History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 19

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 19

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April 16, 1883, the church and society voted to give Rev. W. P. Chipman, of Davisville, R. I., a call, which was accepted. In January, 1885, Mr. Chip- man was compelled to resign owing to illness in his family, which made his removal from the town necessary.

March 9, 1885, the church and society voted to call Rev. J. N. Shipman, of Moosup, Conn , to the pastorate. The call was accepted, and Mr. Shipman is now acting in that office.

In the fall of 1887, repairs and improvements were begun in the building, which will greatly improve the beauty and convenience of the house.

ROCKVILLE CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY AND WEST CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY .- For many years the people of the South Church carried on Sunday-school and prayer-meeting services in Rockville or South Peabody. Some of the meetings were held as early as 1832.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Mr. Caleb Frost was superintendent of this early Sunday-school, which was held in a chapel built by Mr. Elijah Upton, standing on Needham's corner, opposite Samuel Brown's estate. In 1854 Sabbath- school was again hell by members of the South Church in an old house owned by Mr. John Marsh. A prayer-meeting was sustained for many years at pri vate houses by Deacon Richard Smith, Mr. John Stevens and Mr. Isaac Hardy. Deacon Jacob Perley was also interested in these carly meeting -.

The South Street Methodist Episcopal Church of Lynn had conducted such services in Rockville as early as 1830, but they were not regularly carried on after 1840, when a regular preacher was sent by the Methodist Conference to the central part of the town, and the Methodists worshipped there.

In 1855 a substantial chapel was built by friends of the movement, on Lynnfield Street. Services were held here in which members of the South Church as- sisted, acting as teachers in the Sunday-school, and assuming the financial responsibility of the enter- prise. The ministers of the various Congregational Societies of the vicinity conducted preaching services from time to time, and by degrees the people of the vicinity were interested in the movement, and lent their support to the extent of their ability.

A mission Sunday-school and prayer-meeting had been carried on for some years in West Peabody, where there was a small manufacturing settlement. It was decided to unite the new two enterprises, and in 1×73 Rev. W. A. Lamb, a recent graduate of Andover Seminary, was engaged as pastor of both the South and West Peabody Churches. At this time there was neither Society nor Church organization-simply Sunday-school, prayer-meetings and preaching ser . vices. The two congregations agreed each to give a definite part of the pastor's salary.

The ministry of Mr. Lamb extended from July 1873 to July, 1875. On April 14, 1874, the Rockville Church was organized. A very powerful revival had attended the efforts of Mr. Lamb, and great interest was felt in the new church. A number of members of the South Church, some of them residents of South Prabody, and some from the central part of the town, were so greatly interested that they joined the new organization to aid in its support and management. In all thirty-nine members were received into the new church. At the time the church was recognized, Mr. Lamb was ordained as evangelist. Prof. John L. Taylor was the moderator of the council and Rev. Joshua t'oit serine.

Rev. C. C. Carpenter, of Andover, succeeded Mr. Lamb. His ministry extended from July 1, 1875, to July 1, Isso five years. His was a quiet, earnest, sue- cessful ministry. The church in South Peabody grew and became stronger ; and during the last year of his ministry a new site was acquired for a larger and more commodious church buikling. The old chapel was removed to the new site, and remained

there until the present church edifice was erected in its place.

For several months the church was without a pas- tor; on February 1, 1881, Rev. John W. Colwell be- gan his ministry.

July 6, 1881, the Rockville Congregational Society in Peabody, was duly organized. The site for the new church was in the hands of trustees, who were authorized to convey the property to the Society on certain terms, which was done, and the Society, with the assistance of many outside friends, built the present church edifice.

In February, 1882, a building committee was ap- pointed, whose efforts in obtaining funds were so far successful that the old chapel was removed and build- ing operations begun in the fall. In the spring of 1883 the edifice was completed with the exception of the auditorium, and the Society which had been worshipping in the school-house opposite, began ser- vices in the new vestry. By continued effort, funds were secured to finish the auditorium, and the church was dedicated May 22, 1884; Rev. W. G. Sperry, then of the South Church, preached the dedicatory ser- mon, and Rev. C. C. Carpenter took part in the ser- vices.

The church edifice is 40 x 50 feet, with a pulpit recess 4x13 feet. The tower is 15 feet square and rises 75 feet above the underpinning.

The cost of the building, finishing and furnishing of the house was about $7, 100. Great interest was taken, both by the church in South Peabody and the parent church, in securing the amount; subscriptions were received from above three hundred persons. One thousand dollars were contributed in sums of ten dollars and less. About two thousand seven hundred dollars were secured in South Peabody, and the South Church people gave about two thousand seven hun- dred and fifty dollars ; of the remainder, five hundred dollars came from the American Congregational Union, and the rest from outside friends. The So- ciety is nearly or quite self-supporting, and is the cen- tre of active Christian work.

At West Peabody the West Congregational Church was duly organized as a branch of the Rockville Church, September 6, 1883, with fifteen members. Rev. C. B. Rice, of Danvers, was moderator of the council, and Rev. H. L. Brickett, of Lynnfield, seribe. The church has the same articles of faith and coven- ant as the Rockville Church, and the same pastor, but it chooses its own standing committee and makes its own by-laws and controls its own membership.

The West Congregational Society in Peabody was incorporated October 26, 1885, and on December 11 the new chapel was dedicated free of debt at a cost of one thousand four hundred and sixty dollars. The large and beautiful lot of half an acre was given to Mr. Joseph Henderson, of Salem, formerly a resident of West Peabody. The churches in the Essex South Conference (Congregational), and the American Con-

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gregational Union assisted the people in building the chapel, and outside friends contributed generously. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. C. B. Rice, of Danvers.

The two societies act in conjunction ; they meet yearly and decide upon the proportionate part which each shall pay toward the pastor's salary. In matters of common interest, such as the calling or dismissal of a pastor, a joint vote is taken.

June 5, 1887, Rev. Mr. Colwell terminated his pas- torate, going to Barrington, R. I. Great progress was made during his active and efficient labors in South and West Peabody, and his enterprise and energy did much to encourage the people of his double flock to the efforts which have been so successful in building up these churches upon a secure foundation. The membership of the Rockville Church is sixty-eight, and that of the West Church twenty-four.

On November 9, 1887, Rev. Israel Ainsworth was installed as pastor of the Rockville Congregational Church, and the West Congregational Church, the relation between the two societies remaining as has been explained before.

Many devoted men and women of the South Church labored earnestly in the early days of these churches, whose names will long be remembered by the people whom they strove to assist, but of whom the limits of this sketch do not give room for adequate mention.

In 1860 Mr. Elijah W. Upton placed in the hands of the officers of the South Society four hundred dol- lars, which he had been requested by his father, Eli- jah Upton, to contribute to the Rockville mission ; and that sum is still held in trust for the benefit of the society in Rockville.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH (ROMAN CATHOLIC) .- Before 1850 there were very few Catholics in the town, and until 1871 the Catholics of South Danvers and Pea- body worshipped at St. James' Church, on Federal Street, Salem.

In 1868 Rev. John J. Gray, the pastor of St. James' Church, formed the idea of establishing a new parish in Peabody. In May, 1870, a fair was held in Me- chanic Hall, Salem, to aid in establishing the new parish, which continued for two weeks, and was very successful, over seven thousand dollars being realized. Sufficient money having thus been obtained to begin the work, a lot of land, formerly used for manufac- turing purposes, was purchased of Thomas E. Procter for ten thousand dollars, and in May, 1871, a con- tract was made for building the new church, which is of brick, with granite trimmings, and is about sev- enty- two feet wide by one hundred and forty-six long, with a tower. It is the largest and most expensive church edifice in the town.

in procession with their distinctive badges. Bishop Williams, of Boston, officiated, and Rev. I. T. Hecker, of New York, preached an able sermon in relation to the progress of the Catholic Church in America.

On Christmas day, December 25, 1871, services were first held in the basement of the church, although the building was in a rough and unfinished condition. Rev. Father Gray celebrated mass, and preached an interesting sermon, in which he con- gratulated the congregation and the Catholics of Pea- body on being able to worship for the first time in this town in an edifice worthy of their efforts, and one on which was raised the emblem of their religion. A large congregation attended, although there were no pews for their accommodation, and the weather being very cold, it was impossible to warm the place.

The church was not opened again for public wor- ship until September, 1872, when the basement was entirely finished and over two hundred pews put in. After that time services were regularly held every Sunday by one of the St. James' clergymen, until 1874, when Rev. M. J. Masterson became the pastor.

The building was finished and dedicated with im- pressive ceremonies November 30, 1879. The large auditorium presents a fine interior, with its lofty ceil- ing, beautifully frescoed walls and fifteen mullioned windows of stained glass, most of them being me- morial windows contributed by individuals or so- cieties. There are fourteen large paintings between the windows, representing the stations of the cross. The altars, of white marble, are richly furnished. The large auditorium seats twelve hundred persons.

The whole cost of the edifice was about one hun- dred thousand dollars. The architect was James Murphy, of Providence. The assistants at present are Rev. Patrick Masterson and Rev. Vincent Borgialli.

ST. PAUL'S MISSION (EPISCOPAL) .- The first ser- vice of this mission was on Sunday, April 2, 1874, the first Sunday after Easter. At this service morning prayer was read by Mr. Edgar W. Upton, and the chants and hymns were sung by a choir of boys, who had been trained by Mrs. Edgar W. Upton. There has been no interruption in the Sunday services since that time.

At first the Rev. John W. Leek, rector of St. Michael's, Marblehead, Rev. E. M. Gushee, of St. Pe- ter's, Salem, and Rev. Mr. Magill, of Calvary, Dan- vers, had joint charge of the mission, and took turns in preaching on Sunday evenings. The mission was brought to the attention of the diocesan convention in May, 1874, and considerable coll water was thrown upon it. It was ably defended by its three reverend sponsors, and was adopted by the Mission- ary Board, who granted it some money for a mis- sionary.

In the summer of 1874 Allen's Hall was hired by the mission, and fitted up by the help of friends in neighboring parishes. Rev. Mr. Magill was put in

The laying of the corner-stone took place on Sun- day afternoon, August 20, 1871, and an immense crowd assembled to witness the ceremonies. All the Catholic societies of Salem were present, and marched charge of the work, which charge he kept till August,

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

1875, when the present missionary, the Rev. George Walker, took the cure of Peabody, in addition to that of a new mission in Wakefield.

Ground was broken for the church on Lowell Street on January 1, 1876. It is worthy of note that there was no frost in the ground then. The first ser- vice in the new church was held on Quinqnagesima Sunday, the 27th of February following. The church building has been added to from time to time as the needs of the mission grew. In 1880 a vestry was built. Inadvertently the east wall of this addition was built several inches over the line of the next estate. In 1885 this mistake was mended by putting the wall where it belonged, after trying in vain to hire or buy the land so unfortunately covered. In 1886 the root of the north end of the church was re- placed with a gable end, and the door moved from the west side to the end of the church, thus adding about thirty seats to the church, which now will seat about one hundred and fitty persons. The seats were rebuilt at the same time.

The congregation from a beginning of twenty has grown to a membership of over two hundred souls, and an average attendance of over one hundred every Sunday. The Sunday-school has grown from ten to seventy, with an average attendance of more than fifty. A boy choir has been maintained almost with- out any break, from the first service. In 1878 the boys were vested in Cassock and Surplice.

Services are held every Sunday. The Holy Com- munion is celebrated every other Sunday, alternating between an early celebration and one after morning prayer. As the mission is now joined with Danvers in the cure of Rev. Mr. Walker, it has to share his time with the Danvers Church, so that every alter- nate Sunday there has to be a lay service in the morning. This duty has fallen chicfly upon Mr. Up- ton, though not infrequently Mr. George R. Curwen, of Salem, has performed it.

In 1879, the Rev. Amos Ross, a deacon of the church and a full blooded Santee Indian, was in the family of the missionary several months. The ac- quaintance thus begun has been kept up, and every year since, a missionary box has been sent to Mr. Ross and his people.

INSTITUTIONS AND SOCIETIES.

THE PEABODY INSTITUTE. - Mention has been made in another part of this sketch of the circum- stances under which Mr. Peabody's original gift of twenty thousand dollars was announced, and the communication which necompanied the gift, on the 16th of June, 1852. On June 28, 1852, a town-meet- ing was held at which resolves prepared and sub- mitted by Dr. Andrew Nichols were unanimously adopted, accepting the gift and pledging the town to the conditions imposed by the donor. It was voted " That the institution established by this donation be called und known as the PEABODY INSTITUTE, and

that this name be inseribed, in legible characters, upon the front of the building to be erected, that, in future years, our children may be reminded of their father's benefactor, and that strangers may read the name of him whom Danvers will always be prond to claim as her son."

It was also determined that two of the "Committee of Trustees " should be elected each successive year for a term of six years, and "That the aforesaid Com- mittee of Trustees appoint annually, from the citizens of the town at large, another Committee, who shall select books for the library, designate the subjects for lectures, procure lecturers, enact rules and regula- tions, both in regard to the lectures and the library, and perform all such other duties as the Committee shall assign to them."

The proceedings of the town relative to the gift were transmitted to Mr. Peabody, and received his approval. The scheme thus determined became, therefore, what may be called the charter of the In- stitute, and constituted as the officers of the institute, a board of trustees chosen by the town in whom are vested the funds and other property, for the purpose of maintaining a lyceum and library ; and another board, chosen annually by the trustees, called the lycenm and library committee, whose duties are to superintend and direct all its active operations.

Soon after the first, Mr. Peabody gave to the trus- tees a further donation of ten thousand dollars, stipn- lating that seventeen thousand dollars should be used for land and building, ten thousand dollars as a per- manent fund, and three thousand dollars for the library.

The westerly part of the Wallis estate was por- chased for the Institute, and afterward considerable additions were made to the land, Mr. Peabody giving fifteen thousand dollars additional to purchase and improve the land. lle also during his visit to this country in 1856, paid one thousand five hundred dol- lars for other improvements to the land, and one thousand one hundred dollars for liquidating all liabilities against the Institute on account of the building.

The original building was about eighty-two by fifty feet, of brick and treestone, with a library room and committee rooms on the lower floor, and a lecture hall above. It cost fifteen thousand three hundred dollars. The corner-stone was laid, with appropriate ceremonies, August 20, 1853; as Capt. Sylvester Proctor had deceased, Hon. Abbott Lawrence per- formed the part assigned to him. The building was finished in the course of the following year, and dedicated to its future uses September 29, 1854. Rufus Choate, who always maintained a warm inter- est in the place where the early years of his profes- sional life had been spent, delivered the address at the dedication, one of the most eloquent and thought- ful of his occasional addresses, containing many brilliant and impressive passages on the valne of

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reading and the function of a public library and lyce- nm.

The library was opened on October 18, 1854, for the delivery of books on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and evenings. There were then about one thousand five hundred volumes on the shelves.

In December, 1854, a donation of books was re- ceived from Mr. Peabody, containing about two thousand five hundred volumes, selected by Mr. Henry Stevens, agent of the Smithsonian Institution.

Subsequent additions to the library by purchase and gift brought the number of volumes in 1856, at the time of Mr. Peabody's visit to the town, to ahove five thousand three hundred, including two hundred and fifty volumes received from the Danvers Me- chanic Institute, an association that had existed in the town since 1841. The town also contributed one hundred 'and ten volumes to the library, and many of the citizens gave books from their own li- braries.

The first course of lectures began November 29, 1854. Among the lecturers for the first season were George S. Hillard, Theodore Parker, E. P. Whipple, Prof. R. D. Hitchcock, Ralph Waldo Emerson, A. A. Miner, T. Starr King, Josiah Quincy and Richard H. Dana. Truly a brilliant group of names! Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes lectured during the second season.

The one to whom the managers of the Institute naturally turned in seeking a librarian was Fitch Poole, whose literary abilities were highly esteemed by his townsmen. He was elected to the position January 3, 1854, but being theu engaged in business, found it necessary to resign the position, which he did September 27 of the same year. His successor was Mr. Eugene B. Hinckley, then principal of the Peabody High School, who gave much time to his duties, and rendered valuable service during the early days of the library, when its valuable collections were just begun. Upon the resignation of Mr. Hinckley Mr. Poole was again elected, May 17, 1856, and continued to hold the office until his death, in 1873. He was a most courteous and efficient officer, and his kindness to students, and readiness to assist all in the selection of books, with his genial personal qualities, made him the friend of every borrower of books.

Mr. Peabody had, from the beginning of the ac- tive work of the Institute, set aside a fund in his own hands, amounting to twenty thousand dollars, of which he gave the trustees the income in addition to the income from the invested funds of the Institute. In 1866, while on a visit to this country, he gave an- other donation of one hundred thousand dollars to the Institute, at the same time making provision for the establishment of an entirely distinct branch li- brary in Danvers. The year before he had sent to the two libraries a large number of volumes of books purchased by him in London, from which the South

Danvers library received about three thousand five hundred volumes. October 6, 1867, shortly before his return to England, he made a final donation to the Institute of fifty thousand dollars, making the total of his gifts to the Peabody Institute of South Danvers, or Peabody, upward of two hundred thou- sand dollars. An extensive addition was made to the building in 1867 and 1868, including an enlarge- ment of the library room by an extension of forty- six feet in the rear of the building, the erection of a tower on the western side and the addition of a porti- co on the front of the building. The entire cost of these changes was abont forty-five thousand dollars. The whole value of the invested permanent funds of the Institute after Mr. Peabody's last donation, in- cluding the real estate, from which an income is de- rived by its occupation for dwelling-houses, was one hundred and thirty thonsand three hundred dollars.

In accordance with a wise plan approved by Mr. Peabody, twenty thousand dollars of this fund was set apart in 1870 as a reserve fund, the interest of which was to accumulate for the purpose of meeting any unusual necessity, such as the erection of new buildings or the making of permanent additions to the Institute, or the arising of some great emergency. This fund has now increased to more than forty-three thousand dollars. In 1885, it was decided by the trustees that the great decrease of income consequent on lower rates of interest obtainable was an emer- gency calling for a use of the income of this fund, and that the maintenance of the active usefulness of the Institute was of greater importance than the rapid accumulation of the reserve fund, particularly as it does not appear likely that any new buildings will be needed for many years; and a part of the income of the reserved fund is accordingly used for current expenses, a considerable sum being still added to the principal every year. The general funds of the Institute, exclusive of the land and building of the Institute, the library, curiosities and cabinets of valuables, and not including the re- served fund or the Eben Dale Sutton Library Fund, amount to about one hundred and twenty-two thou- sand dollars.

After the decease of Fitch Poole, Theodore M. Osborne was appointed librarian of the Peabody In- stitute in September, 1873. He resigned the position in 1880, leaving in October, and was succeeded by Mr. J. Warren Upton, the present librarian, whose long service on the Lyceum and Library Com- mittee had made him thoroughly acquainted with the needs of the library, and whose systematic meth- ods and unwearied industry in improving the re- sources of the library and promoting the cultivation of the best reading in the community render him a most efficient and valuable officer. A thorough and exact system of cataloguing is constantly kept up to date, and great care is taken to furnish the public with accurate lists of books.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

When the Institute building was first thrown open, Mr. John H. Teague was the janitor, and he con- tinued to occupy the position until his death in 1880. He became identified with the institution, and his marked characteristics made him a well- known and prominent figure in the administration of its affairs. His sphere was not solely a humble one, for as was remarked by the Chairman of the Lyceum and Library Committee, for a large part of the time he was the only representative of the government of the Institute on the ground to receive the throngs of visitors who were drawn to the Institute by the fame of its founder. Ilis urbanity and native politeness, and the remarkable memory, shrewd wit and knowl- edge of human nature which he often displayed made him a most attractive figure to all with whom he came in contact. He maintained a watchful care over all the interests of the Institute, and with ad- mirable discretion contrived to keep each department informed of any necessity for aetion or improvement. In the exercise ot bis fuvetions he became the friend of all who desired to use rightly the advantages of the institution which he loved so well. He was suc- ceeded for a short time by Mr. I. A. Drowne, and then by Mr. John D. McKeen, the present efficient janitor.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 19

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