USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Bolton > History of Bolton, 1738-1938 > Part 6
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Mr. William Leonard, of Plainfield, New Jersey, came to Bolton in 1893. The church had been on a gradual decline for many years. Few records were kept and Mr. Leonard attempted to sum up the facts in his reports. In June, 1897, he made the following memorandum : "The members of the old church organizations are few and becoming fewer. Members numbered twenty at the time of my settlement. Eight were disabled by infirmities of age, and only twelve at this writing are able to attend. I observed communion a few times in the early months, then the silent method and a sermon on the subject took its place. Only once was it observed in the old way by passing the bread and the cup to communicants." The list of twenty is as follows :
Mrs. Catherine Caswell
Miss Frances C. Caswell
Mrs. Jane H. Chamberlain
Miss Sarah Nourse
Mrs. R. S. Edes
Miss Louisa Jane Parker
Mrs. Sarah Learned
Mr. J. Elbridge Sawyer
Mrs. A. A. Lyman
Mrs. J. Elbridge Sawyer Mrs. Achsah Sawyer
Mrs. Lyman Moore
Mrs. Horatio F. Newton
Mrs. Nathan Sawyer
Miss Fidelia C. Newton
Miss Lucy H. Sawyer
Mr. N. Avery Newton
Miss Caro M. Newton Mr. George B. Newton
Rev. Dr. T. T. Stone
Frederick Stone
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HISTORY OF BOLTON
Mr. Leonard stayed until May, 1898, after serving five years and three months. He died in Roxbury, on September 30, 1920. From 1899 to 1900, Reverend E. C. Headle was again the supply in the pulpit.
Reverend Joseph N. Pardee, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School in 1872, came to Bolton in 1900 to sub- stitute for Mr. Headle, at $5.00 a Sunday. This went on for seven months at $8.00 a Sunday until in May, 1901, he was asked if he would accept a call at $500 a year. He accepted with the provision the Parish move him from Arlington, which they did. Mr. Pardee states that when he came in 1900, there were only five living members of the church, three of them residing in town. There had been no church functions for several years.
A difficult problem was the state of anarchy created by the double organization, the parish and the church. After some discussion, the five members of the church came together and drew up a petition to the parish to amend its bylaws governing admission of members, adopt a covenant, or "Bond of Agreement," and make provision for observing church ordinances. With the help of a competent lawyer, the bylaws were amended by an article making eligible "any person of suitable age," reserving the right of voting in meetings of the corporation to persons of twenty-one years of age, as the law required. A simple covenant was adopted, provision was made for the appointment of stewards, and the pastor was authorized to extend the "right hand of fellowship" to new members. Participation in the ceremonies was made optional with the member. Thus, without in any way disturbing the legal machinery of the parish, the ancient "First Parish and Religious Society" was incorporated in 1905. The results were most salutary.
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THE FIRST PARISH CHURCH
Practically all the young people of sixteen years and over were admitted, and many of the older people.
Mr. Pardee occupied the pulpit for twelve years until failing strength caused him to resign on October 4, 1912, when he became Pastor Emeritus. He is now in his gIst year and still very alert in all church affairs. He drives his automobile and attends all conferences in Worcester County and also the May meetings in Boston.
John Lewis Marsh of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, succeeded Mr. Pardee. He was a graduate of Meadville Theo- logical School in 1875, and came to Bolton for his seventh pastorate from November 1, 1912, until September 9, 1915. He died in Washington, D. C., in 1916 at the age of sixty-six.
The next three pastors were Mr. John A. Hayes, Mr. Walter G. W. Wolfe, and Mr. Charles T. Billings. Mr. John Alexander Hayes of Frederickton, New Brunswick, came to Bolton in 1916, serving until 1920. He served all his pastorates in Massachusetts and died in Brookline in 1927.
Walter George Washington Wolfe of Emaus, Pennsyl- vania, was graduated from Meadville Theological School in 1919 and was ordained and installed in Bolton on Decem- ber 21, 1920, remaining until October 18, 1923.
Reverend Charles T. Billings became the commuting pastor on June 25, 1924. He lived in Belmont and came on the train to Hudson and was brought to Bolton by Mr. Legrand L. Brigham in his automobile. During the seven years he preached here, he was entertained and taken back to the afternoon train faithfully every Sunday by Mr. Paul Cunningham. He resigned in September, 1930.
On Monday morning, December 26, 1926, the community woke to find the church in flames. An overheated furnace
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HISTORY OF BOLTON
had started the blaze and nothing was saved. On December 31, the members of the church voted to undertake the build- ing of a new meetinghouse, and an investigating committee was appointed. On January 12, 1927, the committee pre- sented three plans with an estimate of $25,000, as the probable cost. It was voted to build in the Colonial style, and a finance committee was chosen to undertake to raise $16,000 by popular subscription, the insurance being less than $9,000.
On April 4, the plan submitted by Edwin T. Chapin of Worcester was adopted and Mr. Chapin was chosen archi- tect. The building committee, Perley B. Sawyer, Albert I. Pardee, Frank A. Wheeler, Frances C. Edes, and Reverend Charles T. Billings, was given all necessary authority. The contract was finally awarded to George F. Mathews of Hud- son at $25,444, but the cost actually ran to $27,438.24. However, $23,792 was pledged by the time the cornerstone was laid in September before a gathering of 300 residents and friends.
The dedication took place on October 14, 1928, and the dedicatory sermon was preached by Reverend Samuel A. Eliot, D.D., minister of the Arlington Street Church of Boston. The Friends' Society was represented by their pastor, Reverend Leslie Frazer. Reverend Edwin B. Dolan represented the Baptist Convention, and Reverend James Duncan, D.D., the Unitarian Conference. The act of dedication was read by the minister, Reverend Charles T. Billings.
There were many gifts to the new church. The organ presented by the General Gardner family was placed on the right side of the chancel, with the pipes on the left. The Unitarian Church of Westborough presented a bell similar
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THE FIRST PARISH CHURCH
to the old one, which had been badly cracked when the steeple fell during the fire. The twenty-four-inch Colonial clock on the gallery was given by Professor George F. Swain "in memory of the Reverend Francis Charles Williams and Mary Gardner Williams who were devoted to the advance- ment of Liberal Religion."
Mr. Edward D. Emerson of Bolton and Mr. Abraham Bornstein of Hudson each gave a table. Mrs. Charles J. Sawyer gave the communion table, and Reverend Joseph N. Pardee the pulpit and lectern. The communion service, bought in 1845, was not burned, for it was in the home of the curator. A Bible was given by Mrs. Ellena B. Gage. An old trowel, believed to have been used on the foundation of the 1844 church, was found in the church ruins and was placed in a niche in the rear wall of the auditorium. The town purchased the clock which was placed in the church steeple.
The outside appearance of the new church is much like that of the old one. The inside, which seats 128 people, is painted white, with mahogany trim. The rear balcony has been left vacant, and the high pulpit has been replaced by a side pulpit.
IX THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
Oliver Cromwell said, 'I see there is a people risen, that I cannot win either with gifts, honours, offices, or places.'
GEORGE FOX
AN examination of the old records to find an historical account of Bolton Friends revealed nothing official previous to 1779, but town records during the years 1739 to 1745 have copies of certificates vouching for individual Quakers who came to settle in Bolton. Friends were soon meeting for worship on the Sabbath, but their membership re- mained in Salem Monthly Meeting. In 1779, they re- quested the privilege of holding a Preparative Meeting in Bolton, and the request was granted.
Such a meeting, according to the constitution of Friends, is subordinate to and directed by the Monthly Meeting to which it belongs. The Monthly Meeting is a regular organ- ization of all persons entitled to membership, and has authority to act upon all questions affecting membership, and to hold and administer property. The name originated in the custom of meeting monthly for the transaction of business. Once in three months the Monthly Meetings send their reports and representatives to their Quarterly Meet- ings, which in turn are subordinate to the Yearly Meeting.
The land for the first Friends' Meetinghouse was given by John Fry from his farm. The lot appears to have been on the west side of the Bolton-Berlin road not far from the Fry Burying Ground. It contained one hundred
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THE FRIENDS' MEETINGHOUSE
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THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
roads and was nearly square. The deed granted "the privilege to pass .. . to said Burying place with the dead the way that will accommodate best."
In 1784, the Bolton Preparative Meeting requested to be transferred from the Salem to the Uxbridge Monthly Meet- ing. Committees were appointed "to take the matter into solid consideration" in both Monthly Meetings, and the transfer was effected. Nine years later, in 1795, Bolton Preparative Meeting requested a new meetinghouse built at Bolton. A committee of Uxbridge Monthly Meeting, appointed "to go to Bolton and inspect into the circum- stances of their case," recommended "a house built 34' in length, 28' in width, two stories high, to be set on the East side of the road nearly opposite John Fry's lane that leads to his house, and they have already subscribed 134 pounds." In January, 1797, the house was reported finished.
In the summer of 1798, Bolton Friends requested a Monthly Meeting. The matter was under consideration for some months, the Quarterly Meeting finally reporting that Bolton Preparative Meeting consists "of about twenty- two families containing about 130 members who appear to be well accommodated with a meetinghouse and schoolhouse near it and are conveniently situated round them to attend their meeting at home, but being about 25 miles from the place of holding the Monthly Meeting of Uxbridge to which they belong renders it impracticable for many of them to attend as often as it is desirable though they appear well disposed. . . £ According to our judgment it may be safe for the Quarterly Meeting to indulge Friends of Bolton Preparative Meeting with a Monthly Meeting on trial with hopes that, if Friends there keep their places, it may be found useful to continue it." The first session of the
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HISTORY OF BOLTON
Monthly Meeting was held on the 29th of the fifth month, 1799, with Abraham Wheeler as clerk for the day. The first permanent clerks were Abel Houghton and Thomas Holder; and the first clerk of the Women's Meeting was Thankful Battey.
The custom of holding separate men's and women's meet- ings brought about the next change in the meetinghouse. "To better accommodate the Q. M." a committee was appointed in 1818, who reported that they "think it will be best for us to add 20 ft. to the meetinghouse, which with a partition will accommodate both departments of our Quar- terly Meeting." The shutters forming this movable parti- tion were lowered after the meeting for worship, dividing the house into two rooms of nearly equal size. The men occu- pied the east side of the building and the women the west side for the business session.
In the early years, the Friends maintained their own school. The town minutes of 1798 record that "The Friends already had a schoolhouse and maintained a school at their own charges"; also that a committee appointed "to converse with the friends" on their request to be set off as a squadron, to draw their proportion of the money for schooling, reported against the request.
A few items from the early monthly records are of in- terest : "1799 - The Meeting appointed David Southwick, Thomas Watson, and Thomas Holder to inspect into the state of our schools from time to time and to regulate them according to our discipline." "Ist mo. 1800 - This Meet- ing thinks best that the Sch. Com. should proceed to set up a Man's sch. in Friends' sch. house in Bolton six weeks." The cost amounted to $17.25. "IIth mo. 1800 - The Sch. Com. presented an account of $7.33 for Huldah Mowry
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THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
teaching school 7 weeks and 2 days." "Ioth mo. 1802 - The Sch. Com. made report that they had set up two schools which have been circular twelve weeks, which they think were regulated agreeable to good order, the cost amounts to $22 which the treasury is directed to pay." "4th mo. 1804 - The Sch. Com. presented an account for Daniel Wheeler keeping sch. 8} weeks and boarding himself to the amount of $28.33."
From 1808 to 1852, it seems that Friends supported the summer school, when there was one, and the town the winter school. At the later date, 1852, the town assumed the whole expense and supervision, except that a Friend was appointed to the prudential committee.
The schoolhouse stood for many years on the opposite side of Wheeler road from the meetinghouse and a little farther east. In 1870, a committee was "appointed to sell and remove" it. It came into the possession of the town and was moved to a location on the west side of the Bolton- Berlin road a short distance north of the fork that leads to the meetinghouse. In 1833, a Monthly Meeting library was established. Further desire for comfort is evident in this minute of 1857 - "The Meeting was enformed that Martha Aldrich in her last will and testament had given the sum of $50 to the Monthly Meeting for the purpose of pro- curing cushions for the meetinghouse."
In 1872, a half century after the meetinghouse was en- larged, the following minute is recorded - "The committee on repairs of meetinghouse report that they were of the opinion that it was best to recommend a thorough repair of the house by shingling the north side and clapboarding throughout, dispensing with a portion of the windows, put- ting in new and larger ones for the remainder and that these
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HISTORY OF BOLTON
have blinds upon the outside. That the inside of the house be improved by removing the end galleries and partitioning off an entry way inside and have the two porches remo ved from the road outside. That all the seats in the body of the house be improved by making higher backs and that the high seats be remodeled so that there shall be but one rising seat and that the horse sheds be new-shingled," all of which was accomplished.
Another twenty-six years passed, and at the August Quarterly Meeting in 1898, the custom was begun of serving a public dinner at the home of Arthur V. Wheeler, the house nearest the meetinghouse. The difficulties attendant upon getting Friends from the meeting for worship to the dinner and back to the business meeting, and the discomfort of some poorly-sheltered horses aroused Mr. Francis Holder's interest in 1899. "In 3d mo., 1900," a minute reads, "Francis T. Holder having presented a sum of money to the meeting for the purpose of building a barn for the accommodation of horses at the meetinghouse - the said money to be given as a memorial to his mother, Ruth B. Holder - it was decided to accept the same." Again in 5th mo. of the same year - "This meeting having received a gift . . . from Francis T. Holder for the purpose of build- ing a dining hall for the use of the meeting, we thankfully accept the same and shall proceed to apply it for the purpose intended by the donor."
Six years later, in Ioth mo., 1907, "An offer of making some repairs and additions on our meetinghouse having been made by our friend, Francis T. Holder, it is concluded that we thankfully accept the same." At this time the porches were replaced on the front of the meetinghouse, restoring the exterior more nearly to its early appearance,
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THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
and church and barn were painted. In 1908, the old seats were replaced by those from the Worcester meetinghouse. No marked changes have been made since that time except the removal of the barn in 1931, when it was sold to the Babcock brothers and used by them in building a cottage near their homes.
Aside from the First Day morning meeting, Friends held a meeting for worship on the Fifth Day afternoon from a very early period until the fall of 1896, and an evening meet- ing after 1887. After 1864, and possibly as early as 1856, they maintained a "First Day School." In this school the adult classes used the Bible as their textbook. The younger folks were provided with a series of small bound volumes, entitled "Union Questions," published by the American Sunday School Union between 1827 and 1835. Hymn books were procured which contained no music. A record of 7th mo., 1864, says, "We read in the Hymn books in concert today ... with very good success." "7th mo. Ioth, 1864, I gave out 20 copies of the 'Well Spring' today and saw many happy faces while doing it." Jesse B. Wheeler seems to have been the first superintendent, "also secretary and treasurer," and David Babcock, Amos W. Collins, Reuben A. Wheeler, Henry E. Babcock, and Roena Wheeler the first teachers.
Throughout the middle years of the nineteenth century the minutes include urgent appeals to Friends to keep them- selves clear on the slavery question. Being "clear" meant refraining from holding slaves and opposing the practice with all one's mental and spiritual powers, but did not per- mit the bearing of arms.
Soon after the war, Bolton Friends were helping to support a school for negroes (which is still maintained) at High
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HISTORY OF BOLTON
Point, North Carolina. Frank H. Clark was its principal for some years. Books telling of the suffering of Friends in the South were placed in the library in order that the younger generation might be informed.
Many protests were sent to senators, representatives, and executives, against increasing armament, military training, race prejudice, and the sale of intoxicants, and contributions went to organizations promoting peace and prohibition. During and after the World War, gifts of money and clothing were sent to the American Friends Service Committee.
Some marriages were solemnized after the manner of Friends, among them those of Thankful Wheeler and Jon- athan Baker in 1784, Silas Coolidge and Phoebe Holder in 1799, Thomas W. Wheeler and Miriam Southwick in 1836, Samuel Wheeler and Sarah Holder in 1839, Joseph Ran- dall and Mary A. Wheeler in 1840, Josiah C. Babcock and Joanna Wheeler in 1845, Thomas A. Wheeler and Susan C. Randall in 1848, Amos P. Kimmens and Joanna Babcock in 1853, Alfred Dow and Alice M. Wheeler in 1872.
Clerks who served for long periods were Thomas Fry, two terms of ten years each, John E. Fry, fifteen years, and Nathan Babcock, more than fifty years.
Members of the local meeting whose gifts in the ministry were recognized and approved by their fellow members were : Thomas Watson, Sarah Holder, Lydia Fry, Abel Houghton, Thomas Holder, Lucy F. Collins, Lydia B. Dow, and Alice M. Dow. In 1905, Albert Syze of Dover, New Hampshire, and in 1913, Alfred T. Ware of Iowa, Friends ministers, were received into membership and shared in the ministry. In 1922, the Meeting had its first salaried
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THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
minister, Walter J. Homan, a Friend who was then study- ing in Boston. In August, 1930, the meetings were merged with the Federated Church.
X
THE BAPTIST, HILLSIDE, METHODIST CHURCHES, AND THE FEDERATED CHURCH
Bless all the churches, and blessed be God, who giveth us the churches. ABRAHAM LINCOLN
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
From the beginning, there were folk of Baptist convictions in the colonies, even among the regular church members. The First Baptist Church of Boston was organized in 1665, though its members were repeatedly fined, imprisoned, and prevented from worshiping in their meetinghouse. Soon after the beginning of the new century, 1700, the Baptists shared in the general toleration, and the church started to grow.
In Bolton, the Baptist Church was not organized until 1828, but the few Baptists among the residents became members of the Northboro and Still River churches before this time. In March, 1828, this group petitioned Jacob Haskell, a Justice of the Peace, to issue a warrant for calling a meeting of its members. The letter, which is the first entry in the old leather-covered record book of the church, reads as follows :
To Jacob Haskell Esqr. one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Worcester :
We the subscribers, Inhabitants of the town of Bolton in said county and members of the denomination styled "Baptist" deeming it necessary for our existence to resolve ourselves into
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THE BAPTIST CHURCH
a body politick agreeably to the statute in such cases made and previded for the transacting our concerns legally do hereby request you to issue a warrant for calling a meeting of said members to be held at the dwelling house of Henry Houghton, on Monday the 17th day of March, now present, at 2 O.C.K. P.M. to act on the following articles viz.
I. To choose a Moderator
2. To choose a Clerk
3. To choose a Committee
4. To act on any legal business which may be necessary for the interest, wellfare or anything relative to or appertaining to the concerns of said members or society or any votes needful thereto belonging.
Bolton, March 4th, 1828.
Sanderson Houghton Jonas W. Holman
Josephus Houghton Henry Houghton
Stephen Houghton Henry Houghton, Jr.
William Houghton Rufus Houghton
Abijah Houghton Levi Holman
Jubal H. Haven Nathaniel Holman
Israel Willis
The warrant was issued, and Henry Houghton was requested to notify and warn all of the petitioners to meet at the desig- nated time and place. We have the following record of the meeting :
The Baptist Society in Bolton met according to appointment.
I. Voted and chose Abijah Learned Moderator
2. Voted and chose Jonas W. Holman Clerk, who was duly sworn to the faithful discharge of his duties
3. Voted and chose Henry Houghton and Sanderson Hough- ton Committee
4. Voted and chose Josephus Houghton collector
5. Voted and chose Rev. Abisha Samson an invitation to preach the year ensuing
6. Voted to resolve the meeting.
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HISTORY OF BOLTON
At the meeting held April 25, 1831, it was voted to raise money for the support of the Gospel, by subscription, and in 1832 it was voted to empower the collector to lay out the money for preaching to the best advantage.
Despite the fact that these people had formally organized and had held their services in Bolton, the little group was still included in the membership of the Still River Church. Therefore, in August, 1832, sixteen members expressed a desire to be dismissed to an Ecclesiastical Council which would form the local church. Such a council was held June 19, 1833, at the home of Henry Houghton. The sixteen members were dismissed from the Still River Church, as were four from Northboro. The meeting was presided over by Reverend Abiel Fisher of Webster, who also preached the sermon of the day. Brethren came from the Worcester, Webster, Wendell, and Sutton churches.
After a "prolonged and satisfactory investigation of the views, prospects, and standing of the little company, it was unanimously voted to fellowship as a Church of Christ." The First Baptist Church was thus duly organized and publicly recognized. It became a part of the Worcester Baptist Association.
The original members were :
Henry Houghton Mary Houghton
Elizabeth Ball
Rhoda Houghton Elias Warner
Sarapta Moore
William Houghton Mary Ann Warner Abigail Houghton
Sanderson Houghton
Rhoda M. Houghton Mary Ball
Anna Houghton
Charity Houghton
Parmelia Powers
Nancy Haven
Oliver Moore
William Ball
Jubal Haven
John Powers
"Elder" Luther Goddard, a lay preacher and jeweler, became the first minister, making a weekly journey from
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THE BAPTIST CHURCH
Worcester to Bolton for two years. Not only did he minis- ter to the spiritual needs of his parish, but he was able to restore their timepieces as well. He must have depended upon this material labor for his income, as there is no evidence that he received a salary for his ministerial efforts.
For five years, the services were held alternately at the homes of Henry Houghton and Cornelius Moore. Mr. Houghton, who had been made a deacon in 1843, excavated and paved a baptistry near a spring in his pasture. Several were baptized there. The remains of this pool can still be found on land now owned by Mr. Roy Williams.
In 1838, the meetings were transferred to the Center Schoolhouse, and a little later to the Town House. When the Town decided to charge rent for this, the group again turned to the schoolhouse and to homes of members. The home of Brother Enoch Hall was opened to them.
We read that in 1841, measures were taken to provide a "neat, cozy, House of Prayer." The site chosen was the lot south of the old brick store where the potash works formerly stood. The building cost $800, and a debt of $200 remained until it was sold. The town later bought the building and it became the Center School. At the present time it is the Fire House.
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