USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Fitchburg > History of the Calvinistic Congregational Church and Society Fitchburg, Massachusetts > Part 7
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Rev. Mr. Blake's ministry ended March 14, 1887, when the council convened gave this testimony :
"We esteem him as an able, faithful, uncompromis- ing and devoted servant of God. In these times of marked laxity in belief and uncertainty in conviction, the trumpet in his hands has given no uncertain sound. He has, with unflinching loyalty to the truth, held forth the Word of life, contending earnestly, and as we believe, in the right spirit, for the faith once delivered to the saints."
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He was installed March 30, over the First Congre- gational church of New London, Conn.
Rev. Dr. Blake was a graduate of Middlebury col- lege and Andover Theological seminary. His pastorates included churches in Pepperell, Concord, N. H., Cleve- land, Ohio, Fitchburg, and New London, Conn. During his Fitchburg pastorate Iowa college conferred upon him the degree of doctor of divinity. He was a cor- porate member of the American Board and in 1881 he preached the annual sermon before the State Associa- tion of Congregational churches in Springfield, Mass. Among his published works are "The Book: When and by Whom the Bible Was Written," "The Early History of the First Church of Christ, New London, Conn.," two volumes, "The Separatists or Strict Congrega- tionalists of New England." His death occurred Sep- tember 3, 1902.
PASTORATE OF REV. C. R. GALE.
The establishment of new and large industries* in this section of the city brought in large numbers of people of European birth. In the years from 1885 to 1893 the population of Fitchburg nearly doubled, the accessions including Scotch, Germans, Swedes, Finns, Norwegians, French, Armenians and other nationalities. The church was prompt to recognize its opportunity and accepted its duty as an evangelizing force. With this purpose in mind, it fixed upon one whose qualifica- tions eminently fitted him to attract and win. October 25, 1887, it extended a call to Rev. Clarence R. Gale, assistant pastor of the Memorial church, Springfield, Mass. This call was accepted and he was settled De-
*The most extensive of these industries was the Parkhill Manu- facturing Co., whose president was John Parkhill, soon afterward chosen deacon of the C. C. church; and its treasurer, Hon. A. H. Lowe, whose life-long interest in the church gave it the benefit of his large influence.
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Rev. C. R. Gale.
cember 28, 1887. Sermon by Rev. Lewellyn Pratt, D. D., of Hartford, Conn.
The chapel was kept in almost constant service for the varied departments of work. The Germans occu- pied it on Sabbath mornings, and Mr. S. Herman Schwab, a graduate of Mount Hermon school, North- field, and Chicago Theological seminary, was engaged as pastor's assistant, having this especial work in charge.
Large additions to the church at the different com- munions, by letter from foreign countries, chiefly from Scotland, infused a new element into the hitherto staid New England congregation.
In 1888 a Sunday school for Swedes was established in the chapel, and during the month of September Mr. Andrew Groop was sent to Chicago for education for especial work among the Finns, the church and Sunday school giving financial aid to him. October 28, 1888, a preaching service for the Swedes was commenced in the chapel, the service beginning at 3 o'clock on Sun- days. Rev. Ole O. Thorpe was pastor.
The beautiful chapel was utilized as follows: 10 o'clock, German services; 12 o'clock, C. C. Sunday school; 3 o'clock, Swedish Sunday school; 4 o'clock, Swedish preaching service; 5.15 o'clock, half-hour meet- ing of Yoke-fellows in west parlor; 6 o'clock, Young People's meeting; 8.30 o'clock, after-meeting in church parlors.
The church calendar, a recently-established feature, relieved the pastor of the old-time custom of weekly advertising.
May 23, 1889, Rev. Mr. Schwab was ordained in the gospel ministry by a council in which Revs. A. H. Quint, D. D., and H. M. Dexter, D. D., of Boston as- sisted. After five years of efficient and consecrated ser- vice in the varied departments of the church, he became pastor of the new German church on Rollstone street, and the C. C. church by its prayers and purse bade them "God speed."
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The members of the church at this time comprised Germans, Scotch, Irish, English, Swedes, Finns, Nor- wegians, Austrians, Armenians and some Americans.
July 1, 1891, Mr. Andrew Groop was ordained to the gospel ministry in the chapel, the services being conducted in the Swedish, Finnish and English languages by Revs. Ole O. Thorpe, R. F. Olson, Eric Ostergren, Franz Lehtinen, Joshua Coit, D. D., of the Massachu- setts Home Missionary society, C. S. Brooks and C. R. Gale. He continued holding preaching services for the Swedes and Finns for two years, when the Swedes built a church of their own on the site of the old chapel. Afterward he continued his labors with the Finns in the chapel until 1895, when they went out as an independent body of believers.
March 1, 1893, Rev. Mr. Gale read his letter of resignation and his pastorate closed July 31. Hc ac- cepted a call to the church in Marshalltown, Iowa, where he remained five years. Upon the failure of the health of his wife he resigned that position and became agent of the Cuban Relief society, with headquarters in Boston. Mrs. Gale, who had rendered most valuable aid in pastoral work, died in 1899, after a long illness.
PASTORATE OF REV. GEORGE R. HEWITT.
June 20, 1894, the following vote (which was cn- dorscd by the parish, including the amount of salary named) was passed by the church: "Voted unani- mously to hire Rev. George R. Hewitt for an indefinite period; Mr. Hewitt to give three months' notice before leaving; the church to give three months' notice before dismissing him; the matter to be left in the hands of the present supply committee." The communication of this vote to Mr. Hewitt, signed by the supply commit- tee, and its acceptance by Mr. Hewitt comprised the entire act of settlement, thereby dispensing with the
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The Third Meeting-House.
usual and onerous ceremony of settlement by council. He began his ministry September 1, 1894.
Although this change of procedure originated with the church, the simplicity marked a distinct feature of Mr. Hewitt's characteristics. His unostentatious, frank demeanor, combined with earnest spiritual purpose, was helpful in inciting church members to faithful liv- ing and did much to prepare them for the important work which was soon to follow.
MOVING FOR A THIRD MEETING-HOUSE.
At the annual parish meeting, March 4, 1895, there was an article in the warrant-as there had been many times before-"to see what action should be taken in regard to repairing the meeting-house or act anything thereon." At an adjourned meeting June 4 two plans were presented-one for remodeling the old one at an estimated expense of some $15,000 and another one for a new building.
A new building was decided upon, but with the pro- viso that nothing should be done until 80 per cent. of the estimated cost should be pledged. August 5, full plans and estimates were presented, a finance com- mittee of six were appointed to secure pledges, after which a building committee of six, chosen for the pur- pose, were to proceed to build.
Three weeks later, August 26, the finance committee through its chairman, Hon. Rodney Wallace, reported success and the building committee at once proceeded with its task. This committee consisted of Daniel Simonds, Charles P. Dickinson, Henry M. Francis, Herbert I. Wallace, William Edwards and Arthur H. Lowe. Mr. Lowe was also a member of the finance committee. H. M. Francis was chosen architect. Per- haps one of the most delightful occasions in all the great undertaking was at the final meeting of the par- ish in its effort to secure pledges. The emulation of
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rich and poor in their determination to do their part was the true note of success.
The last services held in the old house were on Sunday, September 15, 1895, and on the next morning its demo- lition began. The precious memories centered in the old church home during its fifty years' existence made the occasion one of tender interest. The pastor preached from the text, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." The morning ser- vice was closed with the singing by the congregation of the following hymn to the tune of St. Martins, which had been sung on leaving the old church, March 24, 1844. The hymn was composed by Miss Martha Holt, then a member of the C. C. church, but now Mrs. H. A. Albee of Boulder, Col .:
Once more the voice of song we raise In this our house of prayer ; Its walls are sacred-'tis the place Jehovah's made his care.
Though no Shekina here we view, His presence oft we've felt, When heavenly truth distilled like dew And when in prayer we've knelt.
Here have the crowds come up to yield Their homage and their praise; Here youth and hoary age have sealed Vows on which angels gazed.
Herc have been mourners bowed with grief Over the heart's hopes crushed, Here Jesus gave a sweet relief, The throb of anguish hushed.
We linger in this hallowed place, For on its walls are writ In living letters God's rich grace, And we can ne'er forget.
To raise another tribute here To God is surely just. Our motto, "Praise for all the past, And for the future trust."
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THIRD MEETING-HOUSE, 1897.
The Third Meeting-House.
The evening was devoted to a memorial service by the Sunday school at which a paper prepared by Mrs. D. B. Silsby was read, mention of which has been made in the earlier part of this sketch. The closing hymn was the same which had been sung at the closing ser- viees of the old church fifty years before, written by Mrs. Stephen Shepley, a former member of the C. C. church.
How dear to our hearts is this Thine hallowed place, Where our fathers oft worshipped the God of all grace. Drinking deep from the founts of perennial love,
Or holding sweet converse with the Holy above.
CHORUS. Let its memory as precious ever, ever remain, Till the last link is broken or severed life's chain.
The last prayer from this altar has risen to Him
Who only can rescue from the thraldom of sin,
For the light of His presence that o'er me shall part A shower of rich grace, may refresh every heart.
Here the last song is re-echoing still,
Through the walls of this temple, His presence doth fill ;
Like the last breath of summer it falls on the car, Yet its pure, hallowed sweetness our spirit shall cheer.
The church held its services during the following year and a half in the chapel, a part of which was remod- elled, providing more rooms for the use of Sunday school and committee meetings.
The new church was dedicated February 10, 1897, at which time Rodney Wallace rendered the report of the finance committee, in which he stated that the total amount provided for the use of the building committee was $69,321.56. In elosing, he said, "You have this beautiful edifice and a debt of $16,000; but I fully be- lieve, if more than $50,000 can be raised during the most depressed condition of business any of us ever saw, that, with the return of more prosperous times and with the same harmony among ourselves, the sum
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can easily be raised to leave the society free from any debt. This magnificent building represents not merely the money expended, but more than that. It stands for the honest work of every mechanic employed, the best skill of the architect, the best thought of the build- ing committee and the best wishes of all interested in the work."
It may also be said that it was the result of the united sacrifice of almost every man, woman and child of the society united with the princely gifts of the few, which made it an offering of sweet incense.
A few items of interest concerning the new house are presented.
The church-tower from the sidewalk to the top of the weather-vane is 158 feet, 2 inches. From the side- walk to the center of the clock-dial is 91 feet, 9 inches. It is 21 feet, 2 inches, from the bottom to the top of the weather-vane and the fixtures attached to it. The wood work of the tower is 32 feet high. The visible sandstone is 110 feet high. The stone work of the tower is one-quarter of an inch higher than planned for.
The bell is inscribed on one side "Blake Bell Co. Cast 1896. F. C. C. Church, replacing bell cast 1846." On the other side "Boston, Mass., 1896. My tongue shall speak Thy praise. Let him that heareth say come." The bell metal weighs 4000 pounds; with the frame 4700 pounds, and is exactly five feet in diameter across the base.
The rose-window measures 20 feet in diameter and its prominent details represent the angelic choir. The six angels are the spirits of Praise, with scroll; Love, holding the sacred dove; Music, blowing the trumpet ; Music again, playing the harp; Teaching, reading from the Book of Life; and the herald-angel of Easter morning.
Two memorial windows, one placed by Edward G. Bailey in memory of his mother, Mrs. Rodney Wallace. The other placed by George P. Hildreth in memory of his wife, Pauline Hildreth.
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Carved into the brown stone band across the front of the church, above the entrance and beside the rose window is the angel gloria, "Glory to God in the high- est, peace on earth, good will toward men." On the tower fronting on Rollstone street, "God is our refuge and strength," and on the opposite corner, "The Lord reigneth."
The pulpit furniture and Bible were presented by the society of King's Daughters; the communion table by the society of Priseillas; the baptismal font by the primary department of the Sunday school at a cost of $125. The dining room and ladies' room furnishings by the United Workers-the ladies of the church; the individual communion service by Mrs. Lowell M. Miles in memory of her husband, and chairs accompanying the communion table, Mrs. H. F. Coggshall.
Electricity furnished the lighting. It may be said in this connection that whale oil was in use in the first church; camphene in the second church from 1845 un- til 1854, when fluid, kerosene and gas successively were used.
Included in these furnishings are pastor's room, library, committee, toilet rooms, ladies' parlors, pri- mary and kindergarten rooms for Sunday schools, all completely furnished.
By the foregoing descriptions an idea may be gained of the marvellous changes of a century, in our church's activities. If there are some who question whether the spiritual growth has kept pace with the material, let us recall something of the spirit as well as the action on the occasion of building the first church. After long years of turmoil and the great day for the "raising" had come, the entire business of one town meeting with its seven articles was upon the providing of "one bar- rill W I R & Loaf Sugar Sufficient to make it into Toddy for refreshments for the Raifers & Spectators." The sixth article, "Voted that the Committee to deal out the liquors & Sugar Sufficient for the Raifers & Spectators in Cafe the barrill W I R & sugar already
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voted should be infufficient & bring in their acct to the Town for allowance." The building now standing (1902) opposite the common, known as the old town hall, brought into existence under such christening, was the scene of much discord. Even the town quibbled over the payment of the extra "expence of Vitualing the Raisers and the Jin Man's Expence," this article appearing repeatedly in town warrants before a final settlement was made.
We are tempted to present the picture drawn by George E. Towne in his centennial poem, June 30, 1864. Standing on the summit of Mt. Rollstone in the dim light of early morning, the ghost of departed days ap- peared to him and he attempted to show by the follow- ing satire the wondrous changes:
I showed the churches where good folks repair To worship and see what their neighbors wear; I told him of the softly-cushioned pews Where sleepy Christians sit and nod and snooze, And then complain about the preacher's views.
The frescoed ceilings, decorated walls, On which through storied panes the sunlight falls, Tingeing with ever-changing, gorgeous hues, In turn, floor, wainscot, column, aisle and pews; The organ, many voiced, whose peal so grand Speaks in a language all can understand ; The universal language; to the ear And heart, howe'er untrained, still ever clear. The quartet choir, retained to sing God's praise For liberal pay, in operatic lays, And vocally accompany the sermon With songs in English, Latin, French and German; Or possibly a chorus fills the seats,
And there performs most wondrous feats, And being thus of harmony bereft, Have for their private use, but discord left ; And hence the fact that choirs so much delight Among themselves to wrangle and to figlit. The gorgeous pulpits, where sleek parsons stand With quires full of pointed texts at hand To shoot at error, wickedness and crime, And rake down sins in platoons at a time.
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INTERIOR OF THIRD MEETING-HOUSE. FROM THE GALLERY.
INTERIOR OF THIRD MEETING-HOUSE. FROM THE PULPIT.
The Third Meeting-House.
In short, where money, taste and skill have lent Their aid, to give church-goers sweet content, So well is pleasure with instruction blent. Not like the churches in the days of old, Bald, bare and bleak, uncarpeted and cold, Where stern old preachers thought they did a wrong, In preaching sermons less than one hour long; Where shivering sinners sat in wintry days And pondered on the error of their ways, Wishing the foot-stoves placed beneath their feet Would radiate more perceptibly their heat; And though they knew that heaven was-well, In some respects a better place than hell, And trembled when the earnest parson shouted A threat of endless fire to all who doubted, Still on their minds the thought would sometimes steal, As icy shivers swept from head to heel,
That 'twould be well, though living in the former, To sometimes visit-winters-where 'twas warmer.
The sermon of Dr. Alexander McKenzie at the dedi- cation, from the text "The beautiful gate of the tem- ple," was the intellectual consummation of the best aspirations of the C. C. church; and with justifiable pride all its members might, for the moment, stop to admire the blossom of the century plant; but, as with the three disciples in the mount of transfiguration, so they must come down from the mount and take up the ceaseless round of duties in the daily contact with sin and sorrow.
We have now reached the stage in the life of the church when all have abundant opportunity to trace its history.
Rev. Mr. Hewitt's ministry was terminated November 1, 1898, after which he became associate pastor of the Eliot Congregational church, Lowell, and is at present settled over the Second Congregational church in West Medway, Mass.
Rev. A. Frederic Dunnels of Bath, Me., received a unanimous call to become pastor January 25, 1899. This call was accepted and he was installed March 29,
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1899, Rev. Philip S. Moxom, D. D., of Springfield preaching the sermon.
The culminating act of the century may well be ex- pressed in the words of Rev. Mr. Dunnels, November 5, 1899, who said in part:
"Three weeks ago it was my privilege to urge coop- eration in the payment of our indebtedness of $22,000, an effort for which had just been inaugurated by our finance committee. To-day it is my unspeakable joy to announce that the last cent of this sum has been pledged and I ask you to rise and express our grati- tude to God by singing the Doxology.
"This $22,000 has been raised within three years after the raising of the first payment of $50,000 on our new church and within twenty-five years of $30,000 put into a new chapel. This with $30,000 for benevo- lence and $125,000 in home expenses makes a good quarter of a million dollars, put into the Lord's work by this people during a quarter of a century. Surely, it shows a due sense of the fact that our money as well as our hearts belong to God and that money giv- ing is an indispensable feature of a true religious life."
This chronicle of a century's life of the church, which for convenience is called a history, is made with the desire for preservation, and perhaps some one well qualified for the work will, at some future time, find it a source of assistance. But a complete history of the C. C. church can never be written. That would have to include the multitude of quiet acts of love; the great volume of effective prayer from hearts made de- vout and humble by the contact of the individual in the helpfulness born of mutual dependence and forbear- ance. These have been the impulse of the efficient work of this church, an ever-widening circle by which multi- tudes of lives have been led into the Divine life.
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CHAPTER VII.
FAITH-CREEDS OF THE CHURCH.
A committee appointed in the spring of 1798 prc- pared a revised form of covenant and distinct articles of faith. This confession of faith appears to have been formed by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Worcester, from a doc- ument which he is supposed to have drawn up for his own private use. These met with violent opposition but were received and adopted by a unanimous vote of the church (then present) September 11, 1798.
The creed adopted twenty-five years later by the C. C. church after its re-organization was a revision of this. A comparison of the two is suggestive of a desire to conform its theology to suit the spirit of the times.
In 1873 a revision of this creed was made in which the article on the fall of Adam was supplemented by- "and that the human heart is continually disobedient until renewed by the Holy Ghost"-after the first sen- tence. The article pertaining to cternal reward and punishment is the same as in the original crced of 1798.
It is difficult to distinguish the importance of any change in the phraseology so far as it may affect the fundamental doctrines of the church. Perhaps the most important action of the church in its attempt to accom- modate its creed to suit the spirit of the age was when it voted to buttress each article with scriptural refer- ences which furnished proof for an intelligent faith.
In 1898, one hundred years after the adoption of the first creed, a new creed or "statement of doctrine" was presented, which was adopted. This was the form authorized by the National Council of 1883 and pre- sented in 1885 by its commission, a body of men emi- nent for intelligence and theological learning. While we
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may look in vain for the positive statement concerning eternal rewards and punishment or for dogmatic asser- tions, by inference they may still be claimed, yet in ex- pression sufficiently elastic to be accepted by all who profess the evangelical faith.
CREED OF 1798.
ARTICLE I.
You believe that there is but one God; the sole Creator, Pre- server and moral Governor of the universe; a Being of infinite power, wisdom, justice, goodness and truth; the self-existent, inde- pendent and unchangeable foun- tain of good.
II.
You believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God ; that they contain a complete and harmonious system of divine truth; and are our only and per- fect rule of doctrinal belief and religious practice.
III.
You believe that according to the Scriptures there are in the Unity of the God-head a Trinity of persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost; that these three persons are in essence one, and in all di- vine attributes equal.
IV. You believe that the one Su- preme God has made all things for himself; that known unto
CREED OF 1824.
ARTICLE I.
We believe that there is but one living and true God; the Creator, Preserver and Governor of the universe; a Being of infinite pow- er, knowledge, wisdom, justice, goodness and truth, self-existent, independent and immutable.
II.
Same-except omitting "doc- trinal belief and religious prac- tice," substitute "faith and prac- tice."
III.
We believe that the distinction in the God-head of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost-a distinc- tion, the nature of which it is impossible for us to comprehend- is perfectly consistent with the strictest unity of being; conse- quently that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are truly and prop- erly one God.
IV.
Same as IV. and V. of 1798, except the omission of words italicized.
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Creeds.
him are all his works from the beginning; and that he governs all things according to the holy and unchanging (immutable) counsels of his own will.
V.
You believe that the divine law, and the principles and adminis- tration of the divine (his) gov- ernment are perfectly holy and just and good.
VI.
You believe that the first par- ents of the human race were originally holy in the image of God; and that they fell from their original state by volunta- rily transgressing the divine com- mand in the article of forbidden fruit.
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