USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Roxbury > Some recollections of the pastors and people of the Second Church of old Roxbury, afterwards First Church, West Roxbury > Part 1
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NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 08182907 3
PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF
SECOND CHURCH, ROXBURY
CHARLES G. MACKINTOSH
JUN 24 1910
R. B. Mackintosh, Esq.
Roxbury
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRAR
ASTOR, LEHOX TIL DEN FOUNDATIONE
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SOME RECOLLECTIONS
OF THE
PASTORS AND PEOPLE
OF THE
SECOND CHURCH OF OLD ROXBURY
AFTERWARDS FIRST CHURCH, WEST ROXBURY
OF
BROOK FARM AND THE ANCIENT ROAD AND LANDMARKS FROM ELLIOT SQUARE, ROXBURY HILL, TO MEMORIAL HALL SQUARE, DEDHAM
BY
CHARLES, G. MACKINTOSH
AUGUST, 1901
SALEM, MASS .: NEWCOMB & GAUSS, PRINTERS 1901
SG
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
685312 ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R
1915 L
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Ministers.
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REV. JOHN FLAGG
Was ordained over the Second Church, Roxbury, February 2, 1825 and continued there until his death March 14, 1831.
He was the immediate successor of the Rev. John Bradford who was the pastor of the Parish at the time of his death.
Mr. Flagg was a man feeble in health, which made parish work hard for him as well as his people. His ministry here was at a time when the liberal and the conservative were separating from each other in the churches. His pastorate was of short duration ending by his early death. Although a conscientious and refined gentleman his stay in the parish did not yield the harvest hoped for.
REV. GEORGE WHITNEY
Ordained in the Second Church, Roxbury, June 15, 1831, and continued until 1836.
A young, bright, happy man, who looked at all times on the sunny side of people and things. He made himself at home with every member of his parish and his visits to them, with his pleasant speech and sunny smile, left an air of content and happiness in every household. He was an earnest and acceptable preacher, highly satisfactory to his hearers, and was held in high esteem by all classes in the community. After performing his duties here faithfully a few years, he had a call to go to the Jamaica Plain parish as assistant to the vener- able Dr. Gray, his father-in-law. His time of service there was cut short by his early death.
He never cut loose from his associations in his first parish. He could often be seen in Dr. Gray's yellow bodied chaise, going about and calling upon his old parishioners with a cheery word for all. He was highly prized by all the ministers in the circuit of his exchanges.
REV. GEORGE WHITNEY.
REV. THEODORE PARKER.
He came here a plain, unpretentious young man, ordained June 21st, 1837, and left the parish Feb. 8th, 1846.
He at once entered into all the interests of his people, made frequent visits among the families and soon knew them personally, their ancestry and their aims in life.
He enjoyed roving through the woods and fields, he saw wonders in every flower and blade of grass, tree and shrub, and it was his supreme delight to be among them. There was one little stream that used to charm him in the season of the fringed gen- tian; he would wander along its banks and gather flowers by the handful, and if he met a friend on his way home, old or young, he would reach out his hand and say " Will you have some ? "
This little stream was in a pasture midway be- tween his home and Brook Farm, and in the path through the pasture stood the famous King Charles oak, as he used to call it. In this same woody path, on cold crisp winter afternoons, he was often seen plodding on his way to the Charles Riv-
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er with his skates dangling across his neck for the sport on the ice, of which he was very fond.
He was fond of horseback riding, but was extreme- ly awkward in that position. He was also an awk- ward walker, still he did much of both riding and walking.
When he served on the school committee there was no part of Old Roxbury to which he did not walk in visiting the schools, and his interest in them was great.
In making his parish calls he always walked and it was a familiar sight to see him and his estimable wife, always arm in arm when walking together, he with his long awkward strides, hat on the back of his head, and she with her short rolling step trudg- ing along beside him. Apparently they were the happiest two in the world.
For animals his love had no bound. Some of his neighbors used to have the finest oxen and horses and I have seen him, time and again, go where they were and fondle them over as a child would kittens. When he was abroad, in writing home to his friends, it was common for him to in- quire about certain animals.
He loved people who tried to do right, and the unfortunate, also, found in him a friend, but the
REV. THEODORE PARKER.
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SECOND CHURCH, ROXBURY.
wicked a deadly enemy. An instance occurs to me of his sympathy. It was reported to him by a man who loved mischief that one of his young parishion- ers who had charge of quite a number of foreign workmen was treating them harshly. Mr. Parker at once called upon that young man and told him what he had heard. The young man said he was aware from what source he got his information, and at once stated the case correctly. Mr. Parker re- plied, " All right, Charles, but be as lenient as you can to the workmen." Not long after this the same mischief maker gave Mr. Parker another exper- ience. Mr. Parker called upon me and said "What do you suppose he's been saying now? he has been telling Aunt Lucy that I am stealing her meal to give to my cow." It is enough to say that the mischief maker was at once removed from the Par- ker and Cabot household where he had been a coachman.
Aunt Lucy Cabot was the aunt and foster-moth- er of Mrs. Parker, a rich woman whom the Parkers always lived with during her lifetime. She kept a pair of horses and carriage and a man to care for them, and work about the garden, and in her stable Mr. Parker kept his cow. In summer it was his usual morning exercise to don his blue frock,
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and be out about his stable and garden at work.
When Mr. Parker had his call to settle at Rox- bury, before he decided to come, he came over to preach and brought his wife and Aunt Lucy Cabot.
After the morning service they drove to the old Spring Street tavern, had dinner, and returned to the church for the afternoon service, then home to Newton. When he decided to come to Roxbury Miss Cabot at once bought the old " Rain-water- Doctor's" place under the great pines directly oppo site the old tavern where they took dinner, and that was their home during their stay in Roxbury.
An instance of his great sympathy with the unfortunate : one of his old parishioners who had seen better days came to a sudden and sad end. Mr. Parker was called upon by the family to perform the funeral service. Some of the neighbors thought it a duty to the family to attend the funeral and just as the writer was leaving to go, a lady said to him " Well I suppose you are going to hear Mr. Parker laud this man to the skies." I was much interested to hear what he would say. His prayer was in his own characteristic manner, most devout and full of sympathy for the family, the only allusion to the man being in these words, " That the chil- dren might imitate the virtues of the father." And
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SECOND CHURCH, ROXBURY.
so I reported to the good lady of the Orthodox faith.
In social gatherings he was the most genial of all. In a room full of his friends all would be eager lis- teners to his merry-making.
In the pulpit he talked plainly and directly to his people. Mr. Parker's study and library was in the northeast corner of the house on the first floor, in full view of his garden. In the only window in which the sun could shine a pot of corn could al- ways be seen growing in winter.
In regard to his quickness and willingness to help his fellows I will relate an instance. The writer was on a committee to nominate men for the Board of Aldermen for the city of Roxbury. The incum- bant from this portion of the town was William Keith, Esq., an old friend and parishioner of Mr. Parker. Then, as now, with people, all were not satisfied with their officials and the story was started that he was unfit for the position on account of his intemperate habits. I tried to make the com- mittee believe the story was untrue and that it was a story gotten up for a purpose, but made no im- pression upon them; finally I asked the committee whose word they would take, as they were not in-
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clined to take mine. They agreed that if Theodore Parker would say Mr. Keith was not an intemperate man they would place his name on the list. I at once called upon Mr. Parker, explained the situation and what the committee were willing to do, and asked him if he would give me a letter stating how he viewed the case. His reply was "with all my heart, they are doing Mr. Keith a great injustice." He at once wrote the letter, I took it to the committee, Mr. Keith's name was placed upon the list and he was elected.
When Mr. Parker resigned his Roxbury pastor- ate the people felt they could not part with him, as Boston was so near and he could live among them. Arrangements were made with him to continue to supply the pulpit for one year afterwards. During that time he would drive into Boston in the morn- ing and care for his Boston congregation, then drive back to his old pulpit and hold the services there. Some of the old parishioners followed him to both services.
While he was on his first trip abroad his friends desired to make his church look cheerful to him on his return, and they lowered the old-fashioned high box pulpit and placed stairs on the outside leading
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into it. The first Sunday after he returned the church had not a vacant place to stand in, while outside it looked like an old-fashioned musterfield it was so thronged with people, horses and carriages from far and near. At no other time in my memory was it so crowded, although during the last three years of his ministry many came from Boston, Roxbury, Dedham, Milton and other neighboring towns. It will be understood by this account how Mr. Parker lived here in his pastorate, and in what high esteem he was held. After he went to Boston the world knew all about him and what the great noble-hearted friend of humanity achieved.
With a directness that all could understand, he denounced all phases of wrong and hypocrisy, and extolled all that was good, and so he lived on happy with his people and surroundings, until one day Deacon Arnold took him in his old two-wheeled chaise to South Boston to preach the ordination ser- mon for the Rev. C. C. Shackford. From that sermon the reputation of Mr. Parker spread broadcast. It can only be known by those who were near him at that time what days and nights of anguish he suf- fered. Often when he would go for his mail in the morning, he would return laden with letters, some
-
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anonymous, some threatening, some commending. He would come into the shop where I was working and say to Mr. Billings, "Here, Joe, see what a mess of stuff I have got here this morning." At first they did not trouble him much, but as time ran on and but two or three ministers of the Boston Association were friendly with him, it began to wear upon him; but as he thought he was right he deter- mined to brave it out, and now the world knows how well he succeeded. It seemed to be a great blow to the conservative and cautious members of the profession to have the mirror held before them so they could see just where they stood. With rare exceptions they were unwilling to exchange with him, but when they tried to influence James Free- man Clark, he replied, " I have made an agreement to exchange with Mr. Parker and I shall keep it if it costs me my pulpit."
It used to be a saying of Mr. Parker's that no man ever got very high in pulling himself up by pulling other people down.
To the young he was especially considerate, al- ways ready to talk with them, give them advice, in- vite them to his library, teach them the languages, if they had any desire to learn them, which some
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were very glad to do. He used to say to them, " come almost any evening but Saturday; I want that evening to prepare my sermon for Sunday."
One morning in early June when there had been a shower during the previous night, the foliage dripping wet, and water stood in low places glisten- ing in the sun, the writer was standing on the side- walk by the old cemetery gate talking with a friend, when Mr. Parker came along on his way home from the post office, and stopped with us, and the conver- sation turned upon what a reverend gentleman (as reported), had said in his prayer at a so-called relig- ious meeting in a neighboring church the previous evening.
He prayed that Mr. Parker's tongue might be palsied to prevent him from preaching in such a blasphemous manner and leading the young to de- struction. Mr. Parker stood there talking and pat- ting his hand in the water in the depression on the wall and said, " I presume Brother thinks he is right, but Pope Pius is not the only bigot in the world."
When the old cemetery was enlarged and im- provements made, Mr. Parker took a lively interest in the work going on. It probably is known to but
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few at the present time that in 1841 Mr. Parker selected a lot in this old cemetery for his last rest- ing place. After he left the parish he relinquished his claim.
As this meagre sketch of Mr. Parker's life at Roxbury goes to the press, the last vestige of his old home here has disappeared. The house is now owned by the Catholic clergyman of the place, has been remodeled, the grounds completely rearranged and the stately pines that he so dearly loved have just been cut down into cord wood and piled near Mr. Parker's old library door.
The writer of this brief sketch is well aware of what devoted friends, admirers and able writers have written and published of the writings and works of this busy and noble man, and his only de- sire is to let it be known what he was, and some things in connection with his daily life in Roxbury end his associations at that time, that the present generation have not had brought to their notice.
REV. DEXTER CLAPP
Installed over the Second Church, Roxbury, December 20, 1848, and continued until November 23, 1851.
He came here from the western part of the state, a worthy successor of Mr. Whitney. He at once entered into his work in the parish, and won the love and respect of the people. He took the same stand with his brother ministers as Mr. Parker, acceptable to his own people and to congregations wherever he went.
He was kindly, sympathetic, and ever ready to befriend the unfortunate. No call upon him would pass unheeded. He loved to ramble about the woods and fields, nothing pleased him more than to go into a field and take a plough by the handles and tell how he used to work about the farm when a boy. He came here on a salary of six hundred dollars a year ; while here it was raised to eight hun- dred and a parsonage built costing $4000 besides the land. The lot adjoining the church land, of three acres, was given for the purpose by Mrs. Eliza- beth Corey (Aunt Corey so-called). He was not a man of very robust health. He was kind to the parish, and the parish was kind to him.
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In the fall of 1850, he received a call from the East parish, Salem, and accepted it, where he spent the remainder of his useful life.
The writer was once riding with Mr. Clapp through West Newton; we came to a fine cottage, with many fancy nooks and corners, near the top of the hill. He exclaimed, " That man has built his home to catch all the water," at the same time he said, " I would never build a home on the top of a hill, so when I wanted to go to it I should have to climb, sick or well. No, I would build at the bottom, then climb when I felt like it."
Once, in preaching a sermon on character, to illustrate, he said, " A trifle in the right direction counts for good. A trifle in the wrong direction counts for bad-it is like sticking up a pole in the middle of a river, in course of time it will turn the whole current."
REV. DEXTER CLAPP.
THE NE PUBLIC LIBRARY
ROTOR, LEMAX TUDEN FOUNDAT ONS
EDMUND B. WILLSON.
JULY 23, 1852-MAY, IS59.
After Mr. Clapp left, the parish was without a settled minister for some time, a supply being ob- tained from Sunday to Sunday. We had able men -like the Staples brothers, Mr. Badger and others much like them. Also at one time we had quite a number from the school in Boston of which Rev. George H. Hepworth was the head, but we did not arrive at anything permanent.
One day Mr. Charles Faulkner, of Boston. met Mr. Joseph H. Billings and in talking over parish matters. as they frequently did, Mr. Faulkner said. "Joe, I know of a minister just such as you want out there. I have been in Grafton a number of times on Sunday and heard a Mr. Willson. He is a young man and would satisfy me. I think he would you, and it seems to me, with a little effort, you can get him." The next day found Mr. Bill- ings with his roan horse headed for Grafton. He found the genial, good man, but he was deeply rooted there. Nevertheless, he made an engage- ment to come and preach one Sunday. He came. then arranged to come again. After the second
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time a parish meeting was called, and it was voted unanimously to extend to him a call to come to the old parish. Then came the tug of war. The roots of his life in Grafton, his first pastorate, struck deep; he found it hard to part with his people, but he decided to accept the call. A few days later another letter came from him withdrawing the ac- ceptance, for, as he then thought, good reasons. Then Mr. Billings with his fleet steed was off to Grafton again to have a talk with the good man ; at once another parish meeting was called and a committee chosen to go to Grafton to consult with Mr. Willson. After that, letters passed and finally word came that he had fully decided to come to West Roxbury, commencing July Ist, 1852. There was no special ceremony at the installation. Rev. E. E. Hale preached the sermon and Mr. Willson conducted the services. Among his many Grafton friends there was one of the most worthy ladies who said at the time that she should like to shoot that gentleman that kept coming up there with the roan horse to get their minister away.
Mr. Willson at once made himself at home in the parish, entering into the good graces of all who met him. He had a cheerful word for all with
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EdmundTs. Wilson
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONE
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SECOND CHURCH, ROXBURY.
whom he became associated. There was no place that he could not make better by his presence. Here, with his devoted wife, the next seven years of his life were passed, honored and beloved by all. He took a lively interest in the schools, serving on the committee with Rev. James Freeman Clark, Rev. Alonzo H. Quint, and Rev. Thomas Laurie, a man of whom he was very fond, even though he was of the Scotch Calvinistic Order. All who knew him were aware what a passion he had for teaching ; he used to claim that was what he was best fitted for. Long after he went to Salem he would come up among his old neighbors and would often speak of an old place that he would like to come back to and open a school. While he was here the single service on Sunday was inaugurated. He came here on a salary of $800 a year and the parsonage, which was put in perfect order for him. Later his salary was raised to $1200 and continued so till the end of his ministry here. While at West Roxbury he was invited to take charge of a New York parish and also one in Boston, but he heeded them not.
Mr. Willson was patient and respectful to the complaining and in cases of distress, disappoint-
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ment and the like, the question with him was, " What can I do to help you?" He had a warm welcome in every household and many of the old families al- ways claimed him in their joys and in their sorrows, and to their call he never turned a deaf ear.
As he would ride and walk about the country, no peculiarity would escape his notice; the writer was at one time riding across the country with Mr. Willson; in Needham we came to the house once occupied by the famous Dr. W. T. G. Morton, the discoverer of ether ; it was then owned by George E. Jennings, and painted fancifully, chimneys in keep- ing with the rest. Mr. Willson looked at it and exclaimed in his characteristic way, " Well, every man has his hobby, and that man's is chimneys."
For beautiful things his heart was filled with love, he also loved animals, particularly horses ; graceful as a driver,-in the saddle he was exceedingly grace- ful,-an exercise of which he was very fond. He liked too, to take his skates on a winter day and go to the river or pond for exercise. His talent for interesting stories and fun was immense, but when serious matters were to be weighed, none could give closer attention to devise means to bring about the right. On all occasions, whether in town meet-
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ing or in church service, if he felt called upon to speak, he always had the right word to offer.
At the time of the rendition of Anthony Burns, Mr. Willson was thoroughly aroused ; it was on Fri- day, and on the following Sunday he preached what he called his " Bad Friday" sermon. Some of his parishioners were connected with the military com- panies on guard about the Court House, and one of them gave word to fire, to clear the street up Cornhill. Of course his scathing denunciation of this act caused some ill feeling among some mem- bers of the parish; they did not want to be told that they ought not to allow themselves to be as billets of wood, thrown hither and thither, at the command of superior officers. For some time after that he received many threatening letters that troubled him a great deal, and some people left the church. As soon as it was realized what was being done to annoy Mr. Willson, steps were at once taken to stop it. In looking about among the people, a suspicion rested upon one man. The suspected man was at once informed of the trouble some one was making by writing anonymous letters to Mr. Willson, and he was invited to help hunt up the party who was doing the shameful work-then the mischievous letter-writing at once ceased.
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At last the North Church, Salem, found him out, they wanted him to come to them. Then again came the test on the deep roots,-his old parish wanted him, the North parish, Salem, were deter- mined to have him. He accepted their call; he afterward withdrew the acceptance, then his old parish rejoiced, but the North Church kept the old roan horse running, until they finally got away our friend ; his thirty-six years there have been fitly told by Hon. Robert S. Rantoul and Rev. Edward Ev- erett Hale, and recorded in the publications of the Essex Institute.
REV. T. B. FORBUSH
Installed at the First Church, West Roxbury, July 1, 1863 and continued until May 1, 1868.
He came here from Northboro, where he had been an assistant of Rev. Mr. Allen. He was not a man who took the deep interest in his parish work that his predecessors did.
Was quite a fluent speaker, wordy in prayer, but not the same deep loving words that the parish people had been used to. He seemed to be fond of the comfortable side of life. It was quite a tire- some effort for him to perform one service on Sunday; he used to say it took him until the middle of the following week to recover from the effort. At the same time he would find time to go to various entertainments when his thoughtful friends would send him tickets of admission, or for a pleas- ure ride whenever an opportunity offered. When the time came for him to leave, it was not hard for him and the parish to separate.
REV. AUGUSTUS M. HASKELL
Installed over the Second Church, May 22, 1870, and continued its pastor until January 15, 1889.
About that time the old church was partially burned, and the society became divided. Some wanted to repair, some to build anew farther on towards Dedham, others towards Roslindale, which resulted in building a small stone church in each village, and abandoning the venerable old one. Mr. Haskell's sympathies were with the Roslindale movement and he took charge of their small gath- ering in the beginning. Mr. Haskell was brought to the notice of the parish by the Rev. E. B. Will- son who knew him well, and recommended him as a man after his own liking. He had been settled in Salem, over the Barton Square Church, and also at Manchester, N. H. The parish invited him to supply the pulpit a few Sundays, they liked him, and invited him to come there permanently. He accepted and at once took charge of the duties of the parish. He was a kind, sympathetic man, his thoughts always seemed to be for the good of others not taking into consideration his frail self.
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