USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Essex > Congregational Church and Parish, Essex, Massachusetts : two hundred and fiftieth anniversary, 1683-1933 > Part 3
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
"The 'Ladies' Home Circle' hopes to continue for many years to be the right hand of the Church in helping in any possible way when any need arises."
After thirty years' use the old hymn book gave way, in 1922, to the "Pilgrim Hymnal" now in use.
It was voted on January 24, 1924 to adopt the statement of faith known as the "Kansas City Statement of Faith" authorized by the National Congregational Council in 1913. This was at once an advance in doctrinal statement, and at the same time a great contrast to the creed of Rev. John Cleaveland's day long used here.
A new stereopticon lantern was purchased this year, and a fine new pulpit Bible of the American revised version was given to the church by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ellis Burnham. Delegates were sent again to an Anti-Saloon meeting at Gloucester in the effort to secure a Massachusetts law to co-operate with Federal Government in the enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment.
The annual business meeting of 1925 was held at the parsonage. At the annual church meeting there were reports read not only from the officers of the church, but also from the Y. P. S. C. E., The Women's Missionary Society, The Daughters of the Covenant, The Sunshine Band, The Ladies' Home Circle, and The Cradle Roll.
In March of that year revival meetings were again held, con- ducted by the Rev. E. C. Pauling of Salem. Ten persons joined the church out of the thirty four who signed cards.
In July, $50 was given a needy family. Another $50 was given to Miss Lucy C. Burnham upon her eightieth birthday. In Novem- ber, $37.25 was taken in a collection for the Near East work. The church on the twenty-second of November adopted the Every- Member Canvass which takes the place of the old method of collec. tions upon stated Sundays for missionary work. Four hundred
25
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
dollars was the church's apportionment for its missionary work this time, but the eight teams which went out for this canvass secured pledges of $700. The third Sunday in October was observed as Go-To-Church Sunday.
A flower committee was created in 1926 with Deacon B. F. Raymond as chairman. That year the apportionment was $600, and pledges secured by the Every Member-Canvass System amounted to $543. However, $561.75 was received ultimately and transmitted to the missionary societies. Union evening services were held with the Christian Endeavor Society once or twice a month during the year.
Another important innovation, the free transportation of chil- dren to Sunday School, was instituted in 1927. This has proved to be of great value and convenience for all concerned. A Welcoming Committee was formed during the year. Deacon Raymond was asked to take charge of this work also. Because of infantile paralysis, which developed in the community, there was no Sunday School on a Sunday of October. It was voted on the eighth of November to change the midweek church meeting from Tuesday to Friday evening
In September of 1928 fourteen teams secured pledges of church attendance on the occasion of the Go-To-Church Sunday observed on the thirtieth day of that month. Ten dollars was donated to the Red Cross. And a contribution of $15 was given to a fund for the expenses of the Friendship Visitation of our British Congregational Brethren to New England on Sunday, August 5, 1928. Civic Sunday was observed November fourth. The town officers and firemen accepted the invitation to attend the morning's service.
The records of the church were placed in a deposit vault in Gloucester in 1929 for safe-keeping. June 7 of that year the church voted to "baptize children when neither parents are members of the church." A "Loyalty Month" was also appointed. Fourteen teams made canvasses for pledges to the church in that year. Five dollars was pledged to help send a Sunday School delegate to Northfield.
The year 1930 saw the Welcoming Committee made a perman- ent feature of the Sunday morning's service. Lenten literature was provided for the pre-Easter season, and Palm Sunday brought a union service again with the Methodist and Universalist Churches. The church showed its interest in temperance and good social order by voting its "goodwill and co-operation with the Selectmen and public officers of Essex in the enforcement of the laws and in the moral advancement of Essex, and in support of the Eighteenth Amend- ment."
26
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
August the third was the occasion of a union service with the Methodist Church as a part of the Tercentenary Celebration of the town. There had been a similar service with the Universalist Church on the evening of June 15.
The church furnished four floats for the Tercentenary parade June 13, and the Tercentenary speaker on July 13 was heard in our auditorium at a great service where the crowd overflowed into the streets. The Methodist and Universalist Churches united with us for this occasion and also the Ipswich and Manchester churches. Frank G. Allen, Governor of Massachusetts, was the honored guest of the day. He left a silk State flag as a cherished memento of the occasion.
A message of sympathy was sent to Deacon D. Choate Cogswell upon the death of his granddaughter. It was on the twenty-eighth of August of this year that a gift of $50 came from J. Henry Duggan from New York City which touched everyone deeply with its affec- tion for the old church. He sent it, he wrote, for his loving, living memory of the sound of our beautiful church bell which rang its silvery tones in his ears every Sunday during his boyhood in Essex. This bell was cast by Paul Revere, and the silver in it was furnished by members of the congregation out of their store of household silver. It has truly a silver tone as it calls to the worship of Almighty God.
This year the parsonage was remodelled and carefully condi- tioned by the hearty co-operation of the members of the church and congregation and friends in the town. In this work The Ladies' Home Circle was especially active through its president, Mrs. Flor- ence S. Goodhue. Ezra L. Phillips of Gloucester contributed his service, drawing the necessary plans. His help was much appre- ciated by the church and its new pastor and his wife.
The church also gave a vote of appreciation this year for work of our two-year old junior choir. Miss Maidee P. Polleys was put in charge of flowers for the pulpit, a work which she has faithfully and efficiently carried forward. The fellowship of prayer was used during the Lenten season this year, and the members of the church also took part in the planting of George Washington trees, the church, itself, planting one. On the twenty-second of January the church co operated in a bazaar to get funds for the unemployed of the town.
The bell was tolled in 1932 for the funeral of Calvin Coolidge as an expression of the deep sorrow felt by the entire community and nation.
A gift of a large silk American flag for the auditorium was made
27
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
by Mrs. Lizzie M. Choate and Mrs. Abby P. Sinclair in memory of their mother, Mrs. Susan Norton, on November 6. A bazaar promoted by representatives of every organization in the church and the parish was held on the seventh of December to raise funds for putting the church building in order for the celebration of this im- portant anniversary. The church voted thanks to Miss Frances Lowe for her faithfulness in playing the organ at midweek meeting. A committee was chosen also to plan this work of conditioning the church and carry it out; namely, Deacon Caleb M. Cogswell, Deacon Lyman D. Lowe, Miss Maidee P. Polleys, Mrs. E. A. Burnham, The Ladies' Home Circle and the Parish Committee, i.e., Deacon B. F. Raymond, Deacon Leonard A. Story, E. J. Story. The work which this committee has so well accomplished involved the redecoration and repaneling of the auditorium, with new cushions for the pews, a new ceiling for and the redecoration of the large vestry, redecoration of the small vestry, and the making of a kitchen, which last was the especial province of The Ladies' Home Circle. The committee was aided enthusiastically in this work on all sides, and much labor was contributed gratuitously by many members of the congregation and friends in the community.
Several have made special gifts for the beautification of the auditorium. A large silk church flag was given by Mrs. Ruby Adams Story, on the fifth of August, in memory of Arthur D. Story; a pulpit light was given by Mrs. A. Stanley Wonson and Mrs. Ralph W. Crockett in memory of their father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Choate; the paneling in the front of the auditorium is a gift from Mrs. Grace B. Phillips of Gloucester, in memory of her parents, Deacon Leonard Burnham and his wife, Elizabeth Saunders Burn- ham. The plans for this paneling and the reconditioning of the church were contributed as the result of the generous interest of her husband, Deacon Ezra L. Phillips. Two new chairs for the pulpit platform are promised by Mrs. George Elwell; the fine baptismal font was designed and made with skillful and careful interest by Marshall Cogswell. The new cushions in the church were in part the gift of The Ladies' Home Circle and of several individuals and the outcome of a lawn party held under the chairmanship of Miss Maidee P. Polleys. One half of the returns of this party were used for this purpose and the other half went to the treasury of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary program committee. Miss Polleys also thoughtfully presented the restoration of the fine antique com- munion table to the church and a silk American flag in memory of her mother, Mrs. Sarah D. Polleys, to the Sunday School for the large vestry. The redecoration of the auditorium is a memorial to Sophronia M. Low, and was made possible by the use of a part of her legacy to the church.
28
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
On May 11, 1933, the thirty two churches of the Essex South Association held the annual association meeting with us.
This record of fifty years is certainly revealing. It tells of con- secration, devotion, loyalty, thrift, sympathy and self-respect, patience and courage-those good old Christian New England characteristics. It shows generosity to those in need, and faithfulness to the service of Christ at home and abroad. It shows in fine genuine Christian life.
This church is a church of men and women who are carrying on in the spirit of the fathers. Often in the past years our people have carried their own services. The deacons of the church are ready and able to speak and to pray in church services and prayer meeting. These loyal sons of the fathers will hand on their heritage to their children that they in turn may pass it on to others. It is thrilling to find such a record of those who love the church, and God, and the Bible, and Christ, of those who hold to the American Christian principles of independency, democracy, and fraternity. True spirit- ual children of the founders of this church of the Living God are here, for "such characters of spiritual strength and beauty as they (the fathers) were fashioned into, are, and always will be a living force in the community, in themselves a benefaction to the world around them."
The men and women of this place two centuries and a half ago desired their own church. They had a keen sense of the value of the regular worship of God, and a strong desire for better religious privileges for the community of Chebacco than were theirs. They had walked or ridden on horseback, week by week, to the center of Ipswich for Lord's Day service, for funerals and burials, until "the inbahitants of Chebacco considering the great straits they were in for want of the means of grace among themselves" urged "that we might obtain the ministry of the word among ourselves, which is our heart's desire." They won this, their ernest desire, from the parent church and from the state, which had a deciding voice in the matter, after a long period of insistent demanding and independent action. The first church building was dedicated in April 1680, and the Rev. John Wise began preaching in it.
Fifty years ago Dr. Crowell said, what remains true today, "It is the underlying and unchanging, substantial qualities of this life, first and foremost the loving spirit of Jesus the Lord with which this church has ever been inspired, the strength of its faith and the truth of its creed attested by its fruitfulness in all good works, the scriptural simplicity of its church order and the purity and power of its pulpit, which have made it to so great a degree the conservative, elevating, purifying element in society-which therefore demands our deepest reverence and our warmest affection and gratitude."
29
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Some of the eighteen articles of faith and discipline which were adopted by the church during the pastorate of Rev. John Cleaveland, its fourth minister, are these: "1. That we will have such officers as Christ Jesus has appointed in His Holy Word: Pastor (or Pastors), Ruling Elders and Deacons. 2. No person shall be admitted to either of said offices, unless he has Scriptural qualifications evi- dently appearing to the satisfaction of the church. 14. We believe that all the gifts and graces that are bestowed on any of the members are to be improved for the good of the whole-for the glory of God and for the good of the church." Article 16 declared against the magistrate's having the power to force people to contribute to the support of the Gospel; "gifts may be received, but not forced from any without."
"These Godly, liberty-loving but self-controlled Protestant, Americanized Englishmen of the fourth generation, had not let go their English Bible as the Inspired Word, nor sold their God-given birthright for any mess of pottage, whether prelatical or presbyterial on the one hand, or rationalistic or theistic on the other."
This first pastor, John Wise, spent his boyhood under such circumstances that he was a strong champion of autonomy. He said near the close of his last sickness, "I have been a man of contention, but the state of the churches made it necessary. Upon the most serious review I can say 'I have fought a good fight,' and I have com- fort in reflecting upon the same. I am conscious to myself that I have acted sincerely."
He was arrested for opposing the tax which Governor Andros endeavored to collect throughout the colony, in 1687; he had urged the citizens of Ipswich to refuse to co-operate in this procedure which he said, "doth infringe their liberty." He was held for contempt and high misdemeanor and taken to the Boston jail with five others. He was refused his request for a writ of habeas corpus by Justice Dudley, suspended from the "Ministerial Function," fined fifty pounds and costs and put under one thousand pounds bond for good behavior for one year. Nothing daunted, however, and about twenty months later, when the English Governor was a fugitive, John Wise, still continuing his ministerial function, sued the same Justice Dudley for denying him the writ and collected damages.
The late ex-President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, once asserted that the principles forcibly enunciated by John Wise brought on the Revolution eighty years later. This colonial min- ister's pamphlets were reprinted indeed in 1772 to serve the cause of the Revolution, and extracts from them were used by Thomas Jefferson in writing the Declaration of Independence. "Upon the
30
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
whole," declared Jefferson, "no other American author of colonial time is the equal of John Wise in the union of great breadth and power of thought, with great splendor of style-blending a racy and dainty humor with impassioned earnestness." This "first logical and clear-headed Democrat" laid down the everlasing principles of democ- racy for both civil and ecclesiastical affairs.
He was indeed a man of indomitable spirit. It is related that when news reached him that a crew of Chebacco boys had been captured by a pirate cruiser, John Wise stood in his pulpit and prayed, "If there is to be no other way for their deliverance, strength- en them to rise and butcher their enemies." Upon one occasion a man of Andover, a wrestler unbeaten, came to town expressly to try the muscle of the minister. The clergyman came to his front door, took off his coat, clinched with him and promptly threw the wrestler. He threw him again, and then lifted the man over the fence and laid him in the street. The astonished Andover strong man humbly remarked, "Toss the horse over after me, and I'll go my way."
Such was the mettle of the man who wrote, "Truth and right- ousness will never rot; no, cover them with what sort of filth you will, yet when the day comes, if not before, they will get uppermost, and go forth as brightness, and as a lamp that burneth." The Essex church led by this man "was the biggest power in the colonies."
Time fails us in which to speak further of the early years or of the ministers of the early times though much should be said of them, much for instance of Mr. Pickering who stood staunchly for an edu- cated ministry and the "regularly constituted arrangements for the maintenance of religion" at the time of "The Great Awakening"; of Mr. Cleaveland who introduced regular quarterly fasts based on the Bible doctrine of prayer; of Robert Crowell, historian and scholar, who often invited the other pastors of the neighborhood to meet with him to discuss the Greek and Hebrew text of the Bible. We may not speak at any length of the importance and effective work of the Sunday School of which Caleb M. Cogswell is the loyal Superintendent, faithfully aided for a long time by Mrs. Mattie L. Harding superintendent of the Primary Department, Miss Alice M. Hobbs, superintendent of the Home Department, who serves also as Parish Treasurer, and an able corps of teachers. It has always played a very vital part in the training of our youth for Christian manhood and womanhood under consecrated superintendents, and has had great influence in sending boys of this church into fields of important service, especially, into the ministry.
It can only be said in conclusion that the last fifty years have
31
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
found inspiration from the preceeding two centuries, and the spirit of the fathers has lived in the children so that this church has been used by God to His glory.
It remains for us here to sincerely resolve and declare that this church shall keep its place as the stated means of God's grace to which it has been called and crowned by two hundred and fifty great years.
Let us see that it shall wear the radiant crown well so that the children of our children may be able to cherish its glory. That glory is to minister to the people the word of eternal life in the spirit of Jesus Christ who wore to His glory the Crown of Thorns.
32
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
REMARKS APPRECIATIVE OF REV. JOHN WISE MADE AT HIS GRAVE IN ESSEX, AUGUST 13, 1933 BY REV. WARREN FRANCIS LOW
W TE ARE gathered here at the grave of Rev. John Wise. For two hundred and eight years his body has rested here. He had been gone seven years when George Washington came. He was one of thriteen children. His father was Joseph Wise, and was of the serving class of English people. John Wise was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts in the year 1652 only 32 years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth. He began life at the very bottom of the social structure, and became a majestic man physically, morally, and mentally. He was a man of sublime moral courage. He was one of the grand men of New England, in the presence of many of great grandeur. He was graduated from Harvard College in 1673 at the age of 21 years. There were only four members in his graduating class.
He preached for some months in Bradford, Conn., and . preached so well, and lived so well that they wanted him to settle there. This he declined to do, and was shortly appointed "minister to our army" in King Philip's war. Soon after this he preached for two years in Hatfield. At the age of 26 he married Abigail Gardner. He was ordained to the Christian Ministry, and settled pastor over this church, August 12, 1683 when 31 years of age. The same council that ordained him instituted this church in Chebacco parish. John Burnham and Thomas Low were chosen deacons of the church.
From the first to the last John Wise was a hero of civil and religious freedom. In August 1687 there was held in Chebacco a meeting of the people to protest against the tax of Sir Edmond Andros. John Wise was at that meeting, and made a "bold and impressive speech" that reveals the wide scope of his knowledge, and his clear perception of the great principle that real government must be at the consent of the governed.
John Wise did not preach rebellion or sedition. He stood "for law, and order, and authority." He was the champion of the "demo- cratic state." He did not repudiate taxation but he did make a mighty and fearless plea for representation with taxation. He was a dauntless opponent to tyranny. He proclaimed "The king has in his realm two superiors, God, and the Law." John Wise was perhaps the first man in America to protest against taxation without repre- sentation, on the part of Great Britain. His protest was clear, fear- less, and moving. Some of the most brilliant sentences in Jefferson's
33
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Declaration of Independence are copied from John Wise's immortal words. For his protest John Wise was fined, sentenced to prison and "suspended from his ministerial function." The town grandly made good the loss he sustained and later Mr. Wise brought action against Chief Justice Dudley, and recovered damages.
John Wise was a leading champion of religious freedom. In the bitter controversy over the government of our Congregational Churches John Wise took an heroic stand and maintained it victori- ously. In his book, "A Vindication of the Government of the New England Churches," Mr. Wise laid down the great principles on which our churches have practically been governed since his day.
While pastor in Chebacco parish John Wise was appointed by the General Court a Chaplain in an expedition against Canada. The expedition was a failure, but John Wise was not. He distinguished himself by his heroic spirit, martial skill, and fathful discharge of every duty.
John Wise was a broad minded and clear thinking man. He took a bold and forward stand in favor of vaccination as a remedy for small pox. This he did when the people generally were struck with horror at the idea. John Wise took a firm and brave stand against the Witchcraft fanaticism of his time. This he did at the risk of his life, but he was dauntless here as always. He had a clear vision of the evil delusion when it was so overwhelming in New England. He was a straight thinking, clear headed man. He was a fearless and honest thinker. John Wise was a gentleman of surpass- ing merit and sublime character. He was a scholar and an orator. He was eloquent of speech, of generous and public spirit; a patriot in the highest sense, a defender of the liberties of his country. He was wise and far seeing, fearless and undeviating, and courteous with all. He was an ornament to the Christian ministry, with a keen mind and faithful to the uttermost. He was a sublimely dependable man. He was a man of splendid distinction. He is one of the great glories of old Essex. We do well to honor him, for he has bestowed great honor on the old town. Rich memories cluster here at the grave of this noble man. We treasure his memory as one that can- not easily be surpassed.
34
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
CONVICTIONS THAT EMPOWER BY REV. EDWARD P. DREW, D. D.
Acts 4:16 "What Shall We Do With These Men?"
A MIGHTY conviction mastered "these men." The whole city might rise up against them, but they were as bold as lions, as invincible as the legions of Caesar. They believed and therefore they did speak. Christ the risen Christ, the present living power of Christ was to them the one supreme reality. Christ was their pas- sion. Thereby they troubled the city. The Chief men were at a loss to know what to do. Despairingly they cried, "What shall we do with these men?"
We know now that this was a time of crisis in the world's history; that here began a new epoch for the human race; that be- cause of "these men" and that for which they stood a new era dawned for mankind. It was the beginning of a Christian civiliza- tion. It marked, the advent of the power of Christ in the World.
It may therefore be advantageous to us, living as we do in these days of revolutionary thought and practice to seek to ascertain the precise nature of the convicition to which "these men" so tenaciously held, and the significance of that conviction for our times.
I. They believed with unshaken confidence that God is and that there is a Divine purpose for the world's re-making. God is. There are certain facts of which men become convinced through scientific evidence and proof. It is scientifically verifiable that the distance accomplished by a falling body varies as the square of the time. This is a demonstrable fact; therefore, we believe. But there are other convictions that are not thus derived. A boy has con- fidence in his father, but through no scientific evidence. Whence comes this confidence and what is it? It is that which we call the filial relationship. No man invented it. No philosophy, no science has produced it. Whence comes it? There is but one answer; it came from God!
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.