Within one-half of this time the right man came, as we should infer from the ecclesiastical records which follow: "Aug. 14, 1815. Voted to give Mr. Samuel Howe Tolman a call to settle as colleague with Mr. Whitney, in this place, in the gospel ministry. "Voted to accept the report of the committee, chosen to consider and report what sum is necessary for the town to give Mr. Samuel Howe Tolman, as a salary and settlement, which report is as follows:-We, a committee chosen at a legal town-meeting on Monday, the fourteenth day of August, in the year one thousand, eight hundred and fifteen, to take into consideration and report to the town what measures are best to be taken, and what salary and settlement to propose to Mr. Samuel Howe Tolman to settle as a colleague with the Rev. Phinehas Whitney in the ministry, in the town of Shirley, report as follows: "1. That the town give him, the said Samuel Howe Tolman, as a salary during the life of Mr. Whitney, one hundred seventy-seven dollars and seventy-eight cents; and, at the decease of Mr. Whitney, an additional sum of two hundred and twenty-two dollars and twenty-two cents, and ten cords of wood; in the whole, after the decease of Mr. Whitney, four hundred dollars and ten cords of wood, to be paid him annually so long as he supplies the pulpit and does the duties of a faithful congregational minister in the town of Shirley. "2. That Rev. Mr. Whitney make over one-half of his salary in every part (which he has proposed to the congregation, to settle a colleague) to Mr. Tolman, in writing, in consideration of his settling as a colleague with him in the work of the ministry in the town of Shirley, during the life of said Whitney. "3. That, in lieu of a settlement, the town of Shirley purchase a real estate, of the value of fifteen hundred dollars, for a parsonage for the congregational minister, for his use and improvement as long as he supplies the pulpit and does the duties of the office of a faithful minister; but still to remain the property of the town forever. Said purchase, if accepted by the town, to be made within one year after the ordination; or, if not done at that time, to pay four per cent. until it is completed. "To be left at the option of the town to pay twenty dollars, or ten cords of wood as mentioned above, after Mr. Whitney's decease. "NATHANIEL HOLDEN, "NATHANIEL LIVERMORE, "MATTHEW CLARK, "JOHN WALKER, "JAMES PARKER, JR., "EDMOND STAPLES, "JAMES PARKER.” The terms proposed to Mr. Tolman-as given in the above report-received the following modification at a subsequent meeting of the town: "Sept. 19, 1815. Voted to Mr. Samuel Howe Tolman the complete interest of fifteen hundred dollars, annually, so long as he supplies the pulpit and does the duties of a faithful congregational minister in this place,-instead of purchasing a parsonage to that amount and giving him the use and improvement of it, as it was voted in the townmeeting on the fourteenth day of August, last past; and also that the town will grant him two or three sabbaths to be absent from the pulpit if necessary. "Voted to choose a committee to consult with Mr. Tolman and appoint a day for his ordination. Chose Mr. David Livermore, Wallis Little, Esq., and Mr. Matthew Clark, committee. "Voted that the selectmen be a committee to let out the entertainment of the council for the ordination. "The committee that was appointed to consult with Mr. Tolman and appoint a day for his ordination, reported verbally that they had met and consulted him on that subject, and had appointed Wednesday, the twenty-fifth day of October next, for the day of his ordination. "Attest, THOMAS WHITNEY, Town Clerk." The church voted its concurrence with the foregoing action of the town, at a meeting convened August 14th, 1815: "After addressing the throne of grace for direction 1. Voted unanimously to give Mr. Samuel H. Tolman, of Winchendon, an invitation to settle as colleague with the aged and infirm pastor over the Church and Christian Society in Shirley. "2. Voted to choose a committee of three, viz: Wallis Little, Esq., Matthew Clark, and brother Nathaniel Holden to present Mr. Tolman, at a proper time, with a copy of the proceedings of the Church on this occasion. "A true copy: Attest, PHINEHAS WHITNEY, Pastor." An ordination, in those days, was of such rare occurrence that it called out a large concourse of people. At an early hour, on the appointed day, the common swarmed with life and the meeting-house was filled to overflowing with persons anxious to witness the imposing ceremonies. The venerable council assembled at the house of Stephen Longley, Esq., to deliberate on the momentous duties of setting apart a brother Levite, by solemn consecration, to the work of the gospel ministry. The record declares that "At an ecclesiastical council in Shirley, Oct. 25, 1815, agreeably to letters missive :-The council was organized by choosing Rev. John Bullard, moderator, and the Rev. Levi Pilsberry, scribe. The following churches were present by the pastors and delegates, viz: The church in Groton-church in Pepperell-church in Rindgechurch in Lancaster-church in Townsend-church in Leominster church in Hingham-church in Antrimchurch in Lunenburg-church in Winchendon. "The council united with the moderator in addressing the throne of divine grace, for aid and direction in the solemn transactions of the day." After attending to the usual preliminaries, "The council assigned the following pastors to take parts in the exercises of the ordination: "Rev. Seth Payson, D. D., to make the introductory prayer. "Rev. John M. Whiton to preach the sermon. "Rev. John Bullard to make the ordaining prayer. "Rev. David Damon to give the right-hand of fellowship. "Rev. Nicholas B. Whitney to make the concluding prayer. "JOHN BULLARD, Moderator. "LEVI PILSBERRY, Scribe." The expense incurred for entertaining the council was sixty dollars. The sermon, charge and right-hand of fellowship were printed, at the expense of the church, for general distribution. The settlement of a colleague formed a new era in the ecclesiastical history of the town, and was an event to which the aged senior pastor had long looked with anxiety and hope. Bowed down, as he was, with the weight and infirmity of years, and unable, for a single occasion, to conduct the services of the sanctuary, he had striven to persuade his people to re-establish the ministry on a permanent basis, by having one with them on whom they might rely for all the duties that belong to the sacred office. His mind was now relieved of its burden of official cares, which were hereafter to be borne by one freshly entered into the service. And as the venerable man beheld his young associate putting on the harness of the spiritual soldier, he could not fail to mentally exclaim, with old Simeon: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace." But the next chapter will show the fallaciousness of all such hopes, as it records the dismission of the young colleague before the death of his aged senior. CHAPTER III. Ministry and Dismission of Mr. Tolman-Death and Character of Mr. Whitney. At the time of the settlement of Mr. Tolman the lines. between the Calvinistic and liberal parts of the Congregational body had not been established, and hence the orthodoxy or heterodoxy of his faith were not a subject of discussion. It was only supposed necessary to have a Congregational minister, and the spiritual wants of the great majority would be met and supplied. But it was soon ascertained that the sentiments of Mr. Tolman-and his manner of presenting Christian truthwere widely different from those clergymen by whom the Shirley pulpit had been supplied. High Calvinism seemed to be brought in competition with a liberal Arminianism, which gradually disturbed the harmony that ought to have subsisted between the church and its newly elected pastor. He was, however, regarded a man of piety, whose walk -both in the church and in the world-was according to godliness; hence he was much respected as a man by those who doubted the correctness of his religious opinions. By consulting the records kept by Mr. Tolman we have found that during his ministry one of his deacons, John Heald, and his daughter, Elenor Bowers, separated themselves from his church, on account of his faith |