USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Gloucester > Exercises at the 50th anniversary of the Evangelical Congregational Church, Gloucester, Mass., Nov. 18, 1879 > Part 2
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MISS ELIZABETH J. STEVENS removed to Illinois in 1834, and died two years later.
MISS PAMELIA STACY married Mr. Philip Nowell, and in 1859, removed to Derry, N. H., where she died in 1875, leaving a leg- acy of two thousand dollars to this church, the income to be used in supporting the Gospel.
MRS. SARAH HARRADEN, wife of Jonathan, remained an ac- tive member of the church until she died, in 1863.
MRS. ANNA HARRADEN, sister of the above, wife of Andrew, was also an efficient helper until her death, in 1837.
The house in which the Harraden brothers lived is still standing on Elm street, and it is now, as then, noted for its hospitality to ministerial supplies. It was the home of Rev. C. S. Porter dur- ing his pastorate, and many meetings of conference and enquiry were held in the lower south-west room during his ministry.
It is a little remarkable that there were no meetings held for preaching by this little company until the church was organized, but after that, meetings were held whenever ministers could be se-
*The house was moved and is still standing on Washington St., near Pine.
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cured. . There was then no ministerial bureau and very few min- isterial tramps, but the neighboring pastors supplied frequently and showed great sympathy for this little company of believers. The first meetings were held in the second story of the school-house that stood where the Collins school-house is now located. It was called Union Hall, and was the largest hall in the town at that time, and was used for town meetings, lectures and other public gatherings. For some reason the meetings were transferred to the room below in the east end of the building, Sept. 26, 1830, and continued there until the meeting-house was dedicated.
The first record of preaching that can be found was that of Rev. J. P. Cleaveland, pastor of Tabernacle Church, Salem, who preached April 18, 1830, from the words, " What mean ye by this service ?" Ex., XII : 26. " A day long to be remembered by this infant church," writes Miss Parsons in her journal.
Rev. Jedediah Clark Parmelee, then a student at Andover, spent his spring vacation, May, 1830, with this church. It was his first experience in preaching, and the people for the first time had the privilege of having pastoral work done among them. The few weeks Mr. Parmelee spent in Gloucester developed a strong attachment in him for the people, and he afterwards sent letters expressive of his sympathy and interest in their welfare. In one letter, he writes : " I am rejoiced to hear of the progress of things in Gloucester, and that a meeting-liouse is to be built. May God prosper the work. Then, though Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite may laugh you to scorn and despise you, you can say, ' The God of heaven, He will prosper us ; therefore we his servants will arise and build.' May God give you grace as a church to keep humble, to pray much, and to contend much with spiritual foes. You can not then fail of getting the victory, for the Captain of your salvation is mighty." Mr. Parmelee graduated the same year, 1830, was agent for the American Board one year, preached in Westfield, N. Y., Tallmadge, O., and died at Sandy Hill, N. Y., June 28, 1841.
Rev. Caleb Kimball began to supply this church June 20, 1830, and preached most of the time until October, 1831. His first ser- mon was from the text, " Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God," John, In : 3; his last was from the
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words, "We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God," 2 Cor., v : 20. All the texts he used indicate that he was a very devoted man, and did not shun to declare the whole counsel of God. Mr. Kimball was born in Ipswich, June 3, 1798, studied at Phillips Academy, Andover, and graduated at Dartmouth, 1826. He was a member one year of Andover Seminary in the class of 1829, but becoming almost entirely blind, he left the class, but continued to preach as he had opportunity. He was ordained as an evangelist in Barnstable in 1832, preached in Harwich two years, in Biddeford, Me., two years ; was successful as an evange- list, and resided for many years at West Medway, where he died June 19, 1879, at the age of 81. He published eight volumes of religious books, some of which have passed their twentieth edition. The children where Mr. Kimball boarded when in Gloucester had occasion to remember him, because they were called upon to read to him the hymns and the passage of scripture before service, which he could then repeat from memory. During his ministry here, six were received into the church, three of them by profession.
In September, 1830, Mr. Kimball, becoming somewhat worn with his labors, made an exchange for several weeks with a semi- nary student who was to supply at Haverhill. That student was Rev. Thaddeus B. Hurlburt, who was afterward settled at the West, and who is still living at Upper Alton, Ill., the only living representative of the ministerial supplies in the early history of the church. Under date of Sept. 24, 1879, he writes that he remembers the church " as a devout little band, fully determined on maintaining the faith once delivered to the saints."
The church was admitted to the Essex South Conference, May 12, . 1830. The first meeting to form a parish was held at the house of Deacon Parker, March 5, 1830, and the petition for a legal warrant to be issued by a justice of the peace was signed by thirteen per- sons, viz. :- Nathaniel Babson, Andrew Parker, Benaiah Titcomb, Ezekiel Harthorn, John R. Curtis, John Saunders, Jr., William Dexter, Jr., Ebenezer Parsons, Jr., John J. Parsons, Nehemiah Parsons, S. H. Nelson, John H. Wait and Nathaniel Saunders. These persons met the thirteenth of the same month, and organized under the name of " The Evangelical Society." Of these origi-
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nal members of the society, only one is known to be living, Eben Parsons, who resides in the West Parish.
In Nov., 1830, the society appointed a committtee to superin- tend the building of a meeting house, and chose Rev. David Jewett, of Sandy Bay, Rev. Robert Crowell, of Essex, Deacon Andrew Parker, Nathaniel Babson and Benaiah Titcomb, with Mr. Jewett as treasurer of the committee. The land formerly occupied by Josiah Haskell, the "tithing man," on the north- west corner of Middle and School streets, was bought for the society, and the frame for the house was raised May 26, 1831. The Gloucester Telegraph speaks of it as the thirteenth meeting- house in town, and says : " There is now no fear but all our people can be suited to whatever preaching they choose to sit under, except the Quakers, for whom we hope to see a building erecting in a short time, for we have recently had an accession of long faces made to our town." The house was fifty-five feet long, forty-two wide and twenty-one high, with gothic windows, tower and cupola mounted with a vane. There were two entrances from Middle street, with a long window between, which lighted both the vesti- bule and the gallery above. The interior was divided by two aisles with four rows of pews. The pulpit at the north end was a solid looking structure, "a sort of breastwork for theological artillery," reached by five or six steps at each end, with doors to shut the preacher in. It was painted white, and had a long seat in a recess, covered with a cushion. A large red velvet cushion with hanging tassels served the double purpose of holding the Bible and of quietly receiving the blows of impassioned elo- quence. Pulpits in those days were built for such fiery speakers as John Knox, of whom it is said, "Er he haid done with his sermone, was sae active and vigorous, that he was like to ding the pulpit in blades and flie out of it." The church cost, says a writer* at that time, two thousand dollars, "four hundred was raised by the little band ; the remainder is the fruit of Christian liberality. The house occupies a central position, and if God shall bless it, it will be blessed."
The house was dedicated Sept. 8, 1831, as one expressed
*Rev. Robert Crowell.
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it, "To God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost." The sermon was by Rev. Brown Emerson, of Salem, from the text : "O Lord, revive thy work," Hab., III : 2. The prayer of dedication was by Rev. David Jewett, and is remem- bered as a prayer by which not simply the house was dedicated to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, but all its walls, its pulpit, its pews, and everything pertaining to it. The address was by Rev. David Oliphant, of Beverly, who gave great encouragement to the little flock by the hopeful view he took of their condition and future prospects. The sacred music on the occasion was reported " of the first order, under the direction of Dr. Nichols, of Sandy Bay, and Mr. Choate, of Essex,"
The first sermon preached in the house after its dedication was by Rev. George Cowles, of Danvers, from Isq., XLII : 16: "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known ; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight."
The success of this church in securing a house of worship was due mainly to Rev. Robert Crowell, of Essex, and Rev. David Jewett, of Sandy Bay, who were largely responsible for the cost of the building, and who advanced money to pay the workmen. " It was their united and earnest efforts," writes Rev, C. S. Porter,* the first pastor of this church, "aided by a few warm- hearted laymen, that called into being the Evangelical church at the Harbor, and at Lanesville. Many were their prayerful consul- tations, their journeys, often on foot, to raise funds in behalf of those Christian enterprises, and frequent their visitation to those places for the purpose of preaching, at first in school-houses, and of conversing in private with the people. These churches and that at West Gloucester are so many monuments to the zeal, wis- dom and fidelity of these men, erected while they still lived, to perpetuate their memory on earth." "It was emphatically a labor of love," writes Rev. Wakefield Gale, the successor of Mr. Jewett, at Rockport, "which should never be overlooked or forgotten by the good people of Gloucester. It should ever have a prominent place in their hearts, and in their approaching celebra - tion. Precious is the memory of these men, who took so active a
*Sketch of Dr. Crowell in History of Essex.
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part in building up the waste places of Zion. Doubtless they now feel a much deeper interest than they did fifty. years ago, and perhaps they will be present in spirit, as deeply-interested specta- tors of what shall be done at this semi-centennial of the church which they helped to establish."
The church and society thus provided with a place of worship, soon took measures to secure a pastor who should be sound in the doctrines. The society adopted the following standing rules at a special meeting held Jan. 14, 1832.
"Resolved, that as our design in association in this society was to en- joy Evangelical or Orthodox preaching, in distinction from Unitarian- ism, Universalism, Antinomianism, or whatever else may be contrary to sound doctrine, therefore, we will use our influence and endeavor to procure and support such preaching and no other.
Resolved, that in calling and settling over us a minister. we will ad- here to the ancient usage of Congregational churches and societies in New England, viz., that the church shall take the lead in this business and the society, if they judge proper, concur, but that neither church nor society shall proceed to the settlement without the joint concurrence of both.
Resolved, that no person shall be admitted a member of this society without the approbation of the parish committee, and withont subscribing his name to these resolutions, as a solemn obligation on his part that he will invariably adhere to them."
Rev. Charles S. Porter, born in Ashfield, Mass., Dec. 9, 1805, graduated at Amherst College in 1827, and at Andover Seminary Sept. 28, 1831, came at once to Gloucester, where he preached Oct. 2. Ilis first introduction to the people was rather trying for him, for the trunk containing his parchments failed to put in an appearance before the Sabbath, but with characteristic confidence, he went into the pulpit and preached extempore from the words, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do." The church immediately arranged for a four days' meeting, in which the neighboring min- isters assisted, which resulted in quite an extensive revival, twen- ty-six uniting with the church on profession of faith during the following spring and summer. June 12, 1832, the church gave Mr. Porter a call, and he was ordained Aug. 1 of the same year. Dr. Lyman Beecher preached the sermon from John, Xv : 5, "Without me ye can do nothing," the ordaining prayer was by Rev. Samuel Dana, of Marblehead, the charge was given by Rev. Brown Emerson, of Salem, the right hand by Rev. Edward J.
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Fuller, of Chelsea, and Rev. J. P. Cleaveland, of Salem, made the address to the people. The concluding prayer was offered by Rev. Milton P. Braman, of Danvers, who is the only minister now living that engaged in the service of that day. The ordina- tion services were held in the Universalist church, and in refer- ence to this fact, the local paper says : "Though to us it appears a very singular event, we were pleased to hear that the use of a larger church was at their service. It is, however, the first in- stance of an Orthodox ordination taking place in an Universalist church."
Soon after his ordination, Mr. Porter took a vacation of two months, and his pulpit was supplied by the venerable Walter Har- ris, D. D., who had just closed a pastorate of forty-one years in Dunbarton, N. H., and who was a former pastor of several of the members of this church, It was through the influence of Dr. Harris that the present Ladies' Society was formed, to raise money toward the support of preaching.
Mr. Porter continued the pastor of this church until May 4, 1835, and did an efficient and successful work for the Master, fifty-one uniting with the church during his ministry.
The church early took strong ground on the temperance and Sabbath questions. In Dec., 1831, it voted "that, considering the vast amount of evil occasioned by the use of ardent spirits to the bodies and souls of men, and especially in view of the evils occasioned by it in the church, that we as members of this church abstain entirely from the use and traffic of the same."
At the same time, they voted unanimously to sign the following pledge in regard to the Sabbath : "Believing that all worldly business and traveling on the Christian Sabbath, excepting in cases of piety, necessity and mercy, all worldly visiting and amusements on that day, are contrary to the Divine will, and injurious to the social, civil and religious interests of men, we, the subscribers, agree that we will abstain from all such violations of the Sabbath, and that we will use our influence to persuade our own families and others to do the same."
That there was need of such votes is evident from a statement made at that time that there was in the village an " infidel society of one hundred and twenty-five members." An extract from the
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local paper of the same year shows that something was done for temperance besides passing resolutions. It says that "the num- ber of places in town where ardent spirits are sold, exclusive of taverners and victualers, is fifty-one, about one-fourth of what there was a few years since."
June 18, 1834, the society record reads : " Got up a bell to our meeting-house, which was given us by subscription." This bell, weighing 850 pounds, was procured through the earnest efforts of Mr. Porter, who was particular to secure one of a different tone and higher key than any other in town."
The action of the church in relation to a difficulty between the pastor and some of the members is worthy of record, as showing a successful way to dispose of the unpleasant results of church trou- bles. By the aid of Dr. Crowell and Rev. Mr. Jewett, the matter was adjusted so as to satisfy all parties, and the whole church voted by rising, "that the difficulties be here dropped, and that the per- son hereafter making them matter of conversation shall be consid- ered as violating the peace of the church."
The years of Mr. Porter's ministry were years of trial and self- sacrifice for both pastor and people. Evangelical religion was not popular ; they were in the minority, and were looked upon by many as intruders. Only a few were financially able to help carry on the enterprise. There were but six male members of the church and less than thirty belonging to the society. The nominal salary was six hundred dollars, but in 1833, only two hundred and twenty- seven dollars were paid by the people ; the missionary society helped generously for those times, but when the pastor left, the parish acknowledged a gift from him of four hundred and fifty dollars, which was evidently the amount of the salary in arrears.
Mr. Porter is remembered as a man of commanding appearance in the pulpit, with a good voice and manner, and an excellent singer. His sermons are spoken of as solid rather than brilliant, more thoughtful than sensational ; his aim seemed to be to win souls to Christ and to edify his hearers. He was regarded as an earnest and faithful pastor, and often served as his own sexton and chorister, ringing the bell, building the fire and pitching the tunes. He wore upon the street, with great dignity the people thought, a large circular cape with a long tassel thrown over the shoulder.
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His affection for the people and their interest in him is shown by his subsequent visits and invitations to councils. He preached his farewell sermon May 3, 1835, and left the same week for New York city, where he was installed June 14, over the Second Ave- nue Presbyterian Church, and remained seven years. He was pastor in Utiea, N. Y., three years, and in Plymouth, Mass., eight years. While there, he was spoken of as the leading minister of his association, and his church as the most prominent in the con- ference. He was in South Boston from February, 1854, to March 23, 1863, the last part of the time as pastor of the Church of the Unity, afterward called the E Street Congregational, which was organized through his instrumentality. After this, he had no per- manent settlement, but preached occasionally as health and oppor- tunity permitted. His last sermon* was preached in the pulpit of a former Sunday school boy, Rev. Mr. Freeman, of Haverstraw, N. Y., from the text, "Be ye holy, for I am holy." "A solemn stillness and awe pervaded the assembly, for all felt that they should see his face no more." He died at Boston, April 10, 1870. He married Miss Jane E. Fisk, of Cambridge, who died Dec. 7, 1843. Ile married Miss Louise Adams, of Derry, N. H., July 7, 1847, who died at West Medford, July 7, 1879, leaving two sons and a daughter.
After Mr. Porter's dismissal, Rev. George Cowles, of South Danvers, preached eight Sabbaths, and among the students who supplied was Mr. Christopher M. Nickels, who preached July 19 and Aug. 23. The church gave him a call with a salary of six hundred dollars, three hundred and fifty from the parish and the balance from the Home Missionary Society. He was ordained Sept. 29, 1835. Rev. William A. Stearns, of Cambridgeport, afterward President of Amherst College, preached the sermon, from Isa., XLV : 21, " A just God and a Savion." The ordaining prayer was offered by Rev. Brown Emerson, of Salem, and the charge given by Rev. Robert Crowell, of Essex. The right hand of fel- lowship was extended by Rev. Jonathan F. Stearns, a classmate of Mr. Niekels, who had just been settled at Newburyport, and who afterwards was a pastor with him in Newark, N. J. All of the
*Congregational Quarterly, Oct., 1874.
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ministers of that council, held forty-four years ago, have passed away except Dr. Stearns, who has been pastor of the First Presby- terian Church in Newark since 1849.
Mr. Niekels' pastorate, covering alnost thirteen years, was the longest, and, all things considered, the most successful of any with which the church has been blessed. During his ministry, one hun- dred and twenty united with the church, the parish was largely increased, and there was a great gain in financial strength. He evidently commended himself to the people from the beginning by his evangelical preaching, for we find that his first sermon as a candidate was on "total depravity," and his first sermon after his ordination was from the text, "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts ; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear," 1 Peter, III : 15.
Mr. Niekels had a Bible class which met during the week, some of the time in what was called the Proprietors' school-house, which still stands on School street, at the head of Columbia. This class was continued for many years, and was often attended by fifty to seventy persons.
He had much with which to contend in the early part of his ministry in the financial weakness of the society. The meeting- house was still in the hands of the building committee, who held a deed of the whole property as security for the balance of the cost which was due them, and they were yet dependent on the Home Missionary Society for aid. In 1837, he gives expression to his feelings in these words :* " It is to be regretted that amid all the wonderful works of the Lord in behalf of the Evangelical church, there is neither skill now power in the churches to remove the burden of a heavy debt which yet oppresses this church." But help soon came. A revival was experienced which brought into the church a large number, twenty-nine uniting at one time ; the result was an increase of pecuniary strength, for in 1839, the building committee gave, through their attorney, a deed of the church property to the society, which indicates that the debt was paid.
At this time, there were seventy-five families reported as connect-
*Home Missionary.
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ed with the congregation, fifty members of the parish, and one hundred and eighty in the Sunday School. But it is recorded, as a source of discouragement, that " the members who stand at the . head of twenty-two of these families do not attend preaching nor aid in its support."
During this same year, 1839, there was a building put up by individuals on the land of the society in the rear of the church, the lower room of which was occupied by the church for a vestry, and the upper room was rented to classes in singing and select schools. This vestry was a great convenience to the people, and was used until the new church was built, when it was removed to Mason street, where it is now occupied as a dwelling house.
The next year, 1840, the society voted to do without missionary aid, and succeeded for that year, but did not throw off the yoke of bondage entirely until 1843.
In 1842, there was a tidal wave of temperance, which swept the town as never before. Mr. Nickels writes at the time :* "The temperance cause has made wonderful progress during the past six months. A large proportion of the venders have given up the business. The want of customers might be assigned the reason, if no other could be found. Nearly fifteen hundred have signed the total abstinence pledge." This was the Washingtonian move- ment, as it was called, and extended through New England, and was instrumental in accomplishing a wonderful reformation. It was more permanent in its results than some of the temperance movements of the present day, for the next year the pastor writes : " Temperance is still triumphant ; rum-selling shops seventeen in number are for the first time given up."
Through the carnest and self-denying efforts of Mr. Nickels, the church was induced to become independent of missionary aid in 1843. By a rule of the Home Missionary Society, the church could not receive help until it settled a pastor, so that the first aid was received in 1832, when three hundred dollars was appropriated. After that, it was aided every year except 1840 until 1844, the last appropriation of twenty-five dollars being received Dec. 29, 1843. The whole amount received for the twelve years was twenty-three hundred dollars, or a little less than two hundred a
*Home Missionary.
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year. The benevolent record of this church the past fifteen years shows that the missionary help was well expended ; it has been re- turned many fold.
The salary of Mr. Nickels was increased to six hundred and fifty dollars in 1845, and there was every prospect that the next ten years of his pastorate would be most happy and prosperous. The church and society were throughly united in him, and there was an increase of spiritual and financial strength in the congregation which gave it power in the community. But the health of the pastor's wife was such that a change of climate was necessary, and he was dismissed June 21, 1848. The council, of which Rev. Brown Emerson was moderator, in advising the acceptance of the resignation, gave this expression to its views : "In coming to this conclusion, it is not without the conviction that the most painful duty is imposed upon us. Our confidence in our brother and re- gard for him would gladly retain him still within our ministerial circle, and we contemplate in this separation only the bidding of that Providence to the direction of which we should ever sub- mit. To the churches in our eccelesiastieal connection, we cor- dially recommend our brother as a faithful, devoted pastor, and a man approved of God, and wherever his steps may be directed or lot be ultimately cast, our prayer is that ' He that keepeth Israel' would give him grace according to his day, and bless also them that are his. To the church thus bereft of their pastor, we tender our cordial sympathies, counting it at the same time matter of congratulation and of honor to yourselves that no rude dissensions have driven him from you, and that your relation has been so long continuous, harmonious and happy."
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