History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 148

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 148

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There are three ponds in the town of sufficient ex- tent to attract attention. Foster's Pond, on the southern border of the town, named from a former proprietor of the surrounding land, contains fifty acres, the waters of which, when allowed by the mill- owners, find their way to the Shawshin River, a little above Ballard Vale. Pomp's Pond, named after a negro, who for many years lived in a hut built upon its banks, contains a little more than seven acres. It is situated about half a mile west of the seminary, near the Shawshin, into which it empties. Formerly, when partially surrounded by a heavily-timbered pine forest, this small pond was a favorite place of resort for the pupils of the schools and others, who enjoyed a stroll or a lounge upon ground carpeted by the needles of the pine, and shaded by its swaying, musi- cal branches, in sight of rippling, cooling water. But, since the hills have been denuded of their magnifi- cent trees, and the pond has been thus laid bare to the full gaze of the sun, its loneliness and charm have measurably departed.

Hagget's is the third pond, and far the most im- portant of the three. Its name is derived from that of a family that formerly owned a farm skirting its banks. It is situated in the westerly part of the West Parish, a little less than three miles from the centre of the town. Its superficial dimensions are two hun- dren and twenty aeres. Its outlet is into the Merri- mac River. This pond, or lake, as it would be called in any other country, is a charming sheet of water, crys- tal-clear and sparkling, with shores like ocean beaches for shimmering brightness and inviting cleanliness, with wooded islands dotted here and there upon its rip- pling bosom, almost surrounded and enfolded by forests, with pine-covered hills rising up from its shores. In England this lake would rank with Windermere and the Rydal Lakes. It much resembles Loch Katrine, in Scotland, made memorable by the genius of Walter Scott, in his delightful poem, "The Lady of the Lake." Here we have the counterpart of Ellen's Isle (only much more beautiful) of the Scotch lake, described by the poet, lying at about the same dis- tance from the pebbly shore, wooded and bewitching in its silvery setting.

1592

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

An observer upon the neighboring hill-Wood's Ilill, an unpoctic name-might recall these lines of the Scotch poet,-

" An alry point he won, Where, gleaming with the setting sun, One burntsh'd sheet of living guild, Loch Katrine lay-beneath him roll'd- In all her length far-winding luy, With promontory, creek and bay, And islands that, empurpled bright, Floated ami l the liveher light, And mountains that like giants stand To sentinel enchanted land."

If viewed on a summer's morn, these lines might come to mind, --

" The muinmer dawn's reflected bue To purple changed Loch Katrine blue ; Mildly and soft the western breeze Just kiss'd the lake, just stirr'd the trees, And the pleased lako, like maiden coy, Trembled but dimpled not for joy , The mountain shadows on her breast Were neither broken nor at rest ; In bright uncertainty they lie, Like future joye to Fancy's eye."

To those who enjoy drives in the country there are few places more inviting than Andover. The roads are numerous and good. One can leave the central part of the town for six successive days in the week, returning to nearly his starting point, without pass- ing over many rods of road twice. The winding and woody by-paths are especially attractive. Following them, you are led over sightly hills and through som- bre dells, coming unexpectedly upon some delightful view or inviting nook, continually meeting with sur- prises, thus stimulating a free play of the fancy.

Those who have spent their youth, or have passed their academic days here, keep in memory the bean- ties of the place, and often recur to them with pleasure.

Dr. William Adams, a native of the town, trained in her schools, on returning here after a long absence, to attend the jubilee exercises of the semi-centennial of the Theological Seminary, in an address to his f'el- low-alumni of the institution, having referred to the changes that had taken place in men and things since the time of their leaving the seminary, uses these felicitous words :

" But he thing, Ints sure, 18 here unchanged and unsurpassed-the m ttli % of the anmiser atl the antun ann behind yonder mountains. I have bes Ing on the far famel sunset- of Italy, and my sober convic- to , that i ser w there a display of the Menutive and glories of the frimio ith of Fughi le nt D'an that which is often furnished, from Un ve) og 1 1 th s. who are hồo m timing for the Christian minis- Vy , nif to ti in 10. . Apte, at Patmos, a door were opened into Fin bonnes. aferyerof absence, I quinot rid myself of the 01 4, 05 1 ury of twilight inusings-that the w 10} } v for the mansi ns of the blessed is ates ff pearland the stones of

140 the western sky, which - ry in The light of the setting . .

CHAPTER CXXXVI.

ANDOVER-(Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL.

SOUTH PARISH .- Andover, as originally incorpor- ated, embraced the present town, North Andover and all of Lawrence lying south of the Merrimac River. The first settlement, as has been previously stated, was at what is now the old centre of North Andover. Here was the house of worship, the home of the ininister, the place for the transaction of public busi- ness, the residence of the principal men of the town.

But, in the course of half a century, a change took place. Thus, when, in 1707, it became necessary to provide a new meeting-house, it was found, on a test vote as to the location of this new house, that a majority of the voters, and hence of the inhabitants, resided in the southerly and westerly sections of the township. This majority insisted that the new meet- ing-house should be built much nearer their residences, and hence some distance from the old site. An irreconcilable division took place on this question. The matter was carried to the General Court, resulting finally in a division of the town into two precincts or parishes, by order and under the super- vision of the court. This was the beginning, ecclesi- astically, of Andover as it now is. Hence, in considering the ecclesiastical affairs of the town, no mention will bere be made of the ministers, meeting- houses or other parish matters previous to 1707. This will be conceded to the able historian of North Andover.

The South Parish, having been legally constituted, held its first legal meeting for business purposes on the 20th of June, 1709. The first business of the meeting was "to see whether we can agree where to set our new Meeting-Ilouse." After some delay an agreement was finally made to set the meeting- house "at ye Rock on the west side of Roger Brook," near the present site of the Centre Primary School-house. The house was built and occupied for the first time in January, 1710; £108 was raised to meet its cost. "Young men and maids had liberty to build seats round in the galleries on their own charge."

A minister for the new parish and meeting-house was at once sought. Mr. Samuel Phillips, a graduate of Harvard College, not yet twenty-one years of age, was invited to preach as a candidate for settlement. lle commenced his novitiate on April 30, 1710. After a six months' trial, the parish, on November 2d, voted "clearly in ye affirmative " on the question of his "continuance" with them. Less than six weeks later, December 12th, the parish " unanimous- ly " requested him to become their "settled minister." Hesitating, on account of his extreme yonth, to assume at once so grave a responsibility, he continued

J. Phillips

1593

ANDOVER.

his ministerial services, without ordination, till Oeto- ber 17th of the following year. On that day he was ordained and indueted by an ecclesiastical council into the office of pastor and teacher of the Sonth Parish and Church in Andover. On the same day, and by the same council, the church was organized and recognized.

The church was composed of thirty-five members, fourteen males and twenty-one females, viz. :

Abbot, George.

Abbot, Dorcas (w. Geo.).

Abbot, John.

Abbot, Sarah (w. John).

Abbot, Sarah (w. Benj).

Johnson, William.

Abbot, Nehemiah.

Abbot, Abigail (w. Dea. Neh).

Julinsoo, John. Johnson, Mary (w. John).

Ballard, Rebecca (w. John).

Lovejoy, William.

Ballard, llanoah (w. Wm).

Lovejoy, Mary (w. Wm).

Bigsby, Hannah (w. Dan'l).

Lovejoy, Mary ( w. Eben).

Blanchard, Ande (w. Jona). Chandler, William.

Osgood, Christopher. Phillips, Sammel.

Chaodler, Sarah (w. Wm).

Preston, Sarah (w. John).

Chandler, Thomas.

Russ, Joho.

Chandler, Mary (w. Thos).

Russ, Dehorah (w. John).

Dane, Francis.

Russell, Mary (w. Rubt).

Dane, Hannah (w. Francis). Farnum, Ralph.

Russell, Phebe (w. Thos).

The first deacons of the new church were John Abbot and William Lovejoy. The ministry, thus begun, continued for nearly sixty years after his ordi- nation, terminating only with the life of the pastor, in the eighty-second year of his age.

As the number of worshippers increased, the meet- ing-house failed to furnish them suitable accommo- dation, and in 1733-34 a new house was erected, "after the same form and fashion as the okl," only larger, being " thirty feet between plate and sill, and forty-four feet wide, and fifty-six feet in length." This was opened for public service on May 19, 1734. The " seating " of this house, as in all similar cases in the churches of New England of that day, was a very difficult and delicate task. After many plans had been suggested and rejected, it was finally settled that a committee should be appointed to "dignify seats and pews," and another committee should allot the seats and pews according to "their judgment, having respect to money and age." This plan lasted for twenty-three years, and was then abandoned for other and varied methods. In a letter from llon. Josiah Quincy to Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, we have a description of this house as it appeared to him, then a pupil in Phillips Academy :

anun, in the midst of the sermon, to the awakening and alarm of the whole congregation, he would, with the whole force of his arm, bring down with a ringing slap on the front of the gallery, shaking it, at the same time, with a terrific menace, at two or three frightened urchins who were whispering or playing in a corner. In a square box in front of the pulpit sat the Deacons, one of whom had pen, ink and paper, und was carefully taking the heads of the preacher's discourse, preparing documentary evidence, either that the sermon was old, or its doctrines new, or consonant with the orthodox platform. In the front gallery sat l'recenter Ames, or Eames, with a pitch-pipe, the token of his au- thority, with which, as soon as the first line of the Psalm was read, he gave the note to the choir of both sexes, -twenty or thirty of each, -fol- lowing the Deacoo, reading line by line, in an ecstasy of harmony which oone but the lovers of music realize. And the mighty congregation seemed to realize their felicity, for they joined the choir with a will, realizing or exemplifying the happiness of which they sung. Upon the whole, it was an exciting scene, elevating aod solemnizing the tuind, hy the multitude that took part in it.

"The windows of the vast building were of diamond shaped glass- panes, of rhomboid form, in length about three or four inches, in breadth perhaps two or three. Opening like doors outward, these windows were loose and shackling. In the winter, when the north wind shook tho vast building with unmistakable power, their rattling was often a match, and sometimes an over match, for the voice of the clergyman, while the pions females in the pews, sitting, for the most part, on hard benches, with small muffs, and their feet unly comforted with small stoves, or stockings over sboes, or heated bricks, hud munch ado through their suf- ferings to keep their attention fixed, or the text in memory, and regis- ter the infinitesimal heads into which it was divided."

Rev. Mr. Phillips died June 5, 1771. In less than a year after, May 20, 1772, the church and parish united in giving Mr. Jonathan French a unanimous call to become their pastor. He accepted and was ordained September 23, 1772. Previous to the calling of Mr. French there had been considerable talk in the parish about building another meeting-house. There was now, as heretofore, great diversity of opinion as to the location of the new house. After much conflicting and dilatory action on the part of the parish, it was finally voted, in December, 1787, to go forward and build a new meeting-house according to a plan that had been submitted. This house was seventy feet in length and fifty-four feet in width, " with a porch at each end and one in front," and to stand within six or eight rods of the former house. The new building was completed and occupied De- cember 7, 1788.

Mr. French continued in the pastorate of the church and parish till his death, which took place July 28, 1809, embracing a period of thirty-six years and ten months-covering the time of the American Revolution, with all its attending and succeeding anxieties, privations, distresses and forebodings. It was a ministry of help, sympathy, consolation and cheer.

After the death of Rev. Mr. French the parish re- mained for more than three years without a settled pastor. This large parish had become somewhat fas- tidious and hard to please. The fact that a theologi- cal seminary had been located within its limits, with a corps of able and eloquent professors, who, with the students, belonged to the congregation of worshippers, may have had something to do with this difficulty in finding a man suitable for the place. After a number of ineffectual trials to unite upon a candidate, "the

" It was surrounded by horse-blocks innumerable with a dispropor- tionnte number of sheds; for the pillion was the ladies' traveling delight, and alone or in pairs, with their husbands or fathers, they seldom failed to come trooping to their devotions. The church itself was a shingled mass, lofty, and, I should think, containing twice the area of its successor. This, however, may be the exaggeration of my boyish fancy, but it had three lofty stories, with three galleries in the interior, always densely filled with apparently pions zeal and earnest listeners. In the left hand gallery sat the ladies, in the right the gen- tlemen, in the midst of whom and in front sut the tything-man, with his white pole three or four cubits in length, the emblem of his dignity aod power, and in his right hand a short hazel rod, which, ever and

100}

Faroum, Sarah (w. Ralph). Foster, William.

Holt, Hannah (w. Samnel). Johnson, Elizabeth (w. Jus).

1591

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

attention of the people was turned towards Mr. Justin Edwards, then a member of the middle class in the Theological Seminary." After some conference with Mr. Edwards on the part of the church committee, in which he expressed great hesitation as to assuming so grave a charge, the church and parish with a good degree of unanimity extended to him an invitation to settle with them in the gospel ministry. He was ordained and installed as pastor on the 2d day of December, 1812. The parish at this time included a large cirenit of territory and a large number of peo- ple. Their meeting-house was the only place of public worship in the precinct. The students and teachers of Phillips Academy and the students and professors of the Theological Seminary were stated attendants upon and active participants in its reli- gious services. The pulpit and pastoral labor of a minister of such a parish was necessarily exacting to both mind and body.

After four years of such labor, in 1816, a portion of the congregation was withdrawn by the formation of a church in connection with the Theological Sem- inary. Since this date the students, teachers and professors of the two institutions have worshipped in their own chapel.

The West Parish was also set off during the min- istry of Mr. Edwards, with the cheerful concurrence of those who remained in the old parish.

After an acceptable pastorate of fourteen years and ten months, Rev. Mr. Edwards was dismissed October 1, 1827.

But a brief interval elapsed before the church and parish unanimously invited Mr. Milton Badger to become their pastor.

He accepted and was ordained and installed Janu- ary 3, 1828. His ministry continued for seven years, and nine months, when he was dismissed to herome secretary of the American Home Missionary Society. During his comparatively brief ministry there were unusually large accessions to the church. It was a time of extensive revivals in the New Eng- land churches, the era of evangelists, and the South Parish shared liberally in the influences and bless- mesof the awakened interest in religious matters.

During his ministry radical changes were made in the arrangement of the meeting-house. The square pews of immemorial usage were taken out and long pews substituted ; the front porch was removed ; the pulpit transferred to the west end of the house, and the indleries changed to correspond with the other

It was dinther this annistry also that the Method- wod Baptists first held public worship in the Down IN Metodots drew off a few church bietolers, and a much larger number of tax payers, trout the part h. The Baptist Church, formed in 1882, while m ckler ne di de upon the church, took quite a numbers beoph trong the parish into its society.

Mr. I tenzo 1 Lovestruth, having received a

unanimous call from both church and parish, was or- dained and installed May 11, 1836. Being in feeble health, he was dismissed after a ministry of two years and ten months.

Mr. John L. Taylor succeeded Mr. Longstroth, being ordained and installed July 18, 1839. Ilis min- istry extended over thirteen years, when he was dis- missed to become the treasurer of Phillips Academy. On his leaving, the church put on record their belief that he had "performed the duties of his high office with great ability, fidelity and discretion." During this ministry the anti-slavery agitation was at its height, and the church suffered no little in its peace, and somewhat in its membership, from the activity of that wing of the Abolitionists styled " Come-Outers."

The day following the dismission of Rev. Mr. Taylor, the church and parish gave a call to Rev. Chas. Smith, which he accepted, and was installed as pastor October 28, 1852. After a ministry of one year and one month, against the wishes of the people, but for reasons satis- factory to himself and the council called to act upon his request for a dismission, he was dismissed to ae- cept the call of the Shawmut Church, Boston.

On the retirement of Mr. Mooar, who succeeded Mr. Smith, the latter was invited to resume the pas- torate of the South Church and Parish. This invita- tion he accepted, and was re-installed December 18, 1861. Hle was dismissed May, 1876, after a pastorate of fourteen years and five months. llis two pastorates together extended over fifteen years and six months, a longer period than that of any other pastor, with the exceptions of Mr. Phillips and Mr. French, the life-tenure pastors. The last ministry of Mr. Smith covered the years of the Civil War,-those years of anxiety, strife and anguish, when the people were called to give their beloved sons a sacrifice for the sin of the nation.

After the first resignation of Mr. Smith the parish was without a settled pastor for nearly two years, when an invitation was unanimously given to Mr. George Mooar, a native of the town, and a recent graduate of the Theological Seminary, to become the pastor. This invitation was accepted, and Mr. Mooar was ordained and installed October 10, 1855. After a pastorate of a little less than five years and six months, the health of his family and his own being somewhat impaired, Mr. Mooar asked a release from his pastorate to accept a charge in Oakland, Cali- fornia. His request being granted, he was dismissed March 27, 1861.

During the ministry of Rev. Mr. Mooar, and large- ly through his indefatigable exertions, the present house of worship was built. This house, while not the largest built on or near the spot it occupies, is by far the most commodious in its appointments and pleasing in its architectural proportions. The stee- ple, in its front view, is one of the most satisfying to the eye it has been the fortune of the writer to look upon. It has a seating capacity for nine hundred

1595

ANDOVER.

people, most ample for all the needs of the parish. As an auditorium, both for speaker and hearer, it is excelled by few buildings of its size.

The second pastorate of Mr. Smith was followed by that of Rev. James H. Laird, who was installed May 10, 1877. After faithfully serving the church and parish for six years, he was, at his own request, dismissed May II, 1883.

Mr. Laird was followed by Rev. John J. Blair, who was installed May 1, 1884, and is the present efficient and acceptable pastor of the church.

Pastors of the South Church .- REV. SAMUEL PHIL- LIPS, the first pastor of the church, was born in Sa- lem, February 17, 1690. He was the son of Samuel Phillips, goldsmith, and Mary Emerson, daughter of Rev. John Emerson, minister of Gloucester; grand- son of Rev. Samuel Phillips, minister of Rowley; great-grandson of Rev. George Phillips, the first min- ister of Watertown. The last named was a graduate of Caius College, Cambridge, England, and for his first pastorate was settled over a Church of England parish. Coming to entertain conscientious scruples regarding certain ecclesiastical usages of the Estab- lished Church, he left its service and joined the Non- conformists. By this change of ecclesiastical con- nection, his love for the work of the ministry, in- stead of diminishing, became more ardent. To gratify this holy passion, he joined a company of people entertaining like views with himself, for the purpose of emigrating to the New World. They soon embarked on the good ship " Arbella" for their chosen destination. In thisgracious company were in- cluded John Winthrop, Rev. John Wilson, Simon Bradstreet, one of the first settlers of Andover, and others of like character and faith. Soon after land- ing. Mr. Phillips, with a small company, pushed out into the wilderness and commenced a new settle- ment, now called Watertown. Here he established a church, and, after fourteen years of arduous and successful labor, died, greatly lamented by all the peo- ple of his parish, and of the colony as well. He is said to have been, from the first, a leader in the coun- cils of both the church and the colony. By his self- denying, painstaking devotion to the interests of the people, by his simple-hearted fidelity to that which is true and good in faith and life, he so greatiy en- deared himself to his people that, at his death, in the vigor of his manhood, they took upon themselves, in their poverty, the charges for the liberal education of his eldest son, Samnel, who in time became the hon- ored minister of Rowley. This son was the grand- father of the Rev. Samuel Phillips, minister of the South Parish, Andover.

It way with the prestige of such an ancestry, dis- tinguished alike for their piety and their learning, their conscientiousness and self-sacrifice, their faith in God and their service to men, that he modestly as- snmed the duties of his high office. His coming was an era in the history of the town. In him was held,

potentially, its future distinction and celebrity. The family of the worshipful Simon Bradstreet, which had been socially so pre-eminent, and so potent in all public affairs, had disappeared, leaving slight, if any, permanent traces of its dominant influence. A new name came to take its place, destined to impress its beneficent influence inetfaceably upon the institu- tions and character of the town. From the first Mr. Phillips secured a firm hold upon the esteem and af- fections of his people, which he retained to the end of his life. Soon after his settlement they describe him, in a petition to the General Court, as " a worthy, learned and pious minister." To this opinion they adhered, from father t› son, for three-score years.

The Rev. Abiel Abbot, in his brief but valuable "History of Andover," published in 1829, gives us the following sketch of Mr. Phillips :

" He was endued with good powers of mind, and was a diligent, faith- ful and useful minister. He carly acquired the habit of order, industry and economy in the management of all hisaffairs, by which he was en- abled to accomplish much and obtain his object. Though he sacredly devoted a tenth of his income to pions and charitable purposes, and his salary was small, yet be educated his family liberally, and accumulated a large estate, In his opinions he was a Calvinist of the old school. As a preacher, he was highly respectable, was zealous, and endeavored not only to indoctrinate his people in sentiments which ho deemed currect and important, but to lead them to the practice of all Christian duties, Being strongly attached to his views of Christianity, he exerted himself to defend aund propagate them, both by preaching and writing, and to guard his people against opinions contrary to them. His anxiety on this subject may be easily seen in some of his last publications. His labours in the pulpit were protracted beyond what is usual at the present day. His hour-glass was turned at the commencement of his sermon, and the last sands ran out before its conclusion. It was his practice to call at every house in his parish at least once in a year, and he of ten carried Madam with him in those parochial visits. They usually rode together on the same horso, according to the fashion of the times. He had much influence in persumling parents to attend to pa- rental duties and household worship The people, during his minis- try, were remarkably united, and his parish was free from sectaries. Though a man of considerable humour, yet there was an apparent sternness, which caused undne fear in many of his people, and espe- cially in the young. Mr. Phillips was highly respected by his brethren in the ministry, and was frequently invited to preach ou public occasione."

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 148

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1672

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672