USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Rockland > Semi-centennial, First Baptist Church, Rockland, Mass. > Part 1
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL
LAST BAPTIST CHURCH
WHEELAND. MASS.
AY, 1904
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
https://archive.org/details/semicentennialfi00firs
1854
1904
SEMI-CENTENNIAL
00
REV. B. H. LANE.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
ROCKLAND, MASS.
REV. B. H. LANE, Pastor.
CHURCH AND PARSONAGE.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
-- BY-
REV. B. H. LANE, PASTOR.
The first religious service looking to the formation of a Baptist Church in the east village of Abington, was held in Moore's Hall, on Sunday morning, March 26th, 1854. Rev. Horace T. Love, of North Abington, preached the sermon. After that time, regular preaching services were held every Sunday morning, and prayer meetings on Sunday and Wednesday evenings. These services were well attended and full of spiritual power.
Deacon George W. Chipman, of Bos- ton, who owned property here, and DEACON GEORGE W. CHIPMAN. who made his home here for a part of the year, was very active in these early services. He took the initial steps looking to a church organization, and secured the hall for a year in which to hold services. It was at his sug- gestion that Rev. H. Fittz, of the Massachusetts Baptist Conven- tion,-"Father Fittz," as he was called, came here to visit Baptist families and encourage them in their services. It was out of this early beginning that the church was organized. Deacon Chipman was never a member of the Church, but it was largely owing to his interest and generous help that it was formed. He was a true friend to it as long as he lived, and contributed lib- erally to its support. He presented a beautiful Bible for the pulpit, and his wife, Mrs. Annis J. Lane-Chipman, presented the Church its first communion set. The deacon also gave the land upon which the Church and Parsonage stand. As true friend
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Semi-Centennial Rockland Baptist Church
and generous patron of the Church we are glad to have his picture in our book.
The First Baptist Church of East Abington, now Rockland, Mass., was organized May 1st, 1854. Rev. Eliab Coy was Moderator of the meeting and read Psalm 108 and offered prayer. There were twenty-two constituent mem- bers, who had taken letters from the vari- ous churches to which they belonged, that they might form themselves into a Baptist Church. Of this number four are now living. Mrs. Martha A. Hop- kins, then Martha A. Foster, has been MRS. MARTHA A. HOPKINS. an active and faithful member through all the years of history. She has been very successful in working among the young people, and interest- ing them in Missions. Her influence has touched many lives for good. Miss Mary Chamberlin has been a member for fifty years. For many years she has been feeble and confined to her home by the infirmities of age. Albert Chamberlin was one of the constituent members, and very active in all the early years of the Church. He was Superintendent of the Sunday School for years, and Deacon for fifteen years to the time when he took his
letter to join the North Abington Church. Another of his sisters, Mrs. Clarissa Wales, one of the early mem- bers, was active in the work of the Church until she was dismissed by let- ter to unite in forming the Church at North Abington. These four are the only survivors of the twenty-two original members
The formal recognition of the Church was by an ecclesiastical council, on May 4th, 1854. Rev. Rollin H. Neal, D. D., of Boston, was Moderator, and Rev. A. H. Burlingham, D. D. was Clerk. Dr. Neal preached the sermon,
DEACON JOHN CHAMBERLIN.
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Semi-Centennial Rockland Baptist Church.
and Rev. H. Fittz, of the Baptist State Convention, offered the prayer of rec- ognition. The Hand of Fellowship was given to Rev. H. T. Love as Pastor, by Rev. George W. Bosworth, D. D., and the address to the Church was by Rev. William Howe, D. D., the only one of those who took part in the public services, who still lives at the venerable age of ninety-eight years. On that same day Rev. H. T. Love was installed as first Pastor. He was also chosen Clerk of the Church. Articles of Faith and a Covenant were DEACON ALBERT CHAMBERLIN. adopted, and they have never been changed. They are in harmony with the belief and practices of Baptist Churches.
A Sunday School was formed, and money raised to purchase books for a Library. Mr. Nahum Moore was the Superintendent, and Mrs. Albert Chamberlin had charge of the Primary Depart- ment. She was a very able and faithful worker among the children, and by her zeal and devotion, filled a large place in the Church, until January 20th, 1886, when she took her letter with others, to assist in forming the North Abington Church.
The pastorate of Rev. H. T. Love extended to July 1st, 1855, one year and two months. During his pastorate eighteen were received by baptism, fourteen by letter and two by experi- ence. John Wilkes and John Cham- berlin were elected the first Deacons of the Church. A gracious revival came near the close of the year, and for a time weekly seasons of prayer and fasting were observed. At most of these seasons some persons confessed Christ, and offered themselves for bap-
MRS. ALBERT CHAMBERLIN.
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Semi-Centennial Rockland Baptist Church.
tism and Church membership. The services of these days were full of re- ligious fervor, and were sometimes prolonged for hours. Among those who thus confessed Christ, was Andrew J. Cushing, a young man of a warm, earnest spirit, and ability to do Christ's work. He was licensed to preach by the Church, August 14th, 1864, and for many years has been a faithful preach- er of the Gospel in the West. He is now at Rockford, Spokane Co., Wash. It was during this first pastorate that three who are still members with us REV. WILLIAM P. EVERETT. Pastor 1885-1857. were baptized,-Mrs. Jane R. Poole, who has not been able to be with us much for years,-Joseph E. French and Francis M. French, who have both been active and faithful in all the years of their Church life. Joseph E. French was Clerk of the Church for thirty-five and a half years, the longest period of official service during the fifty years. He has been Superintendent of the Sunday School for seventeen years, and Deacon for fourteen years. He and his brother Francis M., were baptized the same day, June 3d, 1855. Francis was one of the youngest mem- bers to be baptized, and since his bap- tism has been very faithful to duty and devoted to the Church. Their mother, Mrs. Sarah P. French, was one of the first to be baptized into Church member- ship on September 17th, 1854. She re- mained true and loyal to the Church, and faithful in all her religious duties to the day of her death, on April 6th, 1899.
In one of the early business meet- ings of the Church it was voted "to hold regular monthly missionary prayer meetings, and to take up a collection for missionary purposes on the first
DEACON JOSEPH WETHERBEE.
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Semi-Centennial Rockland Baptist Church.
Sabbath evening of each month." So the Church has been interested in Missions from its earliest history, and has given thousands of dollars for them.
On March 13th, 1855, the first vote was passed looking towards the erection of a house of worship. The Pastor, H. T. Love, was appointed to solicit dona- tions for the purpose, and it was voted to raise $10,000, if possible, for a meet- ing-house. On July 30th, 1855, the Church accepted Deacon Chipman's offer to give the land, and it was upon that land that the meeting-house was LEONARD BLANCHARD. built, and where it now stands. The pastorate of H. T. Love ended July 1st, 1855, and for some months the Church had supplies to preach.
William P. Everett, from Rochester Theological Seminary, was called to the pastorate on September 2d, 1855. He accepted the call and entered upon his work October 1st. Mr. Everett was a young man, and had not been ordained. He was a good scholar and a man devoted to his work. He was ordained by the recom- mendation of an ecclesiastical council that met on April 23d, 1856. Rev. William Howe, D. D., was Moderator, and Rev. F. Augustus Wil- lard, Clerk. The sermon was preached by Rev. John Pryor, D. D., ordaining prayer by Rev. George Daland, charge to the candidate given by Rev. F. A. Willard, Hand of Fellowship by Rev. I. S. Kallock, address to the Church by Rev. J. Tilson. These public services were held in the Congregational Church, by their cordial invitation. On Septem- ber 4th, 1856, the new Chapel erected by the Church, on the land presented by Deacon Chipman, was dedicated. Rev. William Howe, D. D., preached the REV. W. S. MCKENZIE. Pastor 1857-1858. sermon, and Rev. J. Tilson offered the
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Semi-Centennial Rockland Baptist Church.
prayer of dedication. Services were also held in the evening, when Rev. I. S. Kallock, of Tremont Temple, Bos- ton, preached. It was a glad day for the people. During the pastorate of Mr. Everett, twenty-seven persons were added to the Church, sixteen of them by baptism. Among those who came during this pastorate, were Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Blanchard, who for so many years were earnest and faithful workers in the Church. He was Sup- erintendent of the Sunday School for years, and gave time and money for its REV. JEREMIAH CHAPLIN. Pastor 1858-1862. success. They both loved the Church, and labored for it till they died. During this pastorate, Brothers Milton Wetherbee, Lorenzo D. Perkins, and Sisters Miss Tryphena Whiting, Mrs. Ellen Burrell-French and Mrs. Eunice Coy-Keene were baptized. They all added more than names and numbers to the Church. Mr. Everett ended his pastorate April 1st, 1857.
On April 27th, 1857, the Church called William S. Mckenzie, a student of Newton Theological Seminary, to become . Pastor. He accepted the call, and was ordained June 2d. Rev. John Pryor, D. D., was Moderator of the council, and Rev. J. Tilson, Clerk. Dr. Pryor, of Boston, preached the sermon, and the ordaining prayer was by Rev. J. Tilson. This was a very happy and successful pastorate. Rev. A. B. Earl, the Evangelist, labored for some weeks in the spring of 1857, and quite a num- ber were converted. The pastorate continued to July 4th, 1858. During this time twenty were baptized, eight received by letter and one by experi- ence.
On October 12th, 1858, the Rev.
REV. ANDREW J. CUSHING. Licensed August 14th, 1864.
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Semi-Centennial Rockland Baptist Church
Jeremiah Chaplin, D. D., of West Ded- ham, Mass., was called to be Pastor. He accepted the call and entered upon his work. He was a fine scholar, a good preacher, and a faithful Pastor. His pastorate was the longest one in the history of the Church, to his time. It had strength and power. During the three and a half years it continued, forty-nine persons were added to the Church, of whom thirty-seven were baptized. It was during this time that Joseph E. French was elected Clerk of the Church, which office he held for REV. I. S. HAMBLEN. Pastor 1868-1872. more than thirty-five years. Dr. Chaplin baptized his son and daughter. The son, Heman W. Chaplin is a prominent lawyer of Boston, and the author of several books. Of those who united with the Church during these years, five still remain with us. Brother Charles H. French, and Sisters Mrs. Elvira Blanchard-Lane, Mrs. Hannah Moore-Packard, Mrs. Mary Sherman-Darling and Mrs. Mary M. Perkins. The pastorate closed on April 2nd, 1862.
The next Pastor was the Rev. Sereno Howe, who was called on July 17th, 1862. He continued Pastor four years and ten months. During these years twenty- two persons united with the Church, thirteen by baptism. Of these only one remains a member with us now. Mrs. Isadore French-Perry, whose sweet Christian character and patient endur- ance of illness are a constant inspiration to all. Mr. Howe closed his pastorate May 29th, 1867. For more than a year the Church was without a Pastor, but had preaching services by Newton students and others. It was during this time that the present Pastor, Rev. B. H. Lane, then a student at Newton, first preached here, on Dec. 22d, 1867.
In June 1868, the Church ex-
REV. J. K. CHASE. Pastor 1872-1874.
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Semi-Centennial Rockland Baptist Church.
tended a call to Mr. Isaac S. Hamblen, a student of the senior class at Newton. He accepted the call, and was ordained by an ecclesiastical coun- cil that met September 16th. Rev. A. Hovey, D. D., of Newton, was Moder- ator, and Rev. Andrew Reed, Clerk of the council. The sermon was by Rev. O. S. Stearns, D. D., of Newton Centre, Mass. Rev. Gideon Cole, of Weymouth, offered the ordaining prayer. This pastorate was more than four years, closing September 1st, 1872. During these years the Pastor welcomed DEACON WILLIAM WHITING. thirty persons into the Church, sixteen of them by baptism. Nine of these still remain as members with us. Among them are the names of Alonzo W. Perry, who has done so much to make our Fiftieth Anniversary a happy Jubilee, Mrs. Aurelia Swain, Mrs. Emma Valedge, Mrs. Lilla G. Reed, and Mrs. Alma Chandler.
The seventh Pastor was Rev. J. K. Chase, who was called December 4th, 1872. He came from East Stoughton, Mass. His pastorate was a little less than two years, as he resigned on ac- count of ill health, and closed his pastorate October 31st. 1874. It was his privilege to welcome into Church membership, eighteen persons, nine of them by baptism. Three of these are still with us : Mrs. Harriet Easton, Mrs. Eliza Simmons and Mrs. Emma J. Poole. His pastorate began in East Abington, and before it closed, the name of the town was changed to Rockland. He went from here to Hol- den, Mass., then to Rowley. After that, he was Pastor at Cornish, N. H. He died suddenly while leading the evening service at East Hampstead, N. H. Union Church. January 5th, 1902.
The next Pastor was Rev. L. L. Fittz, son of "Father" Fittz, well known in all the Churches. He began his pastorate February 1st, 1875. He was the first Pastor in the newly incorporat- ed town of Rockland, and the Church
DEACON L. D. PERKINS.
13
Semi-Centennial Rockland Baptist Church.
was now called the First Baptist Church of Rockland. During this pas- torate forty-nine persons were added to the Church, thirty-four of them being baptized. Among them were some of our good workers in all service. Deacon Rufus T. Estes, who had been interested in the Church almost from its formation, now became a member. Mr. and Mrs. John J. Ryan, John Q. Benner, Mrs Mary Poole-Forbes, Mrs. Agnes Thompson, Mrs. Lillias Foster Thomas, Mrs. Emeline R. Harper, REV. L. L. FITTZ. Pastor 1875-1878. Mrs. Jane S. French, Mr. Albert C. Reed, Miss Belle Williams, and some others. These all add strength to our Church. The Pastor re- signed, to take effect December 1st, 1878, and has been an invalid for years.
Rev. Almond Barrelle was the next Pastor. He supplied the Church for three months, and on April 4th, 1879, was formally called to the pastorate. It was during his pastorate that Charles F. Meserve became a member of the Church. He and his wife came by letter from Waterville, Maine. He was graduated from Colby College, and was Principal of the Rockland High School from 1877 to 1885. He and Rufus T. Estes were chosen Deacons, June 4th, 1880. He had the degree of L. L. D. conferred upon him, and has been President of Shaw University, at Raleigh, N. C., since 1894.
Mr. Barrelle welcomed thirty-five new members, twenty-four of them be- ing baptized. Ten of these are now members with us, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Crocker, Mrs. Clara Damon, Mrs. Laura J. Estes, Mr. and Mrs. Hosea Gardner, Mrs. Nettie Everson, Mrs. Elvira Ames and Mrs. Eliza M. Avery. The pastorate closed July 1st, 1881.
REV. ALMOND BARRELLE. Pastor 1879-1881.
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Semi-Centennial Rockland Baptist Church.
On March 8th, 1882, Rev. A. E. Woodsum was formally called as Pas- tor. His was the longest pastorate in the history of the Church, being more than five years. It was during this time that thirteen members of the Church were dismissed to assist in forming the Baptist Church at North Abington, on April 14th, 1886. These were some of the faithful workers, and greatly missed, but they were not lost to the cause of Christ.
During this pastorate fifty-six mem- bers were united with the Church, DEA. CHAS. F. MESERVE, L. L. D. forty-three of them by baptism. Twenty of these are still with us, too many to mention their names, but some of our most earnest workers.
Mr. Woodsum closed his pastorate April 1st, 1887, and went to Milford, N. H. He is now the succesful Pastor at Exeter, N. H.
The next Pastor was Rev. William C. Barrows, who began his work August 1st, 1887. This was the year that Joseph E. French was chosen Superintendent of the Sunday School, which office he still holds. He was also chosen Deacon May 2d, 1890.
Mr. Barrows admitted to membership forty-eight persons, thirty-five being baptized. The names of twenty of these still appear upon our rolls The pastorate closed December 21st, 1891. Mr. Bar- rows went from Rockland to Woburn, Mass., and is now Pastor for the second time in Biddeford, Maine.
The twelfth Pastor was Rev. A. L. Wadsworth. He was called by unani- mous vote, and commenced his work on April 17th, 1892. On June 4th it was voted that the Committee on Parsonage proceed with the building according to plans they had, at an expense of $2200, or $2300, above the cellar. The Church edifice was also enlarged and repaired during this pastorate. Mr.
DEACON RUFUS T. ESTES.
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Semi-Centennial Rockland Baptist Church
Wadsworth welcomed ninety-eight new members, seventy-five of them being by baptism. The largest number baptized in any one month, was twenty-eight, in February, 1893. The pastorate closed October 1st, 1896. Mr. Wadsworth has been Pastor in Monrovia, Cal. He is now an Evangelist on the Pacific coast.
The pastorate of Rev. F. O. Cun- ningham began on January 1st, 1897, and continued for five years. Under his leadership the Church was incorpor- ated, and the Society ceased to have a REV. A. E. WOODSUM. Pastor 1882-1887. separate existence. The Church-roll was revised, and a number of names dropped that added no strength to the Church. A revised Church Manual, containing the new By-Laws, and much other valuable matter, together with a corrected list of all the members, was published. There were added to the Church twenty-six new members, nine of them being baptized. Mr. Cunningham went from Rockland to Woonsocket, R. I. He was soon obliged to re- sign because of throat trouble, and is now in business in New York City.
For the fourteenth Pastor, the Church called Rev. B. H. Lane, from Antrim, N. H. His pastorate began April 1st, 1902. He inaugurated a movement looking to the payment of the Church debt, and the observance of the Semi-Centennial during the month of May, 1904. During this time seven- teen have united with the Church, three of them by baptism.
During the fifty years there has been a Sunday School doing its faithful ser- vice. Its officers have been devoted men and women, who realized the re- sponsibility of the work and were faith- ful in it. Its teachers have been
REV. WILLIAM C. BARROWS. Pastor 1887-1891.
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Semi-Centennial Rockland Baptist Church.
Christian people who not only taught the word of God, but tried to live in harmony with it. Among the Super- intendents we find these names: Nahum Moore, Leonard Blanchard, N. B. Tanner, L. D. Perkins, Albert Chamberlin, Rev. A. E. Woodsum, and Joseph E. French.
On September 8th, 1856, Francis M. French was chosen Treasurer of the Sunday School for the first time, and while he has not held the office continually since, he has held it many years in a very faithful man- DEACON J. E. FRENCH. ner. Miss Alice L. French, one of the youngest to be baptized into the Church, on February 4th, 1883, has been connected with the Primary Department ever since, and for about fourteen years has been Superintendent of it.
There has been some form of Ladies' Circle auxiliary to the home and benefit work of the Church through most of the years of its history. It has done efficient service, and been of great aid in the work of the Church. The present Society, called "The Ladies' Home and Benevolent Circle," was formed October 20th, 1897. There are forty-six members, and Mrs. Clara Damon is the President. A meeting for the study of some mission field is held once a month, and the members are becom- ing more intelligent about missions.
Mrs. Martha A. Hopkins, one of our constituent members, has had charge of the Junior Band. She has led them in Mission Study and in giving, for years A Farther Lights Society was organ- ized on September 19th, 1902. A Society some years earlier than this had been formed, and for some years did good work among the young people. It had ceased to be active, and so this new Society was formed. It has about thirty members, and Mrs.
REV. A. L. WADSWORTH. Pastor 1892-1896.
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Semi-Centennial Rockland Baptist Church.
Katherine D. Clark is President.
A Young People's Society of Chris- tian Endeavor was formed July 9th, 1883, with fourteen members, eleven of whom were active; two of these, Mrs. Grace E. Poole-Blenis and Alice L. French, have been active members with us from the first. William Y. Allen was the first President. The present President is Frank B. Hammond, and there are thirty-six active, and eighteen associate members.
REV. F. O. CUNNINGHAM. Pastor 1897-1901. A Boys' Improvement Club was formed May 1st, 1900, for boys between the ages of ten and twenty. Butler F. Perry has been the Presi- dent from the beginning. The Club has pleasant rooms, fitted up as parlor and game room, and gymnasium provided by weekly subscriptions of the Church members. The rooms are open two evenings of each week for social and athletic training, and on Sunday afternoons for devotional services. The purpose is to keep the boys of our Sunday School off the streets, and to furnish a morally clean atmosphere in which to form character and develop manhood. The leaders are spiritual young men who work along spiritual lines. Charles Wright is Physical Director.
The youngest person ever baptized into the membership of the Church, was Rhoda Ann Damon, aged nine years, who was baptized December 28th, 1879. She was a faithful member till she was called to her Heavenly Home, December 9th, 1885.
Three of the Pastors have been or- dained here. William P. Everett, a student from Rochester Theological Seminary, was ordained April 23d, 1856. William S. Mckenzie, a student from Newton Theological Seminary, was ordained as Pastor of the Church June 2d, 1857. Isaac S. Hamblen, a student also of Newton, was ordained Pastor by advice of ecclesiastical coun-
FRANCIS M. FRENCH.
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Semi-Centennial Rockland Baptist Church.
cil, on September 13th, 1868.
A number of Clergymen other than the Pastors have been members of the Church. Rev. Eliab Coy was one of the constituent members. Rev. Benj. N. Harris became a member by letter, June 30th, 1855, and remained a mem- ber until his death, March 3d, 1859. Andrew J. Cushing was baptized Jan- uary 7th, 1855. He was licensed to preach August 14th, 1864, and was or- dained in the West, where he has been preaching for years. Chas. F. Meserve, L. L. D., united by letter, September A. W. PERRY. 24th, 1879, was chosen Deacon, June 4th, 1880, and held that office until dismissed by letter, Septem- ber 16th, 1885. He has been President of Shaw Univesity, Raleigh, N. C., since 1894.
The Church has always been interested in Missions, and has contributed every year, more or less, to the extension of the King- dom of Christ in the world. It has also been able to render sub- stantial aid to its own members in needy circumstances, thus ful- filling the Scriptural injunction, "Bear ye one another's burdens."
The Pastor desires to thank the members for their generous re- sponse to his appeal for offerings towards the payment of the Church debt of more than $3800. Most of the members have given towards it, and have done so cheerfully and sweetly. There has been no friction, no un- pleasant urging, and no strenuous pub- lic appeal. There has been much prayer and hearty co-operation. We are in a better condition to do Chris- tian work than for years, and there ought to be an earnest spirit of con- secration and devotion to the cause of Christ. We now need a spiritual blessing. Let us bring all the tithes of service into the sanctuary, and God will pour out a rich blessing.
MRS. B. HI. LANE.
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Semi-Centennial Rockland Baptist Church.
PASTORS OF THE CHURCH:
Horace T. Love, May 1, 1854-July 1, 1855 William P. Everett. Oct. 1, 1855-April 1, 18 57 William S. Mckenzie, June 2, 1857-Jnly 4, 18 58 Jeremiah Chaplin, Oct. 12, 1858-April 2, 1862 Sereno Howe, July 17, 1862-May 29, 1867 J. S. Hamblin, Sept. 16, 1868-Sept. 1, 1872 J. K. Chase, Dec. 4, 1872-Nov. 1, 1874 L. L. Fittz. Feb. 1, 1875-Dec. 1, 1878 Almon Barrelle, April 4, 1879-July 1, 1881 A. E. Woodsum, March 8, 1882-April 1, 1887 William C. Barrows, August 1, 1887-Dec. 21, 1891 A. L. Wadsworth, April 17, 1892 -- Oct. 1, 1896 F. O. Cunningham, Jan. 1, 1897-Jan. 1, 1902 B. H. Lane, April 1, 1902-
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