USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Gathered in 1707 : a history of the First Congregational Church, Braintree, Massachusetts, 1707-1957 > Part 4
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The following recorded resolutions concern Mr. Ellsworth's resignation: "The members of the First Congregational Church of Braintree in accepting the resignation of their pastor, Rev. Alfred A. Ellsworth, desire to put on record their appreciation of the valuable services rendered during his pastorate of fifteen years.
"Bringing to this pulpit a wealth of experience gained by varied services in the East, the South and the West he has based his preaching on the abiding and eternal principles of the New Testament, which underlie all forms and all creeds. At a time when the deep questions of life have been profoundly stirring the thoughts of the people and in many cases have disturbed ancient foundations, he has been able to present the abiding and the permanent in place of the transient and temporary, and has helped struggling souls to find a satisfactory resting- place. As a citizen he has been public spirited, voicing the thoughts of the community on patriotic and festival occasions, illustrating and enforcing the connection between righteousness of life and stability of government.
"The steady accession of new members has indicated a healthy growth and building of a commodious and convenient chapel has marked the outward prosperity of the Church and parish. We commend him to the churches as a thoughtful and original preacher, discerning
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the signs of the times and the relation of all events to the Kingdom of Christ. We would also unite in recognizing the efficiency, grace, and courtesy of his wife, who has contributed in so signal a manner to her husband's success."
On September 16, 1900, Rev. Ellsworth preached his farewell sermon and on the following Thursday, a reception was held for Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth in the vestry. The Ellsworths lived in Quincy for about ten years before his death, January 12, 1910. During the interval after his resignation, he had participated in many occasions at the Church, the most memorable being the 200th Anniversary celebration in 1907.
REV. FREDERICK W. BURROWS 1901 - 1906
From September 1900 until June 1901, First Church was without a resident minister and a number of candidates were considered before the following call was issued to Rev. Frederick W. Burrows, minister of the Congregational Church, Hillsboro Bridge, N. H .:
"In behalf of both Church and Parish of the First Con- gregational Church, Braintree, Mass., it gives me great pleasure to extend the following call. On May 8th, the Church voted unanimously to extend the call to you as our pastor. May 14th, the Parish voted unanimously to concur in the action of the Church and to extend to you a call for three years at a salary of $1,200 for the first year and an additional $100 for moving expenses and the use of the parsonage, water and electric lights free of expense; and to be given one month's vacation each year. Each party to this contract to be given a ninety days' notice in case either party desires to discontinue," and it was signed by Frank H. Dear- ing for the special committee.
Mr. Burrows' reply said in part: "I am deeply sensible of the high honor done me by the action of the Braintree Congregational Church and Parish and of the sacredness of the trust you ask me to accept. So conscious am I of the solemn responsibility that one assumes who enters upon the pastorate of a church that, even were I worthy of your high confidence, it could be only through the belief that your prayers were ever ascending to Him a part of whose Kingdom
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your church is, and by whose blessing alone it can succeed that I could consent to such an action. It is therefore with a heavy and yet joyous sense of leaning upon the genuineness of your own spiritual life and faith that I accept the call to become the pastor of your church on the terms nominated in your letter. May it prove that His own providence has guided us into this relationship and may His spirit enlighten our under- standing and strengthen our weak hands! A careful consid- eration of all the interests that must be conserved leads me to name Sunday, June 16th, 1901, as the date for beginning my work among you. Even this is a very abrupt closing of a relationship that involves many sacred obligations. Trusting that this will not be found to conflict with your interests, I remain, Yours in His name, Frederick W. Burrows."
Mr. Burrows' candidate sermon, preached on April 28, 1901, was based on the text John 15:15, "But I have called you friends." He developed his sermon around four thoughts; first, the text is a true representation of Christ; second, it is possible of realization; third, it emphasizes the true relation of God toward us; fourth, it contains a yearning invitation. He "preached without notes and made a very interesting sermon from these four thoughts and there were many expressions of satisfaction heard after the service" according to a com- ment in the "Braintree Bee," a local newspaper of that time. The Hillsboro (N. H.) Messenger described his leaving as "regrettable and expressed their commendation as an able preacher and a faithful min- ister."
Only a few short months after Mr. and Mrs. Burrows (Jennie Thatcher) and their two sons moved into the parsonage, the Church and Parish gave Rev. Burrows a recognition service, with Dr. William Gallagher of Thayer Academy, Rev. G. E. Whitehouse of the Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Dewly of Brooklyn, N. Y., Rev. C. F. Hill and Rev. Dr. Archibald of Brockton, both Congregational ministers, and Rev. F. R. Griffin of All Souls' Church, taking part.
One of the first problems that called for immediate attention the first winter Mr. Burrows was the minister at First Church was major repairs to the furnaces in both the chapel and the Church. At first it was hoped that they could be repaired, but four new furnaces were finally bought for $575. This devasting blow to the treasury prompted Mr. Burrows to suggest a new and drastic financial plan - the appoint- ment of a canvas committee to circularize the entire Parish and Church
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with pledge cards, and thus was born the first "every member canvas" at First Church. As a result, $1,800 was pledged for 1902 and $2,284 for 1903 and the Church had made a start towards a pay-as-you-go plan.
In July 1902, the first of five stained glass windows to be dedi- cated during Mr. Burrows' ministry was unveiled. This was described: "This memorial window to Dr. Richard Salter Storrs is situated in the middle of the east side and is a handsome combination of antique and opalescent glass. It is of gothic design and in the center panel is a picture in antique glass of the Good Shepherd, the background being opalescent glass. The window is inscribed as follows: In Loving Memory of Richard Salter Storrs, 1787-1873, 'Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom'." The window was unveiled by Grant H. Burrows, son of the minister, and was executed by Hutchings, Murphy & Co. of Boston. In his sermon on the occasion of this unveil- ing, Rev. Burrows said: "We are not satisfied with building a merely material memorial to Dr. Storrs. There is to us a deeper significance in this act than that. We desire today to declare our sense of the con- tinuity of our history, our gratitude to God for the whole way in which He has led us, and our loyalty to all that is truly God-given in the ideals both of the past and of the present."
The other stained glass windows were presented by the Thorndike family (1902); in memory of Deacon and Mrs. Davis Hollis (June 1903); in memory of Robert Elmer Morrison, organist from 1859- 1894 (November 1903); and in memory of Sarah Thayer (October 1904). During 1904, the South Congregational Church of South Braintree celebrated its 75th anniversary and on June 27th, Mr. Bur- rows, on behalf of the Church, presented that church with a silver communion cup. Another gift to the First Congregational Church came in 1902 when a new communion service was presented by Brother F. E. Arnold and others and used for the first time on September 7th, 1902.
The annual meeting of the Church in 1905 was held on two nights, instead of one as had been the practice. The first night, a social and Church supper preceded the annual reports, and the election of officers and other business was conducted on the second night. At the annual meeting in 1906, a committee was appointed for the 200th anniversary of the Church's founding to be held in 1907. At about this time, also, the practice of presenting annual reports of all organi- zations and committees was introduced.
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One of the special business meetings in 1905 was concerned with "a report from those who have been interesting themselves in making it possible to have a motor to blow the Church organ." One of the expenses involved a 2" pipe from the street into the Church at a cost of $55, and the whole expense amounted to $220, most of which was paid by special gifts. Before the meeting appropriated the necessary balance to take care of this expense, the question was raised concerning the Town's use of the Church belfry for a fire alarm free of expense and it was suggested that in return for this privilege the town should furnish water free for the various uses in the Church. The matter was placed before the Town at the next town meeting but no report was given as to its outcome.
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Extensive repairs in the chapel in the summer of 1904 greatly improved its appearance and were carried out under Mr. Burrows' direction. The Sunday School consumed a great deal of his time and attention and special programs or "rally days" were introduced at Easter, Christmas and Children's Day in place of the Church services. In 1906, pennies brought by the children on their birthdays were used to give them a large birthday party. Bible verse learning was encour- aged by the offering of rewards and Bibles were presented to those who excelled.
Mr. Burrow's resignation was read by Rev. Samuel Morrison from the pulpit at the morning service on April 1, 1906, as follows: "It having become my evident duty to leave the pastorate of your Church, I do now, with heart-felt regret render my resignation. My decision to do so is final and could not be changed by any action either of the Church or of individuals. May I add that I can see no reason why the Church should not be prospered and become increasingly useful for many years. The situation seems to me to be full of encouragement and incentive to Christian work. May God's blessing attend your efforts. This resignation will take effect at the earliest date on which it can be accepted." This abrupt and, from a reading of the records, unexpected resignation was accepted by the Church "with deep sorrow . .. especially after nearly five years of faithful and successful labors with it," on April 4, 1906.
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REV. THOMAS SIMMS 1906 - 1911
Born in Bath, England, in 1854; public school education in New York City and Westfield, N. J .; graduated 1883 from Wesleyan University as president of his class and class orator; short ministry in the Methodist Church; nine years at Congregational Church, South Manchester, Conn .; six years at Congregational Church, Middlebury, Vt .; five years at First Congregational Church, Brain- tree; seven years at Congregational Church, Gorham, Me .; and nearly two years at First Congregational Church, Ipswich, Mass. Married Miss Nellie B. Swaine of New Haven, Conn., in 1887; children: Henry, Ruth, Helen and Herbert. Died August 27, 1920 in Ipswich, Mass.
During the short term of Rev. Simm's pastorate, our Church cele- brated its 200th Anniversary, and 69 members were received into the Church. Following a call from the Church, Rev. Simms wrote on July 30, 1906 from Middlebury, Vermont -:
"In response to the unanimous call your Church and parish have extended me to become your pastor, teacher and fellow worker I would say that, to act wisely, I have had this important matter under long and careful advisement.
"My impression is that your Church offers unusual opportunity for Christian service that such is your anxiety for the spiritual growth of the Church as to lead you to heartily cooperate with your pastor in all wise methods for such growth.
"These facts together with the unanimity and the hearti- ness of the call have greatly aided me in reaching my decision, to accept the call, which I now do; to take up the work at the earliest possible date consistent with my duties to my present pastorate.
"Craving your friendship, patience, prayers and con- tinual co-operation, and trusting God for leadership and bless- ing, I am
"Most sincerely yours in Christian fellowship and service, Thomas Simms"
Much credit for the success of the 200th Anniversary celebration is given to Mr. Simms who served as a very able chairman of the general committee. In response to invitations and public announcements, people gathered from far and near to participate in the three day event which included three services on Sunday, May 5th, the morning service being
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devoted to the Anniversary Sermon and reception of new members, followed by the Lord's Supper with former ministers participating; the afternoon to the Sunday School with a history prepared by Superintend- ent Charles S. Bates; and in the evening, a program devoted to "Our Workers in Other Fields," especially missionary.
On Monday, May 6th, three historical papers were presented by Rev. Frank H. Palmer on conditions in the town in the early years of the Church; Dr. William Gallagher on the first 150 years of the Church; and Rev. Alfred A. Ellsworth on the modern Church. The program concluded on Tuesday with an afternoon of reminiscing and a banquet in the evening.
Rev. Simms was known as a great literary scholar and his anni- versary sermon was based on the Text: "One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare they mighty acts," and in it he said: "We are led by the thought of the text to consider the relation of different generations to each other. Theoretically it is assumed that each generation is closely related to its immediate predecessor and successor, and often this is true. A generation of men is able to do splendid work because of foundations laid and superstructural work of preceding generations. On the other hand there is often a complete breaking with the past. Reactionary periods, reverses and losses that must be remedied, battles that have to be refought. To avail these reactions is one of the highest duties in every age.
"Since the work of man is so fluctuating, as wise workers we are forced to the unescapable duty of cooperation with God in His eternal work. This fully characterized the life of Christ, and it ought to characterize each of our lives to know and to do the Father's will. Not to become mere time servers, but to take up and carry forward such questions as the peace movement, human brotherhood, and religion to their ultimate ends.
"A church which comes to such an anniversary as this, rich in memories but richer still in something other than memories - the life of the eternal God - keeping it bright in immortal youth, a spirit ever alive to present demands and duties, expectant for the future, profits by such occasions as this, while it expresses, in no uncertain tones, its gratitude to the infinite Father for guidance and its confidence with the untried future because of His unfailing supplies. In the presence of memories so sacred, surrounded by these inspiring associations and encouraged by a fruitful past, shall we not use these days of reminiscence to reconsecrate ourselves to the service of a faith that is real and to the
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glory of a guiding God? Whatever may here be said, all will agree that not unto us but unto God's great name be the glory in the church throughout all ages, for His is the only permanent church."
Rev. Simms delivered a sermon on June 4, 1911 commemorating the 200th anniversary of the ordination and installation of Rev. Samuel Niles and the 100th anniversary of Rev. Richard S. Storrs based on I Zacharius 5: "Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?" This sermon was printed and a copy may be found in the Church vault and a reading of it will reveal both Rev. Simms' deep interest in the history of the Church and his literary style.
Two Church procedures were introduced while Rev. Simms was in Braintree which were continued in some form down even to the present time. One of them was the practice of having the annual meeting of the Church preceded by a dinner. The other, to encourage the continued support of missionary work (which in 1910 amounted to $1,666) the Church voted to use the duplex envelope for weekly offerings so that the benevolence gifts could be received weekly instead of monthly, as in the past.
An indication of the esteem with which Mr. Simms was held, not only among the people of his Church but in the town, is the following exerpt from an editorial published in the "Braintree Bee" when his resignation was announced: "We are sorry to lose Mr. Simms who moves to his new field of labor in Gorham, Maine, next week. Mr. Simms has always been a bright, earnest worker and has done much good in our midst during his five year stay with us. We have always found him a very pleasant visitor and will greatly miss him. The least his many friends can say is that they wish him abundance of success in his new field, and may happiness and contentment be his lot in the future forever."
Mr. Simms was one of the organizers of the Braintree Improve- ment Association and served two years on the executive committee. He was for two years moderator of the Norfolk Ministers' Union and for three years a member of the County executive committee. He was chairman of the Lookout Committee of the Young Men's Congre- gational Club of Boston, one of the largest with over 600 stewards and served upon the executive committee of the Boston Minister's meeting.
Mr. Simms remained for seven years at the Congregational Church at Gorham, Maine and as minister for the First Congregational Church in Ipswich, Mass. for nearly two years before his death on August 27, 1920.
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REV. THOMAS SIMMS, 1906 - 1911
REV. HARRY GRIMES, 1912 - 1930
REV. HARRY GRIMES 1912 - 1930
Born in Avon, Wisconsin, March 11, 1882; attended schools there; graduated with A.B. degree from Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin, in 1905 and from Yale Divinity School in 1908 with B.D. degree. His pastorates included summers at Braintree Hill, Vt., and at Mt. Washington in 1906 and 1907; Windham Con- gregational Church, Windham, Conn., 1908-1912; First Congre- gational Church, Braintree, 1912-1930; Central Congregational Church of Newburyport, Mass., 1930-1951. Married, Sept. 16, 1908, Miss Nellie Jean Martin of Madison, Wis., a classmate at Beloit College. One daughter, Margaret Ross (now Mrs. S. Read Chatterton). Since 1951, Pastor Emeritus of Central Congrega- tional Church of Newburyport. Home address, 9 Moseley Ave- nue, Newburyport.
The following account of his eighteen year pastorate in Braintree was written by Rev. Grimes, at the request of the compiler of this history, and, being in his own words, the account is of special interest to all who knew the Grimes family while they lived in Braintree or may have become acquainted with them since.
"When we came to Braintree there was a lot of the real, old Braintree left. There were only a few autos, save those in the hands of the well-to-do. There were no auto taxicabs. Mr. Hill's queer old depot carriages carried train passengers to their homes, even when taxis became more prevalent. So you can picture the young pastor and his wife in early April 1912, riding from the station to 84 Hollis Avenue in one of those carriages, drawn by one horse, and driven from a very high driver's seat. We had our one child, Margaret, five months old, in an elaborately trimmed clothes basket and she had slept all the way from Windham, Conn. to Braintree. I did not want to waken her and the basket was too large to go through the carriage door. Mr. Hill did not know what to do but I helped him out by saying I would ride up on the high seat with him and hold the basket on my knees. So that's the way the Grimes' rode up through town to spend over eighteen years in the parsonage.
"We never saw the old church building, a very large, wooden, Gothic structure which was completely destroyed by fire just the Wed- nesday morning before this young preacher gave his candidating sermon on Sunday morning. The candidating sermon, however, was discarded for "The Building of a Church" (material and spiritual). Many people felt that the burning of the old building was a blessing in disguise, because it was well-nigh impossible to heat it in winter, and it had very
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inadequate facilities for social and educational work. On that Sunday, people were mourning more over the death of Mr. Will Mayhew, one of the leading men of the Church, than over the loss of the building. He had a fatal heart attack as a result of working so hard to save the furnishings in the Chapel.
"By the time the new minister arrived in April, a Building Com- mittee had been elected with Walter O. Hastings as chairman, and George F. Newton, architect, was ready to submit plans. People were enthusiastic about the plans presented, but because of a large gift offered with the requirement that the Church must be dedicated without debt, and because of other influences brought to bear on the committee, the architect was asked to cut the plans to a point where the building could be built free of debt. To my mind, we made a great mistake at that point, and that mistake has made it difficult to enlarge the present building. Very few people seemed to realize how rapidly the community and the Church were going to grow. However, it was a very happy occasion when in June 1913, we held a week of services centered around the dedication of the new Church. We met in Delta Hall for about a year and then moved into the Parish House while the sanctuary was being completed. In a little more than a year, war, which proved to be the First World War, broke out in Europe.
"During the winter of 1914-1915, because of the War, there were great business changes which put many out of work and made it hard for some businessmen. We had a committee, called the Social Service Committee, headed by Marcus L. Urann, a lawyer and the head of the Cape Cod Cranberry Co. This Committee and the Minister felt that it would be a good thing to start a Wednesday Church Night for fellowship and entertainment and perhaps a means of helping some who were in need. There was something planned for the whole family and we closed at an early hour with a devotional service. It worked splen- didly for a while, but we soon ran out of ingenuity. Moving pictures were popular but to see good pictures we had to go to Boston, there being no moving picture theater in Braintree at the time. The Nicolo- dians, which were sometimes run in a hall down near the station, were not fit for children and youth to see. Mr. Urann told the Minister that he would present the Church with the finest moving picture machine made, if the Minister would get the Church authorities to allow its use in the Parish House. To the Minister's surprise, the Standing Com- mittee agreed and so it happened that for five years, the only moving picture entertainment given in that part of Braintree was shown in the
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First Church Parish House on Wednesday night for adults and on Saturday afternoons for children. Mrs. William Rogers, Mrs. George Treat and Mrs. Ralph Woodsum did splendid service in going to Boston and selecting pictures fit to be shown. This program was given to the community at cost, not including the heat and light. This piece of work, while doing very little for the spiritual ministry of the Church, did buy a lot of good will in the community and helped the Church to grow in membership because people felt it was a real service.
"It was during those early years that we organized the Church School Training School, patterning it after the Superintendents Union which met monthly in Ford Hall, Boston. Able men supported our project and raised the money and very soon we had a large enrollment, coming from Braintree and surrounding towns. During the winter of 1920, three blizzards in early February necessitated a curtailment of the school for six weeks and the enrollment was sadly cut. The financial sponsors felt that they could not maintain a smaller school as the budget had to cover the cost of Boston University instructors, so the school was finally closed.
"While the school was still operating there was a teacher who gave courses in pageantry. The Pastor conceived the idea that the First Church should celebrate the Pilgrim Tercentenary (in 1920) by putting on a 'Pageant of the Pilgrims,' written by Prof. Emerson of Boston University. We secured this teacher as coach and a committee had cast the pageant, when the teacher found it impossible to continue. So the Pastor, who had never done anything in pageantry, found a pageant on his hands to be given with a large cast on an announced date. In desperation he rushed to Mrs. Sophie Blunt for help. She was a tower of strength and ability and Mr. Blunt, a natural born actor, starred in the part of Elder Brewster. I cannot say that the production was a wonderful work of art but it brought its message and the people asked us to put on a Christmas Pageant. So we presented Prof. Augustine Smith's 'Light of the World' just before Christmas. It packed the Church for two nights. After that, at least one pageant was produced each year for a long time. Mrs. Howard Blewett and Miss Caroline Converse did splendid service in helping to produce them, and my good friend to this day, Lucius Qualey, used to give us colored lighting which would have cost us hundreds of dollars if it had not been for his Christian interest in the work. He arranged the lighting so that it could be operated from a temporary switchboard in the balcony.
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