USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lowell > Historical sketch of Saint Anne's Church, Lowell, Mass > Part 7
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"But a little earlier St. Mary's Orphanage was established. Who runs that? It don't run itself. It must engross much of the Rector's thought and care.
"Still more remote, the Chelmsford mission was started; though it may have attained its majority, it cannot go alone.
"I am reminded of what I used to hear of the Indian who, having a heavy burden to carry, would assume an extra burden, and when he became tired, would throw off a part, and go on lightly another stage; and so on until he should arrive at his destination, with himself and his original burden.
"So, our Rector, by imitating the Indian, may, perhaps, carry St. Anne's safely through to his end. But these extra burdens are not children of St. Anne's, either by generation or adoption, and she is not bound to support them."
The speaker went on to say that there were many heathen in Lowell upon whom those who were able and willing could exercise their missionary zeal, and as the ways and means had been provided for in such a way as to impose no pecuniary obliga- tion on St. Anne's, he would vote for the resolution to have an assistant.
But Dr. Edson said that if they wished a clergyman who was to be his assistant, he must be the man whom he should choose and whose salary he should pay. The Vestry presented several names; among them that of Charles W. Homer of Cambridge, whom he selected. Mr. Homer first officiated at St. Anne's February 13, 1859. His work was to conduct services in the . chapel Sundays and bring his people to the Church for the Sacra- ment. Mechanics' Hall was rented and a congregation was gathered, respectable in numbers and character.
Charles H. Burbank served as organist in Mechanics' Hall as early as June, 1860, while as yet there was no choir, and con- tinued in that capacity without interruption. (Mr. Burbank was later organist at St. John's and presented that church with a fine organ.) Afterwards services were held in Wyman's Hall.
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THE CHOIR OF ST. ANNE'S CHURCH
ST. JOHN'S PARISH
This developed into St. John's parish, organized July 30, 1860. The corner stone was laid April 15, 1861, and the building opened for worship the first Sunday in October. The church was con- secrated by Bishop Eastburn July 16, 1863.
October 1, 1860, the relation between the Rev. Mr. Homer and St. Anne's was dissolved. Mr. Homer presented a request to Dr. Edson, as Rector of St. Anne's, signed by fifteen persons, asking to be transferred to St. John's. On July 23, 1860, Theodore Sweetser, Esq., issued a justice's warrant for the first meeting. The names attached to the petition were: Elisha Huntington James Cook, Joshua Swan, E. S. Hunt, Robert Prince, J. D. Prince, Charles R. Littler, George Hobson, Alfred Gilman, Edward Prince, and Charles R. Kimball.
The year 1860 was happy for Dr. Edson. At his request the Bishop made an appointment for a visitation about four months in advance, of which notice was given early in January. He says: "We girded ourselves again to the work. My dear family engaged as spiritedly as before and my assistant rendered import- ant and satisfactory help. And God did bless and give us so much success that we were enabled to present to the Bishop seventy- five for confirmation.
There were two confirmations that Conventional year, one hundred and twenty-seven in all, and at least that number were added to the Communion. There were one hundred and thirty- one baptized, and burials numbered thirty-eight.
The pew rents that year were $3,320.61, of which the Rector received $1,600 and the quartette choir, $662.
An article in the Church Journal at this time mentions "the venerable Rector of St. Anne's." "By the use of the word 'vener- able' it is hoped it will not be confounded with the words 'decrepit' or 'infirm' for a more energetic and persevering clergyman can- not be found in the United States. Although but little short of three score and ten, it is believed his usefulness is not so near an end as his age would seem to imply. His step is firm and elastic, his eye undimmed, his voice strong and unfaltering, and his complexion clear and fresh; all of which he attributes to the exercise of muscle and lung, in the duties of his calling." "He has more communicants than any other church in the Diocese, and has had within a fraction as many confirmations as the four other largest numbers reported, combined," during the year.
53
THE CIVIL WAR
The President's proclamation for a Fast, the sad condition of the Country, and threatening political troubles of most desperate character marked the opening of 1861. The Rector perceived by the rush on all sides to newspaper reading, that it would be impossible for the Pastor of a moderate parish to indulge him- self in reading the papers and at the same time to discharge with fidelity his duties. (Sunday editions of the dailies began at this time.) Well aware that important news would reach him he determined to give himself faithfully and laboriously to parochial and home cares and services, and did not order a secular paper during the war. Not for lack of interest, he says, in his fellow- citizens exposed therein-his prayers were offered daily for "the people with whom we dwell," and he appointed an additional week-day service of prayer on Friday in behalf of our Country.
Friday, May 3, 1861, the Abbott Light Guards attended a service at St. Anne's by invitation. Bibles and Prayer Books were distributed to the members of the Company as they were about to leave for the Army.
Dr. Edson hated war, and during the War, 1861-5, did not hesitate to express his horror.
He voted for Taylor for President. November, 1848, there was a Whig torchlight procession. At his house in Kirk street he had six lights in the form of a cross in each of his five front windows.
In his opinion the death of Webster and nomination of Scott for President killed the Whig party. The Convention of 1852 was persuaded to support the Compromise of 1850, and the party was said to have died "of an attempt to swallow the Fugi- tive Slave Law." He called himself a Whig and an abolitionist. As far back as 1838 he wrote, "My feelings and views incline me to the Federalist, alias National Republican, alias Whig party." When England liberated the slaves, he rejoiced.
There is very little about politics in the diary.
Mr. Hovey shared his opinions, and both were somewhat under a suspicion of lukewarmness toward the Union cause. Mr. Hovey was singularly prudent in speech and action. Dr. Edson felt, as did many clergymen, that it was imprudent to preach political sermons, when men were divided into parties.
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He greatly disliked the excited and almost frenzied expres- sions of hatred toward the South constantly heard. A man of peace, his heart was full of love and good will.
The effect of the war upon the currency and financial condition was to double the cost of living. The prices of necessary articles ran rapidly upward to twice and three times the former rates. Coal was $17 a ton. Some made fortunes. But on salaried men, as is always the case in war time, the changes thus brought about bore heavily, and especially upon the clergy. But it was pro- posed by the Vestry to reduce the Rector's salary, by way of retrenchment. The Rector proposed that, if the Vestry would make all seats in the church free, and would recommend an offertory on every occasion of public worship in lieu of rents, he, the Rector, would engage to carry on the customary services and pay current-expenses from the avails of the same. This was strongly opposed. He said that he had good reasons to be- lieve that this would be popular, that he knew his people better than any other member of the Vestry, and that it would increase the parish income beyond any point it had ever attained. This proposition not finding favor, he made another to the effect that he would be willing to pay his proportion, with the other mem- bers of the Vestry, of any deficit of income to pay current ex- penses; but his salary was reduced to $1,400.
In 1863 it was estimated the population of Lowell had de- creased as much as ten thousand or more, as the effect of the war, and there was a general unsettling of affairs.
During the Civil War the management of the Merrimack Company, admittedly, showed "lack of sagacity and forethought" in stopping their mills and dismissing the operatives, discontinu- ing the purchase of cotton and selling goods at a loss, instead of making millions, as they might have done by continuing to run. Dr. Edson thought this might be a judgment of Providence because of the Company's action in the matter of the Church property. But St. Anne's prospered. One hundred and ten bap- tisms were reported for 1862, but other items were not so large. In 1864 the Parish paid-off a debt of $1,250 by subscriptions.
TRIP TO EUROPE
On the seventieth anniversary of Dr. Edson's birthday, August 24, 1863, a company of parishioners and friends came to the Manse with gifts and congratulations and presented him eleven hundred dollars to defray the expenses of a journey to Europe.
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The Eastern District Missionary Association, learning of his intended journey, adopted resolutions of a very complimentary nature which they sent to him. Bishop Eastburn wrote for him a letter of introduction to the most noted of the English Bishops and clergy. He carried a letter from Mrs. Boott to her brother, Rev. Mr. Haden, precentor of Westminster Abbey. Mr. Charles Hovey accompanied him. They sailed from Boston on the second day of September and returned before Christmas, when the bells of St. Anne's announced the home coming. Dr. Edson travelled through Ireland, Scotland and England, meeting the Archbishops and other clergy, and preaching in London and various places in the Kingdom. He met the Rev. A. P. Stanley, afterwards Dean of Westminster and had an interview with Dr. Pusey at Oxford. He visited Paris, but enjoyed England more.
He sent the following letter to his parishioners:
"November 5. This is Gunpowder Plot Day, and the boys are carrying images of Guy Fawkes through the streets.
LONDON, 5 November, 1863.
My dear People of the Congregation of St. Anne's Church, Lowell:
My friends, it is but right that I should acknowledge your generous kindness in allowing and enabling me to take the pleasure which I have so richly enjoyed in my journey hitherto. Ireland is a country in which I have for a long time and for good reasons, as some of you know, felt a lively interest. I was desirous of seeing the antiquities, the ancient remains, of Irish history, and more especially the sacred places, sacred ruins and sacred build- ings, showing what the country was and attesting to the existence of the Christian Church for more than a thousand years. Another matter of interest in Ireland was to see the people as they are: and for this I had a considerable opportunity. I saw the seats of the nobility, the mansions of the Regents, the comfortable dwellings of the farmers, the cabins of the laborers and the hovels of the poor. These classes I saw and conversed with, and I left the country with a higher esteem and deeper interest than on entering it. Its beauties and its resources are greater even than I had supposed.
In Scotland I saw much that was to me an epitome of interest- ing and important history. The places and the monuments re- freshed me with their testimony to the events to which they re-
56
THE GUILDS OF ST. CECILIA AND ST. AGNES
ferred me. The antiquities of sacred art in Scotland are perfectly amazing to an intelligent mind.
I entered England at the North. To think of Durham and of what I saw there in the cathedral and castle, fills me with emotion. We were fortunate in the rapidity of our journey to be in York on Sunday, and I was especially fortunate in the acquaintance of a Reverend Canon of the Minster, who generously devoted much time to showing me about and explaining the history and events with which the wonderful objects are connected. His- toric monuments reaching beyond the Christian era; the founda- tions of Roman works, to the time of Julius Caesar, showing something of what the place was in its intimate connection with Rome before and at the time of the visit of St. Paul and other apostles. The ancient city of Chester, though under less ad- vantages, left indelible impressions on my mind. I am in London in the midst of sights to be seen and things to be known.
Paris revealed to me much that is new, but chiefly refreshed me with its past, its rich, its beautiful, its terrible past.
I have seen the Universities of Dublin, of Edinboro, of Cam- bridge and of Oxford. My visit to the latter place was under every advantage, and was charming. I visited beautiful country churches and parsonages in the vicinity of Oxford, both the old and the new, one of twenty years and one of eight hundred years. I have merely alluded to these topics, that yourselves may judge of the pleasure for which I am indebted under Almighty God, to your liberal and kind allowance. I pray without ceasing for God's blessing upon you, and look forward to being restored to you again, and when I pray to God that we may all of us be bet- ter and do better in the things of Grace, I feel for myself an ad- ditional responsibility to do better service to my Saviour by being more serviceable to you.
I remain
Your affectionate
PASTOR
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CHAPTER VIII. FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY RECOVERY OF THE PARSONAGE
At this time Dr. Edson became convinced that he must leave the Manse by the river side, and this was made known to some of his friends. The family of General B. F. Butler were always excellent neighbors. Mrs. Butler, in the most delicate manner, intimated that if he should wish to sell, she thought her husband could find a purchaser. The General soon called and in a free and candid way talked with Dr. Edson. "You could probably sell this place," he said, "and put the money into United States bonds without taxes; that will enable you to pay a small rent, and leave you something to make up the deficiency of salary." He sold the house, as will be seen later.
The fortieth anniversary of the consecration of St. Anne's was approaching, and it was proposed that the Rector should preach a sermon and receive the offertory, but, although he was gratified by the interest shown, he could not consent to make an appeal on his own behalf. Another project was nearer his heart, that of providing increased accommodations for the Sunday Schools. This he made known in his sermon, and the offertory for the benefit of that object amounted to $1,171.04.
The anniversary was celebrated on March 19, 1865, being a Sunday.
The Clergy present were: The Rt. Rev. Thomas M. Clark, Bishop of Rhode Island; The Rev. Doctors Ducachet of St. Stephen's, Philadelphia, Bolles of the Advent, Boston, Estes of St. James, Amesbury, Lambert of St. John's, Charlestown, and Edson of St. Anne's, Lowell; The Rev. Messrs. Withington of Dorchester, Richmond of Melrose, Smith of Lowell and Fisher of New Hampshire.
The printed account says: "A pleasing feature of the com- memoration was the draping of the chancel, upon the walls of which were placed on tablets of black walnut, the names of pro- minent men, deceased members of the Parish."
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Festoons of purple and white, starting from a laurel wreath at the apex of the Chancel arch, fell gracefully to the top of the columns on either side; here the purple was caught up suffi- ciently to receive the silver figures "1825" upon the west capital, and "1865" upon the east. From thence, in encircling folds, the drapery extended to the base of each column.
Directly over the chancel arch, in silver letters on black ground, were the words, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."
The names and dates on the tablets were these:
1824 Ezra Worthen
1858 Nathaniel Wright
1831 Paul Moody
1859 Joseph M. Dodge
1832 Ed. St. L. Livermore
1859 A. James Richmond
1833 Ebenezer Appleton
1833 Warren Colburn,
1859 Allan Pollock, Warden 1 year
Warden 6 years
1860 John D. Prince
1835 Phineas Whiting
1862 William Spencer
1837 Kirk Boott
1863 Benjamin Green
1842 William Patch
1863 Benjamin Mather
1864 C. F. Blanchard
1847 Jesse Phelps
1864 James Duxbury
1849 James Russell
1849 George M. Whistler
1852 James Sharples
1852 Edward J. Payne
1864 John P. Robinson
1853 Benjamin F. French
1864 Cyril French
1864 Nathaniel Wilson
1855 Samuel W. Brown
1856 Thomas Dodge
1864 A. W. Fisher
The members of St. Anne's choir, who sang on this occasion, were: Mrs. B. F. Rix, soprano; John T. Billings, tenor; Miss Sarah R. Hunt, alto; A. P. Fletcher, basso; assisted by Miss Abby I. Owen, soprano; John F. McEvoy, tenor; Miss Mary E. Wright, alto; Charles Morrill, bass; under the direction of Benjamin Walker, organist.
The music "was of a high order, and seldom equalled for de- votional effect." The weather being fine the building was filled. The seating was under the direction of the Hon. B. C. Sargeant, assisted by Messrs. Amos A. Blanchard, Thomas G. Gerrish, Charles M. Williams, A. S. Tyler, Oliver E. Cushing, Timothy
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1835 Reuben Hills
1862 Charles L. Tilden
1834 Joel Lewis, Warden 4 years
1860 Nich. G. Norcross
1862 John D. Prince, Jr.
1842 Robert Means
1864 James H. B. Ayer, Warden 31 years 1864 Isaac Anthony
1854 Perez O. Richmond
1864 Justus D. Watson
1857 Geo. H. Carleton, Warden 12 years
G. Tweed, John O. Green, Jr., and Charles Wyman. When the chimes ceased, the Bishop and nine other clergy, preceded by the Wardens, entered the church, while the choir chanted the twenty-fourth Psalm.
Drs. Edson and Ducachet had been present at the Consecra- tion in 1825. The former preached in the morning, and the latter in the afternoon. Bishop Clark gave the sermon in the evening and Dr. Bolles made an address.
T. G. Tweed played the chimes as the congregation departed.
On Monday the Vestry passed resolutions presented by Mr. Hovey to the clergy, and an address was made by Dr. Green.
Dr. Edson's sermon was printed by request of the Wardens and Vestry.
Late in the year 1865 General Butler had some communication with the Agent of the Merrimack Company relative to the Par- sonage, and, at the suggestion of Mr. Hovey, Treasurer of St. Anne's, several gentlemen called at the General's house on the evening of November 19, to talk over the Parish and condition of the property of the Parsonage. General Butler had learned that the Directors had determined to dispose of the property, either to the Parish or to purchasers for business purposes, so that the Parish must move at once if it were to regain the Par- sonage. The next day the General wrote to the Rector, Wardens and Vestry, advising them to have the Parish purchase. At a meeting of the Vestry that evening there was little enthusiasm and the matter was left to the Wardens and Treasurer, they to act as expedient.
Dr. Edson sold the Manse December 14, 1865, to D. W. C. Farrington, who was to take possession the first of February following and for a time the Edsons boarded with the Wymans on Nesmith street.
The committee on the purchase of the Parsonage told Dr. Edson that if the property were to be purchased, the work of rais- ing the money must be done by him, as they could not undertake it. Christmas was approaching with all its added duties, and he was about to begin a confirmation class. Moreover, the super- intendent of the large Sunday School resigned, giving him that extra care. He could not see the golden opportunity go; so December 20, he took the subscription book (apportioning the sum of $13,410 among the members of the congregation). Friends
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ST. ANNE'S RECTORY
made up $16,857.20, and the twenty-first of February, 1866, the key of the Parsonage was put in the hands of the Senior Warden, and Dr. Edson and his family moved back into their old home on Whitsun Monday, May 21, and slept in the Par- sonage for the first time since the night of Sunday, February 26, 1843.
When the papers transferring the property from the Merri- mack Company to the Parish had been satisfactorily executed, it was thought to be proper to make some public expression of acknowledgment to Almighty God for these gracious gifts of his goodness. The twentieth of June was fixed upon, and the follow- ing invitation sent :
RESTORATION OF THE PARSONAGE TO ST. ANNE'S CHURCH
Rev. Dr. Edson and family will be happy to receive their friends, on Wednesday, June 20, 1866, from 5 to 10 o'clock, P. M.
Lowell, June 9, 1866.
Among the pleasant things attendant upon the return, as predicted by Mr. Prince in 1843, were the expressions of good will from the Corporations. From every counting room con- nected with the Corporations Dr. Edson received subscriptions of high officials, Agents or Superintendents.
The following letter was received from the Treasurer of the Merrimack Company :
BOSTON, April 6, 1866. Rev. Theodore Edson, D.D., Lowell:
At a meeting of the Directors held this day, it was unanimously voted to give a quit claim deed, which included all the Company's right, title and interest in both estates (Church and Parsonage); and it is right to say that Messrs. G. W. Lyman and J. A. Lowell, who have been connected with the Merrimack Company from the beginning, cordially approved. That it may long remain, be improved by the Church and Minister, and be continued as one of the most interesting and ancient landmarks of the city, is the wish of, dear sir,
Yours very truly,
F. B. CROWNINSHIELD.
Treas., Merrimack Mfg., Co."
From April 1, 1866, the month previous to moving into the Parsonage, Dr. Edson's salary was raised to $1,600 and the Par-
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FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE PARSONAGE, 1866.
George Motley $1,000.00
Robert Wood 3.00
James B. Francis. 1,000.00
Matthew H. Cockran. . 100.00
William A. Burke. 1,000.00
William Edcott. 2.00
John O. Green. 1,000.00
Charles A. Savory 100.00
Mrs. B. F. French 500.00
Jonathan Adams. 25.00
and at her decease. . 500.00
J. B. F. Shed . 10.00
Mary D. Carleton . 1,000.00
William H. P. Wright . 10.00
Middlesex Mfg. Co 1,000.00
Thomas G. Gerrish 10.00
Mrs. J. C. Ayer 1,000.00
Hannah Beatty 5.00
Benjamin F. Butler. 1,000.00
J. C. Tolman 10.00
Harlin Pillsbury 500.00
Thomas Betty
25.00
Wm. W. Wyman, on sale of land
500.00
Mrs. A. . 250.00
Charles Hovey 200.00
William Walker 25.00
Artemas S. Tyler 150.00
Charles Going 10.00
James S. Russell 100.00
George Brownell 25.00
Mrs. Eliza C. Davis. 100.00
B. F. Batchelder 50.00
George C. Shattuck 200.00
A. Friend 100.00
Oliver E. Cushing 150.00
N. P. McArthur 10.00
E. Law 15.00
John C. Palfrey 20.00
Susan Ainley 20.00
Thomas Wright 10.00
F. F. Battles. 20.00
Emory Wright 10.00
Andrew E. Swapp 25.00
Charles Cowley 25.00
A. Blanchard . 10.00
O. H. Perry . 25.00
C. W. Saunders
25.00
Samuel Fay
10.00
Mrs. C.
12.00
George Mills 25.00
Mrs. Colburn and son. 30.00
Robert Prince. 100.00
Margaret Mills. 100.00
J. G. Abbott
50.00
S. K. Hutchinson 50.00
Samuel Keyser 50.00
Jos. Carson 20.00
Samuel Wyman, Jr. 250.00
William Dugdale . 10.00
George L. Balcom 300.00
Mrs. N. P. Robinson. 15.00
John A. Goodwin . 25.00
O. W. Ingalls . 5.00
Mrs. Calvin Cook. 25.00
Miss Annie B. Ingalls . . 1.50
Thomas Nesmith 50.00
Jefferson Bancroft . 10.00
C. P. Talbot 50.00
C. F. Battles
10.00
John Nesmith . 50.00
W. F. Salmon
10.00
C. B. Richmond 50.00
Mrs. P. 10.00
Mrs. S. Wyman 1,000.00
Andrew Moody
25.00
James H. Diggles 100.00
John Butcher
25.00
S. Batchelder 100.00
Charles Hibbert
5.00
Mrs. B. F. Thompson. 10.00
William McArthur
10.00
William Kelley . 5.00
John Gott
5.00
George A. Priest 5.00
Alexander Stephens .. 5.00
Andrew Murray . 5.00
William S. Gardner
25.00
Robert A. Gilchrist 5.00
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Joseph Bedlow 25.00
Ann E. Ayer 25.00
E. Gates 5.00
W. P. Webster 100.00
Henry Burrows. 50.00
FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE PARSONAGE, (CONT.)
James Wallace
3.00
Samuel Burbank
25.00
Alexander Craig
3.00
John Wright $10.00
Lydia Kelly
10.00
A. Cocroft
1.00
Sarah Boyd
$1.00
' G. Clarence Scott 5.00
Jane Adams
1.00
James K. Fellows
10.00
Rose Boyd .
1.00
E. S. Hunt . 100.00
Jannette Kitchen
5.00
James Dugdale
50.00
Elizabeth Lewis
1.00
G. W. Carleton
100.00
Eliza Crombie
1.50
- Moulton
10.00
B. Jane Loud.
1.50
Jona. Tyler
25.00
Kate Johnson
1.00
Charles Stott .
25.00
Susey E. Winton
2.00
Charles B. Kitchen
5.00
Anna M. Stevenson
2.00
Dr. W. Taylor
10.00
Fanny Cocroft .
1.00
Miss Taylor
10.00
Mary Wallace
1.00
Ziba Abbott
10.00
Isabell Scott
2.00
Mrs. McNaughtor fam-
Anna Richardson
1.00
ily
4.00
Hattie L. Richardson .
1.00
Stephen McMonagle. .
5.00
Amanda Munroe
1.00
Isaac Ban .
2.50
Maggie Munroe
1.00
Oliver M. Whipple.
100.00
Margaret Horrocks.
1.00
Henry F. Durant
100.00
John Campbell.
2.00
Mrs. Lane
25.00
William Freeman
10.00
Sam. D. Sargent.
50.00
John C. McLennon .
10.00
Mrs. Codman .
100.00
Alice H. Carleton
10.00
Philip Hardy
5.00
Richard O. Connell . .
5.00
H. A. Shedd .
10.00
Rufus Hart .
10.00
Rebecca Ricker
5.00
J. T. Willis and others.
11.50
Theodore Sweetser
50.00
John Sheldon
10.00
An Easter Sale that year netted $1,164.28 for the purchase of the Parsonage.
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