USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > History of Cambridge, Massachusetts. 1630-1877. With a genealogical register > Part 34
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DEACONS.
Elected.
Held office until
Age.
Enos Reed .
Oct. 17, 1827
Died
John Donallan
April 1, 1829
Died
July 8, 1871 May 13, 1867
69
Henry S. Hills
Sept. 15, 1854
Daniel Grant .
Oct. 4, 1870
Resigned
Oct. 30, 1874
William B. Savage
Oct. 4, 1870
Alonzo Stewart
July 2, 1875
Ambrose H. Sanborn
July 2, 1875
75
FIRST EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL. - " The First Evan- gelical Congregational Church, formed in that part of the city of Cambridge usually called Cambridgeport, was gathered Sept. 20, 1827. It consisted originally of forty-five members, most of
325
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
whom, being residents of this place, had been previously con- nected with the Hanover Street Church, Boston, then under the pastoral care of Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D."1 The society connected with this church consists of the pew-owners, by whom " all questions of taxation are decided." In the settlement of a pastor, " it is the right and privilege of the church to nominate, and of the pew-holders to concur or non-concur; and upon their non-concurrence, the church nominate anew, until the parties agree." 2 Their first meeting-house was dedicated Sept. 20, 1827 ; it stood on the southerly corner of Norfolk and Washing- ton streets, and " was held by the Deacons in trust for the use of the religious society worshipping in it, but subject, with certain restrictions, to the ultimate and entire control of the church." 3 This house was of wood and was several times enlarged, but still proving too small, and not sufficiently convenient, it was sold,4 and a much larger brick house was erected on the westerly side of Prospect Street between Harvard and Austin streets : the corner-stone was laid July 29, 1851, and the house was dedicated June 30, 1852.
The first pastor of the church was Rev. David Perry, D. C. 1824, who was ordained April 23, 1829, and resigned October 13, 1830. He was succeeded by Rev. William A. Stearns, who was born at Bedford, March 17, 1805, H. C. 1827, D. D. 1853, was ordained December 14, 1831, and resigned December 14, 1854. " The pastoral connection was dissolved, that he might accept the Presidency of Amherst College, to which he had been elected." His pastorate was distinguished for energy and suc- cess ; and it is understood that his presidency was equally ener- getic and successful. He died 8 June, 1876. Rev. Edward W. Gilman, Y. C. 1843, who had been settled at Lockport, N. Y., commenced preaching here in July, 1856, was installed on the 9th of the following September, resigned Oct. 22, 1858, and was succeeded by Rev. James O. Murray, B. U. 1850, who was in- stalled May 1, 1861, resigned Feb. 6, 1865, and became pastor of a church in New York. He received the degree of D. D. from Princeton College, 1867. Rev. Kinsley Twining, Y. C. 1853, formerly settled at New Haven, Conn., was installed here Sept. 12, 1867, resigned April 28, 1872, and took charge of a church
1 Historical Sketch of the Church, in its Manual, 1870.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 The house was used for a leeture- room, and for similar purposes, until it was consumed by fire, Nov. 7, 1854.
326
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
in Providence, R. I. Rev. William S. Karr, A. C. 1851, was installed Jan. 15, 1873, and dismissed Nov. 22, 1875, to take a professorship in the Hartford Theological Seminary. Rev. James S. Hoyt, Y. C. 1851, D. D. Olivet College, 1876, commenced his pastorate Sept. 3, 1876, and was installed on the 15th day of the same month.
DEACONS.
Elected.
Held office until
Age.
William Fisk . .
Jan. 3, 1833
80
Samuel Barrett
Jan. 3, 1833
Died Resigned Resigned
April 18, 1864 Oct. 2, 1846.
William Adams
July 3, 1846
May 5, 1853
Thaddeus B. Bigelow William Davis
Feb. 28, 1851
Dec. 19, 1856
Caleb H. Warner
Sept. 29, 1854
Sumner Albee
March 5, 1858
Lucas B. Grover . .
April 24, 1868
Henry N. Tilton .
April 24, 1868
Resigned Removed to N. H. Resigned
Sept. 29, 1872
Sept. 29, 1854
SECOND EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL. - The Second Evangelical Church was organized March 30, 1842, and erected a commodious meeting-liouse on the easterly corner of Austin and Temple streets, which was dedicated Jan. 3, 1844. Meet- ings had previously been held in a chapel, erected on the same lot, and dedicated May 3, 1842. Generally speaking, the mem- bers of this church were zealous advocates of the immediate abolition of slavery. Their first minister was Rev. Joseph C. Lovejoy, Bowd. Coll. 1829, who was installed Jan. 26, 1843. He resigned May 10, 1853, and was afterwards active in politics. He died here, Oct. 19, 1871, aged 67. Rev. Charles Packard, Bowd. Coll. 1842, was installed April 26, 1854, was dismissed March 21, 1855, and was succeeded by Rev. Charles Jones, whose ministry extended from May 25, 1855, to Oct. 16, 1857. Rev. George E. Allen, B. U. 1850, was installed May 20, 1858, and resigned July 12, 1861. After a series of discouragements, by ad- vice of a council, the church was disbanded Oct. 3, 1865, and many of its members united with the Pilgrim Church, then worship- ping in Stearns Chapel on Harvard Street, to which church they contributed more than twelve hundred dollars (the residue of their funds), to aid in defraying the cost of the new meeting-house on the northerly corner of Magazine and Cottage streets. The
327
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
church edifice which had been the scene of many joys and many sorrows, was sold, and was soon afterwards utterly consumed by fire, Sept. 6, 1865.
DEACONS.
Elected.
Held office until
David McClure
Dec. 12, 1843
Died
Jan. 20, 1852
Dexter Fairbanks
Dec. 12, 1843
Dismissed
Feb. 2, 1849
Enos H. Baxter
April 28, 1846
Dismissed
July 27, 1855
Francis Hunt .
Jan. 18, 1850
Dismissed
May 9, 1854
Josiah H. Rugg
Jan. 18, 1850
Removed from
. Willard Sears .
Jan. 8, 1855
Dismissed
1857
George W. Wyatt
Sept. 18, 1857
Resigned
June 8, 1860
Lyman G. Case
Sept. 18, 1857
Oct. 3, 1865
Curtis C. Nichols .
Sept. 18, 1857
Oct. 3, 1865
Baxter E. Perry .
Feb. 6, 1860
Resigned
Jan. 14, 1861
Edward Kendall .
Jan. 14, 1861
Oct. 3, 1865
the city
The four deacons who were " dismissed" had previously re- moved from the city.
EVANGELICAL, EAST CAMBIIDGE. - The Evangelical Church at East Cambridge was organized Sept. 8, 1842. In the course of the next year a meeting-house was erected at the northeasterly corner of Second and Thorndike streets, which was dedicated Sept. 13, 1843, and taken down for removal to Somerville in 1876. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Frederick T. Perkins, Y. C. 1839, who was ordained Jan. 11, 1843, and, after a longer pastorate than has hitherto been held by any of his successors, resigned May 26, 1851. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph L. Bennett, A. C. 1845, who was installed July 1, 1852, and resigned Feb. 18, 1857. Rev. Richard G. Green was installed March 31, 1858, resigned Sept. 17, 1860, and was succeeded by Rev. William W. Parker, who was installed April 3, 1861, and resigned March 22, 1864. Rev. Nathaniel Mighill, A. C. 1860, was ordained Sept. 29, 1864, and resigned Sept. 24, 1867. Rev. H. R. Timlow was the acting pastor from Oct., 1867, to March 31, 1870; and was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Bell, who was in- stalled Nov. 1, 1870, and resigned May 29, 1872. Rev. D. W. Kilburn supplied the pulpit from Sept. 1, 1873, to Sept. 1, 1874. The church is at present destitute of a pastor.
.
328
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
DEACONS.
Elected.
Remarks.
John Whipple . I. T. Winchester .
Oct. 7, 1842
Removed from the City.
Lyman Morse .
May 4, 1849
Removed from the City. Removed from the City.
John B. Taylor
April 11, 1851
George N. Bliss .
April 24, 1857
Wm. H. Pettingell .
Sept. 2, 1869.
Removed from the City .
SAINT PETER'S CHURCH (EPISCOPAL). - The Parish of St. Peter's Church was organized at a meeting held Oct. 27, 1842. Religious services were held in the Town Hall until the comple- tion of the church, which was commenced in 1843, and conse- crated Jan. 31, 1844. This church was erected on the easterly side of Prospect Street, between Harvard and Austin streets, and was constructed of wood, with seats for two hundred and twenty persons. It was afterwards converted into a block of two dwelling-houses. In 1864 the foundation was laid of a much larger church, at the westerly corner of Main and Vernon streets ; services were held in the Sabbath-school room as early as Sept. 1, 1866 ; the whole house was completed in Dec. 1867, and was consecrated Oct. 2, 1873. The several Rectors of the Church have been as follows: Rev. Darius-Richmond Brewer, from Dec. 4, 1842, to June 9, 1844 ; Rev. Edmund-Farwell Slafter, D. C. 1840, from July 21, 1844, to Sept. 30, 1846; Rev. Moses- Payson Stickney, from June 1, 1847, to April 7, 1851; Rev. William-Putnam Page, from Aug. 1851, to April 26, 1863 ; Rev. Charles Seymour, from Sept. 23, 1863, to March 31, 1866 ; Rev. Edwin-Bailey Chase, from Aug. 1, 1866, to Oct. 1, 1874, who died May 6, 1875. Rev. Edward M. Gushee, B. U. 1858, be- came Rector at Easter, 1875.1
The Wardens have been as follows : -
1842, Simon Greenleaf, G. F. R. Wadleigh.
1843-1844, Isaac Lum,
G. F. R. Wadleigh.
1845-1846, Isaac Lum, John Dallinger.
1847-1848, Isaac Lum,
Charles S. Newell.
1849, Isaac Lum, John Dallinger.
1850, Stephen P. Greenwood, Benjamin H. Ordway.
1 With the exception of the Reverend grade of the several Reetors is unknown Messrs. Slafter and Gushee, the College to the writer of this history.
Feb. 29, 1848
329
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
1851,
Stephen P. Greenwood,
Bela F. Jacobs.
1852,
Isaac Lum,
Asa P. Morse.
1853, Benjamin Woodward,
Asa P. Morse.
1854-1855, Luther Crane,
Asa P. Morse.
1856,
Isaac Lum,
Ethan Earle. John K. Palmer, M. D.
1857,
Swain Winkley,
1858,
Goodrich M. Dayton,
William Page.
1859,
Goodrich M. Dayton,
Asa P. Morse.
1860, Goodrich M. Dayton,
Francis Dana, M. D.
1861, Asa P. Morse,
Justin A. Jacobs.
1862,
William D. Robinson,
Humphrey P. Caldwell.
1863-1864, James H. Hallett,
Humphrey P. Caldwell.
1865, James H. Hallett,
William Whitman.
1866-1876, Edward R. Cogswell, M. D., William W. Dallinger.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. - The parish of St. John's Church was organized by Rev. John B. Fitzpatrick ; and the church on the easterly side of Fourth Street, between Otis and Cambridge streets, was erected in 1841, and dedicated in 1842. Mr. Fitz- patrick was the first pastor ; he was afterwards Bishop of the diocese of Massachusetts. He received the degree of D. D. from Harvard College, 1861, and died in Boston Feb. 13, 1866, aged 53 years. He was succeeded in 1848 by Rev. Manasses P. Dough- erty, who may be regarded as the Apostle of the Catholic Church in Cambridge, inasmuch as he has organized three parishes, in addition to that of which he was originally pastor. His succes- sors in the pastorship of St. John's Church were Rev. George T. Riordan ; Rev. Lawrence Carroll ; Rev. Francis X. Brannagan, who died in office, June 25, 1861, aged 29 years ; Rev. John W. Donahoe, who also died in office, March 5, 1873, aged 45 years ; and Rev. John O'Brien, the present incumbent. All these cler- gymnen are supposed to have been liberally educated ; but the par- ticulars are not ascertained.
HARVARD STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL. - A class of six members was formed in 1831, whose leader was James Luke, who still survives. In 1835, this class, which had hitherto met in or near Harvard Square, and had lost some of its members, by removal from the town, was established in Cambridgeport, and by new accessions consisted of seven members, under the leadership of Samuel Stevens, who died July 2, 1876. From this small be- ginning, the Harvard Street Methodist Episcopal Church has be- come one of the most vigorous and active religious organizations
330
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
in the city. Meetings for public worship were held first in the " Fisk Block," at the westerly corner of Main and Cherry streets, and afterwards in the Town House, on the southwesterly corner of Harvard and Norfolk streets, where St. Mary's Church now stands. "In 1842, a wooden church, 40 by 60 ft. was erected at an expense of about $6,000, which was lengthened in 1851, twenty feet, increasing its value to $9,000. This edifice was burnt Nov. 26, 1857. A new church of wood, 60 by 80 ft., was immediately erected at an expense of $17,000, and dedicated Oct. 13, 1858. This house was burnt March 15, 1861, and the present edifice, a brick structure 61} by 96} ft. extreme length, was ded- icated Nov. 19, 1862."1 This house, like its predecessors, was built on Harvard Street, opposite to Essex Street. It has a spacious and commodious vestry on the ground floor, the audi- ence room being approached by an easy flight of stairs.
" The church appears in the Minutes for the first time in 1841, when the first appointment was made." The preachers in charge, according to the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, were appointed at the Conferences holden in the years hereunder named : -
1841, 1842, Rev. Leonard B. Griffing.
1843, 1844, Rev. Isaac A. Savage, W. U. 1841. Died 16 Feb. 1854.
1845, Rev. Mark Trafton.
1846, Rev. John Clark. Died 19 Oct. 1849.
1847, 1848, Rev. I. J. P. Collyer. Died 7 May, 1872.
1849, 1850, Rev. A. D. Merrill.
1851, 1852, Rev. Charles Adams.
1853, 1854, Rev. I. J. P. Collyer. Died 7 May, 1872.
1855, Rev. C. S. McReading. Died 11 April, 1866.
1856, Rev. Moses A. Howe.
Died 27 Jan. 1861.
1 The corner-stone of this church was laid in masonie form, June 12, 1861, by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. A very characteristie prayer was offered by Rev. Edward T. Taylor, who was clad in the appropriate costume of a Knight Templar. Kneeling on the foundation stone, and brushing away the earpet which had been spread to protect his knees from its hard and sharp protuber- anees, he poured forth his fervent thanks and supplications on behalf of Christian- ity and Freemasonry, Christians and Masons, the Church and the Grand Lodge, alternately, and in about equal propor-
tions. Especially he prayed that the Masons present might be blessed for the respeet which they were showing to Relig- ion, and that the members of the church might receive an abundant spiritual re- ward for their steadfastness in the midst of trials as by fire, and for their generous contributions to defray the expense of ereeting this third house of worship. "Two churches, O Lord," said he, " for- merly standing on this spot, have been destroyed by the hand of the ineendiary, or by carelessness, which is as bad as an incendiary."
331
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
1857, 1858, Rev. Isaac Smith. Died 16 July, 1860.
1859, 1860, Rev. Gilbert Haven, W. U. 1846. Elected Bishop, 1872.
1861, 1862, Rev. Edward Cooke, W. U. 1838, D. D. (H. C.) 1855.
1863, 1864, Rev. Lorenzo R. Thayer, W. U. 1841, D. D. 1863.
1865-1867, Rev. Henry W. Warren, W. U. 1853.
1868, 1869, Rev. Nelson Stutson. Died 16 April, 1871.
1870, 1871, Rev. Ira G. Bidwell.
1872, 1873, Rev. Andrew Mckeown.
1874-1876, Rev. Melville B. Chapman.
[For most of the statistics concerning this church I am in- debted to its Secretary, Mr. Samuel L. Ward.]
OLD CAMBRIDGE BAPTIST. - The Old Cambridge Baptist Church was organized Aug. 20, 1844, and was publicly recog- nized Oct. 23, 1845. Eighty-three members of the church were formerly members of the First Baptist Church, and a large num- ber of the society and congregation had worshipped with them in Cambridgeport. Their first meeting-house was a wooden struc- ture, which was erected on the corner of Kirkland Street and Holmes Place, and was dedicated Oct. 23, 1845. This house was sold, Oct. 23, 1866, to what is now known as the North Avenue Congregational Society, and was removed bodily, with- out even disturbing the steeple, to the southerly corner of North Avenue and Roseland Street, where it now stands. The con- gregation worshipped for the next few years, partly in the meet- ing-house of the Shepard Congregational Society, generously offered for their use, and partly in Lyceum Hall. Meantime arrangements were made, and contributions on a magnificent scale were offered, for the erection of a new meeting-house. The effort was successful, and the spacious stone edifice, extend- ing from Main Street to Harvard Street, opposite to Prescott Street, was dedicated Sept. 29, 1870.
The first pastor was Rev. Ezekiel G. Robinson, B. U. 1838, D. D. 1853, LL. D. 1872, who was installed Oct. 23, 1845, the day on which the church was recognized and the first meeting-house was dedicated. He resigned Sept. 13, 1846, and became Professor of Theology at Rochester, N. Y., and after- wards President of Brown University. His successor was Rev. Benjamin I. Lane, who was installed Dec. 30, 1846, and re- signed March 8, 1849. The next pastor was Rev. John Pryor, who had received the degree of D. D. at King's College, N. S., and was installed March 25, 1850. He resigned July 26, 1861,
332
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
and was succeeded by Rev. Cortland W. Anable, who was in- stalled June 21, 1863, and resigned Oct. 27, 1871, having received the degree of D. D. from Madison University during his ministry here. The present pastor is Rev. Franklin Johnson, D. D., who was installed Dec. 31, 1873.
DEACONS.
Elected.
Died.
Age
William Brown
Sept. 2, 1844
June 24, 1861
75
Josiah Coolidge
Sept. 2. 1844
Sept. 13, 1874
87
John B. Dana
Sept. 2, 1844
Wm. T. Richardson .
March 30, 1862
LEE STREET. - The Lee Street Society was organized in 1846. Most of its original members, together with its first pastor, had been connected with the Cambridgeport Parish. Their first meeting-house, on the westerly side of Lee Street, near Harvard Street, was dedicated March 25, 1847, and was consumed by fire May 20, 1855. A new edifice was immediately erected on the same lot, which was dedicated Jan. 23, 1856. The church was organized April 9, 1847. Its first pastor was Rev. Artemas B. Muzzey, who had for twelve years previously been pastor of the Cambridgeport Parish. His pastorate here commenced Sept. 7, 1846, and continued until Feb. 20, 1854, when his resignation was accepted. He was installed at Concord, N. H., March 29, 1854 ; but after a pastorate of several years returned to Cam- bridge, where he now resides, preaching statedly at Chestnut Hill. His successor was Rev. Henry R. Harrington, H. C., 1834, who was ordained 1842, installed here Feb. 11, 1855, and re- signed April 1, 1865. He has since been a successful superin- tendent of public schools in New Bedford. He was succeeded by Rev. Abram W. Stevens, a graduate of the Meadville Divinity School, who was ordained 1862, preached three years in Man- chester, N. H., was installed Nov. 26, 1865, and closed his minis- try here Nov. 1, 1870. The present pastor, Rev. John P. Bland, a graduate of the Cambridge Divinity School, 1871, was ordained Sept. 6, 1871.
333
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
DEACONS.
Elected.
Died.
Ezra Dean
Peter Mackintosh .
Eben Snow
April 9, 1847 April 9, 1847 April 27, 1847
Aug. 8, 1858 July 28, 1848
ST. PETER'S CHURCH (CATHOLIC). - The Parish of St. Peter's Church was organized in January 1849, by Rev. Ma- nasses P. Dougherty, who still remains its faithful and beloved pastor. For more than a quarter of a century he has done much to promote the growth and prosperity of his church. He has been actively engaged in the organization of all the Catholic parishes in the city, except St. John's ; and of this he was the second pastor. St. Peter's Church edifice, on the southerly side of Concord Avenue, near the Observatory, was erected in 1848, and dedicated in May, 1849.
THIRD UNIVERSALIST. - A Unitarian Society was organized Oct. 8, 1851, in North Cambridge (including several families residing in Somerville), under the name of the " Allen Street Congregational Society." The corner-stone of a meeting-house for its use had been laid a fortnight previously, Sept. 25, 1851, on a lot furnished for that purpose by Mr. Walter M. Allen, at the southeast corner of Allen and Orchard streets. This edifice was constructed of wood, " was finished Feb. 2, 1853," and was totally destroyed, March 19, 1865, by a fire which also consumed many other buildings. Another meeting-house, also of wood, was immediately erected on the same spot; it " was completed Dec. 21, 1865," and was afterwards enlarged. The corner-stone of a more spacious edifice was laid Oct. 23, 1875, on the south- westerly side of North Avenue and fronting on Union Square ; constructed of brick, 67 by 85 feet, and containing 154 pews ; this house was dedicated Sept. 14, 1876.
At a meeting of the society, Oct. 17, 1869, it was voted, " that the Allen Street Congregational society be, and the same is, hereby united with the Religious Societies of the Universalist Denomination of Christians." The society voted, June 29, 1870, to ask the formal fellowship of the Massachusetts Convention of Universalists, which was granted ; and by an Act of the General
334
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
Court, approved March 27, 1874, its corporate name was changed to the " Third Universalist Society in Cambridge."
The first pastor of this parish and church was Rev. James Thurston, H. C. 1829, who was installed June 14, 1853, and resigned July 5, 1854. Rev. Caleb Davis Bradlee, H. C. 1852, was ordained Dec. 11, 1854, resigned the pastorship June 28, 1857, and soon afterwards took charge of a parish in Boston. Rev. John M. Marsters, H. C. 1847, formerly of Woburn, was installed April 25, 1858, resigned April 7, 1862, and was suc- ceeded, on the first of the next September, by Rev. Frederick W. Holland, H. C. 1831, formerly pastor of the Third Congregational Society at East Cambridge, who retained his charge somewhat more than two years, when he resigned, and Mr. Marsters re- sumed the pastorate Feb. 10, 1865, and held it until Sept. 26, 1867, after which time, for more than a year, the pulpit was " supplied by various and numerous preachers." Mr. Charles E. Fay, T. C. 1868, was invited, Dec. 10, 1868, to become pastor ; he preached statedly about a year, when, not having been ordained, he accepted a professorship in Tufts College, and dis- continued his ministry. Rev. William A. Start, T. C. 1862, was ordained at Groton Junction (now Ayer), Sept. 24, 1862, and was installed here, April 10, 1870, having previously been pastor of the societies at Ayer and at Marlborough. “ Under his ministry, the church building was enlarged, and the society greatly increased in numbers and strength." 1 He resigned Jan. 1, 1874, and removed to Chicago, but returned before the end of
the year and was installed pastor of the Universalist Church at Melrose, March 7, 1875. Rev. Isaac M. Atwood was ordained at Clifton Springs, N. Y., Aug. 15, 1860, and commenced his pastorship here on the first Sabbath in April, 1874, having previ- ously held the like office at Clifton Springs, Portland, Me., North Bridgewater (now Brockton), and Chelsea. He received the degree of A. M. from St. Lawr. Univ., 1869.
NORTH CAMBRIDGE BAPTIST. - In 1846, a Sabbath-school was established in North Cambridge, under the anspices of the Bap- tists. For a time it had permission from the City Council to meet in the Winthrop School-house ;2 but in 1852 this privilege was
Esq., from which are derived many statis- tics in this sketeh.
2 "Cambridge, Sept. 26, 1846. By the authority vested in me by a vote of the City Council, passed Sept. 22, 1846, I
1 MS. letter from Jabez A. Sawyer, hereby grant the use of the lower room in the school-house in the north distriet of Ward One, for the purpose of holding a Sabbath School, until otherwise ordered. JAMES D. GREEN, Mayor."
355
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
suddenly and unceremoniously withdrawn by the School Com- mittee.1 The friends of the school thereupon hired a lot of the city, near the school-house, and erected " a neat and commodious chapel, -at a cost, including furnishing, of $1,411.81," 2 which was dedicated Oct. 31, 1852, and was called "Our Sabbath Home." Religious meetings were held in the chapel on Thursday evenings, through the winter. In May, 1853, regular sabbath services were established, and Rev. Alexander M. Averill, a graduate of the Newton Theological Institution, soon became the "stated preacher." A meeting-house was erected in 1854, on the northwesterly side of Coggswell Avenue, near North Avenue, which was dedicated Feb. 15, 1855. The Sabbath-school chapel was soon afterwards removed, and connected with the new meet- ing-house ; ten years later the house was greatly enlarged and beautified, and was reopened on the nineteenth anniversary of the school. The church was organized in March, 1854, and was publicly recognized on the 6th of the following April. Rev. Mr. Averill continued to hold the office of pastor until October, 1859. Rev. Joseph A. Goodhue, D. C. 1848, was elected to the pastor- ate in July, 1862, which he resigned in July, 1864, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. Joseph Colver Wightman, B. U. 1852, who was elected in February, 1866, and resigned in March, 1868. The present pastor is Rev. William S. Apsey, Madison Univ. 1861, who commenced his pastoral duties here in October, 1868.
This church has no officers bearing the name of deacons ; but the duties ordinarily performed by such officers are assigned to a " standing committee," consisting of four members, elected an- nually. " Upon this committee brethren Henry R. Glover and Chester W. Kingsley have regularly served since the organiza- tion of the church ; different members have completed the num- ber." 3
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