History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 120

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 120

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

thoroughly evangelical in his faith. Out of his own experience, as well as out of the Word of God, he had learned to believe in the reality and the necessity of the new birth. Under a profound sense of the de- pendence of all men upon the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit for salvation, he preached, and lab- ored and prayed for the immediate conversion of the impenitent among his people; and not without marked success. He had not preached a year before a powerful revival of religion came on. When he en- tered upon his labors in Malden he was but twenty- two years oldl. When the time came to gather the re- cent converts into the church, and welcome them to the Lord's Table, as Mr. McClure had not been or- dained, and therefore could not officiate at the sacra- inent of the Lord's Supper, it was arranged that Dr. John Codman, of Dorchester, should perform that ser- vice. Accordingly, on communion Sabbath, Novem- ber 6, 1831, Dr. Codman being present and conduct- ing the services, twenty-three persons were received into the church, by confession of Christ. It is certain that no such scene as this had been witnessed by this church for more than half a century, if ever before. Moreover, this large addition was made to the church when it was in the midst of fiery trials and sufferings, such as few churches in our country outside the Con- gregational denomination have been called to endure. Rev. S. Osgood Wright, in his "Historical Dis- course, delivered in Malden, December 1, 1831," remarks:

" The greatest addition evet known to have been made at any one time [to the First Church in Malden} was made on Nov. 6, 1831. Twen- ty-three were then added by profession. Rev. Mr. McOlure is the pres- ent minister." And he also says, " Since they [the First Church] left the meeting-honse, they have added to their number thirty-three- twenty-nine by profession and four by letter. The whole number of members is now eighty-six-twenty-four males and sixty-two femalee."

In connection with this revival occurred an event of special significance. Mr. McClure was then only an acting pastor. Yet, guided by him, the church was led to examine as never before the Arminian creed, and covenant which Eliakim Willis had foisted npon it forty years before. Under that creed, and under the preaching, the teaching, the religious in- difference and moral corruption that went with it, one church in a growing town had become extinct ; and the First Church itself had first sunk into an ominous indifference and stupor, and then had been thrown into convulsions and conflicts which brought it to death's door. But now the church, quickened and enlightened in the atmosphere of a powerful re- vival of religion, saw these mournful facts in all their relations a> in the light of the noon-day sun, and took in their full significance. Then came decisive action. On November 2, 1832, that entire day having previously been set apart for the purpose, the members of the church, now spiritually revived, assembled, and with great solemnity, with fastings, confession and pray- ers, and in the presence of neighboring ministers, they abolished that Arminian creed, and with joy

and thanksgiving adopted a thoroughly evangelical Confession of Faith and Covenant, thus placing the church once more upon its ancient foundation-that upon which it stood in the days of its greatest spirit- ual power and glory, "the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone." This occurred only four days before that communion Sabbath on which twenty-three re- cent converts were received into the fellowship of the church, and received only upon credible evidence that they had been born of the Spirit.

In the mean time it devolved upon this young min- ister, not only to preach the gospel for the conversion of his impenitent hearers and the strengthening of the faith of Christians, but also to cheer the desponding hearts of the little exiled band, and to lead them in a vigorous defence of both their faith and their rights. The manuscript biography already referred to has in it this passage :

" Mr. Mcl'lure roused the orthodox minority to action, and resorted to a lawsuit to obtain the property which had been heetowed by the Calvinistic fonoders of the Malden Church. But the case was lost. All that remained for them to do was to begio again as an infant church, huy a site, and erect a new house of worship as they might be able. The only property which they retained was the treaeurce which cer- tain departed members bad dedicated to the sacramental use of the Church. Mr. McClure-then twenty-two years old-guarded these quaint and sacred vessels at Do little risk to himself. Now that the in- terest in points of theological belief has changed, we caooot conceive of the inteose excitement they caneed theo. During a course of four lectures on 'Universalism' delivered by Mr. McClure, in Malden, in 1832, he was escorted home after each by a body of young men to protect him from personal violence at the hands of the opposing party."

When Mr. McClure began his ministry in Malden, the First Church was at its lowest. Its enemies were exultant and defiant. Their leader, Rev. Sylyanus Cobb, was a man of large physical presence. MIr. McClure had none of that kind of largeness to boast of. He was of slender stature, and very youthful in appearance. He was received in the town by the opponents of his faith and of his church in a manner anything but courteous. They spoke of him as " a mere boy," and he was insulted upon the streets. At first they deemed it quite safe to make him in various ways the butt of their ridicule. But those who, either in private or public, assaulted him or his re- ligious faith with contemptuous speech, seklom or never made the second attack. He was a man of fine scholarship, and an accomplished theologian, of good breeding and high spirit, and withal, an almost match- less controversalist. All this made it dangerous to assault him. But he was also a man of brilliant and caustic wit. His power in the use of irony and sar- casm, and of quick and sharp repartee, has seldom been equaled. Those who at first thought to deride him, soon regarded him with suitable fear, and for their own protection, if from no higher motive, treat- ed him with marked respect. ITis sincere piety and his downright earnestness in all the work of the Christian ministry endeared him to his own people, gained for him the confidence of all, and softened the

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asperity of even the worst enemies of his faith. A

ing akin to desolation in view of our bereaved state." minister who was acquainted with him, and well in- | He remained in the pastorate of the Grand Street formed respecting his achievements in Malden, says : " I had a profound respect for his gifts, his character and his work. In the earlier years he fought a hard battle, but fought it bravely, and came at last to be greatly esteemed and honored by those who had fought against him."

Mr. McClnre's wit was often as harmless as it was brilliant, but sometimes it hurt. In either case, how- ever, it was a part of himself, as natural as the tones of his voice. He never put it on exhibition. It might be said of him, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said of his Aunt Mary, that he "never used [his wit] for display, any more than a wasp would parade his sting." He used it only for a purpose, and generally it was effective. The following incident illustrates his ability in the line of sharp repartee. It is related by a distinguished professional gentleman who was present at the meeting.

" On one occasion, Mr. McClure, as chairman of the School Committee, arose in a town-meeting and requested a larger appropriation of money for the support of the public schools, and supported his request by facts and arguments. Instantly a man whose reputation for generosity was not high, sprang to his feet to oppose the additional appropriation. His remarks, however, were largely a violent tirade against clergymen. He declared then to be useless members of society, cumberers of the ground, lazy fellows, a heavy burden upon the community, supported at great expense by the town. He also remarked that in deference to his wife be paid tea dollars a year for the salvation of his soul, and he con- sidered that a dear and even extravagant price. He sat down amidst lond laughter and applanse. Mr. McClure calmly rose from his seat, explaining further the argent need of a larger appropriation for the schools, and then elded :- ' Although I differ from the gentleman, who has just spokeo, on the main question at issue, I am happy to say that there is one point on which I fully agree with him, end that is that tea dollars a year paid for the salvation of his sonl is too much. But the gentleman forgot to state the reason, which is, that teo millions of such souls as his could dance together on the point of a cambric needle with- ont jostling, at the same time crying, O ! the inimensity of space !' The speaker sat down amidst ' thunders of applanse,' which were repeated, and so long continned that the man of small sonl left the hall."

The meeting voted nnanimously to increase the ap- propriation for schools.

He remained pastor of this church until Nov. 9, 1842, when at his own request, mainly on account of impaired health, he was dismissed. From 1844 to 1846, he was the acting pastor of the Presbyterian Church it St. Augustine, Florida. He then returned to Boston where he was the editor of The Christian Observatory from 1847 to 1850. He was also assistant editor of The Puritan Recorder for three years. The First Church in Malden called him the second time to its service. He supplied the pulpit six months, and then he was installed its pastor, Nov. 22, 1848. But after a successful pastorate of about three years and a half, he received an urgent call from the Grand Street (Reformed Dutch) Church, Jersey City, N. J., and was dismissed from the church in Malden, April 28, 1852. The First Church, in reluctantly granting his request for this second dismissal, says :- "Our hearts are moved with grief at parting from onr long tried, and faithful friend and Pastor, and with a feel

Church about three years, when he was called to the Secretaryship of the American and Foreign Chris- tian Union, and for several years filled that office. In 1856, he was sent to serve as chaplain of the American Legation at Rome, Italy. " The American Chapel in Paris was erected largely by funds which Dr. McClure secured with great zeal and labor." In March 1859, " broken down by bronchial disease, he retired from public service, and was a great suf- ferer until his death." He died in Canonsburg, Pa., Sept. 20, 1865, but he was buried in the cemetery on Salem Street, in Malden, by the side of his three little children whom he laid there so tearfully years before. It was probably his own request that his body might rest where sleep so many of the people whom he loved, and to whom he ministered in the Gospel of Christ.

The entire length of Dr. McClure's ministry in Malden, as stated supply, acting pastor and pastor, was about sixteen years. He was respected more and more in the town, and the esteem and affection of his own people for him increased to the last. Feelings equally appreciative and affectionate also appear to have been cherished by him towards this town and especially the people of whom he was pastor. Mrs. McClure, who is still living, speaking of her husband in a recent letter, remarks : "His love for Malden, for the church and people amounted to enthusiasm,- his youthful, ardent love." He was also highly es- teemed by his brethren in the ministry. One of the leading ministers of Boston affirmed that "no one had ever done so much for his mind and heart as Dr. McClure had." Amherst College, his Alma Mater, in 1854, gave him the honorary degree of Doctor of Di- vinity.

He was a versatile scholar, and his abilities werc as varied as they were great. In one of the notices, pub- lished at the time of his death, occur these words :

"A great mao is fullen-yea ascended. His talents were naiversal, his learning was great, in science, history, his own language, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, German, Italian. His wit was brilliant, his memory extraordinary; bis disinterestedness notable. But his great excellence was his humble trust in Christ, and his unreserved consecra- tion to His cause."

In the biographical sketch, from which quotations have already been made, among other characteristics mentioned are the following :

" His friendships and personal attachments were almost idolatrous ; he was a faithful and disinterested friend ; he never shirked nor failed to appear when his presence and influence were needed in adversity. He was hold as a lion in defending those who were unjustly nssailed, while he could, in a masterly way and by a few words, expose the pre- tentions, and lay bare a sophism. He was a devotional man. Listen. ing to his facetioustiess, which would keep a company excited with mirth, one would be greatly struck, in hearing him pray, with the deep reverence and awe, and the earnest supplicatory tone of his prayers. Hlo was a godly man, a sound divine, a trenchant controversialist (as witness his unparalleled Lectures on Ultra-Universalism), and withal he was a true Christian gentleman. His forgiving spirit was an eminent char- acteristic. While his sensitiveness was acute and his feelings were im-

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pulsive, resentment had no lodgement in him. He was truly magnani- mous."

Dr. McClure was a prolific writer for the press. He published valuable articles in the Christian Ohserva- tory, of which he was editor, New Brunswick Review and in the Literary and Theological Review ; also in the Boston Recorder, the Puritan Recorder, of which he was for several years co-editor with Dr. Parsons Cooke, and in other religious papers. He was the author of a small book entitled, "The Life-Boat," an allegory, which had a large circulation ; of "Four Lectures on Ultra-Universalism," a volume which quickly reached a fourth edition, and which was called "a theological classic unanswered and nnan- swerable ; " of the lives of John Wilson, John Nor- ton, John Davenport and John Cotton, in "The Series of the Lives of the Chief l'athers of New Eng- land," and a book entitled, "The Translators Re- vived," which gives a biographical sketch of each translator concerned in King James' version of the Bible.

Dr. MeClure occupies a conspicuous position in the history of Malden. Becoming pastor of the First Church at the time it was swiftly approaching extinc- tion, he, under (tod and His truth, arrested its down- ward progress, revived its failing life and courage, and restored to it its ancient honor and power. He ehanged, largely, the currents of thought and belief in Malden, and the morals and manners of the com- munity were much the better for his coming into it. Upon questions of faith, and of right and wrong, he was never indefinite or equivocal. He was no trim- mer. It was impossible for him to be guilty of hedg- ing, or of cowardly concealment. He was grandly positive in his beliefs, and grandly brave in proclaim- ing them, though he did not know that he was. He appears to have been utterly ignorant of the experi- ence of fear in any line of duty, and therefore was not conscious of doing a brave thing in giving clear and positive utterance to any truth or message of God. In dealing with troubled and anxious souls, he was gentle and tender as a mother, but it was not in him to fear wicked and defiant men. He was himself a faithful friend and a righteous man, and his delight in all true and royal souls was unbounded. Some of the ministers of Malden have been great and godly men, who wrought better than they knew, and bet- ter than the people of their time knew. Dr. MeClure was one of these, and the impress of his own strong and manly character-and especially of his grand loyalty to truth and righteousness-still abides upon the town. He is one of that blessed company to whom has been fulfilled the words of the Seer of Patmos, written by command of a Voice from Heaven : " Their works do follow them."

REV. CHAUNCEY GOODRICH, THE THIRTEENTH PASTOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH .- Mr. Goodrich was born in Middletown, Connecticut, July 20, 1817. His father was the distinguished Chauncey Allen Goodrich,

D.D. LL.D., who was born in New Haven, Connecti- cut, October 23, 1790, graduated at Yale in 1810, was tutor in that college from 1812 to 1814, was or- dained at Middletown in 1860, was Professor of Rhet- oric and Oratory in Yale from 1817 to 1839; and then of Pastoral Theology in the Theological De- partment, holding this position until his death, which occurred February 25, 1860. The mother of Rev. Chauncey Goodrich was Julia, the daughter of Noah Webster, LL.D., the celebrated lexicographer. The son graduated at Yale in 1837, taught one year in a private school in Virginia, spent two years in the Theological Department at New Haven, and was or- dained Pastor of the First Church in Malden August 30, 1843, where he labored successfully until, at his own request, he was dismissed November 1, 1847. Mr. Goodrich was a scholarly, modest and courteous man, accustomed to the society of educated people, and was much respected and beloved in Malden. A lady who remembered seeing him in Malden in her early childhood, speaks now of " his gentle, refined face and manner."

The church and society parted with him, after his ministry with them of about four years, with expres- sions of sincere regret. He was installed Pastor of the Congregational Church in Watertown, Connecti - cut, August 22, 1849, and on account of impaired health relinquished that pastorate November 1, 1856. After that time he resided in New Haven, and, among other literary labors in which he was engaged, aided his father in preparing the revised edition of " Web- ster's Unabridged Dictionary." He also continued in this work after his father's death. He departed this life March 27, 1868, aged forty years.

On October 22, 1843, shortly after his ordination at Malden, he married Miss Elizabeth E. Coe, daughter of Rev. Noah Coe, at Greenwich, Connecticut. Their son, an only surviving child, graduated at Yale in 1866.

REV. AARON C. ADAMS, THE FOURTEENTH MINIS- TER .- Dr. McClure closed his second pastorate in Malden April 28, 1852. Mr. Adams was installed July 29th, of the same year. The latter was born in Bangor, Maine, in 1815, and was the son of Eliashib Adams (who was the son of Eliashib, of Canterbury, Connecticut), and of Anna (Leland), daughter of Rev. John Leland, of Peru, Massachusetts. He graduated at Bowdoin College in 1838, and at Bangor Seminary in 1839. On July 10th, of the latter year, he was or- dained.

During the earlier years of his ministry he labored in Maine. Afterwards he settled in New Jersey. Coming next to Malden, in 1852, he continued in his pastorate there for five years, and was dismissed at his own request, July 15, 1857. The next year he was installed pastor of the Congregational Church in Auburn, Me., where he labored for ten years. In 1868 he accepted a call to the pastorate of the Con- gregational Church in Wethersfield, Conn. This po- sition he held until 1879. At the present date (1890)

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he continues to reside in Wethersfield. Mr. Adams has served in the Christian ministry about fifty-one years, and is still engaged in the work he loves, hav- ing now the pastoral charge of a parish in the vicin- ity of his residence.

Mr. Adams' ministry in Malden was rich in spirit- ual fruits. On a single Sabbath-May 6, 1855-forty- five persons united with the church ; thirty-seven by confession of Christ and eight by letter. During the five years of his ministry here seventy-nine united with the church; twenty-eight by letter and fifty-one by confession of Christ. The church, upon his resig- nation, put on record its testimony "to his faithful- ness as a pastor and a preacher," also to the pain it felt in parting with him, and expressed to him its "Christian sympathy and affection." Mr. Adams himself speaks of his life and work in this town thus :

"My five years at Malden I reckon as among the brightest and most stimulating in my ministry. We had an excellent company of brethren. Our Sunday-School and prayer-meetings were uncommonly interesting and helpful ; and there were seasons of special progress and ingathering. I left there with great reluctance."

Mr. Adams' wife was Harriet S. Johnson a dangh- ter of Dr. A. and Julia (Sargent) Johnson. Their two sons, John S. and George E. Adams, are both deacons, the former in the Harvard Church, Brookline, Mass., and the latter in the Shawmut Church, Boston. The two daughters, Charlotte E. and Harriet S. are married, the former residing in Salt Lake City, and the latter in Wethersfield, Con- necticut.

It is a matter of some interest that Mr. Adams was one of four brothers-"brought up in the old Puri- tanic fashion,"-three of whom became ministers of the gospel. Two of these have entered into their rest-Rev. George E. Adams, after a ministry of forty- eight years, and Rev. John C. Adams, after a minis- try of over thirty years. The Rev. Aaron C. Adams having already labored in his calling fifty-one years the total length of the three ministries is one hundred and twenty-nine years.

THE FIFTEENTH MINISTER OF THE FIRST CHURCH WAS REV. CHARLES EDWARD REED .- He was born January 28, 1830, in Taunton, Mass., was graduated at Andover Seminary, in 1857, and was ordained in Malden, April 7, 1858. His pastorate was terminated by act of council, December 1, 1869. He is now in business in Milwaukie, Wis., and is a member and an officer of a Congregational Church.

REV. ADDISON PINNEO FOSTER, D.D., WAS THE SIXTEENTH MINISTER OF THE FIRST CHURCH .- His father was Rev. Eden B. Foster, D.D., long the able preacher and faithful pastor of the John Street Church, Lowell, Mass. The son was born September 25, 1841, at Henniker, N. H., fitted for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, was graduated at Wil- liams' College, in 1863, spent two years in theological study, at Princeton, N. J., and graduated at the sem -

inary at Andover, in 1866. His first pastorate was with the Appleton Street Church, Lowell, Mass., where he was ordained, October 3, 1866. On account of impaired health, he relinquished his pastoral charge in 1868. After resting for two years, he became act- ing pastor for one year at Dubuque, lowa. Ile was installed pastor of the First Church, in Malden, Mar. 29, 1876. After a brief, but successful ministry, he resigned his charge. The brethren of the church, by formal resolutions, urged him to remain, expressing their high appreciation of his character, and recog- nizing gratefully the success of his ministry. But he insisted upon the acceptance of his resignation, and was dismissed by Council, September 18, 1872. He was installed pastor of the First Church, Chelsea, October 1, 1872; was called thence to the First Con- gregationalist Church, in Jersey City, N. J., in the spring of 1877, and labored in that pastorate about nine years. Dr. Foster was installed as pastor of Immanuel Church, Boston, April 1, 1886, and fills that position at the present time.

REV. JOSHUA W. WELLMAN, was called to be the SEVENTEENTH PASTOR of the First Church, in Mal- den, and was installed March 25, 1874. After a serv- ice of little more than nine years, he relinquished the pastorate under advice of physicians, and was dis- missed by sanction of Council, April 17, 1883.

The present pastor is the REV. THEODORE CLAU- DIUS PEASE. He was born October 14, 1853, in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., was graduated at Harvard Col- lege, in 1875, and at Andover Seminary, in 1880. He was ordained to the ministry, and installed as pastor of the Congregational Church, in West Lebanon, N. H., September 8, 1880. From that pastorate, he was called to be the EIGHTEENTH MINISTER, of the First Church, in Malden, and was installed December 16, 1884.

MODERN MEETING-HOUSES OF THE FIRST CHURCH.

After the Church was deprived of its house of wor- ship in 1828, it worshipped for about five years in an "upper room." In 1832, the Trintarian Congrega- tional Society, which in September of that year, be- came connected with the First Church began the erection of a meeting-honse.

This house was completed in the spring of 1833. The building committee, of which Rev. Mr. McClure was chairman, made its final report, April 2, 1833, and received the thanks of the society. The dedica- tion of the church probably occurred not far from that date. This house of worship was located on the southeast corner of Maine and Haskins Streets. Im- mediately east of it was also erected a parsonage house. This house appears to have been built by a joint-stock company, upon land sold to the company, with certain conditions, by the society.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 120

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278