History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 32

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 32

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Dr. Street had reached the age of seventy-two years. His successor, the Rev. Charles W, Hunting- ton, was installed February 29, 1888, having been pastor of the Central Church in Providence, R. I. The house of worship, when purchased of St. Luke's Society, attracted observation and criticism for its peculiar style of Gothic architecture. The walls were surmounted with pinnacles, and its whole aspect was novel in the extreme. The poet Whittier is quite severe in his remarks upon it. I quote from his "Stranger in Lowell ": "The attention of the stranger is also attracted by another consecrated building on the hill-slope in Belvidere-one of Irving's ' Shingle Palaces,' painted in imitation of stone-a great wooden sham, 'whelked and horned' with pine spires and turrets, a sort of whittled representation of the many-headed beast of the Apocalypse."

But the horns have been removed, and the building is now a modest and attractive house of worship. HIGHLAND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. - The " Highlands" of Lowell, extending westward far away from the older Congregational Churches of Lowell, and being rapidly occupied by the new resi- dences of a thrifty and enterprising class of citizens, seemed, as early as 1883, to call for a new church in that part of the city. In accordance with this senti- ment the "Highland Congregational Association " was formed in February of that year. Under the auspices of this association religious services began to be held in Highland Hall, March 11, 1883. Until a church was formed meetings were held in this hall, the pastors of other churches giving their services as preachers in aid of the new enterprise.

On January 1, 1884, "The Highland Congrega- tional Church " was duly organized by an ccclesias- tical council, the services of recognition being held in the Eliot Church. Rev. Dr. C. W. Wallace, of

Manchester, N. H., was the acting pastor of this church for the first six months. The first pastor, the Rev. S. Winchester Adriance, was educated at Dart- mouth College and the Theological Seminaries of Andover and Princeton. His installation took place January 1, 1885. The first house of worship erected by this church was a wooden edifice, first occupied in December,1884. But the rapid increase in numbers soon demanded larger accommodations, and in 1888, a new edifice of brick, capable of holding 800 worshipers, was erected. This elegant house, on Westford Street, (erected at a cost of about $35,000), surrounded, as it is, by private dwellings recently erected in modern style, with fine lawns around them, may well be called, " beautiful for situation, the joy " of the High- lands of the city. The number of members of this church, which was only fifty-three in 1884, has rapidly risen to 223 in 1889. A bright prospect lies' before it; but its history is short, because its days have been few.

THIRD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- Disbanded churches also have a history. As early as 1832 the worshipers at the First Congregational Church found themselves too numerous for proper accommodation in their house of worship. On June 25, 1832, a meet- ing was held in the vestry of this church, with the view of forming a new Congregational Church. A council was called to meet July 2, 1832. This council sanctioned the enterprise, and the third Congrega- tional Church was duly organized.

The first and only pastor of this church, Rev. Giles Pease, of Coventry, Rhode Island, was installed October 2, 1833. The place of worship was the large wooden building erected by the Methodists on the corner of Market and Suffolk Streets, now no longer used as a church. The financial irregularities of its treasurer compelled it to give up its house of worship . in 1833, and hold its meetings in the Town Hall. Subsequently this church purchased the "theatre building," the second building above Worthen Street on the north side of Market Street, at the cost of $4000. At the dedication of this building as a church it is said that the unusually large audience was due in part to the fact that a wag had given no- tice that a performance would be given that evening at the theatre.

In 1834 this church tried the free church system. But the enterprise languished and was given up in 1838. There is no record of its last days, but the tra- dition is that the members voted themselves letters of dismission to other churches of their choice.

THE FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH .- This church is, in its government and creed, of the Congregational order. It had its origin in the religious wants of the great number of French people who, in later years, have come to the city from the British Provinces.

Fifty years ago almost all the operatives in our mills were of New England origin. By degrees Irish lıclp was very extensively employed. And then fol-

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lowed the French from Canada and elsewhere, until now, as I am told by an overseer in one of our mills, the French operatives even outnumber the Irish. They prove to be intelligent and quick to learn.

The French who have come to Lowell are mainly Catholic. They seem to be a devout people and they throng St. Joseph's Church, on Lee Street. Already a second church of spacious dimensions is being erected on Merrimack Street for the accommodation of our French Catholic population. Its name is to be St. Jean Baptiste Church.

But among the French inhabitants of Lowell there is a goodiy number of Protestants. For these the French Protestant Church was established. Its or- ganization took place July 3, 1877. Worship, which has always been conducted in the French tongue, was maintained in the hall of the Young Men's Christian Association and perhaps elsewhere, until the erection of the elegant French church on Bowers and Fletcher Streets. This church, including the land, cost $14,000. It is of brick and was erected about seven years ago.

Rev. T. S. A. Coté was pastor from July 3, 1877, to March 1, 1884 ; Rev. C. E. Amaron, from May 1, 1884, to November 1, 1886 ; Rev. Joseph Morin, from De- cember 1, 1886, to July 1, 1888; Rev. T. A. Derome, acting pastor, from October 15, 1888, to April 15, 1889; Rev. Joseph H. Paradis has been pastor since Sep- tember 16, 1889. The resident membership is seventy- one.

SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH .- This new church enterprise affords an illustration of the well-known fact that people of any nationality, when in a strange land, love to unite in a religious worship which recalls the memories of their early home.

This church was organized in 1882. For about five years it had no settled pastor, its pulpit being sup- plied by theological students and other clergymen. Until 1885 the place of worship was in the First Pres- byterian Church on Appleton Street, and perhaps in other places. In 1885 a church was erected on Meadow- craft Street at a cost of about $6000. It is of wood, and is capable of seating 400 persons.

The first pastor, Rev. L. H. Beck, was settled in 1887. Rev. J. V. Soderman became pastor August 29, 1889, and is still in service.

SWEDISH EVANGELICAL MISSION .- This mission was organized June 13, 1885. Its methods are those of the Congregational Churches. It worshiped at first in Parker Hall, on Gorham Street, and subse- quently in the church of the Primitive Methodists, on Gorham Street. The house of worship which the mission first erected was dedicated May 21, 1886. This building was burned November 6, 1887. Their present house, on London Street, was promptly erected at a cost of $4000. The seating capacity of this church is 300 in the auditorium, and 165 in the vestry, which is in the lower story. This mission has received valuable aid from the Kirk Street Congrega-

tional Church in furnishing its house of worship. It is almost free from debt.

Its pastors have been Rev. Fritz Erickson, whose pastorate began May 21, 1886, and Rev. Emil Holm- blad, the present pastor, who assumed the duties of his office January 6, 1889.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .-- This church was organized June 23, 1869. It is the only Ameri- can Presbyterian Church in Lowell, and is under the Presbytery of Boston and Synod of New York of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.

The roll of the church contains the names of 250 members, some of whom are non-residents. The roll of the Sunday-school contains 270 names, the average attendance being nearly 200.

The congregation worshiping with this church is composed largely of citizens of Scotch descent.

The first pastor was Rev. John Brash, who was in- stalled October 26, 1869. He was succeeded by Rev. Alfred C. Roe, brother of the novelist, who was in- stalled November 1, 1870. The third pastor, Rev. Soltan F. Calhoun, was installed in October, 1871. The present pastor, Rev. Robert Court, D.D., was in- stalled May 6, 1874.

Dr. Court was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and is an alumnus of Glasgow University and also of the Free Church Theological College, Glasgow. Before coming to Lowell he was settled at Malcom, Ia., for five years. He is distinguished for his scholarship, for his vast accumulation of knowledge, and for a re- markable memory, which readily affords him abun- dant material for the discussion of almost any subject in the range of human learning.

In its early days this church worshiped in Jack- son Hall and in various other places. It purchased its present house of worship, on Appleton Street, of the Appleton Street Congregational (now Eliot) Church for $15,000, and began to worship in it about January 1, 1874.

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- This church is in its infancy. Its members are an excel- lent class of citizens, mainly of Scotch and provincial origin.

The church was formed February 22, 1888. Its pas- tor, Rev. F. H. Larkin, was inducted into the sacred office September, 1888. He was educated in Mon- treal. The church worships in Mechanics' Hall, its membership being about 100.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH .- This church was organ- ized February 6, 1826. It was the second church formed in the original territory of the city, St. Anne's Episcopal being the first. From the organization of St. Anne's Church in 1824 until two other churches (the First Baptist and the First Congregational) bad been formed, in 1826, a certain amount was regularly deducted froin the pay of the operatives in the Mer- rimack Mills to support religious worship at St. An- ne's. To many of the operatives this tax was dis- tasteful, and to some it scemed oppressive. The tax

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was abandoned, the public opinion against it being very strongly expressed.

As carly as 1825 the Baptists began to consider the question of forming a church of their own persuasion. Prayer-mectings were held in private houses. It is even asserted, and probably with truth, that one and perhaps two Baptist clergymen preached sermons in private dwellings before the first sermon of Dr. Ed- son was preached, on March 7, 1824. The house of Jonathan C. Morrill, the first postmaster of Lowell, seems to have been the place in which most of these early devotional meetings of the Baptists were held, and for this reason it has been styled a tent in the wilderness. These earnest and crowded meetings seem to have given offence to Mr. Kirk Boott, agent of the mills, but the Baptists bravely held their ground.

Only nine months after the organization of the church their first house of worship was dedicated. The dedication of the house and the installation of their first pastor, Rev. John Cookson, took place on the same day, November 15, 1826. This first house, situated on Church Street, is the same as that in which the church now worships. Great alterations and improvements have, however, been made in it. The selection of the spot on which the church stands has a somewhat romantic interest. A young lady, who was baptized and admitted to the church soon after its organization, was importuned by Mr. Thomas Hurd, an early manufacturer in Lowell, to enter his mill as an operative. She had objections on ac- count of the distance of the mills from her home, but finally said: "I will come and work for you if you will give our little church a lot of land to build a meeting-house on." "I will," was the prompt reply, and the result was that the present site was selected. The land thus donated by Mr. Hurd had not a high value, perhaps about $150, and was rather low, hav- ing between it and Central Street a marshy spot, over which a dry path was made by ineans of boards and shavings which the brethren brought to the spot on their way to the Saturday evening meetings. The church members must have been a feeble band at first, for when the first pastor was called only nine votes were cast, and three of those in the negative. From such small beginnings has sprung one of the strongest church organizations in our city. It seems, however, that the "society " was stronger than the church, The members of the "society " embraced some of the most prominent and worthy citizens, and with these men the pastor chosen by the church was far fromn being popular. The result was that Mr. Cookson, yielding to the many charges made against him, as being an unfit man for his position, resigned his office not many months after his settlement. He seems to have been a good pastor, and in his short pastorate many new members were added to the church. He was born in England, and after acting as pastor of churches in Malden and Lowell, Mass., and in Morrisania, N. Y., he returned to England.

But the resignation of Mr. Cookson did not restore harmony. The man selected by the church as second pastor did not please the "society," and so for months there was no pastor of the church.

At length Rev. Enoch W. Freeman was selected for the sacred office, and was installed June 4, 1828. The pastorate of Mr. Freeman was one of great prominence and importance in the history of the church. He was a man of marked and peculiar character. He graduated from Waterville College in 1827, at the age of twenty-ninc years, and in only one year after his graduation he became pastor of the church in Lowell.

The signs of disaffection which had existed early in Mr. Freeman's ministry became very apparent upon his marriage to his cousin, a woman who had been divorced from her husband, and liad a tarnished reputation. As time passed, new causes of suspicion and scandal arose. One Kenney, of Boston-a man of intemperate habits and a gambler, who had once been a lover of Mrs. Freeman-was wont to frequent the parsonage in Lowell. On one Sunday afternoon Mr. Freeman began the religious services in the usual way; but, on reading the second hymn, he was attacked with sickness of a peculiar nature, and was borne tenderly from the church to his home, where he died on the succeeding Tuesday. His widow ere long married Mr. Kenney. About four years after this marriage Mr. Kenney died under such suspi- cious circumstances that his wife was strongly sus- pected of poisoning him, and she was tried for mur- der. The body of Mr. Freeman was exhumed, and found to be surcharged with poison. The two hus- bands, as well as the father of Mr. Freeman, had died with similar symptoms and under very suspi- cious circumstances, and there were many who fully believed that the suspected woman was a second Lu- cretia Borgia. The absence of a sufficient motive for the commission of such horrid crimes was probably the only consideration that secured her acquittal.

The sensation occasioned by this painful affair produced a feeling in the church destructive to all Christian fellowship and harmony. Religion and scandal cannot live together in peace. The 'fearful wrong by which the pastor's life was taken away created in those who loved him and believed him a murdered man the profoundest sympathy. This sym- pathy prepared them to be dissatisfied with his suc- cessor, whoever he might be. Nobody could fill the place of the beloved, the murdered Mr. Frceman.

His successor, the Rev. Joseph W. Eaton, a recent graduate of Newton Seminary, and a young man of great promise, was ordained February 24, 1836. But the hearts of the people seemed shut against him. "Hc felt the shadow of Frecman falliug cvery where." He was charged with preaching an imprudent ser- mon, and was asked to resign. Only one short year before, he had received an almost unanimous vote, inviting him to come, and now an almost unanimous

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vote invites him to leave. The church was without a pastor during most of 1837. The dissensions were not healed. A council was called to settle difficul- ties. Men who had been set aside for their opposi- tion to Mrs. Freeman were restored to fellowship. At length the true character of the suspected woman appeared ; she was excluded from the church, and the dark shadow passed away.

The third pastor, Rev. Joseph Ballard, was installed December 25, 1837. He proved to be the man most needed by the distracted church. "He brought ex- perience, character and firmness. It needed just such a man to adjust matters and restore quiet and order. Under him the church flourished, and in 1840, 137 new members were added."

It was in Mr. Ballard's ministry that the extensive revival occurred under the preaching of the great revi- valist, Rev. Jacob Knapp, whose services were held in the First Baptist Church. "No such revival ever occurred in Lowell. It was general, deep, permanent in its results. The records of the church that year were like the bulletins of a conqueror."

Mr. Ballard, on coming to Lowell, was in the pritne of manhood, being thirty-eight years of age, and he did a noble work in bringing to the church harmony and strength and great prosperity. His pastorate in Lowell continued eight years. He had been settled over churches in Medfield and Hyannis, Mass., and in South Berwick, Me. After leaving Lowell he preached for several years in Yorkville, N. Y.

On January 29, 1846, Rev. Daniel C. Eddy was or- dained as pastor of this church. He was only twenty- three years of age, and this was his first pastorate. He had been educated for the ministry in the New Hampton Theological Seminary, and came to Lowell with fresh zeal and bright promise of future useful- ness and distinction in his sacred calling. This prom- ise he has abundantly fulfilled. Few clergymen have gained a more commanding influence or risen to a higher position as orators or as men than he. He gave strength to his church, and though very young, he soon proved himself the peer of any clergyman in the city. His pastorate continued eleven years. Since leaving Lowell he has been the pastor of churches in Boston, Fall River and Philadelphia.

Rev. Wm. H. Alden, a graduate of Brown Univer- sity, was installed as pastor June 10, 1857. He had been settled in Attleborough before coming to Low- ell, and since leaving Lowell he has been settled in Albany, N. Y., and in Portsmouth, N. H. He proved a very acceptable pastor, especially in social life and pastoral duty.

Rev. Wm. E. Stanton was ordained to the sacred of- fice November 2, 1865, and continued in service until 1870, when ill-health compelled him to resign. He was a young man of excellent spirit and devout Christian character. He was a graduate of Madison University and Theological Institution.

Upon leaving Lowell he sought health in Florida,

where he labored successfully for the Home Mission- ary Society.

Rev. Norman C. Mallory was settled July 1, 1870, and continued in the pastorate four years. He was a graduate of Madison University and Theological Sem- inary. He had previously preached in Morrisville, N. Y., and in Manchester, N. H. On leaving Lowell he took charge of a church in Detroit, Mich. He filled his office well and especially excelled as a sermon- izer.

Rev. Orson E. Mallory was settled in March, 1875. It is an interesting fact that the three pastors last mentioned were classmates in Madison University, and graduated the same day. Mr. Mallory is now pastor of the Branch Street Baptist Church in Lowell.

On May 1, 1878, Rev. T. M. Colwell was installed as pastor. Dr. Colwell was a man of marked ability, and he gained, while pastor of the church, a command- ing influence. His connection with the well-known "Colwell Motor" enterprise, in the minds of some, greatly impaired his reputation, while others still cling to him with affection and with faith in the hon- esty of his conduct and the uprightness of his char- acter.

Rev. John Gordon was installed as pastor in Feb- ruary, 1885. He was a man of Scotch descent, and of decided talent, but as a pastor hie proved a man so positive in his convictions and so blunt and dogmatic in the expression of them, that he failed to gain the favor of his parishioners.

Rev. Alexander Blackburn, the present pastor, was ordained October 23, 1887. Under his administration the church is in a prosperous condition, the "known list" of members being 629. This church sustains a Sabbath-school of 580 members, and is engaged in other benevolent enterprises.

WORTHEN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH .- The his- tory of this church apparently begins with a meeting held on September 6, 1831, in the vestry of the First Baptist Church, in order to take measures for the for- mation of a second Baptist Church in Lowell. As the result of this and a subsequent meeting an eccle- siastical council met on September 13, 1831, at the house of Deacon S. C. Oliver, and duly formed a new sister church of "Baptist faith and order." In the Town-Hall, which had been engaged by the new so- ciety as a place of worship, a religious service was held on the evening of the same day, at which Rev. Mr. Barnaby, of Danvers, preached, and the new church was duly recognized.

Rev. James Barnaby, the first pastor of this church, was installed on July 5, 1832. In these early days the church grew rapidly in numbers. It took high ground on the great moral questions of the day, espe- cially on that of temperance. The first house of wor- ship, a neat and commodious building of brick, situ- ated on Suffolk Street, was completed as early as July, 1833. This building is now in the hands of the

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Catholics. After serving in the sacred office three years, Mr. Barnaby resigned the pastorate. It is worthy of remark, in regard to him, that over one church, that of West Harwick, he was settled four times, and that during his life as a pastor he baptized over 2800 persons.

On October 29, 1835, Rev. Lemuel Porter, of tlie Newton Theological Seminary, was recognized as the second pastor of this church. He proved a skillful and capable leader of his flock. During his pastorate of more than fifteen ycars the church was eminently prosperous, the number of members in 1847 being estimated as high as nearly 900. In 1851 Mr. Por- ter's resignation was accepted. He died in October, 1864, while in service as secretary of the American Tract Society.

The Rev. James W. Smith, a student from Newton Theological Seminary, became pastor of this church in 1851, and served in the sacred office two years. After leaving Lowell he was a pastor in Philadelphia for twenty-six years. The Lowell church gave him up with deep regret.

Rev. D. S. Winn, also from the Newton Seminary, was, on September 14, 1853, ordained as pastor, and entered heartily and hopefully upon his work. After about two years of service he accepted a call to a church in Salem,

Rev. T. D. Worrall, from Mt. Holly, N. J., became pastor in 1855, and served the church till 1857.

Rev. J. W. Bonham was pastor from 1857 to 1860. He was an earnest and faithful pastor, and his church gave him up with regret.

Rev. Geo. F. Warren, of Attleboro', was installed in October, 1860. Under Mr. Warren's efficient ad- ministration of seven years the flagging courage of the church returned, the church debt was cleared away and his pastorate was marked with union and strength. In 1867 he accepted a call to Malden, Mass.

Rev. S. R. Morse, of East Cambridge, was pastor of this church from 1867 to 1870. His faithful labors and the kindness of his heart are still tenderly recol- lected by those who enjoyed his ministrations. It was in his pastorate that the Branch Street Mission was started, the Third Baptist Church and the Central Baptist Church having become extinct.

Rev. Henry Miller, of Elizabeth, N. J., came to this churchi as pastor early in 1872, and remained two years. To the great regret of his church in Lowell he accepted a call to the Plymouth Baptist Church in New York City. For about one year previous to April, 1873, the church was without a pastor.

Rev. E. A. Lecompte, of Syracuse, was installed as pastor on Sept. 9, 1874. He found much to discour- age him in performing the duties of his office. The church had had no pastor for many months, the mill operatives were no longer Protestants and worshipers in Protestant Churches, and it was difficult for the most faithful pastor to sustain the interests and pros- perity of the churchi.

Mr. Lecompte died Marchi 2, 1880. He was much beloved, and the words of James have been affection- atcly applied to his character : "First pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits." The vacancy in the pastor- ate following the death of Mr. Lecompte, in March, 1880, was filled by Rev. J. C. Emory, under whose successful ministration of five ycars the church debt was paid, aud 170 new members were added.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 32

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1226

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226