USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Beautiful Newton the garden city of Massachusetts > Part 7
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zation of the Methodist Society in this village, and under his leadership many souls were brought to spiritual life. After him Rev. Mr. McFarland, was for a time the minister; he was then a student in the School of Theology, Boston University.
Services, under the pastorate of Rev. George H. Perkins were held in White's Block, and were continued in that location to the close of his term in 1880. A bequest of $1000 from Father Rice, and the gift of a lot of land on the corner of Centre Street and Langley Road by Alden Speare, made possible the enterprise of a church building,
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which was undertaken by the Trustees in 1879.
This first building was erected at a cost of $7,578 and was dedicated by Bishop Randolph S. Foster, July 7, 1880. Through the generosity of Ed- win M. Fowle, Chairman of the Build- ing Committee, the church was made frce of indebtedness, as he assumed all unpaid bills at the dedication.
In the spring of 1888 a house and lot were purchased on Pelham Street. This house, renovated, became the par- sonage, and Rev. Dr. W. R. Clark was,
temporarily in Bray Hall during the work of construction. Rev. George H. Spencer was pastor in this period, and rendered efficient service by his energy and good taste. The beautiful and well appointed sanctuary was completed and dedicated by Bishop Cyrus D. Foss, May 7, 1899 - the total cost of the church and its furnishings being $48,- 063. The entire indebtedness was can- celled ere many months.
The latest material enterprise of the Trustees was the building of a new par- sonage on Lake Avenue. From the
NEWTON CENTRE M. E. CHURCH
with his family, the first pastor to be its occupant. In 1896, at the close of Rev. (now Bishop) Edwin H. Hughes' pastorate, a movement was started to raise a Fund for a new church. Pledges amounting to $14,000 had been secured by the end of that year. The old church was torn down. Under a strong Build- ing Committec, Avery L. Rand, Chair- man, plans were adopted for a stonc structure, and a contract was awarded to the builders, Pitman and Brown, of Salem, for $28,000. Services were held
sale of the Pelham Street property in 1908 a new home for the minister bc- came a necessity. The site was bought for $2,800, and an elegant house was completed in 1912, at a cost of $14,676. The indebtedness for this parsonage is now in the way of liquidation, so that within a reasonable time the church will have no material burdens that cannot be casily carricd.
Since the year 1875 the little com- pany of that time has grown to a mem- bership of nearly three hundred.
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CHURCH OF OUR LADY, NEWTON
CHURCH OF OUR LADY, NEWTON.
The Catholics of this portion of the community first met for worship in the fall of 1872, in a hall at Newton Cor- ner, under the direction of Rev. M. M. Green, pastor of St. Patrick's Church at Watertown. Immediate steps were taken towards securing a church edi- fice, and land was purchased at the cor- ner of Washington and Adams street, where the corner stone of the present church was laid August 31, 1873. The first mass was offered on All Saints' Day, 1874. In August, 1878, Newton was set apart as a parish, with Father Green as its first pastor. On his death in 1885 he was succeeded by Rev. Mi- chael Dolan, pastor of St. Mary's Church at Newton Upper Falls. Father Dolan first gave his attention to the building of suitable rectory, fol-
lowed by the cancellation of the debt on the church, and each year of his incum- bency has witnessed some marked im- provement in the church property. Pos- sibly his greatest work was the estab- lishment of a parish school and convent. These buildings are adjacent to the church edifice on Adams street and are well equipped and modern in every par- ticular. Over one thousand children are taught in this school, by the Sisters of Charity, who occupy the convent.
The church has recently been thor- oughly reconstructed, including a fa- cade of three Gothic porches, the inter- ior beautifully frescoed, and is now a fine type of the pure Gothic style with a scating capacity of 1600.
Father Dolan is a permanent rector,
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and under his able management the church established here has taken a forc- most place in the archdiocese of Boston.
Father Dolan is assisted by Rev. James F. Kelly, and Rev. Aloysius S. Ma- lone.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, NEWTON HIGHLANDS.
As the result of a fellowship mecting of Congregational churches held in Newtonville, November 6, 1871, the first religious service of this faith held in Newton Highlands, took place in Farnham's Hall on Sunday, Novem- ber 12 of that year, and a society was formed January 30, 1872 with Mr. James F. C. Hyde as moderator. Twenty-four of the members of the Newton Centre church were dismissed for the purpose of forming the new so- cicty and articles of faith were adopted June 24 of the same year. An ecclesi- astical council was held July 9, 1872
and the organization was confirmed with twenty-nine persons as members. Rev. Samuel H. Dana was ordained and installed as the first pastor on Oc- tober 9, 1872. A meeting house was erected this same year, but it was not completed and dedicated until January 25, 1876. Rev. George G. Phipps suc- ceeded Mr. Dana as pastor on April 4, 1878 and served until January 24, 1893. During his pastorate the society was dissolved and the present Newton Highlands Congregational Church held its first meeting as an incorporated
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, NEWTON HIGHLANDS
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body on December 31, 1890. Rev. Charles E. Havens succeeded Mr. Phipps on November 2, 1893 and served until ill health compelled his resignation January 2, 1901. The pres- ent pastor, Rev. George T. Smart,
D.D., was installed on March 11, of that year.
The present church edifice was dedi- cated in September, 1906, and is one of the best arranged and attractive churches in the city.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NEWTON CENTRE.
Trinity Church, Newton Centre, was started by a group of people in the vil- lage, who found it inconvenient to go to Episcopal churches in other parts of Newton, or to Boston, and they decided to organize a parish of their own. This was in June, 1889, nearly twenty-six years ago. A mecting was held, half a
rector of St. Paul's church, Newton Highlands, a mile away, and asked him to conduct afternoon services. This he did for several months, until he ac- cepted a call to Michigan. The people then applied to the Episcopal Theologi- cal School, Cambridge, for some one to hold services. Rev. Samuel G. Bab-
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NEWTON CENTRE
dozen families were represented, and the project was launched.
Associates' Small Hall, on Pleasant street, where the branch reading room of the public library is now located, was secured for the services. The people turned to Rev. Carlton P. Mills, then
cock, then a student in the school, now Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese, took charge for some months. Rev. Robert A. Holland, then a deacon, and a stu- dent, was in charge for a year following. He was succeeded in June, 1891, by the present rector, Rev. Edward Taylor
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Sullivan, then finishing his middle year as a theological student.
Upon his graduation from the semi- nary in 1892, he removed to Newton Centre and became the first resident minister. In that year "Trinity Asso- ciation," as the organization was called, became Trinity Parish; a lot was bought on Pelham street, and the erec- tion of a church was begun. The church was opened for services on February 19, 1893, the First Sunday in Lent.
It was five years later, in February, 1898, that half an acre of land was pur- chased on the corner of Centre and Homer streets, and the church building was removed to the new location. In 1911 a parish house was built, costing $16,000; and in 1913 the project of a new church of stone was undertaken. It was at first intended to build only a
portion of the new building; but anony- mous gifts of nearly $20,000 and a loan of $25,000 for twenty years, without interest, enables the parish to proceed with the erection of a beautiful Gothic church, to cost $75,000.
The building committee consists of Messrs. Louis H. Fitch, chairman; Robert Casson, John Evans, William H. Bundy and the Rector; with Mr. William G. Snow as special committee in charge of heating and ventilating. The parish officers are: Isaac F. North, senior warden; William H. Bundy, junior warden; Charles B. Moore, treasurer; Samuel B. Paul, parish clerk; Clarence H. Wilkins, assistant treasurer; vestrymen, Louis H. Fitch, Robert Casson, William G. Snow, Wil- liam B. Neal; Sunday School Superin- tendent, F. Winchester Denio.
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST, WEST NEWTON.
The First Church of Christ, Scien- tist, Newton, is the newest of the New- ton Churches, having its opening ser- vice early in 1913. At present it is lo- cated in Players' Hall, West Newton, which has been redecorated and happily adapted to its new use.
Adherents of Christian Science have bcen numerous in the Newtons from the earliest days of the movement. In the latter part of the year 1912 it was deemed advisable to form a church in Newton to serve this increasingly large local following. This was brought about and the new organization held its in- itial service February 2, 1913 in the newly renovated Players' Hall, for- merly a West Newton church edifice, a cut of which is shown above. Like other Christian Science churches, it is a branch of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scien- tist, Boston. As a branch of the par- ent organization, it is a self-govern-
ing, democratic entity, making its own by-laws, electing its own officials, and controlling its own funds and property. All seats are free and all contributions are entirely voluntary.
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST, WEST NEWTON.
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The services of the church are conducted by a First and a Second Reader. The management of the church is in the hands of an Executive Board who, with the Readers, are elected by ballot annu- ally from the general membership. For 1915 Mr. George H. Moore and Mrs. Minnie Lord Newhall are respectively First and Second Readers.
Like other Christian Science churches, a free reading room is main- tained where the literature of the church can be read. A distribution room is
also maintained for the collection and free distribution of current and other numbers of the church's publications. Many volunteers assist in the work, and helpful literature thus finds its way to all parts of the world. Especial atten- tion is given to reaching local hospitals, libraries, clubs, fire and police stations, and the like. Both the reading room and the distribution room are located in the Roberts Building, 297 Walnut Street, Newtonville, opposite the Ma- sonic Building.
CENTENARY M. E. CHURCH, AUBURNDALE.
The beginning of Centenary Church was in the autumn of 1860 and the first sermon was preached November 4 of that year. November 18 of the same year, Rev. George W. Mansfield, then at Newtonville, preached in what was
known as the Riverside Academy and about eighty people were present. Dur- ing the formative period neighboring pastors preached for the little society and the little handful of people took courage. A Sunday School was organ-
CENTENARY M. E. CHURCH, AUBURNDALE.
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, NEWTON CENTRE.
ized January 27, 1861. The church it- self was organized June 1, 1863 under the pastoral charge of Rev. J. Emory Round. The list of original members ineludes: John Deavall, Hannah Dea- vall, George L. Bourne, Priscilla Bourne, Anthon Holbrook, Charlotte I. Holbrook, M. Elizabeth Jackson, Ella Thompson, Dorca Maguire, Mary Cooke, Charles Ricker and William Hubbard. They were called "The Twelve Apostles." The corner stone of the present edifice was laid on Christ- mas Day, 1866 and Centenary Church was the name given the new church.
The pastors who have served since the church was built are: Henry Lummis, E. D. Winslow, J. R. Cushing, Daniel Steele, J. M. Avann, William McDon- ald, A. MacKeon, S. F. Jones, Charles Parkhurst, E. R. Watson, W. R. New- hall, W. E. Knox, T. W. Bishop, C. H. Talmage, W. T. Worth, F. C. Had- doek, C. E. Spaulding. The present pastor is Rev. George S. Butters, D. D. who has had two other pastorates in this city, one at Newtonville, and he was at Newton seven years before going to Auburndale.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, NEWTON CENTRE.
The first Baptist Church in Newton had its immediate origin in the Great Awakening which followed the work of George Whitefield in America. The call to penitence and reformation led in many communities to the organization of "Separate Churches", and about 1750 there appears to have been such a church in Newton. This body had in
its membership several who held that believers only should be baptized. After the "Separate Church" as an organiza- tion ceased to exist, they continued to hold services, first "from house to house," and later in a school house. They were occasionally visited by ministers from other places and thus maintained worship until 1780. In that year a
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gracious revival added to their number and suggested the need of a new and better organization.
The earliest record of the reception by baptism of a resident of Newton into a Baptist Church is found in that of the First Baptist Church in Boston bearing the date Dec. 7, 1729. Just fifty years later the ingathering oc- curred that led to the organization of the First Baptist Church in Newton. On Wednesday, July 5, 1780, a coun- cil met in the house of Mr. Noah Wis- wall. The visitors approved the steps already taken and advised the brethren in Newton "to imbody on this occa- sion." Rev. Noah Alden of Belling- ham preached the recognition sermon, his text being Acts 2:47. Rev. Thomas Gair of Medfield offered prayer and read a "summary Confession of Faith to which thirty-nine persons assented in the presence of a numerous congrega- tion." The service concluded with an exhortation by Rev. Caleb Blood of Weston, who was at once called to the pastorate of the newly organized church.
Mr. Blood remained with the church until 1788. A call was then given to Rev. Joseph Grafton, who immediately entered upon a pastorate of forty-eight years and six months, the longest and most remarkable in the history of the church. He received 561 into the fel- lowship of the church, residents not only of Newton, but also of eleven other towns. As the number of Baptists in- creased in these neighboring communi- ties, the church in Newton became to an unusual degree a Mother of Churches. "Father" Grafton, as he came affection- ately to be called, died in 1836, his fu- neral being the last service to be held in the original meeting house. The church has been blessed by a succession of noble and useful men in the pasto- rate. Space forbids more than naming them. Those subsequent to the be-
loved leader for nearly half a century have been Rev. F. Augustus Willard (1835-1838), Rev. Henry Jones Rip- ley (1838-1840), Rev. Samuel Francis . Smith (1842-1854), Rev. Oakman Sprague Stearns (1855-1868), Rev. William Newton Clarke (1869-1880), Rev. Edward Braislin (1881-1886), Rev. Lemuel Call Barnes (1887-1893) , Rev. Richard Montague (1893-1895), Rev. Edgar Young Mullins (1896- 1900), Rev. Everett Doughty Burr (1900-1906), Rev. Maurice Ambrose Levy (1907-1914).
The present membership is 619.
The first place of worship was Mr. Noah Wiswall's house. It is said that on fair Sundays the meetings were often held under the elms that shaded the dwelling. He also gave the land for the first meeting house on the shore of "Wiswall's Pond," which as a result of this gift and its being used for nearly a century as a baptistery, became "Bap- tist Pond," and so remained until in re- cent years it received the name "Crystal Lake." The meeting house, a plain structure, "bare and barnlike," was be- gun in 1781, and although used from that time, was not completed until 1795. The church endured rough seats and a pulpit of unplaned boards, rather than incur the burden of a debt. This old building still stands, as enlarged in 1802, just south of the railroad bridge on Centre Street. The second meeting house was dedicated in 1836, and after a half century of service was sold in order to permit the erection of a more commodious and attractive structure. It is today known as the "Associates Block," and the chapel is in use as the Centre branch of the Newton Public Library. The present meeting house, dedicated in 1888, is a beautiful Ro- manesque structure and one of the ar- chitectural features of Newton. It con- tains elaborate windows in memory of Lizzie Spooner Butler, Gardner Colby
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and Mary Low Colby, and Rev. Joseph Grafton. The chimes are dedicated to the memory of Rev. Samuel Francis Smith, the author of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee." The church recently ob- served the twenty-fifth anniversary of the dedication of this noble house of worship.
The church from the beginning has had the farther and larger vision. Its Bible School dates back to 1819. The founding in 1825 of the Newton Theo- logical Institution led to relations which have been of the happiest and mutually
beneficial. The Woman's Baptist For- eign Missionary Society originated in this church in 1872, and the vision and zeal of its women had much to do with the organization, a few years later, of the Woman's American Baptist Home Mission Society. Ten members are now engaged in active missionary service. The church contributes about equal amounts to local expenses and benefi- cent or missionary objects, and through the personal service of many is making its contribution to the community, the denomination and the Kingdom.
WEST NEWTON UNITARIAN CHURCH.
The first meetings for worship by the Unitarians of Newton were held in the old brick hotel on Washington street, West Newton, in 1844. In 1847, the meetings which had been discontinued for some time were resumed in Village
Hall on the corner of Washington and Waltham streets, and in 1848 the so- ciety was organized under the above title. Rev. William Orne White was the first pastor, resigning in 1850, and was followed by Rev. William H.
WEST NEWTON UNITARIAN CHURCH.
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Knapp, who served two years, Rev. Mr. Bicknell, who resigned in six months, Rev. Charles E. Hodges, who served for a year (1854-1855), Rev. Washing- ton Gilbert, who served for nearly three years, Rev. Joseph H. Allen, serving from 1858 to 1860, Rev. William H. Savary, 1861-1864, Rev. John C. Zachos, 1864-1866, Rev. Francis Tif- fany, who had two pastorates, the first from 1866 to 1871, and who was re- called in 1873 and resigned in 1883. Rev. Amory Battles succeeded Rev. Mr. Tiffany in 1871, resigning in 1873. Mention is made of these brief pasto- rates in order that due emphasis may be
laid on the pastorate of Rev. Julian Clifford Jaynes, who was ordained as a minister and installed as pastor of this church on January 28, 1885, and is now the oldest clergyman in point of service in the city.
The first church was built in 1860, on Washington street, West Newton. It was enlarged in 1868, the tower and Sunday School room were built in 1879, and a still further enlargement was made in 1887. In 1905-06 the society built its present handsome edifice at the corner of Washington and Highland streets, the corner stone being laid Sept. 17, 1905 and the dedication ser- vice held on October 14, 1906.
ELIOT CHURCH, NEWTON.
Eliot Church was the first church or- ganized in "Newton Corner." The coming of the railroad promoted the de- velopment of this community, making church privileges necessary for the growing population. Hon. William Jackson was prominent in the move- ment as he was in nearly every enter- prise for the development of Newton in that generation. The parish was formed in 1844 and the church was or- ganized the next year, being received by a council of churches July 1, 1845. There were thirty-seven original mem- bers, coming mostly from the First Church in Newton Centre, and includ- ing such names as the Jacksons, Jew- etts, Trowbridges, Cobbs, Bacons, Spears, Fullers and others prominent in the community at that time. The last original member died in 1906. The first child baptized in the church is still a member, and there are a few remain- ing who, as children in the Sunday School, go back to those days of begin- nings.
The church has had seven pastors.
Two of these died in service, Rev. Ly- man Cutler in 1855, after a pastorate of only six months, having preached but four Sundays of that time, and Rev. William H. Davis, D.D., in 1905, after a pastorate of nine years. Two others of the pastors have died recently, Rev. William S. Leavitt in 1910, having been the first pastor of the church sixty-five years earlier, and Rev. Samuel M. Free- land in 1911. Two pastors are still living, Rev. Joshua W. Wellman, D.D., of Malden, who is ninety-two years of age, and Rev. Walcott Calkins, D.D., of Newton, who is eighty-two. These two men held the longest pasto- rates, seventeen and sixteen years re- spectively, totalling nearly one-half the church's history. These were also the most fruitful years. The membership increased in their ministries from 112 to 638, and the material equipment from a small frame-building to the present stone structure. The present pastorate of Rev. H. Grant Person began Janu- ary 2, 1907.
Three edifices have housed the or-
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ganization. The original frame build- the entire equipment, including china, ing was too small in four years and was silver and linen. enlarged. That was removed and a Eliot Church has always had a strong missionary spirit. At the first meeting that was held in the school house on Washington Street to discuss the pos- sibility of a new church, an offering was taken for Foreign Missions. That spirit of putting benevolences first has survived. The church gives away, each second wooden building was erected on the same site in 1860. This was also enlarged to meet the growth under Dr. Wellman. This building burned Sun- day morning, January 16, 1887. While the building was in flames several prom- inent men got together and pledged
ELIOT CHURCH, NEWTON.
enough in addition to the insurance to assure a new building, and reported to the people gathered around the smould- cring ruins that there were $90,000 in hand. The present edifice was dedi- cated May 30, 1889, in Dr. Calkins' pastorate. It cost, above the land value, $178,967, and the Building Committee had a surplus of $3,000 to turn into the general treasury, after purchasing
year, about twice what it spends on it- self, and in its entire history the re- ported gifts to benevolence have ex- ceeded the home expenses-including the building of three edifices -- by more than a quarter of a million dollars. The total. reported benevolence has been $1,040,000, and the total to home ex- penses $775,000 in round numbers,
There is a graded Sunday School. It
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has been a distinction that there have been more males in the school for sev- eral years than females, both on the roll and in actual attendance. Every male class above the primary grade is taught by a man and at present there are among the officers and teachers twenty professional and business men.
The ministry of music to the commu- nity has been an ideal of the church. The organ, with antiphonal organ and chimes, is quite complete. Informal re- citals have been given each week in re- cent years and formal evening recitals are given by noted organists each month through the winter. These are free to the public. A vested choir of forty voices furnishes music of a high character at each service. On the last Sunday afternoon of each month
through the winter, a cantata or ora- torio is sung. Mr. Everett E. Truette has been organist and choir master for more than fifteen years. In April, 1913 a concert was given in recognition of these fifteen years of service in which most of the former members of the choir participated, bringing together many of the church soloists of Greater Boston.
The work of the church is well or- ganized under the Eliot Woman's As- sociation, formed in 1898 which unifies most of the work of the women and children and the Eliot Men's Associa- tion, organized in 1912, which, through its seven departments, heads up much of the work of the men and boys.
The present membership of the church is about 720.
CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, NEWTONVILLE.
On Wednesday evening, December 11, 1867, about fifteen residents of the village of Newtonville who were mem- bers of various Congregational churches, met by invitation at the resi- dence of Mr. Nathaniel D. Vose, for the purpose of social prayer and confer- ence. They then instituted a regular weekly prayer meeting which in three months had a regular attendance of from thirty to fifty persons, and which has been maintained ever since.
In March, 1868, the Central Con- gregational Society was organized, and the chapel on the corner of Washington and Court streets (now Central Ave- nue), purchased by members of the So- ciety. The house was opened for regu- lar Sabbath service on April 5th, 1868, the morning congregation numbering about seventy-five, and the evening about one hundred and thirty. Rev. H. J. Patrick of West Newton, con- ducted the first service in the Church and rendered invaluable assistance to
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