On the 31st of January, 1836, Dr. Bancroft delivered a discourse on the termination of fifty years of his ministry, afterwards printed in compliance with the request of the society, with interesting and valuable historical notes. If the question of improvement has respect to the members of the Society,' he says, 'who are the individuals to whom I can appeal? They, who with me began their course of Christian improvement are removed from life; but one man remains, of those who invited me to settle with them as their minister; and but two women now live, who at that time were heads of families. I am the oldest man in the parish, with one exception, and his connection with us was but of yesterday. I have been longer in a married state with one wife, than any other living member of our community. I have outlived my generation; and in the midst of society may be considered a solitary man.'

Doct. Bancroft, was member of the Board of Trustees of Leicester Academy for thirty years, and long its President; President of the Worcester County Bible Society; of the American Unitarian Association, from its organization in 1825 to 1836; and of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, Piety, and Charity; Vice President of the Worcester and Middlesex Missionary Society, afterward merged in the Evangelical Missionary Society; and

Worcester, 1822, 8vo. pp. 429. 21. Mediation and ministry of Jesus Christ, sermon, Aug. 15, 1819, at Keene, N. H. 22. Moral purpose of Ancient Sacrifices, of the Mosaic Ritual, and of Christian Observances, sermon, Aug. 15, 1819, at Keene, N. H. 23. Sermon at the installation of Rev. Andrew Bigelow, July 9, 1823, at Medford. 24. Duties of Parents, sermon, Aug. 10. 1823, at Worcester. 25. Sermon before the Auxiliary Society for meliorating the condition of the Jews, April 23, 1824, at Worcester. 26, Sermon at the funeral of Rev. Dr. Joseph Sumner, Dec. 30, 1824. 27. Sermon on the death of Prest. John Adams, July 19, 1826. 28. ordination of Rev, Alonzo Hill, April 8, 1827. New Unitarian Meeting House, Aug. 20, 1829. Office of Reason in the Concerns of Religion, July, 1827. August, 1828. Importance of Salvation, August, 1830. ments, sermon in Christian Monitor. 34. A Glance at the past and present state of ecclesiastical affairs in Massachusetts, in Unitarian Advocate, Jan. 1831. 35. Moral Power of Christianity, in Western Messenger, i. 350. 36. Sermon on the termination of fifty years of his ministry, Jan. 31, 1836.

Sermon on the Sabbath following the 29. Sermon at the dedication of the 30-1-2. Sermons in Liberal Preacher : Female Duties and Trials, 33. End of the command

Dr. Bancroft was married to Lucretia, daughter of Judge John Chandler, Oct. 1786.

1797. A clock for the tower was presented by Isaiah Thomas, Esq. to the Second Society, and an elegant folio Bible in two volumes, for the pulpit, by his lady. In 1817, the same liberal individual made a donation of two cups for the communion service: the old furniture of the table was given by the church to the Evangelical Missionary So. ciety, to be by them bestowed on some new church gathered under their auspices. 1829. A donation of a baptismal basin was made by F. W. Paine, Esq. 1832. Na thaniel Maccarty, Esq, bequeathed to the church $75.

1812.]

FIRST BAPTIST SOCIETY.

205 of the American Antiquarian Society, from 1816 to 1832: Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and member of other societies. His long continued and persevering exertions in the cause of education, contributed greatly to the introduction and establishment of the improved school system of the town. In 1810 he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Harvard University.

The oldest clergyman in the county of Worcester, and one of the most aged ministers of Massachusetts, Dr. Bancroft continues to officiate in the pulpit. May that period be yet far distant, when biography shall speak fully of the merits of his works, the worth of his character, and the virtues of his life.

CHAPTER XII.

First Baptist Society. Formation 1812. Rev. William Bentley. Articles of Faith. Rev. Jonathan Going. Rev. Frederic A. Willard. Rev. Jonathan Aldrich. Elm Street Society, 1836. Calvinist Society. Separation from first church, 1820. Formation of Society, 1822. Rev. Loammi I. Hoadley. House and Fund bestowed by Hon. Daniel Waldo. Rev. John S. C. Abbott. Rev. David Peabody. Catholic Society, 1834. Rev. James Fitton. Methodist Episcopal Society, 1834. Protestant Episcopal Society, 1835. Rev. Thomas H. Vail, Union Society, 1836.

Previous to 1795, there were three persons, only, of the Baptist denomination in Worcester. In the spring of that year, James Wilson, Esq., emigrating from Newcastle upon Tyne, in England, took up his residence here. During the long period intervening between 1795 and 1812, meetings for religious worship were sometimes held in his own house, when the casual visits of teachers offered opportunity of obtaining the ministration of instructors of the order. Those of similar sentiments were successively removed by death; their places were not filled and for a time he remained the solitary advocate and supporter of those views of Christian ordinances asserted by the church with which he was united. But, although alone,

:

1 Dr. John Green, son of Thomas Green, founder of the Baptist church in Leicester, Mr. Amos Putnam, an aged member of the church in Charlton, and Mrs. Dolly Flagg, a feinale advanced in years, connected with the first Baptist church in Boston.

2 James Wilson, Esq. Postmaster of Worcester from 1801 to 1833, deacon of the first Baptist church here from its foundation, removed, with his family, to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1833.

he cherished the leading purpose of his life, and became the founder of the Baptist society. By his zealous and persevering exertions, an association was formed under favorable circumstances. Some discourses of Dr. Austin, on national and state fasts, gave offence to many of the eldest parish. The facilities for procuring ministers had increased. Accessions of numbers were derived from the swelling population. In 1812, lectures and devotional exercises were had, regularly on the Sabbath, and on other days of the week, in different places of the town. The Hall in the School House of the Centre District, was rented, and opened for stated worship on the Lord's Day, July 30, 1812. Opposition gave that excitement desirable to strengthen and cement union, even if higher feelings had not rendered the connection of the associates permanent. On the 28th of September, Elder William Bentley, on the unanimous request of the members of the association, entered into an engagement to preach for them on a salary of $300 per annum, and an allowance of four Sundays of the year for visits. The sum appointed for his compensation was defrayed by the contribution of individuals, parties to an agreement to pay the amount in proportions fixed by the terms of their subscriptions. On the 5th of November, a a meeting of those who held church membership was had, and it was voted, to form a church, by the name of the Baptist Church in Worcester,' and the following confession of faith was adopted."

'As the church of Christ is made up of a number of persons, who are renewed by divine grace, and united in the fellowship of the Gospel; and as that fellowship consists in a unison of sentiments, interest and affection; and as two cannot walk together, except they be agreed, we think it our duty to make the following declaration of our views of divine truth: for the satisfaction of any who may wish to unite with us in church fellowship; which declaration is as follows:

'We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were written by men divinely inspired, and that God requires of us, to believe in, and embrace them as our only rule of faith and practice, and that among others they contain the following all important truths.

'1. The existence of one only, living, and true God, infinite in all excellence, immutable, eternal, self sufficient, and independent, who created all things, and who upholds, governs, and disposes of them for his own glory.

1 The same articles had been adopted by the First Baptist Church, in Portland, Maine.

1812.]

ARTICLES OF FAITH.

207

'2. That in one God there are three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; the same in essence, and equal in every divine perfection.

3. That all God's works of creation, providence, and grace, ever have been, still are, and ever will be accomplished, according to his own will; which he purposed in himself before the world began.

'4. That man was created holy, but, by wilfully violating the law of his Maker, he fell from his first rectitude; and as Adam was the father, and representative of all his posterity, we, in him, became wholly defiled and dead in trespasses and sins: so that by nature we are indisposed to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil; and are children of wrath, and subjects of death, and of all other miseries, temporal, spiritual, and eternal.

5. That the only way of salvation from this state of guilt and condemnation, is, through the righteousness, and atonement of Jesus Christ, who as the good shepherd, laid down his life for his sheep; that he might redeem them from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works: and those only who receive the gift of repentance and faith in him, will be finally saved by the

atonement.

'6. That all, who ever have been or will be brought to repentance and faith in the gospel, were chosen in Christ to salvation, before the foundation of the world; and that, in consequence of the eternal love of God to them, through the atonement, the Holy Ghost is sent to effect the work of regeneration in their hearts, without which regenerating influence, none would ever repent or believe.

7. That the perfect righteousness of Christ, which he wrought out by his obedience and death, is reckoned or imputed to those who believe, as the alone matter of their justification.

'8. That nothing can separate true believers from the love of God, but they will be kept by his power, through faith unto salvation.

9. That the only proper subjects of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, are professed believers in Christ; and that baptism is properly administered, only by immersing the whole body in water, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost: and is by Scripture example, a prerequisite to communion at the Lord's table.

'10. That the true church of Christ on earth, is made up of those, who are renewed by grace, partake of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, united in the fellowship of the truth, and are as lively stones built up in a spiritual house, to offer spiritual sacrifice, holy and ac

ceptable to God by Jesus Christ. That the only officers to be ordained in the church, are Bishops or teaching Elders, and Deacons. That those officers have no more power to decide matters for the church, than any other members. Yet we believe, so far as their gifts and graces may enable them to lead the church to a right judgment according to the Scriptures, we are to submit to them, for they watch for our souls, as they that must give an account in the day of judgment.

11. That God hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness, by Christ Jesus, and that the bodies of both the righteous and the wicked, will then be raised from their graves and again united to their souls, and appear before God to be judged according to the deeds done in the body; at which time the wicked will be sentenced to endless punishment, and the righteous be received into eternal glory and happiness, where they will be ever with the Lord.'

The 9th of December was fixed for the constitution of the church, the reception of fellowship from others, and the installation of the pastor elect. The use of the old south meeting house was formally solicited, and obtained from the selectmen and assessors. The clergymen of the first and second societies were courteously invited to attend on the occasion. On the evening previous to the ceremonies, a note was sent by Dr. Austin, refusing to be present; declining to countenance proceedings which, in his view, indicated hostility to union, and interference with endeavors to promote the kingdom of Christ in the world; declaring that Mr. Bentley, 'originally excited by some, seconded by others, whose sectarian zeal carried them beyond a regard to several of the primary precepts of the Gospel, had commenced, and was prosecuting a partizan warfare against the harmony and prosperity of the church and congregation under his care;' complaining that the occupation of his pulpit would be 'against full expression of personal feeling, the rights of the christian ministry, the order of Christ's house, and the laws of the land:' and expressing 'determination not officiously to interrupt,' and 'wish not to be interrupted, in the prosecution of a work, consigned to him, as he hoped, by the Redeemer of Zion.' This communication rendered a change of place necessary. Application was made to Dr. Bancroft for leave to occupy his desk, which was freely given, and the exercises of installation were in the meeting house of the second parish. The first church in Providence, and the churches in Leicester, Charlton, Graf