USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Westminster > History of Westminster, Massachusetts (first named Narragansett no. 2) from the date of the original grant of the township to the present time, 1728-1893, with a biographic-genealogical register of its principal families > Part 43
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In June, 1831, the church called Rev. Amasa Sanderson to its pastorate, which call was accepted "after much deliberation and prayer." The good work previously begun continued. During the following winter a movement at Groton, which he had been instrumental in inaugurating, had so far advanced that those interested in it were ready to organize a church and had invited him to assume its pastorate. "He believed it was his duty to go there," and asked to be released from his West- minster charge. His request was reluctantly granted and he soon removed to the new field of service. He was a good man and successful in his work. Ten were baptized during the few months he labored here.
From 1832 to 1835 the church and society had no settled minister, but the pulpit was supplied most of the time. Sev- eral students at the Newton Seminary spent their vacations
355
PASTORATES OF REV. MESSRS. WRIGHT AND BROWN.
here. In 1833 Dea. Joel Merriam spoke Sabbath morning and was succeeded in the afternoon by his son Franklin, then a student at the Academy preparing for the ministry, whom the church had recently licensed to preach. The following year the latter, at the close of his freshman course in the theologi- cal school, occupied the desk six Sabbaths.
Meanwhile the church, anxious for a pastor and coveting if not the best at least the better gifts, extended a unanimous call to Rev. Abial Fisher, who had preached the sermon at the rec- ognition of the church. But he declined the invitation. A similar honor was extended not long after to Rev. John Walker of Sutton, who was understood to be desirous of leaving there and whose praise was in all the churches in this region round- about, with a similar result. "He had concluded to stay in Sutton." Rev. William Bowen, an excellent preacher, was next called and he also declined. Notwithstanding these disappoint- ments and the want of a pastor the church prospered, nine persons being received to membership during the interregnum. At length, after three years, Rev. David Wright acceded to the wishes of the church and was installed May, 1835, but remained only ten months. While here his son, Thomas G. Wright, a member of the church, entered Colby University in Maine, graduating in 1839 and becoming, after completing a theological course of study, a useful and honored Baptist minister in the Middle states and elsewhere.
In March, 1836, a unanimous call was given to the first pastor here, Rev. Mr. Morse, then of West Cambridge. But "he could not see it his duty to come." The following July the services of Rev. Caleb Brown were secured, continuing till March, 1839. During this time the church enjoyed harmony and prosperity, seven being added to its members. But a great sorrow came to the family of the pastor in the death of his only son, Charles E. Brown, a youth of seventeen, "possessed of an amiable dis- position and beloved by all," the sad event occuring, "after a distressing sickness which he bore with meek submission," Sept. 17, 1837. So deeply pained were the parents by this terrible affliction, and feeling that they could not remain where there was so much to remind them of it, that Mr. Brown re- signed his pastorate and left for a field of labor less fraught with painful memories and associations.
Rev. Benjamin Remington, an evangelist, commenced labor- ing with the church in the fall of 1839. Much religious interest was awakened in the community by his preaching. A series of special meetings was inaugurated and continued three and four days in a week during a good part of the following winter, the Congregationalists with their pastor, Rev. Cyrus Mann, uniting in the work the latter part of the time. As a result of this revival, forty-one persons were added to the church during the year, a still larger number entering the Congregational fellow-
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
ship. Some of the converts have, in later years, been large contributors to the spiritual and financial strength of the church.
In March of the same year, 1840, George D. Felton, a grad- uate of Brown University in 1839, was called to the pastorate and, having accepted, was duly installed June 13th, Rev. T. B. Swain of Worcester preaching on the occasion. Mr. Felton quickly won his way to the hearts of both old and young. enjoy- ing a successful ministry of two and a half years, at the expira- tion of which period he tendered his resignation on account of the feeble health of his wife which made a residence near the sea desirable. The resignation was sorrowfully accepted. Dur- ing his pastorate the church bought the "parsonage " built by ten of the brethren in 1836.
Rev. Chandler Curtis accepted a call to serve the church in the pastoral office January, 1843. His able, scholarly preaching attracted much attention and the power of the Holy Spirit was soon manifested. The covenant meetings were largely attended, unusual religious interest among all classes prevailed in the east part of the town, some converts were made, and there were strong indications of a speedily coming prosperity to the church. But the expectations awakened were not realized. Differences of opinion upon some of the teachings of the Bible, the exist- ence of which became apparent during Mr. Felton's pastorate, became more pronounced. Several members, some of them leading ones, accepted the views of William Miller in regard to the second coming of Christ and withdrew from fellowship, establishing meetings designed to promote their new found faith, at the town hall Others, having adopted "no Sabbath principles," gave up their membership, and still others who felt that the church did not sufficiently condemn Southern slavery. Many of those withdrawing were excluded and disowned by
those remaining. Thus the organization lost much of its numerical and financial strength, and felt itself unable at the close of the year to support a minister, and the pulpit therefore became vacant. But in April an arrangement was made with Mr. Curtis, who remained in town, to resume his labors for a half, if not for all, the time the ensuing year. This arrange- ment terminated April 27, 1845. During the two years' labors of Mr. Curtis he welcomed six to the fellowship of the church.
In the following June Rev. Jonathan Forbush assumed the pastoral office. Successful in other fields of labor, it was hoped he would call back some of those who had espoused error and left the fold, and bring many others to Christ. But such hope was not realized. In March, 1847, Mr. Forbush closed his labors, having baptized three persons while here.
George Carpenter was ordained to the work of the ministry and installed pastor Oct. 14, 1847, the sermon being given by Rev. Edward Savage of Fitchburg. He remained preaching the
PASTORATES OF REVS. J. H. LERNED AND EDWARD MILLS. 357
Gospel faithfully, struggling with the weakened church against many difficulties which greatly hindered his usefulness till April, 1850, when he gave way to Rev. Martin Byrne, who con- tinued his labors only till the following March, 1851.
The church was at this time in a very low state. For ten years its members had been constantly decreasing by death, dis- missal, and exclusion without corresponding additions. Finan- cially weak and unable to support a minister, it was without a pastor for the next ten years. It had preaching, however, most of the time, the pulpit being supplied by Revs. Chandler Curtis, John Walker, W. S. Wilder, Asaph Merriam, Franklin Merriam, Mr. W. K. Davy, and Mr. Joseph Barber. When vacant Sab- baths occurred Dea. Joel Merriam addressed the people. The Sunday school and prayer meetings were generally kept up. During this period nine persons were received to membership.
In the autumn of 1861 -the year of the breaking out of the Rebellion -the prospects of the church seemed darker than ever. Only thirty-eight members were reported, and the times were inauspicious. But the ladies came to the rescue. Through their efforts, chiefly, money was raised and the services of Rev. John Peacock, an evangelist, were secured. A series of special meetings, in which the Divine power was manifest, resulted in numerous conversions and in eight baptisms. Renewed interest prevailed and Rev. J. H. Lerned was engaged "to supply for awhile."
The location of the old house of worship being deemed unfavorable to the growth and prosperity of the church, it was decided early in the ministry of Mr. Lerned to erect a new one in the central village. Plans were provided accordingly, and during the year 1863 the main part of the present edifice was erected, the dedication taking place Dec. 30th, Rev. Franklin Merriam preaching the sermon. A chapel was built in 1870, and the tower and surmounting spire, with the accompanying bell and clock, giving the whole a neat, symmetrical appearance, were added in 1872. Great harmony and hearty co-operation existed in regard to the new church building enterprise. An interesting work of grace was carried on in the autumn of 1864 and the months following, with gratifying results. But the pastor's health failing, he was obliged to close his labors in March, 1865. He was a man of Christlike spirit, an interesting preacher, and an excellent pastor, "greatly beloved by all."
On the first Sabbath in May Rev. Edward Mills began a ministry of nearly two years' duration, baptizing nine of the recent converts, to which three others were soon after added. Abundant prosperity attended his labors, twenty-five making a public profession of faith under him, one of whom, George T. Raymond, afterward entered the Baptist ministry. In 1866 the first parish house was disposed of and the present one pur- chased.
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
Rev. Robert G. Johnson entered upon his labors as pastor in July, 1867. Under his influence an interesting revival took place two years later. In the spring of 1870 meetings were held at the house of Mr. Artemas Merriam, at which "the Holy Spirit fell upon the people like a gentle summer shower." Early the following year Mr. Durant, afterward founder of Wellesley College, conducted union meetings in town, resulting in the addition of thirteen persons to the church. The whole number received by Mr. Johnson, in a stay of four years and two months, was sixty-thirty-eight by baptism and twenty- two by letter-the tokens of a faithful ministry. While he was in charge, Joel Merriam, the first deacon of the church, passed to his reward on high, Aug. 20, 1867. He was a decided, consecrated Christian, liberal according to his means, active in all moral reforms as in the work of his church, and a lay preacher and exhorter, though unlicensed, of unusual ability, whose services at home and abroad were gratefully appreciated.
Rev. Watson A. Worthington commenced a ministry of four years here in December, 1871, during which time five persons were received into the church by baptism and nine by letter. A great loss to the Baptist cause was sustained by the death, May 7, 1873, of Hon. Joel Merriam, son of Dea. Joel Mer- riam, who for some years had been one of its most liberal and influential adherents and supporters. A sad bereavement, moreover, came to the pastor and his family by the drowning, in Meetinghouse Pond, while bathing, of an only son, Charles S. Worthington, a bright and promising lad of fourteen; the afflictive event occuring July 30, 1873. The interior of the church building was very much improved and beautified during Mr. Worthington's pastorate, at a cost of over $700. A new set of pulpit furnishings was given by Mrs. Samantha Ellis, whose contributions to objects and purposes connected with the church were large and frequent as time went on.
Soon after the close of the labors of Mr. Worthington, in December, 1875, Rev. Joseph Barber, whose services in 1859 were kindly remembered, was invited to the vacant post. He accepted and began his work in April, 1876. His pastorate was the longest in the history of the church, continuing till August, 1883, -seven years and four months. He kindly preached the truth and carefully led the people. Six persons were baptized by him as the visible tokens of his ministry.
While he was in office the church celebrated the semi- centennial of its founding, which occurred March 31, 1880. A historical address was given by the pastor, and a sermon upon "The Increasing Church of the next Fifty Years" was preached by Rev. C. M. Bowers, D. D., of Clinton. An original hymn was contributed by Mrs. Ann C. Roper, daughter of a former pas- tor, Rev. Chandler Curtis. The occasion was one of great interest.
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OFFICIAL AND FINANCIAL RECORD.
During Mr. Barber's pastorate the church suffered the loss of two of its oldest and most useful members. Mrs. Samantha Ellis died Oct. 16, 1881. For twenty years she had been one of the chief financial supporters of all the activities and inter- ests of her communion. Her superior business ability secured to her means of usefulness which she distributed with a liberal hand but unostentatiously, many of her benefactions being un- known to the public before her death. Dea. John Foskett fell asleep in Jesus April 23, 1883. In all his relations to the church he was eminently faithful. He served as its clerk more than half a century with commendable efficiency, interspersing his records with collateral facts and comments which have been of great service in the preparation of this sketch, as frequent extracts copied herein and duly marked will show.
In September, 1883, Rev. Lyman Partridge, the present pas- tor, took charge of the pulpit. In the following January a work of grace began and continued through the year with gratifying results. The congregation and Sabbath school increased in numbers, and works of benevolence were multiplied. Between 1884 and 1887 thirty were added to the church, twenty-six by baptism, and $768 were contributed for benevolent purposes. April 27, 1884, the baptistry was dedicated, the pastor adminis- tering the ordinance of baptism and preaching a sermon upon "The Places of Baptism mentioned in the New Testament."
Joel Merriam was elected deacon of the church April 6, 1830, resigned February, 1846; Benjamin Harrington, January 1834, resigned July, 1841; John Whitney, July, 1841, died March, 1844; John Foskett, February, 1846, died April, 1883; John P. Roper, November, 1867; J. Hervey Merriam, March, 1884, resigned February, 1886; Frank A. Merriam, March, 1886. Present incumbents, John P. Roper and F. A. Merriam. John Foskett was clerk from April, 1830, to April, 1883; Henry J. Partridge from March, 1884, to the present date.
The following bequests have been left the church : In 1873, $3,000 by Hon. Joel Merriam; in 1875, $200 by Mrs. Mary Miles ; in 1884, $150 by Mrs. Luke Sawin. In 1873, Gen. Nelson A. Miles made it a present of $300.
During the twenty-five years ending September, 1887, the church raised for all purposes $30,508. The amount contrib- uted for benevolent purposes in twenty-one years previous to that date was $3, 195.63, or an average of over $150 a year. The smallest sum raised in one year was $38 in 1872; the largest $301.73 in 1887.
The following persons have served as clerk of the Baptist society since its formation : Joel Merriam, 1827-1835; John Foskett, 1835-1836; John Fessenden, 1836-1838; John Fos- kett, 1838-1845; Joel Merriam, Jr., 1845-1847; John E. Whit- ney, 1847-1850; Daniel C. Miles, 1850-1876; Henry J. Par- tridge, 1876-1885; William E. Gilson, 1885 -.
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
The Sabbath school was instituted May 15, 1831. The largest average attendance for a year was 95, in 1871; the smallest, 20 in 1861. It has had eleven superintendents, Daniel C. Miles serving with occasional intervals between 1850 and 1875 ; J. Hervey Merriam for eleven years since.
The school supported Ezekiel C. Smith at Shaw University, Raleigh, N. C., 1875-1878. After a brief but brilliant career as teacher and preacher, Mr. Smith was, in 1886 (?), appointed United States minister to Liberia by President Cleveland. For several years, beginning with 1884, the school paid the expenses of a student at Spelman Seminary, Atlanta, Ga. The whole number enrolled is now (1887) 140; average attendance for the year, 67.
The entire list of church members between 1830 and 1887 numbered 364; 218 having been admitted by baptism, 146 by letter. It now has 95. It is free from debt and has a fund of $3,800. [L. P., written in 1890.]
Millerism. The religious history of Westminster could hardly be deemed complete were it not to refer briefly to the special manifestation of mistaken piety and zeal which took place in the years 1842 and 1843, in connection with the then widely promulgated doctrines of the speedy second com- ing of Christ and the immediately following end of the world. It was only a local exhibition of what occurred in many towns of the vicinity, the outcome of an excitement that, beginning with the preaching of one William Miller, some ten years before, extended finally through the entire northern part of the country, and even into other lands. Meetings were held at private houses and in the town hall; sermons, constructed for the most part out of the highly wrought imagery of Scripture, were preached, with vivid illustrations of the theories inculcated displayed upon canvas ; impassioned and terror-inspiring appeals, well cal- culated to affect and move undisciplined and easily-impressed minds and hearts, were sounded ; all together producing an ex- citement rising to the intensity of frenzy almost, such as the town had never experienced before. Many converts were made. Members of churches, accepting the new views, separated from their old ecclesiastical fellowship and joined the enthusiasts, and an almost incredible activity and zeal prevailed. In the minds of many of these people, the very day when the events portrayed were to transpire had been revealed and made sure to believing souls,-the day of the Lord's appearance, with at- tendant signs and wonders and judgments,-the mighty con- summation of all terrestrial things, with accompanying wail- ings of the lost and rejoicings of the glorified mingling in the airs of departing time. So confident were these devotees of the soundness of their views, that large numbers of them, in this and neighboring towns, left their homes never to return, as they vainly thought, when the fixed day drew near, and gathered
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SUPPLEMENTARY CONSIDERATIONS.
in solemn convocation at the residence of one of their leading men, where accommodations had been made ready for them, there to await the sound of the trumpet that should announce that the end had come.
The expected day arrived. The sun rose bright as ever in the eastern sky. The morning hours grew to high noon, and noon declined as it had done before. The evening shades at length wrapped the world in its accustomed darkness. Other days came and went, as days had come and gone from the beginning. The deluded zealots returned to their abandoned dwellings, to take up once more the daily tasks of their mun- dane life, and to muse at their leisure upon their strange career. The excitement very naturally soon died out, the earth kept on in its accustomed course, showing no signs of age or decay, and the religious concerns of the community assumed their former state, going on in their regularly appointed way as they had done before, and as they continue to do to this day.
Conclusion. In bringing this chapter to a close, and there- with completing the ecclesiastical history of Westminster, a few supplementary observations seem to be not only desirable but necessary to a comprehensive and just presentation of the important interests under review.
I. It is to be noted that the portraiture which has been given is ecclesiastical rather than religious; that, full as it is, it is at best only an uncertain token of the inner, moral and spiritual life of the people, not an absolute, authoritative ex- pression and test thereof. There is a form of piety without the power ; there is sometimes a power of piety where no outward form exists. All the real penitence, aspiration, faith, trust, love, in a community, or in the world, does not publish itself to the eyes and ears of men, is not entered upon parish registers, nor can it be reckoned up and and preserved in church lists. It is easy to gather statistics, to count up and chronicle nominal conversions, baptisms, professed believers, actual subscribers to a constitution, covenant, or creed, but who can number the se- cret prayers, the purposes of amendment, the unuttered vows of loyalty and consecration, the yearning desires and holy im- pulses awakened in the human breast by the power of the Di- vine Spirit , - who adequately portray, by tongue or pen, the wonderful lineaments of the life of God in the soul of man ! There is more in religion, and more of religion, in any and every town, than appears to outward observation, or can be translated into ordinary human speech.
II. It is again to be noted that while the several religious bodies, whose doings have been detailed in these pages, have stood for certain distinctive forms of faith or modes of admini- stration, respectively, and have done their several kinds of work, each in its own way, they have all contributed somewhat to the virtue and piety of the people at large, and aided in promoting
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
the general morality, order, welfare, and happiness of the com- munity. No one of them has had exclusive access to the waters of life. No one can claim a monopoly of Christian excellence and worth. No one has done all that has been accomplished in town for the uplifting and redemption of man and the glory of God. Each of them has had among its ad- herents and supporters men of integrity and high character, re- spected, trusted, honored by their fellow townsfolk ; women also, of meek and quiet spirit, kind and charitable, devout, worthy of, and receiving, the esteem and commendation of all who knew them.
III. Once more it is to be noted that however divergent the theology of the different churches in town, or their opinions respecting the ways and means of accomplishing the ends they had in view, there has been, nevertheless, a growing spirit of mutual respect, toleration, and harmony in them all. What- ever of distrust, jealousy, sectarian feeling, hostility or bitter- ness, may have ever at any time existed among them is slowly passing away. They are, each and all, laying the emphasis more and more, as time goes on, upon their agreements, and less and less upon their disagreements. More and more upon Christian character, and less and less upon theoretical belief, as the supreme thing in life. They are, without exception, recognizing more than formerly the importance and indis- pensable value of exalting to the uttermost "the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus," and of uniting all their energies, as far as possible, for the building up of the kingdom of God, which is righteousness and peace and joy in the earth. This is a feature in the religious history of the town worthy of special mention, as indicative of what is transpiring in all commun- ities, and as prophetic of the coming union and co-operation of all Christian people in the great work of redeeming the world. In this view of the matter must all true friends of the public virtue and welfare, all true friends of pure and undefiled religion, see cause of heartfelt rejoicing and of devout thanksgiving to the great Author of all good, "of whom and through whom and by whom are all things, and to whom be glory forever."
CHAPTER XVIII.
HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS AND ACTIVITIES.
PROVISION FOR THE POOR AND UNFORTUNATE-SPECIFIC REFORMS - TEMPERANCE, ANTI-SLAVERY. PEACE, ETC.
IT is a fundamental fact of human existence on the earth, that the race is one and indivisible, having a common origin, a common nature, and common inalienable rights, which make it a great brotherhood. Out of this fundamental fact of the unity of mankind comes the law of reciprocity and mutual depend- ence, voiced in the Scripture apothegm "no man liveth to himself," and the consequent moral obligation to cherish and inanifest always and forever the spirit of kindness, good-will, helpfulness, and charity in all the conduct and relations of life. This spirit characterizes in some good degree every noble soul, animates the better types of modern civilization, and gives birth to ameliorations and reforms which belt the world as with a girdle of golden light and make glad the hearts and the habita- tions of the children of men.
Something of this spirit has prevailed among the people of this town from the beginning, molding their personal character, shaping their public policy, and promoting in manifold ways the general welfare and happiness. Some of the more marked expressions of this humane, philanthropic feeling, of this bene- ficent, helpful sentiment in these borders, it is the province of this history to note and portray in appropriate and commenda- tory terms.
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