{"1": {"fulltext": "1", "height": "3302", "width": "1872", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0001.jp2"}, "2": {"fulltext": "c o\\n4 C)", "height": "3173", "width": "1758", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0002.jp2"}, "3": {"fulltext": "^i -OHO\\n^.C^ ^iSlt^-.\\no\\n.0\\nr^\\n0^\\no V\\n0- -wgt\u00c2\u00ab-. -o/:;^^^o\\n.G\\n.0\\n\u00e2\u0096\u00a0s^\\nV-\\n?tB-;\\nC! V\\nV\\nA^\\ni \u00c2\u00b0x\\n.r^\\n.cr ^o\\n-T^ A", "height": "3173", "width": "1758", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0003.jp2"}, "4": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3173", "width": "1758", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0004.jp2"}, "5": {"fulltext": "HISTORICAL RECOLLECTIONS,\\nDISCOURSE,\\nDELIVERED AT LEBANON. N, H.\\nrHANKSGIVING DAY, NOVEMBER 35\u00c2\u00bb 1830\\nEMBKACINO THE LEADING EVENTS IW THE\\nCIVIL AND ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY\\nTO THE CLOSE OF RET. ISAIAH POTTER S MINISTRY.\\nBY PIIINEHAS COOKE,\\nPastor of the Congregational Church in Lebanon.\\nPUBLISHED BY REQUEST OF THE CHURCH.\\nCONCORD\\nPRINTED BY ASA M FARLAND\\n1831", "height": "3173", "width": "1758", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0005.jp2"}, "6": {"fulltext": "25 On", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0006.jp2"}, "7": {"fulltext": "THANKSGIVING SERMON\\nDEUTERONOMY, 8: 2.\\nAnd thou shall remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee\\nthese forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to\\nknow what ivas in thine heart, whether thou icoiddest keep his commaTtd-\\nments ornoy\\nThe usual way the pions mind pursues to strengthen its confidence\\nin God, is to recall former dispensations of divine providence, and\\nthence derive motives for future trust. Moses, in the chapter includ-\\ning the text, avails himself of this circumstance, to induce Israel to con-\\nfide in God, and render obedience to his commands. They were at a\\nstage in their journey, where the account of God s merciful dealings\\nwith them was calculated to elicit their devout gratitude. They had\\nfilled up their forty yeiirs in Uie wilderness, and stood on the bank of\\nJordan, a favorable land-mark where to record the first portion of their\\nhistory, on their way to the promised land. To refresh their remem-\\nbrance, their leader recites some cf the most interesting providences\\nof God towards them and their fathers, that they might in future set\\ntheir hope in God. This should be a leading object in all historical\\nrecollections.. With this distinctly in view, let us trace the former\\n-dealings of God with the inhabitants of this town, and see if we do not\\nfind motives of renewed confidence in our heavenly Father, and oc-\\ncasion for sincere regret, that he has been served no better.\\nIn doing this, I purpose to review our civil and ecclesiastical history in\\nseparate order. The charter granting civil immunities to this town is\\ndated July 4, 1761, in the first year of the reign of George III. just\\nfifteen years before the declaration of American Independence. The\\nnumber of Grantees was sixty-two. The majority of these at the time\\nresiipdat Mansfield, Connecticut, where several of tiie first proprie-\\ntors meetings were holden. Their first meeting is dated October 6,\\n1761, in which Mr. Nehemiah Estabrook presided as moderator, and\\nMr. John Salter was clerk. The date of the charter is the same with\\nPlainfield, in this vicinity, two years earlier than Cornish, aad three,\\nthan Claremont. niis accounts for a committee appointed by the pro-\\nprietors, September I, 1762, composed of Capt. Nathaniel Hall, INIr\\nJohn Hanks, and Mr. John Birchard, to lay out a horse-road from hc\\n.\u00c2\u00bbld Jorl IS o 4, no .v Chailsalcwn. fo Lebanon, Sixty- eight jeais f?gc", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0007.jp2"}, "8": {"fulltext": "4\\nIne country between this and Charlestown was not sufficiently open to\\nadmit the passage of a horse. How the wilderness has become a fruit-\\niiil field, and thedcsert a fold, tor flocks and herds\\nThe settlement in this town began near Connecticut river; and the\\nfirst families with their effects came in boats fromCharlestoWn.* Such\\nenterprize, manifested in the settlement of new countries, I do not say is\\npeculiar to Americans but I think no nation has ever discovered more\\nbold and persevering marks of it, than arc to be found in our own his-\\ntory. Instead of settling the place adjoining the one already occupi-\\ned, it was no uncommon thing at that day, for a few families to advance\\ninto the wilderness fifteen or twenty miles beyond any other settlement,\\nand there commence the attack on the forest. This was in many re-\\nspects the fact with the first settlers in Lebanon.\\nIt was evidence of no small courage for a few families, at that day, td\\nplant themselves in the woods, insulated and remote from neighbors,\\nwhere savage beasts had not yielded their possession to the dark forest,\\nrtnd where savage men had not been driven from their lurking places.\\nThese perils of the wilderness were borne with that fortitude by the\\nlathers, which it is not certain would be found in their children, should\\nthey be placed in similar circumstances.\\nIn the winter of 1762, four men hazarded the undertaking to reside\\nin the western part of the town. Their names were Levi Hyde, Sam-\\nuel Estabrook, William Dana the name of the other not ascertained.\\nDuring a severe snow storm, Mr. Dana came near perishing, while ab-\\nsent from his companions to feed their oxen at a place called Beaver\\nMeadoio. It is said a man came to them from the north during the\\nwinter, having deserted from the British garrison.\\nThe next year several families came in from Connecticut. Mr. Wil-\\nliam Downer with his wife and eight children arrived here July 1 1 1763,\\nand were the first family that came to the place. In the autumn of that\\nyear, Oliver Davidson, Elijah Dewey and James Jones, arrived with\\ntheir families. All these spent the following winter, and no lives were\\nlost. It is evident a merciful providence shielded these men, women\\nand children from the wintry blasts, and deep snows of those days,\\nwhen they were so poorly provided with comfortable habitations.\\nThe two following years several families more came from Mansfield,\\nLebanon, and other towns in Connecticut. Those who arrived be-\\ntween the years 1761 and 1766, may properly be considered the first\\nsettlers. Besides those already named, we find the following Na-\\nTo this place, for some time the first settlers were obliged to go for their\\nmillinc;. And on one occasion, owing to the miits not being in ordei, they were\\nobliged to go to Montague, Mdss., a distance of f)0 miles. The voyage (Cm th.r\\ninan went by water) was performed in twenty-one d -?y?. His family, and oth-\\nclT, sn might well be expected, anxious for his return, began to conclude he was\\ndrowned. M length Hie r-^nop arrived, freighted with a carg-o most welcome o\\nihe v,.hM r.jiDny.", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0008.jp2"}, "9": {"fulltext": "thaniel Porter, Asa Kilburu, Samuel Meacham, Josepli Dana, Jona-\\nthan Dana, Huckin Storrs, Silas Waterman, Jedediah Hibbard, Charles\\nHill, John Wheatley, Jesse Cooke, Zalmo\u00c2\u00ab Aspinwall, ^Joseph Wood,\\nJames Hartshorn, and Nathaniel Storrs.\\nThe tirst town meeting, of which any record remains, was Septem-\\nber 12, 1765, in which John Wheatley presided. Were I to single out\\nan individual, to whom thi.s town, in its early days, was specially indebt-\\ned for his exertions in its belialf, I would name John Wheatley, Esq.\\nHe was the first town clerk for nearly twenty years, the first civil\\nmagistrate the first school-master, and the first representative under\\nthe present constitution of New Hampshire. To all his acknowledged\\nqualifications for civil life, v.as added piety, and such religious gifts aa\\nmade him a suitable person to lead in the meetings of the Church, in\\ntlie absence of the minister. He was the first man who fixed his hab-\\nitation amidst the lofty pines on this plain, where has since risen this\\npleasant and flourishing village.\\nDuring this year the orave ijanl in the west part of the town was\\nlaid out, on land belonging to Mr. Charles Hill. It is said to be the old-\\nest north of Charlestov/n. The first adidt buried in it, was IVIr. Oli-\\nver Davidson the first young man, INIr. Ezra Perkins. Previously to\\nthe interment of these, two or three children are said to have died in\\ntov/n. What a multitude since have been gathered to the congrega-\\ntion of the dead Our fathers, where are they The places partic-\\nularly appropriated for the dead, now in town, are five. The town is\\nsaid never to have been visited v/ith an epidemick. Ihc annual num-\\nber of deaths have probably been one to eighty-five, or ninety inhab-\\nitants.\\nThe first school regularly organized v.as in I7C8. It was kept in a\\nlog school-house, east of the present residence of Capt. Joseph Wood,\\nin what is now district No. 3, In 1775 there were four school districts.\\nNow there arc sixteen, and the average number of scholars attending\\nduring the last winter (1830) was 615.\\nAbout theyear 1770, tlic families in town v/cro numbered, and found\\nto be forty-two, containing one hundred and ninety-five souls. This niim-\\nbering was made to asccitairi the relative distance of each family from\\nthe spot contemplated as the site of a inecitvg-housc. The first house\\nof worship was erected in 1772, and stood a little west of the old grave\\nyard. Some years after, it was removed, and rebuilded on the hill near\\nElihu Hyde s, that it might be more central to the increased popula-\\ntion. It was here occupied until the one now standing en the common\\nwas built, in the year 1792.\\nIn r\u00c2\u00bblarch, 1771, the tovv-a voted to give a portion of their territory\\n^djoiniuij Hanover, rontamirg 1 140 nrrrs, to Dr. E cazrr V\u00c2\u00bb heCiockV", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0009.jp2"}, "10": {"fulltext": "6\\nschool, should such schuol be established. This land is still the prop-\\nerty of Dartmouth College, and is called the College Graitt. At that\\ntime it was the intention of the venerable founder of Dartmouth Col-\\nlege to form a parish, including the above giant and College plain, by\\nthe name of Dresden, which in fact was the name given to it for a\\nnumber of years. For some reason no incorporation was obtained, and\\nthe plan failed.\\nOwing to the above grant, but especially to the contiguity of the two\\nplaces, there has ever been an endeared connection between this town\\nand the seat of learning in its neighorhood. Many of our sons have\\navailed themselves of a public education, and some have reflected hon-\\nor on their Jllma Maicr.\\nThe days now came on in the history of this town, and of our coun-\\ntry, which emphatically tried men s souls. The colonies were assailed\\nwith war war with one of the most powerful nations on the globe.\\nThis direful calamity, though it first fell on the more vulnerable points\\nof the nation, socn reached, in its various bearings, every family in the\\nland. The firing at the battle of Bunker Hill was literally heard in\\nthis, and the adjoining towns. Never did air become the vehicle of\\ngreater alarm. Over hills and mountains, through valleys and plains,\\nthe hollow murmur creeps, to tell the children of the Pilgrims their lib-\\nerties must be purchased with their blood.\\nWith peculiar weight did these trials fall on the new .settlements.\\nThey were compelled to exchange the axe for the fire-arms, the plough-\\nf^hare for the sword, before the land had yielded scarcely a competency\\nfor themselves and their families. The names of Lulhcr Whealley^ Ed-\\nvmrd Slapp, Eleazcr Malhcr Porter, David Millingion, and Capt. Joseph\\nEslabrook are mentioned as those who lost their lives by going into the\\nwar. Luther Wheatloy was mortally wounded in the battle near Still--\\nwater, September 19, 1777, and died the 30th of the same month, aged\\n17. In remembering all the way which the Lord thy God led thee\\nthese forty years in the wilderness, it will be profitable to reflect that\\nthe present peace and prosperity of this town is connected with the\\nloss of some of its first citizens, whoce deaths helped to purchase the\\nfreedom we now enjoy.\\nAt the close of the war, the people of tiiis and several other towns\\nlyinfT near the river, were perplexed awhile with their political relations,\\nin 1773, a pamphlet was read in town meeting, containing the Consti-\\ntution of Vermont whereupon it was voted unanimously to accept\\ntheir government, and come under its jurisdiction. This connection\\ndid not last long, and was first broken ofl by our sister State. In 1780,\\nAbout forty arc enrolled on the catalogue ending with the class of 1829.\u00e2\u0080\u0094\\n\\\\niong the first cthicalcMl, wc find the names of i:xperience Estabrook, Ez kivi\\nOllMirn. Elijah T^c^yrv. \u00e2\u0080\u00a2^.nivv] ^v-c^.i. n X^ ,1,^, Hi.ni-, P P.", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0010.jp2"}, "11": {"fulltext": "the town agreed to govern themselves according to the laws of Con-\\nnecticut, in those acts which refer to the peace and good order of\\ntowns. Here is seen a trait of character truly cstimahle. In those\\ndays, when there was no ruler in Israel, and every man did what was\\nright in his own eyes, our fathers, instead of abandoning themselves\\nto disorder and misrule, made what provision they could to maintain the\\npeace of society. It was this moral principle this disi)Osition to self-\\ngovernment^ which laid the foundation for our national compact. The\\nsons of the Pilgrims, by birth, education and religion, were fitted for\\na republican government. For such a blessing they looked many years\\nprevious to the revolution. To obtain it, they fought and bled and to\\nbe prepared for its enjoyment, they suppressed the riot-stirring elements\\nof passion in their own breasts. They united, at this time, with the in-\\nhabitants of Dresden, in appointing a Commiliee of Safety, to whose au-\\nthority all disorderly persons were to be amenable. Mr. Bezaleol\\nWoodward and Mr. Simeon Dewey, of the last named place, and\\nDea. Nehemiah Estabrook, of Lebanon, were the first committee of\\nthis kind. This committee was not deficient in p.ower, for it was ab-\\nsolute. They could depute any man at a moment s w arning, and\\nclothe him with all the authority of high Bailiff, and send him to appre-\\nhend whom they pleased. When the prisoner was tried, and the de-\\ncision passed, there was no appeal. Notwithstanding, they were\\npoorly furnished with the means of punishment. No publick prison\\nthen to receive their convicts. They might indeed be, and proba-\\nbly were, a terror to evil-doers, but were quite deficient in the usual\\nimplements of justice, to reward the wicked according to their works.\\nIn March, 1778, the Committee of Safety, and the Selectmen,\\nwere authorized and instructed by the town to exert their influence to\\nsuppress tippling-hoiises. More than fifty years ago our fathers dis-\\ncovered a foresight highly creditable to them, that the free use of ar-\\ndent spirit was injurious and destructive to the w^elfare and peace of\\nsociety. At that day the ichole town might be considered a Temperance\\nSociety. Their vote clearly implied it. Their doings, it is presumed,\\nexcited no alarm that a union was designed between Church and\\nState. During the last half century, the people in our country have\\nfreely indulged the opposite course, until intemperance has slain its\\nthousands, and tens of thousands. Of late, a happy re-action has\\ncommenced, and the w^ise, the good and the patriotic, are uniting to\\nredeem the land from this terrible scourge. That true wisdom has ad-\\nvanced with the age of the world, is yet to be proved. In the year\\n1779, soon after the burning of Royalton, Vt. by the Indians, the in-\\nhabitants of this town were much alarmed for fear the savages were\\nabout to attack Newbury, in the same State. Soldiers were raised", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0011.jp2"}, "12": {"fulltext": "8\\nend sent north ia seouiiiig parties, while others were considered minute\\nmen, ready for any exigency tliat might occur. This alarm was of\\nshort duration, and was the last before peace was declared between us\\nand Great Britain.\\nThe time now approached in the history of this town, and of New\\nHampshire, when a Constitution of government was to be formed, con-\\nsonant to the principles of civil and religious freedom, for which they\\nhad, in common with their fellow-citizens, bore the mighty ^struggle in\\nthe war for independence. At the time the charter for this town was\\nobtained, John Wentworth was Provincial Governor. The British\\ngovernment was dissolved in 1775, and the people formed a Provincial\\nConvention, of which Matthew Thornton was President. In 1776, a\\ntemporary Constitution was framed, to continue during the war with\\nGreat Britain. Under this Constitution, Meshech Wearc was annu-\\nally elected President. A ijew and permanent Constitution took\\nplace in 1783, in the formation of which, this town, with the rest of the\\nState, was invited to participate. Their first representative to the\\nState Convention, as has been observed, was John Wheatley, Esq.\\nThe inhabitants of this town, with others at that day, were exceeding\\njealous of their rights, lest the government about to be organized\\nshould not guaranty their dear-bought liberties. This is discoverable\\nin the instructions given their representative and on one occasion in\\nrecalling him.\\nThere is no period in the history of the American Republic, or of\\nthe individual States, more critical than when they were about to form\\nfor themselves civil government. While fighting their common foe,,\\nthey had the strongest motives for union. That variety of elements\\nwhich composes society, will in such a case be drawn together, as with\\nthe force of chemical attraction. But when the common enemy is subdued,\\nand a plan must be devised how they canbest protect and enjoy their dear-\\nbought blessings, there appears what a celebrated statesman calls the\\nwilderness of free minds. To bring these minds to unite in a form of\\ngovernment, while they had such loose and undefined notions of legis-\\nlation, required vastly more skill than to govern them in the ranks of\\nan army. He, who allayed the storm of war, was pleased to hush\\ninto peace the mixed elements of society, and control the mass of\\nmind, by the influence of patriotism, virtue, and religion. In a few\\nyears, the world, for the first time beheld the sublime spectacle of an\\nextensive community, governing themselves by the gentle reins of a\\nrepresentative Republic. To behold America governing herself, was\\na more astonishing sight than to see her conquer her enemies. ,To\\nan European st,atesman, the ease and promptitude with which this\\ninfant nation formed for themselvea a free and efficient government.", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0012.jp2"}, "13": {"fulltext": "9\\nand Ihe happines-, they so soon enjoyed beneath its protection, was a\\nphenomenon never before seen in the science of legislation. No\\ndoubt many eyes from abroad were looking for the destruction of a\\npeople by anarchy and intestine commotion, who could not bo sub-\\ndued by arms. But the power that conquered, saved. The men\\nwho bought peace at so dear a rate, knew how to enjoy it while all\\nthe glory is due to Him who rules the destiny of nations causing the\\nwrath of man to praise him, and restraining the residue.\\nII. As proposed, let us now trace the ecclesiastical history of the\\ntown.\\nIn Dec. 17G2, before the purchasers came to the place, they ap-\\npointed a committee to treat with proprietors of townships adjoining,\\nto unite with them, to make provision for the preaching of the gospel.\\nSoon after, they voted a tax on each proprietor for the same purpose.\\nHere is a movement in the first owners of Lebanon that deserves com-\\nmendation. Behold a company of men in Connecticut, having pur-\\nchased a township in New Hampshire, and about to commence its\\nsettlement, planning how they can have the gospel. And this, before\\na .single farm is cleared, or framed house erected. Like their puritan\\nfathers, they must have iJic gospel in the wilderness. And where\\ncould they more need it Their fathers God was their God the\\nroligion of their lathers, their religion Provision must be early made\\nto adore the former, and enjoy the consolations of the latter. What\\nhas diminished the value of the gospel so much in view of some of their\\ndescendants\\nThe first inhabitants did not come here merely to advance their\\nworldly interests. Higher motives seem to be mixed with the enter-\\nprize. Had they been assured that they would not have enjoyed the\\ninstitutions of religion for a course of years, it is probable that many\\nof them would not have left the sanctuary of their fathers at the time\\nthey did. In their emigration, one object was to extend the limits of\\nthe Church. The pious part imbibed a portion of the spirit of the\\nFouxpER of the neighboring College, who came about, the same time\\nfrom the same section of country and whose leading object, it is well\\nknown, was to extend the boimdaries of the Redeemer s kingdom.\\nOccasionally, in the first years of their pilgrimage, they heard the\\ngospel from the lips of that good man, whose voice at the time, in the\\nregion around, reminds us of him, who cried in the wilderness,\\nprepare ye the way of the Lord, make Ins paths straight.\\nThe prosperity of this tov.n is more indebted to the regard for re-\\nligion manifested by the fathers, tlian perhaps some of their descend-\\nI.e!)anon, onii\\nI!", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0013.jp2"}, "14": {"fulltext": "10\\nanJs imagine. It is tlie will of lieaven.. that every enterprize, sanc\\ntioned and sustained by tlie spirit of the gospel, shall be successful\\nThe prayers of pious parents cause the balmy dews of heaven to fall\\nround the dv/ellings of their children, long after the lips which utter-\\ned them are shut up in death.\\nThe Church was organized, Sept. 27, 1768, in the presence of\\nRev. Bulkley Olcott, of Charlestown, and Rev. James Wellman, of\\nCornish. It was founded on the plan o( the pedo-baptist Churches of\\nNew England. In the preamble to their Covenant, they express\\nthemselves as follows As God, through the mediation of his Son,\\nhas erected for himself a Church and visible Kiv-gdom on earth, collected\\nfrom such ruins of the apostacy, as return and fear him, and desire to\\npay a grateful remembrance to his Son, as their crucified Saviour:\\nso we, sinftil dust and ashes, desire to subscribe with our hands unio\\nthe Lord, and give vp ourselves in an evei lasting covenant to God.\\nWe esteem it an unspeakable privilege, that sinful dust and ashes may\\nthus come and covenant tcith the great God, and he achnowhdgcd by\\nhim as his Church on earth. At the close of this, follow several-\\narticles, very similar to those which the Church now observe. They\\nare subscribed by Joseph Dana, John Whcathy, Azariah Bliss, John\\nSlapp, Jonathan Dana and Zaccheus Downer.\\nJune 24, 1772, a short time previous to the settlement of Mr. Pot-\\nter, a Confession of i^mV/i was adopted, embracing the various doc-\\ntrines, as received by the evangelical Churches of New England.\\nThese articles, the same in substance to those the Church now have,\\nit will be seen are Calvinistic, or orthodox. The meaning of the lat-\\nter word is sound in opinion and doctrine, not heretical. Doc-\\ntrines like these, the founders of the Church were not ashamed to\\nacknowledge, whatever may be the opinion of some of their descend-\\nants.\\nThe Church, with the town, now began to look for a pastor. Sev-\\neral ministers were employed previous to Mr. Potter. We find the\\nnames of Niles, Treadway and Wales. To the latter they gave a call\\nto settle, but he did not incline to accept.\\nThe Rev. Isaiah Potter, after two seasons of probation, was con-\\nstituted the Pastor of this Church and people, August 25, 1772. He\\nwas ordained in the open air, on a stage erected for the purpose, on\\nland adjoining Connecticut river, the west side of the road, near\\nBayley s Ferry, The Sermon on the occasion was delivered by\\nthe Rev. Mr. Olcott, of Charlestown. By those present, the services\\nwere said to have been solemn and interesting. At the close, the\\nnewly constituted pastor afTectionately addressed his flock, especially", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0014.jp2"}, "15": {"fulltext": "11\\nthe younger part, exhorting them not to have any vain amusements,\\ndancing and the like, for such recreations would be quite unsuitable\\nwith the religious services they had just witnessed. This, while it\\nshows the spirituality of your first pastor, manifests that sense of pro-\\npriety which the sober minded, both ministers and lay brethren, have\\never exhibited. Men of reflection, laying no claims to piety, readily\\nsec a most obvious incongruity in following religious scenes with\\nthoughtless merriment. However incompatible such things are, the\\nenemy of all good influences the thoughtless and the gay, to get up\\nhalls on the eve of ordinations, and during revivals of religion, that\\nwith a kind of maniac desperation he may shew his dislike to every\\nthing holy.\\nAt a Church meeting, October 29, 1772, Joseph Dana was elected\\nan officer in the Church, and was their first deacon. The first time\\nthe sacrament of the Lord s Supper was administered, was November\\n15, 1772. Thus in nine years from the first settlement of the town, a\\nChurch was organized, a minister settled, and the ordinances of the\\ngospel enjoyed.\\nCan God furnish a table in the wilderness once inquired the un-\\nbelieving Jews. For the faithful in Christ, such a table is furnished,\\nnot only with temporal, but with spiritual food. At an early day it was\\nspread for the little band in this place. Our fathers at their first arri-\\nval seem to have adopted the resolution of the Psalmist Surely 1\\nwill not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up unto my\\nbed I will not give sleep to mine eyes, nor slumber to my eye-lids,\\nuntil I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God\\nof Jacob. Lo we heard of it at Ephratah, we found it in the fields ot\\nthe wood. Enclosed in the dark shades of the forest, they were seen\\nby few eyes, except those of angels. In company with their altar and\\ntheir God, they resembled the Pilgrim Fathers, when they first en-\\njoyed the holy ordinances in this western wilderness.\\nMarch 24, 1775, Deacon Joseph Dana, advanced in life, resigned\\nhis ofiicc in the Church, and Nehemiah Estabrook and Jonathan Da-\\nna v.ere chosen deacons in the Church.\\nJuly 24, 1777, was observed by the Church as a day of fasting, hu-\\nmiliation and prayer, on account of the distress of the war, and the\\n:iear approach of the enemy after Ticonderoga was given up.\\nThey who estim.ate things merely by human reason, and weigh all\\nevents in earthly balances, and expect in the tug of war that victory\\nwill t\u00c2\u00a9^ with the St ronger;t physical force, would in the days of the\\nAmerican revolution have concluded that the assailants in the end\\nwould be conquerors. But to (hc:-e who view fho subject in fho li^lil", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0015.jp2"}, "16": {"fulltext": "of justice, and know how deeply the pious in our land felt tlieir depen-\\ndance on God, and while they fought bravely they prayed fervently,\\nit is no mystery that the nation became free and independent. It is a\\ndecree of heaven that righteousness exalteth a nation, and that oppres-\\nsion and robbery shall not go unpunished. It is doubtful whether his-\\ntory furnishes a parallel, since the Jews in their best state, where so\\nmuch supplication was made to heaven during a war, as in the Ameri-\\ncan Churches.\\nOn the day of fasting just named, the members of the Church re-\\nnewed their covenant with God. October 12, 1781, the Church elect-\\ned Zaccheus Downer for one of their deacons and on the 18th of\\nApril fallowing, Theophilus Huntington was appointed to the same of-\\nfice, in place of Dea. Dana removed from town.\\nOn April 28, 1782, occurred an event, on seme accounts the most\\nremarkable this Church has yet witnessed. It was the gathering in the\\nfirst fruits of a revival of religion, amounting to fifty-three persons.\\nThese were added in one day. Not long after, thirty-three more were\\nadded at one time. Considering the number of inhabitants then in\\ntown, which did not probably exceed 500, and it can hardly be suppos-\\ned that the like was to be found in New England. In these days of re-\\nvivals, such additions in our large towns are no very common event.\\nThis highly interesting occasion made, as it ought to, a suitable impres-\\nsion on the Church. We observe them at the time making public\\nconfession of their sins to God, and asking forgiveness of God and of\\neach other.\\nThe remark, though common, is worth repeating, that a season of\\nrevival is a sifting time with professors. The Holy Spirit is near, and\\nbelievers inquire. How shall we meet him The answer is, up, sanc-\\ntify yourselves stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draw-\\neth nigh. Then commence deep self-examination and thorough\\nheart-searchings. Then sin is viewed in the light of God s counte-\\nnance, and discoveries are made which produce self-loathing. Then\\nbegins a mourning, on account of backslidings, like the mourning of\\nHadadrij^man. Then Christians abhor themselves on account of un-\\nbelief and remissness of duty. Did not the mem.bers of the Church\\nhumble themselves at such seasons, there would be wanting one im-\\nportant evidence that a real work of grace was in operation.\\nAt the time the above were admitted, the members then belonging\\nto the Church, and those previously added, amounted to 204. Con-\\nsidering its infancy, there was probably not a more flourishing Church\\nin this region. And we have the testimony of christian observers in\\nother places that this was the fact. Its prosperity v/arrants the belief\\nthat it was built on the foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0016.jp2"}, "17": {"fulltext": "1 t^\\nChrist himself being the chief corner stone. The evidence ia ulbo\\nconclusive that the doctrine dispensed, was the faithful exhibition of\\nthe truth. The remark has been made by aged Clergymen, that at the\\ntime your first pastor was settled, the number of those denominated\\nrevival ministers in New Hampshire v.as less than ten and that\\nhe was one. By revival minister is understood one who considers\\n(he greatest blessing attending his ministry to be a season of refresh-\\ning from the i rescnce of the Lord, resembling that on the day of\\nPentecost, and who would do all in his power to promote such a sea-\\nson. There is evidence that a portion of the spirit of Edwards, Bel-\\nlamy and Braincrd, dwelt in the first leader of this flock.\\nThat the Church endeavored strickly to maintain the discipline of\\nGod s house is equally evident. Their records plainly shew a holy\\nconcern, that the household of faith be kept from heretical sentiments\\nand irreligious practices. March 3, 1784, the Church voted that they\\nconsider it unbecoming in a profession of godliness, for young persons,\\nprofessors, to practice frolicking and vain mirth likewise, for elderly\\npersons to indulge in idleness, in foolish talking and jesting that they\\nwill set a watch about them in future, and refrain.\\nAll consistant christians of this day fully concur in the above resolu-\\ntion. Let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from\\niniquity.\\nIn the year 1787, Deacon Jonathan Dana having returned to reside\\nagain in town, it was proposed to the Church by Deacon Huntington,\\nthat he be requested to accept his firmer office in tlic Church. It will\\nbe recollected that the latter was chosen in the place of the former,\\nwhen he removed from town. That the proposal should come from\\nDeacon Huntington to have Deacon Dana re-instated, when the con-\\nsequences were his own retirement from oflice, discovers a temper be-\\ncoming a disciple of Chrisc.\\nBe kindly affectioned one to another v*ith brotherly love in hon-\\nor preferring one another. At a Church meeting, November 21,\\n1788, Deacon Dana having removed from town the .second lime, the\\nChurch requested Deacon Huntington again to take his seat, and serve\\nthem as a deacon. He that humblcth himself shall be exalted.\\nSome time after this, the date not mentioned, Mr. Nathaniel Storrs was\\nappointed a deacon. Those who have been named may be considered\\nthe early oflicers in the Church.\\nIt will be recollected, near the beginning of the history of the Church,\\nthat in its regulations it was denominated pedo-baptisl. That its\\nmembers scrupulously regarded infeuit baptism as an ordinance of the\\ngospel, is evident from what appears on the records, in (he year 1786.\\nA member having removed from town requested a dismission tor the", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0017.jp2"}, "18": {"fulltext": "14\\nfollowing reatiun That lie believed in believer ss baptism, instituted\\nby Christ for us to follow meaning, as is supposed, that he held with\\nthe Baptirft denomination on this point. The church voted and sent\\nhim the following reply Our faith is the same as yours, we hold to\\nnone other but believer s baptism, instituted by Christ for us to fol-\\nlow and that it is in faith only that believers are to give themselves\\nand their seed to God in baptism, as Abraham, the father of the faith-\\nful, gave himself and his seed to God in the covenant of circumcision,\\nthat the blessing of Abraham might come on us Gentiles. But, Sir, if\\nyou reject believer s baptism to their infant seed, herein we think you\\nreject an ordinance of God, in which you have covenanted to walk\\nwith this Church. We have no desire to control your conscience,\\nbut if you depart from your covenant obligation, in any divine ordi-\\nnance, it must be at your own hazard, for ice have no power to absolve\\nany one from covenant vov. s. We wisii you divine direction, and that\\nthe spirit of truth may teach and lead you into all truth.\\nYour fAends and brethren in the Chtirch^ Stc.\\nFrom this letter, it seems the church adhered strictly to their first\\nfaith, and that they knev/ how to defend it.\\nThere is an event, recorded by a funeral sermon preached by Mr.\\nPotter, which deserves a place in this account. ]Mr. Potter and three\\nothers, by the names of Chamhcrlam^ Currier and -Br?;T( were ci-ossing\\nthe Mascoma River in a high freshet, a little north cf Hubbard s mill,\\nApril 16, 1798. By some means they lost the management of the\\ncanoe, and were drifting fast towards the falls belov/, when Blr. P.\\nleaping into the stream, sv/am ashore Chamberlain and Currier were\\ndrowned. Bruce hanging to the canoe vrhile it v.ent over the falls, at\\nlength made his escape by swimming. As might be v.cll supposed,\\nthe event made a most deep impression on those preserved fiom a wa-\\ntery grave, and on the inhabitants generally. The text on which the\\nfuneral discourse was founded, was in Job 1 19. Audit fell upon\\nthe young men, and they are dead and I only am escaped alone to\\ntell thee.\\nExtract from the Sermon.\\nWhile I tell you these things, you are to remember, llsat I have not only es-\\ncaped to tell you the young men are dead, but in coniiectioii with the serious event,\\nas a minister of the gospel, to preach to you the great truth, in which you your-\\nselves are most highly interested that there is a God, in whose hand your life and\\nbreath is at whose disposal you are who is of purer eyes than to behold evil who\\njudgeth the righteous, but who is angry vviih the wicked every day. I am to tell\\nyou that you are under the curse of the law, if you have not repented that your\\ni cet stand on slippery places, while yet in sin, and that your danger is great, and\\nthat you jnust repent, or perish. I am to tell you, this life is your probationary\\nseason to prepare for eternity tiiat beyond this life, there i.s a heaven for tl.\\nlighteous, into which they will enter, and dwell in the pvi scuce of thair God, anJ", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0018.jp2"}, "19": {"fulltext": "16\\nFrom this to the close of Mr. Potter s ministry, are recorded no\\nevents particularly deserving notice. Additions were frequently made\\nto the Church, and the whole number who united during the above pe-\\nriod, was 372. Out of this number have arisen twelve ministers of\\nthe gospel some of whom have been the favored instruments of budd-\\ning up large and flourishing churches. In this way ministers live m\\ntheir successors, perpetuating the gospel seed through the long hne of\\nsuccessive generations, exemplifying that consoling promise, Lo I\\nam with you alvvay, even unto the end of the world.\\nThe faithful pastor who i.-j instrumental of raising up twelve others\\nto dispense the word of life, multiplies himself twelve times. The\\nchurch, while it exi:\u00c2\u00abts on earth, is debtor to such a man.\\nMr. Potter retired from his public labors, Sept. 19, 18IG, having per-\\nformed the arduous duties of minister to this people, forty-four years.\\nAbout eleven months after, he departed this life, aged 7 1 When he\\nwas ordained there were in town but 40 families. Two and half years\\nafter his death the number of inhabitants was 1710.\\nMore than forty years did your pious leader conduct you through\\nthe wilderness, until you arrived at a respectable civil and religious\\neminence. I o say his influence was not p-eui and good in training this\\npeople fi-om infancy to manhood, would be an act of injustice to his\\nmemory, and ingratitude to God. The influence of a faithful servant\\nof Christ forty years, commencing with an infant settlement, is im-\\nmense. This influence is felt when the organ which exerted it is no\\nmore. It has a posthumous existence. Though the ininisier is dead\\nthe ministi y lives. I see its eflects in the attachment to truth, apparent\\nin a portion of this people. I see it in the existence of a Church,\\nlegitimate in its descent, steadfastly adhering to the sentim.ents and\\nprinciples which constituted her glory in her brightest days.\\nI see it amid many painful exceptions, in some pious youth, the\\noffspring of a believing ancestor, who was trained by its precepts and\\nordinances. I see it among the aged, especially when some are brought\\nto witness their faith in the hour of dissolution. Their piety seems\\nlike that of another age. It is faith of no sickly growth. It shows\\nmany points of alliance with that once delivered to the saints. O that\\nI could see it more generally in the second and third generations. I\\npity the man, when questioned about the religion of himself and fam-\\nily, who can give no other answer than that his parents or grand-\\nparents were pious. Shades of my ancestors let me never attempt to\\nbe happy forever and lliat tlicre is a hell, a place of unutterable torment and dis-\\ntress, for tiie wicked who continue in sin, and will not come lo C hrist Jesns foe\\nlife and ail the time you live in sin on the earth, you are treasuring up wrath\\nagainst the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God.", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0019.jp2"}, "20": {"fulltext": "borrow a short-lived reputaliou by namirg your virtue. while my own\\nconduct proves me unworthy such a lineage.\\nIt w ere indeed an lionour to form a link in that bright chain which\\nconnects the present generation with the pious founders of New Eng-\\nland. It is believed such links may be found among us.\\nI love to trace the unbroken line from some pious youth through his\\nimmediate and remote ancestors to the little band which composed the\\ninfant church in this town. From thence I follow it to a family in a\\ndistant State. There it passes from generation to generation, associa-\\nted Avith examples of piety, eminent in the church of God. Thence\\nit runs to the early fathers of New England, and shows its origin to\\nhave been from those of whom the world was not worthy, and who\\nsuffered the loss of all things for Christ.\\nThe day is coming when to be one in such a lineage W ould be\\ngreater honour than to stand in the line of the Ctesars.\\nIn conclusion, I would invite the people of this place to remember\\nall the way in which the Lord thy God hath hitherto led thee, and you\\nwill find abundant reason for thanksgiving and praise. Stand ye in\\nthe ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way,\\nand ye shall find rest unto your souls. To know when you were the\\nmost happy, you have only to compare the different portions of your\\nhistory before and since your first Pastor s death. Do you desire\\nunion? What surer way to obtain it, than to return to your firsl love, and\\ndo your firs! tvorks After walking together in the funeral procession\\nof your beloved pastoi w hat evil angel hovered over you, and scatter-\\ned among you the seeds of discord Alas, what a growth of ene^y,\\nhatred, jealousy and prejudice has sprung up on every side While\\nvou inhabit a town second in wealth to but one in the County, do not\\nforget those v/ho laid its foundation. Your fathers made their beds\\nwith the leaves of the forest, and had for their covering the canopy of\\nheaven and you dwell in your ceiled house.^, and sleep on down.\\nThey, with their countrymen, fought and bled in the tented field,\\nand you sit quietly beneath your vines and fig trees. They made sac-\\nrifices to establish the gospel at an early day enjoyed its precious con-\\nsolations, died in its faith, and have transmitted the invaluable legacy\\nto you, their descendants. Will you receive it Are you thankful\\nfor it Or do you spurn it, and pronounce their religion superstition,\\nfolly If you wish to cherish the memory of their virtues you will\\nfollow their pious example. Their enterprize, their temperance, their\\nreligion, are worthy your imitation. Counteract, by energy of charac-\\nter and purity of morals, the humiliating remark, that the descendants\\nof the first inhabitants usuallv decrenerate. The time is recollected bv", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0020.jp2"}, "21": {"fulltext": "17\\nsome, now on the stage, when but two persons in town indulged the\\nvulgar and sinful use of profane language. By the virtues of your\\nfore-fathers, by due regard for self-respect, by the fearful responsibili-\\nties, arising from moral accountability, I entreat you to fear God and\\nkeep his commandments.\\nChristians, the subject awakens in your hearts a thousand grateful\\nrecollections. You inherit the Bible and faith of your fathers. You\\nwill not give them up. You will not exchange old gold for new tin-\\nsel. You will not hastily receive doctrines essentially different from\\nthose transmitted you by your fathers, unless they are attested by a.\\npiety more deep, and fervent, and by a practice more pure and exem-\\nplary. Having seen in many instances, the happy issue of their\\nfaith, tjou will not launch into the sea of experiment, on which so many\\nat this day float, heedless of the breakers in their path, and the rugged\\ncoast on which they are in imminent danger of being shipwrecked and\\nlost. V^ith mournful pleasure, you will reflect on the days of other\\nyears, when the candle of the Lord shone on the tabernacle of your\\nfathers, and when the good Spirit of our God revived his work emnng\\nthan. The solemn fact that there is a less number of visilde believers\\nia the town than when it contained only .500 people, will cause you\\nto weep for the slain of the daughter of Zion, and to pray, Spare thy\\npeople, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach. Ycu will\\npause You will reflect, when such moral degeneracy presents itself to\\nview. Awake, mvahe, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; aicahr, ax\\nin ancient days, in the igcncrations of old. O Lord, 7xvive thij rrork f;t\\nthe midst of the Tjears in the midst cf the years make Irunvn, iu vcniih\\nremember mercy.", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0021.jp2"}, "22": {"fulltext": "\\\\0", "height": "3158", "width": "1609", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0022.jp2"}, "23": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3163", "width": "1639", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0023.jp2"}, "24": {"fulltext": "C-^N\\n.s*^\\n%f^f^^^\\nt..Q^\\n^O A\\n7*. l^^i^ ri^\\n;:4i ^...z\\nm\\nf-.V o\\nA", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0024.jp2"}, "25": {"fulltext": "HECKMAN l\u00c2\u00b1|\\nBINDERY INC.\\n#AUG 89\\nN. MANCHESTER,\\nINDIAr4A46962\\nA", "height": "3168", "width": "1722", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0025.jp2"}, "26": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3307", "width": "1825", "jp2-path": "historicalrecoll00cook_0026.jp2"}}