History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 222

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 222

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Fifteen pastors have served this church and society during the fifty-eight years since they were organized, the Rev. Robert F. Tolman being the pre-ent incum- hent of that office. In addition to the Sabbath-school, whose fourteen original members have increased to three hundred and ninety-six, there are, as auxil- iary agencies for interesting and benefiting those who may be reached and helped to the better life, and espe- cially the children and youth, " The Band of Hope," "The Cheerful Workers," "The Young Ladies' Mis- sion Circle" and "The Society of Christian Endeavor." It is proper to add that legacies left by Abijah M. Severy, Mrs. Susannah Stone and Mrs. Rebecca Green- wood, the benefits of which are now being shared by this church, are fully appreciated as assisting very substantially in maintaining "the preaching of a Gospel of Salvation, of Anti-Slavery, of Temperance and of Peace."

CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART .- Who the pioneer Catholics were, or when they settled in Gardner, is involved in mystery. The most reliable information dates their coming in the year 1845. For many years they were few in number, and it was not till 1856 that the first Catholic service held in town took place in a grove west of Baker's Lane, Rev. Edward Turpin, of Fitchburg, officiating. Subsequently Mass was celebrated from time to time in private houses by priests from neighboring parishes. At length Bishop Fitzgerald, seeing the need of a clergyman to minis- ter to the steadily increasing Catholic population of the northern part of Worcester County, sent Father Bannon to make his residence at Otter River, giving I him jurisdiction over all the outlying districts north

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of Worcester and west of Fitchburg. Thither the Cath- olic people of Gardner went to attend divine worship until they became sufficiently numerous to warrant a separate service for themselves, when the town hall was secured for that purpose and used at stated inter- vals. Meantime the Catholic population grew apace, with which came a demand for more clergymen. Therefore, in 1872, Winchendon, Gardner and Ash- burnham were set off as a new parish, and Rev. D. C. Moran was appointed to administer its affairs, with headquarters at Winchendon. Father Moran was a man of great executive ability, and threw himself at once into the work of building up the spiritual inter- ests of his people, and of putting the affairs of the parish into good working order. One of his first cares was to provide a suitable place of worship for, his people in Gardner, who were adding to their numbers daily. He caused funds to be raised, selected and pur- chased a lot on Cross Street, and secured plans from Architect James Murphy, of Providence, R. I. In 1874 ground was broken, and before the end of the following year a handsome wooden structure of Gothic style, capable of seating six hundred people, was reared and dedicated to the service of God under the title of the "Sacred Heart of Jesus." Its total cost was about $26,000, and it was, at the time, the finest church edifice in town, a monument of which both pastor and people might be proud.

Gardner continued as a mission of Winchendon till 1880, when it was deemed able to maintain a resident pastor, and Rev. M. J. Murphy was placed in charge. Father Murphy soon became a great favorite. He took an active part in everything calculated to pro- mote the best interests of the town, being a member of the School Board several years. He directed his efforts at the outset to a thorough organization of the parish, in order that his lahors for the spiritual wel- fare of the people might be more effective, and the beautiful ritual of the Catholic Church be carried out in all its splendor. Sodalities, literary and tem- perance societies were established, so that the old and young of both sexes might benefit by their good influence.

The erection of a parochial residence next claimed his attention. Funds were collected, and the present substantial and commodious house was completed. The grounds about the church were graded at the same time, and concrete walks were put in. Much praise is due Father Murphy for the good taste dis- played in the laying out and care of the grounds, which made the site one of the most attractive spots in town. Not long after, the French Canadians, who had formed a large portion of the growing congrega- tion, wishing to have a clergyman of their own na- tionality, who could speak their own language and enter more fully into their feelings and sympathies, expressed themselves to that effect. Their desire was favorably considered, and in 1884 they with- drew, organized a church by themselves, and had a

pastor installed over them. The Sacred Heart Church weut on enjoying an era of prosperity, when, lo! on the evening of May 28, 1887, flames were seen to issue from the church edifice,' and in one short hour it was in ruins. Soon after this, Father Murphy was transferred to another field of labor, and Rev. J. F. McDermott was intrusted with the work of rebuilding the church. On assuming his duties, the scene of desolation which met his view might have disheartened a less intrepid spirit; but nothing daunted, he threw all his energy into the task before him. Infusing into his people something of his own hope and confidence, they met his appeals for funds with a liberal response, while willing hands volunteered to clear away the debris and make ready for a new structure. Architect P. W. Ford, of Boston, furnished plans therefor on the old lines, with a slight addition to the rear, which will not only improve the outward appearance of the building, but give a hundred more sittings in the main audito- rium. Work was soon begun, and pushed forward with such vigor that the congregation were enabled, in the following January, to occupy a handsomely, finished basement, which has since served as a place of worship. The superstructure will be completed in the near future, and will surpass its predecessor both in beauty and design. Thus it will be seen that the Catholic Church has made wonderful progress in Gardner since the sowing of the little mustard-seed in 1845, which has grown to include in 1888 nearly. half the population, numbering now about thirty- eight hundred souls, and destined, under favorable conditions, to keep abreast of the general advance of the town in years to come.

THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH .- In the year 1864, Rev. Jacob Baker, State missionary of the Univer- salist denomination, began holding religious services in Gardner, at which he preached with earnestness and emphasis the distinctive doctrines of the body rep- resented by him. Those doctrines met with a hearty response in certain directions, and an effort was very soon made to bring together those who were in sym- pathy with them, and to provide for the regular and permanent advocacy of them in the community. On the 4th of June a society was organized pursuant to that effort, and a constitution was adopted for the orderly government of its affairs. One of its first acts was the appointment of a parish committee, who were subsequently instructed to secure, if possible, the ser- vices of Mr. Baker for half the time during the ensuing year. This purpose was carried out, and Mr. Baker's labors continued till the spring of 1867. Considerable interest having been awakened in the movement among the people of the town, and the society having increased its membership proportionally, it was deemed advisable, for the good of those concerned and to help on the cause, that a permanent minister be employed, and the Rev. Harrison Closson was called to that of- fice with the understanding that he was to serve the

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Gardner Society on alternate Sundays, the others be- ing at his disposal to devote to the more general work of his profession, as opportunity offered. This plan was carried but for a year, when the financial con- dition of the society had so much improved as to war- rant the engagement of Mr. Closson for the whole time. Soon after this was done, the minister, who was possessed of much religious fervor and zeal, was in- strumental in establishing a church in connection with the society in accordance with New England usage, which was organized April 23, 1868, and puh- licly recognized with appropriate solemnities on the first Sunday in June following. This body was called " The Church of the Unity and Restoration," adopt- ing a "Covenant " which embodied in a general way the principles of the Universalist branch of the Chris- tian church.

A year later, Mr. Closson, who had been thus far employed annually as the incumbent of the minis- terial office, was installed as pastor of the church and congregation according to Universalist custom, the Rev. A. A. Miner, D. D., of Boston, preaching the sermon. Under the ministry of Mr. Closson the movement was greatly prospered for a time, though later there was some decline of interest occasioned by differences which grew out of the matter of a place of worship. Services had been held for several years in what was called "the bell meeting-house," which was the former house of the First Parish. But the time had come for a change, as was recognized by all. The old house must be repaired where it was, or moved to a new site and refitted, or a new house must be built. Failing of an agreement upon any one of these propositions, disaffection arose and the organization became much weakened. Mr. Closson left in 1871 and for three years there was no regular religious service. But at length new interest arose, and measures were taken to build a church edifice. Funds were raised to that end. Mr. Wm. S. Lynde, an influential member of the parish, gave an eligible site at the corner of Cross and Maple Streets and one thousand dollars in money, which revived the hearts of all engaged in the enterprise. The house was erected and dedicated on the 26th of May, 1874. Soon after, Rev. Royal T. Sawyer became pastor and remained three years. He was an earnest, able preacher and a faithful worker in and out of the pul- pit, and the church and society grew and prospered. Rev. Ephraim A. Reed was his successor, who ren- dered good service to his people for about two years, when he left and was followed by Rev. Mr. Barber, who gave way to Rev. James Taylor, a devoted minister and an excellent man, honoring his calling and sharing the esteem and confidence of the public. He took charge of the pastorate in 1884 and remained about three years. Rev. H. W. Smith is the present pastor, who is laboring with energy and ability for the people of his charge aud the building up of the "larger hope" in the hearts and lives of which met at Lowell, March 24, 1869, appointed Mr.

men. The pari-h has a pleasant place of worship, commodious and convenient, an efficient Sunday- school and various healthful activities for the prose- cution of its own distinctive work and for the promo- tion of " peace and good-will among men."

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- According to the records of the town clerk of Gardner, there were disciples of John Wesley and adherents of the so-called Methodist form of religious doctrine within its borders at an early period of its history. In the year 1797 Philip Wager, elder of a Methodist Society in Ashburnham, certified to the fact that Samuel Stone, of Gardner, "attended public worship" with that society and "contributed to the support of its ministry," which, under the provisions of a recently enacted law of the State, ahsolved him from the duty of paying a "ministerial tax" in his own town. In the following year a similar certificate was filed in reference to Mr. Simon Stone, also a resident of Gard- ner. It would seem, furthermore, from the same records, that in the year 1800 there actually existed in town a society of the same persuasion, of which one Henry Eames was public teacher, and Ebenezer Richardson and Samuel Stone were a standing com- mittee. Further than this, touching this organiza- tion, nothing has come to light, and it is probable that it had but an ephemeral being, of which no ac- count has been preserved.

During the first quarter of the present century a growing interest in the doctrines of Methodism pre- vailed in the north part of Worcester County, and what was called a "circuit" of preaching stations was established, extending through about a dozen towns, of which Gardner was one. It was known as the Ashburnham Circuit, that town having an estab- lished church, as others had not, and being the cen- tre of operations.

In the year 1826 Rev. John E. Risley was the preacher of this circuit and Rev. John Lindsay pre- siding elder of the district under the auspices of which its activities were carried on. It is under- stood that about that date, religious services were held from time to time in the town, though so far as is known no attempt was made to found a church. Occasionally a preaching service would be held in a school-house or private re-idence by some itinerant, temporarily in the place, zealous in broadcasting the seed-grain of the Methodist faith. Finally, the town having grown considerably, and evincing signs of increasing prosperity, Rev. Wm. P. Blackmer, preacher in charge at East Templeton, seeing, as he thought, an opportunity for instituting a church rep- resenting his own conception of Christian truth, early in 1869 conducted a few meetings in the lower town hall. A good interest was awakened and a stated preacher was asked for, of the proper authorities, to enter and occupy the newly-opened field. In re- sponse to the request, the New England Conference,

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Blackmer to take charge of the work already promis- ingly begun. He at once commenced his labors and prosecuted them with such success as that in July of the same year the Rev. Loranus Crowell, presiding elder of the Worcester District, formally organized a church with a membership of eighteen and a Sunday- school of fifty persons, thus forming the nucleus of what has grown to be a large, active, useful branch of the religious brotherhood of Gardner.

In April, 1870, Rev. W. M. Hubbard was appointed to succeed Mr. Blackmer. During his administra- tion of affairs a chapel was erected upon a site on West Street, donated for the purpose by Mr. Lewis H. Graham, which was dedicated September 14, 1870. Rev. Daniel Atkins followed Mr. Hubbard, who, at the end of a two years' pastorate, in 1875, reported ninety-nine members of the church and thirteen pro- bationers. Rev. Seth C. Carey became pastor in 1875. The growth of the movement had been so great that larger accommodations for public worship and other departments of the general work were needed, and measures were started to meet the exist- ing demand in that regard. A lot on Chestnut Street was procured, ground was broken September 20, 1876, a new edifice with a seating capacity for six hundred persons was built and dedicated August 9, 1877, Bishop R. S. Foster, of Boston, preaching the sermon. The cost of the building, with its various appoint- ments for the use of a living, active body of Christian believers, was less than thirteen thousand dollars. At the close of Mr. Carey's ministry the church had one hundred and twenty-three members and thirty- four probationers. Revs. W. D. Bridge, W. P. Ray, J. H. Twombley and M. H. A. Evans have succes- sively had charge of the field since Mr. Carey's re- tirement. Rev. E. P. King is the present pastor. Under wise and energetic administration all the in- terests of the church are well cared for and effectively promoted.

ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- The Episcopal services in Gardner are yet held under the auspices of the Missionary Society of the Diocese of Massa- chusetts. There is, therefore, no organized parish. The first service ever held here was conducted by the Rev. J. S. Beers, the Diocesan Missionary of this State, on December 10, 1882, in the Lower Town Hall. After said service, the Holy Communion was cele- brated at the house of David Parker, M.D. The following persons beside the Missionary partook : Dr. Parker, Mrs. L. D. Rose, Miss Kate Skein and Miss Sarah Muzzy (now Mrs. H. P. Upham).

The work was put into the form of an organized mission February 9, 1883, at a meeting in the Town Hall, presided over hy Rev. W. R. Huntington, D.D., then of All Saints' Parish, Worcester, but now rector of Grace Church, New York City. The mission was named St. Paul's by the suggestion of Mr. Wm. Briggs, a gentleman interested in the movement, who so named it after St. Paul's, New Castle-on-the-Tyne,

England, where his father is buried. At its organiza- tion an Executive Committee were chosen, as follows : David Parker, M.D., Mr. Briggs, Mrs. Geo. A. Ellis, George W. Black, J. W. Jefts, James .H. Rose and Miss Kate Skein. Dr. Parker was elected senior warden ; Wm. Briggs, treasurer, and Mrs. G. A. Ellis, secretary. From February 9, 1883, services were led by different clergymen and lay-readers until July 16th, when the Rev. John C. Hewlett took charge by appointment of the Massachusetts Diocesan Mission- ary Board. After a time Mr. J. W. Jefts and Miss Skein resigned hy reason of removal from town, and Messrs. M. Shumway and Frederick Conant were chosen to fill the vacancies. May 25, 1883, Miss Sarah Muzzy was added to the Executive Committee.

In the month of July, 1883, a Sunday-school was organized with the Rev. J. C. Hewlett, superinten- dent; Mr. Wm. Briggs, treasurer, and Mr. W. B. Ellis, librarian. Soon Mr. Ellis resigned, and Mr. Frank Allen succeeded him. The first person bap- tized was Mrs. Mary A. Van Benthuysen, by the Rev. J. S. Beers, in the Town Hall, April 15, 1883. The first confirmation service was held April 16, 1883, by the Rt. Rev. B. H. Paddock, D.D. Dr. David Parker and Mrs. Mary A. Van Benthuysen were then con- firmed.

The Rev. J. C. Hewlett was in charge for about one year. He was followed July 22, 1884, by the Rev. Thomas A. Hyde. During the pastorate of the latter the chapel on North Main Street, now occupied, was built. He continued in charge about one and three-fourths years. May 1, 1886, Rev. J. S. Lemon was appointed to follow the Rev. Mr. Hyde. The first marriage in town, by an Episcopal clergy man, was that of Mr. E. J. Rose and Miss Libhie E. Jacob, November 21, 1883, by Rev. J. C. Hewlett.

The first serious loss met by the parish was the death of the senior warden, David Parker, M.D., May 8, 1886. The origin of the mission was largely due to his efforts, and was the realization of hopes indulged for over sixty years. He lived, however, only a short time to enjoy the services of his choice. The next se- rious loss of the parish was the death of the general Diocesan Missionary, the Rev. J. S. Beers. At present, the Executive Committee consists of Messrs. William Briggs, G. W. Black, Frederick Conant, Alfred Wy- man, Herbert Morse, George Glazier and Mrs. George A. Ellis. The Sunday-School superintendent is the pastor ; the assistant superintendent and treasurer, Mr. Briggs; the secretary, Alexander Hamilton ; the librarian, William Kennedy. The organist and choir-leader is Mrs. A. A. Williams. The treasurer of the mission is Mr. G. W. Black. The parish has a pleasant place of worship worth more than six thou- sand dollars. There are about fifty communicants, Rev. J. S. Lemon still filling the office of pastor. Withi the exception of the French congregation, St. Paul's is the only church in West Gardner.

THE UNITARIAN CHURCH .- For more than forty

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years after the close of the labors of Rev. William H. Fish as minister of the First Parish there was no dis- tinctive Unitarian preaching in the town. At length, on the 27th of January, 1884, the Rev. A. C. Nicker- son, pastor of the First Church and Society in Tem- pleton, to test the question of the existence in the community of sympathy with that form of Christian faith, held a service in the Lower Town Hall, the birth-place of several religious enterprises, with an attendance of thirty-five persons. A good degree of interest was manifested on the occasion and more was developed afterward, so that two months later, March 27th, a legal organization of a society was effected, the necessary papers having been drawn up and receiving many signatures. At a later date the first permanent officers were elected, as follows: Webster Cowee, moderator; Edgar V. Reynolds, clerk; Edwin A. Colby, M.D., treasurer; Orange F. Smith, collector; Orange F. Smith, Jonas R. Davis and Julian P. Dunn, parish committee. Before the expiration of the year, steps were taken in reference to a site for a church edifice which resulted in the purchase of a lot in the Central Village, at the corner of Elm and Cherry Streets, on which a house of worship was sub- sequently built.

From the time of the first meeting in January, 1884, until April, 1886, the movement was in charge of Rev. Mr. Nickerson, who supplied preaching regularly; the service being held in the afternoon for his accom- modation. Upon his removal from Templeton, at the date named, it was deemed wise to have a resident pastor, who should devote his entire time to building up the enterprise and establishing it upon a perma- nent basis. After hearing several candidates the so- ciety, on the 19th of July, by a unanimous vote, in- structed the Executive Committee "to extend a call to the Rev. Wm. C. Litchfield, of Berlin, to become our Pastor." The committee acted according to in- structions, and the call was accepted. The regular labors of Mr. Litchfield began ou the first Sunday in August, and on the 28th of October he was duly in- stalled as the first pastor of the Unitarian Society of Gardner, Rev. Austin S. Garver, of Worcester, preaching the sermon.

The need of the society for a house of worship be- coming more and more imperative, the effort to se- cure one was renewed and charged with fresh vigor and zeal. The necessary funds were soon pledged and the project was urged forward with commendable rapidity. On the 7th of May, 1887, ground was broken on the lot already bought, and on the even- ing of January 25, 1888, the building, which, with the exception of the basement, was finished and fur- nished suitably for church purposes, was dedicated with appropriate exercises, the sermon being deliv- ered by Rev. Minot J. Savage, of Boston. It is a substantial structure, eighty feet by forty in measure- ment, built of brick with granite trimmings and hav- ing a circular tower of ample height at one of the

front corners, through which entrance is gained to the main auditorium and parlor adjoining. These, when opened as they may be to form one audience- room, will accommodate three hundred persons, con- stituting, with the furnishings and adornings, a neat, convenient and attractive place of religious service. The basement when completed will have pleasant, well-arranged and appropriate rooms for Sunday- school and other purposes. The society is slowly gaining in numbers, in public confidence, in efficiency of administration, in power of usefulness and in promise of future growth and prosperity. The con- gregation has more than doubled during the last two years; the Sunday-school, with a proportionate in- crease, is well organized and doing good service, and other activities are in successful operation. On the 1st of April, 1888, one hundred families were connected with the various departments of the insti- tution.

THE FRENCH CATHOLIC CHURCH .- Some twenty- five or thirty years ago the first installment of French Canadians came to Gardner seeking employ- ment and a chance to better their worldly fortunes. The success attending their search induced others to follow them, and others still in constantly increasing ratio, until at the present time this element of the population numbers about eighteen hundred souls. At first, and for many years, these people contem- plated only a temporary sojourn here, as was the case in other places,-one long enough to acquire a com- petency or what was deemed such, then going back to their native boroughs to enjoy it. But latterly they are more disposed to a permanent residence in their new homes, and a desire and purpose of becom- ing part and parcel of the community in which they dwell and of the American people, by naturalization and other processes of affiliation and coalescence, have become widely prevalent and are shaping their lives to new issues, in all social and civil respects.

These new-comers, by inheritance, education and conviction are, generally speaking, Catholics, and strongly committed to the faith and polity of the Papal Hierarchy. Very naturally, they at first at- tached themselves to the movement which ripened into the "Church of the Sacred Heart," becoming members with others of that church when it was fi- nally established and domiciliated in the community. This relation continued till 1884, when, the congre- gation having greatly outgrown the accommodations of the church building, and the Freuch members feeling that they were able to maintain a church of their own, which should have a minister of their own nationality, a separation of the two distinct elements of the church was effected, with the ap- proval of all parties concerned, and the French Catholic Church was organized, the Rev. F. X. Soly being installed as pastor in November, 1884. The new parish first worshipped in the skating-rink, but soon built the structure now in use on Nichols

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 222

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1576

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576