History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix, Part 58

Author: Sumner, William H. (William Hyslop), 1780-1861. cn
Publication date: 1858
Publisher: Boston, J. E. Tilton
Number of Pages: 883


USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix > Part 58
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston : with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix. > Part 58


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The Rev. N. G. Allen officiated for a time, but resigned the charge in the spring of 1853. In August of that year the rec- torship was accepted by the Rev. John Irwin, formerly incum- bent of St. Thomas's Church, Montreal. At the time of his acceptance, the church edifice was unfinished, and the society was incumbered with a debt of nearly $3,000. This debt was paid off chiefly by the kindness of members of Trinity and St. Paul's churches of Boston, and the building was consecrated, free from debt, on the 13th of November, 1855.


The Rev. John Irwin resigned the rectorship on the 12th of April, 1857. On the 6th of September, 1857, the Rev. Samuel John Evans, of the diocese of New Jersey, succeeded the Rev. Mr. Irwin. The parish is now in a more flourishing condition than it has been for some years. A deeper religious sensibility than hitherto, prevails, 'and harmony of feeling and action per- vade the body.


During the present season a debt of nearly three hundred dollars has been paid, through the exertions of the Ladies' Sew- ing Society and others connected with the church.


The number of families is about 66


Number of sabbath school scholars enrolled on the list, 166


Number of teachers in the sabbath school 20


The officers for 1858 are these : Wm. H. Munroe and Daniel Byron, wardens ; Jesse Hanford, Charles F. Gardiner, Thomas Cassidy, Ruggles Slack (since deceased), Henry Jones, Wm. H. Calrow, and Wm. H. Thorndike, vestry ; John Watson, treas- urer; and Robert R. Kent, clerk.


UNITARIANS.


Unitarian Church. - The first preaching in East Boston was by ministers of this denomination.


The first meeting of the Unitarian Society took place in Ritchie Hall, on the 14th of September, 1845; although occa-


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sional meetings had been held previous to this time. No clergy- man, however, was regularly settled until 1847, when the Rev. Leonard Jarvis Livermore received a call, and was ordained on the 24th of March of that year. During this month the society moved from Ritchie Hall to the Webster street church, originally erected by the Universalists, and now occupied by them. Mr. Livermore voluntarily resigned on the 21st Feb- ruary, 1851 ; and the society continued about a year without a settled minister. During this time it was very small in num- bers, discouraged in feeling, and feeble in condition. At one period, indeed, it nearly approached extinction, and was only saved therefrom by the vigorous exertions and self-sacrificing spirit of a few devoted members.


Several candidates for settlement preached during the year 1851, among whom was the Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, who, on the 7th of December, 1851, received a call to become the pastor of the society, and, on the 17th of March, 1852, was duly ordained in the Maverick church, the use of which had been generously proffered for the occasion by the standing committee of that society.


The ordination exercises were participated in by Rev. Messrs. Miles, Francis, Holland, Mussey, Harrington, King, and Bowen, were well attended, and gave very general satisfaction.


On the 1st of February, 1852, the society ceased to worship in the Webster street church, and removed to Ritchie Hall, on the corner of Henry street and Maverick square, in which their first meetings were held.


While here its growth was so constant and encouraging that measures were entered upon to secure the erection of a church edifice. These efforts were crowned with success, and, on the 29th of December, 1852, the church situated on the corner of Maverick and Bremen streets, and now occupied by the society, was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God.


The subjoined account of the dedication exercises, and of the church itself, is taken from a report published the next morning in the Boston Journal : -


" The services were introduced by a voluntary on the organ, after which an invocation was offered by Rev. Artemas B. Mussey. The choir then sang in an excellent manner the


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anthem, ' O give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name,' etc. Selections from the Scriptures were read by Rev. James I. T. Coolidge, after which Rev. Frederick D. Huntington, in a very eloquent and affectionate address, extended to the new church the 'salutation of the churches,' in the course of which he defined the Unitarian belief, and most tenderly and elo- quently exhorted the members of the church to make it a living, fruit-bearing branch of the true vine.


" A hymn of dedication was then sung. after which the sermon was preached by the pastor, Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, from the text recorded in 1st Chronicles, 29th chapter, 14th verse - ' Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.' The sermon was an able production, and appropriate to the occasion. At its con- clusion a prayer of dedication was offered by Rev. Calvin Lincoln. Another hymn followed, after which Rev. Mr. Hunt- ington offered the concluding prayer. The services then closed with the anthem, ' How holy is this place !' and a benediction.


" The church is a neat modern structure, painted white, and ornamented with green blinds, giving the exterior a pleasant appearance. It is sixty feet long by forty-four feet wide. The basement is divided into a vestry forty-three feet by twenty- five, and a 'parish parlor,' neatly fitted up with carpet, chairs, sofas, tables, engravings, etc., where social and church meeting and Bible classes convene. It will seat from fifty to one hun- dred persons. These rooms are so located as to be easily con- nected by folding doors, which it is the intention of the society eventually to do. The main entrance to the church is from Maverick street. On crossing the threshold, the worshipper enters the vestibule, which is circular in form, and is twenty- five feet wide. From the vestibule, stairs lead on each side to the floor of the church, which is raised six feet above the floor of the vestibule. The floor of the church is 43} feet by 582. There are sixty-two pews, divided by side aisles, and capable of comfortably seating four hundred persons. The pews are painted a light drab, and furnished with a mahogany cap and arm, are constructed without doors, and are furnished with cushions, covered with crimson damask. The church is neatly


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carpeted, and lighted with gas. The furnishing was done by the ladies of the society, who certainly deserve much credit for the neat manner in which the work is executed.


" The pulpit is of mahogany, swell front, with columns, and is much lower than pulpits generally are constructed, - a com- mendable feature, inasmuch as it brings the minister down among the people, and tends to remove the distance, which is too often felt to exist between him who ministers at the altar and those who worship before it. The orchestra is in the rear of the pews, directly over the vestibule, and is raised four feet above the floor of the church. It is ten feet deep by thirty feet in breadth, and is furnished with a superior organ. On its front is a clock, surrounded by gilt scroll work.


" The interior walls of the church are seventeen feet high, and are very handsomely ornamented with fresco panel work. The ceiling is tastefully ornamented with a centre piece of fresco work. The rear of the pulpit is also very prettily fres- coed, and has the inscription --


" ' The Lord our God is one Lord.'


In the centre of the panel work, on the right of the pulpit, is this inscription : -


"' Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength, and thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.'


And on the left the following : -


"' Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despite- fully use you.'


" The paint is impervious to water, and is the first of the kind used in the city. The entire cost of the edifice and land is about $8,500, which is very moderate, considering the excel- lence of the location, and the neatness, beauty, and conven- ience of the structure.


" The church and society have now a place which they can call their home, and a pastor to watch over their spiritual inter- ests in whom they are united, and whose heart is warmly en-


55 *


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0 or


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gaged in the noble work to which he has been called. With such advantages, and the blessing of God resting upon their efforts, they will go on increasing in prosperity and usefulness."


Since the erection of this church, the prosperity of the society has been steadily on the increase. The sabbath school, which in 1852 only numbered about fifty members, has now two hundred; and the families connected with the parish have increased during the same interval from between fifty and sixty to one hundred and twenty. The average attendance at the regular public services of worship on the Sabbath has also largely increased. The financial condition of the parish is one of the most encouraging features of its present state. Start- ing in 1852, without any means or resources except those derived directly from the contributions of the members, it has, besides supporting the regular Sabbath worship, bought land, built and furnished a house, provided libraries, etc., whose aggregate value now amounts to nearly twelve thousand dol- lars.


For more than a year the musical part of the service in this church has been performed by the congregation. This change was introduced at the earnest solicitation of the present pastor, and thus far has proved more economical, acceptable to the worshippers, and devotional in its effect, than the performances of a hired quartette or of a large voluntary choir.


Another change, equally radical in its nature and beneficial in its tendencies, has been introduced by a vote of the society, by which the usual afternoon service has been transferred to the evening, and the afternoon is devoted to the sabbath school, and to the instruction of an adult Bible class.


This society now bids fair, under the blessing of God, to be- come one of the most flourishing and united societies on the Island.


CATHOLIC.


In the settlement of East Boston, many adopted citizens, for the most part from Ireland, and their immediate de- scendants, held a conspicuous place. They were among the first, who, with strong arms and willing hearts, came to level the hills, fill up the low lands, drain the marshes, erect docks,


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and map the Island with its present wide and spacious streets and pleasant squares. The names of Crowley, McManus, and Cummisky, are among the first, with whom contracts were en- tered into for the general improvement. Mr. Daniel Crowley was the first to build, on Maverick street, the third private dwelling erected in East Boston.


With the rapid growth of this delightful portion of the city, destined to become the great depot of our increasing commerce, many others professing the creed of the Catholic church, with the above, here sought either employment as mechanics, trades- men, or laborers, or, crossing over from the more densely popu- lated parts of the city, came to purchase lots or erect private dwellings for themselves.


On account of increasing numbers, and the inconvenience of leaving their families to attend divine service in the city proper, it was proposed by Mr. Daniel Crowley and others to erect, with the approbation of Rt. Rev. B. J. Fenwick, then Bishop of Bos- ton, a place of worship for themselves. While deliberating upon the most desirable site for this object, a legally notified meeting of the " Maverick Congregational Society," came together on the twenty-fourth of January, 1844, at which a vote was passed to sell their meeting-house and land for the sum of five thou- sand dollars ; that a committee of three be raised to carry this into effect, and that the treasurer, Mr. W. R. Lovejoy, be au- thorized to sign a deed of conveyance to such person as the committee should designate. The Catholics, availing them- selves of this friendly and favorable opportunity, came forward the first of February, six days after this suggestion, as willing purchasers of the property, and thus secured for themselves and children a place to assemble for public worship.


The house having undergone some alterations and an altar having been erected, it was dedicated to God, under the patron- age of St. Nicholas. The first clergyman appointed was Rev. Father N. I. A. O'Brien, who held this situation till March, 1847, when he was called back to the Cathedral. He was succeeded by Rev. Father Charles McCallion, who, for the better accommo- dation of the increasing numbers, and with the sanction of Rt. Rev. Bishop Fitzpatrick, successor to Rt. Rev. Bishop Fenwick, enlarged the church some forty feet, and administered to the


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wants of the congregation till November, 1851. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Father Wiley, who held the responsible situa- tion till he died, April 19, 1855.


To afford to the still increasing number of Catholics, more ample church room, the necessity of which may be deduced from the fact, that, while in 1844 the number baptized was fifty-eight the baptisms for 1854 were three hundred and thirty- eight, Rev. Father Wiley, a few months previous to his death projected, with the approbation of Rt. Rev. Bishop Fitzpatrick, the erection of the present new, substantial, and imposing stone edifice, which stands on the corner of Maverick and London streets, on a line with the first church on the corner of Maverick and Havre streets; an intermediate space of thirty-five feet being left between the two, upon which the parochial residence is built.


Encouraged by the anticipated zealous cooperation of the congregation, he laid the foundation and completed the base- ment walls of this noble structure, which is sixty by one hun- dred and thirty-two feet in the interior, and for the most part. above ground and well lighted. Having contracted for ma- terials, and made other arrangements to further the work, he could do no more. In the fifty-second year of his age and twenty-eighth of his priesthood, he was prostrated on the bed of suffering from which he never rose.


The day of the funeral obsequies of Father Wiley, the Rev. F. X. Branagan was sent to attend the spiritual necessities of the congregation, while the Rev. Father Fitton, a native of Boston, and a former associate with Father Wiley at the Ca- thedral, where both labored for a time after being ordained together, having just completed the magnificent church at Newport, R. I., was solicited to accept the pastorship of East Boston. As soon as arrangements could be made by Rt. Rev. B. O'Reilly, Bishop of the Hartford diocese, he came to carry out the views of his departed bosom friend, Father Wiley. It is here, properly speaking, that the present plan of the church was adopted, which has been carried on since, under his imme- diate supervision.


We will here give a brief description of the new church of " our Holy Redeemer," so called, the particulars of which have


Lith. by J W.Bufford.


CHURCH OF OUR HOLY REDEEMER. EAST BOSTON


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been given to us by the pastor, to which we are permitted to add, that all who feel disposed to view the chaste decoration and appropriate finish of the interior are at liberty at any time to examine, by calling at the parochial residence. A picture of this church is on the opposite page.


" The plan of the church is Gothic of the thirteenth century style, one hundred and ten by sixty-two feet in the interior, with a chancel twenty-eight by twenty-three feet, and sacristies on either side. The main walls are covered with a span roof, with ornamental slating. The interior is divided into finely propor- tioned nave and aisles, and is of sufficient height for beauty of effect, voice, ventilation, and all other conveniences. At the termination of the north aisle, in front of the church, there is a very substantial as well as ornate tower or steeple, of nearly two hundred feet in height, which forms a conspicu- ous beacon for the guidance of travellers for miles around. In this is placed a sweet-toned bell, weighing upwards of two thousand pounds, from the foundery of Messrs. Hooper, the generous donation of Mr. Daniel Crowley. The walls are massive and of solid masonry, supported by buttresses, all from the quarries of Rockport, and built in the very best manner by Mr. James Devine. The roof, spire, and turret were by Mr. Thomas Murphy. The plastering and stuccoing of the interior, which is distinguished for its chaste simplicity and purity of design, was by Mr. Peter McCann. The tracery finish of the galleries, by Messrs Manson, Peterson & Co., and the finish of wainscotting, pewing, etc., by Mr. Thomas Cassin. The cabi- net-work and entire of wood finish is all of seasoned chestnut merely shellacked and varnished, and makes a very elegant, durable, and rich finish, without the additional expense of paint. The high altar and tabernacle, designed by P. C. Keely, Esq., with its elaborate carving, emblems, and ornaments, and the chapel altars of the blessed and immaculate virgin, together with that of St. Joseph, and their rich statuary from Munich, were all the gift of the generous daughters of the congregation and their friends. A very conspicuous feature in this new edifice is the style of the windows, which, being lancet, so called, with emblematic designs in the heads, are filled as usual


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with stained glass and borders, while the lead sash is inserted in skeleton frames, that rise and fall with ordinary weights and pulleys, whereby abundant ventilation is given in summer, and the cold is shut out in winter."


Every foot of this church, which accommodates about eighteen hundred persons, is occupied on Sundays, while the old church, so called, is filled with a congregation of seven hun- dred children gathered together for catechetical and other religious instruction, attended by the pastor and his assist- ant alternately. The basement contains a very select paro- chial library, and is fitted up for singing and other occasional meetings.


The organ, from the celebrated establishment of Messrs. Simmons & Fisher of Boston, is an instrument of rare sweet- ness, purity, and of unequalled magnificence of tone. Exter- nally it is twenty-six feet high, twenty-nine feet wide, and ten and a half feet deep, and of a style corresponding with the architecture of the church. It is of very novel construction, being built so as to show the nave window of the church between its principal parts. The key-board is extended from the front of the instrument, and is seen projecting from the front of the gallery after the style of the choir organs in Euro- pean cathedrals,-the organist facing the altar. Internally it is a splendid specimen of skill, and has many new and peculiar improvements, among which may be named the increasing pressure system and the pneumatic valve balance chamber, for which a patent has been applied. Although the organ con- tains but thirty-four stops, yet by means of the improvements named, and others which we have not space to describe, the body of tone undoubtedly surpasses that of any organ yet built in this country, and at the same time all the nice shadings of power and quality are preserved in a wonderful degree.


UNION CHAPEL.


In the year 1851, in that part of the Island on which the Union Chapel is now situated, from a population of hun- dreds, probably less than twenty persons were regular attend-


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ants at any Protestant place of worship on the Sabbath, and the locality was noted for vice. At length the "Boston City Missionary Society," sustained by the Orthodox Congrega- tional churches in the city, employing Miss Armeda Gibbs to labor in East Boston, she soon visited that much neglected place. Her first visit was on a chilly day in the month of Oc- tober, 1851. Unmistakable evidences of deep depravity were seen in every direction in her lonely walk among entire stran- gers. Depressed in spirits, weary, and cold, she called at a respectable looking house, rang the bell, and was kindly invited in, which invitation she cheerfully accepted. After conversing a few moments, she said that she was anxious to gather some of the children in the place into a sabbath school, if a suitable place could be obtained. The old lady with whom she was conversing immediately exclaimed : " Bless the Lord! that is just what we have been praying for." It seemed providential, rather than accidental, that the first family she visited was com- posed mostly of devoted Christians. The next day five ladies met in the first religious meeting probably ever held in that part of the Island. That small beginning was the commence- ment of what is called the " Union Chapel Enterprise." Some two or three weeks passed before a suitable room for a sabbath school could be obtained, when a Christian brother kindly offered a room in his house. The next Sabbath, October 26, quite a number of parents and children assembled, but the pro- ject was relinquished till a more suitable place could be obtained. A general prayer-meeting was however held, and from that pe- riod one or more have been regularly held every week. During the ensuing winter the city erected a school-house on Chelsea street, and, as one room was unoccupied, the proper authorities generously permitted them to occupy the other free of expense. A sabbath school was organized February 18, at which time sixty-three adults and children were present. They were aided by the generosity of the sabbath school connected with the Maverick church.


In the month of March the Rev. Mr. Deering, an aged Ortho- dox clergyman from Chelsea, was obtained to preach on the Sabbath ; his services were most acceptable. Miss Gibbs con- cludes one of her monthly reports to the " City Missionary


ts he


th hur- tend-


of


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Society " by stating: " A deep solemnity rests upon the con- gregation as they hear the gospel dispensed, and I trust the time is not far distant when we shall hear the sound of the church-going bell, and that that part of the Island will yet be vocal with the praises of God." In a subsequent report she writes : " Our school and meetings were increasing in numbers and interest, when we were suddenly notified that we must vacate the room, as it would be needed for another primary school, which was about to be organized." It became necessary to disband or to build a house. A subscription book was circu- lated ; different evangelical societies manifested a deep interest in the object, and nearly two thirds of the amount requisite to erect a suitable place of worship was soon subscribed in East Boston. An appeal was then made to the churches in the city proper, who nobly responded, and in less than three months from the time that notice was given that the school- room would be needed, a neat and commodious chapel, ca- pable of seating between four and five hundred, was erected on Bennington street, on land generously leased, free of ex- pense, by the East Boston Company, and all expenses had been paid by friends of the enterprise. The city authorities had kindly permitted them to worship in the school-house till the chapel was completed, and also generously gave a bell, which is of great value, not only to those who worship in the chapel, but in case of fire, to all residing in that community.


As the church was designed for a union chapel, and free for all who should be disposed to worship there, it was deeded to nine trustees connected with the Orthodox Congregationalist, Baptist, and Methodist Episcopal churches in East Boston, namely, Messrs. Joseph Robbins, John Atkins, Nichols Litch- field, Richard Beeching, James M. Reed, Joseph Garrett, Joseph J. Bragdon, Horace Richardson, Thomas Boswell, and their successors. On the 17th of November, 1852, the chapel was dedicated, on which occasion it was densely filled with an interesting and attentive congregation. Rev. R. W. Clark of the Maverick church (Orthodox), Rev. J. N. Sykes of the Win- throp (now Central square) church (Baptist), Rev. C. S. Mac- reading of the Meridian street church (Methodist Episcopal) ; and Rev. N. G. Allen, of St. John's church (Episcopal), took part in the dedicatory services.


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Rev. Mr. Deering continued to preach on the Sabbath till the spring of 1854; but it became evident that the interests of the enterprise required the labors of a clergyman to attend also to pastoral duties. It was also just as evident, that the congrega- tion were unable to support a minister.


In this time of need, in March, 1854, the board of the " Bos- ton City Missionary Society," in view of the importance of that field of labor, voted "to employ at the usual salary, a clerical missionary to preach in the chapel on the Sabbath, and to perform the ordinary missionary labor on other days, he re- ceiving from other parties any such additional compensation as they might contribute." In connection with this liberal and catholic proposition, the " Young Ladies' Colporteur Society," and the "Juvenile Missionary Society," both connected with the Maverick church, agreed to contribute $100 each toward the support of preaching, which sum they have paid annually up to the present time. Other friends of different denominations have, in a variety of ways, afforded important assistance.




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