Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub
[graphic][merged small]

CHAPTER XXII.

THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST AND OTHER SOCIETIES.

For more than twenty years after the town of Candia was incorporated, no great opposition to the leading doctrines of the Congregatienal Church was manifested by the people. About the year 1782, a few persons in the church became opposed to baptism by sprinkling, and also to infant baptism, but believed that immersion was the only scriptural method of administering the ordinance, otherwise they were Calvinists. Among these people were Joseph Palmer, who lived on the place recently owned by the late Nathaniel B. Hall, near the Congregational Church, and Peter Mooers, who then resided in a house which stood on the road which extends from the Corner to Deerfield and a few rods north of the present residence of Ingalls Bunker. Mr. Palmer became a pronounced Baptist, and meetings frequently took place at his residence. Among other Baptists, who preached there, was Rev. Elias Smith, who afterwards became somewhat celebrated as a minister in Boston. Mr. Mooers was afterwards ordained as a FreeWill Baptist minister, and for some years preached in various places in New Hampshire. About the beginning of the present century, he removed to Maine, and for many years he officiated as a minister in that state. His family was settled in the town of Vienna, and he died at that place in 1835, at about eighty-four years of age.

About the year 1777, Benjamin Randall preached at New Castle and New Durham, and founded a church at the latter place. Mr. Randall and his followers rejected the doctrine of election and fore-ordination, and insisted that men are free moral agents. They moreover believed that the ordinance of baptism should be by immersion, and they -were opposed to the practice of baptizing infants. Upon all other doctrines they agreed with the Congregationalists. On account of their sentiments as regards free moral agency,

and baptism they were then called Free-Will Baptists. The interest in the new doctrine spread rapidly until in 1799. Jeremiah Bullard, of Unity, held meetings in that part of Deerfield situated near the Pawtuckaway mountains. A considerable number of the people of Nottingham, Raymond and Candia, were attracted to the meetings, and in 1802, a church, consisting of members belonging to the four towns named, was organized. The earliest members of the new church from Candia, were Abraham Bean and wife, who lived at the Island, Reuben Bean and wife, the parents of Moses Bean, Samuel Colcord and a few others. Moses Bean was ordained at Deerfield in 1810.

In 1818, the church was divided, those members living in Nottingham and Deerfield constituting the first church, and those living in Candia and Raymond the second church. When the division was effected, it was stipulated that town lines should not be considered, but the brothers and sisters residing in either of the towns could have perfect liberty to join whichever church they preferred. Jeremiah Fullonton, of Raymond, was chosen clerk of the new church and society.

After the division was made and the new church was organized, various exhortations were made, after which all parted in peace.

Meetings of the church were frequently held at the residences of some of the brethren in Candia and Raymond. At a meeting held at the home of Abraham Bean, at the Island, August 10, 1820, Elder Moses Bean and Elder David Harriman were appointed "messengers" or delegates to the quarterly meeting at Gilmanton, and it was voted to invite the members of the association to hold their next

meeting in Candia. After various religious exercises, Elder Bean baptized five persons, and more than one hundred spoke in meeting.

In 1815, a meeting house was erected at the village mainly through the influence and energy of Elder Bean. The house was not large but rather long in its proportions. There were two doors on the front side, one of which was near the east end and the other near the west end. Some of the pews were square with seats on the four sides, but

the most of them were seats like those in use at the present time. They were made of white pine, but were unpainted. The one chimney of the house sprang from the ground floor. Directly beneath the chimney and nearly in the center of the house, there was a tall, sheet-iron stove.

THE UNION BAPTIST SOCIETY.

Upon August 17, 1816, the Free-Will Baptists in Candia, with a considerable number of the members of the Congregational society, who disagreed with the majority upon some of the fundamental points of theology, formed an organization which was called The Union Baptist Society. John C. Fifield was chosen moderator of the meeting, and Thomas Critchett was clerk. The society was incorporated the same year. The largest number of members resided in Candia village, the Colcord district, Island, and at the North Road. A few lived near the Corner, and a few in the Langford district.

the

Among the prominent members who resided in the Village about sixty years ago, were Moses Bean, Samuel Dudley, William Turner, Phinehas Bean, Thomas Critchett, Stephen M. Bean, David Bean, Jacob S. Morrill, David Richardson, Isaac Critchett, Jesse Bean, E. B. Cheney.

Among those who lived on the Colcord road were Benjamin Bean, Samuel Colcord, S. O. Dearborn, Reuben Bean, Hosea Chase, Moses Dearborn, Samuel Dearborn, John Moore, Henry Thresher.

The prominent members who resided at the North Road, were Benjamin Hall, Noah Haines, Samuel Tuck, J. Chase Smith, James Smith, Biley Smith, Richard Hoit, Joseph Martin, Jonathan Martin, Amos Thorn, Richard Currier, Moses Hall, Caleb Hall and Jonathan Hall.

Some of the prominent members who resided near the Corner, were John Smith, Benjamin Pillsbury, Owen Reynolds, John Pillsbury, John Sargent, Benjamin Pillsbury and Benjamin P. Colby.

The following are the names of some of the leading members who resided in other sections of the town:

John C. Fifield, Sumner Fifield, Peter Fifield, Jonathan C.

« PoprzedniaDalej »