History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 33

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 33

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Rev. W. S. Ayers, of Newton Theological Semi- nary, was ordained June 4, 1885, and is still the faithful pastor of the church.

On the last day of the year 1887 the wooden church in which worship had been maintained for nearly fifty years was burned to the ground. The church could ill afford to meet so great a loss, but with admirable generosity, courage and despatch a new and elegant house of brick has been erected. The new house is of the Romanesque style, and provided with every mod- ern convenience to meet the wants of a church.

The cost of the old church was $8000. The new church, which was dedicated Feb. 26, 1890, cost about $40,000. This sum includes the organ and all the in- terior equipments of the church.

The Third Baptist Church was organized in 1840, and in 1846 the edifice on John Street, now occupied by the Central Methodist Church, was erected for its occupancy at the cost of $14,000. This church, after a struggle of twenty-one years for success, was com- pelled to disband in 1861. Its pastors were: Rev. John G. Naylor, Rev. Ira Person, Rev. John Duncan, Rev. Sereno Howe, Rev. John Duer, Rev. J. Hubbard.

BAPTIST FRENCH MISSION .- This organization is under the auspices of the American Baptist Home Mission Society. It is not a church, but a mission. Those who labor in it are members of various Lowell churches. Its main design is to bring French Ro- man Catholics under the influence of Protestant churches. As early as 1871 Rev. N. Cyr commenced holding French services in Lowell, and a colporteur was employed to labor among the French people of the city. Rev. J. N. Williams succeeded Mr. Cyr. The services of these missionaries were conducted in the French language, the meetings being held in the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association and in the vestry of the First Baptist Church, and else- where, probably. The missionaries have not always resided in Lowell while conducting the mission. Rev. G. Aubin followed Mr. Williams in charge of the field. Mr. N. N. Aubin for some time had the oversight of the work. Then followed Rev. E. U. Brun. After Mr. Brun, Mr. N. N. Aubin, having completed his theological studies in the Newton Semi- nary, again, as a regularly appointed missionary, as- sumed the charge, under the auspices of the Baptist Home Mission Society.

As the result of the labors of this mission fifty-one French converts are reported to have joined the vari- ous Baptist churches of tho city.

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LOWELL.

BRANCH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH .- This church was organized July 1, 1869. Its house of worship, dedicated Jan. 16, 1872, is in a rapidly-growing part of the city. The auditorium is remarkable for its acoustic qualities, few, if any, large halls in the city equaling it in this respect. Its seating capacity is 1500. Present number of members, 419.

The first pastor of this church, Rev. E. A. Whittier, assumed the pastoral office at the organization of the church, July 1, 1869 ; Rev. G. F. Warren, Sept. 24, 1873; Rev. H. S. Pratt, Feb. 4, 1876; Rev. O. E. Mallory, the present pastor, was settled March 3, 1878.

The seats in this church are free, weekly offerings being relied upon to meet expenses.

FIFTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH .- This church was organized March 17, 1874. It had its origin in the religious wants of the part of the city in which it is situated.

Before the erection of its house of worship religious services were held in a chapel built in 1872.

Its house of worship on Fifth Street in Centralville was erected in 1879-80, and dedicated March 6, 1880, its cost, land included, being $20,000. It has a seat- ing capacity of 450.

The property is well situated as to its surroundings, with a roomy chapel in the rear of the church, in the second story of which is a. large social hall with a kitchen.

Like all other suburban churches, it has heretofore suffered from the tendency of church-goers to seek a house of worship on Sundays near the business cen- tre of the city, where they go to trade on week-days.

The church begins to feel the influence of the in- crease of the number of inhabitants in its vicinity, and is, on the whole, in a prosperous condition.

Its pastors have been as follows : Rev. T. J. B. House, settled March 17, 1874; Rev. M. C. Thwing, March 1, 1877 ; Rev. N. C. Mallory, January 1, 1882 ; Rev. J. J. Reader, June 12, 1886; Rev. L. G. Barrett, Jan- uary 1, 1888. Present number of members, 249.

HIGHLAND BAPTIST CHURCH .- Since June, 1889, Myron D. Fuller and John J. McCoy have held Gos- pel services in Highland Hall, Branch Street. A Sun- day-school has been formed. In October, 1889, it was resolved to form a church, and steps are being now taken to complete the organization. It is to be known as the Highland Baptist Church.

Methodist Churches .- The pastors of other denomi- nations frequently remain so long in office, and their lives are so intimately interwoven in the lives of their churches, that it has seemed almost a necessity, in giving the history of the churches, to give also a brief personal notice of the pastors. But in regard to pastors of Methodist Churches these personal no- tices are nearly precluded by the great number of pastors and the shortness of their periods of service. And yet the Christian Church has been blessed with no more eloquent and devout men of holy lives and

exalted character than are found in the Methodist denomination. The lives of such men well deserve even more than a brief record, but this short history cannot afford the space in which to give it. I am therefore obliged to do what I am not pleased to do, and to make the history of the Methodist Churches far too statistical to interest the general reader.

St. Paul's Church .- In the churches in any city and of any denomination it is worthy of remark that the number of women far exceeds the number of men. And it is not in numbers alone that they de- serve most the love and honor of the Christian Church. Such love and honor the Methodist Church has never failed to give, and it is to a devout woman that St. Paul's Church loves to trace its origin. This woman, Miss Phebe Higgins, is said to have been the first Methodist in the city of Lowell. She was a woman in humble station, but eminent for the parity of her life and conversation. She kept a journal of her experience and lived to the great age of eighty- seven years.

Mr. James R. Barnes, who came to Lowell in 1824, and who had been previously ordained as a local preacher, seems to have been mainly instrumental in forming the first Methodist Church in the city. In 1824, about the 1st of June, he formed a " class " of eleven persons in his own house in Dutton Street, on the Merrimack Corporation. Of this " class " he be- came the religious teacher, and this class was the germ from which sprang St. Paul's Methodist Church and also the Worthen Street Methodist Church. Until August, 1826, the Methodists of Lowell, though few in number, kept up religious meetings and enjoyed the occasional service of a preacher whenever such service could be secured. One of these occasional preachers, Rev. H. S. Ramsdell, says that on his com- ing to Lowell to preach on onc occasion Rev. Dr. Ed- son " very kindly opened his church for our accom- modation. He went to church with me and conduct- ed me into the desk." The Old Red School-house near Hale's Mills was the favorite place of meeting to the early Methodists. Mr. Jonathan Knowles kindly opened his house for class and prayer-meetings, " with a large cane keeping the bad men and boys quiet without, while the Methodists sang and prayed and exhorted within."

In the Conference year ending in June, 1827, 135 sermons were delivered in Lowell by no less than eleven clergyman, a record of them having been kept by a son of Mr. Knowles.

The number of worshipers at length outgrew the Old Red School-house, and a house of worship was erected. This house, situated near the site of the Court-House, on Chapel Hill, was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 29, 1827, two and a half years after the dedication of St. Anne's, and a few days before the dedication of the First Congregation- al Church on Merrimack Street. From this church or chapel the place took the name of "Chapel Hill."

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Though other denominations formcd "religious soci- etics " carlier than the Methodists, the Methodists claim that to them belongs the honor of being the first to form in Lowell a Christian Church.

About June 13, 1827, Rev. Hiram Walden was sta- tioned by authority as a preacher and pastor in Low- ell. On Dec, 14, 1827, Mr. Walden was succeeded by Rev. A. D. Merrill, under whom the church greatly prospered. On July 30, 1828, Rev. Benj. F. Lam- bord became pastor. On June 17, 1829, Rev. Aaron D. Sargeant was stationed in Lowell. On May 27, 1830, Rev. Ephraim K. Avery was appointed, under whom the membership rose from 227 to 451.

I need to do scarcely more than briefly to refer to the fact that in a few months after Mr. Avery had re- moved from Lowell to Bristol, R. I., in 1832, a young woman, Sarah M. Cornell, who was a member of liis church in Lowell, followed him to Rhode Island, and was, on Dec. 20th, foully murdered by some unknown hand. Circumstances painfully suspicious pointed to Mr. Avery as the murderer, and he was tried for the crime and acquited. The New England Conference re- solved that he was innocent. I cannot trace the subse- quent career of Mr. Avery, but can only state that nearly thirty-four years after this affair he was a highly respected citizen of Pittsfield, Ohio, and oc- casionally preached with great acceptance.

In 1831 an attempt was made to form a new Method- ist Church, and a house of worship for the new or- ganization was erected on Lowell and Suffolk Streets, -a large square, wooden house, without a steeple,- but in a few months the enterprise failed for want of pecuniary support. It was called The Second Metho- dist Church. In 1832 Rev. George Pickering and Rev. David Kilburn were appointed over the two churches.

In 1833 Rev. Abram D. Merrill was appointed. Under him the Methodists required two places of reli- gious worship-their chapel on Chapel Hill and the hall of the present C.ty Government Building on Merrimack Strect, then called the Town Hall. Low- ell was not yet a city. In 1834 the Methodists sc- cured as a place of worship the large house on Low- ell Street, which they liad vacated not long before, and worship was no longer held in the chapel or the Town Hall. In this new house of worship there canie a very powerful revival. About Jan., 1835, tlie chapel was re-opened, and during this year there were two places of worship. Under Mr. Merrill's ininistrations, the membership increased from 390 to 724. And now follow in succession as pastors : Rev. Ira M. Bidwell and Rev. Charles Noble, in 1835 ; Rev. Orange Scott and Rev. John Parker, in 1836; Rev. E. W. Stickney and Rev. John Lovejoy, in 1837.

Of the clergymen just mentioncd, Rev. Orange Scott became widely known and celebrated as an anti- slavery lecturer in those stirring days of anti-slavery agitation.

In 1837 the large brick church on Suffolk Street,

built by the Baptists and costing $20,000, was pur- chascd by the Methodists and occupied in place of tlie wooden house on Lowell (now Markct) Street. It is now owned by the Catholics.

It was on June 13, 1838, that Bishop Waugh divi- ded the one church worshiping in two separate places into two distinct churches, to be called respectively the Chapel Hill Church and the Wesley Chapel Church, appointing Mr. Stickney as pastor of the former, and Mr. Lovejoy pastor of the latter. From the former sprang the St. Paul's Church, and from the latter the Worthen Street Church. As the St. Paul's Church occupied the first house of worship erected by the Methodists of Lowell on Chapel Hill, it may in a popular sense, be called the "Mother Church," but in reality, both the St. Paul Church and the Worthen Street Church have the same origin and the same age.

Leaving for the present the history of the newly- formed Wesley Chapel Church worshiping on Lowell . Street, we will trace that of the mother church on Chapel Hill. The chapel becoming too much crowded, a hall on Hurd and Central Streets was hired to receive the overflow till the new church, now being erected between Hurd and Warren Sts., could be completed. This church was dedicated on Nov. 14, 1839, its incorporated name being " The St. Paul's Church. In the year of this dedication Rev. Orange Scott, having relinquished his employment as an anti-slavery lecturer, was for a second time the pastor. The new church was erected on a somewhat romantic spot where there was a sandy knoll, a burial-place of the Indians, some of whose skeletons were found in removing the knoll.

In 1841 a very serious conflict arose between the bishop of the diocese and the church. The church had requested the appointment of Rev. Schuyler Hoes, of Ithaca, N. Y., as pastor. This the bishop refused to grant, and appointed Rev. Joseph A. Mer- rill. The people and the church rebelled, and Mr. Merrill was denied admissiou to the pulpit. The re- sult of the conflict was that Bishop Hedding came to Lowell, and through his conciliatory course peace was restored, Mr. Hoes receiving the appointment. Under Mr. Hoes the church's membership was in- creased by 175, there having been a revival following the preaching of the Evangelist, Elder Knapp, in the neighboring Baptist Church.

In the pastorate of Mr. Hoes also occurred the "great secession " from St. Paul's Church, under the leadership of Rev. Orange Scott, a secession in which more than half the male members of the church united. The seceding members formed a new church called the Wesleyan Methodist Church, purchased tlie vacated Methodist chapel on Chapel Hill, and moved it to Prescott Street for their house of worship. Here the church liad for pastors, Rev. E. S. Potter, Rev. James Hardy, Rev. Merritt Bates, Rev. Win. H. Brewster and Rev. Daniel Foster, thic

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last of whom entered the army and was killed in bat- tle at Fort Harrison, while in command of a company of the Thirty-seventh Colored Troops.

The occasion of this Wesleyan secession was the neglect of the National M. E. Church to discipline members in the South who peristed in holding slaves. and for alleged complicity with slavery. The subse- quent course of the national church, however, was so satisfactory to anti-slavery men that, by degrees, most of the seceders returned to the fold, and the se- cession movement was one of short duration.

The space allowed for the history of St. Paul's Church is so far exhausted that I have room only to mention the list of pastors since 1842, a list which contains many gifted men of commanding eloquence. I give the date of appointment in connection with each name. Rev. Wm. H. Hatch, in 1843; Rev. Stephen Remington, in 1845 ; Rev. Charles K. True, D.D., in 1846; Rev. Alphonso A. Willetts, in 1848; Rev. Wm. S. Studley, also in 1848; Rev. John H. Twombly, in 1849; Rev. Gershom F. Cox, in 1851; Rev. L. D. Barrows, D.D., in 1853; Rev. Daniel E. Chapin, in 1855; Rev. George MI. Steele, in 1856; Rev. Henry MI. Loud, in 1858; Rev. Wm. R. Clark, in 1860; Rev. Daniel Dorchester, in 1862; Rev. Sam- uel F. Upham, in 1864; Rev. Sylvester F. Jones in 1867 ; Rev. D. C. Knowles, in 1870; Rev. T. Burton Smith, in 1872; Rev. W'm. S. Studley, in 1875; Rev. Merritt Hulburd, in 1877; Rev. Charles D. Hills, in 1879; Rev. Hiram D. Weston, in 1882; Rev. Charles F. Rice, in 1885 ; Rev. Charles E. Davis, in 1888.

Worthen Street Methodist Church .- For the history of this church prior to June 13, 1838, I refer the reader to my account of St. Paul's Methodist Church, for up to that date the two churches were one and the same church. The original church, before its di- vision, had worshiped in the Old Red School-house, in the chapel on Chapel Hill, in the Town Hall, in the wooden church on Market Street, and in the brick church on Suffolk Street. As the exigency de- manded, it had had sometimes one pastor and some- times two, sometimes one house of worship and some- times two. But after the division of the original church into two distinct churches, called the Chapel Hill Church and the Wesley Chapel, the latter, now the Worthen Street Church, worshiped for three years in the brick house on Suffolk Street.

In tracing the history of the Worthen Street M. E. Church, I begin with a list of all its pastors from 1838 to the present time, after which, with this list before us, I shall give a brief account of the church. The pastors, with the date of their appointment, have been as follows :

1838, John Lovejoy ; 1839, Jotham Horton ; 1841, A. D. Sargeant ; 1843, A. D. Merrill ; 1845, J. Springer, J. Sanborn ; 1847, I. A. Savage ; 1843, C. Adame ; 1851, I. J. P. Collyer ; 1853, M. A. Howe ; 1855, J. W. Dadmun; 1857, A. D. Sargeant ; 1858, W. H. Hatch ; 1860, A. D. Sar- geant ; 1861, L. R. Thayer, Chester Field ; 1863, W. H. Hatch ; 1864, J. O. Peck ; 1867, George Whittaker ; 1870, George S. Chadburne ; 1873, D. H. Ela ; 1875, F. J. Wagner ; 1878, George Collyer ; 1881, N. T.

Whitaker ; 1884, E. R. Thorndike; 1887, W. T. Worth ; 1888, W. T. Perrin.

From 1834 to 1841 peace and harmony reigned. But in 1841 came the great conflict between the bishop and the two Lowell churches ou the subject of slavery. The Lowell churches, believing that the National M. E. Church had truckled to the slave power, were unwilling to accept as pastors the cler- gymen appointed by the bishop. To the Wesley Chapel the bishop had appointed, in 1841, Rev. A. D. Sargeant. The church refused to receive him, and elected Rev. Wm. H. Brewster as their pastor. Mr. Sargeant, with 173 members of the church, held relig- ious services in Mechanics' Hall until the new house of worship ou Worthen Street was completed in the following year. This house of worship, dedicated in 1842, still remains the house of worship of the Wor- then Street M. E. Church. Its original cost was $9000.

Respecting the general character of this church, I can do no better than to quote the language of Rev. N. T. Whittaker, its pastor in 1884:

"The Worthen Street Church has always been a revival church. More than 10,000 have been enrolled upon her records as members. More than 15,000 souls have professed conversion at her altars. The church is remarkable for her harmonious, benevolent and progressive spirit, and is thoroughly consecrated to the service of Christ."

The present pastor, Rev. W. T. Perrin, is a clear- thinking, genial man, and a successful pastor.

In 1889 and 1890 the church edifice was almost entirely reconstructed at an expense of $13,000.

Central Methodist Church .- The years of 1851 and 1852 were years of unusual religious interest in the Methodist Churches of Lowell. Crowds gathered at the houses of worship. Rev. Mr. Collyer, of the Worthen Street Church, seemed to be endowed with great power over the minds of his hearers. This state of things naturally suggested a new Methodist Church to meet the growing numbers and the kindling en- thusiasm.

Accordingly a new church organization was formed, and the building opposite our post-office now known as Barristers' Hall was hired for a place of worship. This building had been erected for the Third Uni- versalist Society, formed in 1843 and subsequently dis- banded.

The first pastor of the new church, the Rev. William Studley, an eloquent man, was appointed in April, 1854. His successor, Rev. I. S. Cushman, pastor of the church in 1856-57, filled the sacred office under great discouragements. These years were years of financial distress. Many mills closed, their operatives leaving the city for their homes in the country, and these causes depleted the number of worshipers and brought gloom and discouragement.

Next follows Rev. I. J. P. Collyer, a man of ardent zeal and skilful leadership. The church revived

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

again. Rev. Chester Field came to the church as pastor in 1860, amidst the rumors of war. The num- ber of the young men worshiping in this church who enlisted in the army, seriously impaired its cf- ficiency and property.

Next follows in 1861, Rev. L. R. Thayer, who infused new life into the church. Its numbers in- creased. It was during Mr. Thayer's pastorate that this church purchased of the Baptists the house on John Street which it now occupies, for $8000. Mr. Thayer had a large place in the hearts of his people.

In 1863 Rev. J. H. Mansfield was appointed to the pastorate of the church, and in 1865 the Rev. Andrew Mckeown. Under both these pastors the prosperity of the church continued, the debt of $4000 being paid off.

In 1867 Rev. Wm. High began a ministry of three years, in which $5000 was expended in improving the house of worship.

In 1870 Rev. Fred Woods became pastor, and in 1872 Rev. Daniel Dorchester, a man who has since attained a high reputation, having been recently ap- pointed by President Harrison a commissioner to the Indians.

Rev. J. H. Mansfield, in 1874, was a second time appointed pastor of this church, and was in the sacred office three years.

Then follow Rev. M. B. Chapman, Rev. Geo. L. Westgate, Rev. W. W. Foster, Jr., Rev. I. H. Packard, Rev. S. B. Sweeter, Rev. J. N. Short.

Mr. Short is the present incumbent. The member- ship of the church is about 300.

Centralville Methodist Church .- The village of Cen- tralville, which constitutes all that part of Lowell which was in 1851 set off from the town of Dracut, on the north side of the Merrimack River, contained at the last census about 8000 inhabitants. Since that time the population has rapidly increased. Up to 1886 only one church of any denomination had been erected in the village. In the latter part of that year, Rev. C. V. Dunning, presiding clder of the Dover District, New Hampshire Conference, carefully looked over the ground and fixed his eye on a desirable location for a church, and reported the whole matter to the en- suing Conference in 1887. Accordingly the Bishop of the New Hampshire Conference, to whose Episco- pal jurisdiction the village belonged, advised the for- mation of such a church, and in May, 1887, he ap- pointed Rev. Sullivan Holman as its pastor.

The church was organized with only four members on June 19, 1887. A lot for a church edifice on Bridge and Hildreth Streets was purchased, and divine wor- ship was held for one year in a cottage standing on the lot.

The work of erecting a house of worship was promptly begun, and at the present time the vestry in the basement story is finished and is used for the meetings of the church.

The enterprise is still in its infancy. It occupies

an important position, and is surrounded by a rapidly increasing population. The fact that the member- ship has already increased from four to sixty or sev- cnty, bears witness to the fidelity of the pastor and the zeal of the people.

The house of worship is to be of brick and will probably cost about $18,000.

The Berean Primitive Methodist Church .- In 1884 the population of Lowell had extended so far up the Concord River, that there seemed to be an evident call for the work of a church in that quarter of the city. Accordingly a mission school was established by the Methodists on October 3, 1884, and a small hall was built for its use on land owned by Mr. James Dugdale, on Lawrence Street. The leaders of this enterprise were Rev. J. A. McGreaham and Mr. Thomas Leland.

After two years the ball on Lawrence Street was sold, and the church, which was first organized as a mission school, moved into its new house of worship on Moore Street, near Lawrence Street. This house was first occupied in December, 1886, but was dedi- cated May 7, 1887.

The first pastor of this church, Rev. G. J. Jeffries, was appointed May 10, 1887.

The second and present pastor, Rev. T. G. Spencer, was appointed May 8, 1889. The cost of the house of worship was $2500. Its seating capacity is 300.

First . Primitive Methodist Church .- This church was organized in 1871. Like other Primitive Meth- odist Churches, it differs from the Methodist Episco- pal Churches in rejecting Episcopal control and in adhering to what is believed to be the primitive apos- tolic methods of the early Christian Churches.

The church was organized in a hall near Davis' Corner, where worship was held. The present house of worship on Gotham Street was erected in 1871, at the cost of $8000. It will seat 400 persons and large congregations attend its services.

The present number of members is 195. Since the erection of the church, a parsonage has been built on Congress Street, in the rear of the church.

The following are the names of the pastors of this church as appointed by the Conference : Rev. William Kirby, Rev. Joseph Parker, Rev. George Parker, Rev. Charles Spnrr. No successor to Mr. Spurr was ap- pointed for three or four years, the church mean- time being disbanded.

On January 5, 1879, it was reorganized, and Rev. N. W. Matthews appointed pastor. He served four years, and was succeeded by Rcv. J. A. McGreaham, and then by the present pastor, Rev. T. M. Bateman, uuder whom the church prospers.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 33

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