USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Fitchburg > History of the Calvinistic Congregational Church and Society Fitchburg, Massachusetts > Part 5
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The recital of the action of the church during these years, with the dates attached, is valuable in revealing
51
Calvinistic Congregational Church.
the growth of sentiment in favor of the abolition of slavery. It is a very significant fact that in the midst of this apparent controversy, the spiritual life of the church was so quickened that a great revival swept over the church and two days after this pronounced stand on this great moral question (March 5, 1843), fifty-seven united with the church, and seventeen at the May communion.
BUILDING A SECOND MEETING-HOUSE.
The increasing numbers of church members and at- tendance had made the question of more commodious quarters a necessity, and a method was finally devised whereby a new meeting-house could be built. A num- ber of members of the society, uniting under the name of obligators, proposed to build and to receive all the proceeds of the sale of pews to the extent of the cost of the building, all above the cost to go to the society. These were John T. Farwell, Justin Stearns, Samuel M. Dole, Joseph Baldwin, Abel Simonds, Daniel Lowe, John Dole, Daniel Messinger, Clark Simonds, David Boutelle, Jacob Tolman, Stephen Dole, Abram S. Dole, James P. Putnam, David Richardson, Abel Thurston, Abram Os- born, Ephraim Osborn 3d, Joseph Upton, Jr., Charles D. Bond, William S. Downe, David Lowe and Edward Smith. The church and society accepting the proposal on December 11, 1843, a building committee composed of Isaiah Putnam, Joseph Townsend, Levi Downe, Thomas Eaton, John Andrews, David Boutelle, John T. Farwell, Justin Stearns, Daniel Lowe and Daniel Mes- singer, proceeded to build.
The old church was sold and removed. But a part- ing shot was fired by Benjamin Snow, Jr., who, the day before its removal, nailed these lines to the door:
"Dear as thou art, yet because of thy style
To heat up our ovens, we'll make thee a pile; And when from thine ashes, a ceiled house doth rise,
'Great, great is our Babylon,' we'll shout to the skies.
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REMODELED IN 1873 SECOND MEETING-HOUSE, 1845-1895.
-
-
Second Meeting-house.
"Then Southern response comes on wind and on wave That a temple has risen, where the cause of the slave Will find neither favor with priest or with people, But be utterly banished from basement to steeple."
This building was removed to the corner of Main and Laurel streets and was used many years for busi- ness purposes, finally being degraded from its first high purpose to become a dram-shop, and afterward replaced by the present Dickinson block.
The plans for the new church provided for a base- ment to be built of granite to be used and rented for mercantile purposes, for which reason the locality was known for many years as Granite Row.
The somewhat unique steeple was not acceptable to the esthetic tastes of some, who made an effort to have the plans altered, but the society voted March 11, 1844, that it "was not in favor of altering from their plan for a dome on the new house."
The house was completed and dedicated January 11, 1845, and one of the first services held in it the following week was the funeral of John Dole, a mem- ber 'of the "obligators." This edifice at that time was considered one of the most substantial, giving an air of solidity to the locality, commensurate with the character of its membership, whose theology was con- sidered by many as synonymous with Plymouth Rock.
The years immediately succeeding were in many ways the most successful of any of its history. The town, receiving the impulse of the newly opened railroad, was rapidly growing, and many of the members of the society were sharing in the general prosperity. These were the days when the church was the nucleus of all social activity. All the churches of the town were bunched together, almost within stone's throw of each other. Across the street from the Unitarians, whose church home was built in 1837, was the home of the Baptists, whose meeting-house was not more than a dozen years old; just below it the Methodists with a new house, next to it the Universalists were building,
53
Calvinistic Congregational Church.
and next to it, the Calvinistic, while the Trinitarians, at the corner of Church and Main streets, seemed lonely in their isolated position. With the much more general observance of Sabbath worship than at present, the neighborhood of the common presented a most lively appearance on Sunday mornings.
May 2, 1845, the rule of the church whereby the written signature, which had always been required in assent to the articles of faith, was abolished and only "public assent" was required.
CLOSING YEARS OF BULLARD PASTORATE.
November 7, 1847, Dea. John T. Farwell was chosen to represent the church at the installation of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, upon the invitation of Plymouth church, Brooklyn. Mr. Beecher, it will be remembered, had married a sister of Rev. Mr. Bullard. Rev. Asa Bullard of the Sunday School Union, Boston, was a brother and always a most welcome visitor to young and old when supplying the pulpit. Rev. Lewis Sabin, D. D., of Templeton, also had married a sister of Mrs. Bullard, which fact gave the church opportunity often to hear that learned divine.
The records of the church down to the time of the close of Mr. Bullard's pastorate were comparativly uneventful. Certain cases of discipline for immoral conduct on the part of church members occupied undue space, while the forces of Christian effort and faithful endeavor were quietly but unceasingly moving forward.
March 30, 1852, Mr. Bullard requested an ecclesias- tical council to consider statements which he deemed a reflection upon his character by certain members of the parish who were hostile to him, chiefly on account of his position on the slavery question. A council was avoided by the retraction of these statements and he then asked for a dismissal, which was granted, and the
54
Rev. G. Buckingham Wilcox.
pastoral relation was dissolved July 1, 1852. His death occurred February 4, 1898, aged 88.
The tension was becoming great on the all-absorbing question of slavery, in churches all over the land. We need hardly wonder that our fathers recognized the need of great caution in permitting it in church delib- erations. It is an interesting coincidence that the inti- mate relations of Mr. Bullard with the Beecher family should develop such divergence of views. Mr. Bullard received his theological training in Lane seminary, of which Dr. Lyman Beecher was president. These were the very days in which Harriet Bcecher Stowe was gaining the facts in this same locality which have been immortalized in Uncle Tom's Cabin. It is of these samc days that Mr. Bullard's sister, Mrs. Beecher, records the way in which her husband aroused the conscience of the nation from the pulpit of Plymouth church by his dramatic auction sale on a Sabbath morning of the slave-girl whose owner was about to return her to bondage, also by his ringing denunciation of the na- tion's crime.
PASTORATE OF REV. G. BUCKINGHAM WILCOX.
April 19, 1853, a unanimous call was extended to Rev. G. Buckingham Wilcox to become pastor, which was accepted and a council convened June 15 with pastors and delegates from ninetcen churches. Rev. E. A. Park, D. D., of Andover seminary preached the sermon.
Mr. Wilcox was a man of high culture and earnest purpose, a devout Christian and one whose scholarly abilities have shone in the sphere in which he has moved, through many years down to the present, as professor in Chicago Theological seminary. His short pastorate of three years reflected a high degree of credit and honor upon the church and society by his learning and piety.
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Calvinistic Congregational Church.
Nov. 19, 1855, a special church meeting was held for the purpose of disciplining certain members who had refused to pay their share of the society's expenses ac- cording to the pro-rata system of their assessed taxes, which had been in vogue ever since the foundation of the C. C. church. This was the beginning of a long and vexatious controversy, lasting through the pastorate of Mr. Wilcox, the effects of which were not entirely healed until the system was finally discontinued many years later. The recital of the facts is not necessary. Other difficulties entered into the controversy, but we find these words closing the final report of March 4, 1859: "And now this difficulty which has been of long stand- ing, is finally settled and we trust a brighter morn is about to break upon this church which will shine to the perfect day."
The letter of resignation by Rev. Mr. Wilcox, August 19, 1856, breathed a most devout and Christian spirit, the effect of which must have been most beneficial at this particular time when pride and self-will seemed to predominate in the lives of many professing Christians. After a successful pastorate over a large and flourishing church in Lawrence he accepted a professorship in Chi- cago Theological seminary, where he is now Stone Pro- fessor of Congregational History, Church Polity and Special Studies ; he holds the degree of doctor of divinity.
For two years the church struggled on without the spiritual leadership of a pastor, in the midst of the controversy already referred to. But this was not be- cause of the inability of the church to unite upon a suitable man, as is usual in such conditions. Two months after the dismission of Mr. Wilcox, a unani- mous call was given to Rev. Alfred Emerson, then of Lancaster, Mass. This call was declined and a second call more urgent was made. This call was declined by him February 5, 1857, for the reason that he had al- ready accepted a call to South Berwick, Mainc.
During the year 1857 attempts were made to unite in calling a pastor, all of which failed; among these
56
11
12
Jona.
Haskell
A. Smith.
A. Fox.
David Lowe.
A. Sawyer.
J. T. Farwell.
Levi Downe.
PULPIT.
J. Kinsman.
P. Carter.
J. T. Farwell.
I. Putnam.
S. Farwell.
J. T. Farwell.
Betsey Wood.
65 66 67 68 69 70 71
10
9
D. Messinger.
19
27
Jacob Haskell.
64
J. Baldwin.
63
73
J. T. Farwell.
J. Brown.
17
29
J. &. P. Farwell.
S. Dole.
62
74
Joseph Upton, Jr.
S. Hale.
16
30
C. Sawtelle.
O. W. Dole.
75
E. C. Whitcomb.
J. Downe. 15
31
I. Phillips.
J. T. Farwell. 76
60
A. Wetherbee.
59
77
Edw. Smith.
S. Caswell.
13
33
E. W. Bullard.
J. T. Farwell.
58
78
A. Simonds.
D. Lowe. 12
34
D. Boutelle.
A. F. Adams.
57
79
A. Osborn.
W. Downe.
11
35
D. Messinger.
J. Stearns.
56
80 Chas. Thurston.
J. Andrews.
10
36
S. Burnap.
Benjamin Brown.
55 81
Lucy Davis.
17
81
6
10
A. Boutelle.
9 37
S. M. Dole.
J. Sawyer.
54 82
D. Boutelle.
O. Safford.
8
38
S. W. & A. S. Dole.
J. T. Farwell. 53
83
T. Eaton.
N. Holden.
7
39
A. Hubbard.
E. Crocker.
52
84
J. T. Farwell.
85
E. Hutchinson.
J. T.
W. & W. Wyman.
5
41
J. T. Farwell.
J. Foster.
50
86
S. Lowe.
87
J. H. Merriam.
E. Osborn, 3d.
3
43
W. S. Downe.
A. Eaton.
48 88
J. B. Willard.
2
44
Jere. Lowe.
47
89
A. J. Dean.
46
90
13 14
PEW OWNERS, 1845.
J. T. F.
Battles.
D.
A.
W. G.
Wyman.
3
4
Tuftsand Flint.
S. W.
Harris.
I. Burnap.
4
42
J. P. Putnam.
J. Whitman.
49
72
J. Townsend.
21
C. Simonds. 18
7
8
NORTH GALLERY.
J. Stearns.
J. T.
Farwell.
20 D. Battles.
Spaulding.
-
SOUTH GALLERY.
Farwell.
15 J. Upton.
M. Kinsman.
6
40
A. Thurston.
A. B. Damon.
51
1
45
1
2
HI. Messenger.
Liv'rm're Bowen.
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
24
Maynard 22
28
C. D. Bond.
19
61
14 32
A. Crocker.
Simonds.
16
Seeking a New Pastor.
were Rev. Messrs. Dean, Allen, Dickinson and Tappan. The chapel was remodelled and a second story added, whereby a room was provided for the use of the Ladies' Home Missionary society.
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CHAPTER V.
PASTORATE OF REV. ALFRED EMERSON.
March 15, 1858, at a business meeting of the church, the moderator stated that the object of the meeting was "to consult upon the expediency of giving Rev. Alfred Emerson a call to leave his present field of labor, and settle with us as pastor." Persistency had its re- ward, for on May 6, 1858, the call was accepted in a letter which gives an indication of the personality of one who came into the church at a time when his qual- ities of leadership were greatly needed. It is doubtless the fact that in many ways the church was at its flood-tide of material prosperity, especially in its mem- bership in church and society, of men of influence in intellectual strength. These members recognized traits in Mr. Emerson which would conserve and control the varied elements of strength for the church.
We have now arrived at a period in the history of the church when it would hardly be prudent or necessary to present the personal traits of the pastors. There are too many still living who are quite familiar with these. But the fact that he held the reins firmly in his grasp, not neglecting the small details of parish and church work, sound in theology and Christian in spirit, through the years when the meeting-house was crowded to over- flowing with the increasing membership, all are proof that the persistence of the society in seeking him was sound wisdom. His installation services took place June 2, 1858, Rev. Austin Phelps, D. D., preaching the sermon.
It will be of interest to note the names of some of the men of influence in the material and intellectual life of the church and society during these years: Gold-
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The Civil War.
smith F. Bailey, Amasa Norcross, Alvah Crocker, Rod- ney Wallace, Alfred Hitchcock, James R. Wellman, Moses Wood, William H. Vose, Stephen Shepley, Ephraim Whitman, Sylvester C. Wright, Alfred Miller, Levi Pills- bury, William O. Brown, Charles Ide, Ezra B. Rock- wood, John Upton, Edwin Upton, Joseph Upton, Abel Simonds, Thomas Palmer, Alfred Wetherbee, Elijah M. Dickinson, Henry F. Coggshall, Samuel D. Sheldon, David Boutelle, Abel F. Adams. A much larger list might be given of those whose constant service in the purely religious work of the church conduced to the glory of the Master.
C. C. CHURCH IN THE CIVIL WAR.
The four years embracing the period of the civil war furnished few records in the church annals of interest or importance. The usual calls for letters of dismission, notices of admission, and invitations by sister churches supply the only material.
The effects of war were felt in every home and absorbed all interest, taking either lives, money or heart. Considering the prominence which the question of human bondage attained in our church history, moulding and crystallizing public opinion through the years preceding its outbreak, and how the church fathers finally aligned themselves on the side for the freedom of the slave, which meant the perpetuation of the Union, we look with intense interest to find what part was taken by members of the church and congregation.
When the first rebel gun was fired on Fort Sumter, a week of painful waiting passed, then the 19th of April, 1861, brought news of the first blood shed by Massachusetts boys at Baltimore. Capt. John W. Kimball, son of Alpheus Kimball, commander of the Fusiliers, and Capt. Edwin Upton of the Washington Guards responded to the call from the president, which was accepted and on May 16 in the densely crowded
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Calvinistic Congregational Church.
town hall the ladies of Fitchburg presented these com- panies two beautiful silk flags which afterward became the blood-stained battle-flags of their regiments. These two flags were presented at the hands of two C. C. church daughters, Miss Emily Twitchell to Capt. Kim- ball and Miss Eliza Trask to Capt. Upton. We quote from Willis's History of Fitchburg in the Rebellion :
"With the enlisting of the first Fitchburg men the labors of the Fitchburg women began. They prepared and sent to the soldiers in camp such things as would best contribute to their comfort, and by frequent visits made them feel they were not to be forgotten while away doing the strange work of war; but that home care and affection would still and ever be exerted to the utmost for their well-being wherever the chances of war might lead them.
"That greater method and efficiency might be se- cured, the formation of a society was decided upon and at a meeting held for that purpose September 16, 1861, the organization known through the period of the war as the Soldiers' Aid society was formed.
"The various religious societies were largely repre- sented and indeed the association included nearly all who were of an age to help on the needful work. The better to regulate their operations, a constitution framed by a committee was adopted by the society." This committee was composed of Mrs. Alfred Emerson, Mrs. Abel F. Adams and Mrs. C. Tolman.
The secretary, upon whom devolved most arduous work, was Mrs. Amasa Norcross.
This society had not long to wait for opportunity to aid, for on October 16, 1861, in the disastrous battle of Balls Bluff, Va., many Fitchburg boys fell. The selectmen of the town immediately delegated Dr. Alfred Hitchcock, Stephen Shepley, Alpheus P. Kimball and C. Marshall to go to the front to attend to the suffering.
No member of the C. C. church rendered more valua- ble service throughout the war than Dr. Hitchcock. As
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·
The Civil War.
a member of Gov. Andrew's council he became the right arm of the great war governor, by his professional skill and intelligent oversight and care for Massachu- setts' sons after the first fighting in Maryland, then in North Carolina, and afterward in Virginia. His surgi- cal skill rendered his services invaluable in the field hospitals even outside the interests of his own state.
Another member of the C. C. church, Dr. Alfred Mil- ler, was sent out by the town in the same capacity to the Gettysburg battlefields, to attend to the interests of Fitchburg's boys. This was an unique act on the part of Fitchburg, in thus watching over the welfare of her sons, quite unusual on the part of individual towns and cities, and reflected great credit upon her patriotism.
Referring incidentally to woman's work in the war, as we have, of those who served at home, two others may be mentioned, who efficiently served at the front. Miss Martha Goodrich, a member of the C. C. church, became an army nurse and found arduous work through- out the war in the great hospitals in Washington. One peculiar result of the war was the immediate casting upon the care of the government the millions of freed slaves, who in dense ignorance were unable to provide for themselves. This was a stupendous problem; and those who first hurried to aid in its solution were most effective pioneers in this needful work. Mary A. Burnap, daughter of Israel Burnap, an old-time mem- ber of the C. C. church, went enthusiastically into this work among the blacks of North Carolina, serving some time after the close of the war. Upon her return to the North she became the wife of Dea. J. C. Spauld- ing and an earnest worker in church.
Doubtless many names might be singled out for worthy mention, but these are given as illustrations of the way in which the church fulfilled its religious pro- fessions of the preceding years.
As the great drama was being enacted and the na- tion was being divided against itself, so was state, church and family. One member of the society, John L.
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Calvinistic Congregational Church.
Bailey, was afflicted by the loss of two sons-one, an officer in the Union army, killed in battle; another, an officer in the rebel army, also killed in battle-fighting against each other.
In the subjoined list as soldiers are included some who were not members of the C. C. congregation, but being sons of those who were, the action of the sons was the legitimate fruit of the fathers' beliefs. Of the four deacons, three each sent a son to the war, two of whom gave up their lives.
Edward P. Farwell, son of Dea. John T. Farwell, died in Louisiana.
Joseph Lowe, son of Dea. Daniel Lowe, died in the Quantrell massacre, Kansas.
Edwin A. Harris, son of Dea. John M. Harris, after- ward Sunday school superintendent C. C. church.
Frederick G. Kinsman, son of Jeremiah Kinsman, first soldier to enlist from Fitchburg.
Henry O. Pierce, son of Amos Pierce, died of disease incurred in war.
Charles Upton, son of Thomas Upton, youngest com- missioned officer killed.
Edwin Upton, captain Washington Guards and colonel 25th Massachusetts regiment.
John W. Kimball, son of Alpheus Kimball, major 15th Massachusetts, colonel 36th and 53d Massachusetts regiments.
Thomas Upton, father of Lieut. Charles Upton, a former member of the C. C. church.
George C. Taylor, first Fitchburg boy to fall in battle, at Balls Bluff, Va.
John Simonds, Alvan Augustus Simonds, William H. Simonds, sons of Abel Simonds; W. H. died in the war.
Thomas Putnam, Daniel Putnam, sons of James P. Putnam.
Clark S. Simonds, killed at Antietam, George B. Simonds, killed at Spottsylvania, sons of Clark Simonds.
62
The Civil War.
Abel Farwell, Jr., George G. Farwell, sons of Abel Farwell.
Charles Caswell, Herbert Caswell, sons of Melvin Cas- well.
Z. Boylston Adams, son of Abel F. Adams.
Albert H. Andrews, major in Regular army.
Abel Eaton, lived to be the oldest war veteran in Mas- sachusetts.
George H. Bailey, captain, killed at Port Hudson.
J. Calvin Spaulding, grandson of E. Hutchinson, one of the founders of the C. C. church.
George Lowe, son of David Lowe.
Edgar Sawyer, son of Caleb Sawyer.
Abel Fox, Jr., son of Abel Fox.
Alvin M. Sawyer, afterward Sunday school superin- tendent C. C. church.
William O. Brown, quartermaster 25th Massachusetts regiment.
Charles H. Whitney, hospital steward.
Edward A. Brown, member staff, 53d Massachusetts regiment.
Alfred O. Hitchcock, Gen. Miles' staff, son of Dr. Alfred Hitchcock.
George A. Harwood.
Francis F. Farrar.
William H. Wetherbee.
Benjamin M. Merchant.
George A. Hitchcock.
Edwin Gates.
J. Q. A. Nutting.
Frank C. Gill.
George J. Allen.
There are doubtless others whose names cannot be recalled.
The following description of a soldier's funeral in which the C. C. church had especial interest is taken from Willis's History :
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.
Calvinistic Congregational Church.
FUNERAL OF SERGEANT SIMON MARSHALL AND PRIVATES EDWARD P. FARWELL, STUART AND KENDALL.
This was a peculiarly touching occasion. Here were the bodies of four enlisted men who had fallen on distant fields in Louisiana, all to be borne upon the same bier. Their remains were brought home in the spring of 1864 by Mr. Josiah Spaulding, who made a journey to Louisiana to secure them, and the funeral was held April 6, 1864. The services were conducted by the several clergymen, and Rev. Alfred Emerson preached a discourse, in which he paid feeling tributes to their memories, and gave some very interesting personal reminiscences of them. With martial solemnity they were borne to the cemetery and buried, to sleep in their soldier graves till the last grand reveille shall wake them to eternity.
The following hymn, written by Mrs. Caroline A. Mason, was sung on this sad occasion :
Wrap the dear old flag around them, Done at length with earthly strife, Let the symbols still surround them, Guarding which, they perilled life.
They, the young, the good, the gifted, Fallen in their early prime- O'er them let no dirge be lifted, But sweet pæans, strong, sublime.
O dead heroes! dead no longer, Battle scarred and sick no more! Were our faith and hope but stronger, Should we thus your loss deplore ?
Sighing in our human weakness, "Give, oh give them back!" we pray. Rather, should we not in meekness Lift our streaming eyes, and say,
"Fold them, Father, kind and loving, Fold them on Thy gracious breast; There, Thy carc forever proving, They shall see Thee, and be blest."
CHANGES.
The Civil war made a dividing point of time in the closing of one era and beginning of a new one in our country's history. So too in the C. C. church, particu- larly in its personnel.
64
Changes.
The parish at its annual meeting in 1863 voted to remodel the chapel. Previous to this time the floor was built on an ineline, sloping toward the entrances, with fixed seats so that all who entered the room dur- ing meeting-time met the gaze of the audience, the men on the right and women on the left, while in the eenter- front was the familiar face of good Deacon Farwell, who led the singing. The floor was levelled, settees re- placed the fixed seats, and the pastor's desk was placed at the opposite side of the room, so that thereafter the late comer might slip in unobserved.
The four deacons, Thurston, Farwell, Lowe and Downe, were representatives of families which had by their stalwart virtues furnished a large share of the church's vitality and efficiency since its birth. These four men had become in an cspecial sense "pillars," perhaps more than was best for the appreciative mem- bership. At any rate, it seemed like a remarkable prov- idenee that within the space of four years all should be called from time to eternity.
Dea. Daniel Lowe, a life-long resident of Fitchburg, whose home had been for many years on Mechanic street, was the first of the quartet to go, his death oc- curring in 1863. John M. Harris was his successor.
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