USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Sturbridge > Historical sketch of Sturbridge, Mass., from its settlement to the present time > Part 5
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The departure of this colony from the original Church in Stur- bridge, was not the only, nor indeed the most material diminution of strength which it experienced about this time. For a number of years subsequent to 1800, the most noticcable circumstance which
* The Rev. Jason Park, their first minister, was ordained Dec. 18, 1816, and continued in the office 16 years. He was dismissed Dec. 18, 1832, and soon after removed to Michi- gan, where he still preaches a part of the time. His successor, the Rev. Henry J. Lamb, was ordained June 6, 1833. After a short ministry he was dismissed, April 23, 1835, and has subsequently been settled in Chelsea, where he still remains. Their present pastor, the Rev. Eber Carpenter, was installed Dec. 1, 1835. He was graduated at Yale College, stu- died Theology at Andover, and was a settled minister in the first parish of York, Me. for se- veral years before his removal to Southbridge. The Church and Society are in a peace- ful and prosperous state. The number belonging to the Church is about 120.
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the records present, is spiritual declension. Family worship was much neglected ; brotherly love was growing cold ; roots of bitterness were springing up. The recorded lamentations of the pastor over the deserted ways of Zion and in view of the small numbers who were joining themselves to the Lord, are truly affecting. But the time to favor Zion was at hand. It arrived in 1810. That year was a season of " refreshing from the presence of the Lord," in which 40 members were added to the Church. This may be considered the greatest, if not indeed the first revival of religion which the town had ever enjoyed, and formed a new era in the history of this Church. An impulse was given to spiritual religion, which is probably felt to the present day. Mr. Lane was pastor of this Church about 18 years, in which time it was increased by the addition of 98 members -- 84 by profession, and 14 by letter. His dismission took place, Feb. 24, 1819. He was afterwards installed over the Church in Vol- untown and Sterling, Ct. where he remained till the infirmities of advancing age disqualified him for a longer continuance in the gospel ministry. He now resides with his children, affectionately remember- ed by the Church to whose service he gave the vigor of his life. 6
The Rev. Alvan Bond, a native of Sutton, and a graduate of Brown , University, who had recently completed his Theological studies at Andover, came to this town in June 1819, as a temporary supply, and was ordained to the pastoral office, Nov. 30th of the same year. Mr. Bond's first business was the " delightful task" of gathering into the Church the fruits of a religious revival which commenced during the last year of his predecessor's ministry. The number added to the Lord at that time was about 25. "Nothing of special interest," says Mr. Bond in a note to the author of this sketch, "occurred for seve- ral years. At length in the autumn of 1825 God visited that people again with the outpouring of his Spirit. That work was preceded by special efforts on the part of the pastor to awaken professed Chris- tians to their duty. The measures pursued consisted mainly in suc- cessive and continued appeals to the Church from the pulpit, follow- ed by pastoral visitation and meetings for prayer. Never shall I for- get the powerful interest of that time of refreshing." About 40 were gathered into the Church in 1826, and nearly 20 in the year follow- ing, as the results of this gracious visitation. During the 12 years of his ministry in this place 123 were added to the Church, Sabbath Schools and Bible Classes were established in different parts of the town, and a Temperance Society formed. The talents of Mr. Bond
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being equally well suited to another, and in some respects a more im- portant sphere, he was called away from the pastoral office, Oct. 3, 1831, to the Professorship of Sacred Literature in the Theological Seminary at Bangor, Me. After a residence in that Seminary for the , space of three years, he returned again to the ministry, and was in- stalled over the second Congregational Church in Norwich, Ct. May 7th, 1835, where he still remains.
The present pastor of this Church, a native of Plymouth, and a graduate of Amherst College, preached his first sermon here Oct. 2d, 1831,-the next Sabbath after he had completed his Theological course at Andover, and the day before his predecessor was dismissed. He was ordained on the 21st of December following. With his ministry the Society commenced their present method of supporting the gospel by voluntary subscription. The facility and promptness with which it has uniformly been effected in this way, have removed all thoughts of returning to the ancient method of taxation.
The wonders which divine grace has wrought in behalf of this Church, since the time of my connexion with it, are too many to be recounted in this brief sketch; and yet they are too striking to be wholly overlooked. In coming to this part of the Lord's vineyard seven years ago, I came to a field " white already to harvest." A deep religious interest, which began to pervade this town near the close of Mr. Bond's ministry, continued with but little or no abate- ment through the first year and a half of my own. Indeed, some were admitted to the Church at every communion season, with a single exception, for more than two years. And often has the Spirit of God since that time aroused this community, in a greater or less degree, to the care of the soul. During these seven years the Lord, has added to this Church 203 by profession, and 56 by letters of re- commendation, 259 in all. The whole number now connected with it is 335. In the same period of time this Church and religious Society have contributed to various objects of Christain charity about $4,000, besides furnishing occasional aid to several young men of this town in their preparation for the sacred ministry.
In 1835 the interior of the Meetinghouse was entirely remodeled, on a plan which furnishes many more and much better seats, than it supplied before. An example, so worthy of imitation, has since been followed in at least six of the neighboring towns.
The following are the names of those who have sustained the office of Deacon in the Congregational Church since its organization.
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The date indicates the year in which they were elected. A chasm of 30 years in the Records of Mr. Paine's ministry, renders it im- possible to assign a date to those who were appointed to office during that interval. The four Jast named brethren still officiate.
1736, Daniel Fiske Roland Clark
1736, Ebenezar Stearns Eleazar Hebbard
1741, Isaac Newell
1807, Joel Plimpton
1747, Joseph Baker 1808, Daniel Plimpton
1749, Edward Foster
1826, Zenas Dunton
1764, Moses Weld
1826, George Davis
Joshua Harding
1832, Ephraim M. Lyon
Job Hamant
1832, James Chapin.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH .*
The Baptist Church in this town is one of the oldest in the County of Worcester. It was organized about the year 1750. Its original members withdrew from the Congregational Church under the care of Mr. Caleb Rice, several years earlier, but did not enter into a se- parate organization. Their first place of worship was a school house, situated not far from the spot where their first Meetinghouse after- wards stood.
Rev. William Ewing was their first Minister. He is represented as a pious and devoted man. He had been a soldier in the French war before he enlisted as a " soldier of the Cross." He served in General Braddock's army, and was in the battle, called " Braddock's fight." After a short ministry in this town he removed to another part of the Lord's vineyard, and the Church was left without a pastor for many years. In 1784 they erected a Meetinghouse on Fiske Hill, by voluntary contribution, and on the 27th of Oct. the same year, the Rev. Jordon Dodge was ordained their pastor. The Church was
* It is with unfeigned regret that I find myself unable to give a more extended account of this Church. Its records for the first 30 years are lost ; and some important documents of later date, which were supposed to be extant, have utterly eluded the most diligent search. It is only by the hope that these few facts may be of service to some other one in compiling a more complete history, that I am induced to insert this imperfect sketch.
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greatly prospered during the first three years of his ministry. He is said to have been a fervent, energetic speaker, having unusual com- mand over the feelings of his audience. But his moral character at length falling under censure, he was dismissed from his pastoral office in 1788, and silenced from preaching soon after. Various attempts were made to procure a successor, and a number of ministers were employed to supply the pulpit, among whom were Messrs. Baldwin, Rathbun and Root. But no permanent teacher was obtained till 1794, when the Rev. Zenas L. Leonard, a native of Bridgewater, and a graduate of Brown University, came to this place. After sup- plying the pulpit statedly about two years, he was ordained as their pastor, Sept. 15, 1796. During his ministry the Church enjoyed several precious seasons of revival, and important additions were made, especially in the years 1810, 18, 25, and 31. It is supposed that during Mr. Leonard's whole ministry he baptized, in this, and the sur- rounding towns, more than 200 persons.
In 1817, 22 members of his Church were dismissed, for the pur- pose of forming a Church in Southbridge. The same year 14 per- sons living in Brookfield were admitted as a branch of the Church in this town, and received a share of ministerial labor. A few years after this, a Colony of about 20 members were dismissed from Mr. Leonard's charge and organized into a Baptist Church in Holland.
On the 13th of Oct. 1832, Mr. Leonard was compelled, by the growing infirmities of age, to resign the pastoral office, having served God in the gospel ministry for the space of 38 years. The Rev. Abiel Fisher, formerly of Bellingham, supplied his place during the last year of this period.
Their first Meetinghouse, by this time was going to decay; and as it stood at an inconvenient distance from many of the Society, in 1832 they erected a new and far more commodious one, in the centre village, on a corner of the old Burying-ground. It was dedicated Jan. 8, 1833, and the Rev. Addison Parker installed in the pastoral office the same day. Mr. Parker was graduated at Middlebury College, was afterwards a Tutor in Waterville, and had been settled over the Baptist Church in Southbridge five years and a half when he was in- vited to this town. He continued with this people till Dec. 12, 1835, when he accepted a call to settle in Methuen, and was dismissed from his charge in Sturbridge. The Rev. Isaac Merriam, formerly a min- ister in Maine, was recognized as his successor in August 1836, and took dismission the following year.
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The present pastor of the Church is the Rev. O. O. Stearns, a graduate of Brown University. His ordination took place Sept. 25, 1837. It is impossible to determine, with any accuracy, the number admitted to this Church since its organization. Its present number is not far from 130.
The Baptist Society have just completed the removal of their Meet- inghouse to Fiskdale village, about 2 miles from its former location. As this arrangement brings the Sanctuary to the doors of many who have hitherto found it inconvenient to attend Church statedly, it is presumed that they will hereafter avail themselves of that privilege.
The following are the names of those who have held the office of Deacon in this Church since its organization, viz.
Daniel Fiske
John Phillips
John Newell
Jonathan Lyon
Jonathan Phillips
Moses Fiske
Henry Fiske
Prince Bracket.
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Alpheus Cheney, D. C. 1795.
John Paine, H. U. 1799. . Lawyer. He was son of the Rev. Joshua Paine, studied law with the Hon. Jabez Upham of Brook- field, and practised law in this town till his death.
Timothy Newell, H. U. 1802. He was the only son of Gen. Timo- thy Newell, and died in Salem, N. Y. soon after he left College.
*Samuel Bacon, H. U. 1808. Mr. Bacon read law with W. C. White, Esq. of Rutland, and Hon. Levi Lincoln of Worcester. While in this latter place he also edited the National Ægis. Soon after he left, he commenced the editing of the Hive, a political pa- per, published in Lancaster, Pa. In 1812 he became an officer of Marines in the U. States' service ; afterwards an attorney at law in the State of Pennsylvania ; subsequently a Minister of the Episcopal Church; and finally the principal Agent of the American Govern- ment for persons liberated from slave-ships, on the coast of Africa, where he terminated his valuable life, May 2, 1820.
Benjamin Rice, B. U. 1808. He pursued Theological studies at Andover, and is now settled in Buxton, Mainc.
Josiah J. Fiske, B. U. 1808. Lawyer. He commenced the study of law in the office of the late Nathaniel Searl, L. L. D., of Provi- dence, R. I. and completed it with Timothy Bigclow, Esq. of Boston, after which he entered into the practice of law in Wrentham, where his office became a favorite resort for students of the legal profession. For several years he was Senator in the State Legislature, and for some time a member of the Executive Council. During the latter years of his life he became deeply interested in the manufacturing enterprise at Fiskedale village, Sturbridge, where he departed this life, Aug. 15, 1838.
* William L. Marcy, B. U. 1808. He pursued the study of law in the city of Troy, N. Y.,-settled in Albany,-soon rose to distinc- tion in his profession, and is now Governor of the State of N. York. Jacob Corey, B. U. 1808. Physician in Sturbridge.
* Daniel F. Harding, B. U. 1809.
David W. Fiske, B. U. 1825. Lawyer in Detroit, Michigan.
Calvin P. Fiske, B. U. 1826. Physician in Sturbridge.
Henry F. Leonard, B. U. 1826. Son of Rev. Z. L. Leonard, and died at the house of his father soon after he left College.
David T. Lane, A. C. 1829. He had just completed a course of Theological studies at Andover, and received a commission from the A. B. C. F. M. with the intention of devoting himself to the Mis- sionary cause, when his promising life terminated at the house of his
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APPENDIX.
List of Graduates.
HI. U. denotes Harvard University, Y. C. Yale College, B. U. Brown University, D. C. Dartmouth College, and A. C. Amherst College. The following mark, (*) indicates those who belonged to that part of the town which is now included within the limits of Southbridge.
Caleb Rice, H. U. 1764. Son of the Rev. Caleb Rice, the first minister in Sturbridge.
Nathan Rice, H. U. 1773. Son of the same. He was Colonel in the U. States Army which was stationed at Oxford during the winter of 1798-9, and afterwards removed to Burlington, Vt. where he died a few years since.
Joshua Paine, H. U. 1784. Son of the Rev. Joshua Paine. Having completed his Theological studies, he was ordained Pastor of the first Church in Charlestown, June 10, 1787, and was the first minister settled there after the conflagration of the town by the Bri- tish in 1775. He died Feb. 27, 1788, after a short ministry of less than two years.
Thomas Babbit, H. U. 1784. Physician. He pursued his profes- sional studies with the elder Dr. Warren of Boston, commenced the practice of medicine in Gloucester, returned to Sturbridge in 1790, and removed to Brookfield in 1803, where he died in 1813, having acquired a distinguished reputation, especially as a surgeon. IIe was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and accompa- nied Gen. Eaton as Surgeon in his expedition against Tripoli.
Ephraim Allen, H. U. 1789. Physician. He studied with Dr. Erasmus Babbit of this town, and settled in Salem, N. Y. where he remained till his death.
Erasmus Babbit, II. U. 1790. Lawyer. He was also Captain in the Oxford army.
Samuel C. Crafts, H. U. 1790. For some time Governor of the State of Vermont.
Grosvenor Tarbell, Y. C. 1793. Physician. He pursued his me- dical studies with Dr. Thomas Babbit, and settled in Lincoln.
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father, the Rev. Otis Lane, who at that time was settled in the minis- try at Sterling, Ct.
William H. Taylor, B. U. 1837. A teacher at the South.
Abijah S. Lyon, B. U. 1837. Pastor of the Baptist Church in Oxford.
Benjamin F. Brooks, A. C. 1837. Student at law in Cambridge.
Chester W. Carpenter. Member of Amherst College.
John B. Allen. Member of Union College.
Darius Gore. Member of Amherst College.
Alfred Belknap. Member of Amherst College.
Merrick Lyon. Member of Brown University.
Besides Clergymen, the following Professional men have pursued the business of their respective professions in Sturbridge. Those whose names are marked thus, (+) still remain in the same occupa- tion.
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Physicians.
MESHECH REMINGTON
ERASMUS BABBIT
JACOB COREY, M. M. S.
THOMAS BABBIT, M. D. & M. M. S.
MATTATHIAS RICE
·t ABISHAI HOWARD, M. M. S.
EPHRAIM M. LYON
+ JACOB COREY JR.
+ DANIEL MASON
HOSEA WHEELER, M. D.
+ CALVIN P. FISKE, M. D.
ORSON PARKER
CYRUS HUTCHINS
+ WILLIAM S. SAUNDERS, M. D.
Lawyers.
ERASMUS BABBIT JR. JOHN PAINE t GEORGE DAVIS.
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