Life of the Rev. Joseph Grafton, late pastor of the First Baptist church, Newton, Ms. with an appendix, embracing historical, statistical, and ecclesiastical information pertaining to the town of Newton

Front matter

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Preface

Since I came to the pastorate of the First Baptist church and Society in Newton, but very few days have at any time passed, in which I have not heard- some allusion to the Rev. Joseph Grafton, my honored and revered predecessor. It has happened to few ministers to live so vividly in the hearts of their people, so long after the vail which hides eternity from time has dropped between them. In most cases it might be said that in much less time than twelve years, another race " arose, which knew not Joseph." But the number of those with whom the good pastor's memory is so fragrant is rapidly diminishing. A i^ew more years will suffice to sweep off from the stage most of those who were interested in his ministrations. I have often heard an expression of regret, especially among older persons, that nothing in a permanent form had been done to preserve the character of that venerable servant of God from oblivion. On that account I have, for some time past, cherished the purpose to endeavor to rescue the remaining items that could be secured for the gratification

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both of the generation that is now fast fading away, an(J of those which are and which are soon to be on the stage. The first Sabbath in the present year, I ex-- hibited in a discourse to my congregation the history of the church from its commencement. At a parish meeting shortly afterwards, the members of the society passed a vote kindly expressing their interest in the sermon, and requesting its publication. This determined me to gather up at once such memorials as I could obtain of the venerable pastor, my predecessor, who filled so large a space in the history, and to interweave the narrative of his life, so far as possible with my discourse. This is what I have done in the following little book. As father Grafton was not a man who loved his pen or made much use of it, I have found but i'ew materials for the illustration of his life. A brief autobiography has furnished me with the history of his Christian experience. Most of the remainder I have elicited in conversation from those who treasured up the living image of their minister while he was yet with them. This is especially true of the chapter of " Anecdotes ; " there is but a single one of them which I have ever seen in print.

If any one should be disposed to find fault with this chapter as deficient in dignity I beg him to remember that I wish to give, as far as possible, a life-like portraiture of the man. And in no other way could 1 have done it with such vividness. If any thing in the chapter is not sufficiently elevated to meet the demands

PREFACE. VU

of a refined and highly polished taste, it should be considered that father Grafton had already won for himself a place of honor in the hearts of all who knew him. He was a peculiar man, living in an age unlike our own. Most of his parishioners had known and revered him from their childhood. And though some of his sallies of wit and pleasantry may not strike us favorably, they must have appeared differently to those who viewed them from another position, and who saw them relieved by a spirit of habitual devotion. The casual peculiarities which gave a charm to his character, and which add a zest to the contemplation of it, are not of such a nature as to detract from the reverence with which he is and ought to be regarded. "The seal is on his virtues,"

The Appendix contains a variety of information, ecclesiastical, statistical, and general, which I trust will prove not uninteresting to the curious. Many persons, in the large circle over which the influence of father Grafton extended, will welcome it, I doubt not, as renewing some of the hallowed recollections of the past. As the town of Newton is fast accumulating a new population, the items here set down seem to me well adapted to solve a variety of questions, such as persons commencing a residence in a new place would be likely to ask. Several facts which I have introduced are recorded nowhere else, and many aged persons in the town do not know them.

For most of the statistical, and other historical infer-

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mation contained in the Appendix, I have as vouchers written documents and the testimony of credible works. The Records of the Town, of the East Congregational Church, of the First Baptist Church and of the First Baptist Society, have furnished many facts of importance. From the Massachusetts Historical Collections, Mather's Magnalia, and the printed sermons of Rev. Mr. Grafton, Rev. Dr. Homer and Rev. Mr. Baury, I have also derived much assistance. The Funeral Sermon by Rev. Dr. Sharp was kindly put at my disposal by the author, and I doubt not will add much to the interest of the volume.

Contents

Chap. Page.

I. Early Life and Christian Experience, . . . .13

II. Trials respecting his Engagement in the Ministry, . 22

Appendix

Notes on the town of Newton, 161

Newton Theological Institution, ..... 165

The First Baptist Meetlng-House, 166

Early proceedings of the First Baptist Society, . • 168 Additional Notes to the Historical Sketch of the First Baptist

Church, 171

Biographical Notice of the Rev. Caleb Blood, . . 177

Churches proceeding from the First Baptist Church in Newton, 183

Ministers who have been Members of the First Baptist Church, 186

Mr. Jonathan Hyde — Mr. Nathan Ward, .... 187

Notices pertaining to the East Congregational Church, 188

Dr. Jonathan Homer, . 19^

Sketchof the Rev. John Eliot, 192

CONTENTS,

The Mission among the Indians at Newton,

The Congregational Church at West Newton,

Episcopal Church, Lower Falls,

Second Baptist Church, ....

Ministers of Newton, ....

Original Settlers,

Garrison Houses, ....

" Dignifying the Pews,"

"Noon Houses," ....

Wood Lots,

Private Admissions to the Church, . Anecdote of Noah Wiswell, . . .

Chronology of Events, ....

LIFE OF REV. JOSEPH GRAFTON.

Chapter I. Early Life And Christlin Experience

It is a sublime declaration of the sacred Scriptures that "the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance." Earth, it is true, loses their memory, but heav^en retains it. Their sepulchres may become unknown. The letters on their head-stones may be obliterated by the hand of time. Their names may pass into oblivion among men. But on " the hills of immortality" they are known, and loved, and talked of, and the history of God's dealings towards them is celebrated with ever fresh delight. It becomes us, however, to preserve on earth, as far as possible, the memory of those whom God loves. The example of their piety, faith and patience, their labors and their zeal, is a precious legacy, worthy of a lively and a lasting remembrance.

It is under this impression that I shall attempt a brief sketch of the life of Rev. Joseph Grafton. 2 a man of God, who, twelve years ago the sixteenth of December last (Dec. IG, 1836), entered into rest and joy.

He was born in Newport, R. L, June 9, A. D. 1757. His parents were natives of Salem, Mass., and were industrious and honest people. His father, William Grafton, was a mariner, and, for several years, master of a vessel in the West India trade. But, disheartened by misfortune, he relinquished the sea at the age of fjfty years, and devoted himself to the business of sail-making. On account of his occupation he removed to Providence, with his family, when the subject of our sketch was about ten years old.

At this period, there were no public schools in Providence. Consequently, many of the children of the town grew up with a very meagre education. Parents in slender circumstances were unable to afford their children very extensive advantages, however highly they might appreciate them. The father of Mr. Grafton gave to him and to his other children the best opportunities in his power. But so low was the standard of education at this time, that the amount of learning and discipline secured, was barely enough to enable persons of good natural abilities to pass respectably through the world. The subject of our memoir was kept at school until he was more than fourteen years of age. His only school-apparatus was a spelling book and Bible; and the opportunities which he enjoyed reached only to a knowledge of writing, reading, spelling, and arithrrietic. The study of grammar, even, was a thing never mentioned.

On leaving school, Mr. Grafton was initiated into the business of his father. As this occupation was immediately connected with navigation, he v/as brought into frequent contact with sailors; and he showed himself but too ready to follow their wicked ways, and to adopt their language and their habits. He was never, however, bold in wickedness. His mother, v/hom he believed to be a pious woman, often conversed with her children, catechized and instructed them. But if any impressions were made upon his mind, they were "as the morning cloud, and as the early dew which goeth away." He was convinced of the necessity of religion. He was often checked in his career of sin by the admonitions of conscience, and he had many occasions of religious awakening. But, until the eighteenth year of his age, he lived " without God and without hope in the world."

About this time, in the autumn of 1774 and beginning of 1775, an interesting revival of religion was experienced in the town of Providence. This religious attention was confined chiefly to two congregations; the one, a Congregational church of peculiar character, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Joseph Snow; the other, the First Baptist church, then enjoying the labors of the Rev. James Manning, D. D., who was also the President of Brown University. The former of these churches Mr. Grafton used to attend, with his parents. During this season of religious interest, he was, for a considerable time, entirely unmoved. After some months, however, his mother, one evening, asked him, "Do you know A. B.7" He replied, "Yes." She added, "He is converted." Converted ! — he thought to himself; " And do I not need to be converted ? " " Yes," answered conscience. From that moment he felt himself a guilty sinner. His first determination was to live better than he had ever done. He read the Bible, prayed, and attended religious meetings, both public and private; but found no improvement in his case. He was brought to feel that his heart was vile, and that he had violated the law of God, which is "holy, just, and good." For about fifteen days, he saw so clearly the justice of God in condemning him, that he thought he must certainly perish forever. The law of God appeared to him so holy and right, that he did not perceive how God could be just, and maintain the purity of his law, and yet save such a sinner as he felt himself to be. He expected to reap the wages of sin. His mouth was stopped, and he was guilty before God. That passage, Rom. 9: 22, was much upon his mind — "What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-sufiering the vessels of wrath, fitted to destruction ? " He thought that he was a vessel of wrath; that by his sins he had fitted himself for destruction, and that it would be infinitely just in God to consign him to everlasting misery; and that it was the long-sufi'ering of God, which prevented his eternal ruin. He went about from day to day, like a criminal justly condenmed. While his mind was thus anxious, he became acquainted wilh a young man Avhose exercises were of a similar character. As the residence of this young man was not far away, they were often together, by night and by day. United in spirit, like two condemned criminals they bemoaned together their sin and folly. Tliey often slept together, and feared lest they should lie down together in everlasting sorrow. But one morningj

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when Mr. Grafton was at work alone, in his place of business, this young man came to him with a cheerful countenance. Mr. G. immediately perceived the alteration that had taken place in his appearance, and thought within himself, "Now B. B. has found comfort to his soul, and I am left." Upon this, the passage darted into his mind, "I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy." He was now led to feel, that if he should be saved, it must be by sovereign mercy. The young man proceeded to describe his happy feelings, and endeavored to persuade his friend to believe also. As their religious exercises had been alike hitherto, Mr. G. concluded that if he himself should ever be converted, he should feel the same transports of religious joy which animated B. B.

As is usual, however, in such cases, his calculations were disappointed. One evening, several days afterwards, he attended a private religious meeting. When most of the assembly had retired, a young woman, recently converted, asked him concerning his religious state. He replied, that he had found no peace. She said to him, "You must go to God." His answer was, "I am afraid of God." She rejoined, "Afraid of God! why you are in his hands, and it is impossible to flee from him. It is he who upholds you, and prevents you from sinking in hell." The words made a deep impression upon his mind. His views of God were suddenly changed. He felt that he was surrounded by God; that he could not go from his Spirit, nor flee from his presence; and yet this view of God did not terrify him. He seemed to himself to be lost in wonder. After having committed himself to God, he retired to rest. In the morning 2* he was greatly distressed, because he feared that his rehgious impressions were irrecoverably gone, and that he should again give himself up to sin, and perish forever. After breakfast, on going forth into the open air, he stood amazed in beholding the works of God. He saw God in everything around him. He looked up, and there he saw God. He viewed the earth, the grass, the stones, and there he saw God. Yea, in every atom he beheld the wisdom, the power, and the goodness of the great "I AM.'' The question arose in his mind, — "Is he not worthy of praise ? Ought he not to be praised? " The answer was, "Yes; why then cannot I praise him 7 " "I can," was the reply of his heart. Immediately his whole soul was sweetly drawn out in silent praise. While he was thus occupied, the scripture passed through his mind, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth ; so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

In this happy frame he continued for a considerable time. He praised God himself, and wished others to praise him also. He desired to relate to those about him how God appeared to him, and how worthy he is to be loved, adored, and praised. Not far from him there was a work-shop, in which were several young men, religiously inclined. He determined to go and tell them of God's glorious goodness, and to call upon them to praise him. He went, and began to converse with them. After having listened to him with attention for some time, one of them asked him, " Are you not converted 7" He replied, "I do not know whether I am converted or not. This I know — that

God is good ; that he is worthy of our love, and ought to be adored by all his creatures." His mind was so much absorbed in his views of God, that he forgot, for a time, that there was such a being as himself in existence. When asked again if he was not converted, he seemed surprised, like one awaking out of sleep. How great was the contrast of his present and his former feelings ! Before, guilt had burdened his soul. Justice pursued him through every path, with its drawn sword, calling for vengeance, and threatening him, as a sinner, with deserved destruction. His mouth was stopped, and he was guilty before God. Now all was serenity, peace, and joy — '•joy unspeakable and full of glory." His language was — to use a quotation employed by himself to describe his emotions at this time —

" O what immortal joys I felt,

And raptures all divine — When Jesus told me I was his,

And my Beloved, mine."

After having enjoyed this tranquil and comfortable frame of mind for three weeks, he began to inquire into the reasons of the change he had experienced. He was conscious that it was not the fruit of any effort of his own. He could no more create the new views and feelings by which he was animated, than he could create a world. He asked himself, " How is it that God's law seems no longer to condemn me? Why am I not afraid of hell 1 And how is it that God can forgive my sins through Jesus Christ? Who is Jesus Christ, and what has he done to open a way of reconciliation between man and God?" Here the gospel method of salvation was unfolded to him. He saw that Christ was one in essence, one in design, one in affection with the Father ; that they were not antagonistic, but harmonious, in opening a way of pardon for ruined man. The Father planned, the Son assented. The Father gave his Son, the Son offered himself. By his obedience and sufferings he brought in everlasting righteousness. In him as the Mediator, mercy and truth met together, righteousness and peace embraced each other. He saw how God could be as just in pardoning the sinner, as in punishing him. Often did he exclaim with the apostle, " Great is the mystery of godliness." His former sinful companions and amusements were dead to him, and he was dead to them. His delight was in religious duties, and in the society of the people of God. He found in the Bible great comfort, and that instruction which his soul thirsted after. Thus he commenced his religious career. Old things were passed away; all things had become new.

In this clearly marked and striking manner did the Holy Spirit proceed in regenerating this future messenger of salvation. God came not in the tempest, the earthquake, or the fire ; but in the slill, small voice. He did not overwhelm his creature with terrors ; he drew him by his love. The change was sufficiently obvious to create in the subject of it an humble confidence that God had wrought it by his mighty power; though in its progress, God, to some extent, concealed his hand. He who designed him to be a minister of glad tidings to his fellow-men, in his wisdom caused the type of his Christian experience to resemble that which he would be likely most frequenily to meet in his future work. In his spiritual exercises there was no boisterous excitement ; but calm, clear and evangelical views, under the influence of which he was led to cherish entire self-despair, and, as a lost sinner, to flee for refuge to the sovereign mercy of God in Jesus Christ.

After a few weeks, he made a public profession of religion, and united with the Congregational church in Providence, then under the pastoral care of the Rev. Joseph Snow. This church was of a mixed character, many of the members being, in almost every respect, Baptist in their opinions, but choosing this church on account of its principles of free or mixed communion. It would seem also that persons desirous of joining here, were immersed, if they preferred it, no questions being asked, nor any eftbrts used to turn them from their principles. Mr. G. had attended this church with his parents from the time that he was ten years of age. Before uniting with the church, he examined the Scriptures in respect to baptism ; and he was not long in deciding that they teach that immersion is the only mode, and believers in Jesus Christ the only scriptural subjects, of that ordinance. And so he was baptized. He said, many years afterwards, that, after this solemn transaction, he could say, with a good conscience, that his greatest object was to live agreeably to his profession.

Chapter II. Trials Respecting His Engagement In The Ministry

He who sanctified Jereiiiiab, and ordained him, before 1 is birth, to be a propliet to the nations, ordained the subject of this memoir, as a chosen vessel, to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. After having traced the progress of his long and successful ministry, and observed his peculiar adaptation, in many respects, for that work, we cannot doubt that this was the sphere of labor and of usefulness for which God had prepared him. But Mr. Grafton shrunk from the idea of filling so responsible a station. '' No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." And it was no easy matter for Mr. G. to persuade himself that this was the path to which the finger of God was pointing him.

This was a period of critical interest to the North American colonies. The business of the country was turned aside from its customary channels, or wholly prostrated. Life, liberty, and property, were liable to be wrested from their possessors. Hardships and temptations abounded. Many of the young men were connected with the army, and Mr. G. was left almost alone. He did not enter the army, but performed his quota of military duty when called upon, as did all who

REV. JOSEPH GRAFTON.

2^ were able to bear arms. Thus he was preserved from those scenes of excitement and of sin, under whose baleful influence his devotional spirit might have suffered an irrecoverable shock. He was also spared from exposure to dangers in which so many lives were sacrificed. God had undertaken to deal with him in respect to a question of duty; and the routine of ordinary life was better adapted to the course of divine dealing which was to be instituted with him, than the din of camps and the array of battle-fields.

Soon after he had made a profession of religion, Mr. Grafton began to inquire into the duties appropriate to his station as a church member. ''Why have I professed religion ? What is my duty in the church, and what does God require of me?" — were questions often in his mind. Regarding the church " as a building fitly framed together," — as a vineyard, in which every member is a laborer, — he believed that he had a part to take in the service of Christ, for which he was personally responsible. With this view he attended public and private religious meetings, and often took part in prayer and exhortation. Thus he continued for many months, still ruminating on the inquiry, " Lord, what wilt thou have me to do 7"

Once when he was thus reflecting on the path of duty and of usefulness, the thought came into his mind, whether, at some future period, it might not be his duty to preach the gospel to his fellow-men. Surprised at the thought, and unwilling for a moment to entertain it, he instantly replied to the suggestion, " No, it can never be." From this period, until he actually entered on the work of the ministry, — for seven years, — he passed through many trials, and was often the victim of anxious thoughts respecting his duty. To become a minister of the gospel seemed to him so great a cross that he thought he could never bear it. Often, he remarked, did he think that he would rather be a galley-slave, than expose himself to public view as a preacher of the word of life. He kept his exercises of mind to himself, until " the word of the Lord was as a fire shut up in his bones." He imagined himself to be under a delusion. He thought that there were other young men in the church, of more promising abilities than himself; and that if God designed any among them for the service of the ministry, he could not be the most probable candidate. At one time, he labored to suppress all thoughts of the subject. At another, he resolved to search the Scriptures, that he might learn what qualities are required in a minister ; anticipating that he should find in himself a marked deficiency of those qualities, and that the question would be thus eflfectually set at rest. He objected that he had neither the natural abilities, nor the intellectual acquisitions that were requisite. He did not doubt the evidence that he was a pious man ; but he judged that gifts were necessary, in addition to grace — such gifts as he supposed himself not to possess. He dreaded lest he had been under a fidse impression in those points in which he had taken encouragement. Again he applied himself to his Bible; but instead of escaping from the suggestion that he should serve God in the sacred office, unnumbered passages confirmed the idea. He feared to communicate his thoughts to any of his brethren, and in solitude endeavored to banish them.

But the effort was vain. After a long tiQ:ie, he disclosed his state of mind to a member of Brown University, a very religious man, and a candidate for the ministry, — ^enjoining upon him perfect secrecy. This friend said to him, that if God called him to preach, he would open a door in his providence for his entrance into the ministry. He advised him to continue to exercise his gifts in the social meetings, waiting upon God in the dictates of his word and providence; trusting that if he had ministerial talents, the church would, in time, discern them. With this advice, he was, for the present, satisfied, hoping to quiet his conscience by laboring as a private Christian, and anticipating that the church would fail to discover in him the requisite gifts ; and that he should thus avoid the service which filled him with so much dread.

His early associations had given him the impression that a collegiate education was indispensable to one who would enter the sacred ofiice ; and as he had not such an education, he tried to believe that he was perhaps excused. Again he went to his Bible, to see if the early preachers of the gospel were men of extensive attainments. He found that, up to the time when they came under the immediate instruction of Jesus Christ, they were chiefly unlettered men, and engaged in laborious occupations. In the third chapter of Paul's first epistle to Timothy, concerning the qualifications of a bishop, which he read often and attentively, he found no direct mention made of deep and varied learning.* Then he supposed that the

* Nothing that is here said should be construed as if the Scriptures contained sentiments adverse to a compemiraculous gifts of the apostolic age were a sufficient substitute for a literary education. This, however, did not fully satisfy him. He thought that in the present state of the world, it was necessary at least to be acquainted with the original languages of the Scriptures; and without an education, he felt determined never to attempt to preach the gospel. Thus his mind was tossed. Still, however, he continued to take part in the social religious meetings of the church. He seems also, about this time, to have begun to yield ; at least so far as to seek an opportunity of further mental training, as preparatory to the work to which he began to suspect that perhaps God had called him. The student before mentionedj to whom he had disclosed his exercises, having now graduated at college, and taken a pastoral charge in the State of Connecticut, he addressed a

tent education in those who are called to the labors of the gospel ministry. In writing to Timothy, it was the plan of the apostle to treat of other than literary qualifications. It is manifest that he did not undervalue such acquisitions, from the fact that he exhorted the same youthful minister to " give attendance to reading," — an exhortation which, in that age of the scarcity of books, could not be complied with, unless by great and assiduous effort, and the most active perseverance. High natural qualifications and divine endowments are especially to be desired; but it is manifest that no intellectual furniture is to be spurned, nor any acquisition to be lightly omitted, by which the minister of Christ may be made more competent to honor his divine Master, or to save the souls of his fellow men.

letter to him, asking his assistance in obtaining some literary advantages. This gentleman interested himself ill Mr. G.'s behalf, and secured from a third person the offer of board and tuition for Mr. G., for the space of three months, provided he should receive a proper recommendation from the church.

As he was a minor, he deemed it necessary to secure the consent of his parents. They objected to his leaving them, because they were in slender circumstances and needed his labor. He then laid the matter before the minister and deacons of the church. But in view of the opposition of his parents, and because the enemy were then in possession of a part of the State, they thought it unwise for him to leave home. This disappointment seemed to him to settle the question. Divine Providence seemed now to have shut up his path in respect to the attainment of a suitable education, and he resolved to think no more on the subject. But such was the state of his mind, that the words were often ringing in his ears — '' Wo is me, if I preach not the gospel."