CHAPTER XXXI.

THE COLLEGE CHURCH.

ITS PASTORS.-CHURCH BUILDING. ΖΙΟΝ

CHAPEL.-COLLEGE MISSION WORK.

The organization of the "Church of Christ in Amherst College," in 1826, "on the principles of the Congregational Platform," has been referred to in the historical sketch of Amherst College. Rev. Heman Humphrey, its first pastor, was installed Feb. 28, 1827, continuing in service until he was dismissed, at his own request, April 4, 1845. During his pastorate the church was greatly prospered, enjoying several revival seasons and gaining largely in membership. July 13, 1828, occurred the first baptism of a child of a member of the church, the son of Prof. Edward Hitchcock, christened Edward. In a list of additions to the church in 1831, appears the name of Henry Ward Beecher, then in his freshman year.

April 4, 1845, the day that Rev. Heman Humphrey was dismissed from the pastorate, Rev. Edward Hitchcock was installed as his successor. President Hitchcock continued in service until 1854, resigning in April of that year and being dismissed the following November. Under his ministry, the church experienced two great revivals of religious interest, one in 1846, as a result of which 27 persons united with the church on confession of their faith; a second in 1850, resulting in 33 conversions. President Hitchcock believed that the highest aim of education is the winning of souls to Christ. He taught and lived the faith that was in him, so that while under his administration the college prospered greatly in temporal affairs there was even greater prosperity in its spiritual interests. Rev. W. A. Stearns was installed as pastor of the College church, Nov. 21, 1854. He continued in office until his death, June 8, 1876. During his ministry the college experienced several revivals of religious interest, some of marked power and fruitfulness.

Rev. Julius H. Seelye, who succeeded Dr. Stearns as president of the college, was installed as pastor of the College church, May 24, 1877. Sept. 12, 1878, Rev. Thomas P. Field was invited to become associate pastor of the church, and accepted. He was appointed to the "Samuel Green professorship of Biblical history and interpretation and pastoral care," established in 1864 by John Tappan, Esq. of Boston, and held by Dr. Stearns, in connection with the presidency of the college, until his death. Dr. Field served as professor in the college and associate pastor of the College church until 1886, when he resigned, and was succeeded by

Rev. George S. Burroughs of New Britain, Conn. Dr. Seelye served as pastor of the church until he resigned the presidency of the college, in 1890. Dr. Burroughs continued in office until 1892, when he resigned, to accept a call to the presidency of Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Ind. Rev. John E. Tuttle, D. D., was appointed to the Samuel Green professorship in 1893, and installed as pastor of the College church, Nov. 17 of that year.

The college chapel was dedicated in February, 1827. For more than forty years this building served as the home of the College church. In 1864, William F. Stearns, son of President Stearns and a prosperous merchant in Boston, gave $30,000 to the college to be used in erecting a suitable church edifice. There was a difference of opinion among the college authorities as to the most suitable location for the building. Its present site was decided on by several distinguished architects, and the corner-stone was laid, Sept. 22, 1870. The building, constructed of granite, is, perhaps, the handsomest edifice on the college grounds. Shortly after the close of the civil war, George Howe, Esq. of Boston, whose son, a graduate of the college, was killed in service, presented to the college a fine chime of bells, which were placed in the tower of the College church.

From its beginning, the church has been a great power for good in the college. Some of the best-known preachers in America have occupied the pulpit of the College church. In the earlier history of the church revivals of religious interest were of frequent occurrence and a very large percentage of the students were admitted to church membership. There were many cases of church discipline. Councils were frequently held to ordain missionaries for the foreign service. Feb. 23, 1864, Joseph A. Leach was ordained as chaplain of the 19th Regiment U. S. colored troops. In 1859, it was voted to adopt the "Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book" in chapel worship and other religious meetings. Sept. 26, 1869, E. S. Snell and Edward Hitchcock were elected as the first permanent deacons. The practice before that time had been to elect as deacons two members of the senior class, to serve one year. In 1877, a leader of the choir and an organist were chosen. In 1889, a plan proposed by Dr. Burroughs was adopted, for receiving students from other churches on certificate, who did. not transfer their relation to the church by letter.

In connection with the College church, and under its immediate supervision, an interesting and valuable mission work has been conducted among the colored residents of Amherst. The years immediately succeeding the close of the civil war brought with them to Amherst, as to many towns in New England, a considerable increase in the colored population. A majority of these people were useful and industrious citizens, abundantly

able to provide for their own bodily needs, but lacking for many years the religious privileges enjoyed by their caucasian brethren. The missionary enterprise which resulted in the building of Zion chapel was inaugurated by three women connected with the College church, two of them wives of college professors, the other a resident of the town while her sons were being educated at the college. As early as 1861, a Sunday-school class had been organized among the colored people. Its meetings were held, at first in the Amherst Academy building, and after the latter was torn down, in the brick school-house on Pleasant street, and later in the chapel of the First Congregational church, in the rear of what is now known as College hall.

In 1868, the trustees of Amherst College gave permission for erecting a building for chapel purposes on land owned by the college at the corner of Northampton and Parsons streets. The sum of $697.90 was raised by subscription for a building, of which $117.30 was contributed by colored. persons; the largest cash donation was $100, the smallest ten cents. The building was erected, and was dedicated March 12, 1869. The exercises of dedication were conducted by President Stearns, assisted by Professors Hitchcock, Tyler and Seelye, and Rev. J. L. Jenkins. The cost of the building was $601. Many articles of furniture were contributed, some by persons living in Amherst, others by men and women living in distant towns and cities who had been impressed with the nature and importance of the work that was being carried on. At the time the chapel was dedicated, there were 91 colored people resident in Amherst, and the average attendance at the school was 30. J. B. Seabury, a student at the college, had been in charge of the school for the two years preceding.

The first mention of Zion chapel found in the College church records is under date of Feb. 1, 1877, when it was voted to appropriate $25 during the year for the expense of fuel and lights at regular meetings in the chapel, if the receipts from collections should be sufficient after defraying the current expenses of the church. Dec. 13, 1877, the church voted to expend the balance of receipts for 1878, from collections on communion Sundays, after the regular church expenses had been paid, as follows: 1st, $25 for lights and fuel at Zion chapel; 2d, $25 to Rev. S. L. Hobbs: 3d, an additional $25 to Rev. S. L. Hobbs if the colored people should pay an equal amount in addition to what they paid in 1877. Feb. 29, 1880, $25 was appropriated for expenses of the mission school, to be placed in the hands of the lady teachers; also $25 per quarter to Rev. Mr. Hobbs for services at the mission branch, provided those in attendance paid at the rate of $8 per quarter. Oct. 5, 1882. it was voted to pay $100 to Rev. D. W. Marsh for his services at Zion chapel during the coming year.

In addition to the mission work conducted under the auspices of the