History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 80

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 80

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Sabbath services were held in the Town Hall morning and evening. These services were well at- tended. Mr. Beecher was well advanced in life, but his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated.

He held his audiences with a tight grasp, and even Theodore Parker, then at the height of his popular- ity, who preached in the same hall, on Sabbath after- noons, with matchless eloquence, hardly held his

2 By Dea. L. Macdonald.

1 By Royal Gilkoy.

339

WATERTOWN.

own against the stern logic and fire of Beecher, many of Parker's bearers being found at the evening service, careful and attentive listeners.

The society, or parish, was legally organized in the month of March; and the church was organized on the 17th of April, 1855, with a membership of twenty- six, received by letter from other Orthodox Congre- gational churches. A large council of churches from the neighborhood met in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the use of which was kindly offered by that society for the purpose.

At the expiration of Dr. Beecher's engagement a call was given to the Rev. Stephen R. Dennen (then finishing his studies at Andover Seminary), who ac- cepted, and was ordained and installed as pastor on the 11th of July, 1855. A lot of land was bought and a church building erected on the site of the present one. The locality was then an open country, and the large building had a scating capacity of double the present one, and was a conspicuous object for miles around. It was dedicated and occupied in April, 1857. The congregation increased slowly during the following years, with a good deal of up-hill work.

On the night of January 13, 1861-one of the cold- est nights of the season-the building was destroyed by fire. It had got such headway before the alarm was given that nothing was saved. The front of the building was mueh nearer the street than the present one, and many feared that the tall steeple might fall across Mt. Auburn Street, and do much damage. For- tunately it fell into the burning building.

For a time the enterprise seemed to stagger from the blow ; pastor and people had to begin the up-hill struggle over again. They went back to the town hall again till a new building could be erected; and about a year after the destruction of the first build- ing they occupied their second house, on the 12th of January, 1862. This is the building now occupied by the society. It is much smaller than the first house, but up to this date it is large enough to ac- commodate the worshipers. It is much more commo- dious, having a chapel in the rear which is used for prayer-meetings, Sabbath-school gatherings and social purposes. There are library rooms, vestries and kitch- en. There is a bell in the tower. The inside of the building is frescoed. The windows are of stained glass. The choir gallery is over the front vestibule. It is one of the pleasantest and prettiest church edifices in the suburbs of Boston. There is a row of graceful shade- trees in front, and a well-trimmed lawn and concrete walks, the whole forming a picture in harmony with the neat private residences which cluster around it.

In Angust, 1862,. Dr. Dennen, at his own request, was dismissed from the pastorate, and for-a length- ened time the church depended on stated supplies. In the fall of 1863 the church secured the services of Rev. William L. Gage (afterwards of Hartford), who remained one year. This brief pastorate was one of

great satisfaction to pastor and people, and the rela- tions between them ever after were cordial and affec- tionate. Rev. James M. Bell succeeded as pastor in the following spring. He filled the office for six years. He was followed in the pastorate by Rev. E. P. Wilson, who was installed on the 5th July, 1872. He remained pastor for near sixteen years, resigning February, 1888. During the vacancy the church was supplied by Dr. Webb, Dr. Dennen and others.

In the autumn of 1889 a unanimous call was given to the Rev. E. C. Porter, who accepted and commenced his pastorate on the 1st of October of that year, and continues his labors at this date. Under his faithful, and devoted pulpit and pastoral work the church and society have entered upon a fresh career of prosperity, spiritually and materially evinced by the large at- tendance, and interest taken in all the services of the church, the gain in membership, and the sound finan- cial condition of the society.

The church has on its roll of membership up to July, 1890, 247.

The Sabbath school connected with the church has a membership of 252, including twenty-four teachers and six officers. The studies are graded from adult Bible classes down to a primary department, which is the largest and perhaps the most important of the school's work. It is in charge of a very efficient lady teacher, who is devoted to the work.

A deceased lady, formerly a teacher in the school, Miss Sarah Cook Dana, left a sum of money, the in- terest of which is to be spent yearly in the purchase of books for the use of members of the church and Sunday school, and to be called the " Dana Library." It is expected that the Sunday school library will be merged in it, and the Sunday School have the benefit of it. There is already an excellent collection of books and more are to be added from time to time, of standard religious works, suitable for promoting sound knowl- edge and instruction among the members of the church and Sunday school, all of whom are invited to take out and read such books.

She also left a fund, the interest of which is to be spent in purchasing shoes and clothing for destitute children, to enable them to attend the Sabbath-school. Several missionary societies exist in connection with the church, viz : A Sunday-school, the Ladies' Miss- ionary Society, the Phillips Mission Board, and the Sunshine-makers. They do a vast amount of work, and contribute freely for home and foreign mission work. There is also a Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, which is a strong and active as- sociation. The members are pledged to be active and earnest in Christian work, outside the regular meet- ings. There are at this date seventy active and twenty- five associate members on the roll of the society.

The officers of the society are E. A. Benton, presi- dent; Fred Lyman, secretary and treasurer. Most of the young candidates for church membership come from this society and the Sabbath-school.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

The parish, which forms such an important part in Church government, and in the sound Orthodox faith, once delivered to the saints, and by its preach- New England Congregationalism, has been so modified by this society of late years that only members of ing, teaching, and other ministries, seeks to bring in- the church are eligible as members. Formerly, any to obedience to the law of Christ, men's lives. How far it has succeeded in this cannot be gauged by numbers or financial success. Living epistles known and read of all men, are self-evident testimonies to the truth of the Gospel, which the church proclaims to a lost world, and this is the warrant and necessity for the existence of the Phillips Church. The following is a list of names of the original members who were received by letter, twenty-six in number, from other churches, at the formation of the Church, by Council. member of the congregation could be voted into the parish. In isso, however, a committee of the parish which had the matter under advisement for many years, reported to change the by-laws. The report was accepted and adopted. It reported that all names then on the parish register should be continued as members, but that after January 1, 1887, only mem- bers of the church were eligible. Members of the church desirious of becoming members of the parish shall present a written request to the clerk. 1 Pru- dential Committee who shall have an article inserted Mr. Wmn. G. Ladd, Miss Emeline Dana, in the warrant for the next parish meeting, to be then Mrs. Margaret G. Ladld, Mr. Moses Fuller, Jr., acted on by ballot. The parish is called the First Mr. Wm. G. Ladd, Jr., Mrs. Hannah Shepherd, Orthodox Parish of Watertown. Mrs. Adeline D. Ladd, Mr. Alonzo W. Hildreth,

The treasurer's report for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1889, gives the following items of interest in regard to its financial affairs. The receipts from pew rents, and the weekly offerings for the year amount to $2924.66, and the expenditures to $2778.25, leaving a balance over to the new account of $146. The Pru- dential Committee who manage the affairs of the parish, are : E. S. Plaisted, James II. Snow, Willard N. Chamberlain, Clerk ; H. F. Morse, Treasurer ; J. M. Johnson. The annual meeting for the election of officers and other business is held in April of each year.

Church finances do not pass through the parish Treasurer. There is also achurch treasurer. The contributions passing through him are the great Missionary Association collections, which are taken up through the year, communion collections and other sums raised by the various benevolent societies of the church for the poor and other objeets. The amount of these from all sources for the year 1889 was $745, 77, making the income from church and parish for the year $3970,43. These pass through the treasur- er's hands, but a considerable amount is given directly from private hands to benevolent objeets, of which no account is rendered. The growth of the church has been steady, with periods of marked dis- cottragements and trial. The officers of the church, besides its pastors already mentioned were: Deaeons -- W'in. G. Ladd, Ichabod H. Wood, Henry Waite, James ti. Fuller, Abiel Abbott, Charles E. Whitte- more, David B. Makepeace, Frank F. Fay, Orlando W. Dimick.

The present officers are: Rev. E. C. Porter, Pastor; Dencons, L. B. Morse, H. W. Otis, L. MacDonald, Nonh Swett; Treasurer, J. Q. A. Pierce ; Clerk, J. 11. tircen.

The Phillips Church believes in carrying out the commission received from its great head of preaching the gospel to every creature, and in obedience to that command, finds warrant for its existence and work. It believes in the Congregational order, and polity of

Mr. David F. Bradlee,

Mrs. (larissa Davis,

Mrs. Mura K. Bradlee,

Mrs. Lucy Collins,

Mrs. Catherine O. Cushing, Mis. Sarah Eager,

Mrs. Klydah French,

Mrs. Harriet N. Faxon,

Mrs Susanah Stickney, Mr. Ichabod Wood,

Miss Elizabeth Stickney, Mrs. Anna B. Wood,

Mrs. Ilannah Pana, Mrs. Lydia T. Richardson,

Mrs. Sarah C. Pana, Mrs. Mary Hildreth,

Mrs. Fanny H. Burnham, Miss Jane Tobey.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 1 About the year 1822, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Whitney were received into membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Sudbury, Mass. Removing to Watertown soon after, and finding no Methodist society in the town, they opened their own house for services. These at first were attended by but four persons, Mr. and Mrs. Whitney, John Devoll and Joshna Rhodes. Although so few in number, they did not become discouraged, but continued these private services, with occasional preaching, for about two years. Rev. C. S. Maereading, who was then pastor of the Methodist church, at Newton Upper Falls, took great interest in the work of establishing Methodism in Watertown, and freely gave his services to the undertaking. October 4, 1836, the first class was constituted in Mr. Whitney's house. Beside the four persons already mentioned, the following were either at that time, or soon after, members : Sylvester and Cynthia Priest, George and Grace Bigelow, Thomas and Eden Campbell, Dorcas A. Sifford, Eliza Whitaker and Mrs. (or Miss) Richardson.

At nearly the same time a Sabbath-school was or- ganized; the first superintendent formally placed in charge was George Bigelow.

Preaching was for some months obtained from va- rious sources, but as the interest in and attendance upon the services increased, it was thought that with a little aid from the Missionary Society, regular preaching could be sustained. Accordingly applica- tion for this purpose was made to the New England Conference. The request was granted, Watertown

1 By Helen Louise Richardson,

341

WATERTOWN.

was made a mission, and Rev. George Pickering was sent as first Conference preacher, receiving his ap- pointment June 17, 1837. Regular services were still held in Mr. Whitney's house, and here, August 4, 1837, was held the first Quarterly Conference.

The first stewards of the church, appointed at this time, were Leonard Whitney, George Bigelow and Joshua Rhodes; the last-named soon after removed to the West, and Sylvester Priest was appointed stew- ard in his place. It now began to be generally felt. that a larger and a permanent place of worship must be secured.

An old one-storied academy building on a slight elevation in the centre of the town was available; this was bought for four hundred dollars, and in the summer of 1837 was dedicated with appropriate services.

The first trustees of the church were Leonard Whit- ney, Sylvester Priest, George Bigelow, John Devoll and Daniel Pillsbury.

It is said that John Devoll, the first year of the ex- istence of the society, gave in its behalf every dollar that he earned.

At the close of this year it was reported that the Sunday-school numbered twenty, that there was a Bible class of twenty-five, and though a mission sta- tion itself, $21.84 were raised for missions. In 1838 Waltham and Watertown were united and made a cir- euit, which arrangement continued till 1846. During these years Revs. Geo. Piekering, Franklin Fisk, David Webb, Horace G. Barrows, Bradford K. Peiree and T. W. Tucker were in turn in charge of the circuit.

The junior preachers during the same time, who made Watertown their home, were Revs. O. R. How- ard, E. A. Lyon, HI. G. Barrows and Geo. W. Frost.

Rev. G. W. Frost was a local preacher, residing in Watertown, and teaching a grammar school; he was recommended to the Annual Conference by the Quar- terly Conference of Watertown, and afterward became quite prominent. Removing to the West, he was ap- pointed Government Director and Purchasing Agent of the Union Pacific Railroad; he also served several terms in the Nebraska Legislature. He died in Omaha, February 2, 1888.

In 1846-47 Watertown and Dedham were united as a circuit, and Rev. W. R. Stone was placed in charge, with Rev. L. P. Frost, a local preacher residing in Watertown, as assistant.

In 1847 Watertown was made an independent sta- tion, with Rev. Daniel Richards as pastor. This proved to be a very important year in the history of the church. The necessity for larger and more acces- sible accommodations was felt, and the society thought that the time had come to change its location, so the hill property was sold at auction.

A man from Boston, unknown to any present, pur- chased it for a bonnet factory, but as it proved, he bought it for the Roman Catholics, and the site has

ever since been occupied by their house of worship. June 6, 1847, was the last Sabbath in the old building. Having made the mistake of giving possession too soon, the society reluctantly left for the Town Hall, where services were held till Angust 1, when the vestry of the new church on Main street was ready for occupancy.

October 20, 1847, the church itself, which is that now occupied by the society, was dedicated. The laud upon which the church is situated, was purchased for sixteen hundred dollars, and the building was completed at a cost of fifty-nine hundred dollars.

In 1848 Rev. J. Augustus Adams was appointed to Watertown ; toward the close of his second year there was a revival, which was the beginning of a new era in the history of the churchi.

Mr. Adams was a graduate of Wesleyan University, was two years principal of a school in Norwich, Con- necticut, and he and his wife were the first teachers of the New Hampshire Conference Seminary. He filled important pastorates honorably to himseif and profitably to the church, and was assistant secretary of the conference for several years. He died in Cali- fornia, August 27, 1860, whither he had gone seeking restoration to health.

The pastorate of Rev. Mosely Dwight, who suc- ceeded Mr. Adams, (1850-52) was very laborious and successful; during this time the trustees succeeded in raising $2065,00 of the indebtedness upon the church property. From 1852-58, Revs. George Bowler, Franklin Furber and 11. M. Loud served the church in turn, each remaining two years.

During the pastorate of Mr. Loud, and at his sug- gestion, the members living at Newtonville, estab- lisbed preaching services in a hall there, and after- ward secured the construction of a church building. Their withdrawal to their new place of worship made a sensible impression upon the congregation in Watertown. During this pastorate also the interior of the church was handsomely refitted.

From 1858-60 Rev. George M. Steele was pastor. He was very popular, serving one year upon the town school committee. He is now Doctor of Divinity, and has for several years been Principal of Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass.

Rev. Henry E. Hempstead received appointment here in 1860. In the winter of 1861-62, his mind being greatly exercised over the civil war then pend- ing, he sought and obtained release from his engage- ment with the church, and was appointed chaplain of the 29th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers. His chaplaincy was distinguished for ability, useful- ness and success. He fell opposite Fredericksburg, Dec. 21, 1862. In the spring of 1862, by the appoint . ment of conference, Rev. (afterward Dr.) Bradford K. Peirce eame to Watertown. His pastorate was characterized by all those fine qualities which made him so successful in the various important positions which he was afterward called to fill; for many

542

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

years he was Editor of Zion's Herald. Mr. Pierce remained one year, and was followed by Rev. J. L. Hanaford, who also remained one year.

In 1864 Rev. I. T. Townsend was sent to Water- town, and ocenpied the pulpit two years ; then declin- ing the charge of another society, he settled down in this place and has devoted himself to literature, teaching, occasional preaching and lecturing, ever since. Ile was chosen a member of the school com- mittee in 1864, and served until the spring of 1866. He wasgigain chosen on the school committee in 1869, was made chairman of the board, and served with distinguished ability in this position, until he re- signed in 1872. His reports of 1870 and 1871, remarkable for anticipating the struggle for separate church-schools by the Roman Catholic church, aroused much thought, considerable opposition in certain quarters, as being premature, and have only proved his interest and keen insight into the danger which threatened schools which he thought should be wholly national and broad enough to be unsectarian. He is now Doctor of Divinity, Professor in Boston University, and known and honored throughout Methodism. In 1864 a Methodist church was or- ganized in Newton; this removed from Watertown at different times about twenty-five members.

From 1866-70 the church was served by Revs. L. D. Stebbins, J. M. Bailey and Daniel Richards, the first two remaining one year each, and the last two years, this being his second appointment here. Rev. N. Fellows, who faithfully watched over the interests of the church from 1870-73, was a member of the school-board while in town ; he was afterward Prin- cipal of Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Massachu- setts. Rev. F. G. Morris succeeded Mr. Fellows and remained three years. Ile represented the town one year in the State Legislature.

During the pastorate of Rev. T. W. Bishop (1876- 79) a fine new organ was placed in the church ; during the same time also an indebtedness of thirty-two years' standing was paid, leaving the church property unencumbered; this happy result was secured large- ly through the liberality of Mr. Leonard Whitney, Jr., son of one of the original members.

Since 1579 the church has been served by the fol- lowing pastors: 1879-82, Rev. Henry Lummis, now Professor in Lawrence I'niversity, Appleton, Wis- vonsin; 1852-85, Rev. T. B. Smith ; 1885-87, Rev. J. 11. Twombly, P.D., afterward Presilent of the University of Wisconsin and twice a delegate to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; and in 1>57-91, Rev. Wm. G. Richardson, who is the present pastor.

In the autumn of 1887, the fiftieth anniversary of the evablishment of Methodism in Watertown was celebrated.

The exercises began with a semi-centennial han- quet in the Town Hall, Oct. 28, at which over three hundred and fifty persous were present. This was

followed by special services continuing about two weeks, during which there was preaching by some of the most distinguished clergymen of the denomi- nation.

The present Church membership is 195; the Sun- day-school numbers 230.

There are connected with the Church an Epworth League, Golden Rule Mission Band, "Kings' Own," Young Men's Assembly, Ladies' Aid Society and Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, all of which are in a flourishing condition. The Young Men's Assembly, organized during the present pastorate, originated the Young Men's Assembly of the Town, the most prosperous, progressive and influential or- ganization of Watertown.

The present officers of the Church are :-

Pastor. Rev. W. G. Richardson.

Trustees. George E. Priest, Edward F. Porter, William C. Howard, William H. Perkins, Wallace W. Savage, Oliver Shaw, L. Sidney Cleveland, Ches- ter Sprague, Richard 11. Paine.

Stewards. George E. Priest, Henry Chase, Cyrus H. Campbell, George W. Foskett, Freeman W. Cobb, Nathan B. Hartford, Wilbur F. Learned, George E. Teele, Frank J. Holmes, George G. Edwards, Bart- lett M. Shaw, John Looker, Charles W. Leach.

Sunday School Superintendent. Geo. E. Teele. Assistant Superintendents. Richard H. Paine, Bartlett M. Shaw.

A noteworthy feature of the present church edifice is a gilded 'rooster which surmounts the spire, and which is over a century old; it having at one time graced the spire of the old Parish Church, which stood in the present cemetery at the corner of Mt. Auburn and Common Sts. In this building were held the sessions of the Second Continental Congress while Boston was held by the British, during the Revolution. This old vane is supposed to be all that remains of the historic Church. The present church building is not adapted to the needs of the society, and a universal desire is felt for a larger and better place of worship.

Considerable money is already secured for the pur- pose, and it is hoped, that soon Methodism will be represented in Watertown, by an edifice commeusu- rate with its needs, growth and means.

ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH.1-Before the year 1830 the few Catholics residing in Watertown and its vicinity were attended by the priests of Boston, whose missions extended from Massachusetts Bay to the Hudson River.

But long before that year occurred events of his- toric import which form an interesting background to the history of the Catholic Church in Watertown. In 1631, shortly after the town fathers had selected the pleasant " plough lands " on the River Charles as the site for their township, Richard Brown, a ruling

1 By Rev. T. W. Coughlan.

343

WATERTOWN.

elder, maintained the opinion that " the churches of Rome were true churches," and in this opinion the Rev. Mr. Phillips, the pastor, seemed to have con- curred. In order to put an end to the controversy which such an avowal then caused, Governor Win throp, Deputy-Governor Dudley and Mr. Nowell, the elder of the Boston congregation, came to Watertown to confer with the Rev. Mr. Phillips and Mr. Brown. No satisfactory conclusion resulted from the con- ference. A day of humiliation and prayer was re- commended ; but the disturbance ended only when Mr. Brown ceased to be the ruling elder.

After the destruction of the Catholic settlements of Minas and Grand Prè, many of the unfortunate Acadians were scattered over these regions.

" Friendless, homeless, helpless, they wandered from city to city."

It is certain that some of these Acadians were among the first Catholics within the limits of Water- town. For two years one of their priests, Rev. Justinian Durant, resided in Boston.

In 1775 invitations were sent by Washington to the Catholic Indian tribes in Maine-the Penobscots, Passamaquoddies and St. John's-to join in the cause of freedom. Delegates from these tribes came to con- fer with the Massachusetts General Assembly, which received them at Watertown. Ambrose Var, the chief of the Indians of the St. John's tribe, was the spokes- man, and his salutation was " We are thankful to the Almighty to see the council." The Indians promised to espouse the canse of the patriots, and their only request was: " We want a black-gown or French priest." The General Court of Massachusetts ex- pressed its satisfaction at their respect for religion, and declared itself ready to procure a French priest ; but truly added that it did not know where to find one.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 80

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