K2 B3 opy 1 "REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD." Rev. Dr. BARSTOWS HALF-CENTURY SERMON. ''REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD." A^ Semi-Cenlennial Di.^ PREACHED IN THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, KEENE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, July 1, 186S, BY THE I''' AT THE CLOSE OF HIS FIFTY YEARS^ PASTORATE. J^UBLISHED BY j^IS CHILDREN NEW YORK: THOMAS WHITTAKER, PUBLISHER AND BOOKSELLER, No. 2 Bible House. 1873- ■A ^ Z007. 1 ^' Re)neniher the dioja of old ; coitsider the years of wain/ e/ener- ations ; ask thy father, eind he vill show thee ; thy elders^ and they will tell thee.'''' Deut. xxxii. Vin. This is part of the song of Moses, whieli he uttered in the hearing of all Israel just before he ascended to the top of Pisgah, to behold the goodly land, and to die. And I avail myself of these words, as a fit introduc- tion to what I would say, on this fiftieth anniversary of my ministry in this place, I invite you to " remember the days of old ; " to " consider " the hundred and thirty- four years that have passed, since the first movement for the settlement of this town. The Proprietors' Book gives the following account of the Ijeginning of things in Keene, then called the Upper Ashuelot : Whereas the committee that have laid out the Home Lotts in the towns westward on Ashuelot lliver and Poquaig,* have notified all persons that are desirous to take up Lots on the terms and con- ditions this Court f has directed, to meet at Concord (Mass.) on Wednesday, the 26th instant ; and it being necessary after these Lots are drawn, that tlie grantees he assembled, and come into proper methods for the settlement of their said Lotts, etc., that after sixty persons for each township shall have drawn Lots, and given Bond, and paid their rive pounds according to the order of this Court, July, 1732, that they forthwith assemble at Concord, and then and there chuse Moderator, Proprietor's Clerk, and agree upon Ruls and methods for the fulfilment of the respective grants, and to * Athol. * f The General Court of Massachusetts. make anv furtliev Divisions, and for calling otlier meetings for the iiture, and any other matters or things lor the speedy settlement of said towns. Sent up for concurrence, J. (^uiNCY, Speaker, Council, June 19th, 17;U. Read and concurred, J. WiLLAKi), iSec'y. 21st, consented to, J. Bkloiikk, [(?oy.] A true co])y Examined pr. Simeon Frost, Deputy ISec^y. A true copy Examined p. Samuel Haywood, Proprietorti' Clerk. In pursuance of tlie above, on the 26th day of June, 1734, the General Court's Committee met at the house of Mr. Jonathan Bell, Inn-holder in Concord, Mass., in order to* admit proprietors into the Upper Township, on Ashuelot River. The names of " S'^ Committee are as followeth," viz : WILLIAM DUDLKV, ESQ.. JOHN CHANDLER, ESQ.. EBEXKZKli BAIIUEL, ESQ., MR. SAMTEL ("HANDLER. DANIEL El'FS, ESQ., MR. JOHN HODSOX. EDWARD GODDARD, ESQ.. MR. ISRAEL WMLLIAMS. On tlie (hiy aliove said, the said Plon^''^ Committee received as proprietors of the Upper Townslii}) on A.sli- uelot River, the persons hereafter named. Said grantees received their lots by draught, in order of the numl)er8 atii.ved hereafter to tlieir names resp.'ctively. Each grantee paid five pounds money to the said committee upon admittance, except the Minister and the Ministry, and School Lots : * * Thus it ii]i|ic;ir.s iliat tlic |iii)|iriclcirH |iiii(i tlir( c huiiilred ]ioiuiiln for tlicHC l)r('iiiisi'.s. • 1. (^APT. SAMUEL SADEY, 32. 2. JEREMIAH HALL, 33. 3. SAMUEL HAYWOOD, 34. 4. JOHN WITT, 35. 5. JOSEPH WKKiHT, 36. 6. JOSEPH FLOOD, 37. 7. SOLOMON KEES. 38. 8. JONATHAN MORTON, 39. 9. THOMAS WEEKS, 40. 10. ISAAC POWER, 41. 11. WILLLAM HOATON, 42. 12, EBENEZER ALLEN, 43. 13. MINISTER LOT, 44. 14. DANIEL HAWS, 45. 15. JOHN HAWKS. 46. 16 PHILEMON CHANDLER, 47. 17. ROBERT MOOR, 48. 18. ISRAEL HOW. 49. 19. WILLIAM WITT, 50. 20. JONATHAN WHITNEY, 51. 21. JOSEPH HILL, 52. 22. WILLIAM PUFFER, 53 23 BARTHOLOMEW JONES, 54. 24. JOSEPH PRIEST, 55. 25. JONAS KEES, 50. 26. WILLIAM SMEED, 57. 27. JOSEPH HILL, 58. 28. SCHOOL LOT, 59. 29. MINISTRY LOT, 60. 30. EDWARD HALL, 61. 31. DAVID MOSS, 62. 63. STEPHEN BLi . ISAAC HEATON, . DAVID CHANDLER, . BENJAMIN WHITNEY, . JOSEPH ALLEN, . NICHOLAS SPRAKE, JR., . ABRAHAM MASTER, . NATHAN FAIRBANK, . NATHANIEL ROCKWOOD, . JOHN CORBETT, JOHN GUILD, JOSEPH ELLIS, . JOHN NIMS, JONATHAN SOUTHWICK, . ROBERT GREY, THOMAS ABBOTT, . JOSIAH FISHER, JABEZ WARD, ISAAC TOMBERLIN, JONAS WILSON, , EBENEZER WITT, AMOS FOSTER, DAVID HARWOOD, EDWARD TWIST, JOHN BURGE, EBENEZER MASON, DANIEL HOAR. ELISHA ROOT, MARK FERREY, JOSIAH FISHER, ELI AS WITT, SAMUEL WITT, AKE. At the time in question, it was supposed that tlie valley of the Ashuelot was in Massachusetts, and Gov- ernor Belclier, in 1732, recommended to the " Great and General Court, that care be taken to settle the ungi*ant- ed lands." At a general meeting of the Proprietors of the Upper Township on the Ashuelot River, on the 18th day of September, 1734, held on said Toiovship by adjournment from the 27th day of June last past, '' to make arrange- ments for laying out roads, and building mills and pro- curing surveys of lands preparatory to settlement," it was "propounded wlietlier Messrs. Josiali Fisher of Ded- liam, Samuel Witt of Marlboro, and Jolni Hawks of Deerfield, be a committee to survey the whole of the entervail in said Township, etc. ; and that they have liberty to Imploy a Sur\ eyor, and Deacon Alexander, of Northfield, to assist them. This was voted on the affirm- ative:" "Voted, that Messrs. Josiah Fisher, Samuel Witt, and John Hawks, be a Committee to search and find the V)est and most convenient way to travel from the Upper unto the Lower Township." ''' Among other votes then passed was this : " That this meeting be adjourned until the last Wednesday of May next, at 12 of the clock on said da}', to be at the dwell- ing-house of Mr. Ephraim Jones, Inn-holder, in Con- cord," [Mass.] Other meetings were held in Concord, Mass., from time to time. But on the 30th September, 1736, a meeting of the Proj)rietors was opened according to ap- pointment, at tlie hf)fise-^of of Joseph Fisher; ])ut was immediately removed to the house of Nathan Blake. This was pr(>ba))ly the first house that was erected in the townsjiij). No person had hitherto attenij)ted to winter in the )>lace. Those who came in summer to clear tlicij- lands, brouglit tlieir j)rovisi()ns witli them. J^ut in tlie summer of 17'')(), at least one house was l>uilt; and Xatlian J^lake, Setli Heaton, and William Smeed, made ])fe])arations to j)ass the winter in the \vilderness. Tlicii- liduse was at tlic lowci- cud oi' Main Street. Mr. * 'I'll'- Lower Tiiwhslii]) was aftcrwunis naiiifd Swiur/.ry. Blake had a pair of oxen and a horse ; and Mr, Heaton also, a horse. They had collected grass in the open spots, for the support of these beasts ; and in the early part of tlie winter, they employed them in drawing logs to the saw-mill, which they had built on Beaver Brook. Mr. Blake's horse fell through the ice in Beaver Brook, and was drowned. In the beginning of February, their provisions were exhausted ; and they sent Mr. Heaton to Northfield to procure supplies. But before he left Northfield, the snow began to fall ; and when he arrived at Winchester, where there were a few families, it had become so deep, and covered with so sharp a crust, that he was told that " he might as well expect to die in Northfield, and rise again in Upper Ashuelot, as to ride thither on horseback." He nevertheless attempted it, but soon found it impossible to succeed. He then directed his course toward Wrentham. Messrs. Blake and Smeed soon gave their cattle free access to the hay, and on snow-shoes sought the abodes of civilization. Early in the Spring they returned, and found the oxen near tlie " Branch," below where Mr. Kobmson resides. The oxen recognized their owner, and gave signs of pleasure, which drew tears from his eyes,'^" When only one dwelling-house had ])een erected, the settlers were resolved to record God's name among them. It was on September 30th, 1736, tha't it was " voted that they would build a Meeting-House, at the Upper Town- ship on Ashuelot so called, 40 feet long, 20 feet stud, and 30 and 5 feet wide ; to underpinn, cov^er, and inclose the same, and lay down l^ords for the lower tloor ; and to set the same at the south end of the town street, at * Viik' Hale's Annals, p. 10. 8 the place appointed by the General Court's Committee ; and that Messrs. Jei'emiah Hall, Samuel Daniels, Joseph Richardson, Stephen Blake, and Josiah Fisher, be a Committee to build, or let the same ; and to see that the S^ work be completely performed by the 26th day of June next." Thus you see that the first settlers of this place " could not come into the tabernacle of their house, nor go u}) into their bed, until they found out a place for the Lord, a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob." How different were they from some of their descendants and successors; who care not for the House of the Lord, nor for the sound of the church-going bell ; nor for the exercises of prayer and praise ! After five years, (1741) that meeting-house, which was at the south end of Main Street, was removed to the middle of the street, south-east of where Gen. James Wilson's house now stands ; the travel passing on the east side of it. Li the early pai't of the summer of 1737, and while few houses were yet built, it Avas " voted to assess the sum of 240 pounds on the Pi'opi'iety, to sui)port the preaching of the (xospel in said township, and other necessary charges arisen or arising in S'* Propriety." It is not known how or \vhen the Rev. Jacob Bacon, their first minister, came into the place. But it was during the same yetir above mentioned; for in October, 1737, it was voted "That the worthy Jacol) Bacon di'aw the Lotts for the wlude Pi'(^])rit*ty." This was at the second division of tlie mead»>w-hind. In the course of the same year, he was appointed Proprietors' Clerk; and tlie first entries which he made in the Pro- prietors' Hook, were in April, 173ad, 174(;; and Mr. Nathan * Tlii.-' vole wiis tuki'M oil tile I'oniiiKin. in tin- liastf of their dciiarture. 11 Blake* was carried captive to Canada; and several l)uildings were burned. The people spent wretched days and nights, still living in tlie fort until tlie spring of 1747, wlien it was resolved to abandon the settle- ment. This resolution was carried into effect immedi- ately: when the Indians set fire to the meeting-house, and all the other l)uildings except the mill on Beaver Brook, and the house of the miller ; and Mr. Bacon was informally dismissed, as above remarked. He afterward resided, it is believed, in Old Rowley, Mass. The late veneralde Thurston, of Maine, of l)lessed memory, was one of his descendants. The town was forsaken for about three years. It is not known precisely when the settlers returned. But application was made April 11th, 1753, to Gov. Ban- ning Wentworth, of New Hampshire, to procure a char- ter, which charter embraced the original limits of the Upper Ashuelot, and a small strip additional on the eastern side. Their corporation then received the name of Keene.f It may not be amiss here, to record the fact, that as early as 17-10, there was a contest between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, concerning the right of possession of the Valley of the Upper Ashuelot. The inhabitants settled it as a part of Massachusetts; and when it was decided that it belonged to New Hampshire, they pre- sented " a petition to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, * Nathan Blake was the grandfather of Mr. Abel Blake. He remained among the Indians about two years, and was held in high estimation as a chief. After his return to Keene he lived many years, and died in 1813, in the one hundredth year of his age. f It is mentioned in Hale's Annals,X\i&t\t is probable Gov. Wentworth named the place "Keene' in honor of Sir Benjamin Keene, who was Minister from England to Spain, al>out that time. 12 tliat they might be annexed to the Province of Massa- chusetts." They even appointed Thomas Hutchinson, Esq., to present their petition, who went to Enghmd for the purpose, but failed of accomplishing the object of his agency.* The first meeting of the town, under the new charter, as KEENE, was in May, 1753. And then the regard of the people for religious order was shown by the erection of a meeting-house of slabs, on a green spot near to where Mr. Robert Stewart now resides. f This was for a temporary place of worship, until a more suitable house could be l)uilt. And in Decenil)er of the same year, it was "voted to l)uil(l a meeting-house 45 feet long, and 35 feet wide." It ^vas at tirst resolved to place it near to where the Aaron Hall house now stands.J But it was finally erected on the south side of the Common. § That meeting-house was used till the autumn of 178(3 ; when it was taken down, removed to the west side of the Common, and set up as the Court- House of Cheshire County. Fifty years ago, it was familiarly known as the " Old Court-House." This was, many years afterward, removed to Washington street; and a part of it is now the house of Capt. Pierce. But to go ])ack a little, in our history. It was in June, 1753, that Keene and the Lower Township on the Ashuelot Iliver, (that is, Swanzey) united in giving the Rev. Ezra Carpenter, a call to settle in the work of the ministry. He was a graduate of Harvard College in 1720. He had before been settled in the Old Colony, * Vide Hale's Annals, |>. 1(5. t Apjjletnn House, Main St., opposite Marlhorougli st. I Since removed, and given place to Mr. Henry Colony's house. § Nearly upon thr site of tlie Soldiers' .Monument. 13 and was a man of higli character. His connection with Keene and Swauzey, continued seven years, l)oth churches being one, until it was judged expedient for Mr. Carpenter to devote all his labors to Swanzey, and Keene sought another minister. When Mr. Carpenter was installed over Keene and Swanzey, Oct. 4th, 1753, there were present, by their Elders, etc., the First Church in Hingham, the Third Church in Plymouth, the Church in Kingston in the County of Plymouth, the First Church in Lancaster, the Church in Nichewong, the Church in Poquoiag (Athol), the ('hurch in Deertield, the Church in Sunderland, and the Church in JN'orthiield.* During Mr. Carpenter's ministry, there were 52 l)ap- tisms of persons iii Keene, and several were added to the church. But the record of the latter is lost. The above record of baptisms, was made by the Rev. Edward Goddard, " from the old l)ook." On June 11th, 1761, the Kev. Clement Sumner was ordained Pastor of this church. He was a graduate of Yale College in 175S, and his labors continued eleven years ; when, in consequence of difficulties, he was dis- missed, at his own request, by an ecclesiastical council.f * Vide Records of Clmrclies in Swanzey. f It may not be uninteresting here to mention, that when Mr. Sumner was settled, his salary was fixed at tliirty-five pounds sterling, and his firewood, witli an annual increase of one pound ten shillings sterling, until fifteen pounds should be added And be it here remarked, that his salary was estimated on commodities, as follows, viz. : wheat at 'Ss. 2\^d. sterling; pork 3<^. per pound ; beef at 2d. per pound ; Indian corn at l.y. 8rf. per bushel ; rye at 2,y. i]d. per bushel ; labor at 2s. per day. This was rescinded afterward, upon Mr. Sumner's suggesting that the article of beef was stated above the market price! What would he have thought, had it been stated fts high as it is in 1868, — instead of two pence per pound '? 14 It was during his ministry, that the practice of " owning the covenant," as it was called, and having children baptized, was brought into use. Twenty persons thus owned the covenant, and seventy-three were added to full communion, during his ministry. But we have no record of baptisms by him. Mr. Sumner was never set- tled again; but he preached for a time in Thetford, Vt., and lie died in Keene, March 29th, 1795.* The following persons were members of this church at its re-organization (1701), under Mr. Sumner, viz.: DAVID FOSTER, EBENEZER DAY, OBADIAH BLAKE, JONAH FRENCH, JOSIAH (UJILD, EPHRAIM DOKMAN, SETH HEATON, NATHAN BLAKE, MICHAEL METCALF, JOHN SESSIONS, EBENEZER NLMS, JOSEPH ELLIS, DAVID NIMS, MICHAEL METCALF, J UN. Tliat \% fourteen male members. Their Avives had prob- al)ly not removed their relation from other churches, on account of the unsettled state of tilings. But we tiiid that the following persons were received />// letter^ under Mr. Sumner, viz.: JOHN DAY, EXPERIENCE FISHER, ABIEL DAY, THANKFUL WILLARD, DEBORAH (RTILD, GIDEON ELLIS, THANKFUL HEaTON, URIAH WILSON AND WIFE. ELIZABETH BLAKE, SARAH BAKER, EBENEZER CLARK, SARAH WYMAN, ANNA CLARK, SARAH FOSTER, ANNA METCALF, MARY SANGER, ELIZABETH SUMNER. That is, 4 males and 14 females. *Rev. Mr. Suiiiiht was luirii-d in tin- old cciiu'tfry on tin- hanks of Beaver Brook ; where his griivc, with those of other wortliy fathers of Keene, has been desecrated and for<;:otten. His widow survived him, some 'lT^ years. She died about 1820, and was J)uried in West Swanzey. Dr. Barstow preached her funeral sermon, soon after his settlenu-nt in Keene. 15 And the following were admitted to fnll communion by profession, under Mr. Sumner, viz. : MERCY ELLIS, SAMUEL HOLMES AND WIFE, ACHSA HALL, WILLIAM WOODS AND WIFE, ESTHER GUILD, ATBIUAIL STILES, TIMOTHY ELLIS, ABIGAIL BRIGGS, BENJAMIN OSGOOD AND WIFE, MRS. BALCH, SAMUEL WOOD AND WIFE, GIDEON ELLIS, JUN., AND WIFE, WILLIAM ELLIS, DANIEL KINGSBURY AND WIFE, MILLATIAH CONLEY, WILLIAM HOW^ARD AND WIFE, EBENEZER KILBORN, HEPZIBAH DORMAN, ELISHA BRIGGS AND WIFE, MISS HALL, SUSANNAH BALCH, ABIGAIL NIMS, ELIPHALET CARPENTER, MILLATIAH HALL, JOSIAH ELLIS AND WIFE, ABIJAH METCALF, ESTHER BLAKE, BENJAMIN ARCHER AND WIFE, JEMIMA CLARK, PETER HAYWARD AND WIFE, SARAH COOKE, NATHANIEL KINGSBURY & WIFE, HANNAH WHEELER, SIMEON CLARK, JESSE CLARK AND WIFE, REUBEN DANIELS, THANKFUL POND, JESSE HALL, THOMAS W^ILDER AND WIFE, ELIZABETH BLAKE, JONATHAN ARCHER, MARY W^LLARD. That is, 23 males and 33 females — or 56 in all. And the following "owned the covenant," viz.: DR. FRINK* AND WIFE, HULDAH CLARK, GIDEON ELLIS, JUN., AND WIFE, MARY WILSON, JOSEPH BROWN AND WIFE, REBECCA WOODS, SAMUEL WADSWORTH & WIFE, LUTHER BRAGG AND WIFE. ISAA(^ ESTY AND WIFE, ABRAHAM WHEELER AND WIFE, PHCEBE WADE, ELIZABETH BRAGG, MARIA SWAN. That is, 7 males and 13 females — or 20 in all. Eleven of these were afterward admitted to full communion. The Covenant of the church under Mr. Sumner, em- braced very nearly the same topics as our present Cove- nant. The Articles of Faith were thirteen, expressed in * Father of " Polly " Frink. 16 pait by the language of the Assembly''s Catliecbism, embodying the princii)al doctrines of the Reformation. ; and such were probably the original articles of the Church at its formation. On the 2d of December, 1777, it was voted unani- mously: — "To give Mr. Aaron Hall, (who has been labouring with us for some time,) a call to settle in the work of the ministiy." Mr. Hall oT)jected, " That he could not see his way clear to answer their call, unless the Church would reject the practice of persons owning the Covenant, to have their children baptized." At length the church " voted unanimously, to recon- sider the vote which permitted persons to offer their children in Baptism, who only owned the Covenant ; and for the future, not to admit any upon this half-way practice^ as it is called." It was also voted at the same meeting, " That whosoever belonging to this Chui'ch, shall have any objections against either the doctrines or conduct of his Pastor^ shall, without dealing with him according to the rule given by our Blessed Lord, in Matthew 18th, concerning an offending Brother, or re- pair to another minister, oi^ an officer in the Civil Law, or to any other person, to consult or concert measures against his Pastor : that such a conduct shall be looked upon as a breach of the order of the Gospel, and accord- ingly be proceeded against, in the Church. And the same shall be observed in regard to a private Brother." What confusion would have been avoided, had all that ever belonged to this church, followed this rule of con- duct ! The difficulty of Avhicli Mr. IL-dl complained, being removed, he was ordained tlieir Pastor, Fel). 18th, 1778. He was a graduate of Yale College in 1772; received 17 his Master's degree in 1775, at Yale, and also at Dart- mouth, in 1778. He had a long and happy, ministry ; was universally respected, and died lamented, in the 68d year of his age, and the 3 7th of his ministry, August 12th, 1814. During his ministry, 211 were received into the church, and 871 were baptized. The church consisted of 77 meml)ers when they re- newed covenant, after abolishing " the half-way practice," preparatory to Mr. Hall's settlement, only five of the ori- ginal members being then alive, viz.: David Foster, Seth Heaton, David Nims, Obadiah Blake and Nathan Blake. When Mr. Hall was ordained, the Rev. Mr. Hibbard opened the solemnity by prayer; Rev. Mr. Olcott preached ; Rev. Mr. Brighara, of Marlborough, made the ordaining prayer ; Rev. Mr. Fessenden, of Walpole, gave the charge ; Rev. Mr. Goddard gave the Right Hand of Fellowship, and the Rev. Mr. Sprague, of Duldin, closed the solemnity by prayer * It was during Mr. Hall's ministry, that our present meeting-house was built, viz., in the summer of 1786, and the two following years. It has since been twice remodeled. It was no small work to build a meetino;-house in those days, when money was scarce and transportation difficult. But resolution triumphed over difficulties. The inhal)itants were divided into ten classes, and each class was assigned to some efficient man, to see that his class provided their propoi-tion of materials for the building. The pews were sold in anticipation of doing the work, and paid for in cattle, at a certain appraise- * Mr. Hall's salary was, at first £80, or $266.66 ; and it was increasi.'d from year to year, until it reached the amount of $500. 18 ment. But those cattle, after being driven to Wrenth- am, Boston, or other places, were sold at a great dis- count. Besides, the difficulty of procuring lime, glass, nails, and other necessary materials, was very great. Be it remembered by all the young people of this community, as a mark of England's oppression of these colonies, that before the declaration of American Independence, the colonies were not allowed to manufacture even a hob- nail, to say nothing of other manufactures, that so all might be dependent upon Old England for supplies. The following charges of one of the Building Commit- tee, may serve to give some idea of their difficulties, viz : "To a journey, in Feb., 1787, to Sutton, Franklin, and Boston, to purchase oil, glass, and vane — expense, £1 4.V." "To a journey down with 97 head of Cattel to Wrentham, Dec, 1787; also, to a journey to Providence, to buy glass for meeting-house, and expence of keeping said Cattel— £5 Ss. 10^/." " May, 1788, to a journey down to Providence after the glass, and carting glass from Providence to Wrentham, also, a journey from Providence to Boston — £0 Ids. Id^ The following shows how exceedingly difficult it was to procure Lawful money in those times, viz : " January 19tli, 1787, voted, 1st, to hire one hundred pounds of silver money toward finishing the meeting-house ; and 2d, voted, that Deacon Daniel Kingsbury be appointed to procure said money, if j)ossi'hIe.^'' '^ After the death of the Rev. Mr. Hull, the Rev. David *Tlie heads of the ten classes above- mentiom-d, were: 1. John Iloutrhton; 2. Cornelius Sturtcvant ; 3. Joseph Blako ; 4. Timothy Ellis; 5. Isaac Billings; 6. Daniel Guild;?. Nathan Blake; 8. Benjamin Osgood ; 9. ; 10. James Wright; and the Building Committee were Lieut. Benj. Hall, 19 Olipliant (a graduate of Uuion College iu 18(>9,) was in. vited to preacli as a candidate for settlement. He came in tlie autumn of 1814, about the time of tlie annual Thanksgiving. And he was ordained pastor of this church, May "24th, 1815. There was not a union of the people in the settlement of Mr. Oliphant, and a remonstrance against it was pre- sented by the minority. Yet the Council proceeded to his ordination. Rev. Mr. Dickinson, of Walpole, offered the first prayer ; Rev. Mr. Hall, of New Ipswich, preached the sermon ; Rev. Mr. Pratt, of Westmoreland, offered the ordaining prayer ; Rev. Mr. Ainsworth, of Jaffrey, gave the Charge; Rev. Mr. Burge, of West Brattlel)oro', Vt., expressed the Fellowship ; and Rev. Mr. Edwards, of Andover, Mass., offered the concluding prayer. Under the administration of Mr. Oliphant, ninety- one were added to the church, and one hundred and twenty-nine were baptized. His ministry continued scarcely three years. But he made a deep impression upon many minds; and he will probably find many among this people, as the crown of his rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus. It is unnecessary, here, to recount the difficulties which resulted in the dismission of Mr. Oliphant, in the autumn of 1817. He was soon settled as Pastor of the 3d church in Beverly, Mass., where he had a successful ministry of sixteen years. He was afterward installed over a church in the State of Maine. His present resi- dence is Andover, Mass.* Dea. Daniel Kingsbury, Major Davis Hewlett, Lieut. Reuben Partridge, Mr. Abijali Wilder, Mr. Benj. Archer, and Mr. Thomas Baker. Their records and votes are in the hands of the Pastor * Mr. Oliphant died in 1873. 20 The speaker, a graduate of Yale College in 1813, came to tliis place Feb. 26t]i, 1818. He found the people so excited by the difficulties which arose concerning Mr. Oliphant, that he resolved to leave them, the moment that his first engagement had expired. And having been invited to another place,* he gave encouragement to that people that he would comply with their request, when his engagement in Keene had ended, if they were at peace among themselves. But such were the leadings of Providence, that he was constrained to abide here. And he may be allowed to quote from the N. H. Sentinel of fifty years since, the following notice : " ORDINATION. ^'- Keene, July Ath, 1818. " On Wednesday last (Istinst.), Mr. Zedekiah S. Barstow was ordained to tlie Pastoral care of the Church and Congregation in this town. The Introductory prayer was made by Kev. Mr. Cooke, of Acworth ; sermon by the Rev. Mr. Woodbridge, of Hadley, [Mass.], from Titus, 2d, 15th, 'Let no man despise thee;' consecra- ting prayer by the Rev. Mr. Fish, of Marlborough ; Charge by Rev. Mr. Wood, of Chesterfield ; vVddress to the Cliurch and Congrega- tion, by Rev. Ur. Tliayer, of Lancaster [Mass.] ; Riglit Ilantl of Fellowship, by the Rev. Mr. Crosby, of Charlestown ; and theCon- cluiling |)rayer, by Rev. Mr. Dickinson, of Walpole. l^enediction by the Pastor. '' In the invitations of the Church and Society, and in all the subsequent measures relative to the settlement of Mr. Harstow, there has not been a dissenting vote. This harmony of action seems, and we trust will ])rove, but the harbinger of a ])li'asant and liap))y life to the Pastor, and of his usefulness in promoting the best interests of his numerous flock. '' The exercises were commenced by tlie choir performing the anthcui, ' (lod is our hope and shield,' and c'osed with the anthem *'l'()I.stifhl, Muss. 21 by Williams, ' O praise tlie Lord,' and the Ilallelujali Chorus by Dr. Miller." It does not behoove the speaker to say much of him- self, or of his manner of life among this people. But he has found work in almndance to be done ; has preached moi'e than 8500 sermons; has l)een invited to serve on 202 Ecclesiastical Councils ; has married 560 couples ; has performed 115 services at ordinations, installations, and dedications^ of which, 48 were the preaching of the sermon. During this pastorate, 782 members have been added to the church, if we include those now propounded; 838 have been baptized, and many to whom the speaker has ministered, are now scattered throughout the Union. Wherever he goes in the far West, he is accosted with many proofs of kindness and affection, by those who were once worshipers here. During Mr. Oliphaiit's ministry, our Baptist brethren organized a church of 14 members in the west part of the town, to which the Rev. Messrs. Hale, Moore and Wheeler, successively ministered for a season. This church, however, disbanded about the year 1833. The Baptist church, now in existence here, was formed July 22d, 1 832, under the name of the " Union Baptist Church of Keene." The title, " Union," however, was soon dropped. The majority of its constituent members were persons who had withdrawn from the old church. The two seem not to have been friendly to each other. But the troui>le was soon ended by the extinction of the old church. The present church has had 415 members, of whom 181 have been added to it by baptism, and its present membership is 134. The first pastor was Rev. 22 C. Gr. Wheeler, who was ordained Aug. 21st, 1832. He remained, however, only about one year. The church seems to have had no pastor from Aug., 1833, to October, 1838. At that time Kev. John Peacock came, and sup- plied the pulpit somewhat more than a year. During his stay, the house of worship was built. It was dedi- cated Sept. 17th, 1839. Rev. Mark Carpenter became pastor in April, 1840, and remained until October, 1844. Rev. Horace Richardson was ordained pastor May 6th, 1845, and left in March, 1846. Rev. Gilbert Robbins was settled in July, 1846, and remained pastor until June, 1857. Rev. Leonard Tracy was pastor from Aug., 1857, to June, 1863. The Rev. W. N. Clark, the pre sent pastor, began to supply the church in Sept., 1853, and was ordained, January 14th, 1854. The Unitarian Congregational Society, of this place, was formed in the spring of 1824, and the church in connection with it was constituted Dec. 27th, 1825, con- sisting of 13 members. During the ministry of the Rev. Thomas Russell Sullivan, 64 were added to the church ; during Rev. Abiel Abbott Livermore's ministry, 60; and during that of Rev. VV. O. White, 90, making in all, 220 members. Our Methodist l)rethren organized their communion in November, 1835, consisting of 30 members. Their numbers have greatly increased. At the present time they have 185 members, and since their church was first estal)lished, 300 have been added. Tlie Episcopal and Roman Catholic conmiunions are prosperous, but the speaker has not succeeded in ob taining their precise satistics. During October, 1867, one hundred and twenty-one of our members judged it expedient to colonize and form 23 another Congregational clinrcli, under the impression that they could be more prosperous, than by continuing with us. Since that time, numbers have been added to their communion, and their present membership is about 160. But the history of this movement is so recent, and so well understood, tliat it is not necessary to enter upon it here. During the fifty years of this pastorate, what changes have been witnessed in Keene ! Fifty years ago, our church building stood in the middle of the common, facing Main street, and in rear of it was a long row of horse-sheds, be- yond which, where now are so many beautiful dwellings, there was only a cow pasture. On Eoxbury street, there is no house now standing that was then there, except that of Mr. Edwards, and a small one-story house beyond. On Court Street, upon the west side, were the houses of Mr. Prentiss, Mr. Tilden, Mrs. Elijah Parker, and what was then called the Old Sun Tavern. And on the east side, the house where the Rev. Mr. Karr resides, the house of Mr. Dodge, and the house where Deacon A. Wright died. All the rest are entirely new. The changes in the other streets, are equally great and impressive. And what changes have been witnessed among the inhabitants of the whole town ! No less than 2,698 have passed to "that undiscovered country, from whose bourne no traveller returns." Only two* couples now live to- gether in the family state, that ^vere so living, fifty years since ; and only one couple, in the house where they then lived. And ^vhat progress has been made during the half-century, now closed, in science, literature, com- * Alex. Grimes and wife, and Thos. Ellis and wife. 24 merce, maiiiifactures and all the arts of life ! What a multiplicity of inventions and discoveries; what im. provements by the application of steam in the arts; in the modes of travelling ; in the circulation of in- telligence by tlie press, and by the magnetic tele- graph ! The inventor of the magnetic telegraph (Morse) an as in college with the speaker. We took pas- sage together in the first steamboat that plied the waters of Long Island Sound. The first journey of the speaker, from New Haven to Keene, occupied three days. It now requires but six or seven hours. And other things have in an equal ratio, progressed throughout the civilized Avorld. What pages of the world's strangest history have been written within the limits of this pastorate ! When I first came to this valley. Napoleon the Great had just finished his wonder- ful career, and gone into exile at St. Helena, that rock of the ocean, where he died three years afterward. Louis XVIII. sat on the throne of France, as the representa- tive of the restored house of the Bourbons. Three revo- lutions have since occurred in res^ard to that throne. Pius VII. wore the Papal Tiara, though degraded by Napoleon, and held in less honor than his predecessors. George HI. of England still lingered in imbecility in his bed-chamber, while the Prince Kegent waited impatient- ly for the death of his father, which should give him the throne of Great Britain, wdth the title of George IV. James Monroe had passed one year of his first term of office as President of the United States. Jefferson and the elder Adams, Madison and Jay, and their noble com- peers, were still alive. Only twenty States then consti- tuted our Republic, with scarcely nine millions of in. habitants. As many more States have since been added, 25 with three times as many millions of square miles ; and the population of the repuhlic has been quadrupled ! " The West " was then terra incogrrita ; and the vast region l)eyoDd the Mississippi, where now the iron horse ranges more than 040 miles, was described in the school- boy's Atlas, as "unexplored territory." Mexico, in the meantime, has passed through eight changes of constitutional liberty, anarchy, and misrule. And what changes have been wrought in Italy, Austria, Prussia, and the Papal States ! All, surely, will acknowledge that it has l)een an eventful half century ; in that it has revolutionized nations ; extended the Scriptures in almost two hundred languages and dialects of men ; and opened nearly all the nations of the earth, for the introduction of the glorious Gospel of the Blessed God ! And now, what has the speaker to regret, but that he has done so little in comparison with what he ^^dshed to do, to bring men to the Saviour, and to give the king- dom to the Son of God ! And in closing his ministry, he earnestly beseeches all whom he has ever addressed on the high concerns of theii' immortal interests, to give diligence that they may be found of God in peace. Do, now, consider these forcible ^vords of the poet : '' Oh ! what is time ? " I asked an aged man, a man of cares, Wrinkled, and curved, and white with hoary liairs. "Time is the warp of life," he said ; "O tell The young, the fair, tlie gay, to weave it well ! " I asked a dying sinner, ere the stroke Of ruthless Deatli, life's golden howl had broke; I asked him, " What is time ? " " 7'hne /" he replied, " I've lost it ! Ah, the treasure 1 " And he died ! 26 With tills discourse, ray dear friends, I close the half century of my pastorate. Resigning altogether, herewith, the active duties of the ministry, commending you to God, and the word of His grace, and committing this beloved flock to the care of my much-esteemed successor,* I seek that repose ^vhich is due to infirmity and to age- not indeed that I shall ever cease to care for your welfare, but in no meddlesome mood, when released from the absorbing cares of a shepherd of the flock. I little thought, Avhen, just fifty years ago this morning, I stood up here, a young man, a novice in the ministry, to be set apart to the life-service of the Master, that my entire ministerial life Avould be passed among the same people, and that it would end ^vhere it began, at the close of half a century. But God, in His wise and merciful prov- idence, has so ordered it. And no^^ , after an experience so long and so varied, as shepherd of this flock, the same still, though changed by the vicissitudes of nearly two generations, having baptized and married parents^ and their children, and their grand-children ; I again stand before you to-day, to say : Beloved Friends, Farewell ! And may the God of Peace dwell in you, and bless you evermore ! * The Rev. W. S. Karr. ORDER OF EXERCISES AT THE 1st congregational CHURCH, KEENE, N. H., JULY 1, 18(58, ON THE OCCASION OP THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORDINATION OF THE REV. Z. S. BARSTOW, D.D. 1. ANTHEM, Bij the Ciioii;. 2. INTRODUCTORY PRAYER, Jh/ Rev. J. Oucutt, D.D., of N. Y. City. 3. READING OF THE SCRIPTURES, By Prof. Henry E. Parkej:, of Dartmouth College. 4. PRAYER, By Rev. Dr. Bouton, of Concord, JV. II. 5. PSALM 90, " O God ! Our liel}) in ages past," By the Choir. 6. DISCOURSE, By Kev. Di:. B.\.rst(>\\ . 7. CLOSING PRAYER, By Rev. W. S. Karr, of Keene. 8. ANTHEM, By tlie Choir. 9. BENEDICTION, By Rev. Mr. Gayloro, of ISFetshua. NOTE. The exercises at tlie cliurcli, were followed l)y a Public Dinner, given to Dr. Barstow, at the Town Hall, Ly the citizens of Keene. All denominations were represented at the table ; the attendance was very large, and the exercises, consisting of sentiments and speeches, were of the most interesting character. It is to be regret- ted, that, as the occasion was one so intimately connected with the history of the ToAvn, for a period of fifty years, no provision was made at the time for securing a complete and a permanent record of the proceedings, beyond the brief sketches which appeared in the newspapers of the day. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 996 907 8 LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS mill mil Mill mil mil mil mil liiilillilli mil III! III! 013 996 907 8 € A j LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 1 lllii lilll' 1111 '1 II I'l 11 1'IP fli I 013 996 907 8 *