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Gc 974.402 Es7ea 1988999
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01723 6487
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH and PARISH
Essex, Massachusetts
Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary
1683
- 1933
CHRONICLE PUBLISHING CO., INC. IPSWICH, MASS.
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH and PARISH
Essex, Massachusetts
1683-1933
Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary
1683
- 1933
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TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
THE 250th Anniversary of the organization of the First Congre- gational Church in Essex had been keenly anticipated for several years by the people of the Church and Parish. Many were living who remembered with pleasure the 200th anniversary fifty years before, in 1883, and some were still in active service who took some part in that earlier celebration. As the ranks of the older workers thinned and one by one members answercd to the last roll call, it became more and more urgent that those who were left should carry on, and the feeling grew that a proper celebration of the 250th anni- versary was somewhat in the nature of a sacred legacy as well as a joy and a privilige.
In the spring of 1931 the church formally voted to observe the event in suitable fashion and to ask the Parish to join with them. A preliminary committee was appointed at that time to make some tentative plans. Early in the winter of 1933 that committee aug- mented by one or two others met and began to make definite plans, and the work moved on speedily from that time. The hearty co- operation of every one aidcd the preparations, and made it possible to arrange not only for the program but also to renovate the church thoroughly, painting the entire interior and adding many beautifying touches in decoration and equipment.
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It was decided to hold the celebration on August 12 and 13 of this year, 1933, this date (August 12) being the actual anniversary of the organization of the first church in 1683. It was further de- cided as these dates came on Saturday and Sunday to carry out on Saturday afternoon some sort of an historical pageant, depicting the history of the church and the town during these 250 years, and in the evening of that day to have a banquet in the vestry of the church, to which former pastors of the church, neighboring ministers and all absent members should be especially invited.
On Sunday morning an especial anniversary service was to be held with an historical address by the pastor, concluding with a brief service at the grave of Rev. John Wisc in the old burying ground ncar by, and the exercises of the day were to be brought to a fitting close with an cven-song service with special musical features.
The General Committee in charge of the celebration met from time to time and appointed numerous sub committees to take charge. of different lines of preparation.
About 125 invitations were sent out to neighboring churches and pastors and to all old friends and members of the church, as far as their addresses could be learned, and many of these people were able
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TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
to be present. A charming feaure of the celebration, which was unexpected, was a wonderful musical recital, given Thursday eve- ning, August 10, at the home of Mrs. David O. Mears. The artist of the evening was Miss Theodate Johnson, a pupil of our pastor's wife, Mrs. Edmund A. Burnham. Miss Johnson charmed the large audience with her vocal selections from grand opera, and other music, and the beautiful setting in the lovely music room, sacred to the memory of the talented Helen Mears, daughter of the hostess, added to the beauty of the song. This auspicious opening to the celebration was followed Saturday evening by the banquet. About 120 people sat down to the tables which were beautifully adorned with flowers for the occasion, and partook of a sumptous repast, to the accompani- ment of music by an orchestra.
At the head table were seated Rev. Edmund A. Burnham, D.D., pastor of the church, and Mrs. Burnham, Rev. Frederick Wilson, pastor of the North Church, Ipswich, from which the Essex Church separated 250 years ago, Rev. Mr. Court, pastor of the Congrega- tional Church, Manchester, Rev. Warren Low and Mrs. Low of Colrain, Rev. Arthur Webster of the Universalist Church, Essex, Professor Robert Crowell of Schenectady, New York, Mrs. Lizzie Choate of Essex, the only surviving member of any committee which served in 1883 at the time of the 200th anniversary of the church, Deacon Caleb M. Cogswell and Mrs. Cogswell, Deacon Benjamin F. Raymond, Deacon Lyman D. Low, Deacon Leonard A. Story, Ezra L. Phillips and Mrs. Ezra L. Phillips of Gloucester.
After the banquet, Dr. Burnham, acting as toastmaster, introduced several speakers and read letters from former pastors unable to be present. One particularly interesting feature of the celebration was the fact that the pastor of the Essex church, Rev. Edmund A. Burn- ham, D.D., is the son of Rev. Michael Burnham, a native of Essex, and one of the large Burnham family always closely associated with the history of the church. The present pastor, Rev. Edmund A. Burnham, spent much time in his boyhood in town with relatives, and has a deep love for the town and the church, and it was a most fortunate coincidence that placed him here as pastor just at this time. Among those who spoke at the banquet was Professor Robert Crowell of Schenectady, New York, grandson of the late Dr. Edward Crowell for forty years pastor of the church. Greetings were brought from the Universalist and Methodist churches in town in person by Rev. Arthur Webster and by a letter from Rev. Frank Peverly. Rev. Mr. Wilson spoke for the Mother Church in Ipswich, and Rev. Mr. Court for the Congregational Church in Manchester, and Mr. Ezra L. Phillips brought the greetings of the Gloucester Church. Repre- sentatives of the old families of the church gave interesting remini-
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TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
scences of their families. Deacon Lyman D. Low spoke for the Low family, Deacon Leonard A. Story, for the Story family, Deacon Caleb M. Cogswell for the Cogswell family, David F. Croate for the Choates, Miss Margaret E. Burnham for the Burnhams, and Mrs. Catherine Goodhue Levesque for the Goodhues. An interesting letter was read from a Mr. Cleaveland of Ohio, lineal descendant of Rev. John Cleaveland, one of the early pastors of the church, and there were several other letters read from former pastors and others. One lineal descendant of Rev. John Wise, Mrs. Frank Raymond of Salem, was present, as were members of the Perkins, Proctor, and Andrews families.
Excellent music was furnished during the banquet by an orches- tra under the leadership of Edwin J. Story, and later members of the choir and others furnished music. The boys' quartet consisting of Eugene Peterson, Arthur Wonson, Stilson Cleveland, and Dana A. Story sang. Mrs. Evelyn Proctor Young, Miss Helen Mcliver, and Mrs. Wilbur Cogswell rendered vocal selections, and Mr. and Mrs. A. Stanley Wonson sang a song, the words and music of which were composed by Mrs. Wonson.
Sunday morning a large audience which well filled the Audi- torium assembled at 10.30 for the Anniversary Service. The beauti- ful old auditorium recently restored with its ancient panelling, ivory painted pews and wood-work, crimson cushions and carpet added cheer and dignity to the event, and a rich program of addresses and song claimed the interest of every one. In one of the front corners of the auditorium was the beautiful old communion set of eight solid silver pieces in a glass case. This silver had been brought from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it has been kept for many years. In another case were the old parish and church record books. The oldest of these was the first Parish Book, dating from 1683. Con- spicuous among the silver was the ancient chalice marked CC.1712, which was in use for thirteen years before the death of Rev. John Wise. The morning service was as follows:
MORNING WORSHIP 10:30 A. M.
Abt
Organ Prelude, "Communion" Processional The Call to Worship The Doxology The Invocation and Lord's Prayer
Responsive Reading. Selection 81 The "Gloria Patri"
The Scripture Lesson. Acts 10, 23-44
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TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Solo, "Jesus Lover of My Soul" MacDougall
Miss Helen MacIver
The Prayer
Prayer Response, "Response" Words by Mrs. Agnes C. Wonson
Our Future Choir
Announcements Offertory, "A Song"
Dieckmann Hamblen
Anthem, "A Little Prayer"
Our Junior Choir
Greetings from the First and South Congregational Church, Ipswich Rev. Frederick C. Wilson
Hymn, 443
The Historical Address "Crowned by Two Hundred and Fifty Years" The Pastor of The First Congregational Church of Essex
A Prayer of Rededication
Hymn 445
Benediction
Recessional
Organ Postlude, "Postlude"
Marchant
MID DAY
Service at the grave of Rev. John Wise, First Pastor of the Church Scripture Revelation 14, 13; Hebrews 12, 1-3
Remarks, Rev. Warren F. Low
Prayer The Doxology The Benediction
Most of the audience went from the church to the old burying ground to attend the service at the grave of Rev. John Wise. Mr. Wise's tombstone and the graves of Rev. Theophilus Pickering and Rev. John Cleaveland were decorated with beautiful flowers. Dr. Edmund A. Burnham conducted this service and presented Rev. Warren Low, a former Essex boy, now pastor of a church in Colrain, Massachusetts. Mr. Low read the Scriptures and spoke of Mr. Wise's work, concluding with prayer. The scene in this sacred spot was most beautiful and touching in its significance to young and old.
In the afternoon at 3 o'clock, in Dodge's Field, the historical tableau which was to have been given the preceding afternoon but which was postponed on account of weather conditions was presented before a large audience. The story of the tableau was written, and the scenes arranged by Miss Maidee Proctor Polleys, and it was pre- sented by a cast of 125 people, most of whom were lineal descendants of the characters they represented. Robert H. Burnham directed the tableau, and the story was read by Newton Hammond, a friend of
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TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Mr. Burnham's. The audience, seated on the hillside, facing the beau- tiful slope leading up to the old cemetery where rests the body of Rev. John Wise, the Rev. Theophilus Pickering, the Rev. John Cleaveland and many others of the founders of the church, and in view of the ancient church steeple in which hangs the Paul Revere bell, watched the pageant of history unfold, from the coming of the first white men, William White and Goodman Bradstreet, up to the incorporation of the Parish of Chebacco as the Town of Essex in 1819.
The story of the early settlers coming over from Ipswich, of the erection of the First Church building, and the organization of said church, August 12, 1683, with the ordination of Rev. John Wise as pastor were all carefully depicted. The picturesque costumes of early years, the beautiful music between the scenes, and the wonderful setting of the fields and trees on every side, created a background for the story which will never be forgotten by those who listened.
The dramatic tea-party of Madam Varney with the leaving of the women on horseback to secure men from Manchester and Glou- cester to raise the church; the town meeting when Rev. John Wise made his famous protest against taxation without representation; the march of the Revolutionary soldiers led by a fifer, a drummer, and the Rev. John Cleaveland with his four sons; the covered wagon, in which the Story family left Chebacco for Marietta on the Ohio, were among the most stirring scenes, but the first school taught by Master Nathaniel Rust, Jr., and the first Sabbath School established in 1815 by Dr. Crowell, claimed probably as much attention as any.
The pink-stern boat built by William Ross and helpers, and the log cabin of John Cogswell, erected by Leonard A. Story were added attractions. The original pulpit of the present meeting house which was erected in 1793 was used, and an ancient school-master's desk owned in the Perkins family was among the properties.
The services of the day were concluded by an even song service in the church at 8 o'clock, which was attended by a group of people in Puritan costume occupying front seats reserved for them. A rich program of music featured this service, and a most inspiring address by Dr. Edward P. Drew.
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TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
EVEN SONG SERVICE 8 P. M.
Candle Light Processional and Recessional The Combined Choirs Rev. Dr. Edward P. Drew, Boston, Speaker Organ Prelude, "Ave Verum" Gounod
Processional, "Rejoice ye pure in heart," No. 433 (The Congregation joins in singing)
The Doxology
The Invocation
The Anthem, "Hark, Hark, My Soul!" Combined Choirs
Shelley
The Scripture Isaiah 52, 7-10 Second Corinthians 5, 11-19
The Hymn No. 549
The Prayer Offertory, "Melody"
Lynes
Solo, "Forward to Christ"
Mrs. Rebecca Lambert
The Hymn No. 262
Address Rev. Dr. Edward P. Drew
The Anthem, "Praise Ye The Father" Combined Choirs
Gounod
Closing Prayer
The Benediction
Recessional No. 433 (vs.5)
(The congregation joins in singing)
The Postlude, "Postlude" . Newell
The people of The Ancient Church of Our Fathers are the guests of The Church of To-day, at this service
The Music for the day is rendered by The Senior Choir, The Junior Choir, Our Future Choir.
Mrs. Florence W. Goodhue, Organist and Choir Director
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COMMITTEES FOR 250TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
General Committee: Rev. Edmund A. Burnham, D.D., Pastor; Mrs. Arthur D. Story, Mrs. Agnes Choate Wonson, Secretary; Miss Maidee P. Polleys, Deacons Caleb M. Cogswell, Lyman D. Low, Benjamin F. Raymond, Leonard A. Story.
Finance Committee: Caleb M. Cogswell, John Barr, Roy Young, Mrs. Roy Young, Mrs. Mattie L. Harding, Mrs. Arthur D. Story, Treasurer.
Pageant Committee: Miss Maidee P. Polleys.
Decorating Committee: Miss Addie B. Hobbs, Mrs. Abby Sinclair, Mrs. Lizzie Choate, Mrs. George Elwell, Roswell Low, Mrs. Roswell Low.
Banquet Committee: Mr. and Mrs. Louis B. Burnham.
Entertainment for Banquet: Mrs. Edmund A. Burnham, Mrs. David O. Mears, Mrs. Agnes Choate Wonson, Miss Margaret E. Burnham, Roy Young, George Levesque.
Invitations : Deacons Lyman D. Low, Leonard A. Story, Miss Maidee P. Polleys, Mrs. Julia S. Mears, Mrs. Gardner Burnham. Sunday Music: Mrs. Edmund A. Burnham, Mrs. Florence Goodhue, Mrs. Rebecca Lambert.
Committee for Repairs on Church: Caleb M. Cogswell, Lyman D. Low, Miss Maidee P. Polleys, Mrs. Edmund A. Burnham, Mrs. Gardner Burnham, Mrs. Julia S. Mears, Mrs. Frank E. Burn- ham, Mrs. Frank Goodhue, Benjamin F. Raymond, Leonard A. Story, Edwin J. Story.
No description of the celebration would be complete without reference to the preliminary work of repairing and refitting the entire interior of the church edifice, which was done during the weeks preceding the celebration, and which was done largely by volunteer labor and money subscriptions.
Early in the winter, plans were started and a committee organ- ized to carry them out. Mr. Ezra Phillips of Gloucester lent much valuable assistance as a skilled architect. A fine plaster-board ceiling was installed in the large vestry, with new electric lights, and the entire room painted by volunteer help from people of the church. A modern kitchen was fitted up by the Ladies' Home Circle, and a little later the small vestry was painted by the young people.
Early in the days of planning Mrs. Ezra Phillips (Grace Leonard
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Burnham) very generously offered to install panelling in front of the choir, and around the front corners of the church, provided the church would paint the auditorium. This the church voted to do, appropriating $500 from the Sophronia M. Low Fund for the pur- pose. Considerable old hand-made panelling was found stowed away in the church, and this together with Mrs. Phillips' gift made the front of the auditorium very beautiful.
The woodwork of the interior was painted ivory white. Crimson cushions to match the carpet were purchased with money raised by subscription and some contributed by the Ladies' Home Circle. A beautiful new font was placed at the right of the pulpit, and the old mahogany communion table which had been down in the vestry for years was re finished and restored to its place in the main auditorium. Many gifts beside the large one by Mrs. Phillips were received from people of the church. Various improvements and conveniences were made, and the whole effect was most satisfactory, and showed a fine spirit of zeal and co-operation on the part of the church people.
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CROWNED BY TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS
Anniversary Sermon for the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Essex Congregational Church, Essex, Massachusetts
By Rev. Edmund A. Burnham, D.D., Pastor
T' HE fine traditions of this church command respect, loyalty, and affection. One clergyman, invited to this celebration, wrote, "We all know and honor the church because of its leadership in early Congregational and Colonial history." Any review of its continual contributions, both of men and money, to the service of the Kingdom of God and to the welfare of the Nation awakens admiration.
The celebration of this anniversary will kindle renewed interest in further study of its history and desire for better acquaintance with the character and work of those who have made this, The First Congregational Church of Essex, a source of large and efficient Christian service, and kept it a channel of Divine Love, Mercy and Life during two centuries and a half. May the spirit of the fathers and their traditions continue to inspire the present generation and be perpetuated by the next. It is a precious heritage.
This day awakens constraining personal reminiscences in us all. They come to me from the fascinating memories of boyhood. It was then that I learned to know the ideals and sterling spirit of this honored church. May I be permitted to name from those memories some of the individuals who make a picture of the congregation of that day for me?
There was Aunt Lucy Mary, Mrs. Hervey Burnham. She, with her family, walked to church or drove, as the case might be, from Essex Falls regularly. She brought me, her nephew, with her both to church and to her class in Sunday School where her practical faith illumined the Bible lesson.
It was at Sunday School that I heard the Scripture quotations repeated from memory by the various classes in the frequent "Sunday School Concerts" held in this auditorium. One such quotation has has very often recurred to my mind ever since. It was recited by the ladies' class. I can see the class standing, in my mind's eye, and
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reciting together, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." William Choate, regularly at the organ, was a lesson of interested faithfulness, and the genial presence and efficiency of Rufus Choate gave distinction to the assembly.
Mrs. D. Webster Cogswell, with her husband and boys, was loyally in her place in the church services. Albert Goodhue with his fine face, his wife, and his father Deacon Goodhue, whose grand- daughter spoke so finely for the family at this anniversary banquet, are among the friendly memories of those past years. And, of course, there were his boys, Frank, Joe, and Newell, companions of boyhood's growing years. Not so far from their house, was the tree under which the yoke of oxen came to a stop despite shout and goad when I made my first boyish attempt to drive them to the home of Nathaniel Burnham where Mrs. Zeno Elwell now lives. There they stood until they were ready to move on.
On the way down to the service we always looked into the home of J. Horace Burnham and Aunt Evelyn and the cousins to see of they had joined the procession which grew in numbers till we reached the church door. At the North End lived David Mears and Aunt Abigail in the homelike house out of which came their famous sons, David, Leverett, and George. There, too, was the rope walk whose narrow length and its humming machinery was always a fascination. Dr. Woodman, the neighborhood physician, lived at the , corner of Martin and Main Streets. We frequently saw him. Mr Adams, engineer of the branch train, made himself forever beloved because he liked boys well enough to have them climb into the cab of his engine after his day's run and ride to the roundhouse.
The choir in the auditorium was in the gallery opposite the pulpit. It sang the fine old hymns, glancing from the tune in one long book to the words in another while some youth "pumped" the organ. How stalwart the men, how fit the women of this choir! Prominent amongst the singers as the years came on were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ellis Burnham and then three of their children-all three of whom do their bit in the church today, Margaret, Roy and Louis, who is clerk of the Parish. There were Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Burnham, and Mrs. Polleys and her daughter regularly in their places in their pews, and Mrs. Mary C. Osgood. A. D. Story, always hospitable upon visits to the shipyard, Mr. and Mrs. Dodge, and Benjamin F. Raymond's family were steadily at church. B. Franklin Story and his family, who usually walked, Aunt Rachel and her daughter, now Mrs. Gardner Burnham, and Elwood Burnham with his sisters were there. There were other uncles and aunts and cousins
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TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
together with Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Story and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Henry William Mears and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Low, and the Haskells, and Deacon and Mrs. Gage, Mr. and Mrs. Henry F. Dodge, Lyman D. Lowe, Deacon and Mrs. Reuben Morris, Leon- ard Story, the Hobbs girls, Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Cogswell and many others whose faces readily come to mind, some of them bright-eyed children who are now active in the church life, and others whose cherished names will occur as you look back through the vista of the 'years today. All of these make a background of loyalty and inspira- tion against which to place the story of the church life of the last five decades upon which rests the royal crown of two hundred and fifty years.
It is the people that are the church, the people with their fine devoted spirits and principles. They are the church of Christ which serves the souls of men. This church with its services has always been the stated means of God's Bountiful Grace in the community. Each generation has been influenced profoundly by the heritage of the spirit of the fathers of our church.
The founders of this church early drew up articles of faith which were clearly "Calvinistic, low-church, independent." In them there was no room "for clerical authority of dead formalism to lurk -or any lack of self-control." They embodied Mr. Wise's declara- tion that, "Democracy is Christ's government in church and state."
The sentiment of the Chebacco Parish gave the minister an honored place from the very first as leader in the service of God, in the life of the church and of the community. One of these ministers is a dear tradition in the speaker's family as well as in the church's heart; namely, Rev. James M. Bacon, pastor for the thirteen years between 1856 and 1869. His help, influence, and inspiration put Michael Burnham, my father, of blessed memory and wide Christian service into the ministry. The face of another one comes readily to mind; namely, that of Rev. Temple Cutler, pastor for the twelve years between 1883 and 1895. His was a beautiful, lighted face, genial and kindly. His eye showed a rare spirit of friendliness and conse- cration. His sermons were a benediction and inspiration. He is still beloved by all to whom he ministered and through whom he min- istered in the business of proclaiming the Gospel of God's love to mankind.
This church has had many clergymen of notable spirit and achievement, twenty two in all, in its two hundred and fifty years. The names of those in addition to the two just mentioned are Wil- liam J. Murray, pastor for the three years between 1896 and 1899; Lyman H. Blake, who met untimely death in 1900 after but one year
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of service; Edward A. Lathrop, pastor for five years between 1901 and 1906; Henry M. Goddard, pastor for six years between 1907 and 1913; Albert G. Todd, pastor for five years between 1914 and 1919; W. Clifford Bangham, who served less than one year; Alden B. Albertson, pastor for two years between 1920 and 1922; Harry R. Hill, pastor for four years between 1923 and 1927; William A. Wood, pastor for three years between 1927 and 1930.
The first pastor of this church was John Wise, who served for the forty two formative years between 1683 and 1725. He is dis. tinguished for his contribution to the principles of ecclesiastical and national liberty. He died in service mourned by the whole com- munity. Theophilus Pickering was pastor for twenty one years, between 1725 and 1746; Nehemiah Porter, for seventeen years, be- tween 1749 and 1766; Rev. John Cleaveland, for fifty three years, between 1746 and 1799. He also died in office after having put the stamp of his evangelical spirit upon the church, permanently. Josiah Webster was pastor for seven years, between 1799 and 1806; Thomas Holt, for four years, between 1809 and 1813; Robert Crowell, for forty-one years, between 1814 and 1855. Darius A. Moorehouse served after James M.| Bacon as pastor for the four years between 1870 and 1874; Edward G. Smith, for the two years between 1875 and 1877; John L. Harris, from 1877 to 1879; Francis H. Boynton, from 1879 to 1882; and Frank H. Palmer, for the one year between 1882 and 1883.
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