10
6
º
* Sº,
tºº
W

ĽȚUȚUȚUȚIȚI##########
ș （< *****[{][H[IIIIIIII|[[[[i][ÌÍÎÏļĪİ][[III]
×*****************
lift
?， ſ.ſ. ſº:.
fift
§.
&E
º
& §
ſº
º
Fº
Sº
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fäſſ
Riº
uJ
ğ
} &
\ ，
:o
wºn
2
：
ta į
Q.- |
ºn ſº
de ſº
į ſął
ºſ «№.
- : jºu
%%%%ſ|ſſſſſſſſ
KOEL-）
... …，∞∞∞


sºv
{-V)
1 A 32
.W.52.

rºy
};jºr *
TRUE AND CONCISENARRATIVE,
* # y
‘..... 3 ºn,
ORIGIN ANtºrºgRºss
crºſſ a Crº
ſº º O
cHURCH DièIćUETIES,
* ºr Q iſ . . . . . /
In ºrd C '
VICINITY OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE,
IN HANOVER.
THE SAME BEING THE ORIGIN OF
PRESIDENT WHEELOCK’S DISAFFECTION
*TO THE
TRUSTEES AND PROFESSORS {º
OF THE COLLEGE: T.
rá i.
T * ### ſº
WITH DOCUMENTS relaº THEREry
º, wº sº
** ,-4 &
AY BEAVONY DEWET, Zºštº
AND BAN. J. GILBERT, .
lºſ. ‘
A commitree of THE congaFCATIoßchörch $3ese,
APPOINTED FOR THE OSEs
*ººs zº O
ºt O
HANOVER, N. H.
PRINTED BY CHARLES SPEAR:
i815.

TRUE AND CONCISE NARRATIVE, &c.
essººn
To THE CANDID CHRISTIAN PUBLIC.
AN anonymous pamphlet, entitled “Sketches of the hiſtory
gf Dartmouth College,” and an anonymous review of the
ſame have lately been publiſhed, and affiduouſly circulated-
and although the principal deſign of them is a crimination of
the Truſtees of Dartmouth College, yet the ſame appear alſo
indirectly aimed at the reverend gentleman who officiates as
our miniſter. Its miſrepreſentations tend to the reproach and
injury of this church, and its members—of the reverend cler-
gy who organized the ſame—of the ſeveral councils who have
been concerned—and the many churches with which we are in
fellowſhip are implicated thereby. To prevent, therefore, the
injuries which might otherwiſe ariſe from theſe miſrepreſenta-
tions, the Congregational Church here have thought it expe-
dient to appoint a committee of three, whoſe names are pre-
fixed, to give a fair and conciſe ſtatement of the origin and
progreſs of the difficulties and diſſention between this church,
and that to which Preſident Wheelock belongs.
This important and unpleaſant duty, accordingly, is now un-
dertaken by the cdſºmittee, not with a deſign, however, to
make any reply to that pamphlet, as it reſpects the Truſtees
of the College : the reverend and honorable gentlemen who

conſtitute that Board being abundantſy aśthey may think .
proper, to anſwer for *:::::::::: to juſtify as Weißflº
their official doings to the impaitial world.
From this ſtatement, the material parts of which, will con-
fiſt chiefly of written documents, the candid reader will be
able to judge for himſelf relative to that controverſy—he will
alſo find whence the unreasonable diſaffection of Preſident
Wheelock to Profeſſor Shurtleff, and which afterwards extend-
ed to Profeſſors Adams and Moore, he will alſo before he
gets through, perceives as we think a ſpirit of domination in
4.
Preſident Wheelock, and what endeavors were uſed by him,
to obtain the interference of the Board of Truſtees in his
cauſe ; and from the chriſtian and independent ſtand which
they took on the occaſion, may be ſeen the cauſe of his diſaf-
fe&tion to them—and in ſhort, whence all the ill will and de-
ſign of that pamphlet, ſo artfully contrived, and which is writ-
ten in a manner and ſtyle more becoming truth and a better
cauſe.
It may be well to premiſe, that when the church here was
firſt gathered by the late pious founder of the College, about
the year 1770, at that early period, when it was here only a
wilderneſs, the thin inhabitants of the neighboring towns unit-
ed here, in ſocial religious worſhip ; and that individuals from
Norwich and Hartford in the ſtate of Vermont, for their ac-
commodation, joined to that church : and that thoſe from
Hartford had not removed their relation to the same; although
for many years before theſe difficulties, they had formed and
were organized a religious ſociety there among themſelves
had built an handſome meeting-houſe about four miles diſtant
from the College in their own town, where they conſtantly at-
tended public worſhip, and the adminiſtration of ſpecial ordi-
nances ; and had even voted a call, and had been about to ſet-
tle a miniſter there for themſelves; and had generally neglect-
ed to unite, meet or adt with us here, or to contribute toward
the ſupport of out preacher, as much as the neighboring
fimilar ſocieties of Norwich or Lebanon. Thus weſtood with
the Hartford members, at the time of the commencement of
the unhappy difficulties, which we will now endeavor conciſer
ly, faithfully, and impartially to relate.
The reverend Profeſſor Smith had officiated as preacher and
paſtor of the church here, for a number of years, which rela-
tion however was never confidered by him or the church as:
permanent, but ºnly, temporary, geysiºling on his pleaſure.
and that of the church 3, ſº that he, or the church, by a figni-
fication of their pleaſurgºmight at any day diſſolve that rela-
tion, as appearsty the following vote, ; "
* “At a meeting of the church of Chriſt at Dartmouth Col-
st lege, Nov 25th, 1787. The ſaid church unanimouſly choſe
“the reverend John'smith for their paſtor and to act in that
“relation to them, as long as it ſhall be agreeable and conven-
“ient for him and them.”
Fº
3 * * * * 2 *-º'ſ ſº
Profeſſor Smith for ſome years prior to the appointment of
a Profeſſor of divinity at the college, had repeatedly expreſſed
an ardent defire that one might be appointed, and offered as


5
his reaſon therefor, “ that he might be releaſed from the bur-
den of his miniſterial duties;”—of this there are many living
witneſſes, and which is confirmed by his addreſs prefixed to his
fermon at the dedication of our meeting-houſe, in December,
1795, where he ſays, “Since probably, it cannot be pračtica-
“ble for me, much longer, to perform the agreeable ſervices,
“ which my preſent relation, as your paſtor and public teacher,
“requires, it gives relief to my anxiety for your happineſs that
“ you may ſoon enjoy the labours of a miniſter who will be a-
“ble to devote his time without interruption, to inſtrućt and
“ edify you.” & s :k.
At the meeting of the Board of Truſtees in Auguſt, 1804,
Mr. Roſwell Shurtleff was appointed Profeſſor of Divinity,
and to him was alſo aſſigned the buſineſs of preaching, &c. as
it invariably had been, to the ſeveral gentlemen the reverend
Meſſrs. Backus, Alexander, and Worceſter, who had been ſuc-
ceſſively appointed to that office before Mr. Shurtleff. To
lew the unanimity of our views and wiſhes at that time, on
the ſubjećt, we give the following extract of a letter dated Han-
over, September 1ſt, 1804, from Judge Woodward, ſecretary
of the board, to Profeſſor Shurtleff, then at Middlebury Vt.
“It is ſincerely wiſhed and deſirable that you may find it
“conſiſtent with your duty i t an early day to return to this
“ place. Dočt, Smith confiders himſelf diſcharged, and the
“College and people hese will from this time be deſtitute of a
“preacher.” Alſo we give the following letter written in be-
half of the inhabitants of this village, dated Hanover, 8th
September, 1804, to Mr. Roſwell Shurtleff. . \
“SIR-We are requeſted by the inhabitants in this vicinity
“to addreſs you in their behalf, and to expreſs the great ſatis-
“fačtion, your appointment to the office of Profeſſor of Di-
“vinity for Dartmouth College has given them, and their ſin-
“cere deſire that you may accept it. Our ſituation, for many
“reaſons, renders this appointment peculiarly intereſting.
“Impreſſed with the importance of religion, the people in this
“village, too few in numbers and without adequate means to
“form an independent religious ſociety, have long been united
“with the members of the Inſtitution in religious worſhip ;
“and habit has now rendered deſirable, what ſeemed at firſt
“ the reſult of neceſſity. Our ardent wiſhes for the continu-
“ance of this union, have always anticipated that the appoint-.
“ment of a Profeſſor of Divinity, would in effect, include that. '
“of a paſtor for the people. Theſe wiſhes as well as the pg.”
-**
ry
* à
“ culiarity of our ſituation, diſpoſe us to diſpenſe with the srdiº.
“ary and ſcrupulous forms of preliminary probation ; and can: -
“ didly confiding in the diſcernment of the Truſtees, as well as in
“ the very reſpectable teſtimony, the general and public ºpin-
“ion bears to your charaćter, to invite you, and we do it moſt
“cordially, to accept your appointment as Profeſſor, and to be.
“ come a paſtor to this people. The inhabitants have been aſe
“ ſembled on this occaſion and we addreſs you by their appoint-
“ment. So little time has elapſed, ſince commencement, that
“we are yet unable to aſcertain with certainty what pecuniary
“contribution, the inhabitants may make you : their preſent
“feelings-añd diſpoſition, ſeem to promiſe as much as their abil-
“ity. Our ſubſcription paper, a copy of which, for your-in-
“formation, we encloſe, has already ſecured you the annual
“fum of $139 ; we hope in a ſhort time to increaſe this ſum
“ to $200 : yet it may not, for the preſent year, amount to ſo
* much. *
“We are, with great reſpect, and cordial eſteem, your obe-
“dient ſervants,”
st BEN. J. GILBERT,
“WM. WOODWARD,
* RICHARD LANG,
• JAS. WHEELOCK,
sº MILLS OLCQTT.”
A few weeks after commencement, previous to Mr. Shurt-
leff's coming to college, we being then deſtitute of preaching,
two of the elders of the church, called, on Profeſſor. Smith in
the morning of a certain Sabbath, to know if he would preach
to us on that day. Profeſſor Smith then told them, he had
ferved us, and the college, as a miniſter, for about, or upwards
of twenty years, that a Profeſſor of Divinity was new appoint-
ed who would perform the ſervice as he had done, and that
conſequently he confidered himſelf as releaſed and under no
obligation in that reſpect either to the college or the people.
It will be noticed that this relation to the church as paſtor had
never been permanent, but only temporary in its nature—not
ariſing from any ordination or inſtalment over the church, but
only from the fimple vote before mentioned, whereby it was
left with him, or with the church to cloſe that connection
whenever either of them might pleaſe—the words are “as
long as it may be agreeable and convenient for him and them.”
It will alſo be noticed, that in the heaving of many now living,
and which is confirmed by his own publication before mention-
7
ed, that he had wiſhed to be releaſed ſo foon as a Profeſſor of

Divinity might be appointed; and that after the appointment
of Profeſſor jº. in reality was releaſed; and that he
with propriety and very juſtly confidered himſelf “under no
obligation from that relation”. We are thus particular on
this point, that it may clearly appear, we had good reason, and
that it was no crime in us, as since it has been imputed, to ac-
cord with Profeſſor Smith in the underſtanding, that his paſ-
toral relation was now cloſed. With this honeſt and reaſonable
underſtanding we thought as Profeſſor Smith had ſerved us in
that relation for ſo thany years, as the time of his releaſe, which
he had fo long defired had come; that it would be no more
than treating him with proper notice, and due reſpect, to addreſs
àim on the occaſion—accordingly a draft was prepared, and at
a meeting of the church Dec. 13th, 1804, which meeting was
called for the purpoſe of inviting Profeſſor Shurtleff to under-
take the miniſterial duties as Profeſſor Smith had done, it was
propoſed that the addreſs be adopted by the church and preſent-
ed to Profeſſor Smith, which is as follows:
SIR “TO THE REv. JOHN SMITH, D. D.
• & 2 *-
“As the time you have ſo long wiſhed for at length has
“ come, that you are releaſed from a part of your too arduous
“ labours, by the appointment of Mr. Shurtleff to the Profeſ.
“ſorſhip of Divinity at this College, and as we hope he will con-
“ ſent to undertake the miniſterial office, and paſtoral care of
“ this church and congregation; it is with pleaſure we embrace
“ an opportunity, of manifeſting to you our congratulations at
“this pleafing event. And while we preſent you with our
“ cordial and grateful thanks, for your miniſterial ſervices, and
“ paſtoral care of us, ſince your firſt undertaking in that rela-
*tion ; we cannot avoid an expreſſion of our fenſe of the be-
“Revolefit motives which have influenced you therein, and of
“ the integrity and uprightneſs of your heart in the diſcharge
“ of the important duties thereof. We hope ſtill to be favour-
“ed with your friendly advice and aſſiſtance, in the important
“object of ſettling one to ſucceed you in the paſtoral care of
“this flock; and that particularly, when we are convened, to
“conſult and act relative thereto, yºu may be prefert and pre-
“fide as heretofore.—May our prayers for your felicity reach
sº the #. Throne—May you long live, and enjoy the un-
“ſpeakable ºtisfaction of being uſeful—and may you finally,
“from our Heavenly Father, receive the celeſtial reward of a
“good and faithful ſleward.”

A
-d
8

The motion for the preſentment of this token of bur friendly
notice and reſpect to Dočt. Smith, was urged by all ſhe meiriº
bers of the church preſent who belonged to this State, and vi-
cinity, excepting Preſident Wheelock, and, Profeſſor , Smith
himſelf—both theſe gentlemen with the members of the church,
from Hartford in Vermont, about nine or ten in number, who
had not for years before generally attended our church meet-
ings, but who were now preſent, ſtrenuouſly oppoſed the adop-
tion of the addreſs, alleging that Profeſſor Smith was ſtill paſ-
tor of the church, that it would be derogatory to him not to
remain ſo, and inſiſting that he ſhould ſo continue, (ſee note: 1.)
and that Profeſſor Shurtleff ſhould be invited to act only as col-
league to him ; accordingly they having only a bare majority,
paſſed the following votes.—“At a meeting of the church of
* Chriſt at Dartmouth College, 13th Dec. 1804, at the meet-
“ing houſe; Voted, that a committee of three be appointed, to
“ confer with Mr. Roſwell Shurtleff, Prefeſſor of Divinity, at
“Dartmouth College, and requeſt him to be ordained, as a
“colleague with the Rev. Dočtor John Smith, to the paſtoral
“care of this church, and in caſe of compliance it is to be un-
“derſtood, that the Rev. Dočtor Smith is ordinarily to officiate
“in the parochial duties, with the branch of this church in
“Hartford; and Profeſſor Shurtleff is ordinarily to officiate in.
“ parochial duties, with the branch of ſaid church in the vi.
“cinity of Dartmouth College. Voted that Judge Weld, Capt.
“Hezekiah Hazen and Capt. Ingols be a committee for the a-
“bove ſaid purpoſe. * 2 *- -ºf -' *
“At a meeting of the members of the church, at Dartmouth
* College, held by adjournment on the 6th day of Jan'y 1805–
“Whereas, at a former meeting of this church, it was voted to
“requeſt Mr. Profeſſor Shurtleff to receive ordination over
“this church, as colleague with our paſtor the Rev. Dr. Smith
“ and that in ſuch caſe, it would be expected that the Rev. Dr.
* Smith ſhould attend to the parochial concerns of the branch.
“of this church which is at Hartford, and that Profeſſor Shurt-
“leff ſhould attend to the parochial concerns of the branch-of-
“this church which is in the vicinity of ſaid:College ; and .
“ whereas ſince the paſſing of ſaid vote circumſtances appeared.
“unfavorable to its being carried into effect, therefore it is now.
“reſolved, that the ſaid vote be, and it is accordingly...hereby
“reſcinded.—Voted that this church do expreſs the high ſatis-
“fačtion which would reſult, to them ſhould , Mr. Profeſſor,
“Shurtleff think proper to receive ordination at large, and in
.* caſe Mr. Shurtleff ſhould conclude to be thus'ordained, con-
º
*ſiderièg the local ſituation of its members, this church requéſ,
sº that, ſo ſoon as he ſhall be ſo ordained, the Rev. Dr Smith
* the paſtor, would take the particular paſtoral care of the con-
* cerns of the branch of ſaid church which is in Hartford, and ,
* that Profeſſor Shurtleff would take the particular paſtoral
* care of the concerns of the branch which is in Hanover ; and
* that they would att as joint paſtors in all matters which may
* require the attention of the whole church. It is hereby de-
* clared that nothing is intended by this vote which ſhall ever
“ be conſtrued, or confidered as opening the way to any future
** diviſion or ſeparation of iaid church, ſo as to make two diſ-
* tinčk churches, which is to be viewed as one and indiviſible
“ under Jefus Chriſt the great Head - and which it is hoped
* will long éontinue ſuch, and on the Preſbyterian plan of gov-
* ernment, the advantages of which by the goodneſs of God
sº have been ſo long experienced and realized.
* January 18th H305, voted, that the following paragraph.
* be ſubjoined to fecond vote paſſed at the laſt meeting. “That
* in caſe Mr. Profeſſor Shurtleff ſhould conſent to receive or-
* dination at large, and take the particular paſtoral care of the
* congerns of the braneh of this church which is in Hanover,
“...it is intended and meant that the two paſtors viz. he and the
* Rev. Profeſſor Smith be conſidered as perfeótly equal in of-
& fice and in all their adminiſtrations.—Voted to choſe a coma-
tº mittee of three perſons to expreſs to Mr. Profeſſor Shurtleff
“ their wiſh that he would be ordained at large.”
It will naturally here be aſked, Why Profeſſor Smith hav-
ing been ſo defirous of being releaſed from miniſterial duties,
ſhould now, be {e deſirous to retain his paſtoral relation to the
church : This ſudden change in the mind of that gentleman,
was indeed at the time, as unexpe&ted and ſurpriſing to our-
felves, as it was to ſee the people from Hartford attendin
that meeting, to enforce a meaſure not intereſting to them-
ſelves, and ſo very generally difagreeable to the religious ſoci-
ety in this place—and to anſwer the query, it is neceſſary ºp
fate a foible, which otherwiſe, eſpecially as he is now no more,
it would be both our duty and wiſh to veil and paſs over—
which is, that Proffeſſor Smith from his natural yielding and
compliant diſpoſition—from his long intimacy and connection
in a ſubordinate office with Prefident Wheelock, during the ma-
ny years of their connection with the College, had invariably
been in the habit of conforming his ºpinions and ſentiments,
both in College and Church affairs, to thoſe of his friend aud
patron.” When we confider this, and the oppoſite chara&ter of
Jº
§
* 10
Dr. Wheelock; we ourſelves, are not at a loſs, for a ſolātion to
the query. Should any doubt the juſtice of our concluſion; we
may appeal, and challenge from the long official-conneétion of
thoſe two gentlemen, both in church and College, a ſolitary in-
ſtance, wherein Profeſſor Smith has not approved and ſupported
the meaſures and views of Preſident Wheelock—or where in
* a matter of any moment, their votes and voices have not beenſ
always in unifon. This being the caſe, and a thirſt and fond-
-neſs for power which Dr. Wheelock may poſſéſs, if not in an
exorbitant, at leaſt, in an equal degree, with the reſt of man-
kind ; and the influence in the church which he might there-
by retain, through the medium and aid of the paſtor, and
which will be confirmed by the ſequel, leaves no doubt in our
minds, whence aroſe that inconſiſtency in Profeſſor Smith, a
gentleman however, notwithſtanding this foible of humanity,
poſſeſſed of many amiable and good qualities, which with pleaſ-
ure our memories will cheriſh-The united influence of theſe
two gentlemen, with circumſtances which will be hereafter
noticed, accounts ſatisfactorily to us, alſo, why thoſe from
Hartford, ſhould take ſo much trouble to interfere, as they
have in this matter, (ſee note 2.) . The colleaguing of paſtors
as propoſed and inſiſted on by our opponents, being altogether
repugnant to our wiſhes and thoſe of the congregation at
large, we repeated to them our expoſtulations on the ſubject,
in a written address, to which was ſubjoined a manifeſtation of
the minds of nearly all the principal inhabitants of the village ;
which follows.
“ To the brethren of the church of Chriſt at Dartmouth
College, who live in Hartford—from the brethren of the ſaid
church in the vicinity of ſaid College.
* DEARLY BELOWED BRETHREN,
! “From a ſtrong apprehenſion we entertain that Mr. Shurt-
leff will not conſent to undertake the paſtoral care of this
church, in the connection as colleague, agreeably to the vote
requeſting him thereto, yeſterday paſſed by a majority of faid
church ; and after a candid deliberation on the ſubjećt and ar-
‘guments—being fully convinced of the impropriety and inex-
pediency of the meaſure ; we are induced in brotherly love, in
this way to addreſs you on the ſubjećt which we confider as re-
lating to us, ſo intereſting and important. Mr. Shurtleff it
feems is called by the Head of the church, to miniſter to the
people in this vicinity in holy things, at leaſt as you yourſelves
11.
will acknowledge to preach the goſpel to us—He, of all others,
is the:man of our choice, and one that we love in the Lord ;
and'who, we think bids fair, with the bleſfings of the Almigh-
ty, to be eminently uſeful in this part of his vineyard. We
confider him every way, qualified and competent to the impor-
tant office; of a miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt, and paſtor of his lit-
tle flock in this place. With the authority of that ſacred of-
fice, we . wiſh to have him cloathed; and as a watchman ſet
over, us, -unſhackled, and unconnected with any other paſtor,
as relates to this part of the church, and the people in this vi-
cinity. While we manifeſt this, as our moſt ardent wiſh, we
would not be underſtood to ſuggeſt a moſt diſtant deſire, or
even a willingneſs to do any thing whereby the religious privi-
leges of our dear brethren on your ſide of the river ſhall be
diminiſhed or curtailed. We have been and fill-are happy in
the religious and brotherly relation we ſtand in to 'you : and
may God grant that no machination of the grand and ſubtle
adverſary may deſtroy this our happineſs. You, we are ſenſi-
ble, are a majority of the church, and can carry any vote rela-
tive to this, or any other matter, agreeably to your wiſhes:–
at the ſame time we are perſuaded you will not inconſiderately
improve that advantage which you have, againſt the principles
of religion, reaſon, or humanity. ' Though we are a minority
of the church, we beg you to confider, that we are here in the
ftate, town, and neighborhood, where this church is planted,
and where the ordinances have been, are, and will be admin-
iſtered. That we and the people in this vicinity expe&t to con-
tribute without any affiſtance from you, to the ſupport of Mr.
Shurtleff—that you can hereafter, as heretofore, partake with
us here, in all the benefits of God's holy ordinances, which will
continue you on as good a footing as you have heretofore been.
And as you have manifeſted a defºre, that our late paſtor Dr.
Smith, may miniſter to you ordinarily in holy things, by reaſon
of your local ſituation and diſtance from us, we cordially will
acquieſce therein, and if neceſſary by vote, we will join and re-
queſt him to continue his late relation to this church, ſo far as re-
lates to you, and as will be neceſſary and a ſufficient warrant to
him therefor. In this way it appears to us, your rational wiſh-
es muſt be anſwered, and that we may be gratified in what ap-
pears to us ſo highly reaſonable. We beg you further to con-
ſider that the ſettlement of a miniſter and paſtor as it reſpects
us, is all important as probably for our lives—that we are now
uncommonly united and happy in our future proſpects, if our
wiſhes and expectations in this inſtance are not defeated and
*
l?
blaſted—that on the other hand, you are a branch of the
church, remotely ſituated—that on the plan propoſed yeu will:
enjoy the ſame privileges and even greater if you defire, than
heretofore—that by reaſon of your ſituation, your relation te:
us may not be of long ſtanding, which appears has been jour
anticipation, *..." by your gall-given to Mr. Cabbot to
ſettle in the ‘miniſtry among you. We beg you, our deaf
brethren, to aſk wiſdom from above, and weigh ſeriouſly all
theſe conſiderations and others which will naturally occur, and
the ſerious and melancholy conſequences that may, and proba-
bly will follow, ſhould you perfiſt to thwart our wiſhes ; and
be expoſtulated to do nothing to diſunite and divide us, and
thereby defeat.our moſt pleaſing hopes and expeſtations, and
give cauſe to the adverſary of religion, peace and concord, to
triumph and rejoice.” Signed by the members of ſaid thurch

t
at Dartmouth College, December 14th, 1804.
“We the ſubſcribers inhabitants in the vicialty of Dart-
mouth College, hereby manifeſt our hearty concurrence in the
foregoing addreſs ; and ſincerely wiſh it may be conſidered by:
our friends to whom it is addreſſed as coming likewiſe from,
us : That they will liſten to reaſon and be entreated by us, to
deſiſt from a meaſure which will, we j ſo effect.
ually tend to deſtroy the happineſs and felicity of this ſociety,
EBENEZER BREWSTER,
AARON KINSMAN,
RICHARD LANG, *.
EBENEZER WOODWARD,
SAMUEL ALDEN, }
MOSES DAVIS,
INCREASE KIMBALL,
J. BUSH,
WM DEWEY,
BEN. J. GILBERT,
EBENEZER KNOWLTON,
AARON WRIGHT, ... "
and ten others.
As this likewiſe proved ineffectual to diſſuade them—as ſev-
eral meetings had been held on the ſubječt ; and as meaſures
were purſued and ſteps taken to effect the objećt which we con-
ſidered improper and unbecoming chriſtian brethren, we wrote
again, in ſimplicity and fincerity; and endeavored to ſhew them
13
the affetting view we entertained, and the criminality and ener-
mity of their endeavors to oppoſe and hinder a call in our
view, ſo evidently from on high," as follows :
“To the brethren of the church at Dartmouth College who
live in Hartford, State of Vermont–From the brethren of ſaid
ehurch who live at and in the vicinity of ſaid College.
£4 peaR BRETHREN,
“AS it ſeems you have been, and are ſtill deaf to our
entreaties and expoſtulations, on the ſubjećt of your interference
to counteračt eur wiſhes in the important objećt of obtaining a
goſpel miniſter of our own choice, to take the paſtoral care of
the church and congregation in this place—and as by your re-
peated votes relative thereto, it fully appears you are ſtill deter-
mined, to controul in that matter, ſo intereſting to us, and the
cauſe of religion in general, in a way that appears to us incon-
ſiſtent with that brotherly love, with which we have hitherto,
together, and ſo long walked ; and although no hope now re-
mains that any further arguments or entreaties on the ſubjećt
will avail to diſſuade you therefrom ; yet we confider it a duty
we owe to ourſelves, the cauſe of this church, and the intereſt
of our Divine Maſter at large, not yet to be ſilent on this try-
ing momentous occaſion; and as we have in vain reaſoned and
expoſtulated with you on the ſubjećt referred to—ſo now in a
brotherly, and moſt ſerious manner; and in the name of our
Divine Maſter, ſolemnly to remonſtrate againſt the votes you
have paſſed, and meaſures that have been purſued to effect the
continuance and eſtabliſhment of Dr. Smith as Paſtor of this
church—an objećt ſo repugnant to the wiſhes both of the
members of the church, and of the congregation at large in this
lace.
º “If by this obječt for which you contend with us, you might
ſecure any privilege to yourſelves as members of the church,
that you could not otherwiſe as fully enjoy, our mouths on the
ſubjećt ſhould be forever ſtopped—but it is not ſo ; for as by
Qur addreſs to you of the 14th day of Dec. laſt, to which we
refer you, proviſion is propoſed for your enjoyment of Dr.
Smith and every privilege you wiſh--a different motive, there-
* In this communication, as in others in the ſtatement, many
circumſtances are mentioned, and referred to which ought to be
noticed, and which, to avoid prolixity, we may leave the reader
to learn from the communication itſelf,
*4
**
we 14
‘y
fore, it muſt be, that influences you, and which in our late
meetings you, yourſelves, have repeatedly urged, viz. that Dr.
Smith has long ſerved us as Paſtor, and that for another to take
the paſtoral office in this church, but as colleague or joint paſtor
with him, would be caſting him out, treating him with in-
dignity, and robbing him of that honor to which he is entitled.
The fallacy of this argument, notwithſtanding the learning,
rhetoric, and ſophiſtry, with which it has been adorned ; ap-
pears clearly evident, when we confider, that it is the higheſt
honor of every follower of Jeſus, and eſpecially the miniſters
of his everlaſting goſpel, to follow and obey, the calls and point-
ings of his providence—and as it appears ſo clear that the uſe-
fulneſs of Dr. Smith as paſtor is here at an end; and that he
only ſtands in the way to keep out another (Mr. Shurtleff) who
we think Heaven, in mercy, and in anſwer to the prayers of
ſome of its children, has ſent to labour in this part of its vine-
yard–This being the caſe, it appears to us, that your and Dr.
Smith's conteſt in this matter, is a refuſal to obey the call of
God’s providence; that you and he are in this inſtance con-
tending with the Almighty ; and that it is ſaying to the Moſt
High, though Dr. Smith is called to give place to another, yet
it will be derogatory to him, therefore keep it he ſhall—the
conſequences of which, our dear brethren, we intimated to you
in our addreſs before referred to, and of which we again moſt
ſolemnly warn you : hereby acquitting ourſelves before Heaven,
and our own conſciences, of the enormous guilt and doleful
conſequences, which muſt neceſſarily attend ſuch an unequal
conteſt.
“Shall any of us who profeſs to be the followers of Chriſt,
put the earthly honor of an individual, (which is lighter than
the duſt of the balance) in competition with the peace, hap-
pineſs, and proſperity of his church; or in other words, will
you ſacrifice the peace, happineſs and proſperity of us your
brethren and ſiſters, and that of the inhabitants in this place,
for the ſake of conferring on Dr. Smith the empty honor of be-
ing called the Paſtor of the church at Dartmouth College.—
God forbid—and may he bleſs this our humble endeavor to
prevent, that the cauſe of our holy religion ſhould be ſo ſacri-
legiouſly proſtituted to a purpoſe ſo vain, finiſter, and irreligious.
“We cannot diſmiſs the ſubjećt, without calling to your
minds, though with continued and heart-felt grief, ſome of the
meaſures that have been purſued to effect the aforeſaid eſtab-
liſhment of Dr. Smith as our paſtor, uncalled, as we think of
God, and certainly unwiſhed for by us—among which, are the
* 15
procuring a certificate in a private manner, and on an exparte
repreſentation, from three reſpected clergymen, wherein, with-
out any knowledge, excepting what they got from the individ-
ual who procured the ſame, and who probably ſtated matters
according to his own wiſhes, they adviſed accordingly in writ-
ing, which was laid before this church, at a former meeting,
for the purpoſe, if any was intended thereby, as we conceive,
unduly to influence the minds of ſome of the members, and
thereby affect the ſaid eſtabliſhment of Dr. Smith. /
“In addition to this, pleaſe to recolle&t, the endeavors that
were uſed to obtain a vote declaring Judge Hubbard to be a
member of this church ; notwithſtanding the church or the
greateſt part of the members were ſtrangers to him, and nor-
withſtanding he had not at that time any letter recommendato-
ry to the church, and what is more extraordinary, that he him-
ſelf at that time, did not requeſt or even deſire it.
“Why all this 2 unleſs it were from an hope or expectation
that he would aſſiſt in effecting the aforeſaid eſtabliſhment of
Dr. Smith as our paſtor. And after all, when a vote was ob-
tained by a ſmall majority, againſt which we ſo ſeriouſly obječt-
ed, why was it refuſed, when we requeſted that the yeas and
nays might be taken, and that the names of all who voted for
and againſt, might be entered on the records of the church, we
aſk, why this was refuſed, unleſs it were, that in that caſes it
would appear ſaid vote was carried by a ſmall majority of you,
who live out of town, and that theſe who live in this vicinity,
and attend divine worſhip here were oppoſed to it, conſequent-
ly, that it would not appear ſo honorable to Dr. Smith. And
why was it at the ſame meeting laſt referred to, when we
expreſſed our feelings of grief at the oppreſſive meaſures you
were purſuing, to controul and deprive us of our religious lib-
erties and privileges, that it was propoſed by ſome one or more
of you, if we were diffatisfied with the doings of the majority,
that in that caſe, we might take diſmiſſions from the church,
we aſk, why this propofition, unleſs it were that Dr. Smith
might remain paſtor of the church at Dartmouth College, al-
though compoſed only of members miles diſtant, and even in
another State; while we the members in the vicinity of ſaid
College, in that caſe, muſt refign to you the Temple that we
have built for the worſhip of our God, and for the adminiſtra-
tion of his holy ordinances, and go as ſheep without a ſhepherd,
feeking places for his worſhip among ſtrangers.
“Theſe meaſures, our brethren, as their obječt is to continue
and crowd Dr. Smith upon us as paſtor entirely againſt our
16
wiſhes, as they tend to prevent our enjoying the man of out
choice, who we truſt the Lord of the harveft has ſent to labor
in this part of his vineyard; and who cannot enter while you
and'Dr. Sphith ſtand in the way to prevent him, and who prob-
ably might be abundantly uſeful would you allow him to entes,
we confider as oppreſſive, and tending greatly to injure and
wound the cauſe of religion in general, and particularly tend-
ing to the overthrow and deſtruction of Zion's cauſe in this
place—and inconſiſtent with the folemn obligation that we are
all under, to promote the peace and proſperity of the church—
Moreover it is abuſing the honeſt fimplicity of Dr. Smith, by
cauſing him to believe that to be for his hondr, which ſo great-
ly tends to his diſhonor as a miniſter of the gotpel... and as it
tends to his diſhonor, ſo the ſacred office that he holds, muſt
conſequently be liable to proportionate diſhonor and contempt
therefrom, *
“We therefore muſt repeat our remonſtrance againſt all
your ſaid proceedings, having for their obječ, the eſtabliſhment
of Dr. Smith, to the excluſion of Mr. Shurtleff from the ſole
paſtoral care of us—and we requeſt that this, with each of out
names ſubfcribed, may be entered on the records of ſaid church,
there to remain as a laſting teſtimony that all the aforefaid
votes and meaſures have been paſſed in entire oppoſition to our
wiſhes; and that the ſame is matter of great grief to us.
“We reſt the matter, praying for the bleſfing and direction
of the Almighty.”
[8igned by members near Dartmouth College.]
“Hanover, 12th February 1805.”
The ſincere motives that influenced us in this, as in the firſt
addreſs to Profeſſor Smith of Dec. 13th were entirely miſcon-
ftrued by Preſident Wheelock and his adherents, ſo that no
hope now remaining for our enjoyment of chriſtian privileges
and freedom we propoſed to them, to unite with us in calling a
mutual council, to adviſe whether it would not be beſt to form
into two churches, and to take into confideration, and decide
reſpecting any matters of grievance, which had ariſen between
us—and accordingly we made the following requeſt for a
church meeting: &
“We the ſubſcribers, members of the church at Dartmouth
College, feeling ourſelves deeply affected at the unhappy, alarm-
ing, and threatning controverſy that has ariſen, and now ſub-
fifts among us, by reaſon that our brethren on the other fide of
17
the river, and in the State of Vermont have refuſed to liſten to
and be entreated by us who live in the vicinity of ſaid College,
on the intereſting ſubjeft of our having a goſpel paſtor of our
own choice-And as no profpect jan amicable accom-
modation of the difficulties and controverſy, but by a divifion
qf ſaid church into two diſtinét and ſeparate churches, accord-
ing to the natural diviſion, pointed out by the local fituation
of the contending parties-And as this our unhappy fituation,
feems clearly to call for the friendly aid and advice of the friends
of Zion's cauſe ; theſe are therefore to requeſt you, to notify
and requeſt the brethren of the church in Hartford who attend
your miniſtry there, to meet at the meeting houſe, in this place,
on Wedneſday next at one o'clock P. M, for the purpoſe of
uniting with us on this ſide, in calling a council of able and
diſintereſted miniſhering fervants of our divine Lord and Maſ-
ter, who may adviſe to ſuch meaſures as may tend to a veſtora-
tion of peace and brotherly love among us, and as may be pro-
motive of the cauſe and intereſt of our bleſſed Redeemer.
-* “Signed by members near the College.
& Hanover, February 27th, 1805.

“To THE REv. John surrº, a n.
* to be communicated.” .
The meeting was called, and held, and our propoſition for a
council rejećted by the following vote.
“At a meeting of the church of Chriſt at Dartmouth Col-
lege, March 8th, 1805, the following was voted—Whereas a
number of the brethren of this church have defired that the
ehurch would convene, take into conſideration, and agree to
eałl a council to determine if there ſhould not be a feparation
of the members of faid church, by a local diviſional line, and
that two churches be inftituted inſtead of the preſent one—
Therefore refolved, that though this church are willing to adopt
any meaſure which might be conſiſtent, comporting with the
deſire of their faid brethren ; yet in the preſent caſe, they
eonfider that from about the time of the eſtabliſhment of this
ehurch, it was compoſed of members promiſcuouſly from the
two parts of territory through which it is propoſed to draw a
diviſional line; that the members occupying thefe two parts,
have from the beginning, about thirty five years ago, to the
prefent time, been together, exercifed chriftian watch and fel-
lowſhip with one another, and condućted aft matters pertain-
ing to the order and : of the church, as members of one
- C
18
body; that during ſaid time they have found it convenient ta.
aćt together, in all matters of the church, the average diſtance
of the members being but about three miles, and conceive that
their ſpiritual benefit has been promoted under God by their
being united in one body; that it appears there might be ſome
advantage in future, as in time paſt;...arifing from the union;
that there is great reaſon with humility to render praiſe and
thankſgiving to God for his great goodneſs in preſerving this
church, and granting ſuch evidence of his merciful regard for
it through ſuch an uninterrupted ſeries of years from the firſt
to this time ; that by drawing ſuch a line as is propoſed, it
will tend to produce a ſeparation between individual members
living in the two diſtinét ſituations propoſed to be divided, who
are inclined to continue together as they have always in the
ſame church; that as Chriſt's Kingdom is not of this world, as
the church and ſtate are diſtinét in their nature, as the duties
of the citizen can never interfere with thoſe of the church
members, ſo there appears to be no reaſon for dividing the
members of the church merely becauſe there is a local line of
civil government between them, and more eſpecially as this
line exiſted when the church was eſtabliſhed, and the members
though always living in ſeparate governments have never ex-
perienced the leaſt diſadvantage ; that there appears no ſuffi-
cient reaſon for making the river the diviſional line as propoſed,
as the members have never found any great inconvenience in
paſſing it by ferry, and this inconvenience is ſtill further and
almoſt wholly removed by the conſideration, that it is intended
to rebuild the bridge. º
* For the foregoing confiderations, we cannot think it to be
our duty that the majority of the members ſhould diſſolve
the church to erect two on its ruins, or that the majority ſhould
abandon the ſaid church to form themſelves into a new one.—
In either light we conſider it as deſtroying the exiſtence of the
church, which the members think it their duty, under God, to
be determined in promoting, and this we conceive as a ſufficient
reaſon why we cannot conſent to ſubmit the matter to any
council. We know of nothing to ſubmit unleſs it be whether
the church ſhall continue its exiſtence or not—However, as the
aforeſaid brethren have expreſſed an uneaſineſs, we are willing
they ſhould, and they have the right to call any council and
obtain any advice in regard to the path of their own duty.—
Happy ſhould we be were all the members diſpoſed to continue
and to walk together in chriſtian love ; and ſhould the afore-
ſaid brethren on due reflection conclude to remain with us on
19
goſpel principles, we think we feel inclined to adopt any meaſ-
ure conſiſtent with rectitude, as appears we have been by the
doings of the church, and eſpecially the laſt vote on the ſub-
jećt. But however, ſhould the aforeſaid brethren remain diſ-
satisfied, and not be content to walk with the church in chriſt-
ian love, we do not deſire to embarraſs their progreſs, or lay any
obſtacle in the way of what they may ſuppoſe their duty; and
therefore, if hey ſhould ultimately conclude that it will be beſt
for them to leave our body, we ſhall conſent and acquieſce,
praying that the grace of Goº may abound to each of them.
But as it appears that there is a difficulty between them and
ſome of our brethren of our body, and the latter think them-
ſelves aggrieved by ſome expreſſions contained in a letter of the
12th of laſt month, from the former to them, it is our prayer
that this wound may be healed, and though we do not pretend
now to determine whether there is or is not ground of uneaſi-
neſs, yet it ſeems that a difference ſubſiſts, and it is becoming
that it thould be ſettled on the principles of the goſpel, that the
profeſſing followers of Chriſt may live and act in friendſhip and
love whether they be members of the ſame or of different
churches.
“A true copy, Atteſt,
Signed, “ JOHN SMITH, Paſtor.”
|
No alternative was now left us, but that of calling an exparte
council, and accordingly we proceeded to requeſt a number of
reſpectable miniſters to convene for the purpoſe of adviſing us
in our unpleaſant ſituation ; and of this, we gave notice to our
opponents as follows :
“The members of the church of Chriſt at Dartmouth Col-
lege, to the members of ſaid church who live at Hartford–
** BRETHREN,
“After your refuſal to unite with us in calling a council to
hear and adviſe us in our unhappy ſituation as a church ; we
have thought it our duty, and accordingly have proceeded to
requeſt a council of ſeven of the paſtors of the churches of our
Lord Jeſus, viz. the Rev. Meſſrs, Potter of Lebanon, Burton
of 'Thetford, Dana of Orford, Lambert of Newbury, Tullar
of Royalton, Eaſtman of Randolph, and Lyman of Brookfield, to
convene at this place on Wedneſday the 17th day of April next,
at ten o'clock, A. M. to hear and adviſe relative to our unhap-
py ſituation. Although from your refuſal to unite with us,
20
this council is neceſſarily of our own exparte chºices yetwe
aſſure you, in making the choice, we have meant to chooſe
thoſe only who we thought were not only capable and judi-
cious ; but who alſo would diántereſtedly, free from party in-
fluence, adviſe to ſuch meaſures as will be promotive of the
cauſe of religion, and of the church,
“As ſome of you have ſuggeſted that in our late addreſs to
you, of February laſt, we had made repreſentations unbecom-
ing chriſtian brethren ; we would now prepoſe to you, if yod
are diſſatisfied with any thing contained in ſaid addreſs or re-
monſtrance, or at any other part of our condućt or proceed-
ings towards you, that we are heartily willing, as we repeated-
ly teld you at our laſt meeting, when we ſo importunately re-
queſted and urged you to unite with us in calling a mutual
council, to hear and adviſe relative to all raatters of diſſen-
tion and controverſy between us. We ſay, if you have ought
againſt us, we are heartily willing to anſwer before this rever-
end and reſpectable council, to any thing you may be pleaſed
to allege ; provided you will furniſh us with a copy ºf ſuch
allegations, a ſhort, reaſonable time, ſay a day or two, pre-
vious to the fitting of ſaid council. And, our brethren, how
great matter of joy would it be to us, if you would re-confid-
er, and now agree to ſubmit all matters to this, as to a mutual
council. And, if it ſhall be thought beſt and moſt for the
welfare of the church and religion, that we divide and become
two churches ; that we may part without bitterneſs, and with
chriſtian love towards each other, as ſtill, though in two parts,
of one and the ſame family of our Lord Jeſus.
[Signed by the members in the vicinity of Dartmouth College.]
“ March 21, 1805.”
;
On the day appointed, the council, compoſed of gentlemen,
hereafter named in their reſult, convened and went into a hear-
ing of the whole matter. Preſident Wheelock himſelf, and
our other opponents being preſent, exhibited their obječtions
to us, and the objećt of our wiſhes, which were ſupported and
enforced with all the learning, talents, and eloquence, of the
gehtleman laſt named. After the hearing, the council formed,
and publiſhed the following reſult:
“At a council convened in Hanover, at the dwelling-houſe
of deacon Benoni Dewey, on the 17th of April, A. D. 1805,
purſuant to letters miſfive from the brethren of the church of
21
Chriſt in the vicinity of Dartmouth College, reſiding eaſt of
Connecticut rivers reque/ſing aſſiſtance relative to certain matters
of difficulty. Were preſent, the reverend Meſſrs. Potter of
Lebanon, Burton of Thetford, Lyman of Brookfield, Lambert
of Newbury, Dana of Orford, and Eaſtman of Randolph ;
who, forming into a council, choſe the Rev. Iſaiah Potter mod-
erator, and the Rev. Nathaniel Lambert ſcribe. The council
then adjourned to the meeting-houſe, where they opened with
prayer by the moderator ; and then they proceeded to a hear-
ing of all matters which ſaid brethren had to lay before them :
opportunity was likewiſe given to all perſons concerned, to of—
fer any thing which they choſe upon the ſubjećt. The council
then adjourned to the dwelling-houſe of Col. Aaron Kinſman,
for the purpoſe of deliberating, and forming a reſult.
“We are of opinion that exparte council ought not to be
called except in an extreme caſe, as where certain brethren are
aggrieved, who, being a minority, and requeſt mutual council,
are refuſed. We feel ourſelves to be in a very unpleaſant fit-
uation (as is common for ſuch councils,) nevertheleſs we con-
fider it to be our duty to reſult as follows:
“We do not find that any ſpecial relation has ever been
formed between this church and any preacher of the goſpel,
as their paſtor, by any particular charge from an eccleſiaſtical
council, as is uſual in ſuch caſes. And whereas it appears that
the two branches of this church have in times paſt found it
moſt convenient to be united, yet, circumſtances having chang-
ed, there being now a meeting houſe on each ſide of the river,
in both which public worſh.p is conftantly attended—and
whereas certain difficulties having ariſen, between the two
branches, which they have been unable to ſettle, it becomes a
queſtion, whether the intereſt of religion does not require,
that the members of the branch on the eaſt ſide of the river
ſhould be formed into a diſtinét church 2 This council having
carefully weighed every circumſtance ſuggeſted to their minds,
reſpecting this queſtion, give it as their opinion, that ſuch a meaf-
ure is expedient and neceſſary. Further— with reſpect to the
remenſtrance which the brethren on this fide of the river ex-
hibited to the church, we are of opinion that it contains certain
expreſſions which do not ſufficiently favour of chriſtian chari-
ty, and therefore ought to be diſapproved by the remonſtrants
previous to their being organized. This being done, we ſee
nothing in the way of their being formed into a church frate,
ſince the body have expreſſed their conſent, as appears from 3
certain clauſe in a vote paſſed by them on the 8th of March
22
laſt, in the following words: “But, however, ſhould the afore-
faid brethren remain diſſatisfied, and not be content to walk
with the church in chriſtian love, we do not deſire to embar-
raſs their progreſs, or lay any obſtacle in the way of what they
may ſuppoſe their duty, and therefore if they ſhould ultimately
conclude that it will be beſt for them to leave our body, we
fhall conſent and acquieſce ; praying that the grace of God
may abound to each of them.”
“Furthermore, we conceive that the organization of a new
church in this place will not, in the leaſt, affect the exiſtence
of the church originally formed here by the late Reverend Dr.
Wheelock.
“And now, brethren, in caſe you ſhould become a diſtinét
church, we earneſtly wiſh your unity, future peace, and broth-
erly love, one to another, as well as your brethren the church
with whom you have, for ſo many years, walked in chriſtian
fellowſhip and goſpel order ; and hope that you and they, in
two diſtinét fiſter churches, may mutually ſtrive together for
the edification and comfort of each other ; and may ſo run,
as that, in the day of Chriſt Jeſus, you may rejoice together,
that you have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain. And we
do now earneſtly commend you to God, and to the word of
his grace, which is able to build you up in holineſs, to an in-
heritance among them that are ſanétified.
* Voted unanimouſly—ISAIAH POTTER, Moderator.
(Atteſt) NATH'L LAMBERT, Scribe.
“After the reſult was read, and the council having pointed
out thoſe expreſſions in the remonſtrance as exceptionable, the
brethren do freely and unanimouſly diſapprove of them as not
being ſufficiently favoury of chriſtian charity.”
[Signed by members in the vicinity of Dartmouth College.]
Though the council recommended that we ſhould be form-
ed into a church by ourſelves, ſtill purſuant to the verbal advice
of the ſame council, we delayed our organization for ſome
time, to ſee whether thoſe in Vermont, might not think prop-
er themſelves, to form the new church propoied, and leave us
in this vicinity to remain as the church originally founded in
this place. In the mean time, we converſed with the moſt in-
fluential members in Hartford, who expreſſed fully to us, that
ſuch a meaſure would be quite agreeable to them, if we on this
ſide might be agreed therein; but obſerved at the ſame
time, “they could not bind the Sampſon with cords, and deliver him
23
*
\
over to uſ.” Accordingly we addreſſed a letter to Preſident
Wheelock, on the ſubječt, he being the only male member at
that time, excepting Profeſſor Smith in this vicinity oppoſed to
us, of which the following is a copy.
* RESPECTED SIR,
** SINCE the reſult of the late eccleſiaſtical council in this
place, we have been given to underſtand, that it would be quite
agreeable to our brethren on the other ſide of the river, them-
ſelves, to withdraw and form the diſtinét church reccommend-
ed, and leave us to remain the church at Dartmouth College,
which was founded here by your late reverend and pious father,
provided we on this ſide may all be agreed on the meaſure—
and as it is a matter, (perhaps very important in its conſequen-
ces) that, as we conceive, reſts ſolely with you to determine,
we have therefore thought proper to manifeſt to you, the great
ſatisfaction it would be to us, ſhould you think proper to unite
with us, and we continue to remain together in the ſame church
ftate as we have heretofore been, and that the way may be
thereby opened for our brethren to withdraw and form anew
by themſelves, as has been ſuggeſted.
“The expediency or propriety of their organization into a
diſtinét church rather than ours, and the advantages thence ariſ-
ing to the cauſe and intereſt of religion, and that of the inſti-
tution (which is dear to us) over which you ſo worthily preſide,
it is perhaps needleſs for us to point out to your better under-
ſtanding—however, pleaſe to indulge us in ſuggeſting the fol-
lowing queries, viz.
“In caſe the brethren on the other ſide remain of the church
at Dartmouth College ; as they will conſtitute the whole
church, yourſelf and one or two others only excepted; and as
divine worſhip, and the adminiſtration of the ordinances will
probably be very generally there ; will it not with propriety
be conſidered that ſaid church in reality is tranſplanted to Hart-
ford, and of courſe that nothing of it here remains but the name 2
“And ſhould you conclude to continue with them ; will not
your attendance on divine worſhip, or the adminiſtration of
the ordinances with a ſociety ſo remotely ſituated, be accom-
pained with very great inconvenience to you ?—Or ſhould the
body of the church from the other fide, conſent at times to the
celebration of the ordinances on this fide, as they are ſo nu-
merous, will it not, at leaſt, have the appearance of much
pains taken to maintain a name only, of a church 2 Or laſtly,
ſhould they hereafter conclude, as ſhortly they may, to ſettle
24
a goſpel miniſter there of themſelves; will be be ordained as
Paſtor of the church at Dartmouth College : If not, in that caſe,
and there not being enough on this fide to conſtitute a church,
will not even the name of that church become extinët
“It has been intimated that probably at the next commence-
ment Mr. Shurtleff will be dire&ted to confine his miniſterial la-
bors to the Students in the shapel—ſuch an event we hope and
truſt will not take place ; for, ſir, we repoſe too much confi-
dence in the benevolent and chriſtian motives that influence
you, and the honorable board of Truſtees, to think they would
do any thing to hinder the moſt extenſive proclamation and
ſpread of the goſpel; or that in this place it ſhall be confined
to the walls of the chapel.—Would not ſuch a meaſure. in a
ſcripture ſenſe, be as confining the light of the goſpel “under
a buſhel,” when it might as well give light to all around *
Might it not be robbing Mr. Shurtleff of many ſouls, that other-
wiſe he might have as ſeals of his miniſtry in the day of the
Lord Jeſus ; Inſtead of ſuch a meaſure, we ſhould ſuppoſe
that you and the honorable Board, conſidering our fituation
and circumſtances, as ſmall and not ſufficiently able of our-
ſelves to ſupport the goſpel, would endeavor to aſſiſt, rather
than hinder our obtaining a preached goſpel ; and eſpecially as
it will be a mutual accommodation,
“We have delayed our organization agreeably to the recom-
mendation of the Rev. Council, that we might previouſly confer
with you on the ſubječt; and learn what, on the whole, will
be moſt agreeable to you.
“We conſider the matter as perhaps pregnant with great and
important conſequences ; and as it reſts on your determination,
it ſeems as though great reſponſibility muſt be attached thereto.
“We therefore hope and pray you may be divinely direéted
to ſuch a concluſion as will tend to the promotion of religion;
the peace of your own mind ; the welfare of the Inſtitution
under your care, and that of the people in this place.
“We are, fir, with much reſpect, yours, &c,
#ºry CALEB FULLER,
y t f 3.
HUMPHREY FARRAR, lººke,
§ Nºis,” iº; tı.
JABEZ KELLOGG, jöHN MANspieiº.”
JACOBWARD. $
“THE Hon. John wheelock, Esq. L. L. p.”
“Hanover, May 1, 1805.
*25
This letter, like all our preceding endeavors, proved to be
of no avail. As the members in Hartford “ could not bind the ,
Sampſon with cords ;” ſo neither could we perſuade him by our
arguments and entreaties.
The Preſident, inſtead of anſwering the foregoing letter, as
he told the committee who waited on him, he ſhortly would,
procured a declaration to be ſigned by the members in Hart-
ford, which paper in his own hand writing, he ſome time after
handed to us ; but refuſed to let us keep the original ; that, he
took, and ſent us a copy of the ſame, which alſo was in his owh
hand writing. We would not trouble ourſelves, nor the reader
with ſuch an apparently trifling circumſtance, but only to ſhew,
that Preſident Wheelock was the ſole mover and inſtigator of
all their doings, through the whole controverſy –The fol-
lowing is the declaration:
“Whereas, it may have been ſuppoſed, that we, the ſubſcri-
bers, would be willing to take our diſmiffion from the church
of €hriſt at Dartmouth College, we do hereby declare that, as
we have always been happy, in our connexion, as members of
ſaid church, in which we have reaſon to believe we have expe-
rienced fawors of Divine Providence, we eſteem it our incum-
bent duty, to remain in future attached to the ſame, and to pro-
mote its ſpiritual intereſt 3 and we ſhould exceedingly regret,
and eſteem ourſelves deprived of our eſſential privileges were
any cauſe to ariſes which ſhould by any means effect our ſepa-
ration.” -
[Signed by ſixteen members in Hartford]
“Hartford, May 10th, 1805.”
st
Chriſtian reader, will you not pauſe a moment, and as a
frend, to the College, and the cauſe of religion, mingle with us,
your ſorrow and regret, that a propoſal ſo calculated for the
immediate reſtoration of peace, ſhould not be accepted—and
will you not ſtill more regret and be ſurpriſed to ſee the art
with which that propoſal was reječted—even in a way without.
Preſident Wheelock's appearing, himſelf, to decline it.
A repreſentation under his own hand is made to thema, as
appears by the draft, as though it was ſuppoſed, they were in-
dividually to take a diſmiſſion from the church—to be ſeparat-
ed from it indefinitely ; as though they were to be left in a
ſcattered, diſtraćted ſtate. Such a propoſal, we might well
ſuppoſe they would as readily decline, as they wºuld have com-
plied with our propoſal, had the ſame, with £refident Whee-
f} Af
26 $.
lock's concurrence, inſtead of the foregoing declaration, been
laid before them. That paper, was ſigned by thoſevery, per-
ſons, who had before expreſſed their entire approbation of the
meaſure propoſed; but, “they could not bind the Sampſon.”
Does not this tranſaction go far to ſhew, that thoſe people in
Hartford were improved by Preſident. Wheelock to ſubſerve
his purpoſes, and deſigns : Why he ſhould not comply with
a propoſal ſo reaſonable, and in favor of which, ſuch arguments
had been offered, as did not require the experience of years to
verify—And why the Preſident ſhould have recurrence to ſuch
art to evade the propoſal, are queſtions, which we will leave to
a chriſtian public, when they ſhall have heard the whole matter,
to anſwer and determine for themſelves. •
... We had now, as we ſuppoſed, only to purſue the recommen-
dation of the council, and to become organized into a church
by ourſelves. In this alſo they endeavored to thwart and hin-
der us ; in that, a ſhort time only, before the certain day ap-
pointed for our formation we received from them, a communi-
cation, containing divers allegations againſt us, as follows:
“To our brethren in the vicinity of Dartmouth College.
** DEAR BRETHREN,
“We entreat you to conſider of the wrong you do us, in
your attempt to ſever us from the church of Dartmouth Col-
lege, or deprive us of thoſe privileges, which with equal right
we might enjoy without any injury to you. To effect this pur-
poſe, the inſtruments you have uſed, thoſe of us that feel them,
eſteem them to be inſtruments of cruelty— Inſtead of render-
ing honor to whom it was due, we have ſeen with grief,' con-
fpicuous chara&ters, treated with language that was ſufficiently
favory of contempt—of groundleſs allegations of an immoral
nature. This queſtion muſt neceſſarily affect the feeling and
chara&ters of the officers of College—as all their public meaſ-
ures are inſpected by the moſt diſcerning men—It is evident
that Judge Hubbard had an intereſt in this matter, both as an
officer of College, a profeſſor of religion, and the expectation
of being a member of our body the remainder of his life—an
attempt to admit his influence you have called criminal. What
are the principles you have adopted for yourſelves : Have you
faid inhabitants are intereſted. The unthoughtful and thoſe
unconnected with the church, have been drawn in to bear their
weight and influence in this important queſtion—your remon-
ſtrance we think teems with allegations, of immorality and re-
proach ; you have treated us with language not only calculated
27
to wound our feelings, but grating to our ears, and we con-
ceive cºntrary to goſpel rules. The opinions of men cannot
abſºlve you, nor can the reſult of an expärte council be called
a ſéttlement, and ſhould you leave us without making that ſat-
isfaktion which the goſpel requires, we fear that Heaven would
frown upon you. We entreat you to confider your condućt
above mentioned, and we fincerely pray, that you might be
brought to repêntance. Finally, brethreh, when we refle&t on
the importance of the church of Dartmouth College, its vén-
erable founder, the care of Heaven over it, the repeated inſtan-
ces in which the ſpirit of God has been poured upon it in Čo-
pious effuſions—how do we feel ourſelves juſtified in our want
of confidénée to reſign it into your hands, fince yóu have at-
tackéd its cºnſtitution, and as you inform us you are about to
forſake it £ºbtit how can you leave it in a manner ſo irregular 2
But we earneſtly hope, Heaven may open your eyes to ſee your
error, as it is our earneſt deſire to reſtore you in the ſpirit of
meekneſs. -- 3 ºf ;
* “HEZEKIAHHAZEN.
“In behalf of the brethren at Hartford, to be communicated.”
“Hartford, May 21ſt, 1805.” . . . . . .”
(See note 3.) . . | --
On receiving the above, we concluded to poſtpone our or-
ganization, and wrote them the following, renewing our prop-
oſition for a council :
“To the members of the church at Hartford,
*
* *
“BRETHREN,
“Your letter of the 21ſt inſtant, ſigned by Hezekiah Hazeñ;
in your behalf, we have received, your allegations therein con-
tained, we have duly and ſeriouſly noticed, and we are fully ſen-
fible that were they true,' repentance and goſpel ſatisfaction to
you therefor, would moſt-highly become us; but as it appears
to us they are ill founded, from we hope, miſunderſtanding in
you ; and as it is a matter not ſuitable for you or for us, being
parties in the matter, to judge and determine concerning ; and
as there can be nb : other füitable way deviſed, than to ſubmit
the matter to an impartial tribunal, we would therefore renew-
édly propoſe, what we have heretofore ſo often requeſted, viz.
to ſubmit-any; and every thing, that you may have againſt us,
to the hearing and determination of an impartial, reſpectable,
and mutually choſen eccleſiaſtical council. Though it appears
ſtrange to us that on the day of the fitting of the late council in
:
29

this place, you ſhould exhibit a part only, of your; chargº
againſt us, and reſerve the reſidue of them till the evening but
one before the day on which we expected and propoſed to be
organized into a church ſtate, and then to exhibit ſuch a liſt of
charges againſt us, which we conſider ſo altogether founded in
miſconception and error ; and though you have ſo often
lećted and refuſed to comply with our requeſt to ſubmit all
matters to a council ; we ſay, notwithſtanding this, we wiſh
to exerciſe that patience and forbearance, which become our
chriſtian profeſſion, and to leave nothing undone on our part,
whereby chriſtian fellowſhip between us may be deſtroyed, and
the cauſe of religion wounded. Influenced by theſe thotives,
we think, proper to repeat the foregoing propoſition to. yow,
viz. to ſubmit any and every thing you may have againſt us, to
a mutual council as aforeſaid, and to manifeſt hereby the ſatiºn
fačtion your compliance therewith would afford us. That you
may have opportunity previouſly, our organization, notwith-
ſtanding the diſadvantages that may ariſe from a delay, will ba
poſtponed a reaſonable time therefor.
“Wiſhing that no ſpirit may influence you or us but that
of the goſpel, we are yours, &c.
[Signed by the members near the College.]
“ May 23, 1805.
The following correſpondence enſued—
• Hartford, June 2d, 1805.
“To deacon Benoni Dewey, James Wheelock, Eſq. and oth-
ers, ſigners of a letter dated May 23, 1805.
* BRETHREN,
“Yours of the 23d ult. has duly come to hand, in which
we find a propoſal for a mutual council to ſettle all the differ-
ences ſubſiſting between you and ourſelves. As we confider
you and ourſelves members belonging to a regular church, en-
joying all the powers, privileges, and immunities of a chriſtian
church, and eſpecially the full power and right of judging and
determining between any of its members for any condućt con-
trary to the goſpel—we cannot ſee the neceffity or propriety of
calling ſuch a council, as you have named : Yet, feeling per-
fe&tly inclined to exerciſe all that candour and indulgence which
religion or reaſon can require or ſuggeſt, we are cheerfully wil-
ling to hear the advice of any impartial, judicious perſons, re-
jpećting the matters of grievance between us; and we have ag-
cordingly choſen Hezekiah Hazen, Eleazer Wheelock, Solo-
&9
goa Hazebº and 8eth Fullar, as a committee toºesfer with you,
and to do everything which ſhall be neceſſary on our part to
ſuch an énd, s . . . . . . . . .
“In behalf of the aggrieved brethren of the church of
Chriſt, at Dartmouth College; * * {
. . . . ; ; ; ; ; . . . ss DAVID NEWTON.”
" ; ; $ *
" *s Tº the members of the church, at Hartford, who flyle
themſelves “the aggrieved brethren,” &c. .
** BRE THREN,
“You wrote us on the 21ſt of May laſt, figned by Hez-
ekiah Hazen, ſtating divers (as we cenceive ill-founded), alle-
gations, to whișh we replied on the 23d of the ſame month, in-
viting you to ſubmit all matters to a mutual council. You, it
feems, choſe a committee to confer with us, on the ſubjećt ;
which conference we have had, and the propoſition we made
them, was as follows, viz.:-That we would ſubmit all matters
of diffention, and grievance, which had ariſen fince the 1ſt of
Ejecember laſt, and which now ſubſiſts between us, to the hear-
ing, and determination, of any feven judicious, reſpectable,
and impartial clergymen (who may not have prejudged relat-
ting to any of ſaid matters) whom they themſelves might chooſe,
ji. fifty miles of Dartmouth College. The ſaid offer was
flated by us, as particularly made, in reference to your ſaid let-
ter of May 21ſt. As your committee did not think fit to com-
ply with our ſaid propoſal, we have thought proper, in this
way, to make the ſame propoſal to you, their conſtituents.
For your convenience in making a choice, ſhould you comply
therewith, we add, as we did to your committee, a liſt of ſuch
entlemen as we think of, within the aforeſaid limits, viz.:-
#. Tullar, of Royalton ; Fuller, Verſhire; Kellogg, Brad-
ford'; Conant, Lime ; Smith, Haverhill ; Dickinſon, Plain-
field ; Porter, Plainfield; Havens, Croydon; Worceſter, Saliſ,
ury Wood, Boſcawen 3. Price, Boſcawen Wines, New-
port ; Fairbanks, Plymouth ; Groſs, Hartford ; Rowell, Cor-
miſh ; Hobart, Berlin ; Worceſter, Peacham ; Worceſter,
Thornton ; Dickinſon, Walpole ; Woodman, Sanbornton-
From the foregoing, or any others within the aforeſaid limits,
whom we may not have named, you may chooſe ſeven, to whom
we will refer all matters of diffention, and grievance agaforeſaid;
and we will agree with you, that all ſaid matters ſhall be ſtat-
ed in writing, and furniſhed by each, to the other Party, a reafoºr
aple time before the ſitting of ſaid council. After the refuſal of
.*
*
f
your committee to comply with our ſaid propoſal, we have been
at a loſs, whether any thing more could-be done by us to effect
a ſettlement, and re-eſtabliſhment of harmony, and brotherly
love among us. On the whole, we have thought it might be ,
beſt, to make the offer to yourſelves; that you may ſee; wheth-
er the ſame is not ſufficiently liberal; and hoping you may yet
ſee cauſe to comply therewith, before we take any further ſteps.
Notwithſtanding we have waited ſo long already on your ac-
count, we will ſtill reſt 'till next Monday evening; concluding
if you think of a compliance, in the mean time, you will man-
ifeſt it to us. ::: ; #
Yours, &c. . . . . . . , , , f : . .
« BENONIDEWEY, ) . . . e
** JAS. WHEELOCK, 5. Committee.”
* CALEB FULLER, {
“Wedneſday, June 19th, 1805.”
“The brethren of the church of Chriſt at Dartmouth Col-
lege reſiding in Hartford, to certain of their brethren living in
the vicinity of Dartmouth College.” - #
* DEAR BRETHREN,
“In compliance with your requeſt of the 23d of May laſt,
being defirous to remove every obſtacle which ſtood in the way
of, or had a tendency to prevent the moſt friendly and harmo-
nious intercourſe with you, becoming chriſtians: Induced by
theſe motives, we appointed a committee, veſted with powers, to
confer with you, and alſo to agree with you, in calling the aid
of men of wiſdom and knowledge to give their opinion re-
ſpecting any matter called a breach of a moral precept, or bar of
charity ; hoping by their means we might be brought to ſee eye
to eye, and become bound in the ſtrongeſt bonds of love, like
the true followers of the Lamb. In the plan you have pro-
poſed to us in your letter of the 19th inſtant, of ſubmitting all
matters indefinitely that may be called “matters of diſſention
and grievance,” it is not reaſonable for you to aſk, nor us to
grant. We view ourſelves poſſeſſed of certain natural and un-
alienable rights, ſacred to us, the exerciſe of which you have
ſaid is a great grief and burden to you. It would be a pro-
fane thing in us to reſign them into the hands of imperfeót,
mutable men, or voluntarily to ſubmit them to the leaſt dan-
ger or hazard ; but they ſhould be preſerved inviolable. As
the order of ſociety cannot be preſerved without this indepen-
dent right of human creatures—we flatter ourſelves, breth-
31
renthat on reflection, your own reaſon will point out to you the
great impropriety of making this requeſt—And we pray Heav-
en to direct you in all your proceedingº, that you may ſtand
acquitted and approved in the day of the Lord Jeſus. We
would further inform you we put confidence in our committee,
we have appointed to tranſact thoſe matters with you, and we
ſee no cauſe at preſent to interfere in the matter or dićtate any
meaſure whatever.
“ Unanimouſly voted.
“In behalf of ſaid brethren, SAMUEL DUTTON.”
** June 22, 1805.”
ANSWER,
* Hanover, June 27, 1805.
* BRETHREN, . . . .
“Yours of the 22d inſt. we have received—As the allega-
tions you have againſt us, are numerous, and ſome of them but
very indefinitely expreſſed ; and as we are conſcious of the in-
tegrity of our motives, and feeling ourſelves perfectly willing
that every part of our condućt towards you, ſhould undergo
the ſtrićteſt examination, we thought proper to make our pro-
poſals on a baſis, ſo broad and liberal, that you could not poſ-
fibly, with any reaſon on that account, obječt thereto. And
to obviate the objećtidns contained in your laſt, when we made
our propoſals to your committee, it being ſuggeſted by ſome
one of them, that our propoſals might implicate ſome matters
not ſuitable and proper to ſubmit to a council, we replied, and
urged it as a part of our propoſals, “that if any ſuch matter
ſhould be brought forward, to which they might obječt, as im-
proper to be laid before the council : the ſame council ſhould
judge and determine whether the ſame was proper ſor them to
aćt upon, or not.”
“We never entertained the moſt diſtant idea of your ſub-
mitting to danger or hazard, any of your “natural and unaliena-
ble rights:” but ſhould you ſubmit, even them, to ſuch of God's
miniſters as you yourſelves might chooſe, within fifty miles, it
appears to us your danger or hazard would be but very, very
fmall indeed—and for a moment only, ſuppoſe that, could you
chooſe a council, ſo devoid of reaſon, or religion, as to form a
reſult inconſiſtent with ſuch your natural and unalienable rights,
could you, by the principles either, of reaſon or religion, be
poſſibly holden thereby 2 If not, where is the weight of your
obječtion ? Is it not lighter than vanity ?—Is it poſſible that
$2
fºch an objećtion can ſeriouſly operate in yodeſłainds P. Have
your committee been ſo negligent as not to ſtate to you; when
converſing on the ſubjećt, that part of our propoſal, which is
herein before metationed. It is true we did not think to inſert
that particular in our laſt to you, neither was it neceſſary, per-
haps, that we ſhould,/or any part of the prepôſals; it beiti
the duty of your committee fully to acquaint you there with
however, had we thought of it at the time, it would doubtleſs,
have been likewiſe mentioned, , , ! { }
“We finterely regret your non-compliance with the propo-
ſals we have made you; which, we truſt, have been dićtáted by
an ardent deſire to reſtore chriſtian love and fellowſhip among
us; and, if poſſible, to defeat the machinations of our com-
mon adverſary, ſo far at leaſt, that hereafter we might live as
brethren of two ſiſter churches of our common Lord. It ap-
pears to us as though we have now done every thing, on our
part, reaſonable and becoming our chriſtian relation and pro-
feſſion, to effect an event ſo deſirable; and that it now only
remains for us to inform you that we have requeſted a reverend
council, of Chriſt's ambaſſadors, to convene at this place on
Tueſday next, at two o'clock, afternoon, for the purpoſe of ota
ganizing us into a church ſtate. .* *
“We give you this information, that you may attend, if you
think proper, and ſhew any reaſonable cauſe, if any you dań.
have, why we ſhould not be ſo organized, *
* We are, yours, &c. . . ." A \
g “ CALEB FULt ER, ) ,
tº BENONI DEWEY, ; 6.6mmittee.
_-_* “JA8. WHEELOCK,
*To the members of the church in Hartford,
who ſtyle-themſelves “aggrieved brethren, &c.”
In the foregoing letters from them, it is neceſſary to obſerve
the diſtinčtion, between a council to hear and determine all mat-
ters of controverſy, as we propoſed ; and that, of taking the
opinion and advice of judicious men, relative to matters of griev-
ance, which they ſay, they are willing for ; though even this,
they confider as a diſplay of candor and indulgence. The right
of judging, after all, they reſerve to themſelves. Mark the ſpirit
and principle of thoſe letters—We are one party in a contro-
verſy, accuſed ; and they are the other party, accuſing; and
yet, they being a ſmall majority, claim the power and right of
33
judging the cauſe. How is this conſiſtent with that civil, and
religious freedom and liberty, which are the boaſt of our coun-
try 2 or what is it ſhort of overbearing domination ? In this
connection we would ſtate a circumſtance that will tend to
ſhew, what was the ſincerity of the grief expreſſed in their
aforelaid letters; which is, that nearly a month after our re-
monſtrance was given them, and which was the ſubječt of their
complaining, an invitation was extended to all of us, individu-
ally, who had figned that obnoxious paper, to unite, uncondi-
tionally, with them, in a ſhortly expected communion. This
invitation was communicated by Profeſſor Smith, himſelf, their
paſtor, who went from houſe to houſe for the purpoſe— now as
this was the higheſt mark of chriſtian fellowſhip and approba-
tion in their power to give, how can the expreſſions of grief,
in their communications to us, be any thing more, than mere
pretenſions, dićtated by a ſpirit of domination, to prevent the
eſtabliſhment here of any other church, beſide that, which
the ſame ſpirit could control. As our propoſals for a coun-
cil, and even that of their choofing it themſelves, was re-
fuſed—and as they would not conſent to any tribunal but that
of themſelves to judge between us; we therefore proceeded; and
on the 2d day of July 1805, were organized into a church
fate by the Rev. Meſſrs. Iſaiah Potter Aſa Burton, D.D. and
Sylveſter Dana. The next ſtep taken by Prefident Wheelock
was an application to the Board of Truſtees of the College at
their next ſeſſion in Auguſt, for authority to require the Pro-
feſſor of divinity, to preach in the College chapel, inſtead of
the meeting houſe, where he then did. That the public may
rightly judge of the juſtice, propriety and benevolence of this
application, aſide from its appearance in a religious view, it is
neceſſary, that it be known and underſtood, that this meeting
houſe was built by a ſmall number of individuals, moſtly in the
vicinity of the College, and who were generally, in very mod-
erate pecuniary circumſtances—That the houſe is twice as large
as one neceſſary, only, to accommodate the inhabitants, without
the College and ſtudents. That this enlargement of the houſe
was ſolely on the importunity of Preſident Wheelock, who
urged that it might be made large enough, not only to accom-
modate the Authority of Colfège and ſtudents, and inhabi-
tants together as a meeting houſe, but alſo as might be ſuitable
for the public occaſions of the College. Prefident Wheelock
at the ſame time gave his moſt poſitive verbal aſſurance, that
the Truſtees would remunerate at ſome future time, and ſo
fbon as they ſhould be able, a certain part, or proportion, of
E
4
;’
34 \

the expence of the building; and that, in the mean time, the
- . for the uſe of it ; the College and ſtudents. i.
ing on this aſſurance, they built the preſent meeting i.
which is perhaps as large as any one in the State, and which is
entirely diſproportionate, to the *. of the proprietors—We
will now exhibit the Preſident's application, to the Board of
Truſtees, and their doings thereon, in their order.
“To the Honorable Board of Truſtees of Dartmouth College,
the Executive Officers of ſaid College reſpectfully repreſent,

“That there are certain difficulties ſubſiſting, which they
hope may be removed ; but which, as they have reaſon to fear,
may poſſibly in their . render it neceſſary for them to
atten worſhip, on the ſabbath, in ſome place diſtinčt from the
meeting houſe in this place. Such an event, were it ever to
happen, the underfigners will greatly deprecate, and nothing
Íhort of the impoſfibility of enjoying any other way their nat-
ural and religious †. can lead them to the fame; and which
they ſhall be ready fully to prove to the public on any proper
occaſion. Should they, however, to this end eventually find it
expedient, they deſire the approbation of your honorable Board.
in favor of the meaſure, and they perſuade themſelves that
your goodneſs will be induced to grant the ſame, from motives
of humanity, ſcience, religion, and the proſperity of this inſti-
tution. Should ſuch an event in future ariſe, notwithſtanding
every poſſible meaſure to prevent it, the underſigners conceive
that it will become their duty, and that they ſhall have a right
to meet on the ſabbath at the Chapel, and that the Profeſſor
of Theology preach in that place, and they confider that they
have a juſt claim to your protećtion for the meaſure, and they
very reſpectfully deſire and expect your ſančtion of the ſame,
“JOHN WHEELOCK, Preſident.
“JOHN SMITH, Profeſſºr of Latin and
Greek, Hebrew and other Oriental Languager.
“JOHN HUBBARD, Profeſſºr of Math.
and Nar. Philoſºphy.
“Dartmouth College, Auguſt 31, 1805.

“N. B. We have full reaſon to believe that the profeſſor of
Medicine is full in opinion with us, concerning the above, though.
he is now abſent.
“The above is a true copy of a repreſentation made to the
Board of Truſtees of Dartmouth College, Auguſt ſeſſion, 1805,
35
and which is referred to, in votes of ſaid Truſtees, a copy of
which accompanies this,
* Attéft,
“WM. WOODWARD,
Sec'y to ſaid Truſtees.”
“In compliance with the vote of the Truſtees requeſting a
£pecification of the feveral matters of complaint intended to be
included in our general repreſentations of the 31ſt Auguſt in-
ftant, we offer the following:—
“Iſt. Individuals belonging to the religious Society in this
place have treated the Preſident with great diſreſpect and con-
tumely, by ſaying, that the Preſident had loſt the confidence
of the Truſtees, and by ſaying, in ſubſtance, that they, ſaid in-
dividuals, would reduce the power of the Preſident, and would
oblige him to conform and yield to them.
*2d. That the Rev. Profeſſor of Languages has been treat-
ed with unkindneſs and diſreſpect by certain chriſtian brethren
in this place, in this—The Rev. Profeſſor had, by invitation of
the church at Dartmouth College, ačted as their paſtor nearly
twenty-one years, and before he had declined ačting longer in
that capacity, or they had deſired him to decline, they addreſſ-
‘ed and ſtyled him their late paſtor, and requeſted him to ačt as
moderator of the chirch, as a matter of civility, under the idea
that his paſtoral relation had ceaſed. t
“3d. That certain members of the church at Dartmouth
College and others, not belonging to ſaid church, did in a cer-
aim memorial, indirectly charge the Preſident with a violation
of truth.
“4th. That certain members of the ſaid church have, in our
opinion, taken improper meaſures; and ſeceded from the church
in an irregular and improper manner.
“ 5th. That in conſequence of the foregoing reaſons, our
feelings are ſuch that we cannot commune, as chriſtians, with
the laid ſeceding "brethren ; neither can we, with comfort, be
preſent at the adminiſtration of the ordinances to the ſeceding mem-
berr ; and neither can we, with edifiedtion and comfort, hear the
preaching of thoſe clergymen who have aſſifted or deliberately counte-
nanced the ſeceſſion ºf ſaid members.
*6th. That meaſures which reſpect the ſociety in this place
have been purſued, without a proper regard and reſpect to the
*See notice of their invitation to commutie—pagé 33.
36
officers of College, who, in their character as officers, as well
as individuals, had an intereſt in the matters ſo tranſačted, and
the executive of College, have, in many inſtances, reſpecting
concerns of that nature, been apparently treated with defigned
neglect. . . .
“We requeſt liberty of making further ſpecifications, if ſuch
ſhould occur to us, as this ſpecification has been of neceſſity
made in haſte. * -
s: JOHN WHEELOCK, Preſident.
“ JOHN SMITH, Prof. Languages,
“JOHN HUBBARD, Prof. Math, tº Phil.
“Dartmouth College, Sept. 2, 1805.” -
“The foregoing is a copy of the ſpecification exhibited to
the Board of Truſtees of Dartmouth College, at their annual
meeting in Auguſt, 1805, in conſequence of a vote of ſaid
Truſtees, and which is referred to in votes, a copy of which
accompanies this. ! ~ *
- “Atteſt, gº
“WM. WOODWARD, Sec'y to ſaid Truffees.”
“At an annual meeting of the board of Truſtees of Dart-
mouth College, holden at ſaid College on the Tueſday next
preceding the fourth Wedneſday in Auguſt, Anno Domini,
1805:— -
“Voted, that the Hon. Preſident, Profeſſor of Languages,
and Profeſſor of Mathematics, be requeſted to ſpecify the ſev-
eral matters of complaint intended to be included in the gen-
eral repreſentation of the 31ſt of Auguſt, being this day by
them officially made and preſented to this Board. The offi-
cers aforeſaid accordingly laid in a ſpecification (ſee before)
and thereupon, - *
“Voted, that the ſame be ſubmitted to a committee, and
Meſſrs Thompſon, Jacob and Freeman, were appointed on ſaid
Committee.
“The Committee laſt mentioned report that the following
votes be paſſed by the Truſtees. - * *
“ Upon hearing the ſpecification requeſted by a vote of this
day—Voted, that the executive be earneſtly requeſted to make
every exertion conſiſtent with the honor of the College, and
the ſpirit of chriſtianity, to remove the exiſting difficulties,
and if they cannot, of themſelves, remove them, to call to
their aid a mutual eccleſiaſtical council, And whereas, the ex-
ecutive have expreſſed a ſtrong deſire for a reſtoration of har-
37
anony, upon terms compatible with the dignity of College and
chriſtian intercourſe; and to be removed as far as poſſible from
the neceſſity of deciding upon the meaſures to be adopted in the
caſe—therefore, and at their requeſt, voted, that a committee
of five members of the board be choſen by ballot to attend to
the ſeveral matters mentioned in ſaid ſpecification, or in any
other ſpecifications which may be made, in caſe the exertions
of the executive to remove exiſting difficulties prove ineffect-
ual ; and upon thoſe matters, or any part of them, or any oth-
er matters that may be ſpecified being proved to the committee,
to effect, if poſſible, all ſuitable conceffions and acknowledg-
ments, and a reſtoration of harmony—and if the committee be
unable to reſtore harmony, they are requeſted to deſire the
Hon. Prefident to call a meeting of the whole of the Truſtees,
and at that meeting of the Truſtees, to report a ſtatement of
fačts, and ſuch meaſures as the ſaid committee may think it
expedient for the Truſtees to adopt. **
(Signed) “THOS. W. THOMPSON, for the Com.
“Voted by ballot and choſe Preſident Wheelock, and Meſſrs.
Farrar, Freeman, Burroughs & Jacob a committee for the pur-
poſes mentioned in ſaid report, the ſaid report being previouſ.
ly accepted. . .
" * Atteſt, “WM. wOODWARD, Secretary.
“A true copy. º &
* Atteſt, “WM. WOODWARD, Sec'y.”
By the foregoing application and ſpecifications it ſeems, the
Preſident himſelf, now took more openly the lead and man-
agement; and the Church,-in ſubſerviency to his wiſhes, ac-
cordingly paſſed the following vote:
“At a meeting of the church of Chriſt at Dartmouth Col-
lege, in the meeting-houſe near ſaid College, 7th Nov. 1805–
“ Unanimouſly voted, that this church will concur with their
brethren who are executive officers in the College, in any reg.
ular meaſures which they may think proper to adopt, with
a view to induce thoſe who have lately gone out from us, to
make chriſtian ſatisfaction for their condućt which may appear
unbecoming the profeſſed followers of Chriſt,” and to reſtore
peace and harmony, upon goſpel principles ; but that nothing
be done to endanger the exiſtence of the church, or to cauſe
a ſeparation of its members who are now in fellowſhip.
* Atteſt, JOHN SMITH, Paſtor.”
* See Note 4. &
***
38
• Purſuant to the preceding vote of the Truſtees (no deceihais-
dation being effected) a mutual council which we had big de-
fired and ſought for, was now agreed on, and thoſeñ, Whith
council convened on the 19th February, 1806, and having had
a full hearing, which continued ſeveral days, they, Gh the #.
publiſhed the following reſult: *
* Dartiſióüth College, Feb. 19, 1866.
“Agreeable to letters miffive an Eccleſiaſtical Council con-
vened to give their advice relative to matters of difficulty, ex-
iſting among profeſſing chriſtians in this vicinity. Preſent,
Rev. Meſſrs. Nehemiah Prudden, Samuel Wood, Thomas
Page, Noah Worceſter, Walter Harris, Sylveſter Sage, and
Thomas Worceſter. Choſe Rev. Mr. Nehemiah Prudden,
Moderator, Thomas Worceſter, Scribe. The Council being
opened with prayer, the aggrieved brethren reſpectively laid
before them their matters of grievance ; and after a full hear-
ing, and having, as we truſt, carefully and prayerfully deliber-
ated on the things which had been exhibited before us, we
now reſpectfully preſent the following obſervations and articles
of advice.
“Firſt, the Council, conſidering that the glory of God, the
general intereſts of Chriſt's Kingdom, the proſperity of the ira-
portant ſeminary, the tranquillity and happineſs of the people
in this village, and the fellowſhip of neighboring churches, are
all concerned in the iſſue of their reſult ; and realizing their
deficiency of wiſdom to judge in a matter ſo complicated and
important, they are happy that their reſult is to be only adviſo-
ry. It is with deep regret and affectionate concern that the
Council have found fuch a diffenſion in this important part of
the vineyard of Chriſt. They have felt themſelves under
weighty obligations to find out, if poſſible, ſome way in which
the unhappy breach may be healed, and peace and tranquillity
reſtored. Secondly, from the complexion of the articles of
charge, and the things exhibited for their ſupport, the Council
have been led to view the allegations as deſigned to ſhow the
unhappy fituation of our brethren, and the ſeveral ſteps which
have led to it. The reſpectable chara&ers, concerned in the
iſſue of the reſult, well know that perſons may differ in ſenti-
ment reſpecting ſubordinate objećts, and yet both have in view
the ſame ultimate end. They are alſo ſenſible, that men of
the greateſt learning and abilities, and even of the beſt hearts,
are liable to be led aſtray in a controverſy, which is in their
view deeply intereſting, and to have their feelings alienated one
39
from another. And when a controverſy has been of long
continuance, it would be indeed remarkable, if no uncomforta-
ble jealoufies had been excited, and no undue ſeverity of re-
mark had been indulged. Nor can our brethren be inſenſible,
that in a ſtate of controverſy the ſame remarks and obſervations
will have 3 different aſpect in the view of thoſe on different
ſides of the ſame queſtion. That, which will, to perſons on
one ſide, appear nothing more than candor and plainneſs of
ſpeech, will to thoſe on the other, appear like unchriſtian ſever-
ity. And that which is meant to be expreſſed with candor is
often received as unjuſtifiable aſperity. Such things are ſo
common, if not univerſal, that our brethren need not be in-
formed it is poſſible they may have exiſted among them.—
Thirdly, the Council apprehend that the continuance of two
churches in this village would be attended with laſting difficul-
ties. Yet we do not entertain any idea that our reſpećted
brethren of an exparte Council atted wrong, or from unchriſ-
tian motives, in reſulting as they did in regard to a new church
in this place. But, however circumſtances then exiſting might
require ſuch meaſures, or preclude any thing more advantage-
ous, yet, you of the aggrieved brethren reſpectively, having
now mutually ſubmitted your difficulties, we truſt you may be
happily reunited. For which purpoſe, we unanimouſly re-
commend the following articles:
“Firſt, this Council cordially recommend to our brethren,
on both fides of the controverſy, duly to notice the hand of
God in the events which have taken place, and ſuitably to hum-
ble themſelves under the frowns of his Providence. We alſo
recommend, that, as individuals, they review the motives by
which they have been ačtuated, and the remarks and obſerva-
tions they have made reſpecting each other, and ſeriouſly in-
quire how far they have been calculated to increaſe their un-
happy diffenſions. Secondly, we judge it expedient that there
be but one church at preſent in connexion with the College,
denominated as formerly, conſiſting of two branches; one on
the eaſt ſide, and the other on the weſt ſide of Conneéticut riv-
er, under the ſame covenant as heretofore. That each branch
have an independent and excluſive right of admitting and diſ-
ciplining its own members—that each branch alſo have the ex-
cluſive privilege of employing or ſettling a miniſter of their
own choice—that, ſhould there be a paſtor in each branch,
they ačtas moderators excluſively in their reſpective branches—
that there be annually the ſame number of communions in the
meeting houſe on College plain, as heretofore, both branches
40
then uniting in the ſolemnity—that in caſe there be only one
adminiſtrator, to whichever branch he may belong, he admini,
iſter to the whole church—that in caſe of two ſuch adminiſtra-
tors, and both preſent at the ſolemnity, it be optional with them,
whether to divide the ſervices of each folemnity, or each per-
form the whole alternately—that it be optional with each
branch, whether any, or how many intermediate communions
they will have ; and that at any intermediate communion of
one branch the members of the other have free invitation to
participate—in caſe of two miniſters, that is, one connected with
each branch, each perform parochial duties for ſuch as ſtand
related to him by their own choice ; and ſhould this reſult be
Inutually accepted, it is propoſed that there be a meeting of the
whole church without unneceſſary delay when, the Rev. Dr.
Smith ačting as Moderator, ſome perſon be choſen ſcribe, to
whom ſhall be committed the original records of this church,
whoſe duty it may be to record any after votes of the whole
church; then let each branch in its diſtinčt capacity chooſe a
ſtanding Moderator and ſcribe ; and it is propoſed that in any
meetings of the whole church, ſhould there be an adminiſtra-
tor in each branch, they preſide as moderator alternately ; and
if there be but one adminiſtrator, he preſide in all ſuch general
meetings.
“Now, beloved brethren, in this way it appears that your
difficulties may be removed, ſo that you may again know how
good and how pleaſant it is for brethren to dwell together in
unity. Although, in the courſe of your unhappy controverſy,
things have taken place, wounding to one another, which the
utmoſt goſpel candor cannot wholly excuſe, and which ſhould
therefore be conſidered with great ſearchings of heart : Yet
to us no faults have been made evident, but ſuch as we think
may confiſtently be paſſed over, on the ground of ſuch conceſ-
ſion, as ſhall be implied in a cordial acceptance of this reſult.
And are there not, beloved brethren, very urgent reaſons, why
you ſhould in this way bury in oblivion all the allegations ex-
hibited before us, againſt each other ? Does not the plan pro-
poſed, open a door for the attainment of every right and privi-
lege, which has been profeſſedly, on either fide, an obječt of
purſuit Have you not felt that great unhappineſs is inſepa-
rable from diffenſion ? Has it not pleaſed a gracious God in
the midſt of wrath to remember mercy 2 Has he not lately
granted ſome effuſions of his holy ſpirit among you, and muſt
not every one who wiſhes a continuance and an increaſe of the
good work, feel it to be inexpreſſibly important, that an imme-
41
diate reconciliation ſhould take place f for what can have a
greater tendency to grieve the ſpirit of God, than continued
diffenſion among the profeſſed followers of the Lamb º And
what can have a greater tendency to promote a general revi-
val of religion, than a humble and cordial reconciliation among
thoſe who have been alienated : Is it not then eaſy to ſee,
that the happineſs or miſery of many immortal fouls may be
intimately connected with an acceptance or rejećtion of this re-
ſult 2 How deſirable then, that all our brethren, who have
been at variance, ſhould now melt into contrition, embrace each
other in the arms of holy friendſhip, and unite to promote the
good work of the Lord. In view of theſe things, beloved
brethren, may we not urge, that by ſuch mutual conceſſions,
condeſcenſion, forgiveneſs, and forbearance, as an acceptance of
this reſult muſt imply, you endeavor to reſtore and continue
the unity of the ſpirit in the bond of peace How deſirable
is this, as it reſpects all the important intereſts combined in this
ſchool of the Prophets, which Heaven has ſo graciouſly nur-
tured and proſpered. Brethren, moſt reſpectfully we commend
you all to the grace of God.
“ Voted unanimouſly and publiſhed as our reſult, this twenty
fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thouſand
eight hundred and fix.
« NEHEMIAH PRUDDEN, Moderator.
“A true copy,
<< Atteſt, « THOMAS WORCESTER, Scribe.”
This reſult was accepted by both churches—but by the old
church, however, in the very extraordinary manner, as appears
by their vote following :
“At a meeting of the Church of Chriſt at Dartmouth Col-
lege, March 20, 1806.
“On taking into confideration the reſult of the mutual
Council who convened at this place on the 19th ult, and being
highly pleaſed, and fully ſatisfied with the ſame, as proper and
well adapted to the ſtate of this church ; unanimouſly voted,
that agreeably to the intent, meaning and import ºf ſaid reſult, this
church ſhall continue in future to be one and the ſame as heretofore ;
and the members of the ſame to remain under the fame cove-
nant as formerly in ſaid church ; That accordingly, the ſame
plan of government, as heretofore, ſhall continue in future, to be the
conſtitutional form of government for the church, embrae; the two
F * .
42
brancher. That in caſe of a vacancy in the paſtoral office is
either branch, the exiſting paſtor may diſcharge the duties of ad-
miniſtrator over both branches—and that members may be admitted
and diſcipline exerciſed in each branch ſeparately—That there ſhall
be no change in the eccleſiaſtical form of Government in either branch,
unleſs the whole church, comp.ſed of the two brancher, at a regular
meeting, ſhall agree to the ſame. That individual members on
the eaſt or weft ſide of the river ſhall have a right to belong to either
branch as they may incline—That in future, any member or mem-
bers, having any difficulty or diſpute with any other member or mem-
bers of the church, ſhall have a right, if he, ſhe, or they ſhould deſire
it, to be heard and tried by the poflors and elderſ of the two branch-
ef, compoſing one judicial tribunal,—That there ſhall be a meeting
of the whole church, whenever any member or members in either
branch, ſhall deſire it, for ſuch reaſons as ſhall appear impor-
tant to the paſtor, or paſſorſ, aſ heretofore. The ſame to be ſeaſ-
onably and duly publiſhed in the two branches, by the exiſting
paſtor, or paſtors, and in caſe of a poſſible vacancy in both theſe
officers, by the elders of either branch.—That the two paſtors
ſhall alternately act as moderators at the meetings of the whole
church, which duty ſhall always be diſcharged by the exiſting
paſtor ; when there ſhall be only one.--That when the two
branches ſhall meet to attend the ſpecial ordinancer, there being
two paſtors, they ſhall ºfficiate on thºſe occaſions, by agreement ; and
when there is only one paſtor it ſhall be his duty to adminiſłer the
ſame. That each branch ſhall have the right of admitting members
into the ſame , but when any member applieſ for admiſſion into ei-
ther branch, he or ſhe ſhall be publicly propounded a reaſºnable
time in each branch. Unanimouſly voted, that this church, do
fully and cordially adopt the whole of the aforeſaid reſult of
the Reverend Council which we confider, as embracing in its
tenor, import and meaning, all the articles contained in the foregoing
remarks. And ſhould any concerned conceive that any of the
faid preceding remarks, are not intended or embraced in the
ſaid reſult, we would hereby expreſs our willingneſs and cheer-
fulneſs to enter into any amicable conference or diſcuſſion reſpect-
ing the ſame with the ſpirit of chriſtian accommodation. And
ſhould there finally remain any diſagreement between this church
and others concerned, as to the true intent and meaning of any
part of ſaid reſult, this church will be cheerfully ready to join
in aſking the opinions and advice of the Honorable Committee
of the Truſtees or a majority of thoſe who are neareſt and were
preſent at the ſeſſion of ſaid Council—and likewiſe of a major-
ity of the members of the Council who formed the reſult and
43
* > * ~ - - * ... • * * ºre & * * ~ *
are heareſt—and that in caſe of ſuch reference fone one of Jaid
Committee be entruffed with the whole buſineſ of obtaining ſaid opin-
ion and advice.”
“JOHN SMITH,”
By the reſult, it appears, the two branches are conſidered to
be, as two diſtinét churches, excepting, in the proviſion made
for communing together, and one or two other circumſtances—
each has the independent and excluſive right, of chooſing and
ſettling its own miniſter ; and the ſame right, of admitting
and diſciplining its own members—by their conſtrućtion, the
church is to be one, and the ſame as heretofore? and no mem-
ber can be admitted, witheut having been prepounded in both
branches—that any one may have a right to be heard and tried
by the two branches conjunctly, forming one judicial tribunal, &c.
&c. We have not room, nor time, for ſuch a comment on this
vote, as it juſtly deſerves ; we will, therefore, only requeſt the
reader to look at the reſult once more, and to compare it with
the vote of acceptance ; and, if he can, to reconcile the latter
to the reſult. If it is irreconcileable, how ſhall it be account-
€d for, that Prefident Wheelock, and his learned coadjutors,
ſhould declare as they have, in that vote, that they conſider the
reſult “as embracing, in its tenor, import and meaning, all the arti-
cles contained in the foregoing remarks.” This, likewiſe, is left to
the reader to reconcile, with the knowledge, and underſtand-
ing, of thoſe learned and reſpectable gentlemen. * *
. The reſult having been accepted by both churches, as before
ſtated, the general meeting propoſed by the reſult, was notified
and holden ; previouſly, however, to this meeting, it being un-
derſtood what was the conſtrućtion of the reſult by Preſident
Wheelock, an individual member, without the knowledge of
the church, wrote to the moderator of the late council on the
ſubjećt, who in anſwer gave his underſtanding of the meaning;
an accordance to this underſtanding, was alſo manifeſted and
ſubjoined by the other gentlemen of the council ; which, un-
derſtanding, comports entirely with the plain meaning of the
words of the reſult. But to return :—at this meeting, Pro-
feſſor Smith preſiding, Profeſſor Hubbard was choſen the
ſcribe : there being no other buſineſs to be tranſačted, we held
a conference on the conſtruction of the reſult. They contend-
ed for that contained in their vote aforeſaid ; and we, for
its meaning, according to the plain import of the words in
which it is expreſſed—and in ſupport of the correótneſs of
this our underſtanding, the anſwer before mentioned from the
_*
44
members of the late council, was adduced by the perſon to
whom it was written—but to no effect. -
We, on our part, followed the recommendation of the re-
ſult, invariably, by giving notice of our intended communions,
and invitations to them to unite with us therein, ſimilar to the
following:
“By permiſſion of Divine Providence, it is expected, the
ſacrament of the Lord's Supper will be adminiſtered to the
eaſt branch of the church at Dartmouth College, the next ſab-
bath ; and the members of the weſt, are, by thoſe of the eaſt
branch, moſt cordially invited to abide by the reſult of the late
mutual council, and agreeably thereto, to lay aſide ſtrife and
controverſy, and in brotherly love and charity, to unite with us
in the celebration of that holy ordinance.”
Profeſſor Smith, by a previous contračt, had continued
preaching to that ſociety in Hartford, and paſtor of that church,
from the time of Profeſſor Shurtleff's appointment, to the de-
ceaſe of Profeſſor Smith. This ſolemn event excited our ſin-
Cere ſympathy ; but it ſeemed, at the ſame time, as though the
difficulties here, might now have ended : and our hopes once
more revived, in conſideration that we, on this ſide of the
river, might yet be united, under the adminiſtration of the
Profeſſor of Divinity—but our hopes in this, alſo, were ſoon
defeated. The aged Dr. Burroughs was procured, to leave his
flock and charge—to be diſmiſſed from them by an eccleſiaſti-
cal council, and to remove and ſettle in Hartford, to take the
paſtoral care of that church, (which they call the church of
Dartmouth College) where Dr. B. continued until his death—
and, in addition to what was paid him there, he received, as
was ſaid and underſtood, from the Preſident, one hundred dol-
lars annually, towards his ſupport. [Note 5.]
It naturally may here be aſked, why the Preſident ſhould be
at ſuch expenſe—or why ſhould he not, after the death of Pro-
feſſor Smith, be willing that Profeſſor Shurtleff ſhould be paſ-
tor, as Profeſſor Smith had heretofore been 2 Inſtead of at-
tempting, ourſelves, to anſwer the queries, we will ſtate the fol-
lowing facts:—A gentleman of reſpectability, who removed to
this place ſince the death of Profeſſor Smith, and whoſe name
and teſtimony may be had if this ſtatement ſhould be denied,
in 'converſation with the Preſident aſked, why Profeſſor Shurt-
leff, after the death of Profeſſor Smith, had not been choſen
paſtor inſtead of Dr. Burroughs 2 The Preſident at one time
45
}
gave for reaſon that, by the appointment of Dr. Burroughs the
Preſbyterian, intereſt would be better ſecured. At another
time, in reply to the ſame queſtion, he ſaid, that, if a paſtor
was not appointed to the weſt branch firſt, he feared that the
people in Hartford would go off. At another time, before the
Preſbytery, he gave for reaſon, that Profeſſor Shurtleff had
communed with the new church. Theſe three different rea-
ſons were given at three different times, to one and the ſame
inquiry, by the Preſident—and which of them is the true rea-
ſon, or whether they all are, is not for us to determine.
As before mentioned, we followed the recommendations of
the reſult, and, as circumſtances would allow, ſo continued to
do till December, 1809, while they, on their part, entirely
negle&ted to comply with it. Having underſtood they repre-
ſented their having accepted the reſult of council, and that we
had not ; and for other ſerious and ſolemn reaſons urging us
therete, we wrote them again, and propoſed as in the following.
letter : + 4 :
* }
: 'A'.
“To Dr. Burroughs, to be communicated to the church un-
der his paſtoral care. º .#
** BRETHREN, -
“If any apology is neceſſary for reſuming the unhappy ſub-.
jećt which heretofore has occaſioned the interchange of ſo
many communications between us, we can offer no other, than
a continuance of our ſincere deſire for a reſtoration of that
chriſtian unity, love, and charity between us which we have ſo
long uniformly, and ſo ardently deſired. ... *ś
“We have lately been informed, though the information
was not very direct, that you do not conſider us as having ac-
cepted the reſult of the late mutual council—if this can be a
reality, that you ſo conſider it, permit us to aſſiſt your recollec-
tion by a recitation of facts, which we think, muſt clearly ſatism
fy you of your miſtake, and that the reſult was fully and pub-
licly accepted by us.
“After the reſult was publiſhed, on the 4th day of April,
1806, a vote, unequivocal of our acceptance of the ſame, was
unanimouſly paſſed by our church—and a committee was then
appointed, who waited on Dr. Smith, your then Paſtor, with a
copy of the ſame to be communicated to you ; together with
our defire, if it might be agreeable to you, that the general
meeting, recommended by the reſult, might be notified to be
holden on ſome day as you might pleaſe, in the then following
45
week. The meeting accordingly was Hôtified publicly in each
fociety, as we ſuppoſed, and holden at the meeting houſe here,
on the 10th day of April 1806; at which meeting, agreeably
to the recommendation of the reſtilt, we proceeded publicly, (a
reſpečtable number of ſpectators being préſent,) to the choice
of a ſcribe ; after this, whenevé the ſatrement of the Lord's
ſupper was to be adminiſtered here, we invariably practiced, on
the ſabbath preceding, agreeably to the récommendation of
the reſult, to requeſt a public hotification ºf the fame, together
with our cordial invitation to the members of the weſt branch
to commune with us ; which notifications and invitations were
publiſhed, as is uſual in like caſes, before the congregation in
this place, and likewiſe ſeaſonably given to fir, Smith, to be
communicated to you, as we ſuppoſed in the ſame way,
“Thus we have ſtated facts, as they ſtand in our minds, and
on record ; from which it appears to us that we have fully ac-
cepted, and as far as circumſtances would permit, hâve conform-
ed to that reſult. While on the other hand it appears to us,
that as your vote, of March 20th, 1806, which you conſider
an acceptance, contains an expreſſion of your meaning, that is
fo different from that of the reſult ; as you have negle&ted to
comply with very eſſential requiſitions, or recommendations of
the ſame—and as you have not, ſince the general meeting be-
fore mentioned, in any circumſtance relating to us, conformed
thereto, it cannot be conſidered that the reſult has been accept-
ed by you. But as you think otherwiſe, as we have under-
ſtood; as you confider that the reſult has been accepted by you
and not by us—we would now propoſe and invite you to unite,
with us in calling a mutual council, to whom ſhall be ſubmitted
whether the parties have mutually accepted and complied with
the reſult aforeſaid. If they may think the ſame has not been
mutually accepted, &c. then, if either, and which of the parties
have accepted and complied with it; and if either, or neither
have accepted it, then for the ſaid Council to point out to us,
what is requiſite for either or both of the parties further to do
in order for a full acceptance and compliance with the ſame.
“This, brethren, is a propoſal which we make with ſincerity,
and as we hope and truſt, from pure motives;as the moſt likely
mean, under exiſting circumſtances, of reſtoring to us that unity
and brotherly love without which we can never unite in the
Kingdom of God.
“Before we cloſe, will you not permit us, once more, to ex-
preſs our moſt ardent deſire that a ſettlement of theſe difficul-
ties may yet be, and that ſpeedily affected. Five years have
47
now almoſt elapſed ſince the commencement of them ; and in
that time what wounds and reproaches have not been thereby,
caſt on our holy religion ; and how does our common adverſa-
ry exult at their continuance –and to ſee the ſacrament of the
Lord's ſupper on one ſabbath, adminiſtered to one party; and
perhaps, on the next ſabbath to the other, in the ſame place ;
and to ſee us alternately turning our backs upon that holy ordi-
nance ; and how does it increaſe his impious joy, on the Lord's
days, when thoſe from Hartford commune here, to ſee the doors
of God's ſančtuary there, not open for his worſhip, and that
His Name, therein, is not hallowed,
Does it not appear that the preſent is a moſt favorable oppor.
tunity for a happy ſettlement of this diffenſion, and more fa-
vorable than probably will ever hereafter occur 2 and ſhould
they remain unſettled—alas ! the conſequences, it is needleſs
for us to attempt to deſcribe. We will only obſerve, that ia
the Kingdom of Chriſt, his º: can only be ſung, with unit-
ed hearts ; there can be only one table for his friends ; and,
there cannot be any alternate fitting down, as with us, to cele-
brate the wonders of his dying and redeeming love.
“Let us all weigh theſe confiderations, and others that rea-
ſon and religion dićtate, that the all important objećt of a ſettle-
ment may yet be effected ; and as a likely mean thereto, will
you not unite with us agreeably to the propoſal before mention-
ed, in calling the aid of a mutual Council, that we may unite
in an acceptance of the reſult ; that thereby we may once more
embrace each other in love; that the prayers of God's people
for our proſpºrity may no longer be hindered—and that we
may again ſubſcribe ourſelves, with cordiality and affection,
“Your brethren in the Lord.
[“Signed by order of the Church,)
* CALEB FULLER,
• BENONIDEWEY, ; Committee.
“JAS. WHEELOCK,
“ December 12, 1809,”
They declined our propoſal made in the foregoing letter;
and this led us to the following addreſs and application to the
Rev. Orange Aſſociation.
, “Hanover, March 9, 1810.
* Rev. & Hon. GENTLeMen, *
** Although from our deſtitute ſituation, not having a paſ-
tor, we are not particularly repreſented in your reverend and
honorable body; yet when we confider that it is to you an a-
4's
greeable duty in your ſacred offices to regard and promote as
you may have opportunity and occaſion, the welfare and proſ.
perity of any of the churches of our common Lord ; we fee
a pleaſant confidence in now addreſſing you,
“It is unneceſſary for us to inform you of the diffenfion that
has long ſubfifted between this church and that with which we
were formerly conneéted—to heal this diſſenſion many endeav-
ours and much pains have been taken ; but all without effect.
“About four years ago a mutual council was invited by the
parties to convene and aſſiſt in a ſettlement of our difficulties.
This council, when met, went into a hearing of all matters of
diffenſion between the parties ; and after deliberately weigh-
ing and confidering the ſame, on the 19th day of February,
1806, publiſhed their reſult thereon. By this reſult, had the
ſame been mutually and cordially accepted, all differences be-
tween the parties muſt neceſſarily have ceaſed, and chriſtian
love and peace have been reſtored ; and each party ſecured in
the full enjoyment of goſpel liberty : but, unhappily, this is
not the caſe—the breach between us is not healed ; and the
cauſe of religion by our diſcordance is ſtill, as you a e ſenſible,
moſt ſorely wounded.
“We, on our part, think we have fully accepted the reſult
before mentioned ; and that, ſo far as circumſtances would
permit, have complied with its recommendations—and that on
any fair, conſiſtent and reaſonable conſtrućtion of the ſame,
the other party have not accepted or complied with it. While
on the other hand, we underſtand, they repreſent that they
have accepted it, and that we have not. In order to ſettle
this point, as the ſaid reſult ſeems to be the only rational
ground on which a ſettlement can be had between us ; we have
propoſed and invited them to unite with us in calling another
mutual council, to decide which, if either, have accepted and
complied with it ; and if either, or neither, have accepted it,
for the council to determine what further is neceſſary for ei-
ther, or both, to do, in order to a full acceptance of, and com-
pliance with, that reſult ; but this propoſal and requeſt, they
have not ſeen fit to comply with.
“This, reverend gentlemen, being our preſent ſituation;
and feeling our own incompetency—we have propoſed and con-
cluded to lay our caſe before the whole of your reverend body,
for your wiſe and chriſtian counſel and advice, to determine
whether any further duty is incumbent on us, relative to an
acceptance and compliance with the reſult before mentioned ;
and whether any, and what, particular duty yet remains to be
\
$
49
performed by us, to thoſe with whom we have been in contro-
verſy ; and, in ſhort, to give us ſuch counſel and advice wheth-
er, in regard to our paſt or future procedure, as your body,
in its united wiſdom, with ſuch information as may be laid be-
fore them, and on due confideration, may think proper.
“And in order that all needful information may be obtained
in the moſt eaſy and convenient way; we have thought it beſt,
and accordingly would propoſe and requeſt that a committee
of three, or more, from each of the two branches of your rev-
erend body, at their ſeſſion on Wedneſday next, may be ap-
pointed to meet here on the 27th day of March inſt for the
purpoſe of obtaining the information that may be neceſſary,
and that may be furniſhed them concerning the premiſes;
which committee to make report to the whole body when it
may be convened at Norwich, on the—day of May next ;
that they may then, underſtandingly, give us ſuch counſel and
advice as we ſo much need, and as may be in ſupport and pro-
motion of the cauſe of our bleſſed Redeemer.
“It is needless for us, Rev. Sirs, to mention any conſideration
to induce you; for we are fully perſuaded, that your benevolent
and chriſtian feelings, in view of our ſituation, and the injured
and bleeding cauſe of Chriſt in this part of his Vineyard, will
prompt you more forcibly than any arguments and perſuaſions
that we can uſe, to a ready compliance with our wiſhes as before
ſtated. *-
“In this confidence, and with much reſpect, reverend and
honorable gentlemen, we reſt aſſured.
“Signed in behalf of the church in the vicinity of D. College,
st CALEB FULLER,
cc BENONI DEWEY, Committee. ,
• JAS, WHEELOCK,
“To the branch of the Orange Aſſociation to be convened
at Corniſh, on the 14th day of March, 1810.”
“ N. B. We have communicated our wiſh to the other branch
of the Aſſociation by a duplicate of the foregoing.”
A duplicate of the foregoing was ſent to each branch of that
Aſſociation, who appointed a committee of ſix, that is, three
from each branch. The committee met and had a public
hearing, and our opponents were preſent, having had notice as
follows:
G
50
“To the church under the paſtoral care of the Reverend Dr.
Burroughs.
ºf BRETHREN,
“As you have not ſeen fit to comply with our requeſt, for
calling another mutual council for the purpoſe as expreſſed in
our letter to you of December laſt; we have applied to the
two branches of the reverend Orange Aſſociation, at their late
feſſion, who have appointed committees to convene here on the
27th inſt. at 12 o'clock, for the purpoſe of making enquiry,
and to make report of our caſe, and of our circumſtances, and
ſituation to the Aſſociation, when it may be convened at Nor-
wich, in May next ; in order that, that body may give us the
counſel and advice we need, and which we have requeſted in
relation to you and to ourſelves.
“We have thought proper to give you this information;
that you may attend if you may ſee fit—and thinking that
poſſibly you may yet conclude that, that reverend body may be
a mutual tribunal to determine the points as ſtated in our ſaid
letter to you of Dec. 12th ultimo.
“Signed in behalf of the church in the vicinity of Dart-
mouth College:
« CALEB FULLER,
« BENONI DEWEY, ; Committee.
« JAS. WHEELOCK,
« March 21, 1810.”
On the 9th May the Aſſociation met at Norwich ; received
the report of the committee. Preſident Wheelock alſo at-
tended and preſented an addreſs to the Aſſociation, on the ſub-
jećt ; all which being taken into confideration, they formed
the following reſult :
“At a meeting of the Orange Aſſociation, at the houſe of
the Rev. James Woodward in Norwich, May 9, 1819–
“A report, on the ſubjećt of difficulties ſubſiſting between
the church at Dartmouth College, and the church in the vicin-
ity of Dartmouth College, made by a committee appointed by
the two branches of this Aſſociation at their meeting in March
laſt, at the requeſt of the latter church, and an addreſs from
the committee of the former, were laid before the Aſſociation
and conſidered.
“From the report of the committee, together with the doc-
uments accompanying it, we learn, that no union bas, as yet,
51
taken place between thoſe churches on the principles brought
forward for that purpoſe in the reſult of a mutual council dat-
ed Feb 19, 1806; and alſo, that no rational proſpect remains
of an union's taking place on that ground, inaſmuch as the
church at Dartmouth College have explicitly declined admit-
ting that reſult as a baſis of union. It is, therefore, the opin-
ion of this Aſſociation, that the ſituation of the church in the
vicinity of Dartmouth College ought not to be confidered as
having been materially affected by their vote to accept of ſaid
reſult. Accordingly, we confider this church as ſtanding on
the ſame ground, on which it ſtood previous to the calling of
that council ; and as being, to all intents and purpoſes, a reg-
ularly organized church, in fellowſhip with the churches be-
longing to this Aſſociation.
“Confidering it, however, as being exceedingly deſirable,
that harmony and fellowſhip ſhould ſubſiſt between theſe two
bodies of profeſſing chriſtians ; and confidering alſo, that the
committee of the church at Dartmouth College have manifeſt-
ed a willingneſs, in caſe they ſhould not effect a complete ſet-
tlement with their former brethren in their private conferences,
to ſubmit their matters of difficulty to a council mutually choſen,
on the following plan, viz.
“ 1. This council to conſiſt of ſeven members, paſtors of
churches, three of them to be choſen by the Londonderry
Preſbytery, three by the Orange Aſſociation, and the ſeventh,
who is to be the moderator, to be choſen by the other ſix-
Provided, however, that no perſon ſhall be choſen a member
of this council, who has heretofore given an opinion relative to
this difficulty.
“ 2. The objećts for which this council is to be called, to be
1ſt: To propoſe ſome plan of union, in which both parties may
be willing to unite ; and on the ground of which, an amicable
and final adjuſtment of all differences, which now ſubſiſt be-
tween them, may be effected : and, in caſe this cannot be ac-
compliſhed, 2dly, To attend to, and decide upon, all matters
of difficulty, which at preſent interpoſe an obſtacle in the way
of their being in fellowſhip as two diſtinét churches, and that
their reſult on this laſt particular ſhall be deciſive.
“It is the opinion of this Aſſociation, that it is expedient,
that the Church in the vicinity of Dartmouth College ſhould
accede to this propoſal, with the following alterations only, viz.
“ 1. That the parties ſhall themſelves endeavor to agree up-
on the member of council, who ſhall ačt as moderator ; and,
in caſe they cannot agree, he ſhall be choſen as above propoſed.
52
“2. That the reſtrićtion with reſpect to a choice of members
ſhall not operate to exclude any one, on either fide, who has
not already ačted as a member either of a mutual or exparte
council, which has heard and decided upon the merits of the
cauſe.
“3. That the reſult with reſpect to the laſt obječt to be ſub-
mitted, ſhall be decifive, provided it ſhall have been adopted
by the council unanimouſly; otherwiſe adviſory only.
“And whereas, moreover, the committee of the church at
Dartmouth College have manifeſted an ardent deſire, that an
union ſhould again take place between them and their brethrén,
on goſpel principles a deſire in which we moſt heartily unite ;
and, the brethren of the other church have requeſted our-ad-
vice, generally, relative to their difficulties; we take the liber-
ty to propoſe the following plan of union, viz.
“ i. That the members of the church at Dartmouth Col-
lege, who live on the weſt ſide of Connecticut river, be formed
into a diſtinčt church, by themſelves.
“2. That the members of both churches living on the eaſt
ſide of the river be alſo united in one church, and that
the mode of church government be ſuch, that when any cafe
of difficulty ſhall ariſe, with any member, he ſhall have the
right of being heard before the whole church, or before the
paſtor and elders at his own option. And, in caſe the cauſe
ſhall be referred to another tribunal, it ſhall be, either to a
mutual tribunal, or to the Preſbytery, as he may chooſe.
“Voted unanimouſly.
“ISAIAH POTTER, Moderatoy.
« JAMES W. WOODWARD, Scribe.” *
The old church not having acceded to the propoſals and ad-
vice, contained in vote aforeſaid ; our church has ſince that
time, and now reſts on the footing as conſidered by the ſaid
vote; viz. as a regularly organized church, happy in the fel-
lowſhip of all our ſiſter churches.
It is a very important point to be underſtood, and which, per-
haps, ſhould have been before noticed, that there always had
been from the beginning, an underſtanding, that ‘the College
and inhabitants ſhould unite in public religious worſhip. Ac-
cordingly the old Hall, the firſt building erected for that pur-
poſe, was conſtrućted, one part with ſeats for the ſtudents, and
the other part with pews for the people; and ſo afterwards,
with the Chapel, in eagh of which buildings, the inhabitants
$3
owned an intereſt. Accordingly, likewiſe, when the ſubječt of
appointing a profeſſor of divinity has been before the Board;
it has been uſual with them, individually, and by committees,
to confer with the people, and their committees, on the ſub-
jećt; to know what might be agreeable, and what aid the peo-
ple might probably afford towards his ſupport, &c. It is a fačt
that cannot be denied, that the profeſſor of divinity, was alſo to
officiate as preacher to the ſtudents and people ; and as paſtor
to the church. We need not proceed in the proof of this ; it
is eſtabliſhed by the Preſident, himſelf, in his “Sketches,” in
ſeveral places, and particularly, in page 17th, he ſays, “From
the beginning the preacher to the ſtudents and people, was the
paſtor of this church, conſtantly, and in uninterupted ſucceſ-
fion—the founder—Mr. Ripley–Meſſrs. Ripley and Smith
colleagues, and Mr. Smith in a line to the laſt date—the Truſ-
tees knew it, yes, while they, annually, after the deceaſe of the
founder in 1779, appointed the preacher to the ſtudents with
the people, they well knew, he was the paſtor of the church.”
From theſe premiſes, the following very ſerious and impor-
tant queſtions naturally ariſe. Why ſhould Preſident Whee-
lock, who ought to be a pattern of good order, and who knew
ſo well in this inſtance, in what it conſiſted, we ſay, why ſhould
he, himſelf, break over the good old eſtabliſhed uſage and cuſ-
tom, about which, he in his book ſo often- and ſo vehemently
declaims ? Why was he not ſatisfied, and eaſy, that the Profeſ-
for of divinity ſhould be, without the interference of another,
both the preacher to the ſtudents and people, and paſtor of the
church here ; even that very College Church, as it is called,
as we ſo defired, expoſtulated, and even contended, that he
might be. Had the Preſident been as “attached to the old re-
łigious order of things” as he appears to be in page 60th of the
“Sketches,” it would not have been thought by him a crime in
us, that we tendered the addreſs to Profeſſor Smith in page 7,
nor that he is therein ſtyled, the late paſtor; nor would our af-
ter expoſtulation, and remonſtrance, on the ſubjećt have been
neceſſary. Had the Preſident been diſpoſed, as we were, to
have gone on in the good old way, he would have foreſeen no
danger, that would render it neceſſary to procure exparte, the
certificate recommendatory which we have noticed (i.ee note 1.)
There could in that caſe, have been no neceſſity for his getting
the members from Vermont to come over here, to aſſiſt him ;
nor for his taking other meaſures, as he did, to effect his objećt.
No, it was the novelty of the projećt only ; his own deviation
from “the eſtabliſhed religious order of things,” that rendered ſuch
aid and aſſiſtance neceſſary.
54
This was the ſetting out; and we leave it to the public to de-
termine, from his own words, whether he is not, himſelf, the
man, who was “for eſtabliſhing a new order of things, by ex-
terminating original principles, adopted by the 'founder, and
ſančtioned by the condućtors of the Inſtitution, uninterruptedly,
till that time;” and we may add, which has ever had the full
approbation and concurrence of the inhabitants in the place.
It is ſtrongly impreſſed on our minds, that the Preſident has
through the whole affair, confidered himſelf, as having a right
to controul the affairs of the church; even as though it was
an inheritance derived to him from his father. His ſpirit of
domination appears in ſome degree, from what has been exhib-
ited ; it appears more clearly, to thoſe acquainted with the gen-
tleman, and with the many little, almoſt nameleſs circumſtan-
ces, and incidents, which cannot be here portrayed. This opin-
ion is confirmed, we think, by himſelf in his “Sketches,” and
particularly, in the 18th page, where he ſays, ſpeaking of pro-
feſſor Shurtleff, “the Preſident then plainly told him, that his
elečtion depended on his diſpoſition, and the aſſurance which
he might give, of his attachment to the church, and its form
of government, and his engagement to walk with them, and in
#riendſhip with Dr. Smith, until he ſhould ceaſe to be a paſtor.”
It ſeems he meant, Profeſſor Shurtleff ſhould be pledged, to be
compliant to the church, to Dr. Smith, &c. Query—who au-
thorized the Preſident to require ſuch pledge ; Did the
church 2 And now, becauſe Profeſſor Shurtleff would not force
himſelf upon us, as colleague to Profeſſor Smith, againſt the
voice of the members of the church here, and only at the de-
ſire of Preſident Wheelock, and thoſe people in Vermont, he
is accuſed, and that publicly, of a breach of promiſe. “His en-
gagement to walk with them, and in friendſhip with Dr. Smith,”
we think, are here, words of ſtrong meaning, on which we
have not time to comment.
The Preſident, even by his friends and adherents, in the
honeſt language of unguarded fimplicity, is conſidered, and even
ſtyled, the Sampſon, Is not here, in this ſpirit ºf controul, to
be found, the true “ſeed” of the controverſy, which would,
“like the Upas,” have “ſpread its deleterious branches,” (had
not a merciful and over-ruling Providence prevented,) to the
extirpation of every veſtige of religious freedom *
The Preſident, at the time of the converſation referred to in
the “Sketches,” apprehended, as he has ſince found him to be,
that Profeſſor Shurtleff might be a man of an independent
mind, that he would not deviate from the ſtrait path of duty,
#5
for the gratification of any man ; hence, we conclude his un-
willingneſs that Profeſſor Shurtleff ſhould be ſole paſtor of the
church ; that in the life time of Profeſſor Smith, he ſhould be
colleagued to him ; and that, after the death of Profeſſor
Smith, the aged Dr. Burroughs muſt firſt be eſtabliſhed in the
paſtoral office, before Profeſſor Shurtleff can be invited to be
his yoke-fellow.
We will now give the reader a copy of a vote of that church,
paſſed July 13, 1810.
“At at meeting of the church at Dartmouth College, hold-
en at the meeting houſe in the vicinity of ſaid College, on the
13th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1810.
“Voted alſo unanimouſly, that this church again requeſt,
Mr. Rofºvell Shurtleff, Profeſſor of Theology at ſaid College,
to take a paſtoral care and ſuperintendance of this church, ſo
far as ſuch duty may devolve on him, in reference to that part
of the church, which is on the eaſt ſide of Connecticut river,
that is, ſo far as may confiſt with his other engagements,
“Voted unanimouſly, that the Rev. Dr. Burroughs, Deacon
Samuel Dutton, and John Hubbard Eſq., be a committee to
wait on Mr. Profeſſor Shurtleff, and requeſt him, as mentioned in
the foregoing vote, to enter into a paſtoral relation with this
church, more particularly, in reference to the branch of the
church on the eaſt ſide of Connecticut river, ſo far as may comport
with his official duties as Profeſſor. And as the church was
erected with a particular view, to the religious and moral ſtate
of the College, and has from the beginning continued in rela-
tion with the ſame, as it is, and will be attended with peculiar
difficulty, to make ſuitable proviſion, for the due adminiſtration
of the ordinances, and for the paſtoral concerns; as the Pro-
feſſor of Theology ſtands in a religious and moral relation to
the Inſtitution, which ſeems to preſent a natural connexion
with ſuch a charge—as we unanimouſly reſpešf Mr. Profeſſor
Shurtleff, and are fully ſatisfied with his talents, his doćirinal and
pračical principles ; and his office and ſupport as Profeſſor be-
ing ſubječt to the board of Truſtees of ſaid College; and they
having in their votes permitted the ſame. Therefore our ſaid
committee are authorized and requeſted to lay the caſe before
him, and obtain his conſent to ſuſtain ſuch paſtoral relation, in
the adminiſtration and care of the ſaid College Church, ſo far as
he may judge it, compatible with his profeſſional duties; and
which we are led to cheriſh, the hepe that he will be diſpoſed.
$6
to comply with, when he conſiders our unanimous deſire, and
the circumſtances of his relation to the College and the church.”
“ Atteſt, “EDEN BURROUGHS, Poffor."
In addition to what is expreſſed and implied by this vote,
Preſident Wheelock has been heard, repeatedly, to expreſs in
the fulleſt terms, his entire approbation of the prudent part,
Profeſſor Shurtleff has ačted through the whole controverſy.
Indeed it is no more than juſtice to declare, that through the
whole, he kept himſelf entirely free, and did not in any way to
our knowledge, take part in the controverſy, till he became a
member of this church ſometime in the year 1811. At this
time he conſented, occaſionally, ſo far as might be conſiſtent
with other engagements, to adminiſter ſpecial ordinances to the
church. This and his having declined the invitation to be he
colleague-paſtor to the old church, and conſequently, that aid
to the Preſident in his deſigns, which the latter may have ex-
pećted, have expoſed him to the unjuſt reproach, miſrepreſen-
tation and ſlander, which in ſuch torrents, are poured upon
him, in the “Sketches” and “Review,’ and which are ſo in-
confiſtent with, and contradićtory to, the friendly language of
the laſt mentioned vote.
Profeſſor Adams, likewiſe, notwithſtanding the prudence and
moderation with which he acted; having been here, two years
before he communed with either of the churches ; endeavor-
ing all this time, affiduouſly and impartially, to effect a recon-
ciliation and ſettlement of the difficulties ; finally, becauſe he
thought proper to join our church, and conſequently could not
be ſubſervient to the Preſident's deſigns, is repreſented in the
“Sketches,” as a partizan, and as having undertaken the im-
portant office he holds, with a view, only to ſubſerve party
purpoſes, (ſee note 6.)
The Rev. Profeſſor Moore, immediately on his arrival here,
received from that church, an invitation to ačt as their paſter,
by the following vote:—“At a meeting of the church of
Chriſt at Dartmouth College, in the meeting-houſe in the vi-
cinity of ſaid College, Nov. 15, 1811—Voted to invite the
Rev. Profeſſor Moore, to become paſtor of this church, and
to take the paſtoral care of that part of the church, who reſide
on the eaſt ſide of Connecticut river ; and that the Rev. Dr.
Burroughs and Major Woodward, be a committee to wait on
the ſaid Profeſſor Moore, and agree with him, upon the cir-
*_*\
*
5%
&mſtances, under which, he may comply with the above invi.
tation. *
“A true copy of record, t
& Atteſt. “EDEN BURROUGHS, Paſtor.”
: Profeſſor Moore, not accepting the above invitation, and
having afterwards united with our church, has not eſcaped,
likewiſe, the denunciations of the Pamphlet—(ſee note 7.)
In this connection, another groſs inconſiſtency in the Author
of the “Sketches” occurs. In page 60 of that produćtion, he
fays, “on his firſt arrival at College, Profeſſor Moore received
an invitation from the College church, deſtitute, ſhattered and
oppreſſed, by the ačts already recorded,” &c. Now, how was
that church deflitute, &c. when we ſee the vote of that ſame
church, even the very vote of invitation, now before our eyes,
atteſted by a paſtor—even Eden Burroughs, the ſame gentleman
who is ſo highly reſpected and noticed by the author of the
“Sketches.” But to recorícile this inconſiſtency it may be ſaid
by the Preſident, that Dr. Burroughs lives and preaches ſo far
off, it is not convenient for him, and thoſe people there, to
come here—and that it is equally inconvenient for us here, to
#. there. This indeed is true, and the reaſon has weight—but
as it more weight now, than it had on the 1ſt of May, 1805,
when we offered it in our letter of that date, to the Prefident,
with other arguments, to perſuade him, as he then might, to
put an end to all theſe difficulties 2
It is repreſented in “Sketches,” page 19, as though the new
church had taken poſſeſſion of the meeting-houſe, to the ex-
cluſion of the old church, and as the ugh their rights in this
reſpešt, were much infringed upon. This is one of the many
miſrepreſentations of that book. The truth is, they have un-
interruptedly, enjoyed every privilege in that houſe that they
ever did, or could enjoy—they have had there, always, the
ſame preaching as though the new church had not been
; formed—the meeting-houſe has always been open to them, for
ſpecial ordinances; our ſeaſons for ſuch ordinances having
been always made conformable to them—on ſuch occaſions the
pulpit has always been cheerfully reſigned to their adminiſtra-
tor: and, when they have been without a paſtor, Profeſſor.
Shurtleff has, readily, exchanged with the man of their choice,
for their accommodation. In ſhort, they have every enjoy-
ment of that houſe, that they would have, had we individually
diſperſed, inſtead of being formed into a church. & ºr
Jº
Yā8
In the “8ketches,” page 21, a yote of the Board is expreſſ.
ed, making proviſion that Profeſſor Shurtleff's exchanges
ſhould be conformable to an arrangement already made be-
tween the officers of College, &c. It is a fact, that Profeſſor
Shurtleff, being requeſted by one of the Board, to preſent a
liſt of the miniſters with whom he wiſhed liberty to exchange,
put on to his liſt all he could think of, within 40 or 50 miles
of this place. He requeſted of the Preſident to mark the
name of every gentleman to whom he had any obječion. The
Preſident declined—ſaid he would not objećt to any of them,
for ordinary exchanges ; though he wiſhed Profeſſor Shurt-
leff would not exchange oftener than was needful, with the
three gentlemen who organized the new church. But though
he would objećt to none, for ordinary exchanges, he would
name ſome on the liſt, with whom alone he was willing Mr.
Shurtleff ſhould exchange, on days appointed for celebration
of ordinances in the new church, and requeſted Profeſſor Smith
to mark them on the liſt Profeſſor Shurtleff had preſented-
he direéted thoſe marked, as were his particular friends, and
ſuch as he prefumed would refuſe to-adminiſter the ordinances
to us. Notice, chriſtian reader, the ſpirit herein manifeſted.
The gentleman could hear any of the clergymen preach, but
could not, in conſcience, let any except his deareſt friends ad-
miniſter ordinances to a church with which he was not in fel-
iowſhip. *
Profeſſor Shurtleff, knowing the integrity of the Preſident's
friends better than the Preſident did himſelf, conſented to the
arrangement—regulated his exchanges accordingly, and we had
no difficulty in procuring adminiſtrators. The original cata-
logue and marks, are new before us. g *
In reply to what is ſaid in..that pamphlet of Profeſſor Shurt-
leff's neglect of duty as a preacher, and of the account there
exhibited on the ſubjećt, we can ſtate—that during the eleven
years, ſince Profeſſor Shurtleff's eſtabliſhment here, he has
preached abroad eleven ſabbaths only, on an average, in each
year, in term time : in this eſtimate, however, are reckoned;
four ſabbaths in a year, in which the old church has, ordinarily,
occupied the meeting-houſe; at which times Profeſſor Shurt-
leff has, with a very few exceptions, given his labours to deſti-
tute ſocieties, in the neighborhood. He has alſo, occaſionally,
given labours of love, to ſuch vacant congregations, upon ſab-
baths, when he, providentially, had the aſſiſtance of clergymen
from abroad. After dedućting theſe, there can remain only be-
tween ſix and ſeven ſabbaths in a year, in which he has exchang-
59
ed; either for his own fonvenience, or as an expreſſion of friend-
£hip and fellowſhip, with the neighboring clergymen.
So much for the declamation of the pamphlet on this ſub-
jećt ; and ſo much for the ſecret record, which, if in any de-
gree correót, muſt have commenced before the difficulties here;
and from a forefight of them, which none but the author
could have had: : , ' -: .. *
It appears from page 18 and 19 of the “Sketches,” that the
author dared ndt own us as a church, by reaſon that the three
clergymen who formed us; had no warrant therefore from their
churches, and becauſe, they were not attended by delegates; at
the orgânization. To this we would reply, only, by aſking the
gentleman, how the old church, to which he belongir, was organ-
ized ºr 6The anſwer is on page 17 of the ſame “Sketches,”—
by dne miniſterohly, and that without a delegate or any one elſe; to
affiſt him: . . . . * , , 2 .
- As the gentleman takes occaſiori, repeatedly, in his book,
to mention the goodneſs of the ſtanding of , the College
Church, and the undoubted authority of the tribunabthat has
fo adjudged it; we deem it proper to make a few ºbſervations
relative thereto. That church;was regularly formed, we readily
grant : but whether, from the late tranſactions, it can be con-
fidered, as now ſtanding altogether in goſpel order, is not our
provincé or, wiſh to determine. :: The reverend Londonderry
Preſbytery, it is true, had a ſeſſion', here in July, 1811, an
took intocconſidération the fituation of that chºirch; and reſults
ed, “That the ſame ſtood on regular and göfpel ground,” &c.
We would here dnly obſerve, that prior to this ſeſſfibn, that
church had united with, and became a part of; that ſame Preſ-
bytery. Now, if that church had been conſidered by the
Preſbytery, as not on goſpel ground, it muſt have implied a
groſs inconfiftency and impropriety in the Preſbytery, to have
ſo received, them into their fellowſhip and union. Does not
their judging of the condućt of that church, which condućt
was prior to their receiving them into union, imply a judgment
of the propriety of their receiving them, without a prior ex-
amination 2 - Is not this judging their own cauſe? If ſo, carſ
they be called “a proper ăuthorized tribunal”; (féé Sketches;
page 26), iDóēsit not appear, rather, they were in this caſe,
a very improper, incompetent tribunal P ~ - 2 - \ }
It appears evidently an objećt with the writer of the
“Sketches” and “Review,” to gain a pºſblic belief, that theſe
difficulties aroſe from a difference if religious principles,
of avafiance in reſpect to the form Bf church government:
Theſe inſinuations are entirely without foundation, and have


60
nothing to ſupport them, but the mere ſuggeſtions, of the art-
ful writer There never was, to our knowledge, any intima-
tion of the want of orthodoxy, in the Prefident ; on the con-
trary, he has ever, with us, (however differently he may have
appeared to others,) profeſſed a full and decided belief, in all
the important principles, entertained by us, and which are: al-
together the ſame, for ought we know, with thoſe of his own
church ; and in réſpect to the form of church government,
there has been no variance whatever. . We have uniformly
aſſured him, of our entire ſatisfaction with that, on which, the
church reſted, that is, the Preſbyterian form. - Were it other-
wiſe, why did he never mention it to us? Why did he not
mention it with other reaſons fpecified, to the Board of Truſ-
tees, on his application to them, before cited 3 In the whole
progreſs of the controverſy, no intimation of what he ſo infin-
uates, was ever, (we believe we may ſay,) ſo much as thought
of, by any one in our church. In confirmation of this, we ap-
peal to all our communications to them, before cited, particu-
larly to our letter to the Preſident, of May 1, 1805; and to
the reſult of the mutual council, which we accepted.
The author, probably with the ſame motive, as in the fore-
going, likewiſe repreſents in pages 15 and 16, the feeds of thoſe
difficulties as having been ſown in 1797; from a diſaffection,
in conſequence of the removal to the Chapel for public swor-
ip. The cauſe of that remove, and the conſequences, as rep-
reſented are both equally untrue, with thoſe juſt before notized,
and reſt only on the ſame artful foundation. *
The facts are, that the ſtudents were diſſatisfied ; not be-
cauſe the proprietors claimed compenſation for the uſe of the
meeting houſe, (agreeably to the underſtanding when the houſe
was built) but, becauſe a tax of a dollar a year, on each ſtudent,
was laid, to raiſe the money—this the ſtudents thought unrea-
ſonable, and that they ought not to be ſubjećted to this addi-
tional expence; but that it ought to be paid in ſome other
way. This uneaſineſs of the ſtudents, which was probably ex-
cited by the Preſident himſelf, and the proprietors not being
willing to give up their claim, for a reaſonable compenſation,
which the Preſident, as, before ſtated, had promiſed them, occa-
ſioned the Prefident to ſuggeſt to Profeſſor Smith, his will and
pleaſure, to remove to the College Chapel for public worſhip.—
Accordingly, thoſe two gentlemen, againſt the will and remon-
ſtrance of Profeſſor Woodward, and other members of the
church, left the meetišg houſe, and ordered the ſtudents to at-
tend public worſhip with them in the chapel, as they did; while
Profeſſor Woodward continued with the people, in the meet-



&l
ing houſe, and afforded his affiſtance in leading in the duties
of the ſanétuary. (ſee note 8.) It being afterwards ſuggeſted,
that they would like to return to the meeting houſe, but that
Profeſſor Smith felt a delicacy and an apprehenſion, leſt, from
his late procedure, his return might not be acceptable ; the
people feeling pacific, and willing to cover all that had paſſed,
with a mantle of charity, and to bury it in forgetfulneſs, accor-
dingly, wrote, inviting him to return. “ The way was thus
opened”—He returned, and uninterrupted unanimity-continu-
ed, without a ſeeming remembrance of what had paſſed, till
it was forced on our recolle&tion, at the ſeſſion of the Preſby-
tery, and more forcibly by the “Sketches” and “Review.”
As it is now ſo forced on our memory, we think it incum-
bent on.us, to corre&t the miſrepreſentation, there made, and
not only ſo, but alſo to take advantage, from that which they
themſelves have ſo brought forward, to ſtate ſome facts relative
thereto, which will go far to eſtabliſh that, which is the obječt
of this publication, that is to ſhew whence that pamphlet; and the
ſpirit by which it was dićtated. Theſe are the facts, which ſhould
they be denied, can be ſubſtantiated by ample teſtimony. That
while they went to the chapel, no male member of the church,
attended there, but the Preſident, Profeſſor Smith, and one
other ; that on a certain ſabbath, a ſacrament of the Lord’s lup-
per, was notified to be holden there, on the ſabbath next tol-
lowing; in the courſe of the intervening week, ſome of the of
ficers of the church, in converſation with Profeſſor Smith, op-
jećted againſt the procedure, as improper and irregular, by
reaſon, that the church, ſoon after the dedication of the meet-
ing:houſe, had voted, that the communions ſhould be held in
the meeting houſe, and no where elſe. In this converſation,
Profeſſor Smith obſerved, that it appeared to him not right that
the communion ſhould be in the chapel, but that he was under
the dire&tion of the Preſident, and that he would converſe
with him on the ſubječt. Profeſſor Smith afterwards told the
ſame perſons, he had converſed with the Preſident, but that he,
the Preſident would not conſent to any alteration, and that
coniequently, he, Profeſſor Smith, ſhould go on, and hold the
communion in the chapel as propoſed. A remonſtrance in writ-
ing, drafted by Profeſſor W., and ſigned by him and
the members of the church, was preſented; notwithſtanding
all this, the ſacrament was there adminiſtered by Profeſſor Smith.
+-
... .3the following is the remonſtrance.
“To the Rev. John Smith, paſtor of the church of Chriſt in
the vicinity of Dartmouth College.
62
“The fubſcribers, members of ſaid churth, repreſent, that
with grief, they are informed, that notwithſtanding ah agree-
ment of the members of ſaid church, at a meeting holden at
your houſe, not long ſince, that the communion be holden äf
no other place than the meeting houſe, in the vicinity of Dart-
mouth College, otherwiſe than by conſent of the church; \ſince
which there has been no church meeting, at which they have
given ſuch conſent, or at which you have attended,) yet yot,
have cauſed a notice to be given to members of ſaid church,
that you propoſe to adminiſter the ſacrament of the Lord's ſupe
per, at the College chapel, the next Lord's day; a place where
you know the church do not convene on ſabbaths; and where a
communion would be diſagreeable to them. . As rightfully,
might you notify it to be in a meeting houſe, in the moſt re-
mote part of the town, or any private houſe. The meeting
houſe in the vicinity of the College, you, yourſelf, in behalf
of the people here, and in uniou with them, have in a public
and moſt ſolemn manner, conſecrated as the proper and ſuitable
place for adminiſtration of that ſolemn ordinanté, and oth-
er acts of religious worſhip here; and now to aſſume an au-
thority, never before here known, to dićtate a place which the
church do not agree to, for adminiſtration of that ordinance, is
in our opinion, aſſumption of an authority not veſted in you,
and to ſay the leaſt, is a burden and grievous to us. Were it
agreed that communion be holden at the chapel, why no no-
tige of it, at the meeting houſe, where the church is convened
on ſabbaths 2 and why no preparatory le&ture appointed as uſu-
al 2
“ Theſe matters lie with ferious weight on our minds, and
are ſufficient to determine us not to attend at the chapel, and
we think ſufficient to determine every unbiaſſed and candid
mind, that for you to proceed to adminiſter the ſacrament there,
at the time you have propoſed, will be a violation of goſpel order,
ańd will interfere with that peace and welfare of this church, which
you are bound to ſeek, by every tie ſacred and divine.
« B. WOODWARD,
st BENONI DEWEY, :
« CALEB FULLER; ,
“HUMPHREY FARRAR,
“JAS. WHEELOCK,
| « SAM’L M’CLURE,
“ WILLIAM LOMIS,
st JOSIAH D'UNHAM,”
“Vicinity of Dartmouth College, Dec. 7th, 1797.”
#63
. From this tranſaction, we ſee how Profeſſor Smith could be
influenced by Preſident Wheelock, to ačk in the moſt ſolemn
affair, even againſt his own reaſon and underſtanding. We
alſo ſee from this, the want of that unanimity among the offi-
cers of College, in former times, that is ſo often repreſented
in the “Sketches”-and laſtly, we may ſee from the circum-
{tance juſt related, that the diſpoſition of the Preſident for
power and controul is ſuch, that even in the affairs of the
church, every thing muſt yield to his will and pleaſure, or con-
troverſy muſt enſue, and that he poſſeſſed the ſame diſpoſition,
even in former times.
In confirmation of what we have already advanced concern-
ing Preſident Wheelock, we requeſt the reader to receive this
further teſtimony, from his own hand—Such teſtimony cannot
be rejećted. In page 60, of the “Sketches,” ſpeaking of the
vote of the church and invitation to Profeſſor Moore, and his
refuſal, he ſays—“Thus the Preſident’s propoſal, which if it had
been accepted, might have reſtored peace to the College, was
reječbed”. Mark, here, the vote and invitation, purporting to
be that of the college-church, is called by himſelf, the PRES-
IDENT'S PROPOSAL. This we think will remove even the
fhadow of doubt, if ſuch there may be, with any one, that the
Preſident under the influence of that ſpirit and diſpoſition,
which we have been called, relučkantly, ſo often to notice, was
through the whole ſcene, the ſole mover and manager ; and
that thoſe who have ačted with him, have been led ſo to ač,
only in ſubſerviency to his wifhes.
We forbear any further purſuit in the extenſive field of miſ-
repreſentation and ſlander, which the “Sketches” and “Re-
wiew” exhibit. Enough has already been expoſed, which, with
the narrative and proofs here given, together with the evidence
which the produćtion carries with itſelf, of the ſpirit of its au-
thor, as we truſt, effectually to ſhield all concerned from the
injury they wene intended to produce.
We have given a ſimple and true ſtatement of the Church
difficulties here, which have excited ſo much attention in this
part of the country, and throughout New-England. All ſuch
documents as we ſuppoſed could have any particular bearing in
the cauſe, we have inſerted. Some few communications, how-
ever, haws been interchanged, which we deem of little conſe-
quence, and ſo, unneceſſary to a fair underſtanding of the mat-
ter, that we have thought proper to omit them, and not to en-
lange this publication with that which may only weary the pa-
tience of the reader.
Gł
Does it not plainly appear in the outſet—in the commence-
ment of the controverſy, that Preſident Wheelock, in viola-
tion of his own principles, as urged in the “Sketches,” infiſted
that the Profeſſor of Divinity, who by the underſtanding of
all, was to be the ſole preacher, ſhould not alſo be the ſole paſ-
tor of the church, and that, without offering any reaſon there-
for 2—that as all our entreaties and expoſtulations on the ſub-
jećt proved unavailing, it became neceſſary and proper, accord-
ing to the advice of council, that we ſhould become a diſtinët
church, and conſequently, that the miniſters who recommend-
ed, and thoſe who organized us, do not merit the obloquy and
reproach caſt upon them therefor, in the “Sketches 2" Does
it not appear that the diſpoſition manifeſted by the new church
has been through the whole affair conciliatory and forbearing;
and that they have done every reaſonable thing in their
power to effect a reconciliation, and return of peace : On the
other hand, has not Preſident Wheelock obſtinately perſiſted,
and has he not uſed unreaſonable eadeavors to effect an unrea-
ſonable obječt P Did he not, by procuring exparte, ſo long
before hand, the certificate from the four clergymen, and by
the urgent requeſt to the people of Hartford, that they would
generally and punétually attend the firſt church meeting, did
he not thereby manifeſt a ſolicitude, which nothing but the
novelty and unreaſonableneſs of his obječt could excite & Has
not Preſident Wheelock, unreaſonably neglected, and avoided,
moſt favorable opportunities, to have put an end to the contro-
verſy ; as he might, had he been ſo inclined P. particularly,
when we addreſſed him on the firſt of May 1805, (page 23,)
and alſo, on the death of Profeſſor Smith, when Dr. Burroughs
was procured, to ſucceed him 2 Did not he, and thoſe who
were ſo entirely under his influence, and dire&tion; by refuſing
to ſubmit, the whole controverſy, to a council, even, of their own
chooſing, as we offered, previous to our being formed into a church
(ſee page 29,) and by their claiming the power, and right, of
judging themſelves between us, (page 28) plainly indicate that
ſpirit, to which, we have had occaſion, ſo often, to allude, and
which, it is unpleaſant, again to repeat ; Has not his tenaciouſ-
neſs of thoſe members in Vermont, and the apprehenſion he
has maifeſted, left they would go off; clearly evinced, that he
conſidered his influence in the church, as depending on them;
and that, ſhould they leave him, he would be ſhorn ºf his locks,
and become even as another man 2 +
The new church has the approbation of the ſeveral regular
councils, and aſſociation, who have heard and examined the
65
whole matter ; and the old church have no evidence of the
regularity of their preſent ſtanding, but only the reſult of a
tribunal which, as we have ſhewn, was altogether incompetent
to judge and determine : this being the caſe, and becauſe the
Profeſſors of the College could not conſiſtently unite with that
church, and thereby exclude themſelves from the fellowſhip of
the neighboring churches, to aid and affiſt in the furtherance
of the hidden deſigns of the mover of the diffenſion, ſhall they
ſuffer, can they ſuffer any, even the ſmalleſt injury, from the
complicated malignity, and ſlander, of that produćtion ? Reaſon
and religion forbid it.
Similar queries might extend, and ſimilar reaſons apply to
the Honorable Board of Truſtees of the College; but we ſhould
thereby tranſcend our province. Having already exceeded
our intended limits, we cheerfully ſubmit the cauſe to the can-
did chriſtian public, in full confidence of an impartial decifion.
=ººt-
POSTSCRIPT.
After the reſult of the Aſſociation, as before mentioned, we
conſidered ourſelves, a regular diſtinét church, in the enjoy-
ment of all thoſe rights for which we had ſo long contended 3
and conſequently, that the controverſy, which we have related
in the foregoing pages, was brought to a FINAL CLOSE,--
But at the ſame time, it appeared, and ſtill appears to be an ob-
jećt deſirable, that profeſſing chriſtians in this little village, if
they might poſſeſs ſuitable and right diſpoſitions, feelings, and
views, ſhould belong to one and the ſame church. This objećt
of deſire, having been reciprocated, with ſincerity by us, and
oſtenſibly, at leaſt, by them ; ſeveral conferences on the ſub-
jećt were had, ſome communications paſſed—and ſchemes and
plans of reunion were interchanged ; but as none of them ap-
peared ſatisfactory, the negociation ended without effect. We
again laid our caſe, and what had paſſed, before the Orange
Aſſociation, at their ſeſſion in Windſor, June, 1811—Where-
upon they paſſed the following vote : -
“Extračt from the minutes of the Orange Aſſociation, aſſem-
bled at Windſor, June, 1811–
“On application of a committee from the church of Chriſt
in the vicinity of Dartmouth College," for advice with reſpect to
, their ſituation, ſtating the ſteps which ſaid church had taken,
• J. -
**
*
.*
66
§ {_*
in order to effect a reunion with the church at Dartmouth £al-
legé according to the advice of the Aſſociation given at Nor-
wich in May, 1810. " *;
“Voted, That the Aſſociation ſee no reaſon to alter the ad-
vice then given, or to give any further advice with reſpect to
that ſubject at preſent.
“A true copy from the Minutes,
“Atteſt, ' ' '. BANC#QFT FOWLER, Scribe.”
From that time nothing has paſſed between the two
churches, and every thing in reſpect to the difficulties has ap-
peared to have ſubſided, till the ſame was brought up, and our
*
chara&ers affailed, in the anonymous “Sketches.”
NOTES.
Note 1.--Page 8.
When this meeting was notified at Hartford by Profeſſor
Smith, he was particular to requeſt a very general and punétual
attendance-obſerving that buſineſs of great importance was to
be tranſacted At this meeting a paper was exhibited by Preſ-
ident Wheelock recommending the objećt of his wiſhes, dated
a month before the meeting, which is as follows:
“Whereas, the Board of Truſtees of Dartmouth College have
appointed Mr Roſwell Shurtleff to the office and work of Pro-
feſſor of Divinity in Dartmouth College, and our opinion be-
ing requeſted in regard to the ordination of Mr. Shurtleff, and
the manner thereof; we are fully and clearly of opinion, that
it will be expedient, that Mr. Shurtleff be ordained colleague
paſtor with the Rev. Dr Smith, over the church in ſaid Dārt-
mouth College, as has been cuſtomary in ſimilar occaſions, and
peculiarly proper, under exiſting circumſtances, and that he be
ordained accordingly as ſoon as convenient.
& is EDEN BURROUGHS,
« DAVID M'CLURE;
“JOSEPH BOWMAN,
“ISRAEL EVANS.
“Dartmouth College, O&t. 12, 1804.”
Quere—Why ſhould Preſident Wheelock ſo long before
hand apprehend the neceſſity of this paper ?
*
4.

67
NoTE 2—Page 10.
When a religious ſociety was formed in the town of Hart-
ford, the Hartford members of the church here, would doubt-
leſs have joined it, as the Norwich members did, when a ſo-
ciety was formed in Norwich, had not the Preſident aſſured
thém, (as individuals of them have admitted) that, if they would
keep back, and induce others, to form a little ſociety among
themſelves, he, the Preſident, would ſupply them with preach-
ing at a cheap rate ; by procuring the appointment of ſuch for
Tutors, who might alſo be preachers. This, as they were un-
able to pay a full price, naturally drew them under his influ-
ence. This dependence, has always made it neceſſary, for
them to pleaſe him ; and as he thereby acquired, a dominant
influence, he never would, (as will be ſeen hereafter,) conſent,
on any terms, to a ſeparation ; or, that they ſhould form a
church by themſelves, as propoſed.
Note 3.—Page 27.
Beſore the mutual council hereirãafter mentioned, this letter
was adduced by that church, as evidence of their faithful labor
with us.-On comparing the spirit of this letter, with that of
Qºir remonſtrance, ſo much complained of by them, Mr. Hazen,
the figher, ſtated, that he made that communication, individu-
ally, without authority from the church, whereon we objećted
to the document, as not containing the charges of the church,
againſt us; upon this, votes of their church were produced,
bearing date after the ſaid letter, appointing, this ſame Mr.
Hazen a committee for the purpoſe ; and approving of the
communication ; and adopting it, as the doings of the church.
Note 4.—Page 37.
On the 13th of July, 1810, the old church paſſed a vote in-
viting us umconditionally, to return and unite with them in the
following words:
“Voted unanimouſly, that our ſaid brethren be, and they
hereby are invited to return, and all who have formed chriſtian
connection with them, are alſo invited to enter into chriſtian
connection with this church, and thereby do away all cauſes of
contention among us, and cordially agree with us according to
the goſpel, to bury all grievances : and that the Rev. Dr. Bur-
roughs, Capt. Hezekiah Hazen, John Hubbard, and Wm. H.
Woodward, Eſq’rs. be a committee to confer with our ſaid
brethren or their committee on the ſubjećt.”
As no conceffions had been made by us, ſince the crimina-
tions contained in their foregoing letters ; in their complaints
68
of ſpecifications to the Truſtees, and in their ſaid vote of Nov.
7, 1805—we ſay, this being the caſe, is not the above invita-
tion to us to unite with them, à very ſtrong confirmation of
what we have before advanced, of the entire infincerity of
all their complaints againſt us, of moral grievance 2
Note 5.-Page 44.
What influence this pecuniary confideration may have had,
to attach Dr. Burroughs and thoſe people to the Preſident, and
how far it went to ſtrengthen and ſecure his aſcendancy over
them, we will not undertake to ſay.
Note 6.—Page 56.
When Profeſſor Adams firſt came here, his children were
put by the Preſident, on the charity eſtabliſhment, in the
ſchool : but ſo ſoon as he joined our church he was charged
with their tuition.
Note 7.-Page 57.
It is worthy of notice, that Profeſſors Shurtleff and Moore
are now, and have been through the ſummer, employed by
that ſame church and ſociety at Hartford, alternately to ſup-
ply them with preaching ; and ſo doubtleſs were, even while
the unknown printing-preſ; ºvar groaning under the cruel ſlanders
of the Sketches, againſt them How is this reconcileable :
Nore 8.—Page 61.
Not only in this inſtance, but frequently, did Profeſſor
Woodward diſſent from the opinions and deſigns of the Preſ-
ident ; and for this reaſon, for years, even through the whole
time of his greateſt vigour and uſefulneſs, and till infirmity
preyed upon him, that Profeſſor was not at all in the confidence
of the Preſident. To the truth of this, there are thoſe now
living, who were well acquainted, and intimate with both, can
teſtify 3 notwithſtanding the much there is ſaid in the Sketch-
es and Review to the contrary, and of the great uniform and
uninterrupted unanimity which in former times prevailed among
the executive officers of the Inſtitution,
U
T.
T
|
O15 O
e
. . . . * * *
* *
• * * *
s = *
s & ©
ºf sº sº
º º
º O. C. ºf
9 Wºe C
ſº
º-ºxºsº * * *-º-º-º:
- tº * .
- • e . º º