principal reason why they opposed all innovations in the Book II. constitution and government of the college, was, lest they might hereafter have an ill influence upon its orthodoxy; 1763, which the president and fellows, according to the trust reposed in them by the founders, and by the General Assembly, were fully determined to maintain and preserve, to the utmost of their power, When the pleadings and arguments of the memorialists, and of the president, had been fully heard and considered, there were but a very small number of the General Assembly, who were of the opinion that they were the founders of the college, or that the orthodoxy of it was in danger. The assembly, therefore, acted nothing upon the memorial. The memorialists, and their whole party, were greatly disappointed and chagrined, and the president got much honour by the defence which he made of the college. He appeared to be a man of extensive knowledge and real greatness. In points of law, especially as they respected colleges, he appeared to be superior to all the lawyers, so that his antagonists acknowledged that he knew more, and was wiser than all of them. The question relative to the assembly's being the founders of the college, and having a right of visitation, has never been publicly disputed since, and it is believed that it never will be again. About this time, the Rev. Jared Elliot, of Killingworth, in his last will, gave seven pounds ten shillings sterling, to be put out at interest, and the interest of it to be expended in purchasing books for the library, from time to time, at the discretion of the president and fellows. While these affairs had been transacting, the president proposed the scheme of building a new hall, or chapel, for the greater convenience of the college, This, notwithstanding all the opposition which had been made to it, was in a very flourishing state. Though the country had been involved in a long and expensive war, and the burthens had been great, yet the number of the students, for several years, had been not less than an hundred and seventy. It became, therefore, extremely inconvenient to hold all religious and scholastic exercises in the old college hall, and to use it also as a dining room, which had been the custom. The library, at the same time, was become too small to contain the number of books and the apparatus. A successful subscription for that purpose, had been set forward; and in April, 1761, the foundation of the chapel was laid, and the outside was nearly finished that summer. It was built with brick, fifty feet long and forty feet wide, with a steeple and galleries, in which are three rostra, for ora BOOK II. tions, disputations, &c. with a library over the whole. It was erected near the south end of the brick college, or 1764. Connecticut Hall, with a view, that when another college should be built, it might be set near the south end of the chapel, ranging in a line with the other collegiate buildings. The chapel was opened in June, 1763, by a sermon, preached by the professor, in the presence of the president and fellows, and a large number of other gentlemen, who assembled on the occasion. The president and fellows voted, that the chapel should, hereafter, be used for the religious and scholastic meetings and exercises, for which the old college hall had been used before. The cost of the building thus far, was about seven hundred and fifteen pounds sterling.* The conveniences of it were found to be very many and great. It was not finished at this time. A desk only, and some seats, were prepared for present The president and fellows had not money, at that time, to proceed any further; but subscriptions and means, not long after, were found for finishing it with a handsome steeple, which was an ornament, not only to the building, but to the town. use. Richard Jackson, Esq. member of parliament, and agent for the colony of Connecticut, gave a hundred pounds towards finishing the chapel. A considerable number of gentlemen in New-Haven subscribed generously towards erecting the steeple. £183 was raised by subscription. £286 10s. was paid out of the college treasury. A list of the principal subscribers for building the chapel, may be seen in president Clap's history of the college, published in 1766. CHAPTER XIII. Difficulties arise at Milford, on the account of Mr. Whittelsey. Debates and heat in the council, called to ordain him. There was such opposition to his ordination, that the council, at first, could not agree to ordain. But afterwards, on certain conditions, agreed upon by the parties, proceed to his ordination. The minority, who opposed his ordination, fulfil the condition mutually agreed upon. But the majority would by no means comply with it. They, on the contrary, by all means opposed their aggrieved brethThe minority, some time after, having qualified themselves according to law, separated from the first church and society, and held a distinct meeting by themselves. As the association would give them no advice, or countenance, they put themselves under the presbytery. They call and ordain Mr. Prudden. Obtain a release from taxation by the first society. They are vested with the privileges of other ecclesiastical societies, and obtain their proportion of the parsonage lands. ren. TH Воок ІІ. 1738. HE church and town of Milford, had been peculiarly happy in a long succession of worthy pastors, under whose ministry they had enjoyed great peace and satisfaction, until nearly the close of the life of that learned, pious and venerable man, the Rev. Samuel Andrew. But now, by reason of age and many infirmities, he was rendered unable to perform the labours of the ministry, and Mr. Samuel Whittelsey, son of the Rev. Mr. Whittelsey, of Wallingford, had been invited to preach in the town, and to settle in the work of the ministry, as colleague pastor with Mr. Andrew. This occasioned an unhappy division Division in in the church and town. Though there was a majority for Milford. Mr. Whittelsey, yet there was a strong and respectable minority in opposition to his settlement. The opposition arose on account of his religious sentiments. The people in the opposition, conceived that Mr. Whittelsey was not sound in faith, but had imbibed the opinions of Arminius. They were not satisfied and edified with his preaching, as they wished to be. They could not choose him for a minister, either for themselves, or for their children. When the ordaining council came together, the people in opposition to the settlement of Mr. Whittelsey, appeared so strong, and urged their objections with so much apparent concern and conscientiousness, that a majority of BOOK II. the council were against the ordination, under the then present circumstances. This occasioned a great division 1738. and animosity in the council. Mr. Whittelsey's friends urged the ordination with great warmth and engagedness. Mr. Whittelsey's father, who had more influence than any other man in the council, pressed the ordination of his son with great zeal and vehemence. Mr. Noyes, Mr. Hall, of Cheshire, Mr. Stiles, and some other of the ministers in the council, were very much at his devotion. Besides, Mr. Hall was brother in law to his honour, esquire Law, then deputy governor of the colony, who was the principal man in the majority for the ordination. These were the eldest ministers in the council, and did not know how to bear opposition from younger men, and from the messengers of the churches. The debate in the council was, therefore, managed with unusual heat and engagedness.* His honour, the deputy governor, was at the head of the majority, who insisted on the ordination. In these circumstances, the minority were under very great disadvantages, with respect to a fair and impartial hearing, and deThe coun- cision of the case. It, however, appeared to a majority of cil at first the council, so unadvisable to ordain against such a midaining. nority, that a vote for the ordination, under the then present circumstances, could not be obtained. against or In this state of the business, it was necessary to find some expedient, which might induce the majority of the council to concur in the ordination of the pastor elect; to bring the parties to some compromise, which might, in some measure, ease the minority, and afford a more favourable prospect of preserving the union of the church. and town. For this purpose, the following proposal was made: That the minority should hear Mr. Whittelsey six months longer, with a view to obtain satisfaction with respect to his doctrines, and manner of preaching; and that, if they did not, in that time, obtain satisfaction, that then the church and town should call and settle another man, whom they should choose, as a colleague pastor with Mr. Whittelsey, to preach one half the time. To this the parties mutually agreed. This appeared to give a fair pect of peace and harmony in the town, if the parties would do their duty, and fulfil their agreement. It would give time and opportunity for Mr. Whittelsey to satisfy the minority, and to lay a foundation for a peaceful and extensively useful ministry, if he would come forward, and pros I have been told by one of the elders, who was a member of the council, that the debate was with so much passion, that fists were doubled on the occasion. preach the distinguishing doctrines of the gospel, and ex- Book II. perimental, heart religion. Mr. Whittelsey would have strong inducements to do this, for the good of the church 1738. and town, for his own honour, peace, and usefulness. As neither of the parties could wish to be at the expense of supporting two ministers, there were motives to influence both to be at peace. At the same time, a way was provided, for the relief of the minority, if they should not obtain Upon satisfaction, and for the preservation of the union of the agreement church and town, by the agreement of the majority to set- of the partle another man, who should be agreeable to their breth- council orties, the ren. In these views the council proceeded to the ordina- dain. tion of Mr. Whittelsey.* The minority continued to hear Mr. Whittelsey, not on- The mily the whole term of six months, but for nearly two years, their nority fulfil wishing, if possible, to obtain satisfaction, and continue in agreeunion and peace with their brethren, as they had always ment. before done. But, on a full and patient hearing of Mr. Whittelsey, and taking all proper pains for satisfaction, they became more fixed in their opinion of his unsoundness in principle, and of deficiency in experimental preaching, than at the time of his ordination. They judged, that, in faithfulness to God, themselves, and their children, they could no longer continue solely under his ministry. They, therefore, in 1740, applied, first to the church, and then to the town, for relief, according to the original agreement: But neither would the church, nor the town, take any mea- The masures for the settlement of another man, as colleague with jority utterly reMr. Whittelsey. They were entirely satisfied with him themselves. He had been examined, and approved, as complisound in the faith, was a gentleman of respectable talents, ance. of gravity, and unblemished morals. They judged that. their refutheir brethren, of the minority, therefore, had no just sal. grounds of uneasiness; but ought to be satisfied, as well as themselves. They had postponed their application for another pastor, much beyond the time agreed upon. They could not, therefore, by any arguments be prevailed upon to settle another man, nor to adopt any means for their relief or satisfaction. So far were they from this, that they opposed all their measures for relief, in any way whatso ever. Finding, by sad experience, that no relief was to be obtained from their brethren of the church and town, they made application to the association for advice, as they wished to proceed regularly in obtaining what they esteemed the true preaching of the gospel, for themselves and Mr. Whittelsey was ordained. fuse a Reasons of |