USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Leicester > History of the Second Congregational church and society in Leicester, Massachusetts > Part 7
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Voted, to choose a Nominating Committee of three. Chose Isaac Southgate,
Silas Gleason, George Whiting.
Those nominated were
Waldo Flint,
Isaac Southgate,
Jos. D. Sargent,
George Whiting,
Henry E. Warren,
John Sargent,
Silas Gleason,
Emory Drury, Bradford McFarland,
and were chosen a Committee to procure preaching.
Voted, to choose a Committee of one to wait on Austin Flint, Esquire, to present him the thanks of the Society, and pay for his services. Chose Isaac Southgate. A true record. Attest
LYMAN WAITE,
Clerk of the Society.
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At a meeting of the Second Congregational Society, in Leicester, holden at the Town Hall in said Leicester on Monday, the twenty-third day of June, 1834, at four o'clock in the afternoon, '
Edward Flint was chosen Moderator. It was then moved and seconded that the said Society do invite Rev. Samuel May Jr. of Boston, to settle with them as their pastor or Minister of said Society; which motion was then and there unanimously adopted.
It was then moved and seconded that said Society offer to Mr. May the sum of Six hundred Dollars as an annual salary for his services, to be paid quarter yearly in sums of One hundred and Fifty Dollars each.
Voted, that said salary be raised by subscription.
Voted that a Committee of three persons be appointed to communicate the doings of this meeting to Rev Mr May, and obtain his answer, and the following named persons were nominated and chosen to constitute said committee, viz: WALDO FLINT, JOSHUA CLAPP, ISAAC SOUTHGATE.
Voted that the above named Committee confer with the Prudential Committee of the Society when they are ready to report, and that a legal meeting of the Society be called as well to affirm the doings of this meeting, as to hear and act on the report of said Committee, and to do any other busi- ness which may be legally brought before said meeting.
Voted, that a subscription paper be drawn up and presen- ted to the members of the Society for their signatures, with
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such sums annexed as they may be willing to pay toward the salary of the minister.
Voted that Waldo Flint, George Whiting and Lyman Waite be a Committee for that purpose.
A copy. Attest LYMAN WAITE, Clerk.
Warrant for the following meeting, with receipt thereof omitted.
"At a Meeting of the Second Congregational Society in Leicester, holden at the Town Hall in said Leicester on Monday the seventh day of July 1834 at four o'clock in the afternoon in obedience to the foregoing Warrant, Edward Flint was chosen Moderator.
The Records of the doings of the meeting of the Society holden at the Town Hall on the twenty-third day of June, 1834, having been read to the meeting now assembled, it was
Voted, that this meeting does approve and hereby confirm all and singular the votes and doings of the meeting of the Second Congregational Society in Leicester holden on the twenty-third day of June, 1834.
The Committee appointed at the meeting holden as above to communicate to the Rev. Samuel May Jr., the invitation of said Society to become their Minister or Pastor, reported that they have attended to their duty, and submitted a copy of their communication to Mr. May, and his answer thereto; all of which are recorded below as follows :-
FIRST LETTER OF COMMITTEE TO MR. MAY.
LEICESTER, June 23, 1834. To Rev. Samuel May, Jr.
Dear Sir: At a meeting of the Second Congregational Society in Leicester, holden this day, it was voted unani-
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mously to invite you to settle with us, as the minister or Pastor of said Society, and to offer you as a salary for your services the annual sum of Six hundred Dollars, payable quarter yearly in sums of One hundred and fifty Dollars each.
And the undersigned were appointed a Committee to communicate the doings of the meeting to you, and to ob- tain your answer thereto. We are sure, dear Sir, that it is unnecessary for us to say how much pleasure it gives us personally to make this communication, or with how much pleasure we shall announce to the Society-should such be the result-that you will accept this invitation.
We are very respectfully and truly yours, &c. &c.
WALDO FLINT, ISAAC SOUTHGATE, Committee. JOSHUA CLAPP, -
ANSWER OF MR. MAY TO THE INVITATION OF THE SOCIETY.
LEICESTER, July 3d, 1834.
Gentlemen : I have duly received your communication of June 23d, in which you made known to me the unanimous request of the Society to which I have for some time past been ministering, that I should become their Pastor. Per- mit me to thank you, Gentlemen, for the manner so kind and so grateful to me in which you have communicated their request, and to address to you, and through you to the Society, my reply.
In addressing you upon this subject my friends I cannot
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LEICESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
refrain from looking back for a moment upon the course which you have been called to pursue.
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It was a difficult course, and on many accounts a painful one, to separate yourselves from a Society with which you had long worshipped, and to leave the house where you had so often assembled for prayer and praise.
But, however painful the step it was one which you justly felt could not be avoided.
And now that many of your difficulties are overcome ; now that you have become established as a Christian Society; now that a house of prayer for your use is nearly completed, you have great cause for joy and gratitude that your steps have been guided, and your undertaking blessed, by Him in whose hands are all our ways, to whose glory it is our duty and our privilege always to live.
You have invited me to become your minister, and with a unanimity of sentiment which I trust I appreciate, and which is certainly most gratifying to me.
I accept your invitation, relying upon your indulgence in the duties which thus will devolve upon me ; relying, above all upon the promise that the Divine aid and blessing will be freely given if it is sought, and that, where the Gospel is preached and heard with a sincere desire to learn and obey, the spirit of our Master and Lord will be with us always, even unto the end of the world.
And what, my friends are those objects which have thus made us acquainted, and associated us with each other?
Our first object is to seek that we may find, the Truth : the Truth as it regards God; the Truth as it regards our- selves; our Nature, our Life, our Duty, our future Destiny: -the Truth as it is in Jesus.
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Truth we all desire to seek after without restraint, and with all confidence; no man forbidding us.
Inseparably connected with the search for Truth is our other object : the great end and aim for which we associate ourselves together; to increase the influence of Religion in our own hearts, and over our own lives ;- an object too momentous to be ever sacrificed to the promotion of any worldly purpose or temporal gain. To perfect ourselves in the knowledge and love of God, establish ourselves in obedi- ence to Him, to imbibe the Spirit of the Gospel which is peace within and among ourselves, and wide spread love for all men, our brethren.
These are the great objects for which we are hereafter to sustain to each other the relations of people and minister. May they be ever sacredly observed and pursued. Then the Lord will be on our side. We need not fear what man can do to us. We can live with a conscience void of offence. We can die with the hope of Immortality.
Before concluding let me ask of you my friends to accept my thanks for the constant kindness which you have shown me both in private, and in public, since I have been con- nected with you. It is my most fervent wish, and will be iny most earnest endeavor that the spirit of friendship and union which has hitherto ruled so happily among us, may never depart. May the blessing of God rest upon us, and go with us.
I am, gentlemen, yours very respectfully,
SAMUEL MAY, JUN
LEICESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 107
To Messrs. Waldo Flint, Isaac Southgate, Joshua Clapp, Committee of Second Congregational Society in Leicester.
Personal letter from Mr. May to the Committee.
Messrs. Waldo Flint, Isaac Southgate, Joshua Clapp.
Gentlemen.
Enclosed herewith is my reply to your communication of the twenty-third ult., as a Committee of the Second Congre- gational Society in Leicester. It is my wish that it may be read to the Society generally, and if that course should be agreeable to you I will request the Congregation to remain after the close of the services on Sunday afternoon next for that purpose.
It is common at such times for the candidate in accepting an invitation, to propose in his turn certain conditions for the consideration of the Society.
After a little reflection I find that it is not my wish to propose any conditions, confident that in all things reasonable we shall not disagree.
I would however simply mention that I shall find it pleas- ant, and perhaps necessary, to be absent for two or three Sundays in the warm season of each year.
I do not ask that at such times you should take upon yourselves the charge of supplying the pulpit; I wish only to state the fact, not doubting that whenever such an
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occasion occurs, satisfactory arrangements will be made.
With sincere wishes for the health and the happiness of yourselves and families,
I am Gentlemen, Yours very respectfully SAMUEL MAY, JUN.
LEICESTER, July 3ยช, 1834.
Meeting of Seventh day of July, 1834, continued.
Voted, That the Rev. Samuel May, Jun. having accepted the invitation of this Society to become their Pastor, have leave to be absent agreeable to his suggestion to the Commit- tee, three Sundays in the course of each year he shall be the pastor of this people, in case his health or other circumstances should in his opinion render such temporary absence necessary or convenient to him.
Voted, That a Committee of five be appointed to make all the arrangements necessary for the Ordination of Mr. May, to invite after consultation with Mr. May, the Ordain- ing Council, and provide for their accommodation and entertainment, while in town, and to do all things proper and convenient to be done on such an occasion ;- and the following persons were chosen members of said Committees, viz :-
Waldo Flint, Isaac Southgate, Joshua Clapp, Hiram Knight, George Whiting.
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Voted, That the Ordination be appointed by the Committee of Arrangements.
Voted, to dissolve this meeting. A Copy. Attest,
LYMAN WAITE, Clerk.
As will be seen by referring to Mr. May's diary, the Sunday School of the parish was organized before the techni- cal formation of the Church, on May 11, 1834, when about forty-five members were gathered in, and twelve teachers came forward. A library of fifty volumes was already pro- vided.
It is significant of the earnestness and devotion of this little band of men and women, and of the inspiring influence of their young and still unordained minister, that those who gave most freely of their worldly goods to promote the new enterprise, achieved also that finer and infinitely more difficult form of giving, in the bestowal of themselves.
The first meeting of the twelve Sunday School teachers, viz:
Mr and Mrs Waldo Flint,
Mrs Clapp, Mrs Southgate,
Mrs Jos. Sargent, Miss Draper,
Miss L. Webb, Mr Knight,
Mr Whiting, Mr Drury,
Mr John Sargent, Mr. Harrison Sargent,
was held Wednesday evening, July 2, 1834, when a com- mittee was appointed to draw up Rules for the School, and the Teachers' Meetings.
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Touching the formation of the church, for which purpose the original members assembled at the home of Dr. Edward Flint at the appointed time, the subjoined entry appears in the Minister's Book in the hand of Mr. May.
" The Second Congregational Church in Leicester, Massa- chusetts, was gathered in July A. D. 1834, and on the ninth day of said month, formally declared themselves such by adopting and subscribing the following Covenant :
"We dedicate ourselves, and our offering, to the One Living and True God, who is over all blessed forever.
" We believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
" We believe in the divine origin of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and taking these as our sole and suffi- cient rule of faith and practice, we promise to walk together as a Christian Church, helping each other's infirmities and promoting each other's spiritual improvement as we are able. It shall be our earnest endeavour to understand what the Lord, our God, requireth of us, and by His Divine Assist- ance, faithfully to perform His Will, as the same shall be made known to us.
" We admit the right of private judgment and profess ourselves to be in charity with all who support a Christian profession by a life and conversation becoming the Gospel.
" We rely on the goodness and mercy of God, through Jesus Christ, for aid, acceptance, and Eternal Salvation.
" HARRIET FLINT, "OLIVE KNIGHT,
" HENRY E. WARREN, " WALDO FLINT,
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LEICESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
" JOHN WHITTEMORE, " LAURA WEBB,
" ELIZABETH JACKSON, "MARIA SOUTHGATE,
" LYMAN WAITE, " DWIGHT BISCO.
"A true copy. Attest,
"SAMUEL MAY, JR., Pastor Elect.
" The Rev. Aaron Bancroft D. D. of Worcester, attended and presided upon the occasion; and by prayer and exhorta- tion assisted in the formation of the Church.
" The fellowship of the Churches was declared and given by Rev Aaron Bancroft, D. D.
" I do now record and attest it.
"SAMUEL MAY, JR., Pastor."
The Dedication service of the Meeting-house, which occupies a beautiful site upon the brow of the hill, facing the well-kept village green, was held Tuesday evening, August 12, 1834: the Congregation limited only by the space afforded.
The foundation of this building was laid in the autumn of 1833, and after unexpected delay the frame raised on Tues- day, April 8, 1834; a prayer having been offered upon the occasion by Rev. Samuel May, Jr., who later became the first minister. It stands in line with the new and beautiful John Nelson Memorial, which is the first Congregational Church in Leicester, occupying the site of the more ancient one destroyed by fire; with Leicester Academy upon the one hand, and the Town Hall upon the other. The building fund of $4,000.00, was raised by subscription to eighty shares at fifty dollars a share, with the proviso that upon the completion of the edifice the pews should be offered
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for sale by auction to members of the Society; the proceeds of such sale to be applied in payment equally to the sub- scribers of the amount of their respective subscriptions. The names of the subscribers must have already a familiar ring to one who has read thus far.
Messrs. Waldo Flint, A friend, by W. F.,
Isaac Southgate,
Edward Flint,
George Bowen,
Silas Gleason,
Lyman Waite,
Dwight Bisco, Jos. D. Sargent,
Joshua Clapp,
John A. Smith, John Sargent,
Hiram Knight.
The largest shareholder was Capt. Isaac Southgate, whose subscription covered twenty-two shares. The subscriptions of Capt. Southgate, Waldo Flint, Esq., and Joshua Clapp, Esq. included forty-seven shares; the remaining thirty-three shares representing holdings of from two to six shares each by the remaining ten subscribers.
A definite idea of the architectural design and general appearance of this meeting-house, for such was the designa- tion most in favor at that period, is obtained from the excellent frontispiece, conforming to a style of rural church architecture much in favor through the Nineteenth Century in New England, and elsewhere.
The opening prayer was made, and selections from the Psalms read by Rev. Peter Osgood of the church in Sterling.
The Rev. Geo. R. Noyes of Brookfield made the prayer of Dedication, and an admirable sermon was delivered by the Rev. James Walker of Charlestown, from Ephesians II, 19-22.
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LEICESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
The concluding prayer was offered by Mr. May.
Mr. Walker's sermon was duly printed, and Mr. May writes of it, " His object was to show the connection of the three grand Christian doctrines :- Faith, Regeneration, Atonement. He considered them as great and all-important facts-as epochs in the life of a Christian : the three princi- pal states, or stages, in which a true Christian would find himself, the last being Atonement, i. e. Reconciliation with God. It was an uncommonly fine production."
The day following, August 13th, was that appointed for the Ordination. The form of the Letter missive, sent by the Church and Society to the Pastors and Churches whose aid was desired in this ceremonial, is found in the Minister's Book, in the hand of Mr. May.
" LEICESTER, July 26, 1834.
To the Church of Christ, in Hollis Street, Boston, under the Pastoral care of Rev. John Pierpont.
BRETHREN :
The Second Congregational Church and Society in Leicester having invited Mr. Samuel May, Jr., of Boston, to become their Pastor and Teacher, and he having accepted their invitation, and Wednesday, 13th August next being the day appointed for his Ordination, we would respectfully request your presence and assistance by your Pastor and a Delegate on that occasion.
The Council will assemble at nine o'clock in the morning precisely, at such place as will be made known to you on your arrival. 8
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Wishing you peace and joy in the Faith and Hopes of the Gospel, we are, Brethren,
Very sincerely yours, etc.
WALDO FLINT ISAAC SOUTHGATE JOSHUA CLAPP HIRAM KNIGHT GEORGE WHITING -
Committee of
Arrangements.
The Council met accordingly at the Town Hall at the ap- pointed hour, with the following churches represented : Church in Worcester, Rev. Dr. Bancroft, Moderator, Rev. Alonzo Hill, Scribe, Delegate, Dr. John Park. Church in Northboro, Rev. Joseph Allen, D. D.,
Delegate, Deacon S. Seaver. Church in Sterling, Rev. Peter Osgood, Delegate, Deacon Luther Allen.
Church in Brookfield, Rev. George R. Noyes, Delegate, Brother Heman Stebbins.
Church in Brooklyn, Conn., Rev. Samuel J. May, Delegates, John R. Williams, Philip Scarborough.
Hollis Street Church, in Boston, Represented by Delegate, Samuel May, Esq.
King's Chapel, Boston, Rev. F. W. P. Greenwood, D. D., Delegate, Col. Joseph May. West Church, Boston, Rev. Dr. Charles Lowell, Delegate, Nathaniel P. Russell, Esq. Church in Charlestown, Rev. James Walker.
CAPT. ISAAC SOUTHGATE
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LEICESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
The University Church in Cambridge, under the pastoral care of Rev. Dr. Ware, and the First Church in Roxbury, Rev. Mr. Putnam were bidden, but it does not appear that they were represented.
The Rev. James Freeman Clarke and Rev. Charles Barn- ard were present.
The Council was opened with prayer by Dr. Bancroft. The invitation extended Mr. May by the Society, with his reply thereto was made the first subject of consideration. His certificate of Church membership, of regular course of Theological Education at Cambridge, and the Approbation of the Boston Association of Ministers were read, and the pre-arranged order of service at the church was announced.
The Council by vote concurred in the request which had been made to Rev. Samuel J. May to give the Right Hand of Fellowship of the Churches.
The Council, also by vote, declared themselves satisfied with the testimonials of the candidate; with the proceedings of the Society, and the assignment of the various duties ; and voted their readiness to proceed with the ceremony of Ordination.
At half-past ten o'clock, the members of the Council, the Committee of Arrangements and the pastor-elect walked in procession from the Town Hall across the intervening cheer- ful greensward to the Meeting-house, which up to this hour had been reserved for ladies, and the seats more than half occupied.
After the Council were seated the house filled promptly, and many were obliged to stand. The preliminary exercises opened with an anthem by the choir, and Dr. Bancroft, in
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behalf of the Council, called upon the Rev. Alonzo Hill to read the doings of the same.
The prayer which followed the reading of the minutes was offered by the Rev. Joseph Allen, and the selections from the Psalter by the Rev. George R. Noyes.
Hymn 258 of Greenwood's Collection was sung, and the sermon was preached by the Rev. F. W. P. Greenwood, D. D., from 1 Thess. V, 12-13. The prayer of Ordination was made by the Rev. Dr. Bancroft, and the imposition of hands was by Dr. Bancroft, Dr. Lowell and Rev. Mr. Greenwood.
The Ordination hymn, written by the Rev. N. L. Froth- ingham, 534 Greenwood's Collection, was sung. The charge was given Mr. May by Rev. Dr. Lowell, and the Right Hand of Fellowship by the Rev. Samuel J. May.
Following an anthem, the concluding prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Hill.
The Doxology, " From all who dwell beneath the skies," was sung by the congregation and the Benediction was pro- nounced by the Rev. Samuel May, Jr.
Concerning this ordination service, at which was gathered indeed a notable company, the young Boston clergyman, now by his own choice of the little town of Leicester; a man with every adjunct to success attending his start in life ; health, ability, education, a wealthy and generous father, and a host of influential friends ; having already cast aside more flattering, but to him less attractive calls to labor, writes in his diary in a spirit of deepest consecration these closing lines.
"Thus were concluded the forms of my Ordination, and
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LEICESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
thus was assigned me my part in the field of Christ-which is the world.
"Here am I to live, and here in all probability to die.
"Here I am to watch and pray, as a good steward of the manifold grace of God.
"Here I am to labor to build up both myself and my people, in our most precious faith.
"May I covet earnestly the best gifts.
"May I strive for a blessing ; - then I shall have it."
And it came to pass, even as he forecast in his buoyant young manhood, with Life and the World before him.
Here he lived. Here he died, full of years and honor. A builder of himself, of his people, and of an uncounted multitude beside ; more than he could have dreamed within the pale of his influence when he chose a field of labor ap- parently so restricted.
The Sunday School of the parish was organized by Mr. May, on Sunday, May 11, 1834, with twelve teachers, whose names appear in the diary, and forty-five scholars.
The officers subsequently chosen were Waldo Flint, Superintendent, Dwight Bisco, Librarian, George Whiting, Treasurer and Secretary.
The Records from 1834 to 1848 show that the Superin- tendents during these years, for longer or shorter terms of service, were :
Mr. Waldo Flint, Mr. Hiram Knight, Mr. Artemas Barnes, Mr. Abraham Firth, Jr.
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The Librarian throughout this period and longer was Mr. Dwight Bisco.
The first Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. George Whiting, was succeeded by Mr. Waldo Flint.
Mr. George Upham was elected Secretary and Treasurer in 1837, and served for many years.
The following named persons composed a committee of seven to report upon plans for the Regulation of the Sunday School and Teachers' Meetings :
Rev. Samuel May, Jr., Messrs. Waldo Flint, Hiram Knight, George Whiting, Mrs Jos. D. Sargent, " Waldo Flint, Miss Laura Flint.
The nucleus of a useful library was promptly provided, and the Pastor and Superintendent were assisted in the selection and purchase of books by a committee of six ladies. Mrs. Isaac Southgate " .Jos. D. Sargent
" Joshua Clapp " Waldo Flint Miss Elizabeth Jackson " Laura Flint.
Teachers in the Sunday School from 1834 to 1848, in- clusive; transcribed in chronological order from the Sunday School Records.
Mr. Waldo Flint Miss M. C. Hoffman
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Mrs. Waldo Flint
Miss Phobe Denny
Mrs. Joshua Clapp
Mrs. S. Downes
Mrs. Isaac Southgate
Miss Sophie Sargent
Mrs. Jos. D. Sargent
Mrs. John Clapp
Miss Laura Webb
Mr. Thomas Hill
Miss Draper
Mr. Artemas Barnes
Mr. Hiram Knight
Miss Cynthia Clapp
Mr. Drury
Miss E. M. Clapp Mr. F. Holman Mr. John S. Smith
Mr. John Sargent
Mr. Harrison Sargent
Miss Lucy Sargent
Miss Susan Jackson
Miss Sally Flint
Miss M. A. Emerson
Mr. E. T. Gerry
Miss P. M. Upham
Miss H. Firth
Mrs. Samuel May
Miss M. Whittemore
Miss W. Boyden
Mrs. John Sargent
Miss Charlotte E. Flint
Mr. Wm. A. Scott
Mr. George Upham
Miss E. Firth
Mr. J. Corey McFarland
Miss Mary A. Gleason
Mr. J. H. Whittemore
Mrs. Brown
Mr. Henry E. Warren
Miss Martha W. Barnes
Over a stretch of many years the records appertaining to the Sunday School are disconnected and fragmentary, though it continued to do good and useful work, beginning during its earlier history in the month of May, and adjourning for the inclement winter season.
During the pastorate of the Rev. Nathanael Seaver, the school flourished notably under the supervision of Mrs. Seaver.
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Mr. George Whiting
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