tbey appointed a committee of five to re])ort in
the case. One of tbese was tbe leading musician who had
for years led on the "clamour" (as be called it), and in
reporting witb his compeer, said : 1." It was in an emi-
n(!nt degree such a book as the Assembly ordered. 2.
For 14,000 copies bad been sold in five months. 3. It
would be an aid if used. 4. Any change would involve
great expense in tbe j)urebase of new music. 5. It would
produce confusion and look like trilling." The majority
reported : " The principle of selections is ' a very serious
error.' 1. Z\ is subversive of our position. 2. It involves
the rejectioii of a portion of the psalms, as unsuitable to
be used in tbe Sabbiitb-scbool. 3. It is an assumption
that tbe Book of Psalms is not suited to be a system of
praise for children. 4. Its tendency is to exclude the
Book of Psalms from tbe cliurcb in a few years, and 5. Is
a mutilation of God's book of praise."

The Assembly authorized the Board of Publication to
publish " Bible Songs " to meet tbe demand, said " no
farther action on this matter is necessary at the present
tmie," and overtured, "Siiall section five, article two,
chapter three of the Directory for Worship be repealed ? '■'
This section forbids tbe use of instrumental music in di-
vine worship. A certain class of men must be popular,
and tbis innovation Mr. Hogg did not discountenance in
I^awrence, as an organ, in opposition to the authority of
the church, has been for years used there. He resigned
in November, 1875.

Among the supplies who ofliciated there afterwards was
Mr. Albert G. McCoy. It was believed that an unanimous
call would have been extended to him, and when asked
privately as to the appearance of the congregation, be an-
swered, " It is a Presbyterian congregation, and a good
one, but where the ' United Presbyterian ' comes in I can*

IN NEW ENGLAND.

469

not see." Among supply subsequently sent was the Rev.
Jolin Aukl Burns. His hoiilth was not good, yet he was
installed on August 4th, 1876.

While using medical means, he succumbed to " Bright's
disease," and as the taper of life grew shorter, he "preached
as a dying man to dying men."

Instead of trifling with modern themes, supposed to be
*' abreast of the times," he digested " Ambrose looking unto
Jesus," and to that people preached the gospel with all the
grace of novelty. They were interested and edified, but
his end came on March 28th, 1878.

The Rev. Robert A. McAyeal, D. D., was admitted to the
pastorate of this church on January 21st, 1879. He not
only possesses great ability, guided by above twenty
years of experience, but is decidedly " abreast of the
times," and is as progressive as the law of his limitation
will allow him to be. Employing " Bible Songs " (with the
organ looking on, if not joining in), he has one hundred
and fifty-six scholars in his Sabbath school. That the
old version of the psalms were best to be used, he docs not
believe, but afiirnis that in order to gather United Presby-
terians into the church in New England, the " new ver-
sion " must be used. With this opinion his returns do
not correspond.

In 1880 his number on the roll Avas 200; in 1881 it was
181. This may be to some extent owing to removals for
employment, but in all United Presbyterian churches in
the seaboard cities, the "gnarled vigor" of the Scotch ver-
sion (wherever due pains are taken to explain the divine
origin, appointment and meaning of the psalms) is most
effective. " The words which the Holy Ghost teacheth "
savor more of " the simplicity of Christ " than do tlie same
Avords diffused or contracted through the enticing words
of man's wisdom in imitation of modern poetrj'.

United Presbyterian Prcshj/teri/ of Vermont. In Barnet the
Rev. John Service labored from 18G8 till March 8th, 1877.
Tiiey were then vacant until February 19th, 1879, when
the Rev. Robert N. Hammond was ordained and installed
pastor. In May, 1881, his roll stood at 139.

In Ryegate the Rev. Alexander Y. Houston was installed
February 13th, 1873, and was pastor till February, 1875.
On June 10th, 1876, the Rev. James R. Clapperton was in-

470

HISTORY OP PRESBYTERIANISM

stalled, and was released on July 3d, 1881, leaving a roll
of ninety-seven.

Greensboro had only the uncertain subsistence of sup-
plies for several years until October 23d, 1878, when Mr.
Albert S. Stewart was ordained and installed. On Jan-
uary 17th, 1881, he resigned. They are still vacant.
Roll in May, 1881, fifty-nine.

Such is our representation of the United Presbyterian
Church of North America in New England in 1881. The
condition of the churches in this peculiar region is attract-
ing the attention of thinking men. They see " the gold
becoming dim," and some of tiiem air virtually saying,
"Consider of it, take advice, and spcik your minds."
Hence (among others) Prof. George P. Fisher contributes
a most suggestive article to the North American Review for
October on "The Elements of Puritanism," on which the
editor of the Evangelical Repository (of the United Presby-
terian Church) is constrained to say :

" The introduction to the essay describes the changes
which have taken place in the matter of praise and the
mariner of rendering it during the last century. If it was
not a matter of history, the accuracy of which cannot be
questioned, it would be hard to believe that New England
only a century ago was so sound, sober and conservative
in its religious doctrines and modes of worship as it un-
doubtedly was. Marking as we do, not only with sur-
prise, but with a degree of sadness, these great changes, the
question at once arises in the mind, are we not following
rapidly in the wake of New England ?

" We trust we will not be regarded as unduly conserva-
tive if we express the earnest hope that even in ecclesiasti-
cal changes which affect only the outward forms of wor-
ship, we will not press too rapidly in the footsteps of the
New England Puritans. We think there are but few of
our people who do not feel that the supposed progress of
Puritanism in New England has been retrogression,"

To this editor the writer would say, provoke your
brother editors of our other United Presbyterian periodi-
cals to " ponder the path of their feet," and to them sing
the Canadian boat-song —

" Row, brothers, row, for the rapids are near,"

IN NEW ENGLAND.

471

To complete our survey, we require full information
from Peacliam, Craftsbury, Topsham, West Barnet, and
perhaps other places in Vermont, where there are members
of the Reformed persuasion, but after earnest requests and

?atient waiting, replies to inquiries have not been obtained,
f they had been, the field (New England, it is believed)
would be fully represented, and but little, if anything, of
Presbyterianism have been left unnoticed.

So to approximate the number and prosperity of these
unknown churches, I suppose them to contain probably
200 members — possibly, with Ryegate and South Barnet,
400 members in all, so that in a population of 4,100,000
the whole membership under the general name will be in
the Reunited Church, 3,814 ; in the United Presbyterian
Church, 892; in the Reformed churches in Boston, 313,
making probably in all about 5,400 members, and of the
population some ten or fifteen thousand souls.

Beside these, it is believed there are nearly as many
other Presbyterians in the region who are careless and un-
cared for — who have become indifferent about their souls'
salvation, to say nothing of the thousands who have
united with other persuasions. In view of their condition,
their prospects and their doom, they may say, " M-^n of
Israel, help." This plea and petition are intensified by
the fact that others are daily coming, and will in future
pour into her commercial towns. Who will care for their
bouls? Will no man?

1868-1881 — Reformed Presbyterian — Win. Graham in Boston — Increase
slow, but more pennaiieiit — Hired halls — Presbyterians suffer less in
them in Boston than elsewhere — Began to build in 1873, and under their
own roof February 15th, 1874 — Aid called for — Their edifice costly — ■
As Presbyterians they could not hold or enjoy under State law — Their
numbers now — Division — Second Reformed Presbyterian Churchiu Bos-
ton— Never a station— Rev. D. McFall installed July 11th, 1873— They
purchased a church estate title — Self-supporting — They were un-
noticed — Travestied in the Daily Neirs and by the Sun as a "()ueer
religious sect" — Above the average amount of pulpit jiower — Rev. E.
D. Winslow, who ridicules them, himself a forger and a villain —
Some men their sins follow after — Boston as a field for these (pieer
folk, and their success looks like "the burning bush" — A curious
fact — He led the court for wisdom — They are now owned extensively
by the head of the church in maintaining the Calvinism of the
Puritans.

iPi

472

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

We have noticed the gatherinj]; of a Reformed Preshyte-
rian Church in Boston, and its organization on July 12th,
1854. From the 12th of July, 1860, the Rev. Wm.
Graham as pastor " took heed to the tlock." The increase
■was of necessity slow, but this contributed to permanency.
In common with others, this people worshipped in hired
halls, but in Boston (it is believed) a new church enter-
prise will suffer less in such places than in any other city
known to the writer. There exists no air of sacredness
about such a place, and floating persons will occasionally
venture in. Still changes from place to place tax attach-
ment to principle, and a permanent house of worship be-
comes a necessity.

This pastor and his people began to build a church in
August, 1873, and on February 15th, 1874, they com-
menced public worship under their own roof This in-
cessantly taxed their energies, and they had to call ex-
tensively on others for aid.

In such enterprises much is economized by having the
assistance of mechanical skill at hand to determine
values, and in their case nothing or but little was in this
■way saved. Their spacious church edilice was costly,
still they have been able, in the face of great disadvan-
tages, to retain it. In common with all other Presbyte-
rians, they could not hold and enjoy their church estate in
Massachusetts by a board of trustees, and their tenure is
provided for otherwise. By being "steadfast and un-
movable," they are now able under the divine blessing
to grow, having " an active membership of two hundretl
and nine (209), with seventeen others sustaining to them
a nominal relation, but whom they do not count."

We are not, however, to suppose that for twenty-seven
years this congregation have had only unbroken repose in
their associated fellowship. It was otherwise. Individ-
uals from other " strait sects " uniting with them, intro-
duced their shades of opinion, and a congregation hived
out of the original one, in which separation the dislike of
persons and unwillingness to associate with them was prob-
ably more in force than any change of doctrinal opinion.

" The Second Boston Reformed Presbyterian congregation "
was organized .,/ commission of the New York Presbytery
on November 21st, 1871. It was never a mission station,

IN NEW ENGLAND.

473

but always a self-supporting congregation, originally of
thirty members. As a vacancy they were supplied by the
Rev. T. jV[. Elder, of Dayton, Pa., and others under the ap-
pointment of their Presbytery. On May 18th, 1871, the
Kev. David McFall was settled at Oil City, Pa., and on re-
ceiving a call, was translated to Boston and installed on
July 11th, 1873.

In abandoning hired halls they had some advantage, as
they were enal)led in October, 1879, to purchase at a low
price a good church edifice, one built by and for years
owned by the orthodox, from wliich the occupants had
hived to fill the empty seats proffered to them under the
ministry of the successor of the late Kev. E. N. Kirk, D. D.
Here also title must vest in individuals, for as Presby-
terians, to say nothing of their want of citizenship, they
could not as a church hold or enjoy real estate in Boston,
for the worship of God. As they were self-supporting
when only thirty strong, they are not less so now wlieu
they number one liundred and four active members. • Be-
fore noticing their growth amid.st their surroundings,
it must be observed that hy the hymn-singing community
they were unnoticed and unknown. Hence a Boston
paper, tlie Dally Xews, in 1872, with the New York !San,
thus travesties tliem :

" There is a queer religious sect in St. Louis, called
among themselves 1)V the honored name of Covenanters —
to whicli they doubtless have no right — although not so
designated in the list of churches given in the City Direc-
tory. Its members are not allowed to exercise the right of
suffrage; but there is notliing in tlieir belief to prevent
them from holding oliice when they are afforded the op-
portunity, and several of them enjoy snug positions under
the city and county governments. A member who marries
outside of the pale of tlie clmrch is at once excommuni-
cated. Recently a son of one of the most prominent lead-
ers of the faith came of age, and celebrated his accession to
the dignity of manhood by voting, like a good ( Hizen, at
the next election. Whereupon the church took action,
and cast him from among them as unworthy of fellowship.
But an elder, who was shortly afterward proven guilty of
gross immorality, was permitted to retain both his mem-
bership and his otlice." — N. Y. San.

1 /:
,1' '

!i 1?

474

HISTORY OP PRESBYTERIANISM

That any man should publish a paper in New York,
where some of much above the average amount of pulpit
power has been and is wielded by Doctors of Divinity be-
longing to this "queer religious sect," and ignore them be-
cause a cent a liner reports them thus, only shews how far
such professed elevators of human character as editors are
qualified for the position they assume. Beyond this we
must look at the light cast on the Covenanters in Boston
in this scrap, copied by the immaculate Rev. E. D. Wins-
low, a Methodist preacher, who, on Sabbath, January 9th,
1870, after inculcating Arminianism in Auburndale, Mass.,
left his Daily News and tied for Holland, where, if once
reached, no extradition treaty would return him to be
"proven guilty of gross immorality."

Into the account must be here taken, however, his belief
in " falling from grace," which he might recover again, as
he was a forger 'at was published) only to the extent of
two hundred thousand dollars. " Some men's sins are
open beforehand, going before to judgment ; and some men
they follow after."

When we look at Boston as a field, where only " ten per
cent, of the population are Protestant evangelical," and
then at this " queer religious sect " preaching Calvinism
and singing " Rouse," it appears very much as if " the
angel of the Lord were in the midst of the busli," especially
as it not only is not consumed, but grows. It is also a
curious fact that the oldest pastor of this " queer religious
sect " in Boston should be, as he probably is, the only Pres-
byterian minister in Massachusetts who has with prayer,
opened the Supreme Court of a State in which, from the
first, "an Athenian democracy was in its mould," and yet
be unknown to or ignored by the press of the cities.

His residence is opposite to the court house of Middlesex
county in East Cambridge, and as another at the appointed
time did not appear, on request, he led the court, bar and
jur}'^ to the throne of grace in prayer, that wdsdom might
descend upon " the powers that be." On his part here
there was no intense bigotry, although he belongs to that
"queer religious sect" which are now owned more exten-
sively in Boston by the Head of the church than any
other in maintaining the Calvinism of the Pilgrims and
Puritans, which in former generations made New England
"a praise in the earth."

IN NEW ENGLAND.

475

7)1 Vermont. Since 1808, at Rj/egate, the Rev. James ^r.
Boattie continues to olHciate acceptably, seeing the ]ileasure
ot" the Lord still prospering in his hand. He returns in
A. D. 1881 a roll of 69 members ; Rev. J. C. Taylor, East
Craftsbury, 69; Rev. D. C. Faris, Barnet, 79; Rev. J. C. K.
Faris, Topsham, 37 ; Rev. W. R. Laird, St. Johnsbury, 63 ;
total, 317 members.

Conclusion.

If we have done well — Semi-separatists — Calvin — Great person

sbvteri

ill

dental

•h poli

-Pre

s — A few
-In wor-

points-
sliip — In Europe no opportunity — Before they land they establish
civil government — What it was — The governor's message — The con-
tract — The record in the French church in Boston — Thence taken an
loot — An account of it — Mr. Scott suggests — Honor due to these Pres-
byterians — Their nanies the acorn — Did not undertake to reform — As
the chaplains did — Nor trifle — Elder Brewster — Protecting their
homes — In time became assimilated — To the Bay people — To them we
revert — Congregationalism — Where born — Its nature and tendency —
Intolerant — Leavening other denominations — Unsettling fixed truth —
Its "unjustifiable restraints" — Their polity sketched — Roger Wil-
liams — Baptists — Quakers — Papists — Episcopal Methodists — Blas-
phemy — Voted the Trinity out — Less aggressive — Adequate inspira-
tion — Advanced thought — Success of the chaplains among Episcopal-
ians — Restraints on Presl)yterianism — New England system the
creature of ''circumstances" — Proof — "Sufficiently divine" — Now
diflusive — "Tastes" — A germ — A delight to some — Its legitimate de-
ductions make an " unknown quantity " — Not all of darkness — Many
among the elect — Systems only — Transmitted from minds — It hag
swept around the circle — Marriage relation assailed — Divorce — Com-
mon — Governor Andrew — Single blessedness — Rare productions —
Mormonism — Its origin — Iniluences — A new inspiration — "Golden
tablets" — Smith — Insubordination increasing — As a system built on
"circumstances" — It imbues Presbyterianism — Not multiplying tlie
saints — To the rear — Its pew power — Systen)atized in New York — la
conclusion — Separating ourselves — We should remember the Divine
origin of our polity — Its cost to others — Its valuable influences — This
is our duty — Let the Presbyterian Church of the future be marked
by teaching the word — An imperative necessity — Sabbath school may
be uncertain — Worse than useless — "Sunday books" — Superficial
ideas — The hope — The parental vow — Its meaning — Acting by proxy
— Ignorant — A subterfuge — Answered — The right use of a help so
valuable — A unitary influence — Seek to popularize services — Singing
— A heathen's view — The farce — Knox and his singers — Application
— Depriving the masses — Saddening — Some get nnisic to suit them
elsewhere — Mixed multitudes — Such acquisitions — Tiie geiuiine arti-
cle — With these considerations we close — The scene not joyous — After
an experiment of two hundred and fifty years — It impairs the force of

:.. '

476

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

truth — Waxing feeble — Tliirty-threc Presbyterian conprepntions —
Orthodox, the number of — Losa in 1880 — Descending node — I'resby-
terianifitn gravitating also — Said, not intrude — Tlie command is go^
Bible not the hold now on the Puritan mind — If tiioy siiould retire —
Probabilities — Factory towns — Fields for labor — Eternally wrong —
For anv measure of our modern charity — New England must be re-
deemed — Duty, not success, is the standard — If it shoidd sow itself
with salt — Presbyterianism nnist show "a more excellent way" —
Errorists will not be perpetual, for the dominion under the v hole
heaven is appropriated to the saints of the Most High, and thev shall
obey him — Reader, farewell — We must stand in our lots in the end —
Let us keep the faith.

Such, then, is our " History of Presbyterianism in New
England." " If we have done well and as is fitting the
Btory, it is that which we desired : if slenderly and meanly,
it is that which we could attain unto."' We have seen
" semi-separatists " from the Church of England banish
themselves to the continent of Europe for " freedom to
worship God,"- and there, after several years, becoming
deeply indebted to the '• Institutes " of the immortal Cal-
vin (and very extensively adopting his "sound doctrine ")
for their order of religious and civil liberty. For when the
" agents went into England to treat with the Virginia Com-
pany and with several groat j^ersons about the court, unto
them they made evident their agreement with the French
Reformed churches (Presbyterian) in all things whatsoever,
except in a few small accidental points." {Mag., vol. i.,
p. 48.)

Imbued with these teachings, we see their church polity,
before they cross the Atlantic and which they bring with
them, in all but "a few small accidejital points" purely
Presbyterian. While in worship they had substituted for
the Episcopal version of Sternliold and Hopkins that of
Ainsworth, a minister of their own persuasion, which they
continued to use for sixty years in the wilderness, and
which they sang by note without reading the line. In
Europe they had no op])ortunity of setting forth thoir
views of civil government, but before they leave the
"MavfloAver" this was done, and of their action we have
two accounts.

"November 11th, 1G20, Saturday, being thus anived,
they fall on their knees and bless the God of heaven, etc.
Before they land, they this day combine into a Body Poll-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

477

tick by .1 solomn contract, to which they sot their hands,
as the basis of their jzovcrnnicnt in tliis new found coun-
trv ; chuso Mr. John Carver, tlieir governor for tiie tirst
year." (Pr. K K. (V/rou., p. 78.)

"At their first arrival, November 11th, 1620, they did as
tlie VkiJU of nuturc itself directed them, innni^tliately in the
liariior si<fn an IiistruincHt, as a foundation of tlu'ir future
and needful government; wherein declaring themselves
the loyal subjects of the Crown of England, they did com-
bine into a bodi/ politick and solenmly engage submission
and obedience to the laws, urdi nances, acts, constitutions and
officers, that from time to time should be thought most
convenient for the general good of the colony. And they
chose Mr. John Carver their governor." {Mag., vol. i.,
p. '32.)

" In 1621, Mr. \\ illiam Bradford was elected governor,
with five assistants, which ottice, (with the exception of
three years l)y Mr. Winslow and two by Mr. Prince to re-
lieve him), he held for thirty-seven years, and died on
Mav 9th, 1657, in the sixty-ninth year of his age." {Mag.,
vol." i., pp. 113, 114.)

" March 28d, 1628, was a yearly court day, the Governor
communicates his intelligence (in modern ])hraseology
' delivers his message ') to the whole company, and asks
their advice. They leave it to him, with his assistants
and the captain (of their military. Miles Standish), to do
as they think most meet." This was in the midst of a,
war with the Indians. Of the " Contract," or " Instru-
ment," and of the yearly transactions of his government,
lie kept a record, which, a century or so after his death,
was conveyed to Boston, and there appropriately de-
posited in the French Presbyterian meeting-house.

This fact is brought to notice in the last quarter of the
nineteenth century.

" The Chamberlain of the city of London, the Hon. Ben-
jamin Scott, writes to the Times, saying :

'"In the Bishop of London's library at Fulham, is a
manuscript in the handwriting of Governor Bradford,
giving a diar\' of the ])roceedings of the Pilgrims, contain-
ing the Compact or Constitution, out of which arose the
federation now termed the United States. It was captured
as booty by a soldier from the old French, (Scott says

I i-

478

HISTORY OP prp:sbyteriamsm

German) churcli in T^oston,an(l forms the "Book of (xene-
His" of the Anicricim Niitinu.' 'Mr. Scott sii;fi,'c.sts, that
in the midst of our nation;il sorrow, it l^e |»rescnt('(l in the
name of the tiuccn to the rnitcMl States at tiie Yorktowu
(Vntcnnial, on Oetoher IDth, 1S81.'" {Phila. Led., Oct.
()th, 1S81.)*

So much lionor is due to tliose old psaliH-sinj^Mn<jj Pres-
byterian C'alvinists, anil this " solenm ('out met,"' Governor
Jiradford <i;ives us in the following words:

" In the name of (iotl, Amen. We, whose names are
underwritten, the loyal suhjects of our dread soverei<rn
liord Kin<!; Jumoi, by the L'raee of God, of (Jreat liritain,
France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc., etc.
Having imdertaken, for the glory of God, and advance-
ment of the Christian faith, and honour of our King and
country, a voyag(! to plant the lirst colony in the northern
parts of Virginia; do, by these presents, solemnly and
mutually, in the j)resence of (Jod, and of one another,
covenant and combine ourselves together unto a Civil
Body Politick, for our better ordering and preservation,
and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue
liercof to enact, constitute and frame such just and e(iu;d
laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and otlices from time
to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for
the general good of the colony, unto which we pronnse all
due submission and obedience.

" Jn witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our
names, at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of
the reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James, of England,
France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the
fifty-fourth, Anno Domini 1C20. {P. Chron., pp. 84, 8"), )

"Mr. John Carver, Wm. Bradford, Mr. Edward Wins-
low, Mr. William Brewster, Mr. Isaac Allerton, Captain
!Miles Standish, John Alden, ^Ir. Samuel Fuller, Mr.
Christopher Martin, Mr. William MuUins, Mr. \\'illiam
White, Mr. Richard Warren, John Howland, Mr. Stephen
Hopkins, Edward Tilly, John Tilly, Francis Cook, Thomas
Rogers, Thomas Tinker, John Ridgdale, Edward Fuller,

* Mr. Scott's suggestion was not acceded to, and in Hen of tliis, the
Americans burnt gunpowder in saluting the British flag at that place
on tliat day.

IN NEW ENGLAND.

479

Gono-

,s, that

in tho

•ktowii

L Oct.

? Pres-
•vernor

les aro
t'eroi<!;u
Britain,
tc, etc.
Ivaneo-
n<ji; and
:ir thorn
Iv and
,n other,
a Civil
L'vation,
virtiK^
[1 equal
ni time .
ient tor
nise all

H'd our
year of
n^lanil,
md th."

, So. )

Wins-
L'aptain

■r, :^Ir.

'illiani
kepheii
rhonias

1 Fuller,

this, the
[at place

John Turner, Francis Eaton, James Chilton, John Crncks-
ton, John JiiIliu;,'ton, Moses FU'teiier, .Jolm (loodinan,
J)e^'orv Priest, Tiionias Williams, Gilbert W'inshnv, Ed-
mund Margc'son, Peter Brown, Richard Britterij^e, (Jeor;.io
Soule, Ivichard Clarke, Richard (iardiner, John Allerton,
Thomas English, Edward Dotey, Edward Leister." 41.

"One hundred and one left En^dand. Of these, sixty
were women and children. One man died on the passage,
and Peregrine White was born in Cape Cod harbor. Ful-
ler, >V\arrcn and Cook left their wives in Holland or Eng-
land, and some left behind them smne, and others all their
children, wiio also afterwards came over." (7V., p. 85.)

Such was the acorn of Calvin istic Presbyterianism from
Avhich the Americi' jak grew. These men did not under-
take to reform the (.'hurch of England, as the two pioneer
chaplains and the Massachusetts Bay Company afterwards
did, neither did they trifle with the divinely aj)pointed
ordinance of ecclesiastical ordination by the "laying on
of" other "hands," instead of those of a lawfully con-
stituted " Presbytery."

Elder William Brewster, a chief father in their Israel
for nearly forty years, while he " labored in word and doc-
trine," " never assumed to administer the sacraments."
" When they were unsup])lied with a regular ministry, ho
preached to his people powerfully and prolitably twice
every Sabbath, and many Avere converted to God by his
faithful ministry." While he was an ordained ruling
elder, he would never act the peculiar part of an ordained
minister. The seals of tlie covenant of grace he would not
dispense. This duty he left to be performed by "a regu-
larly ordained ministry." This peoj)le, coming from Ley-
den in three successive emigrations, protecting their homes
from savage men, as tillers of the soil, and occupiers in a
limited commerce in their three counties, after two or
three generations became extensively assimilated to those
who followed them by thousands to the Bay, for religion
and commerce. They had no alternative.

To these we now revert, and here find tlie origin, nature
and tendency of Congregationalism. Born at Salem,
Massachusetts, on August Gth, 1629, bred under an Athen-
ian democracy at Boston. Confederated in its theocracy

I!'

" i

480

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIAXTSM

with " the Kino: of Kinp:s," intolerant of other Christian
persuasions, while it liad or has its own civil pc>wer to
control their church pro{)erty or persons, and now leavening
other denominations with its modern New England theol-
ogy, and extensively unsettling the foundations of fixed
religious truth, not only in its own cradle, under its own
hanner, but increasingly under both Presbyterianism and
Prelacy.

►So palpable have tiiese tbiings been, that a President of
Andierst Col' :e, in 1850, has before the Legislature on
January 2d, p. it on record this ajiology: '' Whatever un-
justifiable restraints on liberty of conscience may have
been imjiosed by our zealous, yet erring fathers, il is the
glory of our Commonwealth, that no sucli impositions
have been, for a long time, tolerated. All are free to wor-
ship God as they choose, provided, tliey demean them-
selves peaceably, and infringe not the ecpal rights of
others.

Tne reader must remember fto say nothing of anything
else), that the tliird volume of '"Gray's Reports '' was not
then written. The first decision therein recorded is no
"glory" to the "Commonwealth." Both the civil and re-
ligious polity of this people we have sketched.

" Unjustifiable restraints " were from the first imposed
on others by them. This was the belief of the two ])lan-
ters, the lawyer and merchant, wlio were " eonvented be-
fore and re-shipped to England by the Governor; " this w;is
the belief of Roger \\'illiams, when he left the Episco})al
church in England, was initiated and became a preaclier
of the new order of, and at, Salem, until 1036, when, being
forced out of the colony, he went to Rhode Island, was
converted by a ^Irs. Scott, a sister to Mrs. Hutchinson,
that "she-wolf of antinomianism." (Christian Obser.,
March, 1849, p. 140.) " ^\'as innnersed by one Holman and
forthwith innnersed Holman and nine others, and in
about three months renounced this baptism." (7/).)

"Unjustifiable restraints on tlie liberty of conscience"
of this people, who differed from themselves only on the
mode and one half of the subjects of baptism were re-
moved by the Bay Colony Puritans in so far that tliey
were allowed to form a Ba])tist church in Boston in 1G64.
At the expiration of the charter, in 1G8G, the Episcoi3a-

IN NEW ENGLAND.

481

istian
or to
ening
theol-
fixcd
s own
11 and

ent of
ire on
er im-
r have
; is the
isitions
to wor-
theni-
hts of

lythinp;
kvas not
:l is no
and re-

mpo?od
])lan-
Ited be-
his wa^
|nsco]»al
Ircaohrr
[.being
|uL was
Ihinson,
Ob.^er.,
lan and
Imd in

3ionce "
on the
rero re-
lit they
In 1G64.
liscopa-

lians were permitted to orpjanizo a church, and the Friends
to liold their " meetinf,^s " in 1710,

Toward tlie close of tlie eighteenth century Prelacy ob-
tained a further foothold in Boston. The Roman Catho-
lics opened their lirst place of worship in 1789. The
E])iscopal Methodists began in 1795,

Up till 178G the theocracy of the Bay State deemed it
})laspl)emy to deny the Trinity. At this date the spirit
of change became an element of their Athenian democracy,
and a society, controlling King's Episco])al chapel, by
schism voted it, in 1785, into line witli the Colonial church
polity, and tlien voted the Trinity out of it. Henceforth,
as tlie s[)irit of the land, this polity became less aggres-
sive, and "unjustifial)le restraints" less numerous, as this
article of thc.'ir theocratic faith, ceased to be believed, as
th.e Holy Scri])tures came to be viewed as only of adequate
and not of ])lenarv inspiration. The faitii of the godly
had now to contend with the "'advanced thought" of tlie
Athenians. As the Bay colony and their pioneer cha))-
lains aimed at reforming their mother church, they and
their successors have succeeded in controlling the pew
patronage of tlie parish, in making some parts of the "ser-
vice" less conformable to her canon law, while her "Broad
church" designates that portion of Protestant Prelacy,
which, while assailed and cherished by (lernian doubts
and negations, slakes her thirst for the forbidden in the
overflowing New England fountain of adequate inspira-
tion.

The record of the "unjustifiable restraints " placed on
Presbyterianism, not only by tlie "zealous, yet erring
fathers " among the Puritans, but also by their ecclesias-
tical successors, form no inconsiderable part of the history
both of the colony and of the State,

Of these, from the necessity and demand of truth, Ave
have recorded not a few of the more ]irominent in refer-
ence to the liberty of tiieir persons, the freedom of their
consciences, tlie sacredness of their churches, and the
gravestone of their dead.

To trace and understand the genius of the New England
system, we must remember that it is the creature of cir-
cumstances. It does not, as we have shewn that the
Presbyterian polity does, begin at Jerusalem, and declare
31

. I

482

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

i§

ii:i

..it

" Nobody has yot appeared wlio could prove that we liave
altered any one thing which God has commanded, or tliat
we have appointed any new thing contrary to his word, or
that we liave turned aside from the trutli to follow any
evil opinion " (Calvin), but it builds its usages on cir-
cumstances.

Hence says the Boston Christian Obscrvatorij (No. S, vol.
1, August, 1847), ''Tliat the germ of Congregationalism is
found in the New Testament can l^e believed, witliout
su])posing that this particular system of church polity, or
any other, was fully developed in all its i)arts during the
lifetime of the apostles, without even suj)i)osing that this,
or any other, was intended to be a distinct subject of di-
vine legislation. ' It sh(Uild be suflicient authoritv for anv
ecclesiastical usage, if the principles of the gosjiel carried
into consistent practice amid all the circumstances
which Providence has arranged shall naturally and ne-
cessarily bring in that usage. Henco the manner in
which Congregationalism took its rise in Ncav England
renders it sufficiently divine."

Consequently vitalized, nurtured and defended by "cir-
cumstances," its early intolerance under its theocracy be-
comes under its ever-al)iding Athenian democracy dill'u-
sive, productive, prolific and permeating, when the sword
of Gideon is not fully sustained by the sword of the Lord.
It makes attractive such forms of religion as will gratify
the " tastes " of men.

Hence in accounting in the pan-Methodist conference in
London, in 1881, for their unsurpassed denominational
growth, a speaker declared " the secret is that our system
and usages are such as suit more extensively than any
others the ' tastes ' of the American people." Hence
the Philadelphia Methodist Episcopal Conference at Potts-
ville, Pa., on March 19th, 1881, adopted, as a matter of
taste, the reading of their sermons, a custom abominated
by the denomination for above a century, and their Dr.
Taylor, of Chicago, has so fully conformed to the New
England orthodox " tastes " in his doctrines, that they have
justly cast him out of their fellowship.

This eclectic operation of substituting a supposed
" New Testament germ," generated in the minds of theorists
from time to time as sullicient authority in the room of

IN NEW ENGLAND.

483

e have
or tVuit
ord, or
)W any
on cir-

. 8, vol.
ilism is
without
olity, or
•ing ilio
:iat this,
;t of (li-

for any
1 carried
nstam-es

and ny-
mner in
Enghmd

by "cir-

n-acy he-

Lcy dilTu-

he sword

he Lord.

11 gratify

ference in
linational
lu' system
Ihan any
Hence
at Totts-
Jnatter of
lominated
Itheir Dr.
the New
|:hey have

|supposcd
theorists
room of

" the oracles of God," has made modern Congregationalism
extensively the delight of those who are "ever learning,
and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth,"

Nay, in its legitimate deductions it makes the existence
of " the trutli a? it is in Jesus " sometimes at least "an un-
known quantity " in promoting the glory of God, and in
making tlie calling and election of the soul of any man
sure. By this it is not to be understood that all who sus-
tain and propagate this polity are the children "of tlie
night or of darkness." Many of them, despite their
only partially scriptural system, are among "tljc elect of
God," spending and being spent for his glory, and "bear-
ing the image of the heavenly." Let it be remembered
that " the question is always, not whetli accomplish-
ments and virtues and piety exist within tl.'s or that sys-
tem, but simply whether the system itself be good or
evil."

These attainments in the divine life, however, are not
the exclusive productions of modern New England the-
olog3\ They are extensively transmitted from those
minds which for above a century believed, lived under
and taught for doctrine the form of sound words contained
in the "Confession of Faith, owned and consented to at
Boston on .May 12th, 1680."

Our modern Congregationalism has so far swept around
the circle from the doctrines and morality of the Puritans,
that the very foundation of domestic life, the marriage re-
lation, is assailed by the ease with which a divorce can be
obtained, and by which the supply stimulates the de-
mand.

That which was once in " the land of steady habits" of
rare occurrence, and mentioned only with shame, has be-
come fearfully common, about every twelfth marriage pro-
ducing a divorce. Hence also says the Boston Daily
Globe of ^lay, 18V9 : " In 1865 Governor Andrew smd the
Rev. Charles Beecher extensively broke down the Massa-
chusetts law of divorce. Now lawyers have a large prac-
tice in divorcing." Consequently for years the New Eng-
land bureau of divorce has been so plied by those whose
heart's desire is to return to " single blessedness," that at
times for months they have to " wait tlieir turn."

Beyond this, the structure of domestic life which under

484

HISTORY OF rRESBYTERIANISM

" the social compact " in Nc\v England has sprung up, at
times presents rare productions.

The United States, so far as modesty and a sense of
shame remain, are hinnbled by the presence and growth
of one of the most loathsome, leprous sights on earth,
•when, under pretense of obeying the will of that holy
God who niadc man in his own likeness, male and female,
"lewd fellows of the baser sort " have successfully st't up
polygamy as the essence of holiness. Not only is the fear
of God proportional)ly gone, but national patriotism is
assailed, as in fifty years they have three territories exten-
sively under tlieir control.

These self-styled " latter day saints " are most success-
fully compassing " sea and land " to make ])roselytes. On
the " centennial " day of the battle of Yorktown, twenty-
four of their teachers sailed for Europe, and the disgrace is
deepened by the consideration that these were led by a
Scotchman, and five days afterward four hundred of their
latter day saints landed in New York.

By gathering, as they do, the deluded and the vile from
the remote parts of the earth, they can more hopefully,
when backed by multitudes, present resistance to our civil
government.

They plead for freedom of conscience in what they call
religious worship, under the pretense that their " Book of
Mormon " is by them placed on a level with the Bible as
a supplementary book. While their prophet and member
in Congress are both Englishmen, the abomination sprang
fron^ New England nnnd directed by a new inspiration to
Ihem " sufficiently divine,"

" The Mormon church commenced April 6th, a. d. 1830,
at Fayette, Seneca county. New York. It was organized
by three Smiths, two Whitmers and one Coudrey, six in
all, actuated by him who "is transformec' as an angel of
light." Of the two Whitmers one was cdled David. He
was the friend and confidant of Joseph Smith, and prom-
inently identified with the Mormon movement until
])olygamy and other questionable practices were intro-
duced as a part of the saint's faith. He then settled in
Richmond, Kay county, Mo. He lived in New York
State when the golden tablets of " the book of Mormon "
were founds and has the only manuscript copy made of

IN NEW ENGLAND.

485

Lip, at

ise of
rowth
earth,
t holy
(■male,
set up
he fear
Lisni is
exten-

lUCcess-
2S. On
Lwenty-
igrace is
3d by a
of their

ile from

mefiiUy,

ur civil

bey call

Book of

ible as

nember

sprang

ition to

ID. 1830,
rganized
six in
[ngel of
id. He
]d prom-
it until
16 intro-
Ittled in
Iv York
lornion "
Inado of

the inscriptions npon tliem in existence, and is the only
living witness of the authenticity of tlieir book.

lie and Ids son David (who eomniunicates these state-
ments) "regard the book as one of the su]iplen)entary
books," as much entitled to be revered with the Bible as
any book of the Bible itself, and that, while they acknowl-
edge tluit polygamy and kindred ahuses which havo
cre])t into the Mormon religion are the abhorrence of all
intelligent citizens.

Joseph Smith and the late lion. Stephen A. Douglas
(it is said) hailed from the same town in Vermont. In
the varied parts of our union " the S})irit of the age " is
manifested by increasing insubordination,nnd nothing but a
proper knowledge of " the higher law " and obedience to it
will teach men to '' nmder to all their dues,"

Modern Congregationalism, as a religious s^'stem, having
its foundation on the circumstances and place of its birth,
extensively indjues Presbyterianism. Look into any di-
vision of it, and, with few exceptions, you find it so,
causing its youth to fret at its own .scriptural authority,
controverting its own former sound doctrine, and re-
ducing its own originally " })ure olfernig " of praise in mat-
ter and in manner down ("in too many cases at least) to
an artificial and ephemeral entertainment. By intro-
ducing and adopting these New England innovations, our
escutcheon is blurred, our original identity is lost, and
where to a surrounding world w'o should arise and shine,
for there remains yet very much land to bo ])ossessed,
" Ephraim envies .Judah and Judah vexes Ephraim."

Numerically, we are not multii)lying the saints as
PresV)yterians in former days have done, and relatively our
polity is retiring to the rear. " These things ought not so to
be." In the meantime our church property, is occasionally
absorbed by tins neighbor.

Not only in scores of ])laces in New' England by a ma-
jority of the pew-owners has it done this, but in New
York its spoliation is provided for by civil law, so that " any
church or religious society, it is said, may safely become
Congregational by observing cautions " recorded on jxiges
128, 129, in Burk''s Masmichusetts EcdcsHixVnd Law. In
conclusion, separating ourselves from Prelacy in all its
forms, and Congregationalism in its ramifications, wo

486

HISTORY OF PRESBYTERIANISM

sliould all, under our cjcncral name Presbyterian, remem-
ber tlio divine origin of our i)olity, tlie costly transmission
of it to us, our own usefulness in our ireneration, the Ix'st
interests of our children, the peace of our land, the salva-
tion of the lost, the honor of Christ and the ,:dory of CJod.
I'his is our duty. " Let the Presbyterian Church of the
future (in all her divisions) be marked abov.3 all by this,
that her ministers are teacliers of the Word in the pulpit,
in Bil)le classes, in the Sabbath school, ' and from house
to house; ' let her peoj)le l)e thorouj^li in their knowledge
of the Scriptures — let her prayers, lier sermons, lier litera-
ture be rich in Scripture truth, and her energies will be
little wasted, and her time little consumed in those ' de-
bates ' which ' do gender strifes.'

" We make no apology for adverting at this point to the
imperative necessit}' that exists for securing for our chil-
dren thorough scriptural instruction in tlie Sabbath school.
Thousands have passed through it with no more knowl-
edge of the Word than suffices for a, flippant allusion or a
profane reference. The church must see to it that the
word of her God be taught her young members, or they
will be practically ignorant of it."

" Nor is it at all certain that their attendance on the
Sabbath school is an adequate remedy. Many teachers
are incompetent as teachers; and much of the Sabbath
school literature which is superseding the reading (and
committing) of the Bible (to memory) is worse than use-
less. It is mischievous. What can be the effect of giving
children mere stories, with just enough of the spice of re-
ligion to make them ' Sunday books,' but to drive them to
novels? For novelettes many of these volumes are, and
often poor as such. There is little reading, and no study
of the Scripture on week days; and on Sabbath it is su])-
posed to be as it should if the children are engaged with
their library books and papers, and so they groAv to matu-
rity with only the most superficial ideas of the holy ora-
cles.

"And at this point let us not suppress the hope that the
Catechism of the church will receive increased attention in
the training of the young, especially in the family. If the
l)ar(!ntal vow to God mean anything, the jjarents bind
themselves to teach their offspring the doctrines of the
Christian religion."

IN NEW ENGLAND.

487

ncm-
ssion
' best
;alva-
(iod.
if the
• this,
ulpit,
house
rledge
litera-
■ill be
,0 ' de-

to the
ir chil-
■ichool.
knowl-
)n or a
lat the
)!' they

on the
achcvs
abbatli
g (and
n use-
giving
of re-
lem to
re, and
study

S SU])-

kl with
ma fu-
ll V ora-

at the

It ion in

If the

; bind

I of the

In this personal teaoliing they themselves arc learners,
for tliey cannot teaeh what they do not know. When
they act by proxy, the}'' remain ignorant themselves.
Hence (in our age of improvement), were we to ask
thousands of prolV'ssing Presbyterian Christians, " What
doctrines of the Cln'istian reliiiion have you taught vour

~ »/ Oft

children? '' we should get no satisfactory answer. A com-
mon sul)terfugc is, " The Catechism is liard." So is the
muUiplieatioii table, and by a beginner just as little under-
stood; he learns ])oth only as a mere exercise of memory.
" It is so with much of the education of every one of us.
Common sense, observation and lidelity to our vows
all coml)ine to urge upon Presbyterian parents the right
and conscientious use of a help so valuable in giving to
the young members of our churches a competent knowledge
of the doctrines of the Christian religion." If our divisions
are (>ver to be healed, a leading unitary influence will be,
"coming to the knowledge of the truth," the "one faith"
through our " form of sound words," and one system
of logic, l)y "saying the Catechism." To the above cogent
statements, taken from "The Presbvtcrian Church Through-
out the World, 1874," I further add :

" In order to realize this high object, and become a yet
greater power for good in the country, we doubt not the
church of the future will seek in a higher degree to poini-
larize her services. And this, avc apprehend, will be done,
not so much by the adoption of new, as by the resumption
of former metliods.

" Take, for example, the subject of singing in divine ser-
vice. In many churches this noble function of the church
has been relegated to a few persons, and the appearance a
congregation present? to an observant heathen would be
that of a body of people in a large building, at one end of
which, on an eminence al)ove the people, a man does all
tlie })raying and talking, and at the other end of which
three or ft)ur others, at a greater elevation, do all the prais-
ing. Musical faculty and moral worth do not, unhappily,
always go together; and where the ' voices ' in the sing-
ers' gallery disport themselves in the intervals of their per-
formance in a way more like their week-day tlian their
Sabbath spheres, the farce is turned into an abomination.

" We shall live, let us hope, to see this thing banished

488

IIISTOUY OF ritllSIiYTEUTANISM

from evangelical clnirelies. All the history of Protestant-
ism (and especially of unmixed Preshyttn-innism) is
against it. To say nothing fartiior of the JIugnenots and
the Pilgrims, 'Knox had the Seottish ])eopio tanglit to
praise God so thoroughly, that a mass meeting could sing
a psalm through without books, and in the '' parts " of the
melody.'

"Application, under the Divine blessing, will do this any-
where among our apostate race. ' The spectacle of a
church claiming to win the masses, and taking from them
the only portion of ])ul)lie worship in wiiieh they can all
unite, would be, if not so sai'.dening, siijiremely ridiculous.'

"It is idle to say that certain iK'oj)le get music of tho
highest order elsewhere, and if they cannot have it in the
church they will not come. Tlie i)atrons of the o[)era and
theatre have never been of so much real value in tho
church as to be worth consulting, and least of all should
devout and serious worshi[)p(n"s 1)0 wrongi.'d and driven
iiway for the {esthetic satisfaction of casual and ))atronizing
visitors to the services. Let Israel worsliip Clod as he has
appointed, and let the ' mixed multitude ' follow or keep
away.

" The army of the Lord is not t'. change its plans for the
idle pleasure of the camp followers. And it is in vain to
think of winning the world bv mere music. What is the
value to any church of such acquisitions? The week-day
entertainments supply the genuine article, and without
making the church an actual theatre, you cannot compete
Avith them."

With these considerations we close our history. The
scene is not joyous, and did we see the native religion
maintain its pristine jnirity in doctrine and worship, we
might " thank God and take courage." But when we now
lind that after an exjieriment of above two hundred and
fifty years this l)oiity not only produces "divers and
strange doctrines," but impairs the force of truth among
other sects as they borrow from it, and is waxing feeble for
self-protection and perpetuity on its own soil, it is other-
wise. Among above four millions one hundred thousand
people in New England, we have after one hundred ami
ninety years only of the badgered Presbyterians about
thirty three congregations, nearly all feel)le, yet we find

IN NEW ENGLAND.

489

tiioso wlio on the same soil placed them under " imjustifia-
blo restniints," in a condition })roi)ortionably s})iiitually
unliealthy.

Tiiey report a nieml)crship of 213,978 (of whom ;]3,253
are absent), or al)out on(>-nim'teenth of the poi)ulation,
with a loss of ei,i,'ht humh'ed and forty-six members in
New Enj.dand in a. d. 1880. They are thus, on their native
Boil, in the descending!; node, and proportionally, as Pres-
bytcriiins are found thn)U,!j:hout the land, assimilated to
them in doctrine and in worship, u>in,<; their losijic, em-
l)loying their vocabulary, imitatin.i; their customs and ob-

servms tlien- usages, tliey are gravitating with about ec^ual
velocity.

It has been said i)hilosophically that where "the people
of a locality look around, see how well a system works
elsewhere and set it up, it will grow," that consequently
until the New Englanders do this, Presbyterians should
not intrude.

liut the command is, " Go ye into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature." Judging from what
is desired and prospers in New England, Presbyterians
should retire, for among Congregational forms of thought
they can have but little hope, especially as the Bible has
not the hold on the modern, which it had on the Puritan
mind.

ytill, wliat then if they should retire? Presbyterians
wisely o: unwisely domicile in the region, and if not cared
for, they will likely become " an increase of sinful men."

The factory towns here afford fields for faithful gospel
labor, not much, if any, inferior to other regions, and it
will be eternally wrong to allow Popery and infidelity to
carry back and obliterate the Christian civilization of "the
New England Primer " lor any measure of our modern
Juab and Amasa charity. New England must yet be
redeemed by coming to " the knowledge of the truth as it
is in Jesus," and Presbyterians must make the experiment
of assisting in the work, whether they succeed or fail.

Duty, not success, is the standard of our encouragement
and accountability.

ICven if this highly favored region should sow itself with
salt (Judges ix. 45), under attachment to what is to it
" sufliciently divine," Presbyterians must shew to New

490

HISTORY OF PRESRYTEniANISM.

England "a more excellent way." Ck>ncrations of crror-
ists iiiay flourish on that soil, but "tiio kin-zdorn and do-
minion, and the <,'reatness of the kin;^'doiu under the whole
lieaven, shall be given to the i)eoi)le of tiie saints of the
Most High, and all shall serve and obey him."

Reader, farewell. We must meet and stand each in his
" lot in the end of the days." Let us keep " the laith."

'¥

APPENDICES.

A.-— Papre IG.

Befork sliewini? liow ''Confrrcfjatioiialism, by takiiifj its rise
in New Eiif^laiKl," is always "sullicieiitly tlivinc," it may l)e
well to st'e liow Presbyterian ism anil Prelacy, tlie only oilier
cluircli i)()lities, originated. As there is but '' one (Jod. so there
is one ^lediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
To this otlice the Father ordained him, to administer all the
alTairs in the universe, to jud.ife the world in ri^Iiteousness, to
be the Jndfye of (luicU and dead. When manifested ni the llesh,
he ordained tv.'<'lve, and yav(^ them power that he Miifjht sen(l
them forth to preach. When made "perfect throu<;h suffer-
ing's," before ascending,' to kI^'iT? the risen Saviou. was seen
alive after his passion by his apostles forty days, spe,d<inff to
tliem of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of (iod, its j)r()-
l)het and his doctrine, its i)riest, his altar, sacrilice. and inter-
cession, its king, his laws and subjects, lie then eonnnanded
the»e apostles, whom he had eliosen and ordained, to make
Christians of all nations, teaching tlu)se whom tliey admitted
into fellowship by bai)tism, "to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you," and as ye do so, "I am with you
ahvay " by "another Con)forter, the Spirit of Truth, who will
abide with you forever."

If we believe the a|)ostles to have been honest and faithful
men, we can learn what Christ the King of his church then
" conmianded," by ascertaining, what they taught all Christians
"to observe."

We will then, in "the mind of the Spirit," " have the mind
of Christ."

We have by them, first, preaching, then conversions, then
Christian baptism on and after, but not before, the day of Peu-
tecost. The disciples were also taught that " the law of the
house," of "the church of the living God," required "all things
to be done decently and ni order."

To execute his laws, the apostles were "endued with power
from on high," not from the one hundred and twenty, much
less from the people or the members, even when multitudes
were "added to the church."

(491)

492

ArrENDICES.

As. nnrlpr tlio infliioncps of unsanctifird Imman natnro, na-
tional prcjurlicis 1m'ji[;iii to iiiav licr iicacc, l>y snitposcd pai tiality
ill the (laily (list lilmt ion to tlic poor ; dciicdns were hy t lie apos-
tles put in tiiist ^vitll •• llif out waid business " ol' tlie clinrcii.

Wlicii, Ity the direction of tlie twelve, wlio deserilicd their
lie('«'ss;iry (pialilieatioiis and told their nnniiieis, t he iiiiiltitndo
of the disciples ( lected the men to hecoine deacons, this, as they
wei-e not •• endued with power from on liiijli,' was all thattliey
could do. As those who came to the jjiave of i.a/arus could
"tiike away the stone," hnl could not inaUo the "(lead coiikj
foi-lli,'' so this was all that the '•holy hrethreii."' ii;irt.ikers of
the heavenly callin<j, inemlicrs of the'chnrch, conid or can do;
they can commnnicale none of the " p(»wef " of .lesiis, no, not
even, as a rule, to servt; the tal/les of Llie poor in the lioiist* of
God.

By tli(^ tvvelv(\ actinj? mider their Master's antliorify, tlioso
cliosen to be deacons, were exnmined, ordained, ai>i»oinle(l and
directed by the elders how to distiibiite " relief " to the poor.

This was not done, by any majority, or iinanimons, or popular
vote of the disciples, who, thont^lj then a mult itiule. liacl not
*'one jot or tittle " of "the power of our Lord .lesus Christ"
in any way. in rnlinc^, feedin,!::, or takinjjf care of his church.
They were the rnled, not rulers. It was llieir privile^^c, when
directe(| by their otlicial spiritual superiors, to " look out from
anunij?" themselves, and it belonged to "the work of the minis-
try," to "the elders who rnled well." especially to those who
laiiored in the word and doctrine (as the twelve then did), 1
Pet. V. 1 ; 3 .John i., to lay their " hands on them," and to "ap-
point " them over this, or any otiier " business" of ii s()iritual
character. (Acts xi. 30.)

In shewing tons "the mind of Christ." in the " all things,
'which he commanded '" them, the apostles, in associating his
followers, organized them into local congregations, or assem-
blies (.las. ii. li), by "ordaining" for them "elders in every
church," and as of God, there is but "one Lord, one faith and
one baptism," so, all the local churches wearing the Christian
name, where they do not deny " the faith," were (and ought
ever to be) one. Thus, the thousands of Christian assemblies
throughout Judiea. Galilee and Samaria were " the chuich "
(Acts ix. 31), the whole denomination formed but one church,
and in all cities, where the true followers of Christ were foun(l,
there was something " wanting " there, until, by " the work of
the ministry," elders were elected, ordained and ai)))ointe(l.
Those, to wiioin "the power of our Lord Jesus Christ" was to
be committed by "the laying on of the hands of the Presby-
tery," must be " faithful men," " not novices," and be found,
on examination, or proof, able to teach others also. In each
local chnrcli, these were to " rule with diligence," not "lording
it over Crod's heritage, but being ensamples to the Hock," while
the command is ever on record (Ileb. xiii. 17), "Obey them
that have the rule over you," etc.

APri:Ni;icKs.

493

jro, na-
rtiality

IC llptlS-

(1 tlicir
illitM(lt<
iis tlicy
i;il tlicy
s coukl

(I COllU)

kcis ol'

CUM do ;

111), not

ouso of

y, tlic.so
led and
poor.
IKipular
liad not
Christ "
c-liurch.
f(', wlicii
lit Ironi
ic minis-
losc who
n did), 1
to ''ap-
piritual

things,
|tinf? Ilia

assem-
n every
iiith and
hristiai\
I oiiiiht
;ein\»li«'rt
lliurcli "
church,
' found,
^vork of
loiuted.
' was to
Presby-

found,
|ln each

lording
' while

sy them

Tioforo jroinff, ns tho " ambassadors of Clirist," " into all the
world, bcyinnin^ at .Icriisalt'ni, to prcacli the gospel (o every
creature,*' they receivi'd their authority fi'oni tlie liolyiihost
(Acts xiii. li. 3, 4), liy an appointed foinial aeknowleilmneiil of
liis " power " and presence. '• I'roved " l)y liis niiiiistei.-, Ciilkd
l)y his grace and ni liis providence, tliey are ever to l»e '• sepa-
ratecl unto tiie work whereinito he lias called thcin," and tliis by
]»ro|iliels and teachers in his chinch, who, with fa>tiiig and
jirayei, fiilhl his will, while the oidainers " senil tiieni away,"
and they ;ire "sent forth by the Holy (Jhost."

Til

e cinncli, ' when

in the wilderness," and ev^-r sinco,

has had elders, men of experience, wisdom and gravity, whoso
laces for their oflice, so long as they used it will, were and aro

ever to lie honored. With the apostles, elders and hisiiops were
ollicially the same, and l)y them they were instrm-trd how to
ixMpet iiate the odlce. Not only so ; when "divers and strange
doctiines " endanger the soids of (iod's people, tlie matlfrwas
and is to be considered by the elders as "tlie apostles of the
chnrcdies and the glory of (Jhrist."

Their •' decrees," where they "judge righteous jiidgnuMit," in-
crease thennndterof tin; cliurches and establish ihem in the
f;iitli and joy of the gospel.

Again, elders must ever remember, that tlieir spiritual au-
thoiity extends only to the meml)ership of the churc'i and to
none else. " Do not ye judge them that are within V l>nl them
that are without (iod judgeth." Presbyterians, with this
authority and these instrnctions (among the other, '"all
things which I have commanded you "). " turned the inhabited
earth up-side down." liut when Christ was brought iiito<.'on-
nection with (or under the i)atronage) of Ca'sar, and his church
was ostensibly aided by civil government, her "gold became
dim."

TIhmi, in due time, moderators of church courts, and i)astor3
in cities began to " lord it over God's heritage," instead of being
"feeders" of, and "ensamples to the dock."

Hence (says Vicar Stackhonse)*' I'd though thebisliojisof the
primitive church wen; all inves.ed with the same oilice and an-
tliority, yet, in i)rocess of time ind as Christianity increased, iti
was found necessar/to enlarge the Episcopal jiower. and, tiier«;-
fore, as before, there was a bishop in every great city, so now,
an archbishop was ])laced in every metropolis. When Ciiris
tianity overspread tlie Roman emjiire, there sprang ui»ano'ilier
superior branch of the Episco])al otlice, itrimates and patriarchs,
who had jurisdiction over several provinces.

"To understand this, it is reijuisite to know, that when the
Christian faith was fully settled in the world, it was determined
to vnxUJ the external government of the church, as near as might
be, to the civil government of the empire, which was divided
into thirteen dioceses, and these containing aliont one hundred
and twenty provinces, and every province several cities, as in
every city there was a magistrate, so was there also a bishop,

494

APPENDICES.

wlinso jurisdiction was of like extent." {Ptody nf Divinity, p.
74(); K(l. London, 17l!).)

We liavf here, tlicii, th(> full dcvcloiimont of pif larv. from its
nuity in Ilic N'atican (from tlic tliirlccn dioccsrsi down to tlie
sin^dc iiarisli. all in ('<tnd)inalioii ; and as Uic systt-ni is not ob-
tained from (nor in liaiiuouy with.) "tiieoracdes of God/" but
(li'awn from tiie stincture aiul extent of the Ifoman Empire ; so,
not oidy the sei)aratists and "semi-separatists.'' but the nou-
I'onforniists withdrew tiom full fellowship with the Church of
Enj^'land, its Pvotestaiit representation.

And we cume now to the "■ rt.se of Congregationalism in Xew
England.'"'

" I'^or one liundnMl and ten years after the discovery of Amer-
ica, no l';nropeaiis but Siianiards bad made any settlements on
its soil. To the crown of their country (in 14981 the I'lipe was
l)leased to give the sole title to all lands lying above one hundred
leagues west of the Azoi'es. and such was the ignorance in Eu-
rope tliat the mnltitmle thought he had a right to do so.

'' In the meantime, for some eighty years. England. Scotland,
Ireland. France and tlie Netherlands were so fully engagt d with
their own internal broils about religion, as well as mutual wars
on this and on other accounts, that they had neither pow*^' nor
leisure to attend to foreign settlements. During tliis time it is
believed, that from Florida to Greenland there was not one
resident Euroi)eau family. But after 1598, these nations sent
out men to fish and trade, and afterwards to settle as colonies—
the French to Canada and Acadia, the English to Newfound-
land, Hermudaand Virginia.'" {Pr. N. E. Citron., j). '1.)

As Hudson, an Englishman, in 1609, in the Dutch East India
(yomi)any's service, penetrated the IJritish territory, so by the
Dutch, settlements were naade in Albany and New York in
1014.

We have seen the Puritan Episcopalians from 1o72, in Eng-
land, extensively be v,v)ming Presbyterians, the only thing else
they could, with their Bibles in their hands, become, until they
weie suppi-essed in lo91 by the Star Chambei- and High Commis-
sion Court ; we liave also traced the movements of those who at
Plymoutii, Mass., in 1620, in almost exact Prtsbyterial form,
sought

"A church without a bishop,
A state withuut a king."

Others follow. In 1G27 Governor Dudley and others obtained
a ])ateiit for tiiat j^art of Virginia called (since 1614 1 New Eng-
land, under the title of the Massachusetts Bay C(»mi)aiiy. On
June 20th, 1628, Captain John Endicott sailed for Neamkeak as
agent, to lu-epare a way for the i)atentees.

This place, Neamkeak, was selected by a trader, a " Mr.
Cojiant, in 1625, who conceived that in aftertimes it may j)rove
a receptacle for such in England as, on account of rdiijion^
would be willing to settle in these parts of the world and (return-

APPENDICES.

405

lity, p.

om its
to the
lot ob-

\:' but

re ; so,
e non-
irch of

in New

■ Amer-

oits on
o\)i' ^vas
lundrt'il

I' in Eu-

cotliind,
^t d witli
ii:il wars
)\v(n- nor
inie it is
not one
ons sent
)lonies—
Avt'ound-

■2.)

ist India

) \iv the

York in

in Enj;-
liinff else
iitil they

"ommis-
ie who lit
[ill form,

|ol)tained
[vw Eng-

}iiy- ^"
(iikeak as

" Mr.

lay prove

rdiyiout

(return-

ins that wintor lie) sivps an intimation of it to liis friends in
Enu-laiid." ill,., ]K loT.)

To Ncanik"ai; he rt'liinied in 1()2G to live. Tin's iiiforinalion
Spread, ami was so ('ii(;ourat;in^ tliat on Ai»ril 17th, lUiii), tlie
lit'V. Mi'ssis. l''raiicis IIi;,f,ifinson and Samuel Skcllon ( l-vpiscopal
ministers), witli i)ther colonists, were sent out fioni England by
the comi'any.

Tlie t'oinier liad been silenced for uoin'onfoiinity. {Jh., ISiJ.)
Tiiey were botii men of mark for excellence of cliaracter, and to
tliem the <;('rminatin<:f and niouldin.i,' of the enterprise in its re-
ligions asjtects weic connnitted by the governor and company.

l}('fi>re leaviui'" Ent^land, ''tlie yreat Mr. Ilildeisham. of Ash-
ley,'' viewins? tin- dcliv^iuey as well as the importance of the en-
teri)rise. "•advised th( se "first plaiders to a^ree fully upon their
form of churcli <.':oveniment before coininti into New Kn<;iaiHl.'"
Tiiey answer, " We have indeed agreed upon little fuitiier tiiau
thisVeneial principle {II,., ]>. 1S4), that the reformation of tlie
church was to be e!ideav<u"ed according; to tia- wi itten word of
(rod."' 'J'o the company's conmiittee lliese two ministeis said,
" We are of one jiKltimeut and fully agreed in the manner how
to exercise our ministry."

Tiiey were coiiscienti(nis Episcoi>alians, and here was the re-
ligious uerin of tlie enterprise, viz.: ''the reformation of the
ciiurch." This the company and chaplains could not do in
England, but this they wou'ld "rj/f/oo'o/- '' to do in America
" according to the written word of (iod."

They agreed upon little further than this, but upon this they
■were agreed. As to their future " form of church government,"
before coming to New England, these two ministers, engaged by
the first jilanters, had (it would seem) agreed fully upon it, as
the two told the committee that they were " agreed and fully of
one judgment how to exercise their ministry."

On .June 2tth, 1G29, these two (with two other) ministers, the
Bev. Messrs. Smith and ]5riglit, arrived, and from Psalms
Ixxvi. li, they called Neamkeak, Salem (Peaa).

As we know wiiat our Saviour " commanded " his apostles, by
learning what they have taught his followers in all ages " to ob-
serve," so we learn the " general princi])le " adoi)ted bythe.se
men by what they carried out and established : a new church
order, dilferent from both Presbyteriauism and Prelacy. For
'•July 20th, (Governor Endicott," the civil i)o\ver, not any ec-
clesiastical, "sets apart as a day of fasting, prayer, aiul the trial
and choice of a jiastor and teacher." On "July liSth Mr. llig-
ginsoii, being desired by the thirty associates, draws up a con-
fession of faith and a covenant." (Ih., p. 190.) "On August
6th, being Thursday, by the governor's appv>intment " (an otlicer
anienalile only to liis com]>auy and t<» the l'>iitish Episcopal
crown), " after tlu? two ministers had preached, the confession
and covenant were read to the assembly, some three hundred in
number." To these the thirty willing to begin a church organi-
zation assented, atier wliicli " Mr. lliggiuson , with three or four

496

AITENDICES.

of the j^ravpst " of tlio tliiity momliers of tho " socio! y." permp-
atcd {:is\vas taken for granted) with tiie power of '' Presl)ytery,"
" l)ro(;ee(led to tlu^ layinf,' on of lian(ls"'on ]Mr. Slielton with
prayer. This constitutes ]Mr. Sl^eiton tiieir pastor, and he
stands forth in a ne*v liulit. His I"'pis!;opal oidination is
vamped up, and now a new species of "tactual succession,"
" part of iron and part of I'lay " is upon liini. His was an (and
the iirst) American Protestant ordination. "Tlien Mr. Skel-
ton," with others of tiie thiity, conveys a moiety of " tiie jiower
of our Lord Jesus Christ " tlius obtained, "\)y a like jtrocess to
Mr. Ilifff^inson, by wliicli he becomes tlieir teaclier." (/'>., p.
ISO.) A Mr. Ilou<j;hton was tlien oi-dained as a riilin.tf elder.
{[I>.^ p. 190.) '• Messrs. Skelton and lli.i^fjinson havin.L>- been or-
dained by bishojjs in tlie Churcli of England, this oidination at
iSalem was only (tliey say) to this particular Hock founded on
their free election. But as there siems to be; a repealed InipfKsi-
tlon of /ia»(?.s, the former, on July 2i)th, may only si;j,iiify their
previous separation for their solemn ciiai<;V ; and this' latter
of August Gth tiieir actual investiture t'.ierein." (//>., p. ]!)1.)

2'/it,s is tin? viannn\ })lace and tiuip in wiiich, and at which
^'Congregationalisin (i)egan to take and; took its rise " and saw
the light of day '' in New England."

It was not European born nor even "seaborn." but horn in
Salem, Massachusetts — as was Presbyterianism in Jerusalem,
Prelacy in Rome and Protestant Episcopa(;y in London.

As to the spot of its birth it was not at " Plymouth Rock,"
but at ''Salem." For commerce, the i)lace was judiciously se-
lected by Mr. Conant. It is "on a tongu(> of land two miles by
tliree-(piarters of one mile, bet ween tli(^ Nortii and South rivers,
in latitude 42- 31' IS", in longitude 70^ 53' 58". It has a c(m.
venient and well-i)rotected liarbor, was extensively commercial,
until eclipsed by lioston in the nineteentli century, has liigli lit-
erary advantages lunv, some twenty churches, and a i)oi>ulatioii
of aliout twenty-live tliousand souls. There and then the tidrd
"'orr/rr" of ecclcisiastical polity in Christendom began.

Tliis society in Salem, which has been said to be "the first
complete church organization ever effected in North America "
(rrasri^rfT), " tlie first Puritan eliurch organized in America"
(7>a<c7u7(?fr), has risen so high that for generations the oHicial
successors of those (iod-fearing men who oiru;iated at her birth,
ui'e elevated by the iiniate nature of Congicgationalism to the
l>lane of Unitarianism. Emmanuel, the " I am," has only a
name, nothing more, and no phlce on the original church site.

Such is the " II ub " of tlieall Congregat ional chnrciies in Amer-
ica. After these arrangements were completed, as " the church
l>rofessed to exercis(> discipline upon scandalous p(M'sons and to
110 lowjrr read, common prayer (which liad Ix-en read till August
(ith, lbL'!}i, two brothers, a lawyer and a merchant, begin to
gather a separate comi)any and to read conunon iirayer, upon
which the i;overm)r convents tliem before him, and liiKling tiieir
«peeches and practices tending to nuitiny and faction, he sends
them back to England." {Fr. and Malh.)

APPENDICES.

497

prme-

LiM-y,"

with

1(1 lie

ion is

sioii,"
II (and
, SU(4.
power

I'css to

/^., p.

; I'kler.
'en or-

ion iit
ilrd oa
inii>()!<i-
■y their
r latter

which
,nd saw

born in
usiilem.

Rock,"

usly se-
lilcs by-
rivers,
a con-
neicial,
litih lit-
\ilati()n
le tliird

hie first •
luMiea "
licrica "
olVicial
|r biith,
to the
only a
|i site.

Anier-

|chur(;li

I ami to

|.\n;i,iist

•i'iii to

Ir, upon

\yr ilieir

sends

As this eolnny were Episcopalians when they left Enpfland,
tlie lawyer and "nieichant tlionylit it to be more like connnon
sense to conlinnc so, and did not nnderstand this new idea, this
way of rei'oitnin.u' the Protestant Ki)iscopal Clnirch, wiiich
spianff up before their eyes and now refpiired the innilicit obe-
diencf' of clmi-clinicn as well as of the initiated.

I'rade and religion were combined in this colonization, hnt
these brothers did not understand tiie Rev. Mr. Hijrginson when
}ie said : "■ If any man make trade to religion, as thirteen to
twelve, lie mistakes the character of a New England man," so
they were " coiiveiited " and reshipped for not making religion
to trade, as thirteen to twelve.

V>y vessels returning this autumn tidings of the prosperity
(notwithstanding many deaths) at 8alem, stirred up otliers of
the brethren in England (wiiose yoke unjustly imposed was
heavy) to emigrate to Amei'iea, and'at " the latter end of 1G29 a
Congregational church is by a pious people gathered in the New
Hospital at Plymouth, in Enijland. They keep a day of prayer
and fasting, the Kev. Mr. "Wiiite, of Dorchester ])reaches, and
they choose and call tlie Rev. Messrs. Warliam and Maverick to
be tiieir o(hc(M's and ordain them at the same time." (P., p. 200.)

Tliongh associated in (and by information carried to) England,
in a manner similar to the society at Neamkeak. yet they find
none of this new form of order in England and they hasten to
America to enjoy its associations in the only place in which
tiiese could be then found.

''On :Marcli 20th, 108ii, these sail for the Massachusetts" (P.,
p. 204', and " on Mav 30th arrive at Nantasket, thence they go
to Charlestown." (P., p. 207.)

In ten years, however, it was carried hack to England, all but
the theocracy and Athenian democracy, which were interwoven
into the system in the Bay, but were inoperative in Great
Britain.

" On Ai)ril 7th, Governor Winthroi), with five other gentle-
men and the Rev. (Jeorge Pliiilips, on board the 'Arabella.' at
Yarniouth. sign an humble recpiest of His Majesty's loyal sub-
jects, the governor and (;ompany late gone to New England, to
the rest of their brethren in and of the (Jliurrh of Enyland; for
the obtaining of their jn-ayers and the removal of suspicions and
misconstruction of their intentions." (Printed in London, 4to,
"1(330.) (P.,p. 20o.)

''On June 12th they arrive in the Bay, go ashore to their
friends in Salem " (/-•., p. 20!)), and on "July 8th they keep a day
of thanksgiving through all their plantations for their experience
of the Divine goodness." i /'., ]». 211.)

Whetliei- any of the wives and children of the Pilgrims left in
Enroiie had previously come to them or not, does not fidly ap-
})ear. but the record says : " Thirty-five of oui' friends, with their
families, from Leyden. left London in May and arrived at New
Plymouth in August, 1029. Tlieir expenses our undertakers pay
gratis, beside giving them houses, grounds to plant on, and
32

498

APPENDICES.

maintaining them above tliirteen months before they have a har-
vest of their own." (P., pp. 192, 193.)

Anotlier company of Leyden friends (of tlie Kobinson Cliurch)
were shipped in Marcli, 1G30, and arrived in New E)if>huid in
May, all the expenses of whom (above io-lO) the new Plynionth
undertakes to pay gratis. They then provide for them food for
sixteen or eighteen months before they have a harvest of their
own, wliich comes near to as mnch more, a rare example of
brotherly love and Christian care in performing their promises
to their brethren, even beyond their power." [lb., p. liUl.)
" By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt. vii. 20.)

Tills " colony of pious ])eople, who also came on account of re-
ligion only, were of a denomination somewhat different from
them of Plymouth, who, twenty-eight years before, sei)arated
from the Church of England, and were called IScjxirdtist.^, but
the latter, those of Massachusetts Bay, with the colonies issuing
from them— Puritans— were till now, IQSO^ pr()f( ss( d nambeys of
the Church of EmjIamV (P., p. 213.) '^On' June 24th, 1629,
the Rev. Mr. Bright, with others, removes to Charlestown,
"where he stays above a year," and " on Augu.st 27th, KioO, Mr.
John Wilson (who was formerly an Episcopju minister in Sud-
bury), was there chosen and ordained teaching elder, or pastor.
This was the first ordination of an elder in jSIassachusetts
Bay," and his "extent now reaches on both sides of the Charles
river." (P., p. 247.)

Thus increasing with the using, this new church polity contin-
ued to " rise," and while Mr. Wilson, when installed as minister
at Charlestown at the above date, " submitted unto an ordination
witii an imposition of such hands as were by the church invited
so to pronounce the benediction of heaven upon him, yet it was
done with n protefitatioii by all, that it should be only a sign of
his election to the charge of his new liock, without any intention
that he should thereby renounce the ministry lie had received in
England." {Math. J/ay., vol. i., p. 79.) The next rising of this
new polity was in Dorchester, then '^ Boston, which issued out
of Charlestown "(/?).), then " succeeded one in Iloxbury, then
one in Lynn, and a seventh at Watertown." [lb.)

This development continued as population increased, and in
seventeen years " it was on many accounts necessary for them
to make a declaration of their church order," which they did in
1648, and called '' the Cambridge Platform." Tiie number of
churches in the Bay colony had at this date increased to thirty-
nine. The ministers and elders, as they compared imujen,
"committed these to writing as the good hand of God had
moulded them."

" Hence, the manner in which Congregationalism took its rise
in New England, renders it suthciently divine." (Christian
Obscr., vol. i., No. 8, August, 1847.)

Although the Ejiiscoiialians had inhabited in Virginia above
twenty years, and the Dutch I'resbyterians had occupied in New
York for some fifteen, and the Pilgrims had, in 1G20, adopted

APPENDICES.

499

a har-

mvch)
lucl ill
nouth
0(1 lor
' theiv
pie of
onuses
. 201.)

t of re-
it from
)iirated

s^s, but
issuing
ibcrs of
h,l<)29,

BstOWU,

iao, Mr.
in Sucl-

pustor.
^Imsetts

Cluirk'S

7 contin-

iiuuister

iiuitiou

invited

t it NYUS

sign of
itention
ived in
rr of this
ued out

17'

then

., and in
or them
>y did in
mber of
|o thirty-

od had

\i its rise
;hrisiian

[ia above
. in New
adopted

their "church order," and were supposed to he a church, yet,
by Xew Hn<?lau(l writers, beside those quoted above, J. Tlioinas,
M. J)., and T. Jialdwiu, I-2ditors of " Lippincott's Pronouncing
(razetteei-," it is asserted that ''this was the first complete
ciiurch organization ever effected in North America." Wliether
tFiis were true or not, it was unchuibtedly the lirst one of this
species as radically, essentially and forever distinct from, and
in opposition to botli Presbytei'ianism and Prelacy.

This youuff maiden looks very fair. J.et her birthday, Thurs-
day, August Oth, 1()29, be entered on the Calendar. The off-
Si)ring of ''circumstances " and of the invention and iisayes of
men ; her progeny (and they are very many) maintain, that "all
church power resides in the church and not in church ofhcers,
and resides in each i)articular church directly and originally by
virtue of the expicss or implied comi)act of its members."
{Bo.'iton Congrcydtioitdl AlnnDKu-, 18-17, \). 43.) While this sys-
tem is in so far based on Divine revelation, as to say, "Go to,
let us make," ''let us build," "let us make and let us return,"
" we will neither eat nor drink till we have," yet, it does not in-
clude and fully represent the "all Scripture which is given by
inspiration of God and is all profitable, requiring those wlio rule
to rule with diligence."

It is at best only an eclectic theory. If we can believe the
prince of New England divines, Jonathan Edwards, it is an
" unsettled, independent and confused way of church govern-
ment, while the Presbyterian is more consistent with reason,
with Scripture and with the nature of things." It is still "un-
settled and confused," for their National Congregational Coun-
cil of 1880, apj)ointed nine men to appoint twenty-tive others to
prepare a creed. This is a wise course, and the denomination
could at once prove it to be so, by adopting "the New England
Primer, " which, it is avowed, " eight-tenths " of their ministers
do not believe. This would be an honor to the dead, and an
honor and vast blessing to their posterity and millions of others
of mankind. May " the Lord hasten it in his time."

That Council also proposed to have "a tablet prepared for the
Rev. John Robinson, upon the iimer walls of the cathedral of
St. Peter, in Leyden, under whose pavement Robinson lies
buried," "as neither bust. portrait, nor even a hint of his physi-
cal juesence remains." This ought to have been done genera-
tions ago, for he there " so defended the truth against sundry
Arininiaa lluscs of Episcoi)ius, as to cause many to give praise
to God, that the Truth had so famous a victory. His successful
disputation procured him then much resi)ect and honor from
those learned men and others," {Fr. N. E. Chron., \). 38.)

Happy would it be for themselves and others, if, as a monu-
ment to him, they would adopt his doctrines and "church
order."

500

APPENDICES.

B-— Page 35.

Confession of FnWi, marie with cnmmnn accord by the Beformed
churches of the Kinydoni of France.

Article I.— We believe and confess that tliere is one only
(iod, who is a single and simple bein<;, spiritual, eternal, invisi-
ble, uuehanReable, intinite, incomprehensible, ineffable, Avho
can do all things, vvlio is all wise, all good, all. just, and all
merciful.

II.— This God manifests himself in this manner to men, first
by his works, as much by tlie creation as by the ])reservatiou
and conduct of them. .Secondly, and more clearly, by his word,
which in the beginning revealed by oracles, has been since then
connnitted to writing, by writing in the books which we call
the Holy Scripture.

III.— All this Holy Scripture is comprised in the canonical
books or the Old and New Testament, of which the number fol-
lows. The five books of Moses, known as Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Item, Joshua, Judges,
Ituth, the first and second book of Samuel, tlie first and second
book of Kings, the first and second book of Chronicles, other-
•wise called Paralipomena, the first book of Ezra. Item,Nehe-
miah, the book of Estlier. Job, the Psalms of David, the Pro-
verbs or Sentences of .Solomon, the book of Ecclesiastes, called
the Preacher ; the Canticles of Solomon. Item, the book of
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel,
Ilosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonas, Micah, Nahum, Ilabakkuk,
Zephaniah, Ilaggai, Zechariah, Malachi. Item, the Holy (ios-
pel according to St. Matthew, according to St. Mark, according
to St. Luke, and according to St. John, Item, tlie second book
of St. Luke, otherwise called the Acts of the Apostles. Item,
the Epistles of St. Paul, to tlie Koiuaiis one, to the Corinthians
two, to the Galatians one, to the Ephesians one, to the Philip-
l»ians one, to the Colossians one, to tlie Thessalonians two, to
Timothy two, to Titus one, to Philemon one. Item, the Epis-
tle to the Hebrews, the Ei)istleof St. James, the first and second
Epistle of St. Peter, the first, second and third Epistle of St.
John, the Ei)istle of St. Jude. Item, the Apocalypse or lievela-
tion of St. John.

IV.— We know these books to be Canonical, and the most
certain rule of our faith ; not so much by the common accord
and consent of the church, as by the testimony and internal
persuasion of the Holy Spirit, who makes us to discern them
from the other Ecclesiastical books, upon which, though they
may be useful, one cannot found any article of faith.

V,— We believe that the word which is contained in these
books, has proceeded from God, from whom alone it takes its
authority, and not from men. And for as nnich as it is the rule
of all truth, containing all that is necessary for the service of
God and for our salvation, it is not lawful to men, nor even to

APPENDICES.

601

tern,
liaus
lilip-
o, to
Epis-
cond
|)f St.
vela-

tliese

[s its

rule

36 of

m to

aiiffPls, to adrl to, diminisli or alter it. "Whrnce it follows, that
iH'itlior nntiquity, nor customs, uor the multitude, uor human
uisdoni, nor judffmeuts, uor scntcuccs, uor edicts, uor decrees,
nor couucils, nor visions, uor miracles, should be ojiposf'd to this
Holy Scripture ; but on tiie contrary all thinpfs should l>e exam-
iued, regulated and reformed acconliug to it. And following?
that, we acknowledjje tiie three creeds, known as the Apostles',
the Nicene and tlie Athanasian, because they are cont'ormed to
the Word of God.

VI.— Tills Holy Scripture teaches us that in this only and sin-
pie Divine Being, wliom we liave cont'essed. there are tliree per-
sons, tiie Father, tlie Son, and the Holy (Hiost. The Fatlier,
first cause, i)rincii)le anil origin of all things. The Son, his
word and eternal wisdom. Tiie Holy S]urit. his viitue, ])ower
and elRcacy. The Son eternally begotten of the Fatlicr. Tiie
Holy Spirit, eternally ])rnce('diug from tliem liotli ; the thiee
persons not confused, but distinct, and nevertheless not divided,
but of one same l)eing, eteinity, power and ecpiality. And in
that we acknowledge what lias been determined by the ancient
councils, and detest all sects and heresies wliich liave been
rejected by tlie holy doctors, as St. Hilaire, St. Athanasius, St.
Ambrose and St. Cyril.

VII.— We believe tliat God in three co-operating persons, by
his virtue, wisdom and incomprehensible goodness, lias created
all things, not only the heaven, the eartli and all which is con-
tained therein, but also the invisible spirits, of whicli some have
fallen and stumbled into perdition, others have persevered in
obedience. That the lirst being corrupted in malice, are enemies
of all good, consetpiently of the wliole church. The second,
having been preserved by tlie grace of God, are ministers for
glorifying the name of God, and serving in the salvation of his
elect.

VIII.— "We believe that not only has he created all things, but
that he governs and conducts them, disposing, ordefing ac(u)rd-
ing to his will all tliat wliich is in the world; not that he
may be the author of evil, or that sin can be imputed to liini,
since his will is the sovereign and infallible rule of all rigiiteous-
ness and e(pnty ; but he has admirable means of employing in
such a manner the devils and evil ones, that he can convert into
good the evil that they do, and of which they are guilty. And
thus in confessing that nothing is done without the providence
of (xod, we adore in humility tiie secrets which are concealed
from us, witliout asking aliove our measure, but rather we apply
to our use what is siiown us in the Holy Scrii)tures. that we may
be in i)eace and safety, for as much as (Jod, wiio has all tilings
subject to himself, watches over us with a jiaternal care, so tliat
there shall not fall a hair of our head without his will. And
meanwhile he holds the devils and all our enemies biidled, so
that they cannot do any wrong to us without his permission.

IX. — We believe that man, having beim created i)ure and per-
fect, and made like the image of (Jod, has by his own sin fallen

502

APPENDICES.

frr»m the ffrnco that ho liarl rcroivod. And tlins has alipnatorl
himself from (Jod, who is the fouiilaiii of justice and of all j?ood,
so that his nature is wholly corruitted. And being Idiiided in
liis spiiit and dei)raved in liis iieavt, has lost all inteji^rity, witii-
out having anything left. And altlKnigh he may still have some
discretion of good and evil, notwithstanding, we assert, that
that which he has of clearness is changed into darkness wlien it
is a qnestion of seeking (iod. So that he can by no means ap-
proacJi him by his intelligence and reason. And aUliough he
may have a will by wiiich he is incited to do this or that, never-
tlieh'ss it is wholly captive under sin ; so that he has no liberty
to good but that which (iod gives him.

X.— We believe that all the rac(! of Adam is infected with
snch contagion, which is (niginal sin, and a hereditary vice, and
not merely an imitation, as tlie IVlagians have wished to assert,
which we detest in their errors. And we do not consider that
there is ne(>d of iiuiniring how the sin comes from one man to
another, since it is enongli tliat lliat which God had given him
■was not for him alone, but for all his race, and thus that in his
person we have been denuded of all good, and are fallen into all
poverty and malediction.

XL— We believe also that this vice is indeed sin, which suf-
fices to condemn all mankind, even to the babes from the womb
of tiie mother, and that for such it is accounted before God ;
even that after baptism it is always sin as to the misdeed, al-
though the condemnation of it may be abolished to the childien
of God, not imputing it to them by his gratuitous goodness.
Moreover, that this is a i)erversity, producing always fruits of
malice and rebellion, as the most holy, although they resist it,
are not removed from being infected with infirmities and faults
while they live in this world.

XII. — NVe believe that from this general corruption and con-
denmation, into which all men are i)lunged, God draws out those
whom in his eternal and immutable council he has elected by
his goodness and mercy only, in our Lord Jesus Christ, without
consideration of tiieir works, leaving others in this same corrup-
tion and condemnation to show in them liis justice, as in the first
he makes to appear the riches of his mercy. For the one are not
better than the others, until that God discerns them, according
to his immutable council which he has determined in .Jesus
Christ before the creation of the world ; and none also can gain
admittance to such good of his own power, since from our na-
ture we cannot have a single good emotion, nor affection, nor
thought, until that God has prei)ossessed and disposed us to it.

XIII.— VVe believe that in Jesus Christ himself all that was
required for our salvation has lieen offered and revealed to us.
Who being given for our salvation has been made to us at the
same time wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption,
so that in declining him one renounces the mercy of the Father,
in which only he grants us to have refuge.

XI v.— We believe that Jesus Christ, being the wisdom of God

APPENDICES.

503

first
not
1(1 in g
Jesu3
gain
U' mi-
nor
to it.
t was
o ns.
it the
_)tion,
itlier,

and liis otornal Son, has worn onr flesh in order to be God and
man in one person, even man simihir to ns, passible in bodj'and
in mind, except (in) as mnch as he was pure from all stain.
And as to iiis hnmaii nature, that he was the trne seed of Abra-
ham and of David, although he was conceived by tlie secret
power of the Holy Spirit. In wliieii we detest all tiie heresies
which have anciently troubled the churches, and specially also
the diabolical imaginations of Scrvet, whicli attributed to the
Lord Jesus a fantastic divinity, for as much as he asserts him to
be tiie idea and patron of all things, and calls him i)ersonal or
ligurative Son of frod, and fuially invents him a body of three
eternal elements, thus mixing and destroying both natures.

XV.— We believe that in one same person, known as Jesus
Christ, the two natures are truly and inseparably conjoined and
nnited, dwelling nevertheless each nature in its distinct i)roperty,
so tiiat whereas in this union tlie Divine nature, retaining its
proi)erty, has remained uncreated, inlinite, and lilling all things ;
also the human nature has remained finite, having its form,
measure and property, and even although Jesus Christ in rising
again from the dead has given immortality to his body, never-
theless he has not removed from it the verity of its nature. And
thus we regard him in such a manner in his divinity, that we do
not divest him of his humanity.

XVI.— We believ. that God, in sending his Son, has desired
to show his love and inestimable goodness towards us, in giving
him up to death, and raising him again from the dead, in order
to ncconiplish all justice, and that we may obtain celestial life.

X VII.— AVe believe that l)y the unique sacrifice that the Lord
Jesus Christ has offered on the cross, we are reconciled to God,
that we may be held and accounted righteous before him ; be-
cause we cannot be agreeable to him, nor partakers of his adop-
tion, except in as much as he i)ardoiis us our sins and effaces
them. Thus we protest that Jesus Christ is our entire and per-
fect absolution, that in his death we have complete satisfaction,
to acquit us of our crimes and iniijuities, of which we are guilty
and can only be deliv(Med by this remedy.

XVIII. — We believe that all our righteousness is founded in
the remission of our sins, as also this is our only happiness, as
David says, this is why we reject all other means of being able to
vindicate ourselves before God ; and without presuming any vir-
tue or merits, we simply lay hold upon the obedience of Jesus
Christ, wliich is granted us, as mucii in order to cover all our
faults as to make us find grace and favor before (Jod. And in
reality, we believe that in declining this foundation as little as
may be, we would not be able to find elsewhere any repose, but
should be ; Iways tortured with dis(iuiet, for as much as we are
never i)ea.;eable with God until we are fully persuaded of being
loved in Jesus Christ, since we are worthy of being hated in
ourselves.

XIX.— We believe that it is by this means that we have the
liberty and privilege of invoking God, with full promise that he

50-1

ArPENDICES.

will show liimaolf our Fiitlior. For wo should not liavo any ac-
cess to the Father if we did not address (iiini) by this Mecliiitor.
And that we may he heard in his name, it is necessary to hold
our life from him as from onr head.

XX.— We believe that we are made i^artakers of this ripht-
eonsness by faith oidy ; as it is said, that he has stilfcred to )Mn'-
chase our salvation in order tliat wiiosoever believes in him
should not i)erish. And that tliis is done, for as nnich as the
l)romises of life, which are given ns in hini, are adapted to onV
use, and in experiencing the effect wlien we accept tliem, not
doubting but being assured by tlie mDutii of (Jod, we sliall not
be disappointed. Thus the figliteousness whicii we obtain by
faith depends ui)on the voluntary promises by which God
declares and testihes to ns that he loves ns.

XXI. — We believe that we are enliglitened in the faith by the
secret grace of the Holy Spirit, so tliat this is a free and special
gift which God grants to those whom he thinks lit, so that be-
lievers have nothing to glory in of it, being doubly bound be-
cause they have been preferred to the others. Also "that faith is
not merely given for a time to the elect, in order to bring tliem
into t)ie good way, but to make them ccnitinue in it also unto
the end. For as it is in God to make the beginning, it is also in
him to finish.

XXII.— We believe that by this faith we are regenerated in
newness of life, being natin-;illy snbj(!cted to sin. Xow we re-
ceive by faith the grace to live holily and in the fear of (iod, by
accepting the promise which is given us by the gosjyel, knowing
that God will give us his Holy Spirit. Thus faitli not only does
not cool the desire for good and holy living, but engenders and ex-
cites it in ns, necessarily producing good works. Finally, al-
thougii God, in order to acconii)lish our salvation, regenerates
us, reforming us in well-doing, nevertheless we confess tliat the
good works, which we do by the direction (^f his Sjyirit, do not
come into account to justify us, or to merit that God take ns for
his children, because we should be always floating in doubt and
alarm, if onr consciences did not rest on the atonement by which
Jesus Christ has acquitted us.

XXIII.— We believe that all the figures of the Law have ter-
minated in the coming of .Jesus Christ. But although the cere-
monies are no longer in use, nevertheless the substance and real-
ity of it has remained to us in the person of him in whom lies all
fulfilment. Moreover, it is necessary to assist ourselves with the
law and the prophets, as much to regulate our life as to be con-
firmed in the promises of the gosi)el.

XXIV. — We believe, since Jesus Christ is given ns for our
<ndy Advocate, and that he commands us to go jn-ivately in his
name to his Father ; and even that it is not lawful for ns to
j)ray except in following the form which (xod has taught ns by
Ids word ; that all tliat men have imagined of the intercession
of dead saints is only the error and deception of Satan, in order
to mislead men with the form of praying rigid. We reject also

APPENDICES.

505

all otlior means which men i)rosumoi to have in order to rerlooni
themselves towards (Jod, as dcro^ratory to the siu;rillce of tlio
death and ])assi()n of. Icsiis Christ. Finally, we hold i)ui^,Mtory tor
an illusion pi'oet'cdiiiijjt'i'oni tliissanieshop ; fi-om wliich have also
]»roi;e«'d«'d monastic vows, i>ilt;riina.L,'es. prohiltitions of marriajje,
and of the nsc of meats, ceremonious (tl)servation of days, auricu-
lar confession, indul^'ences, and all other such thinijs hy which
one thinks to merit ^mmcc and salvation. Which thini^s we re-
ject, not only for the false opinion of merit which is attached to
them, hut also hecause they are human inventions, which im-
pose slavery on the consciences.

XXV. — N'ow, because we enjoy Jesus Christ only hy the mm.
])el, wo lielieve that the order ot the churcli, which lias Wen
established in his authority, should \w sacred and inviolable,
consecjuently that the church cannot exist it" theni are not pas-
tors who may have the charfje of teaching, whom one should
honor and attend with revereu(,'e, when they are duly called,
and exercise faithfully their ollice. Not that (hxl sliould bo
hound to such aids or inferior means ; but becanse it i>Ieases him
to keep us under such check. In which we detest all faiitastics,
who would yreatly desire, as far as in them is, to destroy the
ministry and preachius; of the word of (rod and the sacraments.

XXVI. — We believe, therefore, that no i)erson should retire
ai>art, and be satistied with his ])erson. but that all torrether
should keej) and ]>reserve the nnanimily of the cimirh, subnnt-
tini? to connnon instruction and to the yoke of Jesus Christ,
and that in any place where (Jod shall have established a true
order of cimrcli, although the ma<;istrates and their edicts may
he contrary to them, and that all those who do not side there-
with or separate from it opjjose the ordinance of (Jod.

XXVII.— Nevertheless we believe that it is proper to discern
carefully, and with i)ru(lence. what is the true chui'ch, hecause
too much they abuse this title. A\'e assert then, followinj; the
word of (Jod, that it is the company of the faithful who ai^ree
to follow this word and the pure religion which i)roceeds from
it, and who profit from it all the time of their life, fjrowinc: and
strengthening themselves in the fear of (iod, according as they
have need of advancin!T and of marchin.i; always further on.
Also, although they strive and it is sainted to them to have in-
cessant recourse in the remission of their sins, nevertheless we
do not deny that amoni? the faithful there may not he hypocrites
and re])robates from whom wickedness cannot efface the title
of the church.

XXVIII. —Under this belief we ])rotest that there where the
word »^f (Jod is not received, and where they make no jjiofessiou
of snbmittiniJC to it, and wiiere there is no usat^e of the sacra-
ments, to speak jirojierly oiH^ cannot judi^'e tiiat there is any
church. (-onscMpiently we condemn the assciublics of the
Papacy, since the pure truth of (Jod is banished from them, in
which the sacraments are corrupted, weakened, falsilied, or
destroyed entirely ; and in which all sui»erstitions and idola-

606

APrENDICES.

tries aro the fasliion. We hold, thoroforo, tliat all tlinso who
arc coiiccriKMl in such acts and coinnnmicalc with tii('in,|tart
witli and n'trcncli the body o[ .Icsns Christ. Ncvcrt lich'ss, hv,.
cause then' yet n-inains sunic littii! trace of tiic ciiuicli in tlu^
I'apacy, and also as the virtue and substance of liaptisni lias
coidinucd in it, besides that the etlicacy of baptism does not de-
fend on him who administers it ; we iicknowledy;e those wiio aro
l)ai)tized there liave no need of a second liaptism. IIo\vev<'r,ou
account of the corrui>ti(»ns which are tliere. one cannot present
children to them without polhitini^ one's self.

XXIX.— As to tlie true diurci), we believe that it should
b(^ governed accordin^j to tlie polity whicli our Lord Jesn.s
Christ has established ; this is tiiat there be pastors, over.setus,
and deacons, to the end that pure doctrine may have its course,
that vice may be punished and restrained, and that tlie ]>oor
and all others al1li('ted may l)e succoured in their necessities,
and tiiat assemblies may he made; in tlie name of CJod, in
which Rreat and small njay be edilied,

XXX.— "We believe all true pasiors, in any jdace that they
may be, to have the same authoiity and equal i)ower niuler one
sole chief, sole sovereijjn, and sole universal bishop, Jesus
Christ; and for this cause that no church should pretend any
power or lordship over an<ither.

XXXI.- We believe that no one shonld take upon himself of
liis own authority to Rovern the church ; but that that should
be done by election, because it is possible and as (.Jod permits it.
Which exception we add tiiereto specially, because it lias been
necessary sometimes, and even in oin- time (in wliich tlie gov-
ernment of the church was interiupted). that God should have
raised up people in an extraordinary manner, in order a^aiu to
erect the church, which was in ruin and desolation. But al-
though it may be so, we believe that it is necessary always to
submit to this rule. That all pastors, overseers and deacons'shall
have proof of heins called to their oliice.

XXXII.— We believe also that it is ffood and prolltable that
those who are appointed to be superintendents consider amoiii?
themselves what Jueans they should take for the ifoveniment of
the whole body, and at the same time that they by no means
shun that whicli has h(!en delivered to us by our Lord Jesus
Clirist. Which does not prevent that there sliould not be any
special ordinances in each place, according as convenience re-
quires it.

XXXIII.— Neveitheless we exclude all human inventions, and
all laws which one would wish to introduce under the shadow
of the service of God, by which they would desire to bind con-
sciences; but we receive only what makes and is ])roper for
nourishing concord, and to hold every one, from the tirst to the
last, in obedience. In which we have to follow what our I.,ord
Jesus has proclaimed as to excommunication, which we approve
and confess to be necessary with all its appurtenances.

XXXIV.— We believe that the sacraments are added to the

ArPENDICES.

507

word for moro nmplo oonnrmiition, in nrdrr to ho to us as
)>I^(I;,'<'>' iiiKl IdkciiHor tlui jxiact' of (nxt.and by this nicaiis lo
iii*l iiiid rt-licvf our tuitli, nn accDiint of tlif iiitliiiiit v and nidf-
iitss \vlii(!li is ill us ; and tliat they Juc so far outward sij^ns. that
(iod opnalcs l»y tlicni in the power of lusSi)irit, in older that
nothinj,' in them sif^nilies to ns in vain ; nevei tlieless we hohl
that all their siihstance and reality is in Jesns ( liiisi , :iiid if one
seiiarati! tiieiii, tliero is no more anything,' biiL shadow and
smoke.

XXXV.— We acknowledfje of them only two, rnmmon to all
the eluireli, of which the liist, which is liaptism, is t-iven ns for
a witness of onr adoption, because tiiere we are j^riil'ted into th(«
t)()(ly of Christ, tliat we may be washed and cleansed by his
blo(')d, and then renewed in lioliiiess of life by his Holy Spirit.
"We hold also, althoiiLth we may be baptized but once, tliat the
beiielit which is si^MiilitMl in it to ns is extended to life and deal h,
in order that we may have a permanent siKiiatnre that .Icsiis
('lirist will bo to ns always rijihteonsness an<l .sanctilication.
>Iow,altliontili th s may be a sacrament of faith and repentance,
nevertheless l»ccaiise (Jod received in his chnrcli the babes with
their fiitheis, we assert that the infants begotten of beli<n'er.s
oilflht to be baptized.

XXXVl. We confess that the holy Lord's Supper (which is
the second sacrament) is t(. ns a witness of the union which W(!
liave with .lesiis Christ ; for as much as he has not merely once
died and risen a'^aiii for ns, but also truly restores and nourishes
us with his tlesh and with his blood, in that we maybe one with
liim ; and that his life may be common to ns. 2S'ow, although
lie may be in lieav<'ii until that he comes to judjjre the whole
earth, nevertheless we l»elieve that by the secret and incompre-
liensible power of his .Spirit, he nourishes and invigorates us
with the siilistance of his body and his blood We hold, indeed,
that this is dt)ne spiritually. nOt in order to put instead of per-
formanee and reality, imagination or thouffht ; Imt for as much
as this mystery excels in its highness the measure of our judj,'-
ment, and the whole order of mankind. In short, because it is
heavenly, it can only lie ai>preheiided by faith.

XXXVlI.— We believe (as it has been said) that as much in
the Lord's Supjjer as in IJaptism, (.Jod gives us truly and in ef-
fect that which he represents there. And consecpiently we unite
with the symbols the real possession and enjoyment of what is
there presented to us. And thus all those who brinj^ to the holy
table of (ylirist a pure faith, as a vessel receive truly that wliiiJi
the symbols testify to them ; that is that the body and tli<> blood
of Jesus Christ serve no less for meat and drink to tiie soul, than
the bread and wine do to the body.

XXX VI 1 1. —Thus we hold that water, being a decaying ele-
ment, is not allowed to testify to us indeed the internal cleans-
ing of our soul in ttve bloful of .lesus Christ, by the ellicacy of his
Spirit, and that i)read ami wine being given to us in the i>ord's
bui)per serve indeed fur spiritual uourishment, fur as mucli as

508

APPENDICES.

thoy show ns as to the oyo, the flesh of Jesus Christ to "b** to iis
our iiK'iit, and his blood our driidc. And we reject the fuutasties
and heretics wiio ar(^ not willing to receive sucli sijjns and to-
k<'ns, sinci^ our Lord Jesus pronounced, ''This is my body, and
tliis cu]) is my blood."

XXXIX.— We believe that God desires that the world should
be ffoverned by laws and polity, tliat there may be some curl) to
restrain the inordinate ai)petites of the world. And tlius, that
he has establislied kinjidonis, republics, and all other kinds of
])rincipalities, wiiether liereditary or otherwise, and ail that
which appertains to the state of justice, and desires to be recofr-
nized Author of tliem ; for this reason lie has put the sword iu
the iiand of the niaf^istrates to subdue the sins committed not
oidy afJtainst the second table of the commandments of (Jod. but
also ajj;ainst tiie lirst. It is necessary, tlierefore, for liis sake
that not only one suffers that superior's rule, but also that one
hoiuu' them and linld them in all reverence, holdiiifjc them as his
lieutenants and otiicers, wliom he has appointed to exercise ji
le{]fitimate and holy char<?e.

XL,— We hold," therefore, that it is necessary to submit to
their laws and statutes, i)ayin<j tributes, imposts, and otlier du-
ties, and to wear tiie yoke of subjection witli a good and sincere
will, although they should be unfaithful, provided that the sov-
ereign authority of (Jod remains in its entireness. Thus, we
detest those who would wish to reject superiorities, make com-
munity aud confusions of goods, and reverse the order of justice.

O.— Page lOG.

, "Genp:va was a part of ancient Gaul, and worshipped Taro-
mis. At or before the Reformation, there were in it seven papal
churches. The Reformation was established in it in lo3o.

'"In IJerne, it was established by the magistrates in" lo2S.
Froment (in English, wheat) set up a school in (ieiu'va. and in
it tangiit the Protestant religion. On January 1st. loo;?. greaL
crow(ls tried to hear Froment. The Lord's Suppei' was, for the
lirst time, dispensed there by John Guerin, who was afterwards
nunister of Neufchatel, in Switzerland.

'• In ISoLan Italian Protestant church was gathered in Geneva,
and a while fter, a Spanish church. Riding elders are chosen
and propouiul'Hl, as ministers are, for a fortnight, and three ask-
ings, if there are any objections to their ordination V None are
onlained in the ministry before they are twenty-tive years old.
They pi each without notes, with their hats on. First a prayer,
then a psalm. A person appointed sets the psalm with notes.
The psalms are sung in order, from first to last, and then they
begin with the lirst psalm again. At marriage, the bride and
bridegroom are dressed in black. Children are always baptized
at church. They observe the Lord's Sui)per lour limes each
year, laid receive the communion aland iny.''^

INDEX.

Arlirlps, doctrinal, lipliovrd, U.

Aiiiswoi 111, Ills vcrsinii, I'J.

Asm •tiiMv of tlio Kirlv fii'st reforming, 13.

Adims, John, I'.HI.

A\viikei\in>:, the, 105.

Ali.Tcnmilic, K., 1(W, 100, 113, lir).116.

Ariniiii'inisin nnwla'Cinie rcsiiectable, '228.

Ar^vlp, N. Y., 250.

Antrim. 'itiH, Mi, 3,">3, 30fi.

An f.xpiMlJi nt not iidvaiitageous, 274.

Alibo la I'ditrp, 2.SH.

AMMim, H., I'.t.j, 222, 252, 2.50, 260, 262.

Ainlicrst AHso.,a coniniiltcc to Witit oil, 295.

AiiiKiii, l>., 195, 222, 272, 273, 27S.

AlhiinySyi ',314,315,327.

Assent to hor creed reqnired, 342.

Adams, Kev. J^lin K., MS, 355.

Aniiover, on ,\. K. I'rimcr, founded, 364.

Adams, Kev. Dr. C. U ., 380.

Allen, Kev. Dr. B. U , 3S+.

Adams, .lolm ('., Ks(|..39G, .397.

All imaiitiiie cli:dii, the, 399.

Advent, clmrcli I'f the, 402.

A. K. I'res. of Boston constituted, 408,

Arnold, I!ev. (i. ('., 42:i.

Adh<'rent, a t;enerons one, 465.

".Xhreiist of till' times.'' 400.

Astonished, a C'in;;rcj;ation, 463.

A suicidal course aiiiiarentlv, 403.

Halch, the Rev. Mr.. 163.

Hay colony divided into parishes, 19.

llaniet, 321.

Itlair and liivitif^stoii, put buck, 21.

Baldwin, lli.v M., 154.

lilacUstoTie, \Vni., 17.

Boothliav, 143, 160, 177.

Bradford", town of, 133, 3'28.

J'radfMrd, (iovernor, 478.

iJath Kol, 228.

B.iston,:;75.

llostun calls Murray, 156; Asso., 254, 256.

Itoston secured airainst loss, 63.

Host 111 I'res, constituted, 109, 111.

lioyd, Alc.\., ordained, 1'2.'), 1'20.

Bigamy, a case of, 1S6.

Broken state of I'les. in N. E, 269.

Brown, Kev. Jonathan, '290, 313.

llirlow, ,IoeI, 294.

Bedford, 311, 31'2. 3,53, 367.

I'.eattie. lU'v J. M., 34.5, 47.5.

ISrainard, Uev. T. G., 348, 335.

Bi.xhy, Hev. Mr., 377.

Ihidtiiiort, Dr. llewett, Mr. Hinsdale, 384.

Boston, a visit t.., 3S9, 390.

Itillsiiot filed, 4ii5.

lloston I'res., tlie second, 405.

Boastint: excluded, 464.

liurns, lU'v. .1. A., 469.

iJrewster, Klder W., 479.

Calvin's Institutes, 3, 1.3, 19.
Chaiij^e, u, iu ^iuw York, 133.

Craiphoad, Uey. Thna., 47.

('onj;renation8 twelve, 150.

Church at D. College unites with Pros., 314.

Channinp, Hev. W E., 316, 320, 321.

Controversy rd'e, 3'20.

Cornwall, Ct., 327.

Church Street CImrch, 33R, .W.

Centennial coinini>sionui's, 190.

Chester, N. II., 91,92.

Caterhisiiif;, 164.

Changes rung, 154.

Caldwell, .Iidin, lo4.

Convention of ii.i5, 266.

Clarke, i<ev. G. .M., 464.

Comenlioti, iccle>ia-tical, 293.

Clarke'.-, wh irf and street, 22.

Congregati •nalisni cirriid to England, 19.

Congri gationalism reinf .reed, 334.

Cromwell, 23.

Colony chattels imitpd. 25.

Conirover-y. causes oi', 1H8, Mi^.

Coleraitie, 119, TJo, 213, 261, '26.5, 260, 328.

Congregationalism '' sufficiently divine," 19.

Cotton. Hooker and Stone, arrival of, 17.

Cotton, Hooker and Stone olitaincd a new

ordiuMtion, 17.
Cotton, Hooker and Stone invited to assist

in Kngland, 20.
Civil action against Preshytorians, first, 21.
Cotton to Croinwidl iihout J^cotch, '24.
Collier. Sir G., 176.

Congp'gations, Preshyteiian, in N. E., 191.
"(\)venant," first cliuich, Boston, 8.
Coleman, Dr., 102, ll).'..
Courts, church, resiionsihle, '298.
Calvinism, sereders tr-ni, 342.
"Conventional agreement made," .342.
Conventional atreenieiil, results of, 343,
Cook, Kev. Joseph, 347.
CruiUslianks, Kev. J., 374.
Childs, Kev. Dr., 381.
Change, a, came, 394.
Choat-, Knfus, 396, 399, 400, 403.
Criticisms given to the man, 4U1.
dishing, Caleli, 403, 404.
Carver, Kev. T. G., 412.
Claybaugh, Uev. W. M., 4'24, 4'25, 426.
Carti-r, .lames, 427.
China saying to Britain, 4'27.
Cathcart, George, 416.
Calhoun, Kev. S. F., 465.
Clapperton, I!ev. J. li., 409.
Condition, peculiar, of the churches, 470.
Covenanters, 473, 475.

Dana oidained, 290, '292, 348, 309-372, 421.

Daille. 33, 4os, 4l'9.

Davenport. Ill3.

Davidson, ISev. \V.. 79, 80, 246.

Discipline neglected, 99, UK), '298.

Dartmouth College, 163, '203, '273, 329.

Del ry, siege of, 44.

Duulup, li«v. £>., 132; ordained, 133.

(509)

510

INDEX.

PoiiKlasfl, Wm., M. D., tells us, 137.
1)('U(■0M^, tlii'ir iillU'c, l;i().
I'diriiiici', Kcv. Mr., 1-0.
l)(iiiii>>lic unrsliipii \it;ility, 289.
lie l.iiiifv, Kcv. It. A., :i77.
l)uriii. j{..v,.). \V. ('(.I(iiiuii,;!84.
" iiivisidii, nick of," ;;",)4.
]>isii|iliiii>, -tiiiidaid of, lowered, 394.

1 (1, a, :i'.»(i.

Diiiiii, Kcv. J. IV, .1,-.G, 400.
I'aiiii. K il., Jr., Il'.i'.t, 400.
Itiii-iiiiurc, Jaiuus, 4.H.

End

pisodo, nil. .')0.">.

ast Itostiiii, :'p.;'i,

cll.s. Kcv. W. \V.,;i7-2, 373.

Ka^lc U iiitr," the, iil.

\Ncr, Kcv. N., U.t.

Iwnrils ''oiit of ('oncoit," 13.

iiSliind (irfccdcd ."Scotland, 14.

lii>co|ialiaii.s ii" longer, 10.

cclcsiastical tiatisitioii, 10.

.\|lll.^iticlll of 8iri|itiire, 104.

itOM, IJl, 1J_', Iii4.

Iliot, iU'v. John, hlcssrd, '2'JO.

IChii's sake" h'ss prcii.'iis, 289.

iidiuaiK I' for imblic woisliij), :1J4, 325.

Kxprcssivc sili'iu'c, ' ;120.

Iv, i'r. Iv/.f.t Stjlo' true doclanvtion, 342.

Ilcrvcscciii'c |ia.s>icd oil, ."if);).

ast K, tetuii, 41'J; U. 1*., 4.:!, 4«4, 465.

Partorv villafrp. :i7S.

Fail Kivcr, ■lo'.t-412.

"Kelt, want, a," l.'il.

rreiiih ('hur.'h, :!S, 1?,2, 334.

"Faith" of tlie IMIgriui!?, 11.

Faith and lo^ie, UtRI.

Fastiiij;, ii day of. -30.

Fcclcral strci't, 207.

Free-will Hapti-iis condemned, 288.

Faiiidy worsliip, 3.^0.

Ferrier, llcv. Thus., 340.

Oovernineiit determined, 11.
(iilliiore, Itev., l,')l, l,-):i, 21,').
(iiiiv, .Me., tiiial meeting at, 217.
(iraitoii I'ri's., r,t2, Eastward to, 232.
(ir.toii, 20.S, 2.")H.
(Jrowlli, eia of, 140.
(irace, the ineaiis of, enjoyed, 231.
(iil)soil, Kev. Will., 344.
(.ioodwillie. Key. David, 340.
(iooilwillie, Kev. Th mas. 31G.
(■ray'«, Mrs. Win., guests, 348.
(ieoi;;e, l!ev. U. Y., 374.
Gordon, Kev. 1» , 387, 417.
"(■lobe," the, ofTuronto, 30,'').
Oeiitleiii 111, a, sorry and sworn, 398.
(Jralrun, Kev. W , 42'.i, 472.
"tienesis of the United Stales," 47(8.

irall, Kev. G M., 389, 423.
Harvey, Ki'V. Jos,, US.
Henry, Key. Iln|j;h, 131.
Huguenots, 2'.l-32; creed, appendix B.
lluiuptou advised, 296, 290.

Houston, Rev. .T.,171, 1S,5, 133.

Ilairis, Key. .Mr., at Windham, 313.

Hillhoiise and expedienev, 129, 83, 85.

lliiyes, Key. A. A., 31H.

IIiitehiriHon, Mrs., and the sisters, 18.

Ilntclii.-ioii, iSev. A., received, 154.

Ilaiieoek, .loiiii, 178.

Hel.ion, N Y., 201.

Hnntintrton. sermon on imputation, 273.

House, li.'V. Mill., 303.

Haskell. Key. T. N, 375, 422.

Harvey, Kev. Dr., 379, 3H0.

Ilolliiook, Mass., Oongl. church, 380.

Hartford, 3S I, 3H2,3«3. 424.

Heron. Kev. J. M., 388, 425.

Honest confession, an, 'Ml.

Iliheriiian, the, and Scot, 392.

lluioii, Kev. Ur. Andrew, 416,

Ilolyoke, 418.

HarUne-s, Kev. R., 460.

Hood, Kev. J.'hn, 404.

HainiiDiid. Key. K. N., 409.

Houston, Kov. A. Y., 409.

Independence, declaraiion of, 171.
Irish I'rohyterv and others, 277.
Jr/iiih,,,/, :!i;:"i.
Imiiedinieni, an, 392.
liiipiitatlon, 10.
Iiuiciniiitieatlons, 75.
liiJiieeiiients, lal^;e, 199.

•Tohnston, Kev. W., 128, 1.30, 89.
Joidaii hack once, 2'.l,").
J..hiistoii, Kev. .\ K., 345.
Jolmston, Kiv. Jas. «i., 375.
Joliiiston, licv. 11. H., 375, 421, 422.
Juiikin. .Mr. A. ('., 41S.
Jones, Kev. D. !'>., 419.

Kinkaid, Rev. John, 130.

Kno.x, .lohii. returned to Scotland, 13.

Kirk, address to the, 124.

King's, Dr., .Mount Zion of the eurtli, 392.

Kyle, Itev. J 'shua K., 4b5.

Ken, a piophul'.s, 458.

LeMercier, 30.

Londonderry Pres., 132.

Londoiidci ry, "it, 275, 303,

Lawrence, 423, 424.

LoiiK Lane and J. Slurray, 1.50, 103, 158.

Lon;; Lane, petition from, 254, 203.

Little, .hihii, 04, 05, OH, 7;), 75, 310, 403.

Lowell, 415; dance, 410-418.

Little ordained, olO, 313.

Lotliitip's. Kev. Dr., statement, 405.

Litchfield, :tl4.

Lowe, .Folm, 189.

I/ech(oid, 21.

" Leave t" withdraw" {jraciously given, 406.

LawBon, Kev. J. K., 429.

MrArtliur, Key. Jas., 340.
Murray, K( v. John, 141, 150, 158, 244-248.
Merrill. Kev. N,, received, 154.
McUrej;or, Kev. Jumes, 70, 77.

INDEX.

611

MrLfati, John, IfG.

M(•lln•^'o^, Hi'V. David, 85, 134.

Milt.Jii, Itcv. Mr, Vi'.io, -JKl.

Jlasiin, Itiv. .1. M , iiiiissivc thoughts of, 302.

IMilliKiiii, Kcv. Jaiui's, .'.41,:!45.

MnnirlifM.l, Kcv. .1., ir..5; "sliy of it,"98.

Mit'lciiahaii, Kcv. Win., 88, l^O.

McClcaiv, ('ajit. David, 17'.>.

Bhini.v, K.'v. J., 17;"., ITii, 180, 182.

JDiiislns siill'cM-, 188.

Milloid, CI., IH).

Monisnii, .John, his liistory, 130,

Jlniii-..ii, Jlcv. W., i;J2, ■.iJ.S, 348,

Maii.sficld, Ct , :i-.;7.

Mociii', Ui'v. SmI., o'lB.

»I(ilrcK<ii-, Rev. P., 353.

ADiir, Kcv. .\. S., -iir,.

MiDarcM, Rev. \Vi>i., G7C.

Magill, Kov. I)., 370.

UlcLaicii. K.'v. W., ,'580, 408.

McLaughlin, Kev. .J., 387,408.

Memoir concoalcd, ,i'.)7.

jMclliiiclitiiii, \M>r8t ever written, 407.

MacMillan. Kcv. \V., 408, 417.

McVc.iii, Mr. 1). P., 412

McOiiiicliv, Kcv. Mr., 413.

McWilliiiiii.-i. I!cv. A., 423.

McC.imicll. Kcv. W. T., 424.

McCcM-d, IJi'V. M. S., 4(l.i.

Jlodd.v's Talicrtiailc, 458 ; " talk," 460.

McCrackcn, Hcv. C, 4li4.

Jli'('imc,40fi, 407.

McCov. Kcv. A. G., 40S.

Mc.\.vcal, Kcv. K. A., 409.

McFall, Kcv. ])., 473.

".Miiytlowur," the, 476.

Newhuryport, 157, 292, 367, 30.9.

N.« liiirypoit, two churclios after 1795, 293;

ddiar, 351.
N. K. A. K. Pies. t(. he visited, 299-301.
New Market I're.s. at .hily 4tli, 1770, 158,297.
New n.wt.m, K. P. lirudiurd, 313.
Necessity, a, 18.

Oeeuni, Kev. Samiisoii, 221.
Old version, "gnarled vigor," 401.
Oliver, l!ev. A., 312, 313.
"Orlhud.ix " in 1787,205.
Ordination, new, eiiiluriiig, 18.
Oltcrs(.n, Kev. .James, 408.
OstnieisuU PruHbytudiina, 6.

I'reshytery. first respeetahlo, 131, 58, 128.
I'res. HO goiid liy eoniproniisu, 129, 130.
I'ierec, Kev. Tlln.-i., 131.

I'ans'ies, ii).

l>r(^-<liyterial visitation ordered, 229.

rrovi.lciiec, 412. 4(i5.

I'lcceiitor, the, 2-'f5.

trusbyteriuas uold, 23.

Prentice, Rer. Sol., 122, 124.
Prentice, .Mrs Sol., 123.
Pres at Ka-tward tunned, 146.
I'oritaiis, doctrinal, 15.
I'uriiaiis to purity the Kstnlilishmcnt, 15.
Puritins remove to Leydeii from Amster-
dam, 15.
Puritans remove in 1020 to America, 10.
Puritans who go to he an absolute church, 10.
P(.pery, third vital [lower nf, 2^7.
Picslivtei ians, hccanie, for safety, 202.
Park.'r, Kcv. K. I-., 329, 349, 35(J.
Parker and Jlellcii deacons, 335, 3,30.
PrcK „f Newliurypc.rt fanned, 341, 343, 344.
Prosperity of s<.me rouEregations, why, 347.
Pinkerton's, J., liei|uests, -148.
Prondtil, Kev. ,Iohii, 351, 3,".2.
Park. Kcv. Prof, ;i03,
Pulpit, the, gaineil but little, 364, 365.
Planteiscallt'hnrcli of Kngland mother, 17.
Painter, Kev. H. .M., 377.
Pres. of ('(iniicctlcut, 381.
Pres., A. K., of New York. 380.
I'lilliiis, evangelical, in Koston, 390.
Pioneer.the, 392,393; churcli prospered, 406.
Presbyterians, tlio Kefurmed, 394.
Pr.itesl. a, 402.
Pnlillcutions, 400, 407.
Prcsliyteiiatiisin ebbing, 197.
Polity, civil, set up by I'ilgriins, 477.

Queen and bishops severe, 14.

Hares, dissimilarity of, 198.

Kced, Andrew, 87.

Kcid, (Jco., 173.

Held, Mrs (ieo , 175.

Kuthcrtord's labors, 87, 88.

Kepresentatii.u forced on Puritans, 18.

Kcconciliation aimed at, 152.

Kcvolution, the, 170.

Kef. Pres., adivisidii among, 345, 346.

Kvegate and llarnct, 2(>4, 321, 324.
i Ki..s,s. Kev. J., 370.

Kecords, business, into New Jerusalem, 398.

Kecoids, business, disinterred in Arlington
stieet church, 399.

Repairs, !f4,7(io, 402.

IJoliinson, l!ev. .las., 412.

Keckic'.s ►tatciiK^nt, 415.

Kobb, ,I(din P., ordained, 41.5, 4G5.
j Kefornicd Presbyterians, 428.
I Kcccninicndatlons', 402.

" Uopository, Kviiiigelical," says, 470.

I Snicid:il, a. cotirse of jastor, 403.
.*^ernioiis, reading, 300.
Sabine, Kev. .laiucs, ;i30, .338, 339.
.Sileni, third church, 100, 102; Pres'., :iOT, 210.
Scarborii, 131, ,sti.
"Si'ccdcrs." i:;8.

Seal.n.(ik. l.M, 100; letter to, 237.
Stark.s, 172.
.Sil.'in, N. Y., 2,-|0, 2,-.7.
Scotch biimlnien, 22, 24.
'•Scots' Charilalile S cictT," 25.
Scots' recjuesl in ^uw■ York refused, 134.

512

IKDEX.

Scotch-Irish, 4143, 4G, 47, 49, 56.

Syn.id, 14-l.s.

Synod, its " dccrooa," 18.

8yncid, wild coiiHtimted it, 13.

t<ei'tiiriii!i riincor, I'M.

fiyiKiil, i)lim (if, l():i, 1(;5, lr,7, 1C8, 193.

t>liiiidiirds siilisnilMMl, lis.

Star Ch:indi('i- (llssidvctl I'l-f-^liytorios, ^^>.

Scotland, ('liiirfh of, ii gciicriil i)laii, I3,i.

Scotland, Cliuirh of, Hooli of DisciiiliiiP, 136.

intone and Hooker, 81.

Slavery, 1S4.

Sabliatli, Aniprican, 190.

Svlvi'Stcr, 'm.

Synod, A. K., 257, 270, 297, 307, 319.

JSessions, the safety of church, 293.

Sects in Kliode Island and Maine, 29*.

Second Church, Neubnryport, 309.

Society, Federal street, 317, 320.

Swedenliorgiiuis. 335.

Sloan, llev. Win, 345.

Shields, .Mr. R , 345.

Stanifoid, Corning, B., B., TIalaey, 383.

Scotch i)raechiiig wanted, 3S9.

Servant-i at times allured, 391.

Session, records of a decomposed, 397.

Sworn otliciiil, a, 404.

Shnrtlell'. Mayor, patches up a stone, 409.

Skinner, Uev! Dr., 413.

Saunder.son, Uev. Jus., 413.

S'Ulh Boston, 42.5.

Smith, Kev. 1'. Y., 428, 405.

Seed 8'iwn, results correspond, 459.

Selections, subversive, 4tjt).

Service, Kt-v. J., 409.

Stewart, liev. A. S., 470.

Temples, Parker's and Taine's, 463.

'i'hoocraey. a, established. 7.

Triidty, tlie diictrine of, diopped, 288.

Thompson, liev. Tlios., 7S.

'J'hompson, Kev. .1., his overture in 1728, 135.

Tlu)mpson, Kev. J. L.. 4i'i().

Taggai t, S., applies, 105, 106, 311, 328.

Taiilfsville, 3M.

Towns, Presbyterian, 201.

'i'houipsoaville, 37«, 3K0.

Town meetings vote out the Psalms, 272.

Truro, Nova Scotia, 109.

Toombs, 313.

Town meet'gs in L. opened with prayer, 348.

Timlow, Rev. H. R., 374-.

Thompson, Kev. R. (1., 3S1.

TUompsouville, A. K. church in, 385-388.

T., Mrs., 391 ; her liiishand, 392.
Truth nnt safe on earlh, 399.
Thomas, Rev. A., 414.
Taunton, 41S.
Thompson, Rev. .S. V., 424.
Taylor, Klder Jcdin, 425.
Theory of Congregationalism, 8.
Turnbull, Rev. J. 11., 406.

Universal salvation, 229.
Unitarianism, 3:iii, 331.
I'rsulini' imus, 334, 335.
L'r.iuluirt, Rev. John, 102, 165, 214.

Vermont, 321 ; Pres. constituted, 346, 469.
Vuluiitown, Ct.,b2, 126; and Mr. Burrauce,

127.
Visitations, i)a-toral, 104.
Vow of meuibeis of \Vr. Assembly, 20.
A'ast events, 21.

■\isitatioii a I'resbyterial one, 234.
Vamped, "'the imitations," 295.
Version, Bay .-^late. 309,316.
Voted. (.2 lo" 11. to sell our land, 402.
Veisions, new, 4t)7.

AVallace, Rev. A. G., 428.

Wallace, I!ev. 1). A., 408, 420.

Watts' "imitations" since 1741, 1.54, 201.

Wandsworth, fust Pres. in Kngland at, 14.

Walker, Kev. /aeli., 77.

Wesindnster Conli'ssion adopted, 136.

Wheehr, San I, Mit. I.-.7.

Whitaker, Salem admitted, 154,102, 212, 286.

Willis fpiotid, 02.

Williams and Skelton afraid, 18.

Wooobridge first born of llarvaid, 19.

Worcester, 52, 54, 01, i"J.
I Windham, Lin, 131, 3.53, 367.
! Williams, S., called, 131 ; withdraws, 196.
I Waxhaw, S. C, 179.
j Waldi-nses, 13.
! West-running brook, 51, 364.
' Whiteheld, 90, 97.
; Wheel,. ek, a letter to, 222.

White (reek, N. Y., 223.

Wiishingion, Pres. at Kasfd address, 240.

\\ ilsoM, .Mrs. Agnes, 204, 3.50.

West Derry. ''a felt want," 294.
; Wilsons, Kev. S. M. and R. Z., 343.

Wilkin.sonville, 42t').
I \\illianison, Kev. James, 426.
i What Clod Luuurs, 403, 4o4.

While we regret to omit part of Appendix C, and all of D and
E, we find they are too long for insertion, and would not proba-
bly be of deep interest to the common reader.

92.

,8.

5, 214.

tp(l, 34fi, 469.
Mr. Diirraiice,

mbly, 20.

234.

)5.

ad, 402.

'41, 154, 201.
ngland at, 14.

)ted, 136.

4,162,212,286.

,18.
viiid, 19.

hdraws, 196.

address, 240.

104.
;., 343.

11 of D and
iiot proba-