USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lowell > Fortieth anniversary, Lowell, Mass., May 9th and 11th, 1879 > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 1,95Lol 1786367
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01094 5993
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/fortiethannivers1879unse
JOHN STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
40th FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
LOWELL, MASS.,
May 9th and 11th, 1879.
LOWELL, MASS. : VOX POPULI PRINT: HUSE, GOODWIN & CO., 130 CENTRAL ST. 1879.
1786367
284452- :75-
LOWELL, MASS. JOHN STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. ... Fortieth anniversary, Lowell, Mass. May 9th and 11th, 1879. Lowell, Mass., Huse, 1879. 54p.
Contents .-- Anniversary services .-- Historical' discourse, by Rev. J.B.Seabury. - Address of remi- niscence, by Rev. E.B.Foster .-- Sketch of the Sab- bath school, by George Stevens .-- Letters .-- Sup- plementary meeting.
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REV. S. W. HANKS.
REV. J. W. BACKUS.
REV. E. B. FOSTER, D. D.
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REV. JOSEPH B. SEABURY.
Artotype by J. L .. Lovell & Co., Amherst, Mass.
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JOHN STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, LOWELL, MASS.
LOWELL, May 12, 1879.
REV. J. B. SEABURY :
Respected and Dear Sir-We believe it to be the unanimous wish of the Jolm Street Congregational Church and Parish, that the historical dis- course, preached by you on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of that church, last Sunday morning, should be preserved in a permanent and accessible form. We therefore take great pleasure in soliciting from you, on behalf of ourselves and many besides, the manuscript of your sermon for publication. If consonant with your many pressing duties, we would also request that you would edit and prepare for the press an account of so much of the other commemorative services as, in your judgment, will be valuable for present and future use -- especially reproducing the addresses of our ven- erated pastor emeritus, Rev. Dr. E. B. Foster, and the Superintendent of our Sunday School, Hon. George Stevens. In acceding to this invitation, yon will not only confer upon us a personal favor, but likewise, we feel certain, will perform a genuine service to the cause of Christianity in our city.
Trusting that you will respond favorably to these requests, we subscribe ourselves
Yours, in cordial fraternity, JEFFERSON BANCROFT. GEORGE M. ELLIOTT. WM. IL. ANDERSON. DAVID M. LACKIE. JAMES GIBSON. GEO. 11. STEVENS. JOHN S. COLBY. CHAS. W. BROWN. SAMUEL N. WOOD. JOSIAH GATES. A. B. KITTREDGE. ABNER KITTREDGE. WM. P. ENO. E. B. ADAMS. WM. MOREY. J. J. JUDKINS. J. C. WING. J. L. SARGENT. DAVID TENNEY KIMBALL. JOHN TRIPP.
WILLIAM H. CARTER. A. B. WOODWORTH.
R. L. READ. E. SANBORN. SAMUEL KIDDER. B. C. BENNER.
GEO. C. OSGOOD.
LOWELL, May 28, 1879.
MY DEAR FRIENDS :
With a heart-felt desire to secure for our recent anniversary the most tangible and permanent fruits, and in most grateful recognition of your kindness, I take pleasure in submitting to your disposal the manuscript copies of the Historical Discourse and Addresses solicited. May the . perusal of these pages serve to perpetuate the good results already gained, by strengthening the ties of our Christian fellowship, by quickening us to cherish more deeply the memory of the honored dead, and by fitting us the better for the labors of the future.
Most sincerely yours,
J. B. SEABURY.
Messrs. JEFFERSON BANCROFT, GEORGE M. ELLIOTT, And Others.
ANNIVERSARY SERVICES,
THE opening exercises of our Fortieth Anniversary were held in the vestry on Friday evening, May 9, 1879. This being the evening for our weekly prayer-meeting, it was thought wise and fitting not to deviate from our custom. The words suggested as appropriate to the occasion were these : " One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren." In the flush of many memories, the brethren feelingly spoke of the crowding associations of the past, the changing aspect of earthly scenes and the abiding nature of divine truth, the unity of all Christians in the faith of Christ and His ultimate triumph through the church. Thoughts of this character were expressed by Revs. S. W. Hanks of Cambridge, J. W. Backus of Rockville, Conn., D. L. Furber, D. D., of Newton Centre, and Hon. Joseph White of Williamstown. At the close of the meeting, more than an hour passed socially. A large number of the present and some of the earlier, members of the church were in attendance, and contributed to the interest of the occasion. Letters were read from Revs. A. P. Foster of Jersey City, N. J., and F. B. Doe of Ripon, Wis., Mr. Judah Crosby of Montclair, N. J., and Mr. Jehiel Todd of Worcester, all of them former mem- bers of the church. Remarks of an informal character were made by Mr. C. C. Chase of Lowell, and Rev. Dr. Furber.
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The more formal exercises of commemoration were reserved for the Sunday following, May 11th. The pulpit and table in front were tastefully adorned with flowers. Bordering the arch back of the pulpit was a strip of evergreen, and above the key-stone were the figures "40" in evergreen. At 103 o'clock the usual Sabbath morning services were held; an historical discourse was delivered by the pastor. The introduc- tory exercises were by the former pastors of the church. At 23 p. M. occurred the anniversary of the Sabbath School. The Superintendent, George Stevens, Esq., conducted the exercises. He gave brief historical sketches of those superintendents who had passed away, read a letter from one who was unavoidably absent, Mr. Ezra B. Adams, and introduced the other superintend- ents now living, Nathan Allen, M. D., and Mr. Robert L. Read, both of whom made addresses. Rev. S. W. Hanks and Mr. Charles G. Chase of Brookline, Mass., spoke upon the carly history of the church and Sabbath school. In the evening, at 7 o'clock, anniversary addresses were delivered by Rev. E. B. Foster, D. D., pastor emeritus. Rev. J. W. Backus, Hon. Joseph White and Rev. D. L. Furber, D. D. The last-named gentleman read a selection of scripture from the volume used by the church on the first Sabbath of its public worship, forty years ago. Rev. Mr. Hanks was ex- pecting to deliver an address, but, owing to the lateness of the hour, gave way to the last speaker. These four anniversary gatherings comprised an aggregate of more than ten hours of happy and quickening reminiscence. Letters were read from Rev. W. I. Budington, D. D., of Brooklyn, N. Y., and Rev. C. D. Barrows of Lowell. After brief remarks and prayer by the pastor, a hymn was sung. and the pastor emeritus pronounced the benediction.
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HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
BY REV. J. B. SEABURY.
" These forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee."
- Dent., 2, 7.
WHEN Moses addressed the hosts of Israel assembled on the plains of Moab, he established a precedent for all commemorative occasions. The prolonged and checkered journey from Egypt to Canaan was just about to close. In harmony with the spirit of the hour, the sagacious law-giver and discerning prophet of this chosen people spoke to them in appropriate language. IIe held in review the discipline and trials of the past, the lights and shadows of their history ; he reaffirmed many of the laws and counsels given him by God; he reverted to the leading branches of their common faith. One thought, above all others, prompted their joyous salutation as the people of God completed the fortieth year of varied but memorable career. Their form of government was a theocracy. A divine Mind, an ever-present Jehovah, guided them out of dark- ness into the brightness of a noonday sun. This was the supreme. motive to grateful remembrance of the past. "The Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand. These forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee."
As a church of Christ, we stand to-day upon the outer border of our fortieth year. Behind ns is a period so crowded with historic lessons, that to omit to recount them would be checking a sponta- neous impulse ; the culpable losing of an opportunity to memorialize · in grateful terms the labors of just men; the refusal of a timely occasion for deepening our consecration to the work of our Saviour, and our love for this portion of His kingdom.
That this discourse may not be lacking in unity, let the theme of the hour be :- God's personal guidance of this Church during its history of forty years.
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The church, as truly as the individual, has an inner and an outer life ; acquires health and growth within herself, and has an outward manifestation to the world. As in every personal life, vital agencies are assimilated to the being and action of the church also. By her own mysterious heart-action, all her God-given resources and opportunities are transformed into efficient spiritual forces, concentrated, systematized, adjusted to their appropriate spheres, converted into appeals and persuasives, rendered effec- tive in the ministrations of the closet and the sick-chamber, salu- tary in private meditation and in public toil, in the sterling worth of daily Christian example, and in the fearless defence of an unwel- come reform ; potent for the honor of the divine kingdom, in the camp and amid the shock of arms, in the vanguard of missionary progress at the West, and surrounded by the corrupting customs of idol nations in the far East. The church of Christ maintains her separate, germinant, expansive life within ; by reason of her divine commission, she becomes a factor of the world's good ; obedient to its highest wants, voluntarily pledged to its ultimate rescue. It is under this twofold division of her being and usefulness that I desire to show, this morning, the presence of God in this church since its organization.
ORGANIZATION.
To us of this decade, the early history of Lowell presents a remarkable parallel of ecclesiastical and popular growth. From 1826 to 1836, the population increased at the rate of 1,760 per year, or from 2,500 to 20,144. It trebled itself in the first three and a half years. During this period, ten Protestant churches were formed, one for each year. These represent all the leading de- nominations of the city to-day. This enlargement arose out of the religious necessities of the times. The various houses of worship were full, chiefly of young men and women from the counties and states encircling us, -many of them born in Congregational homes and trained in " the Congregational way." The two churches . of our order (the First and Appleton Street churches), grew most rapidly; they fairly outgrew themselves. It soon became apparent that another church must be formed. As early as December 3, 1838, a meeting of the male members of these two churches was held, and the following resolution was adopted : - " Resolved : That it is expedient to take immediate measures for the establish- ment of another Congregational Church and Society, in Lowell."
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Of the twelve persons then appointed to investigate as to the best method of procedure, but one is now living, Mr. S. B. Simonds. Three weeks later, this committee made a full and exhaustive report, recommending immediate steps toward the ereetion of a suitable and commodious house of worship as an indispensable means for the establishment and successful action of our church. They further recommended " that a lot of land on the westerly side of John Street be purchased of the Proprietors of the Locks and Canals, at a price of two shillings per square foot." Efforts were at onee made for securing funds, both by donation and subscription. On the fifth day of February, 1839, it was announced that $9,929.50 had thus been pledged, and the new enterprise placed upon a safe finaneial basis. An act of incorporation was passed February 22, and by it John Aiken, Royal South wick and Jesse Fox were made " Proprietors of the John Street Church, in Lowell." The building committee, soon after appointed, consisted of these three pro- prietors, and in addition, A. L. Brooks, David Sanborn and Edward F. Watson. The latter alone is living, a communicant at the Eliot church. To him this church owes a debt of profound gratitude. He was the chief director in the construction of this edifice, and for several years a leading member of the prudential committee, although never a stated worshiper with this congregation. Truly the Lord has blessed him in this work of his hands. The Daily Courier of January 23, 1840, thus announces an important event : "The beautiful brick church on John street, just erected by the Third Congregational Church and Society, will be dedicated to- morrow, Friday evening, at six o'clock. We understand the ser- mon will be delivered by Rev. Mr. Blanchard, of the First Churel." So far as we know, their impressions were correet. The entire cost of the building was $17,884.12. From that time to the present, we have occupied this house of worship. It was improved in 1846; again in 1871 it was extensively repaired at an expense of $10,000. It was re-dedicated November 28th of that year. Rev. Dr. Foster preached a sermon from Psalms 63 : 2- " To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary." This structure, its slender spire pointing to the skies, is the spiritual home of this grateful people who return to-day to their thanks- giving festival. This cheerful audience-room is thrice blessed be- cause of the memories it enshrines,-loud anthems these walls have re-echoed, saving truth this pulpit has proclaimed, emotions of joy, peace, and hope these pews have felt.
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Plans for the erection of this edifice were in process of execu- tion six months before the church was organized. The builders of this house were wise, prudent, energetic; so were also those who constituted the church. From March 11th to April 28th, ten large and enthusiastic meetings were held. At each, important action was taken. The new enterprise met with objections, on the score of economy, or actual necessity. The eminently judicious and de- voted Christian layman, John Aiken, who gave the weight of his counsel and the labors of his hand in favor of the new church, says, in an advisory report offered March 8, 1839: "The objections are such as would arise under any circumstances. It is not a question whether they shall be encountered, but when. Pleasant relationships are to be broken up, strong ties sundered, and heavy responsibilities incurred, both by those who go and those who stay. If they can not be grappled with now, when can they ?"
Public worship was established in City Hall the first Sabbath in April, 1839. Rev. W. I. Budington, then a student at Andover, was the first preacher; he occupied the pulpit for six Sundays, or until the day of the public recognition of the church. On that day also the Sabbath school began regular sessions with full equip- ments. Older than the church, it is precisely coeval with the date of separate religious worship by the volunteer body, afterwards to be known as the Jolin Street Congregational Church of Lowell.
When the day arrived for the formal organization of the church by council, it had regular preaching-services, a well-equipped Sab- bath school, stated prayer-meetings, a prudential committee, a church-building in process of erection, a confession of faith and covenant, a committee on music, and a choir.
At 73 o'clock, P. M., May 9, 1839, the First Congregational Church was crowded to its utmost limit. Two hundred and forty- three of that assembly came to unite in the formation of the new church. Rev. Mr. Blanchard read the articles of faith and cove- nant, to which this number assented. Rev. J. HI. Fairchild of Boston, preached the sermon. It was a large and auspicious beginning : 49 brethren, 194 sisters. They were full of faith and courage; men and women of strong character and humble piety ; they loved the cause of Christ, and went forward to extend its power ; they possessed and portrayed the elements with which to form a church.
Of the 529 Congregational churches in this favored State of Massachusetts, 388 (or nearly three-quarters) have each a present
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membership below the original number that formed this church. On the day of our organization, the Sabbath school numbered 425. Only 26 of our 529 Sabbath schools in Massachusetts exceed that number to-day.
As nearly as we can estimate, fourteen of the original body are now its members. One of this number, Mr. Abner Kittredge, has occupied the same pew about forty years.
MEMBERSHIP.
Throughout its history, the John Street Church has been richly endowed with faithful and influential members. Many of them have been Christians of strong powers of mind and heart, positive convictions, spiritual activity ; men and women of Christian culture and devotion.
Deacons. - The record of its score of deacons is blameless and honorable ; an eminent type of piety is universally recognized as their due.
The first in the order of election, the last to pass away, np to this date, was Selwin Bancroft. Five years he filled the office at the Appleton Street Church, more than twenty years he held the same position in this church. At the former church he was superinten- dent of the Sabbath school two years, the first superintendent of this Sabbath school ten years. Subsequently he spent ten addi- tional years in the same work. His active Christian life was of the apostolic type. He was meditative in spirit, earnest and discriminating in Bible studies, aggressive yet prudent in methods of religious labor ; a man of prayer, of quick and tender affections, " a wise winner of souls," a judicious counselor, a constant friend of his pastor, an unwearied worker, an invaluable helper in the churchi. His death was the crowning jewel of his life. " My trust is in Christ. The promise is, 'My grace is sufficient for thee.' ] can lean upon that assurance."
There are some among us who recall the compact form and genial face of John Houston -" The living commentary," is the testi- mony of one; " A man full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom," says another; "So gifted with good judgment, that his opinion was con- sidered the end of the Law and the Gospel," is the language of a third. He was a man of few words; but those words were always weighty. He was a man of rare mental and moral calibre. A brother here to-day remembers when Deacon Houston came to the door of his boarding-house, one bleak winter morning, forty
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years ago, and invited him to attend Sabbath school with him. He could not resist " the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke." Mr. John Tripp has never left the school from that day to this.
Asa Wetherbee entered upon his duties as deacon, gifted with a rich experience of ten years in the same office in the Appleton Street Church. He wore a sunny, peaceful face; within was an humble, buoyant heart. He was assured, beyond a doubt, of the power and preciousness of the Gospel; he knew his Saviour per- sonally, loved Him ardently, served Him consistently; he rejoiced to welcome the new-born soul into the fold of the Good Shepherd. As I turn the leaves of the book of carly records, occasionally these words appear : "Deacon Wetherbee opened the meeting with prayer." I can almost hear the mellow tones of his fervid impor- tunity, as he pleads that the blessing of God may rest upon this church.
A truer-hearted, more unostentatious, more convincing Christian life has rarely been known among us, than Deacon Otis L. Allen's. His example exhibited the rich fruits of the Gospel in their most winning forms. Ingenuous, devout, forgiving, forbearing, he ever held unswervingly to the highest and broadest principles of truth. Every office of the church was happily and safely intrusted to him. The melody of his voice was a benediction in the praying-circle ; his life without, tallied perfectly with his professions within, the church.
The rest of those who have filled the office of deacon in this `church, and are now deceased, are Ephraim Fisk, Edward Sherman, Seth Chellis, John Lovejoy, Daniel Woodward. They are wearing the crown of righteousness laid up for those that love Him. Some of the former deacons of this church are still living; Judah Crosby, though absent, still an ardent friend of the church; Josiah Thompson, in the far West, the record of whose labors in behalf of * this Zion is suggested by the accurate and finished manner in which, as clerk, he kept the records; Nathan Allen, for twenty unbroken years an able, efficient, nintiring co-laborer with the pastors and brethren, for eleven years giving his choicest endeavor.to the work of superintendent of the Sabbath school. No sacrifice was meas- ured by its severity, nor by its demand upon his time; may his be " the full reward."
By a vote of the church, June 28, 1858, the term of service of each deacon was limited to three years. Three of those once holding this position, are still of us. Bro. D. T. Kimball held the position longer
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than any of his predecessors, with one exception. Diverted from his chosen labors as minister of the gospel, he has long been a counselor among us ; his patriarchal bearing, his benign face, his eminently Christian example, his spirit of entreaty at the mercy- seat, are still (may they be long) vouchsafed to ns.
Bro. John J. Pray is still portraying the beauty of his pleading name, he is still " holding on to the promises," he still finds " the scheme of redemption wonderfully adapted to the wants of mnen." Many years to come may we hear his glowing testimony for Christ.
Bro. A. B. Woodworth, whose term of service was very brief, is now doing as earnest, effective work for Christ among us, as he could accomplish in the office itself.
On our present board of deacons is one who has given the best years of his life to this beloved church. For nine years Bro. J. C. Wing recorded the doings of the church, in a large, full hand, fitting symbol of a well-developed Christian character. For fifteen years he has been an exemplary, vigilant officer of the church. May we greet him in the sanctuary for many a Sabbath. Associated with him in this sacred office are deacons B. C. Benner, Geo. C. Osgood and William Morey, - brethren whose hearts are with the church, whose hands are ready for any good work. In the piety and efficiency of all these faithful office-bearers, the Lord our God "hath been with us during these forty years."
Deaconesses. -- January 20, 1875, the office of deaconess was established, upon the system of triennial rotation. Mrs. Z. W. Sturtevant, Mrs. J. J. Judkins, Mrs. Wm. Morey and Mrs. Edwin Sanborn were chosen. Mrs. Sanborn has recently declined to serve longer, and Mrs. E. G. Richardson has been chosen her sub- stitnte. The other ladies still hold their office. During the first year alone, more than two hundred and fifty calls were made upon the sick. . The position gives opportunity for much usefulness. It supplies a need long felt in our church. As years advance, expe- rience shows the high value of these labors and reveals the best methods of perpetuating them. We consider this board of officers an efficient auxiliary to the pastor's work.
Laymen. - This church has been richly endowed with many eminent Christian laymen.
As we review the past, we find one name upon almost every page of our history, written and unwritten. No one ever loved the church with a truer love, no one has infused more of his personality into the substance of her being, than Artemas L. Brooks. For
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thirty-five years he gave his best energies to lay deep the foundation work of the church. Gifted with a mind exceptionally strong, clear and positive, he ever sought to cultivate assiduously the best gifts he possessed. He had an innate love of learning and of liberty, was always a warm friend of the poor and the suffering -- a noble- man of nature's most generous type. When his judgment approved any appeal for aid, his hand was wide open to give. He was often invited to fill, and at one time unanimously chosen to, the office of deacon. He refused . the position, yet striving to exhibit the temper of Paul's prerequisite of deaconship, -= " great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." His great solicitude for the welfare of Zion appears constantly in his journal. As early as January, 1849, the first of those few years he spent as a most efficient Superintendent of our Sunday school, he writes: "Two hundred and twenty present to-day. May the Lord pour out his Spirit upon us."
Again at the close of a Sabbath day, the first in January, 1869, he writes : " A good day in Zion. Christ's love prevails. May the Lord revive His work, and may it continne through the year." In the same connection, he adds: "Every day is a little life, and our whole life is but a day repeated : therefore live every day as if it were to be the last." In a private letter under date of Jan. 3, 1861, he says, alluding to the death of his father and mother: "I have great reason to rejoice that I had parents that did so much for me; and I think laid well the foundation of whatever character I now bear, together with the blessing on their efforts, and the answering of their prayers."
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