USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Brockton > History of Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 1656-1894 > Part 16
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Mr. Couch was far above the average as a preacher; as a pastor, faithful and devoted, while his benign presence was a blessing and benediction in every home. But devoted and faithful as he was to his sacred calling, he was also a man of affairs, taking a deep and intelligent interest in all that concerned the welfare of the State and nation. Dur- ing his entire ministry he was a bold and fearless advocate of the cause of temperance, and was an uncompromising champion of the cause of freedom and human rights, at a time when to be such was unpopular if not positively dangerous, and so deep an interest did he take in matters of public concern that the town of North Bridgewater, now the city of Brockton, selected him to represent them in the Massachusetts Legislature in the years 1856 and '57, where he made a record credita- ble to himself as well as to his constituents. He was also sent as rep: resentative to the Connecticut Legislature from the town of Griswold in 1869.
The life of Mr. Couch was that of a scholar and Christian gentleman, and his mental vision was preserved in its undivided strength even to old age, and his strong grasp of social, civil, and spiritual problems was a bright example to younger men, while his profound piety was serene and childlike.
Mr. Couch died March 7, 1891, and his funeral attended from the Congregational church in Mystic, Conn., on Wednesday, March 11th, 1891, and his remains were buried in the beautiful Elm Grove Ceme- tery by the side of his beloved wife who passed away in August, 1874.
They had seven children, viz .:
Hon. Joseph James, son of Rev. Paul and Harriet (Tyler) Couch, was born in Newburyport, Mass., March 24, 1828, married Mary B.
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Anthony, June 24, 1852. He graduated at Phillips Academy, An- dover, Mass., and became an inventor in Boston, and was connected with the Boston Advertiser, Traveller, and other papers. He resided in Philadelphia, Pa., two years, introducing sewing machines. He was the inventor of the famous " Steam Rock Drill," and may be said to be the father of the system of rock drilling by steam. In 1852 he removed to New York city to introduce his drilling machines, and has for a long time been special deputy collector, inspector, naval officer, and has held the position of special deputy collector under Collectors Barney, Draper, King, Smyth, Grinnell, Murphy, Arthur, Merritt, Robertson, Hedden, Magone, Erhardt, Fassett, Francis and Hendricks.
John Paul Couch, another son, is in the sub- treasury of the United States at San Francisco, Cal.
Ebenezer Couch is postmaster at Mystic, Conn.
Publications of Rev. Paul Couch-Two sermons, preached December 23, 1849. Published by Damrell & Moore, Boston, 1849.
Temperance sermons on different occasions.
Sermon preached at the funeral of Rev. Daniel Thomas, former pas- tor of the Second Congregational Church in Abington, on Friday, Jan- uary 8, 1847. Published by T. R. Marvin, 1847.
Sermon preached in the First Congregational Church of Stonington, Conn., August 6, 1863, on national thanksgiving.
MINISTRY OF REV. NATHANIEL B. BLANCHARD .- Immediately after the dismission of Rev. Mr. Couch, an invitation was given to Rev. N. B. Blanchard, a native of Abington, Mass., who had been preaching for three years at Plymouth, to supply their pulpit for one year, commenc- ing the first Sabbath in August, 1859. After this term had expired they had become so attached to him as a preacher, and finding him to be a man of ability, he received a call June 12, 1861, to settle with them as their pastor ; which call he accepted August 4, 1861, and was in- stalled September 18, 1861. The council consisted of Rev. T. Stowe, of New Bedford ; Rev. Henry B. Hooker, D.D., of Boston ; Rev. Jonas Perkins, D.D., of Braintree ; Rev. H. D. Walker, of Abington ; Rev. Charles L. Mills, of the Porter Church in North Bridgewater ; Rev. Stephen G. Dodd, of East Randolph ; Rev. James P. Terry, of South
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Weymouth. After the business meeting and examination of the papers of the pastor elect, the council proceeded to the services of installation, commencing at one and a half o'clock, P. M., with the following order of exercises : I, voluntary ; 2, reading of the Scriptures and prayer by Mr. Stowe ; 3, hymn ; 4, sermon, by Rev. Dr. Hooker, D.D. ; 5, in- stalling prayer by Rev. Jonas Perkins, D.D .; 6, anthem; 7, charge to the pastor, by Rev. H. D. Walker ; 8, right hand of fellowship, by Rev. Charles L. Mills ; 9, charge to the people, by Rev. S. G. Dodd; 10, prayer, by R. J. P Terry ; 11, hymn; 12, benediction by the pastor. The sermon on this occasion is said to have been an able and interest- ing exposition of the relations of the gospel of Christ to the human conscience, and the other services were of an interesting nature. Mr. Blanchard continued his labors of love to this people until the month of August, 1862, when, his health failing, he relinquished his labors for a season to travel, that he might recover. He was on his way to Plym- outh, N. H., stopping at Concord, N. H., became worse, and there died August 7, 1862. His remains were brought to his church, where fu- neral services were attended by Rev. H. D. Walker, of East Abing- ton, August 9; and afterwards his body was taken to Edgartown for burial.
At a meeting of the church, held soon after the funeral, the follow- ing resolutions were passed, expressive of their feelings at his decease :
WHEREAS, Almighty God, by his inscrutable Providence, has removed from us our be- loved pastor, Rev. Nathaniel B. Blanchard, by death,-
Resolved, That we are deeply sensible of the great loss we have sustained by being deprived of his instructive, faithful, earnest, and zealous ministrations ; that we received him as a man after God's own heart; that we loved him as our pastor and our friend ; and we would honor his memory as that of one endeared to us by the most holy as- sociations.
Resolved, That in all the civil and social relations, while he sustained the dignity of his profession and sacred office, Mr. B., by the grace and urbanity of his demeanor, won the respect and affectionate regard of all the members of the community in which he moved.
Resolved, That we heartily sympathize with his family in this the sad hour of their bereavement.
Resolved, That the foregoing resolutions be published in the North Bridgewater Gazette, and also a copy of the same be sent to the widow of the deceased.
HENRY HOWARD, Clerk.
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Rev. Nathaniel Bailey Blanchard was born in Abington, Mass., July 16, 1827. In 1848 he became a member of the Congregational Church in East Abington ; in 1853 graduated at Amherst College ; in 1855 he completed his theological course at Bangor, Me. ; July 15, 1856, he was ordained to the Christian ministry of Edgartown, Mass. While at this place he was married. He became a pastor of the Pilgrim Church in Plymouth, Mass., where he remained three years. On September 18, 1861, he was installed as pastor of the First Congregational Church in North Bridgewater. He was a man universally loved and respected wherever he went, and from his youth was a thoughtful boy, with high aims and noble purposes, faithful in all the minor duties, and true in all the social and fraternal relations. He made the most of his opportunities, entering with a heart full of zeal and love upon his work, -his joy of preaching Christ. Sincerity, kindness, and the constraining love of Christ shone forth in all his walk.
MINISTRY OF REV. EDWARD L. CLARK .- After the decease of Rev. Mr. Blanchard, the pulpit was supplied by various ministers, among whom was Mr. Clark. At a meeting of the First Congrega- tional Church, held April 11, 1863, it was unanimously voted to give Mr. Edward L. Clark a call to become their pastor ; which call he accepted, and was installed September 22, 1863.
The following churches were invited to the installation of Rev. Mr. Clark, viz .:
Porter Evangelical Church, Brockton : Rev. Samuel H. Lee, pastor ; David Howard, delegate.
South Congregational Church, Campello : Rev. Charles W. Wood, pastor ; George Sawyer, delegate.
Trinitarian Church of Bridgewater : Rev. E. Douglas, pastor.
Union Church of East Bridgewater : Rev. N. H. Broughton, pastor ; Galen R. Richards, delegate.
First Church of Stoughton : Ebenezer Drake, delegate.
First Church of Randolph : Ebenezer Allen, M.D., delegate.
Second Church of Randolph : Rev. S. G. Dodd, pastor ; Deacon T. W. Whiting, delegate.
Winthrop Church of Holbrook : Rev. Ezekiel Russell, pastor ; Dea- con Moses French, delegate.
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First Church of Abington : Rev. Frederick R. Abbic, pastor ; Dea- con John A. King, delegate.
Second Church of Abington : William P. Cottrell, delegate.
Third Church of Abington : Rev. Horace D. Walker, pastor ; Levi Reed, delegate.
Second Church of Weymouth: Rev. J. P. Terry, pastor ; William Dyer, delegate.
Union Church of Weymouth : Rev. S. H. Hayes, pastor; Benjamin Ells, delegate.
South Church of Braintree: Rev. L. R. Eastman, pastor ; Paul Wild, delegate.
First Church of Braintree: Deacon Elias Hayward, delegate.
Harvard Congregational Church of Brookline: Rev. J. Lewis Diman, pastor ; Deacon John N. Turner, delegate.
First Congregational Church of Somerville: Rev. David Temple Packard, pastor ; Deacon Jesse Lovett, delegate.
Park Street Church of Boston: Rev. Andrew L. Stone, pastor ; Martin L. Keith, delegate.
Second Church of Dorchester : Rev. James H. Means, pastor ; Stephen Wales, delegate.
The following ministers were present by special invitation :
Rev. Paul Couch, of Jewett City, Conn.
Rev. Luther Sheldon, D.D., of Easton, Mass.
Rev. Ebenezer Gay, of Bridgewater, Mass.
Rev. Jonas Perkins, of Braintree, Mass.
Rev. David Brigham, of Fall River, Mass.
After a careful examination of the papers that had passed between Mr. Clark and the church and society, and finding them satisfactory, the council proceeded to examine the candidate, closely interrogating him in regard to his religious experience, and becoming fully satisfied, "voted to proceed to the services of installation," which were in the following order :
I, introductory prayer, by Rev. Charles W. Wood, of Campello; 2, reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. Ebenezer Douglas, Bridgewater ; 3, singing 518th hymn of the Psalmist ; 4, sermon, Rev. A. L. Stone, of Park Street Church, Boston; 5, anthem, by the choir; 6. installing
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prayer, by Rev. Jonas Perkins, D.D., of Braintree; 7, charge to the pastor, by Rev. J. Lewis Diman of Brookline, Mass .; 8, right hand of fellowship, by Rev. Samuel H. Lee, of the Porter Church ; 9, address to the people, by Rev. Paul Couch, of Jewett City, Conn., their former pastor ; 10, concluding prayer, by Rev. D. Temple Packard, of Somer- ville, Mass .; 1I, singing 117th Psalm; 12, benediction, by the pas- tor.
Rev. Edward L. Clark was born in Nashua, N. H., February 3, 1838 ; fitted for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass .; graduated at Brown University, Providence, R. I., 1858; spent one year traveling through Egypt, Palestine, and other ancient places in the Holy Land ; studied theology at Andover Theological Seminary ; graduated 1862; was organized as chaplain of the Twelfth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, with whom he remained one year; afterwards settled as pastor of the First Congregational Church in North Bridgewater, Sep- tember 22, 1863.
Mr. Clark continued to preach to this people with faithfulness and fidelity for nearly three years, when his impaired health caused him to send to the church and society the following letter of resignation :
NORTH BRIDGEWATER, June 17, 1866.
To the First Congregational Church :
DEAR BRETHREN-Believing that the providence of God has indicated by my health that the time has come for me to resign the care of the society, I desire you to unite with me in calling a council during the first week in July to advise in this matter.
With the most fervent prayer for your continued prosperity, I remain your affec- tionate pastor, EDWARD L. CLARK.
The council called to dismiss the Rev. Edward L. Clark were as fol- lows :
South Congregational Church of Campello : Rev. Charles W. Wood, pastor; Josiah W. Kingman, delegate.
Porter Evangelical Church of Brockton : Rev. J. V. Hilton, pastor ; Abel W. Kingman, M. D., delegate.
Third Church of Abington : Rev. Horace D. Walker, pastor ; Zenas Holbrook, delegate.
First Church of Randolph : Rev. J. C. Larrabee, pastor ; Ebenezer Alden, M. D., delegate.
First Church of Abington: John Newton Noyes, delegate.
22
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Second Church of Abington : Rev. H. L. Edwards, pastor; Dean Spencer Vining, delegate.
Rev. Jonas Perkins, of Braintree, Mass.
After a careful examination of the position of pastor and people, the council came to the following resolution :
While the Council deem it advisable that the connection which has so happily sub- sisted between the parties who called us should be dissolved, they come to this con- clusion with sentiments of deep regret. It appears that the services of the Pastor, both in the pulpit and in every other department of Pastoral duty, have been increas- ingly satisfying to the people of his charge from the beginning, and that to many of them he has become especially beloved by reason of the success with which, during the latter part of his ministry, the Holy Spirit has attended his preaching. The council recommend him to the fellowship of the churches, and tender him their devout wishes that his health may be restored, and that he may be permitted for many years to labor successfully in the Lord's Vineyard. Also sympathizing with this beloved church and people, the council commend them to the Divine Shepherd that he preserve their unity and peace, and in due time give them a Pastor after his own heart.
H. L. EDWARDS, Scribe. JONAS PERKINS, Moderator.
NORTH BRIDGEWATER, July 2, 1886.
The church was now without a pastor, and the Rev. James Wilson Ward, jr., was engaged to supply the pulpit for one year, from Decem- ber 9, 1866, at a salary of fourteen hundred dollars per year. Mr. Ward preached to this people during the term above named, and became much endeared to them, and on the 6th of December, 1867, it was voted by the parish to extend a call to him to become their pastor, which was declined.
On the 5th of December the following resolutions were placed on record as a token of the regard in which he was held by them as a preacher, viz. :
Resolved, That Rev. James W. Ward, jr., who has filled the office of pastor to this church for the past year, has shown himself a man of superior ability, ardent piety, and unquestionable Christian character, and worthy of the unlimited confidence and regard of this church, and we sincerely regret and deplore the necessity of a separation.
Various preachers were heard during the year, and on the 3d of January, 1868, the society extended a call to Rev. Edson Rogers, who had supplied the pulpit for four Sabbaths, to become their pastor. This call was declined. and after hearing other candidates the church and society united in giving a call to Rev. Henry A. Stevens.
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MINISTRY OF REV. HENRY A. STEVENS .- Mr. Stevens was called to settle with them as their pastor, with a salary of two thousand dollars, which was accepted, May 14, 1868, and Deacon John W. King- man, Jonas R. Perkins, esq., and John T. Burke were chosen a com- mittee on the part of the church, and Edward Southworth, jr., Deacon Joel T. Packard, and Samuel Mclaughlin were chosen on the part of the society, to make arrangements for a council.
A mutual council was held June 24, 1868, the following churches having been invited to participate in the installation services on that occasion, viz. :
Old South Church of Boston : Rev. J. M. Manning, D.D., pastor ; F. D. Allen, delegate.
First Trinitarian Congregational Church of Medford : Rev. J. T. McCollom, pastor; Deacon Samuel Train, delegate.
Old South Church of Reading, Mass .: Ambrose Kingman, delegate.
Central Square Church of Bridgewater, Mass .: Rev. Horace D. Walker, pastor; Deacon George W. Holmes, delegate.
Union Church of East and West Bridgewater: Daniel Reed, dele- gate.
South Congregational Church of Campello: Rev. Charles W. Wood, pastor ; Adelbert F. Keith, delegate.
Porter Evangelical Church of Brockton: Deacon Simeon Packard, delegate.
Waquoit Congregational Church of Falmouth, Mass .: Rev. David Brigham, acting pastor.
Winthrop Church of Holbrook, Mass .: Rev. Ezekiel Russell, pastor ; E. E. Holbrook, delegate.
First Church of Randolph, Mass .: Rev. J. C. Larrabee, pastor ; Ebenezer Alden, M.D., delegate.
Also present by invitation : Rev. Jonas Perkins, of Braintree ; Rev. Ebenezer Gay, of Bridgewater; Rev. Baalis Sanford, of East Bridge- water.
The usual proceedings of councils in the examination of the candi- date, the call, etc., having been concluded, they were deemed highly satisfactory, and the following programme for the services of installa- tion was made, viz .:
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
1, Reading of Scriptures and prayer, Rev. J. C. Larrabee ; 2, sermon, Rev. J M. Manning, D.D .; 3, installing prayer, Rev. David Brigham ; 4, charge to the pastor, Rev. Horace D Walker ; 5, right hand of fel- lowship, Rev. Charles W. Wood; 6, address to the people, Rev. J. T. McCollom ; 7, concluding prayer, Rev. Jonas Perkins; 8, benediction by the pastor.
Charles W. Wood, moderator ; J. C. Larrabee, scribe.
March 13, 1874. Previous to this date the church had been called the "First Congregational Church, North Bridgewater." At a meet- ing held this day it was voted to petition for a change of name to " Brockton."
The committee of the church calling a council were Joel T. Packard, Joseph Smith, Francis B. Gardner, April 27, 1874.
May 8, 1874. A meeting of the council was held in the vestry to advise about the dismission of Rev. H. A. Stevens.
The following churches were invited and represented, viz .:
Stoughton : Rev. Thomas Wilson, pastor; Deacon E. Drake, delegate.
Porter Evangelical Church: Rev. R. G. S. McNeille, pastor ; Deacon Simeon Packard, delegate.
South Church, Campello: Rev. C. W. Wood, delegate.
First Church, Abington : Rev. G. E. Freeman, pastor ; Deacon J. A. King, delegate.
Central, Bridgewater : Rev. H. D. Walker, pastor ; A. M. Hayward, delegate.
Church in Randolph : Rev. John C. Larrabee, pastor; Deacon Joseph Graham, delegate.
Rev. C. W. Wood, moderator ; R. G. S. McNeille, scribe.
After the usual hearing before councils on both sides, they retired, and reported their decision as follows :
" Resolved, That we accede to the request of Rev. H. A. Stevens for dismission from the pastorate of the First Congregational Church."
Rev. C. W. Wood, Rev. R. G. S. McNeille, and Rev. H. D. Walker were requested to put in form the result of the council, as follows :
In coming to this conclusion (to wit, advising the dismission of Bro. Stevens) we de- sire to express our deep regret at the necessity which exists for dissolving the relation with the first church in Brockton. We recognize his pastorate as having been emi- nently successful, and are happy to know of the high respect and deep affection felt
ยท
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towards him on the part of the church and parish, as has been expressed by their repre- sentative in their behalf. We commend Bro. Stevens to the churches of Christ as an eminently faithful, earnest, and successful minister of the Gospel, and trust Provi- dence may prepare for him in the future even a larger field for successful ministration. We are compciled to express our regret that his health has been put in jeopardy by parochial work outside of his parish, and while we commend his large-hearted kind- ness and sympathy in ministering to the sick and afflicted, we recognize the labor which has exhausted his strength has been largely in behalf of those who are not attendants upon church, nor respectors of God's ordinances. Hc has been at once a pastor to his large church and a missionary without compensation to his town, and on the part of ourselves, his associates in labor, of our neighboring churches, we regret exceedingly that so kind a friend and faithful co-worker should feel obliged to remove from our neighborhood.
We sympathize with the church in the loss of one so deeply endeared to their hearts, and trust that providence will enable them speedily to unite in the choice of another husbandman of Christ who shall successfully enter into his labors.
CHARLES W. WOOD, Moderator. R. G. S. McNEILLE, Scribe.
Various ministers were heard after the pulpit became vacant for over one year. On the 17th of March, 1875. a call was extended to Rev. F. A. Warfield, then of Greenfield, Mass., to become their pastor, with a salary of three thousand five hundred dollars yearly. To this invita- tion to settle Mr. Warfield returned a negative reply.
MINISTRY OF REV. ELBRIDGE P. MCELROY .- July 23, 1875. The parish voted to unite with the church in extending a call to Rev. Elbridge P. McElroy to become their pastor. This call was accepted, and Mr. McElroy was installed on the 15th day of October, 1875, by a mutual council met for that purpose. The following churches com- posed the council, viz. :
Porter Evangelical Church of Brockton : Rev. R. S. G. McNeille, pas- tor ; Henry W. Robinson, delegate.
First Church of Randolph : Rev. J. C. Larrabee, pastor.
Second Congregational Church of South Weymouth : Rev. George F. Stanton, pastor ; Deacon Jason Holbrook, delegate.
Central Square Congregational Church of Bridgewater : Rev. Horace D. Walker, pastor; H. D. Sanford, delegate.
First Congregational Church of Stoughton : Rev. Thomas Wilson, pastor ; Deacon Nathaniel Gray, delegate.
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First Congregational Church of Abington: Rev. George E. Free man, pastor ; Deacon H. A. Noyes, delegate.
Union Church of Weymouth and Braintree: Rev. L. H. Frary, pas- tor: Josiah Perkins, delegate.
Evangelical Church of Brighton : Rev. Henry A. Stevens, pastor ; George S. Conner, delegate.
Winthrop Congregational Church of Holbrook: Deacon Newton White, delegate.
South Congregational Church of Campello: Rev. L. S. Woodsworth, pastor ; Josiah W. Kingman, esq., delegate.
Village Church of Dorchester: Rev. Philander Thurston, pastor ; T. F. Clary, delegate.
Congregational Church of East Weymouth : Deacon Edwin How- ard, delegate; and Rev. David Brigham and Rev. Baalis Sanford.
The council met agreeable to the call, and the usual examination of the pastor, and the council finding everything satisfactory, the follow- ing order of exercises was agreed upon, viz .: I, reading of the doings of the council by the scribe; 2, invocation, by Rev. Philander Thurs- ton ; 3, anthem, "And many people shall go and say ;" 4, scripture lesson, by Rev. L. S. Woodworth; 5, hymn 985, sung by congrega- tion ; 6, prayer of installation, by Rev. David Brigham ; 7, fellowship of the churches, by Rev. R. S G. McNeille ; 8, anthem, " Great and marvelous ; " 9, charge to the pastor, by Rev. H. D. Walker ; 10, address to the people, Rev. Henry A. Stevens; 11, hymn 1151, by the choir; 12, concluding prayer, by George F. Stanton ; 13, dox- ology, by the congregation ; 14, benediction, by the pastor.
J. C. Larrabee, moderator; George E. Freeman, scribe.
Mr. McElroy preached to this church for two years, till October 7, 1877, at which time he sent his resignation to the church and society, to take effect December 31 following. The estimation in which he was held by the people of his charge, both in church and society, may be best seen in the following testimonials:
At a meeting of the First Church, held October 18, 1877, it was voted to accept the resignation of Rev. E. P. McElroy.
In accepting the resignation of our Pastor, the Rev. E. P. McElroy, we desire to place on record our appreciation of his consistent and persistent labors of the past two years to advance the spiritual interests of this church. We also recognize in his earn-
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est endeavors to interest the children and direct their steps to the Saviour in the spirit of the Master, and in all his labors for the oppressed and the fallen we feel that he has followed closely in the footsteps of the Master, and wherever he may be called to labor, we pledge him our sympathies and our prayers. F. B. GARDNER, Clerk.
November 5, 1877. At a meeting of the First Congregational Par- ish in Brockton, held this day, the following resolutions were passed :
Our beloved Pastor, Rev. Elbridge P. McElroy, having tendered his resignation, and the same having been accepted by the Parish,
Resolved, That while we unwillingly acknowledge the necessity, and reluctantly admit the expediency of dissolving this connection, this parish recognizes with pleasure the indefatigable industry and zealous activity of Mr. McElroy in every movement for promoting the morality and well-being of this community, and that it entertains unlim- ited confidence in his integrity and pure Christian character.
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