{"1": {"fulltext": "A BRIEF\\nHISTORY\\n13\\nCONGREGATIONAL CHURCH\\nIN GOFFSTOWN, N. H.,\\nBKING TAftT OF A\\nSERMON PREACHED BY\\nSamuel L. Gerould, Pastor,\\nJULY 0. 187G,\\nWITH A FEW LATER ADDITIONS.\\nBRISTOL, N. H.:\\n11. W. MUSGROVE, PRINTER.\\n1881.", "height": "3010", "width": "1757", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0001.jp2"}, "2": {"fulltext": "Glass.\\nBook.\\nYa.a-", "height": "3136", "width": "1988", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0002.jp2"}, "3": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3126", "width": "1925", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0003.jp2"}, "4": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3116", "width": "1754", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0004.jp2"}, "5": {"fulltext": "A BRIEF\\nHIST OR Y\\nCONGREGATIONAL CHURCH\\nIN GOFFSTOWN, N. H.,\\nlU-.ING PAUT OK A\\nSERMON PREACHED BY\\nSamuel L. Gerould, Pastor,\\nJULY 9, 1876,\\nWITH A FEW LATER ADDITIONS.\\nBRISTOL, N. U.:\\nU. VV. MUSGHOVE, PUINTEIi.\\n1S8L", "height": "3126", "width": "1925", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0005.jp2"}, "6": {"fulltext": "\u00e2\u0080\u00a2CI\\na A-", "height": "3136", "width": "1988", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0006.jp2"}, "7": {"fulltext": "HISTORY.\\nThis town was settled in 1741 or 1742, and was chartereil June\\n17, 1761. The people at that time were, as in all New England\\ntowns, a church-going people. It was considered disreputable to\\nbe habitually absent from divine service on the Sabbath. Accord-\\ningly we find that, as soon as possible after receiving their charter,\\nmeasures were taken to secure the ministrations of the gospel. At\\nthe first annual town meeting, held at the barn of Thomas Karr\\n(where the meetings were convened for man} ^ears), it was Voted,\\nthat \u00c2\u00a3100 be raised for preaching, and Dea. Thomas Karr and\\nAsa Pattee were appointed a committee to expend it. It was also\\nVoted, that half the preaching be at James Karr s and the other\\nhalf at John Smith s. It is probable that all the public religious\\nservices of that da^^ were held in barns, as we find by a vote in\\nMarch, 1763, that it was the will of the town that the preaching for\\nthat year be at James Karr s barn. At the same meeting \u00c2\u00a3100 was\\nappropriated for preaching. At the annual meeting March 5, 1764,\\n\u00c2\u00a3300 was appropriated, and it was Voted that \u00c2\u00a3200 be preached\\nout at John Smith s, and the other \u00c2\u00a3100 thereof be equally divided\\non each side of the Piscataquog river. The next 3 ear the same\\namount was appropriated, but the services were all to be held at\\nThomas Karr s barn. In 1766 the amount voted for preaching\\nwas reduced to \u00c2\u00a3150, and the selectmen were instructed to expend\\nit. In 1767 only \u00c2\u00a39 was voted for this purpose, but as \u00c2\u00a33 was all\\nthat was raised for town charges, it is probable that the difference\\nwas owing to the shrinkage of the currency. Two somewhat curi-\\nous votes stand side by side in connection with the annual meeting\\nof this year, which will serve to show the changes time and truth\\nhave wrought. The one is that the town support no school this\\nyear the other that it pay for the rum used at the bridge by the\\nMast fordway.", "height": "3126", "width": "1925", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0007.jp2"}, "8": {"fulltext": "4\\nTt, will have been observed that the town, rather than individ-\\nuals, supported public worship at this time. The towns also\\nerected the meeting-houses. The Congregationalists were the\\nstanding order, and so all the tax-i)ayers, for many years, con-\\ntributed to the support of this denomination. There was a provis-\\nion, however, b} which those conscientiously opposed to this order,\\nand in favor of some other, could be released by the selectmen, in\\nwhich eases their taxes went to support the denomination to which\\nthey were attached. There were many Presbyterians, some Ana-\\nbaptists, as they were called, and a lew Episcopalians, that, in this\\nmanner, were released from supporting the Congregationalists.\\nl^ut all voters must pay their proportion towards the support of\\nsome religious worship, and for many years the town assessed and\\ncollected all moneys expended for this object. Various sums were\\n3 earl3- voted by the town for this purpose, until the formation of a\\nchurch and the settlement of a pastor, when the sum was usually\\nvoted b} the church, but assessed and collected by the town.\\nThe Congregational Church was organized Oct. 30, 1771. Its\\nrecords, for the first ten years of its existence, were destroyed by\\nfire many ye^rs since, so it is impossible to give its strength or say\\nver}- much about it, for that time. The names of eighteen peisons,\\nineidenlall} mentioned, who must have been members, have been\\nculled from the subsequent records and, as most of these are\\nnames of men, it is safe to presume that more than fifty nuist have\\nbeen added to the church during this period.\\nIt is probable that a Presbyterian church or society was formed\\nvery soon after, for in an old record book of the Londonderiy Pres-\\nbytery, lost for mail} 3% ars, but recentl} discovered in one of the\\nantiquarian bookstores of Boston, is this record from the minutes\\nof a meeting held at Newburyport, Mass., Ma} 13, 1772 Order-\\ned that a certificate be delivered to the Presbyterian society of\\nGotfstown, manifesting their being under the care of this Presby-\\ntery. The Prebyterians held a service, more or less, every 3 ear\\nin })riv;ite houses and barns, but never had a meeting-house, nor a\\nsettled minister, although a certain Mr. Pidgin preached for them\\nsome time. Very little can be ascertained in regard to this church.\\nIn the town records, under date of April 16, 1781, fifty-six names\\nof males are appended to a declaration that the} are Presb3terians.", "height": "3131", "width": "1936", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0008.jp2"}, "9": {"fulltext": "It is possible tliat not until this year did thej become a separate,\\nleiral parish, though relieved from paying rates in 1773.\\nFrom tlie beginning there were some Anabaptists, as tiiey were\\nthen called, whose parish rales, at their requej.t. were applied to\\ntlie support of Baptist preaching at Hopkinton, where they attend-\\ned till 17i)o. During this year a chnrch of this order was formed\\nin town, though it had hardly moie than a name to live until it was\\nreorganized in 1820. They were without a house of worship till\\n1.S04, when the present structure was erected.\\nThere were also a very few Ei)iscopalians, whose paiish rates\\nwere applied at Newburyport, Mass. IIow often these i)ersons\\nworsiiipped in thai place we h-u-e no means of knowing, but they\\nhardlv could have gone so far more than once or twice in a year.\\nThe town records have this entry under date of INIarch 7, 1791.\\nThis certifies that Capt. John Bntterfield hath joined the Episco-\\npal Society in Guffstuwu, and means to support the gospel in that\\nmode of worship. (Signed) John Smith, John Chjgston, Wardens.\\nUnder date of March 4, 1793, is this record\u00e2\u0080\u0094 This may certify all\\npersons whom it may concern, that Mr. Enoch Eaton of Goffsiown\\nprofesses himself to be a member of the p:piscopal church now-\\nerected in said town, and has helped to maintain the gospel in that\\nline for some time past, as, witness our hands. Job Dow, John Bnt-\\nterfield, John Smith, Win. McDougal, Wardens. From this it\\nwould appear that there was at that time an Episcopal church or\\nsociety in this t )wn, but I have been unable to discover other evi-\\ndence of it.\\nAs early as 17GG the inhabitants began to move for the buihling\\nof a phice of worship At a town meeting held Sept. 29th of this\\nye ir it was Voted, that the meeting-house be built on the south\\nside of the river on the convenientest place in the crotch of the\\nroads as they lead from the bridge to the Mastroa-l. This is very\\nnear where the Baptist church now stands. It was also Voted,\\nthat the house be forty-four feet long, thirty-eight feet wide, and\\ntwenty-two feet post, and that it be raised, boarded and shingled\\nby the first day of Octol\u00c2\u00bber next. But the question of the two\\nsides of the river disturbed our fathers, as it has their children,\\nand the oppositim to this vote was so strong that the coflimittee", "height": "3126", "width": "1925", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0009.jp2"}, "10": {"fulltext": "did nothing. The town was also about evenly divided upon an-\\nother question. The settlers on the north side of the river were\\nmostly Congregationalists those on the south side were mainly\\nPresbyterians. The latter, in getting a vote to build on their side\\nof the river, gained a temporary triumph. But the votes were\\nsoon rescinded. The next July the town voted to build a smaller\\nhouse Miear l^ea. Karr s shop, which vote was rescinded at the fol-\\nlowing March meeting, in 17G8. But our ftithers evidently were\\nbecoming wearied with this contention, and so at this meeting fixed\\nupon tiie location, and empowered Samuel Richards, Enoch Page,\\nWm. McDoell, Asa Pattee, Joshua Martin, Job Rowell and Thom-\\nas Karr to build the house according to their own mind.\\nOn the 27th of April, 1768, the house which most of us remem-\\nber, standing near the school- liouse at the Center, and which was\\ntaken down in 1869, .was raised. It was not completed for several\\nyears. Various sums were appropriated from year to year for this\\npurpose. It was occupied as a place of worship as soon as shin-\\ngled and boarded. In August, 1769, the pew ground in the\\nbody of the building was sold at a vendue, and the avails were\\nused toward completing the house. The names of the purchasers\\nat that time were Samuel Blodgett, Wm. Gilchrist, Robert Gilmore,\\nCapt. James Karr, Dea. Thomas Karr, Job Kidder, Joseph Little,\\nCapt. John Mack, Daniel McFarland, Samuel McFarland, Asa\\nPattee, Samuel Richards, Benjamin Stevens and Moses AVells.\\nThe vendue occui)ied two days and was probabl} accompanied\\nwith considerable discussion. Others afterwards secured pew\\nground, until most of the bod}- of the house was sold.\\nThe secoml house of worship in town was erected in 1815 and\\n1816, and was dedicated July 3, 1816 Rev. John II. Church, d.d.,\\nof Pelham, preaching the sermon. It stood upon or very near the\\npresent site of Mr. Samuel M. Christie s house. It was quite a\\nlarge building, with galleries on three sides, and had a bell. After\\nits erection services were held in this house two-thirds of the time,\\nthe other third being in the old house at the Center. In 1845 it\\ntaken down and moved awa}\\nThe third meeting-house was built in 1838, which was the one occu-\\npied b^ the Methodists, and which was struck by lightning and\\nburned a few years since. The old meeting-house had become", "height": "3136", "width": "1905", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0010.jp2"}, "11": {"fulltext": "quite dilapidated and uncomfortable, and a new one, upon which\\nthe town should have no claim, was very much needed. Besides\\nthis there was a feeling on the part of those living in the Center\\nand east part of the town, that they w-ere not receiving so man}\\nprivileges as the west village, a large part of the preaching being\\nat the latter place. The^- were also hoping to form a parish of\\ntheir own, and so have sanctuary privileges every Sabbath. Their\\ndesires, however, were not realized, and in 1842 the house was\\nsold to parties by whom the Methodist church was organized.\\nDuring the pastorate of Rev. Isaac AVilley, and largely through\\nhis influence, the present house of worship was erected, at a cost\\nof about 82,500,* It was dedicated in October, 1845, from which\\ntime all tlie Sabbath services were held in this house. Its seating\\ncapacit}- was increased in 18G9 by the addition of twenty-eight\\npews.\\nA parsonage, costing, complete, about $2,700, was built in 1870,\\nand a chapel or vestry, for the socImI meetings of the church, was\\nerected in 1875, at an expense of $2,750.\\nHaving spoken of the houses of worship, we naturally next\\ncome to the ministers of the gospel. A history of the ministers\\nof olden time is largely a history of the church over which they\\nwere settled. There was then, on the part of church members,\\nvery little of what we now call religions activity. Such a thing as\\na la3man talking religion or praying, otherwise than in his own\\nfamily was hardly known. About the only public expression of\\nreligious life consisted in attending the two ver} long preaching\\nservices on the Sabbath, being punctual at the communion, and\\npresenting ones children for baptism. Upon all these points they\\nwere very strict. The church w^as, therefore, more largel} than now,\\nwhat its pastor made it.\\nAt a town meeting held Aug. 31, 1769, it was Voted, that we\\nkeep Mr. Currier four da3s, meaning, probably, four Sabbaths.\\nIt is likel} he had already preached several Sabbaths, being em-\\nplo3-ed by the committee for that 3 ear, and that the town, with a\\nview to his settlemesit, wished to hear him longer, as we find that,\\non the 24th of October following, a committee was appointed to\\ntreat with him in regard to settlement. On the 13th of February,\\n*TI)is was the cost in money. Had time and labor been reckoned the amount would Lave\\nbeen hugely increased.", "height": "3126", "width": "1925", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0011.jp2"}, "12": {"fulltext": "1770, a forinn! call to settle in the ministiy was voteil hiin by the\\ntown. But for some reason it was not accepted. It was renewed\\nJuly 29, 1771, and was accepted the 17th of August following.\\nHe was to have, as a settlement, the use of a certain tract of land,\\nreserved by tlie proprietors of the town for that purpose, and \u00c2\u00a340\\na year the first five jcars, \u00c2\u00a345 the next three years and \u00c2\u00a350 a 3 ear\\nalter eight years. His salary was to be paid, one-half in corn and\\ntlie other half in labor. He was ordained Oct. oO, 1771. the same\\nday the church was organized. Mr. (^urrier was settled by the\\ntown rather than by the church. The ordaining council, which\\nalso recognized the church, was composed of Rev, Daniel Emer-\\nson of Hollis, Rev. Henry True of Hampstead, and Rev. Gyles\\nMerrill of Plaistow, chosen by the town, besides five chosen liy\\nMr. Curlier whose names are not given. His ministiy wa? a brief\\none for those da3-s, a little short of three 3 ears. He was veiy in-\\ntemperate in his habits, and was dismissed l)y the town and church\\nAng. 29, 1774. without the advice of a council. Probably he did\\nnot care to ni)pear before one.\\nRev. Joseph Currier was born in Amesbur} Mass., March 18,\\n1743 was graduated at Harvard College in 17G5, and studied the-\\nology in private. After his dismissal from tliis church he removed\\nto Corinth, Vt., where he died July 24, 1829, aged 86.\\nThis town shared in the burdens of the Revolutionary war, fur-\\nnishing seventy-four men for the army, besides large quantities of\\nbeet (13,000 lbs. at one time) assigned them by the government, as\\nits quota. For this reason, probably, after Mr. Currier left, there\\nwas no stated preaching, but only occasional sui)plies, till 1781.\\nThe fact that the Presbyterians and Anabaptists had been relieved\\nApril 19, 1773, fi om paying their rates for Congregational preach-\\ning may have had something to do with it.\\nOn the 27tli of Dec. 1781, Cornelius Waters was ordained and\\ninstalled pastor of this church, the call having been voted the 23d\\nof August previous. In this transaction the town had no part.\\nThe churches in Sutton, Amherst, Merrimack, Pembroke, Plaistow,\\nAtkinson, Hollis, Concord, Warner, Hopkinton, and Hampstead\\nwere invited on the council. As preparing the way for his coming\\nand his success in his ministry, the church observed the first day\\nof December as a day of fasting and prayer. Rev. Henry True", "height": "3136", "width": "1905", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0012.jp2"}, "13": {"fulltext": "9\\nof Hampstead was Moderator of the Coiincil, and Rev. Jeremiah\\nBarnard of Amherst scribe. Mr. True gave the charge to the\\npastor, Rev. Jacob Burnap, d.d., of Merrimack, gave the fellow-\\nship of the churches, Rev. Gyles Merrill of Plaistow tlie ordaining\\nprayer, and Rev. Elijah Fletcher of Ilopkinton the concluding\\nprayer.\\nHe received a settlement of \u00c2\u00a3100, and a salary of \u00c2\u00a370 a year for\\nthe first five years, and \u00c2\u00a380 thereafter. He seems to have been a\\nvery worthy man. During his ministry, fifty-seven were added to\\nthe church and thirty-three owned the Covenant. During the\\nlatter part of his pastorate there were dissentions in the church.\\nA council was called for their settlement, but they were not settled.\\nA day of fasting and prayer was appointed, but the difficulties con-\\ntinued. Mr. Currier was too loose in his liabits, and Mr. Waters\\nby some was thought too strict. The lovers of ardent spirits were\\ndetermined he should leave. So he asked a dismission, which was\\ngranted May 4, 1705, after a ministry of fourteen years. To the\\nrecord is ai)pended the following Notandum Bene. The vote\\naccepting his resignation was passed in the east end of the meeting-\\nhouse on the common, at the time of the annual parish meeting\\nby adjournment, and the church condescended to do it to quell the\\nviolence, rage and confusion which prevailed in a distracted party\\nof the church and pai ish in the parish meeting. The opposition\\nwon the day, which was all they cared for, as the leaders ceased\\nattending meeting or helping in the support of worship so that\\nafter three years is was found necessar}- to expel them.\\nCornelius Waters, the second pastor of this church, was born in\\nMillbury, Mass.,May 12, 1749; graduated at D:irtmouth College\\nin 1774. Like Mr. Currier he studied theology in private. From\\nhere he removed to Ashby, Mass., where he was installed in 1797\\nand dismissed in 181G. He continued to reside in Ashby till his\\ndeath, July 30, 1824.\\nAfter the expulsion from the church of those disaffected with\\nMr. Waters, the sober, second judgment of the people convinced\\nthem they luubr?^ done wrong. There had been much hard feeling\\nbetween the Congregationalists and Presbyterians. An unholy\\nstrife for members had been carried on by both churches. A day\\nof listing and prayer was appointed, and the Christian people", "height": "3147", "width": "2062", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0013.jp2"}, "14": {"fulltext": "10\\nwere humbled. A vote was passed b}- the Congregational church\\nthat tliey would, thereafter, be more careful in the reception of\\nmembers. The result, in a few words, was that a plan of union\\nbetween the two churches was adopted Dec. 29, 1801, and the}- be-\\ncome one, under the name of the Presbyterian-Congregational\\nChurch of Goffstown. The Government was to be according to\\nthe Congregational polity, with the right of appeal to Presbytery\\nor Mutnal Council, as the parties might elect.\\nUp to 1790 the Half Way Covenant seems to have been in use.\\nThis was an arrangement by which adidts, whose outward lives\\nwere correct, by owning the covenant, were permitted to receive\\nthe rite of baptism themselves, and present their children for this\\nordinance. We have the names of thirty-eight persons who were\\nadmitted under this covenant. It made bad work with religion\\nwherever it was adopted, as it was virtually a letting down of the\\nbars of the church to an} who chose to come in in this way, with-\\nout any personal interest in the Saviour of sinners. This Half\\nWay Covenant was originally promulgated in 1662, by a Council\\nconvened in Boston by the General Court of Massachusetts, to\\nsettle existing difficulties in the churches. The reason for its\\nadoption was, because at that time none but baptized persons\\ncould vote. But it was adopted or was in use in many places, as\\nhere, a long time after this reason had ceased to exist, so far as\\napplied to town aflairs. All who owned the Covenant could,\\nhowever, vote on church affairs, and nuich trouble was sometimes\\nmade in consequence. It seems gradually- to have fallen into dis-\\nvise in this place as, ever after the union of tlie two churches, the\\nchurch members regulated their own affairs as now except that\\nin the matter of choosing and dismissing pastors, the act of the\\nchurch must be accepted by the parish, as now b}- the society.\\nUpon the adoption of the plan of union, Dec. 29, 1801, a call\\nwas extended to Mr. David Lawrence Morril to settle with us in\\nthe work of the gospel ministr} and he was ordained and in-\\nstalled March 3, 1802. He received a settlement of $300 and an\\nannual salary of $300. For the purpose of meeting the desires of\\nthe Presbyterians, six elders were appointed, namely, John Rich-\\nardson, Jona. Stevens, Thomas Warren, Thomas Shirley, Thomas\\nKenned} and Robert Moore, the last three having been, originally,.", "height": "3136", "width": "1905", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0014.jp2"}, "15": {"fulltext": "11\\nPresbyterians. John Taggart and William Story were soon after\\nadded. The ministry of Mr. Morril was, on the whole, a success-\\nlul one, for he was a man of prudence, alnlity and piet}*, and so\\nwon the confidence of the entire commnnity. Thirty-four were\\nadded to the church during his pastorate. The Presbyterian and\\nCongregational elements, however, were not quite in harmonj and\\nman^ of the former withdrew in 1803. Intemperance prevailed in\\nthe church to an alarming extent, but, to the credit of the church\\nbe it said, every case was met b} discipline. Mr. Morril s health\\nhaving become pooi or rather his voice failing him, he resigned\\nhis charge and closed his labors Nov. 4, 1809. His resignation\\nwas not acted upon by a council till Jul}- 10, 1811. It is probable\\nthat in the intervening time he occasionally preached. From this\\ntime till the latter i)art of 1818 there was no regular preach-\\ning, although the town appiopriated f r this purpose in 1816 the\\nsum of S200, the societ}- the same amount in 1817, and SlaO\\nin 1819.\\nDavid Lawrence Moiril was born in P4)ping, June 10, 1772. He\\nnever went to college but studied theology with Rev. Jesse Rem-\\nington of Candia. In 1808 he received the degrees of A. M. and\\nM. D. from Dartmouth College, and in 1825 the degree of LL.D.\\nfrom the University of Vermont. He continued to reside in this\\ntown for man} ^-ears after his dismissal, in the practice of medi-\\ncine, and was moderator and clerk of the church until another\\npastor Avas chosen. He represented the town in the Legislature\\nfrom 1810 to 1816, inclusive, the latter year being Speaker of the\\nHouse. The same year he was elected to the United States Sen-\\nate for six years from March 4, 1817. He was also Governor of\\nthe State iu 1824-5. He removed to Concord in the autumn of\\n1831, Avhere he engaged in the book trade, and where he died Jan.\\n27, 1849.\\nIn 1816 an Ecclesiastical Society was organized for the support\\nof Congregational worship, called the Religious Union Societ\\\\%\\nwhich was incorporated Dec. 11, 1816.* This remains until this\\nday.\\nIn 1819 a call was extended to Mr. Hosea Wheeler which was\\ndeclined.\\nIn the spring and summer of 1819 the place was blessed with a", "height": "3147", "width": "2062", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0015.jp2"}, "16": {"fulltext": "12\\nvery powerful revival under the preacliino: of Rev. Abel Manning.\\nSixty-eight were received into the church in the year 1819 the\\nlargest number ever received in any one year. In the Histony of\\ntlie New Hampshire Churches, Rev. E. H. Richardson says of this\\nrevival There were a few women whose perseveiing praters, in\\nthe midst of great obstacles, were answered in this revival of\\nreligion. They jorayed it into existence.\\nBenjamin Henry Pitman was ordained Oct. 18, 1820, for the\\nterm of five j ears. During his ministry, in 1822, the Religious\\nUnion Societj^ received by will of Thomas W. Thompson, one\\nhundred seventy acres of land, the avails of which were to be\\nused for the support of a Congregational minister. Mr. Pitman\\nhad man} warm friends, and he was earnestly requested to remain\\nlonger than his five 3 ears, but he declined. He was dismissed\\nNov. 15, 1825. The following incident occurred during his minis-\\ntry which illustrates the ditference between those times and these.\\nIn the autumn of 1825, the bog road, so called, was built, and\\nMr. Pitman, as road surveyor for one of the districts, had charge\\nof a certain part. Strong drink was fieelj used at that time, and\\nthought no sin, provided one did not take enough to overcome him\\nOn this occasion Mr. Pitman did, and as a consequence got into a\\nquarrel with some of his men. But, to his honor be it said, he af-\\nterwards souglit and obtained the forgiveness of the individuals and\\nof the church for the quarrel, not for the drinking. The bibulous\\npropensities of the inhabitants at that time were strongly developed.\\nShall I give you the names of those licensed bj- the town to mix and\\nsell liquors that ^-ear? They were Daniel Farmer, Robert Hall,\\nJona. Butterfield, Gideon Fhiiiders, Parker Whittle, John Smith,\\np4)hiaim Warren, Daniel M. Shirley, Eliphalet Richards and John\\nLittle.\\nMr. Pitman was born in Newport, R. I., Nov. 28, 1789 received\\nneither a college nor a seminary education but probably- studied\\ntheolog3 in private. On leaving this place he returned to New-\\nport, R. I. He died Mttrch 8, 18G8. I cannot ascertain whether\\nhe ever preached after leaving this place.\\nIt will have appeared that there was need of a temperance ref-\\normation in this place. When the enem}- cometli in like a flood\\nwe have the promise that the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a", "height": "3136", "width": "1905", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0016.jp2"}, "17": {"fulltext": "13\\nstandard against bim. It -wns just about this time, 1826, when\\nthe temperance reformation in this country commenced. A few\\nhad received the light, but most w^ere in darkness. Rev. Henry\\nWood, who followed Mr. Pitman, was a total abstinence man. He\\nwas ordained Maj 31, 1826. Through his exertions and that of a\\nfew of the church, a vote was passed that jear discountenancing the\\nuse of liquor at funerals. That was as fiir as the3- could go at\\nthat time, as rum was used upon ever} occasion by nearly every\\nperson. It was always set before the minister when he made his\\nparish calls. But so much advance had been made under Mr.\\nWood that, in the winter of 1829-30, a vote was passed b} the\\nchurch testifying against the use of liquors in an^ form, except as\\nmedicine. It is not to be inferred from this that every n)ember of\\nthe church had become a teetotaler, but that the light was breaking\\nand the temperance cause advancing. Mr. Wood was not only a\\ntemperance man, he was a spiritual man, whom many with U5 to-\\nday I emember with tender interest. His ministry was blessed\\nwith revivals, one hundred fift3 -two being added to the church.\\nHe seems to have left on account of inadequate support. He was\\ndismissed Nov. 29, 1831.\\nHe was born in Loudon, April 10,1796. Was graduated from\\nDaitmouth College in 1822, where he was tutor the following year.\\nHe studied theology at Princeton, 1823-4, and was Professor of\\nLanguages in Hampton Sidney College, Va., 1825, from Avhich in-\\nstitution he received the degree of D.D. in 1867. After his dis-\\nmissal from this churcli, Nov. 30, 1831, he preached three and a\\nhalf j-ears in Haverhill, five and a half years in Hanover, edited\\nthe Covgregational Journal at Concord for fourteen j ears, preach-\\ned at Canaan two years, was U. S. Consul in S^-ria and Palestine\\nfour 3ears, and Chaplain U. S. N. from 1858 until his death at\\nPhiladelphia, Oct. 9, 1873.\\nOn the da^ after INIr. Wood was dismissed Rev. David Stowell\\nw as ordained. The ministry- of the former closed and that of the\\nhitter commenced in the midst of a revival. It is somewhat re-\\nmarkable that all the discussions in regard to raising Mr, Wood s\\nsalary, some of which were heated, did not have the effect of driv-\\ning a\\\\va3 the Hoi} Spirit but doubtless there were fervent prayers\\ncontinual!}- ascending that He might continue. to abide with them.", "height": "3147", "width": "2062", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0017.jp2"}, "18": {"fulltext": "14\\nThese facts teach this truth, that a revival does not depend upon\\nan3^ one man, not even upon the minister. Mr. Slowell was a\\nstrong temperance man, and dealt its enemies manj^ heavj^ blows.\\nA sermon which he preached in this plnce fort3^-one years ago,\\nand which was printed, is said to be a fair example of his style.\\nHe was dismissed Dec. 15, I80G the cause assigned in his letter\\nof resignation being ill health. This letter is full of tenderness\\nand affection, and a hearty vote of confidence in him was after-\\nwards passed b} the church.\\nMr. Stowell was born in AVestmoreland, Dec. 29, 1S04, gradu\\nated at Dartmouth College in 1829 studied theolog}- in private.\\nBefore coming here he taught the Derrj- Acadeni} two years. He\\nwent from here to Townsend, Mass., where he was installed pastor,\\nJune 28, 1837. While there the fellowship of the churches wns\\nwithdrawn from him, on account of alleged misconduct. He went\\nto Fitzwilliam and engaged in fanning for a number of years, and\\ndied there March 29, 18.54.\\nAll the pastors who have thus far been named have passed to\\ntheir reward. Most of them were good and faithful men, though\\nnot without their faults. They are now seeing the fruits of their\\nlabors, as the} could not see them here. In most cases the\\nseed they sowed was good, it was watered with their prayers and\\ntears, but it did not spring up till they had passed away. It ver}\\noften occurs that God sends one generation into the world to sow\\nseed the harvest of which another generation shall gather.\\nWe come now to the ministry of Rev. Isaac Willey, who was in-\\nstalled Nov. 23, 1837. He was the first pastor of this church who\\nhad ever had a previous settlement. He came here from Roches-\\nter where he was ordained Jan. 18, 182(5, and dismissed in 1834.\\nHis pastorate here extended over nearl} seventeen 3 ears, the\\nlongest term of any.\\nJust after Mr. Willey s settlement, as he was engaged to preach\\nall the time at the west village, the members of the church living\\nat the Center, and in the east part of the town, to the number of\\nsixty-four, feeling that the} were neglected b} the removal of the\\nmeetings to the west village, sought letters of dismission for the\\npurpose of forming a church of their own at the Center. They ap-\\nplied to Mr. Wallace, before he was settled at Manchester, to preach", "height": "3136", "width": "1905", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0018.jp2"}, "19": {"fulltext": "15\\nfor them. If we may judge fron) the votes passed at that time, this\\nrequest was entertained in a Christian spirit, without any attempt\\nto force them to remain. The result was, their petitions were with-\\ndrawn, and an arrangment was made l\\\\y which Mr. Wilhy was to\\npreach one third of the time at their new house.\\nDuring Mr. Wille3- s ministry, his house, situated wliere David\\nGrant s now stands, was burned in the dead of night, with\\nmost of its contents and he and his family, ten in number, were\\nleft without a shelter. In this fire many of the valuable papers\\nand records of the church were destroyed. His pecuniary loss\\nwas largely made up to him through the liberality of friends in\\nthis and adjoining towns.\\nFrom the History of the New Hampshire Churches, I make this\\nextract. In the beginning of 1841, a women in the character of a\\npreacher came to this town, and held meetings almost daily. Her\\nhearers increased until the large church (the old church at the Cen-\\nter) holding nearh one thousand persons, was filled. She professed\\nno connection with any existing church, and was sustained for a\\ntime by persons who had been exiielled from the Congregational\\nand Baptist churches. In the Ibllowing spring, 1842, more than\\none half the voters in town, and nearly all those who hud never\\nbeen willing to support any other preacher, came to her support.\\nA nuinbei- of persons, who had made a profession of pict3 hastily,\\nwere drawn oti from each of the churches. The excitement oc-\\ncasioned by her pix acbing after a few months declined.\\nThis event seems to have caused great fear to the church. There\\nwas, however, hanlly any occasion for it. Had the church let it en-\\ntiiely alone doubtless the excitement would have passed away\\nsooner than it did. It sometimes requires a highly* sanctified hu-\\nman nature and common sense to let such things alone. The ad-\\nvice of Gamaliel to the people, after the excitement produced by\\nPeter s preaching, is often worth following in these days Re-\\nfrain from these men, and let them alone for if this counselor this\\nwork be of men, it will come to nought but if it be of God, ye can-\\nnot overthrow it, lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.\\nFifty-five were added to the church during Mr. Willey s minis-\\ntry but his work is not to be measured alone bj this standard.\\nHe closed his labors March 27, 1853, but was not formally dismiss-\\ned till May 17, 1854.", "height": "3147", "width": "2062", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0019.jp2"}, "20": {"fulltext": "16\\nHe was born in Campton, Sept. 8, 1793 was graduated at\\nDartmouth (College in 1822, and studied theology at Andover with\\nthe class of 1825, and also with Rev. Benet Tyler, d.d. After\\ncompleting his Icibors here, he was appointed Agent of the Amer-\\nican Bilile Societ} for New Hampshire, retaining his home here un-\\ntil 1865, when he removed to Pembroke, where he now resides.\\nA call was extended b} the church and society in 1854 to Mr.\\nFranlilin Tuxbur3-, but it was not accepted.\\nThe next pastor was Rev. P^iias H. Richardson. He was born in\\nLebanon, Aug. 11, 1827 was graduated at Dartmouth College in\\n1850 at Andover Theological Seminary- in 1853. He was ordain-\\ned pastor of this church May 18, 1854, and was dismissed Oct. 30,\\n1856. Subsequently he was pastor at Dover seven years at Provi-\\ndence, R. I., three years at Westfield, Mass., five years at Hart-\\nford, Conn., seven years, and was settled at New Britain, Conn., in\\n1878, where he now is. He received the degree of D.D. from his\\nabna mater in 1876.\\nRev. John W. Raj- became acting pastor April 1, 1857. He was\\ninvited to settle but declined. He closed his labors Ma}- 1, 1867.\\nHe was born in Chester, Dec. 23, 1814 was graduated at Dart-\\nmoutli College in 1843. Previous to his coming here he had been\\na teacher in Atkinson Academy; Manchester High School; at\\nEastport, Me. at Merrimack Normal Institute at Pinkerton\\nAcadeni} Derry and also pastor at Rockville, Ct. Since leaving\\nhere he has been acting pastor at Hastings and Lake City, Minn.,\\nbeing now at the latter place.\\nMr. Charles A. Towle was called to the pastorate in 1868, but\\ndeclined.\\nYour present pastor was born in New, now East Alstead, July\\n11, 1834 was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1858 studied the-\\nology two years at Union Theological Seminar}-, New York City,\\nin the class of 1861 was ordained pastor at Stoddard, Oct. 2\\n1861, and installed pastor of this cluirch, Feb. 4, 1869, having\\ncommenced his labors two months previously.\\nA roll of the church from the beginning had never been kept.\\nWithin a few 3-cars one has been made, as accurate as possil)le, and\\nit now has upward of 800 names. Without doubt it should con-\\ntain from twent} to fifty more, who were members fiom 1771 to", "height": "3136", "width": "1905", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0020.jp2"}, "21": {"fulltext": "17\\n1781, but the records are lost. The eighteen names we have were\\nfound scattered through the subsequent records, where reference\\nwas made to them.\\nThere have been seasons of revival and of depression in the\\nhistor} of this church. Several important revivals has it enjo3-ed\\nin 1802, under Mr. Morril in 1819, under Mr. Manning in 1826-\\n7-8, under Mr. Wood in 1831-2, under Messrs. Wood and\\nStowell in 1835, under Mr. Stowell in 1864, under Mr. Ray;\\nand the one in 1875. Two fifths of all the additions to the church\\nfrom the beginning have occurred in these years. Against these\\noccasions of rejoicing, wc must place other seasons of depression\\nand trial, when the hand of God has seemed to be against us because\\nof our sins when there were dissentions within, and trouble with-\\nout, when the prevailing iniquity of the place seemed to render\\nfutile all etforts to bring about a better state of things, and when\\ndefection, intemperance and worldliness seemed about to rend the\\nchurch in pieces. God, having planted the vine, would not leave\\nit to be destroyed. When its uprootal seemed imminent, He\\nwatched it with tenderest care when the soil about it had become\\ndry and hard, He watered it with the Hoi} Spirit. It has been\\nwith it as with the church of God from the beginning there have\\nbeen times when it seemed as though it would die, but it has never\\ndied, it never can die so long as there remain in it those who are\\ntrue to their Master and to each other. We still live because\\nHitherto hath the Lord helped us.\\nThere has been progress. The advance ma}- not have been seen\\nfrom year to year, but we can see it now. Within the memor} of\\nthose now living a member of this church sought a letter of dis-\\nmission and recommendation to a Methodist church, which was\\nmet by the appointment of a committee to discipline her. To-day\\nwe should all have said to a similar request Go and God be with\\nyou.\\nIn early times the services of the sanctuary were ver^- lengthy\\nthe two sermons were each about an hour long as often running\\nover this time as coming under. The praj ers were very long\\nthe long pra^ cr so called not usually less than thirty minutes.\\nBetween services the people went to the nooning house where\\nthey warmed themselves at a huge fire of logs, and with flip and", "height": "3157", "width": "1989", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0021.jp2"}, "22": {"fulltext": "18\\ncider. Here also the^^ ate their browu bread, or beans, or other\\nrefreshment they had brought with them. Here the women filled\\ntheir dishes with coals for their foot stoves: No other artificial heat\\nwas tolerated in the house of God for man^ 3 ears, and when at\\nlast stoves were introduced there was, upon the part of the conser-\\nvatives, a great outcry- they claimed the\\\\ were uncomfortable be-\\ncause they were comfortable, and the}^ predicted the judgment of\\nheaven because of the sacreligious innovation. There were no\\nprayer-meetings in those early days, no Sabbath schools, almost\\nno books or newspapers. The Sabbath services furnished about\\nall the mental food the people had, save what they received from\\nthe Bible.\\nThe first notice we have of a prayer-meeting in this place was in\\n1826, Aug. 16, when one was appointed by ihe church, and neighbor-\\ning ministers were invited to attend, and aid in carrying it on. April\\n5, 1838, a monthly prayer-meeting was established, and June 9,\\n1844, it was made a weekly meeting. It was evidently given up\\nsometime after, as a vote is recorded Jan. 7, 1847, reviving it.\\nLet it not be inferred there was no praying by God s people before\\nthis, because there was not social prayer. Our fathers did not\\nknow its power and its blessedness. They acted according to the\\nlight they had. Sui-ely there has been progress here.\\nThe first notice of Sabbath schools was in 1821 when several were\\nappointed in the various school houses of the town upon Sabbath\\nafternoons. Of what the exercises consisted, we have no account,\\nbut probably of little more than the memorizing the Bible and the\\nCatechism. When the Sabbath school was introduced as a part of\\nthe regular services of the sanctuary, T am not informed.\\nIt may surprise some of 3 ou to knew that slavery ever existed\\nin this place, but this must have been the case, as Sept. 1, 1785,\\nCatherine, a negro, formerh belonging to Esq. Blodgett, was\\nbaptized.\\nIn looking at the way the Lord has led us, during the more than\\na centur} of our existence, we have abundant reason for taking\\ncourage and pressing forward. The timid seldom win a battle.\\nGod said to Joshua, Be strong and go forward. If Joshua had\\nbeen a timid man, and there had been no courageous one to take\\nhis place, the entrance to the promised land without doubt would", "height": "3136", "width": "1905", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0022.jp2"}, "23": {"fulltext": "19\\nhave been dela3-ed for a long time. So there is no question but\\nthe church looses many advantages by its timidity, bj forgetting\\nthat its cause is the Lord s, and that He is with it so far and so\\nlong as it follows him.\\nIt does not follow that every act of the church is riofht, an} more\\nthan it does that ever act of an individual is right. But in reading\\nthe records of this church, one will be struck at the wisdom dis-\\nplayed in the most critical periods of its history. Wise counsels\\nusually prevailed. There have always been, as now, those who\\nwere i-ndical in their ideas, not stopping to look at the conse-\\nquences; and, on the other hand, there have been conservatives,\\nwho never would have had any change, but would do and live pre-\\nciseh as their fathers had. These two classes have acted as a\\ncheck upon each other, and a wiser course has been pursued than\\nas though either had had full control. In this we can see how the\\nLord has helped us.\\nIf I should mention the names of some of the early members of\\nthis church, few of you would recall them, while the most of you\\nnever beard them. Our fathers where are they? Thej^ have\\nfulfilled their earthly mission and entered into their reward.\\nFormerly they travelled these roads, or roamed over these hills\\nand through this pleasant vallc} with as much animation as we,\\nas full of hope, as full of the consciouness of their own importance\\nas we. Some of them have now been sleeping for two or three\\ngenei alions, and their dust, even, could not be found, though\\nsought with greatest care. Soon we shall be numbered with them.\\nWe are full of life and hope to-day, but not one of us will live to\\nsee the next centennial. We shall take our places in the dust,\\nbut the world and its affairs will run on all the same. Some hearts\\nwill bleed when we are removed, but the surging mass will not\\nlong mind it. It is an unpleasant thought, tending to humility\\nand though I would not have you gloomy, I would have you think\\nof it.", "height": "3147", "width": "1968", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0023.jp2"}, "24": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3136", "width": "1905", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0024.jp2"}, "25": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3137", "width": "1957", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0025.jp2"}, "26": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3136", "width": "1905", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0026.jp2"}, "27": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3147", "width": "2062", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0027.jp2"}, "28": {"fulltext": "LIBRARY OF CONGRESS", "height": "3136", "width": "1905", "jp2-path": "briefhistoryofco02gero_0028.jp2"}}