USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Gathered in 1707 : a history of the First Congregational Church, Braintree, Massachusetts, 1707-1957 > Part 10
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Grover C. Rieger served as director of Religious Education follow- ing Mrs. Winsor's resignation in 1948. He was a native of Oakland, California and graduated in 1949 from the Boston University School of Theology, and after leaving First Church continued his studies for a doctor of philosophy degree, while serving a church in Brockton.
In September 1950, Mrs. Marie (Harold H.) Hodges became a full time director. She had served for seven years as director of Religious Education in the Wollaston Congregational Church, and for four years previous had served at the Second Church in Dorchester with Dr.
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Vaughan Dabney under the auspices of the City Missionary Society. As she began her work she put into effect plans which had already been laid for the first double session of Sunday School. In addition to her work with the Sunday School, she carried the responsibility for the fellowship groups. Mrs. Hodges' place was taken by Rev. Dietterich.
Rev. Paul M. Dietterich began his work as assistant minister and director of religious education on July 1st, 1953. He was born July 13, 1928, in Buffalo, N. Y., the son of Rev. and Mrs. A. Merritt Dietterich. His father, also a Methodist minister, has held pastorates in several churches and is an executive in the Methodist Church at the present time. Paul Dietterich graduated from Olean High School and in 1950 from Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, with a pre-theological major. When he graduated from Boston University in 1953, he was president of the senior class and received the degree of S.T.B., summa cum laude. He was ordained at the Methodist Church in Niagara Falls, N. Y., and has many credits towards a doctor of theology degree at Boston University where he has done graduate work since coming to Braintree. In 1952, Mr. Dietterich was sent to Europe under the aus- pices of the American Friends Service Committee where he worked in voluntary service in two work camps; his experience has also included the position of assistant minister at Harvard-Epworth Methodist Church in Cambridge for two years. Mr. Dietterich married in 1953 Charlotte Jones of Evanston, Ill., a graduate of DePauw University, and they have two sons, Tommy and Danny.
While serving the First Church in the next four years, Paul Dietterich was confronted with the increasing problems of overcrowded conditions, nearly 800 enrolled in the Church School, the need for more trained teachers and the direction of four young people's groups. He met all of these problems in his stride and was a very popular leader of the young people. Occasionally, he had time to deliver a sermon at the Sunday services and they disclosed an intimate knowledge of the Bible and a religious conviction which made the teachings of the Bible real and "down to earth" to the members of the congregation.
In keeping with his original plan to return to the Methodist Church and take up his ministry in a church of his own, Mr. Dietterich resigned as of June 1, 1957 and on the 16th of June took up his work at the Asbury Methodist Church in Wellman, Iowa.
Beginning in the fall of 1952, Franklin P. Smith, a Boston Uni- versity student of theology, was the youth lecturer at the Masonic Temple for the High School Fellowship, and assisted in the conduct
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of the morning worship service at Church during the spring of 1953, changing places with Kenneth H. Slater, another student at Boston University, who had been assisting Mr. Robertson since the fall of 1952. Mr. Smith, a native of Florida, graduated from Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, and during 1951 served as assistant pastor of the First Church in Winthrop (Methodist) where he assisted in the morning worship, directed three youth groups on Sunday afternoon and evening and was the instructor of the High School senior class. Mr. Slater, a native of Towanda, Pa., graduated from Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky and had served as associate pastor of the Bowman Memorial Methodist Church in Hazard, Ky. He had considerable experience as a teacher, youth leader and vacation school dean. While in Kentucky, Mr. Slater conducted a regular, monthly, fifteen minute morning devo- tional radio program and was a member on trial in the central New York Conference of the Methodist Church.
From September 1955 until June 1957, Dewey Findley served as an associate with Rev. Paul Dietterich in youth work. Mr. Findley, a native of Bargersville, Ind., served during 1954 and 1955 on a special youth caravan for the Board of Evangelism of the Methodist Church. He graduated in 1957 from Boston University School of Theology, and while in Braintree worked with the Seventh and Eighth Grade Fellow- ships and also assisted in conducting the morning worship in the spring of 1957. Mr. Findley plans to continue his studies at Boston University for his degree of Master of Sacred Theology.
Miss Helen Jane Sears, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Sears of Monatiquot Avenue, Braintree, will become director of Christian Education in the fall of 1957. A graduate of Thayer Academy, Miss Sears received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Education at Jackson College in 1942. She has worked for the Boston Y.M.C.A. and for the Chestnut Street Church in Worcester where she served as assist- ant minister and director of Religious Education. She will take up her duties at First Church following her resignation from a similar position in Riversedge, New Jersey.
Through the more than 140 years of Sunday School work at the First Congregational Church there have been many dedicated men and women who have served as superintendents, chairmen of committees and teachers in the Sunday School. Noted in the extensive records of this department are such long periods of service as Miss Sarah Hayden Thayer, 1858 to 1903 who "was in charge of the Infant Class of the Sunday School from 1858 until shortly before her death" and for whom
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a stained glass window was dedicated in 1904; Captain Samuel D. Hayden, twelve years, beginning in 1837; Charles S. Bates, more than fifteen; and more recently Irving R. Holbrook who in 1938 was pre- sented with a loving cup "in recognition of over 40 years of continuous service to the Sunday School." The names of the superintendents during the past twenty-five years will be found in the list enclosed in the back of the book.
Space will not permit the listing of the scores of dedicated, willing people who have contributed their time and talents to teaching in the Church School. That their efforts have been appreciated can be de- termined by the large number of young people who, after being them- selves trained in the Church School, willingly offer their services when they are mature to do what they can to assist in this worthwhile program.
No better description of the task of the Sunday School, Church or Christian Education School, call them what you will, can be found than in Rev. Paul Dietterich's sermon, delivered September 25, 1955: "In our Church School, we are teaching about Jesus and we are teaching about God as a Father who heals, who loves, and who also disturbs. We are teaching about the Church and the Kingdom of God; we are teaching about the Bible, the source of man's best religious experience. We are teaching about the Christian home. We are teaching a Christian concept of self and a Christian set of values. Christian education in America is the task of the individual church and church member. The local church must train the Christian world leaders of tomorrow ... for tomorrow's Christian ministers, doctors, lawyers, business men and Christian workers in all areas of life will come out of today's church schools."
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CHAPTER 6 MUSIC AT FIRST CHURCH
"Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp and the voice of a psalm." - Psalm 98:5
Music is so much a part of every modern-day church service that it is difficult to realize that it was not always the case. However, music in some form has been a part of the services at the First Church in Braintree from the beginning, and records show that as early as 1723 it was voted "to continue the usual way of singing psalms, and William Hunt was chosen to be the tuner of the psalms."
By reference to "the usual way," it undoubtedly means "lining the hymns," as it was the general custom to sing hymns in that fashion at that time. A deacon or an elder of the congregation was chosen to line the hymns - he reading a line and the congregation singing it to any tune of their choosing. The resultant "singing" was not harmonious, to say the least, and gradually ministers generally advocated "regular" singing as it is known today. But not so Rev. Samuel Niles (1711- 1762). He strongly opposed it, being the only minister of the day who is recorded as taking that stand. He printed nothing nor is anything recorded concerning his opinions, although he doubtless expressed himself vehemently from the pulpit as to his views on this "new way" of singing. He was described as "in all things a thorough-going con- servative, of domineering temper and powerful physique. He was a minister who 'customarily rode a horse that no parishioner could sit, to whom were brought for breaking all the rebellious colts and young religious innovators of Braintree'." John Adams recalled him as an "honest, virtuous and pious man"; and he was bitterly opposed to this new form of singing.
In "American Hymnody" by Henry Wilder Foote, it is written: "The controversy between Rev. Samuel Niles and his parish at South Braintree had reached a point by the summer of 1723 at which each party was trying to drown the singing of the opposing group by making a louder noise. The scandal naturally resulted in a council of the neighboring churches which tried to settle the dispute. "The New England Courant' reported : 'Last week a Council of Churches was held at the South Part of Brantrey, to regulate the Disorders occasion'd by regular singing in that place, Mr. Niles, the Minister, having suspended
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seven or eight of the Church for persisting in their singing by Rule, contrary (as he apprehended) to the Result of a former Council; but by this Council the suspended Brethren are restor'd to Communion, their suspension declar'd unjust, and the Congregation order'd to sing by Rote and by Rule alternately, for the satisfaction of both parties'."
This reasonable arrangement did not last long, however, for in the "Courant" of December 2-9, 1723, it was reported: "We have advice from the South Part of Brantrey, that on Sunday the first instant, Mr. Niles the Minister of that place, perform'd the duties of the day at his dwelling house, among those of his Congregation who are opposers of regular singing. The regular singers met together at the Meeting- House and sent for Mr. Niles who refused to come unless they would first promise not to sing regularly, whereupon they concluded to edify themselves by the assistance of one of the Deacons who, at their desire, prayed with them, read a sermon, etc." The climax came in February 1724 and is thus reported: "We have advice from Brantrey that 20 persons at the South Part of the town, who are opposers of regular singing in that place, have publicly declared for the Church of Eng- land."
No further mention of music is made in the Church records until 1768 when it is recorded: "that seats be allowed for a number of singers for the promotion of regular singing in the South half of the 3 foremost seats in the men's side of the gallery"; and in 1769, "3 hind seats in the men's seats below be allotted for the singers." On the 4th of June, 1770, the Church voted "that the easterly half of the front gallery be used by the singers" but another meeting on June 18th voted unanimously "that the disorder in our House of Public Worship on the Lord's Day following the vote above be abhorred and testified against as a warning to all generations following and that 4 of the hindmen's seats below be assigned to singers."
Choristers were authorized in 1773 "to assist in tuning the psalms" and were continued for several years. As long after the earlier con- troversy as 1783, there appeared to be further discussion on the method of singing as "2 lines of the Psalms shall be read and sung at one time in the Congregation until the Parish shall order it otherwise" and in 1787 it was voted "to carry on that part of public worship in this congregation the singing of psalms without reading the same by line as has been usual in this Congregation."
Rev. Ezra Weld (1762-1811) was a descendant of Rev. Thomas Weld, the first minister of Roxbury and translator with John Elliot and
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Richard Mather of the "Bay Psalm-Book" and it is not known whether or not Rev. Weld or the Church had a copy of this now priceless book, but the records show that his son had a copy and was greatly interested in music and active in the promotion of more modern singing and church music.
Soon after Dr. Storrs came in 1811, "liberty was given to alter the singers' seats in the front of the Meeting-House under the inspection of a committee" and the first record of money voted for music was "$15 for the support of singing" in 1820. The duty of "leading in singing" was delegated to various people, Charles French in 1826 and Jacob Allen in 1827, to mention but two of them.
The first hymn book was "Wath and Select Hymn Books," 50 of which were purchased in 1831, and at the same time the Church began to take up collections to assist the singers; $12 in 1832; $29.50 in 1834. In the latter year, the Church voted "to buy a double-bass viol for the use of the singers to be cared for by the Assessors," and Lewis Thayer was invited to accompany the singing choir with the viol in 1839. There seems to have been some difficulty with the "singing books" as it is recorded that "the books procured by Charles D. Hayden should be paid for and put into the hands of the Assessors and there kept until called for by the Singers." Later, these books were taken from the singing seats and the Assessors were ordered to "take measures to find Books and prosecute the offenders"; and "no further money be paid from the Treasury for singing, the present year." Since 1841, money has been appropriated by the Church for the "benefit of the singers," varying from $15 in 1842 to $25 in 1843, when for the first time the chorister was paid $25 for his services. The following resolution was passed at the annual meeting in 1843: "Whereas singing is an important part of the public worship and the choir of singers belonging to this, the First Parish, having made great improvement in the art, they by their deportment and attention deserve the thanks of the con- gregation. It is therefore resolved by the Parish assembled that this public expression of thanks be presented to them and entered with the Parish records, as a testimonial of gratitude for the faithful attention to the duties of singers and the delightful manner of performance exhibited for the last two years. Also that for the year ensuing the sum of twenty-five dollars be appropriated for the use of the singers and twenty-five dollars to Mr. T. Madison French for his services as chorister."
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The First Congregational Church was the first church in Braintree to have an organ; indeed, this organ may have been the first in Braintree either in a church or home. No particulars are available as to the size or kind of organ but Robert Elmer Morrison when only sixteen years of age (in 1859) was hired as the organist. In the three buildings that preceded the edifice built in 1857, no mention was made of an organ. "Indeed, the earlier New Englanders thought an organ had something of the savor of 'popery'" according to an account of her family history written by Mrs. Harry Faxon of Quincy, Mr. Morrison's daughter. "It has always been a story in the family that when the deasons sent by Dr. Storrs came somewhat formally to ask father (Robert E. Morrison) to become their organist, his mother exclaimed 'Oh, you mustn't! He's so inexperienced, you mustn't ask him. He'll usher you into the service with a waltz, and send you out with a jig.' But Robert asked 'How long would you want me?' and was answered: "Till we tell you to stop.' No one ever told him to stop and he never failed the trust they placed in him. For 35 years, he was organist here, up to the very week he left us, all too early, at he age of 51 (1894).
"Mother used to hurry early to church with us children, for he did not like to begin his organ voluntary till we were there. Beethoven, Mendelsohn, Bach blend today in poignant, lovely remembrance of him. Once, however, at a wedding, the bridegroom tarried. The clock ticked off minutes with inexorable hands, until the waiting, wondering guests realized that the organ had stopped playing Lohengrin and instead was playing - what was that melody? Slowly, with deep chords in the bass and a lilting treble, they recognized: 'Oh dear, what can the matter be, Johnnie's so long at the fair!'"
On November 22, 1903, a stained glass window was installed and dedicated and the following item appears in the calendar, under that date: "We receive today and dedicate a window in memory of Robert Elmer Morrison, organist of this church from 1859 to 1894. Mr. Morrison was the son of Alvah Morrison, and was born in Braintree May 12, 1843. He was called to be our organist at the age of 16, having shown musical abilities of the highest order, and a power of interpre- tation far beyond his years. In this respect he steadily grew, and his wonderful improvisations, tactful and sympathetic selections and ten- derness of expression have become a part of the most sacred memories of the church. He died in December 1894, at the age of 51. The window is the gift of members of his family and was designed by Eastman and executed by Hutchings, Murphy & Co. of Boston." (This
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window was one of several which perished when the 1857 church burned in January, 1912.)
Referring again to the first organ, there is no mention of it in the records except for this note in May, 1873: "voted to dispense with the small organ in the church" and later voted "to reconsider and left the matter in the hands of a committee." Within recent years, inquiry has been made of the Church by a Quincy resident who wished to find out what the Church records might show about a small organ. She had purchased an organ from an antique dealer who assured her that it used to belong to the First Congregational Church of Braintree. Unfor- tunately, no record was kept of the inquirer's name but it is hoped that some day this small organ can be traced to its present owner and perhaps returned to the Church, even if only on loan, where it would be of great interest to everyone but especially those directly concerned with the music of the Church.
In 1907, at a service held in connection with "Old Home Week," Dr. T. Haven Dearing spoke of the church music: "For the chorus choir of forty and fifty years ago and consisting of 30 to 40 members, I claim no superior this side of Boston, and some of the leading voices were often employed in the city chorus. Of the old leaders, Choristers Mr. Norton Hollis and Mr. E. P. Hayward, I have nothing but praise. As an instance of how fashion in choir singing has changed since that time, I remember inviting Mrs. F. A. Hobart, the leading soprano of that time, to sing for the opening as a solo, "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth," but when the Sunday morning came, there had been so much adverse opinion expressed between the time of the choir rehearsal and that morning, Mrs. Hobart felt impelled to decline singing it, it would have been such an innovation and might have incurred such censure." Of the organist, Mr. Robert E. Morrison, he spoke in unqualified praise, especially as to his exquisite voluntaries. "None knew him but to respect and love him" said Dr. Dearing. Dr. Dearing, who died in 1908 at the age of 83, was himself greatly interested in First Church music, and for the many years he served as chorister, he conducted the weekly re- hearsals regularly and was practically always in the choir on Sunday. He frequently got the children in the Sunday School together to prepare them for concert exercises. It was said of him, in his obituary, "His Church work was varied and on many lines, in the Sunday School, the parish, mid-week services and for the young and old alike."
Another organist who served for many years was Dr. W. Porter Pratt, the records showing that as early as 1907 and continuing until
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1917 he was the organist and choir director but the records may not be complete as to the early date. Dr. Ernest Bent, Charles S. Bates, Walter O. Hastings, Will W. Mayhew, William E. Sheldon, Perley E. Barbour and Frank W. Couillard were appointed a committee in 1910 to purchase a new organ, the cost of the same complete, not to exceed $3,500. Dr. Pratt had advised the Church on many occasions that the old organ was badly in need of repair and it was finally decided that it would have to be replaced. The first concern of the appointed committee was the status of the finances of the Church which showed a deficit of about $800.00, and the committee decided to endeavor to raise enough money to cancel this debt before entering upon so great an undertaking as the new organ. In the short time of two hours they had received enough verbal pledges to cancel the debt, which accom- plishment the committee considered the largest general collection pledged in so short a time.
It was well into 1911 before the committee began to seriously consider a contract with Hook-Hastings Company of Kendal Green, Mass. Having raised a considerable proportion of the amount needed, this contract became a reality when the Ladies' Aid Society appropriated $1,000 towards the expense of the organ, and further augmented this amount with $400. Thus assured of their goal, the organ contract was signed and the summer months of 1911 were consumed in the installation work. Part of the month of November was used for tuning and voicing the instrument and on November 12, 1911, the organ was dedicated with an appropriate musical service. Alas, the enjoyment of this new instrument was shortlived, as on January 10, 1912, the organ was totally destroyed by fire along with the church building of 1857. The organ had cost $3,461.85 and was insured for $2,800.00 which was collected in full. The organ replacing this one was a memorial gift of Sarah and Susannah Thayer. It was built by Hook, Hastings Co. of Boston and was dedicated on June 6, 1912 with Dr. Pratt as organist. Now, after 45 years of use and many costly repairs, this organ is in need of major repairs and consideration is being given to replacing it with a new console.
William H. Wedlock succeeded Dr. Pratt as organist, after the latter's retirement in 1917, and continued until January, 1943. Mrs. Wedlock during most of the 25 years of her husband's service, was "choir mother" and contributed many hours of service in the care of the choir robes and music, as well as other duties. Kenneth N. Gould of Braintree served two terms as organist and choir director. The first
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followed Mr. Wedlock's retirement, February 1943 to May 1949. Following Harry E. von Bergen's service from December 1949 to September 1951, Mr. Gould was again organist until the spring of 1953. Mr. von Bergen has been an instructor at the Tuskegee Institute in Tennessee for the past six years. Since September 1953, Mrs. Muriel Peterson Robinson has been the organist and, in addition to directing the adult choir, has also directed other and younger groups; this past year there were three other choirs, the Carol, Pilgrim and Chancel.
A number of different hymnals have been used in the Church during the last 125 years since the first ones were purchased in 1831. Copies of the "New Hymn and Tune Book," compiled by Messrs. Nason, Parks and Phelps were purchased in 1866, and in 1886 on the recommendation of Rev. Charles S. Robinson, a new hymn book "Landes Domini" replaced the former books. New hymn books "The Hymns of the Century" were purchased after the fire in 1912 but no record is found of their number. In 1938 partly by individual subscription and through the generous gift of Mrs. Francis Robinson, 260 copies of "Hymns of the Christian Life" were placed in use in the Church. These were replaced with "The Pilgrim Hymnal" in 1954, many copies the gift of Co-Workers and additional copies donated in 1957 by the Ladies' Aid Society. These organizations, as well as the Church as a whole, have been responsible for the purchase of choir vestments, the most recent ones being maroon.
It is interesting to read in the records of the varying amounts budgeted for the use of the choir and music committee. Probably the largest proportional amount was in 1902 when the total budget was only slightly over $2,000 - the minister receiving $1,200, the music, $600 and the rest for general expenses. Paid choristers, paid soloists and paid instrumentalists have been included in special programs through- out the 250 years of church history, but the backbone of the choir has been the faithful and loyal volunteers who have attended rehearsals and carried their share of the singing of the anthems on Sunday morning regardless of personal plans. Probably no finer tribute could be paid to all who have in any way contributed to the musical portion of our Church services than is given in the following tribute paid Dr. Ernest Bent in 1934 on his resignation after many, many years in the musical program of the church:
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