USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the churches of Boston, giving a full account, in denominational divisions, of all the church organizations of the city, from their formation to the present time, with dates and complete statistics ; compiled with great care from first sources. Division one; Baptist and Presbyterian > Part 11
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In connection with the Sabbath afternoon service there is a Sabbath School which is well attended, and has a large and efficient staff of teachers.
In connection with both the afternoon and evening services is held a service of praise, in which a very large portion of the congregation take part. There is also a Church Aid Society in active operation which is doing a good work.
Mr. Macdonald, on being settled in Boston, - with a view to greater effi- ciency in his work, -pursued a course of two years' study in the Boston University
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THE SPRINGFIELD STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
School of Oratory, graduating in June, 1877. Resolved to take advantage of the opportunites here offered of further prosecuting his studies in the higher depart- ments of science and philosophy, he also entered upon the post-graduate course of the Boston University, and graduated in the College of All Sciences, in June, 1879, receiving the degree of Master of Arts, and is now near the completion of his course for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. In the summer of 1878 he made a tour abroad, traveling extensively in Scotland, England, France, Sweden, Germany, and Belgium. The following year he attended the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church at Saratoga, as a delegate from the Presbytery of Boston. Even when the work seemed most discouraging, Mr. Macdonald never wavered in his decison to remain with his people, though flattering inducements were held out to him elsewhere.
That a new church edifice will be absolutely demanded in the near future by the needs of this congregation cannot - in view of the very large attendance at the regular services-be doubted ; and thus it will soon be necessary to put forth a special effort to secure such a building for its growing requirements. And, though a severe strain may thus be imposed on the power of this infant church, it may confidently be believed that he who has planted this sacred nurseling with his own right hand, and watered it with the dews of heaven, will inspire the Christian community. to devise yet more liberal things towards its highest success.
CHURCH OFFICERS :- Pastor : Rev. P. M. Macdonald, M. A .; Elders : Angus Macdonald, M. D., Neil Macinnes, Adam C. Barney, Murdock Montgom- ery, Clerk of Session ; Trustees : John McNevin, Malcolm Morrison, John Mac- donald, Archibald Macintyre, Hugh Nicholson, D. B. Mackenzie ; Secretary and Treasurer, Angus Macdonald, M. D .; Chorister : Edward A. Howland.
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CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
COR. BERKELEY STREET AND COLUMBUS AVENUE.
In the year 1852, a number of Presbyterians, principally from Scotland, being desirous to have Presbyterian preaching in Boston, selected a committee of seven persons to open a correspondence with the Rev. Dr. Bonar, of Edinburgh, Con- vener of the Colonial Committee of the Free Church of Scotland, which action resulted in the appointment of the Rev. Adam Stuart Muir to this field of labor. The committee having become responsible for his passage-money to this country and back-about $400- he came over, and preached for the first time on December 11, 1853, at the Melodeon, on Washington street. He continued to preach there until June, 1854, and afterwards at the Freeman Place Chapel until June, 1855. The services, during this time, were under the superintendence of the Presbytery of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and three elders had been ordained - James Wallace, David Steele, and David Thompson.' A call was extended to Mr. Muir to become pastor of the church, but, many persons having lost confidence in him, it was not unanimous. He therefore returned to Scotland. The elders ordained by him also lost the confidence of the church, and the Presbytery of Halifax declared their ordination unauthorized, irregular, and void. The Presby tery then sent out a young man named Ross, who supplied the pulpit for a year, during which time the congregation dwindled to a mere handful.
In June, 1856, the congregation voted to unite with the Presbytery of Mon- treal, which gave them good and regular supplies. After some delay the church was received into connection with the Canadian Church, and in July, 1857, the Rev. William McLaren, of Amherstburg, Canada, having received an unanimous call, was installed as pastor. He remained until December, 1858, and met with great success in his work here.
The church was consolidated during this pastorate ; prayer meetings, bible classes, a young men's literary society, and other church enterprises, were estab. lished.
In the fall of 1858, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, at East Boston, united with the Old School Presbyterian Church, and, with hearty approval,
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THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
this church voted to do the same, believing that more good could be accom- plished in an American, than a Canadian connection. The church, therefore, with but one dissenting voice, decided to unite with the Presbytery of Londonderry, N. H., the vote to take effect on December 1, 1858. In consequence of this, the Rev. Mr. McLaren returned to Canada, with very substantial tokens of the good will of the people, and universal regrets at his departure.
In the spring of 1859, the society removed to the Meionaon, and, by a . divided vote, invited the Rev. David Magill, of Philadelphia, to the pastoral office. He was installed on Thursday, July 14, 1859. The church was fully organized on the 25th of March, 1860, by the installation of R. K. M. Baynum, and Donald D. Morrison, as elders.
Meanwhile - in December, 1859, the Unitarian church building at the cor- ner of Beach street and Harrison avenue had been purchased, and on the 8th of January, 1860, it was opened as an Old School Presbyterian Church.
The Rev. Mr. Magill resigned the pastorate in August, 1861; it having become apparent that he could not raise the funds necessary to pay for the newly acquired edifice.
During a portion of the year 1862 the pulpit was supplied acceptably by the Rev. H. M. Painter, of Booneville, Missouri. Subsequently the office of supply was filled by the Rev. R. A. DeLancey, D. D., - during part of the time without remuneration - until October 23, 1864, when an union was effected with the Oak Place Congregational Church, and the Rev. Mr. Bixby was installed as pastor. Some delay occurred in carrying the terms of the union into effect, in consequence of opposition in the session, but it was finally accomplished ; although by that time many of the Oak Place Church people had left. The Rev. Mr. Bixby resigned in the fall of 1866.
After much difficulty in finding a suitable man to fill the pastoral office, the church, in the summer of 1868, united in a call to the Rev. James B. Dunn, of New York. He accepted the call, and entered on his labors on the first Sabbath of September in that year. There was at that time a debt of $30,000 burdening the society, the church membership was much 'reduced, and the congregation was small in numbers ; though comprising earnest men and women, who had faithfully labored and hopefully prayed for the firm establishment of this Christian enter- prise.
The labors of the new pastor were very successful ; many united with the church at each communion, and the expectations of the most hopeful were more than realized. On one occasion more than one hundred persons were added to the church.
In the spring of 1869, the members of the congregation subscribed a sum of money more than equal to the indebtedness of the society, to be paid at the expir-
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CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
ation of five years, with interest guaranteed, and by this means the treasury was relieved of the heavy burden of interest which had crippled the operations of the church for ten years. As will be subsequently seen, however, this arrangement was not carried out to its completion.
In January, 1870, some of the active members of the church purchased the Congregational church edifice on Springfield street, and the Third Presbyterian Church of Boston was organized there on the 3rd of February of that year ; thir- teen members of this church being dismissed in order to unite with the new enterprise. This action proved to be very ill-advised, and most disastrous in its results to all concerned in it. It was prejudicial to the parent church, because it drew off several of the most influential and efficient members, before the church was able to spare them ; to those who went out it was also disastrous, because the liabilities which they assumed were much greater than they were able to bear. Misunderstandings and dissentions arose with regard to the control of the affairs of the new church, which made the relations between the two churches very unpleasant. To this movement may also be attributed the failure of the sub- scription for the debt of the First Church, before mentioned ; since the four largest subscribers to that fund were the same men who made themselves respon- sible for the Springfield street property. As far as the number of members was concerned, the places of those who left were soon more than filled ; the additions during the two or three succeeding years being very large. But in the points of efficiency and strength, and faithful, zealous effort, their places were not made good. There was also but little permanent element in the character of the addi- tions which then flowed into the society. Many of them were immigrants from the British Provinces, and the nature of their occupations in Boston made them, to a great extent, transient only.
On Friday evening, May 9, 1873, a meeting of the congregation was held in order to consider the desirability of changing the location of the church, and obtaining a new building. This was the first definite action taken in connection with this movement, which, after more than three years of difficulty and anxiety, culminated in the dedication of the present handsome church edifice on Berkeley street and Columbus avenue, where the First Presbyterian Church of Boston now worships. At this meeting it was resolved, in consequence of the then edifice having become too small to accommodate all the communicants, and the contem- plated city improvements absolutely necessitating the removal of the church, to build a new church, and a committee of five persons was appointed to take such steps as were required.
The Beach street property was held by a body of nine trustees, some of whom had left the communion of the parent church at the time of the Springfield street movement. Division arose in the church councils from this cause, and con-
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THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
siderable objection was raised by others of the board of trustees. Notwithstand- ing all the difficulties and disputations to which the movement gave rise, however, it was nevertheless persevered in, and the zeal of its supporters was finally rewarded by its consummation. The old building was purchased by the city authorities in January, 1875, the price agreed upon being $115,000 ; it was not vacated by the congregation, however, until May of the same year, during which time the society paid rent to the city for its use. On leaving the old Beach street building, the congregation hired the Harvard Street Baptist Church, on Harvard street and Harrison avenue, where they worshiped until the summer of 1876. The new house was at that time in progress, the corner-stone having been laid on Thurs- day, April 13, 1876, on which occasion the services were conducted by clergymen from all the denominations. After the summer vacation in the Centennial year, during which term the society was without a place of assembling, the congrega- tion held their first meetings in the new church building, in September, 1876. At this time only the lecture-room was ready for occupancy. The entire building was finally completed and dedicated in January, 1877.
In consequence of the non-completion of the original subscription by the church members in 1870, previously spoken of, the sum received by the trustees for the old Beach street property was only $88,579.46, the greater part of the original mortgage, together with expenses, having been deducted from the full sum of $115,000 voted by the city. In consequence of this, and also of the great decrease of income arising from the unsettled state of the congregation dur- ing the building operations, it was found necessary to incur a new mortgage for the sum of $20,000, which was placed on the building in October, 1876. A smaller mortgage, for the sum of $2,500 was also placed on the unused land adjoining the building on Berkeley street. This piece of land was sold in 1880, for the sum of $4,500.
Dr. Dunn resigned the pastorate in September, 1879. After an interregnum, the Rev. W. Brenton Greene, Jr., of Princeton, was installed as pastor on June 3, 1880.
The church has now entirely recovered from the depressed state into which it fell during its translation from the old to the new edifice, with its attendant troubles. The new paster was most successful, and though a very young man, won the highest esteem and confidence of his people. The financial condition of the society is much improved. All the expenses entailed by the removal have been paid, and the mortgage reduced. The active and zealous persevering labor of the church's faithful members have been greatly rewarded, and a new cause for devout gratitude is herein found towards Him in whose honor and for whose glory all their pious labor has been humbly expended. Mr. Greene retired from the pastorate in April, 1883.
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CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
CHURCH OFFICERS : - Pastor : -; Ruling Elders : Francis Bundy, William J. Irving, James Currie, James Waters, Angus McWilliams, Stephen Brown, William W. Grant, James B. Henderson, John Sutherland ; Deacons : John C. States, James McKissick, John Obermeyer, David Jamieson, Thomas G. Dickey ; Trustees : James Currie, James Waters, James McKissick, John Suther- land, Albert C. Smith, James B. Henderson, William Jamieson, Angus Douglass, Stephen Brown ; Treasurer and Superintendent of Sunday School: William J. Irving.
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THE FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
THE FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
FOURTH ST., BETWEEN G AND H STS., So. BOSTON.
This church, situated on Fourth street, between G and H streets, So. Boston, is connected with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S.
It was organized in December, 1870, with thirty-one members, and worshiped in Wait's Hall for several years. Rev. L. H. Angier was its first pastor, from June, 1871, to December, 1873. Under his ministry there was considerable interest manifested, a goodly number joining the society and contributing liberally to its support. During this period the lot of land containing 10,000 feet, on which the present church stands, was purchased.
In April, 1874, Rev. William M. Baker became its pastor and continued so until October, 1876. During this pastorate the present building was erected and occupied in May, 1875.
It has a seating capacity of 300, with rooms on either side for prayer meet- ings and other purposes, which can be thrown open, adding 150 more seats. The expense of land and building, together with the financial difficulty of this period, which reduced the regular income, and prevented others from making good their promises toward the building fund, involved the society in a debt of $14,000, which was almost wholly extinguished in 1882, by the efforts of the members aided by a few outside friends.
Rev. William H. Sybrandt, a graduate of Hartford Seminary, was the pastor from June, 1879, to March, 1882.
The society is now in a good condition, and doing an aggressive work. It is the only Presbyterian church in this section of the city, which has a population of 65,000 people, a large number of whom were brought up in this denomination in other parts, and can be easier reached by a Presbyterian than any other church. Present membership about 125. There is a Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, which holds prayer meetings every week and a sociable every month, also doing missionary work among those of their own age throughout the district.
The Sunday School is in an active and growing condition, and has recently opened a library of 500 volumes.
CHURCH OFFICERS : - Acting Pastor : Rev. Wm. G. Barnes ; Elders : John Christie, Robert Gilchrist, Samuel Cully, and John Gilchrist ; Trustees : D. E. Tait, A. Adamson, James McIntyre, R. Gilchrist, Andrew Oman, W. C. C. Math- ews, Thos. Mckenzie, John Boyd, J. Gilchrist ; Treasurer : Samuel Cully ; Sec- retary : T. B. Welch ; Sunday School Superintendent : John Gilchrist.
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CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, OF EAST BOSTON, MERIDIAN, COR. OF LONDON STREETS.
In the winter of 1853, the Rev. A. Blaikie, pastor of the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in the city of Boston, leased the Webster Street Church, East Boston, for one year, beginning with the Ist of April, with the view of establishing in this part of the city regular preaching according to the Presby- terian form. Public worship was commenced on the first Sabbath of April, and continued regularly from that time forward. The Rev. George C. Arnold was the first supply. He continued for several months, and was followed by the Rev. A. G. Wallace, who continued as temporary supply until late in the fall of 1853. About the time Mr. Wallace left, a petition was presented to the Presbytery of New York for his release from his charge in Fall River, Mass. The application was granted ; he was appointed as stated supply, and commenced preaching in that character on the last Sabbath in January, 1854. During the year 1853 finan- cial affairs had been managed by the Rev. Mr. Blaikie ; but at the beginning of the year 1854, a committee was appointed to take charge of that department of the work. A roll of thirty-eight members was formed July 19th, only one of whom remains, viz. : E. L. McPherson ; and at a meeting of the congregation held August 1, 1854, a code of by-laws was adopted, and in accordance there- with a board of trustees was appointed, who were : James Taylor, James McComb, Wynne Johnston, James McCloskey, Robert Langell ; with Lauchlan McPherson, chairman, and Samuel Ritchie, treasurer and clerk.
On Wednesday evening, August 16, 1854, the church was formally organized by the election and ordination of three ruling elders : Elijah Moffat, Hugh Mc- Kay and James Douglass. 'The history of the church dates properly from that time. A call, signed by 109 persons, was given to the Rev. David A. Wallace ; it was accepted by him, and sustained by the Presbytery at a meeting at Fall River ; and on the 15th of November, 1854, he was duly installed as the first pastor of the church.
The attention and the energies of the youthful enterprise were now taxed to secure a church building. At a meeting of the board of trustees, June 5, 1855, a committee of three - W. Duncan. J. Currie, and Samuel Ritchie, - was appointed,
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THIE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, EAST BOSTON.
with instructions "to inquire about a suitable lot of land, and ascertain the price, terms, and probable cost of a church." On June 12th, that committee made a partial report, and on August 15th, a building committee was appointed, consist- ing of John Armstrong, chairman, Lauchlan McPherson, Thomas Martin, John Currie, John S. Gordon, A. C. Stewart and Samuel B. Cunningham, whose instruc- tions were, " To obtain a suitable lot, to make all necessary arrangements for securing it for a Presbyterian church ; to contract for, and have built thereon, a meeting-house, with the least possible delay, and to draw on the treasury for the necessary funds ; provided that no contracts be made unless there be a reasonable prospect that the money required will be in the treasury at the time appointed." The committee finally decided to secure the lot on which the church now stands, and the purchase was made from General W. H. Sumner ; the lot contained 4,400 square feet, and the price was 75 cents a foot, making a sum of $3,300. A com- mittee of three was named to receive the deed of the land. About this time $2,532 had been subscribed towards the building fund.
The possession of property involved the necessity of an organization in legal form, and it became necessary to call a meeting and organize a religious society, according to the laws of the State. This was done, and, at a meeting held Octo- ber 16, 1855, Benjamin Pond presiding, the Union Presbyterian Church of East Boston was formed by the election of officers and the adoption of a code of by-laws.
On Fast Day, April 10, 1856, the congregation first met in the vestry of the new church for worship, and on the evening of the same day it was formally opened by a sermon by the pastor. The cost of the house, leaving the main audience room unfinished, was $3,900.
Some time in the year 1856 the session of the church was enlarged by the addition of four new elders : John Currie, L. McPherson, A. C. Stewart, and Samuel Ritchie. The officers and committee appointed that year were as follows : Moderator, John Currie ; Clerk, E. M. McPherson ; Treasurer and Collector, Samuel Ritchie ; Assessors, James Reid and Duncan R. Miller ; Standing Com- mittee, A. C. Stewart, Lauchlan McPherson, Samuel Ritchie, John Armstrong, Thomas Martin, William D. Douglass and John Currie.
The next marked stage in the history of " the infant and struggling church " is the removal of the pastor, Rev. D. A. Wallace. He accepted a call to the Presidency of Monmouth College, in Illinois, and gave himself to the work of building up an institution of learning in that rapidly growing State. The congre- gation accepted his resignation with deep regret, and placed on record an address, in which testimony is borne to his faithfulness in pulpit and pastoral work, and to his devotion and zeal in all things pertaining to the upbuilding of the church. His resignation was accepted by the Presbytery September 10, 1856.
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CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
The Rev. H. H. Johnston was the next pastor. His installation took place January 29, 1857. The feeling of despondency which existed during the four months' vacancy, passed away, the congregation rallied around the new pastor, the members again increased, and the ecclesiastical year closed amid brightening prospects.
The next important phase in the life of this church is the change in ecclesi- astical connections. In the month of May, 1858, the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Church entered into a union with another body of Christians called the Associate Church. 'The terms of the basis of union were thought by this congregation to be too restricted ; and when, at the direction of the Presby- tery, the matter came up for consideration, it was decided not to stand with the united church. April 27, 1858, Rev. H. H. Johnston offered to his Presbytery his resignation of pastoral charge, on the ground of his unwillingness to enter the proposed union on the adopted basis, and in order that the congregation might be free to decide as to their future connection. The resignation was laid on the table for consideration. The whole subject of the pastor's resignation and the postponed union was carefully considered by the session, and, with their views and recommendations, was brought before a meeting of the congregation held August 24, 1858, at which it was decided to withdraw from the Associate Reformed Pres- bytery of Boston, and to appoint Daniel Gunn as commissioner to attend the next meeting of the Presbytery of Boston, and inform them of the withdrawal, and of the reasons thereof, and to unite with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of North America - commonly called the Old School Presbyterian Church ; it being relegated to the session of the church to decide to what Pres- bytery of that body it would be most proper to connect.
In accordance with the above instructions, Mr. Gunn laid before the Presby- tery, at a meeting held September 8, 1858, the action of the congregation, and formally withdrew from that body. The pastor, at the same meeting, was dismissed, and letters of ministerial standing were granted. At a meeting of the Presbytery of Londonderry, held at Windham, N. H., on the third Wednesday of October, the congregation, through its delegates, asked to be received, was cordially wel- comed, and taken under the care of that court. At the time of the union of the new and old school branches in 1869, the name of the Londonderry Presbytery was changed to that of the Boston Presbytery, and the congregation stands still in connection with that Presbytery of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the U. S. A.
This change in ecclesiastical relation, thus brought about, was not without opposition. Certain members still adhered to the Associate Reformed Church, and desired to enter with them the proposed union. The deed of the church property was drawn in the name of the Associate Reformed Church, and under
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