USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Needham > History of Needham, Massachusetts, 1711-1911 : including West Needham, now the town of Wellesley, to its separation from Needham in 1881, with some reference to its affairs to 1911 > Part 21
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Wellesley > History of Needham, Massachusetts, 1711-1911 : including West Needham, now the town of Wellesley, to its separation from Needham in 1881, with some reference to its affairs to 1911 > Part 21
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
1 Mr. Lynes gave the Church important financial aid.
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
Smith Beless, Horace A. Carter, Charles W. Jones, Oliver Crisp, Cyrus G. Upham, George Clews, Francis T. Probert, Preston Mitchell, and Frederick H. Horrocks. The women have been most loyal and devoted to this Church, but to mention individuals discriminatingly is a task to which the writer is unequal. The Women's Foreign Missionary Society and the Standard Bearers have been well organized in this Church, and the subscriptions by the people to such charities as the relief of the sufferers by the San Francisco and Chelsea fires have been liberal, and there has been no neglect of good causes, many of them not denominational. The equipment of the different societies is of the best, and if anything is needed, as was a piano by the ladies in the nineties, the sons and daughters of the Church raise the money by personal sacrifices if necessary. In 1908 the name of the Church was changed to the Methodist Episcopal Church of Needham Heights. The Standard Bearers numbered forty-four in 1904, and is one of its newer organizations. 1
ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN GRANTVILLE, NOW THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN WELLESLEY HILLS
On December 24, 1846, a meeting was held at the house of the Rev. Harvey Newcomb, at which were present, Mr. Newcomb, Reuel Ware, John Batchelder, Reuben Ware, Dexter Ware, Fitzwilliam Rogers and Charles Noyes. Mr. Newcomb was the moderator and Mr. Rogers was the clerk, and with John Batchelder they were appointed "to draw up articles of Confession of Faith & Covenant, and Ecclesias- tical Principles & rules". At an adjourned meeting on the 28th a committee of six was chosen to arrange for dismission from the Church in the West Precinct, and they adjourned to January 7, 1847, but no meeting was held on the 7th. A day of "Fasting and Prayer" was observed at the house of Mr. Newcomb on January 21, the morning being set aside for private devotions, and the afternoon and evening for
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meetings. On this day the Confession of Faith, the Covenant and the rules were adopted, and the Church named the Orthodox Congregational Church in Grantville. The fol- lowing were dismissed from the West Church to form the new one :- William H. Adams, Mary A. Adams, Hannah D. Pettingill, H. Elizabeth Pettingill, John Batchelder, Rebecca S. Batchelder, Dexter Ware, Mary C. Ware, Rebecca A. Ware, Mary Jane Dix, George Smith, Eunice Smith, Charles Noyes, Sarah B. Noyes, Abigail Smith, Reuben Ware, Lydia P. Ware, Louisa M. Ware, Fitzwilliam Rogers, Mary C. Rogers, Reuel Ware, Hannah Ware, A. Elizabeth Ware, L. Emeline Ware, R. Willard Ware, Susan Winship, Harvey Newcomb and Alithea A. Newcomb, twenty-eight in all. This list is dated December 14, 1846, and with the addition of the names of Silas G. Williams and Mary Williams, who were received from the First Church in Newton on January 24, 1847, includes the thirty original members of this Church. A Council was held at the house of the Rev. Mr. Adams on January 27, with the Rev. Lyman Gilbert of West Newton as moderator, and the Rev. Samuel Hunt of Natick as the scribe, but the majority of the delegates from the nine Churches represented decided that it was unwise to organize a Church then.
On February 3, 1847, those desiring a Church in Grantville submitted to the West Church a lengthy argument, in three divisions, showing why the decision of the Council should not be considered as conclusive, and asking for another Council, which was held at Mr. Adams's on February 24, with the Rev. Jacob Ide, D.D., of West Medway, as moder- ator, and the Rev. Mr. Hunt as the scribe. This Council reversed the finding of the previous one, and organized the Church that afternoon. The services were as follows: Prayer by the Rev. Sewell Harding of East Medway, Sermon by the Rev. Joseph Haven, Jr., of Brookline, from "Ist. of Timothy, 3d. C. and 15th. v.," Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Hunt, Recognition by the Rev. Dr. Ide, and the Right Hand of
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
Fellowship by the Rev. Lyman Gilbert. Six Churches were represented in this Council. At a meeting of the Church March 5, with Mr. Newcomb as moderator, it was voted to obtain a record book, and that the clerk, Mr. Rogers, should procure a Communion Service for the next Sabbath. At an adjourned meeting, October 6, the Rev. Mr. Adams and the deacons were directed to extend to Mr. Newcomb the call which the Church had voted to give him on September 23, and which he accepted on November 15.1 He was in- stalled on December 9, when ten Churches were represented, and the Rev. Dr. Ide and the Rev. Mr. Hunt again served as moderator and scribe respectively. Prayer was offered by Dr. Ide, the Invocation and Reading of the Scriptures was by the Rev. Andrew Bigelow, Introductory Prayer by the Rev. John W. Allen of Wayland, Sermon by the Rev. Nehemiah Adams, D.D., of Essex Street Church, Boston, Installing Prayer by the Rev. Lyman Gilbert, Charge by Dr. Ide, Right Hand of Fellowship by the Rev. Edward Dowse of "Sherburne," Address to the People by the Rev. Joseph Haven, Jr., Concluding Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Hunt, and the Benediction by the Pastor. On January 13, 1848, Silas Williams and the deacons were chosen a Commit- tee on "Religious Instruction", which became one of the regular annual committees, as was the "Committee of Enquiry and Discipline". On March 2, 1848, a "Fast" was observed.
The house which Mr. Newcomb built in 1848, and where he lived, is now (1911) the home of Richard Cunningham. At a meeting of the Church on March 16 the pastor was the moderator, as usual, and it was voted to make appli- cation to the Middlesex South Conference. The Rev. Mr. Newcomb, the Rev. Mr. Adams and Deacon Batchelder were appointed to superintend the printing of the Confession of Faith and the Covenant. At this time the Communion
1 The Church gave the original call to a minister, and it was necessary that the Society should concur, which sometimes caused delay.
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
was celebrated once in two months. In a letter dated October 22, 1849, the Rev. Mr. Newcomb asked for a Council, as there appeared to be some dissatisfaction, although the Church then voted by a large majority that they were desirous that he should remain with them. The Council met November 8, five Churches being represented, and their decision was that Mr. Newcomb had better "seek another field of usefulness", which he did, and on June 20, 1850, the Rev. William Barrows was called by the Church. On July I Deacon Batchelder, Silas Williams and Elbridge Gardner were chosen a committee to join with the Parish Committee in extending the call to Mr. Barrows, who accepted on July 12, and on August 22 the Council met, with seven Churches represented, and two additional min- isters present. The Rev. Constantine Blodgett of Pawtucket was the moderator, and the Rev. Mr. Newcomb was the scribe. The sermon was preached by the Rev. George Richards of the Central Church in Boston. On March 13, 1851, it was voted to add to the Communion Service, and Brother Henry Robinson was to procure the new vessels. A record was made of the first death that occurred in this Church, which was that of Dexter Ware, who was killed by the cars at Grantville station on October 20, 1851, and whose funeral was held in the Church the 23d. The first case of discipline was heard in 1851, but the accused was mildly dealt with. This Church has always contributed liberally toward denominational objects, and in 1854 gave $134.23, in 1867 $236.60, and in 1873 $275.56. On January 22, 1856, Mr. Barrows was dismissed at his own request by a Council, and on July 16 the Church called the Rev. Edward S. Atwood, who accepted on August 13, and was ordained by a Council October 23. The Society had con- curred with the Church on July 29, and had chosen Mar- shall S. Scudder, Flavius J. Lake and Henry S. Batchelder to join with the deacons and William H. Nye, representing the Church, in extending the call. At the ordination Pro-
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
fessor William G. T. Shedd of Andover preached the Sermon. On March 29, 1859, a Council decided that Mr. Atwood ought to remain, and withdraw a proffered resignation, which he did, but was dismissed by a Council held on Sep- tember 21, 1864. On December 20 the Rev. William R. Eastman was asked to supply the pulpit, and June 13, 1865, he was called by this Church, but declined. On May 6, 1867, the Rev. Charles H. Williams was called, accepted on June 3, and was ordained by a Council July 25. In giving the call the Church was represented by Marshall S. Scudder, Joseph E. Fiske and Charles T. Wilder, and the Society by Ellsworth Torrey, Henry S. Batchelder and George W. Moulton. At the Installation the Sermon was preached by Professor Roswell D. Hitchcock, D.D. The Rev. Mr. Williams resigned November 7, 1868, and the Rev. James M. Hubbard was called by the Church on December 7, accepted on the 18th, and was installed by a Council on the 29th, when a sermon was preached by the Rev. Joshua W. Wellman, D.D. The committee on behalf of the Church consisted of Mr. Scudder, the Rev. William S. Smith and Captain Fiske, and the Society was represented by Reuel Ware, Henry A. Ball, Henry S. Batchelder and George D. Ware. There is a gap in the records, which are resumed in pencil in the latter portion of the same volume. The first meeting of the Church thus recorded was the annual meet- ing on March 9, 1871.
The Rev. Mr. Hubbard resigned, and was dismissed by Council on January 13, 1874. The Rev. John L. Harris was called by the Church on May 6, accepted on the 27th, and was installed by a Council on June 18. Albion C. Clapp, Hugh McLeod and the Rev. Francis B. Perkins tendered the call for the Church, and Ellsworth Torrey, Henry L. Sanderson and Dr. Isaac H. Hazelton for the Society. The Installation Sermon was preached by the Rev. Henry M. Dexter, D.D. The Rev. Mr. Harris re- signed on November 6, 1875, and was dismissed by a Coun-
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
cil on December 31. The Rev. Jonathan Edwards was called by the Church on January 18, 1876, and was installed by a Council on March I, when the Rev. John O. Means of Boston preached the sermon. The Church chose Captain Fiske, Henry L. Sanderson and the Rev. Mr. Perkins to extend the call, and Edwin O. Bullock, George D. Ware and Hezekiah Fuller represented the Society. The Rev. Mr. Edwards was much esteemed, and had a successful ministry. On March 18, 1876, the minister, with the Rev. Mr. Perkins and Deacons R. Ware and G. D. Ware, were selected to revise the Manual, which was printed the next year. The Church is therein called the "Orthodox Congre- gational Church, Grantville, Mass.", and a list published in 1891 is designated a "Catalogue of Wellesley Hills Con- gregational Church".
In 1876 this Church had eighty-five members, and a Sunday School consisting of twelve teachers and ninety pupils. Henry L. Sanderson was the superintendent. In 1909 there were two hundred and forty-five members of the Church, and two hundred and fifteen teachers and scholars in the Sunday School. The Rev. Mr. Newcomb's salary was $500 per year, Mr. Barrow's $600, Mr. Atwood was at first given $800, which was increased to $1000 in 1859, and which continued to be the amount of the minister's salary for years. The Rev. Mr. Edwards was called at $1500; two years later the current expenses of the Society were about $1800, an increase of $150 in six years. In 1879 the expense of the music was $100, the rent of the parsonage $300, and the care of the Church $75. An organ was bought in 1859. The present organ cost $3500, and was the gift of Charles T. Wilder in memory of his wife, Mary.
The first meeting to form a Society, in connection with the Orthodox Congregational Church in Grantville, was held in the "Railroad Passenger House" on May 6, 1846, with the Rev. Mr. Adams presiding, and Dexter Ware as the secretary. There were also present Capt. Reuben Ware,
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
John Batchelder, Charles Merrill, George K. Daniell, Fitz- william Rogers, E. P. Chapin, Capt. Reuel Ware, Daniel Hurd, Israel Hunting, Samuel W. Dix, Ambrose Arnold, John S. Bird and Richard Parker. The project of building a meeting-house was at once brought forward, and com- mittees were appointed, but at different dates, there being some fourteen adjourned meetings. The chief duties of the committees were to raise money and to select a site for the building, which was not to cost over $4000. A circular was issued, dated "North Needham May 20. 1846", stating that loans and gifts were solicited to build a meeting-house on the " Sherburne Road" for the use of the "Orthodox Trin- itarian Congregational Church and Society", the shares to be of $100 each, and in case of loans the payment was to be by pews. At this time there were twenty-eight subscribers, Reuben and Dexter Ware each taking three shares. A lot containing one hundred and forty-four rods was pur- chased for $250 of Joseph W. Maynard on September 9, 1846.1
On August 23 six men petitioned Benjamin Slack, Esq., to issue a warrant for a meeting of the "Third Congrega- tional Society", which he did for September 3, 1846. The Rev. Mr. Adams was the moderator, Dexter Ware was chosen clerk, John Batchelder treasurer, Capt. Reuben Ware, John Batchelder and Fitzwilliam Rogers Society Committee, Capt. Reuel Ware collector, and Capt. Reuel Ware, Dexter Ware, Mr. Rogers, Luther Horr and Samuel W. Dix a building committee. A little later Mr. Rogers was succeeded on the latter committee by E. P. Chapin.
1 This land was part of eight and three quarters acres and thirty-one rods which Mr. Maynard had bought for $1698, of John S. Bird on August 22, 1846. On December 14, 1847, Mr. Maynard executed a deed ratifying the previous one, to the "Orthodox Trinitarian Congregational Society in Grantville in Needham ", and correcting the name of the grantee to "Grantville society". John Batchelder, the treasurer of the Society, acted in its behalf. Mr. Maynard and his wife, Priscilla B., did not acknowledge this second deed till December 21, 1849. The rest of the land bought of Mr. Bird was sold to Reuben and Dexter Ware on September 9, 1846, and had a frontage of over six hundred feet on the "Sher- burne " road, the Church lot intervening.
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
There followed fourteen adjourned meetings, the last one being dissolved on July 9, 1847. There was delay in securing the lot, and legal advice was obtained from Judge S. Leland. On September 24, 1846, the "Grantville Society" chose Reuel Ware, John Batchelder, Emery Fiske, who had served on the first committee to select a site, Daniel Hurd and Reuben Ware to prepare the spot for the under- pinning. On October 4, 1847, a committee was named to act with the women in furnishing the meeting-house, which was adorned with "a rod & Vane for the Tower". The gift of a bell was received in November from Moses Grant of Boston. It does not appear just when this Church was dedicated, but there was a vote to dedicate it. This bell was not in use in the Church in 1909. In March, 1847, the Society is called in its records the "Congregational Society of Grantville in Needham". On February II, 1847, the Society had voted to have "Regular Public Services in Rev. W. H. Adams Hall next Sabbath" at 10.30, A.M., and at 1.30, P.M. They met in the "Vestry" March 16, 1848.
The records in the late forties consist largely of details as to the disposal of pews, often by the clerk, who acted as auctioneer, there being thirty-three pews unsold in 1850, the whole number, sixty-two, having been appraised at $4574 in 1847. A plan of the meeting-house floor, showing the pews, is inserted in the volume. Late in 1849 the Society owed $290.76, including interest, on account of the land. Hunter & Neal had been the contractors for the meeting-house, but the figures do not appear in the records. In 1894, or earlier, the question of a new Church was con- sidered, and on September 1I, 1900, the following building committee was chosen: - Flavius J. Lake, chairman, Lyman K. Putney, the Rev. Parris T. Farwell, George D. Ware and Timothy Wallace Travis. The architect was George F. Newton of Boston, the contractors Robert Wilson, and also Norcross Bros. Co. There was also considerable day work, and the total cost was $43,000.
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
This beautiful stone Church was dedicated in the after- noon and evening of February 17, 1903, when the Rev. Alexander McKenzie, D.D., made an address, and other prominent men took part in the exercises. The annual meeting of the Church, on January 2, 1902, had been held in the Unitarian Church, the two Churches, or Societies, having exchanged courtesies of this nature at different times. The old Church was sold to John Croswell for $150. When the Church was completed the organ was presented. The pulpit furniture was given as a memorial of William and Caroline W. Heikle, also a clock for the Sunday School room in memory of Harold Keith, and a sum of money to be expended in this room in memory of Mrs. M. F. Parker. Mrs. Parker was killed, with her son, in a railroad accident at Quincy.
Most of the early meetings of the Society were presided over by either Capt. Reuben Ware or Silas Williams, and of the later moderators Flavius J. Lake is preeminent, from 1857 to 1881, and perhaps since. In the absence of the minister a Church meeting was usually governed by one of the deacons. These meetings were changed from March to January by vote of March 8, 1876, and with occasional exceptions the annual meetings of the Society have been held in March or April, and the last one on record is that of April 30, 1896. The Society survives the incorporation of the Church to which it had voted, on March II, 1894, to transfer its property as soon as the incorporation was completed. By an Act approved by the Governor on March II, 1885, the "Grantville Religious Society" became the Wellesley Hills Congregational Society. On April 15, 1884, Captain Fiske had been appointed to secure such legislation, as on January 14, 1884, the Church had voted to change its name by substituting Wellesley Hills for Grantville.
Four baptisms of infants are recorded in the Church book for 1857, but without definite dates, and appear to be the only ones thus recorded for many years. When the
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
pulpit was vacant ministers were secured, the services held regularly, and the communion was administered. The records of the Church to 1909 are contained in six volumes, and those of the Society in one volume.
Names of the Ministers to 1881: -
Rev. Harvey Newcomb, December 9, 1847-November 8, 1849. He had been the minister of the West Church, in what is now Wellesley. Died August 30, 1863, aged sixty years.
Rev. William Barrows, D.D., August 22, 1850-January 22, 1856. He was at Phillips Andover Academy 1834-6, graduated at Amherst 1840, D.D. 1867, Union Theological Seminary 1845. Author of Civil War pamphlets, etc. Died September 9, 1891, aged seventy-six years.
Rev. Edward Sumner Atwood, A.M., October 23, 1856- September 21, 1864, Brown 1852, Andover Theological Seminary 1856, D.D. from Brown 1883. Died in Salem, Mass., May 13, 1888, aged fifty-five years.
Rev. Charles Henry Williams, A.M., July 25, 1867-Decem- ber 29, 1868, Yale 1858.
Rev. James Mascarene Hubbard December 29, 1869- January 13, 1874, Yale 1859.
Rev. John Lambdin Harris June 18, 1874-December 21, 1875. Mr. Harris was ordained as a Methodist minister at Macomb, Ill., in 1860, and continued in that denomination till 1873, when he went to the Pacific Congregational Church at New Bedford.
Rev. Jonathan Edwards, A.M., March 1, 1876- , Yale 1840.
Deacons: Reuel Ware January 21, 1847, till his death on August 15, 1882.
John Batchelder January 21, 1847. He wished to retire in April, 1861, but apparently died in office March, 1864.
Henry S. Batchelder June 17, 1864, till his death on May 10, 1875.
George D. Ware March 5, 1868 to the present time (1911).
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
Rev. William S. Smith December 7, 1868 to 1874.
The elections of Deacons Ware and Batchelder were con- firmed on March 5, 1847. On June 10, 1864, Hezekiah Fuller was elected deacon, but declined that honor.
Clerks of the Church: Fitzwilliam Rogers December 24, 1846-January 13, 1848, Silas Williams 1848-51 (four years),
Henry G. Perkins 1852-6 (five years), Denison D. Dana 1857-65 (nine years),
Flavius J. Lake 1866 (April 19)-1880 (fifteen years), Frank L. Fuller 1881- .
Treasurers of the Church: John Batchelder March 5, 1847-March 1, 1855, Reuel Ware 1855-68 (fourteen? years with no record for 1869 and 1870), the Rev. William S. Smith 1871 (no record of any Church officers for 1872 and 1873), Hezekiah Fuller 1874-80 (seven years), Albion R. Clapp 1881-9 (nine years).
In 1850 Dexter Ware and Silas Williams were chosen as auditors by the Church, and it was customary for both Church and Society to elect two auditors. In 1850 the latter chose a board of three assessors in addition to the Society Committee, and distinct from it.
Clerks of the Society: Dexter Ware September 3, 1846- 50 (five years). No record for 1851. In April, 1856, Mr. Perkins was requested to record the meetings of March 21, May 21 and 28, then existing in temporary form.
Henry G. Perkins 1852-4 (three years), Denison D. Dana 1855-6 (four years), Reuben N. Ware 1857, '58, Samuel B. Cogswell 1859, '60, Henry S. Batchelder 1861-5 (five years), William S. Ware 1866, '67, George D. Ware 1868-70 (three years), Joseph E. Fiske 1871-3 (three years), Frank L. Fuller 1874-
Treasurers of the Society: Dea. John Batchelder Sep- tember 3, 1846-55 (twelve years), Flavius J. Lake 1856, '57, '79, '80, Denison D. Dana 1858, Charles T. Wilder 1859-62 (four years), F. S. Monroe, Jr. 1863-71 (nine years), Ellsworth Torrey 1872, Joseph E. Fiske 1873,
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
Henry L. Sanderson 1874-7 (four years), he held this office some years subsequent to 1881, Albion R. Clapp, 1878, '81- .
George D. Ware was one of the Society Committee, known later as the Parish Committee, in 1856, '57, '59-64, '66- 81 (twenty-four years), and probably since. Mr. Lake was on this committee in 1855, '59, '73-8 (eight years). He has for many years been prominent among the assessors of Massachusetts.
Superintendents of the Sunday School: The Rev. William H. Adams January 13, 1848- , Dexter Ware May 11, 1848- March 13, 1851, Elbridge Gardner 1851, '53, '54, George Ellery Clarke 1852, William H. Nye 1855, '56, Marshall S. Scudder 1857-67 (eleven years), Flavius J. Lake 1868, '74, E. F. Thayer 1871, Henry L. Sanderson 1876, '77, the Rev. Jonathan Edwards 1878, Edwin O. Bullock 1879- .
Assistant Superintendents of the Sunday School: Flavius J. Lake 1867. He was chosen in 1879, but declined to serve. Dea. George D. Ware was the librarian of the Sunday School for half a century, with the exception of an occasional year, when he declined to serve. He held this position as late as 1898, and perhaps since. Mr. Lake was chosen superin- tendent of the Sunday School by the teachers in 1868, and their choice was ratified by the Church. For many years the annual meeting of the Church was held in March, when the Church officers were elected, together with the superin- tendent, treasurer, and librarian of the Sunday School. There is no record of the election of any Church officers for the years 1869, '70, '72, '73. Beginning with 1874 the annual meeting has been held in January.
EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Religious meetings were held in the school-house on the Great Plain prior to the organization of either the Baptist or the Evangelical Churches, and it was the hope of Dr. Noyes and others that all would unite in establishing an
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
Orthodox Church, but the zeal of George Howland and other decided Baptists made this impracticable. The Rev. Dr. Burgess of Dedham learning that a number of people in East Needham desired "that the Institutions of the Gospel as founded by the early settlers in New England should be established in their vicinity " generously commenced a series of meetings in Nehoiden Hall on the first Sabbath of April, 1855, and continued them to the first Sabbath in May, 1856. On the last Monday in April, 1856, citizens met and chose Moses Winch, Dr. Noyes and Charles E. Keith a committee to provide preaching during the ensuing year. The meetings were held in Nehoiden Hall during May and June, when Village Hall was obtained and fitted for use as a place of worship, and the first Sabbath in July Dr. Burgess preached the first sermon there.
On April 2, 1857, those interested in forming a Church met in Village Hall, when letters from other Churches were read recommending six persons for membership in the new Church. On the 9th there was another meeting, when more letters were read, and on the 23d a third meeting was held at which it was voted to invite to an Ecclesiastical Council the Church in Dedham, of which the Rev. Dr. Burgess was the pastor, and the Churches in Dover, Medfield, West Needham, Grantville and Newton Centre. Moses Winch, Dr. Noyes and Charles E. Keith were chosen a committee to issue the letters missive. On May 5 a Confession of Faith and a Covenant were adopted, and at one o'clock, P.M., on the 6th the Council met in Needham and formed the Church. Each of the Churches invited was represented by the pastor and one deacon, except that in Newton Centre, whose minister did not attend. The Rev. Joy H. Fairchild of South Boston sat in the Council by invitation. The Rev. Dr. Burgess was the moderator, and the Rev. Edward S. Atwood of Grantville was the scribe. The "Ecclesiastical Polity, Covenant, and Creed" are recorded on pages 5-10 of the first volume of the Church records. The original
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