WESTMINSTER WEST.

 

—————

 

BY REV, A. STEVENS,

 

—————

 

The West Parish of Westminster is that part of Westminster lying west of the mountain that divides the town. It was set off, as a parish, by vote of the town, in 1785. The division was made legal by the action of the Legislature of the State, in 1797. An additional act of the Legislature, in 1800, appoints that the town and freeman's meetings of the town, shall be held alternately, from year to year, in each of the par­ishes.

The parish line of the town, com­mencing on the northern boundary of Putney, at the southwest corner of the farm commonly called the Grout place, runs northerly to the northeast corner of the farm formerly owned by Perez Clark, then westerly to the southwest Corner of the farm now owned by Ad­dison Dunham, then northerly to Rock­ingham.

Before the definite action of the town, making the division, it was regarded a distinct parish. In 1784, the town ap­pointed a committee of three from each parish, as a committee to build a meet­ing-house in the West Parish. The committee from the West Parish were: Lieut. Wm. Crook, Wm. Goodell, and Lieut. David Heaton. There is also a vote appropriating money for the sup­port of preaching in the parish.

The question of a distinct town or­ganization for the parish was early raised. In 1803, the town voted to that effect, and appointed a committee to lay the subject before the Legislature, and secure an organization that should make the West Parish a town, called Westbury.

Who was the first settler in the parish is not certainly known.

 

JABEZ PERRY,

from Rehoboth, Mass. (now Seekonk), had built a log-house on the land now owned by Geo. A. Goodell, and moved into it, as early as 1762. His eldest child,

 

POLLY PERRY*

was born this year. So far as is known she was the first child born in the par­ish. About the same time,

 

EPHRAIM WILCOX

settled on the farm now owned by D. C. Gorham. His oldest child, Dia­dame, supposed to have been born in town, was born in 1763. There are no dates by which the settlement of fam­ilies can be traced to an earlier period.

 

FRANCIS HOLDEN,

from Shirley, Mass., came into the par­ish in 1755 or '56, and built a log-hut on the farm now owned by Jerome Holden, where he lived, mostly alone, for some 15 or 20 years. His grist-­mill was a hollow log and a large block of wood hung on a spring-pole, to pound the corn-meal. In this way he made

 

*Since the above was written, I learn that Polly Perry was born the year before Jabez Perry, her father, came to town. — A. S.

 

 

 

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his meal until a grist-mill was built at Chesterfield, N. H., some 12 miles dis­tant from his home. This distance he carried his grain on his back, and re­turned with his meal. The only road was marked trees. The grindstone, of lime-stone, made by himself, is still kept on the farm. By using sand for grit, it did good service in sharpening the axes that felled the primitive forests in the neighborhood. After living in this primitive way (1801) , for 20 years, and having rsached the age of forty, he married Miss Abigail Clawson, of Shirley, Mass., by whom he had 13 children.

The earliest record of a death in the parish, is in 1774 — Ephraim Wilcox, jr., aged 2 years, and Jemima Wilcox, aged 7 years. Their graves are found a few roads to the east of the school­house, in District No. 1. Large forest trees have grown over their graves.

After the close of the French and Indian wars, in 1760, the fears of In­dian depredations ceased, in a measure, and settlements were, more readily, made back from the forts on the river. Before 1770, there were evidently quite a number of families in the parish. The names and history of many of them are lost.

 

RANNEY, HEATON, AND HOLT.

Ephraim Ranney, jr., David Heaton and Jotham Holt, about the year 1768, made an opening in the forests on the farms near the present site of the church. They were young men, and for some time messed together in a log-house built by Ranney, a few feet south of the house now occupied by William B. Cut­ting. They made their own porridge and ate out of a common dish.

Mr. Heaton was a passionate man, and when insulted would leave the house. When the porridge was a little short of their wants, Ranney and Holt had only to insult their mess-mate, and they had the dish to themselves. This state of things did not long continue. Mr. Ranney brought to the log-house, in 1771, a wife, and never had any wish, afterwards, to be left alone at the table.

Mr. Heaton built for himself on the farm now owned by Eldad H. Harlow, where he lived and died.

Mr. Holt built a house, near the brook, to the east of the church. A rude stone in the forest, near the school house in District No. 1, informs us that he died in 1775. The farms now owned by Ebenezer Hall, Horace Goodhue and Mr. Driscoll were settled before 1770, but who began the settlement cannot now he determined.

 

ICHOBOD IDE,

from Rehobath, Mass. (now Seekonk), was the proprietor of the lots now owned by David Gorham and Geo. A. Goodell, in 1770. His name appears as one of the first settlers in Chester, in 1764. The year he came to the town is not known, probably about 1770. Jabez Perry, his son-in-law, had set­tled on the farm north of his as early as 1762. He had sons, Ichobod, jr., Joseph. Jesse, Israel and John, most of whom settled on farms near him. The name was familiar in the early history, but has disappeared entirely in later years. Only a few families in the par­ish have any traces of the Ide blood.

 

RANNEY — CRAWFORD.

Elijah Ranney and James Crawford made settlements in the south part of the parish as early as 1771 or '72. The former on the farm now owned by Henry P. Ranney, his grandson. The latter on land now owned by William Brailey, lying on the old road leading

 

 

 

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from Elijah Goodell's to George A. Goodell's. He was a soldier in the Revolution, evidently a resolute, deter­mined man, and true patriot. The news of the battle of Lexington reached him at sundown. He started the next morning before sunrise to join the army, leaving his son, Theophilus, but, 9 years of age, with his mother, to clear the burnt field and get in the grain. He obtained a furlough of a few weeks in autumn to gather the harvest. This done, he left again for the army, leav­ing the mother and son alone for the winter of 1776.

That son, when nearly 90 years of age, said, "I chopped the wood and drove the steers. Mother helped load, and we kept warm." Noble mother and boy. Their names shall never die, nor their deeds be untold.

 

NATHANIEL DOUBLEDAY

settled in the parish before 1770, the year is not known, but it is probable that he was one of the first settlers in this part of the town. He was one of the jury of inquest on the body of Wm. French, who was killed by the British troops, at Westminster, Mar. 13, 1775. The jury roll says he resided on lot No. 6, fifth range of 80-acre lots. An old cellar discloses the spot where his house stood, now far away from any house or road.

The farm now owned by Reuben Miller, was first improved by his mater­nal grandfather.

 

REUBEN ROBERTSON,

came from Attleboro, Mass. The year is not known. It appears that a family of that name came to town quite early, at least some years before the Revolu­tion.

Nathaniel Robinson commenced on the farm now known as the Eatonplace. Noah, another brother, on the farm now owned by Mr. Church. Noah and Reuben are known to have been soldiers in the Revolution.

The farms now owned by Harlan Densmore and E. R. Goodell, were settled before 1775. The former by Wm. Crook, the latter by a Mr. Fuller, both of whom, with a son of Mr. Ful­ler, were soldiers in the Revolution. The son was killed at the battle of Bennington.

It is probable that other farms in the south and central part of the parish were settled before the Revolution, but the names of leaders in the settlement cannot now be determined.

 

RAPID INCREASE OF THE PARISH.

 

From 1775 to 1780, the population of the parish increased rapidly. Elisha Hitchcock, Heli Hitchcock, Eldad Hitch­cock and Aaron Hitchcock, from Brim­field, Mass., Edward Goodell, from Monson, Mass., Jabez Goodell, from Mansfield, Ct., and Moses Goodell, from Canterbury, Ct., had settled in the parish before 1780. Each of these per­sons, it is believed, made the first open­ings on the farms where they located. They all brought up large families, and lived and died on the farms, where they put their log-houses when they came to town.

 

BENJAMIN SMITH,

from Taunton, Mass., who settled on the farm now owned by E. B. Hall, and

 

NATHANIEL ROBINSON,

from Attleboro, Mass., who settled on the farm now owned by Mr. Church, were in the parish previous to 1775, and both were soldiers in the Revolu­tion.

 

JOHN TUTHILL,

a native of Southhold, Long Island, about the year 1786, settled on the farm

 

 

 

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now owned by Daniel Goddard. The year these persons came to town, or whether they first broke the forests on their farms, cannot now be determined.

The farms owned by Horace Good­hue and Ebenezer Hall, are known to have been early settled, but by whom It is not known. The log-houses of the first settlers had disappeared and framed houses, of some years standing had taken their place on them before 1795.

There was a large emigration from Cape Cod to the parish, led by

 

ATHERTON HALL,

in 1795, with his sons, Atherton and Peter, with their families, followed the next year by

 

BARNABAS AND SCOTTO CLARK

and their families. They made their journey in 14 days, with an ox-team.

The Clarks brought their gold to pay for their farms. Scotto his, in the cen­tre of a tierce of salt. Barnabas ex­pressed his through on the back of his oldest son, Joshua.

The Clarks were followed in 1798, by

 

MATTHIAS GORHAM,

with his 5 sons, Isaac, Matthias 2d, David, William and James.

 

PERRY, CROWELL, HAMBLIN AND HALLETS.

He was followed by Lewis Crowell, Elisha Perry, Joseph Hamblin and Howes and Gideon Hallet, all of whom had large families. During the first 15 years of the century, the natural in­crease of the population of the parish, was abundant. The largest population was between 1815 and '25. Since 1830, there has been a gradual but constant decrease. In 1870, there was not, probably, more than half of the population of 1825. The population of 1880 was 480.

 

MORAL AND RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

From the first settlement of the par­ish there have been good families, lov­ers and defenders of good things. Many of them were but a few genera­tions removed from the Puritans, and brought with them, to the forests of the parish, their doctrines and habits. Sab­bath began at sundown on Saturday, and ended at sundown on Sunday. All were expected to worship somewhere on the Sabbath. From the earliest set­tlement of the parish most of the fam­ilies attended meeting in the east part of the town. Their interests were identified with the settlers there, as they were dependent upon them, to a great extent, for a commerce. This was their only communication with the world outside of the deep vallies of the parish. Many years before the organization of the parish, the settlers held meetings by themselves, and moves were made, looking to an independent parish. They had deacon's meetings before they had any deacons, at which the sermons of the able divines of the preceding generation were read to the families gathered in some private house or barn, the good men taking the part for which their gifts and graces fitted them. Generally, Capt. David Heaton set the tune to the psalm. Ephraim Wells led in prayer. The readers were more varied. All, doubtless, were at­tentive and benefited. It was a recog­nition of then dependence upon God, and an expression of gratitude to him for his blessings upon them, as a com­munity, in their rude homes.

The early families in the parish were somewhat divided in their religious views. All, so far as they made any pretension to religion, were Congrega­tionalists, but unfortuuately some "were dry, others wet, Congregationalists."

 

 

 

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The families originating from Connecticut and Massachusetts believed, and built after the example of Plymouth Rock. Those from Eastern Connecticut and Long Island were Baptist. There was a large common Christian ground on which they could, and did, for years meet and worship together, but like the herdsmen of "Gezar and Isaac, they strove about water." This, doubtless, delayed somewhat, the definite organization of the parish. Though there were settlements in the parish as early as 1758 or '59, the first record of a meeting to consult for the support of the gospel among themselves, was in 1789, Jan. 10, "called by Elijah Ranney, on petition of the inhabitants of the parish." The votes at this meeting refer to previous action on the subject of supporting the gospel. It was voted:

"That allowance be made to Eph­raim Wilcox, for money he had paid to Mr. Bullen for preaching, to be credited to him on the collection bill, to the amount of $11.00."

This and other votes assume the existence of a society with the Congregationalists, for the support of the gospel, prior to 1789.

The town voted, in 1784,

"To divide the money raised to build and repair meeting-houses, between the East and West part of the town, the division to be made as the Militia line runs."

The Congregational Society, at the meeting of' the above date, voted to instruct their committee to lay out money raised, in connection with a committee of the Baptists, for supporting preaching in the parish. There was, then, a Baptist and a Congregational Society in the parish, for the support of the gos­pel, previous to 1789, and they divided their meetings between the two denominations. This continued down to 1799, when

 

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

was organized by a colony from the church in the east part of the town.

 

BAPTISTS.

There was a Baptist Society, probably, in town some years before this. Most of their members resided in the West Parish. In 1784, over fifty of the inhabitants of the town, entered their names in the clerk's office, under a cer­tificate, that they worshipped with the Baptists. Among these names is found that of Dea. Benjamin Smith, and Dea. Nathaniel Robinson, and other names, showing a large influence in the parish in favor of the Baptists, as early as 1784.

The date of the organization of the church is not known, neither can it be certainly determined that there was ever a Baptist church in town, distinct from the one in Rockingham, though it is quite probable that there was Elder Oliver Gurnsey, who lived in the parish, and Elder Wellman, who lived in Brook­line, were Baptist ministers, whose names appear often in the early history of the parish. They were uneducated men and scorned the need of preparation for preaching.

They opened their mouths for the Lord to fill, and pitied the preacher that depended on his manuscript. Here was another source of division in the parish, one party seeking an educated ministry, the other wishing for the gos­pel directly from the Lord, without any culture of the schools. "No man-made ministers" was the demand. The feel­ing that existed on this subject is clear from what took place at a funeral, in 1800. Mr. Emerson, the Congregational minister, and Mr. Gurnsey, the Baptist, met at a funeral. The latter was to preach on the occasion. He an­nounced his text, and, as was usual.

 

 

 

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said, "The text has occurred to me since I came into the room. I shall speak from it as the Lord puts thoughts into my mind and words into my mouth." The sermon through, while the people were taking their last look at the corpse, Mr. Emerson complimented his Baptist brother for his sermon, and at the same time asked him if he had not preached from that text before? After some hesitation the answer came in a low voice, "I may have preached from it before. I think I have." The an­swer is repeated by Mr. Emerson, so that all can hear. "You say, then, you think you have preached from that text before," and, at the same time, added, "Have you not preached from that text many times before?" The low answer comes, "I do not know, but I may have preached frequently from the text; I am preaching in var­ious places and cannot say how many times I have preached from it." The answer is repeated, so that all could hear, "You say, then, you do not know how many times you have preached from that text?" This did much to check the boasting about preaching without preparation.

The families from Cape Cod, to which reference has been made, were mostly of the standing order, as it was called. They were large families, and contained the material for a large increase of the population of the parish. This de­cided the history of the parish, from 1795, in favor of the Congregational­ists. The Congregationalist ministers that are known to have preached in the parish, previous to the organization of the church in 1799, are Joseph Mullen, in 1788, Rev. Mr. Churchill, in 1790. In 1791, the society instructed their committee to lay out the money raised in hiring Mr. Freegrace Reynolds to preach on probation, if he could be obtained, or some other man if he could not. There is no evidence that Mr. Reynolds or any other man was ob­tained. In 1792, the society gave a formal call to Mr. Stephen Williams to become their minister and pastor. The call stipulates £150 settlement, to be paid in quarterly installments, at the end of the 1st, 2d, 3rd, and 4th years of his ministry, one-quarter cash in hand, the remainder in stock or grain, wheat at 5 shillings a bushel. Also a salary of £45, to be increased £5 a year until it amounted to £65, to be paid one quarter in cash, the remainder in stock or grain. This call was not ac­cepted.

It is clear from the doings of the society, from year to year, that they had only temporary supplies of preach­ing before 1800. The names of Mr. Wellman and Holman appear as minis­ters that were employed at different times, the former, a Baptist. Of Mr. Holman nothing is recorded but his name. The Baptists, too, depended upon a temporary supply for preaching. Beside Mr. Gurnsey and Wellman, above mentioned, there was one Wm. Bowles, a Baptist minister in town, in 1784, but it does not appear that he or any other person was ever settled as a pastor of the Baptist church in town.

The first pastor of the church was

 

REV. REUREN EMERSON,

born Aug. 12, 1771, in Ashby, Mass., and graduated at Dartmouth, in 1798. He studied theology with Rev. Reed Paige, of Hancock, N. H., and Stephen Farrar, of New Ipswich, and was or­dained at Westminster West, Feb., 18, 1800; was dismissed Mar. 9, 1804.

Sermon by Rev. Reid Paige, of Han­cock, N. H.; ordaining prayer by Rev. Thomas Fessenden, of Walpole, N. H.; charge by Rev. Stephen Farrar,

 

 

 

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of New Ipswich, N. H.; fellowship, by Rev. Sylvester Sage, of the mother church, Westminster, a fellowship that has never been withdrawn.

The terms of this settlement were a salary of £100, to be paid one-half in cash, the remainder in produce, at cash price, which is the highest figure the society has ever reached in ministerial support. Mr. Emerson was of the old Hopkinsian type in theology, a clear­headed, determined man, a stickler for ministerial dignity, rather abrupt in his intercourse; his sermons were terse in style, somewhat personal, especially when anything occurred in the parish that affected himself. His wood, which the society had promised, failed one cold week. The congregation were treated the next Sabbath to a sermon from the text, "Where no wood is the fire goeth out." It was evident that the fire was in him, and the sermon, though it had gone out on his hearth. It warmed the whole parish so well that the good parson found his yard full of ox teams loaded with wood on Monday. His carriage loaned to a neighbor was returned injured. This brought out a sermon from the text, "Alas! master, for it was borrowed," so personal that it did more injury to him and the parish than was done to the carriage.

Mr. Emerson's ministry was short. He was dismissed by an ecclesiastical council, Mar. 9, 1804.

After he left the West Parish he was settled in Reading, Mass., where he remained until his death in good old age, an honored and useful minister.

Rev. Joseph Brown supplied the pulpit for nearly two years after Mr. Emerson. Of him little is remembered, only he was an old man, and some­what absent-minded. His horse, which he was leading, slipped his halter, and went off in another direction. The good pastor did not discover the trick until he had tied the halter to the post at his door.

He was evidently familiar with the parishioners, so much, that they felt at liberty to joke him. One Peter Hall, known by all the parish as Uncle Peter, and famous for his jokes, met Parson Brown, one Monday morning, returning from the store with a birch broom in his hand, and hailed him, "good luck, Mr. Brown, this morning, sold all your brooms but one, havn't you?"

 

REV. TIMOTHY FIELD

was called by the church, Nov. 18, 1806, and installed Jan. 20, 1807. Sermon by Rev. Roswell Shurtleff, D.D.; prayer, Rev. Gersham Lyman, D.D.; charge, Rev. William Hall; fel­lowship, Rev. Sylvester Gage.

He was a native of East Guilford, Ct., (now Madison). Graduated at Yale, 1797. His ministry practically closed with the year 1834, but he was not formally dismissed until Mar. 31, 1835.

He was a man of noble form, quick in all his movements, a frank, smiling face; he made no display of learning, but was above ordinary ability and worth as a man and a scholar. His sermons were short, terse, delivered without gestures, but with the deepest emotion. He despised all hypocrisy, had no ministerial cant, and always en­joyed more than he could express, ex­cept by his tears and laughter. He believed the Bible fully, and preached it just as he found it, without any speculation.

He despised all display in the pulpit. To a certain young minister, who was conversing with him about sermons and the reasons why they were no more effective, he dryly said, "It would not be much credit to the Lord to convert

 

 

 

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sinners under such big sermons as the young ministers try to preach."

He was a Calvinist in his creed, but not an extremest; in politics, he was a Whig, and always voted and preached according to his views in face of all opposition. One of his parishioners once objected to his voting, because he was a minister of Christ, "whose kingdom was not of this world." His quick reply was: "You that belong to the devil's kingdom are the legal voters."

The parish was greatly improved un­der his ministry, in its moral and reli­gious character. At the commencement of his ministry the church numbered only 56 members. There were received by profession during his pastorate, 344, 25 by letter. In the year 1825, the church reports in its association, 300 members. The years 1816, '24 and '31, were marked by powerful revivals of religion. The fruits of these revi­vals mostly united with the Congrega­tional church, but many, it is known, united with the Baptist church at Sax­ton's River, called, after the year 1812, "The Baptist Church of Rockingham and Westminster."

It should be said here that a large number of families in the north part of the parish have always connected them­selves in society at Saxton's River. Geographically, they belong there, which makes the West Parish of West­minster small in territory.

 

REV. PRESTON TAYLOR

succeeded Mr. Field as pastor of the church; installed Mar. 31, 1835; was dismissed Oct. 19, 1836.

 

REV. JUBILEE WELLMAN,

his successor, was installed Mar. 6, 1838, and was dismissed Jan. 5, 1842. Mr. Wellman had not a collegiate education. He studied theology at Bangor, Me., where he graduated in 1823, was installed at Frankfort, Me., Sept. 17, 1824, dismissed Jan. 3, 1826; installed at Warner, N. H., Sept. 26, 1827; dis­missed Feb. 15, 1837. After he left Westminster, he preached 2 years alter­nately in Cavendish and Plymouth, Vt., after which he preached 5 years in Cavendish alone. Was installed at Lowell, Vt., Oct. 17, 1850, where he remained until his death, Mar. 18, 1855. He was a well read theologian, strictly Calvinistic, very confident, sometimes dogmatic in stating his views; sensitive of his rights as a min­ister, and anxious about the honor of his office.

 

REV. ALFRED STEVENS,

the present pastor, was ordained Feb. 22, 1843. The whole number received into the church since its organization is 625 (1867). There have been 668 in­fant baptisms. By the first pastor, 60; by Mr. Brown, 45; Mr. Field, 464; Mr. Taylor, 13; Mr. Wellman, 16; the present pastor, 60. It will be seen by this that the prosperous periods of the church have been, when parents felt most the importance of dedicating their offspring to God in His church, according to apostolic usage, and the plain direction of Christ, to "let them come because they are of His king­dom."

The first deacons of the church were Elijah Ranney, a son of the first deacon, Ephraim Ranney, of the East Parish, and Edward Goodell. They were large men, of few words, of strong purpose, fast friends of their minister with whom they served the church, who sleeps with them in our cemetery.

Their successors were Elijah Ran­ney, Jr., a grandson of Dea. Ranney, of the East Parish, and Ebenezer

 

 

 

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Goodhue, a grandson of the same by marriage. The former was slow in his plans and execution, the latter was hasty; both were good, determined men, and did not easily give up a meas­ure they attempted to carry. The Scotchman's prayer was appropriate for them both: "O, Lord, keep me right, for thou knowest I cannot change."

 

THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE.

The date of the building of the first meeting-house in the parish is not known. Money was raised for that purpose as early as 1784. The location was a matter not easily settled, part de­siring it near Crooks' Mills (now Chand­ler's). Some of the timber for it was drawn upon the ground there, but Mr. Ephraim Wells, the owner of the land where the present church now stands, gave a lot for the church and land to be used for a cemetery, as an inducement to build on the present site of the church. The Society accepted his pro­position. The house was in existence in 1792, and occupied, but in an unfin­ished state, as the Society that year voted to take measures to complete it. It was a high, two-story building, fronting the east; a front door, and one on each side. It was painted white; with­out a steeple or cupola even; square pews, with high backs; gallery on three sides, filled with young folks every Sab­bath, closely watched by a man ap­pointed for that purpose; a moderately high pulpit, a deacon's seat in front of it, occupied, rain or shine, every Sab­bath, by the deacons.

This was the place of worship down to the winter of 1828 and 9, when it was destroyed by fire.

The present church was erected the next year. It was first constructed with the orchestra in the rear of the pulpit. The good people of the parish so lovedthe house of God, in the former days, that they had no need of a bell to ad­monish them that the hour of assembling had come. The church was with­out a bell until 1853. Since this year, the cheerful sounds of a bell have been heard daily from the church tower, ad­monishing the parish of passing time, and calling them every Sabbath to pub­lic worship. It has been rung every year, with one exception, by the same faithful bellman.

 

THE SABBATH SCHOOL

was organized first in 1816, and has been continued every year since. It was at first only for children. The exer­cises were only repeating texts of Scrip­ture. The older people gradually be­came interested in it. For many years it has been composed of those of all ages, from the child up to those over fourscore years. There is one person now in the school that has been con­nected with it every year since its or­ganization, as scholar or teacher.

 

THE FIRST SCHOOL.

From the earliest history of the parish the people have manifested a good degree of interest in education.

The first school in the parish, of which there is any record, was taught in the house of Robert Crook, located a few rods to the north of where Geo. Campbell's large sheep-barn now stands. This was as early as 1777. The families living in what is now Dist. No. 1, 2 and 4, furnished chil­dren for that school.

It was a log-house. The room was warmed by a stone fire-place that would receive wood 4 feet long and of any thickness. From 1815 to '30, the schools in all the districts were large. 50 or 60 scholars to a school was not an uncommon thing, sometimes the

 

 

 

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number was as high as 100 in one school.

Since then the schools have diminished greatly in numbers. Where once were large schools now there are hardly enough scholars to make a school.

There was a school taught in a log-house (supposed to be the house of Moses Goodell), that stood on the farm now owned by Ansel Moulthrop, in 1790. The next year the school for the same neighborhood was taught in a log-house on the farm south of this.

AARON HITCHCOCK, in 1793, taught in the same neighborhood, in the home of Edward Goodell. This is the first name that appears on the catalogue of teachers in the parish.

Besides the district school there has been generally a select school of one term a year in the parish.

 

PARISH LIBRARIES.

 

The first social library in the parish was commenced about the year 1810, and continued to 1834. It contained about 500 volumes. These were mostly histories, theological and metaphysical works, and biography. The time of travels had not come, and novels were not then so much in favor as now.

The second library was commenced in 1836, and now contains 300 vol­umes. Compared with the first, it shows quite a change in the tastes and habits of the people in reading. It would now be a rare thing to find a person, young or old, that would take from a library the "Spirit of Laws," by Montesquieu, or Butler's Analogy, or Witherspoon's works, and yet such books were attentively read formerly in the parish, as is evident from the rem­nants of the first library now found scattered over the parish.

A third library has made its appear­ance this year (1870), with 100 volumes. It owes its existence to the ladies of the parish, and has, of course, a bright future.

There are taken from the post office, in the parish this year (1870): Daily papers, 3; weekly, 162; semi-weekly, 3; monthlies, 78; quarterlies, 44.

Saxton's River office furnishes some 12 families in the north part of the par­ish with their mail matter. How many papers and reviews are taken from it by families in this parish, is not known. The number of families that get their papers through the West Parish office is 80.

 

NATIVE MINISTERS.

 

Ministers that have originated in the parish, and the time of their graduation so far as is known: Rev. Calvin Hitchcock, D. D., A. B., at Middle­bury, 1811. J. Q. A. Edgell, A. B., University of Vt., 1827. Josiah F. Goodhue, A. B., Middlebury, 1821. Joseph A. Ranney, A. B., Middlebury, 1839. Timothy E. Ranney, A. B., Middlebury, 1839. Edwin Goodell, A. B., Dartmouth, 1850. Henry A. Goodhue, A. B., Dartmouth, 1857. Jerome Allen, A. B., Amherst, 1831. James Wilcox, Beald Wilcox, Eaton Mason, A. B., Waterville, Me. Anson Tuthill, A. B., Waterville, Me.

 

REV. JOSIAH F. GOODHUE,

born in Westminster West in 1818; se­nior to most of his class at Middlebury by his ardent devotion to study, urban­ity of manner and earnest piety, he maintained a wide influence over his classmates there, and his theological course was pursued at Andover, during one year of which he was tutor in Mid­dlebury College. He accepted a call of the church in Williston, Vt., in 1824, and remained pastor till 1834, when he accepted a call to the Congregational

 

 

 

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church in Shoreham, Vt.. where he spent 24 years.

The chief value of Mr. Goodhue's ministrations was not in the rhetorical finish of his sermons, nor special grace of delivery; but in the sound character of his discourses and solemn earnest­ness with which they were delivered. His pastoral labors had a specially happy influence, in that he possessed that general moral excellence of charac­ter which caused his people to see a happy manifestation of the power of religion over his own heart and life. Eminently a lover of peace, by wise and judicious advice he was greatly service­able in the many councils to which he was called, and on occasions calling for wisdom and discretion. He was among the early and earnest advocates for freedom of the captives of the land, and brought the vigor of his mind to bear in giving public sentiment the right tone on this momentous subject.

His published writings are a sermon on the character of Rev. Thomas A. Merrill, D. D., of Middlebury, and a History of the town of Shoreham, the scene of his last pastoral labors. Both of these productions are happy speci­mens of his ability as a writer.

He died at Whitewater, Wis., in Mar., 1862. — From the Congregational Quarterly. [See Shoreham, Vol. I.]

 

NATIVE PHYSICIANS.

 

Samuel Hitchcock, A. B. at Middle­bury, 1816; M. D. at Baltimore. Al­fred Hitchcock, M. D., Dartmouth, 1837; Henry D. Hitchcock, M. D., Woodstock, 1842; Homer O. Hitch­cock, A. B., Dartmouth, 1851; M.D., New York City, 1856. Alfred Miller, A. B., Middlebury. [Died in Fitchburg, Mass., Nov. 15, 1877. He was a native of West Westminster, Vt., a graduate of Middlebury College, class of 1840; and of medicine in 1844, at the medical school at Woodstock; com­menced practice at Ashburnham, Mass., in 1845. He removed to Fitchburg, May, 1862, and continued in practice until his death. He was twice a member of the Legislature, first in 1866, and also in 1876.] Henry Harlow, M.D., Woodstock, 1843. Daniel Campbell, M.D., Woodstock, 1841. Atherton Hall, Charles Witt, Mark Ranney, M. D., Woodstock. Timothy E. Allen, A.B., Amherst, 1858 ; M. D., New York City. Geo. Clark, M. D., Woodstock, 1841. John Campbell.

 

PHYSICIANS THAT HAVE PRACTICED IN THE PARISH.

 

Asaph Wright, son of Medad Wright of the East Parish, settled in the par­ish about 1787. Edward R. Campbell came to the parish in 1803. John Hall, Wm. Hall, David Allen, a native of Heath, Mass , M. D., at Pittsfield, Mass., 1827; in practice in the parish, 1828, continued to 1839. Wm. Arms, from 1839 to 1840. John Hurd, 1841 and '2. Daniel Campbell, from 1843 to 1855.

 

NATIVE LAWYERS

 

that have originated in the parish. Na­than Hall, A. B., Middlebury, 1861. James Byron Brooks, A. B., Dart­mouth, 1869. Kirk W. Wheeler, read law at Albany, N. Y. Alfred S. Hall, Dartmouth, 1869.

 

OTHER GRADUATES FROM COLLEGE.

 

Luther Hitchcock, A. B., Middle­bury, 1811. David Campbell, A. B., Yale, 1850. Holland Wheeler, A. B., Norwich University, Vt., 1858; rail­road and civil engineer in Lawrence, Kansas. Horace Goodhue, Jr., A. B., Dartmouth, 1867; professor in Northfield College, Minn. Gorham Clark, A. B., Middlebury, 1839; teacher at

 

 

 

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Grenada, Miss., where he died, 1844. Charles Campbell, A. B., Yale, 1839; teacher and merchant in Grenada, Miss.; Alfred S. Hall, Dartmouth, 1873; Horace Goodhue, Jr., Dartmouth, 1857; George Goodhue, Dartmouth, 1873; George B. Brooks, Dartmouth, 1860; Willie Hitchcock, Amherst, 1875.

 

HOTELS.

 

A hotel existed in the parish before there was a meeting-house, or a school­house. The first was kept by Joseph Ide, near the top of the hill, on the old road that leads from E. R. Goodell's to Geo. A. Goodell's. It was a log-house and did a large business in toddy. This was a necessity to meet the wants of the traveling community as early as 1790. Then, as now, the necessity was found in the neighborhood of a hotel. That log-house was witness to many a fight to let off the fire of New England rum on the brain. The proprietor was often obliged to fall back upon his large physical organism to keep control of his house. At one time, he had the worst of the fight, and was laid in his large fire-place, very much to his dis­comfort.

Before 1800, a hotel was kept by Josiah Hendee, in the old house now occupied as a shop, by T. O. Dunham. From 1802 to '7, Gideon Warner was the landlord in the same house. In 1804, Ebenezer Goodhue opened a hotel in the house now owned by Warren Peck. At the installation of Mr. Field, in 1807, it was open for what was called an ordination ball. There is no evidence that any members of the church took part in it; but being at the house of a leading member of the so­ciety, and largely patronized by the lead­ing families of both parts of the town, it shows the tastes and habits of the times. A person that was present remarked, years after, "that it was not certain which had the most attention, the fiddle or the toddy-stick. The heels kept time to the fiddle, the heads to the toddy-stick." The house now occupied by Ephraim Wilcox for a store and dwelling-house was built for a hotel by Benjamin Smith, about the year 1805. He kept it for a few years only. David Johnson was the proprietor for a few years. It was known as "Abel Ed­gell's Hotel," for a number of years, and famous for toddy and horse trading. About the year 1813, it came into the hands of Eprhaim Ranney, and was kept for a number of years by Gideon Warner.

A remnant, of his account-book, for 1815, shows that the good people of the parish were none too temperate. The following is a specimen of account, leaving out the name:

Dr. to 1 glass of toddy, to 2 toddy, to 3 toddys, to 2 milk-pans, to 10 lbs. hog's lard." The history is this: The debtor got drunk, and mistook his door, and fell down in the pantry, and pulled down after him two pans of milk and a pan of lard, yet warm from the kettle. He was now ready to make his mark in the world. It was training day and he was too noisy and a little too drunk to be respectable.

The captain, a neighbor of his, un­dertook to get him out of the way. Having exhausted his patience in flat­tery, and ignorant of the affairs in the pantry, he came to a close hug with the tipsy man, and by a hard struggle shut him up in the barn) when, lo and be­hold, he found his buff pants and vest unfit for a captain to wear.

 

ORCHARDS AND CIDER.

 

The early settlers planted large or­chards. In the rich soil they came quickly into bearing, for the use of the

 

 

 

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next generation. Cider mills became an institution in the parish. As the craving for strong drink was not fully met by cider in its native state, a dis­tillery came to their help. It was set up by Wainwright Witt, in 1824 or '25. The building erected for that purpose is now used by Russell Bailey for a horse barn.

In 1827 or '28, the still was pur­chased by Ebenezer Goodell, and moved into a building erected for it, near the beautiful falls on the brook, to the left of the road, as you go from the meet­ing-house to Charles C. Goodell's, the families in the neighborhood approving. The evil of the thing soon was seen, and some compensation was made to the owner, and the distillery disappeared about the year 1834.

 

THE FIRST TEMPERANCE SOCIETY

 

was formed in 1831. The meeting for the purpose was held in the brick school­house, west of the church. The com­mittee that drafted the constitution were Rev. Timothy Field, Eppa Cone, John Smith and John Braily, most of them known to be not friendly to the move­ment. But a constitution was reported and accepted by the meeting, pledging the members to abstinence from all in­toxicating drinks, as a beverage, with a qualifying clause that gave some liberty in the use of cider in certain states. This clause, it was thought by some, gave too much liberty for the good of the members, and a new so­ciety was formed in 1841, pledging its members; without any qualification, to abstinence from all intoxicating drinks. This society never had the hearty ap­proval of all in the parish, but it doubt­less did much to improve the temper­ance sentiment.

Since the temperance reformation, keeping hotel in the parish has not beena paying business. The house now owned by Wm. Field was opened for that purpose for a few years. Since 1830, the house now occupied as a store has been opened as a hotel, by different persons; none of them have found it profitable.

 

SAW-MILLS.

 

The first saw-mill, in the parish, was built by Elijah Ranney, on the brook nearly east of John Platt's. Wm. Ab­bott, some years later, built one about half of a mile below, on the same brook. The Ranney mill had served its day, and was a matter of tradition only, in 1800. Before 1790, William Crook had put up a mill on the farm now owned by Harlan Dinsmore. In 1811, Joshua Clark leased the privi­lege of Mr. Cook and built a new mill, and ran it until 1830, when he sold to Russell Ranney. Another mill was in existence as early as 1810, at the left of the road, where it is crossed by the brook, near the house now occupied by Mr. Howe. Joshua Clark built a mill in 1809 or '10. It was run by him un­til 1859, when it passed into the hands of R. C. Gould. In 1865, it became the property of Alfred Harlow, who built the present mill in 1867, which is now the only saw-mill in the parish. F. O. Dunham put up a saw-mill in the village in 1858. It was burned in 1862.

 

GRIST-MILLS.

 

The first grist-mill, in the parish, is supposed to have been built by Robert Crook, on the site of the present mill. It was known in 1790 as Crook's Mill, and is remembered as, then, an old building. The year it was erected can­not now be determined, probably as early as 1780. A second mill was erected where the factory afterwards stood, by whom, or when, is not known. Crook's Mill was owned for years by

 

 

 

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Elijah Ranney, and was tended by Mil­ler Paine. Dr. Edward R. Campbell built a third mill, on the brook a few feet below, where it crosses the road leading to Mr. Howe's. He also, in 1827, built the mill that now serves the parish. It has had many owners, and been often changed in some respects, but retains about the same look, inside and out, as the year it was erected.

Russell Ranney, in 1856, put in a grist-mill near Horace Foster's, which made the meal for the parish for three years. Since then the business has been carried on at the location selected by Mr. Crook for a mill, probably in 1780 or '81.

 

MANUFACTURES.

 

The wives and daughters, in the early history of the parish, of course made the cloth used.

In 1813, Scotto Clark* put in ma­chinery for a woolen factory into the building that had been used for a grist-­mill, near Thomas Chandler's. His works were burned Dec., 1723. The next season a two-story brick building was erected on the same spot, and filled with machinery for manufacturing broadcloths and cassimeres. It was burnt in 1832.

 

CLOTHING WORKS.

 

John Cambridge was the first cloth­ier in the parish. Before 1812, his works were in the building erected for a grist-mill, and, after him, used for a factory. In 1813, he erected a build­ing in the village, in which the clothier business was carried on, by different persons, until 1826 or '7.

Silsbury succeeded Cambridge, as clothier, and, for a few years, did some­thing in the line of manufacturing hats. David Duncan succeeded Silsbury, as clothier, for a number of years. About the year 1827 the building was con­nected with a wheelwright shop, and was occupied fur that business by Ly­man French and Noah Whitney, until 1835, when F. O. Dunham succeeded them as wheelwright. After him Hart Halt owned the shop and carried on the business for years. In 1841, he sold to Geo. Allen, who enlarged the establish­ment by adding a large two-story build­ing in 1842. In 1843, both buildings were burnt. A new and larger build­ing was erected the same year, by Mr. Allen, and used by him for a

 

CARRIAGE SHOP

 

until 1854. This year, F. O. Dunham became the proprietor of the shop, and continued the business until 1862, when the building was destroyed by fire. In 1868, F. O. Dunham erected another building on the same spot, but it is yet in an unfinished state.

 

TANNING.

 

David Shield is thought to have been the first tanner in the parish. The building which stood on the flat, near where Willard Moultrie's barn now stands, was erected in 1788 or '89. It was large, and answered the double purpose of a dwelling house and a tannery. But a few years later a tannery was started in the village by Ephraim Wells, followed by a Mr. Wyman. The works were to the east of the brook, opposite the house now owned by Wm. Dean. Wm. Simons was his successor in the business, and moved the works a few rods down the brook. The building erected by Mr. Simons for the business, was standing in 1843; and then used by Amos Ball for a barn, and was burned in May of that year. Wm. King suc­ceeded Simons as tanner, but did not long continue the business in the place. Silas Hardy followed him and contin‑

 

* See page 623.

 

 

 

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ued the business down to 1830 or '32, when the business ceased in the parish.

 

BLACKSMITHS.

 

From the earliest history of the par­ish the hammer of the blacksmith has been heard on the spot where the black­smith shop now stands. The first smith that is remembered, was David Morse, followed in the business by Levi Field, George W. Holland, Charles Black, Daniel Miller and B. F. Winchester.

Peter Hall worked at the anvil many years on the farm known as the Peter Hall place. Wainwright Witt did something in the same line, near Chand­ler's Mill. James Eaton had a shop in district No. 4, near Geo. A. Goodell's.

Gideon Warner was the smith for the neighborhood west of the church. His shop stood near the old house now owned by F. O. Dunham. The black­smith in the early times was an impor­tant character, when all the tools of the husbandman and mechanic, and all that was worked in iron had to pass under his hammer.

 

SHOEMAKERS.

 

The old people remember Thomas Paine, Phineas Ball, Obadiah Barker, Stephen Moulthrip and James Webb, who made their yearly visits to the early families in the parish, with lap-stones, lasts and bench, and did up the shoe­making for the year, for the whole family.

Reuben Printess had a shop in the north part of the parish for many years. John Tower, David Hardy, Amos Ball. W. B. Hamblin and Husey Wardwell have carried on the business in the vil­lage, following each other, to the order of their names here given. Thomas Chandler served the south part of the parish as shoemaker, for nearly 50 years. He still lives, but his lap-stone and hammer have been laid by for years.

 

MERCHANTS.

 

Eleazer May, of the East Parish, is supposed to have erected the building for many years used for a store. It was in existence in 1800, and stood on the ground now covered by Mrs. Stowell's house. Ebenezer Goodhue occu­pied it in 1804, and for a number of years following. After him, Josiah Demming, Gen. Levitt, of Putney, and Solomon Mayo, occupied the building at different times, for a store. Otis Haven, who was a clerk of Gen. Levitt's, was the merchant for a number of years. After him, Benjamin Baldwin, for a few years. Then Howes Hallet. John Goodell occupied the building from 1829 to '33. The next name of the merchant that is known is Burchard.

The building was burnt in 1839. It was rebuilt by David Hitchcock, in 1841, and occupied by G. W. Daniels, from May, 1842, to May, 1851. William Nutting filled the store in 1853. He continued the business only part of the year. For a few years following, A. Clark occupied the building. In 1856, Ephraim Wilcox and Judson Smith filled the store with goods. The partnership continued but a short time, when Mr. Wilcox assumed the whole business, and in a few years moved to the building now occupied for a store by A. P. Ranney.

 

MILITARY.

 

The parish line of the town, run in 1785, is often referred to as the "Mili­tia line." There were two companies of militia in town after that date. That in the West Parish, from 1810 to '30, was large, often reporting 100 pri­vates. The June training was a great

 

 

 

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day. It called out all to see. Gener­ally there was much noise, quite early, about the home of the officers. The one that waked up the captain, and got the first treat, was the best fellow. Toddy was abundant, dealt freely to the company by the officers, and to the multitude at the store and the hotel.

 

EPHRAIM RANNEY, JR.,

was the first captain. The roll of honor (for it was an honor, in the par­ish, to be called captain) runs as fol­lows: David Heaton, Heli Hitchcock, Daniel Mason, Elijah Ranney, Rufus Gibbs, Ira Carpenter, Wainwright Witt, Joseph Ranney, Joshua Clark, Stephen Tuthill, Howes Hallett, Amos Hitch­cock, Alvin Goodell, Russel Ranney, Edward Hall, David Hardy, Lyman French, Reuben C. Gould, Gideon Bemis, F. O. Dunham, David C. Gor­ham, Wm. Field.

The parish furnished soldiers for the army of the Revolution, as follows: Francis Holden, Benjamin Smith, Jas. Crawford, Reuben Robertson, ——— Fuller and son, Charles Holden.

 

WESTMINSTER WEST SOLDIERS

 

FOR THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

 

William S. Cady, Justus Hitchcock, Henry B. Darling, James W. Darling, Willard Moulthrip, William P. Dean, Orman Holden, Joseph Brooks, Ros­well Miller, Henry Houghton, Ransom Miller, Tollman S. Coombs, David C. Moulthrip, George Field, J. Foster Kimball, J. Hunt Clark, Homer F. Buxton, Alfred P. Ranney, Walter W. Ranney, Otis F. Buxton, Henry Bux­ton, Josiah Hall, Bradley Howe, Geo. R. Harlow, G. R. Harlow.

Of our Westminster West soldiers who died in this war, the following are the names of all that I can now recall:

James Darling, Ransom Miller, Henry Baxter, Walter W. Ranney, and one ——— Moulthrip. I do not recal his given name. They were all killed in battle, or died of wounds received in battle.

[How the people of Vermont received the ending of the war, is seen so clear in this sermon, we have included it as a descriptive chapter, fitting, not for this town alone, but for the entire State. In Vol. I, page 836, is to be seen the address of Rev. Silas McKeen to a body of Vermont soldiers as they go forth to the war, and here, this venera­ble Pastor speaking to the people while the pæan of victory yet rings.]

 

NATIONAL JOY.

 

APRIL 9, 1865.

 

THE SABBATH AFTER THE CAPTURE OF

RICHMOND, VA., BY THE FEDERAL

ARMY.

 

From the Pulpit of

 

REV. A. STEVENS,

 

Pastor of the Congregational Church,

Westminster West, Vt.

 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made Heaven and Earth. — Psalms 121, 1-2.

 

The last week has been one of great excitement and unbounded joy in the loyal States, and we doubt not in many places in the land of rebellion. Rich­mond, the rebel capital is fallen, and the army of Lee, which has been the strength of the rebellion from its begin­ning, is retreating in confusion, before our victorious troops, is the news that flies over the land with lightning speed, on Monday. The nation is frantic with joy. The merchant forgets his sales; the mechanic and farmer their work. The white and black unite in demon­strations of joy. Eloquence, poetry, piety, patriotism and humanity are stirred everywhere and speak the best

 

 

 

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they can, the unbounded joy of the na­tion. None could speak too loud or enthusiastically the joy for the tidings. The shouts of "glory, hallelujah!" have rolled up from the mouths of hundreds of negroes, for whose enslave­ment the war was begun. It has been as when "Prophetic Babylon" fell, and the nations are in commotion, "because in her would be bought no more the bodies and souls of men." City an­swered to city, swelling the wave of joy until the land was full. This is well. It is as it should be. It is the instinc­tive demand of justice. Love of free­dom, of humanity, desire for peace and the establishment of good government, call for and approve of our joy for such a blow at the base conspiracy to destroy our government, and build on its ruin a power with its corner stone laid in slavery — defying the doctrines of Plymouth Rock — mocking at the declaration of independence — trifling with humanity and the tenderest affections of parents and companions, and crushing out with its iron rule all that is filial in children, and blasting the intellects of millions of men and women, and making the word of God a sealed book to them. Rich­mond was the representative of all this infamous purpose. Her fortifications, — her hundreds of cannon, her naval preparations, her large army and skill­ful generals, were for the defence of all this. They spoke only defiance to all attempts to put any restraint upon the unlimited spread of slavery on this con­tinent. It is meet that joy fill the land at its fall — that demonstrations be loud and far spread, clothed with piety, adorned with poetry, fired with elo­quence, and made wild with enthusiasm, so that every citizen can give utterance to the sentiments of a freeman's heart: My heart is, it has been, in all this. But while I say this, and say it because I feel it, I say there is a phase of this event that calls for a calmer view, a thoughtfulness that takes us back from our flights of joy, to consider the more permanent relations we sustain to this great, glorious event.

There has been no time since the re­bellion began that demands candor, im­partial purposes, and generous impulses, yet firmness in rulers and people, like the day it falls before our victorious army. Then especially will Christian principle be called for — true magnanim­ity, decided purposes, yet a leniency be­coming a Christian and victorious peo­ple. The struggles in our breasts between the demands of strict justice upon our enemies, and Christian for­giveness, must be adjusted carefully and in the fear of God, lest we, under our great injuries, swear vengeance, or in our great desire for peace, overlook what justice and the public safety de­mand. Duties will now press upon the nation that cannot be performed under the inspiration that has pushed on the war, and kept the armies full and nerved for the fight. Who to blame? who to excuse? who to execute? and who to forgive? what justice and what mercy demands of us towards our enemies? are questions that will occupy the public mind, and be differently answered, and will call out opposing feelings. They cannot, and must not, be answered un­der the inspiration of martial music. As the rebellion falls, and rebels flock to take the oath of allegiance, we pass to new duties and responsibilities. It is not my purpose to speak of them at this time. What they will be, cannot yet be fully defined. I would call your attention to the spirit needful to meet them as they shall he developed by the prosecution of the war. The text defines in general the position we ought to occupy as citizens in our tri­umphs. "I will look unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." The sentiment here expressed is beautiful. It is always be­coming — a humble acknowledgment of God's agency in our deliverance, and of our indebtedness to Him. This feeling, if it were universal, would remove much of the friction of society, and the affairs of the world, in the State, the family, and the church, would adjust themselves harmoniously. Let us con­sider some of the practical results of leoking unto the Lord as our deliverer, in this day of triumph.

I. It will produce candor, and keep us from party opinions, and rash measures.

 

 

 

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I have said the triumphs of our arms will bring new questions for us to con­sider. For our opinions and measures we are accountable, as well as indebted to God for permitting us to form our own, and to enjoy them unmolested. This is true of all we do as citizens. We cannot hide ourselves from His no­tice among the multitude with whom we act. Though we cut ourselves loose from all restraint and act without re­gard to His law, hiding behind parties and customs, and constitutional inter­pretations, or the opinions of great names, we are before Him, and there is a day of reckoning for all we do. No recklessness in our opinions and meas­ures can prevent the facts that we are accountable, as directly as though we were the sole actors. Our opinions, our measures, and the manner we pros­ecute them are ours. We should be always considerate and view things as we wish to meet them before God in judgment. To be thoughtless of our dependence upon God in our rejoicing, and to forget that it is He that has given us the victory is dangerous. We should feel to-day that the everlasting hills are our refuge. Our whole ap­pearance should be that of those seeking wisdom of the Lord, and ready to follow in the openings of His providence. There has been often impatience during the four years of war. We have heard unreasonable complaints, and wholesale condemnation of men and measures. There has been disappointments often, and chagrin. There may have been reasons for all this, regarding human instrumentalities simply. But looking at things as they now appear, it is man­ifest that there has been done a work in the land that neither our government nor the rebels intended to do. All that vexed us, and about which we were impatient, was needful to the result reached. Delay, defeat, by which the struggle has been prolonged, has cut deep under the foundation of the cause of trouble; slavery has been undermined. It has shown us how slavery had been through all our history, corrupting the nation, and imbruting men, and making them creatures that could defy all law, and revel in cruelty, by starvation, by confinement and brutal treatment of their fellow men. Looking at the re­sult of the four years just passed, we see we did not comprehend at all the divine plan now accomplished. Our views were narrow, erroneous. Our plans, if they had succeeded, would not have brought the result for which we now rejoice — the year of jubilee that has come to millions of our race. We look with astonishment on the colored hosts that have leaped from the condi­tion of cattle, or things, to manhood, praised for their valor, admired for their patient suffering for liberty, and for their industry, and thirst for knowledge. All theories of emancipation are put to shame, except the one that all pro­nounced impractical, immediate. God has taught us that what is just to the colored race can be done with safety so far as they are concerned. The lesson should humble us to-day, and make us more teachable before God, more can­did in our judgment about His com­mands, and more thoughtful about His ways, and never measure his doings by our hasty and rash conclusions. We must view the work before God, and bring along the lesson into practical life, that we may know our own ignorance, and wait before the Lord in hope and confidence in all the future unfoldings of His providence.

II. Our gratitude will be a selfish demonstration unless we look to the Lord as our helper.

The last year of the war has been one of almost constant success. All the military movements have strengthened our cause and weakened the enemy. We talk much, and justly, about the skill of our commanders, and the brav­ery and endurance of our soldiers. We regard them as the cause of success. We ought to be thankful for their wisdom and bravery. We think we are. But they are only the gifts of God, raised up for the place they occupy, at the time they are needed to reach the result for which we rejoice. All the leading generals, those by whom the tide of national fortune has been turned, were in comparative obscurity at the opening of our struggle. They came to notice as they have been needed to do

 

 

 

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the work that God had planned. We praise them. We will honor them. The coming millions of freemen on this continent will honor them. But as Christian citizens we must look higher than this, "our help has come from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." Here has been the point of observation from which all these movements have been directed. The marching and coun­termarching of the hosts, North and South, East and West, has been under His eye, and superintended by His prov­idence. The winds, the rain, the cold and heat, have held them in check until it was time to move. The rivers, swollen by His command, have stopped the whole until it is time to march. We have looked on with anxiety and some fears, per­haps, for the last year, when the movements manifestly began to converge to­wards the heart of rebellion, lest so great movements, at so great a distance, should not meet to produce the intended result.

The nation has waited for the last six months, in breathless suspense, seeing how one move after another has been tightening our hold upon the capital of our enemy, until he has been forced to abandon his strong holds, and trust to fortune to find others. Skeptical and blind is the mind that does not see a higher than man that has been guiding these movements so various, and oper­ating at so great a distance, so as to make the result a unit. Hard is that heart that has, to-day, no thanks to Him that sitteth upon the everlasting hills, and has from thence, by His providence, been guiding to the result for which we rejoice. When Sherman cut himself loose from Atlanta last autumn, the world was full of conjectures and predictions of what he wished to do, or could or would do, or whether he would do anything but destroy his splendid army. Whatever may have been the human plans at the time, we know that but one mind knew certainly the result, and comprehended all the circumstances upon which success depended. It was all under the eye of Him, who has by His providence guided the whole so as to accomplish his purpose in this war. Thanks be to Him that sitteth upon the everlasting hills, who has made the wrath of our enemies to praise Him, and work their own ruin. Let our de­monstrations of joy be expressed before Him, for He has done all things well. It is only by viewing the work as His, and accomplishing His purpose, that we can appreciate what has been done. The fall of Richmond in itself concerned, is a small event. It is a representative event; that which it was pledged to de­fend falls. The event goes out over the land and world affecting all the inter­ests at stake in this war, — the princi­ples of republican government — Christian freedom — the right to preach freely the Gospel — to teach and to learn with­out restraint. The slave mother breathes freer, feels safer, as she looks upon her loved ones for it; her home is guarded against the intrusion of the dealer in human flesh. The land is opened by it to the philanthropist and Christian mis­sionary, to look after the ignorant and degraded slaves, and teach them the way of life from the word of God. The event not only affects our national in­terest. The church of Christ has an interest in it. The field under God's eye in this war is larger than our land. Grant's war map is but a speck of the whole. His comprehensive plans, and vast moves and glorious results, are but the opening of the divine purpose, to proclaim liberty to the captives in all lands, "to proclaim the acceptable years of the Lord, and the day of ven­geance of our God." We do not to-day rejoice and give thanks simply that Gen. Grant has been successful. God's re­vealed purpose is a reality. The way is opened for a fuller consummation of the purpose of God, that men should dwell together, unmolested, in the free devel­opment of all their powers and full en­joyment of the fruit of their wisdom and toil. It is a small affair that our country be saved, if we consider it dis­connected from the influence of an en­lightened, free Christian people, on the general weal of the world.

It is to be feared that much of the joy of the last week has arisen from selfish considerations; my party has tri­umphed, my business will be improved by the good news, or my son or com‑

 

 

 

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panion will be at home again. There has been no thought of the effect on the more general interests of man — free thought, free labor, free worship — free enjoyment of all these — free spread of Christian principles in the world. If we look to the hills, from whence has come our help, we shall see that there is a wider range for our joy than our land. God is here, moving a wheel within the wheel, that is turning the whole earth, crushing despotism, casting out light and knowledge, and overturning and overturning "until He come, whose right it is" to reign. If we fail to see God's hand in the work, we shall not appreciate its connection with the interests of Christian civilization and missionary movements. Our gratitude will not be Christian.

III. There is another feeling that ought to enter largely into our joy — humility. It will be forgotten if we do not look to God, from whom has come our help. Pride is sin; boasting is its natural language. Sin is defiant, re­bellious, and always confident of having its own way, and by its own plans. In counter tendency to this, we should come before God as our deliverer, feel, confess and act on the principle that we are weak. It is He that has brought the na­tion through the waters. He has brought the heaps of waters over our enemies. We love to say, and ought to, our coun­try, our government, our naval and mil­itary strength, and our victories. But there is danger, in such a time as this, that we become vain. Looking unto God reveals a more powerful disposer of events than ourselves — owning all we call ours by absolute right. None can dispute it. No power can maintain a claim against His. The land is His. He has given it to us as a dwelling-place. He has overthrown our enemies that have risen to contest His right to give us the land for a republican government. We hold it sacred to freedom by the best of titles — the gift of God. Like Pharaoh of' old, our enemies said: we will pursue, we will overtake, we will divide the spoil. our lust shall be satis­fied. God has favored our cause. They have sunk like lead in the waters. They have cast away their chariots of war in their flight. Like Israel, we ought to sing to-day: "Who is like unto thee, O Lord? among the Gods who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?"­ Ex. 15:9-11.

How becoming this song for Israel, who had been but a little before hedged in by the mountains and the sea, and pursued by the Egyptian army. Hardly less dangerous was our condition four years since. A united, treacherous en­emy was, before us, clad and disciplined for war. Traitors appeared everywhere in the land, in the army, in the halls of Congress. At home and abroad adverse influences met us. The government knew not what to do, or whom to trust. Many that were trusted were false or heartless to our cause. The Capital was swarming with secret foes and declared, defiant enemies, holding at the time nearly all the munitions of war of the nation under their control. The foreign nations said the republic is a rope of sand, and took it for granted almost that we were not as a nation. But there was a voice, as of old, to "Abraham:" "I will give thee the land."

To-day all the naval preparations of the enemy are in the depths of the sea — "they sank unto the bottom as a stone." Their heavy ordnance, by the thousand, has fallen into our hands. Their forts and fortifications are abandoned, and their strong army, like Pharaoh's host, is floati