USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lowell > Historical sketch of the First Baptist Church, Lowell, Mass. centennial anniversary > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
It is impossible to give a complete list of those who have been leaders in the work of educating the young of our school, but there are a few who stand out as conspicuous leaders of their time, who, by their efforts, have constituted a golden chain of service that extends from the beginning up to the present time.
Mrs. Sarah Pearsons, who led the juvenile department in such a marvellous way, was the first woman to become superintendent of that department.
Then followed Mrs. Leach, Mrs. Wm. C. Avery, Miss Rebecca Goding, Mrs. Sewall Shattuck, Miss Louisa Dyar, Mrs. Theo. F. Gardner, Miss Ellen O'Leary, Mrs. Larkin T. Trull, Miss Ella
59
Penn, and many other women whose names are not here men- tioned have had a glorious share in the success of the school.
Such men as Tibbetts, Floyd, Bowen, Taylor and Buchanan are not found in every organization, and we who have entered into their labors do well to honor men whose shoes we are not worthy to unloose.
It is impossible to estimate too highly the services of Dea. Geo. H. Taylor, who for such a long period of time was actively connected with the leadership of the school.
Whatever success the school has achieved during the last 15 years has been due in a large measure to his wise counsel.
Few men have ever climbed to such heights of public esteem as did he, and it was a rare privilege to be associated with such a man in church work.
Space does not permit us to mention all the names of those who have helped shape the destiny of our Sunday school, there have been many, and their work was well done, and it will abide forever. It will be many years before the influence of Warren I .. Floyd, Geo. H. Taylor, Harry Stocks and J. W. Buchanan will fade.
Since 1876 our school has held a session every Sunday in the year with a very few exceptions-two Sundays in 1893 for re- pairs, and in 1900 for nine Sundays while the church was being rebuilt, and again in 1918 during the epidemic of influenza we were unable to hold our regular sessions for three Sundays.
While many churches and schools in other denominations, and some in our own, do not hold sessions during the summer season, we have held strongly to the belief that we need the Sunday school as much in the summer as at any other time of the year.
Interest in missions began quite early in the school's history. As far back as 1849 we were giving $250 for the support of a mis- sionary in Iowa.
In 1881 we supported a native preacher in Burmah, in 1883 we were taking care of two, and from then up to the present time we have helped support two missionaries to the Telugus.
In addition to this two of our organized classes are helping to support two native workers on the foreign field.
60
In 1920 we raised our annual missionary pledge from $100 to $150, and have paid this amount each year since.
As the record for the first century closes we are giving to missions practically one dollar for each day of the year.
As we survey the changes that have taken place since the 75th anniversary two at least should be mentioned.
With the grading of the Sunday school in mind, the Sunday School Council was organized Jan. 21, 1915. This body, com- posed of all the teachers and officers of the school, meets the third Thursday of each month, (except July and August) and takes care of all the business.
One of the very first acts of the newly-organized council was to approve the plan to grade the school. This was done on Feb. 18, 1915.
The task of grading, though a big undertaking, was carried out without difficulty, the Senior and Adult departments using the church auditorium, leaving the vestry and adjoining rooms for the grades.
Graded lessons are now being used throughout the school and seven departments are functioning properly.
A great deal might be said in praise of the large army of men and women that have served as teachers in the years gone by if space would allow, but I am confident that there is a complete record on high of every good deed done here for our Lord and Master.
Of the 47 officers and teachers in the school at the semi-cen- tennial in 1876, nine were living in 1901 when the church cele- brated its 75th anniversary, and three of this number-Miss Georgia Norris, Miss Minnie Walsh and Mrs. Theodore Gardner remain to celebrate with us the centennial of our church.
We have many in our midst that have been connected with the school for a great many years, probably the oldest living mem- ber being Miss Sarah Crosby, now a member of the Home Depart- ment. She was baptized in 1861, and came to the Sunday school long before that, so she must have been a member of the school for at least 75 years.
Mrs. Theodore Gardner is another who has had a long and useful period of service with us. She is superintendent of our Home Department and still very active.
61
---
1
We feel that the school could not have grown to what it now is without much prayer, deep interest and consecration on the part of all who were interested in its welfare.
The school has had a glorious past, but a still greater record will yet be made in the years that lie just ahead.
Let us remember that our first duty as teachers and officers is to bring those under our care to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We must persevere with untiring zeal and patience in this glorious cause; believing that we shall reap more abundantly if we faint not.
INTERESTING FACTS
We feel certain that those interested in the history of our school will be glad to have a list of those who have served as super- intendents during the past one hundred years, and although it will be rather long it will nevertheless be very interesting reading, and will be very valuable and precious to many as the years go by.
The following roll contains the names, length of time and the order in which they served, and is accurate so far as any known record exists :-
J. C. Morrill, May, 1826, to November, 1826
Daniel Bowen, November, 1826 to 1828
Col. Henry Batchelder
Dea. Moses M. Tuxbury
Richard L. Hastings
Rev. E. W. Freeman
Dea. William Mead
Rev. J. W. Eaton
Dea. J. A. Brabrook, Dec. 17, 1837, to January, 1843
William Goding, January, 1843, to January, 1845
A. B. Wright, January, 1845, to May, 1847
S. C. Pratt, June, 1847, to April, 1851
A. B. Wright, April, 1851, to January, 1854 Seth Pooler, January, 1854, to April, 1858 A. B. Wright, April, 1858, to October, 1858
S. C. Pratt, October, 1858, to January, 1862 D. P. Bates, January, 1862, to January, 1866 H. W. Tinker, January, 1866, to April, 1866 W. W. Sherman, April, 1866, to January, 1868
62
A. B. Wright, January, 1868, to September, 1868 Geo. A. Weed, September, 1868, to September, 1872 Warren L. Floyd, September, 1872, to Dec. 31, 1882 Henry L. Tibbetts, January, 1883, to Dec. 31, 1907
Geo. H. Taylor, Jan. 10, 1908, to June 30, 1919 T. A. Whelan, Oct. 16, 1919, to present time
Since 1883 the Sunday school has had only three superin- tendents, twenty-one men in all having filled this office since its organization, one man serving four terms and another two.
Dea. Tibbetts held the superintendency longer than any other (25 years) or just one-quarter of the school's history. As one of the guiding spirits of the school Dea. Geo. H. Taylor without a doubt had the longest record, for as assistant to Dea. Tibbetts, and as superintendent, his term of office covered a period of 30 years.
The enrollment of the school is interesting to look over, for it shows a steady growth, with a few exceptions, and these decreases are in periods caused by circumstances over which the Sunday school had no control.
The membership from 1826 to 1836 cannot be given, no records for this period ever having come to light.
The following table will show the strength of the school numerically year by year from 1837 to the present time :-
1837
200
1855
535
1873
488
1838
500
1856
554
1874
451
1839
660
1857
560
1875
452
1840
715
1858
525
1876
434
1841
656
1859
585
1877
473
1842
707
1860
542
1878
424
1843
554
186
506
1879
459
1844
545
1862
500
1880
482
*1845
1863
431
1881
450
1846
400
*1864
1882
698
1847
596
*1865
1883
500
1848
625
*1866
1884
529
1849
700
1867
401
1885
434
1850
788
1868
472
1886
465
185
652
1869
561
1887
435
1852
644
1870
629
1888
504
1853
630
1871
500
1889
629
1854
650
1872
466
1890
673
63
Bili
1891
728
*1903
1915
1005
1892
842
*1904
1916
1021
1893
694
*1905
1917
1086
1894
619
1906
818
1918
1029
1895
619
*1907
1919
1010
1896
637
1908
919
1920
1001
1897
702
1909
864
1921
1049
1898
775
1910
874
1922
1013
1899
767
1911
1148
1923
1031
1900
$22
1912
967
1924
971
1901
850
1913
1083
1925
976
1902
859
1914
975
*Record lost
The following is a Code of Regulations unanimously adopted by the First Baptist Church and Society in Lowell for the management of their Sabbath School, on Lord's day evening, Dec. 10, 1837.
Article 1. That a committee of fifteen gentlemen chosen annually from the First Baptist Church and Society in Lowell with their Pastor, who shall be the chairman ex-officio, shall have the care and supervision of the Sabbath school or schools connected with said Church and Society.
Article 2. This committee shall have a meeting immediately after they are chosen, at which time they shall choose by ballot a Secretary and Treas- urer, who with four managers, one of whom shall be the Pastor of the congregation, shall constitute a Board of Directors.
Article 3. Special meetings of the committee shall be called by the chairman at the request of any two members thereof in writing specifying the principal business for which the meeting is to be called.
Article 4. It shall be the duty of the committee to visit the school at least once a month, to exercise a watch care over its interests and improve- ments and make such suggestions to the Superintendent as the conditions of the school may require.
BOARD OF MANAGERS
.Article 1. This Board shall meet as early as may be after their appoint- ment, at the call of the Chairman, and in his absence the Secretary, and appoint without delay the Superintendent, Librarian and such other officers as the welfare of the school may require.
Article 2. This Board, with the Superintendent thus appointed, shall choose the teachers and assign the books to be used in the several classes.
Article 3. The Board of Managers shall have supervisory care and control of the school, shall prescribe such general rules for conducting the school, regulations for the Library, teachers and others engaged in the school as they may deem requisite, shall duly attend to all petitions, requests or suggestions from the teachers or others interested in the welfare of the school.
64
Article 4. They shall direct all the expenditures of the school, devise and recommend to the committee for their adoption such modes of raising funds for the school as they may think most expedient.
Article 5. They shall be competent to attend to any business of the school which does not properly come within the prescribed duties of any particular officer.
Article 6. The committee shall have power to fill any vacancies which may from time to time occur in their own body or in the Board of Directors.
SECRETARY
Article 1. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to make a faithful record of the election of the committee by the Church and Society, of the doings of the committee and of the Board at their meetings, and to perform such other services as naturally falls to that office, and to make an annual report of the state of the school, and oftener if required.
Article 2. The secretary of the committee shall be the secretary of the Board.
TREASURER
Article 1. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all moneys raised for the school, to pay them out at the direction of the Board of Managers. He shall keep a true account of the same open to the in- spection of the Board or any member of it, and he shall report the state of the funds to the committee once a year and oftener if required.
Sunday School Notes
PHILATHEA CLUB AND CLASS
The following records were prepared by Mrs. Georgie F. Boynton, first teacher of the class in Feb., 1916 :-
1881-1882-A class of eight girls came from the Primary Department of the school called the "Flower Garden." Mrs. Georgie F. Boynton, teacher, taught until February, 1887. when she went to Nashua, N. H. She returned and taught the class again in 1890 until 1895. During her absence the class was taught by Mrs. Gordon, then divided. Mrs. Hill was teacher for a time. The original eight were Helen Hinckley, L. Maude Stackpole, Delphina Allen, Climena Allen, Emily Vanderpant, Maud Ireland, Bertha Taylor, Alma Grogan. Later the class grew to about twenty members :- Susie M. Hannaford. Grace Chap-
65
1
man, Velma Colwell Pevey, Florence Flemings, Gertrude Cobb, Ethel Cobb, Laura Perkins, Jennie Loyd, Lillian M. Holman and others. In September, 1901, Mrs. Boynton was a guest at a ban- quet given by the class. She is now living in East Providence, R. I. Mrs. L. Maude Stackpole Jacobs and Susie M. Hannaford are still members of the class, and Mrs. Grace Chapman Amadon is secretary of the Floyd Class.
In 1895 Mr. Albion F. Swanton became teacher of the Class No. 1 of 16 members and taught with the exception of one and one- half years until within a few months of his death, October 27, 1911, about 15 years. January 10, 1909, to June 9, 1910, our pastor's wife, Mrs. S. W. Cummings, taught the class. April 23, 1911, Easter Sunday, Mrs. George W. Hunt became teacher of the class and taught, except a short time, until she resigned on October 27, 1918, seven and one-half years. In March, 1914, Mrs. Hunt resigned to take a trip to England and Mrs. Herman S. Pinkham was elected teacher to start teaching in September, but owing to Rev. Mr. Pinkham's death was unable to take up the work. In October, 1914, Mrs. Hunt having returned, was re-elected teacher. Mr. George W. Hunt supplied as teacher while we were without one. October 27, 1918, our assistant teacher, Mrs. Larkin Trull, was elected teacher, but owing to her health resigned the position, but did some teaching. November 3, 1918, Mrs. E. Barnes became teacher and resigned June 9, 1925, almost seven years. June 9, 1925, Mrs. A. J. French became teacher of the class.
ACTIVITIES OF THE CLASS
In 1901 the class presented the Ladies' Benevolent Society a large picture entitled :- "A little child shall lead them," to be hung in the Ladies' Parlor. In 1902 the membership was 40 active and 8 honorary members. June 7, 1905, the class gathered at the dedi- cation of the new Y. W. C. A. building in Room 23 furnished by the class. October 11, 1905, class No. 1, Mr. Swanton teacher, was organized as the Philathea Club and Class. Our motto-"Love to God and Humanity, Loyalty to Church and School. The Honor of Our Class." December 1, 1905, the class moved from the left-hand corner of the vestry side of the piano to the room side of the kitchen, formerly known as the M. L. T. room, now the Baraca
66
room. December 18, 1905, the first annual meeting was held, the by-laws adopted, and the officers elected : Teacher, A. F. Swanton ; president, Mrs. Mabel A. Taylor ; vice president, Mrs. Florence E. Preston ; secretary, Miss Bertha Taylor ; treasurer, Mrs. L. Maude Jacobs. To give Rev. Harry Taylor's Baraca class more room it was decided that our class use the Ladies' Parlor, which we used first January 14, 1906, holding our opening exercises with the Floyd class in the auditorium. The class furnished the cane seat chairs for the class room, and soon bought a piano, and have since held our own opening exercises. Later a book case, a small library, singing books, Bibles, and other minor furnishings have been added. In February, 1907, November, 1910, and April, 1911, the class, through the generosity of their teacher, gave complimentary con- certs to the church and Sunday school, held in the church auditorium by a ladies' orchestra and reader from Boston. March 29, 1907, the class gave the present pulpit furniture-two chairs, settee, two tables, at a cost of $290.00. January, 1910, $25.00 was given to the Sunday school piano fund. In 1917 the class gave $50 for missions, and has given the same every year since, also in 1925 gave $50 for church expenses, besides contributing to all special calls from time to time. In 1924 the class had the Ladies' Parlor, our class room, painted and the furniture recovered and put up window draperies at a cost of about $175. Several different years we fur- nished flowers for the pulpit. On November 9, 1904, Mr. Swanton entertained the class in an upper room of his barn, fitted up with fireplace for the use of the class. Our monthly socials were held there for a long time. During the years we have united with the Baraca class in socials, picnics, and entertainments, also several times the Floyd class has been included. We have raised our money by food sales, auction sales and rubber sales, and at the present time by holiday envelopes, 10 cents for each holiday. Mrs. L. Maude Jacobs, Mrs. Alice Schaffer, Mrs. Elsie M. Sanders have held some office most of the time since the class was organized. The present officers are: Teacher, Mrs. A. J. French; president, Mrs. A. C. Beal; vice-president, Mrs. M. Wells; secretary, Mrs. E. M. Sanders; treasurer, Mrs. L. M. Jacobs, with a membership of 65 active, 10 honorary members, and 8 teaching in the school. We have about $75 in the treasury.
67
BARACA CLASS
The records regarding the Baraca Class are not as complete as one could wish for, but from the material to hand we gather that a Baraca Class was organized in the First Baptist Church Oct. 19, 1897, known as the First Baptist Baraca Sunday School Class. The teacher and founder was Miss Emily Simpson, assistant to Dr. S. T. Ford, pastor. Under the leadership of Miss Simpson the class grew strongly, and became an influence for good in the church and school. The first class gift was given to the militia boys of the Spanish-American War. In 1900 $237 was raised and given to the church building fund. Lectures by Maud Ballington Booth, Ian MacLaren and Gabriel Reid Maguire were fostered by the class :-
The Baraca Class was reorganized March 23, 1905, by Rev. Harry Taylor, assistant pastor to Dr. O. C. S. Wallace. The Rev. Harry Taylor was the first teacher of the reorganized class. The class motto adopted was "The Other Fellow." Succeeding Miss Simpson and Rev. Harry Taylor the following were teachers of the class :-
1905, Rev. S. W. Cummings, D. D .; 1913, Deacon George W. Hunt ; November, 1913, Rev. Hermon S. Pinkham; 1915, Deacon Jas. K. Anderson ; 1918, Rev. A. C. Archibald ; 1920, Rev. Edward Babcock, D. D .; 1924, Rev. Grady D. Feagan.
The following is a list of the presidents from organization to date :- 1905-08, Robert Gregson; 1908, Geo. F. Wagner; 1909. W. W. Buzzell; 1910, A. E. Dyar; 1911, Robert Friend ; 1912-13. Albert Willis ; 1914, Thomas A. Whalen; 1915, Dan Line; 1916. Harry Woodman; 1917, Leon Abbott; 1918, David. Manning : 1919, Maynard Beal; 1920, Amos Dows; 1921, J. E. Colby ; 1922. Walter Clement ; 1923, Harry Lomas ; 1924, Frank Spooner ; 1925. G. F. Slipp.
Some of the high-water attendance marks are :- March, 1906. first anniversary, 106; September, 1915, Rally Day, 117; Septem- ber, 1916, Rally Day, 105; October, 1917, 136; September, 1920, Rally Day, 115; Feb. 8, 1921, supper, 160; Feb. 8, 1912, ladies' night, 210.
68
Under the teaching of our present pastor the class bids fair to outrival the past, especially in interest.
The interest of the men in any plea which touches the vital needs of human life is seen almost every Sunday, when sums of money of varying amount are quickly subscribed, and it is a great joy to see the way in which the members of the class get under the burdens of their suffering brethren.
The first Baraca class was organized in Syracuse, N. Y., Octo- ber 10, 1890. Mr. M. A. Hudson, who was teaching a class of young men believed that a stronger hold could be obtained on the class, and a better fellowship secured by a thorough organization. They took for a name Baraca, which is an abbreviation of the Bible word "Barachah," 11 Chronicles, 20: 26, which means blessing. The word was shortened in order that it might be adapted to a class pin. The platform adopted was: "Young men at work for young men, all standing by the Bible and the Bible School." The good work it was doing was soon recognized by the other schools in the city, then through the State. The idea spread rapidly, and now there are classes in almost every State in the Union, and in nearly every town, and they are being introduced in England.
FLOYD BIBLE CLASS
The Floyd Class was organized January 15, 1894, with Deacon Warren L. Floyd as teacher. The first officers of the class were : President, Deacon Geo. H. Taylor; vice-president, Sophie Pick- ering ; secretary, Mrs. W. H. Howe; assistant secretary, Mrs. C. H. Gordon ; organist, Miss Mae Potter; chorister, Deacon Craven Midgley.
Social meetings were held the first Monday in January, May and September.
In 1905 Deacon Floyd resigned his position as teacher to Rev. O. C. S. Wallace, who taught the class until 1908, when he was called to a church in Baltimore, Md. The first Sunday in January, 1909, Rev. S. W. Cummings took the class and taught it until November 24, 1912, when he severed his connection with the church, having had a call to Pasedena, California. Deacon Floyd once more took up the teaching of the class and taught it until 1916.
69
when poor health kept him at home. August 2, 1918, he passed on to his reward at the age of 82 years, after 24 years of faithful work in the class. Rev. J. E. Dinsmore then took up the work and taught until 1923, when poor health kept him at home. Mrs. Myron B. Fuller then consented to teach for a while. A few months later Mrs. Walter Clements took the class and taught until the first of April, 1925. In June, Mrs. E. W. Parsons came to the class as a teacher, and is still doing fine work. The class is for men and women. There is an enrollment of 70 members in the class.
The present officers of the class are : President, Deacon Loring Trull; vice-president, S. W. Hands; secretary, Mrs. G. M. Ama- don ; assistant secretary, Mrs. S. W. Hands ; treasurer, Mrs. Ken- neth Mckinnon.
AMOMA CLASS
The Amoma Class, composed of young women, was organized by Miss Mabel Brown in 1910. At that time Mrs. H. L. Tibbetts. who for years was a great worker in our church, taught a class of young women for whom she built the beautiful room now known as the Amoma Room. In 1913 Mrs. Tibbetts was forced to relin- quish her class and the classes were united and reorganized, Miss Brown continuing as teacher. Later her duties became so numerous she handed the class over to Mrs. A. C. Archibald, who continued to teach until her removal from the city in 1919. Mrs. Annie M. Russell has taught the class since Mrs. Archibald's resignation. The class has completely furnished their room, adorned the walls with handsome pictures, and made it so attractive that other organiza- tions enjoy holding their meetings there. The class has been espe- cially active in charitable work. Each Thanksgiving and Christmas they send dinners to six families and do other work among the sick and unfortunate. The class is always ready to assist the other church organizations. At the recent fair they assumed entire charge of the grab table, and for our present centennial they have done the decorating of the church and vestry, for which they made over one hundred and fifty chrysanthemums. The class has a present membership of 42, with Miss Verna Slipp as president ; Mrs. Alice
70
1
Hall, vice president ; Miss Mattie MacAdam, secretary ; Miss Eliza- beth Howard, treasurer. The class has socials each month at the homes of members of the class, and the mid-winter banquet and the summer outing are important events in the lives of the girls. The aim of the class is to make this world a little happier and brighter place in which to live.
CHINESE SUNDAY SCHOOL
At a meeting of the Lowell Baptist Social Union in 1888 it was voted to open a school for the Chinese. The First Baptist Church was chosen as the place for it to be held. The school was opened June, 1888. The first Sunday no one came, the second Sunday two came, and one of them was so anxious for others to come that he hired a horse and carriage and went after his fellow- countrymen.
The school soon increased in numbers. Mr. Tibbetts took charge for a few Sundays, and then Miss Adele Norris, who had been a helper from the beginning, was asked to take charge. She put a great deal of time and strength into the work, calling upon every Chinaman in the city, and a great increase in numbers and interest was soon apparent. As a result of the earnest seed-sow- ing conversions were frequent, notwithstanding the reluctance of the Chinese to adopt the "Jesus religion." After the school had been in existence about four years, Miss Adele Norris married Mr. Henry Tibbetts, and shortly after gave up the work to her sister, Miss Georgia C. Norris, her associate. The Holy Spirit was manifested in many ways, and much good done as a result. The Baptist Union was not called upon for money for books or to use in any other way. The school had become entirely self-supporting. and was also sending out varying sums of money to the Chinese mission fields. The influence of Chinese Sunday Schools is seen in the fact that one of the boys who attended our school was told about Jesus Christ in China by an uncle who had learned about Jesus in a Chinese Sunday School in San Francisco. The boy was baptized in our church. Shortly afterwards he died from an at- tack of typhoid fever. In the last prayer meeting he attended be- fore his death he gave this testimony in his own words: "I believe
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.