USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Bethany of Quincy, 1832-1957 : Bethany Congregational Church, Quincy, Massachusetts > Part 2
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Bethany Congregational Church
March 21, 1887: "Organ committee reported the organ had been put in and would be used the first Sunday in September. Also secured a water motor to blow the organ bellows . . . sold the old organ to B. E. Guy for $226."
The new pipe organ was installed in the right front cor- ner of the sanctuary as viewed from the congregation.
March 14, 1888: Total members noted as 216 ("net gain of 64" in 10 years.)
1891 : Fourth reunion, supper, social hour and Annual Meeting .. Bro. C. W. Carter was elected superintendent of the Sunday School followed by Dr. C. T. Sherman (upon Carter's moving from the city).
1892: Fifty-ninth Annual Meeting - (social part omitted). Benevolences totaled $1300, and the American Missionary Society, American College and Education Society, American Board of Missions, Little Wanderer's Home, Hampton Institute of Vir- ginia, and City Hospital were listed among the re- cipients.
April 8, 1892: Voted to have free seats.
March 20, 1893: "Bought new singing books for the Sunday school in the chapel and Young Peoples' Society of Christian Endeavor, the young people paying their proportion of the bill."
March 20, 1893: "Considered changing lighting from gas to electricity."
April 20, 1893: Sixtieth Annual Meeting of about 200 persons . . . "in the midst of a drizzling rain" included again the social hour and supper "provided by the ladies."
April 21, 1893: (special meeting) "To accept and adopt the Church History prepared by the Com- mittee and have it printed in a Manual."
December 30, 1894: "The new $8,000 addition to the Congregational Church was dedicated to the purposes for which it was erected. Mr. Norton referred to the ladies of the church whose labors with those of Deacon Smalley built the chapel."
The Unity Circle of King's Daughters, part of a national organization, was formed at Bethany on November 13. 1893 by two Bible School classes with Mrs. Mary Tabor, Mrs. T. H. Watson and Mrs. Theophilus King as leaders. The group, still active at Bethany, helps to sponsor Camp Wampatuck, a summer camp for young people, Gordon Rest home at South Hanson, and the Pond Home for elderly people at Wrenthan.
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The church building was unique in Quincy with its two steeples, one 123 feet high on the main sanctuary, the other, 50 feet high on the new chapel.
The courage of the small group of women now called "The Chapel Builders," was indomitable, for on October 2, 1890, at a meeting at the home of Mrs. King, with 17 pres- ent, a large attendance, they contemplated "an undertaking . . immense in its proportions financially," namely, the en- largement of the chapel. The ladies felt that it could be accomplished in spite of the $1.25 in the treasury! In 1893, with "cash on hand" plans for renovation were soon under way, and, in 1894, they turned over to the building committee $932.69. In 1893 they voted to have a fine of five cents for all "who remain away from the sewing meet- ings, and a charge of five cents if one works on his own work."! In 1895 the group was reorganized as the Harmony Circle with Mrs. Helen F. Fitts as president.
During these years of growth the women installed a gas range and instantaneous hot water heater in the kitchen; heard personal experience papers by its members such as one on "London" by Mrs. William E. Alden; and purchased in June, 1912, 300 hymn books, raising money by means of basket lunches and church sales, the forerunner of the pres- ent Church Fair.
April 24, 1895: "An informal discussion of the subject of Individual Communion Cups was held but no action was taken on the matter." "Out of our present membership of 298 many will be surprised to know that 260 have joined the Church since the Reverend Edward Norton began his work among us, while only 38 remain who were members of the Church before that time."
November 8: "Voted to adopt the Individual Cup."
1895-1912
Dr. Edwin Noah Hardy, who served from October 31, 1895 to May 15, 1911 is known to and beloved by present- day, long-time Bethany members not only for his fine ser- mons, but also for his friendly, pastoral visits. Many of his calls were made on a bicycle, the cycling pastor becom- ing a familiar figure in the highways and byways of Quincy.
March 18, 1895: "Voted that this meeting and all future meetings of the parish be opened with prayer."
"Charles H. Hardwick estate leaves 40 shares of Quincy Electric Light and Power Company at $100 par value."
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Bethany Congregational Church
"The Society accepts the legacy of George R. Smalley estate of about $4,600."
A new milestone in the history of the church was reached in 1896, when the name was changed from Evan- gelical Congregational Church to Bethany Congregational Church and the church incorporated under that name.
During the fall and winter of 1896-97 a Training School for Christian Service was held, with weekly sessions, Sep- tember to March, "To increase and unify the knowledge of the Bible and to provide better equipment for personal work."
January 3, 1897: Attendance at Bible School was 382.
January 19, 1898: There were 400 present at the supper for the annual meeting.
In 1898 the choir was disbanded, and a quartette formed. Mrs. Jennie Hocking Hunt was given authority to select and arrange music and direct the quartette.
The first Music Committee meeting in 1900 was spent in "discussing how to make five hundred dollars go as far as seven hundred and fifty, the amount required to pay the expenses of a quartette." A chorus for Easter and a guest violinist were discussed, but the guest was out of the ques- tion-no funds.
In 1901 Mr. John O. Hall, Jr. was elected chairman of the Music Committee and Mrs. A. L. Hayden secretary. Her notes report a discussion on the forming of a training class for the choir. A subscription paper circulated by Mrs. John F. Welch allowed the quartette to continue through June. Mrs. Welch succeeded Mrs. Hayden as secretary on January 7, 1902 and then Mrs. Welch became chair- man on January 30. The quartette was retained.
January 15, 1902: Clerk's report showed 364 members.
January 21, 1903: Clerk reported a member- ship of 386.
The Makaria Fraternity was founded in 1904 as an outgrowth of the Bible School class of Zayma King, daugh- ter of Theophilus King. She asked her brother, Delce- vare, to lead her class when she married. Makaria from the Greek meaning "higher happiness", the name suggested by Mr. John O. Hall, Jr., continued as an active young men's organization for nearly half a century and later became the Men's Bible Class.
Another group organized in 1904 was the Philathea Class. Starting as the Sunday school class of Mrs. Charles
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W. Miller, it merged into a Bible Class and, under the leadership of Mrs. Miller, func- tioned for 20 years. The group of young women met each Sunday for Bible history and once a month socially. One member recalls the dances and socials sponsored jointly by the Makaria and Philathea where more than one Mak- aria member met the young lady who became his wife.
October 22, 1905 to April 7, 1912 Madame Ellen Beale Morey was organist and choir director.
In April, 1906 Mr. Eber E. Craig was appointed first Pas- tor's Assistant and served ef- fectively until April 3, 1908.
DR. EDWIN NOAH HARDY
The baptismal font in the sanctuary was given in 1907 in memory of Franklin H. Hardwick, deacon from 1882 to 1901, by his daughter, Carrie Hardwick Bigelow.
January 16, 1907: "Voted unanimously that cushions and a carpet be purchased for the Church providing the necessary funds are forth-coming, preference to be given to the cushions."
The 75th Anniversary of the Church was observed April 5 and 7, 1907. Anniversary Day ceremonies were held on Friday, the 5th, with an afternoon program and a banquet. On Sunday, the 7th the Reverend Edward Norton preached the Anniversary Sermon, Bible School was addressed by Deacon Ernest W. Branch, Communion Service was held at 3, Young Peoples' Service was at 6:15, and a "Reminiscent Service" at 7:30 concluded with an address, "The Retrospect and the Prospect," by the pastor.
January 15, 1908: Annual meeting reported 457 membership.
Mr. Hardy, born in Nelson, N. H. on March 1, 1861, died in his 91st year in Keene, N. H. on August 16, 1950.
1912-1915
A stirring preacher, a great crusader active in matters of social action and community interest, the Reverend Ben- jamin A. Willmott voiced a call for civic righteousness espe- cially during a series of powerful Sunday evening services which drew congregations beyond the seating capacity of
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the sanctuary. Installed April 7, 1912 he left a record of accomplishment remarkable for his relatively short pastorate of three years. He was called to Roxbury in April, 1915.
Alice Shepard served from April 14, 1912 to June, 1912 as organist and choir director.
"Agnes went to the Quincy church today as organist for the first time." So noted the diary of the mother of Agnes Ruggles later to become Agnes Ruggles Allen under the entry for July 7, 1912.
The consolidation of the ladies' organizations of the church was suggested by Mr. Willmott, who stressed the need of united interest and work among the different so- cieties of the church. Accordingly the Women's Union of Bethany Church was officially formed in February, 1913 when the Harmony Circle united with the Women's Mission- ary Society. Its first officers were president, Mrs. H. Everett Crane; first vice president, Mrs. John F. Welch; second vice president, Mrs. George Badger; secretary, Mrs. Charles Samp- son; treasurer, Mrs. Charles W. Guy. Increased activity and enthusiasm emerged from this union. Prior to the con- solidation Mrs. Charles W. Miller had been president of the Missionary Society from 1906-1913 preceded by Mrs. H. E. C. Burns.
During Mr. Willmott's pastorate the parsonage on Presi- dent's Lane, then Goffe Street, was presented to the church by Richard D. Chase, Senior Deacon, one of his many gifts to Bethany.
Prior to 1914, before church calendars were preserved in bound form, there is little information on Bethany organ- ized men's activities, although in 1907 there is a record of Bethany Church Brotherhood. Indeed, before World War I, few older men's organizations were to be found anywhere outside the Y.M.C.A. in which the local Protestant Churches participated. Bethany always had a large group of their men at such gatherings.
Bethany Brotherhood for older men was organized and met each Sunday following the church service at the same time as the Makaria Class for younger men. Supper (served for 35 cents) and an evening
REV. BENJAMIN A. WILLMOTT
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of sociability were scheduled on the second Wednesdays of each month, summer excepted.
Mr. Willmott, born in England in 1867, served several other churches after leaving Bethany, and was moderator of the Massachusetts State Conference in 1929. He died in Northampton, Mass., in 1947.
1916-1918
The Reverend Thomas C. Richards, also a native of England, was installed in 1916. A kindly and devoted leader, he served Bethany for only two years before he was called to Medford, remaining there as Pastor Emeritus until his death in 1926.
1919-1928
The Reverend A. W. Remington served as supply min- ister during a short period before the Reverend Eric I. Lindh was installed in December, 1919. Mr. Lindh, a native of Chicago, had been ordained a Baptist minister in 1893, and had entered the Congregational fellowship in 1904. He came to Bethany from a pastorate in South Manchester, Conn. In his earlier years he had served as moderator of the Rhode Island State Conference.
Quincy was growing. Business property was increasing in value. The time seemed ideal for Bethany to re-establish itself in a new location outside the most congested area. Mr. Theophilus King, a Bethany member since 1875, made a pro- posal which was accepted by the Church on June 10, 1926 whereby the Granite Trust Company, now the South Shore National Bank, purchased the church building and land, while at the same time a very desirable new site was made available at the corner of Coddington and Spear Streets.
Memorable months were those as Bethany members took the first tremendous step by voting to accept Mr. King's pro- posal. The Building Committee with Ernest W. Branch, chair- man, including Mrs. Hattie M. Spear, Frank P. Sullivan, Fred H. Nickerson (first chairman, died October 17, 1926), John O. Hall, Jr., Carle R. Hayward, Ernest L. Collins and John F. Hunt labored long on building plans. The church drove hard for funds. The Finance Committee with Henry P. Hay- ward, chairman, included Miss Alice Dunn, Mrs. Jonathan S. Swingle, Richard Bishop, Roscoe R. Ricker, and Alfred C. Sampson. The first sod was turned April 16, 1927 and the corner stone was laid September 8, 1927.
The last service in the old church was held April 10, 1928, when members, hymn books in hand, bade farewell to their old home and marched singing to the new building. Their leader was Mr. Benjamin F. Hodgkinson, for nearly fifty years an inspiration to the youth of Bethany and the
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community.
Sunday services in the new church were held in the social hall until November 18, 1929 when the sanctuary in the main church was formally occupied. Dedication services were held January 6-13, 1929.
A plaque in the sanctuary commemorates Theophilus King, 1844-1935, and Helen Louise (Baxter) King, devoted members and donors of the King Family Fund with Annual Gifts to all Quincy Churches of all faiths and especially to Bethany Church.
Two new service groups were organized at this time, the Service Club, formed by Miss Laura "Auntie" Hayward in 1927 for girls of high school age which continued to meet for several years at the church and at her home on Chestnut Street; and the Tri-S Club organized in February, 1929 with Mrs. James E. Hardy as advisor.
The Tri-S, their motto embodied in the three "S's"- Service, Spirituality and Sociability-brought such speakers as Margaret Slattery, Margaret Eggleston Owens and Rabbi Levi to Bethany and through the years have presented many gifts to the church. They gave the sanctuary pulpit, the can- delabra in the sanctuary, and a cross now used in the chapel, carpeting for the chapel, and presented at Easter, 1955, one hundred fifty hymn books.
Colorful velvet seat cushions in the chancel were given in memory of Richard Bishop, for many years deacon of Bethany church.
The lectern in the sanctuary was given by Mrs. Eliza Hardwick Burns in mem- ory of Mrs. Bessie Burns Hall, wife of Mr. John O. Hall, Jr.
Part of the Louis K. Wales bequest provided part of the chancel furnishings.
During the early years of their reorganization, the Wo- men's Union by means of sup- pers, entertainments, food sales and church fairs worked toward a Chapel Fund, which, started in 1915, in 1926 had grown to $4,577.31. They also added to the church and chap- el an enlarged pulpit platform, costumes for the pageants, a
REV. THOMAS C. RICHARDS
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tea wagon for the kitchen, rugs, curtains, chairs, tea urns and an electric heater for the Ladies' Parlor.
The pulpit in the chapel was given by friends in memory of Ernest W. Branch, superintendent of the church school for many years, and deacon from 1898 through 1921.
A plaque in the chapel in memory of George R. Smalley, 1838-1893; Warren C. Comey, 1821-1919; Charles H. Hard- wick 1824-1894; Daniel L. F. Chase, 1841-1920; Caroline S. Hubbard, 1846-1923 indicates that parts of the funds left by each of these for the benefit of this church were used in erecting this Memorial Chapel.
Panels of the original stained glass window presented by Deacon Richard D. Chase on the 75th Anniversary of the church have sections in the present chapel windows in me- moriam Jane Murdock Duncan, Amelia L. Bumpus, and Ruth Williams. The stained glass window in the church office commemorates Deacon R. Smalley, member of this church from 1838 to 1893.
The last meeting of the Women's Union in the old church was held April 4, 1928 when over 100 were in attendance. Their first meeting in the new church was their annual May Luncheon held in the social hall on May 2. The members, now divided into ten teams, had earned the sum of $1,500 which was used to finish and furnish the kitchen and the ladies' parlor. Plates and cups were bought with a gift of $50 from Mrs. Norton, widow of the former pastor; a fire- place set was contributed by Arthur, Ernest and Walter Fitts in memory of their mother, Mrs. Helen F. Fitts, a former president; a telechron clock was given by Mrs. William E. Alden and a piano was contributed by Mrs. John F. Welch, also a former president. Mrs. Tait and Mr. John O. Hall, Jr., each gave a sewing machine. A drop curtain for the social hall stage was also a gift of the women.
Bethany Brotherhood, which was discontinued at the close of the Reverend Mr. Richards' pastorate, was reorgan- ized in October, 1921 as Bethany Men. Early in 1926 Mr. Lindh started a Men's Discussion Class which continued with increasing strength in the new church, meeting in the chapel and generally filling it. In the fall of 1928 the Men's Class and Makaria each was in competition for an enrollment of 100 men.
The chief aim of the Women's Union at this time was to be of real assistance in bearing the expense of something definite in the new church, and so in March they voted to pledge $15,000 toward the new organ fund to be paid in five years. However, Miss Cora and Miss Laura Hayward
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offered to pay for the organ so the Union earmarked the amount to finish the kitchen and ladies' parlor. Over $2,000 was earned by the teams during the year and their first installment of $3,000 was paid in December, 1927 toward the Building Fund.
1929-1935
Interesting new activities in the new building found Mr. Lindh a tireless worker, admirably equipped to carry Bethany through this period of transition. He continued his pastorate until January, 1935, when he retired to move to Brookfield, Mass., later serving as pastor there.
In 1929 Bethany Men's Class became known as the Bethany Men's Club under a Board of Directors, and con- tinued active until the Second World War.
Bethany Centennial Celebration was held April 3-8, 1932. Events included an historical sermon by the pastor on Sunday, April 3. with a Pageant and Panorama in the evening. A Fellowship Banquet was held on Tuesday, April 5, and a Women's Union Memorial Service on Wednesday. The grand climax was a Civic Community Night on Friday, April 8. The Massachusetts State Conference held its annual session in Bethany in June, a further tribute to the 100th Anniversary of Bethany.
In April, 1931, the last $1,000 of the pledge of the Wom- en's Union was paid in the Building Fund and on October 23, with appropriate exercises at a church supper in the Social Hall, the pledge was burned, thus ending a chapter begun in 1915, a chapter written indeed in "sweat and some tears."
The Mothers' Club, formed in 1931 by Miss Laura Howe for young mothers who could not easily attend the daytime meetings of the Union, through the years has been in charge of a nursery class which cares for young children during the church services. They have also contributed to the Wom- en's Union project of modern- izing the kitchens, and have provided visual aids for the church school. At their meet- ings noted doctors and lectur- ers have discussed family spiritual and health problems.
Under Mr. Lindh's pastorate the Reverend Theodore S. Dar-
REV. ERIC I. LINDH
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REV. GEORGE E. GILCHRIST
rah, now Dean of Chapel and Professor in Religion at Rol- lins College, Winter Park, Florida, was inspired to the ministry. The Reverend Mr. Darrah was ordained in El- lington, Conn., in 1939.
1935-1954
Bethany grew rapidly under the pastorate of the Reverend George E. Gilchrist, a gifted preacher with special talents of organization. He was the architect of the modern Beth- any. During his years the staff of ministry was develop- ed, the modern businesslike administration was adopted, and lay leadership was ex- panded and brought to an un- usual degree of zeal and har-
mony. The district system of parish organization, a new set of church by-laws, and membership of over one thousand were some of Bethany's advances under Mr. Gilchrist. He also served nation-wide on the Prudential Committee of the American Board.
A new Philathea Class was organized by Mrs. Victor Bigelow in 1935 from the members of her Sunday School class. This group met each Sunday for Bible study and once a month for social activities. The Bible study class was gradually discontinued and the group became part of the Women's Union, first known as the First Nighters and now the Friendship Group.
In 1935 the Union began the yearly custom of pledging $1,000 to the current expenses of the church besides contrib- uting to foreign and home missions and local benevolences. The afternoon sessions were diversified with devotions, busi- ness, music, lecture or missionary talks. On Mrs. Elizabeth Alden's death this tribute was given in her memory: "her personal presence among us will be missed, but her memory will be as the sweet fragrance of a flower."
The Chancel Fund, begun in 1935, amounting to $2,240 in 1953 was turned over to the Beautification and Prudential committees to be used for the renovation of the chancel at the 25th Anniversary Celebration.
The Bethany Players was formed in 1936 to provide all in the church who are interested in the various phases of the drama a congenial opportunity to meet for programs
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of interest and to serve the church by staging religious pag- eants and dramas. Under the direction of Edward A. Bohl- ken the power of church drama has vividly portrayed the message of Christmas and of Easter.
The outstanding event of 1938 was the Birthday Supper to celebrate ten years in the new church. Each table dis- played a birthday cake with ten lighted candles given in memory of former faithful members or friends of Bethany Church.
May 8, 1938: "A new young women's group Amicitians, composed of twenty-five (public school) teachers, who have not been associated with any of our other church social organizations has been meet- ing monthly since January at the home of Mrs. Carle R. Hayward. .. Amicitia signifies friendship."
This group has made gifts to the church such as the purchasing and installing of the oak information holders and pencil racks in each pew, the presentation of a new American flag and a new Christian flag for the sanctuary, service projects during the wars, the palms for Palm Sunday, and the "grabs" for children at the annual fairs.
In 1939 an Evening Group of the Women's Union was formed of young business women of the church. An active group of over forty members, in 1950 they presented a com- munion table to the church in memory of their first president, Miss Ellen Sandison; they redecorated and refurnished the religious education office in 1953, redecorated the church parlor in 1957, and gave two new business desks for the church office. A pair of altar vases was given in memory of Mr. Lindh. Following World War II they adopted Mr. and Mrs. Eric Arnold in Germany, sending them much-needed food and clothing and warm letters of friendship. This friendly relationship still continues.
The Bethany News Letter was started in April, 1940 under the editorship of Mr. John O. Hall, Jr. In June, 1941, he wrote: "The present organist, Mrs. Agnes Ruggles Allen, is completing this month her twenty-sixth year as organist and choir director of Bethany Church." (Mrs. Allen was about three years away from the console after her marriage.) He quoted a Boston paper as stating that there then were only two church organs of cathedral proportions in the Metropoli- tan area . . . one in Bethany Church, Quincy. Perhaps to show the measure of the organist, the editor included some data on the instrument by which Mrs. Allen interprets wor- ship through music.
"It was built by William W. Laws of Beverly, Mass. Some of the pipes from the Ryder organ in the old church were incorporated in it. There are really a series of organs, housed for the most part, behind the grills in the chancel
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ceiling, while the Echo organ with the chimes, is located high up behind the screen near the west window. The con- sole, is the visible part in the chancel. The blower, which furnishes the wind for the pipes, is placed in the remote cellar below the chapel."
Mr. Hall continued for ten years with monthly mimeo- graphed letters until failing health forced him to retire. He died August 2, 1957.
In 1942 the death of Mrs. Theophilus King brought to a close a long and active life of one who was always inter- ested in the Women's Union.
Noteworthy of Mr. Gilchrist's pastorate were his re- treats for men, held on a Sunday afternoon and evening, usu- ally in February. An outstanding minister inspired the men with an address in the sanctuary, followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion of the message, in the social hall. Then, after refreshments, a parting message from the same inspiring speaker in the sanctuary closed the evening with worship.
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