USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historical collections, Vol. I > Part 41
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For whatever is needed this head is the resort ; the religious societies receive largely their support from this source, as also the schools and many charitable objects.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
CHAPTER II.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
TI THIS church and society had its origin in the Baptist Church of Dudley. Its organization as a regular relig- ious body took place in a school-house in the eastern part of Dudley, October 26, 1814.
There having been a desire among a number of persons in this vicinity, who were members of other churches, to form a church at this place, an ecclesiastical council met at the request of the church in Thompson, and the church in Sutton, on Wednesday, the day above given ; and having heard the facts as given by the parties interested, decided to recognize them as a church, in union with this denomination. .
The following churches were fully represented in the council held on this occasion, as follows: Rev. P. Crosby, of Thomp- son ; Rev. William Bentley, of Worcester ; Rev. James Boo- mer, of Charlton ; Rev. Zenas L. Leonard, of Sturbridge ; Rev. James Grow, of Pomfret; and Rev. Luther Goddard. Brethren Jeremy F. Tolman and John Walker were invited to seats in the council.
Rev. Mr. Bentley was chosen moderator, and Rev. Z. L. Leonard, seribe. The sermon was preached by Rev. James Grow, from Ephesians, IV, 16, and the hand of fellowship was
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given by Mr. Bentley. The following is a list of the members at this time, as presented to this council :
Smith Arnold, John Baker, Stephen Bartlet, Junior, Stephen Bracket, Thomas Brown, Esek Brown, Nathan Cody, Natha- niel Crosby, David Freeman, Michael Hill, Liberty Ide, Wil- liam Learned, John Learned, Eliakim Robinson, John Stock- well, John Stone, Gardner Stone, Tubal Wakefield, Aaron Wakefield, Joel Wakefield, Simeon Wakefield, Luther Whit- man, William W. Webster, Nathan Wood, Luther Wood, Lney Arnold, Lucina Bartlet, Catherine Bartlet, Fanny Brac- ket, Phebe Brown, Jerusha Bracket, Sally M. Crosby, Dolly Freeman, Tamar Freeman, Araminda Freeman, Rosella Green- wood, Mary B. Hill, Abigail Humphrey, Lavina Ide, Abigail Learned, Sibyl Moore, Anna Robinson, Ruth Stone, Sarah Wakefield, Betsey Wakefield, Mehitable Wakefield, Mary Whitmore, Lucinda Wood, Charlotte Wood, Eunice Wood, Adamira Wood, and Betsey Wright. In all twenty-seven males and twenty-eight females.
The school-house in which this organization occurred had been then but recently built, and it stood where Mr. Jonathan Eddy's dwelling-house now stands. It was erected with a view to accommodate the holding of religions meetings, as there was no meeting-honse in this vicinity ; but there had re- cently been erected the first cotton and woolen factories in this neighborhood, which gave an impulse to business gener- ally in this locality, and was the beginning of that progress which had made this town one of the first, in point of popula- tion, manufacturing, and mechanical industry in Worcester south district.
For a time this school-house was jointly occupied by three denominations-Baptists, Methodists, and Universalists.
On November 8, 1814, this church elected Mr. Stephen Bartlet and Mr. Nathaniel Crosby, deacons; but they did not accept the office until the 16th of July, 1815. In the
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year following, Mr. Crosby removed to Pomfret, New York, and was dismissed to the Baptist church there. Mr. Esek Brown, who had been a deaeon of the church of Sutton, removed to this place, and on the 15th of June, 1815, about eight months after the organization, was invited to serve as their pastor.
The ordination was as follows: The school-house in which they then worshipped was deemed insufficient for the people expected to be present, and a spacious tent was built by Mr. Augustus Eddy for the occasion.
At this time Rev. Samuel Waters was elected moderator of the council, and Rev. Zenas L. Leonard as scribe. The fol- lowing were the ceremonies : Sermon by Rev. Z. L. Leonard, of Sturbridge ; ordaining prayer by Rev. James Grow, of Pomfret; charge by Rev. Samnel Waters, of Sutton ; right- hand of fellowship by Rev. William Bentley, of Worcester ; concluding prayer by Rev. Isaac Dwinell, of Ward. The sermon on this occasion was referred to in the Baptist Maga- zine at that time, as able, appropriate, and animating.
Rev. Mr. Brown's ministry here continued about three years and three months; he left in September, 1818, to be- come pastor of the Baptist church in Lebanon, Connecticut, where it is believed he remained until his decease.
During Rev. Mr. Brown's pastorate, six united with the church by baptism, and seven by letter, and two died ; leaving the membership, at this time, 61. This church now remained destitute of a pastor seven years and four months.
The first pastor left for the reason that his services were not sufficiently paid to give a proper support to himself and family.
The first supply of this pulpit after Mr. Brown was by Rev. Louis T. Seaman, of Thompson, who labored here about two years with much acceptance and success ; he at this time had not received ordination. In the first year of his service seven were baptized, and the following year twenty-six.
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In connection with him, Elders Nichols and Ross supplied the desk. Rev. Mr. Seaman left this church enjoying great prosperity.
He was succeeded by Mr. Robert Wilson, who had recently left the Methodist church to unite with this ; but he exhibited but little of the ability and spirit of the man who preceded him. He supplied here but a few months when he left in an unbecoming manner, and lost his Christian character by acts of immorality and indiscretion, much to the regret of the friends of religion. This church for a time was now without a supply. About four years after Mr. Seaman left, he returned again to this church, but found its prosperity departed. He died, and was buried at Thompson, Connecticut. During his absence he had been ordained and settled over the Baptist church in De Ruyter, New York.
The records of the church and society, from 1820 to 1825, are very imperfeet. Rev. Luther Goddard, of Worcester, supplied here about the year 1821, a portion of the time, and occasional supplies were rendered by other ministers, whose names are not preserved on the records. In June, 1820, Willard Howland was elected deacon in place of Deacon Crosby, who had left the place.
In April, 1824, Deacon Stephen Bartlet died. He was an exemplary and pions man, and a severe loss to the society.
In 1825 a vigorous effort was made to raise funds for erect- ing a meeting-house for the better accommodation of the society, which was successful. The present house of worship was the result ; it was finished in the autumn of 1826, and dedicated on the 26th of December following. Rev. Jonathan Going, of Worcester, preached the sermon on the occasion, taking for the subject of the discourse the baptism of the eunneh by Philip, recorded in the eighth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.
The church had now become anxious to settle a pastor. The
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Rev. John B. Ballard, of Masonville, New York, was invited and accepted.
He entered upon his labors in December, 1825, about a year before they commenced worship in their meeting-house. He continued here about two years and three months, elosing his ministry in the spring of 1828.
During the period of the Rev. Mr. Ballon's ministrations, he baptized eighteen persons who were received into this church. In the spring of 1827 he formed the first Sabbath- school in this vicinity.
The young people of the parish were much attached to him, and deeply regretted his leaving ; but the older and more active part of the society thought a change would be for the best. He died in the city of New York, January 29, 1856. An obituary in the Christian Secretary gave the following :
"He was born in Dudley, October 25, 1799; experienced religion at seventeen years of age ; entered Hamilton Theological Institute, New York, in 1820, with those eminent missionaries of the East, Wade and Kincaid ; was ordained pastor of the church at Masonville, New York, November 13, 1823, and came to Dudley, as before stated, and was settled over this church in 1825.
"He was settled for a time at Bloomfield, Connecticut; for thirteen years was engaged as agent of the American Sunday school Union, and established Sunday schools in a large part of the towns in the States of Kentucky and North Carolina.
" After this he spent a few years at Colchester, Connecticut, with his family, and occasionally supplied destitute churches while recruiting his health; and finally engaged in the service of the Tract Society as mis- sionary in the city of New York, where he died as above stated."
Mr. Emmons, of Brown university, now took the place of Mr. Ballard as supply for a few weeks ; he was followed by Rev. Joshua Eveleth, who began his pastorate in the summer of 1828.
His health soon failed, and he resigned his office after only a few months' service.
His labors were highly acceptable to this society during his
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short ministry. There were received by him six members into the church by baptism. He removed from here to Worcester, where he died in the winter of 1829.
Rev. Isaac Merriam supplied the pulpit during the winter following Rev. Mr. Eveleth.
After Mr. Merriam there were transient supplies until the settlement, as pastor, of the Rev. Hubbel Loomis, in August, 1829. Mr. Loomis had been a Congregational minister twenty- four years over a church in Willington, Connecticut. Having changed his religious sentiments to that of the Baptists, he became the minister of a Baptist church in that town, then recently formed, and continued in its service until he was called to this church.
He remained with this society not quite a year, but during that period received into the church, by baptism, twenty-seven members.
Mr. Loomis has the credit of being instrumental in estab- lishing the first temperance society in this place.
He removed from here to the Western States. In 1832 he founded the Alton Theological seminary, and continued his efforts in its behalf until it was changed to the name of Shurt- leff college, in January, 1836. Soon after, his health failing, he retired to private life, and resided in Upper Alton, Illinois.
Mr. Loomis was succeeded here by Rev. Thomas Barrett, who began supplying this pulpit the third Sabbath in April, 1830, and on the 3d of July following received an invitation to become its pastor.
He was ordained, Angust 25, 1830, while the Sturbridge Association was in session in this place; Rev. Addison Parker, of Southbridge, gave the right hand of fellowship, and Rev. Jonathan Going delivered the address to the church and people.
The Sturbridge Association met here again in August, 1831, at which time there was in progress a revival of religion, and
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the association of ministers present, feeling an interest in this religions excitement, joined zealously with this society in its encouragement, for two days, with an interesting result. The church became more active in its duties. During the ministry of Rev. Mr. Barrett, which continued about two years and five months, he received into the church sixty-three members by baptism. He was an eminently pions and effective preacher. His memory remained fragrant in the minds of the older members of this church many years.
Through a season of despondeney his mind became much disordered, which led him to take his own life, August 7, 1832. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Addison Parker.
He was a native of Belchertown, in this State, and came to this town, first, in the capacity of agent of the Massachusetts Baptist State convention. He had previously been pastor in Grafton Centre, Sharon, and Agawam, and died in the fortieth year of his age.
At the close of Rev. Mr. Barrett's ministry this church had 141 members.
The Rev. Abial Fisher was his successor ; he received a call from this church the 2d of December, 1832.
This part of Dudley, together with a part of Oxford, hav- ing been incorporated a separate town, in the year 1832, this church now took the name of the Baptist church in Webster, that being the corporate name of the town.
Rev. Mr. Fisher, having accepted the call to the ministry, was installed on the 12th of the same month, with the follow- ing services :
Reading of Scripture and introductory prayer by Rev. John Paine, of Ward; sermon by Rev. Jonathan Aldrich, of Bev- erly ; installation prayer by Rev. James Grow, of Thompson, Connecticut ; charge to the church and people by Rev. J. G. Binney, of West Boylston ; right hand of fellowship by 35
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Rev. J. Aldrich; concluding prayer by Rev. Moses Harrington, of Sutton.
Mr. Fisher's pastorate was short, only abont one and a half years. Through his influence, it is said, the remaining debt upon their meeting-house was fully paid, besides paying $200 in aid of the Worcester county high school, at Worcester.
Rev. Abial Fisher, D. D., was born in Putney, Vermont, June 19, 1787. He was baptized in Danville, Vermont, De- cember 5, 1806. In 1811 he was admitted into the senior class of Burlington university, and graduated the following year. He studied theology under Rev. Nathaniel Kendrick, of Middlebury, Vermont, and received a license to preach, June 18, 1813. In January, 1816, he was ordained as the pastor of the Baptist church in Bellingham, Massachusetts, where he served twelve years. In September, 1828, he re- moved to West Boylston, and served the church there about three years. Afterwards preached for the church in Stur- bridge, and this town, as above stated, then at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Swansea, Massachusetts, and Sutton.
His health failing, his advanced age induced him to retire from the ministry, the remainder of his days were spent at West Boylston. He died, March 26, 1862, aged 74 years, 9 months, and 7 days.
Rev. James Grow, of Thompson, Connecticut, followed Mr. Fisher in the ministry here, and labored from 1st of April, 1834, one year, then returned to Thompson, and con- tinned his ministry several years, and died there, March 17, 1859, at the age of 90 years.
The pulpit was now supplied several months by William R. Collier, a licentiate from Boston ; a supply was now continued mostly by young men from Newton Theological Institute, and by occasional ministrations from Rev. Myron M. Dean.
At the close of the year 1835 this church numbered 110 members.
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The church gave a call on the 7th of August, 1836, to Mr. Loomis G. Leonard, a member of the Baptist church, Wil- lington, Connecticut, and recent graduate of Newton Theologi- cal Institute, to become their pastor. He accepted, and was ordained, September 7, following, with the usual services.
Reading of Scripture by Rev. John Paine, of Ward ; intro- ductory prayer by Rev. John Green, of Leicester ; sermon by Rev. J. G. Binney, of Southbridge; ordaining prayer by Rev. James Grow, of Thompson, Connecticut ; charge to the candidate by Rev. Jonathan Aldrich, of Worcester ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Isaac Merriam, of Sturbridge ; address to the church and people, by Rev. Bela Hicks, of Thompson, Connecticut ; conelnding prayer by Rev. Jolin Walker, of Sutton.
This church and society flourished under the pastorate of this young minister, and increased in members, both in the church and parish ; but experienced a severe draft upon its numbers by the organization of the Congregational church and society, which occurred, June 13, 1838. Up to this time most of this denomination worshipped with the Baptist society.
Those persons who withdrew had joined in the Sabbath school and other associations of this society, and the relations had been mutually pleasant, which caused the separation to be sensibly felt. But in a few years this loss was restored by others who united, of the same denomination.
In 1841 the society reconstructed the interior of the meet- ing-house, but a portion of the expense was borne by the liberality of the manufacturing companies in this town. Mr. George B. Slater took much interest in the improve- ment of this house, and acted as one of the committee on reconstruction.
On the 3d of March, 1843, Rev. Mr. Leonard asked for a dismission, much to the regret of the church and society.
The church unanimonsly requested a withdrawal of this
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request, but being insisted upon, it was granted much against their desire. He at once became the pastor of the Baptist church in Thompson, Connecticut ; and was subsequently settled over the second Baptist church, New London, Connec- ticut. Several years afterwards he removed to Ohio, and was pastor of the churches at Zanesville, Marietta, and Leba- non, in that State, with much success.
During his ministry here of six years and seven months, eighty-four persons were added to this church by baptism and fifty-seven by letter, leaving the whole membership at the close of his pastorate one hundred and seventy.
The Rev. John Felch Burbank, who graduated at Newton Theological Institute in 1840, and who had been pastor of the Baptist church, Taunton, Massachusetts, was now invited to accept the charge of this church, and signified his assent, April 6, 1843 ; he continued in the ministry here three years and five months, ending September 1, 1846, when he resigned and removed to Worcester. At the close of this pastorate the membership of the church had declined to one hundred and fifteen.
In August, 1843, soon after Mr. Burbank began his minis- try, this church transferred its relations from the Sturbridge to the Worcester association.
Mr. Burbank, after leaving Webster, never again took upon himself the pastoral office, but until the close of his life sup- plied occasionally vacant pulpits in the vicinity of Worcester.
He died suddenly in that city on the 22d of November, 1853, aged forty-two years.
Rev. Lyman Jewett was Mr. Leonard's successor. He re- ceived his license from the Federal-Street church, Boston, and was a graduate of Newton Theological Institute. He began his service here on the first Sabbath in November, 1847, and on the 1st day of the following March was unanimously invited by the church to serve one year. He accepted, and continued
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his ministry until July, 1848. His labors were successful, although he had never been ordained. While he labored here thirteen persons were added by baptism, and twenty-six by letter. Total membership in the church at the close of his ministry, 139.
He had previous to his coming here engaged with the Baptist Missionary Union to serve as a missionary, and now fulfilled that contract by embarking for India to serve as a missionary among the Teloogoos, with whom he labored thirteen years, when he returned with his family to his native land, and has since been employed in sustaining the missionary ranse in this country.
The church begun at once to secure a successor, but failed until the 25th of March, 1849, when Rev. Joseph Thayer, of South Sutton was invited and accepted in April following.
Mr. Thayer was engaged to supply the pulpit for one year.
At the close of this service, his health failing, he declined to continue his ministry, much to the regret of the church and society, as his efforts had added to the congregation increased numbers, and given entire satisfaction as a faithful minister.
Subsequently Mr. Thayer regained his health and united with the Free Will Baptists, and for some years supplied the pulpit of the church of that faith in Mendon, Massachusetts.
He then removed to Minnesota, where he was preaching when last heard from.
The number of members at the close of his ministry was 122.
On Sunday, April 7, 1850, the church gave a unanimous call to Rev. Frederic Charlton, of Plainfield, Connecticut. He accepted on the 11th of April following.
Mr. Charlton labored with this people for three years with general acceptance, and was dismissed at his request the last Sabbath in March, 1853.
He removed to Wilmington, Delaware, and served success-
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fully with the second Baptist church there; many were added to the church and society, and during his ministry they were enabled to erect a new house of worship. After this, he en- gaged for a time in the service of the American Baptist Publication Society, and then removed to California, where, when last heard from, he was pastor of the Baptist church in Sacramento City.
The membership of the church for a time continued to de- cline; at the close of this last pastorate it was reduced to 102.
This church now invited the Rev. George W. Dorrance, of Sturbridge, to supply the pulpit on the first Sabbath i: April following, with a view to a settlement. After preaching three Sabbaths he received a call to become their pastor, and gave his acceptance on the 24th of same month.
He labored here faithfully two years, and was dismissed at his request.
During his ministry there was a continued decrease in the members of the church ; two were added by baptism, and six- teen by letter, but the removals and deaths reduced the mem- bership to ninety.
Mr. Dorrance had served several years as chaplain in the United States navy. On the 19th of November, 1853, Dea- con Willard Howland died, aged seventy-five years. He had been an esteemed member of the church thirty-three years, and in the early part of this time held the office of deacon eleven years.
This church was now supplied with transient preaching for about a year, when Mr. J. L. A. Fish, of Newton Theological In- stitute, received a call, March 30, 1856, which he accepted, and began at once to supply the pulpit. He was ordained, July 2 following, with the order of service as here given : Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. S. C. Kendall, of the Congregational church of Webster; prayer, by Rev. M. Mathewson, of Thompson, Connecticut; sermon, by Rev. J. G. Warren, of
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Boston ; ordaining prayer, by Rev. J. B. Boomer, of Worces- ter ; charge, by Rev. S. S. Parker, of Southbridge ; right hand of fellowship, by Rev. D. F. Faunce, of Worcester ; address to the church and society, by Rev. Charles Willett, of Put- nam, Connecticut ; closing prayer, by Rev. J. E. Wood, of the Methodist church, Webster.
On the 6th of December, 1856, Mr. Prince Bracket, hav- ing returned to Webster after an absence of several years at Sturbridge, was again elected deacon. And on the 5th of April, 1860, Deacon Solomon Robinson, having served the church as its treasurer, and for thirty years as clerk, resigned both of these offices. He, however, consented to continne in the position of treasurer; while the office of clerk was filled by Mr. Richard E. Noah.
Mr. Fish resigned the pastorate here the last Sabbath in June, 1863, much to the regret of this church. His labors continned through a period of seven years and three months; during this time there were added to the church, by baptism, 38; by letter, 30; and, aside from all losses, the number of members had increased to 127.
In the autumn of 1863 Mr. Fish was called to the charge of the Baptist church in East Tisbury.
This church now gave a call to Rev. Charles W. Reding ; he entered upon his service here on the 1st of October, 1863, and still continued his labors with success when last heard from.
This writer is indebted for the greater part of the foregoing sketch of the history of this church and society, to an historical discourse delivered by the pastor, Rev. Charles W. Reding, October 30, 1864, it being the fiftieth anniversary of its organization.
For many years this was the only church organization in this vieinity, and what is now the town of Webster.
The order of services on this occasion were as follows:
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1864.
First, an opening prayer and a brief address of welcome to the brethren and sisters from abroad, by the pastor. This was followed by remarks from the Rev. Tubal Wakefield, one of the only two persons living who belonged to the original organization, and remarks by several of the older brethren, who related facts and incidents connected with different periods of the church. To the senior officer, Deacon Robinson, they were greatly indebted for much interest given to these services. These parties spoke from full hearts of the merciful dealings of God with this people during the past half century. Special mention was made of the frequent and powerful revivals in this society. All seemed to feel that it was pleasant and profit- able to recall to mind these past favors of Divine grace.
The services were continued through Saturday evening pre- paratory for the exercises on the Sabbath following. At this meeting were read letters from the following brethren, once pastors of this church : Rev. L. G. Leonard, D. D., Leba- non, Ohio; Rev. Lyman Jewett, Grand Rapids, Michigan ; Rev. J. L. A. Fish, Holmes' Hole, Massachusetts; also, from Rev. N. B. Cook, Greenville, who was once a member, and from Rev. Hervey Fitts, who has always manifested a deep interest in this church and society.
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