History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 75

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 75

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The Rev. Mr. Rogers was, from all accounts, an able man, very decided, if not obstinate in his views, independent in his opinions and little likely to accept advice, especially of men who, he believed, held opin- ions similar to his own ; and the men with whom he had to deal were equally determined in their course. No good could come of waiting. Mr. Rogers was, no doubt, a most sincere and worthy Christian man, a Unitarian born out of due time ; but to make him a martyr is simply absurd.

It is not clear whether the council was called to- gether again at the end of three months, or a new one convened, or neither. The records are very meagre in regard to the whole matter. At all events

the church voted, November 26, 1757, to accept the "result of the venerable council," and the same day it was voted in town-meeting "that the Rev. John Rogers desist from his pastoral office for the space of three months next ensuing, and that the selectmen be a committee to supply the pulpit during that time."

With commendable zeal and strong, if mistaken, pertinacity, Mr. Rogers went to the meeting-house for three successive Sabbaths after this for the purpose of preaching, but being excluded from the house on one occasion and from the pulpit on the others, he preached in his own house. There is no record that he made any further attempts to exercise the func- tions of his office, or that either party sought grounds for reconciliation. At all events, by vote of both church and town, passed January 28, 1758, Mr. Rogers was dismissed from his office. The following letter written by Mr. Rogers to his people at the time is worthy of permanent record :

CHRISTIAN FRIENDS AND BRETHREN :

I lameet that we must be separated. I suffered and toiled with you to establish this church. Most of those who laid the foundation of this altar of God in the wilderness will stand by me. My enemies are mostly those who came among us as strangers, whom we welcomed with a Christian affection to our table of communion and honse of worship; but who have now uogratefully, like the serpent in the fable, bitten their benefactor. The council, too, which have advised you to this course are not free from guilt. Some of them, and not a few, think as I do on those very doctrines which they pronounce so fatal, and which they call upon me, in the pitiful tones of children, to renounce. 1 forgive them their sin. May God forgive them. Posterity will revise their decision and judge their characters. 1 do not understand why 1 should be sin- gled out from the other ministers around me to be made a victim.

I differ from them in nothing, without it is in frankly declaring what I do believe. Their opinions are like mine. I confess that, ou some points, I have modified my opinions since I came among yon; and I am grieved to think that any are so simple as to suppose it an indication of mental weakness, or perfidy of heart, or treachery to duty, to grow wiser as one grows older, and studies longer. John Robinson warned his church to beware of thinking that no more light would beam ont of the Word of God, expressly warning them not to stick fast, as some did, where Calvin left the truth, hut to follow on after truth. Our cove- nant, it is true, implies the doctrine of the Trinity, but it does not re- quire any one always to believe it; it expressly exhorts us to study the Word of God both day and night, and to conform ourselves thereunto. I have done so. Am I guilty of a crime ? I am willing to be classed with Newton and Milton and Locke and other good and great men, in the opinion which 1 hold. No one need be ashamed in their company. As for recanting my opinions, Christian friends, I cannot do it. God and my couscience would both condemn me. I could not think of myself but with shame. My ancestor suffered the torture of fire and death at the stake, rather thao recant or conceal his opinions. Could I meet him in Heaven without a blush, if I should deny what I believe to be God's truth ? Could I answer to my Master, Christ? Judge ye. I lament to be cut off from you. I am poor and know not where to go. My little ones cry around me for bread. Still I will trust in God, who has never yet forsaken me.

Ile will care for me and mine. 1 hope, if you do expel me from the office of pastor, that you will pay me what you owe me. For ten years I have been willing to share in your poverty by not calling for a portion of my salary, which is justly due me. Now, 1 am to be cast abroad upon the world, I feel as if I must be permitted to receive what is necessary for my very existence. But no more of this. The extremest want alone could have compelled me to mention it in this connection. Brethren, pause before you act. Consider, I pray yon, what will be the end of these things; what will be thought of this after we are all in our graves ? God give you wisdom to act in this matter, as you will all wish you had, when you stand in His presence to answer for this deed. And may the great Head of the Church keep you and build you np in truth and holi- hess evermore. Your devoted, yet aggrieved Pastor, JOHN ROGERS.

1206

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

After he was dismissed from the pastorate Rev. Mr. Rogers brought action against the town to recover that part of his salary which, by general consent, appears to have been justly his due, and which his enemies loved him too well to pay. His adherents also made unsuccessful efforts to be set off in a pre- cinct by themselves. The whole matter was finally referred to the Superior Court with this result : Each party shall pay its own costs; the friends of Mr. Rogers shall be allowed to form a Second Parish ; the first parish shall pay to the new precinct when organ- ized the sum of £45 within the year, and £45 more with interest after the first year, within ten years after the Second Parish is incorporated, and Mr. Rogers shall give up all claim on this town.

The Second Parish was at once formed, and Mr. Rogers preached to the little company of his faithful and affectionate friends for many years, at first in private houses, and then by permission of the town in a school-honse on the north side of the river until, in 1788, the increasing iufirmities of age forced him to ask for a dissolution of the relations between him and his people. This was granted, and the First and Second Precincts were at once united. These men and women, who had adhered to Mr. Rogers with so much constancy and affection all these years, voted to pay for three years longer his salary of fifteen pounds a year. It is a sad and, in many ways, a pathetic story, but must stand as marking the beginning of a division in religious thought and conviction which was sure to come, which no forbearance could prevent and no peace-making heal. It is only saying of them what will be said of us if we add, that greater wisdom on both sides might have delayed this division till the times were ripe for the change.

Rev. Francis Gardner was ordained as the successor of Mr. Rogers, December 22, 1762, and continued to serve the church until removed by death, June 4, 1814. He came to the office in a time of much excitement, but appears to have been a man of great skill and discre- tion, a prudent and wise pastor. Great changes occurred in the parish during his long ministry. Chief of these was the building of the second house of worship. The subject of building was first agitated in 1767, but so great was the difficulty of agreeing upon a location that six years passed before there was a vote to build. This vote was passed May 3, 1773, and it was determined to raise the frame June 1, 1774. The following is Mr. Wilder's description of this house :

" A site containing rather more than an acre was purchased of Rufus Houghton, at the rate of eight pounds per acre, being what is now the common in front of the First Congregational Meeting-House. The precise dimensions of the house are not known, but probably it was sixty feet in length and fifty in width. It fronted to the east, and at each end there was a porch, and in each of these porches were two flights of stairs to the gallery. On the lower floor

there were eighteen square pews in the body of the house and thirty round on the walls. The pulpit was on the west side of the house, and in front and under- neath that was the deacon's seat, and over the pulpit was suspended a very large sounding-board. From the double doors in front to the pulpit was a broad aisle, a wide one all round by the wall-pews and a narrow one from one porch to the other. In front of the pul- pit, on either side, were three rows of seats for aged people. The singers occupied seats in the east side. It was well furnished, both outside and inside, and, for the times, was considered 'a large and an elegant meeting-house.' The expense is not known. The pews were sold before the house was built, and proba- bly for enough to defray the whole expense." This house was built by the united efforts of both pre- cincts, and was town property. The town-meetings were held in it for nearly fifty years, and it was made into a town hall in 1824, and as such used till 1851.

Rev. Mr. Stebbins makes the following reference to this house: "The memory of some (1843) is familiar with this house, its congregation, its minister and service. The clapping of the seats after prayers, the old square pews, in the centre the grandfather's chair, the body-seats before the pulpit, and the dea- con's seat under it; the gallery carefully adapted to accommodate the purposes of the young, and the 'negro-pews,' placed high in two corners ; the deacons in their wigs, seated under the pulpit, the reading and lining of the hymns by these officers of the church, the wig, the three-cornered hat, the bands, the small clothes and high-topped boots of the pastor, the chills and shiverings of winter,-all these some of you have seen and heard and felt."

Other changes are also recorded. April 14, 1765, the reading of the Scriptures was introduced as part of the exercises on Sunday. Dr. Stebbins declares that there is no record or tradition that this innova- tion caused either excitement or opposition. During the ministry of Mr. Gardner a change was made in the manner of reading the hymns. Before this the deacons had " lined " the hymns, now the minister read them. This tremendous change did not pass without criticism ; one of the deacons, Israel Nich- ols, expressed his opinion of the change by walking out of church when the minister began the reading. Another deacon, of different views, refused to " line " the hymn when requested to do so by Rev. Mr. Adams, of Lunenburg. Instrumental music was also made a part of the service during this ministry, and at the sound of the violin the first-named deacon took a second walk from the church. The violin remained, however, and it is presumed that the dea- con returned. So much for successful change. But when, in 1791, it was proposed to put a stove in the church, the limit was reached, and the thing was persistently refused. No means were ever adopted for heating the second meeting-house, although the cold was so severe in 1808 that the town voted to

120

LEOMINSTER.

hold but one service each Sunday from December to April. A sermon one hour long, with other services in proportion, the thermometer at zero and no fire in the church, the congregation could not have en- joyed unmixed luxury.

Rev. Wm. Bascom, who had beeu settled in Fitch- burg, was the successor of Mr. Gardner. He was installed here May 10, 1815, ou a salary of $600 per year, and dismissed March 2, 1820. It is not necessary to discuss the facts which led to Mr. Bascom's dismis- sion. His views were too conservative for a majority of his church and parish. For this reason they desired his removal. Dr. Stebbins regards Mr. Rogers as a martyr, and more than intimates that Mr. Bascom was let off easy ; but, in the absence of the least proof that Mr. Bascom ever attempted to conceal his views, historically they occupy the same position.

January 24, 1821, Mr. Abel Conant was ordained as the successor of Mr. Bascom. " He was a thorough Greek scholar, a sound reasoner, a quick and ready writer, a worthy and useful man and a most excellent pastor." Mr. Conant died while pastor of this church, December 6, 1836. The two most important events of his ministry were the building of the house of worship now used by the society and the formation of " The First Congregational Society of Leominster," May 4, 1835, which marks the time when the town ceased to manage parish affairs.

The present church edifice was ordered by vote of the town December 8, 1821, and finished early in the fall of 1823. The church cost $8,000 and the pews sold for $1,600 more than the entire expense. It has been twice remodeled-once in 1850 and again by the addition of a chapel and other rooms during the ministry of Rev. E. A. Horten. It is an exceedingly comfortable and convenient house of worship. This society has always been strong and prosperous, and is so still. The following ministers have served the society since the death of Rev. Mr. Conant : Rev. Rufus P. Stebbins, 1837-44; Rev. Hiram Withing- ton, 1844-48 ; Rev. Amos Smith, 1848-56 ; Rev. T. B. Forbush and Rev. Stephen Barker, 1856-60; Rev. Eli Fay, 1861-64; Rev. John B. Green, 1864-67; Rev. E. A. Horten, 1868-75; Rev. Wm. H. Savage, 1876-86. Rev. Edward B. Payne was installed pastor Feb. 2, 1887, and is now serving this people.

ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- The di- vision of the Town Church during the ministry of Rev. Mr. Rogers was certainly premature. Personal feeling ran very high. Men, it is said, would not recognize each other when they met on the street. Back of this there was, no doubt, some real difference of opinion and of faith. But personal feeling is likely to die with the men and women directly con- cerned and great changes in religious thought require time to ripen. The First and Second Precincts were of course united after Mr. Rogers' death. It was a failure to recognize the element of time in all religious movements, which was the source of Mr. Rogers' dif-

ficulty with his parish. A minister whose time is wholly devoted to study, whose disciplined mind is capable of seeing the relations of truth, may well go further in religious investigation than plain men and women, largely occupied with the ever-recurring question, "What shall we eat and how shall we be clothed ?" can well follow him. Indeed, it would be a misfortune to submit to their decision many of these questions. While a minister is bound to preach that and only that which he fully believes, it is a great mistake to suppose that so soon as a new idea comes to him he must make public proclamation of the fact. Many of a man's opinions only "tent" with him,- they never take up a permanent residence. They hold him ; he does not hold them. It was this inis- take which caused the trouble described.

But the close of Mr. Bascom's ministry brought the community to a very different relation to religious questions. The Rev. Thomas Gardner, during his long ministry, presented his views with great dis- crimination. These views were much the same as those which Mr. Rogers expressed, but he had greater wisdom in his work. During the long rest and har- mony of these years there was time for men to come, by a kind of natural selection, to those views of truth and duty which would, in the nature of the case, be permanent. The case was made up before Mr. Gard- ner's death. It only waited for an occasion to find expression. So when Rev. Mr. Bascom was found to be more conservative than was expected (and this was the ground for dissatisfaction and removal), the occa- sion came. Men divided, not, as before, on personal grounds, but because it was the necessary outcome of religions thought. That the old church should recognize and welcome these new forces was of course not to be expected. Still, soon after Rev. Mr. Conant was settled over the old parish, a new church was formed,-the first of several,-and which is now legally known as "The Orthodox Congregational Church and Society of Leominster."

Of the feeling at the time Rev. Rufus P. Stebbins, in his centennial discourse, says: "That there was nothing wrong done on either side I suppose, that those who were actors in the events, who are now living, would not now claim. That there a little ill feeling excited, and as little injustice done as ever were under such circumstances, is more perhaps than it would be best to say or believe. But one thing may be said with undoubted confidence : The ill feelings which were awakened at that time have been buried in the graves of those who have died and in the memories of those who are living." If this could be said nearly half a century ago, the mutual respect and good feeling of to-day needs no mention.

The object of organizing this new church was thus expressed at the time: " For their mutual edification, improvement in divine knowledge, for the better maintaining Gospel ordinances and public worship among themselves, as well as for the general promo-

1208

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

tion of vital religion and the extension of Christ's kingdom." An ex-parte council was called and a church organized at the home of Captain Ephraim Lincoln, December 25, 1822. This house still stands, and is owned and occupied by Henry J. Johnson.

The following persons constituted that church: John Perkins, James Wood, James Boutelle, Joel Hale, Thomas Boutelle, Hiel Coolidge, Jerusha Thurston, Mary Lincoln, Betsy Stuart and Dorothy Bontelle. On the day following, December 26th, Caleb Wood, Eunice Wood, Benjamin Perkins, Ephraim Lincoln, Samuel Hale, Hepsibah Hale, Abel Wood, Eleanor Nichols, Dolly Johnson, Susan Lincoln, Martha R. Lincoln, Julia Boutelle, Betsy Boutelle and Sally Hale were received into member- ship, making a total of twenty-four.

The fourteen last named had been members of the First Congregational Church (Unitarian), and were received into the new church on the recommendation of an ex-parte council convened at their call. Of the ten original members, four remained in this com- munion until death. Of these, Dorothy Boutelle died in 1827; Betsy Stuart in 1836 ; James Wood in 1856, and James Boutelle, September 28, 1870. The latter was deacon of the church for more than forty years.

The church thus formed worshipped in the house where it was organized for nearly two years, during which time the number of members was more than doubled.

Their first meeting-house was erected in 1824, on the east side of Main Street, at a cost of $1600. This they continued to occupy until 1837, when it was sold to the Methodist Society for $800. It was enlarged and repaired in 1849, and sold to the Catholic Society in 1871. A second house, built on the site occupied by the present church edifice, was dedicated February 8. 1837. In May, 1850, it was struck by lightning and much damaged. In the same year it was remodeled and repaired, and re-dedicated January 8, 1851. This house continued to be used as a place of worship down to February, 1872. In the early part of 1871 the society took action looking to the erection of a new house of worship. The vote to begin operations was passed in the month of September ; the plans were fully matured in January, 1872, and the old building sold at auction February 13th, to be removed before April 1st; but on February 27th it took fire and was wholly consumed. The corner-stone of the present church building was laid August 1, 1872. The chapel was finished February 27, 1873, and the whole building dedicated August 19th of the same year. Rev. Charles H. Payson delivered the address at the laying of the corner-stone ; Rev. A. A. Wood, D.D., preached the dedication sermon and the Rev. I. W. Backus offered the prayer.

This church building is one of the finest in Wor- cester County. In architectural beauty and general adaptation to its purpose it is unsurpassed. Still, it may well be supposed that such a structure cost

something of effort and self-denial. When the church was finally freed from debt the following statement of facts was made by the writer. It is reproduced here as of permanent interest in connection with the growth of this society.

"The new and beautiful church was dedicated, but with a debt of over thirty thousand dollars ! This was a heavy load under the most favorable conditions ; but when a large number of our members withdrew to form a new church organization at North Leominster, the financial strength of the society was greatly weakened, and the load of debt became oppressive and even menacing. Toward the close of Mr. Wales' ministry the church and society were brought squarely to the alternative of reducing the debt or giving up their house of worship. The debt had in- creased to over thirty-six thousand dollars! It was simply impossible to live under such a burden. In the fall of 1875 it was decided to make an earnest effort to re- duce the debt by at least ten thousand dollars, and to pay all sums due for interest, etc. The effort was begun at once, but a year passed before the task was finished. It would not be possible to give any ade- quate description of the toil, the anxiety, the near approach to defeat and the final success of this effort. It was, by far, the most trying time this church and society have ever known. But it should be made matter of lasting record here that the ladies, both as individuals (for they started a subscription by themselves) and in their society, gave freely and lovingly of time, strength and money ; that those who had little gave much, and those who had more gave, and then increased their gifts, till at last the work was done.

"So the first woe was past. Everything was settled. The church had cost $65,432.62, and the debt was now a little over twenty-one thousand. After meeting its expenses it was hoped that the society could provide for the interest on this amount, espec- ially as the Ladies' Charitable Society was to provide for the interest of $3,000 of this sum. It was not a 'good hope.' There was an increasing deficit. The burden was too heavy. About fifteen months later, January 16, 1878, the old veterans and the new re- crnits gathered for another battle. Thirteen thou- sand dollars would pay all out-standing claims and re- duce the debt to less than $10,000. The memory of the former success helped in the present case. The work was carried on more rapidly and hopefully. The subscription paper was dated January 16, 1878, and by March of the same year, $13,082.00 were pledged. It may be added here, that every dollar of this sum was collected. March 14, 1878, the debt upon which the society was paying interest had been reduced to $9,900.00, and before July 1st the balance of subscription had been collected and arrears of in- terest, etc., paid. This had not been accomplished without hard work and self-denial. One brother, W. B. Frissell, should be remembered with honor as giv-

1209

LEOMINSTER.

ing freely of his time and effort to this work. In July, those who remembered the debt at $36,000.00, held a jubilee over the result.

" During the ministry of Rev. Mr. De Bevoise, and largely through his efforts, the last of the old debt disappeared. For years it had hindered the growth and the joy of the church. It died on a certain memorable Sunday morning, being unfit to live. Church and congregation breathed in freedom and hope. They had not taken back that which they had dedicated to the Lord, and they could hope for His blessing. These years of debt-paying often seemed almost hopeless, but they held the seeds of a century of growth."

The first pastor of the church was Rev. Phillips Payson, of Rindge, N. H. He was ordained Novem- ber 17, 1825, and dismissed April 17, 1832. The number belonging to the church at the beginning was fifty-seven, and sixty-five were added during his pastor. ate. After much faithful service in this State, Connec- ticut and elsewhere, Mr. Payson died at his home in Fayetteville N. Y., February 16, 1866.

The following is a list of the other ministers who have served this church in the order of their ser- vice : Rev. O. G. Hubbard, May 23, 1833, to June 17, 1851; Rev. Joel S. Bingham, December 17, 1851, to June 1, 1857 ; Rev. Joseph W. Backus, January 14, 1858, to August 13, 1862; Rev. Horace Parker, March 21, 1863, to May 1, 1865; Rev. Wm. J. Batt, October 17, 1865, to July 15, 1874; Rev. Henry A. Wales, September, 1874, to September, 1877 ; Rev. Sylvanus C. Kendall, May 1, 1878, to May 1, 1879; Rev. Gabriel H. De Bevoise, March 3, 1880, to July 18, 1883; Rev. Richard Meredith, March 6, 1884, present pastor.

To this account may be added some things of inter- est and valuable as matters of reference :

Original Constitution of Society Connected with this Church.

We, the subscribers, for our own edification and improvement in Di- vine knowledge, and for the better maintaining of Gospel ordinances and public worship among ourselves, as well as for the general promo- tion of vital religion and the extension of the Redeemer'e kingdom, do hereby agree to form ourselves into a Society, to be called and known by the name of "THE CALVINISTIC SOCIETY IN LEOMINSTER," and here- after to meet together and adopt such rules and regulations and pass such votes, not contrary to law, as may, by a majority present at any legal meeting, be deemed proper and expedient, relating to the objects and purposes aforesaid ; and we do hereby agree to abide by such votes, rules and regulations as may be thus adopted from time to time ; and especially to pay onr respective proportions of all such expenses as may Briee for the support of public worship, whether for the purpose of pay- ing a preacher or preachers or erecting or providing a building for meeting and worship, or for incidental or any necessary expenses con- nected with the object aforesaid ; the manner of untifying meetings, of employing preachers, of levying taxes, &c., to be hereafter agreed npoo. The first meeting of the Society for transacting business, relat- ing to the objects aforesaid, shall be holden at the dwelling-house of Capt. Ephraim Lincoln in Leominster, notice of the time to be given by said Lincoln.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 75

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464