USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Fitchburg > Fitchburg, Massachusetts, past and present > Part 21
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his gentlemanly bearing, his courteous and affable demeanor, all combined to endear him to his fellow-townsmen, beside a large circle of acquaintances throughout the state. As a lawyer "he was learned, sagacious, faithful and honest; he won and retained the confidence of his clients, and the re- spect and esteem of parties to whom he was opposed. In the performance of his various duties, both private and offi- cial, in his native city and in the senate of the state, he was actuated by a conscientious regard to the trusts committed to him, uninfluenced by any considerations of personal benefits or partisan objects."
LEWIS HOPPIN BRADFORD was a lineal descendant of the eighth generation of Governor William Bradford, who was governor of Plymouth colony from April, 1621-four months after the landing on Plymouth Rock-till 1633, and whose vigorous treatment of the "Indian Question" doubtless saved the infant colony from extermination. He was also a lineal descendant of the second Governor Bradford, son of the preceding governor. He also counted among his an- cestors John Alden, the "Scribe of Plymouth" whom all readers of Longfellow recall as having brought the "Court- ship of Miles Standish" to an abrupt termination.
Deacon Bradford's later ancestors followed Roger Wil- liams to Providence, where he was born March 5, 1808. He was educated at the public schools of his native city, and while a young man was in the wooden-ware business in Providence and New York city, a member of the firm of Child, Viall & Wood. He moved to Gardner about 1845 and was for a time interested in the South Gardner Chair Company. He was also interested in a store at South Gardner in company with S. W. A. Stevens and William Hogan. He served on the board of selectmen in 1848 and was moderator at the annual town meetings in 1848 and '49.
When the Rollstone Bank was organized in June, 1849, he was elected a director, and in October of the same year he was chosen the first cashier and resigned the position of director-the state law not allowing a person to hold both of-
Nathaniel Wood.
Goldsmith F. Bailey.
Stephen Shepley.
Dr. Peter B. Snow.
Dr. Alfred Hitchcock.
Rev. George Trask.
C. H. B. Snow.
L. H. Bradford.
Charles Mason.
John Lowe.
George Reed.
Samuel Burnap.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
fices at the same time. He removed to Fitchburg about that time and was cashier till December, 1856, when he resigned to engage in other business. In 1859 he was again elected director and held the office till his death.
At the organization of the Fitchburg Mutual Fire Insur- ance Company June 29, 1847, he was chosen a director and has been re-elected every year since the organization. He was elected secretary Sept. 25, 1869, and succeeded the late Nathaniel Wood as president and treasurer Oct. 22, 1873.
Deacon Bradford was early interested in the movement which culminated in the abolition of slavery, and in 1853 he, with the late Stephen Shepley, represented Fitchburg in the legislature.
He was a staunch supporter of the government during the war, and, though too old to enter the ranks, his time and means were freely given. In 1862, soon after the battle of Roanoke Island, he and the late Hale W. Page were sent by the town to look after the sick and wounded soldiers. Their mission was faithfully and successfully accomplished, and they returned north with a number of disabled soldiers, among whom was Dr. James S. Green, assistant surgeon of the 21st Mass. regiment, who was lying very sick near Hat- teras Inlet. Dea. Bradford rode for several miles in a heavy gale to rescue Dr. Green.
For several years before becoming secretary of the insur- ance company he was U. S. assistant assessor of internal revenue in the office in this city. He was president of the Worcester North Agricultural Society in 1862 and 63, and secretary of the same society in 1864, '67, '68 and '69. He was a prominent member of the Baptist church in this city, and has been a deacon since May 5, 1865. He was also clerk of the Baptist church from July 27, 1860, to Dec. 18, 1883, when he resigned. He was for fourteen years the church treasurer, and treasurer of the Wachusett Baptist As- sociation from its formation, and the first president of the Wachusett Baptist Sunday School Convention.
He has also been treasurer of the Baptist Vineyard Asso- ciation since its incorporation Jan. 1, 1876, and was one of
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
its most faithful supporters. He was also treasurer of the Hospital Cottages for Children at Baldwinsville, and has always taken a deep interest in its work. He was a trustee of the public library from April 9, 1866, till his death, Aug. 23, 1887, and was treasurer of the board most of the time. He has been a trustee of the Worcester North Savings Insti- tution since its organization in 1868, and was secretary of the board till 1880.
Dea. Bradford's character needs no eulogy. Faithful to every trust, honorable and kindly in all his relations with others, charitable in his judgment of motives and acts, cour- teous to all, he attained to a rounded Christian manhood and leaves the record of an irreproachable life.
CHARLES ADAMS PRIEST was the third child of Benjamin and Nancy Coolidge Priest. He was born in the town of Hillsboro, N. H., May 3, 1832, and at the time of his death was fifty-five years, four months and sixteen days old. He received his early education in the common schools of his native town, supplemented by a short course at the Washing- ton and Francestown academies. About the time of his majority, he engaged in trade in his native village. In 1854 he married Miss Emily Baily of Brookline, N. H., whose acquaintance he formed while at school. In November, 1865, he removed to Brookline, and engaged in the lumber business, at the stand of his deceased father-in-law, the late Ensign Baily. He remained in Brookline until February, 1870.
Mr. Priest came to Fitchburg in 1870, and was after- wards engaged in the lumber business most of the time. He was superintendent for the Fitchburg Lumber Company in 1872 and '73, and succeeded the company at the yard on Water street after they closed business. In 1878 he leased the works on Rollstone street, formerly occupied by the Beckwith Lumber Company, which he subsequently pur- chased and which he enlarged and improved. He was a member of the common council in 1879, 'SI, 'S2 and '83, and rendered the city valuable service on the committees on high-
Lagulex A. Brist
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
ways and city property the first two years, and on the committees on fire department, city property and elections the last two years.
He was president of the Worcester North Agricultural society in 1885, and declined a re-election on account of im- paired health. He was a leading member of the Masonic fraternity, having been Eminent Commander of Jerusalem Commandery, Knights Templar, in 1882, '83 and '84. He was also a member of Aleppo Temple of the Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine of Boston.
Mr. Priest was a leading democrat and, though strong in the party faith, he was courteous to political opponents and had the respect of men of all political creeds. He was the democratic candidate for senator in 1884 and '85, and polled more than the full party vote. He was a kind and consider- ate employer, honorable in all his dealings, and had built up a prosperous and increasing business.
19
CHAPTER XV.
CHURCHES AND HOMES.
ITCHBURG does not lack earnest and efficient church organizations and attractive houses of worship.
The FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (Unitarian) was formed Jan. 7, 1768. The present Unitarian church edifice at the head of the upper common was erected in 1837. The first settled minister, Rev. John Payson, was ordained Jan. 27, 1768, and remained until May, 1794. His successor, Rev. Samuel Worcester, was ordained a pastor in September, 1797. Dur- ing the interval between the two pastorates the pulpit was supplied by Rev. John Kimball, Rev. John Miles, Rev. Mr. Noyes and others. Rev. Samuel Worcester's relations with the church were dissolved in September, 1802.
About this time the church was divided into two societies and the parochial powers of the town dissolved. The First Parish held the church property, and in 1804 ordained the Rev. William Bascom as their minister. In 1812 at his own request the parish granted Mr. Bascom a dismissal and the societies were temporarily re-united. This union existed until 1823, with Rev. William Eaton as pastor from 1815 to 1823, when a final separation took place.
Rev. Calvin Lincoln, the first Unitarian pastor, was then ordained in 1824 and remained settled over the parish until 1855 ; Rev. Horatio Stebbins, his colleague, from 1851
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CHURCHES AND HOMES.
to 1854 ; Rev. William P. Tilden, 1855 to 1862 ; Rev. Jared M. Heard, 1863 to 1864; Rev. Henry F. Jenks, 1867 to IS70 ; Rev. Charles W. Emerson, 1871 to 1875 ; Rev. James T. Hewes. 1875 to ISSO; Rev. William H. Pierson, from ISSI to the present time.
The officers of the church and Sunday School are : Pastor, Rev. William H. Pierson ; moderator, George H. Spencer ; assessors, Edwin A. Goodrich, John F. Bruce ; Deacons. A. R. Ordway, T. S. Blood; treasurer, Joseph P. Farnsworth ; sexton, Nathan C. Upham ; organist, A. S. Belding. Sabbath school held in the vestry, superintend- ent, Emory A. Hartwell.
The Rev. William H. Pierson, the present pastor, was born at Newburyport, Mass., Jan. 12, 1839. In January, I851, at the age of twelve years he went into the printing office of the Newburyport Herald, where he remained six years, when he entered the Brown High School of his native city to fit for college. He was admitted to Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me., in 1860, graduated in 1864 and then entered the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J., where he completed his course in 1867. From January, 1868. to July, 1872, he was pastor of the South Parish at Ipswich, Mass. From August 1872, to January, 1881. he was pastor of the Winter Hill Congregational church. Somerville, Mass. During his pastorate of nearly nine years in Somer- ville, his religious opinions slowly undergoing a change, he felt called upon to resign. In June, ISSI, he was ordained pastor of the First Parish (Unitarian) church in this city, Rev. Dr. Bartol of Boston preaching the installation sermon.
THE CALVINISTIC CONGREGATIONAL CHURCII.
The early history of this church previous to its separation from the First Parish has already been given at the begin- ning of this chapter.
October 31, 1823, it was voted "that this church remove its connection from the First Parish and unite with the Cal- vinistic Congregational society formed this day in the town
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
of Fitchburg." At once the church, to the number of 102, removed to the small house of worship on the spot where the present Calvinistic church now stands, on the corner of Main and Rollstone streets. This church was built during the pastorate of Rev. Titus Theodore Barton in 1805, it was en- larged in 1828 and used until the present brick building took its place in 1844. The pastors since 1823 have been as fol- lows :
Rev. Rufus A. Putnam, from February, 1824, to March, 1831 ; Rev. John A. Albro, May, 1832, to December, 1834; Rev. Joshua Emery, May, 1835, to June, 1837 ; Rev. Eben- ezer W. Bullard, July, 1838, to June, 1852; Rev. G. Buck- ingham Wilcox, June, 1853, to August, 1856; Rev. Alfred Emerson, June, 1858, to June, 1870; Rev. Henry M. Tyler, December, 1872, to December, 1876; Rev. Samuel J. Stew- art, April, 1877, to September, 1880: Rev. S. Leroy Blake, September, 1880, to April, 1887.
Pastor, Rev. Clarence R. Gale. Sabbath school held in the chapel on Rollstone street, superintendent, D. B. Silsby ; assistants-I. O. Converse, C. A. Phillips.
Parish Officers-Clerk, Edward P. Downe; treasurer, Eben Bailey ; assessors, Charles P. Dickinson, Arthur H. Lowe, Daniel Simonds.
Church Officers-Deacons, John Parkhill, J. Calvin Spaulding, David B. Silsby, Artemas F. Andrews, Henry M. Francis, Irving O. Converse ; clerk, Edward P. Downe ; treasurer, William K. Bailey ; organist, Mrs. Holgate ; chorister, William Knowles.
Although without a settled pastor the C. C. church has extended a unanimous call to the Rev. Clarence R. Gale, assistant pastor of Memorial church, Springfield, who ac- cepts to begin his labors here Jan. 1, 1888.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
In 1831, at their request, five persons in the town of Fitchburg, members of the branch Baptist church in Leom- inster, were set apart as a branch church in Fitchburg. On
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CHURCHES AND HOMES.
the eighth of June it was organized with the powers and privileges of an independent church, and public religious ser- vices were for some time held in Academy Hall.
In the summer of 1833 a house of worship was built on West street, and on the fourteenth day of November the branch church was separated from the parent stock. On the
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
same day Samuel Crocker and Samuel A. Wheeler were set apart as deacons. The independent church now consisted of sixty-two members, and in the next twenty years 226 persons were baptized into its fellowship. The increasing congrega- tion demanding a larger house of worship, the present
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
edifice on Main street was built at a cost of $25,000 and dedicated March 1, 1854.
The audience room of the church is a standing memorial to the good judgment and architectural skill of the building committee. There is not a pillar anywhere in the way, the pews are circular, and the acoustic properties as nearly per- fect throughout as could well be. A whisper can almost if not quite be heard across it.
Within the present year the growth of the Sunday school and the general prosperity of the church demanded more room and improved facilities for church work. Plans of en- largement that had been long considered were fully matured, and through the very generous offer of Mr. Samuel E. Crocker the society was encouraged to proceed. The entire space in the rear of the meeting house was covered by a chapel building ; thus securing a spacious, well ventilated room for the school and social meetings, also class rooms, primary department, library, pastor's study, a more conven- ient baptistry and dressing-rooms. The old vestry was utilized for ladies' parlor, dining rooms and kitchen. The auditorium was at the same time thoroughly renovated, fitted with stained glass windows, the singers' gallery changed to the rear of the pulpit and provided with a magnificent Hook & Hastings organ. The entire property is one of the best to be found within the denomination in this part of the state.
The pastors of the First Baptist church have been settled ; Nov., 1833, Rev. Appleton Morse ; resigned Nov., 1834. Feb., 1835, Rev. John W. McDonald ; resigned Oct., 1835. Jan., 1836, Rev. Lorenzo O. Lovell; resigned Feb. 1837. April, 1837, Rev. Appleton Morse ; died Oct., 1838. March, 1839, Rev. N. W. Smith ; resigned Feb., 1841. March, 1841, Rev. Oren Tracy ; resigned Oct., 1845. March, 1846, Rev. Stephen Remington ; resigned Nov., 1846. Nov., 1846, Rev. Edward Savage; resigned Oct., 1851. Nov., 1851, Rev. John Jennings ; resigned April, 1855. Dec., 1855, Rev. Kendall Brooks; resigned May, 1865. Aug., 1865, Rev. Samuel A. Collins ; resigned Aug., 1867. Nov., 1867, Rev. Stillman B. Grant; died Dec., 1874. April,
Rev. W. H. Pierson.
Rev. S. L. Blake, D. D.
Rev. Frank Rector.
Rev. W. W. Colburn.
Rev. P. J. Garrigan.
Rev. F. O. Hall.
Rev. H. L. Jones.
Rev. C. S. Brooks.
Rev. F. T. Pomeroy.
Rev. W. W. Baldwin.
Rev. J. L. Tarpey.
Rev. C. Beaudoin.
FITCHBURG CLERGYMEN-PAST AND PRESENT.
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CHURCHES AND HOMES.
1875, Rev. Isaac R. Wheelock ; resigned May, 1885. Oct., 1885, Rev. George W. Gardiner, D. D. ; resigned, June, 1886. Nov., 1886, Rev. Frank Rector.
Church Officers-Pastor, Rev. Frank Rector ; Deacons, E. G. Stanley, Mial Davis, M. W. Cummings, C. K. Saw- yer ; superintendent Sabbath school, George M. Bowker; assistant superintendent, H. C. Hastings.
Parish Officers-Assessors, Dr. A. W. Sidney, W. A. Macurda, John H. Daniels ; clerk, J. C. Sanborn ; treasurer, W. G. Hayes ; singing committee, S. E. Crocker, L. M. Davis. A. W. Sidney ; organist and director, Charles Smith : sexton, Henry Ames.
Rev. Frank Rector, the present pastor of the First Bap- tist church, was born July 20, 1851, near Parkersburg, Wood county, W. Va. His father, one of the pioneer Baptists of that state, was a native of the Old Dominion, and his mother was born in Vermont. At the age of seventeen he made public profession of religion and united with the church of which his father was at that time pastor. The early years of his life, including the turbulent days of the war, were spent on a farm on the banks of the Ohio river. In the autumn of 1872 he entered the preparatory school at Granville, Ohio, and two years later, in the same town, en- tered the freshman class of Denison University, and was graduated from that institution in the class of '78. The fol- lowing summer was spent in travel through the two Vir- ginias, and in the fall of that year he entered the Theological Institution at Newton Centre, Mass., and was graduated from that school in the spring of 1881. During the next four months he acted as supply for the Second Baptist church of Newport, R. I., and at the end of the time was invited by that people to become their pastor. The call was accepted, and Sept. 6, 1881-known throughout New England as the "yellow day"-Mr. Rector was ordained. After a pastorate of five and one-half years he was called to succeed Rev. George W. Gardiner, D. D., in the pastoral office of the First Baptist church of this city, which position he now holds.
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church and society was formed in March 1834, and the church edifice which stands near the foot of the common was built in 1840. In October, 1885, the society purchased from Thomas S. Blood a lot of land on the corner of Fox and Elm streets, and in July and August, 1886, laid the founda- tion of their new church edifice. In April, 1887, work was resumed upon the building, and it is now nearly completed,
NEW METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Jan. 1, 1888, being the time set for its dedication. The in- terior comprises a large audience room, vestry, ladies' parlor, infant Sunday school room, pastor's room and kitchen. The church organ was built by Holbrook.
The first pastor of the church was Rev. Joel Knight; in 1841-2, the Rev. Mr. Whitman; Rev. Luman Borden, 1843-4 ; Rev. Amos Walton, 1845 ; Rev. D. K. Banister, 1846-7 ; Rev. A. D. Sargent, 1848-9 ; Rev. C. S. Macread- ing and Rev. Daniel Steele, 1850; Rev. J. W. Lewis, 1851-2 ; Rev. Samuel Tupper, 1853-4; Rev. George M. Steele, D. D., 1855 ; Rev. W. A. Bramon, 1856; Rev.
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CHURCHES AND HOMES.
Burtis Judd, 1857-8; Rev. D. K. Banister, 1859; Rev. H. M. Loud, 1860-1 ; Rev. A. O. Hamilton, 1862-3 ; Rev. George M. Steele, D. D., 1864; Rev. L. D. Barrows, D. D., 1865 ; Rev. William II. Hatch, 1866-8; Rev. Joseph Scott, 1869-70; Rev. J. S. Barrows, 1871 ; Rev. D. D. Hudson, 1872 ; Rev. W. W. Colburn, 1873-5 ; Rev. C. T. Johnson, 1876; Rev. J. O. Knowles, 1877; Rev. Fred Woods, D. D., 1878-9 ; Rev. J. H. Twombly, D. D., 1880-2 ; Rev. William J. Pomfret, 1883-4; Rev. T. Berton Smith, I.885-7.
The present officers of the church and Sunday school are : Pastor, Rev. T. Berton Smith ; Trustees-President, Henry O. Putnam ; treasurer, E. N. Choate ; John Putnam, Lyman Patch, Charles A. Morgan, James Puffer, C. S. Merriam, William E. Henry, Charles Oliver, C. C. Stratton, Charles W. Putnam ; stewards, James Phelps, Edward F. Lincoln, Edward Newitt, J. H. Potter, George E. Watson, Fred A. Hale, David C. Sleeper, J. E. Luscombe ; recording stew- ard, Charles A. Morgan. Superintendent of Sabbath school, A. E. Joslin ; assistant, Charles Oliver ; collector, Edward Newitt ; treasurer, Charles Oliver.
TRINITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
In 1843 the intense feeling on the slavery question caused a portion of the Calvinistic Congregational church to secede, and a new society called the "Trinitarian Congregational" was organized. They erected the building now owned by J. M. Carpenter and known as the Post-Office block, at the corner of Main and Church streets, in 1844. They were active and earnest workers in the slavery controversy and it was known as one of the so called stations on the Under- ground railroad to Canada, in the flight of the slave to freedom. It is a noticeable fact that the slavery question was their only uniting force, and that when the freedom of the slave was secured, the society began to lose its cohesive power and its last sermon was preached on the day that the equality of the negro, before the law, was guaranteed. And
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
on the fifteenth of November, 1871, the church building was sold at auction to John M. Carpenter for $14,300. Largely through the efforts of the Rev. George Trask, of "anti- tobacco fame," who was for several years the pastor, the proceeds of the sale were disposed of by presenting the Rev. Elnathan Davis, a former pastor, $2,000 as a token of appre- ciation of his earnest labors for the society, and the balance was given to the Freedman's Aid Society.
The first officers of the Trinitarian church were the Rev. George Clark, pastor ; Timothy F. Downe and Nathan Tol- man, deacons. The other pastors were Rev. Foster Petti- bone, Rev. Charles Bristol, Rev. George Trask and Rev. Elnathan Davis.
THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
This church and society was organized Oct. 9, 1844. Their first church upon the corner of Main and Rollstone streets, was built in 1847. For some years past it had been felt the church was not well located for the convenience of worshippers, and that a new and more modern church building, more centrally located, would tend to enhance the material and spiritual prosperity of the organization. In pursuance of this idea a lot of land on the corner of Day and Union streets was secured, and the present attractive and fine edifice was built. The doors were thrown open to the public in February, 1886.
The pastors settled over the society since its organization have been as follows, the dates given being the close of the several pastorates : Rev. Mather E. Hawes, spring of 1849; Rev. Charles Woodhouse, fall of 1852 ; Rev. Josiah Marvin, spring of 1856; Rev. A. W. Bruce, spring of 1859 ; Rev. A. J. Weaver, spring of 1864; Rev. E. A. Eaton in charge, spring of 1865 ; Rev. J. G. B. Heath, spring of 1866; Rev. Joseph Crehore, July, 1870; Rev. Frank Magwire, spring of 1879 ; Rev. R. S. Kellerman, January, 1884 ; Rev. Frank O. Hall, from June 1, 1884.
The church and Sunday school officers are : Pastor, Rev.
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CHURCHES AND HOMES.
F. O. Hall : deacons, Horace Damon, Joseph S. Wilson ; standing committee, Henry L. Rice, J. D. Littlehale, F. S. Lovell ; clerk, J. Frank Fisher ; treasurer, Walter A. Davis. Sunday school in church ; superintendent, J. S. Wilson ; assistant, Herbert A. Damon ; sexton, Thomas W. Reynolds.
1
NEW UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
The present pastor, Rev. Frank Oliver Hall, was born in New Haven, Conn., March 19, 1860. He resided in Cali- fornia and Georgia through the greater part of his boyhood, but in 1877, his parents having removed to Maine, he entered Nichols Latin school at Lewiston, with the purpose of fitting for college. He entered Tufts College, Divinity School, in 1880, was graduated in 1884; took charge of his present pastorate immediately after graduating.
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FITCIIBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
ST. BERNARD'S ROMAN CATHOLIC PARISH.
Religious services were held in Fitchburg for the Catholics as far back as 1842, but it was not until 1848 that the society had a church and a resident pastor, Rev. M. F. Gibson, with 800 souls. Rev. Edward Turpin succeeded Father Gibson in 1856 and remained ten years. He was succeeded by Rev. C. M. Foley in 1866. Father Foley built the present church edifice, one of the finest in the city, in 1869. Rev. P. J. Garrigan took charge of the parish in 1875, and embellished the interior of the church and dedi- cated it 1879. He also purchased land and built the present church in West Fitchburg, which is now a separate parish and sustains its own pastor. He also built the present parish house, a neat brick edifice on Water street, and the parochial school and Convent on First street. The number of souls in this parish is estimated at about 4,000.
The church has a Sunday school of 900 children taught by some eighty teachers, young people of the parish. There are three temperance societies here, one for men twenty years of age and over ; one for boys from fifteen to twenty years of age, and one for boys from ten to fifteen years ; the member- ship in these three societies, over each of which a clergyman has special care, is about 500 men and boys. There is also a Christian Doctrine society, whose object is the diffusion of knowledge of Christian Doctrine and the establishment of a library for the Sunday school and members. Then there is a society of the Holy Name with about 100 men ; the Sodality of the Sacred Heart for young (unmarried) ladies, and the Rosary Confraternity for all ages and both sexes. These last three have for object, growth in virtue and fidelity in the service of God. Finally there is a Conference of St. Vincent de Paul whose object is the care of the poor of the parish. The members meet weekly, have a perfect system of assisting the poor, and they spend annually in charity about $600.
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