USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Conway > History of Conway (Massachusetts) 1767-1917 > Part 12
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Meanwhile the center of Methodist activity had been trans- ferred to the village. In 1852 Rev. W. F. Lacount, then stationed at South Deerfield, was invited to Conway to hold a Methodist service in the hall over the store at Burkeville. A class was formed with Philip Lanigar as class leader. A
Sunday School was also organized with thirty-nine members. The Presiding Elder, Rev. Charles Baker, often preached at these meetings. Pastors from South Deerfield and from Shel- burne Falls preached Sunday evenings. After a time the meetings were transferred to the old Burkeville schoolhouse on the hill just north and opposite the present Catholic church. .
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
In 1855 Rev. Thomas Marcy, then Presiding Elder of the Springfield District, organized a Quarterly Conference with Philip Lanigar, Joseph Town, David Hastings, and D. Houston as stewards. Alfred A. Presby was appointed exhorter and class leader. Mr. Presby was at this time working in the Burkeville mills but was an active Christian worker and a good speaker. He preached to the satisfaction and profit of the people both in the Burkeville schoolhouse and the church at Baptist Corners. He later became an ordained minister. In 1858 or 1859 a small hall was fitted up over the schoolhouse as a place of worship and A. M. Field was placed in charge of the church. A little later the society was joined to the church at South Deerfield and one pastor preached at both places. Objections having been made to their use of the school- house, a room was fitted up in 1863 in the upper story of the brick house in Burkeville, which was occupied for a year, when the meetings were transferred to a hall rented of Samuel Bige- low on River Street. In 1868 Oliver Field built a hall specially for the use of Methodist meetings. This building was in the rear of his residence, near the village bridge. It was plain and roughly finished but served the purpose of a church for some time.
A great impetus was given to the Methodist movement in 1870 by a revival conducted by Mrs. Van Cott, an evangelist. A "praying band" from Shelburne Falls continued the meetings. The hall became too small to accommodate the attendants and steps were taken to perfect a permanent organization and to erect a suitable house of worship. Rev. William H. Cook was appointed a resident pastor in April, 1871, and the same month Dr. L. R. Thayer, Presiding Elder for the Springfield District, organized a Quarterly Conference. This official board was composed of the following members: Philip Lanigar, class leader; L. F. Brown, Sunday School superintendent; L. T. Brown, Philip Lanigar, E. L. Packard, stewards; Oliver Field, L. T. Brown, Philip Lanigar, R. M. Tucker, trustees. At the next Quarterly Conference, held July 6 of the same year, William Watson was added to the board of stewards and Richard Tucker, Franklin Pease, and Oliver Lawrence were added to the trustees. Subscriptions were started for a church building. Land was
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THE CHURCHES.
bought where the Methodist church now stands and ground was broken in September. The corner stone was laid in October and the work of building was pushed rapidly so that the vestry was used for worship on Sunday, December 18. The building committee were Richard Tucker, Franklin Pease, and L. T. Brown. John Sprague was the master workman. The com- pleted edifice was dedicated on March 6, 1872. The weather was extremely cold and the roads badly drifted, nevertheless the attendance was large and enthusiastic. The services were in charge of Dr. Thayer, the Presiding Elder. The sermon of dedication was preached by Rev. I. G. Bidwell. Rev. George E. Reed, afterwards president of Dickinson College, Carliste, Penn., preached in the evening. The cost of the building was about $9,000.
When the church was dedicated there were thirty-six mem- bers in full standing. But during that month nineteen additions were received, making the total number of those who may be regarded as charter members of the present organization fifty- five. Their names follow: Mrs. Elizabeth Bannister, L. T. Brown, Mrs. Martha E. Brown, Varney Boyden, Henry Boyden, William Bidwell, Mrs. William Bidwell, Mrs. Fannie E. Bradford, Mrs. Hannah Carrier, Olin D. Clark, Daniel Clark, Mrs. Laura Clark, Wilbur F. Clark, Mrs. Lucy A. Clark, Mrs. Jane Deverall, Miss Josephine Deverall, Mrs. Laura Dickinson, Oliver C. Field, Mrs. Electa S. Field, Miss Hattie Flagg, Lewis Franklin, Mrs. Sarah L. Franklin, George W. Irvine, Mrs. Maria Irvine, Philip Lanigar, Alvin Lawrence, Mrs. Maria Lawrence, Sarah Merri- field, Mrs. Martha May, Charles D. Naylor, Mrs. Effie Naylor, E. L. Packard, Mrs. Melvina Packard, Mrs. Lucinda Peck, T. J. Shepardson, Mrs. Desire Shepardson, Dwight Sanderson, Mrs. Priscilla Sanderson, William Stowe, Mrs. Lydia Stowe, Richard Tucker, Mrs. Delia R. Tucker, Richard M. Tucker, Mrs. Julia A. Tucker, John Tucker, Mrs. Harriet Tucker, Miss Eliza Tucker, Miss Eva Tucker, William Watson, Mrs. Maria Watson, Daniel Watson, Daniel Walker, Mrs. Carrie Walker, Austin Wells, and Mrs. Sarah Wells.
Rev. A. C. Manson succeeded Rev. Mr. Cook in April, 1872, and the work prospered under him for two years. Thirty were added to the church. The next pastor was Rev. James A. De
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Forest, who began his labors in April, 1874. That year is one of the sad memories in many of the families of Conway. An epidemic of diphtheria spread through the town. Mr. De Forest was very attentive to the sick and officiated at many funerals of those who died of this disease. Two of his own children died, and a few days later the father and beloved pastor, exhausted with watching and sorrow, succumbed to the same disease. He died November 28, 1874, at the age of thirty-eight. He was buried beside his children in the Howland Cemetery in Conway. Mr. De Forest was a graduate of the Theological School of the Boston University and had served in the ministry seven years when he came to the Conway charge. He was sincerely loved by his people and his untimely death was felt to be a loss to the entire community.
During the years following the building of the house of worship the prosperity of the church was very marked. It now had a spacious auditorium and convenient rooms for Sunday School and social purposes. During the pastorate of Rev. I. A. Mesler, 1877-79, a bell costing $296 was hung in the belfry. A parsonage was purchased in April, 1885, and first occupied as such by Rev. George H. Clark. The fifteenth anniversary of the church was celebrated with special exercises on Sunday and Monday, March 6 and 7, 1887. The historical address given by Rev. Mr. Clark on that occasion has been used freely in this sketch. In the course of time repairs on the church property became necessary. During the years 1890 and 1891 the interior of the church was repainted and frescoed, the auditorium was carpeted, and a new chandelier hung, costing altogether with other minor repairs about $700. In 1902 the church building was wired for electric lights and repainted on the outside.
The church has been served by devoted pastors. For many years it was customary to hold schoolhouse meetings at frequent intervals in all of the outlying neighborhoods. Many gracious revivals have been enjoyed. Shortly before Mr. Clark came to the Conway charge the Congregational people lost their meet- ing house by fire and their pastor having resigned, they worshiped with the Methodists during the first eight months of Mr. Clark's pastorate. The records at this time mention congregations of
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250 to 300 people. During this period Mr. Clark was virtually pastor of the two churches. The largest membership in the history of the church was one hundred and twenty, reported by Rev. George Sanderson in 1888. In this connection tribute should be paid to the long and faithful service rendered by Philip Lanigar as class leader. He was appointed to this position when the Methodists first organized at Burkeville in 1852 and was reappointed when the church was reorganized with a resident pastor in 1871. He continued in this office until his death, July 14, 1894. Many of the present members remember with gratitude his earnest words of Christian exhorta- tion. Following is a list of the resident pastors beginning with the building of the house of worship :-
Rev. W. H. Cook, 1871-72
Rev. J. A. Day,
1893-96
Rev. A. C. Manson, 1872-74
Rev. J. P. West,
1896-97
Rev. J. A. De Forest, 1874
Rev. Albert Beal, 1897-99
Rev. E. R. Thorndike, 1875-76
Rev. E. V. Hinchliffe,
1899-02
Rev. W. N. Richardson,
1876-77
Rev. W. J. Kelley, 1902-05
Rev. I. A. Mesler, 1877-79
Rev. A. S. Gregg,
1905-06
Rev. Henry Matthews,
1879-82
Rev. C. H. Hanaford,
Rev. J. W. Fulton,
1882-85
Rev. Wilbur T. Hale,
1906-09
Rev. George W. Clark,
1885-88
Rev. C. W. Comstock,
1909-10
Rev. George E. Sanderson, 1888-91
Mr. J. C. Hayes,
1910-11
Rev. William S. Jagger, 1891-93
Mr. A. H. Miles,
1911-12
The Sunday School reached a high degree: of efficiency under the leadership of the following superintendents: L. T. Brown, Chelsea Cook, W. F. Clark, Richard H. Cook, Charles L. Cook, and Mrs. James Robertson.
Of the young people born in Conway and reared in Methodist families four became Methodist ministers, viz., Rev. Chester Field, Rev. I. B. Bigelow, Rev. Alvin Billings, Rev. Henry Bannister, D.D. Dr. Bannister was professor of Theology for twenty-six years in the Garrett Biblical Institute, Evans- ton, Ill.
We are unable to give a complete list of the official members but special mention should be made of at least three. Richard Tucker was the chairman of the building committee of whom the church records say that "he rendered assistance which cannot be too highly estimated." He was made a member of the Quarterly Conference of the reorganized church in 1871 and remained an official member of the church until his death,
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
November 30, 1889. Franklin Pease was made a trustee with Mr. Tucker in 1871 and also remained a member of the official board during life. He came into the full membership of the church October 14, 1874, and to the day of his death, April 5, 1903, was loved and honored by all who knew him. His busi- ness judgment and his moral and financial support made him a tower of strength to the church. Chelsea Cook united with the church by letter February 2, 1873. He had already been elected a trustee and now became a steward. These offices as well as appointments on all important committees of the church were held by him until his death March 8, 1905. There were many other devoted and self-sacrificing official members whose hearty co-operation made possible the prosperity of the church. But these three seem to be in a class by themselves. The passing years have only made it more apparent how irrepa- rable was their loss to the church.
Following the death of Chelsea Cook business depression in the town caused the removal of several Methodist families and in other ways weakened the financial strength of the church. For years bright and promising young people trained in the church to Christian service went away to seek larger oppor- tunities, leaving the home church to suffer for the lack of their assistance. Want of recruits to make good the loss through deaths and removals proved at length so serious that in 1912 the Quarterly Conference requested that no pastor be sent to them. For two years no services were held, and the church was practically extinct. Then an arrangement was made with the Baptists to unite in the support of a Federated church.
THE FEDERATED CHURCH. BY PROF. ALVAH J. NORMAN.
To properly understand the reasons for this federation it is necessary to know something of the previous condition of the two churches entering into it. With the vote of the Methodist Episcopal Church to close its doors at the end of the Conference year in April, 1912, there ended for them a period of almost hopeless endeavor to maintain regular public worship. This condition was due largely to the death of, and the moving away from town of, loyal self-sacrificing members until not
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THE CHURCHES.
enough were left to maintain an efficient service. With the closing of the Methodist church came a pronounced change in the religious situation in the village. The Baptist and Congrega- tional people each hoped that the Methodist membership would affiliate more or less closely with their church. Yet few, if any, of the Methodists united with either of the other churches and as the months passed it became evident that only a very limited number were taking an active interest in church work. No one questions the' motives or the reasons for this condition but it became a matter of grave importance not only to those who had the religious welfare of the community at heart locally, but to denominational officials as well.
Meanwhile the situation at the Baptist church was far from encouraging. Services in winter months were held in the vestry largely because it was impossible to heat the upper room. Attendance was small and financial support was inadequate for efficient service. A number of conferences were held with Rev. W. E. Waterbury, Field Secretary of the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society, and the only hopeful outlook pointed toward a federation with the Methodist church. An informal conference was held between Secretary Waterbury and Dr. J. P. Kennedy, Superintendent of the Springfield District of Methodist churches, and when it was known that both of these denominational leaders favored a federation the matter began to be considered seriously by all concerned. Much credit is due the last pastor of the Methodist church, Rev. A. H. Miles, who, continuing to reside for a time in Conway, gave moral support and personal effort to the federation of the Methodists with the Baptists. The personal relationships and friendships existing between the members of these two churches was a very hopeful factor in bringing about a federation. On Sunday, January 11, 1914, Rev. Edward Cooper, pastor of the Baptist church, recognizing that the federation movement could not be launched successfully without all parties fully understanding that the new organization would have a free hand in choosing a pastor, resigned his pastorate. The resignation was to take effect in three months. On January 27, 1914, the Baptist church held a business meeting and appointed a committee consisting of Alvah J. Norman, Z. B. Kemp, and R. G. Rice
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
with instructions to meet a like committee from the Methodist church for the purpose of forming, if possible, a plan of federa- tion, said plan to be reported back to a meeting of the church for action thereon. The Methodist people without official action requested Edwin T. Cook, William M. Hall, and William Forsythe to represent them. This joint committee met at the bank Friday afternoon, February 13, 1914, with all members present except Mr. Forsythe. Mr. Norman was made chairman. After much careful consideration a plan was agreed upon which in form was a tentative constitution and by-laws of the con- templated church. The constitution and by-laws were later revised in joint conference of the churches with Dr. Kennedy and Secretary Waterbury advising. Both churches accepted its provisions. The first three articles indicate the distinctive form of the organization: (1) Name-This church shall be called the Federated Church of Conway. (2) Members-Present mem- bers of the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal churches shall be members of the Federated Church, also members of other evangelical churches may become Charter Members of the Federated Church by enrolling or signifying to the clerk a wish to become a member. Members of evangelical churches may be admitted by letter according to prevailing custom. Persons wishing to unite with the church by baptism shall be free to follow their individual convictions as to mode of administration. The pastor of the church may, if he chooses, secure the services of a neighboring clergyman to administer the ordinance in the form desired by the candidate. Letters of dismissal from either church may be granted to members in good standing upon their request. (3) Denominational Individuality-Each of the churches entering this federation shall maintain its own organization. Each denomination shall retain control of its property of whatever kind. Each individual may contribute to the missionary and benevolent work of the denomination with which he or she is now affiliated. Either church desiring to discontinue the federation may do so by giving a six months' notice of the same in writing.
The first public service of the united churches was held in the Methodist meeting house on Sunday, April 19, 1914. The pulpit was supplied by Rev. Horace A. Sibley of East Northfield
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THE CHURCHES.
Mass. Other clergymen supplied the church with preaching during the summer until September 1st, when Rev. Charles Stanley Pease, a former pastor of the Baptist church, became the pastor of the Federated Church. The Baptist parsonage was enlarged and thoroughly repaired for his use. The Meth- odist meeting house, being more centrally located than the Baptist and in better repair, was used as the house of worship. The Federated Church was regularly organized at a specially appointed business meeting, April 29, 1914, when the following officers and committees were elected: Clerk, Mrs. Perkins Batchelder; treasurer, Edwin T. Cook; deacon, William For- sythe; chairman of finance committee, Z. B. Kemp; chief usher, W. M. Hall; chairman of missionary committee, Miss Anna Hopkins; music committee, Mrs. E. T. Cook, Mrs. A. J. Norman, Mrs. W. M. Hall; executive committee, Alvah J. Norman, chairman, Mrs. Perkins Batchelder, E. T. Cook, Z. B. Kemp, and W. M. Hall.
SAINT MARK'S CHURCH.
BY REV. P. H. GALLEN.
St. Mark's Catholic Church of Conway has always been a mission church, the congregation never having been numerous enough to support a resident priest. Until 1883 Conway formed part of the parish of Greenfield. The first recorded Catholic service in Conway was in 1845. The first mass was said in a schoolhouse by Rev. H. L. Robinson, a convert to the faith, and the pastor of Greenfield. The church was built in 1879 by Rev. Jeremiah McCarthy. He was succeeded in 1880 by Rev. T. E. Smith. Rev. D. E. O'Neil took charge in 1881 and Rev. M. E. Purcell in 1882.
In 1883 Conway was attached to Shelburne Falls of which Rev. John Lee was pastor. He was succeeded by the following pastors of Shelburne Falls, who said mass in Conway twice a month: Revs. A. Legnier, 1885-87, Rev. J. H. Jeannotte to 1891, Rev. J. E. Allord to 1893, Rev. J. Balthasard to 1899.
In January, 1899, Conway became a mission of South Deer- field and was placed in charge of Rev. A. O'Grady. Mass has been celebrated every Sunday and Holyday since. Rev. A.
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
O'Grady was succeeded in April, 1902, by Rev. W. C. Mc- Caughan. In April, 1904, Rev. W. Hartigan became pastor. In 1908 Rev. P. F. Doyle came to assist Rev. W. Hartigan and remained until January, 1910, when Rev. J. F. McGrath replaced him. In June, 1910, Rev. P. H. Gallen, the present pastor, succeeded Rev. W. Hartigan. Rev. J. F. McGrath was trans- ferred in April, 1914, since which time Rev. F. C. Burnes has been assistant. The mission of Conway has about one hundred and forty souls.
MINISTERS BORN IN CONWAY.
Congregational .- William F. Avery, Joel Baker, Elisha Billings, Richard S. Billings, Olin Clark, Abel B. Clary, Dexter Clary, Stolham Clary, David Dickinson, Harrison G. O. Dwight, D.D. (missionary), Samuel M. Emerson, Samuel Fisher, William Fisher, Sylvester Hover, John A. Nash, Augustine Root, Edward W. Root, Charles B. Rice, D.D., Joseph K. Ware, Samuel Ware, William Ware, Charles H. Wheeler.
Baptist .- Josiah Goddard, Foster Hartwell, Calvin Keyes, Horace Jenkins, D.D. (missionary), Edward H. Smith, Harrison Stearns, Wilbur F. Rice.
Methodist .- Henry Bannister, D.D., Alvin Billings, Increase R. Bigelow, Chester Fields.
Episcopal .- John Avery. Unitarian .- Luther Hamilton.
Universalist .- Otis W. Bacon, W. Wilcox.
Roman Catholic .- George Dacey.
MINISTERS' WIVES BORN IN CONWAY.
Sabra Adams married Rev. H. H. Benson, Pres .; Harriet Arms married Rev. Charles E. Sylvester, Cong .; Julia Arms married Rev. Dwight Ives, Bapt .; Martha Arms married Rev. Horatio N. Graves, Cong .; Mary Avery married Rev. R. M. Loughridge, Cong .; Paulina Avery married Rev. Oscar L. Woodford, Cong .; Martha Baker married Rev. William Car- ruthers, Cong .; Alma Bartlett married Rev. W. Wilcox, Univ .; Abby Billings married Rev. Mr. Young, Cong .; Elizabeth Billings married Rev. Hiram Mead, Cong .; Jerusha Billings
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THE CHURCHES.
married Rev. Bela Edwards, Cong .; Louisa Billings married Rev. Ezekiel Russell, Cong .; Mary Billings married Rev. Ogden Dwight, Cong .; Elizabeth Childs married Rev. H. D. Perry, Cong .; Abby Clark married Rev. Jared Stone, Cong .; Elizabeth Clark married Rev. Mr. Thompson, Cong .; Hannah Clark married Rev. Gideon Dana, Cong .; Mary Clark married Rev. J. A. Nash, Cong .; Mary Clark married Rev. Mr. Rossiter, Cong .; Ada C. Coffin married Rev. A. J. Chaplin, Bapt .; Julia Cooley married Rev. Thomas S. Norton, Cong .; Louisa Dunham married Rev. Lucien Farnham, Cong .; Olivia Dunham married Rev. Romulus Barnes, Cong .; Mary Emerson married Rev. Royal Reed, Cong .; Sabra Emerson married Rev. Joseph Field, Unit .; Sophronia Hall married Rev. I. R. Bigelow, Meth .; Lucy Harris married Rev. Edwin P. Parker, Cong .; Emily Meekins married Rev. William Arms, Cong .; Minerva Nash married Rev. Henry Eastman, Cong .; Armenia Pulsifer married Rev. Samuel Skinner, Univ .; Elizabeth Rice married Rev. Walter Twing, Cong .; Florence Stearns married Rev. Arthur E. Hartwell, Cong .; Mary Stearns married Rev. Mr. Frary, Bapt .; Achsah Stowe married Rev. James M. Coley, Bapt .; Lottie Walker married Rev. Fred Stray, Cong. Bethiah Ware married Rev. Moses Miller, Cong .; Elizabeth Ware married Rev. Theoph- ilus Packard, Cong .; Sally Ware married Rev. William Bonney, Cong .; Maria Wheelock married Rev. Foster Hartwell, Bapt .; Elizabeth Tobey married Rev. Josiah Goddard, Bapt.
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CHAPTER VII.
THE SCHOOLS.
WRITTEN IN PART BY REV. W. F. AVERY, AND COMPLETED BY THE EDITOR, ASSISTED BY MISS FLORENCE HOWLAND.
The Great and General Court of Massachusetts in granting leave to proprietors to settle in the various townships made it invariably a condition that they should within three years build a meeting house and schoolhouse, settle a learned Orthodox minister, and that they should constantly maintain and duly support a minister and schoolmaster among them. Conway, like the other towns in New England, has ever regarded the education of youth as of primary importance, and has from its incorporation provided quite liberally for educational purposes. The first law, establishing public schools in America, was passed by the General Court of Massachusetts on the 27th of October, 1647. The following is a copy of the preamble: "It being one of the chief projects of Satan to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures, as in former times keeping them in unknown tongues, so in these latter times, by persuading from the use of tongues, that so at least the true sense and meaning of the original might be clouded and corrupted by false glosses of deceivers; to the end that learning may not be buried in the graves of our forefathers, in church and Commonwealth; the Lord assisting our endeavors :- It is therefore ordered by the Court, and authority thereof, that every township within this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty householders, shall forthwith appoint one within their towns to teach all such children, as shall resort to him, to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general, by way of supply, as the major part of those that order the prudentials of the town shall appoint; provided that these who send their children be not oppressed by paying more than they can have them taught for in other towns."
This was the origin of our common school system, which has contributed in a large degree to the prosperity and glory of New
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England, by rearing up a class of men fitted for all the active duties of life, not only within its own jurisdiction, but through- out the United States.
Shortly after the incorporation of Conway, the voters gave their attention to the subject of education by a vote which se- lected a committee for the purpose of hiring a "school dame" for five months that year. The sum of seven pounds was ap- propriated in 1767. In 1770 it was voted in town meeting to engage a singing master two months in the winter. The follow- ing year the town voted to raise the sum of ten pounds to be laid out in schooling and that the selectmen shall be a committee to proportion said sum in divers parts of the town, where they shall think proper. In 1772 it was voted to raise twelve pounds for the use of schooling and that the same shall be proportioned in manner and form as it was last year by the selectmen. It was voted to have three months' schooling that winter, two months the school shall be kept at Capt. Jonathan Whitney's and one month at Capt. Lucius Allis' house. School was taught for several years in private houses, a favorite place being the Whitney residence. In December the assessors were instructed by vote of the town to raise the sum of six pounds to pay the present school.
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