USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Fitchburg > History of the Calvinistic Congregational Church and Society Fitchburg, Massachusetts > Part 6
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In 1864 the most prominent and best known figure in the history of the church, Dea. Abel Thurston, whose name appears early and often in its annals, passed away. He was the trusted director and helper in the religious, ceelesiastieal and financial work for nearly half a century. Willard N. Ross was his successor.
In 1865 Dea. Levi Downe met with a sudden death. While 'riding to church on Sunday morning with his family, the harness of the horse broke and he was thrown from the wagon and instantly killed. He also had been a life-long resident of Fitchburg and his pa- rents were among the founders of the church. He had always been active in ehurel and parish work, often being ealled upon to aet as moderator in the business meetings. Joseph Baldwin was his suecessor.
65
6
Calvinistic Congregational Church.
In 1866 Dea. John T. Farwell died. Prominent in the industrial life of Fitchburg in his earlier manhood, he had been a tower of strength for the church in its financial problems. During the later years of his life he had been town clerk and actively identified in public affairs. George H. Wheeler was his successor.
The Lord's work always finds workers ready to answer the call of duty, and while the sense of loss was heavy, we find the church, like soldiers in battle line, closing up ranks and moving forward for new achievements.
During the years 1864 and 1865 the church lost sev- eral families which had been active in its social and religious life, who became the nucleus of the newly- formed Episcopal church.
In January, 1866, the church observed the "week of prayer" by the usual prayer meetings. The earlier gatherings were marked by a feeling of depression and lack of interest by all but a faithful few. To the pastor and these, its effect was a more persistent pleading at the throne of grace. Its result was an immediate out- pouring of the Holy Spirit, and the most remarkable revival in the history of the church followed. Its effects extended beyond the confines of the church and special meetings were held through the spring; the pastor being assisted by Rev. Dr. Chickering.
Religious meetings having been established and suc- cessfully sustained in the remote districts of the town by members of the church, on May 4, 1866, a Home Evangelization committee was appointed, which had the work in charge. This committee consisted of Dr. Alfred Miller, Dea. J. M. Harris, Dr. Charles H. Whit- ney, George H. Wheeler, George S. Houghton, Henry S. Hitchcock and L. W. Warren. The visible results of this were the addition of one hundred and twenty-nine names to the church roll at the two succeeding com- munions.
The final record on the church book for the year was the choice of Dea. Harris and Jacob Haskell to
66
Changes.
represent the church at the funeral services of Rev. John A. Albro, D. D., of Cambridge, and three weeks later Dea. Oliver Ellis was delegate at the installation of Rev. Alexander MeKenzie over the same church.
A very pleasant and fraternal aet is recorded where- by the C. C. church expressed its hearty sympathy in words and by financial aid to the Trinitarian church in its struggle for existenee. The combination of cireum- stances, however, destined that church to early disband- ment, for on the anniversary of Emancipation day- prominently the purpose of its organization-it eeased to exist. This "combination of circumstances" vitally affected the C. C. church. In the years immediately suc- eeeding the war, the town rapidly increased in popula- tion, building homes chiefly east and south. With its crowded congregations the C. C. church was forced to recognize the need of establishing a new church.
As a result of meetings held December 16 and 17, 1867, a new Congregational church was formed, and on April 12, 1868, seventy-six members withdrew from the C. C. church for the purpose of forming a new one. Many of these had been prominently identified with the old church in all its activities for a generation. These, with the children and families whose names were not on the roll, created a loss severely felt. The members of the Trinitarian church, which was at onee dissolved, uniting with these, formed immediately a strong work- ing church, the first to occupy the new field, with the railroad station as the geographical center.
On March 1, 1868, Rev. Mr. Emerson preached a centenary discourse (already referred to), which was also a farewell to the departing members of the newly- formed Rollstone church, taking his text from Psalm cxlv. 4, 7: "One generation shall praise Thy works to another and shall deelare Thy mighty aets. They shall abundantly utter the memory of Thy great goodness."
During the later years of Mr. Emerson's pastorate the society attempted to build a parsonage, purchasing a lot on West Main street, nearly opposite the old Bap-
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Calvinistic Congregational Church.
tist church; but the inflated prices of building material prevailing at the close of the war imposed so great an outlay that the project was abandoned and the lot was sold.
After a pastorate of nearly twelve years Mr. Emer- son read his letter of resignation May 26, 1870, on ac- count of failing health. The council convened June 16, and he preached his farewell sermon on the last Sab- bath in June.
Mr. Emerson was born in Beverly, Mass., April 5, 1812; fitted for college at Phillips Andover academy ; graduated from Yale college 1834, Andover Theological seminary 1837; tutor in Yale college 1837-40; or- dained at Wakefield, then South Reading, Mass., 1845, dismissed 1853; professor in Western Reserve college 1853-56; installed South Berwick, Me., 1857, Fitch- burg 1858. This was his last settled pastorate; he resided twenty-five years in Dorchester, Mass; was trustee and treasurer of Wheaton Female seminary, Norton, Mass., many years. His methodical habits, his grasp of the multitudinous details of parish and church work combined with superior intellectual ability were, in great measure, the reasons for one of the most suc- cessful pastorates in the history of the church. While in manner somewhat austere, his bright mind and ready wit made him a most companionable man. No small share of his success also, was due to his gracious and accomplished wife, a leader in the varied activities of the parish.
DIFFICULT PROBLEMS SETTLED .- PASTORATE OF REV. HENRY M. TYLER.
Upon the departure of Rev. Mr. Emerson, the society undertook the solution of the problem of chang- ing the method of raising money for its support. The withdrawal of so large a body of the financial sup- porters accentuated the earlier difficulties of furnishing
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Transfer of Pew Owners.
DATE.
FROM
To
PEW.
1845
David Boutelle
Justin Stearns.
56-7
1845
Stephen W. Dole
Abram S. Dole
38
1845
Charles D. Bond
Milton Whitney
28
1847
Ebenezer W. Bullard .
Abel Kenney
33
1848
Albert B. Damon
Addison W. Damon
51
1849
Bowen & Livermore
John L. Joslin
9
1848
Ivers Phillips
Silas H. Goodnow
31
1849
Clark Simonds
Thomas Hale .
18
1850
Thomas Hale .
Joseph Willard
18
18461 1850
Milton Whitney
(Thomas Palmer
28
1851)
Alfred Wetherbee
Ephraim N. Bowen. (E. F. Bailey
59
1855
1849
Jabez Sawyer .
Joseph Lowe
54
1851
Joseph Lowe
Abram S. Dole
54
1851
John T. Farwell .
Jacob Haskell .
53
1852
John T. Farwell .
Elisabeth C. Murdock .
60
1852
Abram S. Dole
John S. Harris
54
1853
Samuel M. Dole
Abial J. Towne
29
1853
David P. Maynard
Albert B. Damon
22
1884
Joseph Willard.
Jonas Whitney
18
1856
Daniel Flint
Jonathan R. Haskell
3
1855
Leander T. Burley
Andrew Whitney
12
1857
Silas H. Goodnow
Rodney Wallace
31
1858
Josiah B. Willard
Abel Thurston
88
1858
Abel Kenney
George A. Johnson
33
1859
Susan O. Sawyer
UJosiah Spaulding
76
1861
Ebenezer F. Bailey
Samuel Whitney .
59
1861
Abel Thurston
E. Foster Bailey .
88
1856
Orissa W. Dole
Goldsmith F. Bailey
61
1864
Rodney Wallace
Amasa Norcross (1/2)
31
1864
Alvah Crocker
Lowell M. Miles .
75
1864 1865
Elisha Garfield
Silas C. Waters
6
1866
Rachel Hutchinson .
Samuel N. Weston
85
1866
David Boutelle
George F. Wallace
82
1867
B. O. Hale
Henry J. Kennedy
50
1867
Silas C. Waters
Francis F. Farrar
6
1867
J. T. Farwell .
L. M. Hubbell
24
1868
George F. Wallace .
George P. Hildreth .
82
Charles T. Crocker .
32
George D. Colony
"Samuel Farwell
54
JJosiah Norcross
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Calvinistic Congregational Church.
"ways and means" by assessing pew holders according to their taxable property. Inflated prices of all kinds made the burden still greater and on March 14, 1870, at its parish meeting, a committee of fifteen composed of its most influential men was chosen to effect this purpose. Considering the fact that the old method was contemporaneous with the life of the church and that every pew owner held his deed, which gave him the same rights to it as to any other piece of property, it is not strange that the objections to a "voluntary" surrender of pews to the society were great. No less than ten parish meetings were held during the year 1870 before the change was finally effected, and even then a few felt aggrieved that the society availed itself of the authority provided by statutes to accomplish this result. Since this time the appropriations have been raised chiefly by annual rental of pews. The table on page 69 shows the transfers of pews since the origi- nal ownership, which is indicated by the plan of the church in 1845.
During the years 1870-71-72 not less than sixty dif- ferent preachers, many of them the ablest in the land, were listened to, and of these six were called before the church was successful in securing a pastor. On October 7, 1872, a call was extended to Rev. Henry M. Tyler of Amherst, Mass., by a unanimous vote of fifty-eight. This was accepted and he was installed December 4, 1872. The sermon was preached by his father, Rev. W. S. Tyler, D. D., of Amherst college, and the charge to the pastor was delivered by President W. A. Stearns, D. D., of Amherst college.
During the following year, 1873, the church was remodelled; the former entrance by two long flights of granite steps from the outside was abolished, the vesti- bule of the church was placed on the ground floor; the singers' gallery was lowered, as was also the pulpit. The old chapel was sold and removed to become the home of the Adventists on the corner of Cherry and North streets, lately burned. That time-honored New
70
Rev. Henry M. Tyler.
England institution, indispensable to the proper con- sideration of the weighty questions and problems of nation, state, town and farm,-the horse-sheds,-was abolished; thus with the advent of the city was wit- nessed the exit of that most convenient resort of the countrymen by day and scamps by night. Upon this ground was erected a new, beautiful and commodious chapel, which was connected with the meeting-house.
ROLLSTONE STREET FRONT, PREVIOUS TO 1873. SHOWING STEPS AND HORSE SHEDS.
With the recarpeting of the church, the replacing of the old organ by a new one, frescoing of the church, and the increase of the pastor's salary to $3,000 per annum, the society was left with a legacy of a debt of $24,000. The successful solution of this problem was met by Mr. Tyler a year after his settlement. As a result of his appeal the debt was wiped out and on March 24, 1874, the parish passed the following:
"Resolved-That we do hereby tender our sincere thanks to our beloved pastor for the forcible and kindly manner in which he has incited us to action, and also for the generous 'substantial' aid he has rendered. Also that we do rejoice together anew in the goodness and mercy of our God, to whom our highest praise is
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Calvinistic Congregational Church.
given, for the valued blessing He has bestowed upon us in this new and beautiful chapel, and we do resolve for the future to be more faithful and devoted in the ser- vice committed to our charge by our Lord and Re- deemer."
The cost of the chapel, exclusive of the church, was $17,313.34.
The third year of Mr. Tyler's pastorate was marked by two changes, May 1, 1875: First, The revision of the old articles of faith; and of the rules of the church, whereby the deacons were elected annually thereafter, two each year, for a three-year term of office. Second, The substitution of an evening service in place of the afternoon service which had been of time-immemorial custom.
February 13, 1876, by invitation of Plymouth church, Brooklyn, the church was represented in the council to advise in certain points contained in the letter-missive in connection with the famous Beecher scandal. William H. Vose was chosen delegate.
November 15, 1876, Rev. Mr. Tyler read his letter of resignation, for the purpose of accepting a professor- ship in Smith college, Northampton, Mass. The council which convened December 14, 1876, to act upon his dismissal, paid him this compliment: "We take pleas- ure also in recording our high appreciation of Brother Tyler as a scholar, especially in the department of phi- lology, so important to a Christian minister, also as a clear, full and penetrating and candid thinker." The testimonials of the church and society, as well as the many quiet, unostentatious acts of love and helpfulness in the home of the humble and afflicted made his short pastorate a benediction upon the church.
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FROM THE REAR.
-
INTERIOR OF SECOND MEETING-HOUSE.
HIL
FROM THE PULPIT.
INTERIOR OF SECOND MEETING-HOUSE.
----
---
CHAPTER VI.
NEW ERA IN C. C. CHURCH.
Upon the close of Mr. Tyler's pastorate the church entered upon the quarter of a century just closed. In several ways this seems to have been a dividing point of time, marking a transition period.
The town had just passed from its village life, with its unity of interests, to a city, localized by wards. The church up to this time was the social center and had set the pace in matters of civic and fraternal inter- est. Now the growth of fraternal societies for social and intellectual mutual benefit began to supplant this province of church influence. In the religious world, at home and abroad, a spirit of independence was assert- ing itself, whereby the subserviency to creeds and rever- ence of traditions, a not unnatural product of conserv- ative minds satisfied with past attainments, was being antagonized. In the C. C. church we were soon to rec- ognize this.
Many of the leaders in church and parish work for a generation were passing off the stage. This point of time also marked the passing of the choir and singing school, a potent influence in the church's life. It may be well to pause in this recital and review the musical history of the church.
MUSIC IN THE C. C. CHURCH.
The department of praise in public worship has been one of prominent interest ever since the time when Moses and his sister Miriam established it with the children of Israel in the wilderness. Whatever the
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Calvinistic Congregational Church.
methods, whether crude or ornate, so long as these are made secondary and the spirit of adoration and reverence hold the first place, it will continue, and this is the ideal to be striven for.
The first item in the treasurer's book after the for- mation of the church, entered December, 1824, reads as follows: "Paid Walter Johnson for providing for sing- ing and for money advanced to Rev. Mr. Putnam $3.63." This is followed by entries of various amounts for the same purpose paid to Amos Sheldon, Alpheus Kimball, Isaiah Putnam, Amos Durant and others.
The sums annually appropriated seem very modest compared with those of the present time. December 29, 1825, the music committee was allowed an appropria- tion of $30. In 1829 C. H. Searle was paid $10 for services as chorister, Capt. Durant, services for singing, $7, Joseph Upton $5, W. Johnson $3. November 19, 1829, $75 was appropriated to support a singing school and a committee of five was chosen to lay out the money to the best advantage. In 1830 Alvah Crocker was engaged as chorister and received the munificent salary of $13 per annum. He held the po- sition four years and was succeeded by Joseph Upton, Jr., who remained for fifteen years and was followed successively by his brothers, John, Thomas and Edwin Upton. Then came George Kimball, a talented New York musician, and N. A. Merriam. Once more Joseph Upton assumed the leadership for a short time, Prof. E. H. Frost, James P. Putnam, Simeon Fuller, and Wil- liam P. Dale.
The only musical instrument mentioned in the records previous to 1845 was the bass-viol. "Paid Capt. Durant for repairing bass-viol," "Paid Alvah Crocker for use of his bass-viol four years," and in 1841, "Paid John T. Farwell for use of his double bass- viol and strings," "Paid Leander Thurston for playing bass-viol." A few years previous to the establishment of the organ in the new meeting-house in 1845, Roby Safford was employed as "musician." For many years
74.
Music in the Church.
John A. Farwell, eldest son of Dea. J. T. Farwell, was organist, also his sister Maria. Following these Andrew Whitney for two years; then Prof. S. H. Long until 1860, when Miss Ellen Eveleth (afterward wife of Rev. Alexander McKenzie, D. D.) assumed the position, re- maining four years, and was succeeded by Miss Mary Upton; later Prof. E. H. Bailey, a musician and com- poser of note was employed, who also directed the choir.
During the directorship of Capt. Joseph Upton, six of his children were members of the choir, a fact which shows how materially and efficiently the Upton family contributed to this branch of worship.
Mrs. Thomas Hale, a sister of "Uncle Cyrus" Thurs- ton was the first leading soprano and was succeeded by Miss Dorothy Kimball, (afterward Mrs. E. Foster Bailey), Mrs. Abel F. Adams, Mrs. Joseph Baldwin ; Miss Ruth Trask filled the position most acceptably during the Civil war period. For many years up to the passing of the church choir Miss Eugelia Whitney (afterward Mrs. Charles Shepley), an accomplished vo- calist, was the leading soprano and for a few years, the director of the choir, until a paid quartet became the established feature. Mrs. James P. Putnam was one of the earliest leading altos, Miss Fannie Sawyer (now Mrs. H. C. Deane) held this position for many years.
In 1830 the society employed Alvah Crocker as teacher of its annual singing school. This became one of the essential institutions of the church, continuing for more than forty years, to exert great influence upon the social and esthetic side of the church's life.
The parish at its annual meeting in 1860 voted "to request the singing committee to make inquiries in re- gard to the success that has attended the introduction of congregational singing in the various societies in the past few years; and obtain such information on the subject by printed matter or otherwise as they deem expedient, and to take some measures to introduce
75
Calvinistic Congregational Church.
congregational singing in our religious worship on the Sabbath." This was in line with the action of the church which had requested, a year earlier, that the congregation unite in singing the last hymn in the afternoon service.
The introduction of musical instruction in the pub- lic schools has superseded the denominational singing school, with the result of a professional quartet replac- ing the choir of voluntary singers. And this, to the re- gret of many. Yet we believe that by this and subse- quent results may be discerned the evolution of truer ideas of worship, whereby the quartet of educated singers may be the nucleus around which the worship- ping congregation may more intelligently unite in the service of praise.
PASTORATE OF REV. S. J. STEWART.
December 16, 1876, at the parish meeting which took action upon the resignation of Mr. Tyler, the fol- lowing resolution was adopted: "Resolved that we declare our firm intention to vote for the settlement of the man as pastor who shall be unanimously recom- mended by the committee of the church and society."
With the memory of the years of trial preceding Mr. Tyler's pastorate fresh, it is not strange that such radical action was contemplated. It was the spirit of restlessness, impatient of seeming dictation from the natural lcaders, which largely influenced the lack of unity at that time, and this had the ring of dictation to some.
On January 22, 1877, three weeks after the depar- ture of Mr. Tyler, the church and society extended a call to Rev. Samuel J. Stewart of Steubenville, Ohio, to become their pastor, and the following answer was promptly received February 13, 1877:
76
Rev. S. J. Stewart.
"To the Committee of the Calvinistic Congregational Church and Society of Fitchburg, W. H. Vose, Chairman.
"Dear Sir :- The call from the C. C. church and so- ciety of Fitchburg through the proper committees ask- ing me to become pastor of said church and society on conditions named, has been received by me. I now offi- cially write that I cheerfully accept the call extended, and would suggest the second Sabbath of March (11th) as a convenient time for me to begin my labors among you. I am very truly your brother,
S. J. STEWART."
His installation took place April 4, 1877, Rev. H. M. Tenney of Steubenville, Ohio, preaching the sermon.
The church activities continued to move on in an uneventful way through the two and a half years of his pastorate, except for a discordant note concerning the preservation of the old creed. A committee of the church chosen to consider the matter reported as fol- lows:
"Whereas it having been felt by the members of your committee and having been expressed by many members of this church that the articles of faith and covenant which are read on the admission of members, are unnecessarily long, and that we, your committee, having carefully weighed the subject, and having ex- amined quite a number of creeds of various churches, voted that we recommend that this church retain as the basis of their belief the articles of faith now in use by them, and that they adopt the following as the sub- stance of their faith for the admission of members, and the following as our covenant in the place of the one now in use." November 1, 1878. (See church records for these.)
On September 28, 1879, Mr. Stewart resigned his pastorate with the following statement :
"As a ground for official action on your part I would state that I find my sentiments are so at vari-
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Calvinistic Congregational Church.
ance with what is supposed to be orthodox theology around me as to render it unpleasant for me, and per- haps unprofitable for you, if I should retain my present position in future."
The pastoral relation was severed December 7, 1879. He became pastor of the Unitarian church in Bangor, Me., but finally gave up the work of the ministry and became connected with a book publishing firm in Chi- cago, Il1.
PASTORATE OF REV. S. L. BLAKE, D. D.
May 20, 1880, a call was extended to Rev. S. Leroy Blake, D. D., of the Woodland Avenue church of Cleve- land, Ohio, which was accepted by him in a letter June 8, and he was installed September 1, 1880, his brother, Rev. Lyman H. Blake, D. D., preaching the sermon. Among those who assisted in the council were two former pastors, Revs. E. W. Bullard and H. M. Tyler, also Rev. Drs. J. L. Withrow of Boston and Smith Baker of Lowell.
Rev. Mr. Blake was not unknown to the church, having been a member of this conference when in his first pastorate in Pepperell, Mass. His vigorous man- hood combined with strong intellect and hearty cordi- ality impressed men with his ability as a leader, a quality which the church needed much at this time, for early in his ministry wc note the death and retirement of some of our long-tried supporters.
William H. Vose, ex-mayor of Fitchburg, died in 1884; Amasa Norcross, first mayor of the city, retired from active service. Concerning Justin Stearns, the parish treasurer, who died in 1884, the society adopted the following resolution upon his retirement from ser- vice in 1883:
" Whereas, Our treasurer, Mr. Justin Stearns, declines to serve us in the capacity of treasurer for another year on account of his great age, we desire to express
78
1
Rev. S. L. Blake.
to him our recognition of his faithful service in that capacity, for the continuous term of forty-five years, in which he has received and disbursed a sum of over two hundred and thirty thousand dollars without the loss of a penny. Therefore,
"Resolved, That we unitedly express our sincere thanks for the willingness and faithfulness with which he has discharged the duties pertaining to that office."
On September 25, 1885, the church had to record the death of another of her devoted and consecrated leaders, Dea. Joseph Baldwin. For more than fifty years, his had been one long term of unremitting, active service in many different and responsible offices. For many years he was clerk of the parish, also serv- ing several terms as assessor, and often serving on important business committees. He united with the church in 1832. As clerk of the church, he kept its records for a longer term than any other, indeed a larger half of the records since the foundation of the church are in his handwriting. Chosen deacon in 1866 he held that office to the day of his death. He was the oldest merchant but one in the city and when the meeting-house was built in 1844 he leased one of the stores under it, remaining there to the end of life. This became a convenient, unofficial headquarters for church and parish interests. The church honored itself by keeping him so continuously in office, where his wise counsels were sought and his unassuming Christian vir- tues were worthy of imitation.
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