History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 85

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 85

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Coming to the auditorium the eye is struck with the size of the room and its adaptedness for religious worship. Including the space occupied by the pulpit platform, it is not far from one hundred feet long by one hundred and thirteen feet wide in the rear, and about one hundred and thirty feet in the transepts, and over seventy feet in height to the ridge of the roof. It is finished in pure Gothic style, with arches between the pillars clear to the ridge. The seating capacity, including the main and transept galleries, is some twelve or thirteen hundred, while eighteen hundred can easily be provided for by filling up the spaces with camp-chairs. Numerous exits in front and rear afford opportunity to vacate the church in a few mo- ments should occasion require.

The pulpit platform is at the extreme west end of the audience-room, in the main body of the church. It is fourteen and a half feet in width by twenty-four feet in length, and has a small but richly-ornamented desk for the speaker.

A wide and handsome arch is thrown over the plat- form with the inscription, " The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

A capacious recess with inner arch has the motto, " Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness," and this encloses a highly decorative design illustrating the Trinity. It is formed by a triangle, within which the quaint Latin symbol of the doctrine is made by the word "Deus" in the centre, with radiations to the three points of the diagram, where the letters "P." "F." "S S." stand for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, while the radiating lines, with the Latin word "est" reading one way and "non est" the other, make a puzzle such as old divines delighted to quarrel over through centuries of church history.

The pastor's room, at the north end of the platform,

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is one of the gems of this beautiful church. It is pro- vided with whatever can contribute to the comfort and quiet of the speaker before and after the service, and is a most restful, as well as tasteful, little room. It is entered by a door from Franklin Street, and, be- sides the door leading to the platform, has two which open upon the floor of the church. Upon the front of this room, which projects out into the body of the church, is inserted a large and most beautiful memo- rial tablet of Tennessee marble, with rich marble pillars and sculptured adornments, the whole set in a frame of heavy black walnut. This tablet is a memo- rial to the first two pastors of the church, Rev. Sam- uel Washburn and Rev. Eli Thurston, D.D.

The organ stands at the southwest corner of the auditorium, projecting slightly into the church, par- allel with the pastor's room on the north of the plat- form. It has a very elegant and elaborate case, and is one of the finest instruments ever manufactured by Hook & Hastings, of Boston. Its tone and compass are nearly perfect, and such as to give exquisite pleasure to the most cultivated musical taste.

The interior decorations of ceiling and fresco are in Gothic style, to accord with the exterior. The tints are of soft gray, with borders of drab, the lines and figures relieved by gold. The wood-work is of black walnut, much of it being finely carved. The windows are of rich stained glass ; the small and delicate clus- tered pillars that support the roof are gilt-bronze ; the gas (struck by electricity) is so arranged as to throw light down upon the audience, and thus never pain- fully to meet the eye; indeed, the whole effect of the interior arrangement is so perfect as never to bewilder or astonish, but seems ever to breathe a solemn repose and a comforting sense of the fitness of it all to the worship of God.

The society took leave of the old church on Sab- bath afternoon, Dec. 12, 1875. A most interesting sermon was preached on the occasion by Mr. Burn- ham, from 2d Peter iii. chapter, 1st verse (last clause), " I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance." The formation and history of the church was reviewed in that sermon, and just and worthy tributes paid to its former pastors, and to all who had helped to sus- tain it. The congregation present on that occasion numbered five hundred and sixty.

On the following evening, Monday, Dec. 13, 1875, the new church was dedicated. The dedication ser- vices were of great interest, and the building was filled by a large audience of over two thousand people. The audience-room was on this occasion most brilliantly lighted, while elegant floral decorations, from the con- servatories of Dr. Nathan Durfee and Mr. C. V. S. Remington, adorned the pulpit and platform. A splendid crown of roses was placed in the family pew of the late Dr. Thurston, while a cross of the same lovely flowers adorned the pew of the present pastor. The touching significance of these tokens added to their loveliness and beauty. An organ voluntary,

under the skillful hand of Mr. Lyman W. Dean, brought out the long time honored and deep tones of "Old Hundred," succeeded by the grand anthem of Mozart, "Praise the Lord," by a choir of select singers, who occupied the south transept. The prayer of invocation was by Dr. J. W. Wellman, of Malden. The Scriptures were read by Dr. William W. Adams, of the First Congregational Church, and the sermon was preached by Dr. Richard S. Storrs, of Brooklyn, N. Y. The text was John xvii. chapter, 20th verse, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them who believe through their word." It was delivered with- out notes, and was an able and instructive discourse on the power and efficacy delegated to the church by their risen Lord, a power greater than he could have exerted by remaining on earth under mortal conditions and limits, because it brought into exercise faith, which all could exercise, and which could over- come all things. Mr. Burnham offered the dedicatory prayer, followed by the anthem from Leach, "How Beautiful are Thy Dwellings." The exercises closed with the singing of the Doxology by the whole con- gregation, and the benediction by the pastor.

With these formal services was dedicated to the service of the living God, this church building, which stands to-day among the chief achitectural ornaments of the city, arranged with every appliance of invention and art to make it a comfortable and suitable place of worship.

But these satisfactory outward conditions did not suffice to ward off from the church, within a short time, great perplexity and financial embarrassment. This came from many trying causes, as well as from the universal depression of all business (succeeding the panic of 1873), and especially of the manufactur- ing interest, upon which in Fall River everything de- pends.

The sun of prosperity had shone for many years upon this Christian enterprise, but now the clouds of adversity darkened its sky, and with the incubus of a heavy debt, resulting from inability to dispose of its old lot and building as had been contemplated, and the removal by death of some who had been its strong supporters, it was greatly tried. It had missed for several years the counsel and presence of one of its most honored and most devoted members, Col. Rich- ard Borden. With wise judgment and generous heart, he had stood by the church through every vicissitude, and with longing desire had hoped to see the extension and enlarged usefulness which he felt would come to the church through this new temple to God's honor, but he did not live till its completion.

After struggling with a debt of more than one hun- dred thousand dollars for four years, a strenuous and successful effort was made on Sunday, Feb. 1, 1880, to raise the debt. More than seventy thousand dollars were raised by that day's efforts, and this with subse- quent donations, added to property already held by the church, canceled the obligation. The people

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were greatly indebted in this work to the interest and influence of Rev. Dr. Alexander McKenzie, of Cam- bridge, Mass., who had been a friend and helper of the church for several years, and who was rewarded by the grateful affection of all the people.

The pastor, too, gave himself untiringly to this work for months previous to the happy crisis, and by his unwearied and judicious efforts secured large aid and sympathy from a few generous-hearted Christian men in Boston and other places. This strain, added to all the cares and duties of so large a parish, resulted in injury to Mr. Burnham's health, and although he continued for two years longer to work with great zeal and efficiency, he became convinced that it would be better for him to leave the Central Church and enter another field of labor. With great reluc- tance he was dismissed in the summer of 1882, and in October of that year was settled over the Immanuel Congregational Church at Boston Highlands, Mass.

Almost immediately after Mr. Burnham's dismis- sion the church and society united in giving a call to Rev. Eldridge Mix, D.D., who had for some years previous ministered to the First Presbyterian Church in Orange, N. J. Dr. Mix was installed Wednesday evening, Sept. 27, 1882. The sermon was by Rev. Dr. Alexander McKenzie, and the other services were conducted by Rev. Samuel G. Willard, of Colchester, Conn .; Rev. Michael Burnham, Boston Highlands; Rev. William W. Adams, D.D., Fall River, and Rev. A. J. F. Behrends, Providence, R. I. The present membership of the church is four hundred and fifty- nine.

The Third Congregational Church was organized in 1874, with Rev. Leander S. Coan as pastor, who remained until 1875, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Calvin Keyser. The church edifice was erected in 1874, and is located on Havover Street, corner of Maple.

First Methodist Episcopal Church.1-The Metli- odist Episcopal Church in Fall River cannot boast of a very early origin. Somerset, a few miles distant, had been favored with Methodist preaching for about twenty years previous to any account of regular preaching by Methodist ministers in this place. In the year 1824, Rev. Ebenezer Blake, then stationed at Somerset, now South Somerset, held meetings in this place, then a considerable village called Troy, and for a time, according to an old record, " preached lectures" once in two weeks. He was succeeded at Somerset in June, 1825, by Rev. Herman Perry, who continued to preach or "lecture" in the village, and during the year formed a class of about twelve members. Of this first class John Anthony, afterwards a local preacher of the Bank Street Church, then a young man, was appointed leader. Luther Chace and wife, Constant B. Wyatt, Elouisa Chase, who afterwards married a Mr. Pierce, Rebecca Lindsey, now Tilling-

hast, Nancy Cory, afterwards the wife of Rev. Daniel Webb, and Betsey L. Douglas were members. In June, 1826, Revs. Charles Virgin and Nathan B. Spaulding were appointed to Somerset, one of whom preached in this place once in two weeks.

About the commencement of the year 1827 fruits of their labors began to appear. A gracious revival com- menced, and Mr. Spaulding confined his labors entirely to this place the remainder of the Conference year. A school-house, standing on the corner of Anawan and South Main Streets, was their place of worship. How many were added to this number we have no means of knowing. There is a single record of the ordinance of baptism administered to nine persons, April 1, 1827, by Mr. Virgin. At the Conference in the following June, Rev. E. T. Taylor, afterwards universally known as " Father" Taylor, and justly celebrated for his labors in behalf of seamen, was appointed to Fall River, he being the first minister sent to the place by the Con- ference. The appointment appears on the minutes in connection with Little Compton, and Amos Binney was his colleague. They were, however, virtually distinct charges. A new church edifice was immedi- ately commenced, which was completed and dedicated December 25th of the same year. It was a modest, unpretending structure, without spire or bell, and sit- uated a little off' from what is now Central Street. When the house was nearly completed a gentleman asked Mr. Taylor where they intended to put the bell. With a significant turn of the head he promptly re- plied, " In the pulpit, sir." The pulpit bell had the right ring. Its toue was loud, clear, inviting. It gave no uncertain sound. The people flocked to hear it and were charmed.

The minutes of the next Conference, held in June, 1828, report for Fall River and Little Compton one hundred and ninety in connection. Mr. Taylor was reappointed to this place at this Conference, but in December he was removed to the Mariners' Church, Boston, in which sphere he labored with signal suc- cess till old age superannuated him. Rev. E. Blake, then stationed at Easton and Stoughton, and others supplied the church until the next Conference. At the Conference of 1829, Mr. Blake was appointed to this charge, and labored with good success. Two hundred and six are reported in connection with Fall River and Little Compton at the next Conference. At this early date the names of Iram Smith and Wil- liam Mason, of Nehemiah Rogers, Edward Mason, and John E. Green appear on the records as class- leaders.

Mr. Blake was succeeded in June, 1830, by Rev. Daniel Webb. In May, 1831, Rev. Ira M. Bidwell was appointed to this place, and remained two years. The church was eminently prosperous during his ad- ministration, though the latter year was one of severe trial and conflict. As a result of their united efforts a blessed and powerful work of grace was wrought among them, extending through the greater portion

1 By Rev. W. A. Luce.

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of his term of service. Meetings were held nearly every night for about four months ; more than a hun- dred persons professed conversion, and about seventy- five were added to the church. But in the midst of this prosperity trials came; a terrible storm swept over the church in this vicinity, which for a time threatened complete destruction.

The famous or rather infamous Avery and Cornell affair was the occasion of this fiery trial. It occurred in the latter part of the year 1832. Mr. Avery was then stationed at Bristol, R. I., but as Fall River was the scene of the tragedy, it was here that the storm of excitement raged with greatest violence. It is impos- sible to correctly estimate the state of public feeling which existed at that time, and the violent prejudice and opposition against the Methodist Church. As a consequence the eburch suffered severely. Some withdrew from the membership, many more from the congregation. But one man remained a regular member of the congregation who was not a member of the church. That man was Joshua Remington, who was then unconverted, but adhered firmly to the church with his wife, who was a faithful member.

At the close of Mr. Bidwell's pastorate Fall River stands alone in the minutes for the first time, with one hundred and sixty in connection. At the end of Mr. Bidwell's first year the number reported for Fall River and Little Compton was two hundred and sev- enty-six, but this number was reduced to the above figures by the Avery and Cornell tragedy. In June, 1833, Rev. Squire B. Haskell was appointed to suc- ceed Mr. Bidwell, and remained two years. The membership was reported to be one hundred and seventy-four at its close.

At the Conference in 1835, Rev. Mark Staple was appointed to this station. The church had not even then recovered from the severe shock received from the Avery tragedy. A powerful revival prevailed throughout the most of this year, and at its close the number reported to the Conference was two hundred and sixty-three. Mr. Staple was reappointed in 1836, and continued until January, 1837, when his health failed, and he was obliged to resign, and was succeeded in February by Rev. Jesse Fillmore, a local preacher, who was appointed by the presiding elder, Rev. D. Webb, to supply the church until the ensuing Conference. He is credited with having put the records of the church into a somewhat systematic and preservable form. Rev. Jesse Fillmore was suc- ceeded in June, 1837, by Rev. Hector Bronson, who served the church for one year only. Notwithstand- ing the labors of Mr. Bronson, the church was in a languishing and declining state the whole year. In June, 1838, Rev. Phineas Crandall was appointed to this station.

ceived into the church by profession of faith and certificate. Under his administration an attempt was made to secure a more suitable place of worship, which was successful. The debt on the old house was paid, the house sold, and a new and better one built, in a more central and eligible part of the town, near the corner of South Main and Anawan Streets, where the present church stands. This house was dedicated to the worship of God by Rev. Orange Scott, Feb. 20, 1840. At the end of Mr. Crandall's administration the church was in a very prosperous condition, with a membership of two hundred and sixty-six souls ; the congregation was larger and the prospect for the future brighter than ever before. In July, 1840, he was succeeded by Rev. Isaac Bonney. In June, 1842, Mr. Bonney was followed by Rev. Thomas Ely. Dur- ing his second year the " great fire" occurred, and the church edifice was burned to the ground. This was July 2, 1843. The bright hopes and cheering pros- pects of the church seemed all blasted in one brief hour. Not only was their place of worship destroyed, but many of the members were deprived of a part or all of their property, which rendered the condition of the society still more distressing and gloomy.

But the Lord did not forsake his people. Although " cast down" they were not utterly "destroyed." The First Congregational Church kindly invited the church to worship with them, which they did for sev- eral Sabbaths, when A. L. Westgate and William Borden having erected their furniture warehouse, which had been destroyed by the fire, opened an upper room in the same to accommodate the society for the time being. The society now began to con- template rebuilding their church. Mr. Ely, left home and traveled extensively to solicit funds for the erec- tion of a new church. He succeeded, however, in raising but about seventeen hundred dollars. The building was soon commenced, being much larger, more commodious, and better adapted to the wants of the society than the former one. On the 3d of April, 1844, it was dedicated to the worship of God, Rev. Charles K. True preaching the dedieatory ser- mon.

In July, 1844, Rev. George F. Poole succeeded to the pastoral charge of the church. In 1845 he was followed by Rev. James D. Butler. He remained two years, which were years of great spiritual pros- perity, so that at the termination of his ministry the church numbered three hundred and eighty-one members. In April, 1847, Mr. Butler was succeeded by Rev. David Patten, now deceased. Rev. Daniel Wise was the next pastor of the church, being ap- pointed to the charge in April, 1849. During the winter of his first year that eminent evangelist, Rev. James Caughey, labored with the church for about three months. More than two hundred professed conversion as the result of their united efforts.

Mr. Crandall labored in the place two years, dur- ing which time the church was blessed, in common with other churches in the village, with revival influ- The congregation had now become so large that ences. During the year about one hundred were re : persons wishing to hire seats could not be accommo-

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dated. The question of division was agitated, and it was finally decided to establish a second congrega- tion, and ask Conference to send them two preachers. Accordingly Mr. Wise was returned, and Rev. Elijah T. Fletcher was appointed with him. The result was a second church, now known as the Bank Street Church. At the next Conference in 1850, Rev. Frederick Upham was appointed to the First Church, and Rev. Ralph W. Allen to the Second, or Bank Street Church. The latter enterprise was immedi- ately successful, and to-day both churches number about four hundred members each.

Rev. Elisha B. Bradford succeeded Mr. Upham in April, 1853. An organ costing sixteen hundred dol- lars was placed in the church this year. In 1855, Rev. John Howson, still living, was made pastor, and continued its minister for two years. In 1857, Rev. Thomas Ely was appointed to this church for the second time.

During the winter of 1857-58 this church shared in the gracious visitation then enjoyed by most of the churches in the land. The church edifice was inter- nally improved and beautified at an expense of six- teen hundred dollars.

Mr. Ely was followed in 1859 by Rev. Andrew MeKeown, who commenced his ministry under favor- able auspices, and was eminently successful in every department of church work. He reported at the close of his pastorate two hundred and forty mem- bers and twelve probationers. In 1861, Rev. Charles H. Payne became the pastor of the church. Mr. Payne is now president of one of the largest Meth- odist universities in the West. While here Mr. Payne gained the enviable reputation of being an able, popular, and successful minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

His successor in 1863 was Rev. Henry Baylies. During this year a commodious and comfortable par- sonage was purchased on South Main Street at an expense of three thousand one hundred and thirty dollars. In the spring of 1864 Mr. Baylies returned to this charge. Mr. Baylies' health failing, he yielded to the conviction that he could be more useful else- where, and so sought and obtained a transfer to the "Upper Iowa Conference." The Rev. Joseph H. James, then a member of the New Jersey Conference, supplied the pulpit for the remainder of the year, being engaged for the work by Rev. Paul Townsend, then presiding elder of the district. In March, 1867, J. D. King was pastor. In March, 1870, Rev. A. A. Wright followed Mr. King; in 1873, S. L. Gracey ; 1874, Rev. Ensign McChesney ; in 1877, Rev. Watson L. Phillips ; in 1879, Rev. William T. North ; and 1882, Rev. Warren A. Luce, the present pastor. These all have been years of more or less prosperity. During the administration of Rev. A. A. Wright, the old par- sonage on South Main was sold, and a new one built on Ridge Street.

It will be seen that this church has always been a

revival church, and that for the first twenty years of its history its success as an evangelizing agent was simply wonderful.

Without making any invidious comparisons, it may be safely and truthfully said that but few churches, if indeed any in the Conference, have gathered into their communion more converts to the truth during the same period of time. It is impossible to give the precise number, but from the data we have it is probable that at least two thousand persons have professed faith in Christ in this church during the last fifty years. The church edifice was raised, stores built in front on Main Street, and many other neces- sary repairs made during the pastorate of Rev. J. D. King. Too much cannot be said in his praise for the time and energy he put into this work.

Foremost of those who have gone up from this Bethel below to the grander Bethel above stand those sainted men, Edward Mason, James Waring, Wil- liam Henry, Ashley Saunders, John Livesey, and Luther Chace, and nameless others not less worthy who have washed their robes to spotless purity in Christ's own cleansing blood.

"Once they were mourners here below, And poured out cries and tears ; They wrestled hard, as we do now, With sins and doubts and fears."

Many were the conflicts they waged in the main- tenance of this church, many were the difficulties encountered, many the sacrifices made. There is still remaining a noble, heroic band of men and women; may their victories be as many as their fathers' were, and then "a saint's rest" for each and every one.

May the future history of this branch of God's peo- ple be still more glorious than the past.

St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church was or- ganized in 1851, and their church edifice was erected in the following year. The first pastor was Rev. Ralph W. Allen, who was followed in 1853 by Rev. John Hobart. His successors have been as follows :

M. J. Talbot, 1855; Samuel C. Brown, 1857 ; J. B. Gould, 1859; J. A. M. Chapman, 1861; Samuel C. Brown, 1863; Alfred A. Wright, 1865 ; George Bowler, 1866; Francis J. Wagner, 1868; Emory J. Haynes, 1870; George E. Reed, 1872; George W. Woodruff, D.D., 1875-76 ; Richard H. Rust, 1877-79 ; Charles W. Gallagher, 1880-81 ; Edward M. Taylor, 1882-83.

The present officers are as follows :

Trustees .- William Mason, Iram Smith, Robert C. Brown, Caleb S. Chace, Lafayette Nichols, Charles E. Case, Robert Henry, J. E. McCreery, William S. Greene; J. E. McCreery, clerk ; R. C. Brown, treas- urer.

Stewards .- Robert C. Brown, John Reed, Charles E. Case, John G. Sargent, J. E. MeCreery, Samuel Allen, Abram F. Shove, Henry W. Davis, M. V. B. Benson; A. F. Shove, recording steward and treas- urer.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 85

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1818

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818