History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 16

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 16

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The council continued their deliberations during the first day, and decided to ordain Mr. Lamson over the First Parish in Dedham. In the result of the council, drawn up and read by Dr. Channing before the ordination exercises, it is stated that " the council regard the well-known usage according to which the first step in electing a pastor is taken by the church as in the main wise and beneficial. But they believe that this usage, founded on different circumstances of this Christian community and on different laws of the commonwealth from those which now exist, is not to be considered as universally necessary." They held that the spirit and end of the usage was to be regarded rather than the letter, and that an adherence to it would increase division or postpone indefinitely the settlement of a Christian minister ; that, while a concurrence of the church and parish was very de- sirable, each body had the right to elect a pastor for itself, it being secured to the church by the essential principles of Congregational polity, and to the parish by the constitution and laws of the commonwealth. They expressed the satisfaction "with which they witnessed the singular self-command manifested by both parties in the public discussions before them, a circumstance too honorable to be passed over in silence." The "Result" closed with many earnest exhortations to a spirit of conciliation.

It is a somewhat remarkable circumstance, that in the protest of the church, or in the " statement" pub- lished by Judge Haven, or in the " Result of the Council," there is scarcely an allusion to any diver- sity of religious opinions in the parish. Beyond the fact that the parish committee claimed that this was the reason of the opposition to Mr. Lamson, and that the church committee disclaimed it, and a single allu- sion in a few words in the " Result," there is abso- lutely nothing in the printed proceedings which dis- closes that the controversy had any religious aspect. The issues were made upon questions of Congregational usage and the legal powers of parishes, and not upon articles of religious belief. As it often happens in public discussions, the real points of difference were kept in reserve. But there can be no doubt that the parish and the church were then divided into two re-

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ligious parties, known afterwards under the distinctive names of Unitarian and Orthodox. Mr. Lamson was a graduate of the Divinity School in Harvard College, and was a Unitarian. The Rev. Dr. Henry Ware, who preached the ordination sermon, had been elected, in 1805, Hollis Professor of Divinity as a Unitarian, and Dr. Channing, who was one of the council, had his celebrated controversy with Dr. Worcester in 1815, which resulted in the separation of the Unitarian from the Orthodox Congregationalists. All the members of the ordaining council represented churches which were either at that time or afterwards became Unita- rian. That those who opposed Mr. Lamson's ordina- tion were Orthodox Congregationalists, was proved by their subsequent action. Probably there were some who acted without regard to differences of faith.

Mr. Lamson was ordained Oct. 29, 1818. The i grants to the church in Dedham. But, in consider- majority of the church, including the two remaining deacons (one having died soon after Mr. Lamson's ordination), and a minority of the parish, being dis- satisfied, caused another council to be convened at | the statute of 1754, as trustees, the court holds " that Dedham, on Nov. 18, 1818, composed of pastors and the trusts intended, must have been the providing for the public worship of God in Dedham, and the in- habitants at large of that town, as parishioners or members of the religious society, were the proper cestuis que trust, because the effect of the grants was to relieve them from an expense they would other- wise have been obliged to bear or forego the benefits of a Christian ministry." The court say, further, " in whatever light ecclesiastical councils or persons may consider the question, it appears to us clear from the constitution and laws of the land, and from judicial decisions, that the body which is to be con- sidered the First Church in Dedham must be the delegates of sixteen neighboring churches belonging to the same association which did not attend, at the invitation of the parish, the ordaining council. This council was called for its advice to those who re- quested it. It was in session two days, and reviewed the proceedings in Mr. Lamson's ordination. The result of their deliberations was, that "in the settle ment of a minister in the First Church and Parish, the council discover in the measures pursued, the want of such a spirit of condescension as seems best adapted to produce and preserve unity and peace. It appears that the parish, in opposition to the wishes of the church, have proceeded to settle a public | church of the First Parish in that town, as to all teacher of religion and morality, not in accordance questions of property which depend upon that re- with the accustomed and pacific proceedings of Con- | lation." gregational Churches in New England, nor, in the judgment of this council, was this one of those cases of necessity which, in the opinion of some, would justify such a procedure." But the council gave no definite advice.

The church, or that portion which remained united with the parish, elected Mr. Lamson as its pastor Nov. 14, 1818, by a majority of the voting mem- bership of the church. But at this time the dis- satisfied members had withdrawn. Deacon Samuel Fales did not attend services after Mr. Lamson's ordination. Deacon Joseph Swan died November 13th, and Deacon Jonathan Richards resigned March 15, 1819. Deacon Fales was removed or dismissed, and Eliphalet Baker and Luther Richards were chosen. That portion of the church which had |

seceded, claimed to constitute the First Church, and as the lands and funds of the church, under the laws of the commonwealth, were vested in the deacons, a suit was begun by Deacon Eliphalet Baker and Dea- con Luther Richards against Deacon Samuel Fales for the recovery of the property of the First Church in Dedham. After a trial by the jury, the case was carried upon questions of law to the full bench of the Supreme Court, and was argued by Solicitor-General Davis for the plaintiffs and Daniel Webster for the defendant.

The two questions involved in this decision are, whether the plaintiffs were in fact deacons of the First Church in Dedham, having been appointed by those members of the church who remained and acted with the parish, and the legal character of the ing these questions, both resolved themselves into one point. The legal estate of these grants to the church in Dedham being vested in the deacons by

The court held that, while the proceedings of the parish and the council were not conformable to the general usage of the country, yet, under the third article of the Declaration of Rights, parishes have the exclusive right of electing public teachers, and that a teacher of "piety, religion, and morality" is a minister of the gospel within the meaning of the Declaration of Rights; that the non-concurrence of the church in the choice of a minister, in no degree impairs the constitutional right of the parish ; that Mr. Lamson became the lawful minister of the First Parish in Dedham and of the church subsisting therein ; that the church had the right to choose deacons, finding that the former deacons had abdi- cated their office ; that the members of the church who withdrew from the parish ceased to be the First

HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Church in Dedham, and that all the rights and duties of that body relative to property intrusted to it devolved upon those members who remained with and adhered to the parish.

It is to be observed that the decision of the court turned chiefly upon the third article of the Bill of Rights passed in 1780, which gave to parishes the right to elect a public teacher. As a civil tribunal, it | paid no regard to the rules or decisions of ecclesias- tical councils or the usage of churches. The ques- tions decided, related to the title of the church prop- | erty, and as a church could not exist independently of a parish, the members who remained with the parish

Of the effects of this great controversy and its final decision upon the inhabitants of the First Parish in Dedham, it is to be said that it implanted a root of bitterness among those who participated in it on either side, and among their immediate descendants. The church connected with the First Parish has always rested its claim to be the First Church in Dedham upon the decision of the court. The church formed by the seceders in 1818 has also claimed to be the First Church in Dedham in accordance with Congregational usage, and because they were a ma- jority of its members at that time. The church con- nected with the First Parish, still retains the church covenant of 1793, while the church now known as the First Congregational Church adopted articles of faith and a new form of covenant in 1821.

incorporated in connection with the church, under the name of the "New Meeting-House Society." In 1826 a new vestry was built by Mr. Burgess at his own expense.

The First Church and Parish, after the separation, were also moved to the improvement of the old meeting-house of 1763. In 1805, the parish had determined to enlarge it, but afterwards rescinded the vote. In 1807, it was voted to erect a new meeting-house, and a building committee chosen, but this vote was also rescinded. But in 1819, the old house was enlarged by an addition in front, the | slant of the roof being changed, the north and south were the church in the eye of the law, and the mem- ; porches removed, and the house entirely remodeled bers who seceded were not.

within. The outside clock was given at this time by the Hon. Edward Dowse and Mrs. Hannah Shaw, a sister of Mrs. Dowse. The inside clock was the gift of John and Samuel Doggett, Jr., of Boston, for- merly of Dedham. In 1821, an organ was purchased, and soon after Dr. Watts' version of the Psalms was exchanged for the New York Collection of Hymns. In 1828 a vestry was provided for the use of the Sunday-school and for libraries. A Sabbath-school had been founded in 1816, and was held in the old brick school-house, which stood near the meeting- house.

In the Third Parish, the vacancy existing by the death of the Rev. Mr. Thacher was not filled until April 20, 1814, when the Rev. John White was ordained. He was born in Concord, Dec. 2, 1787, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1805. His ministry continued until his death, Feb. 1, 1852, and during this whole period of nearly thirty-eight years, this parish enjoyed uninterrupted harmony. Mr. White was a sincere man and a faithful pastor, and entirely devoted to his work. Ile was " mild, gentle, courte- ous, and conciliatory." During his ministry, a Sun- day-school was organized, and the children were catechised by the pastor. Mr. White and his esti- mable wife are held in most grateful memory by the people of this parish. Mr. White was ordained before the separation of the Unitarians from the Orthodox Congregationalists, but he, with his parish, was always ranked with the Unitarians. Mr. White delivered a centennial discourse relating to the history of this parish, Jan. 17, 1836, which was printed.

The members of the church who withdrew after the ordination of Mr. Lamson numbered eighty-nine, twenty-four men and sixty-five women, and including the three deacons. During the year 1819, these church members, with those of the parish who came away with them, held services on the Sabbath in the house which was formerly that of the Rev. Mr. Haven. This was directly opposite the parish meeting-house, and on the site of the present meet- ing-house of the new society. This was dedicated Dec. 30, 1819. The erection of this spacious and well-proportioned house in a little more than a year from the time of the separation, at an expense of nearly ten thousand dollars, by forty-three contribu- | tors, none of whom had large means, furnishes striking evidence of their zeal and spirit of self- The Second Parish, on the other hand, adhered to the confession of faith and covenant of its founders, and has always been known as Orthodox. On the 16th of December, 1829, Mr. Harrison G. Park, a graduate of Brown University, was ordained as pastor sacrifice. While they were without a pastor, they maintained prayer-meetings, which had been hitherto unknown in the parish. The widow of Deacon Swan gave two silver flagons and a baptismal font. On the 14th day of March, 1821, the Rev. Ebenezer | by the same ecclesiastical council that was convened Burgess was ordained as pastor. A new society was . to sanction the dissolution of Mr. Cogswell's pastoral

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relation. Mr. Park remained as pastor until Sept. 23, 1835, when he was dismissed at his own request. He was succeeded by the Rev. Calvin Durfee, a grad- uate of Williams College, who was ordained March 2, 1836. On June 26, 1836, he preached a centen- nial discourse relating to the history of this parish, which was printed. Mr. Durfee remained the pastor until 1852, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Moses M. Colburn. Mr. Colburn resigned Feb. 3, 1866, and Oct. 1, 1866, the Rev. Joseph P. Bixby became the acting pastor. Mr. Bixby remained pastor of the South Church and Parish at the date of the incorporation of the town of Norwood, in 1872.

The following interesting description of the appear- ance of Dedham village in 1818 is found in a sermon delivered by Rev. Dr. Lamson in 1858, being the Sunday after the fortieth year of his ordination. It will serve to make the changes which occurred during those forty years more striking and apparent :

"In prevailing ideas and modes of thinking, and in the habits and occupations of the people the last forty years have produced a marked change. Until a comparatively recent period the population of the place was almost exclusively agri- cultural, and there were remains clearly discernible of primi- tive tastes and habits. The old settlers, as they were called, were still largely represented. Where yon manufacturing village, bearing every mark of prosperity and thrift, now greets the eye, there stood at the time of my coming here only a small cluster of dwellings-eleven, I believe, in all-dotting the roadsides, and a school-house of the scantiest dimensions, old and of the rudest structure, sufficed to hold the children. In the central village the houses could be readily counted, and there were large fields and vacant spaces. Where our classical court-house and several adjacent buildings now stand, there - was, inclosed in part by a stone wall of an ordinary kind, old and irregular, an open lot which served for a corn-field or for mowing in summer, and in winter furnished excellent coasting- ground for the children. There were no railways, as you know, in those days. Stage-coaches, several in number,-from four to six and eight, and sometimes more,-and usually keep- ing together, passed through the place, conveying passengers to and from the steamboats at Providence, in the dry weather of summer, raising a dust which penetrated the neighboring houses and covered the gardens, lying thick on every leaf and flower. Between Dedham and Boston, for the accommodation of the inhabitants of this place and of Roxbury, there was five days in the week-Wednesdays and Sundays being the ex- cepted days-a slow, lumbering stage-coach, ordinarily drawn by two horses, and on certain days, as Monday and Saturday, | by three, going in the morning and returning in the afternoon, and occupying two hours each way on the road, the time con- sumed in taking up and leaving the passengers at the ends of the line often making an extra half-hour. Of this no one complained, and the public seemed to think itself amply ac- commodated. The inhabitants assembled for worship on Sun- day, occupied the large square pews-the body-seats, as they were then called-and the free seats in the galleries. The interval between the morning and afternoon service was short, and most of those who lived out of the village stayed either in and about the meeting-house or at the neighboring inn. The house had then neither furnace nor stove, but foot-

stoves were used, which were replenished with coals at the parsonage or at some other friendly house within convenient distance. The afternoon service was then and for several years, as it is now, generally, in the more rural parishes better attended than the morning, and the minister reserved what he considered his best sermon for the afternoon."

But a new era of changes and improvements had already begun in Dedham village. It was about to shake off its rural aspect and to take on a more im- posing appearance.

In 1814, the Dedham Bank was established with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. Its first president was Willard Gay, who lived and carried on the business of packing beef and pork at West Ded- ham. He resigned his office May 20, 1829, and was succeeded by John Worthington Ames, the eldest son of Fisher Ames. Upon the decease of Mr. Ames, in 1833, Dr. Jeremy Stimson was elected, his election having been made Feb. 14, 1834. Dr. Stimson held the office of president, until the bank was reorganized as a national bank, Feb. 7, 1865, when he declined a re-election, and Lewis H. Kingsbury was elected. Mr. Kingsbury resigned May 20, 1873, and Ezra W. Taft was elected, who has since held the office.

The cashiers of the bank have been Jabez Chicker- ing, from March 25, 1814, to Dec. 19, 1823; Eben- ezer Fisher, Jr., from Dec. 19, 1823, to Jan. 1, 1847; Lewis H. Kingsbury, from Jan. 1, 1847, to Feb. 7, 1865 ; John H. B. Thayer, from Feb. 7, 1865, to his death in April, 1873; and Lewis H. Kingsbury, from May 20, 1873, to the present time. The capital of the bank at the present time is three hundred thousand dollars.

In 1817, the county had erected a new stone jail on the site of the present one, with a house for the keeper. These buildings were built of hammered stone, at an expense of about fifteen thousand dollars. The jail was thirty-three feet square and eighteen feet high. Its walls were massive, leaving but -little space in the interior for cells and staircases. The jail stood until 1851, when it was removed to make room for the main portion of the present structure. The old wooden jail, built in 1795, was used as a house of correction until 1833, when a new brick building was erected on the site of the present jail. Some of the cells of this house of correction are retained in the present jail, but the building was taken down in 1851. The stone house for the keeper stood until 1880.

On the 4th day of July, 1825, the corner-stone of the new court-house was laid. It was built of hewn white granite, brought from Dover, about eight miles. It was then a Grecian building, ninety-eight by forty feet, with porticos at either end, having four Doric

HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

columns, three feet and ten inches in diameter at the to Dec. 7, 1870. He was succeeded by Thomas Bar- base, and twenty-one feet high. The architect was Solomon Willard, of Boston, and Damon & Bates,, master builders. Its cost was about thirty thousand dollars, and its architecture was always much ad-

rows, who was president until May 12, 1877, when he was succeeded by Waldo Colburn. Its treasurers have been Jonathan H. Cobb, from May 4, 1831, to Nov. 10, 1834; Enos Foord, from Nov. 10, 1834, to mired. It was completed and dedicated Feb. 20, | May 9, 1845 ; George Ellis, from May 9, 1845, to 1827, during the term of the Supreme Judicial Court. Chief Justice Parker made an address, and the bar gave a dinner to the judges and attorney-general. The enlargement on High Street, which completely changed the appearance of the building, and the dome surmounting it, were finished in 1861.

Prior to 1829, the town-meetings were held alter- nately in the meeting-houses of the different parishes. In that year, the town built a plain one-story building, costing about two thousand two hundred dollars, for a town-house. It was a rude building, and had no rooms for offices, or place for the preservation of records, but it served for town-meetings and elections until 1868. In 1832, the town-farm of sixty-three acres, situated in the West Parish, was purchased for a poor-house.

In April, 1825, the Norfolk Mutual Fire Insurance Company was organized. Its first president was John Endicott, and its first secretary was Erastus Wor- thington, and it was mainly through his efforts that the company was established. In 1833, Mr. Endicott was succeeded by James Richardson, and on June 30, 1840, Mr. Worthington having resigned by reason of ill health, he was succeeded by Ira Cleveland as sec- retary. The subsequent presidents have been Abra- ham F. Howe, from April 7, 1857, to April 1, 1862; Luther Metcalf, from April 1, 1862, to April 5, 1863; and Ira Cleveland, from April 5, 1863, to the present time. The secretaries, after the resignation of Mr. Cleveland, April 5, 1863, were George D. Gordon, from April, 1863, to April, 1873; Preston R. Mans- field, from April, 1873, to February, 1880; and Eli- jah Howe, from that time to the present. Mr. Cleve- land has also been treasurer of the company since 1850. This company has been successful, and has always been considered a reliable and conservative company. It is the owner of the brick building in which its office and the Dedham National Bank are located.

The Dedham Mutual Fire Insurance Company was incorporated in 1837 for insuring buildings and per- sonal property. This was an offshoot of the Norfolk company, and its officers have generally been the same as of that company.

In 1831, the Dedham Institution for Savings was incorporated. The first president was Rev. Ebenezer Burgess, D.D., who held that office from May 4, 1831, | Eustis, in Roxbury, where he spent the night.

July 2, 1855; and Calvin Guild, from that date until the present time. The amount of deposits received from May 1, 1831, to May 1, 1843, was two hundred and twenty-six thousand nine hundred and fifty-four dollars, and the amount from May 1, 1867, to May 1, 1881, was one million eight hundred and thirty-four thousand seven hundred and ninety-four dollars.

All these things indicate the growth of the town in wealth and enterprise, and that Dedham was be- coming a centre of business activity, as well as as- suming the proper dignity becoming the shire-town of the county. It had become a resort of people from Boston to spend the summer, and in the winter for lawyers and others attending the courts; and there were balls and sleighing parties. There were two good taverns, where guests were hospitably enter- tained, one near the court-house, kept by Martin Marsh, and afterwards by Francis Alden and Moses Gragg. The other was built by Timothy Gay on the site occupied for many years by the Phoenix House. In 1830, the population of the town was upwards of three thousand. It had then a stone court-house and a stone jail and keeper's house. In the town there were four Congregational meeting-houses ; one Epis- copal Church and a Baptist meeting-house in West Dedham ; eleven small school-houses, two woolen- mills, two cotton-mills, four saw-mills, five manufac- tories for making chaises and carriages, one machine- shop, one manufactory for making ploughs, five taverns, eleven retail stores, two apothecaries, one printing-press for printing books and a newspaper, and a bank and an insurance company. Many new streets had been laid out and constructed between 1820 and 1830.

On the 23d day of August, 1824, Gen. Lafayette passed through Dedham on his way from Providence to Boston. He arrived at half-past ten o'clock in the evening, and remained about an hour at Alden's Hotel. He was enthusiastically received by a large number of people, who had gathered during the day in anticipation of his arrival, and by a salute of artil- lery, by the ringing of the bells, and the illumination of the houses in the village. Hundreds of ladies and gentlemen shook hands with the general, and at half- past eleven o'clock he was escorted by a cavalcade of a hundred horsemen to the residence of Governor

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In 1833, Gen. Andrew Jackson, then the President of the United States, made a visit to Boston, and passed through Dedham on his way from Providence. He made the journey in a carriage, and was accom- panied by Martin Van Buren, then Vice-President, and members of his cabinet. He was received in Dedham by a large concourse of people, who were ranged in lines on each side of Court Street as the carriages containing the party passed. It was on the occasion of this visit that President Jackson received the degree of Doctor of Laws from Harvard College.

CHAPTER X.

DEDHAM-(Continued).

Universalist Society, South Dedham-Episcopal Church-Rev. Isaac Boyle-Rev. Samuel B. Babcock-New Church-Ded- ham Branch Railroad-Manufactures-Population in 1835- Newspapers-Centennial Celebration, 1836-Dr. Lamson's Historical Discourses, 1838-Dr. Burgess' Discourse in " Ded- ham Pulpit"-Rev. John White's Historical Discourse, 1836- Rev. Mr. Durfee's Historical Discourse, 1836-Destructive | Fires-Improvements in Schools and School-Houses-Norfolk County Railroad-First Baptist Church, West Dedham- Baptist Church, East Dedham-Baptist Church, South Ded- ham-Methodist Episcopal Church, East Dedham-First Parish-Resignation of Dr. Lamson, and of Dr. Burgess- Third Parish-Successors of Rev. John White-Successors of Dr. Lamson in First Parish-Improvements in Meeting- House-Successors to Rev. Dr. Burgess-Burning of St. Paul's Church-New Stone Church -Chapel-Roman Cath- olic Church-St. Mary's School and Asylum-Annexations to West Roxbury and Walpole-Dedham Gas-Light Company -Dedham Historical Society.

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 16

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534