In respect to his farm, buildings, fences, Dr. Harris was a model for
the town. Two men once working for him were trying to move a heavy log.
He told them how to manage according to philosophy; finally one said:
"Well, Dr. Harris, if you and your philosophy will take hold of that
end of the log while Jim and I take this end, I think we can move it."
Dr. Harris was sometimes called the "Broad axe and sledge-hammer
of the New Hampshire ministry." He was a man of more than ordinary
intellectual endowments, and graduated from Dartmouth College with high
honors. Prof. Charles G. Burnham said in his address at the Centennial:
"The influence of the life and preaching of Dr. Harris is manifest
today in every department of your material prosperity, as well as
upon the moral and religious character of the people, and will be for
generations to come."
Dr. Harris was dismissed July 7, 1830, and died December 25, 1843. His
successor, Rev. John M. Putnam, was installed the day Dr. Harris was
dismissed; both were remarkable extemporaneous speakers. Mr. Putnam was
called one of the best platform speakers in his profession in the State.
At the close of his pastorate he went to reside with his son at
Yarmouth, Maine; he died in Elyria, Ohio, in 1871. He was dismissed the
day his successor, Sylvanus Hayward, was ordained. Thus for more than
77 years the church was not for one day without a settled pastor. Mr.
Hayward was born in Gilsum, N. H., and has written a history of his
native town; he was dismissed April, 1866. His successors were Revs.
George I. Bard, William E. Spear, who is now a lawyer in Boston, and
at present Secretary of the Spanish War Claim Commission, James Wells
now deceased, Tilton C. H. Bouton, grandson of Rev. Dr. Nathaniel
Bouton, for many years pastor of the North Church, Concord, N. H.,
George Sterling, Avery K. Gleason, and William A. Bushee. During Mr.
Bouton's pastorate a parsonage was built in the north part of the
village on land given by Deacon Daniel H. Parker.
The first deacons were chosen in 1790, and were James Clement and
Edward Russell. Others were Samuel Burnham, David Alexander, John
Church, Matthew S. McCurdy, John Wilson, John Mills, Samuel Burnham
(a namesake of the first of the name), who with Daniel H. Parker served
for many years. They were succeeded by Frederic L. Ireland and Frank C.
Woodbury, the present incumbents.
Church discipline was very strict in ye olden time. What would the
people of the present day think of being called to account for such a
small matter as this? "A complaint was presented to the church by one
brother against another for un-Christian-like behavior in suffering
himself to be carried in a light and vain manner upon a man's shoulders
to the length of a quarter of a mile. The church accepted the complaint,
and summoned the brother before it. He appeared, confessed his fault
and was pardoned."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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