USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of Newton, Massachusetts : town and city, from its earliest settlement to the present time, 1630-1880 > Part 49
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When the new clock first canie out from Boston, the Newton Theological Institution had just begun its work. The year 1825 was the year of opening. Two students were graduated in '26, none in '27, four in '28. From the be- ginning, the graduating exercises were held in the Baptist meeting-house. The clock, therefore, may be supposed to have been present at just fifty An- niversaries. On these occasions, nearly six hundred young men have re- ceived the blessing of the Alma Mater, and gone forth to their work as full graduates.
The sermons which have been preached in the presence of the clock would doubtless average one hundred a year, or amount to five thousand in all. Within this period which thus comes under review, much good work has been done in our house of worship, and many sacred associations liave gathered around it. Many of the chief men of our own denomination have been heard here, and there have been some of the best representatives from other denominations. Addresses of great value have been delivered here on anniversary occasions. The remains of great men in the kingdom of God
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THOMPSONVILLE.
have been brought here for the last tribute of respect and love. No pastor, save Joseph Grafton, has here lain in silence, while the last farewell was spoken ; and here has reverence been done to the memory of Irah Chase, of Henry J. Ripley, of Horatio B. Hackett, of Samson Talbot. In these later years, the house has been rendered sacred to scores of persons as the place where they were buried with Christ in baptism, and as the place of instruc- tion and worship, it has become a sacred place to hundreds, almost to thousands.
THOMPSONVILLE.
The village of Thompsonville, east of Newton Centre, and half a mile distant, acquired its name from the name of Mr. Thomp- son, a laboring man, who led a kind of hermit life in the woods in that locality for several years. In the progress of events a few families in humble circumstances, chiefly Germans, became resi- dents of the place, which in 1867 attracted the attention of some of the members of the First Baptist church as a field for benevo- lent and Christian labor. The work originated in the thought of two young ladies. Sabbath School exercises were commenced in February, 1867, in a room hired for the purpose in the house of Mrs. Hammel, and a regular Sabbath School was organized March 6, 1867. Number present, forty-five. Mr. George O. San- born was the first Superintendent. During the summer following, zealous and successful efforts were made by interested friends of the school to provide a permanent place for its sessions, resulting in the erection of the chapel, which was dedicated November 9, 1867. At the end of eleven years, it was stated that not a Sabbath had passed without a public service. Average attendance the first three months, thirty-nine ; the second, thirty-two ; the third, thirty- five. Superintendents of the school, in succession, Messrs. Geo. O. Sanborn, F. A. Lockwood, A. S. Holmes, A. W. Armington, J. M. White, Dwight Chester.
Liberal friends have contributed generously for the support of the school. Inclusive of the cost of the chapel, up to March 31, 1878, $1,700 had been given to sustain it, and the contributions of the school to Foreign Missions, in the same period, had amounted to $261. A quarterly collection is taken in the First Baptist church, to aid in its support. Many excellent results can be traced to its influence. It is singular and interesting that in the very portion of the town near which the New Light excitement began, under the labors of Mr. Jonathan Hyde, of Brookline, in 1750,-
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
after the lapse of more than a century a living gospel should again be instrumental in supplanting the errors of German formalism, and substituting an intelligent and practical faith.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NEWTON CENTRE.
In June, 1875, a weekly prayer meeting was commenced in the old Engine House, then located at the corner of Centre and Sta- tion Streets, which was continued until January, 1876, when a Sab- bath School was organized. In the spring of the same year a preaching service followed. The enterprise was known as the Methodist Mission, and was a branch of the Methodist church at Newton Upper Falls. The pulpit of the Mission was supplied by the Presiding Elder, the pastors of neighboring churches, and stu- dents of the theological department of Boston University, until October, 1877, when Mr. G. H. Perkins, of Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., was engaged as permanent supply.
At the beginning, the congregations were small, but they steadily increased, until at the date of the organization of the church, one hundred persons were accustomed to attend the public worship. The Sabbath School numbered six classes. The first committee of the Mission consisted of the following persons :
S. D. Garey, G. B. Dillingham, C. H. Robertson,
W. J. Welch, Marshall S. Rice.
The late Mr. Marshall S. Rice was a faithful friend to the Metho- dist cause in Newton. He generously provided for the Mission, at his decease, in April, 1879, by a bequest of $1,000, to be used in the erection of a church edifice.
April 29, 1879, the church was organized in the Rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association. Rev. G. H. Perkins was appointed pastor, and the following were appointed trustees :
Alden Speare, E. M. Fowle, J. F. Lamson,
S. D. Garey, W. L. Libby,
E. G. Stevens, E. G. Stevens, jr.
A few days after the organization, Hon. Alden Speare, Ex-Mayor of Newton, purchased the lot known as the Old Engine House lot, and presented it to the church as the site for a house of worship. Thus upon the same spot where their ecclesiastical history had its birth, the church, in the Providence of God, built a house for his regular and permanent worship. The church edifice was built in the winter of 1879-80, and dedicated July 7, 1880. About fifty have been hopefully converted since the enterprise began.
RICHARDSON-SC.
Marshall & Rice
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UNITARIAN SOCIETY.
PASTORS.
GEORGE H. PERKINS, 1879-1880
BRADFORD K. PIERCE, D. D.,
1880
UNITARIAN SOCIETY.
In the autumn of 1877, a number of families holding the Uni- tarian faith, in Newton Centre and Newton Highlands, determined to hold weekly religious services, and subscribed a sum sufficient to meet the requisite expenses for one year. White's Hall, in the Brick block on Station Street, near the Railroad Depot, Newton Centre, was leased for the purpose of holding religious worship, and the first service was held on Sunday, November 11, 1877. Rev. Dr. George W. Hosmer, of Newton, preached on the occa- sion. An Executive Committee of seven was appointed, with the requisite sub-committees to arrange the details.
The following constituted the Board of Officers :
Executive Committee, J. R. Leeson, Chairman ; Harvey S. Sears, Clerk ; Elisha Bassett, Treasurer ; Charles E. Abbott, J. D. Elliott, D. Frank Young, George A. Dexter. Sub-Committee, Pulpit supply, Elisha Bassett, Charles E. Abbott, H. S. Sears ; Hall, etc., D. Frank Young, George A. Dexter ; Music, J. R. Leeson, H. S. Sears, J. D. Elliott.
Rev. Rufus Phineas Stebbins, D. D., a graduate of Amherst College in 1834, and formerly President of the Meadville Theolog- ical School, was engaged to act as pastor, and is still in office. The church erected by this Society was dedicated July 1, 1880, being built by the same architect who was employed on the Metho- dist church at the corner of Station Street.
The Centre Green, formerly the training field,-graded and adorned in 1879-80, and extending in front of these churches, renders their location very attractive.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
PROVISION FOR THE POOR .- ALMSHOUSE PURCHASED. - RULES OF THE HOUSE .- REMOVAL .- THE KENRICK FUND.
IT is recorded that the early inhabitants of Newton were in easy circumstances, many of them bringing with them to their new resi- dence considerable estates. They brought also, in general, that. . which was better than material wealth,-health, thrift and indus- try. But, as it ever happens, where human beings congregate, it. was not long before misfortune, idleness, neglect and want crept in. The prosperous found themselves called to help the unfortu- nate, and the Scripture met its fulfilment which says, "The poor ye have always with you, and when ye will ye may do them good."
Beyond question, provision was made for the sick and suffering poor, from time to time, from the beginning, whenever there was need ; and poverty is too common a thing to have been wanting, even in the early periods of the town. Happily, the benevolent impulse is so strong in human nature, notwithstanding the power- of selfishness, that want and sorrow could not have failed to receive mitigations from the hand of private charity. But a house for the reception of the disabled and the homeless was the growth of years. Before any organized action of the town is recorded, we find traces of private beneficence, exercised in special cases,- neighborhood charity, as beautiful as it is helpful,- when a great loss or need of one is alleviated by being voluntarily taken upon the shoulders of many,- a fulfilment of the Bible rule- "Bear ye one another's burdens." The Hyde manuscripts record several instances of this ; for example, it is written,-
1703 .- A contribution was made for John Parker, when he lost his cows; also, for Nathaniel Parker; also, for Samuel Hyde, when his house was. burnt, May 7, 1709; also, for Daniel Hyde, etc.
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PROVISION FOR THE POOR.
The first entry in the Town Records, relative to the poor, is March 5, 1711, as follows : "Voted, that once a year there shall be a contribution on Thanksgiving day for the poor, which shall be paid into the town treasury, and given out to the poor by the Selectmen, as they see need."
The almshouse, however, came at last. In 1731, ninety-two years after the first settlement, and more than forty years after the incorporation of the town,- the citizens voted to build a workhouse (so they denominated the home of the stricken poor), perhaps dreading lest unworthy persons, abusing the provision of the town, should seek to be maintained in idleness. Two years later, in 1733, a vote was passed "that the Selectmen, or Over- seers of the Poor, have power to set idle and disorderly persons to work ; and one of the school-houses, in the recess of the school,. shall be used as a workhouse."
In 1734, Lieutenant William Trowbridge, Nathaniel Hammond, Daniel Woodward, William Hyde and Samuel Truesdale were chosen the first Board of Overseers of the Poor.
In 1750, Henry Gibbs, William Hyde and Robert Murdock were chosen a committee to build a workhouse. Thirteen years later, in 1763, the town " voted to build a workhouse twenty-four feet by twenty-six, one story high, upon the town's land, near Dr. King's, or some other place, and appropriated £50 for that purpose.
Another step was taken March 5, 1765, by the appointment of a committee to examine the laws with respect to a workhouse, and report to the town at the next May meeting. This committee reported, May 20, 1765, as follows :
We the subscribers, the committee appointed to examine the laws relative * to regulating the workhouse, report as our opinion that the Selectmen for the time being do, according to the best of their judgment, order and regu- late said house, with the inhabitants thereof, till our next March meeting; and that there be then chosen a number of overseers of said house, not less than five, for the more particular regulation thereof.
THOMAS GREENWOOD, ABRAHAM FULLER, JOSHUA HAMMOND.
September 29, 1768, Messrs. Abraham Fuller, Noah Wiswall, Ebenezer Parker, Joshua Murdock, Thomas Parker, Benjamin Hammond and John Woodward were appointed a committee to make a draft of such rules and orders, for regulating the workhouse,
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
so called, as said committee shall think best; and lay the same before the town for their acceptance at the next public meeting of the town.
On the 28th of October, 1768, the following rules and orders were reported by the committee and accepted by the town. It is interesting, at this distance of time, to observe the remarkable disproportion between the infant institution on the one hand, and the extended and formal code of regulations on the other.
VOTED, that said rules and orders be made use of for regulating said workhouse; and that said rules and orders be put upon record in the Town Book; and that the Selectmen, when they shall judge most proper, present the same to the Justices of the Quarter Sessions for their appprobation.
RULES AND ORDERS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE WORKHOUSE IN NEWTON.
I. Rules relating to the Selectmen or Overseers of the Poor, who by law have the direction of said House.
1. That there shall be a general meeting of the Overseers at the house the third Tuesday of every month, at five o'clock in the afternoon, to inspect all accounts, and examine into the behavior of the people committed to the house, and to redress all difficulties that occur to the master, and to hear and consider all complaints made by the poor; and to consult and advise about such further rules and methods as may be for the advantage of said house.
II. Rules relating to the Master of the House.
1. That the master be a person of approved integrity and ability, who shall be chosen at a general meeting of the Overseers, and, in case of his death or removal, another person be, as soon as may be, chosen in his room " by the Overseers, who shall have power to agree with such master for his salary; but if the said master be found guilty of any immoral or irregular behavior, the Overseers reserve to themselves a power to dismiss him, and place another in his room.
2. That the master keep a register of the names, ages and occupations of all the persons that shall be admitted into the house, as well as an account of the time of their entry, and their deaths or dismission from the house.
3. That the master buy the provisions, and materials for work and other necessaries, and dispose of what is manufactured to the best advantage, ac- cording to the advice and directions of the Overseers, with whom he is to consult in this and all matters of importance.
4. That the master keep books of accounts of all expenses and profits of the house, to be passed upon and allowed by the Overseers at their monthly meetings, and to be open to the inspection of the town, whenever they shall see cause to appoint a committee for that service.
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RULES CONCERNING THE ALMSHOUSE.
III. Rules relating to the Persons that shall be admitted into the House.
1. That none shall be admitted without a written order, under the hands of the major part of the Overseers of the Poor.
2. That upon their admission they be examined, whether they are free from lice and foul distempers, and, if they are not, the master to take care and see that they are cleansed.
3. That the several persons in the house constantly repair to the place or places, and at the hours assigned by the master of said house, and that they shall work orderly at such business and so many hours as the Overseers shall direct.
4. That they constantly attend the public worship of God on Lord's days at the meeting-house, if their health will admit of it.
5. That when any persons are taken sick, there shall be proper and suit- able care taken of them by the master of said house.
IV. Rules relating to the Diet and Victualling of the House.
That the master of the house see that all the persons therein have suitable victuals and drink provided for them, such as the Overseers shall direct.
V. - Rules relating to the Government of the House.
1. That all immoralities and disobedience to the government of the house be by the master noted in a book and laid before the Overseers, that by their authority and admonition such rudeness and immorality may be re- strained, and peace and good order maintained, and all obstinate, perverse and unruly persons punished according to their crimes.
2. That whereas some slothful persons may pretend sickness or lameness, to excuse themselves from labor, it is ordered that such persons shall pass a proper examination by a physician ; and if it should appear upon his report and other concurring circumstances that those persons made false excuses, they shall be punished by such an addition of labor to their daily stints, or some other way, as the Overseers shall determine.
3. That if any person or persons shall neglect to repair to his or their work, at such time and place or places, as shall be assigned him, her and them by the master of said house, or refuse to work, loiter, or be idle, or shall not well perform the task of work set him, her, or them, or shall waste or spoil any of the materials or tools of the several manufactures, or shall deface the walls, or break the windows, or shall disturb the house by clamor, quar- relling, fighting, or abusive language, or profane thie Sabbath, or carry it disrespectfully to the master or Overseers of said house, or shall drink to excess, steal, or profanely curse and swear, or in any other respects act immorally or irregularly, he, she or they shall be punished, either by denying him, her or them a meal, or whole day's allowance, or by gagging, or by whipping, not exceeding five stripes ; or causing him, her or them to wear a, collar round about his, her or their neck, with a wooden clog to it; or by an addition of labor to their daily task, according to the nature and circum-
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
stances of the crime ; and in case of frequent repetition and obstinacy in his, her, or their crimes, he, she or they shall be punished by order of one or more Justices of the Peace by removal into the County workhouse, or prison, or otherwise, as the law directs.
4. That the Overseers at their monthly meetings have power to punish all breaches of the foregoing orders, excepting those that are referred to the cognizance of a Justice of the Peace.
5. That the master of the house have power, in the intervals between the meetings of the Overseers, to punish the breaches of the foregoing orders, according to the instructions he shall receive in writing from the Over- seers; and that in any cases of difficulty arising, which may need a more speedy consideration, he shall call the Overseers together for their advice and assistance.
6. That the foregoing rules and orders of the house be publicly read, at least once a month, that none may pretend ignorance of them.
The care of the poor seems to have given the people of Newton no little trouble. Occasional references in the Records indicate that the wards of the town were of an insubordinate temper, and often gave the Master of the house cause of complaint. In the progress of years, various plans for disposing of the poor and mak- ing them comfortable were proposed. In April, 1805, a vote was passed authorizing and impowering the Selectmen to let out the poor in a way that shall appear to them for the interest of the town. A regular system seems to have been finally agreed upon, and a house and land purchased for this purpose in the year 1818, - the initiation of the system which has continued, with only casual and necessary modifications, to the present date. The place purchased in 1818 was the lower farm of Captain Joel Houghton, consisting of forty-three acres of land with convenient buildings, formerly known as the Henry Pigeon house at Auburndale. The price was $2,500. The estate was subject to a mortgage of $1,500 to Jane Pigeon. The committee expended $190, in repairs and improvements.
The old system of rules for the government of the house, ordained fifty years previously, was replaced by a new code. Such a code may in those days have been necessary. Experience may have proved it to be requisite. But the ideas of irregularity, crime and punishment seem to us to appear in painful repetition, as if the house were designed to meet the conditions of persons bent on sin and confined as a penalty for its commission, and not as a place of refuge for a class, of whom many were innocent and unfortunate,- a House of Correction for criminals, rather . than a Refuge for the Unfortunate Poor.
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NEW REGULATIONS.
The following is the new code :
1. No person shall be admitted into this house as a pauper, without a cer- tificate from one or more of the Overseers of the Poor.
2. All persons in this house to be of good behavior, and decently and orderly to attend to family devotions morning and evening, and at meals. Whosoever offends in this will be punished.
3. Any person in this house who shall disturb the peace thereof by strik- ing his or her fellow, or any other person in this house, or be guilty of any threatening language or other indecent behavior will be punished according to the nature of the crime.
4. Any person in this house who shall disturb the peace thereof by pro- fane cursing or swearing, or any other immorality, will be punished therefor.
5. All persons in this house to behave decently and orderly at meals ; and if any person shall find fault with his or her allowance, and shall pre- sume to waste or destroy the same, or contend with the Keeper respecting the same, he shall be punished therefor according to the nature of the offence.
6. All persons in this house who are able are to be kept to labor; and if any person or persons who are able shall refuse to work, or shall be sloth- ful in their work, or shall waste or destroy the materials they are working upon, they shall be punished therefor.
7. All persons in this house who shall go without the gate, without the liberty of the Keeper, shall be punished therefor.
8. Such persons as are able are to attend public worship on Lord's day, when the weather is suitable, and return immediately to this house when service is ended.
9. All persons in this house to retire to bed at night and rise in the morning as the Keeper shall order, excepting those who may be sick.
10. All complaints to be made to one or more Overseers of the Poor both by the Keeper and other persons in this house; and the said Overseers will take cognizance of the same. And in case of sickness in this house, par- ticular orders will be given by said Overseers, on notice given them by the Keeper.
11. Any persons supported in this house who shall bring in, or cause to be brought into the same, any ardent spirit whatever, shall be punished.
12. The punishment for a breach of any of these articles by any of the paupers shall be by reducing the usual allowance of food, or by solitary con- finement, or both, under the direction of the Overseers of the Poor. But in cases of outrage, when the security of any person is in danger by violence. offered to any in this house, then the Keeper shall secure the author or authors of such outrage until notice can be given to one or more of the Overseers.
The foregoing rules are to be read by the Keeper to every person when admitted into this house, and once a month to all in the house.
Such were the early provisions made for the poor of Newton, dictated, undoubtedly, by the spirit of kindness, but difficult to
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
be administered, owing to the depravity of human nature, and the growing disposition of unworthy, designing and idle persons to secure a living without earning it. The difficulty of managing wisely this department of the government has grown everywhere with the growth of the country. Too often the unworthy and foreign- ers have found ample provision for their wants, and the modest and worthy native poor, entitled above all to the benefit of such provision, have suffered.
The Poorhouse at Auburndale, having served for several years the purpose for which it was purchased, was sold, and about forty acres of land bought, and buildings erected, on the Sher- burne Road, near the house of the late Matthias Collins, Esq., which are still in use. While the Poorhouse was in its former loca- tion, the inmates, who were able, attended Divine service every Sabbath at the Congregational church in West Newton. Since the removal, provision has been made for them at the Methodist church, Newton Upper Falls. Forty years ago, Divine service used to be held in the dining-room of the House every Sabbath evening, and the ministers of the town in rotation preached to the inmates and such of the neighbors as chose to be present. It is said that on these occasions Dr. Homer, when it was his turn to officiate, always preached sitting.
Besides the provision made for the poor of Newton by action of the town and by unrecorded private beneficence, which has undoubtedly flowed in a thousand perpetual and refreshing streams,- a noble provision was made by one of the citizens in 1825, called
THE KENRICK FUND,
of which the Records contain the following account :
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Newton on Monday, the third day of January, 1825, a communication from John Kenrick, Esq., was read, as follows :
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