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Sermon
of October 19, 2008
Presented by Jane Hooper, Commissioned Minister
“1720”
Good Morning! Greetings from the ”Pilgrim Lady.” I’m glad to see so many of you made it. I see a few of you brought your tin boxes with hot coals to warm your feet. These long stove pipes running above the side pews, from the two wood burning stoves at the rear, haven’t been started yet. No need to waste wood until it’s really cold – you know, you can see your breath.
Deacon “Strong,” are all the horses and carriages in the shed out back, okay, and did you see any other horses, cattle, asses, mules or swine, sheep or geese at large this morning on the highways, commons or unenclosed lands? As this is the “Lords Day” their owners shall pay a fine of fifty cents a head for all, except the sheep and geese who will be twelve cents a piece. The pound is over there by what will someday be called Westview. Remember the horse brand in town is the figure 7, if you see any strays. The names of these errant people shall be published for four weeks in the Hartford Times and in the Connecticut Courant.
Until the first meeting house was built members met in homes. Finally in 1722 our first building was built right here on the green, 35’ x 40’, 20’ high, it took 24 years to finish it. I don’t know why, as it was only a rectangular box. However, as soon as the sides, roof and floor were done, our members started using it. It makes me laugh when I think of Thomas Hammond, better known as “King Hammond” who had seven sons and seven daughters. A wealthy land owner, he gave each of his children a farm when they married. Well, he and his friend, Colonel Bull Tucker became provoked over the slowness of the construction, of this meeting house, so the two of them with King Hammond’s seven sons and Bull Tucker’s five sons finished the job. When the people wanted to pay them, Bull Tucker said, “He would take out his share in praying.” There were seventeen members at that time, all by letter from other towns. The deacons were Timothy Olcott, Hezekiah King, Jonathan Strong, Saul Alvord and Abner Loomis. It was in December 1732 that it was voted that the pews on the women’s side be built as soon as possible – that’s ten years after construction started, hmm? It really goes against my principles that I have to say that the men and women were separated. This meeting house stood for forty-five years.
The second meeting house – the one we are in today was built in 1767 in the very same spot as the first one. This one is 43’ by 58’ foot and it will stand for eighty years. It was voted after 19 years (they didn’t hurry) to paint it stone grey but somehow, known only to the painter, yellow won out. That is how the rhyme, “OLD BOLTON, PROUD PEOPLE, YELLOW MEETING HOUSE, NO STEEPLE” got started. Yellow really wasn’t such an odd color, for in 1767 blue, green, red and orange were all acceptable colors to paint a meeting house. Some were not painted at all. The “whitening of New England” didn’t start until the 1830’s, but that’s another message.
Deacon “Talcott,” you ask why this building is called a meeting house and not a church, because the building is used to hold town meetings and elections, it’s a Justice Court, Grange meetings, dances and suppers are held here. Besides, we believe that the word “church,” describes a congregation of believers and not the building.
Above the window behind the pulpit, (remember which building we’re in) hangs a wooden winged sign. As you can see there are double doors on the south and at both ends, with the pulpit being on the north. We haven’t got an organ or a piano, too expensive, but Joseph Talcott’s father plays a bass violin in the choir but they couldn’t be here today. I’m proud to tell you that on December 6, 1731 it was voted that for the future we would sing the new way, called “regular singing” – no more “lined out.” You know, where the deacon stood before you and said or sang a line of the psalm and then you would say or sing it back.
Oh! Please note that the town treasurer will pay $1 for each old fox and 25 cents for each young fox killed here that you present to him. However, a dead rattlesnake is still one shilling and six pence.
Since we have some new brethren here this morning, I’m telling them a little about us. You will be glad to know that there are four taverns in town. One of them, here at the center, is owned by Deacon Saul Alvord. Another is the Brick Tavern, also right here. The owners keep the fires stoked and the bars well supplied with beer, rum, cider and brandy. For when it gets too cold for our town meetings here, we head to the tavern to warm our insides as well as our outside and continue the meeting until all our business is done! And some of these meetings last a long time. The warmth of the fire place or wood stove, your drink in hand, something good to argue and disagree about – like politics or taxes – you know how they go. Nothing changes. Deacon “Loomis,” wouldn’t you agree?
Bolton soil is strong and fertile, well adapted to grow hay, corn, oats and rye. Wheat was raised here for seventy-five years after 1720. This reminds me, I haven’t told you about the ministers. Our ministers have been paid ½ in money and ½ in Indian corn and wheat. Every male inhabitant, all of you over sixteen, work 2 days a year for the space of three years, in fencing and clearing for the minister. You also cut and cord his wood which is not to exceed 35 cords yearly.
Rev. Jonathan Edwards was called to Bolton and accepted. His salary was to be 220 pounds for settlement and salary for the first two years. However, he received an appointment as tutor at Yale College and accepted it. All of this, at twenty years of age! Rev. Edwards became one of the most distinguished preachers and theologians of this country. Next, a Rev. Thomas White was called in 1725 and he accepted. A graduate of Yale also, his pastorate lasted 37 years here until his death in 1763. Rev. White was in height above the ordinary stature with a portly appearance, (nice way of putting it.) He had a loud and sweet sounding voice that rendered all around him happy. A sound, orthodox preacher, he was a friend of peace and order. Our current minister is the Rev. George Colton, also a graduate of Yale. Installed pastor on Nov. 9th, 1763 he will continue until his death, June 27th, 1812, forty eight years! (Chuck has a way to go) Rev. Colton is tall and slender 6’7” – he’s called the “High Priest of Bolton.” He has a strong sense of humor and a knack for spouting! He is well liked.
Deacon “Alvord,” you may have to go wake up Mr. Hooper who seems to have fallen asleep. He is not showing respect to God or to me. Our service lasts two hours in the morning with the written sermon lasting one, the other hour is composed of extemporaneous prayer and, I do go on at times, especially when I am worked up over temperance or the social issues of the day, psalms are lined out or now are sung, and chapters are read from the Bible. We start with Genesis and read right through the whole Bible in due course. Then we eat our dinner which has been brought from home. The afternoon service follows the same form as the morning but with different prayers, songs, readings and sermon. Once a month is Communion Sunday when the Lord’s Supper is shared with bread and wine after the afternoon sermon. The hot coals we brought to keep our feet warm have been cold for hours. We won’t get home till after dusk. I don’t know who’s colder, the horses standing in the shed or us sitting on these hard wooden pews. And yet, I would not want to miss this time with God, being with my neighbors and my community.
Our town of Bolton came into being on the 100th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims. The date of 1720 was also the first appearance of the Aurora Borealis. The birth of Bolton was ushered in with these beautiful lights. Yale University was just founded and Jonathan Edwards wrote his book which was to shake the foundation of New England. The drinking of tea as a domestic beverage dates from this date. It was said of Bolton – God’s Acre – no Persian rugs can match the glorious beauty of the town.
Well, you didn’t hear a sermon this morning as usual. Instead, you’ve had a history lesson on our first two meeting houses. You needed this background for my next message which will start with our present meeting house. Come and learn about the women and their groups – how they have always been hard workers contributing time and financially to the upkeep and running of the church. When did women first become deaconesses? When a fire door was put in by the choir and a pew was taken out, where did Deacon Wilt Thorp put the newly refurbished pew and what did it become? Hear about, when as a church, we were nearly down and out and the tenaciousness of the members and friends brought us through, propelling us into the here and now.
Rev. William E.B. Moore in 1875, the commemoration of our 150 year celebration said, “I close with the thought, with which I began this review this morning, men die but the Church lives. This church on Bolton Hill, I believe, is destined to live. For there will be people to live on these farms, people who need the gospel. There will be a 200th anniversary fifty years to come – who of these youth will attend it, we know not. The Church lives for Christ her head, lives and if we are in him we shall live also for ever”
In 2020, this church will celebrate her 300th birthday! Which of these youth will attend it? We don’t know, but we do know that it will be a big celebration and some of us older ones will be there too! As we leave this morning let us join with that long line, “the saints invisible,” and sing, “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken.”
Amen. Let the people shout Amen!
Resources:
“A
Documentary History of the Three Bolton Congregational Churches 1725,1768,1848”
Compiled and Written by Charles Crandall Church, Historian – Life Deacon
February 3, 1980, First Limited Edition, Second Edition 1986, Carol Hewey, Nancy
McKenna
“Bolton’s
Heritage -- Historical Sketches of Bolton,
Connecticut”
Edited by Bruce G. Ronson, For the Bolton Historians, 1970