History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 169

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 169

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In 1887 a proposal was made to the town hy Col. William A. Tower to erect a building for the library, costing from forty to fifty thousand dollars, on condi- tion that a site should be provided by the town for that purpose. In his letter addressed to the select- men announcing this generous gift, he named a loca- tion at the southeast corner of Main and Clark Streets as the one he desired, if it could be procured at a reasonable price. A town-meeting was called, and it was unanimously resolved to accept the propo- sition of Colonel Tower, and the sum of $12,000 voted to purchase the site. A committee was also chosen to co-operate with him in procuring the site and erecting the building. After the passage of these votes, a letter was read from Miss Alice B. Cary, offering, on behalf of the heirs of the Cary estate, to give $10,000 towards the purchase of a site that should be acceptable to Colonel Tower. This gener-

ous proposal was received with great enthusiasm, and the thanks of the town voted to Colonel Tower and the heirs of the Cary estate for their munificent pro- posals. Long and complicated negotiations now followed for the location named by Colonel Tower- the owners of the property holding it at a price that seemed unreasonable and exorbitant. A committee appointed by the town to make some changes in the organization of the Board of Trustees in the mean- time appealed to the Legislature for an act of incor- poration for the library and the privilege of taking the site under the right of eminent domain. The act was granted. This produced new and greater complications, and awakened strenuous opposition in the town to the act itself. Before the conditions named hy Colonel Tower were complied with the time had expired to which his proposal was limited. He renewed it, making it a condition, however, that the act of incorporation should be accepted by the town. It was so accepted by a majority of nearly fifty votes. Finally an appeal to the Supreme Court, involving the constitutionality of the act, was made, and the decision just rendered pronounces it a viola- tion of the original compact with Mrs. Cary, and, hence, unconstitutional. Thus an unfortunate di- vision of opinion has deferred the erection of an elegant and substantial building for the library, and not unlikely lost it altogether. It is much to be re- gretted from every point of view.

CHAPTER XLVII.

LEXINGTON-(Continued.)

ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS-CHURCHES, SUNDAY- SCHOOLS AND BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS.

THE early history of the first church and its meet- ing-houses has been given in connection with the early history of the town, when ecclesiastical and municipal affairs were under the same government. As already stated, the first pastorate, that of Rev. Benjamin Estabrook, was a brief one, ending with his death, in July, 1697, less than one year after his ordination, though he bad preached here for five years previous to his settlement. The ordination of John Hancock, as the second minister, took place on November 2, 1698, and he continued to be the pastor of the church until his death, December 5, 1752, a period, including the time that he preached here before ordination, of fifty-five years. In 1734 his son, Ebenezer Hancock, was ordained as his colleague, and continued to be his father's assistant until his death, in January, 1739. After the death of Rev. John Hancock, in 1752, an interregnum of three years occurred, during which various persons were heard as candidates, including Rev. Timothy Minot,

624

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

of Concord; Rev. Mr. Stearns, of Billerica; Rev. Aaron Putnam, who was invited to settle over the parish, but declined, and Rev. Jonas Clarke, of New- ton, upon whom the town and church finally united by a vote of, seventy to three, after a day of fasting and prayer. He was ordained on the 5th of Novem- ber, 1755, and remained in active service until his death, November 15, 1805, thus entering upon the fifty-first year of his ministry. The first four pastors of the parish, therefore, were ordained to the min- istry here and died in the service of the parish. Their mortal remains rest in the old cemetery with those of the people to whom they ministered. The tomb of Rev. Benjamin Estabrook is one of the old- est in the burial-ground, hearing the date of 1697, though no doubt there are many unmarked graves much older, since the place was used for burial pur- poses from the early settlement of the town. The other pastors have a common tomb, that of the Han- cock-Clarke families, sealed up since 1844, when the body of the last of Mr. Clarke's children living here was placed in it.

After the close of the long pastorate of Rev. Mr. Clarke, the parish again gave two years to the hear- ing of candidates before another minister was settled. In May, 1807, a call was given to Rev. Henry Cole- man, which he declined. Finally, after another trial ot' candidates, the church and congregation united in calling Rev. Avery Williams by a unanimous vote. He accepted, and was ordained as the fifth pastor on December 30, 1807, at a salary of $600, with fifteen cords of wood annually, to be delivered at his door, and a settlement of $1000. He was to be the minister of the parish for the remainder of his life. His predeces- sors had all been settled on the same condition, which was, indeed, the universal custom in the early history of New England. So, likewise, was the custom of giving a sum in addition to the salary, called "a set- tlement."

It is interesting to notice the charges made on the town records for Mr. Williams' ordination. Evi- dently it was quite an elaborate and hilarious affair. At this time there were as many as eleven taverns and stores licensed for the sale of spirituous liquors within the town, and they received a generous patron- age, especially on such an occasion as the ordination of a new minister. First, the council met and rigidly examined the candidate. After he had shown his proficiency in the profound and difficult questions of theology, and that he had passed through a true re- ligious experience and possessed a sound Christian character, the services of ordination were performed. Then ministers, deacons and messengers, with the most prominent members of the church and parish, repaired to the tavern of Amos Muzzy, Jr., where sumptuous provision was made for their entertain- ment. What this consisted of we are unable to tell, since only the aggregate charge of $139.78 appears upon the records for the council dinner. The sum of

$8 was paid " for spirits and luncheon for the singers," and "four mugs of toddy furnished the men who propped the meeting-house galleries for the ordina- tion, and four mugs of toddy when letting the bell to be rung; " at the same time six mugs are provided for the selectmen when letting out the town's poor. It is not surprising, therefore, that three constables were required to keep order at the ordination, who were paid five dollars for their services, and that the meeting-house had to be cleaned at an additional expense after the ordination was over. A charge cf $2.33 for new strings for the bass viol, and $14.75 for "moreen " for the pulpit windows completes the list of ordination expenses in the First Parish eighty years ago, when Rev. Mr. Williams was consecrated for his work. Surely, there has been a great advance in public sentiment and social custom since that time, when, on the most solemn occasion and for the most trifling work, spirituous liquors were required, that all things might be done properly. Mr. Williams' ministry appears to have been a harmonious and prosperous one. He was evidently a preacher of more than average ability, and very acceptable to his people. During his ministry increased attention was given to church-music, and a singing-school was maintained at the expense of the town for many years. In 1800 a sum of money was voted to supply " firewood and candles, to encourage, the singers in keeping a school, in case they will engage to sit to- gether in the meeting-house after they have learnt." And afterwards we find frequent charges for the re- pair of musical instruments and for keeping up mu- sical instruction, showing that this part of public worship was much encouraged by the people.

Rev. Mr. Williams published two discourses in 1813 on the centennial of the incorporation of Lexington. They contain much valuable information regarding the early history of the settlement and the customs of the people. He gathered up many interesting facts which otherwise would have been forgotten, and he deserves grateful remembrance for the service thus rendered to historic knowledge. His health seems to have been feeble, and frequently he was unable to perform the duties of his office. On this account, probably, there was increasing uneasiness and dissat- isfaction in the parish. But, being settled for life, the connection could not be easily dissolved. Finally, in August, 1815, the town voted to pay him $615 to withdraw and bring the relation to an end. He con- sented, and, after a ministry of eight years, an ami- cable separation took place, and the parish again entered upon the experience of hearing new candi- dates for settlement.

The people appear to have been more difficult to please than ever, and not until February, 1819, could they unite on a new minister, when Rev. Charles Briggs was chosen by nearly a unanimous vote, and ordained in April following as the sixth minister of Lexington. Mr. Briggs was in feeble health much of

625

LEXINGTON.

the time during his pastorate, and was occasionally obliged to give up his duties and travel for its im- provement, but he continued in charge of the parish for sixteen years, when he asked to be dismissed. His request was granted, and in July, 1835, his re- lation with the parish came to an end. He liad a peaceful and prosperous ministry. He gave much attention to the public schools, and was deeply inter- ested in the welfare of the young, gathering a valuable library for their use. The Sunday-school was organ- ized by him about the year 1830, but the precise date it is impossible to establish.

He appears to have been highly respected and es- teemed by the town, and entrusted with important offices. The parish had been gradually changing its theological basis for some time before the settlement of Mr. Briggs, and during his ministry appears to have become distinctively Unitarian in faith and affilia- tion, though there is no record of any action to that effect. The old covenant was never formally dis- owned, but its use seems to have been silently aban- doned. Rev. Jonas Clarke was probably what was called a "moderate Calvinist," though his daughter "Betty " often asserted that he was an Arminian, the name given to those of the old Congregational order who held advanced opinions regarding the extent of the atonement.

Rev. Avery Williams was evidently more conserva- tive in his views ; but after his dismissal from the ministry here the parish gave invitations to two can- didates who held liberal opinions in theology, and after they declined, settled Rev. Mr. Briggs, which indicates that the parish had become decidedly lib- eral in faith. There is no evidence on the church records of any dissent from this position. It appears to have been accepted by all the people.

A year passed away before the next minister was chosen,-Rev. William Gray Swett, who was ordained July 13, 1836, as the seventh minister of Lexington. Up to this time there had been no separation between. the town and parish, but they were one and the same. Mr. Swett was chosen to be the minister at a regular town-meeting, and his salary fixed at $700 per annum. No mention is made of a sum for a set- tlement. He continued in the pastorate but two years, when, at his own request, he was dismissed and afterwards settled in Lynn, where he died in 1843. Mr. Swett was a warm-hearted, genial man, but of a somewhat eccentric character. He was apparently devoted to his work and made many friends in the parish, by whom he is pleasantly remembered. After the termination of Mr. Swett's ministry the parish continued without a settled pastor for six years, in the mean time engaging a temporary supply for the pulpit for a longer or shorter period. Among those employed were Rev. George M. Rice, Rev. William Knapp and Rev. S. B. Cruft. Other religious so- cieties had been formed in the town and they claimed that there should be a division of the ministerial

fund. The members of these societies retained their connection with the First Parish as voters and sought to compel a distribution of it. A long and bitter controversy followed, producing much alienation be- tween families and friends, and preventing the settle- ment of a minister. This unfortunate division and strife entered into town affairs and caused great trouble and confusion. Finally, through the patient and kindly offices of Rev. Samuel J. May, who was employed as the minister for a few months, a settle- ment of these difficulties was arranged by a division of the income of the fund among the existing churches, to be made annually. All parties assented to this ar- rangement, and the town gave Mr. May a vote of thanks for the service he had rendered, and recom- pensed him for the time and trouble which the settle- ment had caused him. In 1845 the parishi was sepa- rated from the town and placed under an organiza- tion ofits own, and all similar complications prevented for the future. Rev. Jason Whitman, of Portland, Me., was nnanimously invited to settle over the par- ish at a salary of $900, and the old meeting-house, which had long been in a dilapidated condition, was reconstructed at heavy expense and made pleasant and comfortable. Mr. Whitman accepted the invita- tion and was installed as the eighth minister on July 30, 1845. Unfortunately the destruction of the meet- ing-house by fire on the night before it was to be re- dedicated, December 17, 1846, involved the parish in new strife and led to long and vexatious suits to de- termine where the peeuniary responsibility belonged. Years passed away before these matters were finally settled.

Rev. Mr. Whitman entered upon his ministry under favorable auspices. The people were united in him. He was an able and interesting preacher and he gave himself to his work with hearty devotion. He was deeply interested in the cause of temperance and anti-slavery, and firm and fearless in their advocacy. The prospect of a long and useful ministry opened invitingly before him, and the church seemed to be entering upon a period of substantial prosperity. But in January, 1848, before completing the third year of his pastorate, he was suddenly removed by death, to the great disappointment and grief of his people. Mr. Whitman was the author of several bio- graphical aud controversial works, besides a volume of sermons and many addresses and magazine articles which he published. The new meeting-house, erected after the destruction of the previous one, was con- pleted and dedicated soon after his death.

Following the ministry of Mr. Whitman came that of Rev. Fiske Barrett, who was ordained as the ninth pastor in September, 1849, but continued only about three years, when he resigned and left. Two years later, September, 1854, Rev. N. A. Staples was or- dained as his successor-the tenth minister of the parish. He entered upon his duties with much en- thusiasm and devotion. The people were heartily

.10

626

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

united in his support, and his ministry, of a little more than two years, appears to have been prosper- ous and peaceful. In November, 1856, he resigned to accept an invitation to the pastorate of the Unitar- ian Church in Milwaukee. Here he remained until the beginning of the War of the Rebellion, when he was chosen chaplain of the Sixth Wisconsin Regiment, Col. Lysander Cutler's, and entered the service in the Army of the Potomac. The severe exposure of the field brought on a long siekness, which compelled him to withdraw from the army. He resumed his profession, and was settled over the Second Unitarian Society in Brooklyn, N. Y. But his health was never restored, and after a few months he was utterly pros- trated and died February 5, 1864.

Rev. Leonard J. Livermore succeeded Mr. Staples, and was installed in October, 1857. During his ministry of nine years he was active and self-sacri- ficing in his work. He succeeded in paying off a heavy indebtedness which had hung over the parish like a mill-stone from the losses ineurred in the burn- ing of the old church. He lahored earnestly for the prosperity of the public schools, and, during the war, for the aid of the soldiers in the field and the siek and wounded in the hospitals. A man of fine scholarly tastes, and gentle, loving spirit. In Sep- tember, 1866, he resigned the pastorate and closed his connection with the parish at the beginning of the new year. Subsequently, Mr. Livermore was settled over the Unitarian Church in Danvers, where he remained for nearly twenty years, greatly beloved by his people. He died in Cambridge, after a long illness, in June, 1886.

Mr. Livermore was succeeded by Rev. Henry West- cott, who was installed June 26, 1867, the twelfth minister of the parish. During Mr. Westcott's min- istry a spacious and pleasant chapel was added to the meeting-house, containing Sunday-school and library room, and a large parish parlor, for the ac- commodation of the sewing society and for other uses. In the basement a supper-room and kitchen were constructed for social occasions, and all arrangements made for the purposes of a working religious society. Mr. Westcott labored faithfully for the prosperity of the Sunday-school and the church. He was deeply interested in the organization of Cary Library, and was one of the committee appointed by the town to take the necessary steps for establishing and open- ing it to the public. During the fourteen years of his ministry he acted as one of the trustees, and de- voted much time to the selection of books and the management of its affairs. To him and to Rev. Mr. Porter the town is deeply indebted for this valuable library. In June, 1881, Mr. Westcott resigned his pastorate, and shortly afterwards was installed as pastor of the Unitarian Church in Melrose. His pastorate there was a peaceful and prosperous one, but was suddenly terminated hy his death July 14,

who had become warmly attached to him in his brief ministry.

The present pastor, Rev. C. A. Staples, was installed October 31, 1881. During his ministry the meeting- house has been remodeled, newly carpeted and painted, the organ reconstructed, new furnaces put in and stone steps in front to replace wooden ones, at a total cost of more than $5000. The meeting- house is now in thorough repair, and is a substantial and pleasant edifice. There are connected with the parish about 110 families, and the services of wor- ship are fairly well attended. The Sunday-school contains twelve classes, numbering one hundred and twenty-six scholars, including a primary-elass of eigh- teen, and two classes of young men and women. There is a temperance society connected with it of fifty-eight members, holding meetings once a month, and a Christian Union of young people for religious improvement and charitable work. The Ladies' Sew- ing Society has from twenty to thirty members en- gaged in working for destitute families and for chil- dren at home and abroad. The Lend-a-Hand Society of young ladies is engaged in work for hospitals and benevolent societies. There is also a Women's Branch of the Unitarian Auxiliary Society, number- ing ahout thirty members, holding meetings monthly for mutual religions improvement and the collection of funds for missionary work. The young people's societies have supported a student in the Tuskegee, Ala., Normal School for three years, and have con- tributed to support an Indian school in Montana among the Crow Indians.

Such is the history, the present condition and work of the old First Parish of Lexington. Its present meeting-house, erected in 1847, is the fourth built since the organization of the parish in 1692. The audience-room contains two large tablets, one on either side of the pulpit, inscribed with appro- priate passages of Seripture expressing the faith, hope and love of the Christian church. These were pre- sented by the late Mrs. Maria Cary. It has also a beautiful marble font presented hy Mrs. Margaret Hayes in memory of her husband, Hon. Francis B. Hayes, a member of the parish, who died in September, 1884. The old pulpit Bible, pre- sented by Governor John Hancock, in 1793, is still carefully preserved, though no longer in use. There are a large number of communion vessels be- longing to the church, the gifts of deceased members through the nearly two centuries of its existence. A portion of these was given to the church in East Lexington, an offshoot of the First Parish, and are now in possession of Follen Church in that village. They are simple memorials of men and women to whom the church was dear while they lived, and who left these tokens of their love and reverence for it after they had gone to the church above.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH was the earliest organized 1883. His loss was sincerely mourned by his people, ' in the town after the First Parish. There appear to

627

LEXINGTON.

have been some people of this persuasion here for fifty years before the formation of a church. They were connected with the Baptist Church in Cam- bridge, and attended worship there. In 1787 Thomas Green was the pastor. These people refused to pay a ministerial tax in Lexington, as appears from the town records, but it seems to have been exacted of them by the authorities. Probably this was after a law had been passed exempting those persons from the ministerial tax who brought certificates of their connection with some church other than that of the parish where they were living, and that they were paying there for the support of the institutions of re- ligion. Such a provision was made for the relief of the Baptists, Quakers and other dissenters from " the standing order." The exaction of the tax by Lexing- ton, therefore, was illegal, if the Baptists brought the proper certificates. However this may have been, the record states that Rev. Mr. Green made complaint of the injustice doue to his Lexington parishioners, and an action was brought against the town to re- cover damages. The case was not allowed to come to trial; the authorities, probably, finding themselves in the wrong, a settlement was made with the Bap- tists in the following year (1788), and they were no longer compelled to pay for the support of a church iu which they did not believe. Services of worship were probably held by them occasionally, and the rite of baptism by immersiou was performed, but they were chiefly connected with the Baptists iu Cambridge and Waltham up to 1830, when regular preaching was commenced in the town. In 1833 Rev. T. P. Ropes became the pastor, and in the same year a church was organized and a meeting-house erected on Main Street, a little south of Vine Brook, where, with extensive additions and repairs, it still remains. The site for the meeting-house was gen- erously given to the society by Benjamin Muzzy. In 1835 Rev. O. 1. Dodge was ordained and settled over the church, and under his ministry it was prosperous and many additions were made to its numbers. But after a ministry of five years he died in May, 1815, and was succeeded in the following year by Rev. C. M. Bowers, who remained in charge until February, 1846, when he resigned and left. Mr. Bowers is re- membered as an ardent temperance advocate, and by his advanced opinions on the subject awakened much opposition. In the autumn of 1847 Rev. Ira Leland became the pastor, and continued in the service of the church for ten years. He was deeply interested in the public schools, and gave much attention to their welfare as chairman of the School Committee, and is remembered in the town as a devoted pastor and a useful citizen. After Mr. Leland left, in 1857, the society had no permament pastor for many years, but the pulpit was supplied by various persons, for short periods of time, until Rev. Dr. Pryor came to live in the town, when he was employed as the preacher and pastor, though he was never settled

over the society. This arrangement continued for ten years, when he withdrew, owing to his declining health and the lack of success in the work. At this time the society had become very much reduced, and the idea of selling the meeting-house and abandoning the enterprise was seriously considered. Happily, through the protestations of one of the members- Mrs. Charles Tidd-the proposition was given up and the organization preserved for new growth and usefulness. Through Mrs. Tidd's influence, Rev. Russell H. Conwell was called to the pastorate, in the hope that he would revive the church from its languishing condition by his bold and aggressive spirit. The hope was speedily realized. He entered into his work with great enthusiasm, and his popu- lar manners and style of preaching drew in numbers of new families and gave the society much additional financial strength. He began at once the remodel- ing and enlargement of the meeting-honse. It was completely transformed without and within ; a church parlor was added, a spire constructed in place of the old square tower and a bell procured; windows of colored glass were put in, and the handsome and commodious audience-room furnished with comforta- ble seats, and also a baptistery, making it substantially a new building. At the rededication a large congre- gation from the town and from sister churches in other places assembled to join in the services and ex- press their hearty interest in the revival of the so- ciety's prosperity. Mr. Conwell's novel methods and style of preaching attracted large congregations, and his pulpit ministrations proved very acceptable to the people. In the two years of his ministry he certainly wronght a great change in the affairs and prospects of the society. At the end of this time he received a call to a Baptist Church in Philadelphia, which was accepted, and in that new and larger sphere his suc- cess appears to have been equally extraordinary. The church building and the revived prosperity of the so- ciety are due to his persistent labors and his execu- tive ability-a monument to his zeal in the cause of denominational growth and up-building. Succeed- ing Mr. Conwell came Rev. Charles L. Rhoades, a man of marked ability and of sincere Christian con- viction and faith. He toiled earnestly for the pros- perity of the church, and made many devoted friends, both within and beyond the bounds of denominational lines. But the contrast between him and his prede- cessor was too great to secure the interest and appre- ciation of the people ; and, after a ministry of about a year, he left to take charge of a church in West Ac- ton. His withdrawal from the church produced some alienation and loss of members.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 169

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