Lot 186

Previous image preload Next image preload

Description:

Religion

Mass Doctor Challenges Local Pastor Over Church Discipline

 

[RELIGION.] Justus Forward and Martin Phelps, Controversial Letters Respecting the Principles of Church-Communion and Discipline. Northampton, MA: Andrew Wright for Daniel Wright and Company, 1798. 132 pp., 4.5" x 7.5". Bound with string and paper cover; considerable aging and corner and edge wear; all text legible.

 

This volume reproduces correspondence between physician Martin Phelps and minister Justus Forward over the issues of church membership and church discipline. Phelps contended that the pastor had too much power and the congregation not enough in exercising church discipline in Forward’s church in Belchertown, Massachusetts, seventy miles west of Boston. The correspondence began in 1797 and continued into 1798.

 

Aaron Bascom (1746-1814), the pastor of the Congregational Church in Chester, Massachusetts, thirty miles west of Belchertown, read the letters, and visited Dr. Phelps to convince him to relocate to Chester. Phelps moved his family to Chester around 1798 and joined Bascom’s church, though he questioned some aspects of the church covenant. As national political differences reached Chester, Bascom sided with John Adams and the Federalists, while Phelps favored Thomas Jefferson and the Democratic Republicans. When Phelps published an article on why he could not support Federalist Caleb Strong for governor in 1805, Bascom warned him that his anti-Federalist views could harm his business and reputation. Political differences led to religious differences and the division of the town. In November 1807, Phelps asked to be removed from membership in the church and for the return of his certificates of good standing. Bascom refused, and in October 1808, had Phelps excommunicated from the church.

 

Excerpts:

[Forward’s Preface:] “The Letters were written; on both sides, I presume, without a Thought of their being printed.... Mr. Forward, tho’ he does not wish to conceal his own sentiments, would however observe, that they cannot be fairly gathered, at least, they cannot be fully and justly gathered, from his writing, in this Manner, to oppose Mistakes and Expressions of another.”

 

[Phelps’s Preface:] “It is thought by those, whose good sense and attachment to the cause of truth and Religion, demand respect and reverence, that the publication of these Letters may subserve valuable purposes, by exciting the attention of those who have, or are about making a profession of Religion, to the principles of that Covenant, to which all Congregational churches require the submission of their members.”

 

Justus Forward (1730-1814) was born in Connecticut and graduated from Yale College in 1754. He taught school in Hatfield and studied theology. He was licensed to preach in 1755 and ordained in 1756. He was the pastor of the church in Belchertown, Massachusetts, from 1756 until 1812. He married Violet Dickinson, and they had at least eleven children.

 

Martin Phelps (1756-1838) was born in Massachusetts and graduated from Yale College in 1776. He moved to Haverhill, New Hampshire, where he was a member in good standing in the Congregational Church. He married Ruth Ladd (1771-1804) in 1786, and they had seven children. Phelps moved to Belchertown in 1796 to practice medicine. He then moved to Chester, Massachusetts, where he practiced medicine for many years. He also represented Chester in the General Court for several years. In 1806, he married Mary Fowler, and they had one child.

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item.


Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000