History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 198

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 198

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Although Father Lennon had, considering the time of his pastorate and the slow growth, at first, of the number of Catholics, done excellent work, there still remained much to he attended to when Father Teeling, then a young man of twenty-seven, took the heavy burden on his shoulders in August, 1871. The church was still $9000 in debt, $4700 of which was a mortgage to the Institute for Savings, the remainder being due mostly to depositors and there was neither bell-deek, bell nor spire upon it. There was no burial-ground for deceased Catholies. There was no parochial residence; for the house on Court Street, which had been in Father Lennon's name, passed, as he had died intestate, to his sister, Miss Margaret Lennon; and, of all the land now covered with fine buildings used for religious purposes, there was none then owned by the Catholics of Newburyport except the lot on which the church stands.

A parochial residence being the most pressing ne- eessity, the one formerly used as such, together with its furniture, was purchased from Miss Lennon by Father Teeling, in the name of the archbishop, for the parishioners, for $5500, the payment of which sum was completed July 31, 1872.

Just prior to Father Teeling's coming, Father Hal- ley, the late Father Lennon's assistant, had suggested to the people the raising of a monument to the memory of their lamented pastor. The suggestion was most generously acted upon, the sum of $1825 subscribed, and one of Father Teeling's first acts was to see to the ereetion of a handsome monument, in front of the church in Green Street, over the remains.

As Father Teeling was for a year without an assist- ant, he soon found it difficult to attend to Ipswich ; so, after about six months, the church in that town was placed under the spiritual care of Rev. Thomas Shahan, then pastor of Beverly, now of Arlington.

After creeting the monument, the next step was to build a bell-deck and spire. Of this work, also, Mr. Keely was architect, the builder Mr. Wigglesworth, of Boston, and the cost was $5000. The bell, which cost $1000, came from the famous foundry of Mes-rs. Meneely & Co., of West Froy, and everything being

in readiness, it was baptized on Sunday, March 15, 1874. Catholics, of course, understand that this "baptism " and bestowal of a name on the bell is not the sacrament of Baptism, but a ceremony which out- wardly resembles it in so many respects that it cannot well be designated by any other word. The bell of which we speak was baptized St. Patrick, and the ceremony was performed by Archbishop Williams, attended by about thirty priests and eleven hundred sponsors. After the naming of the bell it is practically taught its mission by its "sponsors," that is, those who have contributed towards its purchase, who, all to- gether, or in the person of one of their number, cause it to send forth its first peal. This was done, on the present occasion, by Rev. Father Teeling at benedic- tion. The bell having been raised to its proper posi- tion, the next day, Monday, March 16th, its first service was to toll for that eminent statesman, Charles Sumner, during the time of his funeral services which took place that day. The day following being the feast of St. Patrick, the bell named in his honor, for the first time, called the people to divine service, and rang its most joyful peals afterwards as a grand pro- cession, consisting of all the Catholic and Irish societies in the city, accompanied by the city officials, passed through the principal streets in honor of the spread of Christianity by Ireland's great apostle.

On Father Teeling's appointment to Newburyport, one of the first injunctions placed upon him by Bishop (now Archbishop) Williams was, "Get a burial-place for your dead." In obedience to this, a piece of land, formerly the old training-ground for the militia of Newburyport and vicinity, was pur- chased from Mr. Jacob A. Balch April 30, 1874. Upon this stood the house and barn ever since used by the superintendent of the cemetery, and the en- tire property cost two thousand one hundred dollars. This cemetery, which is one of the finest in the conn- ty, was surveyed by Mr. John T. Desmond, the pres- ent eity surveyor of Haverhill; and is laid out in the form of a Celtic cross; the "priests' lot," which is surmounted by a handsome C'eltie eross of granite, forming the circle surrounding the junetion of the arms and upright. Within the confines of its twen- ty-three acres are fifteen hundred and thirteen well- defined burial-lots; the length of its avenues is a mile and a half, and of its paths two and two-thirds miles. In its present improved condition it cost ten thousand dollars. In the early summer of 1876 it was solemnly consecrated by Archbishop Williams, soon after which, the remains of nearly seven hun- dred persons were conveyed by their friends from various neighboring cemeteries, and there deposited. llandsome monuments were then erected, and ever since everything possible has been done to beautify it. With this intention Father Teeling, for the sum of three hundred dollars, had imported ten thousand seedlings of Norway spruce and four hundred of Scotch pine. An unused portion of the cemetery was

1799

NEWBURYPORT.

set apart as a nursery, and so well did it thrive that, with the young trees, the cemetery and all the church property grounds were decorated; the remainder was sold, and, as a result of the sale, the sum of seven hundred dollars was placed to the credit of the church.

The terrible disaster at Santiago, in which so many lives were lost by the burning of a church that had not adequate means of exit-all its doors opening in- ward-called the attention of the authorities to the subject, and led to the issuing of an order that all public buildings must have proper egress. In obe- dience to this order, the front of the church was altered; the two doors were enlarged and opened outward, and another one was added. Articles of agreement for these alterations were signed July 12, 1877, the architect being Mr. James Murphy, of Providence, the builder, Mr. Healey, representing Mr. Batterson, of Hartford, and the sum agreed upon was one thousand two hundred and seventy-five dol- lars. In order to make these improvements, and to put in front of the church the fine walk at present there, Father Lennon's monument and remains had to be removed to the cemetery. This was done after a Solemn High Mass of Requiem had been offered ; and once again the respect of his brother priests and of the community in general for Father Lennon was manifested. Thirty of the former and all the Cath- olie societies in the city accompanied the remains, and business was quite generally suspended. As the beautiful monument had already been put up, the burial immediately took place and the good priest was laid to rest surrounded in death by those to whom in life he had ministered.

The next want to be filled was a chapel for the meeting of Sunday-schools and various church socie- ties. For this purpose the First Christian Baptist Church-together with its organ and furniture-was purchased from Elder Pike for the sum of seven thousand two hundred dollars in July, 1873.

Soon after this, having in view the establishment of parochal schools at no distant day, the site of the " Female High School," at the corner of Washington and Court Streets, was purchased in August, 1873, for 84800 from Robert Couch.

Father Teeling having taken, during the summer and fall of 1878, a well-earned vacation, returned in November to his place, which had been filled during his absence by his assistant, now the pastor of the Church of our Lady of the Rosary, South Boston- Rev. John J. MeNulty, aided by Rev. James O'Reilly, now pastor at York, Pa. Reference to these reverend gentlemen recalls the fact that, after his first year here, Father Teeling received as assistant Rev. cation. The parsonage on Court Street and the in- Edward S. Galligan, who remained a year. After an interval of about another year a second assistant, Rev. John McNulty, whom we have already men- tioned, was sent to the parish, and remained there until August, 1879. Some time prior to that, how- ever, refreshed and strengthened by his trip, and with

faculties and judgment developed by his travels, Father Teeling set about another great work-the freeing of the church from the debts remaining upon it, and solemnly consecrating it to the divine service : something that cannot be done while there is a cent of debt upon it. The congregation, entering heartily into his great design, responded more generously than ever, and on the 24th of June, 1879, shared with their pastor the joy attendant on the fulfillment of their pious desires,-and the church was solemnly conse- crated. The celebrant on this occasion was Most Rev. Archbishop Williams, and the sermon was de- livered by Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Reilly, of Springfield. Archbishop Williams also presided at Vespers in the evening, and delivered an address of congratulation to the Catholics of Newburyport for the glorious work accomplished by them-freeing their church from debt, and being thus the first in the present archdiocese of Boston to solemnly consecrate a parish church to the service of God. Next after the congre- gation, its pastor and its assistant, the archbishop stated that he himself experienced the most heart- felt thrill of joy at the grand success.

After the departure of Father MeNulty, Rev. John T. Gormley succeeded, and remained nearly two years. Before his arrival, however, it became evi- dent that the energetic pastor did not yet consider his work complete. July 1, 1879, he bought from George J. L. Colby, Esq., his estate on Court Street, next to the parochial residence, for two thon- sand three hundred dollars ; and we learn from the Semi-weekly Germ, dated November 12, 1879, that " Father Teeling informed his congregation on Sun- day last that in a year from that time a Catholic school would be in the full tide of successful opera- tion in the Catholic square on the corner of Court and Washington streets, on the former site of the 'Female High School.'" From another Newbury- port paper, the Merrimac Valley Visitor, dated Decem- ber 20, 1879, we copy : "The plans for the Catholic school building have been completed by Rufus Sar- gent, and the contract for labor will be given out in January." Again, the same paper, bearing date Sep- tember 15, 1880, under the heading, "Something they may be proud of," reads as follows : "The Cath- olic Church is paying for their school-house as it is being built, and to this day have no debt upon it. It is the largest wooden building in the city, and will be an elegant structure, costing at least $40,000." [It cost thirty thousand dollars.] " If they can have it free from debt next September, it will be a monu- ment of their industry and devotion to religious edu-

fant schools at the north and south ends will also be completed next year. It is not probable that the Catholic Church will long confine Father Teeling's great executive ability to this parish. If he had a broad field in some Western State, he would make his mark upon the country."

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

For the first year the work went steadily on, but just as everything was most promising, in April, 1881, an event occurred which would have discour- aged a less determined and less generous people. This was the destruction by fire of the pastor's former residence, which, though old and dilapidated, would have been made to do duty until the other undertak- ings that had been commenced could have been com- pleted. Such was not to be, however, and once more the energy of pastor and people met the emergency, and immediate preparations were made for the erec- tion of the present pastoral residence, to which, in August, 1882, the people so gladly welcomed their priests after the latter had been obliged to live for nearly a year and a half at quite an inconvenient dis- tance from the church.

Notwithstanding the unfortunate event we have mentioned, such had been the progress that the Parochial IIall was ready and formally dedicated to religion, patriotism, poetry, music and good cheer on the natal anniversary of Ireland's great poet, Thomas Moore, May 28, 1881, when, at a social gath- ering there, his genius and patriotism were com- memorated.

September, 1881, the beautiful chapel was com- pleted and dedicated. Thenceforward work pro- gressed with no interruption until the completion of all,-school-house, convent and parochial residence. The latter, as we have said, was occupied in August, 1882. Its cost was seven thousand dollars. Nine Sisters of Charity came from Kentucky the following week, and took possession of the house prepared for them by removing the Colby estate to the northeast side of the Parochial Ilall, and there making such changes as were necessary to adapt it for a convent. The cost of this was four thousand dollars. The Sisters, who are known as Sisters of Charity of Naza- reth, belong to an order founded in Kentucky in the year 1812 by three pious and charitable women, under the inspiration and direction of Catherine Spalding, a near relative of the famous Archbishop Spalding, of Baltimore. This was the first colony of the order that came east of Kentucky ; but in the many cities of the West and South, where they have long had charge of schools, they have won an excel- lent reputation as teachers and disciplinarians. The schools opened under their charge Tuesday, Septem- ber 5th, after celebration of Mass by Archbishop Williams.

Meanwhile, Father Gormley had been succeeded by another assistant, Rev. William A. Ryan, who came to Newburyport in June, 1881. Still another became necessary the following Christmas, and the present able and zealous priest, Rev. Murtagh E. Twomey, having been just ordained after a col- legiate and seminary course, in which he achieved rare distinction, came to Newburyport. Ilis ser- vices have been particularly valuable in the schools, the highest grade of the boys' department

being ever since entirely under his care. A depres- sion in business, the closing of the Ocean Mill and consequent departure of some of the residents render- ing a retrenchment necessary, Rev. Father Ryau's services had to be reluctantly dispensed with, and another position at the Church of the Assumption, Brookline, was assigned him.

Owing to the unexpectedly large number of pupils that sought the instruction of the Sisters, the number of the latter had to be increased by three, and others have since been added, so that there are now eighteen, having over seven hundred children in charge. For the benefit of the younger children living at the two extreme ends of the city, two of the city school-houses, which had become vacant, were leased September 19, 1883, for ten years, for the sum of fifty dollars a year.

A few months after this, April 28, 1884, the school, convent and parochial house were, under the name of the Immaculate Conception Educational Association, incorporated according to the laws of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts; and August 2d of the same year, under the special act of the Legislature for Roman Catholic Churches, the church and cemetery were incorporated under title of the Im- maculate Conception Society of Newburyport.

In the early summer of 1886 the Wills estate, at the corner of Washington and Green Streets, having come into the market, it was deemed advisable to purchase it as a residence for the Sisters, whose num- ber had ontgrown the accommodations of the first convent provided for them. This purchase was made July 6, 1886, for the sum of eleven thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, and the Sisters, moved into their new home the next month. A portion of the first convent was then converted into school- rooms, the remainder into apartments for the meet- ing of a Literary and Musical Club connected with the church.

And thus have the Catholic religion and Catholic education progressed in Newburyport, until now their condition presents a most gratifying recompense to the people who have so earnestly and unselfishly worked for this advancement, and who now rejoice in beholling in them a strong bulwark against im- morality and infidelity.

There are two churches in Newburyport which were originally seceders from the First Church in New- bury,-the First Religious Society and the First Presbyterian Church.

THE FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY was organized in 1725, and settled Rev. John Lowell ( Harvard 1721) in 1726. In 1735 it was formally set off by an act of the General Court. Mr. Lowell continued in the pastorate until his death, in 1767, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Cary (Harvard 1761) in 1768. Mr. Cary served twenty years, when Rev. John Andrews (Harvard 1786) was settled as his colleague, and suc- ceeded him in the full pastorate on his death, which occurred November 24, 1808. Mr. Andrews continued

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NEWBURYPORT.

in the pastorate until 1830, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas B. Fox (Harvard 1828), whose followers have been Rev. Thomas W. Higginson ( Harvard 1841), Rev. Charles Bowen, Rev. A. B. Muzzey (Harvard 1824), Rev. George L. Stowell and Rev. D. W. More- house, who resigned in October, 1887. The first meeting-house of the society was in Market Square, and the present edifice on Pleasant Street was built in 1801.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH was formed out of the First Newbury Church, January 3, 1746. Nineteen members of that church had seeeded, and for two years had worshipped in a small building on what is now High street, with Joseph Adams, a grad- uate of Harvard in 1742, as its officiating clergyman. On the 19th of March, 1746, Rev. Jonathan Parsons was installed and has been followed by Rev. John Murray, Rev. Daniel Dana, D.D., Rev. S. P. Williams, John Proudfit, D.D., Jonathan F. Stearns ( Harvard 1830), A. S. Vermilye, R. H. Richardson, Charles F. Durfee William W. Newell, Jr. (Harvard 1859), and Rev. Charles C. Wallace. The meeting-house occupied by the society was built in 1756, and Whitefield was buried in a vault under its pulpit.

THE FOURTH RELIGIOUS SOCIETY was incorporated in 1794 and made up of seeeders from the First Pres- byterian, who were dissatisfied with Rev. John Mur- ray. They had built their present house of worship in 1793, and Rev. Charles W. Melton was installed March 20, 1794. Mr. Melton continued in the pas- torate until his death, March 31, 1837, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. Randolph Campbell in the same year whose assistant, I. 11. Ross, was settled in 1877, and Rev. P. S. Hurlbert. Their church edifice was remodeled in 1800.

THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH was organ- ized October 29, 1795, by seceders from the First Pres- by terian, who were dissatisfied with the settlement of Rev. Daniel Dana. The first pastor was Rev. John Boddely, of Bristol, England, who died November 4, 1802, and was succeeded by Rev. John Giles, also an Englishman, who resigned in 1823. Rev. Wm. Ford followed in 1824 and Rev. Daniel Dana in 1825. In 1845 Dr. Dana resigned, and in 1846 Rev. W. W. Eels was settled, followed by several others, of whom Rev. J. A. Bartlett was settled in 1877, and was sue- ceeded by the present pastor, Rev. Theodore Beigley.

THE NORTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH was formed in 1768 and incorporated as the "Third Religious So- ciety of Newburyport." Its first members were persons who left the First Church at the time of the settlement of Rev. Thomas Cary. The secession, which was due to the liberal sentiments of Mr. Cary and of those who supported him, was entirely harmo- nious, as is shown by the vote of the old church passed January 18, 1768, to divide the church plate and stock between the seceding and remaining brethren. Rev. Christopher Bridge Marsh ( Harvard 1761) was settled October 19, 1768, and was followed,

after an interval of four years from his death, which occurred December 3, 1773, by Rev. Samnel Spring, who was ordained in August, 1777. Dr. Spring died March 4, 1819, and was succeeded by Rev. Luther F. Dimmick, D.D., December 8th in 'the same year. Rev. E. C. Hooker succeeded December 11, 1860, who left at the end of four years and was succeeded by Rev. W. A. McGinly in 1865, by Rev. James Powell in 1869 and by Rev. Charles R. Seymour and Rev. Charles P. Mill -. The meeting-house of this society, built in 1769, was burned in 1861, and at once rebuilt on the old site.

THE BELLEVILLE CHURCH was incorporated in 1808 under the name of the " Fourth Religious Society " in Newbury, and was originally set off as a separate parish in 1761. At first this society occupied the okt Queen Anne's Chapel, and in 1763 built a place of worship of its own. Rev. Oliver Noble was settled in 1762 and served until 1784. After an interval of twenty-four years without a settled minister, Rev. James Miltimore was settled in 1808. He was suc- ceeded in 1832 by Rev. J. C. March, a native of New- buryport, who remained until his death, in Septem- ber, 1846. The Rev. Daniel T. Fisk was ordained in 1847 and resigned during the last summer. Rev. Willis A. Hadley has since accepted a call. The house of worship of the society stands on the site oc- cupied by the old one, which was struck by lightning and burned in 1816.

THE GREEN STREET BAPTIST is an outgrowth of the Baptist Church which was formed in 1804 and organ- ized in the next year. Rev. Joshua Chase preached for a short time and was followed late in 1805 by Rev. John Peak. Rev. Hosea Wheeler succeeded Mr. Peak in 1818 and was followed by Nathaniel Wil- liams, Wm. B. Jacobs, Jonathan Aldrich, Albert N. Arnold and Nicholas Medbury, when it ceased to ex- ist. In 1809 a brick meeting-house was built on Liberty Street, which was burned in the fire of 1811. In 1812 the building on Congress Street, afterwards occupied by the Christian Society, was built. The Green Street Society was organized in 1846 with the Rev. Nicholas Medbury, of the old society, as its pas- tor, and the meeting-house now in use was erected in 1848. There were dissensions and secessions in the old organization, but the present society has closed and healed all former divisions. Its pastors since Mr. Medbury have been Revs. Jolın Richardson, J. R. Lane, J. T. Beckley and Eugene E. Thomas.

THE PURCHASE STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, called the " People's Church," had its origin in the labors of Rev. John Adams, who in 1819 col- lected a congregation which, until 1825, was connected with the Salisbury Conference. In 1825 Newburyport was made a station and placed under the charge of Mr. Adams. In the same year a meeting-honse was built on Purchase Street. In 1826 Rev. Barthol- omew Othman was appointed to the station. The present pastor is Rev. F. K. Stratton.

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1802

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

THE WASHINGTON ST. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized June 20, 1827, and a meeting- house on Liberty Street was built in the same year. Rev. Bartholomew Othman was its first pastor. Its present house of worship is on Washington Street, and its pastor is Rev. W. A. Manaton.

THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY was organized Dec. 26, 1834. Its meeting-house on Middle Street was dedicated in 1840. Its pastors have been William M. Fernold, Darius Forbes, Edwin A. Easton, James Shrigley, A. R. Abbot, Daniel M. Reed, Willard Spaulding and J. H. Hartley.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH was organized May 7, 1840, and Rev. Daniel P. Pike was settled as its first minister. In 1845 a meeting-house was built on Court Street, which is now owned by the Catholic Church. The old Baptist Church on Congress Street was afterwards purchased and is now occupied by this society.

THE SECOND ADVENT CHURCH was organized in December, 1848, under Rev. John Pearson, Jr. After meeting several years in Washington Hall, the society built its present handsome edifice on Charter Street.

THE WHITEFIELD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHI was organized January 1, 1850. Rev. John E. Emerson was ordained its first pastor, but died a little more than a year after his settlement. Rev. Samuel J. Spaulding, D.D., succeeded him, followed by Rev. Henry E. Mott. The meeting-house of this society was built in 1852.

THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS were organized in 1877.

A more minute history of the churches is imprac- ticable within the limited space to which this narrative must be confined, and after reference has been made to the schools, the Public Library, to other organiza- tions not yet spoken of, and the press, this necessarily incomplete history of Newburyport must be brought to a close.

According to the last report of the School Com- mittee, the number of children in the city of school age was 2515, and the number in the public schools 1783. For the instruction of these children seventeen schools are furnished. These are the Brown and Girls' High School, with one principal and three assistants, and an average attendance of 98 ; the Kelley School, one principal and seven assistants, with an average attendance of 282; the Jackman Boys' Grammar School, one principal and one assistant and an aver- age attendance of 56; the Johnson Girls' Grammar School, one principal and one assistant and an aver- age attendance of 64; the Bromfield Street Girls' Grammar School, one principal and one assistant, with an average attendance of 52; the Currier Boys' Grammar School, one principal and one assistant and an average attendance of 55; the Forrester Street Girls' Grammar School, one principal and one assist- ant and an average attendance of 59; the Plains

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 198

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