USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Brockton > History of Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 1656-1894 > Part 31
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FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
tion of a soul, so long as the great object is attained ? So let this altar be dedicated to one God, one law, one element, one divine event to which the whole creation moves ; a memorial which shall live because of the Lord God of Israel." 9, hymn, read by Rev. W. P. Burnell ; 10, prayer of consecration, by Rev. C. R. Tenney, of Stoughton; II, act of dedication, by the pastor and congregation.
Lord, who shall abide in thy Tabernacle ? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill ?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
I will wash mine hands in innocency : So will I compass thine altar, O Lord : That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Thy wondrous works.
Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honor dwelleth.
When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory. Ile will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their supplication.
This shall be written for the generation to come, and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.
And of Zion it shall be said : This and that man was born in her, and the Highest Himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when He writeth up the people, that this man was born there.
As well the singers as players on instruments shall be there ; all my springs are in thee.
For the Lord hath chosen Zion : He hath desired it for His habitation. This is my rest forever ; here will I dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her pro- vision : I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her ministers with sal- vation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
l'ray for the peace of Jerusalem ; they shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say : Peace be within thee. Amen.
SENTENCE OF DEDICATION.
PASTOR.
With these heavenward aspirations, and in behalf of the piety and liberality which erected this tabernacle, I do solemnly dedicate it to the ministry of the Christian Re- ligion in Faith, Hope and Love, consecrating it to the worship of God our Father, in the name of Christ our Redeemer, and of the Holy spirit of Truth.
O Lord God, let thy ministers be clothed with salvation ; and let thy people rejoice in goodness. Amen.
12, address to the parish by a former pastor, Rev. William A. Start ; 13, hymn, Rev. B. F. Bowles, sung by the choir and congregation, "O 42
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Thou whose own vast temple stands"; 14, benediction by the pastor, Rev. Royal T. Sawyer.
There have been many changes made in the interior and exterior since July, 1892, and during the ministry of the present pastor, which have added largely to the looks, as well as to the utility of the church, and it takes its place among the most comfortable churches in the city. A full description of the re-dedication is given herewith
RE-DEDICATION .- The exercises at the reopening of the First Uni- versalist Church of Brockton, December 18, 1892, is as follows: On the cover of the programme was the following :
WE BELIEVE in the Universal Fatherhood of God, in the Universal Brotherhood of Man, in the Supreme Leadership of Jesus Christ, in His Divine Laws of Service- (loving one another as He hath loved us-doing as ye would be done by,) in the Final Triumph of all Good over all Evil and in The Life Everlasting.
The quartette was composed of Mrs. Bertha A. Tyndall, Miss Edith Poole, Mr. L. Morton Packard and Mr. T. A. Norris.
ORDER OF SERVICES.
1. ORGAN VOLUNTARY Festival March.
2. HYMN No. 551, Tune, Hendon.
They who seek the throne of grace Find that throne in every place ; If we love a life of prayer, God is present everywhere.
The congregation will please remain standing, and each and all unite in repeating THE LORD'S PRAYER.
3. ANTHEM, Hearken Unto Me Ye People Arthur Sullivan.
4. RESPONSIVE READING.
How amiable are Thy Tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord ; my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
(People.) Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer ; give ear, O God of Jacob.
(People.) Behold, O God, our shield and look upon the face of thine annointed.
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
(People.) For the Lord God is a sun and a shield: the Lord will give grace and glory ; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.
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ST. PATRICK'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
1 was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
(People.) Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after ; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, anl to inquire in his temple.
(People.) For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion : in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me ; He shall set me upon a roek.
The Lord is in His holy temple : let all the earth keep silence before Him.
(People.) Praise waiteth for thee, O Lord, in Zion; and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
Know ye that the Lord He is God : it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves.
(People.) Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.
5. ANTHEM, Lead, Kindly Light Dudley Buck.
6. SCRIPTURE LESSON AND PRAYER.
7. SOLO, Be Thou With Me. Ferdinand Hiller.
MR. T. A. NORRIS
8. NOTICES AND WEEKLY OFFERING.
9. SERMON, by Rev. Albert Hammatt.
10. HYMN No. 347, Tune, Coronation.
All hail the power of Jesus' name, Let angels prostrate fall ; Bring forth the royal diadem, And erown Him Lord of all.
11. BENEDICTION.
ST. PATRICK'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH .- Previous to the year 1856 the members of this church were attendant on church worship in private houses and in the various halls in the village, and were supplied by transient clergymen. During that year Rev. Thomas B. McNulty came to the town as a stated pastor, in connection with some others in the immediate vicinity, the care of which devolved upon him.
Here he soon succeeded in gathering a large number of regular church worshipers, and during the same year purchased a parcel of land for the sum of five thousand two hundred and twenty- five dollars, situated on the west side of Main street, near Wales' corner, in the south part of the village, and containing about three- fourths of an acre, upon which he has caused a large and splendid church edifice to be erected, one hundred and ten feet long, fifty feet wide, built in the Romanesque style of architecture. The basement is built of Quincy granite. The principal story is of brick, trimmed with freestone. The tower and
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
steeple is one hundred and eighty feet in height. The auditory is fur- nished with one hundred and forty six slips, capable of holding seven hundred persons. The altar is at the west end of the building, and at the east or front end is the choir gallery. The chancel window is made of stained glass, with emblematic panes representing the four evangel - ists-Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The house is furnished with a magnificent organ from the manufactory of E. & G. G. Hook, of Bos- ton. Upon the side walls are displayed fourteen pictures, representing different scenes in the Lord's Passion, painted at great expense in Italy. The cost of the church was twenty-five thousand dollars, which, together with the land, cost about thirty thousand dollars. The arch- itects were Messrs. Fuller & Ryder, of Boston. Mr. Andrews, of Nashua, N. H., was the contractor. The preacher's pulpit, also the railing around the altar, was manufactured by Messrs. Howard, Clark & Co. In the southwest corner of the house is the sacristy, and in the northeast corner is a private room, out of which is the entrance to the basement story. In point of durability and style of architecture, when built, this house was not surpassed by any in the town. Its position is prominent, and makes a bold appearance upon the principal thorough- fare in town
This church was dedicated Sunday, May 22, 1859, and, although the weather was quite rainy, there was a large assembly present. The services were as follows :
Bishop Fitzpatrick, of Boston, delivered the sermon ; high mass was celebrated by Rev. Mr. Roach, of Randolph; Rev. Mr. Shahen, of Salem, officiated as deacon ; Rev. Mr. Tallon, of New Bedford, as sub- deacon ; Rev. Mr. Haley, of Boston, was master of ceremonies, a num- ber of other priests assisting ; Rev. Mr. McElroy, of Boston, preached at vespers ; singing was performed by a choir from Salem.
The number of attendants on church worship at this place is about two thousand.
REV. THOMAS B MCNULTY was born in Londonderry, Ireland ; fitted for college at Londonderry Academy ; graduated at Foyle College; studied philosophy and theology at Irish College, Paris; was ordained June 6, 1846, at the parish church of Sulpice, by Monsieur Affré, Arch- bishop of Paris; came to America in 1853, and after preaching at
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ST. PATRICK'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Lowell, Salem and other places, was appointed to take charge of the Catholic Church in Brockton and vicinity.
When Father McNulty came to North Bridgewater, now Brockton, he began with an audience of two hundred people in Tyler Cobb's hall, corner of Main and High streets. With this small beginning he saw a fruitful field, and upon looking over the country, covered by the Bridge- waters, Eastons, Abingtons, Mansfield and Tuxboro, he conceived and inaugurated a scheme of Catholic development, to which his life was earnestly devoted. The number has now grown to over seven thousand souls in the immediate vicinity of Brockton. During the act- ive portion of Father McNulty's life the number had made his labors so onerous that he had the assistance of three priests in parochial duty and directing the congregation. For some days previous to his death, which occurred August 10, 1885, he had been in a precarious condition, arising from a general paralysis of the system, and his death had been hourly expected. He was a faithful, conscientious, and zealous priest, and highly beloved by his congregation. His remains lay in state till the funeral services, which were attended by members of the city gov- ernment, and many prominent citizens. The interior of the church was draped in mourning. The Most Rev. Archbishop Williams, of Boston, pronounced the Final Absolution. The procession to the grave was headed by seventy girls dressed in white, who represented by their number the years attained by the dead priest. They were followed by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Foresters Society, and the vari- ous sodalities of the church. The remains were buried in the Parochial Cemetery on Court street.
Requiescat in pace.
REV. MICHAEL DOHERTY succeeded Father McNulty as rector of St. Patrick's Church, and was in full charge till his death, which took place very suddenly July 3, 1887. He died of a paralytic shock. Father Doherty was born in Ireland in 1835. He came to this country in 1871, and his first mission was in Brockton, where he remained dur- ing his life. His funeral took place from his late church July 5, and was largely attended by priests from various sections of the State. Solemn requiem mass was celebrated at ten o'clock A. M. The Rev. Father Harkins, of Holyoke, acted as celebrant ; the Rev. Father Mor- ris, of Brookline, as sub-deacon ; the Rev. Father Doherty, of Haver-
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
hill, as master of ceremonies ; the Rev. Fathers O'Toole and Murphy, of West Newton, as Chanters of the Office ; and the Rev. Father Chit- tick, of Plymouth, delivered the panegyric; a procession of different Catholic societies followed the remains to the grave in St. Patrick's cemetery, Court street. The floral offerings were profuse and finc.
The Arch diocese of Boston has lost a laborious and exemplary priest in the death of this good man.
Mr. Doherty had many relatives in this country. He was cousin to Rev. James Doherty, of Haverhill, also a relative of Bishop Harkin, of Providence, R. I., and to Father Harkin, of Holyoke.
The present rector in charge, as the successor of Father Doherty, is the Rev. Edward L. McClure, formerly of Georgetown, Mass., who en- tered upon his duties in July, 1887, with Rev. Francis J. Glynn and Rev. John McGrail as assistant priests. Miss Lizzie Diamond is the organist.
CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART .- On the 30th day of April, 1893, new and additional facilities were added to the church-going people of Brockton by the dedication of a house of worship in which the French Catholics can listen to services in their own language. The services were very fittingly and impressively conducted, according to the Catholic faith. The day was fine, and the exercises began at eight o'clock in the forenoon, when Bishop Brady celebrated mass for the children. At 10.30 the Bishop, assisted by several priests, made a tour of the church, consecrating the new house of worship to God.
After these services, which were witnessed by a large gathering of people of all denominations, solemn high mass was celebrated by Father Reynaudier, of Boston, with Rev. Father Fitzpatrick as deacon, Father Glynn as sub-deacon, and Father Rainville as master of ceremonies. Bishop Brady sat inside of the sanctuary, and preached a most eloquent and powerful sermon appropriate to the occasion, after which he ad- ministered the sacrament of confirmation to twenty persons.
The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Father Bruneault, of Holyoke, Mass. The music was of a fine order, the choir being assisted by several soloists and an orchestra, rendering the same highly inter- esting. Vesper service was at 3 o'clock, and in the evening a concert was given for the benefit of the church fund. Among the clergy
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CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART.
present were Rev. Fathers Rainville, McClure, Glynn, Barry, Keegan Bruneault, Fitzpatrick, Kelly, Riley, Mahoney, Neagle, Reynaudier, Patterson and Barry.
When the new pastor came to Brockton, in the middle of May, 1891, and was assigned to the pastoral charge of the French Catholics of that city, there were but a mere handful of church attendants, but by steady, persevering and laborious effort he has brought nearly all of that people into his fold. During the first eighteen months Father Rainville held services in the basement of St. Patrick's church, on South Main street, over which Rev. E. L. McClure has pastoral charge, the latter kindly rendering the new pastor every assistance in his church work.
The congregation steadily increased, so that Father Rainville decided to build a church of his own. Accordingly in July, 1892, he purchased the homestead of the late Joseph Sylvester (better known as " Esquire Sylvester "), situated between Court and Sylvester streets, but later owned by the Torrys, which contained about one acre of land, on which was the old mansion house, which has been nicely fitted and furnished for the pastor's use. The Church of the Sacred Heart (so called in honor of the month in which the pastor arrived in the city) is a modest appearing building 80 by 42 feet, 34 feet in height, with a tower 100 feet high. It has a basement of brick, and the main portion of the building is of wood. The first mass was celebrated in this church on Christmas in 1892. The building is heated by steam and lighted by electricity. The interior is quite plain, but with every convenience for public worship. A neat altar is erected at the south end of the church, on either side of which is a statue, one a patron of the Sacred Heart, the other of St. Anne. A handsome pipe organ is to be placed in the gallery at the north end of the church. The auditorium, has accom- modations for about six hundred persons. The cost of the building complete is about $8,000. It has already nearly seven hundred com- municants.
The Catholic church is to be congratulated upon having so faithful and earnest a worker in the cause to which the new pastor has been assigned. He is a popular clergyman for the short time he has resided in the city, both among his own people and the English speaking people as well. He is obliging, and ready to assist in any good cause, public as well as private.
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Rev. George Alphonso Rainville was born in St. Marc, in the Province of Quebec, January 26, 1858, and after completing his education for the priesthood at the famous Nicolet Seminary, he was ordained May 20, 1883, at Three Rivers. He filled the position of curate and acting pastor in the church of St. Christian, after which he came to the United States and located at Marlboro, Mass., under Rev. Father Dumontier. Here the executive abilities of the young priest were soon recognized by Archbishop Williams, who assigned him to the work of building up the parish of Cochituate, a thrifty village near Natick, Mass. While in that place he caused a new house of worship to be built, and when that work was completed the archbishop placed him in charge of the new French parish in Brockton, and there the fruits of his personal efforts may be seen in his elegant home and the church by its side.
ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH .- This church was organized through the efforts of, and during the preaching of Rev. William O. Hale, of Worcester, Mass., about the Ist of January, 1888. Their first meetings were held in the Enterprise Building, and afterwards in Joslyn's Hall on Centre street. Rev. S. P. Hayward, of Pepperell, was the next preacher, followed by Rev. Charles Goodrich, of Boston, who preached twice a month, and other transient ministers supplied the pulpit till May, 1891, when Rev. Augustine E. Phelps, of Westfield, was settled as pastor. He remained about two years, since which time Rev. Will- iam A. Burch, of Whitman, is the settled pastor. The meetings are held in the Young Men's Christian Association rooms. Preaching in the morning.
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (Colored) .- This is a mission in connection with the church in Plymouth, both forming what is known as the " Plymouth Circuit," under the official direction of New England Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. It was first opened in the spring of 1893, with Rev. S. H. Johnson as pastor, and is now under the pastoral charge of Rev. W. N. Berry. The services are held in Mason's Hall, Centre street.
LATTER DAY SAINTS-Services are held in James Hall, Clark's Block, on the Sabbath, twice a day under the above name.
FIRST FREE BAPTIST CHURCH -Pastor, Rev. D. G. Donnocker. Services held in Crescent Block.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
CHAPTER XVI.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Rev. James Thompson-Rev. Jolin Porter, Jr .- Rev. Huntington Porter-Rev. Eliphalet Porter-Rev. Thomas Crafts-Rev. Asa Packard-Rev. Hezekiah Packard- Rev. Joshua Cushman-Rev. Naphtali Shaw-Rev. Theophilus Packard, D.D .- Rev. Jonas Perkins-Rev. Eliphalet P. Crafts-Rev. Levi Packard- Rev. Austin Cary- Rev. Zachariah Howard -- Rev. Nathaniel Wales -- Rev. Mathew Kingman-Thomas Jefferson Snow -- Samuel Fuller Dike -- Frederic Crafts, A. M .- Deacon Heman Pack- ard -- Rev. Abel Kingman Packard -- Rev. Lysander Dickerman -- Rev. Zenas P Wild --- Rev. Adelbert Franklin Keith-Professor Henry B. Nason-Hon. Otis Cary -- Rev. Heman Packard De Forest -- S. D. Hunt.
R EV. JAMES THOMPSON-Was the son of Archibald Thompson, who came from Ireland to America in 1724; graduated at the New Jersey College, Princeton, N. J., in 1761 ; became a clergyman ; preached only a short time ; was a preceptor of an academy at Charles- ton, S. C.
REV. JOHN PORTER, JR .- Was the son of Rev. John and Mary (Huntington) Porter ; was born in North Bridgewater, now Brockton, February 27, 1752 ; graduated at Yale College, New Haven, Conn., in 1770; studied divinity, and became a minister. Soon after the war broke out between England and America, in 1775, he received a cap- tain's commission and went into the army, where he is said to have been a superior officer. From captain he was promoted to major ; left the army but a short time before peace was declared. He afterwards went to the West Indies, and there died.
REV. HUNTINGTON PORTER -- Was the son of Rev. John and Mary (Huntington) Porter ; was born in North Bridgewater, now Brockton, March 27, 1755 ; graduated at Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass., in 1777; married Susannah Sargent, of Haverhill, Mass. ; commenced preaching at Rye, N. H., in August, 1784, supplying the pulpit till December 29, 1784 ; he was ordained a colleague pastor with Rev. 43
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Samuel Parsons. He continued to preach in that place for upwards of fifty years. The people of this society were for a long series of years remarkable for their unanimity in their religious as well as civil con- cerns, and for more than thirty years there was no division, All at- tended his church; union and peace was the prevailing sentiment among the people. After that time other denominations sprang up ; still he continued to labor until 1828, when the civil contract between him and his society was dissolved. He preached occasionally for several years after that time, till near the close of his life.
REV. ELIPHALET PORTER, D.D .- Was born in North Bridgewater, now Brockton, June II, 1758; was son of Rev. John and Mary (Huntington) Porter ; graduated at Harvard College, 1777 ; was set- tled as pastor of the "First Church " in Roxbury, Mass., October 2, 1782. He was called to supply a vacancy caused by the death of Rev. Amos Adams, who died in 1775. Of his pastoral labors, we may say they were well suited to the times in which he lived. Frequent visits for social intercourse were not expected, and for these he had neither taste nor fitness ; his manners were grave and did not encourage familiarity, nor had he that easy flow of language so essential to sustain a conversation on the familiar topics of the day. But in the chamber of the sick, or wherever there was affliction which the sympathies of a pastor could alleviate, he was a constant and welcome visitor. Says one who knew him well: "Few men ever spoke with more meaning or to so good a purpose. He did not dazzle, but he enlightened; and the weight of his influence and character, and the remarkable purity and uprightness of his life, gave an influence and interest to whatever he said, and impressed his sententious remarks deeply on the mind." As a citizen, his influence was widely and beneficially felt; he had fre - quent calls for assistance and counsel in the secular affairs of the town. In the various offices of trust to which he was often called, whether for objects of charity or for the promotion of education or religion, they were filled with a characteristic caution, prudence, and fidelity, which obtained and justified unlimited confidence. In 1818 he was elected Fellow of Harvard College. The period of his connection with this institution was one of great difficulty, yet he took his full share of the labors and responsibilities incident to his official position. He was a
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BIOGRAPHIICAL.
warm, constant friend of the college, and the notices of his death on the records of the corporation manifest the strong sense of "the great loss our literary and religious community have sustained by the death of this learned divine and exemplary Christian, whose intelligence, fidelity and zeal in support of the interests of literature, and especially those connected with the prosperity of Harvard University, they have had uniform occasion to witness during the many years he has been one of the members of this board." As a preacher, Dr. Porter exhibited few, if any, of the characteristics of a popular preacher of the present day, although few modern preachers of to-day are listened to more attent- ively or regarded with more reverence than he was. He was not ex- citable ; therefore he was not likely to produce excitement in others. There was a calmness and solemnity in his manner which gave to his discourses a peculiar impressiveness. He never was dogmatical or bigoted ; he had clear and settled opinions on the controverted points of theology, and was always ready to sustain them ; but he had no taste for controversy, and therefore rarely preached on subjects which occa- sioned it. He regarded the religious opinions of others without prej- udice, and never allowed a difference of opinion to interrupt Christian fellowship. Dr. Porter died at Roxbury, December 7, 1833, aged seventy- six years. The funeral was held in his church, December II, 1833, Rev. Dr. Lowell offering the funeral prayer. Rev. George Put- nam, D.D., preached the funeral sermon from Genesis xxv. 8 : " He died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years ; and was gathered to his people." Rev. John Pierce, D.D., of Brookline, made the con- cluding prayer.
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