USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Ashburnham > History of Ashburnham, Massachusetts : from the grant of Dorchester Canada to the present time 1734-1886 with a genealogical register of Ashburnham families > Part 23
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 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36
,
314
HISTORY OF ASHBURNHAM.
ing committee, to which Charles Winchester was joined. Under the management of these gentlemen the work upon the building was begun in the spring of 1870 and the house was substantially completed during that year. The interior decoration and furnishing were completed the following summer and the house was dedicated July 20, 1871. The cost of construction was about thirty thousand dollars which far exceeded the first estimates and the burden fell heavily upon the society. The organ, from the factory of Hook and Hastings, was presented by Charles Winchester. During the succeeding ten years the debt contracted in constructing an expensive edifice was gradually redneed, but was not fully paid until during the ministry and through the efforts of Rev. Nathaniel B. Fisk. Two members of the church con- tributed at this time a sum exceeding the entire cost of the first meeting-house.
From 1870 to the present time the outward history of the church has been uneventful. The stated ministrations have been maintained and commendable donations have been credited to the benevolence of the society. The spiritual history of all these years and the influences of the church over the souls of men are among the unwritten revelations of another world. The minutes of the Conference contain the names of sixty-five preachers who were assigned pre- vious to 1832 to the station to which Ashburnham belonged. It is evident that several of them after a brief labor here were transferred to other stations; and, possibly, a few of them did not even arrive here before they received new
appointments to other places. Nor were any of them assigned unreservedly to the Ashburnham church but to the circuit to which this church belonged. Very few of them ·were temporarily resident here. Their labors were divided among several societies of which this was the strongest and most prominent.
315
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Since Ashburnham became a station in 1832, a pastor has heen assigned without reservation and has lived during the term of his appointment among his charge. The number of these appointments is thirty-four. Of these seventeen, including the present pastor, have remained one year, four- teen two years and under the modern revision of the rules, three have received a third appointment. After an interval of several years Rev. Pliny Wood and Rev. Austin F. Her- rick were returned to this town and are twice enumerated, but the brief pastorate of Rev. H. B. Skinner who filled an unexpired appointment is not included. All were worthy, exemplary pastors. With varied gifts and acquirements, none have failed in duty to their charge, and all have been fellow-laborers with men of their own and other denomina- tions in the reforms and benevolence of their time.
The names of the pastors and the membership of the church since Ashburnham was made a station are as follows :
PASTORS.
MEMBERSHIP.
1832.
Nathan B. Spaulding
101
1833. Hebron Vincent 107
1834-5. John W. Case
120
1836. Charles Noble
130
1837-8. William R. Stone
148
1839.
William P. White
121
1840-1.
Horace Moulton. H. B. Skinner, 6 months
180
1842.
John W. Merrill
184
1843.
Newell S. Spaulding
205
1844-5. Howard C. Dunham
155
1846. William B. Olds
142
1847. David Kilburn
108
1848-9. Pliny Wood
110
1850.
Jonathan L. Esty
114
1851-2. Moses P. Webster
106
1853-4. Cyrus L. Eastman 116
316
HISTORY OF ASHBURNHAM.
1855-6. Austin F. Herrick
130
1857. Lorenzo White 138
1858-9. Pliny Wood 135
1860-1.
Ichabod Marcy
131
1862-3.
William Pentecost
137
1864.
Jonas M. Clark
122
1865-6.
John A. Lansing
153
1867-8.
Walter Wilkie
180
1869.
Nathan D. George
170
1870.
Joseph W. Lewis
149
1871.
L. P. Causey
140
1872-1. Austin F. Herrick
171
1875-6.
James W. Fenno
165
1877-9. William H. Cook 159
1880-2. Nathaniel B. Fisk
149
1883. John H. Mansfield .
149
1884. Emory A. Howard
153
1885. Austin H. Herrick 147
THE UNION CHURCH. - The causes which led to the building of a meeting-house and the embodiment of a church at North Ashburnham are mainly apparent at the present time. It is probable and it is reasonable to presume that the controlling motives were sustained and encouraged by many minor impulses which are neither reflected in the record nor preserved in the memory of the few now living who were active in the initial proceedings. A half century ago that portion of the town was more populous than at present and in that community were several men of influence and enter- prise. The families residing in that vicinity for a long time had been sensible of the burden of the distance that separated them from the church at Ashburnham Centre to which they belonged. These, for many years, had frequently yet timidly suggested some measures of relief. Among them were a few families who were not in full sympathy with the
317
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
controlling influences of the parent church, and joined with these were others not allied to the church at the Centre nor were they Congregationalists.
The latter class, actuated both by conscience and conven- ience, were ready to join in the organization of a union church with tenets inviting an evangelical alliance. There were many meetings and conferences of which no record was made, and concerning which very little accurate information can be secured. The work which met them at the outset was the building of a meeting-house and to this undertaking they directed their efforts with courage and enthusiasm. The edifice built for the proprietors by Ohio Whitney, Jr., and Samuel Howard was completed in 1842 and dedicated in December of that year. In the new house preaching was maintained by voluntary effort for several months. The church was embodied February 21, 1843. The creed was evangelical and while it omitted any declarations upon doc- trinal questions that were the distinguishing tenets of the Congregational, Methodist and Baptist faith, it was an un- equivocal expression on all points entertained in common by those churches. The original membership was fifty-five, of whom a majority was of Orthodox Congregational ante- cedents and the remainder were Methodists and Freewill Baptists. Of this membership twenty-five were received by dismissal and recommendation from the parent church ; a few from the Freewill Baptist church and several from the Methodists. During the early years of its existence the church and parish had no settled minister.
The earlier preachers were Rev. William Hills, who remained several months, and Rev. Samuel Cole, who was acting pastor three years. Early in the year 1846 Elder Edward B. Rollins was hired to preach one year. This ministry introduced an era of discord. The season of har-
318
HISTORY OF ASHBURNHAM.
mony and fraternal relations, which crowned the early history of the church with continued blessings, was abruptly ended and for many years the bitterness of feeling then engendered was frequently the cause of renewed contention. Following Mr. Rollins, Rev. Josiah D. Crosby preached one year and he was succeeded by Rev. A. A. Whitmore, who remained four years and was the first minister installed over the church. Succeeding Mr. Whitmore was a prolonged era of supplies and at times the records afford ample evidence that the salary of the minister was raised with great labor and effort. During this period the pastors were Rev. Josiah W. Brown, Rev. Woodbury and Rev. Asa Barnes.
In 1860 the original church, known as the Union Church, was disbanded. The few members remaining, who were found prepared for continued effort, at once procceded to organize a new church, to be known as "The Second Con- gregational Church of Ashburnham." The creed was amended and the church was embodied June 19, 1860. The number of members received at the time of reorganiza- tion was eleven. The number was small and the burden comparatively heavy ; yet, aided by the Congregational Home Missions, they succeeded in overcoming many obsta- cles and for several years in maintaining the stated ministra- tions of the gospel.
Rev. Samuel H. Peckham supplied the desk for a season and in 1863 Mr. George H. Blake was made pastor in charge and engaged for one year with an understanding that, unless for cause, the relation should be continued indefinitely. Soon after Mr. Blake began his labors he was ordained in the ministry but was not installed over the church and the existing relations were abruptly terminated before the elose of the first year.
Rev. Daniel Wight, having supplied a few Sabbaths, accepted a call extended with great unanimity and was
319
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
installed June 22, 1864. The relation was profitably and fraternally continued until April 1, 1871. Immediately pre- ceding this ministry the creed and rules of procedure were amended, and during its continuance the affairs, both of the church and the parish, were promptly and prudently admin- istored.
Succeeding Mr. Wight, Rev. Charles Peabody was made an acting pastor and continued his labors until May 16, 1875. He was succeeded by Rev. William T. Lewis who main- tained a dual relation with this church and the church in Winchendon Centre.
The preliminary conferences in regard to the maintenance of stated preaching at North Ashburnham led to an early decision to build a meeting-house. A society was immedi- ately formed and under its direction the meeting-house was soon erected. In 1847 the society became a legal corpora- tion under the name of "The Proprietors of Union Meeting- House." Of this organization, Colonel Enoch Whitmore was clerk for many years and until the organization was lost through a failure to hold annual meetings and elect officers as required by law. In 1868, and during the ministry of Mr. Wight, the organization was revived and assumed the nome of the " North Parish of Ashburnham." It is apparent, however, that there was an active society during the years immediately preceding the new organization, but there is a hiatus in the records from 1857 till 1868. The new parish held annual meetings for a short time and then suffered the organization to lapse and at this time it has not been revived.
The bell was purchased by subscriptions obtained in the autumn of 1867 and was placed in position January 23, 1868, by Ohio Whitney and Samuel Howard as a part of their original contract for building the meeting-house. The bell soon failed, but a new one was furnished by the makers, without charge, which was hung in the belfry January 28,
320
HISTORY OF ASHBURNHAM.
1869. It is a steel combination bell and weighs about eight hundred pounds. The expense attending its purchase and hanging was $265.51.
During the existence of this church and parish only two ministers have been installed and no effort has been made to announce the names of all who have been acting pastors for short periods of time. The church and society are indebted to Isaac D. Ward for the careful preservation of the files and records from which the information in these paragraphs was mainly secured.
Rev. Alfred Alonzo Whitmore, son of Luke Hayden and Phoebe (Cowing) Whitmore, was born near Geneva, Ontario county, New York, July 7, 1817. The family removed in 1825 to the Territory of Michigan and settled near Ann Arbor. Attending the local schools in youth, Mr. Whit- more entered the school at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1838 and was a student in the several departments eight and one-half years, graduating from the academical department 1843 and the theological school in 1846. After a brief supply in several places he began his labor with this church in 1848 and was installed October 18 of that year. He was an earnest, faith- ful pastor and a plain and acceptable preacher. He was dismissed at his request August 25, 1852. After supplying a few months at Richmond he removed to Ohio, in 1864 to Illinois, and since 1875 he has resided at Anita, Iowa, where he completed a successful ministry in 1880.
Rev. Daniel Wight, a son of Daniel and Zillah (Gould- ing) Wight, was born in Natick, September 18, 1808. He is a graduate of Harvard University, class of 1837, and of Andover Theological Seminary 1840. His first charge was in Scituate where he was ordained and installed September 28, 1842. Here he labored successfully sixteen years. Commencing 1859 he was stated supply two years at Boyl- ston, and subsequently labored for the American Board
321
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
among the Seneca Indians. On account of the failing health of his wife he returned to Natick in 1863 and immediately after he was called to preside over this church. His prudent councils, his untiring interest for the welfare of his charge and his earnest labor in this town will be held in grateful remembrance. At the completion of his ministry here he returned to Natick where he continues to reside.
During the history of the church five have been called to serve as deacons. Daniel Jones was chosen deacon at the organization of the church. Soon after, under the adoption of a rule to choose one deacon each year for a term of two years, Gilman Jones and Joseph Wetherbee were chosen. Except one year Deacon Jones was continued in office by reelection until his removal from town, and in 1845 John C. Davis was elected and was continued in office until his death June 19, 1883. After 1849 the officers were elected for an indefinite period. Upon the reorganization of the church in 1860, Deacon Davis was continued in service and Horace Balcom was also elected to the office.
THE BAPTISTS .- At an early date there were several fami- lies in this town who were styled Baptists. Others of the same faith were residing in Ashby and in Fitchburg. They maintained preaching with considerable regularity during the closing years of the past and the early years of the current century. Professing an umbelief in the maintenance of a salaried clergy they derived their religious instruction from voluntary labor, and in the absence of a minister, which was usual, they enjoyed the exhortations of their own number. Stephen Gibson of Ashby was gifted in this direction and for many years he preached to them with more acceptance than compensation. In 1795, when this sect was most numerous, there were twenty families in this town and as many in Fitchburg connected with this society. They held
21
322
HISTORY OF ASHBURNHAM.
their meetings in dwelling-houses and in school-houses near the limits of the adjoining towns, but they never erected a church edifice. The meeting-house built in the north part of Fitchburg, about 1810, was erected and occupied by an organization of Freewill Baptists with whom the older society had little sympathy. The families who waited upon the ministrations of Stephen Gibson and other laymen belonged to a sect which, one hundred years ago, found a few adherents in many New England towns. Professedly they were Calvinistic Baptists and, doubtless, their adher- ence to the cardinal doctrines of that church fully sustained their right to the name. But the distinguishing feature of their faith, and one in which they were not in harmony with the Baptist church, was an unyielding hostility to the pre- vailing custom of providing a stated support of the ministry.
Professing that it was "a sin to preach for hire " they relied upon itinerant and local preachers who labored with- out compensation. No doubt this feature of their creed was fostered and intensified by the intolerant laws of the State which compelled all to contribute to the support of the standing order. Those belonging to this society were excellent people. Some of them were influential and prom- inent citizens. As soon as the spirit of toleration repealed the compulsory statutes in relation to the support of the clergy, in a great measure the ground of their offence was removed and they gradually became absorbed in other religious societies. In later years there have been Baptists of the modern school in this town but there has been no other organization.
SECOND ADVENTISTS. - For several years there have been a number of families in this town who are known as Second Adventists. They have occasional preaching at South Ashburnham but have no church organization. In religious
323
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
belief they are closely allied to the Evangelical churches and are not in full sympathy with the Seventh Day Adventists whose annual conference is held at Battle Creek, Michigan. The members of the denomination in this town observe the first day of the week and cordially unite with the other denominations in the Sabbath-school and in forwarding every good work.
THE CATHOLICS began to maintain religious service in this town in 1851. At that time the number of families was small and they assembled at private houses. With the progress of years the number has increased and for a number of years service was held in the Town Hall with consider- able regularity. In 1871 they bought the house they now occupy of the Methodist society. The interior has been remodelled and thoroughly repaired. The congregation is steadily increasing and the visible influence of the service is in the support of good morals. The church is under the spiritual direction of Rev. John Conway who is also in charge of the church in Winchendon. The Catholics, having no cemetery in this town, bury their dead in Fitch- burg and in Winehendon.
CHAPTER XI.
SACRED MUSIC.
A TRUTHFUL REMARK OF NO GREAT ACCOUNT. - EARLY ACTION IN RELATION . TO SACRED MUSIC. - YE PITCH-PIPE. - EARLY HYMN-BOOKS. - NEW TUNES. - FIRST CHORISTERS. -- DEACONING THE HYMN. - BASS VIOL. - MUSICAL FAMILIES. LATER MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHOIR. - THE METHODIST CHOIR.
THE men of Ashburnham have produced their most stir- ring music in their frequent town meetings, but being of a character unsuited to waft, on the wings of praise, the sen- timent of sacred song it cannot be considered under the head of church music. Holding an easy rein over their proclivi- ties in the arena of debate they have made ample amends in curbing opposition to the innovations which have marked the progress and elevation of sacred music in this place. The first reference in the records to this subject occurs at an early date :
To see if the town are willing that the singers should sett together in the Public Worship in any part of the gallery that shall be thought proper.
Voted that the singers shall have the front gallery to set in, in time of Public Worship viz : the men's side as far back as the long pew.
Thus, as far back as 1773 and as far back as the long pew, the town provided for the accommodation and recog- nized the existence of a choir. That the singers increased 324
325
SACRED MUSIC.
in numbers is seen in a vote a few years later "to let the singers have the front part of the gallery to set in that they may not be so crowded."
In 1774 the church by vote consented to the use of the pitch-pipe "if the chorister please to pitch the tune " and at the same time it was ordered, the records say by a consider- able majority, "that no new tunes should be introduced for twelve months and that they should be confined to the tunes that are already in use." There was opposition to the last vote and the records explain that to relieve the minds of many on this point the pastor was requested to name a proper tune for every psalm that was sung. The same year and in connection with these votes a proposal to introduce the verse of Dr. Watts was defeated. The version of Tate and Brady remained in use until near the close of the cen- tury. This version, a literal arrangement of the Psalms and some other portions of the Old Testament, with modest pretension to metrical composition, was employed in the Presbyterian and Reformed churches of Great Britain for a long time, and until eventually supplanted by the psalms and hymns of Dr. Watts it was in general use in the churches of New England. In that version our fathers found the familiar lines of the Scriptures and they regarded with grave suspicion the same sentiments expressed in new forms of speech. A copy of the ancient version is seldom found and many of the present generation have little idea of the poetry which the fathers were accustomed to sing. A part of the fifth and the sixty-fifth Psalms, in the version of Tate and Brady, will afford some idea of the general character.
" Lord, in thy wrath, rebuke me not, Nor in thy hot wrath chasten me, Lord, pity me, for I am weak ; Lord, heal me, for my bones vex'd be,
326
HISTORY OF ASHBURNHAM.
Also my soul is vexed sore ; How long, O Lord, wilt thou me forsake?
" Return, O Lord, my soul release ; O, save me for thy mercy's sake. In death no meni'ry is of thee And who shall praise thee in the grave. I faint with groans; all night my bed Swims : I with tears my couch wash'd have,
Mine eyes with grief is dim and old,
Because of all mine enemies, But now depart away from me All ye that work iniquities.
"Silence to thee; thy praise O God, In Sion, paid shall be. The vow to thee, who hearest prayers, All flesh shall come to thee.
Works of iniquity prevail Against me sore do they, But as for our transgres-si-ons, Thou shalt them purge away."
The opposition to the introduction of new tunes is easily understood and was prompted by an impulse which com- mands respect. For many years our fathers had reverently sung their praises in the familiar strains of York, St. Mar- tin's, Mear and a few other substantial compositions. By constant use these tunes had become sacred to them and a sentiment of reverence triumphed over their musical taste and the allurements of new compositions. The earliest chorister, of whom there is any certain information, was William Benjamin. He was a resident here at the settle- ment of Mr. Winchester and remained until 1785 when he removed to Vermont. He led the choir several years and was succeeded by Joseph Jewett, Esq., and Lieutenant John Adams. Amos Dickerson, Ebenezer Wood, Levi Whitney, Mrs. Joseph Jewett, Betsey Dickerson, after-
327
SACRED MUSIC.
wards the wife of Isaac Jackson, were prominent singers in the first meeting-house, and some of them are found in the choir at a later period. Jacob Kiblinger was a famous singer, but he generally worshipped with the Baptists and was not a constant member of the choir.
Although led by a choir, for many years the singing was mainly congregational, and on account of the small number of books in the possession of the worshippers the practice of reading or lining the hymns was continued about thirty years. After the hymn had been read by the minister one of the deacons would read one or two lines. When that passage had been sung in the animated manner of the time, and while the singers were regaining breath, the deacon read another line or couplet and by this alternating process the longest hymns were fully rendered. In 1788 the church voted that no hymn should be sung without reading if any deacon was present to read it, except the last hymn in the service, but the following year at the request of the town the practice was discontinued altogether.
At the time the congregation began to worship in the second meeting-house a bass viol was introduced, but there is no reference in the records to other instruments until several years later, but it is certain that from an early date the singers were accustomed to select a chorister and to accept the support of any musical instrument that was avail- able. For these reasons very little mention of the conduct of church music is found in the records. For one hundred years an interest in the subject and a commendable pride in home talent has been manifested by the town, and later by the parish, by frequent and liberal appropriations " for the encouragement of singing," and schools of instruction under efficient teachers have been numerous.
328
HISTORY OF ASHBURNHAM.
More than any other, musical ability is a gift of inheri- tance. In every community can be found families of musicians. This faculty may present different phases in succeeding generations but the musical ability of the parents is ever renewed in their children. This town has counted among its residents many excellent musicians and many natives of the place have been famous, while others, more remotely associated, can trace their musical inheritance to an Ashburnham parentage. In the following paragraph it will be discovered that many of the prominent members of the choir through all these years were descendants from some of the earliest singers in this town. Catherine, wife of John Kiblinger the emigrant, is distinguished in tradition for qualities of voice and skill in music, and the choir has been indebted to her descendants through several genera- tions. The musical talent of the Adams, Rice, Barrett and the Charles Stearns families has been conspicuous through succeeding generations. As the voice of the parents grew feeble in age or was silent in death, the unbroken song has been sustained in the tuneful notes of their children. Many of these have been prominent in the choir where their services have been appreciated.
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.