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THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND 
 
 MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID 
 
DISCOUESE 
 
 DELIVEKED AT THE 
 
 ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY 
 
 OF THE OnOANIZATION OF THE 
 
 PIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 
 
 IN NORTH STONINGTON, 
 
 SEPTEMBER 20th, 1843. 
 
 WITH AS APPEXDI-T. 
 
 By ALBERT G. PALMER, 
 
 PASTOE OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH, STONINGTOX BOKO'. 
 
 •the entrance of thy words giveth light.' Psalm cxix. 130. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY GOULD, KENDALL & LINCOLN, 
 
 59 Washington Street. 
 
 1844. 
 
GEORGE COOLIDGE, PRINTER, 
 
 57 Washington Street. 
 

 Rev. a. G. Palmer, 
 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 The First Baptist Church in 
 North Stonington, are happy to express the pleasure they 
 felt in listening to your centennial discourse, delivered 
 on the 20th September, 1843, by request, and through the 
 undersigned ask a copy for publication. 
 We are yours in the gospel, 
 
 Charles Randall, 
 Reuben Chapman, 
 Aaron Thompson, 
 Paul Green, 
 E. B. Pendleton, 
 Asher H. Chapman, 
 
 North Stonington, Sept, 23, 1843. 
 
 ivri3iS760 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2007 with funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/discoursedelLverOOpalmricri 
 
DISCOURSE. 
 
 • Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger 
 that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn and fear 
 the Lord your God; and that their children which have not known anything, 
 may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God.' Dsdtsronomx xxxi. 12, 13. 
 
 ' The annals of an oppressed and struggling 
 church,' says a distinguished historian, * are far 
 more likely to afford events of powerful inter- 
 est, than those of a dominant hierarchy ; for it 
 is in seasons of distress and suffering, of pri- 
 vation, contumely, and persecution, that the 
 loftier passions of our nature are elicited.' It is 
 equally true that in circumstances like these, the 
 strength, dignity, and glory of the christian char- 
 ucter is most fully developed, and the purity of a 
 true religion most clearly exhibited. Perhaps 
 the world has not witnessed a brighter illustra- 
 tion of these remarks, than the history of the 
 trials, conflicts, and sufferings of our ow^n 
 denomination furnishes, and especially the 
 detailed history of many of our individual 
 churches. 
 
 1# 
 
From the slight view we have been able to 
 take of this field, we are convinced that it is 
 rich in all that variety of moral incident, and 
 rehgions association, which one might desire 
 as an inspiration to his own feelings, as well 
 as to invest its history with interest and impor- 
 tance. 
 
 The historical incidents of many of onr old- 
 er chnrches, are few and scattered ; a single 
 record of their orginization, with a few rays of 
 traditionary hght, is all that has come down to 
 us from this most interesting period of their ex- 
 istence. Hence, little comparatively can be 
 known of the particular circumstances which 
 gave them birth : of the local influences which 
 called them into being ; of the trials, sufferings, 
 conflicts, through which they were called to 
 pass. One thing, however, is certain, that if 
 the early movements of our denomination 
 bear but an ordinary relation to those which 
 are more recent ; if, as is usually the case, 
 persecution and suffering increase in propor- 
 tion as we go back to the rise of a sect ; then, 
 in the circumstances of our incipient organiza- 
 tion, there must have been trials and privations 
 of which we can form but indistinct conceptions. 
 
A distant and general view of tliese times, 
 based, however, upon correct data respecting 
 the character of affairs in the church, is all 
 that can be obtained. Yet even this, limited 
 as it may seem, will throw much light upon 
 the subject; and if we can succeed in collect- 
 ing these scattered rays, they may serve as a 
 taper, at least, to guide us along the often ob- 
 scure path of our early history. 
 
 The only record that can be found of the 
 constitution of this church, is as follows : ' 1743 
 the First Baptist Church in Stonington was 
 constituted ; Mr. "Wait Pahiier was ordained 
 their watchman the same year.' But of the 
 names and numbers of its original members, 
 of the churches and ministers who compos- 
 ed the council of recognition, we have from 
 the records no information. Indeed there is 
 an entire blank from 1743 to 1762, embracing 
 a period of nineteen years, about which little 
 can be known, save what can be gleaned from 
 tradition, and collateral history. It must be 
 borne in mind, however, that the date which 
 marks the rise of this church, carries us far 
 back into the history of our denomination in 
 this country. Though from the banishment of 
 
8 
 
 Williams, Baptist sentiments had prevailed in 
 Khode Island, and were gradually making pro- 
 gress in other sections of the country, yet, 
 * about this time/ says Backus, ' there appears 
 to have been but ten churches in Massa- 
 chusetts, none in New Hampshire, none in 
 Vermont, and but one in Connecticut.' The 
 First Baptist Church in Groton was constituted 
 as early as 1705; of the immediate circum- 
 stances of its origin we have no definite 
 information. 
 
 It is, however, worthy of record, that the date 
 of its organization is the same that marked a 
 general combination on the part of the domi- 
 nant ministry, for an increase of power over the 
 churches. 
 
 Not succeeding in Massachusetts, the ex- 
 periment was made in Connecticut with more 
 success. On the death of the third governor 
 Winthrop in 1707, they "succeeded in electing 
 as governor a clergyman favorable to the 
 scherne. This issued in the construction and 
 establishment of a form of discipline, famous 
 in history as the Sayhrook Platform. Whether 
 the dissatisfaction arising from this usurpation 
 of power by the ministry, in many sections of 
 
the state, had ai lything to do with the origin 
 of the church in Groton, we have not been 
 able to determine. 
 
 Still it is wortliy of notice, as illustrating the 
 providence of God, that, at the very time the 
 ministry were seeking to bring to their aid the 
 arm of civil power, in the government of the 
 church, God, upon the very soil where this 
 unholy alliance was being consummated, was 
 raising up for himself a people, before whose 
 influence this Babel of iniquity should fall to 
 rise no more. 
 
 It is, however, to be inferred, that the increase 
 of this church at first was but slow and gi-ad- 
 ual. During the space of twenty years it 
 appears to have called into existence no kin- 
 dred organization; this is indeed somewhat 
 surprising ; but the cause we think is to be 
 found chiefly in the peculiar character of the 
 times. The year 1705 places us near to the 
 early settlement of the country ; consequent- 
 ly, it may be supposed that the adjoining towns 
 and neighborhoods were but thinly inhabited, 
 and hence the facilities for a wide and rapid 
 diffusion of truth, were but comparatively few. 
 In addition to this, the educational prejudices 
 
10 
 
 of the people were everywhere hostile to the 
 distmguishing sentiments of the Baptists. 
 
 The ministry of the prevailing order had 
 succeeded in blending the ecclesiastical and 
 civil administrations ; the church had sought 
 and formed an alliance with the state, and this 
 unnatural, unholy connection, as it always has, 
 produced the most unnatural and unholy 
 effects. Intoleration, persecution, fines, im- 
 prisonments, whippings, banishments, and 
 death; these are among the dark crimes, 
 which grow immediately out of this illegiti- 
 mate connection. 
 
 Whether the church in Groton felt severely 
 the grasp of this power in the way of direct 
 persecution, we are not able to say. But it is 
 evident, that a body so feeble as this church 
 must have been at that time, could not fail to 
 have been retarded in its progress, by an oppo- 
 sition so powerful as that of the church and 
 state united. 
 
 An age that could be induced to sacrifice the 
 great principles of religious freedom, to yield 
 the high prerogative of ecclesiastical adminis- 
 tration to a power, from whose tyranny and 
 cruelty it had but just escaped, of all others 
 
11 
 
 would be most unfavorable to those principles 
 of church policy which have ever distinguished 
 the Baptist denomination. Men who can be 
 led away by an ambitious, designing priest- 
 hood ; men who will not take the trouble, nor 
 feel the responsibility of thinking for them- 
 selves, are the very last men to renounce pop- 
 ular error, or to embrace unpopular truth; in 
 other words, the very last men to become Bap- 
 tists. And that this was the character of the 
 age which we are contemplating, the history 
 of both church and state, at that period, plain- 
 ly indicates. 
 
 In not a few instances, however, the meas- 
 ure was received with marked disapproba- 
 tion ; and in some cases, met with open and 
 decided resistance. Hence originated a species 
 of dissent, or separatism, from the estab- 
 lished order. Separate churches sprung up 
 in various parts of the country, retaining all the 
 characteristics of the old organization, yet 
 resisting the encroachments of the ministry, 
 repudiating the union of the church and state, 
 and refusing the aid of the civil power in the 
 administration of discipline. As a consequence, 
 there arose a kind of sympathy between the 
 
12 
 
 Baptists and these Separatists, which in some 
 cases resulted in a sjjecies of union, or mixed 
 communion; a state of things most unfavor- 
 able to our ecclesiastical purity, and hostile to 
 the advancement of truth. And it is not sur- 
 prising, that the influence of Baptist churches, 
 consenting to this injudicious connection, was 
 not more widely felt, and their distinguishing 
 sentiments no more generally embraced. 
 
 In addition to this, the general tone of reli- 
 gious feeling in the prevaihng church was 
 exceedingly low ; a loose and dark theology 
 everywhere prevailed ; the vital doctrines of the 
 gospel were unbelieved, unpreached, and to a 
 great extent unknown. Christianity existed 
 but in name andyorm; and the church, so far 
 from being the congregation of the righteous, 
 came emphatically to be the congregation of 
 the unrighteous, the repository of error, and the 
 highway to death. 
 
 An impure morality was substituted for ex- 
 perimental piety ; obedience to the ministry 
 and the magistracy, took the place, at least in 
 matters of religious discipline, of obedience to 
 God. Hence a factious, disputatious spirit 
 prevailed. Men were occupied, not in search- 
 
13 
 
 in^ for truth, but in settling questions of 
 civil and ecclesiastical policy; in enforcing 
 and resisting an authority, which, on the one 
 hand, was regarded as the safeguard of the 
 church, but, on the other, as illegitimate, 
 profane, and anti-christian. The public mind 
 was hence kept in a state of continued excita- 
 bility, and the warlike passions of the heart 
 were frequently called out in fierce, unholy 
 collision. Still this state of things, unhappy 
 as it was, was not altogether unserviceable 
 in the cause of truth. Amid these commo- 
 tions, men began to be enlightened respecting 
 the true character of Christ's kingdom. In 
 resisting what they were forced to regard as a 
 usurpation of authority by the ministry, they 
 fled to the scriptures, and studied the consti- 
 tution of the church as therein revealed, and 
 were thence, by a process not very difficult to 
 understand, frequently led the entire length of 
 truth, touching the great question, not only 
 of gospel order, but also of gospel ordinances. 
 Hence, in immediate connection with this state 
 of things. Baptist sentiments were found rap- 
 idly spreading, especially in those sections 
 where separatisni'^u'eYdiiled ; so much so, that, at 
 
14 
 
 one time, as Backus states, it seemed that all 
 these churches would become Baptists. The 
 church, in her eagerness to bind men to her tra- 
 ditions, had compelled them to adopt the Bible 
 as their only rule oS^ faith and practice, and in so 
 doing cut the cords of ignorance and super- 
 stition, by which she might otherwise doubtless 
 have held them longer m her allegiance. But 
 so Jiad God ordained. The time had come when 
 a purer spirit was to go forth upon the earth in 
 the name of Christianity ; when the inward life 
 of the church was to be rekindled, and her or- 
 dinances in their primitive purity restored. 
 For when we once admit that God has spoken 
 to us in his word, and that from its decisions 
 there can be no appeal, conscience will bind 
 the christian to all its requirements, whether 
 they regard the internal or external life, the 
 inner sanctuary of the church, or its outward 
 visible forms and ordinances. A pure Chris- 
 tianity within, always secures a pure Christianity 
 ivithout, so far as the understanding is enlightened 
 as to its requirements. 
 
 Hence it is an interesting historical fact, 
 that the more general rise of Baptist senti- 
 ments in Connecticut, was simultaneous with 
 
15 
 
 that glorious revival, with which many sections 
 of the state were visited in the years 1741, 
 2, and 3. It is of this revival that Backus 
 says : ' The great change that was then 
 wrought in many minds, was the evident cause 
 of the rapid spread of Baptist principles in 
 our land/ ' The subjects of that work,' he 
 continues, ' embraced two ideas which produced 
 this effect. The first was, that saving faith 
 is necessary to give any soul a true right to 
 communion in the church of God ; the second 
 was, that there is no warrant for a half- 
 way covenant therein ; and as infants are 
 generally in a state of nature when they are 
 said to be brought into covenant, infant bap- 
 tism expires before these principles.' So true 
 is it, as a general thing, that the internal and 
 external purity of the church, rise and fall 
 together. Thus the moment men began to 
 apprehend the great truth, that living faith in 
 Christ was indispensable to admission into 
 his church, immediately, by a necessary infer- 
 ence they advanced another step, namely, that 
 living faith in Christ was an equally indispen- 
 sable prerequisite to baptism ; and having gone 
 thus far, the more discerning and conscien- 
 
16 
 
 tions were constrained to go still farther, and 
 renounce infant baptism. For if faith in Christ 
 he the first step towards memhershijo in the visible 
 church, and baptism the second, then, evidently^ 
 infants are disqualified for the second, because 
 incapahle of the first. It is not surprising, 
 that, when men began to reason thus, ' in- 
 fant baptism began to decline.' So true is 
 it, that reason, under the control of a sancti- 
 fied heart, always extricates us from the 
 labyrinths of error, and guides us along the 
 plain path of scriptural truth. 
 
 It was amid circumstances and influences 
 like these, that this church seems to have had 
 its origin. It was called into life, not by party 
 spirit, not by sectarian zeal, but under the 
 genial influence of a glorious revival of reli- 
 gion ; and the great principles of truth, which it 
 then embraced, and which from that time it 
 has steadfastly maintained, were elicited under 
 the same benign influence. 
 
 During this year, 1743, Baptist sentiments 
 spread with a hitherto unparalleled rapidity. 
 Several new churches were constituted in 
 New England. In New Jersey, Mr. Dicken- 
 son, then president of Princeton college, wrote 
 
17 
 
 a pamphlet, to arrest, if possible, the progress 
 of a sentiment which was fast undermining 
 the long established and venerated usages of 
 the prevailing church. But it did not answer 
 the design of its doubtless well meaning 
 author. ' The pamphlet was reviewed by Dr. 
 Gill, an English Baptist, in 1749 ; and this ex- 
 amination of the subject, caused the light to 
 be more widely diffused.' 
 
 Many converts, about this time, were made 
 to Baptist sentiments, who were not gathered 
 into Baptist churches ; but, obtaining baptism 
 at the hand of Baptist mimisters, remained in 
 the communion of the churches with which 
 they were already connected. This state of 
 things, though at first tolerated, continued, as 
 might have been anticipated, but for a short 
 season. For soon it was discovered, that the 
 new sentiment had made such progress, that it 
 threatened to prevail over the old ; and that 
 baptism, unless checked, would soon displace 
 sprinJding, or affusion, and obtain the exclu- 
 sive practice of these' churches. ' Hence a 
 fierce opposition was raised against what was 
 called rebaptizing, which was declared to be a 
 very wicked act' 
 2# 
 
18 
 
 The Separate churches had become a mixed 
 multitude, and, as a consequence, disorder, 
 confusion, and strife, succeeded. Councils 
 were called to settle these increasing difficul- 
 ties ; the first of which was held in Exeter, 
 May, 1753, and a larger one, the year follow- 
 ing, in Stonington. In these councils, it seems 
 that the Baptists and Separatists mutually 
 participated ; little progress, however, was 
 made in attempting to harmonize elements 
 and principles so discordant. The most con- 
 summate wisdom of the ministry and church 
 united, could not strike out a path in which 
 principles and practices so diametrically oppo- 
 site, could meet and harmonize. Nor is this 
 astonishing. For divine wisdom had furnished 
 none ; and if tJtey had succeeded in finding 
 one, it must have been one of those by-paths 
 of human invention, which always deviate 
 more or less widely from the plain, straight 
 path of gospel order and practice. The point 
 at issue between the two parties seems to 
 have been this. Those who did not feel 
 themselves bound to receive immersion, de- 
 manded of their baptized brethren, and of the 
 Baptist churches generally, that they should 
 
19 
 
 acknowledge affusion, tliongh received by 
 tiiem in infancy, as valid baptism. This of 
 course they could not do, and hence a separa- 
 tion took place in many of these churches; 
 the baptized members withdrawing and form- 
 ing separate organizations, which soon assumed 
 the exclusive character and standing of Baptist 
 churches. Thus God in his providence was 
 separating the wheat from the chaff, the truth 
 from falsehood, the ordinances of his church 
 from the traditions and commandments of men. 
 Still, however, the leaven of error was not 
 entirely purged out. The light, though shining 
 somewhat more clearly than it had done, was 
 nevertheless intercepted by much of prejudice 
 and passion, and not as yet fully apprehended. 
 So strong were the ties of former associations, 
 that many at first could not separate them- 
 selves at the Lord's table, from those with 
 whom they had been accustomed to walk in 
 fellowship; and though they seem to have 
 been fully aware of the inconsistency of this 
 course, yet relative attachments triumphed at 
 times over principle, and the truth was sacri- 
 ficed, as it often is, at the shrine of human 
 passion and friendship. 
 
20 
 
 Still this was a point of peculiar tenderness, 
 and was regarded and treated by the churches, 
 with a degree of mildness and lenity some- 
 what remarkable, it is true, but not unbecom- 
 ing, perhaps, the circumstances in which they 
 were placed. The ministiy of this period 
 seem to have been endued with a remarka- 
 ble degree of wisdom, prudence, and piety. 
 They were men, evidently, whom God had 
 selected and fitted for the weighty responsi- 
 bilities and arduous work to which they were 
 called; men who were able and willing to 
 tuke the oversight of the church of God; 
 to guide her amid the perils through which she 
 was passing; to lead her up from the dark- 
 ness in w^hich she had long been wandering, 
 into the full light and liberty of the gospel. 
 Theirs was the responsible work of combining 
 elements ; of separating the precious from the 
 vile ; of discriminating between the true and 
 the false, both in doctrine and practice; of 
 collecting, arranging, fitting, and harmoniz- 
 ing materials for the establishment of the 
 church of God, as the pillar and ground of 
 the truth, upon the foundation of apostles and 
 prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief 
 
21 
 
 They were called upon, not only to preserve 
 the ordinance of baptism, which they had 
 received in special trust, in its primitive rela- 
 tion to the church, but also to cast a mass of 
 mind, just emerging from the darkness of a 
 false theology, into the peculiar mould of gos- 
 pel truth, into the form of sound evangelical 
 sentiment, and of equally sound evangelical 
 practice ; and of the manner in wliich, under 
 God, they met this responsibility ; of the con- 
 summate wisdom, prudence, and fidelity, with 
 which they discharged their high and sacred 
 duties ; of the correctness of their decisions 
 in most matters of faith, practice, and disci- 
 pline ; the present condition of the denomina- 
 tion, is perhaps the best criterion. For it has 
 advanced to its present state, guided and 
 guarded by those simple principles of ecclesi- 
 astical economy, in. which they so faithfully 
 instructed the churches committed to their 
 charge. And in no way, perhaps, has the wis- 
 dom of their successors in the ministry, been 
 more happily exhibited, than in attempting no 
 innovations concerning these important points 
 of order in the church. Wherever an improve- 
 ment has been attempted, it has most signally 
 
22 
 
 failed; both individuals and churclies have 
 found themselves constrained to return, and 
 retire within the prescribed limits of an eccle- 
 siastical fellowship, based upon union in the truth 
 as it is in Jesus. The reason of this is obvious. 
 The light which guided our early ministry in 
 the formation and discipline of the church, 
 was the New Testament. This was their 
 law, their canon, their rule of faith and action. 
 They did not study the fathers, or the decrees 
 of councils, or the decisions of synods, but 
 
 the TEACHINGS OF JeSUS ChRIST AND THE ACTS 
 
 OF THE APOSTLES. Here they found the grand 
 model of the christian church, or rather the 
 christian church itself, as constituted and regu- 
 lated under the immediate teachings of the 
 Holy Ghost; and to this they strove in all 
 things to conform the spiritual temple which 
 they were called to rear. Hence under their 
 hand the building rose with something of the 
 simplicity and beauty of the apostolic church. 
 It stood out before the world reflecting in all 
 its prominent features of doctrines, ordinances, 
 and discipline, the light of a pure, primitive 
 Christianity. Let it not be supposed, that our 
 veneration for our fathers in the ministry is 
 
23 
 
 excessive; we venerate them, because they 
 venerated the New Testament ; we follow them 
 because they followed Christ. We speak of their 
 religious principles because they were drawn 
 fresh from the fountain of truth, the living 
 oracles of God; we speak of their acts be- 
 cause they were conformable to the precepts 
 of the gospel, and as such are worthy of our 
 perpetual imitation. We admire their spirit, 
 the elevated tone of their piety, their unwa- 
 vering fidelity to truth, their strict andundevia- 
 ting conscientiousness, their patient endurance 
 of suffering, and their manly resistance of 
 religious despotism. They were indeed extra- 
 ordinary men, but were made so by the grace of 
 God ; by the peculiar circumstances into the 
 midst of which they were thrown; by the 
 responsibilities they were called to sustain; 
 and above all by the sufferings, privations, and 
 persecutions, which they were called to endure. 
 That they were great men we do not claim, 
 at least in the ordinary acceptation of this 
 phrase ; and yet, if purity of mind and charac- 
 ter, deep and ardent piety, strong attachment 
 to truth, correct and comprehensive views of 
 the gospel, a thorough acquaintance with the 
 
24 
 
 word of God ; together with an ability in illus- 
 trating and applying the same, in an extraor- 
 dinary degree successful in winning souls to 
 Christ, as well as in edifying the church of 
 God; if these qualifications in any degi*ee 
 constitute true goodness, and true greatness, then 
 were they truly good and truly great men. 
 They were men of a plain, common education, 
 yet of strong, vigorous intellects, of sound 
 practical sense ; and thence brought to the 
 study of the scriptures that peculiar artless- 
 ness and simplicity of mind so essential to a 
 right understanding of the word of God. 
 Books they had none. The Bible alone was 
 the man of their counsel, their- great and 
 almost exclusive study; and hence they became 
 mighty in the scriptures, thorough and correct 
 expounders of the doctrines and precepts of 
 the gospel. 
 
 They were unlearned in many of the mod- 
 ern modes of interpretation, untaught in many 
 of the nice distinctions of a speculative theolo- 
 gy, but were not therefore, we imagine, the 
 less evangelical in their sentiments, the less 
 successful in their ministrations. 
 
 They seem to have received the scriptures 
 
25 
 
 ill their most plain and obvious meaning, with- 
 out seeking to conform them to their preju- 
 dices, or to bend them to the support of a 
 denominational creed. Indeed they had no 
 such creed ; and if prejudice at any time they 
 had, it was a prejudice consequent to, and 
 dependent upon a diligent and prayerful study 
 of the Bible, and might therefore be supposed 
 to be in harmony with truth. Doubtless, like 
 all other good men in similar circumstances, 
 they were not aware of the greatness of the 
 work they were performing, of the far-reach- 
 ing influence of the principles which they had 
 embraced, and were laboriously inculcating. 
 
 Hence the absence of all policy and design 
 in their proceedings touching the future. They 
 left truth where the apostles left it, not to be 
 transmitted by means of creeds and heartless 
 subscriptions, but to be handed down from 
 generation to generation in the experience of 
 those who should embrace it, trusting in God 
 that the line of the tme spiritual priesthood 
 would continue unbroken, and the church thus 
 be perpetuated to the end of time. 
 
 We are disposed, however, to trace all this 
 to the superintending providence of God, to 
 3 
 
26 
 
 the guardian influence of the Holy Spirit. 
 To us it seems evident, that God, through the 
 agency of these men, was preparing to give 
 the world a practical illustration of that great 
 ti'uth, which the church has ever been so slow 
 to learn, namely: that the Bible understood, 
 the Bible believed, the Bible loved, the Bible 
 practiced, is the best, the only safeguard to 
 ecclesiastical purity. 
 
 We have thus sketched, with as much brevity 
 as justice to the subject would permit, the 
 history and character of the age that witnessed 
 the rise and organization of this church. It 
 remains for us now, to present in detail some of 
 the most important facts and events of its own 
 history. 
 
 The first record subsequent to that of the 
 organization of the church, bears date of Octo- 
 ber 3d, 1762. It records a petition of the pastor 
 to travel, and preach the gospel wherever God 
 might open the way before him. The church 
 gave him full liberty to go, and improve his gift 
 wherever God should call him. The next 
 record, of October 17th, 1764, is of a somewhat 
 painful character. It describes, very briefly, a 
 course of discipline which the church were 
 
27 
 
 constrained to take with their pastor. Tlie 
 charges against him were as follows : first, 
 that he had given occasion to the people to 
 think that he was actuated by a hireling 
 spirit, in demanding a stated salary for his 
 services ; and, second, that he professed to 
 have an internal dismission from the church, 
 and in virtue thereof pronounced the church 
 dissolved. Touching the first charge, he plead 
 guilty and confessed his error ; but as to the 
 second, he firmly maintained that his internal 
 dismission from the church was from heaven. 
 On the second day of November, 1764, the 
 church, as the records state, after much labor, 
 resolved to withdraw the hand of fellowship 
 from their pastor. The ground of this was, 
 that he persevered in declaring that the church 
 was dissolved, and that he had an internal dis- 
 mission from heaven. The next record, of Octo- 
 ber 3d, 1765, presents the doings of a council, 
 called in relation to the case of elder Palmer. 
 The names of the council were Nathan Avery, 
 Timothy "Whightman, Simeon Brown, Joseph 
 Ayer, Richard Williams, Amos Burrows, Joshua 
 Birch, Eliezer Brown. The doings of this 
 council, furnish an interesting specimen of 
 
28 
 
 the manner in which they transacted business 
 of this character, in these early times. First, 
 they offered prayer to Ahuighty God for direc- 
 tion ; second, they inquired of the church for 
 what purpose they had called them together ; 
 third, they proceeded to hear a relation of the 
 matter from elder Paliner, and also a state- 
 ment of facts from the church, after which 
 they adjourned to a private dwelling, and came 
 to a decision in the following manner: the 
 moderator, probably elder Timothy Whight- 
 man, proposed to the council the following 
 questions : first, had elder Palmer a right to 
 withdraw from the church in the manner and 
 form he did ? answer in the negative. Second, 
 has elder Palmer, by withdrawing from the 
 church, rendered himself worthy of discipline ? 
 answer in the affirmative. They then pro- 
 ceeded to advise elder Palmer to reconsider 
 his conduct, and adrnonished him in the fol- 
 lowing manner : ' Dear brother, is this agreea- 
 ble to your ordination vows, and the solemn 
 charge committed to you ? If the church, as 
 you say, was in a languishing condition, then 
 where was your love ; where your pity ; where 
 your faithfulness to God, to Christ the good 
 
29 
 
 shepherd, to the sheep of his pasture and of 
 your charge ? We entreat you, in the name of 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the bowels of 
 love, that you repent and turn again to God, 
 and to the church of your charge, lest a broken 
 covenant and the blood of souls rise against 
 you.' To the church they spake as follows : 
 * Dear brethren, our bowels move with com- 
 passion and sympathy towards you, while we 
 behold you as sheep without a shepherd ; but 
 we trust the great Shepherd of the sheep will 
 not forsake you. Cry after your elder, cry to 
 God for him. ; who knows but God will restore 
 him to you ? We advise you, brethren, after 
 you have wholly discharged your duty to him 
 in this respect, and he continues incorrigible 
 and impenitent, that you depose him of the 
 ministry, and the charge committed to him in 
 his ordination. Finally, brethren, farewell; 
 the God of peace be with you. Amen.' 
 
 At a meeting held on the 25th of the same 
 month, the church voted their concurrence with 
 the doings of the council, and directed their 
 clerk to send a copy of the same to Mr. Palm- 
 er. Still, however, the final act of exclusion 
 was delayed, in hope, doubtless, that their pas- 
 3# 
 
30 
 
 tor, whom they seemed to have truly esteemed, 
 might return to them ; but in this they were 
 disappointed. A letter is found on record, bear- 
 ing date of January 9th, 1776, addressed to Mr. 
 Palmer ; in which, after reviewing the course 
 of discipline pursued, they proceed to say: 
 * And now in covenant faithfulness to you, our 
 once beloved elder, and in honor to the laws 
 of God's house, we exclude you from our fel- 
 lowship ; and depose you from the pastoral 
 office committed to you at your ordination/ 
 We have copied these proceedings at length, 
 because they furnish an interesting illustration 
 of the principles of order and discipline by 
 which this church, in its infancy, and the de- 
 nomination in general, at this early period, 
 Avere controlled. It proves that our churches 
 at the beginning were well governed, wtell 
 disciplined; that nothing like looseness of 
 sentiment was permitted to obtain even in the 
 ministry. It furnishes also an early precedent 
 worthy of our special regard, showing the spe- 
 cific character and design of councils. This 
 council was exclusively advisory. It attempt- 
 ed to exercise no authority over the church. 
 It simply gave its advice and left the church 
 
31 
 
 free to receive or reject it. It was convoked, 
 not to legislate, but to advise ; not because the 
 authority of the church was not adequate to the 
 deposing of a minister ; but because the church, 
 in a case perhaps unprecedented, at least of 
 pecuhar intricacy, felt the need of counsel; 
 and we scarcely know which to admire most, 
 the prudence of the church in asking advice, 
 or the high and christian -like integrity of the 
 council in giving it. Having performed their 
 duty, the council dissolved, leaving the church 
 to pursue an independent course of discipline 
 with their offending pastor. The executive 
 power was in the church, and having with the 
 aid of a council ascertained the law of God's 
 house in this case, they proceeded in due time 
 to put it in execution. How unlike this was 
 the disciphne of the prevailing church of that 
 period. Here is no dominant priesthood, 
 * lording it over God's heritage,' with the strong 
 arm of civil power enforcing its decisions ; no 
 arrestments, fines, imprisonments, or whip- 
 pings; but the church peaceably assembling 
 from time to time, calmly deliberating upon a 
 most important and trying case, calling to her 
 aid the wisdom of an esteemed and intelligent 
 
32 
 
 ministry, and finally proceeding, in the exer- 
 cise of her high and independent prerogative, 
 to put forth her decision of excommunication. 
 This verily looks like the primitive order of 
 Christ's kingdom. Here are no synods, no pres- 
 byteries, no councils invested with legislative 
 power ; but the church acknowledging no head 
 but Christ, and no law but his revealed word, 
 seeking with due caution and prudence to 
 ascertain its decisions in a given case of 
 discipline, and, having done so, faithfully 
 executing the same. 
 
 Of Mr. Palmer's character little can be 
 known, except what may be inferred from the 
 record of these proceedings, and this we fear 
 may be less favorable to him as a man, as a 
 christian, as a minister, than strict justice would 
 demand. From all we have been able to 
 gather respecting him, we should judge him 
 to have been a man of strong and fixed 
 prejudices, immovable in his decisions, and 
 somewhat austere and censorious in the exer- 
 cise of his ministerial functions. He reproved 
 with severity, and, without consulting con- 
 sequences, followed out what he regarded as 
 truth and duty. Still his piety seems to 
 
33 
 
 have been of a mystical cast, which often, as 
 in the case of his confession, led him to renounce 
 as wrong, what was evidently right, and 
 to hold as right, what was evidently wrong. 
 In one respect it must be conceded, that he 
 was in advance of the age, at least without 
 doubt in advance of his church, namely, in rela- 
 tion to ministerial support. It is well known 
 that the views of many of our earlier churches 
 upon this subject were exceedingly defective. 
 And the putting forth of such claims as Mr. 
 Palmer seems to have urged, would be likely 
 to produce a collision. Most of our members 
 at this period came out from under the oppres- 
 sion of an overreaching ministry, and thence 
 regarded with an undue jealousy, whatever 
 might have the appearance of this evil.* 
 No record was kept of the members received 
 under the ministry of Mr. Palmer. We cannot, 
 therefore, judge very correctly of its comparative 
 worth. It, however, embraced a period of 
 twenty-two years, and was, in this respect, 
 at least, worthy the imitation of the ministry 
 of the present day. I cannot pass from this 
 
 * See Appendix, letter A. 
 
34 
 
 connection, without remarking, that the pasto- 
 ral relation of this period, seems to have been 
 regarded as pecuHarly sacred. Both the church 
 and the ministry viewed it as a permanent, and 
 in ordinary cases as a changeless relation. 
 They knew nothing of that system of trade 
 and speculation in the ministry, in which the 
 churches have of late years so extensively 
 engaged. And the ministry knew as little of 
 that ambitiousness of place and station, which 
 at the present time is one of its most unlovely 
 features. Mr. Palmer, in the early part of his 
 ministry, travelled somewhat extensively, pene- 
 trating the adjoining towns and counties, 
 preaching the gospel wherever God in his 
 providence opened the way before him. He 
 seems to have labored with some degree of 
 success in the town of Tolland, and while 
 there, baptized the celebrated Shubael Stearns, 
 and shortly after assisted in his ordination. 
 This was about the year 1751. In 1764, he 
 also baptized Simeon Brown, the first pastor 
 of the Second Baptist Church in this town. ^ 
 From all these circumstances, it may, we 
 
 * See Appendix, letter B. 
 
35 
 
 think, be fairly inferred, that Mr. Palmer was 
 a man of no small moral worth, notwithstand- 
 ing the nnhappy termination of his ministry. 
 We are disposed to regard the whole subject 
 in the most favorable light on his part, to do jus- 
 tice to his character, and to relieve, if possible, 
 the darkness in which the latter part of his 
 life was shrouded. Whether he was restored 
 to the church cannot be determined, for the 
 records are again broken till 1781, before 
 which time, doubtless, the aged man had gone 
 to his reward. 
 
 Still, as the first pastor of this church, as 
 exercising his ministry in a period which tried 
 men's souls, as laboring extensively for the 
 diffusion of truth, as a faithful coadjutor with 
 our earliest ministers in the great work of 
 gathering and planting our churches, as hav- 
 ing baptized and assisted in the ordination of 
 two men of such eminent worth, we are con- 
 strained to reverence his name and memory, 
 and regard him as worthy to be enrolled among 
 those noble men with whom he was sometime 
 associated. He doubtless had to struggle with 
 many embarrassments of a pecuniary charac- 
 ter. A large proportion of his time was 
 
36 
 
 devoted to the work of the ministry, and with 
 the scanty allowances furnished him by his 
 church, it was but natural that he should 
 become discouraged and unhappy, in his offi- 
 cial connection. His great error, after all, seems 
 to have been one, which, at that time, was 
 quite prevalent in these parts, namely, that 
 internal impressions were decisive in all mat- 
 ters of duty and discipline. The church and 
 council doubtless acted wisely in purging out 
 this delusion ; but the church was sadly 
 behind its duty in not giving its pastor a 
 comfortable support. Had this been done 
 cheerfully, the connection might possibly have 
 continued unbroken and happy until his death. 
 Mr. Palmer was succeeded in his ministry by 
 Mr. Eliezer Brown, a member and licentiate 
 of the Second Church in Stonington. In this 
 capacity, he seems to have served this church 
 for the term of four years. He became a 
 member of this church, 1769, and was ordained 
 its pastor, January 24th, 1770. The ministers 
 who assisted, were Joshua Morse, ^ Nathan 
 Avery, Timothy Whightman, Simeon Brown, 
 
 * See Appendix, letter C. 
 
37 
 
 and Solomon Sprague. Mr. Brown entered 
 upon his ministry under circumstances some- 
 what discouraging ; the church was in a scat- 
 tered, languishing condition ; yet his call to 
 the pastorate seems to have been unanimous, 
 and he was thence successful in gathering and 
 uniting the scattered sheep. Indeed he seems 
 to have been a man whom God had eminently 
 fitted for the station he was to occupy ; and 
 he came to his work at a time when his ser- 
 vices were greatly needed. We cannot for- 
 bear to notice, in this connection, the prudence 
 and deliberation with which the church pro- 
 ceeded in the choice and call of a pastor, as 
 well as the becoming modesty and patience 
 with which the candidate awaited that choice, 
 and his consequent call to ordination. A 
 period of four years is permitted to elapse 
 between the dismission of their first pastor, 
 and the final choice and settlement of his suc- 
 cessor. During all this time, the young candi- 
 date preaches to the church. The church 
 watch his steady demeanor, his ripening gifts, 
 his growing worth ; an attachment commences ; 
 they become convinced of his soundness in 
 the faith, and of his ability to expound to them 
 4 
 
38 
 
 and their children, the word of God. This 
 lays a foundation for a connection between the 
 pastor and people, of a long and happy continu- 
 ance ; and under ordinary circumstances, as in 
 this case, to be dissolved only by death. Here 
 is nothing of that haste and rashness in the 
 choice of a pastor, which marks the decisions 
 of many of our churches at the present day ; 
 and nothing of that prematureness of ordina- 
 tions, under the burden of which, the denomi- 
 nation at this moment groans. 
 
 The ministry of Mr. Brown embraces a 
 period of twenty-five years. The fii'st years 
 of his ministry do not appear to have been 
 distinguished, by any unusual success in the 
 enlargement of the church. From 1770 to 
 1781, there is an entire blank in the records, 
 about which no definite information can be 
 obtained. In 1784, according to a manuscript 
 copy of the minutes of the Stonington Union As- 
 sociation,^ the church numbered ninety-seven. 
 From this period down to the year 1791-2, the 
 additions by baptism were few. The ministry, 
 about this time, was much engaged in adjust- 
 
 * See Appendix, letter D. 
 
39 
 
 ing tlie affairs of the denomination in general ; 
 in regulating the practice of the churches, 
 touching their ecclesiastical fellowship ; in 
 settling questions of discipline, &c. &c. Coun- 
 cils were frequent, and the pastor, deacons, 
 and more prominent members, were frequently 
 called away ; still, during all this period, strict 
 discipline was evidently maintained, and the 
 church lived in peace and harmony. The 
 office of deacon at this time was filled by Mr. 
 Allen Breed. He was probably among the 
 earliest members of the church, and perhaps 
 was chosen to the office at its organization. 
 From all that can be gathered concerning him, 
 he seems to have been a good man, and to 
 have filled the office of a deacon well. Oct. 
 6, 1784, Nathan Randall, was chosen deacon, 
 and on the 8th of December following, was 
 publicly ordained. In August, 1785, Reuben 
 Palmer was set apart to the work of an evan- 
 gelist* From this date to 1788, nothing occurs 
 of special interest. A few scattered noti- 
 ces of baptisms, together with the ordinaiy 
 cases of discipline, is all that appears on the 
 
 * See Appendix, letter E. 
 
40 
 
 records. From the published minutes ^ of the 
 association, we learn that in 1789, the church 
 numbered one hundred and two. The year 
 1790 brings us towards the close of Mr. 
 Brown's ministry. He had scattered long the 
 seed of truth, and as yet had gathered but lit- 
 tle fruit ; but the promise of God cannot fail ; 
 His word cannot return to him void. It had 
 been faithfully preached, and must accompHsh 
 the thing whereunto it is sent. The seed 
 had been sown and could not be lost; bread 
 had been scattered upon the waters, and after 
 many days, it must be found. Accordingly, in 
 the year 1791, Mr. Brown began to witness 
 the fulfilment of these promises. 
 
 We may well suppose that he was often 
 discouraged, and left to exclaim, in the lan- 
 guage of the prophet, * Who hath believed our 
 report?' His ministry is drawing to a close, 
 and the good man almost concludes, that he 
 must be gathered to his fathers, without 
 beholding the salvation of God. But not so ; 
 at this advanced period of his life, the faith- 
 ful minister receives the commission, * Thrust 
 
 * See Appendix, letter F. 
 
41 
 
 in thy sickle and reap, for the harvest is fully 
 ripe.' This year, 1791, they enjoyed a little 
 refreshing ; the Lord began to set them free. 
 The year following, the heavens dropped down 
 fatness; the clouds had long been gather- 
 ing, and now poured down a 'plentiful rain, 
 whereby God's inheritance was confirmed 
 when weaiy.' In this revival, the church 
 received an accession of fifty-two, making its 
 whole number, one hundred and fifty-two. 
 This revival, in its steady progress, was evi- 
 dently in harmony, with the age in which 
 it occurred. Society then was not made up 
 of tinder, steam, and vapor, but of solid gran- 
 ite, and consequently, was not easily moved. 
 But when taken by grace from the quarry of 
 nature, and placed in the great spiritual temple, 
 it lay perhaps the more firmly upon the foun- 
 dation. It had at least sufficient weight of 
 character, to settle and ground it in the truth. 
 If the temple did not gather to itself so many 
 lively stones, they were perhaps more massive, 
 better polished and fitted, by a long preparatory 
 course of labor, for the place they were to 
 occupy. Men did not then understand the 
 process of reducing solid rock to gas, and of 
 4# 
 
42 
 
 blowing it off in vapor ; but the present age, in 
 its advanced light and knowledge, understands 
 all this. The mighty agencies of nature are 
 brought under its control ; and why not a cor- 
 responding improvement, in controlling the 
 agencies of grace ? Why not bring so much 
 spiritual light, and heat, and power, to bear 
 upon the world, as to melt away a,t once its 
 flinty hardness and icy coldness ? 
 
 Such is i\\e philosophy of some men. But 
 the voice of inspimtion is, * Not by might, nor 
 by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.' 
 Doubtless religious revivals will be in some 
 measure conformable to the peculiarities of the 
 period, in which they occur. But we hold it 
 to be ^ great ^n^ fundamental truth, that, in 
 whatever age or under w^hatever possible cir- 
 cumstances occurring, pure revivals are always 
 produced by the sovereign, independent, uncon- 
 trolled power of the Hohj Ghost. Such was 
 the faith of the fathers of the Baptist church ; 
 and the revivals which occurred under their 
 ministry, were instrumentally developed by 
 preaching based upon this foundation, and 
 moulded into this pecuHar form of doctrine. 
 
 October 25, 1792, Peleg Randall was ordain- 
 
43 
 
 ed an evangelist. He was baptized November 
 19tb, 1^84. On this occasion, the pastor of this 
 church with much propriety gave the charge. 
 Thus the mantle of Elijah, falls upon Elisha. 
 The old pastor, worn with long labor, is about 
 to be taken up to his reward; but ere he de- 
 parts he must pour the sacred oil upon the head 
 of his succesor. He must callliim from follow- 
 ing the plough to assist him in the duties of his 
 infirm and declining age, and thus prepare him, 
 when he shall have departed, ' to feed the flock 
 of God, and take the oversight thereof This 
 was the old ivay of teaching divinity to the 
 rising ministry, and it was surely an excellent ^ 
 if not the more excellefit way. 
 
 In April, 1794, Nathan Chapman was ordain- 
 ed deacon. This year, also, the association held 
 its twenty-second anniversary with this church. 
 On the last day of the session, Abel Brown, a 
 member of this church, was ordained to the work 
 of the ministry. The right hand of fellowship 
 was given by the aged pastor. These were 
 among the last acts of his life. God was deal- 
 ing with him in mercy, leading him gently and 
 pleasantly down to the tomb. He had seen 
 the salvation of God; laid his hands upon the 
 
44 
 
 head of his successor ; had met the churches 
 in convocation at his own place of worship; and 
 now what remained but that he should depart 
 in pe^ce. Accordingly, on the 20th of June, 
 1795, he fell asleep in Jesus. Mr. Brown was 
 possessed of but little education, yet of strong 
 native powers, of vivid thought and conception, 
 and of a flowing, rapid delivery. He was justly 
 esteemed as among the most eminent of the 
 preachers of his day. There are a few, still 
 lingering among us, ^vho remember him well ; 
 who in the days of their youth sat under the 
 last part of his ministry; but they are fast re- 
 tiring like the aged trees of the forest, and soon, 
 the last of this fraternity, will have been num- 
 bered with the dead. 
 
 Mr. Brown was succeeded in the pastoral of- 
 fice by Peleg Randall. Mr. Bandall, as a preach- 
 er, was very much unlike his predecessor. 
 His talent was not, like his^ popular and attract- 
 ive. His discourses were cool, deliberate, 
 instructive, but were usually wanting in the 
 glowing warmth and animation, for which his 
 revered predecessor was so highly distinguish- 
 ed. Nevertheless he was at times impassioned, 
 ardent, and impressive in his delivery ; often 
 
45 
 
 becoming, towards the close of his discourse, 
 deeply moved himself, and thence deeply 
 moving others. His ministry was much oc- 
 cupied in matters of discipline. The church 
 had become somewhat enlarged, embracing a 
 wide extent of territory, requiring much dili- 
 gence and care, on the part of a pastor, to take 
 the oversight of such a flock. Whether Mr. 
 Randall was more strict in discipline than Mr. 
 Brown, we cannot say ; but it is certain that 
 the records, during the period of his ministry, 
 give evidence of a commendable fidelity in 
 this respect. Although no general revival was 
 enjoyed under his ministry, yet it was by no 
 means unfruitful in the conversion of souls. 
 The church was gradually increased from year 
 to year. His ministry, like his character, was 
 distinguished by no remarkable elevations or 
 depressions ; a steady, onward movement, if 
 not rapid, yet sure, characterized alike both 
 the pastor and his people. It is delightful to 
 observe the permanency of the pastoral relation 
 of these times, and the reciprocal affection by 
 which it was sustained. A pastor once settled, 
 there was no thought of change, unless called 
 for by the special voice of providence. Here is a 
 
46 
 
 long and peaceful union of twenty-three years ; 
 the pastor going in and out before his people, 
 from Sabbath to Sabbath ; the youth coming up 
 under his watchful care, till he comes to be 
 regarded as a father in Israel ; and the words 
 of truth, as they drop from his lips, are esteemed 
 as the oracles of God. Mr. Eandall closed his 
 labors with this church, October 8, 1813, and 
 soon after removed to the state of New York. 
 His person, character, and manner of preach- 
 ing, are fresh in the memory of many now 
 before me. He was respected and loved by 
 all who knew him. 
 
 In 1813, the church found itself destitute of 
 a spiritual guide. It, however, did not continue 
 long in this condition. God, in his providence, 
 was arranging circumstances, to lead them to 
 the choice of the man whom he had anointed 
 to this work. In January, 1814, they received 
 a request from the First Church in Groton, 
 to appoint delegates to assist in the ordina- 
 tion of Jonathan Miner. The ordination ac- 
 cordingly took place, February, 1814; and on 
 the 1 2th of the same month, the church resolved 
 to call him to preach to them for one year. 
 The call was accepted, and Mr. Miner took up 
 
47 
 
 his residence with them the following spring. 
 His labors were immediately followed by a 
 precious revival. During the first month of his 
 ministry, between thirty and forty were admitted 
 to the church by baptism ; and within the period 
 of three months, fifty-six were baptized. This, 
 for the times, was a very extraordinary accession. 
 There were then no protracted meetings; no 
 special efforts to secure a revival, otherwise 
 than as they were called forth, under the spe- 
 cial enkindlings of the Holy Spirit in the 
 bosoms of christians. Then the cloud of the 
 divine presence went before the congregation, 
 and the ohuxQh followed, and pitched her tent 
 wherever that cloud rested. Revivals then 
 usually originated in this way : christians 
 would be quickened in an unusual degree, 
 under the preaching of the gospel ; a few, at 
 first, would begin to realize deeply their obli- 
 gations to God, and to be burdened in spirit, 
 for the salvation of sinners ; and would 
 pour out their souls, in warm and thril- 
 ling exhortations, following up the preaching 
 of their pastor, with earnest appeals to the 
 impenitent. Immediately succeeding this state 
 of feeling in the church, a general seriousness 
 
48 
 
 would be observed, especially in the youthful 
 part of the community. The usual gayeties 
 attendant upon this period of life, would be 
 laid aside ; the house of prayer would become 
 the place of resort; and then the downcast 
 look, the falling tear, the half suppressed sigh, 
 would plainly indicate the presence of the 
 Holy Spirit ; and from such a period, the work 
 would generally move on with increasing 
 power, ' till as many as were ordained to eter- 
 nal life believed.' 
 
 JMany of the present members of this church, 
 were gathered in, from this revival. By them, 
 it will never be forgotten ; and they will never 
 fail to cherish an affectionate remembrance of 
 him, who was the instrument in leading their 
 youthful hearts to Christ. Thus, at the very 
 commencement, God manifested his approba- 
 tion of the choice of the church, by crowning 
 the first efforts of their pastor, with abundant 
 success. The beginning, however, is bat a 
 specimen of the entire course of his ministry. 
 Revival follows upon revival, up to its close. 
 True, there were years of comparative unfruit- 
 fulness. This of course must take place in a 
 parish like this, where there is little change of 
 
49 
 
 the inhabitants, and where the same families 
 reside year after year. At the close of 1814, 
 the church numbered one hundred and eighty- 
 five. * 
 
 The next general revival, under the ministry 
 of Mr. Miner, commenced in the autumn of 
 1822. The record of baptisms commences 
 with September 28th, and extends to April 
 6th, 1823. Most of the members, now in the 
 meridian of life, were received in this revival. 
 Its hallowed seasons of prayer, its baptisms 
 and communions, are still in fresh and sweet 
 remembrance. Then we often sang, as we 
 still, sing, when our thoughts wander back to 
 this bright and happy period, 
 
 ' Jesus soiig-ht me when a stranger 
 Wandering- from the fold of God.' 
 
 With many of us, these were the days of child- 
 hood. But they left an impression upon our 
 hearts which I trust neither time nor eternity 
 will ever efface. It was the first bright spot in 
 our existence, the enkindling of the spiritual 
 life within us, the lighting up in our Young, yet 
 benighted minds, of the hope of immortality. 
 
 * See Appendix, letter G. 
 5 
 
5a 
 
 Of the numerous subjects of this work, the 
 greater part remam until the present time, but 
 some have fallen asleep. * By tliis revival the 
 church received an accession of fifty-one 
 members, making the whole number two 
 hundred and thirty-one. 
 
 February 14th, 1824, deacon Nathan Chap- 
 man died, having been a faithful member of the 
 church, forty years. He came like a shock of 
 corn fully ripe to the harvest. Of him it may 
 truly be said, that he * used the office of a dea- 
 con well, purchased to himself a good degree 
 and great boldness in the faith.' He was 
 succeeded in the deaconship by his son, Sipith 
 Chapman, who was ordained May 18th, 1826.1 
 
 In October, 1828, another awakening com- 
 menced, and continued through the following 
 winter. It was not, however, as extensive as 
 the one preceding it. Twenty-seven were 
 added by baptism. 
 
 In 1830, the old house in which the fathers 
 first worshipped having become dilapidated, 
 and in many respects inconvenient, the pres- 
 ent neat and comrr^odious house was erected 
 
 * See Appendix, letter H. f See Appendix, letter L 
 
51. 
 
 and dedicated, to the service of Almighty God, 
 with appropriate rehgious exercises. The 
 sermon was preached by elder John Gano 
 Whightman. 
 
 In the latter part of the summer of 1831, 
 another revival commenced, from which twen- 
 ty-five were gathered into the church, making 
 the aggregate number two hundred and thirty- 
 two. We have now come down to the close 
 of Mr. Miner's ministry, as the pastor of this 
 church. It terminated March 15th, 1834, 
 embracing a period of twenty years ; and, 
 though briefer than either of his predecessors', 
 yet it appears long, when placed by the side 
 of our modern system of pastoral itinerancy. 
 From its rise up to this period, the church had 
 enjoyed, from year ;to year, the steady, un- 
 broken ministrations of the pastoral office. 
 During ninety-one years it had but four pastors, 
 and under their labors, had advanced from a 
 state of the most extreme feebleness, to com- 
 parative strength and prosperity.^ 
 
 The ministry of Mr. Miner, compared with 
 that of his predecessors, was very successful. 
 
 * See Appendix, letter J. 
 
.52 
 
 This may have arisen, partly from the increase 
 of population, and partly from a more general 
 diffusion of a revival spirit in the churches, 
 towards the close of his labors. 
 
 His preaching, however, especially as em- 
 bracing a compass of twenty years, was very 
 effective. His discourses were rich in doctrinal, 
 experimental, and practical truth, commingled 
 and combined, in a manner unusually interest- 
 ing and instructive. In his doctrinal views, 
 he was thoroughly evangelical, and, like his 
 predecessors, decidedly calvinistic. His ser- 
 mons were often marked by a range of thought, 
 and strength of sentiment, truly astonishing 
 in a man of so limited literary advantages. 
 It hence required close attention, at times, to 
 follow him ; and on this account he was re- 
 garded by some as dry and uninteresting, but 
 to the attentive, thinking hearer he was al- 
 ways instructive. 
 
 That he had imperfections, is doubtless more 
 than probable ; but even these were constitu- 
 tional, rather than moral, occasional, rather 
 than habitual. He was subject to a depression 
 of mind, which induced a distrustfulness, pain- 
 ful in the extreme to himself, and sometimes 
 
53 
 
 embarrassing to his brethren. But from this, 
 he would soon recover, and exhibit his wonted 
 cheerfuhiess and usual good nature. ' He was 
 a good man, strong in the faith,' at times ' full 
 of the Holy Ghost,' and under his ministry 
 * much people were added to the Lord.' 
 
 The year following the dismission of Mr. 
 Miner, the church enjoyed another season of 
 refreshing; forty-five were received by bap- 
 tism. During the years 1834, 1835, 1836, and 
 1837, the church was destitute of a pastor. 
 
 In the autumn of 1837 another awakening 
 commenced, and as the fruit of it forty precious 
 souls were gathered into the fold of Christ. 
 In the absence of a pastor during these years, 
 *the oversight of the flock' devolved chiefly 
 upon the deacons, namely, Samuel Peabody 
 and Smith Chapman; and of the fidelity, with 
 which they met this responsibility, the prosper- 
 ity of the church, while under their care, is the 
 best proof During the year 1838, the pulpit 
 was supplied by Rev. Benjamin N. Harris; 
 in 1839 by Rev. Cyrus Miner. April 1st, 1840, 
 Rev. Charles Randall became the pastor of the 
 church; under his ministry during this year, 
 thirty-six were added by baptism. 
 5* 
 
54 
 
 During the year 1812, Mr. Randall being 
 absent, the pulpit was chiefly supplied by Rev. 
 William Flint. Under his ministry, thirty-five 
 were admitted to the church by baptism.* 
 June 17th, of this year, 1843, Mr. Randall 
 returned and resumed the pastoral charge. 
 
 We have thus taken a hasty glance at the 
 histoiy of this church. Commencing with its 
 rise, one hundred years ago, we have followed 
 it in its progress down to the present time. 
 We have seen it small at first, struggling with 
 popular prejudice, proscribed by the civil law ; 
 yet rising and gaining strength, under the 
 pressure of all this opposition. 
 
 We have marked its steady, onward course, 
 as we have travelled down through succeeding 
 generations, till at length we find, that the 
 leaven of truth, hid a century since, in a few 
 faithful hearts, has widely diffused itself 
 throughout community, and is still on every 
 side extending. How marked the difference 
 between that period and this. Then the 
 church sought the protection of the state, and 
 the state assumed to be the guardian of chris- 
 
 * See Appendix, letter L. 
 
55 
 
 tianity. But now the church claims aUiance 
 alone with her great spiritual head, lives, 
 advances, triumphs, 'not by might nor by 
 power,' but by the indwelling * Spirit of God.' 
 Then clnistian baptism was scarcely known 
 in these parts, or known only to meet with 
 persecution from the prevailing church. Now 
 it prevails to a great extent in all denomina- 
 tions, and multitudes are buried every year in 
 the likeness of the Savior's death. Then 
 there was but one Baptist church in this town, 
 two in this county, and but three or four in this 
 state. Now there are in this town, five Baptist 
 churches, and in the state, one hundred and 
 eight. Then Pasdobaptism everywhere pre- 
 vailed ; now it is rapidly passing away. Then 
 a few scattered churches of our faith, were 
 found in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Con- 
 necticut, and New Jersey. Now they are 
 everywhere found embracing the largest popu- 
 lation of either of the prevailing denominations 
 in the United States. We speak not of this 
 boastingly; as a denomination we have noth- 
 ing whereof to glory. 
 
 Our fathers simply preached and practiced 
 the truth, and left it to work its own way and 
 
56 
 
 win its own triumphs; and in proportion as 
 men have ventured to read and think for them- 
 selves ; in proportion as the authority of the 
 New Testament has prevailed over the au- 
 thority of the church and the ministry; in that 
 proportion have the distinctive sentiments of 
 the Baptist church been embraced. 
 
 The great question now to be settled, is the 
 same which has ever been pending : whether 
 God, or man, shall be supreme ; whether 
 human, or divine authority shall be regarded ; 
 whether the word of God, or the word of man, 
 shall be authoritative ; whether God shall 
 legislate for the church, or the church legislate 
 for herself. 
 
 This question has all along agitated the 
 world ; and will continue to do so, till christians, 
 casting off all alliance with vain traditions 
 received from the fathers, come fully to the 
 Bible and bow to its authority. The light 
 which a portion of the evangelical church has 
 refused to receive, because reflected from a 
 point repulsive to its sectional prejudices, it 
 will nevertheless be constrained to follow, or 
 strike hands with those who deny the exclu- 
 sive authority of the Bible in points of faith 
 
61 
 
 and practice, and wander back amid the laby- 
 rinths of human traditions to Pvome itself. 
 
 God hasten the day, when we shall all come 
 to the unity of the faith, ' having one Lord, 
 one FAITH, one baptism, one God and Father 
 of all, who is above all and in all.' 
 
 In view of the past, we are led to exclaim, 
 ' what hath God wi-ought I ' Surely he that is 
 mighty, hath done marvellous things. His 
 mercy is on them that fear him, from genera- 
 tion to generation. He hath showed strength 
 with his arm ; he hath scattered the proud, in 
 the imagination of their hearts ; he hath put 
 down the mighty from their seats, and exalted 
 them of low degree. 
 
 The history of this church illustrates the 
 efficiency of our peculiar form of government. 
 That government is strictly congregational — 
 strictly mdcpendent. Each church controls 
 itself, administers its own discipline, receives 
 and exchides its own members, chooses and 
 calls to ordination its own pastors ; disciplines, 
 dismisses, and deposes them by its own inde- 
 pendent authority. It may ask the advice of 
 other churches, but is not hound to do so. It 
 may convoke a council, y6>r counsel, but for noth- 
 
58 
 
 ing farther. The executive power is in the 
 church ; the disciphne must be its own, and 
 from its decisions, there can be no legitimate 
 appeal. The voice of a majority of the male 
 meonhers of a Baptist church, must, in all cases 
 of discipline, be decisive. 
 
 Such, at least, are the principles, by which 
 this church, in its government, has ever been 
 controlled; and few churches, it is believed, 
 during the same number of years, have enjoyed 
 more internal quietness and harmony. 
 
 In closing, we can but remark, that we are 
 forcibly reminded of the extreme brevity of 
 life ; of the transitory nature of all earthly 
 relations, religious, as well as social and 
 domestic. ' The fathers, where are they ? and 
 the prophets, do they live forever?' The 
 peculiar services and associations of this day 
 answer no. The children and the children's 
 children are here ; but the fathers with their 
 whitened locks, and the prophets with their 
 hoary heads, where are they ? Alas, with but 
 a few exceptions, they are gone, all gone. 
 But a few years since they were here, meeting 
 the high responsibilities, and discharging the 
 important duties which we this morning have 
 been reviewing. 
 
59 
 
 Soon we with them shall have passed away. 
 Another century will have rolled by ; another 
 congregation will be here gathered, and other 
 lips will be employed in detailing the history 
 of this church through another one hundred 
 
 YEARS. 
 
 What the commencement of that history 
 shall be, is put within your power, my brethren, 
 to determine. Standing as you do at the 
 opening of another century in your history, will 
 you not lift up your hearts to the God of your 
 fathers, and say, in the language of inspiration, 
 ' Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and 
 thy glory unto their children, and let the beauty 
 of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish 
 thou the work of our hands upon us, yea the 
 work of our hands, estabhsh thou it ? ' 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 A. 
 
 An anecdote has come down to us^ which may 
 throw some light upon the different views, enter- 
 tained by the pastor and people, on this point. 
 It was the custom of this church, it seems, though 
 opposed to paying a stated salary, to assist their 
 minister, by making him presents of grain and other 
 necessaries of life. On a certain time, one of the 
 brethren, not wholly unmindful of his duty in this 
 respect, laded his beast with wheat, and proceeded 
 to the house of his pastor. «But the good pastor, 
 w^ho, in this instance, at least, seems to have been 
 more nice than wise, replied, that he could not re- 
 ceive it as a gift, but would take it if it might be 
 regarded as his due ; whereupon the brother, with as 
 little regard to charity as the pastor had to policy, 
 abruptly turned homewards, carrying back with him 
 his wheat. It is not strange, that such austerity of 
 principle and manners, on both sides, should have 
 produced unpleasant collisions. 
 
 B. 
 
 Mr. Brown, though unbaptized, had for a number 
 of years been a deacon of the open communion 
 
61 
 
 Baptist church in Westerly, R. L, under the pastoral 
 care of Stephen Babcock. They walked together 
 in harmony for some years, till a division arose in 
 the church, about what was then called the divine 
 testimony ; the pastor and a certain portion of the 
 church maintaining, that all questions of discipline 
 were to be settled by certain impulses and impres- 
 sions, and the deacon with the other party, maintain- 
 ing that such questions were to be decided by the 
 word of God and moral evidence. The spirit of 
 delusion, however, in regard to the divine testimony, 
 prevailed ; and deacon Brown, with his adherents, 
 withdrew and formed the Second Baptist Church 
 in this town. 
 
 C. 
 
 The life and times of Joshua Morse, are intimately 
 connected with the early history of this church. 
 The year following its constitution, we fuid him 
 preaching in this town, with evident tokens of the 
 divine approbation ; yet encountering strong opposi- 
 tion from the clergy of the established order. Though 
 a youth, his ministry seems to have been distin- 
 guished by the strength and manliness of riper 
 years. His manner is said to have been unusually 
 commanding and impressive, and warmed with such 
 a glow of feeling, as often to dissolve his congi-ega- 
 tion in tears. Zealous, ardent, impassioned, bring- 
 6 • 
 
62 
 
 ing fa Ms ministry the freshness of religions experf^ 
 ence, with a heart burning for the conversion of 
 souls/ it is not strang-B^ that the people flocked to 
 hear the gospel from his lips. Nor is it strange, that 
 the jealousy of the dominant ministry was excited, 
 or that the arm of persecution was stretched out, 
 when we remember the character of that ministry, 
 both in its civil and religious relations. On the one 
 hand, it was sentimentally opposed to evangelical 
 piety, and on the other, from its alliance with the 
 state, it felt itself called upon to resist all innovations 
 upon the established forms of worship. It was, per- 
 haps, as pure as a ministry could be, associated as it 
 was with the state ; as little inclined to persecution^ 
 as any ministry would be, which might, if it would, 
 bring to its support, the power and penalty of law. 
 Still it is historically true, that it was strongly opposed 
 to evangelical doctrine, and experimental religion. 
 Men were then educated for the ministry as a profes- 
 sion^ without a previous preparation of heart, and 
 call thereto, by the Holy Ghost. It is not strange,, 
 therefore, that spirituality languished. What little 
 was still living, lived in the bosoms of the older 
 members, who had enjoyed the benefits of a purer 
 ministry. Tlie rising generation was coming up-^ 
 destitute of all experimental and practical piety, and 
 what Was worse, was coming into the church in 
 this state. 
 
 In this state of things, it is but natural to suppose. 
 
63 
 
 that the lighting up of the flame of a glorious revival, 
 would produce a concussion in the religious atmos- 
 pherej and wake into collision, the great antagonist 
 principles of moral truth and falsehood. 
 
 Mr. Morse was among the number of those faith- 
 ful pioneers, who shared most largely, in the trials 
 and sufferings of this great religious conflict Ston- 
 ington appears to have been the field of his earliest 
 labors, as it certainly was of his earliest sufferings. 
 At that time, this was the only Baptist church in 
 this town. It is hence more than probable, that 
 he often preached to this people. There was also a 
 small meeting-house, located a few miles north of 
 the village of Pawcatuc, where the Baptists and 
 Separates were accustomed to unite in worship. 
 These were dark and troublous times, when the 
 little flock of Christ, persecuted by the nominal 
 church, were constrained to seek out for themselves 
 a retreat, where ihey might build their altars, and 
 offer up their sphitual sacrifices of praise to God. 
 Here, we are told, these faithful men of God were 
 accustomed to deliver their messages of grace, with 
 that unction so peculiar to the evangelical ministry 
 of that day. 
 
 The preaching of Mr. Morse in Stonington, was 
 attended with success ; a revival of religion in the 
 vicinity of this church was in progress, when he 
 was arrested and carried before the magistrate. 
 While the trial was pending, the wife of the magis- 
 
64 
 
 trate, is said to have besought him with tears, not to 
 give judgment against so innocent and holy a man ; 
 but the influence of the clergy, and the clamors of 
 a set of bigoted gentry, who declared that his 
 preaching was not according to law, prevailed ', and 
 he was sentenced to pay a fine of twenty shillings, or 
 receive ten lashes at the whipping post. The fine 
 he could not pay, and he was taken to the place of 
 punishment ; but while the constable was preparing 
 to inflict the stripes, Mr. Morse is said to have 
 addressed him thus : ^ Well, my friend, I suppose 
 you must do your duty, but remember that when 
 you strike me, you strike one of God's dear children.' 
 The simplicity and tenderness with which he spoke, 
 drew tears from the stout-hearted man, and he refused 
 to execute the barbarous penalty, pronounced the 
 law unjust, reproached the court for cruelty, and 
 with a truly noble generosity, paid the fine, and 
 released the innocent sufferer. 
 
 On another occasion, as he was preaching, a clergy- 
 man came in, put his hand upon his mouth, and com- 
 manded a man who accompanied him to strike him. 
 
 At another time, while preaching in the south part 
 of the town, two men rushed in, and with violent 
 blows brought him to the floor. When he had 
 recovered a little, he looked upon them, and said, 
 ^ My friends, if you die natural deaths, the Lord hath 
 not spoken by me.' The word of the Lord was not 
 in vain. Both perished in the deep. 
 
65 
 
 At another time, while engaged in prayer, he 
 was knocked down, dragged liy the hair down a 
 flight of steps into the street, and was there beaten 
 in the most inhuman manner. A gash on his face 
 was laid open so deep, that he carried the scar to his 
 grave. 
 
 On another occasion, the house where he was 
 preaching, was surrounded by a gang of the elite 
 and fashionable of the town, who had bound. them- 
 selves by an oath that they would kill him when- 
 ever he came out. His wife and friends entreated 
 him with tears, not to commit himself to the infuri- 
 ated rabble. But he replied, ^what mean ye to 
 weep and to break my heart !^ Accordingly, he 
 went out, and finding the mob armed with clubs, he 
 lifted up his hands and began to pray for his enemies. 
 The result was, they were confounded and subdued, 
 and some, convinced of their wickedness in perse- 
 cuting so good a man, begged his pardon and retired. 
 
 We speak not of these things in this place to 
 enkindle resentment, much less to excite an unholy 
 prejudice, towards any portion of the existing evan- 
 gelical church ; but as matters of history ; as inci- 
 dents full of interest to ourselves, and of instruction 
 to others. 
 
 It is surely a matter of no small importance to us 
 
 to know minutely these incidents of our early history — 
 
 these sufferings, through which our fathers passed, 
 
 in procuring for us, the high immunities of religious 
 
 6# 
 
66 
 
 freedom, in transmitting to ns in their purity the 
 precious doctrines and ordinances of the gospel. 
 
 They were engaged in a mighty struggle with a 
 dominant, but nominal church. They fought the battle 
 well, achieved a glorious victory, and we enjoy the 
 fruits. But let us never forget that the weapons of 
 their warfare were spiritual^ and were, therefore, 
 mighty through God, to the pulling down of the 
 strong holds of Satan, both in church and state. It 
 was by a simple ^ manifestation of the truth, com- 
 mending themselves to every man's conscience in 
 the sight of God,' that they obtained these splendid 
 victories. ^ Through faith they overcame the world, 
 wrought righteousness, obtained promises, out of 
 weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, 
 and turned to flight the armies of the aliens.^ 
 
 In despite of all opposition, Mr. Morse continued 
 his labors in this town with great success ; the truth 
 prevailed, converts were multiplied, and the feeble 
 church was strenj^hened and increased. 
 
 D. 
 
 In 1782, is found the first record of the appoint- 
 ment of messengers to the Association. Yet, as 
 appears from the manuscript minutes of that body, 
 it held its fifth annual session with this church, 
 October 2d, 1775. 
 
 The association was formed in Lyme, October 
 
67 
 
 7th, 1772. At its session in 1775^ in Groton^ the 
 pastor of this church was chosen moderator. The 
 primary design of the association, seems to have 
 been to settle certain existing difficulties, and to 
 unite the churches, upon some general principles of 
 faith and discipline. Hence at their first session 
 they recommended to the churches, to adopt the 
 English Baptist confession of faith, and the minutes 
 of the following year show, that it was generally 
 complied with. 
 
 They say as follows : The delegates made re- 
 turns, that the churches generally acquiesced in the 
 doings of the last association, namely : not to covenant 
 and build with Congregational members that hold to 
 the practice of infant sprinkling, nor to commune with 
 them at the Lord-s table; and also to adopt the 
 English Baptist articles. 
 
 In the minutes of the same year the following 
 record is found : ' Some mention was made that 
 elder Eliezer Brown, had a member in his church that 
 communed with those who were only sprinkled for 
 baptism, which was a grief to the association, and 
 they requested elder Brown, to let his church know, 
 that they requested a reformation in this matter.' 
 Yet no notice is found of this, in the records of the 
 church. It was doubtless an exception to their gen- 
 eral practice, though it is by no means certain, that 
 the church did not, during a few of the first years of 
 its existence, allow this mixed communion. 
 
68 
 
 Mr. Palmer at this time, resided in Preston, and 
 maintained public worship in his own house. He 
 gathered a small congregation, baptized a number 
 of individuals, who placed themselves under the 
 watch care of this church. There is now in Preston 
 a flourishing Baptist church. 
 
 F. 
 
 It is interesting to notice the doings of the associ- 
 ations of these times, as they throw light upon the 
 prevailing sentiments of the churches, relative /to 
 many interesting questions. 
 
 In the minutes of this year, the twelfth item is as 
 follows. In answer to a question proposed by Joshua 
 Morse, respecting the validity of baptism, adminis- 
 tered by a person who had never been himself bap- 
 tized, nor yet ordained, it was replied, that under 
 the present circumstances of the church, such bap- 
 tism is deemed null and void. In 1 790, the association 
 met with the Second Baptist Church in this town. 
 The introductory sermon was preached by the 
 venerable Isaac Backus, from 1 Samuel, xxii. 1, 2. 
 
 G. 
 
 In October, 1816, the legislature of Connecticut 
 passed an act entitled an act for the support of litera- 
 
69 
 
 ture and religion ; the design of which was, to dis- 
 tribute to the various sects, a certain amount of 
 surplus revenue. 
 
 February 1st. 1817, as the records state, the church 
 met for the purpose of expressing their opinion con- 
 cerning this act, and, after some consultation, unani- 
 mously agreed in disapproving it ] and passed several 
 resolutions, which were forwarded for publication to 
 one or more of the public new^spapers in this state. 
 The law w^ent into effect. But this church, true to 
 the great principles of our ecclesiastical policy, 
 resisting with a becoming jealousy all overtures 
 from the civil power, persevered in their hostility to 
 the act. 
 
 Hence, March 11th, 1820, the church and society 
 met and passed the following resolution. Resolved, 
 that we do not w^ish to receive our part of the 
 money granted to the Baptist denomination by the 
 legislature of this state. 
 
 We admire this stern integrity, this indomitable 
 fidelity to the great principles of religious purity and 
 freedom. This church knew too well, the baneful 
 effects of state patronage, to be tempted into so un- 
 holy an alliance. The history of her early suffer- 
 ings therefrom w^as rK)t entirely forgotten, and though 
 there might be no apparent^ no real danger, yet would 
 she not be tempted to violate in practice one of the 
 most vital principles of her religious constitution. 
 
70 
 H. 
 
 We cannot forbear to mention in this place, the name 
 of Ralph I. Brown. He was baptized September 
 29th, 1822. He early devoted himself to the work 
 of the ministry ] had entered upon a course of study ] 
 when his life was suddenly terminated, October 27th, 
 1833. The particulars of his brief life, and of his 
 happy, triumphant death, have been sketched with 
 vivid truthfulness, in a little volume by the Rev. 
 Bradley Miner. 
 
 I. 
 
 It has always been the custom of this church in 
 the ordination of deacons, to have them examined 
 by a council, concerning their religious experience, 
 views of doctrine, &c. &c. &c. Nor can we regard 
 this as unnecessary. The office of a deacon is 
 responsible^ influential^ important^ and men ought by 
 no means to be admitted to it, of whose soundness 
 in the faith, we have not the most satisfactory proof. 
 It is believed, that one prolific source of difficulty 
 in our churches, is to be found in the hasty, informal 
 admission of men to this responsible station. 
 
 If anywhere in the church, we need men of 
 strong minds, clear heads, and good hearts^ we need 
 them here. It has thus far been the good fortune of 
 this church to have men of this stamp in this office. 
 
71 
 
 MINISTERS WHO HAVE BELONGED TO THIS CHUKCH. 
 
 WAIT PALMER, 
 
 Pastor 22 
 
 years. 
 
 ELIEZER BROWN, 
 
 do. 
 
 25 
 
 do. 
 
 PELEG RANDALL, 
 
 do. 
 
 23 
 
 do. 
 
 ABEL PALMER, 
 
 
 
 
 CHRISTOPHER PALMER, 
 
 
 
 REUBEN PALMER, 
 
 
 
 
 ABEL BROWN, 
 
 
 
 
 JONATHAN MINER, 
 
 do. 
 
 2a 
 
 do. 
 
 GERSHOM PALMER, 
 
 
 
 
 PAUL MAIN, 
 
 
 
 
 BENJAMIN N HARRIS, 
 
 do. 
 
 1 1-2 do. 
 
 CYRUS MINER, 
 
 do. 
 
 1 
 
 do. 
 
 ALBERT G. PALMER, 
 
 do. 
 
 1 
 
 do. 
 
 CHARLES RANDALL, 
 
 do. 
 
 1 
 
 do. 
 
 WILLIAM FLINT, 
 
 do. 
 
 1 
 
 do. 
 
 K. 
 
 The Deacons who have served the- church, are as follows : 
 
 ALLEN BREED, 
 NATHAN RANDALL, 
 NATHAN CHAPMAN, 
 SAMUEL PEABODY, 
 SMITH CHAPMAN, 
 REUBEN CHAPMAN, 
 AARON THOMPSON, 
 SANFORD MAIN, 
 PAUL GREEN. 
 
 The last four are the present deacons. 
 
7^ . 
 
 L, 
 
 SPECIAL AWAKENINGS. 
 
 1792. 52, baptized by Mr. Brown. 
 
 1S14. 5G,] 
 
 1822. 51, f ,; ,. -,.. 
 
 1S28. 2l\ \ ^^- ^^"^^^• 
 
 .1831. 25, J 
 
 1834. 45, / 
 
 No Pastor. 
 
 Mr. Randi 
 1842. 35, " Mr. Flint. 
 
 1837. 40, j 
 
 1840. 36, « Mr. Randall. 
 
 M, 
 
 The following individuals are supposed to have 
 been among the first members of the church. Their 
 names are found in the old deed of the lot of land 
 upon which their first meeting-house was built. 
 
 JONATHAN BIRCH, 
 JOSHUA HOLMES, 
 THOMAS MAINE, 
 JOSHUA RATHBUN, 
 WILLIAM PALMER. 
 
 The lot was given by Daniel Brown and 
 Thomas Holmes. 
 
YA 041 I I 
 
 ivi3167G0