History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 34

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 34

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Highland Methodist Episcopal Church .-- This church was organized March 12, 1875. Until Junc, 1876, divine service was held in Highland Hall, on Branch Strect. The house of worship now occupied by this church is situated on Loriug Strect and was dedicated June 11, 1876.

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Services preparatory to the formation of a church were held in Highland Hall as early as September, 1874, the desk being occupied generally by students from the Boston Theological School. But early in 1875 Rev. G. W. H. Clark became the pastor and con- tinued in office until September, 1875.

From September, 1875, to April, 1877, Rev. J. H. Mansfield, pastor of the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, assisted by the other Methodist pastors of the city, supplied the pulpit.

The following is the list of pastors since appointed to this church, with the dates of their appointment : Rev. Abner R. Gregory, April, 1877; Rev. G. H. Clark, April, 1878 ; Rev. Austin H. Herrick, April, 1879; Rev. E. A. Smith, April, 1881; Rev. W. H. Meredith, April, 1884; Rev. W. W. Colburn, April, 1887 ; Rev. Alexander Dight, the present pastor, April, 1889. Present membership, 200.

This church occupies a position of much import- ance in one of the most beautiful and most rapidly increasing parts of the city, and it was to meet the wants of this thriving and attractive section of Lowell that the church was established.

South Congregational Society .- This is familiarly known as the Unitarian Church. Its first germ of re- corded history is found in a meeting held on August 30, 1829, in the house of Thomas Ordway, well known in after years as the clerk of the city of Lowell, to consider the expediency of forming a Unitarian So- ciety. The result was that such a society was organ- ized at a subsequent meeting, held on September 26, 1829, in the stone house near Pawtucket Falls, long known as the residence of Dr. J. C. Ayer. Among the founders of this society were many of the most distinguished men of the city. I need mention only the names of Judge Thomas Hopkinson, Judge Jo- seph Locke, Samuel L. Dana, LL.D., Dr. John C. Dalton, Judge Seth Ames, Dr. Elisha Bartlett, first mayor of the city, Samuel Batchelder, Hon. Luther Lawrence, second mayor of Lowell, and James G. Carney, a well-known banker.

Rev. Wm. Barry, the first pastor of this church, was ordained November 17, 1830, the services of ordi- nation being held in the First Baptist Church. Up to this time the society had worshiped in the Free Chapel on Middlesex Street. Mr. Barry's pastorate continued four years. He was a graduate of Brown's University and of the Harvard Divinity School. After leaving Lowell he was settled over a church in Framingham, and afterwards he returned to Lowell and became the pastor of the Lee Street Unitarian Church. He was a man of thorough education, re- fined taste and pure life. He recently died in the city of Chicago. Though not a man of vigorous health, he attained a great age.

On December 14, 1836, Rev. Henry A. Miles was installed as second pastor of this church. Dr. Miles graduated at Brown University in 1829, and at Har- vard Divinity School in 1832, and had, before coming

to Lowell, been settled for four years over a church in Hallowell, Me. His pastorate in Lowell continued nearly seventeen years. Since leaving Lowell he has served for six years as secretary of the American Uni- tarian Association. He has also engaged in literary work, having written several theological books. While in Lowell he wrote the first published history of the city, a work of much merit, and entitled, "Lowell As It Was and As It Is."

Two years after the resignation of Mr. Miles a call was extended to Mr. Theodore Tebbets. He accepted the call, and was ordained as pastor September 19, 1855. At the time of receiving this call he had not yet completed his course in Harvard Divinity School. Only ten days after entering upon his charge he was attacked by a violent and long-lingering fever, which compelled him to resign his office in order to restore, if possible, his impaired health, but he never fully re- covered. He died in Medford in 1863, at the age of thirty-two years. He was an accomplished man, having in college taken a high rank and having grad- uated with high honors.

Rev. Frederick Hinckley, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, was installed as pastor of this church November 12, 1856. He had, before coming to Lowell, been settled over churches in Windsor, Vt., and Norton and Haverhill, Mass, His ministry closed in 1864, after a service of eight years. He was subsequently pastor of churches in Boston and Wash- ington, D. C.

Rev. Charles Edward Grinnell, the fifth pastor of this church, before his ordination in Lowell, gradu- ated at Harvard College, and studied in the Yale Theological School, the Harvard Divinity School, and the University of Gottingen in Germany. He was ordained February 19, 1867. He was a man of wide culture and literary taste. He published several philosophical and theological essays. In 1871 he had the honor of preaching the annual election sermon before the government of the Commonwealth in the Old South Church in Boston. Upon leaving Lowell, in 1869, he became pastor of the Harvard Church in Charlestown, and also served as chaplain of the Fifth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. He re- tired from the ministry in 1874, and entered upon the practice of law in Boston.

Rev. Henry Blanchard, the sixth pastor of this church, graduated from Tufts College. Before his settlement in Lowell he had been pastor of a Uni- versalist Church in Brooklyn, N. Y., and had preached in a Unitarian Church in Indianapolis, Ind. He was ordained in Lowell, Jan. 19, 1871, and was in office two years. Since leaving Lowell he has preached in Worcester and Portland, Me., where he now resides.

Rev. Josiah L. Seward, the seventh pastor of this church, graduated at Harvard College and at the Harvard Divinity School. He was ordained in Lowell, Dec. 31, 1874. After a pastorate of fourteen years he resigned his charge and was settled over the

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Unitarian Church in Waterville, Me. Mr. Seward is distinguished for his wide range of scholarship and his great acquisitions of knowledge.

Rev. George Batchelor, the present pastor of this church, was ordained Feb. 27, 1889. He has pre- viously been settled over churches in Salem, Mass., and Chicago, Ill.

SECOND UNITARIAN SOCIETY .- This organization, familiarly known as the Lee Street Unitarian Church, was instituted Aug. 2, 1845.

As this society was abandoned more than twenty- cight years ago, I can searcely give more of its history than the names of the pastors and the dates of their settlement. The first pastor, Rev. M. A. H. Niles, was iustalled April 8, 1846. Rev. Wm. Barry preached his first sermon Dec. 12, 1847, having waived a formal installation. Rev. Augustus Woodbury com- menced his services as pastor Sept. 1, 1853. Rev. John K. Kareher was ordained March 30, 1858. Rev. Wm. C. Tenney was installed Oct. 26, 1859.

On June 24, 1861, the society disbanded. Among the causes of the failure of this enterprise was the great loss which it suffered both in membership and financial support by the War of the Rebellion.

The Lee Street Stone Church, of Gothic architecture was erected for this church in 1850.

After the dissolution of the church, in 1861, this house of worship was occupied by the Spiritualists for several years, and about 1868 sold for $11,500 to the St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

THE MINISTRY AT LARGE, a charitable Institu- tion, formed in 1843, under the auspices of the Uni- tarian Church, deserves a passing notice. Its design has been somewhat modified since its first establish- ment, and I shall speak of it only as at present con- ducted. A recent report defines the object of this institution in the following words : "To befriend and help the unfortunate but worthy working poor, who are likely soon to be able to help themselves." Those "who do nothing and want to do nothing " receive no aid. A deserted wife, struggling to support a large family of small children, is an object of special favor. The honest and industrious poor man, when sickness comes upon him, finds a friend in this benefi- cent institution. Its object is not alone to give, but to encourage also, and advise.

The annual expenditure of this institution is some- thing less than $3500, which is derived in part from the interest on funds donated to it or to the city for such charitable purposes, and partly from the con- tributions of the friends of the cause.

Under Rev. George C. Wright, the present Minis- ter at Large, there are sustained, in the building owned by this institution, and situated on South and Eliot Streets, a children's sewing-school, a school of dress- making and a cooking-school. Religious services are held on Sundays, attended by about forty familics.

Of the worthy Ministers at Large wlio liave served this benefieent institution during the forty-six years

of its existence, special mention should be made of the Rev. Horatio Wood, whose faithful and efficient ministry continued for twenty-four years.

FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH .- The First Univer- salist Society in Lowell was formed on July 23, 1827, by John Bassett and ninety-eight others. During the year 1827 meetings of Universalists were held in the Old Red School-house, near Davis' Corner, a house which was also a favorite place of meeting to the Methodists of those early days. Four Bassett bro- thers, one of whom was teacher of the school kept in the house erected by the Merrimack Company, wcre at that time the efficient and acknowledged leaders of the Universalists of the city. In 1828 Judge Livermore offered them the use of a convenient hall in Belvidere. This hall was probably in the Old Yellow House, which had once been a hotel, and in which Judge Livermore resided.

The first church built by this society was erected on Chapel Hill, and dedicated November 27, 1828. This location, however, was at so great a distance from the homes of most of the worshipers that it was, in 1837, removed to a more populous part of the vil- lage and placed upon the site of the Boston and Maine depot. Here it stood for many years one of the well-known landmarks of the city.

On the same day of the dedication of the house of worship, Rev. Eliphalet Case, a recent convert from Methodism, was installed as pastor of the society. Soon after the dedication and installation a church organization was effected, which has ever since en- joyed uninterrupted harmony. Mr. Case was in office about two years. He was an outspoken and able defender of the doctrines of his church. "He came not to bring peace, but a sword." In September, 1830, Rev. Calvin Gardner was invited to the pastor- ate of this church. He continued .in office about three years. The society would gladly have kept him longer.

The Rev. T. B. Thayer was the next pastor of the church. His letter of acceptance is dated March 25, 1833. He was an eloquent young man of unusual promise, and he served the church for twelve years. It was in his pastorate in 1837 that the house of wor- ship was removed from Chapel Hill to the spot where now stands the Boston & Maine Depot ou Central Street. On leaving Lowell, in 1845, Mr. Thayer was settled iu Brooklyn, N. Y ..

Rev. E. G. Brooks, the successor of Mr. Thayer, re- mained as pastor only one year.

In 1846 Rev. Uriah Clark accepted a call to the pastorate of this church aud served the church four years. He was a man of good talents, but not of un- sullied character. The church can hardly be said to have prospered under him. For a year after Mr. Clark left the pastorate the church was without a shepherd.

In 1851, to the joy of all, Mr. Thayer agaiu re- turned to the office he had resigned in 1845. His

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second ministry continued six years. They were years of prosperity. In 1857 Mr. Thayer resigned to take charge of the fifth society in Boston, and for two years the Lowell church was without a settled pastor.

In September, 1859, Rev. J. J. Twiss, who came from New Bedford, succeeded to the pastorate. The twelve years of the ministry of Mr. Twiss were years of material prosperity, and the church became the possessor of the house of worship, which heretofore had been the property of a corporation distinct from the church.

The seventh pastor of this church was Rev. G. T. Flanders. During his pastorate of seven years the old house of worship was demolished to give place to the Boston & Maine Railroad Station, and the beauti- ful brick church on Hurd Street was erected, at the cost of #80,000. This house was dedicated February 10, 1875.

Rev. G. W. Bicknell assumed the office of pastor December, 1879. He is an eloquent and popular man and the church is in a flourishing condition.

SHATTUCK STREET UNIVERSALIST CHURCH .- It is evident that in the early days of our city the Universal- ists of Lowell gained a large share of popular attention. This denomination then had in Massachusetts men of unusual eloquence and power, who won the pop- ular ear wherever they preached. As early as April 13, 1826, Dr. Thomas Whittemore preached in Lowell, in a hall connected with the Washington House. Rev. Hosea Ballou, in 1828, preached the sermon at the dedication of the chapel erected by the Universal- ists on Chapel Hill. Subsequently, in 1836, Rev. Dr. Thayer, pastor of the First Universalist Church, preached to immense audiences in the City Hall. So great was the popular favor that the Rev. John G. Ad- ams was invited from New Hampshire to come to the aid of Dr. Thayer. This state of things seemed to war- rant the formation of a second Universalist Society. Such a society was formed, and the Trumpet and Freeman of September 24, 1836, made the following announcement respecting it :

"A Society of Universalists, consisting of fifty male members, was formed in Lowell, Mass., on the 4th inst., called the second Universalist Society in Lowell. They commenced with a zeal worthy of the good cause they espoused."

Rev. J. G. Adams received and declined a call to become the first pastor of the new society. The society for some time relied upon various preachers to supply its pulpit. One of these was W. H. Knapp, who was an eccentric man, who believed in good eat- ing and drinking-particularly the drinking. The services, it seems, were held in Town Hall, which was in the second story of our present Government Building. At length, after listening for more than a year to -occasional preachere, a pastor, the Rev. Z. Thompson, was secured.

Rev. Zenas Thompson was installed pastor of this church Feb. 5, 1837. He preached in the City Hall,

heretofore called Town Hall, to a congregation of more than a thousand persons, most of whom were in the early prime of life. Of this congregation he said, many years afterwards : "I do not remember but a single head that showed gray hairs."

A new house of worship was speedily erected and dedicated Nov. 15, 1838. This is the house now known as the Shattuck Street Universalist Church. The work of erecting a new church bore heavily upon the pastor, and from weariness lie felt compelled to re- sign a position which demanded such severe labor, and return to his former position in the State of Maine-leaving a salary of $1200 for one of $600.

Soon Rev. Abel C. Thomas was invited to the pas- torate. He has been styled the " Quaker Universal- ist." His ordination took place Aug. 26, 1839, and he remained in office three years. He fell upon stirring times which demanded all his energies. Millerism was then rife in Lowell, and Mr. Thomas delivered lec- tures against that heresy. Elder Knapp, the revival- ist, came to Lowell, and Mr. Thomas became involved in the excitement attending the revival. He said hard things about Elder Knapp. He declared that the Elder's " familiar acquaintance with the devil en- abled him to present him in probably faithful por- traits, and his success in frightening children and weak-minded men and women was beyond all ques- tion." On the other hand liard things were said against Mr. Thomas. It was asserted that he entered a revival meeting where he found his own wife and dragged her out by the hair of her head. To this charge he made the following witty reply : "1. I never attempted to influence my wife in her choice of a meeting. 2. My wife has not attended any of the re- vival meetings. 3. I have not attended even one of them. 4. Neither my wife nor myself has any incli- nation to attend them. 5. I never had a wife."

Rev. Alonzo A. Miner came to the pastorate in July, 1842, and held the office during six prosperous years. Dr. Miner was an eloquent preacher and a man of superior endowments. Since leaving Lowell he has been president of Tufts College, and many years pastor of the Second Universalist Church in Boston. At the present time he is everywhere known for his able and persistent advocacy of "prohibitory legislation against the sale of strong drink."

Rev. L. J. Fletcher commenced his ministration in May, 1848, but served only a few months, and was succeeded by Rev. L. B. Mason, whose "stay was very short."

Rev. I. D. Williamson, who entered upon his pas- toral duties in September, 1849, was very soon com- pelled by ill health to leave his charge.

Rev. Noah M. Gaylord was pastor from 1849 to 1852, when he accepted a call to Columbus, Ohio.

Rev. Joseph S. Dennis served the church as pastor from 1852 to 1854.

Rev. Charles Cravens served for one year, resigning in 1855.

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In 1855 Rev. C. H. Dutton commenced his pastor- ate of three years.

In 1859 Rev. J. L. Fletcher again becainc pastor, and in his pastorate of three years, by his faithful and popular preaching, revived the drooping spirits of the society. But it was a time of war, and the society bc- camc embarrassed with debt. Mr. Fletcher retired, and there was no settled pastor for about one year. On July 1, 1864, Rev. F. E. Hicks began his bricf ministry. In November, 1865, Rev. John G. Adams commenced a pastorate of nearly seven years.

Rev. W. G. Haskell became pastor in April, 1873, and remained three years.

The present pastor, Rev. R. A. Greene, came to this church from Northfield, Vt., which was his first parish, and was settled in April, 1877, the church having been without a pastor for one year.

Under the efficient administration of Mr. Greene the church is now stronger than ever before, and the sum of about $9000 has been expended upon the church edifice.

A Third Universalist Church was formed in 1843. The building now known as Barrister's Hall, on Mer- rimack Street, was erected for its use. Its pastors were Rev. H. G. Smith, Rev. John Moore, Rev. H. G. Smith (again) and Rev. L. J. Fletcher.

This disbanded church seems to have left very little recorded history. Mr. Cowley gives us, in his " His- tory of Lowell," the following account of it: " After a languid existence it was dissolved. The two last pastors of this church were not in full fellowship with their denomination, but preached independently as ecclesiastical guerrillas."

PAIGE STREET FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH .- The origin of this church is found in a prayer-meet- ing, established about 1830, by the Free-Will Bap- tists of the city, at the house of Dea. Josiah Seavy, father of one of the postmasters of Lowell in later years. This house was situated on Merrimack Street, near John Street. For about three years no public meetings for preaching were held on the Sabbath. But on May 19, 1833, such a meeting was first held in Classic Hall, on Merrimack Street, Rev. Nathaniel Thurston, of Dover, N. H., being the officiating cler- gyman. Only about twenty persons were present. Subsequently the Free Chapel on Middlesex Street was engaged for Sabbath services, and in that place a church was organized Aug. 15, 1833, of which Mr. Thurston was elected pastor. He did not, however, enter upon his duties until April, 1834, the pulpit being supplied meantime by Rev. Benjamin S. Mansur and Mr. J. L. Sinclair. Classic Hall, on Merrimack Street, was for several months the place of worship for this church.

Under Elder Thurston the church greatly pros- pered, the number of members on Sept. 1, 1838, being 470. The wife of the pastor was a lady of ability and culture, and occasionally assisted her husband by preaching in his pulpit.

The first house of worship of this society, a spa- cious brick cdifiec, erected on Merrimack Strcet, on the site of thic present Hildreth Block, was dedicated Nov. 15, 1837. The corporation which creeted this building, having the pastor at its head, acted as a savings bank, receiving deposits and pay- ing interest on thesc deposits. The management of this corporation became onc of the sensations of the time. The pastor was esteemed a man of such sin- cere piety and good sense that many mill girls and other depositors of humble means intrusted their money to his hands with the most implicit confidence in his integrity and ability. The new building arose apace, but the affairs of the corporation were con- ducted with an almost total disregard of all business principles. The pastor, who was the principal man- ager, seemed to be infatuated with the idea that if he meant well all things must turn out well, and so set at naught the plainest maxims of business men. The result was that litigation ensued, depositors lost their property, and the whole enterprise ended in a disas- trous failure. The house was abandoned in July, 1846, and the church was compelled to occupy rented quarters. Until the new house of worship on Paige Street was erected, in 1853-54, the church worshiped in the chapel on Prescott Street, which had been moved there from Chapel Hill, and in Welles' Hall, on Merrimack Street.

We will notice in passing that in 1840 Elder Thurs- ton, after resigning his office as pastor of the First church, proceeded to form a second Free-Will Bap- tist Church. A chapel was erected for the new church on Colburn Street. But the new enterprise, after having had two pastors, Elder Thurston and Rev. J. L. Sinclair, was abradoned in 1843, on ac- count of the elder's financial embarrassment.

The second pastor of the parent church was Rev. Jonathan Woodman. In his pastorate there was, in 1842, a remarkable revival of religion in the city, 100 being added to this church on the first Sabbath in , May. He was pastor from Sept., 1840, to March, 1844.

Mr. Woodman, much to the regret of the church, resigned his charge March 1, 1844, and was succeeded by Rev. Silas Curtis, who became pastor March, 1844, and was succeeded by Rev. A. K. Moulton, in June, 1849. The labors of Mr. Moulton, in connection with the erection of the new house of worship on Paige Street, are gratefully remembered. This house, erec- ted at a cost of nearly $16,000, was dedicated Feb. 1, 1854. Mr. Moulton resigned his office in June, 1855, and was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Davis, whose pastor- ate terminated in 1859.

Rev. Darwin Mott, an able preacher, was called to the pastorate April 1, 1860, and remained in service two years.

In May, 1863, Rev. G. W. Bean was called to the pulpit of this church and continued its pastor nearly two years. He proved a faithful pastor, whose memory is lıcld in high esteem.

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Next follows the pastorate of Rev. J. B. Drew, who was in the pastoral office from 1865 to 1868, making an honorable record.

Rev. D. A. Morehouse, the next pastor, was in service less than two years, resigning Dec. 31, 1869.

For five years, beginning in 1870, Rev. J. E. Dame held the pastoral office. His pastorate was marked by a revival spirit. It was during Mr. Dame's pastor- ate that the Mt. Vernon Church was formed as a mission enterprise. The Mt. Vernon Chapel, erected at the cost of $8700 on Mt. Vernon Street, was dedicated July 10, 1873. The new church was organized Dec. 29, 1874, with Rer. Geo. S. Ricker as pastor.

In Dec., 1875, Rev. E. W. Porter became pastor of this church. He was a faithful and able pastor and held the sacred office about nine years, a period longer than the pastorate of any one of his predecessors.

Rev. Geo. N. Howard, the present pastor, was in- stalled March 11, 1885.

There have been connected with this church since its organization 3092 persons. It is estimated that more than 20,000 persons have been connected with the Sabbath-school.

This church has at all times taken high grounds and an advanced position on all the great moral enter- prises of the day, and has faithfully and zealously labored for the spiritual good of the city.

The house of worship abandoned by this church in 1846 had a history which should be recorded. It was converted into a museum and theatre by Noah F. Gates, who purchased the museum belonging to Moses Kimball, which had been started in 1840 in Wyman's Exchange, on Merrimack Street, and removed it into the church edifice. The building was subsequently licensed as a theatre, hough the license met with opposition from the community. Disaster betided it. Three times it was ravaged by fire. The museum and theatre departed and the building was reconstructed and made into stores and offices. At length it was demolished and the splendid Hildreth Block erected on its site.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 34

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