USA > Connecticut > Some old time meeting houses of the Connecticut Valley > Part 6
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In 1733 the new precinct so far met the requirements of the grant as to erect a plain frame meeting house. In 1734 a committee, especially selected, seated the meeting house according to dignity and rank ; ratable estate, age, and ability being taken into consideration. There was no steeple. In some New England parishes of this period, where there were no bell towers or steeples, the authorities hung a bell on a frame erected for that purpose near the meeting house, or on some noble tree. In 1749 this precinct voted "to have a sign for meeting on ye Sabbath," and authorized the purchase of a conch shell (konk), and the payment to John Lane of such a sum as "the assessors should agree" to blow the shell.
Grindall Rawson, a young Harvard graduate, was ordained first minister October 3, 1733. He was an able but very eccentric man, outspoken in matters theological, thereby giving offense to his people. Not more than four years elapsed before the meeting house became the center of stormy scenes. The situation
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Photograph of painting by Joseph Chandler
THE SECOND MEETING HOUSE PLACE OF GRADUATION OF THE FIRST CLASS OF MT. HOLYOKE SEMINARY
The Dwight house, next to meeting house, moved to rear to make place for the Art Building, is now the College Hospital. Next to it, where Library now stands, is Dr. Condit's home. At the extreme right is the original Seminary building
became so strained that a mutual council, of which Rev. Jonathan Edwards of Northampton was scribe, met to decide whether or not "Mr. Rawson was qualified for the work of the ministry, as to his learning, his orthodoxy and his morals." Although the council upheld the minister in a general way and he had some loyal supporters, the dissatisfaction became so general that in 1741 a later council advised separation. As Mr. Rawson completely ignored the repeated votes of the parish and the advice of the council, and continued to preach, certain members of a committee of fifteen siezed him while engaged in the service, carried him from the pulpit, down the aisle, and forcibly ejected him. It is said that his voice could be heard distinctly above the turmoil, as he was borne past the awe- stricken worshipers.
During the earlier part of the pastorate of Rev. John Woodbridge the meeting house was a place of quieter scenes. Mr. Woodbridge came from Suffield, Con- necticut, in 1742, and his pastorate marks an era of great prosperity. He was a gentle, scholarly minister, most faithful in all parochial duties, who won and kept the esteem of his people. South Hadley was formally set apart from the mother town in 1753, and the church grew so rapidly under the ministry of Mr. Woodbridge that the meeting house was not large enough to seat all of the people. The inhabitants voted in 1751 to build a new house near the old one.
When the question of location arose, the parish divided into two factions and engaged in a bitter contro- versy. Those who lived in the eastern section wanted the new building located at the end of the lane on Cold Hill; a majority favored the old site. So high did feeling run that after several committees, composed of members of both parties and of others called in from other parishes, had attempted to settle the matter over
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the heads of a fickle few, who held the balance of power, and changed first to one side then to the other, the General Court formally set apart the eastern district (Granby) as a new parish. This was not accom- plished, however, before some of the more hot-headed of the eastern district stealthily pulled down a part of the frame of the new meeting house and hid the posts in the swamp.
Upon the completion of the new meeting house the old one was moved a few rods to the north, where it now stands remodeled as a dwelling. The second meeting house faced the north, standing south and east of the first. The high pulpit, surmounted by a sounding board suspended by a great rod, was on the east side. The choir occupied the front seat of the west gallery, and the negroes back seats on a higher level in the same gallery. The body of the house had large square pews. The main door was in the middle of the west side. There was also an entrance on the north end for the men and one on the south end for the women. As in other meeting houses of the period, the seats were on hinges, so that the worshipers could lean against the sides of the pews and stand more comfortably during the long prayer. Sometimes the sacred stillness of prayer time was broken by the clatter of the falling seats. There was no means of keeping warm in winter except by footstoves. It is a matter of interest that, in later years, Dr. Condit had a little pulpit stove, which he replenished from time to time during the service.
Mr. Woodbridge continued to preach until 1776, and lived until 1783. Mr. Joel Hayes, a Yale graduate of 1773, became his colleague, 1782, and preached for over forty years. It was during the ministry of Mr. Hayes, in 1791, that Colonel Ruggles Woodbridge, son of the former pastor, a man of considerable means and force
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THE WHITE CHURCH Mary Lyon's Funeral Held in This House
of character, presented a bell to the parish. Tradition says that Colonel Woodbridge went to the foundry in Troy and cast fifty silver dollars into the molten metal to give the bell a silvery tone. He gave also a silver communion service, now one of the treasured pos- sessions of the church.
Interesting customs sprang up in connection with the ringing of the bell, some of which have continued to a comparatively recent time. The bell was rung at noon, and a curfew at nine. Colonel Woodbridge was so strict in his manner of life, that he insisted that his workmen drop all work at the first stroke of the bell at noon ; and one of his workmen, so the story goes, more facetious then the others, climbing a ladder, bearing a bunch of shingles, dropped them to the ground at the first stroke of the bell.
When there was a death in the parish the number of strokes on the bell indicated first whether the deceased was a man or a woman or a child, and then a second number of strokes the age of the deceased. The bell tolled also at funerals. It hung in a beautiful and lofty bell-tower erected from the ground, forming a porch about ten feet square on the north end of the meeting house. Entrances were made on the three sides of the porch.
There were no important changes in the meeting house during the ministry of the Rev. Artemas Boies, who served the church from 1824 to 1834. It was during the ministry of his successor, Rev. Joseph Condit, ordained in 1835, that Mary Lyon sent her committee from Old Ipswich, in Essex, to select a site for her Seminary. There was keen competition among the towns in the Connecticut valley for the honor of having the Seminary located within their borders. All made liberal offers of financial support. It is said that the committee were attracted not only by the natural
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beauties of South Hadley, but by the commodious meeting house. The parish manifested their good faith in her enterprise by raising $8,000 for Miss Lyon, a large sum for that day. Furthermore, to accommodate the members of the Seminary they removed the square pews, placed the pulpit in the north end at the foot of the bell tower, building the great sounding board into the second story of the tower. Winding stairs on either side led to the pulpit, which rested on posts six feet high. There were two aisles with a row of pews between and one row on either side next to the walls. As the Seminary grew additional seats were placed in the broad aisles; the galleries were changed to the east and west sides and south end, the last being the choir gallery.
When Miss Lyon came to South Hadley, before the erection of the Seminary building, she spent much time in the home of Rev. Mr. Condit, who lived in the second house south of the meeting house. He became her trusted personal friend and spiritual adviser. He was one of the incorporators named in the charter of the Seminary, secretary for years of the board of trustees, and the one to deliver the principal address at the dedication of the Seminary building. The manuscript of this address still exists. It was most fortunate that the Seminary, which was destined to become such a strong spiritual force in the world, had at its beginning such a pastor as Dr. Condit, who by his marked spirituality and scholarly attainments greatly aided Miss Lyon in making effective what has come to be known the world over as "the Mount Holyoke spirit."
The members of the South Hadley church hospi- tably opened their homes to the teachers and students before the Seminary building was entirely ready for occupancy, and gave their support in every way to Miss
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Lyon. The young men of the village helped Deacon Safford, of Boston, one of the trustees, to set the house in order, putting down carpets and unpacking furniture. One enthusiastic girl wrote: "The South Hadley people were very kind to us. Mr. Hayes showed us to our seats in church as courteously as if we were personal friends whom he delighted to welcome to the house of God. Winter mornings, instead of being shut in by the deep snow, we found the nicest of paths cut for us by somebody in the night."
Thus was begun a close friendly relation between the church and the Seminary, which has lasted to this day, those associated with the present Mount Holyoke College, both at home and in distant places, being among the honored members of the church.
Special interest attaches to the church services of that day. It was no ordinary congregation that gathered on the Sabbath. In the number were the pioneers in the great movement for the higher edu- cation of women. Some of the leading divines of that day visited the Seminary each year and preached from that pulpit. The town's people were expected to be in their pews when the bell ceased tolling; then the pupils of the Seminary entered by the south door and occupied the seats in the east gallery. Some families invited their friends among the students to sit in their pews.
There was always a large choir led by the precentor and accompanied by players on the bass viol, 'cello, violin and flute. In later years the bugle, clarinet, trombone and bass horn were added. The older people regarded this larger band as a desecrating influence, and denounced it openly at town meeting. Miss Lyon enforced the lesson of the morning by questioning the pupils at dinner and by making her own comments on the sermon.
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In this second meeting house the first graduation exercise was held, although Miss Lyon personally preferred the Seminary hall for that event. She refers to the matter in a letter to Miss Grant :
"But the agitation of the question about going to the meeting house on Thursday afternoon seemed almost to add more, when I had just all I could do. It came up once or twice, and was settled in the negative, as I felt a great reluctance to it. After Dr. Hawes came on Wednesday evening, the subject was again discussed. I found that the trustees, Dr. H., and the other gentlemen were all becoming decided that it was best to go to the meeting house; I thought it the most modest to acquiesce. The certificates were given at the close of the services, but no other exercise differed from a common public meeting. It did not appear unsuitable, as I thought it would, and I was very glad I consented. The meeting house was full, and I think some of our donors would have been dissatisfied if we had met in the Seminary hall. Our certificates were signed by Miss Caldwell and myself, and simply countersigned by the secretary of the board, Mr. Condit. Of course the giving of the certificates devolved on Mr. Condit. He did it in his neat, elegant manner. Dr. Hawes' address was good common sense. Mr. Boies, of Boston, made the first prayer, and Dr. Carr the last."
Miss Caldwell, the associate principal, adds this account :
"The trustees, the orator of the day, the teachers, the senior class, and the school, walked to the church in procession, the school clad in white, with heads uncovered, and shaded by parasols. The side pews and galleries were already crowded when Miss Lyon led her beautiful troop in quiet dignity to the seats reserved for them. It was an hour in her life never to be forgotten. The battle had been fought, the victory was hers. In all that year she had never found an hour to spend in astonishment at her success, but now, when circumstances forced the view upon her, wonder, gratitude, and praise filled her heart. Her great soul was surcharged with joy; smiles and tears strove for the mastery on her radiant face. For an hour she resigned herself to the emotions of the occasion and gave way to a joy with which no one could intermeddle."
Surely this house of God, whose walls witnessed such a sublime scene, became on that day, in a new
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Affectionately yours
Mary Lyon, From a mimature painting in 1832.
sense, "holy ground." From that time on it became also the place of frequent revival of religion.
Other speakers at later anniversary exercises in the second meeting house were Rufus Anderson, Mark Hopkins, Bela B. Edwards, Edward Hitchcock, Lyman Beecher and Edward N. Kirk.
The history of Mount Holyoke Seminary is vitally connected with the great missionary interests of the world. Within the first fifty years one hundred and seventy eight students of Mount Holyoke went into the foreign field alone. It is not too much to say that within the sacred walls of this ancient meeting house, and of its successor, many received the first impulse, or were quickened in the purpose already formed, to dedicate their lives to the service of the Kingdom at home or in foreign fields. Truly, there are many sacred and tender associations in the minds of hundreds of graduates of Mount Holyoke with the church in South Hadley.
With the continued growth of the town and the Seminary the second meeting house became inade- quate. The third house, built in 1844, known as the "Old White Church," faced to the west and was located so near the second building that the bell was easily moved from one belfry to the other without being lowered to the ground. The older house was torn down and the proceeds from the sale of lumber applied to the cost of the new. Most of the money was raised by subscription, the Seminary contributing $2,000 and taking a lease of a number of pews for ninety years. Miss Lyon gave a new pulpit Bible, twice rescued from the flames that destroyed two meeting houses, and now preserved among the treasures of the church. Dr. Condit preached his last sermon in the old meeting house August 11, 1844, from the text, 2 Peter, 3 : 11, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved
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what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?", and the first sermon in the new house, November 26, 1844, from the text, Ex. 33 : 15, "If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence."
The closeness of the bond between Miss Lyon and her pastor, the extent to which she looked to him for counsel and sympathy, the great esteem in which she held him, are revealed by her own words in a letter to a friend :
"Our dear Mr. Condit is very near his home. The king of terrors is approaching with gentle step as if loth to take his prey. Here I am alone in this great building ; no one near to interrupt my grief. I love this solitude for tears and prayers in his behalf. The years of our acquaintance pass in rapid review. As I dwell on him as a friend, a Christian, a counselor, a pastor, sadness spreads over my soul. And yet it is not all sorrow. Heaven seems to be opening her gates to receive another servant of Christ."
How little did Miss Lyon realize that the gates of heaven would open again soon to receive "another servant of Christ"! She died March 5, 1849. To the White Church they carried her, after Dr. Laurie, the new pastor had offered prayer and the young ladies had looked for the last time upon the face of their be- loved teacher and friend; the three relatives present, the trustees, teachers, pupils and other friends walk- ing in solemn procession. The Journal says :
"We were forcibly reminded of anniversary occasions, and the thought that we were following that dear form for the last time was almost overwhelming. Prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Samuel Harris, of Conway, and by Rev. Mr. Swift, of Northampton. The sermon was by Rev. Dr. Humphrey, from the texts, 'The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day,' and 'The memory of the just is blessed.' The hymns sung were those beginning, 'God moves in a mysterious way,' 'Servant of God, well done,' and 'Why do we mourn departing friends?' From the church the procession moved to the grave, which is on a gentle
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Copyright 1907 by A. S. Kinney. By permission. MARY LYON AT 48, THE DAGUERREOTYPE
eminence in the Seminary grounds, a little to the east of the building. Gathering round it, the school sang, 'Sister, thou wast mild and lovely,' varying the hymn to suit the occasion, and were addressed in a few appropriate words by Dr. Laurie."
The Monument, enclosed by an iron fence, covered with English ivy from slips sent by hundreds of loving pupils, has become the sacred shrine of thousands who cherish the name of Mary Lyon, and bears her immortal words: "There is nothing in the universe that I fear but that I shall not know all my duty, or shall fail to do it."
It is singularly fitting that the most recent likeness of Miss Lyon should come to light by way of the foreign field. Four years before her death, she sat for a deguerreotype, in Boston, as a parting gift to a young missionary just starting for Ceylon. A daughter of this missionary recently brought it back to this country, a precious treasure sacredly preserved in her family all these years.
The old White Church continued to be the place of worship of the village people and of the Seminary students, welcoming from time to time to its pulpit many eminent preachers, witnessing the anniversary exercises each year, and sending forth with a gracious blessing the Seminary classes of young women.
Rev. Eliphalet Y. Swift, pastor from 1852 to 1858 was followed by Dr. Hiram Mead, whose ministry was signally blessed by a great revival and by numerous accessions to the church. His wife, Elizabeth Storrs Mead, honored and beloved in church and Seminary, became the first president of Mount Holyoke College.
Dr. John M. Greene, who had been Sophia Smith's pastor in Hatfield, and to whom, according to good authority, must be credited, in part, the
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inspiration to found Smith College, followed Dr. Mead and in turn was followed by Rev. J. H. Bliss, whose sister, Anna Bliss, went from this parish to Huguenot Seminary, South Africa, to become in recent years the president of Huguenot College.
On Sunday morning, January 18, 1875, the building was burned to the ground. "Within an hour," writes an eye witness, "the spire had fallen backward into the body of the church, which was already burnt bare- its 'pleasant things laid waste.' The beautiful new organ had been destroyed; the familiar seats, the pulpit, the communion table, hallowed by the sacred memories of so many years, were all gone."
At the afternoon service, in the Seminary hall, Dr. Herrick, the pastor, chose the text, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." For thirteen months public worship was held in the hall. As the Seminary had owned one third of the meeting house, they turned over to the parish committee their share of the insurance to be applied to the construction of the new building. It was built of brick, Gothic style, with beautiful spire, and pointed arches in window and door spaces, and costing with its furnishings and organ about $28,000. It was dedicated February 23, 1876. Dr. William DeLoss Love commenced to supply the church in September, 1878, and was installed May 7, 1879, the parish under his leadership having cleared up the debt of $10,000 on the new building.
The people were not permitted to enjoy this beauti- ful house of worship many years. On March 4, 1894, at the close of the Sunday school, this building became a prey to the flames. Again the Seminary hospitably opened its doors for the church services. On the Sunday after the fire, Dr. Newton I. Jones the pastor, following the example of Dr. Herrick, preached
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a sympathetic and stirring sermon from the text, Nehemiah 2:20,"The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build," greatly encouraging his disheartened people, and rallying them for rebuilding. The college this time contributed gener- ously, and gave up their share of ownership. The present stately and commodious edifice, the fifth was dedicated January 16, 1895. One pastorate of seven years, that of Rev. Arthur B. Patten, intervened be- tween that of Dr. Jones and the present pastorate, which began January 21, 1906.
In order to meet the needs of the increased number of students and the requirements of a modern college, in September, 1905, four years after president Mary E. Woolley assumed the duties of her office, regular religious services were established in Mary Lyon Chapel, the preachers representing different de- nominations and coming from all parts of the country.
Jesse Gilman Nichols.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, GRANBY. 1822
Congregational Church Granby, Massachusetts
I MMEDIATELY after the incorporation of the town of Granby in 1768, the heirs of Samuel Moody deeded to the town as a memorial to Mr. Moody an acre of land for a meeting house site, and a house of worship was erected upon it. The first minister of the church was the Rev. Simon Bachus, a nephew of Jonathan Edwards.
In 1817 efforts were made to build a new meeting house. The question of location became a serious one and after disinterested parties had failed to solve the difficulty, an Ecclesiastical Council divided the church into the East and West Parishes. The house of wor- ship now used was erected in 1821-22 by the East Parish.
In 1836 an arrangement was effected between the two parishes by which a call was given to Rev. Eli Moody of the West Parish to become pastor of the East Parish and an invitation extended to the people of his charge to unite with the East Parish, a union of the two parishes being thus virtually effected.
The raising of the present meeting house was a notable event in the community. Two days were required for the work, the second day being devoted to raising the frame of the steeple. The men who had proved most effective in the work of the first day were entrusted with this work. When all was completed, the raisers stood on the topmost point and sang some familiar hymns, closing with the Doxology.
The Granby church has been blessed with several pastors of great ability and worth. At times it has
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held in its membership persons of unusual musical talent, who have voluntarily given much of their time to the church, thus making the services of the sanctu- ary a delight and blessing to all the members. From this church many consecrated workers have gone forth to labor in the home and foreign missionary fields.
Standing as it does on a considerable elevation, this noble house of worship, with its well proportioned tower of three stories and Gothic roof and its portico supported by four Ionic columns, presents a most pleasing appearance. Visitors journeying through the country and coming unexpectedly upon this fine exam- ple of Colonial meeting house exclaim with surprise and delight.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, WILLIAMSBURG, MASS. Example of a Remodeled House.
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AFTER
BEFORE
Congregational Church Williamsburg, Massachusetts
T HE present edifice of the Congregational church in Williamsburg was erected in 1836. In 1859 it was raised up and a vestry was built under it. In 1897, during the pastorate of Rev. Henry S. Snyder, the edifice was remodeled by Messrs. E. C. and G. C. Gardner, architects, of Springfield, Massachusetts.
At the request of the author, Mr. G. C. Gardner prepared the following description of the church :
"It was in the first decade of the 19th century that the influence of the new French school of architecture, generally denominated the 'Neo-Greek,' was felt in England. Roughly speaking, the characteristics of the style were a decided return to the simple and severe lines of Greek architecture, as distinguished from the more florid and complicated Renaissance. It was a natural reaction against the growing debasement of the earlier French and English Renaissance, which was particularly striking in England.
The 'latest styles' in architecture spread more slowly then than now, and it was not until about the end of the first quarter of the century that this type of work became popular in New England public architect- ure. Here in the Connecticut valley the period was a little later. The Congregational Church in Williams- burg, built in 1836, of which an illustration before its alteration is shown, was a very good example of this Greek revival, as it has been well named.
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