History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 52

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason
Number of Pages: 1170

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547

NORTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

six years after his dismissal from the North Church, and his last pastoral work was done in his native place, South Plymouth, where he also preached six years. He died in this city November 27, 1866, and was buried from the church where he had preached so many years. Rev. Thomas M. Smith was installed as associate pastor, July 24, 1839, and remained until August 31, 1842. The agitation of the slavery question in 1843 was a disturbance which resulted in the excommunication of one of the deacons and another prominent member. The following resolution and vote, show the action taken by the church on that ques- tion :

"Resolved, That all action upon, or discussion of these subjects (State rights, na- tional policy, and slavery), as a church, or in meetings appointed by the church, be indefinitely postponed.

"Voted, That the church do not think it expedient to pass any resolutions on the subject of slavery."

During the pastorate of Rev. Robert S. Hitchcock, who was ordained July, 19 1843, troubles arose which resulted in the withdrawal and dis- missal of a body of members, which was afterwards formed into churches known as the " Union Church of Fairhaven," and the Pacific Congregational Church. Rev. Mr. Hitchcock resigned December 9, 1845, and the church was without a pastor for nearly two years, when on September 15, 1847, Azariah Eldridge, from the Divinity School, Yale College, was ordained. Extensive improvements were made to the meeting- house in 1850 and 1851, the expense of which was about $6,000, and the re-dedication took place March 13, 1851. Rev. Henry W. Parker succeeded Rev. Mr. Eldridge August 3, 1856, and during his ministry, in 1857, the stone chapel on the south was built at a cost of about $3,500. The next pastor was Rev. Alonzo H. Quint, who was a chaplain in the Union army, and the letter of acceptance is dated " Camp of the Second Massachusetts Infantry, Tullahoma, Tennessee, April 20, 1864." His installation took place July 21 of the same year. He re- mained with the church eleven years, being succeeded by Rev. Albert H. Heath, who was installed October 19, 1876, although Mr. Quint's serv- ices had terminated in June of the preceding year. During the minis- try of Rev. Mr. Heath, a new pulpit was built and the church improved at a cost of about $7,000. The present pastor, Rev. John A. McColl, began

548

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

his pastorate January 16, 1890, and came to New Bedford from St. Al- bans, Vt., where he had been pastor of the First Congregational Church for six years. The following ministers, other than pastors, have been connected with the church or Sunday-school: Freeman P. How- land, Augustus B. Reed, Thomas Bailey, Clark Cornish, William H. San- ford, Henry W. Lee, Pardon G. Seabury, William H. Sturtevant, Andrew Mackie, John Cotton Smith, James F. Sisson, James R. Bourne, William H. Dowden, John C. Staples, Ellis Mendell, Rufus B. Toby, Daniel C. Burt, Henry M. Dexter, D. D., and William C. Stiles. The present officers of the corporation are : Trustees, Pardon A. Macomber, treasurer ; Charles W. Knight, clerk; Thatcher C. Hatch, E Williams Hervey. The officers of the society are: Pastor, John A. McColl ; deacons, Zaca- riah Sturtevant, Thatcher C. Hatch, William F. Butler, Pardon A. Ma- comber, James W. Hervey, and Abraham Tenner ; James W. Hervey, treasurer. The standing committee is composed of the deacons and pastor, with Charles W. Knight, Edwin Emery, Henry Phillips, and Frank Milliken. Henry Phillips is clerk of the society. Frederick A. Bradford is superintendent of Sunday- school and Mary Hitch assistant.

Trinitarian Church -This society was formed sixty years ago by a detachment of members of the North Congregational Church. At that time it became evident to Sylvester Holmes, the pastor of the last-named congregation, that there was need of a new church in the south part of the town and it was, perhaps, through his influence and efforts that the new church society was organized. The earliest germ of the new enter- prise lies in the following statement which appears upon the records of the old North Church : " March 31, 1828, voted that seven members be appointed as a committee to confer with our pastor on any subject relating to the prosperity of the church ; that Deacon J. Barker, S. Bailey, H. P. Willis, J. Bourne, William Little, N. Perry and W. B. Spooner, constitute said committee." Before any steps had been taken to form a church, a subscription paper had been drawn up and signed to raise money for the erection of the new edifice. This paper is dated November 19, and contains nearly a hundred names. By reference to the records it is found that on August 29, 1831, a committee of five persons was chosen from the North Church, " to procure a preacher for the South Congregational meeting-house now building in this town."

549

TRINITARIAN CHURCH.

Three of that committee afterwards became members of this church, Joshua Barker, Charles Coggeshall, and Simeon Bailey. It was not until the 24th of October, 1831, that any direct steps were taken to consider the expediency of forming a church. On that date, however, it is recorded that a meeting of the North Church was held and after prayer by the moderator (probably the Rev. Mr. Holmes). it was stated by him that a request had been made for the society to " take into con- sideration the subject of forming a church from the members of this church who shall constitute a church to occupy the South meeting- house." November 15, 1831, an ecclesiastical council met at the North Congregational Church for the purpose of organizing a new society. This council consisted of eight clergymen, among wlion were Revs. Oliver Cobb, l'ardon G. Seabury, and Thomas Robbins. Fifty-nine persons entered their names on a list as members of the new church, all of whom separated from the old North Church, with exception of Susan Carver, of whom it is not stated from what church she came. The min- isters present at this council were, besides those mentioned above, Jon- athan Bigelow from Rochester, Samuel Nott, jr., from Wareham, Samuel Utley from North Rochester, William Gould from Fairhaven, and Timothy Danie. The council met again in the evening and Thomas Robbins presented the confession of faith and covenant to the new mem- bers for their assent, and on behalf of the council declared them a church of Christ. Two days afterwards, the new church, which was still name- less and houseless, met at the home of Charles Coggeshall. This was their first meeting and they immediately took steps to secure a pastor. In this endeavor they were disappointed for a year, when at last on the 14th of November, 1832, the Rev. James Austin Roberts became the first pastor of the church. During this year, however, the society had been diligently organizing. On February 2, 1832, they procured an act of incorporation under the name of the Trinitarian Church. On February 5, of that year, the first recorded meeting in the new church was held. The dedication of the new edifice took place Thursday, May 17, 1832, the religious exercises being in charge of the Rev. Mr. Rob- bins. Mr. Roberts remained with the church eleven years, in that time taking but one vacation. During his pastorate ninety-eight members were added. April 5, 1843, he was granted a leave of absence for one

550

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

year to visit England, the pulpit being supplied by Rev. Mr. Dyer, of Fultonville, N. Y. In February of the next year fire did serious dam- age to the building. After holding the Sunday afternoon services for a time in the Unitarian Church, union services were held with the North Church, the pastor of which, Rev. Mr. Hitchcock, had been granted leave of absence. In the mean time, July, 1844, Mr. Roberts had written from London asking his dismission. He afterwards returned to America and lived and died in Berkley.

During the fall of 1844 the pulpit was supplied by Rev. J. H. Towne, of Boston, and on January 6, 1845, a unanimous call was extended to Rev. George L. Prentiss, of Portland, Me., to become pastor, and on April 9 he was installed, remaining pastor until September 30, 1850.

October 15, 1850, a call was extended to Rev. Wheelock Craig, of Newcastle, Me., and he was installed December 4, 1850. He remained with the church eighteen years. In 1858, he was invited to the professorship of modern languages at Bowdoin College, but he pre- ferred to remain in his pastorate. In 1866 the church was again injured by fire, and while it was being repaired, servives were held in Pierian Hall. In 1868 Mr. Craig's health began to fail and his church granted him a leave of absence for four months, his pulpit to be supplied during his absence by his brother, Henry Craig. He sailed from New York, May 23, 1868, and traveled through many countries of Europe. His strength failed him and he died a Neufchatel, Switzerland, November 28, 1868. His remains were brought to this city, and funeral services were held in the church, December 24, 1868.

Rev. Cassius M. Terry, of New York, was called to fill the vacant pulpit February 12, 1870. He commenced his labors in June but was not installed until November 3, 1871. Ill health compelled him to re- sign March 1, 1872. He removed to Minneapolis, Minn., where he died August 18, 1881.

After the resignation of Mr. Terry the pulpit was supplied until Oc- tober by Rev. Dr. L. T. Townsend, of Boston. At a meeting held October 21, 1872, it was voted to extend a call to Rev. Matthew C. Julien, of New York, with a salary of $3,500. It was accepted, and the installation took place December 11, 1872. In the summer and fall of 1879 extensive repairs and alterations were made in the church edifice.

METHODIST CHURCHES.

It was re- dedicated December 11, 1879, with interesting and appropriate exercises. The semi-centennial anniversary was observed with elabo- rate exercises on the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th of November, 1881. The Trinitarian Church bells were the first bells to call the people to Christmas service in the city. This was in 1873, when the Sunday- school held its first Christmas service. In 1883 the handsome Church Home was built on the opposite corner.

The old church edifice was entirely destroyed by fire March 8, 1890, and during the following summer the mectings were held in the opera house, and in the fall the Church Home was used as a place of worship. Some meetings were also held in the North Congregational Church. The corner stone of the new building was laid with impressive cere- monies on October 27, 1890, by Mrs. Ellen Bailey, the only surviving member of the original fifty- nine persons who formed the church. The imposing structure was completed and dedicated November 15, 1891, on the sixtieth anniversary of the society. The officers for 1891, are : Charles P. Rugg, chairman; George F. Kingman, William R. Wing, Isaac C. Sherman, Charles T. Bonney, trustees ; A. M. Goodspeed, clerk; Charles P. Rugg, treasurer ; Ezra B. Chase, I. N. Barrows, I. C. Sherman, Frederick A. Washburn, and A. M. Goodspeed, deacons. The memberslup is 231, and the Sunday-school has about 300 scholars, of which Oliver W. Cobb is the superintendent.

County Street Methodist Episcopal Church .- From the year 1817 dates the first effective steps toward the formation of a Methodist so- ciety in New Bedford. Prior to that date there were but few of this denomination in the town, but these few occasionally listened to the discourses of Rev. Epaphram Kibby, who came down from the Head- of-the River to preach to them as early as 1806 and 1807. It is stated that the first class was formed here in 1817 and comprised sixteen per- sons, the services of Rev. Benjamin R. Hoyt, a minister of Sandwich, be- ing secured to conduct the meeting, through the efforts of Phineas Kin- ney, who walked to Sandwich and back for the purpose. The Methodists also held prayer meetings at private houses and on one occasion Rev. George Pickering preached at the residence of John Hawes on the southwest corner of Elm and Water streets. Later they leased the hall owned by William Kempton, on the southwest corner of Mill and

552

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

North Second streets. A more decided advance was made in 1819 by the arrival of Benjamin F. Sayer, from Newport, who came to New Bedford and established himself in business, and partially consented to preach in the hall every Sunday, which he did until June 21, 1820, when the annual conference at Nantucket recognized them as a sepa- rate station and supplied them with a pastor. This was Jesse Fillmore, who began his pastoral duties July 15, 1820, and steps were at once taken to build a chapel. This was begun in June, 1821, and when partially completed, services were held, the seats being improvised by spreading boards about the unfinished room. The first baptism was administered September 3, 1820, to two persons, and on the 17th of September, four colored people were also baptized. The trustees of the church were Z. Cushman, Joseph Stowell, and Jonathan Tuttle, and the first quarterly conference was held with Rev. George Pickering as presiding elder, November 23, 1820. The Rev. Mr. Fillmore was suc - ceeded in 1822 by Solomon Sias, during whose ministry, with the aid of the eloquent John N. Maffit, revivals were held which greatly in- creased the membership, and when Mr. Sias left in 1824 there were 130 in the society. The Sunday-school was organized in 1824. In 1840 the church edifice was remodeled and newly furnished. In 1858 several of the official members formed an organization known as the " Elm Street Building Association," to erect a new church edifice. The present structure at the corner of Elm and County streets was built under their supervision, and cost, including the lot and a fine church organ, $43,000. The corner-stone was laid May 20, 1858, and the church was dedicated May 5, 1859. During a revival held in 1866, through the exertions of Messrs James Taylor, George M. Eddy, and Leonard B. Ellis, a Christian association of young men was formed in connection with the church, from which has since arisen the pros- perous local branch of the Young Men's Christian Association. Fol- lowing are the names of the pastors and the dates of their service :

Jesse Fillmore, 1820-21; Solomon Sias, 1822-23; Epaphram Kibby, 1824 ; Frederick Upham, 1825; Jacob Sanborn, 1826-27; Asa Kent, 1828; Timothy Merritt, 1829-30; Daniel Webb, 1831-32; Daniel Fillmore, 1833; Thomas C. Pierce, 1834 35; Shipley W. Wilson, 1836-37; Isaac Bonney, 1838-39; Joel Knight, 1840-41; John Lovejoy, 1842-43; Azariah B. Wheeler, 1844; David Patten, 1845-46; James D. Butler, 1847- 48 ; Robert M. Hatfield, 1849-50; Daniel Wise, 1851-52; E. T. Fletcher, 1853; Wil-

553

METHODIST CHURCHES.

liam T. Harlow, 1854-55 ; John Cooper, 1856; Henry S. White, 1857-58; Mark Trafton, 1859-60; William S. Studley, 1861-62; Mark Trafton, 1863-64; Richard W. Humphries, 1865-67; Dudley P. Leavitt, 1868-70; Ensign McChesney, 1871-73; Luther T. Townsend, 1874; Wilbur F. Crafts, 1875-76 ; William F. Whitcher, 1877-78; Watson L. Phillips, D. D., 1879-80; Edward D. Towle, 1881; Henry D. Kimball, 1882- 84 ; S. Olin Benton, 1885-87 ; Angelo Canoll, 1888-89 ; Charles W. Holden, 1890 to date.

Mr. Holden is a native of Cambridge, England, having come to this country when quite young. He was appointed to the present charge of the County Street Methodist Episcopal Church at the April confer- ence, 1890. The officers of the church are: James Taylor, president ; Leonard B. Ellis, secretary ; Benjamin Anthony, treasurer; S. T. Per- ry, George M. Eddy, S. C. Hathaway, Job Wade, George G. Gifford, Mark T. Vincent, trustees; George G. Gifford, George M. Eddy, Ben- Jamin Anthony, Sylvanus Bennett, Savory C. Hathaway, James Taylor, R. G. Bennett, F. A. Butts, jr., J. B. Wade, Jethro C. Brock, George S. Fox, and Wm. M. Butler, stewards; Caleb L. Ellis, class leader ; G. W. Burgess, superintendent of Sunday-school.

Fourth Street Methodist Episcopal Church .- This was the first Method- ist society to be formed of members who withdrew from the old Elm Street Church. In 1831 a chapel was erected, and the dedication took place February 4, 1832. During 1831 and 1832, Rev. Asa Kent offi- ciated, and at the conference of 1832, Revs. A. D. Sargent and Daniel Webb were appointed to serve both the Elm and Fourth Street charges. The separation which took place in 1843 was effected by mutual con- sent and Fourth Street became a distinct church under the pastoral care of Rev. A. U. Swinerton, who remained with it two years. Al- though the church contracted a debt of $6,000 during Mr. Swinerton's pastorate, its spiritual life had been most successful, and when he left seventy-six new names had been added to the membership. A remark able pastorate was that of Rev. Moses Chase, which began in 1850. In November, 1851, he with six others purchased what is now the Allen Street M. E. Church, and a new society with members from the Fourth Street, was formed. This was considered an unwise step by some, as the gradual exodus of members who lived nearer the Allen Street Church reduced the membership of the Fourth Street in 1852 to 191 and 18 probationers, and in 1856 there were only 172 members and 7 probationers. The membership was increased in 1860, however, dur-

554

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

ing the pastorate of Rev. S. F. Upham, who afterwards became pro- fessor in Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, N. J., and through his endeavors the meeting-house was enlarged and remodeled to its present proportions, at a cost of $6,300, The structure was re-dedi- cated in February, 1861, and Rev. L. D. Barrows delivered the discourse. During the year 1866 the centennial anniversary of Meth- odism in America was celebrated among the Fourth Street people by the offering of $2,400 to free the church from debt incurred when the improvements were made. Again in 1881, during the ministry of Rev. A. McCord, $2,300 were raised and the church thoroughly repaired and repainted. Mr. McCord's pastorate was highly satisfactory and emi- nently a successful one.

The ministers who have served the congregation and the dates of their service are as follows :

Asa Kent, 1831-32; A. D. Sargeant and Daniel Webb, 1832; A. U. Swinerton, 1833-34; Sanford Benton, 1835; Phineas Crandall, 1836-37: Warren Emerson, 1838: Daniel Webb, 1839; W. S. Campbell, 1840 ; George F. Pool, 1841; A. U. Swinerton, 1842-43; Isaac House, 1844; Daniel Webb (supplied). 1845; Paul Townsend, 1846; Daniel Fillmore, 1847-48; W. A. Richards, 1849; Moses Chase. 1850-51; Richard Livesey, 1852; J. Mather, 1853-54: George M. Carpenter. 1855-56; Henry Baylies, 1857; J. T. Benton, 1858-59: S. F. Upham, 1860-61; N. Bemis, 1862; E. H. Hatfield, 1863-64; Joseph Marsh (supplied), 1865; William H. Jones, 1866; E. S. Stanley, 1867-68; Samuel A. Winsor, 1869; Charles Ryder, May 1 to July 1, 1873; Charles Morgan, Sept. 1, 1873, to April, 1875; R. W. C. Farnsworth, 1875 to April, 1878: Asa N. Bodfish, 1878 to 1881; Archibald McCord, 1881 to 1884; H. B. Cady, 1884 to 1887 ; A. P. Palmer, 1887 to 1890; William H. Allen. April, 1890, to the present time.

The trustees of the Church for 1891 are: Charles H. Gifford, G. H. Poole, Lot B. Bates and Horace Tilden. The stewards are Lot B. Bates, J. W. Pierce, Charles H. Gifford, A. E. Patterson, J. M. Ricket- son, H. Tilden, Benjamin Winslow, Lydia A. Tilden, Cornelia G. Winslow, Jane L. Poole, James H. Russell, Gilbert G. Stiles and Caleb Ramsbottom. Lot B. Bates is the church treasurer ; Sunday-school superintendent, Cornelia G. Winslow.

The Pleasant Street Methodist Episcopal Church .- This is the sec- ond church society to spring from the old Elm Street, now the County Street Methodist Church. The official records of the society for a pe- riod of sixteen years, from 1843 to 1859, are missing, but it is definitely known that during the years 1841-42 the members of the Elm Street

555

METHODIST CHURCHES.

Church had been considering the expediency of holding prayer meet- ings and of establishing a Sunday-school in the north part of the town, and finally began to search for a convenient room for that purpose ; but failing to find such, a committee of the trustees was chosen and given authority to buy a lot for the purpose of erecting a building for religious worship. This resulted in the purchase of a lot on Pleasant street, and a building thirty by forty feet was erected thereon. At that time Syc- amore street had not been cut through to Pleasant, and where that street was afterward laid out stood the little "Tree Meeting-house," the name being derived from a large sycamore tree that stood directly in front and overshadowed the little chapel. The sermon at the open- ing of the chapel in 1843 was preached by Rev. John Lovejoy, then pastor of the Elm Street Church. The services were supported by sixty or seventy of the members living in the neighborhood, and the pulpit was supplied on Sundays by the presiding elder, both the prayer meet- ings and Sunday-school being largely attended. The class continued to increase in number and to assume such proportions that it was nec- essary to organize a separate society, and accordingly on Sunday, May 19, 1844, by mutual agreement the separation from old Elm Street was consummated, and on the following Friday, May 24, 1844, those per- sons who designed worshiping at Pleasant Street met and formed a new society. It is believed that the first official board consisted of Samuel S. Paine, Henry Walker, Henry R. Wilcox, David R Pierce, Barjonah D. Tripp, Samuel Damon, William Walker, Bradcock Hinckley, and Benjamin T. Sanford.

In 1843 an addition was made to the building by cutting it in two parts and inserting about twenty feet in the middle of it, this addition being taken out when the chapel was converted into a parsonage some time later. The present church building, or at least the major part of it, was erected by David R. Pierce and Henry Walker during the year 1848. In July, 1867, the adjacent lot of land at the west of the par- sonage was purchased, the parsonage moved upon it and the space east of it given up to make room for an addition to the west end of the church forty-five by eighteen feet. The east end of the church was also enlarged by the building of a porch sixteen by twelve feet. Inte rior improvements were also made and the sum of $9,000 expended

556

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

In 1874 the parsonage was removed from its former location to the spot on which it now stands. In 1875 a new organ was placed in the church at a cost of $4,000. The first pastor stationed here was Rev. John Livesey, of Fall River, who commenced his services about August 20, 1843. His successors have been :

Samuel Beedle, 1845-46; S. C. Brown, 1846: C. H. Titus, 1846-48; Jonathan Cady, 1848-50; John Hobart, 1850-51; H. C. Atwater. 1851-53; Frederick Upham, 1853 -55; E. B. Bradford, 1855-57: John Howson, 1857-59; Charles Nason, 1859-61 ; William MacDonald, 1861-63; W. F. Farrington, 1863-64: N. P. Philbrook, 1864-66; L. B. Bates, 1866-69 ; J. E. Hawkins, 1869-72: W. T. North, 1872-75 ; T. R. Greene, 1875-78; J. W. Malcolm, 1878-80; E. F. Clark, 1880-83; A. E. Drew, 1883-86 ; H. D. Robinson. 1886-87 ; Matthias S. Kaufman, 1888-91; A. Cameron, April, 1891, to the present time.

The Allen Street Methodist Church .- This church is situated at the corner of County and Allen streets. The society was formed in the latter part of the year 1851 by members who went out from the Fourth Street Methodist Church, and especially through the efforts of Rev. Moses Chase, then pastor of that organization, who thought there was need of a Methodist society in the south end of the city. The present house of worship had been standing there about nine years in 1851, having been built by William and Joseph Smith, Christian Baptist preachers. The property was purchased by the following members on November 3, 1851, from Hervey Sullings and James A. Tripp, who had offered it for sale: Rev. Moses Chase, Stephen Wood, Joseph Brow- nell, John Allen, Albert D. Hatch, Ezra Kelley and Thomas R. Pierce. A supply for the pulpit was secured until December 8, when Rev. An- drew Mckeown was appointed by the presiding elders. The cost of the church edifice, together with the repairs subsequently made upon it, was $5,000. The dedicatory services took place January 22, 1852, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Chase.

The names of the pastors who have officiated, and the dates at which their service began and ended, are as follows :

Andrew Mckeown, December, 1851, to 1854; J. B. Gould, 1854 to 1855; J. A. M. Chapman, 1856 to 1857 ; Henry Baylies, 1858; Jolin Howson, 1859; Pardon T. Kin- ney, 1860-1861 ; John Livesey, 1862-1863 ; William Kellen, 1864-65; F. G. Wagner, 1866-67 ; E. A. Lyon, 1868 ; Thomas Ely. 1869; Freeman Ryder. 1870 ; J. M. Durell, 1871-72; V. N. Matoon, 1873 : B. P. Raymond, 1974-76 : J. H. Humphrey, 1877 ;

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History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 52

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason
Number of Pages: 1170