History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 135

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 135

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This appears to have been the last assault or offense of a serious nature made upon the community. From the first they have been a peaceable, industrious and self-respecting people, and they have the confi- dence and the respect of their neighbors and fellow- citizens. To the stranger they are always kind and hospitable. They are strict in the rules and regula- tions which they impose upon themselves and pleas- ant and orderly in all their affairs. The following " Rules for Visitors " are in keeping with their orderly ways and kind spirit :

" First. We wish it to be understood that we do not keep a public house, and wish to have our rules attended to as any would the rules of their own private dwelling. Second. Those who call to see their friends and relatives are to visit them at the office, and not to go elsewhere ex- cept by permission of those in care at the office. Third. Those who live near, and can call at their own convenience, are not expected to stay more than a few hours, but such as live at a great distance, or cannot come often, and have near relatives here, can stay from one to four days, according to circumstances. This we consider a sufficient time as a gen- eral rule. Fourth. All visitors are requested to arise and take breakfast at half-past six in summer and half-past seven in winter. Fifth. At table we wish all to be as free as at home ; but we dislike the wasteful habit of leaving food on the plate. No vice with us is less ridiculous for being in fashion. Sixth. Married persons tarrying with us over night are respectfully notified that each sex occupy separate sleeping apart- ments while they remain. This rule will not be departed from under any circumstances. Seventh. Strangers calling for meals or lodging are expected to pay if accommodated."

Worship .- As the mode of worship is peculiar to the Shakers and widely different from others, the fol- lowing concerning it may be of interest. Their meeting-house or place of assembling is a large open room or hall, furnished with movable seats. "The sexes enter by different doors, and arrange themselves in lines -- the elders being in front-where they listen to a short opening address by one of their elders, after which they unite in a dance, regular, solemn and uniformly in time with the harmony of some

half-dozen selected singers. After this they fall into files of two abreast and march, keeping step with the music of some selected hymn, which is sung with much fervency and spirit. They then bring up their benches and seat themselves, while one of their num- ber interests them with a religious exhortation. This concluded, they rise and close their service with a song of praise. Everything is performed with decorum and solemnity. All classes, from the gray-haired of fourscore down to the child of five years, seem atten- tive and interested, whether they march or dance or sing or exhort. They uniformly wave their hands in concert with their music, and listen with marked attention to the words of their spiritual leaders."

Order and neatness pervade every department. The government is religious in character, the minis- ters, of whom there is usually one of each sex, being the chief officers, and under them the elders and trustees, the elders having in charge the spiritual affairs of the society and the trustees the temporal. The offices of elder and trustee in the Shirley Society are held by John Whitely, who is very devoted and faithful to its interests. He is also trustee of the Harvard Society and minister of the district.

Universalist Society .- The first meeting for the organization of the Universalist Society was held at the house of Joseph Edgarton, Sept. 21, 1812. A committee consisting of Merrick Rice, John Edgar- ton and Lemuel Willard was chosen to prepare a constitution. This committee reported at an adjourned meeting, the constitution was adopted and officers chosen. The names of John Edgarton, Joseph Edgarton, John Davis, Samuel Hazen, Merrick Rice, Lemuel Willard, Elnathan Polly, William McIntosh, and Thomas Ritter and many others are prominent in the early records. Among its members were fam- ilies from Harvard, Lancaster and Lunenburg that were regular attendants upon its worship. When, some years after, societies were established in their own towns, they connected themselves with those societies. For some time previous to the organization there had been occasional preaching in the town by ministers of this denomination, the first of whom was Rev. Isaiah Parker, a convert from the Baptist faith, and physician as well as minister. After him were Revs. Joshua Flagg and Jacob Wood. The first house of worship was built in 1816, and dedicated Jan. 9, 1817.

It was a plain building covered with a hip roof, and had but one door of entrance. This opened into a nar- row porch, and thence into the church. It was furnished with high box pews, and a gallery for the singers along the west wall that was entered by stairs within the audience-room. Rev. Jacob Wood was installed pastor in 1818. He remained five years and then an interim of six years followed, in which the pulpit was supplied by transient preachers. In 1829 Rev. Rus- sell Streeter removed from Watertown and became the resident pastor, continuing his ministry till 1834,

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when he removed to Woodstock, Vt. The following year the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Stillman Bar- den. In 1836 Rev. Lucius R. Paige, who was then settled in Hardwick, supplied a part of the time. Mr. Paige in later years was the author of "Paige's Commentaries " and other important works. In 1837 and 1838 Rev. Rufus Pope was the preacher, but re- sided in Sterling, where he preached a part of the time. He was succeeded by Rev. John Pierce, whose pastorate continued till April 1840, when failing health obliged him to retire. Then Rev. Walter Harriman, pastor of the church in Harvard, was en- gaged, preaching one-half the time. This arrange- ment continued till 1845. Mr. Harriman was afterwards widely known in public and political life, serving in the army during the Civil War, commis- sioned as colonel of a regiment from his native State, New Hampshire, and promoted to the office of general. For several terms after the war he was Governor of New Hampshire.

During 1845 and 1846 the church was remodeled at an expense of $2168. A hall was finished in the upper part and devoted to the use of the " Fredonia Lodge" of Odd Fellows. In April, 1846, Rev. Josiah Coolidge became the pastor, and performed the duties of the office two years. An interim of one year now occurred in which the pulpit was supplied by neighboring ministers. Rev. Benton Smith was then invited, and began his pastorate in April, 1849. During Mr. Smith's pastorate, on March 19, 1850, a bell was placed upon the church, the first church-bell in the village. He discharged the duties of the office five years, and was succeeded by Rev. Orren Perkins, who remained but one year. Rev. E. W. Coffin was the next pastor, beginning his work in May, 1855, and closing it March 8, 1857. The 7th of the follow- ing June, Rev. George F. Jenks entered upon his duties as pastor and remained three years and nine months. The next pastor was Rev. Cyrus B. Lom- bard, his pastorate beginning March 10, 1861, and covering a period of five years. After an interim of a few months with a transient supply of the pulpit, Rev. Ezekiel Fitzgerald was engaged, but remained less than a year and a half. From the close of Mr. Fitzgerald's labors to the last Sunday in October, 1869, preaching was continued regularly, but no pastor was settled. At that date the last service was held in the old church. It was sold to Mr. Norman C. Munson, who removed and fitted it for a public hall. It is the present Village Hall, and is finely adapted for all social and public uses. The building of the new church was immediately begun, and was completed, and the service of dedication held November 23, 1870. It is a fine structure of the early English Gothic style of architecture, with open-timbered roof and ceiling, painted and frescoed in rich and subdued colors. The entire expense of the church was $25,000. It is furnished with a fine organ which cost $2200. Towards this large expense, Mr. N. C. Munson, a

member of the society and a leading spirit in the work, was a large and generous contributor. Imme- diately on the completion of the church, Rev. H. A. Philbrook was called to the pastorate, in which he continued two years. The next few years the pulpit was supplied by transient preachers, and during a part of 1875 services were suspended altogether, on account of the general depression in business. In May, 1876, Rev. J. W. Keyes was called to the pasto- rate and served the society three years. Then fol- lowed another interim of a little more than one and a half years filled by the transient supply, and in De- cember, 1880, the settlement of Rev. James Vincent as pastor. In June, 1884, he accepted an invitation from the church in Calais, Maine, and was succeeded by Rev. William Gaskin, who entered upon his work in August. His term of service was a little less than two years. In January, 1887, Rev. James Rawlins was settled and remained one year. In April, 1888, Rev. Joseph Crehore accepted the invitation of the society and entered upon his work in May. During the pastorate of Rev. John Pierce, in April, 1839, a Sunday-school was organized, with Miss Sarah C. Edgarton in charge and Miss Susan McIntosh as as- sistant. Miss Edgarton was well and favorably known as a writer and a poet of fine promise, and as- sociate editor of the Ladies' Repository, a monthly mag- azine published in Boston. Jerome Gardner was chosen superintendent of the school in 1845 and held the office, with the exception of one year, till his death in November, 1889, a period of forty-three years. He was clerk of the society thirty-eight years. A church organization was formed in 1820, but for many years subsequently was dormant; it was reor- ganized in 1846. Its present membership is forty-two. The parish and Sunday-school library numbers nearly one thousand volumes. A bequest of $1000 to the so- ciety was made by the will of Sylvanus Holden, who died March 17, 1882. Jerome Gardner included in a will drawn March 24, 1885, a gift to the society of the income of twenty-five shares of Lancaster Bank Stock. The subsequent ruin of the bank, by the fraudulent dealings of its president, swept away this gift. In his last sickness Mr. Gardner sought to replace this in part by a codicil in which he gave to the society ten shares of the Fitchburg Railroad stock, but there being some legal inadequacy in the witnessing of the codicil, it was disallowed by the Judge of Probate.

First Congregational Society .- In March, 1822, a little more than three years after the death of Rev. Mr. Whitney, the pastor of the First, or Town Parish and Church, a meeting was called and held for the purpose of organizing the parish as an independent society, disconnected from the municipal or town oversight and charge. This organization was effected under the name of the First Congregational Society. For the twelve years following its organization it had no stated ministry, and there was preaching but a portion of the time. But its annual meetings for the

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

choice of officers and the transaction of business were regularly held. In June, 1834, Rev. Seth Chandler, of Oxford, preached two Sundays. Receiving an in- vitation to settle with the society, he accepted it and entered at once upon his duties. The ministry of Mr. Chandler continued till June, 1879-forty-five years ; though from that date till his death, in October, 1889, he performed more or less of pastoral duty, and occa- sionally preached. Thus from the date of the first or- gauization as a town parish iu 1762 to 1879, one hun- dred and seventeen years, there were but two pastor- a'es, and one brief colleague pastorate of three years. There was an interim of nearly fifteen years between the death of Mr. Whitney and the settlement of Mr. Chandler, but the united ministries of the two covered a period of one hundred and one years. Until the present century the heating of churches was hardly known in any part of New England. Congregations endured the cold and the long sermons with equal fortitude. The winter following the settlement of Mr. Chandler an innovation was made upon this custom. Two large stoves were put into the church. It was the first provision made in town for warming the house of worship. The next year, 1835, a new bell was placed in the church tower.

The old bell, a gift to the town in 1808, by Wallis Little, had been cracked for several years and ren- dered useless. The new bell was a gift from Leonard M. Parker and Thomas Whitney, and their intention was communicated in the following letter, which was read at the town-meeting.

" As a token of respect for our native town, and a sincere regard for its character and the well-being of its inhabitants, we, the undersigned, propose to present to the town a bell. It is our wish aud intention that the same should be kept on' the meeting-house of the First Parish ; that it should be used for all the necessary and proper purposes of the town ; that the religious societies should also have the privilege of its use ; and unless the town shall provide for the ringing of the same, at the nsual time and in the usual manger, for the religions services in the forenoon and afternoon of the Sabbath day, the First Parish may have the privi- lege of cansing it to beso rung for such services. And in case the First Parish shall fail to canse it to be so rung on the Sabbath, any other parish then having regular servicee, and not being supplied with a bell may have the same privilege. Should the proposal be acceptable to the own, it would be agreeable to us that the selectmen, or a committee, should be authorized to confer with us as to the size of the bell, and to take other proper measures in regard to the subject. We have the honor to subscribe ourselves your respectful fellow-citizens.

Shirley, May 27, 1885."

"LEONARD M. PARKER, " THOMAS WHITNEY.

Previous to the engagement of Mr. Chandler a Sunday-school was organized by the devoted women of the parish, also " a charitable society." This so- ciety has purchased books for the library, to the amount of nearly one thousand volumes ; furnished the Sunday-school room and the church, contributed to the incidental expenses, clothed and otherwise aided indigent children, and accumulated a fund of about $1500, the income of which is used for contin- gent expenses.

In March, 1839, a movement was started for remod- eling the church. Committees were chosen, contracts for the work made, and the work begun in July. The |

expense of the alterations and furnishings was $2307 .- 61. It was completed, and the house reopened for public worship on the 27th of October. An effort was made at the time this work was undertaken to have the meeting-house removed a few rods east from where it was then located, but the majority of the society did not favor it. This effort was renewed in 1851, and the following action taken at a town-meet- ing held July 14th :

" Voted that the Town give their cons ent that the First Parish may re- move their meeting-house to and upon the ground called the 'training field,' the same to be carried and placed so far east that the west end of the meeting-honse shall be on a line with the east side of the towu-house and the south side of said meeting house to be as near the present traveled road as conveniently may be. The said parish to have the right, if need be, to rebuild upon the same ground. And this consent is hereby given on the following conditions, to wit: 1. That the owner of the land adjoining the northerly and easterly lines of said ' training-field' give his consent thereto in writing, under seal and acknowledgment. 2. That the said parish shall agree to lay open all their grounds, where the meeting-house now stands, and around the same as a public com- mon ; and so to continue unencumbered, so long as the said meeting- house, or any new one which may be built in place of the present, shall remain upon the said 'training field.' And for the security of both of the said parties, this further condition or stipulation is also made- that either party, for good canse, shall have the right to cause the said meet- ing-house, or any one built in its place, to be removed to the spot where it now stands, or to such other near thereto, as the parish may fix upon. The sufficiency of the cause and the terms of removal to be mutually agreed upon by the said parties ; and in case they cannot agree the same shall be submitted to the judgment of three disinterested and judicious meu to be mutually agreed oo, whose decisiou shall be final, both in regard to the suthciency of the cause and the terms of removal. And the agreement of the said parish to the foregoing conditions and stipu- ulations, at a meeting duly called for the purpose, is hereby required ;- a copy whereof, duly certified by the clerk of said parish, shall be filed with the towo clerk before the removal of said meeting-house."

These conditions were accepted by the parish, and the meeting-house was removed the following year. The original windows, as built with the house in 1773, were retained through all the changes till 1857, when Mr. John K. Going, a member of the parish, gener- ously assumed the expense and care of the entire re- glazing. The third and last considerable alteration and improvement of the church was made in 1867. At the annual parish meeting, Henry B. Going pro- posed important changes, and generously offered to have them made at his owu expense, " provided his proposal should be agreeable to members of the parish." Mrs. Harriet B. Going, his mother, was as- sociated with him in carrying forward this work, as appears from the record of the parish meeting held after it was completed. The record is as follows :

" Whereas during the past year our old church edifice has been ma- terially altered, repaired and ituproved, chiefly at the expense and by the liberality of Mrs. Harriet B. Going and her son, Henry B. Going, -therefore, we, the members of the First Parish in Shirley, do- sirous of expressing our appreciation of their generosity, do hereby tender to Mrs. Going and her son our sincere thanks, with the hope that their lives may be loug spared for usefulness und enjoyment. And should it be their pleasure to again reside in town, and weekly meet with us around the same old altar where they were wout to come in carly life, we assure them they will receive u cordial welcome."

Bequests .- The society has received several be- quests which are matters of interest. The first was from Thomas Whitney, son of the first minister of

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the parish, and a devoted member through his life, bearing always a leading and active part in its affairs, as also in the affairs of the town. He died January 14, 1844, and in a codicil to his will gave to the par- ish as follows : "I give and bequeath unto the First Parish, in said town of Shirley, of which I have been a member from my youth, the sum of five hundred dollars; and it is my intention that the same shall be safely and permanently invested, on interest, and the income thereon be annually appropriated toward the payment of the salary of a good and faithful Unita- rian minister of the gospel in said parish. And it is my earnest wish and hope that the parish may, at all times, be supplied with the services of such a minis- ter; and, in making the bequest, I take satisfaction in the indulgence of a hope that it may have a last- ing influence in securing to the parish an object so essential to the happiness and well-being of society. And I indulge the further hope that the sum herely bequeathed may lay the foundation of a fund which, at no distant period, by the munificence of others, will become of such magnitude that the income thereof will annually pay the salary of a minister, in said parish, of the character and denomination above mentioned. And it is my further will and intention, that in case the said parish shall fail during the period of twenty years after my decease, and for the space of six months in succession, to be supplied with a minister of the character and denomination afore- mentioned, who shall be regularly settled as their pastor, or be engaged by the year, then the said sum of five hundred dollars, bequeathed as aforesaid, shall revert and descend to my heirs-at-law.

" And I further give and bequeath to the said par- ish the sum of twenty dollars, annually, for the term of five years after my decease, to be appropriated toward the payment of the salary of a minister in said parish, of the character and denomination afore- mentioned ; but one-half of said annual sum, may be applied to the support of the singing in said parish, if the parish shall so decide. But if the parish shall fail, during the said term of five years, to be regularly with a minister of the character and denomination aforesaid, then the said annual bequest of twenty dollars shall cease."

Three years after the death of Thomas Whitney occurred the death of his son, James P. Whitney. In his will he bequeathed to the parish fund, upon the same terms and conditions specified by his father, two hundred and fifty dollars.

In 1864 an additional bequest came to the parish, on the death of Mrs. Henrietta Whitney, widow of Thomas Whitney. The will giving the same reads as follows : " I give and bequeath to the First Parish in Shirley the sum of five hundred dollars, which is to be appropriated in the same manner and held on the same terms and conditions as are specified by my late husband, Thomas Whitney, Esq., in bequeathing a like sum to said parish, all of which will fully ap-

pear by the codicil of his last will and testament; and it is my intention that the period of twenty years, mentioned in said codicil, during which a forfeiture may be incurred by said parish, shall terminate at the same time in reference to my bequest that it will in reference to the bequest of my late husband."

Five years later, in 1869, Mrs. Clarissa Isaacs, a sister of Thomas Whitney, and daughter of Rev. Phinehas Whitney, the first minister, died. Her last will and testament contained the following: "I give to the First Parish in Shirley, over which my re- spected father was settled for a series of years, the sum of two hundred dollars, for the same purpose, and on the same terms and conditions as specified in the will of my late brother, Thomas Whitney, re- specting a similar bequest made by him."

In addition to these several bequests, amounting to fourteen hundred and fifty dollars, from the imme- diate family of the first minister, Rev. Phinehas Whit- ney, the parish received still another generous ex- pression of the family interest in its affairs in the gift of an organ of "rare excellence " from Mrs. Hen- rietta Whitney, which she had built expressly for it by Mr. George Stevens, of East Cambridge, but a short time before her decease, at a cost of thirteen hundred dollars.

Other bequests to the parish fund were: five bun- dred dollars from John K. Going, in 1864; three hundred dollars from Miss Rebecca Day, in 1869; fifty dollars from Martin Turner, in 1869. This fund, amounting to twenty-three hundred dollars, was in- trusted with the treasurer of the parish, Thomas E. Whitney, without special security. By some incom- petency of management it was wasted, and would have been wholly lost to the parish but for the gen- osity of Mrs. Mary D. Whitney, of Boston, an aunt of the treasurer, then deceased. She was a heavy loser by bis failure, yet she generously made over to the parish an amount of real estate of equal value to the sum owed by him, thereby restoring the fund. Mrs. Whitney, whose death occurred January 26, 1886, also made an additional gift by her will, of which this parish was evidently intended to be the final recipient or beneficiary, but the singular word- ing of the article of the will imposed a difficulty upon the executors in determining the party legally entitled to receive it. Hence it was taken to the Court for decision, where it still awaits the final ver- dict. As a matter of historic interest in which there was the evident intent to be so exact and strict in terms that the gift could not be diverted, or fail to be applied to the purpose of the giver, we here append a copy of the article : "Secondly, I give and bequeath to my friend, Rev'd Seth Chandler, of Shirley, the sum of Five thousand dollars, which, after his death, shall revert to the town afore-named, strictly on this condition, namely, that said town shall support fairly and permanently a Unitarian clergyman, in which case all interest accruing on the above sum shall be

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 135

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034