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 8
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CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
there has been a steady inflow of converts ; baptisms occuring nearly every month, and all the meetings being well attended. On Sunday morning the spacious auditorium is often over crowded, and the attendance at the Sunday school averages over 1,000. As many as 1,300 have been present at a single session.
This is a free church in the fullest meaning of the term. Rich and poor sit together, in perfect equality, and a right hand of cordial welcome is extended to all who enter its doors. The support is entirely from voluntary contributions.
The success of this church is largely due to efficient committee work. In addition to the committees usually connected with large societies, it has a com- mittee on Neighborhood Meetings, who sustain a weekly gathering for prayer and praise some distance from the church, in which there is a constant and growing interest. The Committee on Young Christians and Inquirers look after the welfare of those who have lately put on Christ, and labor to assist seeking souls in inquiry meetings, or wherever such can be found. The Strangers' Committee endeavor to become acquainted with all new members of the congregation, to visit them at their homes, and to secure their presence in the Sunday school. The Committee on Social Gatherings look after meetings held for the purpose of friendly intercourse, and take measures to make such gatherings enjoyable and beneficial. The Committee on Absent Members, communicates with, and gen- erally keeps track of, members living at a distance. The Temperance Committee conducts a Gospel Temperance Meeting every Sunday afternoon. During the Winter these gatherings are held in the chapel, and in warm weather, out of doors. Members of this committee also go about in groups of five or six, and hold prayer meetings at the homes of those under the bondage of alcohol. The Ladies' Devotional Committee sustain two weekly prayer meetings for ladies ; and the Committee on Sick and Needy do a great work, while ministering to the pressing wants of those afflicted with disease, and those in situations requiring material assistance.
This church is a legally organized corporate body ; having discarded the old custom - which has obtained so long in New England - of having a society separate from the church. It is empowered to transact all business relating to its material affairs ; and every member has part in the control of its property by vote.
CHURCHI OFFICERS :- Pastor, The Rev. R. G. Seymour, D. D .; Clerk : Geo. V. Burr ; Treasurer : Wm. N. Hartshorn ; Superintendent of Sunday School : Chas. B. Lane ; Deacons : Sam'l. Sargent, Jas. A. Crowe, O. A. Drisko, Joseph Bryan.
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THE NEPONSET AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
.
THE NEPONSET AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH,
CHICKATAWBUT STREET, NEPONSET.
In the summer of 1836, religious services began to be held every Sabbath in Neponset Hall, conducted principally by students from Newton Theological Institution. In June of the following year - 1837 - the members organized themselves into a church, and were duly recognized by a Council, which met on the seventh of that month, as a regularly constituted Baptist Church.
The Rev. Bradley Miner commenced to supply the church immediately after the recognition, and was duly installed as Pastor on August 9, 1837. The church at this time numbered twenty members. ยท
The church worshiped in Neponset Hall until August, 1838, when the present Meeting-house was opened. In 1843 the building was enlarged.
Mr. Miner closed his pastorate in April, 1846, having served the church for over eight years. He died in 1854.
In July, 1846, the Rev. Humphrey Richards became the pastor, and con- tinued until his death, which occurred in September, 1854.
The Rev. B. W. Barrows was the next pastor. He had but recently gradu- ated from the Newton Theological Institution, and was ordained pastor of this church on May 30th, 1855. He resigned on January Ist, 1873. After him, the Rev. J. F. Morton led the devotions of the church for about two and a half years, resigning in September, 1875.
He was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Banvard, D. D., the present pastor, who is now (1883) in the eighth year of his pastorate, having been called to the leadership of the church in January, 1876.
About two years ago, a Branch was established by this church at Milton Lower Mills, which subsequently became an Independent Baptist Church.
CHURCH OFFICERS :- Pastor : The Rev. Joseph Banvard, D. D .; Clerk : F. J. Lincolni ; Deacons : David Fales, James T. Murphy ; Treasurer : - Pratt ; Sunday School Superintendent : John M. Barker.
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CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
THE BUNKER HILL BAPTIST CHURCH,
CHARLESTOWN.
This church was organized on the 28th of February, 1850, in Mystic Hall, Charlestown, under the name of the Bethesda Baptist Church, with a membership of 71. The pastor was the Rev. John Blain, previously of the High Street Baptist Church, Charlestown. The first communion was observed June 2d, 1850.
In November, 1850, fourteen of the neighboring churches were invited to act as a Council to consider the propriety of recognising the Bethesda Baptist Church, and admitting it into communion with the denomination. The Council unanimously voted to receive the church into fellowship.
Mr. Blain resigned the pastorate on August 14th, 1853, and was succeeded by the Rev. E. H. Page, of New York, who was installed November 2d, 1853.
Mr. Page resigned in September, 1857. He was succeeded by the Rev. H. C. Graves, who accepted a callin March, 1858. This pastorate was extremely successful, and during it the church was increased greatly. In the interim between these two pastorates, special services were held, at the church's invitation, by the Evangelist, Mr. Earle, which were attended with marked success, as shown by the large accession to the membership.
Mr. Graves resigned in July, 1863. The charge of this church was then assumed by the Rev. J. B. Morse who was settled in September, 1863, and resigned in January, 1867 - this pastor also was greatly blessed in his work, and his name is yet highly esteemed among the people of this district - and next by the Rev. Luther F. Beecher, D. D., installed March, 1867, and resigned December, 1868. The pastors who followed were the Rev. Addison Parker, settled in June, 1869, and resigned in September, 1873; and the Rev. W. O. Holman, who was settled February, 1874, and resigned in April, 1881. Both these pastors were greatly successful, and garnered many sheaves for the church.
The Rev. W. M. Weeks then assumed the pastoral charge - in April, 1882 - for a term of six months, at the end of which time he was compelled to retire on account of ill health.
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THE BUNKER HILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
After this pastorate, the church remained for many months without a pastor until the election of the present incumbent, the Rev. C. F. Nicholson, late of the North Church, New Bedford, which occurred in May, 1883.
The original name of the Church - the Bethesda Baptist Church - was changed by vote to the present one, the Bunker Hill Baptist Church, in February, 1854. The church membership is 295, and that of the Sunday school, 268.
CHURCH OFFICERS :- Pastor : Rev. C. F. Nicholson ; Deacons : William .1. Byam, William Howard, H. J. Mason, L. Bruce ; Clerk : W. Arthur Snow ; Treasurer : Andrew Tower ; Sunday School Superintendent, G. M. Starbird.
THE TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH,
EAST BOSTON.
This church is an offshoot from the Central Square Baptist Church, East Boston, and is the youngest Baptist Church in the City, having been organized in January, 1878. At this time the Rev. George F. Warren retired from the Central Square Church, carrying with him 218 members of the congregation, and thus formed the Trinity Church.
In the fall of 1881, the Rev. Nelson B. Jones, Jr., became the pastor, and great success has attended the united efforts of pastor and people to promote true religion in this community, which is a rapidly growing one. During 1882 nearly 150 new members were received ; about 100 of them being by baptism. The present membership reaches 360. The fervor of youth is upon this body of Christians, and the spirit of aggressiveness characterizes every member of it. The Sunday school is a prosperous one, and has a membership of 475.
CHURCH OFFICERS :- Pastor : The Rev. Nelson B. Jones, Jr .; Deacons : H. Mayo, J. Townsend, F. Rice, F. Fay, J. Bezanson, S. C. Hopkins ; Treasurer : H. Mayo ; Clerk : S. H. Mayo ; Sunday School Superintendent, Jas. Townsend.
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CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
THE BAPTIST BETHEL,
HANOVER, COR. BENNETT STREETS.
A little more than forty years ago the Baptists of Boston began their Bethel enterprise. At that time only an experiment, it has now become an established and successful fact ; an institution which is an integral part of the Baptist denom- ination of the city of Boston, representing, and represented by, all its churches. The efforts put forth in behalf of seamen, by this society, through its several branches has received the manifest blessing of God.
The first distinctively Baptist movement of this kind was made in 1843, but with no marked success. It was the beginning, however, of great things. In 1845 the cause of seamen was taken up in real earuest, a Baptist Bethel Society being organized in June of that year by a committee of three- Thomas Rich- ardson, William Crowell, and Frederick Gould, - chosen for that purpose by the different churches in the city and vicinity. " It was formed," says the committee, " after several preliminary meetings, and much inquiry, deliberation and prayer, by a delegation from all, or nearly all, the churches, chosen for that purpose, and with the cordial approbation of all the pastors." A small hall was opened at the corner of Lewis and Commercial streets for religious services, which were con- ducted by the Rev. Phineas Stowe, who had just been called to that work. In 1850 a regular church organization was established with sixteen members.
Thus commenced the " Bethel Seamen's Mission ;" which, weak and appar- ently insignificant in its beginning, has developed into a truly " mighty work," as it was so aptly called by its founder, Mr. Stowe.
Under the zealous ministrations of Mr. Stowe, interest in the Bethel cause was continually stirred up and kept fresh, and public meetings of the society were held from time to time, for the purpose of presenting its work and wants to the churches.
In April, 1846, a meeting was held at the Bowdoin Square Church, which was addressed by Rev. Messrs. Blain, Colver, and Hague. The report of the committee spoke in the strongest terms of the success attending the labors of Mr. Stowe, and dverted to the growing interest in the Bethel cause among the churches.
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THE BAPTIST BETHEL.
In July, 1846, the committee of the society, consisting of nineteen brethren, from nine churches, issued a circular, in which they stated, that though the society was begun as an experiment, the first year's trial had exceeded their highest hopes. They were. therefore, encouraged to make an earnest appeal to the churches for further assistance.
The churches were the following : Union Street Church, Baldwin Place, Charles Street, Federal Street, Bowdoin Square, Harvard Street, Tremont Street, South Baptist, Friend Street.
TTM
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BOSTON BAPTIST BETHEL CHURCH.
According to the constitution of the society, every Baptist church electing two members annually, and contributing to its funds, becomes, in part, owner and manager of the Bethel hurch property; and this property can never be dis- posed of except by a vote of the society. As new churches have sprung up, in the course of years, in Boston and vicinity, they have evinced a deep interest in the Bethel cause, so that at present the society has a membership representing thirty-eight churches.
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CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
The work of the society has gradually extended, embracing now several departments, - the Church proper, which has its own independent action, the Sunday School, the Mariner's Exchange, a temperance organization, and a great amount of general work, - involving an annual expense of some $5,000, more than $2,000 of which come from the church.
The purchase, in 1864, of the present church edifice, on Hanover street, was an important event in the history of the society. The Bethel work, under Mr. Stowe's indefatigable and greatly successful labors, had far outgrown existing accommodations, and rendered a removal from the small and inconvenient hall on Lewis street, to a larger and more commodious building an absolute necessity.
The spot where this church now stands, the corner of Hanover and North Bennett streets, is a historic, and was once an aristocratic, locality. The Rev. Dr. Samuel Mather, son of Dr. Cotton Mather, and grandson of Dr. Increase Mather, was dismissed from the Second Congregational Church, worshipping in North Square, in December, 1741, and, in the following year, a wooden edifice was erected by his friends on this spot, in which he preached for about forty years. After his death the church was purchased by the Universalists, and the Rev. John Murray was installed pastor in 1793. The present brick structure was erected in 1838.
This "Seamen's Apostle," the Rev. Phineas Stowe, was not, however, allowed to continue his work long in the new location. He died in November, 1868, and the strong impression which he had made on the whole religious community of Boston as a true man of God was touchingly shown by the deep and universal mourning evinced by all classes at his funeral. His remains were taken, after most solemn services at the Bethel Church, to his native town, Milford, Conn., where they were finally laid at rest.
A handsome marble tablet, with a highly eulogistic inscription, is placed behind the pulpit in the Bethel Church, commemorating the devoted life of this apostolic man. The same inscription is also placed on a cenotaph in the Bethel Church's lot at Woodlawn, and, also, a third time, over the actual grave at Milford.
After a year of temporary supplies, the Rev. Henry A. Cooke succeeded to the pastorate in October, 1869, in which he has remained up to the present time, being now (1883), the oldest clergyman in the denomination in active duties, and also the longest settled in one charge.
The death of Mr. Stowe seemed, for the time, to spread a dark cloud over the enterprise to which he really fell a martyr ; but the cause itself was greater than any man ; it was the cause of God and humanity, and could not be retarded by his removal. The deep foundations which he had laid, through long years, in prayer and self-sacrifice, were to abide as a memorial of his great heart.
The Bethel Society has continued its career uninterruptedly to the present time (1883), and never has it been more prosperous than at present under the
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THE BAPTIST BETHEL.
unwearied and faithful labors of the Rev. Mr. Cooke and his estimable wife. In every department, under the general supervison of the society, there are abundant signs of encouragement, bidding it go forward in its work of benevolence, which is now even a greater necessity than it was forty years ago.
The paramount claim which the Bethel Society has upon the active sympathies of the denomination, arises from its immediate relation to seamen -a claim which no Christian can fail to acknowledge. To seamen we owe the mighty debt involved in the general commission of the Saviour ; in the special circumstances of trial, exposure, and temptation which pertain to their hazardous and migratory calling : and in the benefits to commerce, and almost every department of our social life, which accrue to us from their privations and hardships. To this sea- men's work, the Bethel Society is specially and chiefly consecrated.
Moreover, the Bethel Church stands almost alone in the north part of the city as a representative of the Baptist denomination, and the Bethel Society is the only local object in which all the Baptist churches are united, by their several delegates.
The church has a membership of about 350, among whom are representa- tives of all nations. Its members, also, though comprising many residents of the city, are scattered over the whole world ; and the sun, as Mr. Stowe truly said, never sets on this church. The seamen who, through the Bethel ministrations, are converted and turned to God, and received into fellowship with the Bethel Church, leaving the city again to " do their business in great waters," carry the gospel banner, and the Bethel Church membership, throughout the globe -to Eng- land, France, Spain, China, far-off India, and Australia, and the "Isles of the Sea." Of a sober truth, this is a wide scope for godly influence, bounded only by the illimitable sea, and the circumference of the " great globe itself."
The members of the Board of Trustees of the Bethel Society are elected annually. Several have served on the Board for many years, and have rendered constant aid to both the former and present pastor. The following are the names of the members for 1883 :-
First Baptist, Wm. Fosdick, Wm. Beals ; Warren Avenue, Geo. L. Norris, P. F. Folsom ; Clarendon Street, Abijah Hall, Matthew Bolles ; Harvard Street, Wm. A. Spooner, R. C. Wallis ; Bowdoin Square, S. A. Wilbur, A. T. Graves ; Union Temple, A. M. Jamson, L. W. Hazen ; South, H. P. Hanson, Henry McCoy ; Fourth Street, Wm. J. English, John Browbill ; Central Square, Jesse Smith, S. T. Chase ; Trinity, H. Mayo, S. C. Hopkins ; Dudley Street, Edward F. Mecuen, G. H. Newell ; Dearborn Street, Sam'l A. Howard, Alfred Naylor ; Ruggles Street, Joseph Worthington, Geo. V. Burr; First (Charlestown), John Linscott, J. H. Blanchard ; Bunker Hill, E. G. Byam, G. M. Starbird ; First (Cambridge), J. M. S. Williams, R. O. Fuller ; Old Cambridge, Wm. H. Brown, T. Watson Merrill ;
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CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
North Avenue, D. D. Haskell, Jr., D. H. Hayward ; East Cambridge, J. W. Gard- ner, Geo. H. Howard ; First (Chelsea), John Avery, Sam'l Reed ; Cary Avenue, Charles P. Godfrey, Vernon A. Field, Thos. Martin ; Jamaica Plain, S. P. Putnam, Wm. C. Cameron; Brookline, Osavius Verney, R. G. F. Candage ; Perkins Street, Samuel Cutler, T. P. Daniels ; Watertown, Royal Gilkey, Chas. F. Jackson ; Malden, G. L. Richards, Chas. Merrill ; Newton Centre, Thos. Niekerson, J. D. A. Gross; Newton, A. B. Marshall, Benj. Lentell ; Waltham, E. M. Richard- son, Charles P. Bond ; Hyde Park, George Nieles, W. P. Stone ; Melrose, Thos. T. Bailey, G. E. Carr; Arlington, Harrison Swan, Geo. G. Allen ; Wallaston Heights, J. Sparrow, J. P. Perry, H. Gannett ; Washington Street (Lynn), G. K. Pevear, A. F. Smith ; Bethel, A. F. Whittemore, R. Bowen, R. Holman, N. A. Fitch ; Medford, J. P. Abbott, C. H. Clark, T. W. Hamlin ; Stoughton Street, W. I. Tuckerman, R. B. Walker ; Charles River, W. A. Munroe, C. Homes.
LADIES' BETHEL SOCIETY .- In the spring of 1847 a number of ladies who had become interested in the labors of Mr. Stowe among seamen, met for consul- tation as to the best method of aiding him in his work, and appointed a committee for the purpose of calling a meeting of all ladies interested in the object, looking toward the formation of a society ; and a week later, a meeting was held in the committee-room of Bowdoin Square Church, which resulted in the organization of the Boston Ladies' Bethel Society. The society was incorporated in 1855, and by means of various " sales" and "festivals " added several thousand dollars to the funds. In 1864 $13,000 were contributed by this society towards the pur- chase of the Bethel Church. As in many other enterprises - especially in those pertaining to the Kingdom of God,- the era of woman's work has proved to be the era of true efficiency. The movement had begun before, but the spring and scintillation were never put into the work, until the female heart was enlisted.
On April 5, 1883, the 38th anniversary of the Bethel Society was celebrated ; the actual organization having been some two years after its commencement. The following report of the event appeared in The Watchman:
On Fast-Day evening, April 5th, the Bethel held its 38th anniversary at the church on Hanover street, the Hon. J. M. S. Williams, so long President, in the chair. The gathering in the evening was preceded by a meeting of the Ladies' Bethel Circle, presided over by the newly-chosen President, Mrs. Robert Newman. At the more public anniversary. after devotional exercises, the report of the treas- urer, Mr. Nathan A. Fitch, who has been connected with the society for a quarter of a century, was presented Deacon Fitch, who is also Superintendent of the Sunday School, which relation he has held over twenty years, gave an inter- esting review of its growth from forty-five officers and scholars to nearly 200 more than that figure. From the report of the missionary, Mr. John Welch, it appears that 61,930 persons have attended the services at the Bethel during the
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THE BAPTIST BETHEL.
past year, an increase of 173 over the previous year. Of this number, 21,080 were seamen ; which, also, is an increase over the former year. The society has given away, during the year, 300 portions of the Word of God, and 100 Testa- ments printed in foreign languages, principally in rhe Swedish language. The reading-room is open daily. The report of temperance work by Mr. Rufus Hol- man showed that the work had been carried vigorously forward during the year, and that 904 persons had signed the pledge. The Chaplain, Rev. Henry A. Cooke, gave some interesting statistics in regard to the establishing of the Bethel and its attendant societies. The temperance organization connected with the society is said to be the oldest open temperance order in the State. The Ladies" Bethel Society was organized in 1846, and the Bethel Church in 1850, and during its existence 600 persons have been received as members, either by the hand of fellowship, or by letter. About 300 have been received during the present pas- torate of thirteen and a half years. Mr. Stowe was pastor nearly twenty years. During the past year, sixteen have been received by baptism and five by letter.
The following hymn -by the author of the national hymn " America," Dr. S. F. Smith, - and written specially for this anniversary occasion, was sung :
God of the sea, thy mighty power, Our shield and hope in danger's hour, Soothes the wild winds o'er ocean's breast, And bids the tossing billows rest.
God of the land, thy loving voice Allays our doubt and wakes our joys; All glories, Lord, in thee combine, And calm and storm alike are thine.
O bless the wanderer o'er the wave, And make him know thy power to save; And far and wide, o'er land and main, Maintain the scepter of thy reign.
The absence of the chaplain's estimable wife from this anniversary was felt by all, and the tender reference to her and her family were warmly responded to by the congregation, which had in it representatives from a score of churches. Mrs. Cooke, as the wife of both pastors of the Bethel Church, has been intimately associated with the Bethel cause for more than thirty years. The work of the Bethel is now receiving a fresh impulse from the efforts of members of the Bap- tist Social Union, who are about to supply the pastor with an assistant in his work. The church and reading-room are always open and accessible to strangers. A prayer meeting is also held every week day at 3 P. M.
CHURCH OFFICERS : - Pastor : The Rev. Henry A. Cooke ; Deacons : Alfred Whittemore, Nathan A. Fitch, Romeo Bowen, Wm. E. Dennis, George Dority ; Clerk : R. Holman ; Treasurer : Alfred Whittemore ; Sunday School Superinten- dent : Nathan A. Fitch.
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CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
THE DEARBORN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH,
DEARBORN STREET.
This church is the outgrowth of a desire to care for the religiously destitute population in the vicinity of Roxbury Point. In the year 1847, Gustavus F. Delesdernier, and a few other members of the Dudley Street Baptist Church, impressed with the need of evangelical Christian labor in that portion of the com- munity, commenced a Sunday School and prayer meeting in Williams Hall, at the junction of Albany and Hampden streets.
Until the year 1858, this mission, although aided and encouraged by the Dudley Street Baptist Church, had never been officially recognized by it as a body, but in that year a mission committee was appointed by the church, and the super- vision of this field was entrusted to their care. During the succeeding year Cyrus A. Carlton, and other students at the Newton Theological Institution, were partly engaged to visit the families in the neighborhood.
About the year 1859, Deacon Nath'l O. Hart was chosen Superintendent of the Sunday School, and held that office till 1863. Upon his resignation Joseph G. Shed was elected, and served in that position until January, 1883, when he declined a re-election.
In April, 1867, a lot of land on Dearborn street was purchased, and the pro- ject of building a chapel was undertaken. On November 8th following, the completed building was dedicated to the service of God. A Sunday and week- day service were thereafter maintained. In January, 1869, Edward W. Pride was engaged to labor as a missionary in the field, and was ordained to the gospel ministry in June. Two years later this force of Christian workers seemed ready to crystallize into a church. At a meeting held January 31, 1871, fifty-one mem- bers from the Dudley Street, Stoughton Street, Union Temple, Harvard Street and Charles Street Churches signified their willingness to form such a body. Accord- ingly they organized themselves into the " Dearborn Street Baptist Church," and on March 23, were recognized by neighboring sister churches. Nath'l O. Hart and Robt. W. Ames were chosen deacons, and Rev. Edward W. Pride was elected pastor. Of the constituent members, a majority were from the Dudley Street Baptist Church, which had supplied the strength of the mission for many years.
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