USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historical collections: containing I. The Reformation in France; the rise, progress and destruction of the Huguenot Church. Vol II > Part 40
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Asa Morse and Samnel Crawford ; from Holland, Rev. John M. Hunt, Deacon Walter Lyon, and Brother Willard Wood ; from South Brimfield, Rev. John Eveleth.
The ceremony was then as follows :
" 1. Prayer by the moderator.
"2. Heard the doings of the council at the ordination of Rev. Addi- son Parker, when set apart for the ministry.
"3. Mr. Parker related his Christian experience and his belief of his call to the ministry, and his views of Gospel doctrines.
"4. Voted to proceed to installation. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Boomer.
" 5. Reading of Scripture by John B. Ballard; introductory prayer by Rev. James A. Powell, of Pomfret; sermon by Rev. Mr. Going, of Worcester, from 2d Corinthians, chapter 6, verse 3; installation prayer by Rev. J. M. Hunt ; charge, by Rev. Z. L. Leonard; the right hand of fellowship by Rev. Moses Harrington ; address to the churches by Rev. James Boomer, who offered the concluding prayer; benediction by the candidate.
"The harmony and union manifested on the occasion, and during the exercises, as well as the solemnity and profound attention of the audi- ence, was in the highest degree interesting.
"Per order of the council.
" ZENAS L. LEONARD, Moderator.
" GEORGE B. ATWELL, Scribe.
"A true copy attest, in substance.
" ELISHA COLE, Church Clerk."
At a meeting of the church, held by previous appointment, December 2, 1832, Rev. Addison Parker made a request in writing for a dismission from the pastorate, giving his reasons, and offering his resignation. After some consideration of the question, the church voted to comply with the same, and then passed a vote tendering him their sincere thanks for his many kindnesses in their behalf. After which Mr. Parker and his wife, at his request, were dismissed to the Baptist church in Sturbridge.
On Tuesday, March 26, 1833, voted to invite Rev. David C. Bolles, to the pastorate. The committee offered $330 and the parsonage, as salary, which was declined by Mr. Bolles ; but finally the sum was increased to $400 and parsonage, and
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SOUTHBRIDGE.
on the 6th of April following he addressed a letter to the church signifying his acceptance.
On the 11th of May of the same year, Mr. Bolles presented a letter of recommendation from the Baptist church in Brook- lyn, Connectient, for himself and wife, Frances, when, after re- lating their Christian experience, the church voted to receive them into the same as members.
Also voted at this meeting to have a public recognition of Rev. David C. Bolles to the pastoral office, on the day following.
On May 13, 1833, the church met as proposed, when the Rev. Matthew Bolles tendered to the pastor the right hand of fellowship ; after which the pastor presented the right hand of fellowship to his wife, Frances Bolles.
Rev. Matthew Bolles now addressed the church and society by invitation, when, after some pertinent remarks, stating the ratification of the proceedings of the church by the society, he declared the Rev. David C. Bolles pastor of the same.
Rev. Mr. Bolles, in consequence of failing health, made a request to be relieved from the pastorate for a season to jour- ney to a warmer latitude ; this was granted, giving each party the right to make the release of duties a final separation.
He left the church about the 20th of November, 1834, and on the 1st of May following (having returned April 5, with improved health, and resumed his labors), addressed a letter to the committee of the church, that he should require $100 in in addition to former salary, making $500, and use of parson- age, which the committee did not accede to, when it was agreed that his dismission should take place on the 10th of May following ; and at a meeting of the church, July 5, 1835, a letter in accordance therewith, by request of himself and wife, was granted, with a recommendation to the Baptist church in Granville, Ohio.
Sabbath, July 19, 1835, this church authorized its committee
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SOUTHBRIDGE.
to invite the Rev. Joseph G. Binney to take the pastorate, with a salary of $600 a year, and the use of the parsonage. The invitation having been accepted, he commenced his ser- vices the 23d of August.
On the 12th of September following, Mr. Binney and his wife, Juliet, presented a letter of recommendation and dis- mission from the Baptist church in Baltimore, when, after relating their Christian experience, they were by vote received into this church.
This year, 1835, the meeting-house was repaired at con- siderable expense ; outside painted and the inside reconstructed. The old square pews, as finished by the parish, when the house was erected in 1800, and continued to this time, were now removed and slips substituted, making several more pews and seats.
The health of Rev. Mr. Binney failing, he was obliged to retire from preaching and remove to a warmer climate ; he resigned the pastorate of this church, August 21, 1837 ; church membership then being 164. In August, 1830, the number was 114, and when Mr. Binney began his pastorate in 1835 the number of members were 163.
At this time the church and society appear to have been prosperous and harmonious.
The report of the condition of this church to the Sturbridge association in September, 1835, represented the Sabbath school as follows :
1 superintendent, 16 teachers, and 80 scholars; infant school, 2 teach- ers, and 40 scholars; Bible class, 1 teacher, and 40 members; a branch Sabbath school, 3 teachers, and 27 scholars; branch infant school, 23 scholars; library for the Sabbath school, branches, and Bible class, num- bers 450 volumes.
Rev. Sewall S. Cutting having supplied preaching for this church and society about three months previous, an invitation was given him the 9th of September, 1837, to become their 33A
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SOUTHBRIDGE.
pastor, and having signified his acceptance of their eall he was installed the 25th following. The installation sermon was preached by Rev. William Hague, of the first Baptist church, Providence.
Mr. Cutting commenced his services as pastor on the 10th of September following the invitation of the church and society. As members of the church of West Boylston, he and his wife, Evelina C. S. Cutting, were dismissed, by their re- quest, to this church, and were received into fellowship here, the 24th instant, before his installation.
The Rev. Mr. Binney and wife were, by their request, dis- missed from this church, October 1, 1837, to a sister church in Savannah, Georgia.
On August 29. 1838, the association met with this church by invitation ; at which time it was reported as having 186 members; but, in the following year, August 4, 1839, the mem- bers had been reduced to 175.
Several members of this church have been ordained as preachers of the Gospel ; among whom was Levi Hall, who in the year 1836 was accepted by the board of foreign mis- sions, as a missionary to Arracan; he received ordination with this church, and on the 25th of September, 1836, was dis- missed for that service. Catharine Morse, of this church, received dismission at the same time, and accompanied Mr. Hall to the same field of labor, she being then his wife ; she did not, however, have the privilege of working in the field of her choice but a short time. The news of her death was referred to with sincere regret, by this church, the 17th of February, 1838. Mr. Hall was received into this church by letter from Holland, April, 1831. David B. Cheney began his studies for the ministry here, and was recommended by this church to the patronage of the Northern Baptist Education society, July 8, 1837. He was baptized by Rev. Mr. Binney, on the Sabbath, the 20th of March, 1836.
503
SOUTHBRIDGE.
Ralph V. Lyon, baptized and admitted to this church, De- cember 11, 1825, conceived it his duty to preach the Gospel; he had been an active member in the church up to the 1st of February, 1839, when he requested license as a preacher, but at this time he had not applied himself to the discipline of a regular course of studies. Notwithstanding, the vote was passed to license him as a preacher of the Gospel at this meeting, on the 4th of May following he was requested to preach at the next church meeting, with reference to receiving a license.
He was dismissed, June 6, 1840, to the Baptist church in Thompson, Connecticut, and has continued a preacher since.
Augustus Foster, who received baptism here, September 11, 1831, pursued a course of studies for the ministry in 1839, under the Northern Baptist Education society, by the re- commendation of this church, but had been dropped by that society ; and not having the means to continue his course, he applied to this church for direction, April 6, 1839, when a committee was appointed, consisting of the pastor, Mr. Cut- ting, Elisha Cole, and Deacon Marvin Cheney. The result of this effort of Mr. Foster does not appear on record.
The church membership at different periods, so far as seen by the records, have been as follows :
1827, returned to association,
126
1830,
114
1831, 66
66 145
1832,
179
1835,
163
1837,
-
164
1838,
66
186
1839,
66
175
THE CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church originated in some differences in the manage- ment of the prudential affairs of the First Baptist church and society, when, for the sake of harmony and peace, a majority of
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SOUTHBRIDGE.
the members of that church withdrew their membership in 1842, and on Sunday, the 18th of September following, organized themselves into a new church, by the name of " The Central Baptist Church of Southbridge."
At a business meeting of the church, held on the 21st instant, the following church officers were chosen :
"Marvin Cheney, clerk; Henry Fiske, treasurer; Marvin Cheney, Henry Fiske, Holdridge Ammidown, standing committee.
Proceeded to choice of deacons, and elected nnanimously Marvin Cheney and Henry Fiske.
The Rev. S. S. Cutting, who had been present thus far, now retired, when (Deacon Cheney presiding) it was unanimously voted to invite him to become their pastor. The standing committee were instructed to correspond with Mr. Cutting accordingly.
On the 24th following, this committee having communicated to Mr. Cutting the desire of this church, he addressed a letter of acceptance.
At the meeting of the members held on the 21st of Septem- ber, as aforesaid, a committee of five were elected to call a council for the recognition of this church. This committee was Rev. S. S. Cutting, Henry Fiske, Royal Smith, Marvin Cheney, and Willard W. Bowen.
The ecclesiastical council called for the recognition, assem- bled, October 12, 1842. The churches represented were as follows :
First Baptist church, Providence, Rhode Island. 66
Grafton, Massachusetts.
Belchertown, 66
66 Sturbridge,
66 66 Webster,
Rev. Professor Calvin Newton, of Grafton, was chosen moderator, and Rev. Loomis G. Leonard, of Webster, clerk.
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SOUTHBRIDGE.
The committee now presented the reasons for their separa- tion, and organization as a separate church, and their desire for recognition.
The First Baptist church, from which they had separated, having been invited to be present, was represented by a com- mittee of nine persons, who offered their objections, which were considered by the council, and not being deemed of suf- ficient importance to prevent the request of this church for recognition, as a separate body, they voted the recognition, and appointed the public services on the same day. The Rev. Mr. Newton preached, on the occasion, from Jude, 3, and Rev. Mr. Leonard presented the right hand of fellowship.
The pastoral office of this church was continued by Rev. Sewall S. Cutting, with uninterrupted usefulness, and with a high degree of harmony and prosperity, till the 29th of June, 1845, when he tendered his "resignation," to take effect at such a period, not far distant, as might be determined by the members.
On August 9, 1845, this church gave an invitation to Rev. Timothy G. Freeman to accept the pastoral charge, joined by the vote of the society.
The 21st instant following, Mr. Freeman, in reply, gave his letter of acceptance. He and his wife, Elizabeth Freeman, were received into this church, October 12, 1845, by letter, from the Baptist church in the city of Hudson, New York.
The council for his installation met here for that pur- pose, the 15th of the same month. The exercises were as follows :
" Rev. J. B. Boomer, moderator; A. S. Lyon, North Oxford, scribe. Rev. J. F. Burbank, of Webster, offered prayer; then the proceedings of the church, in calling Mr. Freeman for their pastor, were examined, after which he related his Christian experience, and was then declared by the council pastor of this church and society. Then followed the usual exercises; reading of the Scriptures by Rev. David B. Cheney, of Norwich, Connecticut ; introductory prayer by Rev. Eber Carpenter, of this
506
SOUTHBRIDGE.
town ; sermon by Rev. W. R. Williams, of New York ; prayer of recog- nition by Rev. J. B. Boomer, of North Oxford ; charge to the candidate, by J. F. Burbank, of Webster; right hand of fellowship by Rev. S. S. Cutting, of New York ; address to church and congregation by Rev. A. S. Lyon, of North Oxford ; concluding prayer by Rev. S. W. Thayer, of this town; prayer by the moderator, when the council was dissolved.
"J. B. BOOMER, Moderator. "A. S. LYON, Scribe."
Rev. Mr. Freeman continued pastor till 1847 ; his letter of resignation was dated and presented to the clerk of the church, January 23, of that year, and having been considered, was accepted to take effect, March 1, following
An invitation was given to Rev. Sewall S. Cutting, by this church and society, February 4, 1847, to again become their pastor, to which he made a lengthy reply by letter, expressing his great regret that he could not consistently, with duty to the position he then sustained, comply with their desire, and respectfully declined the call.
This church and society communicated by letter, May 8, 1847, to Rev. Oakman S. Stearns, that, on the 1st inst, " the Central Baptist church and the First Baptist society of this town had voted unanimously to invite him to become their pastor. To this invitation Mr. Stearns made reply the follow- ing day, giving his acceptance.
The council for his ordination assembled on May 18, next ensuing.
The exercises were as follows :
"Rev. A. S. Lyon, moderator; Rev. S. B. Swain, Worcester, scribe ; reading of the Scriptures by Rev. Solomon Gale, of North Oxford ; introductory prayer by Rev. Eber Carpenter, of this town; sermon by Rev. Barnas Sears, D. D., of Newton Theological institute; charge to the candidate by Rev. S. B. Swain; right hand of fellowship by Rev. J. Jennings, pastor of the Pleasant-Street Baptist church, Worcester; address to the church and congregation by Rev. A. S. Lyon ; ordina- tion prayer, by Rev. B. C. Grafton, of Medford; conchiding prayer by Rev. Mr. Woodbury, and benediction by the pastor.
"A. SMITH LYON, Moderator. "S. B. SWAIN, Clerk."
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SOUTHBRIDGE.
The following is an extract from an historical discourse delivered by Rev. Oakman Sprague Stearns, in 1848, on the occasion of the church and society's vacating the old parish meeting-house, preparatory to the erection of a new house on the same location :
"In the year 1796, a committee was raised to take into consideration the formation of a new town composed of parts of other towns in this vicinity ; the chief thing which fills this report of the committee is the erection of a meeting-house, as a rallying center, and the present location, it is then said, was eligible, for its convenience and beauty. The town itself was not incorporated until 1816. The frame of the meeting-house was raised on the 4th day of July, 1797. In the report of the committee it is recommended to complete the outside of the house by subscription, and then sell at auction the pews, and from their proceeds finish the inside, which recommendation was carried into execution; the outside of the house would belong to the owners of the land, as a constituent element upon which the land was given; that no deed should be forthcoming until the house was completed.
" The house was finished in 1800. The Rev. Erastus Learned officiated at the dedication. He was a Congregationalist, of Canterbury, Con- necticut. When the house was erected, it was owned and occupied by various denominations in this vicinity : the Universalists, Methodists, Baptists, and Congregationalists.
"It was occupied by these denominations until near the year 1816, when the Congregationalists disposed of their right to the other de- nominations. In the year 1816, and since, the preaching has for the most part been by Baptist clergymen. Up to 1835, occasionally, other de- nominations held meetings in this house; when the house was sold at auction, bought, and repaired, and sold again in the form of slips, the deeds of which limited the kind of preaching, and declare that it shall be of the same belief and practice as the Baptist in olden times. In August, 1816, the Rev. George Angell was installed as pastor of this society, then worshipping here (the society was organized May 1, and George Angell commenced his pastorate June 1 following), and con- tinued in office until God, by a mysterious providence, called him, in the prime of life, to pass from his labors in the church militant to the songs and joys of the church triumphant. Many will long drop a tear of sympathy at the grave of departed worth. A ministry of nearly eleven years, faithful, efficient, and successful; a character for integrity and Christian consistency, unblemished ; a devotion to his work which rendered him the endeared pastor of a numerous people will not allow the name of Angell to be forgotten when our heads are laid low in the
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SOUTHBRIDGE.
dust and another generation shall arise that know not Joseph. By his instrumentality, the First Baptist church was gathered, consisting of 26 members, a colony from the Baptist church in Sturbridge; but one of these is now living.
" The first persons baptized and added to that church were two females, who are still alive; one is an excluded member of the original church, and the other is with us to-day, * a pilgrim of half a century, mingling with the sorrows of the past, and ready also to sympathize in our anticipated joys. By means of the ministry of Mr. Angell, a good congregation was gathered and the church was much increased.
"The successor was Rev. Addison Parker, who was invited to the pastorate in April, 1827, and closed his labors on December 2, 1832. In his days many were brought into the liberty of the Gospel. Following him was the Rev. David C. Bolles, who was installed, May 12, 1833, and continued as pastor until May 1, 1835.
"The next pastor was the Rev. J. G. Binney, who remained from Angust 23, 1835, to August 21, 1837, when he likewise was obliged to seek a milder air for the benefit of his health; he is now at the head of the theological school in Maulmain, where he is sowing the seed and pre- paring the way for the evangelization of a numerous but ill-fated nation ; his memory will ever be fragrant among us, and Southbridge will never have reason to be ashamed that she once enjoyed the teachings of such a man. On the 25th of September, 1837, the Rev. Sewall S. Cutting became the pastor of this church, and continued to act in this capacity until September 18, 1842, when, for reasons then deemed sufficient, the Central Baptist church was formed, and he became its pastor. The church was then composed of 48 members; it.now numbers 87. In the summer of 1845, Mr. Cutting resigned the pastoral office, and became the editor of the New York Recorder, a place which he filled with entire success and the approbation of a much larger audience than his voice could have ever reached. At his resignation the Rev. Timothy G. Free- man was invited to become the pastor of this church, and was installed as such the 15th of October, 1845; he resigned, March 1, 1847, and was for a time in Natchez, in Mississippi."
The new meeting-house was dedicated to the worship of God, Wednesday, October 25, 1848. A large and attentive audience was present.
The exercises were as follows :
"1. Voluntary-Anthem : 'I was glad,' etc.
* Mrs. Hannalı Hovey Ammidown, widow of the late Luther Ammidown, Esq.
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SOUTHBRIDGE.
"2. Invocation by Rev. Eber Carpenter, Congregationalist, of this town.
"3. Singing-938th Hymn.
"4. Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. Thomas Driver, of Sturbridge.
" 5. Prayer by Rev. David R. Austin, Congregationalist, of Stur- bridge.
" 6. Anthem-' How holy is this place,' etc.
" 7. Sermon by Rev. Sewall S. Cutting, from Isaiah, 62d chapter, 1st verse.
"8. A dedication prayer by the pastor, O. S. Stearns.
" 9. Singing.
"10. Address to the congregation, by the Rev. Joseph Hodges, of East Brookfield.
"11. Prayer by the same.
"12. Singing-Anthem: 'Wake the Song,' etc.
"13. Benediction by the pastor.
"Number of church members, September, 1849, 103.
66 1850, 115.
1851, 121.
66 1852, 144."
Rev. Mr. Stearns was dismissed from the pastoral office of this church at his request, April 30, 1854.
His successor was the Rev. Shubal Stiles Parker, from Paterson, New Jersey.
The records have omitted the exercises of Mr. Parker's installation.
In the year 1857 this society raised the sum of $1,500, for a parsonage.
The number of members in this church, in 1859, was 175.
Rev. Mr. Parker was dismissed at his request. A letter of dismission of him and his wife, Harriet N. Parker, to unite with the Friendship-Street church, Providence, Rhode Island, was given, March 31, 1867, after a service of eleven years, with much prosperity to the church and general satisfaction to the congregation.
On the 21st of July, 1867, a unanimous call was given to Rev. B. F. Bronson to become their pastor; this invitation was accepted, and Rev. Mr. Bronson commenced his labors,
.
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SOUTHBRIDGE.
September 1, following; and continued in the pastorate to June 16, 1872, when, at his request, he received dismission.
It should be added here, that this society erected and fin- ished, in the year 1866, the brick meeting-house they continue to occupy, at a cost of over $20,000 ; and further, that soon after two spirited and prominent individuals, Chester A. Dresser, Esq. and the late John Edwards, Esq., contributed an organ at a cost of $2,000; the whole being the sole property of the society, which is now in a high state of prosperity.
REV. GEORGE ANGELL.
The Rev. George Angell was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, March 24, 1785. He moved with his father and family to North Providence in 1803. His parents were respectable people, and trained him to habits of industry.
He married, in 1810, Lydia, daughter of Noah Farnum, and granddaughter of Rev. Samuel Windsor, formerly pastor of the First Baptist church in Providence. In 1809 he was baptized and admitted to that church. He soon determined to prepare for the ministry, and after his marriage took charge of a select school at Olneyville, near Providence. Here, there being no religions society, he established a meeting for prayer and exhortation ; taking the lead in these exercises, which pre- pared him in some degree for commencing his future profes- sion. During his occupation as teacher he was engaged, in the hours not required for his school, in the study of the Scriptures, and preached as occasion offered.
In the autumn of 1812 he was called to supply preaching for the Second Baptist society in Woodstock, Connectient, and in the spring following was engaged as the pastor of that society, and ordained, August 28, 1813.
He continued this pastorate about three years, giving en- tire satisfaction to his people.
While discharging his pastoral duties in Woodstock, he
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SOUTHBRIDGE.
was invited to preach for the Union society in Southbridge, including various denominations that continued worship in the old parish church after the Congregationists withdrew. This was in the spring of 1816, a short time after the town was incorporated.
There were a number of members of other Baptist churches in adjoining towns who had not withdrawn their membership from those connections, and were desirous of uniting in one church here. Mr. Angell accepted this invitation to preach to these united people, and soon after was requested by them, without distinction of any religious denomination, to become their pastor. He accepted this call with the distinct under- standing that he should be settled as a Baptist clergyman ; which condition being agreed to, he began his pastorate, June 1, 1816. He organized a Baptist church here, Jannary 29, 1817, with 26 members.
During the first two years of his services he suffered the affliction of losing his wife and his two children. In 1819 he married Rebecca Thorndike, daughter of Paul Thorndike, of Dunstable, Massachusetts. By this wife he had one child, a son, George T. Angell, Esq., who is now engaged in the profession of the law in Boston, Massachusetts. He continued his ser- vices in great harmony with this church and society to the time of his decease, Sunday, February 18, 1827, aged 42.
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