USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lowell > History of Pawtucket Church and Society : with reminiscences of pastors and founders, sketches of Congregational churches in Lowell, and a brief outline of Congregationalism > Part 5
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Mrs. Alexis Pierce,
Miss Jane Tabor,
Mrs. O. R. Blood,
Mrs. Herbert Marshall,
Miss Maria P. Varnum,
Miss Almira Coburn,
Mrs. Jefferson Bancroft.
After the organization of the Society upon a permanent basis, in 1834, it having proved itself a valuable auxiliary to church work, the following- named persons filled the office of president, viz :
MRS. NATHANIEL B. COBURN, from November, 1834, to January, 1849. MRS. ITHAMER A. BEARD, from January, 1849, to January, 1852. MRS. BROWN EMERSON, from January, 1852, to January, 1855. MRS. NATHANIEL B. COBURN, from January, 1855, to January, 1859.
From the beginning of the year 1859 to the year 1877 the records are missing and we have no
Mrs. Timothy V. Coburn,
Mrs. Abel Coburn,
Mrs. Lendol Underwood,
Mrs. D. V. Hamblet,
Miss Eleanor Varnum,
Mrs. P. S. Coburn,
Mrs. John Tabor,
Mrs. John P. Cutter,
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
means of furnishing any information during that time of anything that occurred, but we can state from personal recollection that the Society was in existence during those years. The full board of officers for the year 1858 was as follows :
President, MRS. NATHANIEL B. COBURN.
Vice President, . MRS. JEREMIAH VARNUM.
Secretary,
MRS. GEORGE S. COBURN.
Treasurer, MRS. HORATIO N. MARSHALL.
S MRS. TIMOTHY COBURN.
Managers,
MRS. WILLARD COBURN.
From the year 1877 to the present time the records have been preserved and are complete. The name of the Society has been changed and is now called "The Ladies' Sociable," but the original con- stitution and by-laws are now in use. The various members during the time are too numerous to men- tion individually, but comprise most of the active members of the parish, old and young. The officers for the respective years were as follows :
I877 and 1878.
President, MRS. THOMAS VARNUM.
Vice President, . MRS. JOHN J. COLTON.
Secretary, MISS IRENE COBURN.
Treasurer, .
MISS ABBIE A. UNDERWOOD.
Collectors,
S MRS. RUFUS B. WHITNEY.
{ MRS. JOSEPH M. WILSON.
1879 and 1880.
President, MRS. JOHN F. TABOR.
Vice President, . MRS. JOHN J. COLTON.
Secretary, MISS LAURA J. GOULD.
Treasurer, MISS SYBIL E. MARSHALL.
S MISS KATE F. HULL.
Collectors, .
( MISS MINNIE B. CHASE.
ISSI.
President, MRS. O. R. BLOOD.
Vice President,
MRS. PETER S. COBURN.
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
Secretary, . MISS LAURA J. GOULD.
Treasurer, .
MRS. ABNER H. MARSHALL.
Collectors, .
S MISS CORA B. BLOOD.
{ MISS HELEN TABOR.
ISS2.
President, MRS. O. R. BLOOD.
Vice President,
MRS. PETER S. COBURN.
Secretary,
. MISS LAURA J. GOULD.
Treasurer, . MRS. ABNER H. MARSHALL.
Collectors,
S MISS GRACE CHASE.
MISS FRANCES WILSON.
ISS3.
President, MRS. O. R. BLOOD.
Vice President,
MRS. PETER S. COBURN.
Secretary,
MISS MINNIE B. CHASE.
Treasurer, . MRS. ABNER H. MARSHALL.
Collectors, .
SMRS. O. R. BLOOD.
. MRS. HENRY S. FOSTER.
ISS4.
President, MRS. JOSEPH M. WILSON.
Vice President, MRS. J. F. TABOR.
Secretary and Treasurer, . MRS. CHARLES O. RICHARDSON.
S MRS. HENRY S. FOSTER.
Collectors, .
( MRS. M. S. TORSEY.
ISS 5.
President, MRS. JOSEPH M. WILSON.
Vice President,
MRS. J. F. TABOR.
Secretary, . MRS. CHARLES O. RICHARDSON.
Treasurer, .
MRS. F. E. JEWETT.
ISS6.
President, . MRS. JOHN J. COLTON.
Vice President, MRS. BENJAMIN C. MORRISON.
Secretary,
MRS. HENRY S. FOSTER.
Treasurer, MRS. F. E. JEWETT.
MRS. A. J. HOWE.
Collectors,
MRS. ROBERT B. SEATON.
ISS7.
President, . MRS. JOHN J. COLTON.
Vice President,
MRS. BENJAMIN C. MORRISON.
Secretary,
MRS. HENRY S. FOSTER.
Treasurer, . MRS. IRA M. CHASE.
MRS. A. J. HOWE.
Collectors, .
MRS. ROBERT B. SEATON.
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
I SSS.
President,
MRS. A. C. VARNUM.
Vice President, MRS. BENJAMIN C. MORRISON.
Secretary,
MRS. HENRY B. FOSTER.
Treasurer,
MRS. IRA M. CHASE.
Collectors,
S MRS. A. J. HOWE.
MRS. ROBERT B. SEATON.
The following-named additional organizations are connected with Pawtucket Church :
WOMAN'S BOARD OF MISSIONS.
The Pawtucket Church Auxiliary to the Andover and Woburn Branch of the Woman's Board of Mis- sions was organized January 4, 1885, with the fol- lowing officers :
President, . MRS. CHARLES H. WILLCOX.
Secretary,
MISS LIZZIE C. COBURN.
Treasurer, . MRS. CLARENCE G. COBURN.
The same officers served for the year 1886 with the addition of Mrs. Joseph M. Wilson as vice president.
ISS7.
President, MRS. A. C. VARNUM.
Vice President, . MRS. J. M. WILSON.
Secretary,
MISS LAURA J. CHASE.
Treasurer, MRS. MARIA P. COBURN.
1 888.
President, MRS. C. H. WILLCOX.
Vice President, MRS. A. J. HOWE.
Secretary, MISS LAURA J. CHASE.
Treasurer, . MRS. C. G. COBURN.
The Woman's Board of Missions was incorpo- rated by an act of the legislature of Massachusetts in the year 1869. The society is located in Boston and acts in connection with the American Board of
63
PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The Woman's Board has various branches in different states, and each branch has auxiliaries in different churches. The Pawtucket is an auxiliary of the Andover and Woburn branch, which comprises twenty-eight Aux- iliaries and thirteen mission circles.
The receipts for 1886 were $2,731.58.
THE YOUNG PEOPLES' SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
This society was organized at Pawtucket Church October 24, 1884. Its object, as expressed in the constitution adopted, is "To promote an earnest christian life among its members; to increase their mutual acquaintance ; and to make them more use- ful in the service of God." The officers have been as follows :
ISS4.
President,
REV. C. H. WILLCOX.
Vice President,
SILAS M. DICKEY.
Secretary,
LAURA J. CHASE.
Treasurer, .
NELLIE V. COLTON.
IS85.
President,
REV. C. H. WILLCOX.
Vice President,
EDWARD S. HOWE.
Secretary,
JENNIE JEWETT.
Treasurer,
NELLIE V. COLTON.
IS86.
President, REV. C. H. WILLCOX.
Vice President,
. JOHN H. OLIVER.
Secretary,
LILLA C. WARD.
Treasurer,
LIZZIE A. RUSSELL.
ISS7.
President,
EDWARD S. HOWE.
Vice President,
NORMAN L. PEAVEY.
Secretary, ALICE M. COLTON.
Treasurer,
MABEL M. HOWE.
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
THE GOLDEN RULE SOCIETY.
This Society was organized March 5, 1884. Its object is for charitable and missionary purposes. The officers have been as follows :
IS84, ISS5, and ISS6.
President,
MISS ALICE M. COLTON.
Vice President, MISS FRANKIE C. WILSON.
Secretary and Treasurer, MISS MABEL M. HOWE.
Collector, MISS LILLIAN MORRISON.
ISS7 and ISSS.
President, MRS. B. C. MORRISON.
Vice President, MRS. CHARLES H. WILLCOX.
Secretary and Treasurer, . MISS MARY H. WILSON.
CHAUTAUQUA CIRCLE.
The Pawtucket Local Circle of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, organized October 19, 1885. Article second of the constitution adopted by this Society, says " It shall comprise two classes of members. First-Regular members who hold tickets from the secretary of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle at Plainfield, N. J., and, second, Local members, who, not having joined the general circle, desire to avail themselves of the advantages of the local organization." Since the organization the officers, at various times, have been as follows :
PRESIDENT. REV. C. H. WILLCOX.
VICE PRESIDENTS.
MISS JOSIE BELL STUART. MISS CLARA OLIVER.
SECRETARIES. MISS LIZZIE C. COBURN, MISS ALICE W. BURNHAM, MISS EFFIE J. MARSHALL.
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
THE PROFESSIONS.
Among those persons who have entered the learned professions, who have belonged to this parish, are the following :
CLERGYMEN. Rev. Jonas Colburn, son of Deacon Jabesh Colburn.
LAWYERS.
John Varnum,
Nathaniel Wright,
Joshua N. Marshall, Atkinson C. Varnum,
Benjamin F. Blood, Edwin Coburn,
Jonas P. Varnum, Charles C. Colton.
DOCTORS.
Henry Whiting,
Joel Spaulding,
John J. Colton,
Lorenzo S. Fox, George W. Clement.
TEACHERS.
There are quite a number of persons, members of this parish, who have been engaged in the voca- tion of teaching school. Some in their younger days as they were obtaining an education, or pre- paring for other duties, and some who have made it their calling for life. In the list are those who have taken high positions and commanded large salaries. There may be others not included here, but we recall only the following names :
George W. Coburn, Jesse Clement, Bartlett Coburn, Charles B. Varnum, John J. Colton, Charles C. Colton, Atkinson C. Varnum, Joshua N. Marshall,
Miss Laura J. Gould, Miss Florence D. Coburn, Miss Agnes J. Graves, Miss Ellen M. Holden,
Miss Minnie B. Chase,
Miss Martha D. Coburn,
Miss Cleora F. Chase,
Miss Abbie B. Hamblett,
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
Jephthah Underwood,
Joseph A. Stuart,
Miss Viola Hamblet,
Sidney E. Stuart,
Miss Annie M. Varnum,
Miss Martha A. Osgood,
Miss Hannah P. Bodwell,
Miss Almira Coburn,
Miss Georgianna R. Ames,
Miss Charlotte A. Cutter,
Miss Mercy Underwood,
Miss Elizabeth Clement,
Miss Julia Cutter,
Miss Josephine Coburn,
Miss Harriet B. Bancroft,
Miss Jane C. Varnum,
Miss Effie J. Marshall,
Miss Ellen F. Coburn,
Miss Jennie Jewett,
Miss Abbie A. Underwood,
Miss Martha Blood,
Miss Maria P. Varnum,
Miss Lucetta Blood,
Miss Czarina C. Varnum,
Miss Matilda Coburn,
Miss Irene Coburn,
Miss Jennie B. Coburn,
Miss Frances Stearns,
Emeline L. Pierce,
Miss Elizabeth C. Coburn,
Miss Harriet Merrill,
Miss Mary J. Abbott,
Miss Marzette H. Coburn,
Mary Bodwell,
Jane Bodwell,
Czarina Coburn.
MUSIC.
" And David spake to the chief of the Levites, to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy."-1 Chron. xv : 16.
" Praise God in his sanctuary "-"praise him with stringed instruments and organs .- Psalms cl.
The method of performing the service of song for public worship in this Society, was by a select choir until 1868, when the " New Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book," arranged by Lowell Mason, Edwards ยท Park, and Austin Phelps, was introduced, which contained both music and hymns adapted to con- gregational singing. In the early existence of the Society the choir was led, for many years, by Henry Osgood, a powerful bass singer, and during the last of his services he was paid a small salary by one
Roscoe L. Chase,
Miss Jane Coburn,
Miss E. Adelaide Hamblet,
Miss Lauretta Coburn,
Miss Josie Bell Stuart,
67
PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
of the congregation who realized that good music was an important part of religious services on the Sabbath.
The singing has always been accompanied by in- strumental music of some kind. The violin, bass-viol, flute, clarionet, bugle, cornet, trombone, flageolet, and occasionally other musical instruments, were used by an orchestra, in most of the churches in New England, and about all of them, at one time or or another, have been used here since our own recollection.
In May, 1850, the Society purchased the organ which is now in use. It was built to order and set up by George Stevens of East Cambridge, for the sum of $400. Timothy V. Coburn, deceased, a brother of Dea. Abel Coburn, was the first organist and played for a number of years without compen- sation. He was a fine musician, a composer of music, and had played the violin in church for some years before the organ was obtained. Mr. Coburn removed to Columbia, Texas, in 1857, and died there April 19, 1860, leaving a widow and two daughters.
After the removal of Mr. Coburn from Dracut, various other persons have presided at the organ at different times, among them Mr. Warren C. Hamb- let, Miss Cora Tolman, Mr. Orin F. Osgood, and Mr. Irvin A. Foote.
Some of the other musicians who played with the choir, at various times, as a part of the orchestra, before the organ was purchased, were Zadoc Lew, quite a celebrated player, for his day, on a bassoon and other wind instruments; Nathaniel
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
Varnum, Jeremiah Varnum, Orford R. Blood, John T. Spofford and Gordon F. Tucker (players upon the bass-viol), Oliver P. Varnum, Rufus Freeman, John Cutter, Joseph Merrill, Rapha W. Sawyer, A. C. Varnum, violinists ; Adrastus Lew, claironet ; Coffern Nutting, trombone.
The history of music as used in public worship may be briefly stated as follows :
Two principal methods have prevailed, to a greater or less degree : that of the whole Congregation and that of a select Choir. The Congregation was the primitive method, and the only one known in the early history of the Church. The method of singing by a choir came into the Church at a later period, with wealth, power, and worldly greatness, and it has been her attendant rather in temporal prosperity than in poverty and adversity.
At the time of the Reformation, Congregational Singing had become extinct, and the more artistic manner of choirs, consisting mostly of an inferior order of the clergy, singing in a language unknown to the people had taken its place. Luther, Calvin, Knox, and others, took early measures to rescue the singing service in public worship from the hands of the clergy, and to reinstate it as an exercise for the people. It was no attempt on the part of the Reformers to introduce an artistic manner of song, but, on the contrary, a very plain one, a "highway" of Psalmody, in which "the way- faring man, though a fool, should not err."
The Congregational method, thus restored to the churches, was brought to this country by the Protestant Fathers. It continued to be their only method for about a century and a half. It is not surprising that during this period, amidst the deprivations which the new settlements experienced, atten- tionto song should have been neglected, nor that, neglected by generation after generation, the ability for it should have been well-nigh lost. In the early part of the last century the very low condition of the singing in public wor- ship began to attract the attention of some of the friends of religion, and measures were taken by a few of the leading clergymen and others for re- form. Hitherto all the singing in the American churches had been unisonous, the melody only having been sung; but in 1720 a book of tunes in three parts, "Cantus," " Medius " and " Basus," was published by Rev. Thomas Walter. The harmonizing of the tunes in parts undoubtedly grew out of the fact that the more elaborate service of choirs had always taken that form both in the Lutheran and English church. In the Protestant churches of Europe gen- erally, metrical Psalmody continues to this day to be sung, as it was origi- nally, in unison, and it is at least doubtful whether parts in harmony for the choir and unison for the congregation would not still be the best arrange- ment for Church Song. This new arrangement of tunes in parts led to the formation of choirs. At first, they were introduced only as helps to Congre-
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
gational Singing, but this gradually yielded, as it had done before, and the new method advanced with sure and steady progress, until towards the close of the last century it had become the almost exclusive method of Church Song. And now, within fifteen or twenty years, Congregational Singing is again attracting attention, and many churches have adopted this method, some supported by a choir and some without .- Preface : New Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book.
When the Puritans came to this country in 1620 they brought with them some neat little hymn books called " Ainsworth's Version of the Psalms," published about the year 1618, by Rev. Henry Ainsworth, for some years a teacher of the church at Amsterdam, and it was their custom to sing from them in their public worship. These books were continued in use until the year 1640, when a hymn book was arranged by the clergymen of the colonies, called " The Bay Psalm Book."
This was the first hymn book printed in the colonies, but the expense was so much that only a comparatively small number could be sold, and it was at this time that the practice of " lining out the hymn" began. When there were only a limited num- ber of hymn books, the minister would select a hymn, and read a line or two, and then the congregation would sing what had been read, and so on until as many verses had been sung as was desired. It took some forty years for the lining-out process to become universal, but at last about every church in New England performed their singing in that way. The practice continued for a hundred years or more and it cost a great effort to break it up, even after hymn books became plenty, and it was a very serious sub- ject of contention in many of the churches for sev- eral years. The practice had gone past, however, before the Pawtucket Church began, in 1797.
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
The dates assigned to some of the tunes that we call old are as follows : "Old Hundred" and " Monmouth" go back to the time of Luther and the Reformation, 1520; " Dundee," 1615; "St. Mar- tyn's," 1735 ; " Darwell " and "Greenville," 1750; " The Italian Hymn," "Mear," and the "Portuguese Hymn," 1760 ; "Silver Street " and "St. Thomas," 1779 ; " Peterboro'," " Lenox " and " Amsterdam," 1776; " Cambridge," 1790; " Dedham " and " China" about 1799.
The first hymn books used here were "Watt's Psalms and Hymns." They were originally pub- lished in separate volumes. Several copies may now be found in families whose ancestors worshiped here. They were first published in England in one volume, about the year 1718. Dr. Franklin also published an edition in Philadelphia, in 1741. This book continued for some years, but was succeeded by the "Watts and Select," edited by Samuel M. Worcester, and published in 1834.
The " Watts and Select" was used in this church until 1868. The "New Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book " having then been introduced and adopted, it remained until the autum of 1877, when it was superseded by the " Songs of the Sanctuary," which is now in service and generally satisfactory. It contains hymns and tunes, and the singing at this time is performed by the congregation aided by the organ, which has been played for the last ten years by Miss Nellie V. Colton, daughter of Dr. John J. Colton.
About the year 1870, the Society procured a seraphine for the use of the Sunday school, and a
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
piano for the vestry in 1881. Miss Colton presides at all these instruments for day and evening ser- vices and the Sunday school, and has been absent but six Sundays during all these years when there has been preaching, excepting her vacations during the month of August of each year.
COMMUNION SERVICES.
In 1804, Mrs. Abiah Varnum (wife of Parker Varnum, Esq.) and Mrs. Martha Varnum (wife of Col. James Varnum) presented the church with a communion service, which was used until another service was presented, in 1877.
The old service was of pewter, which was about the most elegant ware in use at the time when it was presented. In old times various styles of plate and dishes were made of pewter; and polished pew- ter plate was kept on sideboards, by people of wealth, just as silver plate is at the present time.
TEMPERANCE.
The agitation of the subject of temperance began in this Society in 1828, and many of our best and most enterprising men joined in the move- ment in favor of temperance reform. The American Temperance Society had been formed in Boston, two years earlier (February, 1826), and a weekly paper, called The National Philanthropist, had been established there, but afterwards removed to New
72
PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
York ; and another one was soon after started, called The Journal of Humanity, edited by Rev. Edward W. Hooker.
The temperance work was under the leadership of such men as Rev. Justin Edwards of Andover, Rev. Nathaniel Hewett of Fairfield, Conn., Rev. Lyman Beecher of Litchfield, Conn., Jeremiah Day, D. D., president of Yale College, and others ; and in most towns throughout the state temperance societies had been formed as early as 1830. In 1831 there were reported nineteen state societies, comprising 3000 local societies, with more than 300,000 mem- bers. Maine, Alabama, Louisiana, Illinois and Mis- souri were the only states in which a state society had not been formed at that time.
The first temperance society in this vicinity was formed in Lowell in 1829. The late Hon. John A. Knowles was secretary of the first meeting called to organize it. Elisha Glidden was the first presi- dent, Elisha Huntington the second, John A. Knowles the third, and William Austin the fourth. The first temperance society in Dracut was formed in 1830, Joseph Butterfield Varnum president. In 1834 the young men formed a society. Timothy V. Coburn was president, Jesse Clement vice president, George W. Coburn secretary and Abel Coburn treas- urer. Soon after this society went into operation the young ladies formed one of which Miss Sarah Ann Blood was president. Each of these societies numbered about a hundred, and they were finally united as one organization. Temperance addresses and essays were made at their meetings, and some effective temperance work was done. An influence
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PAWTUCKET CIIURCH AND SOCIETY.
was exerted which is felt to this day among our citizens. Before this movement began here, in 1828, the use of distilled liquors was universal, and mod- erate drinking was considered no disgrace. Liquors were used on all public occasions, even at ordinations and funerals. A clergyman, settled in 1818, informs us that at his ordination, among more than twenty ministers present, only one refused to take his grog at the proper time, nor was it deemed inconsistent with christian character and experience, and it would have been considered a serious breach of etiquette not to have it provided for all in attendance. Quite a change in sentiment has taken place since that time.
MASONIC EXERCISES IN PAWTUCKET CHURCH.
It was on the twelfth day of October, 1809, that the consecration exercises of the Pentucket Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, (which had been established in 1807, took place in the Pawtucket Church. The seventy-fifth anniversary of this lodge was also celebrated with appropriate ceremonies in this church, March 9, 1882, and for an account of both events we are indebted to The Morning Mail of March 10th of that year. A brief abstract of its report is as follows.
The members of Pentucket Lodge of Masons celebrated the seventy-fifth anniversary of its organization in a very appropriate manner yesterday and last evening. At two o'clock, P. M., a procession was formed, and to the music of the American Band they proceeded directly to the church at Paw- tucketville (where the lodge was originally formally consecrated), and there, held services appropriate to the place and occasion. Among the veteran Masons present were Rev. Dr. Edson and Col. Jefferson Bancroft.
The body-seats in the church were reserved for the members of the lodge
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
while the public were admitted to the side-scats on showing tickets of admission. The prayer by the chaplain was eloquent and full of allusions to the religious character of the organization and the work it had done in the past. The prayer was immediately followed by an oration by Rev. Josiah L. Seward, in which he spoke of the object and purposes of Freemasonry, together with its origin and history.
After the close of this address Solon W. Stevens, Esq., gave an address which was specially interesting on account of its historical character, showing the situation of public affairs about the time of the formation of Pentucket Lodge. Mr. Stevens said: "There were then but seventeen states in the Union. Thomas Jefferson was President, serving his second term, with George Clinton as Vice President. Caleb Strong was Governor of Massachusetts. The two great political parties were then known as Demo- crats and Federalists. It was about this time that Fulton made his experi- mental steamboat excursion on the Hudson River. A carding mill on River Meadow Brook was the only manufacturing establishment in this neighbor- hood. This region was but sparsely settled; the genius of civilization had only begun its work here. Seventy-five years ago to-day (March 9, 1807), in answer to a petition signed by Isaac Coburn, Moses Fletcher, Ebenezer Flint, Wilkes Allen, and others, the Grand Lodge of the most ancient and honorable society of Free and Accepted Masons for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts granted a charter permitting the petitioners to constitute themselves into a regular lodge under the title of Pentucket Lodge," etc.
The speaker gave some interesting facts in regard to the first meeting. "On October 12, 1809, unusual excitement prevailed in and about the house occupied by Mr. Joel Spalding, grandfather of Dr. Joel Spalding,* now of this city. Pentucket Lodge was holding a special meeting. The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was in session in Whiting's Hall, across the way ; and after the necessary formalities, that body was escorted to the room and the ceremonies of installing the officers of the lodge took place. A proces- sion was then formed, and in that procession were John Abbot of Westford (who in 1825 as Grand Master, laid the corner stone of Bunker Hill Monu- ment, assisted by Lafayette), Caleb Butler of Groton, Benjamin Russell of Boston, and other distinguished Masons. The procession, led by martial music, marched across the bridge to this church, where were exercises conse- crating Pentucket Lodge to the service of Friendship and Brotherly Love, based on a confessed belief in the fatherhood of the Almighty God. The consecration sermon was preached by Rev. Wilkes Allen of Chelmsford, who was assisted by clergymen of other towns. At the close of the rites the pro- cession was re-formed and returned in the same order as it went to Whiting's Hall, to partake of sumptuous refreshments, and the company drank several appropriate toasts."
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