USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Danvers > Exercises in celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the First Church, Congregational, Danvers, Massachusetts: October 8th to 15th, 1922; with an address at the centennial of the Sunday School, November 17th, 1918 > Part 11
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13
The meeting of Friday evening, for many years devoted to the mid-week service of the church, announced as a "Devo- tional Meeting of Reminiscent Character," called out many of the older people of the parish. Some characteristic inci- dents and features of the life of the church a generation ago were brought to mind by the opening remarks of the leader, former Deacon William Siner. Favorite hymns of those pastors whom Deacon Siner had known, Dr. Rice, Mr. Adams and Mr. House, were sung. The people did their part in happy and informal conversation, which made the men and women of the dear, dead days live once more. The picture of the prayer-meeting room in "the old white church," of those who attended, their characteristic forms of participa- tion, the pronounced individuality of some, even where they were accustomed to sit, were called up out of the past as memory rolled back the curtain. An enlarged photograph of the interior of the auditorium of the "old church," where many of those present had sat as children, was eagerly in- spected and the seatings of many of the different families pointed out. All present felt anew the blessing of the "tie that binds our hearts in Christian love" and the joy of being associated through membership in the church of the living God.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15
MORNING SERVICE
The service of the last Sunday morning of the Anniversary Week gathered up the inspirations of the celebration and imparted an impulse toward the future. The visiting throngs were naturally absent, the congregation being made up for the most part of "own folks." It seemed like a family gathering. The people sat willingly at the feet of Rev. Fred- erick E. Emrich, D. D., Secretary of the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society, as he preached with warm heart and spir- itual discernment on "The Road Ahead." Dr. Emrich is a long-time friend of the parish and spoke from an intimate acquaintance with its history and a strong personal friendship with Dr. Charles B. Rice, for thirty-one years its pastor. Dr. Emrich emphasized the law of Christian love as the basic principle of Christ's church and invited to a consideration of the possibilities for service of the church that keeps the Master at the center of its life.
Unfortunately, no record was taken of the sermon and, as this book is being prepared, Dr. Emrich finds himself, owing partly to illness, unable to reproduce his words. But the church recognizes the help he gave in his appropriate and impressive sermon.
THE PILGRIMAGE TO WADSWORTH CEMETERY
By Charles S. Tapley, Chairman
At 4 P. M. a large number of people gathered at the church and were conveyed in automobiles to Wadsworth Cemetery.
They went to visit the graves of former ministers and their families and members of the old church. These graves were decorated with autumnal flowers tastefully arranged.
The exercises were simple. Prayer was offered by Rev. Austin Rice, D. D., pastor of the First Congregational Church of Wakefield. A few hymns were sung and were echoed on the mellow, breezeless air. Remarks were made by Rev. Albert V. House, pastor of First Church, and Rev. Austin Rice, D. D.
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Charles S. Tapley gave an account of the history of Wads- worth Cemetery and spoke substantially as follows :
"It seems very appropriate on this 250th anniversary of the First Church to make a pilgrimage to Wadsworth Cemetery and visit the graves of former ministers and their families and members of the old church.
I am oppressed with a sense of the impropriety of uttering words on this occasion. If silence is ever golden, it must be here beside the graves of hundreds of men and women, whose lives were more significant than speech.
This is an ancient burial place of the Putnam family, though used much by the public and probably containing more early graves than any other cemetery in town. Although her grave is not marked, the wife of our first pastor, James Bayley, is supposed to be buried here, with three of her chil- dren. The wives of George Burroughs and Deodat Lawson, second and third pastors, and a son of Mr. Lawson are buried here.
The oldest stone in the cemetery is the one erected to the memory of Elizabeth Parris, the good wife of Samuel Parris. She died in 1696. It is quite remarkable that each of these four ministers buried a wife during his residence in Salem Village. As none of these ministers closed their lives with this people, Rev. Joseph Green was the first minister to be buried here.
Rev. Peter Clark was buried here in 1768, his wife three years before. In 1826 when Dr. Wadsworth was ill he pur- chased this cemetery of Jonathan Perry and conveyed it to the parish of our church who controlled it for ninety years, when the Wadsworth Cemetery Corporation was formed.
Dr. Wadsworth rests here beside his wife. In the Wads- worth lot is a monument to Phebe Lewis' memory. She was a colored woman who lived in the Wadsworth family and on the stone there is a reference to her as an ornament to the Christian profession.
Rev. Milton P. Braman, D. D., died while living in Auburn- dale but an infant son of the Bramans lies here and James Braman, Dr. Braman's son, remembered the Wadsworth Cem- etery Corporation in his will.
Dr. Rice's grave we will be especially interested to visit,
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as he was the only minister buried here whom any of us living knew."
The setting seemed ideal for such an occasion. The leaves were just beginning to change; the sky was unclouded, and the cool air, purified by the showers on the preceding night, seemed a broad mirror of sunlight.
"Decay ! decay! 'tis stamped on all ; All bloom in flower and flesh shall fade; Ye whispering trees, when ye shall fall, Be our long sleep beneath your shade !
"Here to thy bosom, Mother Earth, Take back in peace what thou hast given, And all that is of heavenly birth, O God, in peace recall to heaven."
YOUNG PEOPLE'S RALLY
The final service of the celebration was a Young People's Rally held at 6.30 in the church hall. Members, past and present, and friends were invited. The address was given by Mr. A. Edwin Wells, president of Middlesex County Chris- tian Endeavor Union.
It seemed fitting that the last evening should be given to the young people, who stand "the heirs of all the ages" and upon whom shall rest the responsibility of completing the work "thus far so nobly carried on." The supreme signifi- cance of the past lies in its relation to the day that is to be.
Something of this was felt throughout the week.
The addresses revealed a distinct turning to the future as that which engages "the hopes and fears of all the years." The record of the past was drawn upon to impress the neces- sity of conserving and fulfilling the bequest of the former day. No people have more reason to rejoice in a noble inheritance than we. Few have such traditions of spiritual greatness open to them.
It is in the hope that, by living through again the great
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anniversary week, our people and all whose eyes may light upon these pages shall be led to feel a renewed faith in the Kingdom and to give themselves more completely to endeavor for its realization that this book is sent out.
"Other men have labored. We have entered into their labors."
"They without us shall not be made perfect."
REV. CHARLES S. BODWELL Pastor, 1910 - 1913
CENTENNIAL OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL, 1918
The Centennial of the Sunday School was fittingly observed on Sunday morning, November 17, 1918. At this time a very interesting historical address was given by Deacon George W. French. On the following Tuesday evening, November 19, the celebration was continued. Remarks were made by Rev. Austin Rice, D. D., former deacon William Siner of Marble- head ; Superintendent F. H. Nowers and the pastor, Rev. A. V. House, and letters were read from a number of former members of the Sunday School. Mrs. Florence Gilford Brad- strect gave several vocal selections and Hollis Rundlett favored the audience with the 'cello.
An informal social hour followed.
FIRST CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL By GEORGE WILLIAM FRENCH
(Read at the Centennial Exercises, November 17th, 1918)
My acquaintance with the Sunday School of this Church began at a very early age. In my fourth year, one Sabbath morning in early spring, I started out with my mother for church, where I had been before, but this time expected also to begin my course in Sunday School. The time seemed long to the close of the morning service, but at last we were out in the long vestibule. Instead of going directly out the front door, we followed round back of the stairs leading to the gallery and came to a door opening on another flight of stairs. We descended and found ourselves in a large, unfin- ished cellar, lighted by narrow windows and with the bare earth for a floor. Boards extended from the foot of the stairs to doors on the farther side. In the cellar were two large square brick furnaces and these were filled with blazing coals and with the door open, had to my infant mind rather a fearful aspect. In after days, when I read of the perils of the three Hebrew children, I had no doubt that the fur- nace into which they were cast was built after similar fashion. I think, even now, if the story is read, those furnaces flash upon my "inward eye." Led by Mother, I passed safely by them and came into Village Hall. Its pews and settees were unpainted, but mellowed and browned by time. The window sills were broad and high up from the floor. The main en-
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trance to the Hall was on the back side and on a level with the ground. From the entry, steps on either side led into the Hall. Between these steps was the pulpit, probably taken from the Brick church when it was torn down. The desk was covered with green baize, ornamented with tassels to match, and, with its wings, filled in the front of the plat- form which stretched along between the entrances. Directly opposite and between the two doors coming from the furnace cellar was another large platform, reached by two or three steps from the floor and furnished with suitable seats for children. Here was the Infant Department, presided over for many years by Mrs. Kettelle in a most able and kindly fashion. With a yellow primer in my hand, I was taken to the platform where the children had now begun to gather.
Mrs. Kettelle gave me a cordial welcome and I began and continued Bible study under her guidance for a number of years. She called me up with three other new scholars and the first question she asked me was : "Little child, for what do you come to the Sunday School?" This may seem to you rather an abrupt question, but it had no terrors for me, as I had the proper answer printed in the little primer. There was a series of six of these primers and when I had com- pleted them I was placed in a boys' class ten or twelve in number, where we had regular old folks' question books and considered ourselves far in advance of the children in the Infant Class. We were all very fond of Mrs. Betsey Putnam who then became our teacher. We refused several times to be transferred to another class, until to our regret she de- clared we must have a male teacher. As I look back, I realize that it was of great benefit to me that I was for so long a time under the religious teaching of so genuine a Christian woman as Mrs. Putnam. The square pews I have spoken of ran down the side of the hall, then turned, and there was room for two more pews on the back. My next move was into the last of these pews to the class of Mr. Joshua Prentiss, an able, faithful teacher. We had a large window looking out to the horse-sheds and near was the Men's Bible Class, seated on two long settees about the old box stove. This Bible Class was quite an institution. It was composed of elderly men. Many of them had been teach-
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ers in the past and most of them were interested in settling any religious or theological problem that the lesson might bring up. The discussions were serious and earnest and sometimes so animated that their neighbors could easily take part as far as hearing was concerned. I remember one winter two college undergraduates taught the schools in No. 4 and No. 5. They came often to Sunday School and always went into this mutual class, and delighted to start a lively dis- cussion on some obscure point. Among the men in that class, as I recall them, were Colonel Tapley, Messrs. Elisha Hyde, Frank Dodge, Stephen Driver and Isaac French. There were several advantages in our pew. Our window was low enough to look out of when we were sitting down, and being next to the door we could be the first ones out. I stayed some years in this class, and until I taught a class myself. With this interest in the Sunday School, can you imagine my pleasure when two weeks ago a box of papers was brought to me and I found among them the first records of the school, beginning with the day of its organization. I am going to share with you the pleasure I had in examining them and give you a partial copy :
"Danvers, July 30th, 1818. At a meeting of the following persons, Samuel Preston, Edwin Josselyn, Betsey Putnam, Hannah Putnam, Harriet Putnam, Nancy Putnam, Clarissa Putnam, Edith Swinerton, Betsey Pope, Eliza Putnam, and Eliza Preston, it was agreed to form themselves into a so- ciety, for the purpose of educating children on the Sabbath. The Rev. Dr. Wadsworth was chosen Moderator; Edwin Jos- selyn, Scribe. Voted: To form ourselves into a Society by the denomination of the Danvers Sabbath School Village Society.
Voted: Our acceptance of the Constitution as per copy.
Voted : That Samuel Preston be Director of this Society.
Voted : That Betsey Putnam be Directress.
Voted: That Samuel Putnam be a member and assistant.
Voted: That Clarissa Putnam be an assistant.
Voted: That Edwin Josselyn be Treasurer.
Voted : That all the members of this Society be teachers.
Voted: That Philip Dale be a member.
Voted: That the thanks of this Society be presented to
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the Rev. Dr. Wadsworth for his kindness in aiding in its formation.
Voted: That this meeting be adjourned to the ninth of August next, to be holden at the North Parish Meeting House immediately after the divine service of the forenoon on said day. E. Josselyn, Scribe."
I have found no record of this meeting of August ninth, but allusions to it, which I will read later, from the report of the Superintendent at the 25th Anniversary of the Sun- day School. Miss Betsey F. Putnam was the originator of the movement. She was a sister of Rev. Israel H. Putnam. In Beverly, her friends Joanna Prince and Hannah Hill, had started eight years before the first Sunday School in this region.
CONSTITUTION.
18 Articles .*
Art. 1st. This association shall be denominated The Dan- vers Sabbath School Village Society.
Art. 2nd. The object of this Society shall be to impress on the minds of the children the truths of the Christian Religion.
Art. 3rd. There shall be a Director, Directress, two Assist- ants and Treasurer, chosen annually by a majority of this Society.
Art. 4th. A teacher may be elected or dismissed by a majority of the Society.
Art. 5th. The Director shall preside at all meetings of this Society, preserve order and call special meetings when he with the Directress may view it necessary and on the application of any three members.
Art. 6th. The Director and Directress shall exert them- selves to promote the object of the institution and hand in a report of their proceedings at the annual meetings.
Art. 7th. They shall examine all the scholars and place them in the class for which they are best qualified and
*For some reason Articles 8, 14, 17 and 18 were not incorpo- rated in the address.
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shall go round and assist alternately each teacher for a few moments, suggesting any improvement they may have dis- covered.
Art. 9th. The exercises of the school shall consist of reading and repeating the Scriptures, catechisms and hymns and shall not exceed one and a half hours, lest the children being wearied by long confinement, religious duties should become tedious, which would defeat the design of the insti- tution.
Art. 10th. The children, with as little noise as possible and without any whispering, shall repair to their appointed pews immediately after the dismission of the assembly at noon, where it is expected they will stand in profound silence during a short prayer by the Preacher or some other person, after which the teachers shall proceed to hear the lessons of the classes recited in a very low tone.
Art. 11th. To stimulate and encourage the scholars they shall be rewarded in the following manner : As often as they attend public worship and appear at their appointed pews at the opening of the school, they shall receive a Ticket No. 1 for punctual attendance, to be exchanged at their next appearance for No. 2 and thus on. For committing portions of Scripture to memory, lessons from catechisms or other religious books, their rewards shall be proportioned to their improvement. Each ticket No. 4 shall entitle the scholar to a printed hymn, which is not to be returned as the tickets are, and when five of them are gained and com- mitted to memory, the possessor shall receive a tract in appropriate cover.
Art. 12th. The scholars shall be subject to the following punishments and forfeitures: Any scholar who is found guilty of lying, swearing, fighting, stealing or any indecent or immoral conduct, and who after repeated admonitions will not desist from such conduct, shall be dismissed and forfeit the rewards to which he was entitled at the time of his exclusion. For disorderly conduct during divine ser- vice, two tickets for good behaviour, or four for punctual attendance shall be forfeited for like conduct during prayer, recitation or singing at the discretion of the teacher.
Art. 13th. When a scholar has been absent from the
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school for two Sabbaths in succession without assigning & sufficient reason, he shall be visited by the teacher of the class to which he belongs, who shall report the cause of such absence to the superintendent. Note .- Compliance with this rule is of particular importance, as it may prevent the violation of the Sabbath.
Art. 15th. It is expected the school will be closed by singing two verses of hymns.
Art. 16th. The school shall be dismissed by classes, be- ginning with the youngest.
At an adjournment of the Society, May 7th, 1819, it was voted that a committee be chosen to solicit a subscrip- tion for the purpose of clothing indigent children in a suitable manner to attend divine service and the Sunday School. That this committee consist of five persons. Dr. Osgood, Col. Putnam, Mrs. Susan Putnam, Mrs. Sally Os- good and Mrs. Fidelia Endicott. At the annual meeting in 1821 they adopted for use the text book called Cum- mings' Questions, price twenty-five cents, and made provision for a Sunday School Library.
In 1826 the Secretary made a report of the condition of the school and gave a list of books purchased for the library. The following is a short abstract of this report: "The re- turn of the season to suspend operations of the Sabbath School in this place, leads the friends of this institution to anticipate and desire a statement of what has been accom- plished. The school commenced on the first Sabbath in June. The whole number that have attended the past season is 102. Average number 75. Amount of money received $12.29. Amount expended $11.84. We gratefully acknowl- edge a donation of 150 books by Capt. Geo. W. Endicott. The school has been divided into 22 classes." Here follows the name of the teacher of each class, names of the scholars with their number of recitations of verses, etc. Sally Nourse in the first class had the highest number, 3945. The school closed in September. A special report of the library is given in 1829: "Cash paid for books and covering of same, $37.00. Paid bill for books bought by Rev. Mr. Braman, $19.00." Then follows a list of 316 volumes. I give a few
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of the titles: "The Infant's Progress," "Essays on the Sab- bath," "The Young Jewess," "Christian Resources," "Cate- chism on Principal Parables," "Little Henry and His Bearer," "Youth's Companion," "The Dairyman's Daugh- ter," and "Young's Night Thoughts." In the report for 1833, four years later, the school had increased to 360 schol- ars and 28 teachers. The Infant Class numbered 34, and the scholars over fourteen years of age were 116. "The school continued through the last winter and teachers' meetings have been held for the purpose of studying the lessons." (This is the first allusion in the records to keeping the school through the winter.) "It was voted to raise by con- tribution fifteen dollars to assist in defraying the expenses of Rev. Mr. Sanderson in his mission to improve and estab- lish Sunday Schools in Canada."
In the evening of August 13th, 1843, at a concert on the 25th anniversary of the school, Mr. Moses Putnam, the Superintendent, stated that at the first session of the school in 1818, 90 children were present, and during the year the whole number of scholars was 157 and of teachers 21. He continues : "The exercises of the school differ very much from the former. Then the children committed to memory very many verses of Scripture and hymns, together with answers from the Assembly Catechism. Perhaps they might have erred somewhat in rehearsing so many passages with- out taking time to analyze them, but I think we err as much on the other side today. We do not store our minds as much as we ought with the words of Scripture." (Is not this true of the scholars of the twentieth century ?)
In 1844, during the summer and autumn many of the scholars left to go to the new society at the Plains. The record for 1845 says that "whole classes have disappeared from the school and many others have become small. The number of scholars has been 200 with an average of 100." Six years later, however, we find the membership increased to 317. In 1857 the monthly concert was held after an interval of 14 years. Now comes the period of the Civil War, when fourteen of the school were in the service and three, Wallace Putnam, Robert Putnam and Allen Nourse,
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laid down their lives in their country's defence. In 1866 we find the largest number yet recorded, 404.
In 1868 the fiftieth anniversary was fittingly observed on the afternoon of August 9th, the date of its first session. The historical address was prepared by Deacon Samuel Pres- ton, the first Director and the only one living of those first officers. It was read by Mr. Edward Hutchinson, the Su- perintendent. Letters were received from former superin- tendents and from ministers who had received their early instruction in this school. Mr. Hutchinson held the office for five years. His business called him out among people in the world, and through his many friends he was able to enlarge the outlook of the school. His interest in it never abated and he did unusual work as a leader in its service of song. Mr. Augustus Mudge again was Superintendent for five years, thus rounding out a term of twenty-five years. He put much time and labor into the work of conducting the school. He made a large feature of the concerts and did not confine himself to printed forms, but made great use of recitations of Psalms and passages of Scripture on special subjects. One evening in the Chapel five boys each recited perfectly "The Sermon on the Mount," receiving as a prize "The Pilgrim's Progress." He said in one of his addresses: "I think it is an essential feature of a first class concert that the school should generally bear a part. The manner of conducting them may change, but I trust they hold too high a place in our regard for us to dispense with them."
I must speak briefly of the following years. Those from 1878 to 1906 were divided into short terms, the longest that of Deacon William Siner, who ably conducted the school for ten years. During his term occurred the fire that destroyed the Church, and Village Hall, which had been finely remod- eled and equipped for the use of the school, was no longer its home. The temporary house known as The Tabernacle was built and here services were held for over a year. Those who favored building this house thought the Society would get less scattered than if they accepted the kind offers that were made of the use of other meeting-houses for afternoon service. Mr. Fred Nowers was elected Superintendent in
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1906, and has given the school devoted service for thirteen years.
4
Dr. Rice has said in his history : "It is worthy of mention that from an early period to the present time, there have always been persons connected with this organization who have been very active and efficient in promoting its interests. There has never failed to be found in the parish a succes- sion of capable men fitted to manage its affairs and thor- oughly engage in their purpose to maintain and strengthen it; and of women also, in all those important concerns that belong peculiarly to their charge. . . . It is to be hoped that the succession may never fail."
And now I have followed with you the doings of this institution through the first hundred years of its existence. It has stood in this community for righteousness and has given of its best to all. In cold or heat, in wet or dry, in good times or bad, it has been ready to do what it believed to be God's work in the world. I can close in no more fitting words than in those used by Mr. Mudge in his address at the fiftieth anniversary : "If Heaven shall graciously lengthen out the lives of any of us to behold the return of this anni- versary, may it find us in sympathy with an institution which counts such triumphs in the past and promises such rewards in the future."
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