USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Watertown > An ancient parish : an historical summary of the First Parish, Watertown, Mass > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
II
1720
1724
abraham Sanger
Asa Traff and Pomeroy
GA Meacum Gilbert W.c. S. 1 Harnneton
Pulpit
Samuel Barnard
Amus Livermore Wm Sherman
Thomas Clark
PeterClark Josiah Bright
Nm Horne
Paul Kendall Jer. 8400. Russell
Abraham Lincoln Lydia Spraque
Michael Gay
Dr. W. Hunnench Wm. May
Charles Stratton
Major Jackson Col. S. Icamed
Luther Barrell
Parker
Abixıh White
Isaac Paffen
Elisha Dana Ceo. Robbins Thank Robbing
Levi
John Clark
Elisha Livermore
Tyler Bigelow
Porl Learned Daniel
Leomed
-
Jonas white
Francis Leathe
Thaddeus Cole William Brigham
Rev Converse Francy
Dr H. Hosmer
Caleb Lincoln
Thomas Learned
Dea J Harrington Dea Árad
Isaac Dana
Marry Bright
Luke Demis
James
Nativi Brackel and Stedman
Misses Cook Peter
Ikke
Cochon
Robinson
Marshall Porle
Thomas Richardson
Dea. Moses Koolidue
Nat'l P. whitney Dea Chas. Stone
Seth Bemls
Zaccheus Pond
PORCH AND
ENTRANCE
Harrington James Kilpatrick
samuel Leamed Adam Brown
Samuel Barry
Joel Pierce Charles Whitney
Joseph Bird
Deacon Tucker
Asa Stone
Josiah Learned
Leonard Stone
Richard Sanger Elisha Whitney
Edward Everett
Christopher Grant
Eben Chenery
Sam. Bird Francis Bright
Mark Vase
Miles
Eliakım
Moses Chenery
John Richardson
James Mobbing
Cal. Band
David Livermore
Mrs. Wesson
MAIN ENTRANCE
·PLAN . OF GROUND.FLOOR.
Jos. Crafts
Stairs to Gallery
ENTRANCE
Stairs to Gallery
TOWER AND
Daniel Bond
Bright
Dr. Chas Tollen
C
Bailey
Kidder
Nathaniel Bering
Tharter
Nath Broad Rer Theo
Michaly
Descons' Seat
Preble Sprague Mm. Pratt |Norge
Old Meeting House in which the Provincial Congress held their 2nd and 3d sessions
Anniversary Celebration
Work had hardly commenced on setting it up when it caught fire and burned to the ground. The rumor spread about town that it was the work of an incendiary, a dis- gruntled parishioner who preferred the old location. For a time services were held in Mr. Storer's home because the town would not appropriate money for the re-erec- tion until it was discovered who had set the fire. Finally, however, in June 1754, about six months after the con- flagration, money was given to a committee and it was voted to erect a new building on the site where it had been proposed to re-erect the old one. This church came to have a very interesting career. The Second Provincial Congress, with Joseph Warren as presiding officer met here directly after the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The Third Provincial Congress also met here. At these meetings measures were adopted for the relief of Boston from the British troops, for carrying on the temporary government of the Colony, and for mustering men and arms for waging the war which was to bring independ- ence to America. Joseph Warren went directly from a meeting of the Congress to his death at Bunker Hill. When a General Assembly of the Colony was called to take the place of the Provincial Congress, it met in the Watertown Meeting-House. This assembly continued for over a year undertaking the entire government of the colony and passing the emergency measures neces- sary for carrying on the war. Throughout the entire ex- istence of the building it was the only place where town- meetings were held.
During the Revolutionary period religious affairs nec- essarily lost much of their significance to the town. In fact, after Mr. Storer's death in 1774, there was no regu- lar clergyman until the town voted to appoint the Rev- erend Daniel Adams, who was ordained in November 1777. In the meantime, services were conducted by vari- ous preachers who were engaged from time to time or
I3
1754
1775
1777
14
AN ANCIENT PARISH
1780
invited to preach on a designated Sabbath. Mr. Adams became seriously ill shortly after he took over the work of the parish and died about six months later. Again it became necessary to supply the pulpit with temporary clergymen until the Spring of 1780, when the Reverend Rosewell Eliot was ordained. He occupied the pulpit until his death in 1818. These were troublous times for Watertown and the country generally which was suf- fering from the financial, industrial, and moral confus- ion resulting from the Revolution and the War of 1812. Mr. Eliot found his position very difficult and toward the last of his life was almost unable to carry on because of poor health. He was working against fate, but his courageous stand made him loved and respected by the entire town.
1818
Eliot was succeeded by Dr. Convers Francis, in many ways a man of rare attainments. Francis was vigorous in both body and mind. He was eminently fitted for a life in the ministry and devoted himself assiduously to it. For twenty-three years he occupied the Watertown pul- pit, resigning to accept an important professorship in the Harvard Divinity School. Books were as essential to his existence as physical necessities, and on books he spent the larger part of his income. His library, which he bequeathed to Harvard College, became one of the finest private libraries in America, and to it came the foremost scholars in the vicinity. Theodore Parker re- ceived his preparation for the theological school in this library under the guidance of Dr. Francis. Ralph Waldo Emerson was a frequent visitor. The library became a meeting-place for the intellectual group living in and about Boston and a headquarters for the new liberal Unitarian movement.
During this period, New England was being shaken by a religious controversy which ultimately resulted in
----
Present Meeting House
Meeting House Interior
15
Anniversary Celebration
the division of the original Puritan churches into the many Protestant Societies which are in existence to-day. In the earlier days the town and parish were an invol- untary co-partnership. The minister was "the minister of the town" and the inhabitant belonged to the parish. A taxpayer might abstain from the teachings of the church, but could not escape from contributing to its support. The church, however, was a self-constituted and self-perpetuating body which might have members who were not taxable by the town. In the history of New England and this parish we find the town organization separating from the church and carrying on an inde- pendent existence, meeting after 1847 in a town-hall es- pecially constructed for the purpose. Meantime, we find changes in doctrinal belief coming to the parishioners themselves. New and more liberal beliefs were gradually drifting over to New England as a result of the Unitari- an movement in England. There was a desire for purer morality, to be attained by a more liberal faith. New ideas became prominent with the spread of liberal edu- cation and an increasing general knowledge to the popu- lace. Soon throughout New England there became a division among the parishioners and even among the ministers themselves, as to their attitude towards the faith.
As a result of this cleavage, the people of Watertown separated into distinct religious societies. The liberal group retained the church building and property while the orthodox group separated to establish another group of their own. The rights of the Unitarian group to the church property were made legal by a decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Court in litigation concerning the rights of the parties to the property of the church in Dedham. In this case, the court held that the group which seceded from the original church body, even if it be larger than the group which remained, should loose their
1926782
16
AN ANCIENT PARISH
rights to the property of the church; the property and title reverting to the group which remained.
Dr. Francis, as we have seen, was a leader of the new liberal movement, but he was very greatly disturbed that the result should have been a separation from the parish of a group to form their own society. He started the church on its independent career as a separated en- tity from the town and was recognized as a remarkable leader and an inspiring preacher. Regret was felt not only by the church society itself, but also by the entire town when he took up his new duties in Cambridge. It was recognized, however, that at Harvard he could extend the sphere of his influence and bring his service to a much greater number of people.
1842 1843
Meantime, the old Meeting-House was torn down and about 1842 the present building erected on the site where it stands to-day.
1846
1853
The Reverend John Weiss, who became the successor of Dr. Francis, was ordained in 1843. He was the first minister to be ordained after the church society was wholly separated from the town government. Weiss was a brilliant preacher and his services in the work of the public schools and for the establishment of the Water- town Free Public Library were very great. Mr. Weiss was a very strong anti-slavery man. On account of his very strong anti-slavery convictions, he resigned from his work at Watertown in 1845, but resumed the pas- torate in 1846 at the invitation of the church. A year later he resigned again and became pastor at the church in New Bedford. The Reverend Hasbrouck Davis then assumed the duties of minister and preached until 1853. When the pulpit passed to the Reverend George Brad- ford, a distinguished theologian and useful citizen, who preached until the time of his death in 1859.
In 1860 Arthur B. Fuller, a brother of Margaret Fuller,
Anniversary Celebration
was ordained. After two years, he resigned, receiving an appointment as Chaplain with the Federal Troops. At the battle of Fredericksburg he resigned his position as Chaplain, took a rifle, and entered the troops as a priv- ate. He volunteered to cross the river to the attack and was one of the first casualities in the battle, being shot fatally on the streets of Fredericksburg.
In June 1862, John Weiss returned at the invitation of the church and preached until 1869. Weiss was a keen scholar and his religion was scientific and logical, but quite unorthodox. Evidence that to most minds seemed fatal to belief was, to him, conformity to it, and rendered the need for religion more clear and more imperious.
After Mr. Weiss left the parish, the society spent some time before making another choice. In 1870, Mr. James T. Bixby was installed and preached until 1873. Bixby was a very scholarly man and was famous during the con- temporary period for his books. Although he preached but three years, the church and town felt the loss severe- ly when he left the pastorate.
The Reverend Joseph H. Lovering preached from 1875 to 1878. He was succeeded by Arthur May Knapp, who preached until 1887. Mr. William Henry Savage was the next to occupy the pulpit of the First Church in Watertown. Savage had the best interests of the parish at heart from the time of his ordination. He made a very fine leader for the church society, rousing the interest of the parishioners to a pitch of great activity. His services were excellently attended and he was well liked by the entire congregation. The founders of the parish would have been pleased with the manner in which he carried on. The Reverend Walter F. Greenman followed Mr. Savage. Mr. Grover Mills became the next pastor and was followed by the Reverend Ernest K. Meredith, the present minister, who came to the church in 1916. Chang-
I7
1860
I862
1870
1875
1878
1887
1916
18
AN ANCIENT PARISH
ing conditions have brought many problems, some of which remain unsolved, but the church has bravely faced them and earnestly endeavored to uphold the fine tra- ditions which form the foundation of the parish. The time is too recent, the perspective too short, for a clear and impartial appraisal of the church activities during the past decade. We can truthfully say, however, that the church is now in a more prosperous condition than ever before, that the religious and social activities are being carried on with vigor and success.
The Unitarian Building constructed during the pas- torate of Mr. Savage for Sunday School work has re- cently been renovated. The Sunday School, one of the first to be established in New England, is increasing its enrollment every year and its work is of great impor- tance, not only because of its bearing on the work of the church, but also to the community in general. The church building has also recently been reconstructed and a great deal of labor has been expended on beautifying the church grounds. The Society for the Relief of the Sick, perhaps the oldest extra-religious organization connec- ted with any church in America, continues to accomplish the work started so long ago. The Unitarian Club of Watertown, the first local club of its kind to be formed in this country, continues to be an important factor in the parish life with good attendance at its interesting meetings. The Women's Alliance, and the Lend-a-Hand Society are other social bodies connected with the church, devoted to its best interests and rendering service to it and the community. The Ministerial Fund and the Per- petuity Fund form an endowment to insure financial sup- port for the Parish. Many benefactors have added to these funds until they now attain considerable proportions.
To-day, the parish entering on the fourth century of its service to the community, is an active factor in the
1930
E
Unitarian Building Exterior
Unitarian Building Interior
19
Anniversary Celebration
life of the town; it has a progressive modern spirit, but its character and foundation rest upon the spirit of the men and women who have preached and worshipped in the ancient church during the last three hundred years. The parishioners of to-day have a wonderful heritage with which to carry on. Some of the theological doc- trines of the founders have proven impermanent but the influence of the founders' characters have not. The nice- ties of the early theological beliefs have not persisted, but rather the things the early parishioners were hardly conscious of and took for granted. The seriousness of living and of following the paths of righteous conduct, the difficulty of leading the good life and the acceptance of this difficulty. Reverence, a respect for work, a scorn of softness, a belief in religion, in justice, and in individ- ual freedom; these are Puritan qualities and the church through all its generations remains a Puritan church. Simple, diligent, and somewhat austere it would be rec- ognized by the founders of the parish as the growth of their own production. Even in our modern world, with its confused and faltering beliefs, there is a place still for such virtues.
One Thousand Copies of this book were produced during the month of December, Nineteen Hundred and Twenty-nine, of which this is No. 901
The Stetson Press Boston
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.