BY BRADFORD KINGMAN, ESQ., BROOKLINE, MASS. CAMPELLO, formerly known as "Plain Village," is about one and a half miles south of the central village in North Bridgewater, Mass. This religious society was composed of members who formerly belonged to the First Congregational Society in the centre of the town, under the pastoral care of Rev. Paul Couch. The following persons were the original members of the society: Ziba Keith, Benjamin Keith, Azor Packard, Thomas Packard, Chas. Keith, Jason Keith, Vinal Lyon, Isaac H. French, Cary Howard, Oliver Jackson, Nahum Hayward, Pardon Keith, Jonathan Snell, Abijah Holmes, Calvin Hatch, John W. Keith, Treasurer; Azor Packard, Ziba Keith, and Charles Keith, Parish Committee. The next move was to erect a house of worship: for this purpose a lot of land was obtained of Isaac Keith, upon condition that the society pay the interest on the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, annually, until the decease of Mr. Keith and his wife, the land then to become the property of the society. The first house of worship was built by subscription, at an expense of four thousand three hundred and seven dollars and thirty-seven cents. The building was a plain, substantial structure, sixty feet in length, forty-three feet in width, with posts twenty-one feet in height, with a spire eighty-five feet high, containing a bell from the foundry of George Holbrook, Esq., East Medway, Mass. The house had sixty-six pews, besides the choir gallery. The basement was used as a vestry for evening meetings. Immediately upon the organization of the society, and the erection of the house of worship, it was deemed expedient to form themselves into a separate Church. For this purpose the following persons made application to be dismissed from the "First Church," with suitable testimonials to be formed into a new and separate Church: viz., Silvanus French, Mercy E. Keith, Abigail Keith, Olive Jackson, Martha Keith, Charles Keith, Mehitable Keith, Ziba Keith, Polly Keith, Mary Keith, Sylvia Howard, Huldah Howard, Keziah Hayward, Charles Williams, Zilpha Hatch, Josiah W. Kingman, Joanna Packard, Robert Packard, Sarah Packard, Mary Packard, Josiah Dunbar, Sybil Dunbar, Anna Dunbar. A council was convened at the house of Josiah W. Kingman, Esq., for the purpose of organization, on Tuesday, January 3, 1837, at which time and place it adopted the name of the "South Congregational Church" in North Bridgewater. The first person that received a call to settle as pastor of this Church was Rev. Thomas Kidder, in January, 1837 ; but he did not accept the call. The next was Rev. John Dwight, of Medway, Mass., who was ordained April 12, 1837. Rev. Mr. Dwight labored with this people until March, 1839, when he was dismissed. Various preachers were heard from that time until November, when at a meeting of the society held Nov. 19, 1839, it was voted to give Rev. Daniel Huntington, of New London, Conn., a call to become their pastor. The call being accepted, he was installed January 1, 1840. Mr. Huntington continued to labor with this people until May 2, 1853. He tendered his resignation to the Church, a council was called to advise in the matter of dismission, and the relation between the pastor, Church, and society, was dissolved May 11, 1853. On the twenty-third day of the same month, that portion of the town was visited by one of the most disastrous fires that ever occurred in the county, destroying sev 1 Rev. John Dwight was born in Shirley, Mass., January 2, 1810; fitted for college at Woburn Academy; taught school in Woburn two terms; graduated at Amherst College in 1835. Studied theology with Rev. Jacob Ide, D. D., of West Medway, Mass.; licensed to preach by the Mendon Association in the early part of 1837; received a call to settle over the South Church in Campello, Mass., in 1837; was ordained April 12, 1837. Dismissed in March, 1839; installed over the "Second Church" in Plymouth, Mass., July 18, 1841. Dismissed March, 1846; installed pastor of the Church in North Wrentham, Mass., June 23, 1853. Dismissed April 4, 1856, and at present resides in that place. 2 Rev. Daniel Huntington was born in Norwich, Conn., October 17, 1788, graduated at Yale College, New Haven, 1807; was ordained over the "First Church" in North Bridgewater, October 28, 1812, where he remained till March, 1833. He was dismissed on account of ill-health, and removed to New London, Conn., where he remained teaching a young ladies' school till he received a call from a portion of his former parishioners, who had formed a new Church, in the south part of the town. He was installed over the "South Church" of Campello, January 1, 1840, where he labored for thirteen years, tendering his resignation May 2, 1853. From thence he removed to New London, where he preached occasionally to near the time of his death, which took place May 21, 1858. eral buildings, among which was their house of worship. With creditable energy, however, a new house was immediately commenced under the direction of Bela Keith, Esq., Martin L. Keith, Cary Howard, Aaron B. Drake, Vinal Lyon, Josiah W. Kingman, Esq., and Dr. Horatio Bryant, as Building Committee. The result of their efforts may be seen in the present new and beautiful edifice, which is of wood, painted in imitation of freestone, eighty-four feet long, fifty-six feet wide, with posts forty feet high, and a spire one hundred and eighty-five feet in hight. 3 On entering the building, we find on the first floor one large vestry, one small vestry, and a large, carpeted, well-furnished room, for the use of the "Ladies' Benevolent Society." Ascending from the main entrance, on either side, a very easy flight of steps, we find ourselves in a vestibule, from which we ascend to the choir gallery, or enter the auditory. The interior aspect of this house is fine. The spacious floor, well-arranged slips, neatly carpeted and upholstered, the chaste and elegant pulpit and finely frescoed walls, give the place an air of pleasantness, quite in contrast with the churches of earlier days. 4 The original outlay in the construction of this house was sixteen thousand dollars. appropriate exercises. The next minister was Rev. D. Temple Packard, a native of the town, who had just completed his theological course of study. He had been invited to supply the society during the building of their Church, by a vote passed April 18, 1854. Services were held in "Salisbury Hall" during that time, and until the house was completed. The ordination of Rev. Mr. Packard and the dedicatory services were held on the same day, as before named. Mr. Packard continued his labors of love to this people, having large audiences, and preaching with ability, earnestness, and eminent success, till September 25, 1856, when, at his request, the relation between himself and the Church and society was dissolved by a mutual council called for that purpose. The Church was then without a settled pastor from October 1, 1856, to February 3, 1858, during which time several preachers were heard; and December 9, 1857, an invitation was extended to Rev. Charles W. Wood," of Ashby, Mass., to become their pastor, which call he accepted, and was installed February 3, 1858. 5 Rev. D. Temple Packard was born in North Bridgewater August 24, 1824. After the usual common-school privileges of the town, he fitted for college under the tutorship of Rev. Paul Couch, at the Adelphian Academy, North Bridgewater, and Phillips Academy, Andover; graduated at Amherst College, August, 1850; taught high school at East Braintree, Mass., one year; entered Bangor Theological Seminary, October, 1851, and graduated August 30, 1854. After receiving two other calls, he accepted the call of the South Church at Campello, where he was ordained September 21, 1854. Dismissed October 1, 1856. From thence he removed to the West, preaching at Rock Island, Ill., and Davenport, Iowa; returned to Massachusetts in 1858, and in June of that year commenced preaching for the First It is built in the Romanesque style of architecture, from plans drawn by Messrs. Towle & Foster, of Boston. The builder was Mr. William Drake, of Stoughton. The bell was cast at the foundry of Mr. George Holbrook, of East Medway, Mass., and weighs thirtytwo hundred pounds. A marble-faced clock was presented to the society by Henry K. Keith in 1854, which was placed Congregational Church in Somerville, Mass., and in front of the choir gallery. The house was dedicated September 21, 1854, with 3 The spire of the Church, as first erected, was blown down in the great snow-storm of January, 1857. The present spire is one hundred and thirtyfive feet high; rebuilt by W. R. Penniman of South Braintree, Mass. 4 Manufactured by Henry R. Haven. was installed as pastor of that Church and society September 21, 1860, where he now resides, 6 Rev. Charles W. Wood was born in Middleborough, Mass., June 30, 1814; fitted for college at Plainfield Academy, Conn., and Pierce Academy, Middleborough, Mass.; graduated at Brown University, Providence, R. I., in 1834; graduated at Andover Theological Seminary in 1838; ordained at Ashby, Mass., October, 1839; at Campello, February, 1858. ON THE ORDINATION OF DEACONS. BY REV. W. W. PATTON, D. D., CHICAGO, ILL. THERE exists among the Congregational churches a diversity of sentiment and practice with regard to the ordination of deacons, or their public induction into office by some appropriate ceremony, such as prayer and the laying on of hands. It will aid us in reaching an intelligent judgment on the subject, to consider briefly the warrant for such an office in the Christian, Church. The account of its institution is found in the sixth chapter of the Acts of the Apostle's, from which it appears, that when the Church at Jerusalem had so increased that it was impossible for the apostles longer to sustain the responsibility and labor of all the duties incumbent on leaders, they instituted a class of officers who should relieve them of the care of the charities of the Church. An occasion for such action was furnished by a complaint that a portion of the necessitous members had been neglected in the daily distribution. Thereupon, the apostles, in accordance with the principles of popular government, which Christ himself had indicated, and which they were careful always to recommend, called a meeting of the entire Church, stated the necessity for a new class of officers, that the distribution of charity might not take the time needed for preaching the gospel, and directed them to choose seven men of unspotted reputation, eminent piety, and practical sagacity, to whom thereafter they might intrust the whole business of providing 'for the poor. (Acts vi. 1-4.) The Church approved the plan, and elected seven men to this office. That it was indeed a permanent office, intended to be maintained in the Church, and not a mere temporary committeeship to meet an emergency, appears from various considerations. 1. We could scarcely account, otherwise, for its insertion in so brief and condensed a narrative. It stands there apparently as the example and warrant of similar action in all other Christian churches. 2. The necessity is universal for such an office. "Ye have the poor always with you," said our Saviour, and the churches need to make permanent provision for a visitation and relief of members who may be in affliction and distress. 3. We find the primitive churches organized similarly elsewhere, as indicated by the opening verse of the Epistle of Paul to the Church at Philippi: "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons." 4. The same apostle gives directions to Timothy, who, as an itinerant missionary, was constantly organizing churches, as to the qualifications of those who were to be appointed to the office of deacon. "Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husband of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree (or an honorable position) and great boldness in the faith which is in Jesus Christ." Churches which are prelatical in their form of government, such as the Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal, Romish, and 1. That the object for which the deacons were appointed, though truly spiritual, as we shall soon see, had not to do with public instruction, but, on the contrary, was intended to relieve those who did instruct from the care of the poor. (Acts vi. 2-4.) 2. That the qualifications for the deaconship, as originally indicated, and as afterwards stated by Paul, include no "aptness to teach," such as is required of bishops or pastors. 3. That the preaching of Stephen, and perhaps also of Philip, was only of the kind in which all the primitive disciples exercised their gifts in public exhortation, even as it is written, "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word." Acts viii. 4. But of Philip we have the additional information, that, after acting as deacon, he was subsequently put into a higher office, and became an "evangelist;" for, in the twenty-first chapter, Luke writes, "We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and abode with him." The deacons were not then made an order of the ministry, but were appointed to a distinct but important office, in which they had charge primarily of the distribution of the charities of the Church, and incidentally (by parity of reasoning from the principle which led to their appointment, and which is capable of further application) of all those minor duties which would leave the pastors at more complete liberty to give themselves wholly to the public work of the ministry. We learn, then, at the outset, that the deacons are not a mere committee, but permanent officers, filling one of the only two offices described in Scripture as existing in the primitive churches. It is a reasonable inference from this conclusion, that the entire recognition and treatment of the office by the Church should be such as to maintain its dignity and influence, whether it be in the manner in which the office shall be mentioned, in the respect exhibited to those who fill it, in the mode of election to it, or in the manner of induction into it. This latter more immediately concerns us at the present time. So far as the example at the original institution of the office is in point, it would seem to favor a public and impressive method of ordination, with prayer and laying on of hands by those who shall represent Christ and the Church; for thus were "the seven" introduced to their official position in the presence of the assembled Church of Jerusalem, "whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them." Acts vi. 6. But, that we may learn what is the true force of this example, we must consider certain objections bearing upon its modern application. 1. The question has been raised, whether, in the act mentioned in the sixth of Acts, there was any ordination at all. In a report on the induction of deacons, submitted to the Essex Street Church, in Boston, in 1843 (ascribed to Rev. Joseph Tracy, and published in the appendix to the last edition of Punchard's View of Congregationalism), it is said, "It is by no means certain that the apostles, by laying their hands on the seven, meant to perform what we call ordination;" and the argument is, that "it had been a custom, from the earliest ages, to lay hands on any one for whom prayer was offered;" and, consequently, that the exercises were not ordination, but only public prayer, with a customary gesture which we are under no obliga tion to imitate. |