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 2
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Rev. SAMUEL WASHBURN First Pastor, A.D. 1844-1849
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Central Congregational Church
Rev. Samuel Washburn First Pastor, A.D. 1844 - 1849
1844. March 18. It was voted to invite REV. SAMUEL WASHBURN to become pastor of the Church.
Brothers Richard Borden, Nathan Durfee, and Jesse Eddy were appointed a committee to communicate the doings of the Church to Mr. Washburn, and offer him a salary of one thousand dollars a year. On April 9, Mr. Washburn sent his formal acceptance of the call, and the installation services were appointed to be held on the evening of the day of the Dedication of the Church Edifice.
March 27. The committee appointed January 30, 1843, to erect a house for public worship reported " that they had attended to that duty, and would present the same for accept- ance." The church Bell was a gift from Col. Richard Borden. It is the one still in use, having been transferred to the tower of the new church edifice in 1875. The Communion Service was a gift from Mrs. Welthe Durfee Paine. The house was accepted by the Church and Society. Nathan Durfee was appointed agent to procure insurance; April 24, 1844, was selected as the time for the dedication of the church, and May 8, for selling and rental of pews. (See Copy of Deeds in Supplement.)
On the morning of April 24, 1844, the new Meeting House was dedicated to the worship of God. (See Supplement for view of first church edifice.) In the afternoon the council convened for examination of the candidate, and at seven o'clock in the evening, Rev. Samuel Washburn was installed First Pastor of the Central Church.
The public services were as follows: Reading of the Scrip- tures, Rev. Thomas Shephard, Bristol; introductory prayer, Rev. Orin Fowler, First Church, Fall River; sermon, Rev. William A. Stearns, Cambridgeport; installing prayer, Rev.
.
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Charles Hitchcock, D.D., Randolph; charge, Rev. Erastus Maltby, Taunton; right hand of fellowship, Rev. T. T. Water- man, Richmond Street, Providence; concluding prayer, Wm. Gould, Fairhaven; benediction, pastor.
The Church had accepted the Articles of Faith and Form of Covenant of the First Church for purposes of organization, but at the church meeting held May 20, 1844, the pastor, Amery Glazier, and Nathan Durfee were appointed " to draw up Articles of Faith and a Form of Covenant for this Church." They submitted their report in August. It was accepted, and after due consideration of its various sections, the same was adopted as the Ecclesiastical Principles and Rules of this Church. (See Supplement.)
When Mr. Washburn began his ministry in Fall River, he found a strong, working Church of one hundred and six mem- bers, together with an established Sabbath school; weekly prayer and conference meetings; female prayer-meetings (in those days the sisters were supposed to keep silence in the public meetings for prayer); missionary meetings; and monthly Church and Society meetings, - all regularly organ- ized and governed by codes of rules and regulations framed and adopted for the purpose.
1844. In August of this year, the first DEACONS were chosen, namely; Brothers Benjamin Earl and Orrin P. Gil- bert. The latter served until February, 1849, when he re- inoved to Worcester. Brother Earl continued in office until his death in 1884. In October, it was decided to form a Tract Society, and it was voted " that the distribution of tracts be considered the business of the Church, and the distributers should be appointed by the Church." Orrin P. Gilbert, Joseph A. Crane, Tillinghast Briggs, Miss Lois W. Hall, Miss Ellen Seabury (Mrs. Ellen Ball), and Mrs. John Borden were chosen distributers, and Deacon Earl was appointed a committee to carry into effect the distribution of the tracts.
BENJAMIN EARL Deacon, A.D. 1844-1884
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Central Congregational Church
1845. In February, the treasurer reported that nearly three hundred dollars had been contributed for foreign missions during the past year; whereupon, it was voted to use two hundred dollars of that amount to make Mrs. Hannah J. Washburn, wife of the pastor, and Mr. Henry H. Fish, treas- urer of the Church, life members of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The following year, Deacon Earl was made a life member of the same society by the funds contributed that year.
1846. The pastor reports "No dismissions from the Church the last year. While no one has been added to us from the ranks of the world, eight have been received by letters from sister churches. God has not afflicted us by removing any of our number by death." The whole number of mem- bers at the present time is one hundred and fourteen.
1847. At the regular church meeting in March, the first committee " for a visitation of the Church," was appointed. The special object of this visitation is not stated. In Sep- tember, Joseph A. Crane was elected a Deacon, making the number three instead of two; Mr. Crane resigned in March, 1860.
1848. At the regular monthly meeting, December 11, 1848, the following communication was presented by the pastor:
Dear Brethren:
It will be remembered that in March last, I requested the members of this Church to unite with me in calling an ecclesiastical council, for the purpose of dissolving the pastoral relations existing between me and the Church. Subsequently, at the solicitations of the Church, I was induced to withdraw the request. I now feel constrained to renew it, and kindly and respectfully to ask you to unite with me in calling such a council, for the purpose of dissolving the ecclesiastical relation now existing between us. I will only say, that this step I have not taken hastily, but deliberately and prayerfully, influenced by a regard to the peace and welfare of both the Church and myself. For every feeling of sympathy that has been shown me in the hour of trial, for every act of kindness and expression of confidence since I have been
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with you, I retain a deep sense of obligation, and pray that the God of peace and concord may dwell with you.
Affectionately yours,
S. WASHBURN.
The following resolution was passed by the Church, viz .:
Resolved, That while this Church deeply regrets that their pastor feels constrained to take this step, they are disposed to accede to his request in the same spirit of kindness in which it is presented; and while they thus comply with the request, they would avail themselves of this opportunity of expressing their continued confidence in his christian character, and of his superior qualifications for filling the sacred desk.
1849. The council for dismission convened at the vestry of the Central Congregational Church, Fall River, January 2, 1849. After due deliberation upon a matter involving the interests of a minister of Christ, and of a christian church, the council came unanimously to this result: "That the pas- toral relation heretofore existing between Reverend Samuel Washburn and the Central Congregational Church in Fall River, be, and hereby is, dissolved."
Rev. ELI THURSTON, D.D. Second Pastor, A.D. 1849-1869
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Central Congregational Church
Rev. Eli Thurston, D.D. Second Pastor, A.D. 1849 - 1869
Upon the termination of Mr. Washburn's pastorate, a com- mittee of three- Jesse Eddy, Nathan Durfee, and Richard Borden - was appointed to secure a minister. On Febru- ary 4, the name of REV. ELI THURSTON was presented for con- sideration. It was voted unanimously " to extend a call to Mr. Thurston to become our pastor, at a salary of one thou- sand dollars per annum." This amount was subsequently increased from time to time, until at his decease it was twenty-five hundred dollars per annum.
On March 12, the acceptance of the call was received by the Church, and on the 21st of March, 1849, REV. ELI THURSTON was installed the Second Pastor of the Central Church in Fall River.
The public services of the installation were as follows: Read- ing of the Scripture and prayer, Rev. W. J. Breed, of Beneficent Church, Providence; sermon, Rev. S. Pomeroy, D.D., Bos- ton; installing prayer, Rev. Orin Fowler, First Church, Fall River; charge to the pastor, Rev. Thomas J. Shephard, Bris- tol; fellowship of churches, Rev. Jonathan Crane, Second Church, Attleboro; address to the people, with concluding prayer, Rev. C. Blodgett, Pawtucket; benediction by the pastor.
The number of members at the beginning of the new pas- torate was one hundred and twenty-two. The following item is taken from the annual report of the pastor and deacons: 1849, April: "It is with deep regret, we have to notice the discontinuance of the female prayer-meeting which had been statedly attended since the formation of the Church. It is to be hoped the altar thus cast down may soon again be set up."
In June of this year, it was decided to take Annual Collec- tions for missionary causes on the Sabbath, and to concur
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with the recommendations of the General Association of Massa- chusetts, in taking such collections for the following named objects at the times specified: Education Society, January and February; Home Missionary Society, March and April; Tract Society, May and June; Seaman's Friend Society, July; Massachusetts Sabbath-School Society, August; Bible Society, September and October; American Board of Com- missioners for Foreign Missions, November and December.
On November 13, 1849, at the regular church meeting, Brother Hale Remington offered the following:
Resolved, That this Church considers the running of steamboats, and rail-cars on the Sabbath, for the transportation of passengers and merchandise, to be a great sin in the sight of God; and would recom- mend all suitable means to be used by its members for the discontinu- ance of the same in this community.
This resolution was passed without comment.
1850. On July 17, a special committee of five, viz., Robert K. Remington, Thomas F. Eddy, Richard B. Borden, Wil- liam R. Bush, and Sewall B. Brackett, was chosen to attend to the seating of strangers; to call upon and invite such as may be induced to connect themselves with our congregation; and to use suitable and proper means for filling the. house of God with worshipers, by acts of kindness and christian courtesy, and by showing an interest in their spiritual welfare. Subsequently a committee of ladies was appointed for the same purpose, whose work was very efficiently performed.
On Monday evening, November 11, 1850, two were added to the board of Deacons, namely: Dr. Nathan Durfee and Josiah W. Peet.
The closing months of the year 1849, witnessed the beginning and development of a most remarkable interest in religious matters, continuing through the spring and summer of 1850. The whole community was affected, and deep solemnity characterized the demeanor of the people. Extra meetings
Doctor NATHAN DURFEE Deacon, A.D. 1850-1876
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Central Congregational Church
were held in the various churches of the town for months. This interest was not confined to Fall River, but was general in the neighboring cities and towns. In this awakened spirit- ual life the Central Church shared deeply. Accessions were made to the Church at every communion service through the year. The statistics show " a larger number uniting on pro- fession of faith than during the whole time the Church has existed." Of the eighty who joined the Church in that year, but fire remain with us to-day (1905), namely, Mr. William R. Bush, Mr. Richard B. Borden, Miss Sarah A. Cook, Mrs. Thomas J. Borden, and Mr. Clinton V. S. Remington. The effects of this glorious work of grace were not confined to that year alone, but continued subsequently to bear fruit, more or less members being gathered to the fold each year, until 1857, when there occurred another extraordinary mani- festation of the power of God's grace to change the hearts of men.
:851. Sister Lois W. Hall, having received an appoint- ment from the American Board as a teacher among the Choctaw Indians in the missionary station at Park Hill, Indian Territory, was given a letter of dismission to the church there, on a Sabbath evening in December, 1851. After the usual Sabbath-evening services, the Church remained for a season of prayer, committing this sister to the grace of God and bidding her an affectionate farewell.
1855. Early in this year, a missionary convention was held in the church, which excited an unusual interest in the cause of missions, especially in foreign missions. The contributions to the American Board more than doubled, being upwards of one thousand dollars, while the whole amount contributed for benevolent purposes, fell but little short of three thousand dollars. This was a very great increase on any former year of our history. No death occurred among us during the year, - a circumstance worthy of notice, from the fact of the prevalence in the city during the summer of the cholera.
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History and Annals of the
1856. The following item appears in the records of this year:
The subject of dancing was brought before the Church, and after much discussion it was voted, that we, the members of this Church, believe that dancing, in its tendency, is evil, and those who participate in it, or encourage it in others, are exerting an influence injurious to the cause of Christ.
1857. The following resolutions may be of interest, as showing the attitude of the Church towards its absent members in those days.
The design of the Church is mutual improvement and cooperation ; mutual incitement to love and good works; mutual advancement in holiness; concentrated and invigorated effort for the promotion of the gospel of Christ. Towards the attainment of these ends, two special duties which the members of a church owe to each other and which are embodied in their covenant obligations, are mutual watchfulness and mutual exhortation. These duties cannot be per- formed by and to, any members living away from the body of the Church, therefore,
Resolved, That whenever any member removes from this town, it is his duty to remove his connection with the Church, and to unite with some other in the neighborhood where he may reside, as soon as conveniently may be.
Resolved, Should any member of this Church remove from this place, and not remove his connection with the Church, it is his duty as often as once in twelve months, to report to the Church the reasons why he does not choose to do so; also to give some account of his religious experience during his absence.
Resolved, That any one member who does not comply with the above resolutions, will not be entitled to a letter of dismission and recom- mendation to any other church, unless he brings from the pastor or deacons of that church, a statement to the effect that they are satisfied with his christian deportment since they have known him.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to all members of this Church who have removed from the city, and they be requested, for the honor they owe the gospel, and in brotherly love, to comply with them.
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Central Congregational Church
April. The pastor and deacons' annual report reads as follows:
By far the most important event of the year was the revival in our midst. Early in January there seemed on the part of a few of our members, an increased spirit of prayer, more manifest in the closet than in public. The effect soon became apparent; more came to the meetings for prayer; soon the inquiry was heard, " What shall I do to be saved?" and the work of grace began slowly but steadily to be developed; God manifested his presence in the "still small voice "; no excitement was created; no extraordinary means were employed; but the simplest and ordinary instruments were honored and blest, especially the meetings for prayer. From its commencement, it was peculiarly a work of the Spirit.
Deacon Crane presented the following memorial on July 13 (1857):
Whereas, It has pleased the Great Head of the Church in the pleni- tude and richness of his mercy, repeatedly in former years and again at the present time, to favor our beloved Zion with the outpouring of his Holy Spirit upon us, bringing into our fold many of our chil- dren, friends, and members of the Sabbath school and congregation, therefore,
We, the members of this Church, in regular church meeting as- sembled, do hereby solemnly and heartily record this our memorial of God's goodness to our Zion. Recognizing the principle in God's government, that where much is given, much shall be required, we engage by the aid of divine grace, to give evidence of the sincerity and gratitude expressed in our memorial, by renewed zeal and earnestness in his service. As a further expression of our gratitude, we appoint Wednesday of next week, July 22, a day of thanksgiving and praise to God for blessings bestowed, and of earnest prayer for a continuance of the same. Services to commence at six and half past ten o'clock A.M., and at three and seven forty-five o'clock P.M.
These services so unusual were remarkably well attended.
The subject of the congregation uniting with the choir in the service of singing on the Sabbath, was brought to the atten- tion of the Church by Mr. Henry H. Fish, the organist. After discussion, it was voted, "That it be introduced, and take effect
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Sabbath afternoon, June 14, 1857." From that time to the present, " congregational singing " has formed some part of the Sabbath service, either with or without a choir.
1858. April. Extracts from pastor and deacons' annual report :
The accessions to our number during the past year have been of a peculiarly interesting class. Sixteen of the number are young men, or men in active life. Twenty-eight are heads of families. Very few churches embrace so large a proportion of vigorous, energetic young men, and men in the vigor of manhood, as ours, and we feel that a corresponding responsibility rests upon us. The attendance on public worship has been larger than formerly. We regret to observe, however, on the part of some of our members, the want of a felt obligation to sustain our own ordinances by their constant attendance, believing as we do, that any indulgence in wandering will tend to unsettle and distract the mind, alienate the heart, as well as to excite itching ears.
If memory serves correctly, it was about this time that Mr. Thurston preached one of his most powerful and characteristic sermons, from Proverbs 28:7: "As a bird wandereth from her nest, so is a man who wandereth from his place."
1859. The record continues:
A few weeks previous to our last annual meeting, some of our breth- ren established a daily morning prayer-meeting in the vestry, which during the spring became a union prayer-meeting and has been con- tinued at different places of worship during the year; it has been greatly blessed, in the promotion of fraternal feeling among the churches, and in the spiritual welfare of our members, who have done much towards sustaining it. The past year has been one long to be remembered in the annals of Zion, as a year of the right hand of God. Its record will form one of the most interesting chapters in the history of the Church. Converts from all classes, including the most hopeless and abandoned, have been multiplied. Our religious meetings have been fully attended and have borne evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit, much spiritual good has been received, much growth in grace, knowledge, and christian experience attained unto, by our members.
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Central Congregational Church
These union morning prayer-meetings referred to in the record, stirred the whole town, merchants closing their stores, mechanics suspending their work, hackmen hastening back from the depots to attend. The numbers were so large that the main auditoriums of the churches had to be opened; the floor and gallery seats were crowded; and the Spirit's presence and power was notably manifest in the confession of sin and the fervor of prayer and praise.
Extract from treasurer's report of this year:
The amount contributed during the past year for foreign missions is $3,143.30; while for all other charities less than $500.00 have been raised. It will be observed, that while as a Church we are making praiseworthy efforts in behalf of the heathen of other lands, we have not manifested that interest for the welfare of our own country which duty as well as policy would seem to demand. We bestow most of our labor and almsgiving on foreign fields, while our fallow ground remains unbroken. As a proof that we have lost most of our interest in the home effort, I call your attention to the fact that our contribu- tions for the Home Missionary Society have been sadly diminishing for several years past. In 1856, the collection for the Home Missionary Society was $365.07; in 1857, $268.11; in 1858, $221.00; and in 1859 nothing, no collection having been taken for fourteen months for this object. If we cannot, for the future, maintain our large collec- tions for the former object but at the expense of the latter, let us seek for divine wisdom to guide us in our charities, as well as in the other duties of life.
1860. In May, a new hymn book, the " Plymouth Collec- tion," was introduced for use, both in public services on the Sabbath, and in the prayer and conference meetings. A special vote was passed that one dozen books, suitably marked, should be put in the vestry, "Not to be Taken Away."
A communication was received from Dr. Edward N. Kirk, of Boston, asking that a member of the Evangelical Society of France might be allowed to present the claims of that society for aid.
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History and Annals of the
Voted, " that in view of the pressing demands from our own home fields, we do not encourage his coming."
Did the treasurer's report bear fruit so soon?
1861. April. Extract from pastor and deacons' annual report:
We enter upon another year in our history under strange and un- precedented circumstances. It is to be hoped, that we shall not for- get amid the exciting scenes [the Civil War] through which we may be called to pass, that we belong to a kingdom which is not of this world - that we must ever war a spiritual warfare, even while en- listed in one which is carnal - wield the sword of the Spirit as well as the sword of steel - be conquerors through Christ in the bloodless victories of grace, as well as successful in saving our country from her invading foes.
1862. June 9. Two additional Deacons were chosen at this time, namely, Elijah C. Kilburn and S. Angier Chace, making the board of Deacons five instead of three, as here- tofore.
1863. April. During the first two thirds of the year (1862), the ways of Zion in the midst of us, mourned, because so few come to her solemn feasts. As the year was drawing to its close, some tokens of the divine presence began to be manifested, in an increased attendance upon the means of grace, and an impressive silence and solemnity in the house of God and the place of prayer. These indications deepened and grew more marked and significant, till at length God came down in great power. One and another in rapid succession found the way to the cross. The work progressed, till the numbers of conversions in this congregation may safely be computed at between 115 and 125. This outpouring of the Spirit may be regarded in many of its aspects as the most wonderful of any with which this Church has been blessed. A remarkable spirit of prayer pervaded the Church, and many of its members received a new impulse in the divine life, whose effects were to be felt, and seen, to the end of their days.
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Central Congregational Church
December. The pastor stated to the Church that it was his purpose to deliver a Course of Lectures to the young men of the city on Sabbath evenings; and that in order to do so he would like to have the assistance of some minister, to preach one half of the day each Sabbath, while he was delivering the lectures. The Church heartily concurred in this purpose, and the services of Rev. Nathaniel G. Bonney were secured to assist the pastor.
In the early part of the year 1863, Mr. Henry H. Fish, who for eighteen years had so ably and faithfully performed the duties of organist and leader of the choir, felt obliged to resign his position in consequence of declining health. In August Miss Minnie Bronson was engaged as organist, which position she filled most acceptably until the middle of March, 1864, when she resigned in consequence of leaving the city. The 1st of April, Mr. Lyman W. Deane, of Bristol, was chosen organist. The record says of him, " He is a young man of marked ability in his profession, has had several years' experi- ence in playing the organ, and we have every reason to believe will fully meet the wants of the choir." The expectations of the music committee were realized. Mr. Deane not only played the organ on the Sabbath, but led the music at the evening services, and much of the time conducted the musical exercises of the Sabbath school. He resigned in July, 1899, after a continuous and loving service of thirty-five years.
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