USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fall River > History, annals and sketches of the Central Church of Fall River, Massachusetts : A.D. 1842-A.D. 1905 : with portraits and views > Part 15
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An interesting occurrence in connection with the Chinese society should be here noted. The Fall River Christian Endeavor Union some years ago purchased a silk banner to be displayed at the union gatherings, and voted to give it, each year, into the custody of the society having the largest average attendance of members at the regular weekly prayer-meetings of the previous year. On the occasion of the first award of the banner, after the Chinese society had joined the local union, it was found that it led all the other societies in the particular named, and the banner came to the care of the Chinese society. The very same thing happened the two following years, at which time the local union, finding that it was practically impossible for any other society to ever again become possessed of the banner, voted it to the Chinese society,
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to become its exclusive property. It then secured another banner, to be used in future contests. It was at first proposed that the basis of award should be the amount per member contributed for missionary objects; but it was found that in this respect the Chinese society would doubtless again lead. The second union banner is now awarded to the society having the largest proportional attendance at the quarterly meetings of the union.
MISSION CHAPEL OF CENTRAL CHURCH Pleasant Street, Fall River, Mass.
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Mission Work of Central Church in Fall River A.D. 1849 - 1905
Introduction - First School, 1849.
Organization of the Union School, 1853.
Fall River Domestic Missionary Society, 1853-1858.
Ladies' Society - Auxiliary, 1853-1858.
Gentlemen's Society - Auxiliary, 1854-1858.
Thomas Boardman, Missionary, 1853-1857.
Fall River Mission Sabbath School, 1858.
Fall River Mission Sunday-School Building, 1861.
Annals of Pleasant Street Mission Sabbath School, 1861-1903.
Work of Rev. E. A. Buck, Missionary, 1867-1903.
Work of Miss Caroline Borden, 1853-1905.
Fathers and Mothers' Bible Class, 1880-1905.
History of Pleasant Street Mission School A.D. 1849 - 1903
THE first movement towards establishing a Sunday school for the neglected children of the city, who received no religious training at home, was inaugurated at a ladies' prayer-meeting for foreign missions, held in the vestry of the Central Church, on Bedford Street, in the summer of 1849. Mrs. Borden, wife of Col. Richard Borden, asked at that meeting the question, "Are there no heathen about us, who need to be saved ? " Two of the ladies present, Miss Lucretia Dean and Miss Julia A. Sessions (now Mrs. Eli Thurston), volunteered to go into the byways and alleys of the town, with the purpose of persuading parents to allow their children to come on the next Sunday morning, at nine o'clock, to the hall on Bedford Street, where they might learn something which would do them good.
The hall, in which some eight or nine children gathered that first Sunday, was loaned for the purpose by its owner, Mr. Abram Bowen, father of Mr. Joseph A. Bowen.
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Our own Sunday school connected with the Church was large and prosperous, and universally attended by the children of the Church; but members of the Central Church were the pioneers in the mission work in Fall River, which has since grown to such proportions.
The numbers attending this Mission School steadily in- creased, but naturally fluctuated, as the children were often late or absent, so that Miss Dean and Miss Sessions agreed to go early to the homes of the children and bring them. This they did for some time, until steady habits of attendance were formed.
An episode occurring soon after the opening of the Mission, is of some interest as illustrating the immense change of sentiment in regard to Sabbath observance since those days.
It was found, to the indignant surprise of the teachers, that the children attending the school often supplied themselves with candy and peanuts at a little hut of a shop near their hall, and within a stone's throw of the churches. It was kept by an Irish woman, in defiance of law and the rule of her own church. Great was the horror of the good ladies interested in the school; for they felt sure that all the good they could inculcate would be more than canceled by the wickedness of such Sabbath breaking. So great was their zeal for reform, that they invoked the aid of the police, and all attended court as witnesses against the law-breaker; as a final re- sult, the proprietor was obliged to remove to a less sanctified locality.
This movement for the benefit of the neglected waifs soon attracted the attention of the christian workers of the town belonging to other denominations, and in the spring of 1853 the " Fall River Domestic Missionary Society " was organized, including different religious denominations, and having for its object "the diffusion of religious knowledge among the destitute in Fall River and vicinity," by the employment of one or more missionaries to labor from house to house, and
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by the distribution of Bibles, tracts, and religious books. At this time, it was thought expedient for the interests of the Mission, to reorganize the school, making it a " union school," and non-sectarian, also to change its place of meeting to some room not connected with any church. This change was made, and the school was put under the patronage of that society. Mr. Thomas F. Eddy was made superintendent. The suc- cessive presidents of the society were, Richard Borden, Ben- jamin Earl, Elihu Grant, and Jeremiah Young.
In the summer of 1853, a Ladies' Society was organized, to be auxiliary to the Fall River Domestic Missionary Society; also including different denominations, for the purpose of supplying clothing for Sabbath-school children.
May 14, 1854, a meeting of the superintendents and teach- ers of the school was held at the Mission room, on Central Street, when it was voted to organize " a society for the pur- pose of sustaining the Sabbath school," to be known as the "Fall River Missionary Sunday-School Society." Its charter members were: Thomas Boardman, Lucretia Dean, Elizabeth R. Shove, Eliza G. Burrows, Helen M. Cobb, Maria B. Marvel, William T. Coggeshall, Hannah E. Coggeshall, Joseph Borden, Thomas F. Eddy, John D. Flint, Sylvia J. Dyer, David H. Dyer, Emily G. Fish, Lucy G. Corey, Harriet E. Whitney, Mrs. Bennett, Caroline Borden, Mary E. Hill, Mary A. Dilling- ham, Annie M. Strout, Marietta Howard, John White, Miss Waldron, Mrs. Blake.
May 28, a constitution and by-laws were adopted. The constitution defined the object of the school to be, " to co- operate with the Domestic Missionary Society of this city, in the support of a Sabbath school (now in existence) for the benefit of such persons, both children and adults, as attend no other Sabbath school." It was voted that "this school shall be supplied with, at least, two teachers - a gentleman and a lady - from each of the churches represented in the Domestic Missionary Society of this city." The by-laws pro-
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vided that the scholars in the adult department, wishing to attend a certain church, or being assigned to a certain church, should be in the class of a teacher attending that church; should accompany him or her to church; and be subject to the control of that teacher till after the church service; also that the scholars in the Infant Department should accom- pany the superintendents to church, or join the teachers in the adult room and go with them to church, subject to the same rule and control as their own scholars. The members of one family should attend the same church.
A regular system of visiting the scholars at their homes, and rendering reports of the condition of the respective de- partments and classes of the school, and of the condition of the families with which the scholars were connected, was adopted. Regular monthly meetings of the officers and teachers were established. It was made the duty of each teacher "to endeavor, with earnest sincerity, to seek the temporal and spiritual good of those committed to their care."
Thus the school went on under the patronage and support of the two Missionary Societies, adopting such changes in their method of teaching, interesting, and controlling the scholars, as its officers and teachers thought best. It held its sessions now in a basement; now in an upper chamber; and then in a more commodious place; and sometimes it was almost without any place; at times contending with difficul- ties and oppositions, and then rejoicing in the evident care of the Lord of missions.
The union spirit in which the Mission was inaugurated, after a while began to languish; and in 1858, the Gentlemen's Society disbanded and afterwards the Ladies' also. The Gentlemen's Society had sustained one missionary (Thomas Boardman), who commenced his work in the spring of 1853, and continued until the spring of 1857. He was a zealous and faithful laborer, and accomplished much good.
:
THOMAS F. EDDY Deacon, A.D. 1874-1886
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When the Missionary Societies dissolved, the " Fall River Mission Sabbath School " was thrown upon personal charity for support. The officers and teachers of the school assumed the responsibility by paying money into its treasury and by soliciting funds in its behalf.
Sometimes the school had scarcely any place for meeting. Such was, indeed, the case in the spring of 1860. At this time a committee of five were appointed "to procure and arrange a place for the meeting of the school, provided they can do it without expense to the school."
The committee consisted of Mr. Elias C. Nason, Mr. Thomas F. Eddy, Mr. Richard B. Borden, Mr. Wm. H. Brackett, and Mr. Wm. B. Durfee.
Through the favor of God, and the kind generosity of the friends of the Mission, they erected a building on the corner of Pleasant and Sixth streets, on a lot the use of which was given by the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufactory corpora- tion. This building was completed and dedicated and occu- pied by the school, January 7, 1861.
The first superintendent was Mr. Thomas F. Eddy. His term of service continued from 1849 to 1881. As a token of the school's appreciation of this service of thirty-two years, a gold-headed cane was presented to him in behalf of the school, on Easter morning, April 17, 1881. Mr. Eddy re- tained his connection with the school to the end of his earnest, active christian life. There came to him in 1886, the Master's call " to rest," and he was gathered with other faithful workers to hear the welcome, " Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord."
The later superintendents were, Mr. Alphonso S. Covel, Mr. Simeon B. Chase, Mr. Chas. H. Wells, Mr. Joseph B. Richardson, and Mr. J. Seymour C. Fielden. Mr. Richard B. Borden was identified with the school from its very beginning as a union school. In all its vicissitudes, he was a never- failing source of strength and reliance.
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Mr. James C. Eddy was treasurer of the society for thirty- four years, and was succeeded by Mr. Wells.
Mr. Ira Marvell was for many years the faithful librarian. Miss Caroline Borden was the first secretary of the society, and also the first assistant superintendent.
Miss Borden performed much of the early missionary work of the school. The work from the beginning had a warm place in her heart, and her interest in it never flagged.
In 1860, nineteen of the twenty-seven teachers were from the Central Church. In the report of this year's work, it was stated that 3,992 verses of Scripture were committed to memory by the members of the school.
Soon after entering the Chapel, a Sabbath-evening service was established at an hour before the regular services at the churches, so as to interfere as little as possible with them. It was largely attended. As one poor woman said, "It comes in right handy for any one who has a family." Many who would not attend the churches learned here the way of sal- vation.
One of the most blessed instrumentalities connected with this school was the mother's weekly prayer-meeting, under the care of some two or three of our most devoted christian ladies. Here, these burdened and toil-worn women came and learned to cast their burdens on the Lord, to seek help in the struggles of daily life. They found manna to their souls, and light to their feet. Here, too, they were taught how to bring their little ones to Christ.
Early in 1861, a question which had long caused much anxiety and care and study was taken up for serious considera- tion, - " How should we prevent our scholars from roaming in the streets and desecrating holy time during the morning time of church service?" One short hour of christian teach- ing was hardly accomplishing all our duty towards them. The early plan was to have them all in church; but it could not be carried through for want of teachers from the respec-
Rev. EDWIN AUGUSTUS BUCK Missionary, A.D. 1867-1903
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tive churches where they were assigned. It was concluded to hold a morning service at the Chapel, advising olderschol- ars to go to church, and detaining the younger ones. The teachers were to remain each by turn, one Sabbath in each month, or less frequently if might be. This service was con- tinued till August, 1864, when it was thought expedient to suspend it for a season.
The blessing to the city of the method of christian work carried on by this school induced several churches to estab- lish mission schools of their own, and this lessened the union work; but the society continued loyal to its constitution, and to its principle of union. Later, the care of this school was left almost entirely to the Central Church.
Work Conducted by Rev. Edwin A. Buck Missionary, A.D. 1867 - 1903
At a special meeting of the Fall River Mission Sabbath School, October 27, 1867, it was voted to extend a call to REV. EDWIN A. BUCK to be their missionary. The committee appointed was Messrs. Thomas F. Eddy, E. C. Nason, Thos. J. Borden, William B. Durfee, and James C. Eddy. The call was accepted, and the work began December 1, 1867.
In 1868, the Fall River Mission Sabbath School pledged itself to cooperate heartily with the Central Church, and to submit annually a report of its labors. According to its con- stitution, that nothing sectarian should be taught in their school, they were obliged to decline to become an auxiliary to the Church. In 1882, however, the property of the Mission School was transferred to the Central Church Society, and the control was assumed by the Church.
The first work of the missionary was that of canvassing the city, visiting from house to house from the Narrows to the bay, and from Globe Village to Bowenville. These visits for many
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years averaged fully two thousand a year, the largest number being twenty-six hundred. The Sabbath school at 9 A.M. was always attended by the missionary, whose genial presence and firm hand was felt in every department.
At the Sunday-school concerts, held on Sabbath evenings, the audience room was filled to overflowing, and the singing, led by Mrs. Wm. B. Durfee, assisted by Miss Josephine E. Rowands, was most spirited. The building soon became too small for the school and was enlarged one third. From the yearly records, the largest number belonging to the school at any one time was seven hundred, and the largest attendance at any one session was six hundred and eleven.
In the larger building, beside the regular Sabbath services, the boys were gathered in companies as " Young Crusaders," and the girls in sewing classes. In connection with the girls, a fair was held, which netted one hundred dollars for the use of the Bible readers in their work.
A free evening school was established when there was none other in the city. So many lads applied for admittance, that it was voted that none under eighteen years of age be received. A free reading room was also opened.
The Christmas festivals were an important feature of the year's work. Children and parents assembled for the even- ing's entertainment, furnished by the members of the school. The Chapel could not accommodate these gatherings. The old City Hall, Puritan Hall, or Music Hall was the rallying place. The memory can never be effaced of the happy faces of both the children and the missionary, as the stirring notes of the old English carol, " Christians, awake! salute the happy morn," rang out with the enthusiasm characteristic of the school.
Excursions
Each year excursions were arranged for the Sunday school. In 1875, a public movement was made in which all the mills of the city cooperated, each paying so much a spindle toward
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a day's outing for the children. The missionary accompanied, on four successive days, upwards of four thousand children to Oakland Beach. He secured for them all the privileges of the grounds, and a clam dinner each day. The bills were made out for forty-four hundred and twenty-five children, amounting to twelve hundred dollars.
Bible Readers
In cooperation with the Fall River Bible Society, four Bible readers were employed. This work began in 1869 and con- tinued eight years.
Children's Friend Society
In 1869, the Children's Friend Society was formed through the efforts of the missionary. In 1872, this society merged with the Orphans' Asylum into the present Children's Home.
Granite Mill Fire
At the time of the Granite Mill fire, September 19, 1874, the Chapel was promptly opened for the relief of the sufferers. A fund of $2,209.00 was raised by a dramatic club connected with the Church of the Sacred Heart. The distribution of this money was committed to the care of two priests and the missionary. Circumstances were such, however, that it came chiefly under Mr. Buck's direction. The influence thus gained among the operatives was never lost.
Temperance Work
At an early period a Temperance Society was formed. Mr. R. K. Remington and Mr. Joseph A. Bowen took an especial interest in drawing up the pledge of this society. Sat- urday-night temperance meetings were established and con- tinued throughout the history of the Mission. The police station was visited from Sabbath to Sabbath for twenty-five years, and more than ten thousand prisoners were personally addressed.
£
1
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Holly-Tree Coffee House
Centennial year (1876), in the Centennial Block on Fourth Street, the experiment was made of opening a " Holly-Tree Coffee House." This, it was believed, could be made self- sustaining, and very helpful in promoting the cause of tem- perance. It became a favorite resort for working men and women, and when the school relinquished its interest in the same, there was a balance of five hundred dollars in its favor for the general work.
Fathers and Mothers' Bible Class
The Fathers and Mothers' Bible Class was formed April 25, 1880. Elsewhere will be given a history of this important work, which was ever dear to Mr. Buck's heart.
The Missionary's Temperance Aid and Mutual Improvement Society
In 1885, a Missionary's Temperance Aid and Mutual Im- provement Society was formed. The young men and women of the Mission entered into this most heartily. Miss Caroline Borden furnished a parlor in the Chapel for them. A valuable library was gathered, and games were supplied which made their evenings both profitable and delightful. Papers were prepared and read by members of the society at their liter- ary meetings, on such subjects as the following: " Has Pro- hibition been a Failure? " " Reading and What to Read," " Dangerous Classes in Our Large Cities," " An Evening with Gladstone," etc. They also added materially to the financial welfare of the Mission. A large proportion of this society became members of our Church and teachers in our Sabbath school. It was given up, after the formation of the Christian Endeavor Society and the Young Men's Christian Association.
In later years, a new society, called the "Central Church Friendly Society," was formed.
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Open-Air Meetings
During the first summer of the missionary's work, open-air meetings were held on Sabbath evenings, on Rattlesnake Hill, near where the Richard Borden Mill No. 1 now stands; in Ruggles Grove; in a grove near the Mechanics Mills; at Steam- boat Wharf; and on the South Park. Thousands gathered at the latter place, and gratifying testimonies of permanent good derived from the services, made glad the hearts of the different clergymen who cooperated with the missionary in this phase of his work.
Harbor Work
For many years, the vessels of the harbor, from Globe Village to Bowenville, were visited every Saturday afternoon. Tracts were distributed amongst the sailors, and notices given of the Sabbath and week-day services. The testimonies of sailors, given at the Tuesday and Saturday evening meetings, added largely to their interest. Cottage meetings were held in many places; but with the growth of the city, and its mixed popu- lation, these were finally discontinued.
Different Nationalities
The Pleasant Street Chapel was largely a christian home for all nationalities represented in our city. Americans, English, French, Irish, Scotch, Portuguese, Scandinavians, Armenians, and Syrians were alike welcomed. The mutes of the city also had the free use of the Chapel for public service as often as they desired it. At times there were as many as eight different services held in this building on the same Sabbath. In 1892, the use of the building was given to the Free Kindergarten Association. They availed themselves of the privilege until the building was sold (1899).
The French Work
The work among the French began the first year of Mr. Buck's labors in the city. In visiting them, tracts were left,
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also Testaments in French and English. Soon a promising class of the French was gathered into the Pleasant Street - Mission Sabbath school. There were early converts among them, and some joined our Church. Especial services in French were held in the Chapel, Sabbath afternoons. This work, in connection with the First Church, resulted in the formation of a French Protestant Church in 1886. In 1888, a new church building was dedicated. The number of mem- bers reported at that time was seventy. This church is now under the charge of the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society. From 1867 to 1887, a total of $1,742.38 was expended in the French work under the direction and care of Mr. Buck.
General Work
Every day in the week the Chapel doors stood open, and to a large extent the office of the Mission filled the place of a Bureau of Labor. No stated record was kept of those who crossed the threshold day after day, either seeking aid or offering assistance through the missionary, whose motto read:
Help whomever, Whenever you can! Man forever Needs help from man.
His own words give a glimpse of his office work:
One great advantage of having our Chapel open seven days in the week is that, from time to time, souls struggling with sin and sorrow find help as they come seeking counsel, and for a season bow the knee in prayer with your missionary.
Mr. Buck's chief aim in extending a helping hand to the unfortunate, was to cultivate a spirit of independence and self-respect. To quote again:
The divine method of helping man to help himself, was found often to be an effectual way of detecting impostures. The question is often asked, " Are you not deceived by these applications?" Not so often as you may think. I know them to be bad, but, alas! it is
:
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written, " There is none good save One." He that gave His life a ransom for many, declared, " I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." He sent forth his disciples as fishers of men. The sportsman who is sparing of his bait brings home but a small mess. "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth." The fish are worth more than the bait. The fraudulent nibbler may be caught, and prove the best fish on the string.
Mr. Buck was in close touch with the masses, and the calls upon his time, strength, and sympathies were manifold. He attended twenty-two hundred funerals, christened seventeen hundred and twenty-seven children, and performed sixteen hundred and thirty-five marriage ceremonies. He once said, he should put over his door, " E. A. Buck, Joiner." Through failing strength, the work at length became too arduous for him, and the Church generously provided an assistant. In 1897, Mr. Joseph B. Richardson, a graduate of the Springfield School for Religious Training, was employed. After sixteen months of faithful service, he resigned, to take a similar posi- tion in New York.
Financial Status
In the furtherance of all the different departments of the work during the thirty-five years, $41,010.13 came under the supervision of the missionary. Twenty-four hundred and forty-five dollars and eighty-five cents of this amount repre- sented the cash given or loaned in small amounts to those in need. Sixteen hundred and sixty-seven dollars and twenty- three cents were repaid by those aided.
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