USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Gathered in 1707 : a history of the First Congregational Church, Braintree, Massachusetts, 1707-1957 > Part 7
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As head of the Theological School at Adams College, as well as in his position as chaplain there, Mr. Booth has come in close touch
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with the Zulu men. Not only has he helped train the young Zulu pastors who minister to churches spread over a triangle of some 600 miles of rough country, but he has helped the organized churches meet some of the terrific problems of life in South Africa today. In 1951 when the Booths returned to the United States on their sabbatical leave, Mr. Booth said "The African Christian not only has to combat Communism with its Utopian promises, agitation and insurrection but a crude kind of African nationalism based on a claimed superiority of the black race."
Just what the future of the Adams Mission Station and the Booths will be is a question since "African nationalism" has won out and everything has been taken over by the Africans except for the Theo- logical School which has been given one more year before it, too, must close. Many people in First Church feel well acquainted not only with their work but with the Booth family, as well, since frequent letters from Africa have been received and read before the Church organi- zations, and are anxious as to their future.
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CHAPTER 3
THREE MEETING-HOUSES TWO CHURCHES
1706-07 - 1759 - 1830 - 1857 - 1913
"How lovely are thy dwellings, O Lord . . . "- Psalm 84:1
In the course of 250 years, the First Congregational Church of Braintree has built five structures - three Meeting-Houses, 1706-07, 1759, 1830 - and two churches - 1857 and 1913, and with the exception of the fourth which was destroyed by fire, these were built because of the need for larger accommodations.
The "church," in the Puritan's way of thinking, worshiped in the "meeting-house," and the practice of referring to the structure as a "church" did not come into common practice until the middle of the 19th century. The Meeting-House of our Church, built in 1706-07, was used for alternate meetings of the town, from 1730 until 1750, the Meeting-House in the North Precinct being used for the other half of the town meetings. From 1750 to 1830, our Meeting-House was used exclusively for all town affairs.
The first building was partially erected previous to the organization of the Church in 1707, and all that is known as to its appearance are such details as are found in the records of that time. The land upon which the Church edifice stood was regarded as being much under the control if not actually belonging to the minister. How large the original "ministerial" lands were, apart from a certain one hundred acres at one time voted, it is difficult to determine. The first edifice appears to have been very near the spot now occupied by the present structure. The building may have been substantial but was probably a rather plain and rude structure. There were two stories "for galleries, two seats round" and it was lathed inside and had glass in the windows, which either extended into the gallery area as one long window or were upper and lower windows because the records state "young men were given liberty to build an upper gallery (upon their own cost, in 1713) provided that light of our upper windows be not too much diminished."
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A "cooshing bellonging to ye pullpit was repayred by a plush covering and good ticking or washt lether to hold the fethers," in 1714, and pews were built by their owners for which permission was granted them to sit in them when erected and a fine of 5 shillings was imposed on every person who shall not "orderly keep ye seat." The first Meeting- House had a bell because ringing the bell was included in the duties of the sexton as early as 1713. Later, in 1723, it was voted to finish the "tarit or bellfree and make it tight" and it was described as being 8 x 10 feet with stairs leading into the gallery, the belfry costing 70 pounds to build. When the Meeting-House was repaired in 1740 at a cost of 80 pounds, it was clapboarded with good sawed pine, new sash windows were added, the roof reshingled and new doors added to the front with a "pulle to keep the doors from being left open."
This first Church edifice not only served as a house of worship and for town meetings but according to the town records it was used as a repository for the storage of powder as in 1746 "the selectmen were instructed by a formal vote to build a closet on the beams of the Middle Precinct Meeting-House (if it be allowed of) as a suitable place to keep powder."
After many meetings to discuss the problem of repairing or re- placing the first Meeting-House, the following vote was recorded in 1757: "To build a new Meeting-House at the same place provided each member may have the liberty of providing materials according to his proportionable part, between this and the first day of May 1758, and also labor shall be proportioned. The Meeting-House will be 55 feet in length and 45 feet in breadth and height in proportion." A committee of seven was appointed to serve "gratis" and in March, 1758, six more members were added including two carpenters. By August, the committee had arrived at an estimate of the cost - 429 pounds, and 4 shillings, "lawful money." This building faced the west and was two storied and extended farther east or considerably nearer to the land owned by Rev. Niles than the first building.
The 1759 Meeting-House first used on Thursday, June 28th, had 37 pews with an "alley from the great door to the pulpit 5' wide, the pews to be sold to the highest bidder with one quarter of the price to be paid at the sale, the highest bidder to have first choice and then to be marked down on the plan." The pew at the right hand of the pulpit Stair was designated for the use of the minister's family. The sale of pews was held February 19, 1759, the proceeds amounting to 398 pounds, 16 shillings. After building 8 pews in the gallery, a second sale
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was held, amounting to 58 pounds, 14 shillings, 8 pence. There were men and women's seats, and men and women's stairs, and there were at least three windows on each long side of the building. Apparently well pleased with the work of the building committee, the meeting voted to give the members each 3 pounds for their services.
"Colouring" the outside of meeting-houses became quite popular about 1770 and in 1774 it was voted "to secure the bellfree by sheeting the platform under the bell with lead and securing the posts and ban- isters round the platform by oyling and colouring to preserve them from the weather; that the doors, windows and covering of the Houfe be oyled and coloured and putteing the glafs and that loose clabords be nailed and that the Houfe be secured" at a cost of 36 pounds, Edmund Soper having bid off for the work.
That the proper respect and order were not maintained during the town meetings is shown by the following vote in 1783: "that the town shall not have the privilege of meeting in this House for doing the business of the Town unless they keep on the floor of the House or sit in the seats in a regular manner and not stand upon the seats in the Meeting-House and the moderator of the next Town meeting be served with this vote." That much repaired pulpit cushion was replaced by a new one in 1784.
Several adjustments were made in the front gallery for the singers' seats, and from time to time more pews were built under the direction of the deacons so that no "banister be higher than those adjoining." Further alterations were made in 1793 and 1794 - "That the front seats on the floor be moved forward flush with the corner pews and that the seats be reduced in width so as to leave seven feet in the rear for pews, to wit, two long pews on each side; that pews be made in each side on the north end of the galleries, to wit, six on each; that pews be made in the room where the stairs are; to build a porch twelve feet square on the east end of the meeting house with stairs in the same to go into the galleries; also that the stairs be built in the bellfree to go into the gallery; that the outside of the house be new covered with clabboards and shingles and painted." Later, they voted to sell new pews and the money so collected be used for the cost of repairs, estimated to be 52 pounds, 6 shillings, 7 pence.
When Dr. Storrs came in 1811, the Meeting-House erected in 1759 had fallen so far into decay that when a large congregation assembled, alarm was felt lest it should fall about their heads. This old Meeting-House had no heating plant of any kind. On days when
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the sermon was long and people grew sleepy, they used to stand up to keep awake, since it was not believed reverent to sleep in the House of God. The pews were square and had seats on the inner three sides of them, fitted with hinges so that when people rose for the long prayer (one hour being the average length of a "good" prayer) as their custom was in those days, the seats rose with them to allow them room to stand. At the close of the prayer, the seats fell, so it was said, with a clatter like a running fire of musketry.
A committee appointed in 1830 for the purpose of appraising the condition of the Meeting-House and composed of Jonathan Belcher of Randolph, Hon. Christopher Webb of Weymouth, Whitcomb Porter and Capt. Benjamin Page of Quincy, reported "We found the Meeting- House old and in such ruinous and decayed state that it was inexpedient in our opinion for said Parish to repair the same by reason of the very great cost and charge which the said Parish must incur in doing it; but being of opinion that said House in the present state would accommodate said Parish 5 or 6 years longer for a place for public worship, we appraised the pews thereof in the following manner: 12 pews on the right and left of the broad aisle from the pulpit at $10 each, the 14 outside pews of the inner square, $8 each, 27 wall pews at $6 each, 6 front pews in the right left of the pulpit in the gallery at $3 each, and 18 wall pews at $1.50 each, or a total of $439." The owners of the pews were paid accordingly; a contract was made with Abraham Hobart to build a new Meeting-House within five months (the con- tract dated June 14, 1830) and it was voted that the old Meeting- House should stand but 2 Sabbaths longer.
The third Meeting-House faced south and, through the gift of land from Dr. Stephen Thayer and his sisters, was set so that the north end exactly coincided with the north side of Lyceum Hall which had been erected in 1829 by interested persons connected with the Church and had become an important adjunct to the Church as well as a building for educational use.
Considering the magnitude of the undertaking, the following recorded vote on June 14, 1830 is amazingly brief: "Contract for building Meeting-House let to Abraham Hobart to build within five months and by the first of December for $4,120, as follows: 70' long, 46' wide, 24' high, clapboards and shingles; lower sashes of windows hung by weights, Boston glass 10 x 14 equal in quality to glass in South Meeting-House in Braintree; 3 windows in front of 24 lights; two windows in the back, one each side of the pulpit; fan light with
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a segment sweep; pediments on each end of tower, pilasters; tower and cupolo with blinds upper story; upper story eight pews seventy four, excepting four which are to be paid for as to the carpenter work; said pews nine feet long, two feet two inches wide. Pulpit made of mahogany and pine and stained; three doors in front with six or eight panels and circular windows over each door. Bell to be taken down and put up again. Step stone 32' long and 2' wide. Said Hobart is to take down the old building and use as much of the material therein as will answer the purposes of the new."
In a "Church Manual" published in 1859, Dr. Storrs reported: "1830. Dec. 29. The old Meeting-House having been taken down by vote of the Parish, the new one, just completed, was this day solemnly dedicated to the services of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Introductory prayer by Rev. Mr. Perkins (Jonas Perkins) of East Braintree; reading of the Scriptures by Rev. Mr. Huntington of North Bridgewater; dedicatory prayer by Rev. Mr. Codman of Dorchester; sermon by the Pastor; concluding prayer by Rev. Mr. Matthews of So. Braintree; the benediction by the Rev. Mr. Gile of Milton. The day was pleasant and joyous. The sale of pews exceeded the cost of the house, $1,725." The Meeting-House was later insured for $4,000, "$1,000 payable to the Parish and $3,000 to pew holders who are desir- ous and pay their proportionate share of cost of same."
The fourth House, or the edifice of 1857, "Dr. Storrs' Church," by other gifts of land on the north, the east and on Elm Street, stood farther north, more to the east and with open frontage south, due, no doubt, to the stipulations in the Thayer deed of 1830. Reading the minutes of the meetings of the Church during the 1850's, with several building committees appointed and discharged, many plans accepted and later rescinded, the problems of modern day church building and repairs are brought clearly to mind. For some years, the building of 1830 had been too small, no provision was made for Sunday School classes, and continual repairs were necessary. Finally, a building com- mittee was agreed upon and plans were drawn up for building a new Church, at a cost not to exceed $18,000.
Many meetings were consumed in planning this structure yet no definite specifications are to be found as to its dimensions. Using the "sale of pews plan," it can be estimated that the sanctuary was about 110 feet long and 52 feet wide, and had a capacity on the main floor of at least 650 people. There was a gallery which had considerable seating capacity and a rough estimate would be that the Church held
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at least 900 people. The room beneath the sanctuary must have been sizeable, too, because it is reported a number of times that "over 600" sat down together for a special dinner or banquet.
The following is a report of the "Dedication of the New House of Worship of the First Parish, in Braintree, June 3, 1857:"
"This day, June 3rd, 1857, the new House of Worship of the first Parish in Braintree was dedicated to Almighty God. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Richard Salter Storrs, Jr., D.D. of Brooklyn, New York. Rev. Mr. Perkins and Rev. Mr. Means with the Pastor assisted in the occasion.
"The new House that was used this day for the first time cost nearly $25,000. and the sale of the Pews came off in the afternoon. The amount of the Pews sold was about $15,000. The second sale of Pews was held in the following May 1858. Amount of sales, $6,000 which amounts was nearly all paid for.
"This is the fourth House of Worship that has been erected on the same spot. Under one of the corners of the underpining there is enclosed a Box, containing a record of the times as it regards the Society. Long after these hands that penned these lines shall have moulded into dust, that box may be opened and the contents made known to the now unborn. Oh, My Heavenly Father, may nothing but that truth as it is in Thy dear Son ever be proclaimed on this Sacred Spot, dear to me and to my Father and his Father and still farther back even to one hundred and fifty years or more. Amen."
In the fall of 1869, Braintree was struck by a severe windstorm and the original spire blew down. In the "Church Arc Light," dated March 1898 a writer "J" gives the following account of this storm: "Any one who has tramped it around Braintree must have been struck with the picturesque effect of the First Parish Church tower in all the beautiful views of which it forms a conspicuous part. Thirty years ago, this Church was graced with a slender steeple, the highest in the whole neighborhood and in which the present bell was hung. Then came the great 'Autumn Blow' as it was called. This storm was about as near to a cyclone as the East ever gets. Great damage was done and the steeple, clock and belfry of this Church were blown to the ground.
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"As a small boy I remember being brought up from Weymouth Landing to see the wreck on a dazzling bright Autumn day. My brother and I found the bell which lay upon its side and crawling into it labored with the heavy tongue. I never forgot my impression of that bell, which was recalled by a splinter of black and gold wood that was a part of the clock dial. It was not until a quarter of a century later that I knew the fate of that bell, which was once my playhouse, and today rings as loudly as ever in the minarettedtower of the historical old church."
By 1884, a movement was started to make improvements on the 1857 building and attention was called "to the difficulties besetting the cause of Christ from the bad arrangement of the House of Worship, it not having vestries, being hard to heat and hear in, as well as dark and gloomy causing discouragement." In 1891, at a cost of $4,975. a chapel with "coping 25' on rear of Church and projecting to the west the same and running back 88', having a main room 50' x 50' and another 25' x 25', two classrooms, a ladies' parlor and a kitchen" was built and furnished for an additional $2,100. The furnaces cost about $375, and needed repairs to the Church building consisting of alterations to the organ, $200, and decorating and the addition of a small vestry for the use of the minister, $400. The result was a building "of its own which is convenient for all social and religious purposes, a centre which in its use will tend to closer acquaintance and warmer interests of the members of the Church and children of the Parish not only, but, if rightly and liberally managed, it will be common ground for the enjoyment of any and all newcomers of the village and so tend to increase our numbers and strengthen the fellowship, good work and Christian endeavor of all." The accommodations in Lyceum Hall no longer being needed, the Assessors arranged to remove the furnishings which they had contri- buted and the Church's shares in the Lyceum Corporation were sold. This building, built in 1829, had served for 60 years as an "adjunct to the First Congregational Church, in whose interests as well as that of the community it seems to have been especially built and provided. The first floor was leased to Elisha N. Thayer for 999 years for one cent a year under certain conditions to be strictly fulfilled. Elisha Thayer built the building and, in the nature of a builder's lien, transferred his right, title and interest to Benjamin V. French, Samuel Capen, Daniel Hollis and John Hobart, Jr. for $1,400. The Lyceum Corporation, consisting of Richard S. Storrs, David Hollis, Charles Hayward, Benjamin V.
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French, Samuel Capen, Jonathan Wild, Jr. and Samuel Hayden, then leased it to Mr. Thayer."
"Mrs. Thorndike furnished the chapel with electric lights and a chandelier" in 1894 "to our great comfort and delight" and it is inter- esting to note that the electric bill for that year amounted to $24.51. In 1898, it was voted to have the Church wired for electricity so that it too might be electrically lighted. Electric "furnishings" for the par- sonage were voted in 1903.
The history of the parsonage goes back to before 1875 when the Parsonage Association was formed, this group in 1875 voting "that we convey our right and title to the Parsonage to the First Parish in Brain- tree." The following deed from Asa French to the First Parish in Braintree shows the origin of the present land and parsonage:
"Whereas the said Asa French has this day bargained and sold unto the said First Parish in Braintree for the sum of one dollar a certain lot or parcel of land situated in the Town of Braintree aforesaid containing sixteen thousand feet, more or less, being lot numbered 32 on a plan of the 'Hollis Estate,' so called, ... said lot measuring one hundred feet by one hundred and sixty, as shown on said plan, the condi- tions of said sale being (1) that said Parish shall erect a suitable parsonage building upon said lot on or before May 1, 1876 (2) that said building and lot shall be held and used by said Parish as a parsonage estate for a period of ten years at least from the completion of the building and (3) that no building shall be erected on said lot nearer than forty five feet from the south line of Hollis Avenue ... said deed is not to be delivered until the parsonage building aforesaid is completed and ready for occupation." The deed was dated August 21, 1874.
Later, the Parish authorized Messrs. E. F. E. Thayer, Asa French and N. E. Hollis to give a Parish note of $1,500 and mortgage the Parsonage for the payment of the same and that the money be paid to the treasurer of the Parsonage Association to pay bills due to cover the cost of building. Presumably, the parsonage was completed in time to meet the requirements of the above deed, but no deails are recorded - no estimate of the cost, nor specifications - but for the first years that it was occupied by the Emerson family, the Church charged him annual rent of $125. In 1878, it is recorded "It is the sense of this meeting to
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reduce the Rev. Thomas A. Emerson, our pastor's salary to eleven hundred dollars with the rent of the parsonage free for his future salary per year - the Parish acting on the report of Dr. Dearing that the Pastor would consent to this agreement as it was all the Parish could afford to pay at the present time."
The following is from the "Braintree Bee": "At about 3:15 Wednesday morning, January 10, 1912, Braintree people were startled from their warm beds by a fire alarm pulled in from Box 34 first and later from Box 31. A lively blaze was in progress in the old Lyceum Building and the light from the fire was what awakened some near neighbors. It is not known how it originated, but when people began to arrive on the scene at about 3:30 o'clock, the whole roof was ablaze, brilliantly lighting Storr's Square.
"It was a hard proposition for the firmen to go up against as the temperature was around zero and the wind was blowing a gale. Some of the hydrants were out of condition and the water froze to everything it struck. It was soon apparent that outside assistance would be needed and help was summoned from Quincy, Weymouth, Holbrook and Randolph.
"When Chief Peter Williams of Quincy arrived with an auto chemical, a steamer and hose wagon, his outfit went to work. To save the Lyceum Building was out of the question and attention was centered on the First Congregational Church building, within 100 feet of the burning building and directly in the track of the spark laden wind. A hard fight was put up but everything was against success - frozen hydrants, lack of pressure, the biting cold, boistrous wind, frozen hose, etc.
"For nearly two hours the church was apparently safe but the con- tinuous bombardment of sparks at last prevailed and the whole big structure eventually became a gorgeous mass of flame. When the fire broke through all over the steeple it was a thrilling sight and even before there was time to comprehend the picture the whole super- structure came down without even a warning crack of the four great supporting pillars.
"J. R. Qualey who lives opposite Lyceum Hall was one of the first to discover the fire and he made gallant efforts to save the church. He was in the belfry for an hour or so with a chemical extinguisher attempting to extinguish the smart little blaze under one of the clock faces, but it wouldn't out."
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From the Assessors' report of January 22, 1912, we learn: "Last November your Assessors procured at no expense the services of a competent fire insurance engineer to place a value upon this property. His valuation amounted to $31,000 and it was insured for $25,000. The new organ cost $3,461.85 and was insured for $2,800. During the fire, your Assessors directed the saving of the chapel furnishings complete, including the new piano and library books, as well as the kitchen furnishings, including the range, dishes and silverware. The piano was slightly damaged by scratching and exposure. It was insured for $250., and the adjustment of this loss includes being repolished and put in first class condition by the firm of William Bourne & Sons, from whom it was purchased, the expense to be paid by the Insurance com- pany.
"At 6:30 a.m., January 10th, while the fire was at its height, the Assessors held a meeting. Mr. George E. Sampson, Insurance Broker, was officially notified of our loss. It was decided by us to store what we had saved in the stable of W. E. Sheldon, who kindly offered it for that purpose. This was attended to immediately and $1,000 insurance was placed on the same.
"A meeting had been arranged for Friday evening, January 12th at the residence of Will R. Mayhew and great was the shock when we learned of his death, caused by exhaustion during his untiring work in helping to save the Church furnishings, etc."
Later, the Assessors announced that the full amount of the insur- ance was collected, and that the Church had voted unanimousely to go on with their services as scheduled, without interruption and to rebuild on the same spot as soon as possible. Arrangements were made to hold the regular services and meetings of the Church in the Masonic Temple, where they continued until the new Church was ready for occupancy in June 1913.
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