History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 97

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896

USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II > Part 97

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" To fill the place vacated by Deacen Merriam, Benjamin Eldridge was elected April 13, 1842, and still retains the office of a deacon of this church, although, by reason of infirinity, he has for several years retired from all active service. At this period it was the usage of the church to have four deacons, but it was rare that the office was filled by that unmber. Lay members were often called upon to officiate at communion seasons. There being but three incumbents in November, 1843, the church attempted to secure a sufficient number of officers by electing three additional deacons, but only one, Elijah W. Dickinson, accepted the office. Ile held it until he was dismissed to join the North Church. Chaun- cey Chapin united with the church by profession May 5, 1844, being then past middle life. Three years afterward he was chosen the clerk of the church, and, on the 21st of April, 1848, he was elected a deacon. Both of these offices he held until his death, which occurred May 6, 1851, at the age of sixty-two.

" Alwit this time there was an important change in the policy of the church as to the tenure of the office of deacon. From the earliest period of its existence this office had always been regarded as one to be held for life. For some years great difficulty had been experienced in himling men qualified who were willing to undertake its duties. Vacancies were frequently occurring, and most of those whom the church selected to fill them were unwilling to accept the office. In the hope to obviate this difficulty, it was decided, at a meeting held July 12, 1850. to elect two deacons for the term of five years. Daniel Reynolds was elected, and accepted the office. Two others were successively chosen, but both of them declined. From that time to the present the church has adhered to the policy of electing its deacons for limited terms, sometimes for five years, sometimes for three years. By a permanent rule of the church, adopted in 1871, the tenure is now fixed at six years. Under the limited-term system thirteen different per- sons have held this office.

" Upon the retirement ef Dr. Osgood from the active duties of his pastorate, the church and parish with great unanimity extended a call to Rev. Henry M. l'arsons, then a student in the Theological Seminary at East Windsor, to be his successor. That call was accepted, and Mr. Parsons ordained on the 15th of No- vember, 1854. Ile continned here just sixteen years, enjoying the affection and confidencc-ever increasing-ef this church and people, when, from a conviction that duty called him to another field of labor, he sought and obtained the relne- tant consent of his people to a dissolution of his pastoral relation to this church. The history of his labors here must be to left to later times. Te him succeeded Rev. Elward Allen Reed. Mr. Reed was dismissed July 11, 1878, at his own request, very much against the desire of his people. Rev. Dr. Edward P. Ter- linne was installed April 30, 1879.

" Having now brought down this history of the church and parish as far as I propose, I now recur briefly to an earlier period, in order to state some matters of interest that could not be conveniently introduced in the regular course of the narrative. There are some things in our early parochial history which ap- pear strange to our modern ideas. One of these is the practice that, from the time of the erection of the first meeting-house down to the present one, seems to have prevailed, of a periodical assignment of seats to the congregation. Thus, in 1604, when the town and parish were identical, a vote of this kind is recorded ; ' Dec. 30, 1664. It is ordered yt the Selectmen aud Deacon er deacons shall from tyme to tyme seate persons in ye meeting-house either higher or lower accord- ing as in their sound discretion they shall judge most meete.' What a strange jumble of officials here, selectueu aud deacons, nnitiug in this delicate and diffi- cult duty of seating persons 'higher or lower,' at their discretion ! A month later, in January, 1065, is found recorded an order of the selectmen, which I transcribe in full as a curious specimen of the way in which the parochial police of those days was administered. It is in these words: 'Forasmuch as order is beautifull, & especially in ye house of God, & ye want thereulf is displeasing to Gud & breeds disturbance among men; Aud whereas it doth appear yt divers young persons and sometimes others, notwithstanding their being called upon, Due yet neglect to attend unto such erder as is prescribed theru, either for their sitting in ye meeting-house, or for their reforming of disorders in & abont yo meeting-house in tyme of God's Publike worship; It is therefore hereby ordered that whosoever ef this Township shall not, from tyme to tyme to their sitting in ye meeting-house, submit themselves to the ordering of ye Selectmen & Dencons, or such as are impowered to seate & order persons in ye wieting house, All such persons as shall refuse or neglect to attend uuto order as aforesaid shall forfeite as is herein aftor expressed, viz. : llee or shee that shall not take his or her seate ordered ym fro tyme to tyre, but shall in ye days or tymes of God's Publike wor- ship Goe into & abide in any other seate, appointed for some other, Such disor-

derly person or persons for ye first offence shall forfeit three shillings four pence te ye towne's treasury.' By the same authority it was ordered that the seat formerly called the guard seat should be for the smaller boys to sit in, ' that they may be more in sight of ye congregation.' In this seat none were permitted to sit'alwve ye age of 14 or 15 yeares."

" It appears that in the earlier period of our parochial history care was taken that the men and women should be seated in separate seats. The first innova- tion upon this practice appears to have been in the year 1751, when the parish voted that the committee for seating the meeting-house be directed to seat the men and women promiscuously.' But in order that those of tender sensibilities should not be shocked by s > great a departure from long-established custom, the committee were directed, upon application being made to them by any person or persons desiring ' not to be seated promiscuously, to " gratifie" them as near as they can.' It is not surprising that the parish selected John Worthington, Esq., and Mr. Luke Bliss, two of the wisest and most popular men of the town, to perform this delicate duty under this new condition of things. After a time this matter of new-seating the meeting-house came to be attended with a good deal ef difficulty. At a parish meeting in December, 1790, the parish voted to choose a seating committee of five persons. Twenty-two were chosen to the office, all of whom refused to serve. The meeting was then adjourned two days. At the adjourned meeting it was voted to reconsider the vote providing for a committee of five, and as a substitute, it was determined that a committee of three should nominate a committee of twenty-one persons, of which the nominating commit- tee should be themselves members, and from these twenty-one seven persons were te be drawn (by lot I suppose), who should seat the meeting-house, and re- port an adjourned meeting abont ene month later. This was done, and the re- port of this committee, charged with this delicate duty, was finally accepted This seating held geod for four years; Init in 1794 it was found necessary to re- seat, and substantially the same process was repeated. The practice of seating the meeting-honse continned until the erection of the present heuse, in 1819. A record of a parish meeting held April 5, 1737, indieates the rule by which the as- signment of seats was then regulated. It was' voted that the age of Persons and theire own Estates, as they stand upon the list (Negros Excepted), are the Prin- cipal Rule that said Comtee are to be governed by in theire proseedings, and any other Dignity that any Parsons may be Clothed or attended withall shall be Left Discressionary with sd Committee.'

" In these modern days, when our city maintains with 80 large, and yet at se reasonable and proper, an expenditure its organized and paid fire depart- ment, with all its equipment of fire-steamers, reservoirs, hydrants, and tele- graphic fire-alarms, but few, if any, among the present inhabitants of our city are aware how largely the means for extinguishing fires, not a century since, were provide J and controlled by this parish. Yet the record shows that in No- vember, 1792, the parish granted for the purpose of defraying the expense of building the engine-house the sum of six pounds eleven shilling two peuce aud two farthings ; and in March, 1794, voted to pay the expense of five poles for the fire-wards, and also to pay for two fire-hooks and six leather buckets for the use of the fire-engine. And the same year l'itt Bliss was paid two pounds twelve shillings and six pence for the six buckets, 'and for repairing the hose to the engine.' Not content with repairing the old hose, the parish, in 1798, voted that 'Jonathan Dwight, Esq., William Ely, and Pitt Rliss be a committee to examine the hose belonging to the engine, and, if they judge it necessary, to procure a new one at the expense of the Parish.' Precisely how the extinguish - ing of fires came to be regarded as a parochial duty may not be quite clear, but certainly there cau be nothing iu it inconsistent with practical Christianity.

" Looking back from the stand-point we now occupy upon the past history of this church, aud tracing it through all the vicissitudes of two hundred and thirty-eight years down to the present moment, we can see that while it has had its alternations of prosperity and trial,-sometimes depressed by disasters the most discenraging, at other times rejoicing in the consciousness of vigorous growth,-the tokens of a kind Providence, watching constantly ever and pro- tecting it, have ever been conspienous. Many colonies have gone out from it that have become strong and prosperons churches. To some of these in their infancy this church extended a helping hand, until they ceased to need help. All of them, without exception, have become centres of influence, dittusing Christian light and love through the community around them. To all these this church can point with maternal affection and pride, and say, ' These are my jewels,' These repeated drafts that have been made upon the numbers of this ancient church have not in any degree exhausted its resources or impaired its strength. It stands to-day-on the spot where it had its birth, and where, through almost two centuries and a half, it has ever stood-with a larger mem- bership than ever before. United in itself, and united in a pastor whom it loves and honors, it can with reverent gratitude to God exclaiui,-

" " How are thy servants blessed, O Lord ! llow sure is their defense ! Eternal wisdom is their guide, Their help, Omnipotence.'"

THE OLIVET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This church was organized Jan. 8, 1833, with 19 members, only 5 of whom are now living. The first pastor was Rev. Abram C. Baldwin, who was ordained Dec. 4th of the same year. He remained until January, 1839, and was succeeded

* This passage, through inadvertence, appears twice in the history of Spring- fickl.

852

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

by Ezekiel Russell, of South Wilbraham, ordained May 15, 1839. Ile officiated until 1849, and was followed by Rev. Samuel Strong, of Somers, who was installed in 1850, but, in consequence of ill health, resigned in 1852. H. B. Elliott then served for a time as stated supply. The pastors from this time to the present have been as follows, viz. : Geo. D. Fol- som, W. W. Woodworth, Geo. II. Soule, W. K. Hall, James A. Hamilton, and the present incumbent, Rev. L. H. Cone, who was installed Oct. 30, 1867. The church edifice was erected in 1834, remodeled in 1854, and is at the present time (November, 1878) undergoing repairs. The church is in a prosperous condition, and has a membership of about 325.

The officers are as follows, viz. : Deacons, William A. Spooner, Gco. B. Kilboon, S. D. Brooks, and Chauncey K. Camp; Parish Committee, Dr. S. D. Brooks, Benj. Hannis, Edward R. Lee, William M. Gray, and Alexander B. Fobes; Clerk, P. H. M. Brooks. Location, State Street, opposite Armory Grounds.

THE SOUTHI CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This church is an offshoot from the First Church of this city, and was organized at the parish house of the First Church by an ecclesiastical council, called by letter for this purpose, March 23, 1842, and consisted of the following members : Rev. Sandtord Lawton, Mrs. Mary Ann Lawton, Ashley P. Graves, Mrs. Mary A. Graves, Mrs. Lucy Graves (Searle), Henry Woodman, Jr., Mrs. Mary A. Woodman, Charles K. Crocker, Mrs. Julia Ann Crocker, William Stowe,* Mrs. Hannah E: Stowe," Charles Merriam, Mrs. Sophia E. Mer- riam,* George Merriam, Reuben A. Chapman,* Mrs. Eliza- beth Chapman, Mrs. Mary M. Sargeant, Henry Brewer, Jr., Mrs. Cynthia A. Brewer, James Brewer, Samuel E. Bailey, Mrs. Huldah T. Bailey, Philip Wilcox,* Mrs. Eliza P. Wil- cox,* Hannah A. Fuller (Severance),* Andalusia F. Fuller,* Mrs. Naomi C. Grant (Miller),* Elijah W. Bliss,* Mrs. Or- phana Bliss,* Mrs. Sally Elliot,* Augusta C. Elliot, Asa F. Cowles, Mrs. Luey A. Cowles,* David C. M. Rupp, Mrs. Martha Hunt, Silas Hibbard, Mrs. D. B. Nichols (Knapp), Abel Sweetzer,* Mrs. Eunice M. Sweetzer, Mrs. Mary Chase .*

From the December prior to the formation of the society, services were held in the old parish house, which was given them by the mother-church. This old building was the first conrt-house in Springfield, and stood on Sanford Street, where it is now crossed by Market. The first church editiee was erected on Bliss Street, at a cost, including chapel, of $8813, and was dedicated June 12, 1843, by the Rev. Noah Porter, the first pastor. The present church edifice was completed in 1874, at a cost of about $145,000. Both its exterior and inte- rior present a model of beauty and elegance seldom surpassed. It it said to be one of the most complete religious edifices in New England,-convenient in its arrangement and perfect in its decorations.

As stated previously, Rev. Noah Porter was the first pastor of the church, who remained four years, when, having re- ceived a call from Yale College to the professorship of mental and moral philosophy, which he accepted, he resigned his pastorate, and was succeeded by Rev. Samuel G. Bucking- ham, D.D., who has since remained in charge of the church, and is the present incumbent of the pastoral office. Dr. Buckingham's pastorate has been a long and successful one. More than thirty years he has labored among this people, and with the best results. Ile has witnessed the growth of the South Church from a few followers to a large and influential body, which is annually extending its sphere of usefulness ; and it may truthfully be written that much of its present prosperity is due to the untiring efforts put forth in its behalf by Dr. Buckingham.

The following is a list of the deacons, from the organization of the church to the present time : George Merriam,t Ahel

* Deceased.

+ Resigned.

Sweetzer,* Daniel Bontecou,* Erastus Hayes,* Henry A. Rob- inson, t Alexander S. McClean, t Ariel Parish, t Asa F. Cowles, Obadiah W. Wileox, Eli HI. Patch, Charles Marsh, George H. Denne, James Brewer.

Location of church, corner Maple and High Streets.

Among those who were first interested in the organization of this church and who rendered it valuable service were Rev. Sandford Lawton, who is still living in the city ; the late Chief-Justice Chapman, and William Stowe, an editor, and for a number of years clerk of the Massachusetts House of Representatives; also G. & C. Merriam, the publishers of Webster's Dictionary, as well as H. & 1. Brewer, both of which are still well-known business firms here. Other valu- able helpers came to their aid, who have since died, among whom may be mentioned Thomas Bond, Daniel Bontecou, Edward Morris, Samuel Reynolds.

The results of the enterprise have justified their wisdom, and the wisdom of those who were associated with them, in founding such a church, while all who have aided in building it up have the satisfaction of seeing it well established and another strong church added to the many in this city, whose Christian teachings and mission work and charities and health- ful influence are making this a good community wherein to reside.

. THE NORTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Meetings for consultation on the religious wants of Spring- field, held at frequent intervals from May, 1846, till the Octo- ber following, resulted in the adoption hy 10 brethren of the constitution and articles of faith of a proposed new church, with a view to whose organization the ministerial services of the Rev. Robert H. Conklin, of Warsaw, N. Y., were secured ; and the first public service was held Sunday, Sept. 20, 1846, in " Frost's Hall," the third story of a building on the corner of Main and Sanford Streets.

The church thus contemplated was organized Oct. 28, 1846, by a council of churches convened at the South Church, of which the Rev. Dr. Samuel Osgood, then pastor of the First Church, was moderator, and the Rev. Dr. Ezekiel Russell, then pastor of the Olivet Church, was scribe. The Rev. Dr. John Todd, pastor of the First Church, Pittsfield, preached the sermon. 22 persons-11 men, 11 women-were organized into the new church.

The Sunday-school was organized Nov. 1, 1846 ; and George Il. White was the first superintendent.

The church, then acting also in capacity of a parish, voted in September, 1847, to purchase a lot of land on the southeast corner of Main and Worthington Streets and build its chapel thereon ; and in the month following it hired for temporary use through the winter the edifice then known as the " Free Church," in Sanford Street. In November following it was voted to sell the lot above mentioned, and purchase a site on the west side of Main Street, north of Bridge Street. In March, 1848, the temporal business of the church was trans- 'erred to the parish, which had then become legally or- ganized.

The Rev. Dr. Raymond H. Seeley, of Bristol, Conn., was installed as the first pastor by 'a council which met March 1, 1849, for deliberation in the chapel of the First Church, and which held the public service of installation in the evening, in the new church, then first opened for divine worship. Dr. Seeley, having resigned his pastorate to take charge of the American Chapel, Paris, France, was dismissed by a council, Jan. 26, 1858.

The Rev. James Drummond, of Lewiston, Me., was installed pastor by a council, June 16, 1858. His pastorate was ended by death, December, 1861.

The Rev. L. Clark Seelye was ordained pastor by a coun- cil, Jan. 20, 1863. Having resigned to accept a professor- ship in Amherst College, he was dismissed by a council, May 31, 1865.

HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

A colony of 55 members of this church was organized into " The Memorial Church" by a council held in the vestry of the North Church, Oct. 27, 1865. The new organization erected a stone house of worship on North Main Street during the year 1867, and has reached a high degree of usefulness and power.

The Rev. Richard G. Greene, of Brooklyn, N. Y., after sup- plying the pulpit from May 13, 1866, was installed pastor by a council, Sept. 19, 1866.

The society, at its annual meeting, March 6, 1871, ap- pointed a committee to sell the church property on Main Street and select a site for a new edifice. On May 29th of the same year the committee reported the purchase of a lot on the corner of Salem Street and Salem Avenue, at a cost of $26,000. The property on Main Street was subsequently sold for $46,000.

June 6th of the same year Charles S. Ferry, George W. Ray, George H. Deane, Edwin MeElwain, and Joseph Stone were appointed a building committee.

October 3d of the same year the report of the building com- mittee, with plans, was accepted, and the committee was au- thorized to proceed with the erection of the church edifice.

Religious services were held for the last time in the old church the last Sunday in 1872. For the next six months the congregation worshiped in the Opera-House.

The new church was dedicated Sept. 18, 1873, the sermon being preached by the Rev. Joseph Parker, D.D., of London.

The designs for the building were furnished by Messrs. Gambrill & Richardson, of New York, and the builders were Norcross Brothers, of Worcester. The material is freestone, the style is Norman, and the shape is cruciform, with a mas- sive tower in the angle between the nave and the south transept. It is, in all its appointments, a complete church edifice, and was erected, including the chapel, at a cost of $53,398.28.

The Rev. Richard G. Greene was dismissed by a council, October, 1874.

The Rev. Washington Gladden was called to the pastorate Jan. 2, 1875. Having supplied the pulpit from Dec. 13, 1874, he entered, Feb. 1, 1875, upon the active duties of the pastor- ate, and was installed by a council September 20th of the same year, and is the present official pastor.

The officers of the church for 1878 were as follows : Dea- cons, Ephraim G. Norton, Oliver D. Morse, L. Sterns Stowe, Samuel K. Foster ; Clerk, Harlan P. Stone; Treasurer, Eph- raim G. Norton ; Auditor, L. Sterns Stowe.

The parish officers for 1878 were as follows : Parish Com- mittec, William S. Marsh, P'. P. Kellogg, William M. Pom- eroy, Charles J. Blackstone, Samuel N. Heywood ; Clerk and Treasurer, William C. Warren.

HOPE CONOREOATIONAL CHURCH.

Hope Congregational Church is the outgrowth of a mission Sunday-school begun on Quincy Street, east of Hancock, in June, 1865, by Messrs. William Kirkham, Henry S. Lee, and Markham Moody, under the auspices of the South Congrega- tional Church.

There were 16 scholars the first Sunday. Mr. Kirkham was the first superintendent. After several changes in location, from an upper room on Quincy to a kitchen on Adams Strect (now East Union), and then back to Quincy, a barn, standing on the site afterward occupied by Hope Chapel, on East Union Street, near Eastern Avenue, was purchased in 1867, and occu- pied by the school till the completion of the chapel.

In 1870 a chapel was built by the friends of the enterprise, at a cost of about $1500.

HOPE CHAPEL-the name having been proposed by Mr. Charles Merriam-was dedicated in July and occupied by the school, with Mr. H. S. Lee as superintendent. The barn which served as a school-roon for three years now stands on

Colton Street, at the head of Quincy. During the next five years the progress of the school was very encouraging, aver- aging over 200 in attendance.

Preaching services were held in the chapel as a supply could be furnished. In the winter of 1873, under the conduct of Mr. Earle, the evangelist, a revival of great power was ex- perienced, resulting in the hopeful conversion of many mem- bers of the school. Abont 25 united with the South Church.

In June of 1875, Mr. Charles L. Morgan, a graduate of Yale Theological Seminary of that year, and of Beloit College, 1871, was called by the Hope Chapel committee of the South Church to take charge of the chapel work for one year.

During the ensuing winter of 1875-76 a deep religious in- terest prevailed, resulting in so many conversions that it was decided to organize a church and settle Mr. Morgan as pastor. The usual steps having been taken, a council was called for March 15, 1876, consisting of the Congregational Churches of Springfield, of East and West Longmeadow, also Dr. Leonard Bacon, Rev. William Rice, and Rev. S. P. Wilder.

This council met on March 15th, reviewed the action taken, examined the candidate, and proceeded in the afternoon to confirm the organization of 81 persons into a body to be known as the llope Congregational Church, 40 presenting letters from other churches, 41 uniting on profession of their faith. Mr. Henry S. Lee, one of the founders of the Sunday- school, received in behalf of the church the right hand of fel- lowship from the pastor of the parent church, Dr. S. G. Buckingham. Rev. Washington Gladden addressed the church. In the evening the council assisted in ordaining Mr. Morgan, a member of the church, to the office of pastor and teacher. The ordaining prayer was offered by Rev. L. W. Cone; sermon by Rev. J. M. Eustis ; charge to pastor by Rev. E. A. Reed ; to people by Rev. John W. Harding ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. S. P. Wilder.

During the summer of 1876 the failure of various sources of past help made apparent the necessity of removing the chapel to a more central and inviting location. The use for five years of a favorable site, on the corner of State and Win- chester Streets, was offered the church by friends. This offer was accepted, and by vote of the church the chapel was re- moved to the site offered and since occupied.

In October of 1877 a parish society was organized, and a strong effort made to enlist the co-operation of all the families of the chapel vicinity. The result was greatly increased in- terest and rapid progress.

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History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 97

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 896

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896