{"1": {"fulltext": "BX 92:\\n.B291", "height": "4066", "width": "2661", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0001.jp2"}, "2": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0002.jp2"}, "3": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0003.jp2"}, "4": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0004.jp2"}, "5": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0005.jp2"}, "6": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0006.jp2"}, "7": {"fulltext": "CENTENNIAL\\nHistorical Discourse\\nOF THE\\nPresbyterian Church,\\nBEDFORD, N. H.,\\nDeli v e r Id S abb a t h, July 2, 8 76, by the Pastor,\\nV\\nREV. IRA C. TYSON.\\nI\\nPREPARED BY DIRECTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE\\nPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED\\nSTATES OF AMERICA.\\nMANCHESTER:\\nJOHN B. CLARKE S STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRESS.\\n1876.", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0007.jp2"}, "8": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0008.jp2"}, "9": {"fulltext": "DISCOURSE.\\nPs. 102 18 This shall be written for the generation to come and the\\npeople which shall be created shall praise the Lord.\\nTo gather up the records of the past and present, and faith-\\nfully transmit them to the future, is a duty which one genera-\\ntion owes to another. Especially is this true with reference to\\nthe history of God s people, whose experiences of faith afford\\nan illustration of Divine grace and mercy.\\nThe early struggles of the church of Christ in the new world,\\nits growth and development amidst all the adversities through\\nwhich it passed, its aspect as a moral and spiritual power in the\\nland during this Centennial year, with the grand future which\\nseems to open up before it, are points of ever-increasing interest\\nas the lapse of time brings us nearer to the glorious consumma-\\ntion.\\nA general interest attaches to the history of the New England\\nchurches. In all the great cities of the West, and in every vil-\\nlage and hamlet, are to be found the representatives of these\\nold New England towns. To them, as well as to ourselves, the\\nhistory of the church in which their early lot was cast, and\\nwithin whose walls there cluster so many precious memories,\\nmust ever be a matter of absorbing interest. To gather up\\nthese recollections of the past, as connected with the Presby-\\nterian church in Bedford, is the object we have at present espe-\\ncially in view. This task is the more pleasing from the fact, that\\nin all its history this church has sustained an honorable record.\\nIts early struggles, the blessings of Divine grace which have\\nbeen visited upon it, along with the general character of its\\nministry, afford us material for the most pleasant retrospect, and", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0009.jp2"}, "10": {"fulltext": "4\\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\ngive us facts to make up a history which no church need wish\\nto forget.\\nThe Presbyterian church in Bedford claims a common origin\\nwith those who planted the venerable church in Londonderry,\\nN. H. Although the date of its organization is a few years\\nlater, yet the most of the original settlers came direct from\\nLondonderry to Bedford. In the original memorial to Governor\\nShute, of Massachusetts, dated 1718, wherein the memorialists,\\nInhabitants of ye north of Ireland, requested encouragement\\nto come to this country and settle, we find many names of those\\nwho were closely identified with the early history of this town.\\nThey trace their origin, therefore, back to Scotland, and to\\nScottish Presbyterianism. Their ancestors were the men who\\ncame from Argyleshire, in 161 2, to the counties of Ulster, An-\\ntrim and Londonderry, in the north of Ireland, who were fore-\\nmost in the memorable siege of Londonderry, by which the\\nPapal restoration in England, under James the II, was success-\\nfully resisted and who, having thus fought for their liberties,\\nespecially for the liberty to worship God, refused conformity to\\nthe Church Establishment, and chose rather to suffer the priva-\\ntions of a life in the wilderness than yield to the dictation of a\\npersecuting hierarchy.\\nWhile the most of the early settlers of Bedford were thus of\\nScottish extraction, receiving the title of Scotch-Irish, because\\nof their temporary residence in the north of Ireland, there was.\\nalso, a Puritanical element in the early settlement of the town.\\nThe government of Massachusetts, claiming jurisdiction over\\nthe province of New Hampshire, gave to the soldiers who fought\\nin the Indian war of 1675, commonly known as the Narragan-\\nsett war, grants of land in various places in Massachusetts and\\nNew Hampshire. These grants of land were numbered from\\none to seven. No. 5 comprehended all the territory of the\\npresent town of Bedford, with that portion of the town of Mer-\\nrimack lying north of the Souhegan river and west of the\\nMerrimack, with so much of Manchester as is embraced within\\nthe present limits of Piscataquog. These lines were altered at\\na more recent date.", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0010.jp2"}, "11": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\n5\\nThe tract of land thus assigned to the Narragansett soldiers\\nreceived the name of Souhegan East. A few of the original\\nproprietors only became actual settlers, the others for the most\\n\u00e2\u0080\u00a2part selling out their rights to those who were willing to enter\\nand occupy the land. Those who came were mostly from towns\\nin the vicinity of Boston, and were probably of Puritanic ex-\\ntraction. But the Scotch-Irish element, in a short time, largely\\npredominated.\\nThe Scotch-Irish and Puritans, however they may have dif-\\nfered in national characteristics, made common cause in reli-\\ngious principle. The same religious persecution which drove\\nthe Puritans from England, forced the Presbyterians of the\\nnorth of Ireland to seek for freedom and independence in\\nthese western wilds. They were alike men of deep religious\\nconvictions, and made the service of God the principal busi-\\nness of life. It was because of these deep convictions that\\nthey were willing to give up the comforts and luxuries of civil-\\nized society, and endure the privations that are incident to\\nthe settlement of a new country. The very first duty to which\\nthey turned their attention was the building of a meeting-house\\nand the settlement of an ordained ministry. To secure these\\nprivileges at the earliest opportunity, lands were set off in the\\noriginal grant for the first minister who should settle among\\nthem, and other lands for the use of the ministry afterwards.\\nAt that early day the idea of the church and state existing\\nindependently of each other, however it may have existed in\\nthe minds of some, had not been practically carried out to any\\nextent. We find, therefore, that the business of the church, as\\nwell as that of the town, was all done in town-meeting. The\\ntown voted to build meeting houses, to support the Gospel, to\\ncall ministers, to apply for their dismission, and everything else\\npertaining to the cause of religion. This may account for the\\nfact that we have no sessional records of this church prior to\\nthe year 1804, or any other church records except those which\\nare found in regular reports of the town.\\nThe meeting of Narragansett grantees, at which they divided\\nthemselves into seven distinct societies, and assigned Souhegan\\nEast to No. 5, was held in Boston Common, June 6, 1733.", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0011.jp2"}, "12": {"fulltext": "6\\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\nThe Proprietors of No. 5 took immediate measures to have\\ntheir land divided up into lots, for occupancy, and voted that\\neach alternate lot should be marked for a settler. The land\\nwas then an unbroken wilderness nor does it appear that there\\nwere any actual settlers in the town until the fall of 1737. The\\nproprietors, however, continued to hold meetings in Boston, and\\nin the winter of 1737-8. a number of settlers having taken up\\nlands in the town, the question of building a meeting-house be-\\ngan to be discussed. At a Proprietors meeting in February,\\n1738, a committee was chosen to fix upon the cost and dimen-\\nsions of a meeting-house, and report. They even went so far\\na{ this meeting as to locate the proposed meeting-house, on a\\nknoll of common land, about 25 rods eastward of the nth\\nRange. Subsequently, the southern part of Souhegan East\\nwas set off to Merrimack, which necessitated the location of\\nthe meeting-house in another place. But the knoll referred\\nto took the name of Meeting-House Hill, and is so called to\\nthis day.\\nFor the convenience of non-settlers the meetings of the Pro-\\nprietors continued to be held in Boston at the house of Luke\\nVerdy, inn-holder, and also at the house of Pelatiah Glover,\\nsign of the Three Horse Shoes. At these meetings the ques-\\ntion of building a meeting-house continued to be earnestly dis-\\ncussed. Several times it was put to vote whether they should\\nproceed to build, but each time negatived. The settlers were\\nas yet few in number, their means limited, and the way did not\\nappear to be open to begin the building of a meeting-house.\\nMoney, however, was raised for the purpose and placed in the\\nhands of a building committee. The names of this committee\\nwere Edward White, John Goffe and Moses Barron.\\nThe settlers, however, were not altogether destitute of reli-\\ngious privileges. At several of the Proprietors meetings, held\\nfrom 1738 to 1748, they voted money to pay for preaching, ap-\\npointed committees to secure the same, and named the places\\nwhere preaching services should be held. The sums thus raised\\nprovided for only a part of the time the rest of the year they\\nwere accustomed to go to Londonderry, a distance of twelve", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0012.jp2"}, "13": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\n7\\nmiles, crossing the Merrimack river at Goffe s Falls, and per-\\nforming the journey, many of them, on foot.\\nThe first Presbytery in New England was organized at Lon-\\ndonderry, April 16, 1745. It was called The Presbytery of\\nBoston. It was composed of Rev. John Moorhead, of the\\nFederal-street Presbyterian church, Boston Rev. Robert Aber-\\ncrombie, of Pelham, N. H., and Rev. David McGregore, of\\nLondonderry, with the congregations under their charge. The\\nelders who met with them were James McKean, Alexander\\nConkey and James Heughs. They voted To act so far as\\ntheir present circumstances would permit them, according to the\\nword of God and constitution of the Presbyterian church of\\nScotland, agreeing with that perfect Rule. At a meeting held\\nin Boston, 1746, this Presbytery licensed its first candidate to\\npreach the Gospel. His name was Daniel Mitchell, a native of\\nthe north of Ireland, and a graduate of the University of Edin-\\nborough.\\nAt a meeting of the Presbytery of Boston, held in Boston,\\nNovember 11, 1747, we find the first reference to Souhegan\\nEast. The following is the minute upon the records of Pres-\\nbytery\\nUpon application made by Andrew Cochran, in ye name of the Inhabi-\\ntants of Souheggen and Litchfield, for Mr. Mitchell to supply them for a\\ntime, the Presbytery appointed him to supply them until the second Sab-\\nbath of March next.\\nAt a meeting held in Pelham, June 14, 1748, Mr. Mitchell re-\\nported, that he had obeyed the appointment of Presbytery and\\ntheir committee.\\nThere were, doubtless, other men who supplied them before\\nthis, but Mr. Mitchell s name is the first which appears in any\\nof the records, certainly the first sent them by the Presbytery.\\nIn their application we observe their attachment to Presbyterian\\norder, and their desire to secure the institutions of religion\\namong them. Mr. Mitchell was afterward settled over the Pres-\\nbyterian church at Pembroke, N. H., and died Dec. 16, 1776.\\nAt the same meeting of Presbytery at which Mr. Mitchell re-", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0013.jp2"}, "14": {"fulltext": "8\\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\nported, Pelham, June 14, 1748, another petition for supply was\\nmade from Swaheggen. At the same meeting Rev. David\\nMcGregore presented the name of Mr. Alexander Boyd, a young\\nman of a liberal education. He produced certificate of his at-\\ntending the study of Divinity at the University of Glasgow, and\\nhaving submitted to a thorough examination, and subscribed to\\nthe Confession of Faith, he was licensed to preach the Gospel.\\nAt the next meeting of Presbytery, Londonderry, October 4,\\n1748, Presbytery thought proper that Mr. Boyd should supply\\nKingstown the next three Sabbaths and then immediately after\\nfour Sabbaths to Litchfield and Swaheggen. It would ap-\\npear from a subsequent minute that Mr. Boyd, having received\\na cail to Kingstown, did not fulfill his other appointments.\\nThe date of the ecclesiastical organization of the church in\\nBedford has long been a matter of doubf. It is not given in\\nany of the town records, nor does it appear in our published\\nTown History, except the general statement, p. 140, that it was\\norganized by the Boston Presbytery. The recent recovery of a\\nportion of the old records of this Presbytery enables us to fix\\nthe exact date of organization, and I here insert the minute in\\nfull, as a most important fact for future preservation.\\nThe Presbytery of Boston met in Boston August Fifteenth,\\nSeventeen Hundred and Forty-Nine. The members present were,\\nRev. John Moorhead, Boston Rev. Jonathan Parsons, New-\\nbury Rev. David McGregore, Londonderry Rev. Robert Aber-\\ncrombie, Pelham. Elders Richard MacCleur, Ralph Cross,\\nJohn Craig. Mr. Abercrombie presided as moderator. In the\\nproceedings of this meeting appears the following minute\\nMr. Patten appeared as Commissioner from Souhegan, pre-\\nsenting a memorial, wherein that people acknowledge their sub-\\njection to the Presbytery, and petition for supplys.\\nThus we learn that nine months before the incorporation of\\nthe town, and while the settlers were, yet destitute of a place of\\nworship, they made application and were received under the\\ncare of Presbytery, and became a regular Presbyterian church.\\nTheir meetings for worship were held in different parts of the", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0014.jp2"}, "15": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\n9\\ntown and in private houses. The Mr. Patten referred to was\\nprobably Samuel Patten, as he, with Moses Barren and Thomas\\nVicary, were appointed a committee at the Proprietors meeting\\nto provide preaching that year. The Presbytery held another\\nmeeting at Londonderry in October, of the same year. Souhe-\\ngan again petitioned for supplies, and Mr. Boyd was appointed\\nto supply Litchfield two Sabbaths, Souhegan two, and Suncook\\none.\\nThe settlers, being desirous of securing more effective meas-\\nures for supporting the Gospel, and for their better government\\nas a people, now petitioned the Governor of the Province, Ben-\\nning Wentworth, Esq., for an act of incorporation, giving as a\\nparticular reason for the petition that, having been long des-\\ntitute of the Gospel, we are^now desirous of taking the proper\\nsteps in order to have it settled among us. They also stated\\nthat, your petitioners as to our particular persuasion in Christ-\\nianity, are generally of the Presbyterian denomination, and\\nthey wished the Gospel settled among them in that way of\\ndiscipline which they judged to tend most to their edification.\\nGovernor Wentworth laid the petition before the council and on\\nthe nineteenth of May, 1750, the act of incorporation was\\npassed, the district vested with town privileges, and the place\\nnamed Bedford.\\nMr. Boyd having fulfilled his appointment of the preceding\\nOctober, Presbytery again appointed him on the 5th of June,\\n1750, in accordance with petitions offered for supplies, to preach\\nten Sabbaths at Souhegan, Suncook and Litchfield.\\nIn the meantime the inhabitants of the town of Bedford, act-\\ning in the spirit and intent of their petition for incorporation,\\nat once called a legal meeting and took measures to secure a\\nsettled ministry. The first meeting after incorporation assem-\\nbled June 6, 1750, in Matthew Patten s house, and thence ad-\\njourned to his barn. Here it was voted that the minister be\\nentertained at Samuel Patten s, at the charge of the town. On\\nJuly 3d they voted ^150 old tenor for preaching during the\\nyear, and on the 7th of August, 1750, Voted there be a call\\ngiven to Rev. Mr. Alexander Boyd to the work of the ministry", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0015.jp2"}, "16": {"fulltext": "IO\\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\nof this town, with a salary of ,\u00c2\u00a3300 old tenor, if he would\\naccept. Capt. John Goffe, Dea. John Orr and Mr. Hugh Rid-\\ndle were appointed a committee to prosecute the call to the\\nPresbytery. It is doubtful whether this call was ever formally\\npresented to Mr. Boyd. I find no record of it in the proceed-\\nings of Presbytery and an article in the town warrant, called for\\nJanuary 21st, of the following year, was, To inquire what is\\nthe reason why the committee for providing preaching to the\\ntown, are so negligent in that business. It is probable these\\nbrethren had good reason for their neglect, as Mr. Boyd had\\nbeen sharply rebuked by his Presbytery for effecting a clan-\\ndestine marriage before leaving Glasgow, and passing himself\\nin this country for an unmarried man. The Presbytery, how-\\never, continued his appointments, on his making a full acknowl-\\nedgment, expressing his sorrow and promising to adhere to her\\nas his wife. This acknowledgment was unsatisfactory, and Mr.\\nBoyd was afterward summoned before a committee of Presby-\\ntery to account for his conduct. It is not to be wondered at,\\ntherefore, that negotiations for his settlement in Bedford were\\nat once terminated.\\nThe question of building a meeting-house now began to be\\nagitated anew, and at a town meeting January 24, 1750, a com-\\nmittee was chosen for the purpose. Considerable difficulty\\narose as to the location of the meeting-house, the choice lying\\nbetween the east or west end of what was known as the Bell\\nhill, immediately south of what is now the centre of the town.\\nNot being able to agree they summoned three friends from Lon-\\ndonderry to decide the question for them. This committee\\nchose the east of the hill, but their decision was equally unsat-\\nisfactory. The building committee proceeded to prepare the\\ntimber for the meeting-house, and finally, having abandoned\\nboth ends of Bell hill, at a town meeting held September 26,\\n1755, it was voted unanimously to locate the meeting-house on\\nland bought for the purpose, being part of No. 13 and 14 in the\\nTenth Range. Here the meeting-house was afterwards built.\\nIn the meantime the people continued their efforts to secure\\na settled ministry. At a meeting of Presbytery in Boston, 1751,", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0016.jp2"}, "17": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\napplication was received from Bedford alias Souhegan, for a\\nsupply at discretion. At another meeting in Boston, August 13,\\n175 1, Received a supplication from Bedford, pleading for a\\nsupply. At a meeting of Presbytery at Londonderry, October\\n29, 1752, supplications were received from Palmer District,\\nCanterbury, Colrain, N. Rutland, Litchfield, Derryfield, Bedford\\nand Suncook. At this meeting Mr. Alexander MacDowell, a\\nlicentiate of Presbytery, was appointed to supply a part of the\\nthe time at Bedford, Litchfield, Derryfield and Suncook. Mr.\\nMacDowell fulfilled his appointments with reference to Derry-\\nfield and Bedford, both places giving him a call, the people of\\nDerryfield proposing to unite with Bedford in having him settled\\nover the two places. An article was put in the town warrant to\\nsee if they would unite with Derryfield in this call. On the\\n28th of March, 1753, the town voted not to join with Derry-\\nfield, and at the same meeting voted a unanimous call to Mr.\\nMcDowell, with ^100 old tenor if he accept, and a committee\\nappointed to prosecute the call to Presbytery. In July of the\\nsame year another committee was chosen to prosecute the call\\nfor Mr. MacDowell to the Rev d. Presbytery, and to procure\\npreaching till the next annual meeting. Mr. MacDowell, how-\\never, did not accept the call.\\nMr. Samuel, MacClintock was licensed to preach the Gospel\\nby the Presbytery of Boston, October 29, 1752. On the. 14th\\nof August, 1753, Mr. MacClintock was directed by Presbytery\\nto supply half the time at Bedford, the other half at Litchfield,\\nDerryfield and Suncook, till next meeting. This appointment\\nwas renewed on the following November, and his labors in Bed-\\nford gave evident satisfaction. At a town meeting October 1st,\\n1754, it was voted unanimously, to give Mr. Samuel MacClin-\\ntock a call to the work of the ministry in the town of Bedford.\\nOn the following January Presbytery renewed its appointment\\nof Mr. MacClintock to supply Bedford, in connection with\\nWindham, Litchfield, Derryfield and Suncook. The people\\nseem to have been very anxious to secure the services of Mr.\\nMacClintock. They voted him \u00c2\u00a3107, 10s. new tenor for his\\nyearly stipend, took measures to lay a tax upon the unimproved", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0017.jp2"}, "18": {"fulltext": "12\\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\nland in the town to build him a house, and agreed to cut twenty-\\ncords of wood annually for five years, and draw it to his house,\\nif he would accept. They also, appointed Samuel Patten a\\nCommissioner to prosecute the call to the Presbytery. At a\\nmeeting of Presbytery, August 2 2d, 1754, held at Newbury, ap-\\npears this minute\\nThe people of Bedford having sent a Petition to ye Presbytery request-\\ning them to send one or more of their number some convenient time be-\\ntween this and next meeting to moderate in a call to Mr. Samuel MacClin-\\ntock, the Presbytery thereupon appointed Mr. MacGregore to perform that\\npiece of service.\\nAt the same meeting they voted that, Bedford shall have\\ntheir proportion of time wholly in Mr. MacClintock. The fol-\\nlowing November this appointment was renewed.\\nMr. MacClintock did not accept this call, but negotiations\\nwith him continued. At a town meeting May 6th, 1756, it was\\nvoted to renew the call made to him previously,- at the same\\nannual stipend, with this additional inducement, that he should\\nhave nine Sabbaths to his own use during each year, till the\\ntown should feel able to pay him for all or a part of those nine\\nSabbaths, for which they would allow him ten pounds old tenor\\nper Sabbath.\\nThe people of Bedford were not mistaken as to the character\\nof the man whom they thus desired to settle over them. Mr.\\nMacClintock afterwards became one of the honored members\\nof the New Hampshire ministry. He was graduated at Prince-\\nton, 1751, settled at Greenland, N. H., 1756, served as chaplain\\nin the army during the Revolutionary war, admitted to an ad\\neundem Master s degree at Harvard, 1761, received the title of\\nD.D. at Yale, 1791, and after a ministry of 48 years at Green-\\nland, died there in 1804.\\nDuring the time of these unsuccessful efforts to secure a set-\\ntled ministry, the work on the meeting-house continued slowly.\\nThe carpenters who olid the work complained that they were\\nlosing money on it, and the town voted them thirty pounds old\\ntenor additional. At length the work had so far progressed", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0018.jp2"}, "19": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\n13\\nthat the town meeting, which had been previously held in barns,\\nwas called to assemble at the meeting-house frame, April 21,\\n1756. The accommodations, however, seem to have been un-\\nsatisfactory, as they continued to assemble in barns for some\\ntime afterward.\\nRev. John Houston, the first settled pastor of the Presbyte-\\nrian church in Bedford, was born in Londonderry, N. H., in\\n1723. The family belonged to the old Scotch-Irish stock, the\\nname of Robert Houston appearing in the memorial addressed\\nto Gov. Shute in 17 18. Mr. Houston was educated in the Col-\\nlege of New Jersey, which was then located at Newark,* and\\ngraduated in 1753. Rev. Aaron Burr (father of the Vice-Presi-\\ndent of the United States), was then President of the College,\\nand gave to Mr. Houston, on his leaving college, the following\\nletter, which is still extant, and written in a clear, bold hand\\nThis may certify all concerned, that Mr. John Houston has for some\\ntime been a member of New Jersey College, and sound in communion with\\nye church of Christ in this place, and behaved himself according to the\\nRules of the Gospel. A. BURR, Ps d.\\nSept. 28, 1753.\\nOn his return to Londonderry Mr. Houston studied Divinity\\nunder Rev. David McGregore, and having placed himself under\\nthe care of Presbytery, parts of trial were assigned him, with a\\nview to licensure. The subject of his Latin exegesis was An\\nDei Beneplacitum sit solum electionis fundament A homily on\\n1 John 4, 18. After having been examined in systematic and\\nexperimental Divinity, and branches of humane literature, and\\nsubscribed to the formula, he was, May 14, 1754, licensed to\\npreach the Gospel, being then about thirty-one years of age.\\nThe examination was creditable to Mr. Houston, his classical\\nand theological learning being above the average. Presbytery\\nmade a minute of the fact that he had received the honors of\\nthe College at Newark. Mr. Houston was immediately ap-\\npointed to supply one Sabbath each at Windham, Bedford, Sun-\\ncook and Nottingham, and afterwards two days at a time at\\nWindham and Bedford.\\nRemoved to Princeton in 1756.", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0019.jp2"}, "20": {"fulltext": "14\\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\nThe negotiations with Mr. MacClintock having failed, the\\npeople now turned their attention to Mr. Houston, and at a\\ntown meeting August 5, 1756, it was voted unanimously, to\\ngive Mr. John Houston a call to the work of the ministry in\\nthis town. A committee was appointed to treat with him. At\\nan adjourned meeting August 7th, it was voted to give him six\\nhundred pounds old tenor, or new tenor equal thereto but\\nthis vote was on the 30th of the month reconsidered and it was\\nfinally agreed to give him equal to forty pounds sterling in\\nold tenor, as the law shall fix the rate of dollars or sterling\\nmoney, and that what number of Sabbath days they should\\nthink themselves unable to pay he should have to his own use\\ndeducted out of the aforesaid sum. It was also ordered that\\nthe committee should agree with Mr. McGregore to moderate\\nin a call, should Mr. Houston accept.\\nThe work on the meeting-house still went on slowly. Special\\ncommittees were appointed, one to shingle and board it, an-\\nother to procure sashes and put them in, another to underpin,\\nand another still to lay the floors and make the doors and win-\\ndow frames. There was no contract work all had to be done\\nby committee, and sometimes the committees refusing to serve,\\nothers had to be appointed, which caused much delay, and must\\nhave been vexatious. But however slow the progress, they paid\\nas they went, and thus avoided the burden of a debt.\\nThe winter of 56 wore along, and it was still uncertain whether\\nMr. Houston would accept his call the town appointed other\\ncommittees to procure preaching. At length, however, Mr.\\nHouston signified his acceptance of the call, and in July of\\n1757 forty pounds were voted to defray the charges of the\\nordination.\\nMr. Houston was ordained as pastor of the church of Bed-\\nford on the 28th of September, 1757. The ordination sermon\\nwas preached by Rev. Jonathan Parsons, of Newbury, from\\n.1 Timothy: 1, 2. Rev. David McGregore gave the charge, and\\nother ministers took part in the services. From Matthew Pat-\\nten s journal we learn that the text of Mr. Houston s first ser-\\nmon after his ordination was, Fear not, little flock, it is your", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0020.jp2"}, "21": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\n15\\nFather s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Very ap-\\npropriate, says Mr. Savage, as it must have been a small\\nchurch in the midst of the wilderness.\\nOn his settlement, Mr. Houston, as first pastor, according to\\nthe provision of the original proprietors, came into possession\\nof certain lands in the town. The people of Merrimack having\\nthen no settled ministry, and being, many of them, of the Pres-\\nbyterian persuasion, attended worship in Bedford. This was\\nsomewhat inconvenient, and in 1758 the town voted to allow the\\nthe people of Merrimack who paid rates to support the Gospel\\nin Bedford, so many Sabbath days of our Rev d Pastor s time,\\nfor public worship, to be held at John Burns as they pay in pro-\\nportion with us toward his annual salary for the present year, if\\nour Rev d pastor be willing.\\nThe details of Mr. Houston s ministry are such as were com-\\nmon to the New England ministry of that time. There were\\nmany hardships, incident to the building up of a church in a\\nnew country, but he addressed himself to the work with zeal\\nand energy, and during his pastorate the church gradually in-\\ncreased in strength and influence. He gave especial attention\\nto catechetical instruction, and was much interested in the\\nyoung people of his charge. He was conscientious and earnest\\nin his piety, devoted to the cause of his Master, and labored\\nearnestly for the spiritual welfare of the people under his charge.\\nDuring the earlier years of his ministry he seems to have en-\\njoyed the respect and confidence of his people, and was happy\\nin his relations with them. But at the beginning of the Revo-\\nlutionary war general dissatisfaction arose against him, because,\\nof his adherence to the cause of the mother country. In taking\\nthis position Mr. Houston was undoubtedly conscientious, and\\nacted in accordance with what he believed to be the will of God\\nin the matter. Time has sufficiently demonstrated that he erred\\nin judgment. But we who are removed from those scenes of\\nintense excitement can afford to impute to him only such mo-\\ntives as were dictated by what he understood as his duty in the\\nmatter. In giving a faithful record of the facts as they occurred,\\nit is due to the memory of one who, in all other respects, bore", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0021.jp2"}, "22": {"fulltext": "i6\\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\nan irreproachable character, to regard this great mistake of his\\nlife as resulting from an error of the head and not of the heart.\\nThe first intimation we have of a feeling of disaffection of\\nthe people of Bedford against their pastor, appears in a call for\\na town meeting, dated May 2d, 1775. It was immediately after\\nthe news of the battle of Lexington, and the excitement of the\\npeople throughout New England was at the highest pitch. The\\narticle in the warrant was, To see what method the town will\\ntake relating to Rev. John Houston, in these troublesome times,\\nas we apprehend his praying and preaching to be calculated to\\nintimidate the minds of his hearers, and to weaken their hands\\nin defence of their just rights and liberties, as there seems a\\nplan to be laid by Parliament to destroy both. The meeting,\\nwhich was called for the 16th of May, voted to shut the doors\\nof the church against the pastor, and to stop the payment of\\nhis salary till he should come to a sense of his duty. Mr. Hous-\\nton made a statement of his position to the town, but it was de-\\nclared to be unsatisfactory.\\nOn the 15th of June, 1775, the town voted his dismission, and\\nadopted a strong resolution condemning his course.\\nAs Presbyterians, however, they recognized the fact that he\\nwas still pastor of the church. It had been the practice in for-\\nmer years to vote him a certain number of Sabbaths to himself,\\nranging from four to ten. At the meeting of March 27th, 1776,\\nthey voted him the whole year to his own use. In the meantime\\nthey requested him to join with them in their application to\\nPresbytery for a dissolution of the pastoral relation, and a com-\\nmittee was appointed for that purpose.\\nAt the formation of the Synod of New England, at Seabrook,\\nN. H., May 31, 1775, three Presbyteries were constituted out\\nof the old Boston Presbytery, namely the Eastern, or Presby-\\ntery of Salem the Middle, or Presbytery of Londonderry and\\nWestern, or Presbytery of Palmer. On the division of these\\nPresbyteries Mr. Houston and his congregation were united to\\nthe Presbytery of Palmer, and he was directed by Synod to con-\\nvene the new Presbytery and moderate the first meeting. The\\nposition he had taken on the state of the country, however, had", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0022.jp2"}, "23": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\n17\\nrendered him unpopular with his ministerial brethren, and the\\nunfriendliness resulting therefrom led him to omit the duty as-\\nsigned him by Synod. Thereupon the Synod directed the Rev.\\nMoses Baldwin, of Kingston, to act in his stead, and Mr. Hous-\\nton, having promised that he would satisfy both the civil author-\\nity and the Synod for the course he had taken, was recom-\\nmended to bring the evidence of such satisfaction to his Pres-\\nbytery, and through them to the Synod. This action was taken\\nin September, 1776, more than a year after his dismission by\\nthe act of the town, and while he was as yet ecclesiastically, al-\\nthough not practically, pastor of the church.\\nThe Synod met at Londonderry, September 3, 1777. At this\\nmeeting a committee from Bedford appeared, and asked the ad-\\nvice of Synod respecting their troubles with their pastor. Mr.\\nHouston being present was interrogated as to his promise to\\n\u00e2\u0099\u00a6give satisfaction to Synod respecting his conduct. It appearing\\nthat he had not done so, he was deemed guilty of a breach of\\npromise and contempt of Synod, and deprived of his seat in the\\nbody until he should give satisfaction to the Synod for his con-\\nduct, either directly or through his Presbytery. The committee\\nfrom Bedford was also directed to bring the matter of their\\ngrievances before their Presbytery, in the regular way.\\nThe following year, September 3, 1778, at Londonderry, the\\nSynod re-affirmed its action respecting Mr. Houston, declaring\\nhis contempt of Synod to be highly blameable, but promised to\\nrecommend him to the churches as a member in good standing\\non his compliance with their requisition. At this meeting of\\nSynod, Bedford congregation and Mr. Houston were annexed\\nto the Presbytery of Londonderry, and that Presbytery was di-\\nrected to take cognizance of their affairs. Before the adjourn-\\nment of the meeting, however, the troubles in Bedford again\\ncame up for discussion, and both parties agreeing, the Synod\\npassed the following resolution\\nWhereas, There appears to be a dissatisfaction among the people of Bed-\\nford relative to the Rev. Mr. Houston, whereby he is not likely to be useful\\namong them in the ministry, by consent of both parties, this Synod do dis-\\nsolve his pastoral relation to said congregation.", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0023.jp2"}, "24": {"fulltext": "i8\\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\nMr. Houston is described as having been of a stern and in-\\nflexible disposition, but the progress of the war, coupled with\\nthe almost universal condemnation of his countrymen, led him,\\nsubsequently, to modify his position. He had stood out in de-\\nfence of his views to the point of surrendering his pastoral\\ncharge, and losing his standing in the Synod. But now, being\\nleft free to act according to his own will, he appeared before the\\nauthorities of the state and took the oath of allegiance, of\\nwhich the following is a copy\\nState of New j comm i tte e of Safety, October 28th, 1778.\\nHampshire J\\nThis may certify all persons that the Rev. John Houston has taken the\\noath of allegiance and fidelity to this, and the United States of America.\\nAttest M. WEARE, Chairman.\\nAt the meeting of Synod, at Windham, the following year, t\\nSeptember 15,. 1779, Mr. Houston s name appears on the roll\\nof Synod, and also the following minute, in the record of its\\nproceedings\\nA report being given by Mr. Stickland and Mr. Williams, that the Rev.\\nMr. Houston brought from the State of New Hampshire a testimonial satis-\\nfactory to this Synod, do now restore him to full standing with this body.\\nMr. Houston s name appeared on the roll of Synod up till the\\ntime of its dissolution, 1782. He remained in connection with\\nthe Presbytery of Salem, which succeeded the Synod, until\\n1785, when, in June of that year, at a meeting in Sylvester,\\nthe Presbytery gave him the following letter of dismission\\nand recommendation Voted unanimously, that the Rev. John\\nHouston (agreeable to his petition to us), be dismissed from\\nthis body, and recommended to the churches wherever God in\\nhis Providence may call him. He afterwards united with the\\nAssociate Presbytery.\\nMr. Houston continued his residence in Bedford, preaching\\nas he had opportunity, and making, occasionally, what might be\\ncalled missionary tours into northern New Hampshire and Ver-\\nmont. He died February 3d, 1798, agad 75 years.\\nFrom the time of Mr. Houston s dismission, 1778, until 1804,", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0024.jp2"}, "25": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\n*9\\na period of twenty-six years, the church was without a stated\\npastor. How it survived this long period without the stated\\npreaching of the Gospel, it is difficult now to understand. The\\nwhole period is almost a total blank with respect to any matters\\nof historical interest. The names of Benjamin Smith and James\\nLittle (Elders), occasionally appear on the rolls of Presbytery\\nand Synod as delegates from Bedford.\\nIn the records of the town we find that a certain sum of\\nmoney was voted annually to provide preaching. Rev. William\\nPickles, a native of Wales, and a man of considerable pulpit\\npower, supplied them statedly about two years, from 1787 to\\n1789, but aside from this there was no regular preaching in the\\ntown. During this long period of destitution the church mem-\\nbers became much scattered, and there was almost no spiritual-\\nity in the church. No revivals of religion are recorded, and it\\nwould seem that there had as yet been no general religious in-\\nterest in the church from the beginning of its history, although\\nthere were, undoubtedly, some conversions under the ministry\\nof Mr. Houston. Towards the close of the century there were\\ndecided indications of a desire to secure again a settled minis-\\ntry. It was voted in town meeting that the money appropriated\\nfor preaching should be used only for those who would come as\\ncandidates and the committees appointed to secure the same\\nwere desired to apply to Presbytery for supplies in a regular\\nway. Early in the beginning of the century six new elders were\\nappointed to serve with those already in office, and Rev. Mr.\\nMorrison, of Londonderry, was invited to ordain them and ad-\\nminister the Lord s Supper.\\nMarch 6, 1804, the town voted a call to the Rev. David Mc-\\nGregore, of Londonderry, and in May of the following year Mr.\\nMcGregore accepted the same.\\nOn the 5th of September, 1804, Rev. David McGregore\\nwas ordained and installed pastor of the church in Bedford, by\\nthe Presbytery of Londonderry, Rev. Dr. Morrison, of London-\\nderry, preaching the sermon.\\nMr. McGregore completed his collegiate course at Dartmouth\\nCollege, in 1799, an studied for the ministry under Dr. Mor-", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0025.jp2"}, "26": {"fulltext": "20\\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\nrison. Upon his settlement in Bedford the affairs of the church\\nassumed altogether a more favorable aspect. Meetings of ses-\\nsion were recorded and delegates regularly chosen to attend\\nmeetings of Presbytery. In 1806 a regular system of ministe-\\nrial visitation was inaugurated, in which the elders alternately\\naccompanied the minister. Numbers were added to the church\\nfrom time to time, and church discipline was more strictly ob-\\nserved. The year 18 18 was marked by a state of general reli-\\ngious interest, and during the year twenty-two persons were re-\\nceived into communion with the church.\\nMr. McGregore was a man of superior social qualities, and com-\\nmanded the respect of his congregation, as well as of his breth-\\nren in the ministry. Many of those who united with the church\\nunder his preaching became eminent for usefulness, remaining\\nfirm in their attachment to the cause of the Master to the end of\\nlife. A few of them survive to the present day, and still bear\\nwitness to the earnest gospel preaching and ministerial fidelity\\nof the pastor through whom they were converted to Christ.\\nDuring the earlier part of his ministry, Mr- McGregore la-\\nbored as a missionary in connection with the N. H. Domestic\\nMissionary Society, extending his tours into the northern section\\nof the State. His labors were blest in the awakening of con-\\nsiderable religious interest in the places where he preached.\\nThe relations of Mr. McGregore with the people of his charge\\nwere marked by harmony and good will throughout. During\\nhis ministry the church increased in strength and influence, the\\nordinances of baptism and the Lord s Supper were regularly\\nand more frequently administered, and the general tone of\\nmorals and religion improved. He was a man of sound doc-\\ntrinal views, and of good pulpit ability. His sermons, some of\\nwhich are still extant in manuscript, evince a .logical mind and\\na diligent study of the Holy Scriptures. He is spoken of as\\nhaving faithfully preached the Gospel, enforcing the practical\\nduties of religion with great fidelity.\\nIn April, 1825, Mr. McGregore apprised his church of his\\ndesire for a dissolution of the pastoral relation,, and requested\\nthem to unite with him in application to Presbytery for the same.", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0026.jp2"}, "27": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\n2 I\\nAccordingly, the Londonderry Presbytery, at its meeting at Not-\\ntingham-West, (now Hudson,) on the last Wednesday in April,\\n1826, dissolved the pastoral relation between Mr. McGregore\\nand the church in Bedford. Mr. McGregore removed to Fal-\\nmouth, in Maine, in 1831, and died there October 18th, 1845,\\naged 74. He was the nephew of Rev. David McGregore, and\\ngreat-grandson of Rev. James McGregore, the first minister of\\nLondonderry. His pastorate continued twenty-one years, as\\ndid that of Mr. Houston.\\nAbout the time of M. McGregore s dismissal a Presbyterian\\nSociety was formed in the town, in accordance with the laws\\nof the State, and to it the general affairs of the church were\\ncommitted. While, therefore, the town negotiated with Mr.\\nMcGregore on the terms of his dismissal, nothing appears in\\nthe records with regard to the call of his successor.\\nOn the 5th of July, 1826, Rev. Thomas Savage was installed\\npastor of the Presbyterian church in Bedford, by the Presbytery\\nof Londonderry, being its third settled minister. The sermon\\non the occasion was preached by the Rev. Dr. Whiton, of An-\\ntrim, N. H.\\nMr. Savage was born in Boston, September 2d, 1793. He\\nprepared for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, and gradu-\\nated at Harvard in 1813, the eleventh of his family who had\\ngraduated at that institution. Having pursued the study of\\ntheology for three years, at Cambridge, he accepted an invita-\\ntion to become a private tutor in Louisiana. About this time\\nhe experienced a change of views with respect to the system of\\ntheology he had adopted, and finished his preparation under the\\ncare of the Mississippi Presbytery. By that body he was or-\\ndained to the work of the ministry in 1822, and preached two\\nyears at Baton Rouge.\\nReturning north in 1824 he supplied the pulpit of Dr. Cod-\\nman, of Dorchester, for one year, during his absence, and im-\\nmediately after received his first invitation to preach in this town.\\nMr. Savage entered upon his life-work here under very en-\\ncouraging circumstances. He was young, vigorous, finely edu-\\ncated, and fully imbued with the spirit and energy needed for", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0027.jp2"}, "28": {"fulltext": "22\\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\nhis work. He was earnest in his piety, remarkable for the ur-\\nbanity of his manners, and for the genial kindness of his dispo-\\nsition. He was, withal, an eloquent preacher, possessing supe-\\nrior pulpit address and power, and soon won to himself the\\naffection of his people, the esteem of his ministerial brethren,\\nand the respect and confidence of the people of that part of the\\nState where, during his long pastorate, his name became the\\nsynonym, not of what it literally imported, but of those virtues\\nwhich are the embodiment of a perfect Christian gentleman.\\nPoliteness genuine Christian politeness was, in fact, his dis-\\ntinguishing characteristic. To a temperament naturally genial,\\nwere added the refinements of education, and the graces of\\nthe Christian life, making him, says Dr. Wallace, in his memo-\\nrial discourse, a model for the young, a pattern for the\\nChristian, and an example to be imitated by that profession to\\nwhich he was an ornament.\\nIn the freshness and vigor of his early life Mr. Savage de-\\nvoted himself to the work of the ministry, and the results of\\nhis labors were soon apparent. He immediately brought to the\\nattention of the session the duty of systematic visitation, and a*\\nplan was adopted that had for its object a revival of religion,\\nby bringing the question personally to the attention of all. The\\ntown was divided up into districts, and committees of. visita-\\ntion appointed to go from house to house, pledging them-\\nselves unitedly to engage in the work, immediately to go\\nabout it, and not to grow cold or weary in it. The Sabbath-\\nschool, which had been previously held in school-houses, without\\nmuch interest, was now transferred to the church and held dur-\\ning intervals of Divine service, with happy effects. On the nth\\nof October, 1827, a Thursday afternoon prayer meeting was\\ncommenced, which has continued without interruption until the\\npresent day, now almost fifty years. In 1829 a Temperance\\nReform began and a Temperance Society was formed, through\\nthe joint influence of Mr. Savage and a temperance discourse\\ndelivered by Dr. Justin Edwards. The result of this movement\\nwas, that whereas seven places were licensed in the town during\\n1829, by the selectmen, for the sale of ardent spirits, only two\\nwere licensed the following year.", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0028.jp2"}, "29": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\n2 3\\nThese Christian efforts were ordered, in the Providence of\\nGod, as preliminary to that wonderful work of grace which\\nswept over the country in 1831. The church in Bedford was\\npartaker, to a large degree, in that revival season, and acces-\\nsions were made at that time which have had a lasting influence\\nupon the church and the world. At the May communion of\\nthat year, 5 were added on profession of faith in September,\\n91 j and the following January, 17, making 113 in all. This\\nwas certainly a most encouraging result for the young pastor,\\nand for a country church it certainly evinces a work of no ordi-\\nnary magnitude. Many of those brought into the church at that\\ntime became bright and shining lights in the world nearly all\\nof them continued to adorn the Christian profession to the end\\nof life, and some still survive to attest to the present generation\\nthe genuine nature of the work of divine grace in their hearts.\\nIt was during this revival year that the question of building\\na new meeting-house first took definite shape. The old build-\\ning had stood and^ served its purpose for a period of 75 years,\\nand was now too small and inconvenient to meet the wants of\\nthe growing congregation. During the year 183 1 subscriptions\\nwere started and an association formed for building a meeting-\\nhouse. The building was finished during the following year,\\nand on Christmas day, December 25, 1832, the house in which\\nwe now worship was solemnly dedicated to the worship of Al-\\nmighty God.\\nIn the succeeding years Mr. Savage continued to enjoy the\\nconfidence of his people, and accessions were yearly made to\\nthe membership of the church, as fruits of his ministry. In an\\nhistorical discourse prepared and published during 1 841, he re-\\nported that 272 had been added to the church on profession\\nsince his settlement, being an average of 18 per year.\\nOn the 19th of May, 1850, the town celebrated the Centen-\\nnial anniversary of its incorporation. It was a great day for\\nBedford. Many distinguished visitors, former residents of the\\ntown, and others, were present. It was estimated that about\\n2000 persons participated in the festivities. The Hon. Isaac O.\\nBarnes, of Boston, a native of Bedford, delivered the Centen-", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0029.jp2"}, "30": {"fulltext": "24\\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\nnial address. A History of the town the joint work of Rev.\\nMr. Savage, Dr. P. P. Woodbury, and Mr. William Patten, was\\npublished, embracing most of the facts of interest connected\\nwith the town history up to that date. It was the result of\\ngreat labor and is an unusually interesting book of its kind.\\nOnce more, near the close of his ministry, Mr. Savage was\\npermitted to witness the Divine approval of his labors in a re-\\nvival of religion. In 1864 a revival began in Manchester, in\\nconnection with the preaching of the Evangelist, Rev. A. B.\\nEarle. The work extended to Bedford. Special meetings were\\nheld, and a deep and general interest prevailed. As a result,\\n72 persons united with the church during the year, on profession\\nof faith.\\nOn the 3d of January, 1866, the pastoral relation between the\\nRev. Thomas Savage and the church in Bedford was dissolved\\nby the Presbytery of Londonderry. The pastorate of Mr. Sav-\\nage extended over a period of nearly forty years, and embraced\\nthe most important period of the church s history. He had suc-\\nceeded in binding the church together in harmonious action\\nin all Christian work, and bringing it forward to rank with the\\nstrong churches in the state. His pastorate, on the whole, was\\neminently successful, and the influence of his labors will long\\nbe felt upon the cause of religion in this community.\\nMr. Savage did not long survive the termination of his pas-\\ntorate. He died on the 8th of May, 1866, aged 72 years.\\nAs a preacher, says Dr. Wallace, Mr. Savage was practi-\\ncal and impressive. He did not dwell so much on the distinctive\\ndoctrines of the Gospel, as many preachers. He did not preach\\ntheology as a system. Yet he preached salvation only by the\\ncross. But its doctrines .were mingled with precept as the\\nleaven pervades the mass in which it is hidden. They appeared\\nnot as the veins penetrate the marble, but as the painter s color\\nshades the whole.\\nAnother says, My earliest recollections of Mr. Savage go\\nback to the first years of his ministry in Bedford. The impres-\\nsion that he made on my young heart was that he was a power-\\nful and pathetic preacher. He lodged his texts, subjects and", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0030.jp2"}, "31": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\n25\\nmanner firmly in my memory. In the revivals of thirty years\\nago I remember him as one of the most active of laborers. He\\nnever seemed more at home and joyous than in the inquiry\\nroom. So earnest, affectionate and persuasive was he that he\\ndrew all our hearts towards himself and his Saviour.\\nA writer in the Boston Recorder, soon after his death, says of\\nhim His pulpit efforts were often signally felicitous, and not\\na few will remember after the General Association of 1864, at\\nManchester, had voted to offer special thanks for converting\\ngrace vouchsafed to the congregation how in prayer he took\\nthe great assembly up bodily to the gates of heaven, so that we\\ncould almost hear the songs of joy resounding within.\\nMr. Savage was especially remarkable for those bursts of ex-\\ntemporaneous eloquence by which he often carried his audience\\nat his will. These occasions were frequent at the communion\\ntable and in the religious meetings of ecclesiastical bodies. In\\nthe pulpit, also, it was not unusual for him to rise with, the\\ngrandeur of his theme, and breaking away from the fetters of\\nhis written notes, pour forth a torrent of oratory that swept\\naway every barrier in the hearts of his hearers, and won the\\nassent of their understanding to the truths he uttered.\\nIn many of his discourses he was vividly descriptive, leaving\\nthe impress of the pictures he portrayed indelibly fixed in the\\nmemory of those who heard him. The writer met with a minis-\\nter in the Assembly at Chicago, in 1872, who had heard Mr.\\nSavage preach a sermon more than twelve years previous, but\\nwhich had been so effectually lodged in his recollection that he\\nwas able to give a clear analysis of it, and to follow the preacher\\nout in the general development of his theme.\\nHe was a man of varied attainments in literature, having read\\nextensively among classical as well as English authors, and often\\nre-produced the results of his reading with the happiest effect,\\nnot only in his public discourses, but in his social intercourse\\nwith men. His fine culture as a scholar, his retentive memory,\\nwhich enabled him to quote from authors almost at will, com-\\nbined with elegance of diction, made him to excel in conversa-\\ntion, and his society was always delighted in by those who knew", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0031.jp2"}, "32": {"fulltext": "26\\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\nhim best. Had he been ambitious, said one at his funeral,\\nhe might have stood on the high places of New England.\\nThe memory of Mr. Savage is most tenderly cherished by the\\ncongregation to whom he so long ministered. At the time of\\nhis dismission they evinced their affectionate regard by placing\\nin his hands a purse of $1000, and after his death they erected\\nto his memory a beautiful and appropriate monument. Many\\nanecdotes are related of him, illustrative of his genial kindness\\nand the never-failing politeness which marked all his intercourse\\nwith the world, but the writer has yet to hear the first word that\\nwould cast a shadow upon the lustre of his name.\\nRev. Arthur Little was installed pastor of the church on\\nthe 3d of January, 1866, by the Presbytery of Londonderry.\\nThe late Dr. E. N. Kirk, of Boston, preached the sermon, and\\nthe Rev. Dr. C. W. Wallace, of Manchester, delivered the charge\\nto the pastor.\\nMr. Little was born in West Boscawen, N. H., May 24th,\\n1837. He fitted for college at Kimball Union Academy and\\ngraduated from Dartmouth, July, i860. He studied one year at\\nAndover, one year at Princeton was ordained as chaplain,\\nMarch 16th, 1863, by a Congregational Council, and spent about\\ntwo and one-half years in the war as chaplain of the 1st Ver-\\nmont Heavy Artillery.\\nMr. Little speaks of his pastorate in Bedford as a most happy\\nand pleasant one. He was highly esteemed and popular with\\nthe people of his charge, who were reluctant to part with him.\\nDuring his pastorate a house was built to be used as a parson-\\nage, by a society formed for the purpose.\\nOn the 2 2d of September, 1868, Mr. Little was dismissed\\nfrom his charge, and in October, 1869, was settled over the\\nCongregational church at Fond Du Lac, Wis., where he still\\nremains.\\nIra C. Tyson was born in Whitemarsh, Montgomery county,\\nPennsylvania, on the 3d of March, 1830. Learned the printing\\nbusiness, and was engaged in the office of the Germantown\\nTelegraph twelve years. Studied the languages under Prof.\\nW T ithington, of the Germantown Academy, and entered Union", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0032.jp2"}, "33": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\n2 7\\nTheological Seminary, New York City, in 1859. Graduated in\\nMay, 1862. Ordained and installed pastor of the Presbyterian\\nchurch, Hughsonville, Duchess county, ,New York, October 6,\\n1862, by the Presbytery of North River. Dismissed in March,\\n1869. Installed pastor of the Presbyterian church, Bedford,\\nN. H., May 9th, 1869, by the Presbytery of Londonderry. Rev.\\nJames B. Dunn, of Boston, preached the sermon, Rev. William\\nHouse, of Londonderry, charged the pastor, and Rev. E. M. Kel-\\nlogg charged the people.\\nThe church has enjoyed two seasons of refreshing within the\\npast two years, resulting in an accession to the membership of\\nabout 40 on profession of faith. A vestry, built as a memorial\\nof the re-union between the two branches of the Presbyterian\\nchurch, was dedicated on. the 6th of January, 1872. A Young\\nMen s Christian Association was organized in May, 1874, and\\nin January, 1876, the church adopted the Rotary system of elder-\\nship, electing a full board of twelve elders, in three classes, to\\nserve four years each. The present membership of the church\\nis about 215, and the Sabbath-school is composed of over 300\\nmembers, adults and children. The Society is at present en-\\ntirely free from debt, and its church edifice is in a good state of\\nrepair. In 187 1 the envelope system for benevolent contribu-\\ntions was adopted, and is continued to the present time, (1876.)\\nThe following is a summary of the ministry, eldership and\\nchurch members\\nFrom date of organization to present time, 127 years.\\nWithout a pastor from 1749 to 1757, 8\\nRev. John Houston, 1757-1773, 21\\nWithout a pastor from 1778 to 1804 26\\nRev. David McGregore, 1804-1825, 21\\nRev. Thomas Savage, 1826-1866, 40\\nRev. Arthur Little, 1866-1868, 2\\nIra C. Tyson, 1869-1876 7\\nThe following have served as elders, with the date of their\\nordination. In the early history of the church the elders were\\nchosen in town meeting", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0033.jp2"}, "34": {"fulltext": "28\\nHISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\n!757-\\nDaniel L. French.\\nJames Little,\\nJames Gilmore,\\nBenjamin Smith,\\nWilliam Moor.\\n1786.\\nSilas Dole,\\nJames Wallace,\\nJohn Orr.\\n1803.\\nDavid M Questen,\\nJohn Craig,\\nJohn Houston,\\nPhineas Aiken,\\nWilliam Moor.\\n1804.\\nJohn Holbrook.\\n1817.\\nStephen Thurston,\\nJohn French,\\nJohn Orr Houston,\\nRichard Dole,\\nMoody M. Stevens.\\n1832.\\nThomas Atwood,\\nSamuel McQueston,\\nDaniel Mack.\\n1847.\\nJames French,\\nPhineas French.\\n1859.\\nWilliam B. Stevens.\\n1865.\\nGardner Nevins,\\nCharles Gage,\\nE. P. Parkhurst.\\n1867.\\nJesse Witherspoon,\\nStephen C. Damon.\\n1876.\\nHugh R. French,\\nOliver R. Clark,\\nFreeman R. French,\\nFrederick Hodgman,\\nNathan W. Cutler,\\nFrederick F. French,\\nJohn Hodgman.\\nTotal,\\nAt the settlement of Mr. McGregore, 1804, the number of names on\\nthe church roll was\\nAdded during the pastorate of Mr. McGregore,\\nMr. Savage,\\nMr. Little,\\npresent pastorate,\\n38.\\n112\\n166\\n457\\n22\\n72\\n829\\nMaking a total of\\nIn common with other New England churches, this church\\nhas suffered much from depletion of its numbers, caused by re-", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0034.jp2"}, "35": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\n2 9\\nmovals to the West, and concentration in the larger towns and\\ncities of the State. This constant drain upon its forces has\\nbeen one of the most serious obstacles to its growth. It is,\\nhowever, a source of gratitude to God that the church has thus\\nbecome a source of supply to other places, and that many of\\nthose who have gone out from it have made their mark in the\\nworld, and reflected honor upon the place that gave them birth.\\nMany have gone out to preach the Gospel, several have become\\nmissionaries, and large numbers have filled prominent places of\\ntrust in the land, or acted creditably their part in the common\\nwalks of life.\\nOf those who have gone out from the church to preach the\\nGospel in other places may be mentioned the names of Rev.\\nMessrs. Joseph Goffe, John Walker, Silas Aiken, Isaac Orr, C.\\nW. Wallace, Daniel L. French, Lemuel Spofford, Ebenezer\\nChase, Moody A- Stevens, Albert Newton. Of those who have\\nmarried ministers are Mrs. Philomela Garret, previously second\\nwife of Samuel Newell, late missionary in India Mrs. Jane\\nHarris, Mrs. Mary J. Smith, Mrs. Ann Worcester, Mrs. Mary\\nMoor, Mrs. Harriet M. G. Wood, Mrs. Dolly Bryant (also the\\nwife of a missionary) Mrs. Nancy French, Mrs. Polly French,\\nMrs. Sally Chapin, Mrs. Mary Miltimore, Mrs. Lucretia Clelan,\\nMrs. Fanny P. House. The last two were daughters of Mr,\\nSavage.\\nThe church has always manifested a missionary spirit, con-\\ntributing some years from four to five hundred dollars to be-\\nnevolent objects, and a monthly concert of prayer for missions\\nis observed, which has been sustained for many years, and is\\none of the permanent institutions of the church.\\nFrom their earliest history the people have been distinguished\\nfor their church-going habits, and for their general, attachment\\nto the services of the sanctuary. As already remarked, in their\\nearlier history, being without preaching at home, they were ac-\\ncustomed to go to Londonderry to Divine service, performing\\nthe journey pften on foot a distance of twelve miles. In\\ntimes of religious interest it has been the custom to hold two\\nand three meetings during the day, to attend which, the daily", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0035.jp2"}, "36": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\nbusiness of life has been cheerfully set aside. The Sabbath\\nservices are always well attended, as is generally the case with\\nthe Thursday afternoon prayer-meeting.\\nAlthough in the lapse of time there have been many changes\\nin the ecclesiastical complexion of the people, the older Presby-\\nterians removing and persons of other denominational prefer-\\nences taking their places, the church has always remained dis-\\ntinctively Presbyterian. This is the more noticeable from the\\nfact that a large proportion of the churches of the State, which\\nwere at one time Presbyterian, have changed their ecclesiastical\\nrelations, becoming Congregational. There was nothing to\\nhave hindered Bedford church from dojng likewise, except its\\nloyalty to that form of church government adopted by the\\nfathers, who inaugurated a church polity which they believed in\\ndiscipline to tend most to their edification. It is hoped the\\nsame spirit will animate the church in future, and that they will\\naccount it honorable to be identified with the great Presbyterian\\nfamily, whose doctrinal system, church polity and aggressive\\nvigor, point to it as the church of. the future, which, under God,\\nis to grapple most successfully with the forces of infidelity.\\nThere certainly appears no desire at present to disturb our ec-\\nclesiastical relations.\\nA church which traces its history back to colonial days, which\\nstruggled with the country through the dark years of the revo-\\nlution, which has grown with the nation to the present clay, and\\nstill maintains the institutions of religion intact, which during a\\nperiod of 127 years has had but five settled ministers, whose\\nunited pastorates extend over a period of 91 years, and which,\\nnotwithstanding the many trials through which it has passed is\\nstill strong and prosperous, has certainly occasion, during this\\nyear of national jubilee, to thank God for His preserving mercy,\\nand for the distinguished blessings with which it has been vis-\\nited. Recognizing His good hand in its past history, especially\\nin those seasons of refreshing, which have come, at times, as\\nstreams in the desert, restoring its wasted energies, and im-\\nparting new life and activity to those of its ministry and mem-\\nbership who were fainting by the way, the church enters upon", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0036.jp2"}, "37": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.\\n3 1\\nthe new century of the nation with renewed hope and confidence\\nin its covenant-keeping God, and with new purpose of activity\\nin the Saviour s cause.\\nAs we look back over the past to-day, while we see so many\\nreasons to thank God for his goodness, there is also cause for\\nhumiliation that many responsibilities have been neglected, and\\nmany opportunities of usefulness unimproved. May we not\\nhope, that with the continued help of our Great Head, the church\\nfrom this time forth will enter upon a new era of usefulness\\nand that we may be able, by the grace of God, to make a record\\nfor the church, in which succeeding generations will rejoice and\\nglorify God thereby /That the facts here recorded may serve\\nas a stimulus to greater endeavor, is the improvement we should\\ndesire to make of them.", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0037.jp2"}, "38": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0038.jp2"}, "39": {"fulltext": "CENTENNIAL\\nHistorical Discourse\\nPresbyterian Church,\\nBEDFORD, N. H.,\\nDelivered Sabbath, July 2, 1876, by the Pastor,\\nREV. IRA C. TYSON.\\nPREPARED BY DIRECTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE\\nPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED\\nSTATES OF AMERICA.\\nMANCHESTER:\\nJOHN B. CLARKE S STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRESS.\\n1876.", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0039.jp2"}, "40": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0040.jp2"}, "41": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0041.jp2"}, "42": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0042.jp2"}, "43": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0043.jp2"}, "44": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0044.jp2"}, "45": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3572", "width": "2195", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0045.jp2"}, "46": {"fulltext": "LIBRARY OF CONGRESS\\n021 897 977 4", "height": "4098", "width": "2729", "jp2-path": "centennialhistor00tyso_0046.jp2"}}