USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > History of Cambridge, Massachusetts. 1630-1877. With a genealogical register > Part 35
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NORTH AVENUE CONGREGATIONAL. - In September, 1857, a religious society was organized in North Cambridge, under the name of the "Holmes Congregational Society," which name was changed, about ten years afterwards, to "North Avenue Congregational Society." Its first place of worship was an edifice of moderate size, called " Holmes Chapel," which was
1 " CAMBRIDGE, Sunday, July 18, 1852. To the members of the Sabbath School held in the Winthrop school-house: I am directed to inform you that the room now occupied by you will not be at your
service after this day. N. WILKINSON, Sub-School Committee, Ward One."
2 Memorial of the North Avenue Sab- bath School, p. 21.
8 MS. letter from Warren Sanger, Esq.
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
dedicated Sept. 17, 1857. After a few years this house was found to be too small for the congregation, and was sold (it is now owned and occupied by the Methodist Society on North Avenue). The Holmes Society bought of the Baptists, Oct. 23, 1866, their meeting-house which stood at the corner of Kirkland Street and Holmes Place, which was removed bodily to its present location on the southerly corner of North Avenue and Roseland Street, and was dedicated Sept. 29, 1867. "The succeeding four years found this house too small, when it was enlarged by adding chan- cel and transepts, and otherwise remodelling the house, giving it its present seating capacity of 1,040." The house, thus improved, was rededicated Dec. 15, 1872.
The church, now known as the North Avenue Congregational Church, was organized Sept. 23, 1857, under the auspices of an ecclesiastical council duly convened ; it consisted originally of forty-three members. The first pastor of this church was Rev. William Carruthers, Bowd. Coll. 1853, who was installed Jan. 2, 1861, and was dismissed Feb. 21, 1866. Rev. David O. Mears, born in Essex, Feb. 22, 1842, A. C. 1865, was ordained and installed Oct. 2, 1867, under whose ministry " the growth of the church and congregation has been rapid and substantial." The following named persons have served this church as Dea- cons :
John Harmon, Samuel Chadwick,
F. E. Whitcomb, James R. Morse, William P. Hayward,
Daniel Fobes,
H. D. Sweetser,
Henry M. Bird, . Wm. Fox Richardson,
Frank Foxcroft.
PILGRIM CONGREGATIONAL. - In 1852, a mission Sabbath- school was established under the joint direction of the Baptist, Methodist, and two Congregational Churches in Cambridge. After a few years it was managed solely by the First Evangelical Church. In 1863, a chapel was erected for the accommodation of the school, and as a missionary station.1 It was soon opened for religious services two evenings in the week, and Rev. William R. Stone, a Methodist clergyman, who was at that time city mis- sionary, was employed to preach on Sabbath afternoons. In 1864, Rev. Edward Abbott, Univ. of the City of New York, 1860, was invited to take charge of this mission, with the hope
1 This edifice, known as the "Stearns of Harvard Street, about two hundred Chapel," still stands on the northerly side feet easterly from Windsor Street.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
of organizing a permanent congregation and church, and com- menced his labors Jan. 1, 1865. A church was organized Nov. 21, 1865, under the name of the Stearns Chapel Congregational Church, and Mr. Abbott was installed as its pastor. "Fifty-one persons constituted the church at its formation, of which 15 were males, and 36 females. Of the entire number, 12 made profes- sion of their faith for the first time, and 39 brought letters from other churches. Of the latter, 18 came from the First Congre- gational Church, 17 from the Second Congregational Church (recently disbanded), and the remaining 4 from different and dis- tant churches." 1 Mr. Abbott was dismissed, at his own request, in November, 1869 ; he became assistant editor of the " Con- gregationalist," published several books, and performed other literary work. After the change of name and removal of this church, Mr. Abbott returned to the scene of his former labors, and gathered a new congregation, out of which the present Chapel Church was organized in October, 1872. During the last few years, still residing here, and still retaining his connection with the " Congregationalist," he has been connected with a third missionary enterprise in Belmont and Watertown, near Mount Auburn, which has proved so successful that a chapel has been erected, and the organization of a church is anticipated.
Rev. George R. Leavitt, W. C. 1860, was installed as pastor of the Chapel Church, May 4, 1870. The chapel, though en- larged in 1867, was still too small for the congregation ; and a much more spacious edifice was erected on the northwesterly cor- ner of Magazine and Cottage streets, at a cost of nearly forty thousand dollars; the corner-stone was laid May 13, 1871, and the house was dedicated Jan. 4, 1872. In anticipation of removal to a new meeting-house, at the distance of about a mile from " Stearns Chapel," and in view of the fact that the original name would not properly designate the church after its removal, it assumed the name of "The Pilgrim Congregational Church,". Feb. 27, 1871. The church has had only three Deacons : -
John N. Meriam, elected Nov. 29, 1865. Edward Kendall, elected Nov. 29, 1865. Lyman G. Case, elected 1875.
BROADWAY BAPTIST. - A Sabbath-school, consisting of twen- ty-eight scholars and fifteen teachers, was opened Dec. 16, 1860, in a room at the corner of Harvard and Clark streets, under the
1 Manual and Historical Sketch of Stearns Chapel Church.
22
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
patronage of the First Baptist Church. In 1861, a small chapel was erected for the accommodation of the school, and for religious meetings, on the southerly side of Harvard Street, about two hundred feet easterly from Pine Street. The school held its first meeting in this chapel Jan. 12, 1862; and it was dedicated as a house of worship Feb. 9, 1862. This chapel was afterwards sold, and removed to the southeasterly corner of Harvard and Essex streets, where it was occupied by a school under the direction of the Catholic Church. A new house of worship, for the accom- modation of the Sabbath-school and the congregation which had been gathered in connection with it, was erected in 1866, on the southwesterly corner of Broadway and Boardman Street, eighty . six feet in length and sixty-four in breadth, which was dedicated Nov. 22, 1866. Meantime, Rev. William Howe, Waterville Col- lege, 1833, formerly pastor of the Union Church in Boston, had been engaged by the First Baptist Church as a missionary at this station. He commenced his labors early in 1863, which were so successful that on the 9th of May, 1865, a church consisting of fifty members was constituted under the name of "The Broad- way Baptist Church," and he was unanimously elected pastor. The public services of recognition were held in the First Baptist Church, June 25, 1865. Mr. Howe remained pastor until July, 1870, when he resigned ; he continues to reside in Cambridge, and performs clerical duties, but without pastoral charge. The present pastor of the church, the Rev. Henry Hinckley, H. C. 1860, was installed Dec. 13, 1870 ; he had previously been settled at Winchester, and more recently at Groveland, Mass.
DEACONS.
Elected.
Held office until
Age.
Ebenezer Hovey ·
May, 1865
Died
Josiah Sparrow
.
May, 1865
Resigned
March 25, 1866 Nov. 1872
65
Jacob Eaton
Dec. 1867
Simeon Taylor .
Dec. 1867
Resigned
Oct. 1869
Charles L. Fessenden
Nov. 1872
FREE CHURCH OF ST. JAMES. - The Parish of St. James, at North Cambridge, was organized on Christmas day, 1864, and from that time divine service was regularly continued under the charge of Rev. Andrew Croswell, B. U. 1843, who was elected Rector at Easter, 1865, and remained in that office until Easter,
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
1871, when the failure of health compelled him to resign. He was succeeded by Rev. William H. Fultz (since deposed), whose connection with the church ceased in the summer of 1873. Rev. Theodosius S. Tyng, a graduate of Kenyon College, 1869, and of the Episcopal Theological School, Cambridge, 1874, took charge of the church Oct. 1, 1873, and became its Rector June 15, 1874. At first, divine service was held in a building on North Avenue, which was erected for a bank, and altered into a chapel. "The present church building stands upon Beech Street, on a lot ac- quired by the parish during the Rev. Mr. Croswell's rectorship. It was presented to the parish by Mrs. Mary L. Greenleaf, and consecrated Dec. 21, 1871." 1 The following named persons have served the church as Wardens : -
1865-1870, Joseph H. Rice, George A. Meacham.
1871-1872, Joseph H. Rice, George Vincent. 1872, George Vincent,2 James M. Barker.
1873-1875, James M. Barker, George H. Mullin.
1876, James M. Barker, Daniel McNamara.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL. - The Methodist Episcopal Church in Old Cambridge was organized June 3, 1868 ; and on the same day, their chapel on the easterly side of North Avenue, between Holmes Place and Waterhouse Street, was dedicated.3 The preachers in charge of this church have been as follows : -
1868, 1869, Rev. Abraham D. Merrill and Rev. James Mudge, Wesl. Univ. 1865. The Rev. Mr. Mudge received the degree of B. D. from the Bost. Theol. Sem. 1870; was transferred to the India Conference and assigned to missionary work, in 1873, and now has "charge of the publishing interests of the M. E. Church " in India. 1870, 1871, Rev. Samuel Jackson, Wesl. Univ. 1859. 1872, Rev. Pliny Wood. In 1873, Rev. Mr. Wood was appointed a commissioner to the National Exposition at Vienna, and died there of cholera. 1873, Rev. James Lan- sing, who was transferred to Nashville, Tenn., before the expira- tion of his year, and his place here was supplied by Rev. Mr. Beiler. 1874, 1875, Rev. David K. Merrill, to whom I am in- debted for some of the foregoing facts. 1876, Rev. Charles Young.
. 1 MS. letter from Rev. T. S. Tyng.
2 Mr. Riee died July 28, 1872, aged 71 ; and thereupon Mr. Vineent was elected Senior Warden, and Mr. Barker, Junior Warden.
8 This edifice, formerly called " Holmes
Chapel," had for several years been oc- cupied by what was then ealled the " Holmes Congregational Society," now the "North Avenue Congregational So- eiety." It was purchased and removed to its present locality early in 1868.
340
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH. - The parish of St. Mary's Church was organized in 1866 by Rev. Manasses P. Dougherty, who per- formed the duties of pastor, in connection with his charge of St. Peter's Church, until May, 1867, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Thomas Scully, who had previously served his country as Chaplain of the Ninth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, in the War of the Rebellion. The corner-stone of the spacious brick church, at the southwesterly corner of Har- vard and Norfolk streets, was laid July 15, 1866, and the edifice was dedicated March 8, 1868. The congregation is larger than any other in Cambridgeport.
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ST. JOHN'S MEMORIAL CHAPEL. - On the twenty-second day of January, 1867, Mr. Benjamin T. Reed, of Boston, by legal indenture, placed in the hands of trustees one hundred thousand dollars, towards the founding and endowing of an Episcopal The- ological School in Cambridge, which school was opened in the autumn of the same year. "In the year 1869, Mr. Robert M. Mason [of Boston], completed and presented to the Trustees the beautiful edifice of St. John's Memorial Chapel, as a free church for the permanent use of the students of the school, and of the congregation which might be gathered there as worshippers. This building, with its fine organ and other furniture, cost its generous donor seventy-five thousand dollars."1 The congregation is not organized as a parish, nor has it any Rector or Wardens ; but the Faculty of the School are required to maintain, permanently, public worship and preaching in the Chapel, under the direction of the Dean of the Faculty. Rev. John S. Stone, D. D. was elected Dean at the organization of the School in 1867.
CHAPEL CONGREGATIONAL. - After the removal of the Pil- grim Church, in January, 1872 (see page 337), a mission Sab- bath-school and religious services on the Lord's day were contin- ued at Stearns Chapel, by the Rev. Edward Abbott, the former pastor of the church. A new church was organized Oct. 16, 1872, under the name of " Chapel Congregational Church," and on the same day the Rev. John K. Browne, H. C. 1869, was ordained and installed as its pastor. At his request, he was dismissed from his charge, Sept. 16, 1875, that he might devote himself to the foreign missionary service. He is now stationed at Har- poot, in Eastern Turkey.
1 A Statement by the Trustees, etc., p. the westerly corner of Brattle and Mason 14. This elegant stone edifice stands on streets.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Rev. Robert Beales Hall, W. C. 1870, who had preached two years at Wolfborough, N. H., was installed here Dec. 28, 1875. His ministry was acceptable, and gave promise of abundant suc- cess ; but it was terminated by what seemed to be a premature deatlı, Nov. 2, 1876, before he had quite attained the age of thirty-one years.
DEACONS.
H. Porter Smith, elected January, 1873. Henry C. Williams, elected January, 1873.
COTTAGE STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL. - The Cottage Street Methodist Episcopal Church - the outgrowth of a Mis- sion Sabbath-school enterprise started in 1870, in Williams Hall - was organized April 5, 1871. It consisted of seventeen members. The church and society at first worshipped in Wil- liams Hall, and afterwards in Odd Fellows Hall. In 1872 a convenient chapel was erected, which was dedicated June 19th. By the erection of this chapel, the Society incurred a debt of four thousand dollars, in addition to its own free and generous con- tributions. One of its original members, Mr. Amos P. Rollins, who died March 9, 1873, bequeathed two thousand dollars to- ward the extinction of this debt, on condition that the society should raise an equal sum within three years of his death, - which condition was complied with; but the estate of Mr. Rollins yielded to the society little more than half the original bequest.
The several preachers in charge have been as follows : -
1871-1874, Rev. Isaac F. Row. 1874-1875, Rev. W. L. Lockwood. 1875-1877, Rev. Jarvis A. Ames.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH. - A new parish was organized in 1874, by Rev. Manasses P. Dougherty, in old Cambridge, under the name of St. Paul's Church. The meeting-house at the north- westerly corner of Mount Auburn and Holyoke streets, erected in 1830 by the First Church in connection with the Shepard Congregational Society, was purchased for the use of this new parish, and after being repaired and fitted for its new use, was opened for Divine service Dec. 25, 1873. Rev. Mr. Dougherty retained the pastoral charge of St. Paul's Church, as well as of St. Peter's, until Oct. 1, 1875, when he was succeeded by Rev. William Orr, the present pastor.
342
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART. - On the fourth day of October, 1874, the corner-stone was laid of an edifice to be called the Church of the Sacred Heart, on the southerly side of Otis Street, between Sixth and Seventh streets. It is to be con- structed of stone, 150 feet in length and 75 feet in width, at an estimated cost of $80,000. The church is designed to seat twelve hundred persons. The basement under the whole building is to be fitted for the use of the Sabbath-school and various societies.
ASCENSION CHURCH. - Several attempts had been made, at different times, to establish the Episcopal Church in East Cam- bridge, but without success. In May, 1875, Rev. William War- land, a native-born son of Cambridge, H. C. 1832, finding several Episcopal families in that part of the city, offered his services as a missionary. The use of the Unitarian meeting-house, on the northwesterly corner of Third and Thorndike streets, was ob- tained, and on Whitsunday, May 16, 1875, worship according to the ritual of the Episcopal Church was commenced, and it has continued thus far with encouraging prospect of success. At the close of the first year, however, in May, 1876, an arrangement was made with the Second Universalist Society for a joint occu- pation of their church on Otis Street; since which time the Mission has a morning and evening service in that edifice, and the Universalists hold their regular service in the afternoon. No Episcopal parish has yet been organized, nor have the customary church officers been elected.
CHARLES RIVER BAPTIST. - The history of this church is briefly given in the printed order of services at its recognition : " Meetings for prayer held in 1869 at private houses. Sunday- school commenced April 3, 1870, meeting in the chambers of house No. 8, Magazine Court. Chapel dedicated Nov. 29, 1870. Regular preaching services commenced in July, 1874, and contin- ued to the present time in charge of J. P. Thoms, Theo. C. Gleason, and Rev. G. T. Raymond." The chapel is a neat and convenient edifice of wood, 78 feet in length by 33 feet in width, capable of seating 300 persons, and standing at the southeast corner of Magazine Street and Putnam Avenue ; it was erected in 1870, at an expense of about $8,500. Until recently this was substantially a missionary station, under the patronage of the First Baptist Church ; but on the 25th of April, 1876, a new church was organized, consisting of forty members, twenty-eight
343
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
of whom had previously been members of the First Church ; and on the 8th day of the following June, it was publicly recognized, and received into the fellowship of the Baptist churches. Rev. Fenner B. Dickinson was installed as pastor of the new church Nov. 13, 1876, and commenced his ministry under very favora- ble auspices.
As in the " North Cambridge Baptist Church," the official duties, ordinarily assigned to Deacons, are performed by the "Standing Committee " of this church.
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1
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CHAPTER XVIII.
HERESY AND WITCHCRAFT.
AT the present time, almost every principal sect into which the Christian Church is divided has its representatives in Cam- bridge ; and the introduction of a new sect produces compara- tively little commotion. But in the beginning it was not so. For a few years after the settlement of New England by the Puritans, the churches had rest ; but in 1636, " the country was miserably distracted by a storm of Antinomian and Famalistical opinions then raised."1 So violent became the controversy, and so great was the apparent danger of civil strife, that many of the heretical party, in Boston, Salem, Newbury, Roxbury, Ipswich, and Charlestown, were disarmed.2 The Cambridge church, how- ever, seems to have escaped infection ; and none of its members were included among the disaffected and supposed dangerous class. " The vigilancy of Mr. Shepard was blessed ..... for the preservation of his own congregation from the rot of these opinions." 3
Nearly twenty years later, his successor, Mr. Mitchell, was sorely tried by the defection of President Dunster from the established faith, as related in chapter xvi. Great excitement followed, both in church and in state ; and, as Dunster would neither renounce nor conceal his opposition to infant baptism, he was removed from office as head of the College (designed to be the school of the prophets), and fell under censure of the civil magistrates. Both consequences were natural, and appar- ently unavoidable. The governors of the College could not reasonably be expected to retain in office a President who per- sisted in teaching what they regarded as " damnable heresy," and thus poisoning the minds of his students, and unfitting them to become preachers of the truth ; and the civil magistrate was bound to take notice of open violations of the law. It does not
1 Mather's Magnalia, Book iii., ch. v., § 12.
2 Mass. Col. Rec., i. 211, 212.
8 Magnalia, ut sup.
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HERESY AND WITCHCRAFT.
appear, however, that Dunster had many adherents in his op- position to the ordinances of the church, notwithstanding the general respect entertained for his scholarship, and the warm affection cherished for him as a man. Indeed, it is doubtful whether any of the congregation at Cambridge openly avowed similar sentiments, except his kinsman Benanuel Bowers,1 and the members of his family. The Middlesex County Court Rec- ords show that, on the 19th of June, 1656, " Benanuel Bower, being presented by the Grand Jury for ordinary absenting him- self from the ordinance of baptism, was admonished and con- victed of his evil therein by the court." 2
In the same year, 1656, " an accursed and pernicious sect of heretics lately risen up in the world who are commonly called Quakers " appeared in Boston. Severe measures were adopted for their suppression, but in vain. Neither fines, imprisonment, nor scourging, would turn them aside from their purpose ; and they even submitted to death, rather than to depart, or to forbear disturbing the public peace. "Some at Salem, Hampton, New- bury, and other places, for disorderly behaviour, putting people in terror, coming into the congregations and calling to the minis- ter in the time of public worship, declaring their preaching, &c., to be an abomination to the Lord, and other breaches of the peace, were ordered to be whipped by the authority of the county courts or particular magistrates. At Boston one George Wilson, and at Cambridge Elizabeth Horton, went crying through the streets that the Lord was coming with fire and sword to plead with them. Thomas Newhouse went into the meeting-honse at Boston with a couple of glass bottles and broke them before the congregation, and threatened, 'thus will the Lord break you in pieces.' Another time M. Brewster came in with her face smeared and black as a coal. Deborah Wilson went through the streets of Salem naked as she came into the world, for which she was well whipped. For these and such like disturbances they might be deemed proper subjects either of a mad-house or house of correction, and it is to be lamented that any greater severities
1 Mr. Bowers married, Dec. 9, 1653, deed of twenty aeres in Charlestown, now Elizabeth Dunster, whom the President, in his will, styles "my cousin Bowers."
2 Up to this time Mr. Bowers had re- resided in Cambridge, near the junetion of North Avenue and Milk Street. Soon afterwards he received from his father a Charlestown.
Somerville, adjoining " Cambridge line," on which lot he probably resided during the remainder of his life; yet in almost all respeets his relations continued to be more intimate with Cambridge than with
.
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
were made use of."1 Some of these events are painted in Quaker colors by George Bishop, in a work entitled " New England judged by the Spirit of the Lord." Elizabeth, wife of Eliakim Wardel of Hampton, being called before the church at Newbury, " as a sign to them she went in (though it was exceeding hard to her modest and shamefaced disposition) naked amongst them, which put them into such a rage, instead of consideration, that they soon laid hands on her and to the next court at Ipswich had her " etc.2 For this offence she received " twenty or thirty cruel stripes, being tyed to the fence post." 3 " Amongst the rest, one Deborah Wilson, who, bearing a great burthen for your hard- heartedness and cruelty, being under a deep sense tliereof, was constrained, being a young woman of a very modest and retired life, and of sober conversation, as were her parents, to go through your town of Salem naked, as a sign ; which she having in part performed, after she had gone through some part thereof, as afore- said, she was soon laid hands on, and brought before old Hath- orne, who ordered her to appear at the next Court of Salem, at which your wicked rulers sentenced her to be whipped." 4 " After this at Cambridge, as she [Elizabeth Hooton, called Horton by Hutchinson] returned, she crying Repentance through some part of that town, where no Friend had been before (as she heard of) she was there laid hold of by a blood-thirsty crew, and early in the morning had before Thomas Danfort and Daniel Goggings, (two wicked and bloody magistrates of yours, of whom I have elsewhere spoken, and their wickedness), who committed her, and whose jaylor thrust her into a noisome, stinking dungeon, where there was nothing to lie down or sit on, and kept there two days and two nights, without helping her to bread or water ; and because one Benanuel Bower (a tender Friend) brought her a little milk in this her great distress, wherein she was like to have perished, they cast him into prison for entertaining a stran- ger, and fined him five pounds."5 " They ordered her to be sent out of their coasts towards Rhode Island, and to be whipped at three towns, ten stripes at each, by the way." 6 She returned to Cambridge, was imprisoned, and whipped there and at two other towns, as before. "This was the entertainment they received at Cambridge, (their University of Wickedness), and from Thomas Danfort and Daniel Goggin, magistrates, who (viz. Goggin)
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