USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historical collections: containing I. The Reformation in France; the rise, progress and destruction of the Huguenot Church. Vol II > Part 39
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In his personal intercourse he was courteous and social, pos- sessing little of the sectarian prejudice that was exhibited by many at this time. It is believed that this liberality was not agreeable to the sentiments of the older part of his congrega- tion, and it is quite probable that it had an unfavorable effect in this behalf, and aided in his dismission from the pastorate over this church.
REV. EBER CARPENTER.
Rev. Mr. Carpenter was a native of Vernon, Connecticut, born, June 24, 1800. Ilis father, Reuben Carpenter, was a farmer, with a moderate land estate; sustaining the character of a good citizen. His mother, Miriam Dart, deceased when
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he was less than three years old, and at the age of seven he lost his father.
He was a graduate of Yale college, in September, 1825. His theological education was at Andover seminary.
His first settlement in the ministry was at York, Maine, where he was ordained, February 17, 1830. He continued this pastorate five years and six months; during which time there were added to the church sixty persons.
At York he was connected in marriage with Narcisse Ly- man, which proved a happy union. His next settlement was with the Congregational church and society in Southbridge ; he was installed as the third pastor of this church, Decem- ber 1, 1835. In his own language, " I was favored here with a very harmonious and delightful pastorate." It continued twenty-eight years, seven months, and twenty-one days. His dismission recommended him as an able and faithful minister.
In 1853, finding his health impaired by eighteen years' continuous service with this society, he asked to be dismissed, which request was not granted, and he retired by permission over three years. In this absence he became proprietor of a religious publication called The National Preacher, published in New York, and having disposed of this publication in 1856, this church and society having failed to procure the settlement ยท of another pastor, he was again invited to resume his pastoral duties with this people, in the spring of 1857, and continued until July 1, 1864.
During his long pastorate with this church he always manifested an interest in whatever tended for its advancement, and took an active part in joining with its members in pro- moting good objects.
As a citizen, his influence in the cause of common school education was valuable, always ready to lend his aid in its behalf. The cause of temperance received from him an active support, while his efforts in general favored all good objects
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for the elevation of society. He was respected by the peo- ple, and it was a source of regret to part with him as a towns- man.
REV. EDWIN BEAMAN PALMER.
The Rev. E. B. Palmer was the successor of Rev. Eher Carpenter in the pastorate of this society. He was installed, December 27, 1864, and dismissed at his request, May 3, 1869. His services as pastor were highly satisfactory to both the church and society, and it was with regret that they parted with him to occupy another field of ministerial services, which he was induced to accept as a duty to himself and family.
The Rev. Mr. Palmer is a native of Belfast, Maine, a son of Lemuel R. Palmer. His mother's maiden name was Susannah R. Hanford. He entered Bowdoin college, at Brunswick, Maine, in 1852, and graduated in 1856. The same year entered the Theological seminary at Bangor, and graduated in July, 1859.
He was married, September 12, 1859, to Thirza Merriman Field, a native of Brunswick, Maine; she was born, Decem- ber 30, 1830, daughter of William R. and Salome Field.
Their children are Edwin Field, born in Newcastle, July 23, 1861 ; Susie Hanford, born in Brunswick, December 2, 1862, died in Brunswick, July 28, 1865; William Rich, born in Brunswick, July 23, 1866 ; Eva Moore, born in Southbridge, December 31, 1868.
His first services as pastor was a settlement over the Damariscotta Congregational church, in Newcastle, Maine, September 20, 1859.
Failing health compelled a eessation of mental labor, and in January, 1862, he was dismissed. In October of same year he received a commission as chaplain in the Nineteenth regiment Maine Volunteers, and served till March, 1863. From that time till the next February was"an invalid, in Brunswick.
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From February till October, 1864, he supplied the pulpit of the Pine-Street Congregational church in Lewiston, Maine.
In October, having received an invitation from the Congre- gational church in Southbridge, Massachusetts, he removed with his family there, and was installed as pastor, December 27, the same year. Having been dismissed, as aforesaid, from his duties there, he removed to Chicopee, Massachusetts, and was installed pastor over the Third Congregational church of that town, June 10, 1869, at which place he continues, now 1870, to labor in the pastorate with that people.
REV. EDWIN L. JAGGAR.
Rev. Mr. Jaggar is the successor of Rev. E. B. Palmer ; he was installed pastor of this church, October 14, 1869.
He is a native of Mill Hall, Pennsylvania, son of Luther S Jaggar, and was born, December 6, 1835; is a graduate of Iowa college, of the class 1857, and of Chicago Theological seminary, class of 1861 ; was ordained, and installed pastor of the Congregational church in Clifton, Illinois, March 6, 1862 ; was installed over the Congregational church in Warren, Mas- sachusetts, March 17, 1863, and dismissed from that church, October 15, 1867. Subsequently preached at Fair Haven and South Deerfield. From this latter church he was called to the Congregational church of this town.
Rev. Mr. Jaggar was married to Miss Ellen S. Cook, of Chicago, April 29, 1861. He resigned the pastorate liere the 1st of September, 1872. It is no disparagement to those worthy clergymen who preceded Rev. Mr. Jaggar, to say that he was not excelled in ability, as a speaker and logical reasoner, by any of his predecessors; and it is to be regretted that so able a man in his profession had not longer been retained in the pas- torate of that church, not only for the good of that congrega- tion, but the welfare of the town.
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THE FIRST BAPTIST SOCIETY, SOUTHBRIDGE.
The meeting for organizing this society was held on the 1st of May, 1816, in the hall of the Ammidown hotel.
The proceedings were as follows :
"Chose for moderator, Rev. Zenas L. Leonard; clerk, Deacon John Phillips; advisory committee, Rev. Zenas L. Leonard, Deacon John Phillips, Captain Simeon Fiske, Rev. Stephen Haskell, Mr. Ebenezer Cutting.
All the members of this advisory committee were members of the Baptist church of Sturbridge.
At this time a constitution for the proposed society having been prepared by the Rev. George Angell, was presented to the meeting and read, as follows :
" We, the subscribers, professing ourselves friendly to the Baptists, and being desirous to maintain the worship of Almighty God together, in accordance with the Baptist faith and order, do hereby form our- selves into a society by the name of ' The First Baptist Society in South- bridge,' and agree to observe the following articles :
" First .- Our annual society meeting for choice of officers and transact- ing the business of the society shall be held some time in the month of March annually, at a convenient place appointed by their committee.
" Second .- The officers to be chosen shall be a moderator, clerk, com- mittee, and such other officers as may be thought necessary to take care of the prudential affairs of the society, and warn the meetings of its members.
" Third .- The society, when duly warned and met together, shall have power to make all suitable regulations that may be necessary and use- ful for conducting the affairs of the society as a majority by vote shall determine ; except that the society shall in no manner interfere with the acts or doings of the church, should there be one constituted, which by their articles of faith and covenant shall have the exclusive right of electing a minister or elders for the church and society.
" Fourth .- Said society is not to grant and levy taxes, to be collected by force of civil law, nor to make use of such law to extort money from any person or persons, unless on a voluntary personal written agreement or obligation.
" Fifth .- It is agreed by this society, to be the duty of every member thereof to contribute according to his ability towards supporting the
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society, and that no one should be favored at the expense of another ; all money contributed as aforesaid for the support of the ministry is to be paid into the treasury, and paid for the support of the minister of the Gospel who labors for the church and society. under the direction of the committee.
" Sixth .- The condition of membership of this society shall be a com- pliance with the foregoing articles, and so long as each member adheres to the same, and demeans himself peaceably and orderly, he shall be entitled to the privileges thereof."
The constitution having been adopted, it received the fol- lowing signatures as members :
"Cyrus Ammidown, George Angell, Reuben Harrington, William West, Abisha Sabin, Ephraim Bacon, Ezra Sabin, Fordyce Foster, Charles West, Morris Marcy, Edward Baylies, John M. Foster, Barzilla Baylies, Daniel Baylies, Samuel Rider, John Mckinstry, Samuel S. Clark, Luther Ammidown, Luther Ammidown, Junior, Elisha Morris, Edward Morris, Alfred Morris, Larkin Ammidown, Lewis Ammidown, Adolphus Ammidown, Moses Sabin, Moses Morris, Caleb Ammidown, Gershom Plimpton, Joseph Marcy, William Stephens, Joshua Vinton, Allen Tif- fany, Nathan Brown, Chauncey Brown, William Morris, Martin Spencer, William West, Benoni West, Joseph Arnold, Nathaniel Searle, Tyler Simpson, Palmer Chamberlain, Hiram Morse, Gardner Bartholomew, Jonathan Green, Adolphus Bartholomew, Charles Brown, Nathaniel Bolles, Erastus Bolles, Edward Morris, Luther Edwards, Horace B. Robbins, Edward A. Snow, David Pike, Salem Laflin, Horace Cheney, Charles Cheney, Joel Cheney, Daniel Sabin, David Putney, Eleazer Putney, Benjamin Mckinstry, Jedediah Ellis, Charles Dugar, Peter Dugar, Noah Saunders, Amos Oaks, Joshua Farnum, Luther Sibley, Nathan B. Clark, Comfort B. Thorp, Jonathan Clemence, Eleazer Wheelock, William Simpson, Samuel Fiske, Junior, Samuel Fiske, Silas Ellis, Abel Jocelin, Hannah Clark, Anne Dresser, John Plimp- ton, John Plimpton, Junior, Enoch Lewis, Chester Plimpton, Jacob Edwards, Jedediah Marcy, Aaron Clemence, Elijah Marcy, Samuel Ellis, Samuel Marcy, Ephraim Angell, Ophir Gould, John Clark, Jona- than Tiffany, Jacob Oaks, Jonathan Clemence, Smith Ellis, Charles Tower, Perley Simpson, William Haskell, James Wolcott, Junior, Perez B. Wolcott, Dr. James Wolcott, Charles West, Reuben Woodward, Joseph Palmer, Elliot Morse, Lyman Morris, Ephraim Wheelock, Jabez Vinton, Rufus Brown, Solomon Town, Elisha Cole, Nicholas Jencks, Junior, Robert Thompson, Oliver Ammidown, Charles W. Vinton, Corbin Lyon, Luther Travis, Nathaniel M. Smith, Emory B. Smith, Setli Sackett."
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The following are the names of the first committee for the year 1816 :
" Committee-Ephraim Bacon, Cyrus Ammidown, Joshua Vinton, Gershom Plimpton, Morris Marcy, Daniel Baylies; moderator, Gershom Plimpton ; treasurer, Reuben Harrington ; clerk, Alpha Morse ; collector, Daniel Baylies.
The ministerial committee reported at this meeting that they had arranged with the Rev. George Angell as pastor for the present year, at a salary of $300, and to supply him with fire-wood.
The pastor's services to commence, June 1, next. This re- port was ratified unanimously by the members of the society present.
The Rev. George Angell was engaged annually to supply the pulpit from this time till his decease, February 18, 1827.
"ACT OF INCORPORATION.
" SECTION I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, That Luther Ammidown, Barzilla Baylies, Elisha Cole, Jacob Edwards, Samuel Fiske, 2d, William Haskell, Nich- olas Jeneks, Alpha Morse and Luther Travis, and their associates, with their families, polls, and estates, be and they are with their successors hereby incorporated as the 'First Baptist Society ' in the town of South- bridge, with all the powers and privileges to which parishes and other religious societies are entitled by the constitution of this commonwealth.
" SEC. II. Be it further enacted, That the said society be and is hereby empowered to sell or lease the pews in the meeting-house belonging to said society, and give deeds to convey the same.
"And all deeds and conveyances of the same, and all executions ex- tended on the pews in said meeting-house, shall be recorded by the clerk of said society, and being so recorded, shall be considered valid in law.
"SEC. III. Be it further enacted, That any three of the persons named in the act, or either of them, may call the first meeting of said society, by posting up a notification at said meeting-house, giving at least seven days' notice of the time, place, and purpose of said meeting, and being so met, may agree on the mode of calling future meetings.
"Approved, January 29, 1822."*
* See Massachusetts Special Laws. vol. v, p. +48,
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It is proper to state here that, during the period in which Rev. Mr. Angell was pastor of this society, the meeting-house was occasionally occupied by the Universalists, who joined with the Baptists in buying the interest in the house which formerly belonged, in part, to the Congregationalists. Thus the large number who signed the constitution that was drafted by the pastor embraced all denominations in town that had not withdrawn to join the Congregationalists, when they sep- arated and formed a distinct society.
A bell for the Baptist meeting-house was proeured by sub- scription, of George H. Holbrook, of Medway, Massachusetts, weighing 991 lbs., at 40 cts. (less charges, $23.78), $372.62; hanging the bell and rope, $28; total cost, $400.25. This bell was raised to the belfry, March 7, 1823.
The society organized under the act of incorporation, March 25, 1823,
" By the choice of Gershom Plimpton, moderator; Elisha Cole, clerk ; and Luther Ammidown, Junior, treasurer. Standing committee : Luther Ammidown, Esq., Alpha Morse, Elisha Cole, and Edward Bay- lies; and added, Nicholas Jencks and Samuel Fiske, 2d.
MEETING-HOUSE.
In the year 1816 the right and interest of the Congrega- tionalists in the parish meeting-house, completed and dedicated to public religious worship in the year 1800, was bonght by the co-proprietors, the Baptists, Methodists, and Universalists, for the sum of $1,500, and owned by proprietors of pews ; but by consent of these proprietors a Baptist minister was settled over the society the same year, and it has been continued as a Baptist church and society since ; the Methodists and Univer- salists withdrawing and forming respectively societies and churches of their own order of faith, as will be seen in connec- tion with the history of each of these denominations established in this town, in another place.
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In the year 1835 this house was repaired at an expense of $1,415, under a contract with Jonas Lamb, at which time it became exclusively for the Baptists. In the year 1841, on the 3d of March, agreeable to legal notice given, the proprietors of this meeting-house voted to organize themselves into a cor- poration, agreeable to the provisions of the revised statutes, chapter XLIII. Votes in favor, 63; to wit: Royal Smith, 2; Luther Ammidown, 4; Joel Cheney, 2 ; Marvin Cheney, 2; Charles E. Cady, 1; Alpha Morse, 2; Holdridge Ammi- down, 22; William Beecher, 2 ; John P. Stedman, 2 ; Oliver Ammidown, 2 ; Elbridge Ammidown, 2; Lewis Ammidown, 2; Adolphus Ammidown, 2; E. D. Ammidown, 2; Larkin Ammidown, 2; Elisha Cole, 3; Robert H. Cole, 1; Isaac Norcross, 1; Calvin Vinton, 1 ; Francis S. Morse, 2; Henry Fiske, 2 ; Estate Jonathan P. Amidown, 2; against the or- ganization, Nathaniel M. Smith, 2.
This association was styled " The Southbridge Baptist Meeting-House Association," with the following
BY-LAWS.
" First .- The corporation shall be styled the 'Southbridge Baptist Meeting-House Association.'
" Second .- The said association shall meet annually on the first Tuesday in April, for the choice of officers and other business of the corporation ; and the annual meeting shall be adjourned to the third Tuesday in April, for the purpose of selling the use of the slips, as is mentioned in the sixth article. Special meetings may be called by application in writing to the clerk, or one of the trustees, made by three or more pro- prietors, stating the time, place, and object of the meeting.
" Third .- All meetings of the association shall be called by posting up a copy of the warrant, attested by the clerk, or one of the trustees, on the outer door of the said meeting-house, at least ten days before the day designated for the meeting, which ten days shall embrace two Sabbaths.
" Fourth .- The officers of the association shall be a clerk, and treas- urer who shall likewise be the collector. These officers shall be chosen annually by ballot. There shall also be a committee of five chosen by
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ballot, who shall be styled trustees, all to be chosen annually, and shall hold their office till others are chosen and qualified in their stead.
" Fifth .- No proprietor shall dispose of or convey his property in said meeting-house, except to such person or persons as a majority in interest of all the proprietors present at a meeting duly called for that purpose shall approve; and any such conveyance, when made, shall con- tain the conditions named in this article ; and no proprietor shall convey less than one half a slip, and the ownership of one half of a slip shall entitle the owner to one vote.
"Sixth .- The trustees shall annually, on the third Tuesday in April, rent at auction the slips in said meeting-house, and they shall apply the avails thereof to the support of a Baptist minister, of the same faith as is now adopted by the Baptist church in said Southbridge ; provided that the proprietors may annually appropriate such sums as shall be necessary to meet ordinary contingent expenses.
" Seventh. - It shall be the duty of the clerk to keep a correct record of all votes passed at any meeting of the proprietors, and to post up notices of all meetings, when requested so to do, and to perform all the duties usually done by clerks of other corporations.
" Eighth .- No tax shall be assessed upon any proprietor without the concurrence of a majority in interest of all the proprietors, whether present or absent, and voting so to do at a meeting of the proprietors, called for that purpose.
" Ninth .- It shall be understood that the annual use of the slips are rented for public worship only; and the trustees shall have power to grant the occasional use of the house for purposes not interfering with its ordinary religious uses, nor inconsistent with the sacredness of a house dedicated to God.
" Tenth .- These by-laws may be altered by a vote of two thirds in interest of all the proprietors, present or absent, at any meeting of the association, regularly called for that purpose.
" A true copy.
" Attest :
JOHN P. STEDMAN, Clerk."
Agreeably to the notice given in a warrant in due form, a proprietors' meeting was held, February 14, 1848, when it was voted to build a new meeting-house, to be owned and held in the same manner as the former.
The old meeting-house was, at this time, sold to Luther and Andrew F. Ammidown for $1,000, by Jonathan Cutting, Junior, who had contracted to build the new house, and re- ceive the old as part payment.
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This building was burned on the evening of the 14th of November, 1863, and entirely destroyed.
A meeting was held the 22d of December following by the association, for making arrangements for replacing the same.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCHI-HISTORICAL RECORDS.
The first movement for forming a Baptist church in South- bridge was a petition addressed to the Baptist church in Stur- bridge, dated, "October 2, 1816," signed by a number of the members of that church residing in this town, and others belonging to sister Baptist churches then residing here, desiring to be set off as a separate body and formed into a new church.
This petition having been received by the church at Stur- bridge, a meeting was called the 7th of December, 1817, at brother David Fiske's, when, upon a hearing and considera- tion of the petition, a unanimous vote was passed granting the request, and approving the design for a new church as set forth by the petitioners, provided the customary council should be called to approve and inaugurate the same.
The Baptist church in Sturbridge, in aid of this object, sent letters to sister churches on the 9th of January following, requesting that delegates from the same appear at Southbridge on the 28th of said month, for the purpose of forming a sepa- rate Baptist church in this town.
Delegates from the following churches were present :
From Thompson-Elder Crosby and Deacon Jesse Bolles.
From Sturbridge-Elder Zenas L. Leonard, Deacons John Phillips and Jonathan Lyon, and Brother David Taylor.
From Woodstock (First Baptist)-Elder Nicholas Branch and Brother John Clark.
From Woodstock (Second Baptist)-Deacon William H. Manning and Brother Henry Wells.
From Charlton-Elder James Boomer and Brother Daniel Bacon.
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The council assembled at the dwelling-house of Dr. Reuben Harrington, on the same day last above given, and organized by the choice of Elder Zenas L. Leonard, moderator, and Elder Nicholas Branch, scribe.
The exercises were then as follows :
Prayer by Elder Crosby ; after which Elder Stephen Has- kell appeared and was admitted to the council by a unanimous vote.
Then, after a hearing of the views of the petitioners, their doctrine and faith, and the situation of the members, the coun- cil voted to give their approbation and fellowship to twenty- six members as a Gospel church.
Elder Crosby preached the sermon on the organization, and Zenas L. Leonard gave the right hand of fellowship.
At a meeting of the church, on the 12th of March, 1817, after solemn prayer, they proceeded to examine the articles of faith, covenant, and by-laws, which had been prepared by the pastor, Rev. George Angell, and accepted the same.
There had been admitted into this church, by baptism and letter, including the 26 members who formed the original church, up to the year 1840, 333 members.
At the above meeting of the 12th of March, 1817, Thompson Kimberly and Cyrus Ammidown were appointed the first deacons. On the 16th of August, 1817, Deacon Thompson Kimberly was dismissed from the church by letter, and Joshua Vinton was appointed deacon on the 13th of May, 1820.
Deacon Cyrus Ammidown and Deacon Joshua Vinton having declined to serve further as deacons, the church, on the 13th of October, 1821, chose, by ballot, Elisha Cole and Samuel Fiske.
Deacon Samuel Fiske resigned, April 10, 1835, and on the 10th of October following, Marvin Cheney was elected to that office.
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It appears that the articles of faith and covenant were re- vised and printed for the benefit of the members on the 11th of November, 1824.
The following is the record of the death of Rev. George Angell :
"Sabbath morning, at half-past eight o'clock, Elder George Angell departed this life, aged forty-one years, the eleventh year of his labors with us as our pastor. He died on the fourth day of his sickness, February 18, 1827."
Ilis first wife, Lydia Angell, died on July 27, 1818.
Hlis funeral service took place on the 21st following. The sermon on the occasion was delivered by Rev. Abiel Fisher, of Bellingham. The remains were deposited in the old part of the cemetery in this town, beside those of his first wife, and on the 24th following the church held a meeting, and voted to defray the funeral expenses, and procure memorial stones, to mark the place where his remains were deposited.
These stones were marble, and are now to be seen on the east side of the center passage way, about the center of these grounds.
Rev. Addison Parker succeeded Mr. Angell. The cere- mony of his installation was as follows : The Ecclesiastical Council was organized by the choice of the Rev. Zenas L. Leonard, as moderator, and Rev. George B. Atwell, of the first Baptist church of Woodstock, as seribe.
Ministers and brethren present of sister churches were in- vited to a seat in the council. Among those present were the following: From Worcester, Rev. Jonathan Going and Deacon Nathaniel Stowell ; from Charlton, Rev. James Boomer and Brother Daniel Bacon; from Sturbridge, Rev. Zenas L. Leonard and Deacon John Phillips; from Dudley, Rev. John B. Ballard ; from Sutton, Rev. Moses Harrington and Brother William Hastings; from First Church, Woodstock, Rev. George B. Atwell, Deacon Luther Tucker, and Brothers
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