F 29 
 .B79 C6 
 Copy 1 
 
 REV. L. S. COAN'S 
 
 1111111141 SHBMOK 
 
 BO Of H.B A I 
 
 1EJK 
 
 /' 
 
A Century in one of the Early New England Churches. 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 DELIVERED IN THE 
 
 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 
 
 BOOTHBAY, MAINE 
 
 SEPT. 23, 1866. 
 
 BY LEANDER S. COAN 
 
 S° 
 
 Published by Bequest of the Society. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 PRESS OF T. R. MARVIN & SON, 42 CONGRESS STREET. 
 1866. 
 
3& 
 
 The publication of a Sermon embodying the History of a Century in 
 one of our early New England Churches, requires no apology. Hoping 
 that these pages may form an acceptable additional item to New England 
 Ecclesiastical History ; that they may tend to awaken in the minds of 
 whoever may read them, an interest in our old Churches ; I yield to 
 the request of this Parish, and accept the advice of brethren in the 
 ministry, whose opinion I sought, in giving this Historical Sketch to the 
 public. Though few may read it now, in after years it will be useful. 
 
 L. S. C. 
 Boothbay, October, 1866. 
 
\ 
 
 V 
 ^ 
 
 SERMON 
 
 DEUTERONOMY iv. 31. 
 
 HE WILL NOT FORSAKE THEE, NEITHER DESTROY THEE, NOR FORGET THE 
 COVENANT OF THY FATHERS. 
 
 One hundred years, on the 28th day of July last, had 
 passed since Rev. John Murray assumed the pastoral charge 
 of this Parish. He entered upon his work, by dedicating 
 the Old Meeting House, the inside of which, at that time, 
 was unfinished. His text upon that occasion was, " Come 
 over into Macedonia, and help us." The frame of. the 
 house was raised the year previous, on the 27th day of 
 September. 
 
 The day of dedication was a day of rejoicing. Those 
 fathers had seen their children growing up in ignorance of 
 religion. They were conscious that its power was dying out 
 of their own hearts, as their record tells us. Often had they 
 suffered from the savage cruelty of the tribes around them. 
 Driven again and again from their homes, they had returned 
 with a courage that always conquers. They had made vain 
 appeals to the Presbytery at Boston, for supplies. Their 
 only religious privileges, previous to 1763, had been when 
 transient preachers had chanced this way. 
 
 According to a tradition prevalent here, the men who 
 were thirty-five and forty years old, could remember that, 
 when lads, they had heard that wonderful man, George 
 Whitefield, declare in the barns of their fathers the truths 
 
of God. We may judge of their interest in him, when we 
 know that Andrew Reed followed him all the way to New- 
 burvport, for the sake of listening to his words. One 
 winter, this same Mr. Reed, when all the rest fled in fear 
 of the savages, remained alone till they, in the spring, return- 
 ed. When they wondered at his daring, the brave old man 
 answered, — " What, had I not my Bible with me 1 " Of 
 such metal as this, was the old church made. But of this 
 period I will let the Fathers speak themselves ; for though 
 dead, they yet speak in their Records, as well as in the 
 Church, which remains till this day. 
 
 Extract from the Original Sessions Record. 
 
 " The Elders in Session voted, that a sessions book be 
 purchased, and that the Clerk be appointed to record in it 
 the history of the settlement of this Church, from the first 
 beginning down to this time, which was done, brought in, 
 and read, and is as follows : — 
 
 EARLY HISTORY. 
 
 " The inhabitants of this town, having long been har- 
 rassed and distrest by the natural difficulties of settling a new 
 country, without any considerable resources of wealth, and 
 more especially by frequent wars with savages on the border, 
 by which the settlement was repeatedly brokeu up, and the 
 whole place laid waste ; had hardly recovered strength enough 
 for the settlement of the Gospel amongst us, and therefore, 
 had long been languishing under the heavy ajjliction of silent 
 Sabbaths ; various preachers, 'tis true, we from time to time 
 had opportunity to hear, both here and in the neighborhood ; 
 and various applications were made by us to the Reverend 
 Presbytery of Boston, for supplies; but all were treated 
 with utter neglect ; and now no hope remained of any settle- 
 ment of the ( iospel here. The people, dispirited by long 
 and fruitless attempt-, sat down in inactive despondency. 
 But iu the midst of this gloomy prospect, their minds were 
 
relieved by the arrival of Rev. John Murray, a probationer 
 from Ireland, — drawn hither by repeated invitations from 
 one of the principal settlers* of this place. 
 
 " Upon his preaching to general acceptance for some time, 
 the inhabitants held a meeting at the house of Mr. Beath, 
 where they unanimously voted to give him a call to be the 
 settled pastor of this town. A paper was subscribed, and 
 put into his hand, as follows : — 
 
 " ' We the subscribers do promise to pay to the Rev. John 
 Murray the sum of Ninety Pounds Sterling, per year, as an 
 encouragement to settle amongst us as our Pastor. Towns- 
 end, this 22d day of December, 1763.' Beside which they 
 particularly engaged to give him a lot of land, of two hun- 
 dred acres ; to build him a house ; to clear and labor said lot ; 
 cut and haul his firewood yearly; — and for this purpose a 
 subscription was set on foot, and the Lord spirited up the 
 people, so that it was quickly filled up. Now were their 
 hopes very sanguine, that the long wished-for day had 
 come." — Original Record, p. 8. 
 
 But Mr. Murray was discouraged by the prospect. As yet 
 they were not a town, and hence were not legally bound to 
 fulfill their agreements. And so he was determined upon an 
 immediate return to Ireland, and took his leave the February 
 following, going to Boston. They chose a committee to follow 
 him there, to prevail upon him, if possible, to remain. They 
 at last extorted from him a promise that, if he ever returned 
 to America, and they still vacant, and still desirous of him, 
 and should renew their call, Townsend should be the place of 
 his settlement. Whereupon they returned, elated at this 
 much gained, while Mr. Murray proceeded to New York, 
 to embark for Ireland. There he was stayed by a call from 
 the Presbyterian Church in that city. While considering 
 this, he received another from the Second Presbyterian Church 
 in Philadelphia. Of these occurrences he sent timely infor- 
 
 * Mr. Andrew Reed, before mentioned. 
 
mation to this place, and the people replied by repeated 
 and vigorous renewals of their proposals. These, however, 
 did not reach him, and he, supposing that he had been 
 forgotten, accepted the Philadelphia call, and was settled 
 there. Soon after this he received the intercepted messages, 
 one of which bears date, as transcribed to the Records, Feb- 
 ruary 7, 1765; another, March 11, 1765; and another 
 bearing date, October 2, 1765, which is as follows : — 
 
 An Argument for the Return of Mr. Murray. 
 
 " To the Reverend the First Presbytery of Philadelphia, — 
 the humble supplications of the inhabitants of Townsend, 
 now the town of Boothbay,* humbly showeth ; that your 
 petitioners dwell in a country that has long been harrassed 
 by Indian wars, the inhabitants frequently driven off their 
 settlements, and stript of all their worldly substance, and 
 thereby, ever since their first settlement, have been unable to 
 have the Gospel supported amongst us until this time ; 
 by which means a wide extended country of many miles 
 in extent, in which there are many towns and districts 
 populous enough to demand the labors of a minister each, 
 have been hitherto scattered as sheep without a shepherd ; 
 whilst the aged are daily weakened in every religious impres- 
 sion, iniquity abounding, the love of many waxing cold ; 
 and the youth, the only hope of succeeding generations, 
 the only prospect of a church in the coming age, are growing 
 up awfully ignorant of God, of Christ, and of themselves ; 
 and while their souls, precious as they are, are perishing for 
 lack of knowledge, it is to be feared, will also be growing 
 in carelessness and indifference about eternal things. Sealing 
 ordinances so rarely to be had that hundreds, amongst whom 
 are adults not a few; yea, whole families, root and branch, 
 have never been offered to God, in Baptism. Our situation is 
 so remote, our circumstances so peculiarly discouraging, that 
 
 • They had thu*, we see, been incorporated as a town, between 17G3 and 
 17Co, probably in '64. ■ 
 
no hope appeared of any supply for our necessities, until 
 in the midst of our desolation, it pleased God to direct this 
 way the Rev. Mr. John Murray, whom we unanimously 
 called to take the pastoral care of our souls ; and although he 
 could not then accept our call, yet he promised that if he 
 ever settled in America he would be our minister. Yet, 
 notwithstanding this promise, of which we find you were 
 not ignorant, you have taken him away, and set him over 
 another congregation. Our many letters to him we deemed 
 sufficient to establish what we have before transacted ; but by 
 what means they never reached him we are left to guess. 
 On all which accounts, we think our expectations unjustly 
 disappointed, and ourselves greatly injured, and we can but 
 judge that we have good ground to plead our right to said 
 Mr. Murray to be our minister, in virtue of that promise, 
 which, in justice to ourselves, we can never give up. ' We 
 therefore beg that your wisdoms would be pleased to consider 
 our case, and as Judges in the Church of Christ, determine 
 what is justice in it, and grant us the redress which is our 
 due. Boothbay, October 2, 1765." Signed by upwards of 
 sixty heads of families. 
 
 This argument met the reception which we might reason- 
 ably expect from the body of men that had performed this 
 injustice. But this tribunal was not the ultimate, and from it 
 the petitioners appealed to the New York and Philadelphia 
 Synod — the higher Ecclesiastical Court. Meanwhile Mr. 
 Murray came to Boston, on his way to Ireland ; ill health 
 detained him, and the Commissioners from this place met 
 and treated with him there. 
 
 In their petition of appeal to the Synod, they again stated 
 their former arguments, and added another item of petition, 
 for the following reasons : — Confident that their petition 
 must prevail, they considered * * * "the next busi- 
 ness was to provide for the most easy and convenient mode 
 of settling Mr. Murray, at Boothbay," * * * also " con- 
 sidering that, as Mr. Murray belonged to no body of min- 
 
8 
 
 isters in this Province, and that they are surrounded only 
 by such as are of the Independent form, it might be very 
 troublesome and expensive to said town to bring together 
 as many Presbyterian ministers, in connection with him, as 
 might make a Presbytery, capable of solemnizing his set- 
 tlement here ; considering also that, as the solemnities of 
 ordination can be performed but once to the same man 
 among Presbyterians; that installment being nothing else 
 than the bargain or covenant between minister and people, 
 whereby they propose and he accepts — he takes the charge 
 and they engage submission ; therefore, it is very consistent 
 with reason, and the nature of things, and very agreeable 
 to the Presbyterian discipline, to hold that covenant fully 
 confirmed without those formalities ; and understanding that 
 it is the frequent practice of the Presbyteries and Synods 
 in the Southern Provinces, to ordain ministers at large, and 
 settle them where ever Providence may call ; yea, that this 
 is now the case with ministers even in the cities of New 
 York and Philadelphia, — for all these reasons the said Com- 
 missioners did transmit, with these papers, a petition to this 
 purpose : — 
 
 " ' To the Fii'st Presbytery and their Synod,' " repeating 
 former petition and argument, adding, " ' that Avhen Mr. 
 Murray is removed from Philadelphia, it will please you to 
 constitute him our minister at once ; that he may be trans- 
 ported to his charge of this town without any formal install- 
 ment ; and your petitioners as in duty bouud will ever pray. 
 ' Signed by 
 
 ' Andrew Keed, 
 
 ' Andrew McFarland, 
 
 'March 16, 1766. 'Commissioners.'" 
 
 This petition prevailed, and Mr. Murray was released 
 fully, freely, and in the form desired, lie arrived here, and 
 at once assumed his charge ; his first public act being the 
 dedication of the meeting-house, July 28, 1766. According 
 
9 
 
 to the arguments of the petitioners, and the usages admitted 
 by the Synod, his official connection with this Parish began 
 then. And that day, July 28th, is the proper anniversary 
 day of this Church — for an element of the Presbyterian 
 Church was formally acknowledged by such an assumption. 
 If Mr. Murray ever occupied the pastorate here, the begin- 
 ning was at that time. 
 
 The Great Revival. 
 
 During the ensuing autumn and winter, followed the 
 Great Revival, which left its mark upon the community, 
 giving it its peculiar susceptibility to religious influence. 
 The experiences of those men in those days could not 
 but have a shaping influence. Whether their descendants 
 are in the church of their father's choice, or are in others 
 that have long since appeared, they cannot escape from the 
 wholesome bent of those early days. The account of those 
 seasons in the book of Records, too long for quotation here, 
 reminds one of the Apostolic days, when the Holy Ghost 
 was breathed upon men. And the First Church here has 
 a rich legacy in being the natural heir, the lineal descendant 
 of the church, then formed. 
 
 Immediately upon his arrival here, Mr. Murray proceeded 
 to gathering and recognizing the individual members of the 
 Presbyterian Church, who were living here. Having ascer- 
 tained who held certificates of membership, as they had been 
 living here for years without oversight, he proceeded to a 
 sort of informal process of discipline, to ascertain if any 
 were improper subjects to receive the Sacrament. Accord- 
 ingly on the 10th day of March following, he publicly 
 announced the names of the Presbyterians, solemnly adjur- 
 ing the whole congregation, if they knew of any reason why 
 these were not entitled to the sacred rites of the church, if 
 they would not be gnilty of the blood of souls, to declare 
 the same. This was repeated three Sabbaths in succession. 
 Then upon the last, and fifth Sabbath of March, no charges 
 
10 
 
 having been brought against any of them, he announced that 
 in two weeks the Communion would be observed. Accord- 
 ingly on the second Sabbath in April, the 13th day, — they 
 celebrated for the first time, the sublime service of the 
 Lord's Supper. The names of those persons are inserted in 
 the Appendix. They now had their pastor, but were with- 
 out the other proper church officers. 
 
 Ordination of Church Officers. 
 
 On the 20th day of the September following, the Ruling 
 Elders and Deacons* were ordained by Mr. Murray. The 
 day of their ordination was Wednesday. The scene, as de- 
 scribed by the clerk, was very impressive. They took seats 
 in the broad aisle. The church was crowded by a solemn 
 audience. The candidates were then publicly examined, 
 charged ; the congregation called to look upon them ; they 
 were then called to stand forth, and were caused solemnly to 
 declare, before God, that they would faithfully fulfill the duties 
 of their office. 
 
 The town was divided into districts, and two of these were 
 appointed to each district, of which they, under the Pastor, 
 were to have oversight. Of the whole, the Pastor had a gen- 
 eral supervision. And thus organized, this baud of deter- 
 mined and praying men began not only the battle with sin 
 in their own hearts, but in the community. Then truly had 
 the people a mind to work. They appreciated, as you never 
 can, the privileges they thus came to enjoy. No more can 
 we understand what was their intense delight, than we who 
 every day enjoy home, with food and clothing sufficient, can 
 appreciate the joy of the wrecked sailor, when after days alone 
 
 • William Moore, Robert Murray, John Beath, N"< lumiah Ilarrondon, 
 were Ruling Elder*. I ra '■ Davis, Samuel Adams, Ephraim McFarland 
 Deacons. Of this body, Mr. Murray was Moderator, and John I'm at h 
 ribe. It is probably to him that we are indebted for so elear an 
 account of their proceedings at that time and before; a record that 
 would he an honor to the pen of any man, in any age. 
 
11 
 
 on the raft, lie is clothed and sits down to a proper repast. 
 Truly the people had a mind to work for God, and the walls 
 of Zion went up. Hand to hand they labored, foot to foot 
 they went. In the dreary past they stood against their savage 
 foe with a rifle in one hand, a spade in the other, with the 
 Bible and prayer in their hearts. And so God blessed their 
 labors. 
 
 Present State of the Record. 
 
 The record of the church up to March 12, 1770, is full and 
 complete. From that time to the year 1798, we have nothing 
 except the tabular record of admissions, and baptism of infants, 
 attached to which are dates, showing that through this period 
 ordinances were occasionally if not constantly enjoyed. ^ 
 
 The record that is preserved goes over but five years of 
 Mr. Murray's administration. So we have no official state- 
 ment of the time when his labors ceased here. But it is 
 known that he left here during the first part of the war of '76. 
 In the town treasurer's record I find that there was money 
 paid to Eev. Mr. Murray, in 1777. After that year no such 
 minute appears. In the year 1777, in the month of Septem- 
 ber, Mr. Murray succeeded in preventing a menaced attack 
 upon the settlement at the Harbor, by Commodore Collyer of 
 the British frigate Kainbow, forty-four guns. We learn from 
 Collyer's published account of his visit to these waters that Mr. 
 Murray sent notes to him, and also had interviews with the 
 commander. Thus we see that Mr. Murray's stay here as 
 pastor, was a little less than twelve years. From this place 
 he removed to Newburyport. 
 
 Subsequent History of the First Pastor. 
 
 lie always manifested a lively interest in this place, and 
 came hither every four or five years to baptize the children 
 born after his regular labors ceased. The last sermon that 
 he preached here was on the occasion of the funeral of Miss 
 Nancy Flood, a young lady who had been drowned. The 
 
12 
 
 funeral was from the house of Capt. John Reed. He was 
 very much moved by the occasion. He was impressed that 
 he would never see them again ; said he, " I must preach my 
 own funeral sermon." He solemnly warned them all. It 
 was indeed his last discourse here. He died in Newbury port, 
 March 13, 17it-J, aged fifty-one. This would show him to 
 have been twenty -one years old when he first came to this 
 country, twenty-four when he was settled, and to have lived 
 sixteen years in Newburyport, where he was buried. Sev- 
 enty-three years ago that faithful servant went to his reward. 
 Though dead he yet speaketh. This pulpit, yes, every pulpit 
 in town, bears witness to the seed that he cast into the minds 
 and hearts of the people. 
 
 Personal Appearance and Characteristics. 
 
 Mr. Murray was of ordinary height, five feet six or seven 
 inches, exceedingly broad across the shoulders and deep 
 through the chest. ] le was of a clear florid complexion, in- 
 clined to corpulency in later years. His voice was of the 
 heavy, massive cast, and clear as a trumpet. 
 
 He possessed the power to fascinate the most cultivated 
 audiences, as well as to hold those hardy frontiersmen bound 
 by the spell of his eloquence. And it was the Master's 
 call of duty, " Come over into Macedonia and help us," 
 that took him from the first churches of the country to labor 
 in these then wulds. Long ago that eloquent voice was 
 hushed in the grave, and his faithful helpers are all, all 
 slumbering here in this old burial yard. The grey moss 
 grows now over their slanting tombstones. Their children 
 and their children's children also. But their loved pastor 
 is not here. He rests near Whitefield, 1 know not how 
 near, but they should be side by side. 
 
 From Mr. Murray to Father Sawyer. 
 In the interim between the close of -Mr. Murray's pastorate 
 and the beginning of Mr. SaWYKR'8, as the record is gone, 
 
13 
 
 through that period, we have to depend entirely upon tradi- 
 tion. I can learn of only two laborers, Mr. Gould, an uncle 
 of Mr. Gould who preceded Eev. Jonathan Adams, labored 
 about six mouths. Of the results of that period we have no 
 account. Mr. Chapin also preached here about five years. 
 There were besides, other occasional laborers, but who they 
 were I have not learned. The only clue to this period is the 
 table of baptisms, the dates of which show that the ordinances 
 were occasionally, at least, observed. 
 
 mr. sawyer's administration. 
 
 At a legal town meeting, Nov. 6, 1797, it was voted unan- 
 imously to give Eev. John Sawyer a call to settle here in the 
 ministry. Nov. 21st, the church, by their committee, also 
 gave him a call. He came to town with his family the fol- 
 lowing March. He found the church in a disordered state, 
 from having been so long without a settled pastor. It was 
 still professedly Presbyterian, but as there was no Presbytery 
 with which they could unite, it was thought advisable to form 
 a new and Congregational church, — the members of the old, 
 uniting with their pastor in calling the assistance of the Lin- 
 coln Association for this purpose. Thus they became nom- 
 inally what they had ever been in fact. They had always 
 been independent in their action. No Presbytery or Synod 
 ever had any jurisdiction over them. They were the same as 
 any independent church joining an Association. 
 
 Mr. Sawyer preached his last discourse, Oct. 13, 1805, 
 remaining here seven years. He began his labors in the most 
 difficult period in our history. A difference arose between 
 pastor and church, upon the question whether the women 
 should be present when candidates were to be examined for 
 admission. The pastor contending for, the church, at least a 
 majority, against. There were also troubles in the matter of 
 discipline. Failing to bring the church to his position, he 
 also failed to prevail upon them to call a mutual council. 
 This left him only the course of calling an ex parte council, 
 
14 
 
 which he did. This council sustained him, and subsequently 
 the church passed a unanimous vote of concurrence there- 
 with. 
 
 From this place Father Sawyer went into the Penobscot 
 valley as a missionary. I need not repeat that he was one of 
 the original founders of the Theological Seminary at Bangor. 
 He lived to see this institution a flourishing one, far exceeding 
 in importance and results even his most sanguine hopes when 
 he took initial steps toward instructing young men who 
 proposed to enter the ministry. The town of Garland, in 
 Penobscot County, was the place of his residence for many of 
 the last years of his life. And there he was buried.* He 
 lived till he was nearly one hundred and four years of age. 
 
 Jabez Pond Fisher was the next settled pastor. He was 
 with the people eight years. Nothing of especial interest 
 marks this period. lie was the last pastor in the first half 
 century. 
 
 Mr. Weston's Ministry. 
 The beginning of the second half century was marked, like 
 the first, by a revival of great power. Rev. Mr. Weston, who 
 is still living, was pastor. His was the longest pastorate, ex- 
 
 * The home of the writer of this account was in the same town, and 
 some reminiscences of that remarkable man may be interesting, and 
 perhaps not out of place in this connection. Any one who passed his 
 house often, would see him sitting by the window reading, reading, and 
 always the Bible. ' Every year made it dearer,' was what he used to 
 say. At the advanced age of one hundred, he could readily read ordi- 
 nary print without glasses. As long ago as the writer can remember, 
 it was the same old man ; the same tremor in his voice, the same silvery 
 white hair, of fourscore years. Little did he think, when twenty-five 
 years ago he placed his hand on a little head in my father's house, and 
 with trembling voice pronounced his blessing, that destiny would lead 
 the child in the place of the old man's footsteps here. The impression 
 that his voice and manner, his whole person, left upon one childish fancy 
 will (faced. The trembling of his withered hand over the Word 
 
 of Grod, the trembling of his voice as he declared its truths, seemed like 
 warnings from the spirit world. 
 
15 
 
 cept Mr. Murray's, and was equal to that in length, if not in 
 important results. Mr. Weston found the church in a very 
 disheartening condition. Again iniquity abounded, and the 
 love of many waxed cold. It is forty-nine years, lacking two 
 days, since Mr. Weston preached his first sermon here, and 
 this afternoon he will probably preach his last. Some of you, 
 those who can count your three-score, can remember the sol- 
 emn scenes in the old meeting-house when you were children. 
 Perhaps some of you were then first conscious of sin. But 
 the most of those who then found the priceless pearl, have 
 gone where it glitters in the Sun of Righteousness, while 
 their bodies sleep among the fathers and mothers of the first 
 half century, beneath grass-grown mounds. What a harvest 
 has the great reaper gathered ! How many of Mr. Weston's 
 stars have gone before him, and are now waiting to welcome 
 him and lead him to the Lamb of God, saying, " Behold thy 
 servant, Lord, who led us to thee on earth ; we now lead 
 him to thee in heaven." As Mr. Murray was the father of 
 the first fifty years, Mr. Weston was of the last. 
 
 Charles L. CooJc was called Aug. 10, 1830, ordained Oct. 
 6th, dismissed and deposed Oct. 31, 1832. This strange man 
 has gone to his reward. It is said, whatever was bis life, that 
 he died a good man. Since he has gone to God's tribunal, it 
 is useless to bring him again before man's. 
 
 Rev. Nathaniel Chapman was next a supply ; he was 
 called, but refused the call. 
 
 For some time Henry A. Merrill was a supply. 
 
 Rev. David Cushman was installed in January, 1838. Mr. 
 Cushman's labors extended over a period of about five years. 
 Another of the greatest revivals that the town has ever wit- 
 nessed was enjoyed by this church in 1840, beginning near 
 the close of the second year of his ministry. Full accounts 
 
16 
 
 of this work were published in the * Christian Mirror ' that 
 same year, and the letters are copied into the records, where 
 any one who desires can read them. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Tobey was the next in order, and one of the ablest 
 preachers that was ever in the place. He too has ceased from 
 his labors, and gone where the weary are at rest, — where a 
 prying inquisitiveness will not trouble itself because he is shut 
 up in contemplation of eternal truth. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Gould was the next supply, coming in June, 
 1848, and laboring about three years. Mr. Gould is still 
 living, and is supplying the church in Albany, in this State. 
 It was during his labors that the Second Congregational church 
 was formed. Its members, and those of the old, look back 
 to a common source, together sharing the honor of the past. 
 
 Following Mr. Gould, Rev. Jonathan Adams began his 
 labors in 1852. The last minute in his handwriting bears 
 date 1858. The last nine months of his engagement were 
 filled by Rev. Jonathan E. Adams, his son, just then gradu- 
 ated from Bangor. 
 
 This aged servant of God has also gone to receive his 
 crown. His life and labors are so fresh in your memories, 
 and obituaries of his life have so recently been published, that 
 I will not attempt to epitomize what even those of you who 
 are young know better than myself. 
 
 The next and last preacher, except the present, was Rev. 
 Horace TooihaJcer. He remained three years, removing then 
 to New Sharon, where he is at present. 
 
 The whole number of pastors, acting and settled, has been 
 eleven. Average Length of service, six years and one month. 
 Whole number of settled pastors, five. Average length of 
 settlement, eight years and seven mouths. 
 
17 
 
 There have been about fifty years of settled ministry, about 
 fifty years of stated and transient supply, about ten years of 
 which, there was no supply. 
 
 There have been in all between six and seven hundred 
 members in the two churches. And many removing from 
 here have subsequently made profession in other places. 
 
 Thus we have an epitome of the history of a century in one 
 of the oldest churches in this State. I have dwelt specially 
 upon its early history, as comparatively little is known of 
 those facts in this generation. For many reasons, so patent to 
 all that we need not give them here, it is fitting to revive these 
 forgotten incidents. 
 
 There are some points of interest to every one who thought- 
 fully considers this history, that it may be well to notice in 
 closing. 
 
 1. The first impression one receives in reading those early 
 accounts, is of the united ability and piety of those men. The 
 piety that kept them faithful to the interests of our holy re- 
 ligion was eminent, and is seen in their lives as well as the 
 principles which they maintained. Their wisdom, which 
 was unusual, was equal to their piety. They understood 
 the importance of a right beginning ; and had the foresight 
 which enabled them to see the bearing which their deeds 
 would have upon coming time. Many early settlers only 
 looked to present results; they took into account future as 
 well. They were not only able men, but they were educated 
 also. The account of those times and deeds is not only 
 graphic, but it is portrayed with such brevity, elegance, and 
 fitness, that one is not hazardous in affirming that it cannot 
 be excelled. Where they were educated I do not know, 
 but sure we may be it was somewhere. And it is a shame, and 
 a loss to community, that the evidences of this are hidden in 
 the torn records of those days, far gone, fast going towards 
 decay, and liable to entire destruction. Every student of New 
 England history would be interested in those men, aside from 
 
. 18 
 
 the interests of religious history. It goes to show the charac- 
 ter of the early settlers of New England. We do not need 
 to be told that the blood of the family of Mary, Queen of 
 Scots, was among those families, to know that there was royal 
 manhood there. Nature and God gave them a better title to 
 nobility. 
 
 2. We to-day can partially if not fully estimate the import- 
 ance of the work which they accomplished. Heaven and 
 eternity alone can fully develope their importance and influ- 
 ence. How many have already gone up higher, how many 
 shall yet go, none of us can know ; but we know there 
 are already many who, under God, trace their salvation to 
 them. 
 
 But there are results that we can see, effects that we can 
 estimate — that are evident to any observer. 
 
 The religious susceptibility of this community, the fact that 
 a large part of the people believe in the pure and undefiled 
 religion of the Bible, is traceable directly to the founders of 
 the First Church. What if they had been infidels, — Mould 
 religion and morality have been characteristics of their de- 
 scendants ? 
 
 Not only the old church which still exists has been influ- 
 enced by them. Every pulpit in the place is a witness to 
 their faithfulness and the beneficial results of the principles 
 which they held. Why is it that pulpits, churches, school- 
 houses, and general sobriety and intelligence characterize the 
 community, rather than breweries, dancing halls, grog shops, 
 and ignorant drunkenness ? Another community of five 
 thousand inhabitants, — the number inhabiting what was 
 Townsend, — cannot be found, from New York to Eastport, 
 so free from these evils to which I have referred, as is the 
 section in which the Congregationalist Church for years was 
 the only means which God used for good. The foundations 
 of religion in this community were then laid. 
 
 It is fitting in view of these facts, to remark of the spirit 
 that should exist between the different religious orders in this 
 
19 
 
 place. The living, vital members, not only of our church, 
 but every other church in the community, learned to pray 
 from fathers and mothers whose home was in the old church. 
 This should be a bond of brotherhood between you all. There 
 is work enough for all to do, opportunities sufficient for each 
 to bid all a hearty " God speed you." And while the blood 
 of those fathers flows in the veins of praying men, they ought 
 so to live that it might be said of them, " Behold, how good 
 and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." 
 And the most and best, I believe, sincerely do. And mem- 
 bers of sister churches must be willing that we, who are in 
 sympathy with the principles and doctrines of the old church, 
 shall be allowed to point to the honor which we inherit, and 
 not consider that we would cast any reflections upon the new 
 homes in Christ where they choose to worship. 
 
 3. A debt of gratitude, to the latest generation, will be due 
 from every believer in Christ, to God and those noble men. 
 Thanks we will to-day give Him whose purpose was to rear 
 and keep the First Church even until this day ; thanks that 
 His blessing has been with it. Is not God's providence with 
 it ? Had it been " Babel," as a sectarian fanatic once declared, 
 it would have " come down," but being Zion, and built upon 
 Christ, it has stood, and now begins with increasing strength, 
 its second century. 
 
 4. While the whole community, all religious orders here, 
 are blessed by the good results of the principles, polity and 
 deeds of those early men, it remains to those who are faithful 
 to the same, to be the special recipients of their rich legacy. 
 And I can but believe that if they could speak to-day, 
 they would with special delight give honor to those of 
 their children who are faithful to their doctrines as well as 
 their deeds, which time has proved so beneficial. The influ- 
 ence of Puritan Congregational principles is not confined 
 to this community. What is true here is true in the whole 
 country. The form of Government, in which every American 
 has a laudable, patriotic pride, is the gift which independ- 
 
20 
 
 ent churches gave the country. "When the early fathers 
 saw how well the democratic principle, that the majority 
 should rule, worked in ecclesiastical affairs, they said this is 
 best for civil government also. And so they formed towns, 
 counties, States, and a Union on the same independent prin- 
 ciples that they had formed their Congregational churches. 
 The early churches of New England, of which this was 
 one, are admitted by all historians to have been the mothers 
 of New England liberty and New England education. Every 
 church was a Christian republic, and the result was that our 
 nation, when it was born, became a Republic also. We who 
 hold still to the same principles in our religious government 
 that we do in civil, who hold to the same that those fathers 
 did, ought not to lose sight of this great fact, and it is proper 
 to make the most of it. Let us not be slow to claim these 
 principles that God has so signally blessed. If others, who 
 reap common benefits with us, are ready to sacrifice their con- 
 trol of church affairs and choice of preachers, let us not sur- 
 render the independency of church government. The Saviour 
 is our only Bishop, and the Bible our only Discipline. 
 
 These principles, doctrines then, are the special legacy of 
 the fathers to us as a church. Had they and others held dif- 
 ferently, not only this place but America would have been 
 different. It is a legacy in which we are honored. We will 
 cast no reflections upon other churches, — if you choose to 
 forsake these principles it is your privilege. We will give 
 you all honor for the good you have done, and it is much, 
 and if you worship Christ will cordially greet you as 
 brethren; but while we do this you must not chide us that, 
 in view of God's blessing upon our own Christian home, 
 and what it has accomplished, we give it the first place in 
 our hearts. 
 
 5. Are there not special duties that devolve upon the pos- 
 sessors of this inheritance? 
 
 It is our manifest duty to accept the teachings of God in 
 his providence, lie has in so marked a manner set his seal 
 
21 
 
 of approval upon the faith and deeds of those early men, that 
 we ought to emulate their example. 
 
 What was their strength ? They believed in God. They 
 also believed in Christ. They believed that man needs 
 a Saviour, and that he will perish without .Him. They 
 believed the plain teachings of the Bible, and twisted not 
 its words to suit the whims of fancy or error. They 
 were inclined to expunge the seventh chapter of no book 
 from the Bible. That book was the Word of God to 
 them. They believed that God is still somewhat interested 
 in the course of affairs in this world. They believed that God 
 has a special cause, and that he will carry it forward to its 
 fulfillment. They were ready to trust him, and what was 
 equally important, they were ready to obey as well as trust. 
 They worked. Their idea of God's providence kindled an 
 active faith that prompted to active obedience. They believed 
 in God's providence, but not in man's improvidence, either in 
 spiritual or temporal affairs. The result we see. And our 
 duty is manifest. To follow in their faith, and, as they fol- 
 lowed Christ, in their footsteps. Emulate their lively faith 
 and zeal. Be in earnest not only that the real work of grace 
 shall be in our hearts, but also in the hearts of those around 
 us, relying ever upon the Holy Ghost. They were not afraid 
 to use that broad Bible term, nor did they fail to believe im- 
 plicitly in Him, as the third person, who, with the Father and 
 the Son, was their one God. 
 
 What changes have transpired since then ! If they 
 were permitted to return and journey from here to New 
 York, think you they would not conclude they had, by mis- 
 take, visited the wrong world ? It is in everything, except 
 the sky, sea, and land, another one. Where there were 
 then log cabins, in and around which was a hard struggle for 
 daily bread, they would find what they would have deemed 
 princely affluence, but which is now within the reach of every 
 industrious man. They would ask with surprise, " Where 
 are the savages ? " 
 
22 
 
 Instead of a little band of Colonies on the Atlantic coast, 
 struggling for existence against England and the natives, 
 they would find a nation of which England stands in fear, 
 while she courts us as an ally. They might journey from 
 Maine to the Golden Gate, from the Great Lakes to the 
 Gulf, and hear their grandchildren say — "My country!" 
 liow would the thunder of the rattling train startle them, and 
 how the shrill scream surprise ! On the sunset side of our 
 laud, they would find gold, as rich and yellow as the rays of 
 the sun upon mountain and stream at sunset. They would 
 find oil flowing from the very earth to light their homes and 
 lubricate the machinery of countless and mysterious indus- 
 tries. And from that same Golden Gate, they could flash to 
 their old homes, in a moment's time, the strange surprise 
 that would thrill them. Yea, more; sitting there, on the ex- 
 treme verge of the New World's civilization — which only 
 stops there because of no more wilds to conquer, and sits down 
 in peace to adorn and enrich itself with gold that has been 
 torn from Nature's granite fastnesses — there they could read 
 of an evening the account of events that transpired in the 
 heart of Europe two days before ; events that shook the 
 Papal throne they had learned to hate, now tottering in 
 insecurity, beneath the imbecile relic of an age gone by. 
 And all this would journey to them there, over the vine- 
 clad hills of France, down through the historic Channel, 
 over the Nation of the Georges, down and on, swift as 
 thought itself, beneath the great sea, speeding among its 
 unseen wonders ; up again upon our granite headlands, on 
 over the great Republic, to stand, tamed and unpanting, 
 patiently upon the printed page, telling its strange tale to 
 those wondering eyes. 
 
 How would the sight of countless churches and colleges 
 gladden them ! Harvard and the Old South, have been 
 fruitful mothers. They would find that other Pilgrims 
 than the first, arc now at Plymouth Rock. They would 
 fiud the Bible revered, the cause of Christ held sacred, and 
 
23 
 
 Liberty loved, as they have never before been in any land 
 beneath the sun — though our devotion thereto is far short of 
 what it should be. And thanks they would give, that God 
 has made his cause keep pace with this unparalleled growth 
 of a nation. No other has ever accomplished as much of 
 every desirable good in eight hundred and ninety years as 
 we in eighty-nine. God has some purpose in this ; it is not 
 chance that His cause has not fallen behind in this century's 
 march down through the ages. No, it is not chance, nor even 
 man's wisdom. Do you think your place and duty small ? 
 The whole is made up of parts. A nation's honor depends 
 upon the honor of individuals. Be a faithful, liberty-loving 
 citizen of this our land — be a faithful, praying member of 
 Christ's true Church — and to be an American, is greater 
 than to have been a Roman citizen. ' 
 
 The blessings which have come to us, I firmly believe, 
 have come because our nation's early fathers believed in God, 
 and builded upon that foundation which is Eternal Truth — 
 God, Christ, with power to pardon and punish ; the Holy 
 Ghost ; these three, ever One God, — if these are not the 
 Truth, there is no Truth. For if there is no God, and no 
 revelation, Death is Death, and the grave is worse than a 
 Hell. 
 
 We are just stepping upon the borders of our second 
 century. When in one hundred years from now, they look 
 back, what shall they have to record of us ? Will we have 
 been worthy of the past, equal to the future ? Not one who 
 is here to-day, will in this house celebrate the second centen- 
 nial anniversary. More than another burial-yard will be 
 full, and the moss will be growing over the marble dates of 
 1866, '67, '68, and through to 1966. Somewhere yours 
 will be ; and on that day they will visit this old yard, to 
 find here, graves two and three hundred years old, — there, 
 those of a hundred years, — and your names will catch the 
 eye of the curious, and none of them will ever have seen 
 you. 
 
24 
 
 Mothers, fathers, and children, alike, will all have gone 
 down in the harvest of death. All the while our hearts, — 
 
 "Like muffled drums are beating 
 Funeral marches to the grave." 
 
 O, the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, that brings 
 Life and Immortality to Light, in the face of Him who 
 " lifted up His hands at Bethany, and blessed them ! " Oh, 
 Thou risen Redeemer of dying men, we will worship Thee 
 with great joy. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM MR. MURRAY'S JOURNAL. 
 
 Account of Pastoral Labor. 
 
 "Alas! alas! What shall I say? I now fear the success of my 
 ministry more than ever. Make Thy strength perfect in my weak- 
 ness. Oh, pour out Thy Spirit upon these poor families, that they 
 may not forget the promises this day made in Thy sight, — that Thy 
 worship shall be daily, morning and evening, maintained in their 
 houses, — and they shall never rest until they have received Christ 
 into their hearts. A dismal prospect truly! All prayerless — all 
 ignorant of God and themselves — all determined to cherish their 
 hopes, — though I have found but two who can rationally profess any 
 experience of the power of religion. Some of the English Church, — 
 some separatists, — most of them nothing at all. Arise, O Lord, or 
 this people perish! O, show Thy salvation to them, revive thine own 
 work, or we are an undone people ! " 
 
 After another week he writes : " Now this week's visits are 
 finished. What have I done? Have I been faithful? O, if so, in 
 any measure, praise my Rock, my Strength ! All have promised to 
 be in earnest about salvation. O Lord, I commit the whole to Thee. 
 Breathe on my poor, feeble attempts, — grant success, 'tis all of Thee. 
 O come among this blind, hardened, perishing people. What tri- 
 umphs would grace gain, if such sinners were brought home. Every 
 house prayerless, save one — every heart as adamant. O Lord, for 
 a life-giving word ! " 
 
 Again, and later: "Some comfort to-day — blessed be God. 
 Three prayerful families ; four professors ; two communicants ; — but 
 false hopes have slain their thousands. Woful is the security of 
 tig-leaves. Very hard and painful work to bring any to conviction 
 of duty, of sin, or danger. Prayerless, yet self-condemned. Christ- 
 less, confessedly, yet easy and secure. Ignorant, and pleading that 
 as righteousness. I have had sad views of ignorance and careless- 
 ness in every house. Youth wrapt in slumber, and old age saying 
 by practice, ' sleep on ' — conscience in a corner inaccessible. What 
 

 .-lull 1 s&) ■ [nveterate habits of vice, and no remorse. It gives me 
 some comfort that I have one praying family, and one humble pro- 
 fessor at the head of it; and in another, one s.timck off from false 
 
 hopes, and under conviction. Lord, fasten it, and increase the 
 number. Amen. Amen." 
 
 This was written just previous to the great revival. The foil 
 names show the sheaves which that band of faithful men gathered : 
 
 Admitted to the Chwch by Profession in the First Tears of 
 
 Mr. Mn, -rail's Ministry. 
 
 Andrew McFarlaad. 
 David Reed. 
 Thomas Boyd. 
 George Boyd. 
 John MeCobb. 
 Thomas Tully. 
 William Burns. 
 James Hilton. 
 Nathaniel Tallin. 
 Nehemiah Ilarrendon. 
 David Decker. 
 Enoch Avery. 
 John [ngraham. 
 William Reed. 
 Patrick McKown. 
 John Lcishman. 
 Robert Given. 
 
 ■ kiab Bgleton. 
 Jacob ( rri ly. 
 Samuel Waters. 
 Thomas Ka nm dy. 
 James Clark. 
 
 WOMEX. 
 
 Margaret Maguire. 
 Elizabeth < iilmore. 
 Mar) Winslow. 
 Sarah Boyd. 
 Mary Allen. 
 
 Margaret Boyd. 
 Mar gar i t Bi 
 Hannah Bums, 
 Marianne Fullerton. 
 
 Mary Boyd. 
 Lydia Rawlins. 
 Martha Day. 
 Mary Mi Cuidy. 
 Maitlia Harrendon. 
 Sarah Tibbi - t>. 
 
 Mary Caldwell. 
 
 .1 i';i' Ri i (I. 
 Margaret McFaddi n. 
 Jane Montgomery. 
 
 Original Membt r /.'• L< tier. 
 
 Robert Mur 
 John B 
 
 [c( 
 Samuel Adams. 
 Samuel Pit 
 John I 
 
 William Mi 
 William Fullerton. 
 William McCulloch. 
 John Murray. 
 
 John Wheeler. 
 
 WOMEN. 
 
 '.'■• (1. 
 lobb. 
 
 Sarah Rei d. 
 
 ull( rton . 
 
 Sarah Dai 
 Elizabi 
 
 ivis. 
 M trtha Wiley. 
 Jane Moore. 
 
 Jam t Fullerton. 
 
 J mi'i McCulloch. 
 Elizabeth Bi ath. 
 Ha Reed. 
 
 M n \ Reed. 
 Elizabeth Pierce. 
 Mary McKown. 
 Hannah Marshall. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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