History of the Calvinistic Congregational Church and Society Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Part 9

Author: Hitchcock, George A
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Fitchburg, [Mass.] : Authorized by vote of the Society
Number of Pages: 198


USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Fitchburg > History of the Calvinistic Congregational Church and Society Fitchburg, Massachusetts > Part 9


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During the year 1837 the school was studying the book of Romans, with Newcomb's Questions as a textbook, while the infant school was studying a Bible catechism. In 1841 there were in the senior department of the school 378 scholars, of whom 139 were under 18 years of age. Of the whole number of scholars 163 were males and 215 females. The number of scholars in the infant school was 60.


Fast Day, in April, 1842, was warm and pleasant, and after the morning sermon the members of the Sun- day school joined in a walk to the cemetery, to visit the graves of those members who had died during the


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past year, there having been much sickness, which had stricken down an unusual number.


In 1844 a new church building was erected, and while it was building some of the classes were accom- modated in the chapel along with the infant depart- ment. This year was not conducive to prosperity, but the superintendent in his report for 1845 says: "When organized for the first time in our new and beautiful house of worship the school presented a scene which satisfied us at once that the people had not lost their interest in Sabbath schools."


The annual meetings of the Sabbath School society were held on the second Monday of January until 1850, when the time was changed to the day of the annual Fast, after the morning services. In 1873 the time was changed to the last Monday in December, then in 1875 to the second Monday of the same month, and in 1890 to the third Wednesday of December. In the year 1850 we find that the whole number of scholars was 389, with an average attendance of 236.


In 1857 one of the members of the school, Catherine W. Dole, a daughter of John Dole and niece of Dea. Abram S. Dole, went to Western New York, to labor as a missionary among the Seneca Indians, under the direction of the American Board. In this work she was joined a few years later by her sister, Clara H. Dole. The two sisters continued in this work till 1862. The first-mentioned of these sisters, Catherine, now Mrs. Catherine Dole Booth, of Globe Village, Mass., has kindly furnished me with a sketch of her work and ex- perience during this period. She thus writes:


"Six of the pleasantest years of my life were passed among the Seneca Indians of Western New York. The Alleghany Reservation lies along forty miles of the Alle- ghany river, its southern limit being Pennsylvania state line.


"George Washington gave a reservation forty miles square-the surveyor deceived, and allotted a strip of forty square miles, with the river in the middle, so deep


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History of the Sunday -School.


and wide that fording places were fifteen or twenty miles apart and crossings had to be made with canoes. Hence the people were very much scattered. Oldtown, where I first went in 1856, was on the north side of the river, four miles from Pennsylvania state line, and was one of the first places where a school was opened. The A. B. C. F. M. had supported a school there forty years. There were three other schools further up the river, near the missionary station at Jimmersontown. Two were on the south side of the river and the teach- ers spent Saturday and Sunday at the station, and on Monday took their week's provisions, crossed the river, and one went two miles up, and the other three miles down the river. They each had a room portioned off from their schoolrooms where they lived.


"There was a boarding house for Indian girls three miles above Oldtown, in charge of Mrs. Franklin Hall and a teacher, and here I was always sure of a wel- come. All these schools were supported by the Board till 1857, when the state of New York took all but the boarding school, opening also a few others in pagan neighborhoods, where educated and Christian Indians were appointed teachers. The Society of Friends had a farm and boarding school on the south side of the river, where boys and girls were well trained. The Sencea name for the Alleghany is Oheeyoh, meaning beautiful. The French called it Oheeo, and from that comes the English Ohio.


"My school-house was also the meeting-house and stood in a beautiful spot, facing the broadest part of the valley, with glimpses of the river, and beyond, the high hills-always green. There were eight houses in sight, one a log cabin, one two-storied, and the others frame cottages, one painted white, and the others un- painted-my own little home among them, with the stable opposite, where the missionary put his horse when he came to preach or visit the people.


"There were two doors to the school-house, and be- tween them, inside, was the platform and desk for the


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preacher, with the bell-rope coming from directly over- head. A large stove next, and wooden desks and seats, with a continuous bench around the sides of the room, complete the furnishings.


"There were never more than twenty pupils-the most docile, obedient children possible. The books and instruction were all in English, and it was really remarkable how well they learned their lessons. The older children could interpret when necessary. I had a little house of two rooms, and for company an Indian girl whose home was so far away she could not other- wise come to school. The people were very kind and I never heard any criticism from them. My predecessor was with them twelve years. I was never afraid of any but white people. The missionary from Jimmer- sontown, Mr. Potter, twelve miles up river, came on alternate Sabbaths and preached two sermons with an interpreter. James Pierce, the interpreter, one of our own people, was a licensed preacher and had charge when Mr. Potter did not come-also of the Sunday and Wednesday evening meetings. There were many good Christian men and women who lived godly lives. Levi Halftown led the singing and did it with the spirit and the understanding; also I never went to a devo- tional meeting among the Indians that they did not sing the fourteenth hymn-a translation of 'Show pity, Lord. O Lord, forgive!'


" After four years at Oldtown, I went to Cattaraugus reservation, about thirty miles away, on Cattaraugus creek, extending to Lake Erie. This reservation was more compact in form and the people were more gen- erally advanced than at Alleghany. Mr. and Mrs. Asher Wright had devoted their lives to them, and saw the fruit of their labors. Mrs. Caswell in her book 'Our Life among the Iroquois' tells of their work. Mr. Wright was a fine scholar and if he had chosen could have made himself a name. When he offered his services to the Board he said 'Send me where no one wishes to go.' His wife was a true mate. They went first to


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History of the Sunday -School.


the Buffalo reservation, and when that, as well as Cat- taraugus, was sold to the Ogden Land company, by the perfidy of the chiefs, Mr. Wright worked for seven years and by his efforts Cattaraugus was restored to the Indians. After that he persuaded the people to form a republic with a president and twelve council- men, chosen annually. The republic included the people on both Alleghany and Cattaraugus reservations, the same language being spoken and many of the people related. The Indians adopted Mr. Wright, naming him Gai-wi-youh (Gai-we-you), which means 'The Good One.' Mr. and Mrs. Wright learned the language, and Mr. Wright translated the four gospels and about two hundred hymns, which are the only books in the Seneca language. They also studied medicine and kept a stock in their house. Every day brought one or more calls to help the sick, and many pagans were reached in that way. Mr. and Mrs. Wright with Mrs. Caswell (then Miss Hattie Clark) had their special work among the pagans. Mrs. Wright found many needy children and took ten into her own house, and her niece took care of them one winter. Then she appealed to friends until the 'Thomas Orphan Asylum for Orphan and Des- titute Indian Children' was founded. Philip Thomas, whose name it bears, gave largely. He was a member of the Society of Friends, in Philadelphia, and contin- ued his gifts during his life. The state of New York paid two teachers; besides, there was a matron, assist- ant housekeeper, kitchen girl, laundress and seamstress. A man-the same Mr. Hall who was at the boarding school at Alleghany-had charge of the boys and girls outside. The funds and material for the support of the asylum were contributed by the charitable-except the salaries of the two teachers. The children were all taught to work, and cach had his or her own part. Places in Christian families were found for them when possible, and I heard of them doing their part as good, Christian men and women.


"In this asylum-at that time sheltering twenty girls


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and thirty boys-I lived for two years, caring for the girls out of school. The four larger girls assisted in the kitchen and dining rooms, and sat at the table with the caretakers. The younger girls did the work in the dormitories, assembly, sitting and sewing rooms, and these last I taught. I helped to serve the children in their dining room, looked after their clothes, and taught the girls to sew. Every morning the children all went to the assembly room at the call of the bell, and the matron led them in, repeating in concert some Scripture. They knew several Psalms, the Commandments, some verses in Isaiah, the chapter about the birth of Christ, the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord's Prayer, and some other passages. The children sang, some one prayed, and the little ones marched to breakfast. After, they attended to their work, then came school, dinner and school again, play till supper time. Before bed-time, worship again, always closing with the 19th Psalm, 'The heavens declare the glory of God,' and singing 'I lay my body down to sleep.' On Sundays we went to church at the Lower Station, two miles away. The girls and caretakers rode in the farm wagon and the boys walked with Mr. Hall. We had two big baskets of gingerbread for lunch. Father Gleason was the mis- sionary-a genial man with a heart large enough to take in all the people. He had been a missionary to the Choctaws. He used to like to sing 'The voice of free grace,' and the young people joined him. The Senecas were very fond of music and had pleasant voices, and some very original tunes. They had quite a comfortable church building, with a good bell. The Indians gave the lumber for the church and such labor as they were able to do, some of them being good car- penters. A company of young people gave concerts in Buffalo and other places not far away, and Father Gleason solicited the remainder. Father Glcason's preaching was practical, and he did not hesitate to call names of members of his congregation to illustrate his


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History of the Sunday-School.


sermons. After sermon he always called some brother to pray.


"Sometime about 1863 the A. B. C. F. M. withdrew from work among the Senecas, and their stations were transferred to the American Missionary Association."


For a number of years the C. C. Sunday school took a share of $50 in the Western Agency (which was the western work of the Massachusetts Sabbath School society), and certificates of membership were presented to each one who contributed 50 cents a year. The re- port of 1859 showed the school contributions to have been as follows for that year: $21.35 to the Mission Sehool Fund; $10.00 for a life membership in the Massa- chusetts Sabbath Sehool society, issued to Joseph Bald- win; penny contributions to the Massachusetts Sabbath School society, $21.32; Western Agency, $27.44. Total contributions during the year, $80.11.


April 15, 1861, it was voted that "a collection be usually taken up on the second Sabbath in each month." Collections had previously been taken up whenever thought advisable by the board of managers. In 1871 it was voted to take up a collection each Sunday, and this plan was so successful that $50 more was contrib- uted that year than in the previous one, and this method of weekly contributions has ever since been followed.


The year 1864 will ever be remembered as a sad one in the history of the Sunday school. On the ninth day of July of that year, Dea. Abel Thurston, the beloved superintendent, died. He was a younger brother of Jonathan Thurston, the first superintendent, a just and good man; one who


"Pointed the road to Heaven, and led the way."


Most applicable are the words of Dea. John M. Har- ris, his sueeessor in office, who said of him:


"He was the oldest offieer in the church, and had been superintendent for more than thirty-five years. We


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shall no more see his venerable form in the sanctuary, nor in the place of prayer. We shall no more hear his earnest exhortations or pleadings at the throne of grace. But he lives in our memories. His influence can never die."


Mrs. Hannah Putnam died just one month earlier than Deacon Thurston. She was active in the forma- tion of the infant school, and was its first superintend- ent. She was connected with the Sunday school from its organization and had been one of the board of managers, assistant superintendent and teacher of the Bible class before she assumed the charge of the infant department.


Deacon John M. Harris (father of Mr. Charles C. Har- ris), succeeded Deacon Thurston as superintendent, and continued in that office till 1867. He was worthy to fol- low in the footsteps of his predecessor. In his annual report, read April 1, 1867, he embodied a short histori- cal sketch of the Sunday school, which was the means of preserving much valuable information. After his resignation as superintendent he was still active in the church and Sunday school, but soon after the Rollstone church was organized he felt it his duty to connect him- self with that body, and there he continued his useful life until his death, July 26, 1877.


In 1867 Mr. Samuel Whitney, an active business man and paper manufacturer, was chosen superintendent of the school, but he died in the spring of the following ycar, and was lying dead at his home in Kimball place on the day of the annual meeting, April 1, 1868. His loss was deeply felt by all with whom he was connected.


Mr. Whitney was succeeded by Mr. Edwin A. Harris, a son of Deacon John M. Harris, and an earnest, active Christian worker. It was during this year (1868) that the Rollstone church and society was formed, which, of course, greatly reduced the membership of the school.


At the annual meeting in 1869 Mr. Harris declined a re-election on account of ill health, and Mr. H. F. Coggshall was chosen. Mr. Coggshall declined to serve


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INTERIOR OF CHAPEL HOME OF SUNDAY SCHOOL


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AWYAWAWAVIN


SWAWAWAWAS


History of the Sunday-School.


another year, and Mr. Alvin M. Sawyer was chosen superintendent for the year 1870, and served most ac- ceptably until December, 1873. He removed to Boulder, Col., where he now resides. During a portion of the year 1871 the church was closed for repairs, and the school was held in the Baptist vestry.


Mr. Eli A. Hubbard, who had taken up his residence in Fitchburg as superintendent of schools, was chosen superintendent of the Sunday school in December, 1873 (the time of the annual meeting having been changed to this date). He served for the year 1874. It was during this year that the sessions of the school began to be held in the new chapel. Mr. Charles Partridge, who had been assistant superintendent, was chosen superintendent to succeed Mr. Hubbard, but he removed from the city in the course of six months, and Mr. Ed- ward M. Rockwell, a valuable and efficient officer, was chosen in his stead. He continued in office until he re- signed on leaving the city in September, 1877, when Mr. H. F. Coggshall was chosen to fill the vacancy.


Mr. Coggshall was an excellent and efficient superin- tendent, but at the annual meeting in December, 1879, he declined although re-elected to serve another term, and Dea. H. M. Francis was chosen to the office. He served most acceptably for three years, when Mr. C. M. Converse, who had been his assistant, was elected. Mr. Converse left the city in the spring of 1884, to make his home in Chicago, and the Sunday school most unwillingly parted with him, and chose Mr. D. B. Silsby as his successor June 8, 1884. Mr. Silsby gave untir- ing and earnest devotion to the Sunday school, as its superintendent, for more than eight years, and at the close of his term of office the thanks of the school was presented to him for "his faithfulness, earnestness and untiring zeal in this labor of love."


Mr. Albert C. Brown was chosen superintendent at - the annual meeting December 4, 1892, and served two years. He was succeeded by Mr. George A. Hitchcock, and he was succeeded by Mr. Albert C. Brown, who


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Calvinistic Congregational Church.


faithfully served the Sunday school as superintendent from 1897 to 1902, when, on his refusal to accept a re-election, the school was fortunate in securing the ser- vices of Mr. J. G. Thompson, our present superintendent.


On the whole there has been a slow but steady in- crease in the membership and attendance of the Sunday school during the last twenty-five years. The member- ship in 1877 was 260, with an average attendance of 157. In 1889 the membership had increased to 476, but it decreased to 307 in 1895. Since that time, how- ever, it has been increasing, until at the beginning of the present year it was 374, with an average attend- ance of 205 for the year 1901.


Though the C. C. Sunday school for these many years has not had an eventful history, in the sense of furnishing striking facts for the pen of the historian, none the less has it done a work important and in- valuable. How many far-reaching, individual decisions have been made in the Sunday school? How many little threads have been woven, one at a time, to make strands and cords which were strong and held in many a storm? The real history of the Sunday school can never be fully written, for no one on this earth knows or can know it.


LIST OF SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.


Elected.


Elected.


Jonathan Thurston, .


1825


E. A. Hubbard, .


1874


Abel Thurston, .


1826


Charles Partridge,


1875


Jonathan Haskell,


1827


E. M. Rockwell,


. June, 1875


Walter Johnson,


1828


H. F. Coggshall,


1877


David Brigham,


1829


H. M. Francis, .


1880


Abel Thurston,


1830


C. M. Converse,


1883


John M. Harris,


1864


D. B. Silsby,


1884


Samuel Whitney,


1867


A. C. Brown,


1893


· Edwin A. Harris, H. F. Coggshall,


1868


G. A. Hitchcock,


1895


1869


A. C. Brown,


1897


A. M. Sawyer, .


1870


J. G. Thompson,


1902


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History of the Sunday - School.


SUPERINTENDENTS OF PRIMARY DEPARTMENT.


Among the earlier superintendents were, the first superintendent, Mrs. Hannah Putnam, Jacob Haskell, Mrs. J. M. Harris, Mrs. E. F. Bailey, Mrs. H. F. Coggshall.


Elected.


Elected.


Mrs. A. A. Spear,


1873


I. O. Converse, .


1891


Mrs. Alfred Miller, . 1876


Mrs. E. P. Downe,


1892


Mrs. Franklin Brown,


1879


Miss Besse Howard,


1898


Miss Anna M. Bailey,


1884


Miss Annie T. Franeis, 1901


Miss Aliee Miller,


1889


Miss Margaret Slattery, .


1902


Mrs. C. M. Gale,


1890


TABLE OF MEMBERSHIP AND AVERAGE ATTENDANCE.


Year.


Membership.


Attend-


Year.


Membership.


Attend-


ance.


157


1890


442


246


1878


281


135


1891


437


208


1879


231


102


1892


381


200


1880


200


109


1893


310


188


1881


203


131


1894


320


177


1882


234


1895


307


170


1883


304


160


1896


329


171


1884


291


173


1897


382


200


1885


330


181


1898


314


189


1886


331


178


1899


356


183


1887


339


193


1900


348


189


1888


453


226


1901


374


205


1889


476


260


BENEVOLENCES.


The following table shows the amount contributed for benevo- lenees by the Sunday school each year from 1874 to 1902. During the last ten years a portion of the class contributions has been used to defray incidental expenses of the school. The total amount eon- tributed for the twenty-eight years is $4617.01.


1874


. $130.05


1884


. $363.68


1894


. $100.88


1875


94.00


1885


. 311.15


1895


. 145.25


1876


52.00


1886


285.47


1896


130.16


1877


70.00


1887


205.25


1897


. 134.15


1878


70.00


1888


. 236.26


1898


. 107.39


1879


180.00


1889


. 226.63


1899 . 108.75


1880


79.73


1890


. 231.69


1900


. 171.63


1881


131.36


1891


. 190.79


1901


. 175.25


1882


141.57


1892


. 212.79


1883


134.10


1893


197.03


ancc.


1877


260


115


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CHAPTER IX.


HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE FITCHBURG MATERNAL ASSOCIATION.


BY MRS. THOMAS PALMER.


On the third of September, 1827, a few ladies formed themselves into a society called the Fitchburg Maternal association. The constitution of the Portland associa- tion, formed in 1815, was adopted, with a few altera- tions. It commenced with about twenty members, but their attendance was extremely irregular. No record of its doings was kept until its reorganization.


At this period practical works on Christian education were not found in such profusion as they now are, and it was proposed that a small selected library adapted to the wants and designs of the association be pur- chased. A few books were accordingly purchased by collection. At this time maternal associations were in their infancy, and but little said or felt, comparatively, on maternal fidelity. Soon their meetings began to de- cline, and ere long were wholly suspended. How long they remained extinct we have no definite account, but it could not have exceeded two years, for, from what we learn, they died away on the removal of Rev. Mr. Putnam in 1831, and they were revived in 1833. They used to meet at the house of their pastor, his wife (Mrs. Putnam) being president, and of Mrs. Jonathan Haskell, third secretary.


On October 23, 1833, the ladies of the Calvinistic Congregational society of Fitchburg assembled at the house of their pastor, Rev. Mr. Albro, and the associa- tion was reorganized, and the original constitution was adopted. There were that year twenty-four members.


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The Maternal Association.


Mrs. Albro was president, but owing to feeble health the duties devolved mostly upon the vice-president. The mothers used to take the children with them to the meetings when they could not safely be left at home. In 1838, five years after the reorganization, they had the names of fifty-four members (five of whom had died), and one hundred and ninety children con- nected with the association, thirteen of whom had died -most of them in early childhood-and twenty-eight had dedicated themselves to God. Their contributions were devoted to various objects: Distressed, indigent mothers and their children; furnishing in part a box of clothing and other necessaries for the relief of the sick; assisting indigent young men preparing for the minis- try; aiding teachers who were sent to Canada from this church, and the schools under their care. These are among the objects to which their attention and chari- ties were directed. During the year 1838 they trans- mitted to the Massachusetts Sunday School society the sum required to make their pastor-elect, Rev. Mr. Bul- lard, a life member. At one of the quarterly meetings that year it was resolved that each member who is a subscriber to the "Mothers' Magazine" contribute at least one volume for the benefit of the maternal associ- ation connected with the missionary station at the Sandwich Islands, as suggested by Mrs. Coan. A whole series and a few scattering volumes were furnished without delay and sent to the missionary rooms for the object proposed. I will here state that this maga- zine was first published in 1833 as the favorable result of maternal association, and was the first periodical devoted to mothers. The author, Mrs. Abigail Whittle- sey, died in 1858, as we learn from Mrs. Trask's report for that year. I will quote a few lines from Mrs. Has- kell's report of 1838:


"A good number of the members of the association have been subscribers to that invaluable work since its commencement, and we would here gratefully acknowl- edge our indebtedness to its interesting pages for assist-


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Calvinistic Congregational Church.


ance and direction in the discharge of the arduous duties devolving upon us as Christian mothers. Our meetings are well attended, and we have pleasing evidence of a growing interest in the hearts of its members. Our reading has been mostly from the magazine and other practical works, which often furnish us with important topics of conversation. 'Hindrances in Maternal Asso- ciations,' which appeared a few months since, elicited many interesting remarks on Christian fidelity, and was followed by a vote to adopt the following resolu- tion: Resolved, That it is the duty of each member of the society when apprized of the misconduct of a mother or child connected with the association to ad- monish them in meekness and affection."


The annual report of Mrs. Charles Sawyer for the year 1846 shows the whole number of names then on record to be ninety-six. Twenty-two had removed and sixteen had died. More than half the original number had gone from this to the eternal world, making an average of one a year. The number of members at that time was fifty-eight; of children, seventy-eight; average attendance of mothers for the year, ten; chil- dren, twenty-eight. There had been an addition of eleven mothers and fourteen children.




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