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 9
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81
THE DEARBORN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Dearborn Street Baptist Church was founded upon the principle of the Gospel to give to him that hath need. It has since proceeded with this purpose, independently, and in the face of every discouragement. It owes much to the labors of, its first pastor, the Rev. Edward W. Pride, and his wife, who was the oldest daughter of Deacon Nath'l O. Hart. The noble character of Deacon Hart, and his great personal power and devotion to this particular cause, have rendered his memory imperishable in this church.
Mr. Pride's pastorate terminated by resignation, April 7, 1878. The follow- ing month the church called the Rev. Charles A. Reese to the pastorate, which he still retains. He was ordained and installed on June 20th, of the same year.
At the formation of the church, Mrs. Robt. W. Ames donated a communion service, and in June, 1882, the trustees of the Charles Street Church presented the communion service of that memorable old church to this new one. It con- sists of fourteen handsome pieces and has an especially sacred character in the eyes of its present possessors, from its association with those godly men who so long used it in the service of that hallowed parent church.
CHURCH OFFICERS- Pastor : Rev. C. A. Reese; Deacons: Joseph G. Shed, Herbert H. W. Edmands, Peter S. Houston ; Clerk : H. H. W. Edmands ; Sunday School Superintendent : Watson A. Dakin.
THE FIRST GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCH,
VERNON STREET, CORNER OF CABOT.
The First German Baptist Church was organized in 1879, and recognized as a Baptist church by a council of churches in October of that year. It then num- bered sixteen members, and worshiped in a small room on Tremont street.
In December, 1880, the church dedicated its first meeting-house. It is a frame building on Vernon street, near Cabot street, with a seating capacity of 300. The membership now is 70. Its Sunday School has 80 scholars. The church called to its pastorate at its organization, the Rev. F. A. Licht, a graduate of Rochester Theological Seminary, who still remains at the head of this little band of believers.
CHURCH OFFICERS : - Pastor : F. A. Licht ; Deacons : H. Grohe, G. Uzinger ; Clerk : F. Trasch ; Treasurer : H. Grohe ; Superintendent of Sunday School : F. A. Licht.
82
CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
THE FOURTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH,
FOURTH STREET, COR. L STREET, SOUTH BOSTON.
About the year 1853 some of the members of the South Baptist Church and others, noting the rapidly increasing population at City Point, attempted to gather into a Sabbath school in some suitable place, the many children who idly roamed the streets on the Lord's Day.
But as no convenient room or hall of sufficient size could be found, it was resolved to erect a small chapel, providing sufficient funds could be obtained, and to this end a number of meetings were held by those favorable to the movement ; and at one of these meetings a paper was presented for signatures of those who would pledge themselves to pecuniary assistance to aid in carrying out this project.
The result of this movement was very gratifying, for, in the space of two or three months, the sum of $2,200 had been subscribed, of which, $830 were given by members of the South Baptist Church.
Thus encouraged, the friends interested in the undertaking obtained from the city authorities a lot of land, 100 by 125 feet, at the corner of Fourth and 1. Streets, where the church now stands. The lot was obtained on bond, pur- chasable within ten years, for the sum of $1,000, to be held in Trust for religious purposes only, and at a rent of $45 per annum until the completion of the pur- chase, for the sum and within the time above stated.
Without further delay a neat and commodious chapel was erected, and on August 6th, 1854, was dedicated with appropriate services.
On the Sabbath following the dedication of the chapel, the Sunday school held its first session, at which there were present thirty-three scholars and ten teachers.
The school gradually increased, and great encouragement was felt by the movers in the enterprise. Preaching was maintained every Sabbath evening for about one year by the pastors of Boston and vicinity, who kindly proffered their services, and some months after the formation of the Sabbath school, a weekly prayer meeting was established.
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THE FOURTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
About this time the Rev. Mr. Wightman, then a student at the Newton Theological Institution, was invited to preach on Sabbath evenings, which he did for about a year, after which, for the space of three months, no regular preaching was enjoyed.
In November, 1856, the Rev. Mr. Howard was invited to act as colporteur in connection with the Sabbath school, and his labors, which extended over a period of six months, were very successful, many children being gathered into the school through his instrumentality. The expense of his support was partly borne by the American Bible Society.
At the close of Mr. Howard's labors, which occurred in June, 1857, preach- ing was again partially discontinued, and the attendance at the Sabbath school declined in consequence.
Shortly afterwards, the doors of the chapel were closed against the preaching of the Gospel ; the South Baptist Church having voted to accept the report of the committee recommending this course, unless the people in the neighborhood were willing to bear their proportion of the expense necessary for the maintenance of Divine worship.
The aspect of things continued thus gloomy until November, 1857, when, by vote of the church, the Rev. Mr. Filts was engaged to preach for the remainder of the year. At the end of this term, the Rev. Samuel Davies was called to con- duct regular Divine services.
Having accepted the invitation, he began his work on the Ist of January, 1858.
This effort was attended with unlooked-for success; the preaching was blessed to the conversion of some, and to the spiritual quickening of many, and among the people the conviction was deepened that the time was ripe for the formation of a church in their midst.
Twenty-five (25) members of various churches were dismissed to form this one, and on Wednesday, the 21st of April, 1858, in accordance with vote of council on the 14th of the same month, the friends gathered at the chapel, and the union of the brethren was duly recognized as a regularly constituted Baptist Church.
The pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Davies continued until January, 1860, and in October of that year the Rev. A. H. Stowell, of Seekonk, R. I., received the call of the church to become its pastor, which having accepted, he was settled as pastor in December, 1860, and continued with them until March, 1862.
During the month of June, 1862, the Rev. E. A. Lecompt preached three times for them so acceptably, that a call was immediately extended to him, and on August Ist, 1862, he began his labors in this field, the church membership at that time being seventy-three.
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CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
The Sabbath school had now increased from the original thirty-three, to upwards of 200 scholars.
Under the pastorate of Mr. Lecompt the congregations rapidly increased, until the chapel was found to be too small to accommodate those who attended, and the society engaged themselves in the raising of funds for the erection of a larger house of worship, the building of which was commenced in the fall of 1864, and the year 1865 saw the fruition of their exertions in the form of a com- modious and beautiful church, within whose walls -during now (1883) nearly 20 years - many souls have been born into the Kingdom.
The dedication of the new church edifice took place on Thursday evening, February 2d, 1865.
The Rev. Mr. Lecompt ended his labors in this field, on December 31st, 1868, after a very successful pastorate of over six years.
On the 19th of September, 1869, the Rev. Evan Lewis was settled as pastor, but remained only about two years, and on the Ist of January, 1872, the Rev. Andrew Pollard, D. D., became the pastor, and labored efficiently in the winning of souls, after which, for some six months, the church remained without a pastor. The Rev. L. L. Wood next received a call, and began on December 6th, 1874, a pastorate that extended over a period of about five years.
The pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Wood closed in June, 1879, and after an interval of almost a year, the present pastor, Rev. Charles H. Spalding, then at Arlington, accepted the unanimous call of the church, and became its pastor on the 2d of May, 1880.
The labors of the present pastor have been greatly blessed in this vineyard, and it is hoped that he may long continue his labors here.
At the present time (1883), the material prosperity of the church is a matter for congratulation. The mortgage on the property has been reduced by $2,000, leaving now an incumbrance of only $6,000, which, it is hoped, may soon be entirely wiped out.
The Sabbath school, under the able management of Mr. John A. Burgess, Is in a most prosperous condition, the membership at present being over 500. The present membership of the church is about 260.
CHURCH OFFICERS :- Pastor : Rev. Charles H. Spalding ; Deacons : Timothy Wheater, Sylvester Hinckley, D. D. Alexander, Henry Andrews, Jr .; Clerk : H. A. Burgess ; Treasurer : D. D. Alexander ; Trustees : Rev. Andrew Pollard. D. 1)., Timothy Wheater, Henry Andrews, Jr., William J. English, Frank J. Tuttle.
85
THE STOUGHTON STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
THE STOUGHTON STREET BAPTIST CHURCH,
STOUGHTON STREET, DORCHESTER.
The records concering the earliest movements of public Christian life in this out-lying district of Boston are very meagre. From the reminiscences of some of the older members, an account of the first steps has been obtained.
The first inception of an evangelical interest in this locality is traced to the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. David Clapp, who were members of the church over which the Rev. Dr. Codman was pastor. Prayer meetings, and occasionally preaching services, were held at Mr. Clapp's house, Dr. Codman usually presid- ing. After awhile, the labors of this pious family were supplemented by those of Miss Sarah Baker, of Savin Hill. This lady also succeeded in organizing a prayer meeting in the old school-house which stood near the site of the engine house on Boston street. The result of these persistent labors was, finally, the establish- ment of Sabbath services at Union Hall, now a dwelling house, on Dudley street. This was a union movement made by Orthodox Congregationalists, Methodists, and Baptists conjointly, and lasted for about a year.
Finally a meeting was held on May 3, 1845, to consider the subject of the proposed organization of a Gospel Church, according to the denominational views of the majority of those interested. A committee of three- Messrs. ยท Shailer, Coburn, and Davis- was appointed to confer with the brethren in the vicinity ; and this committee shortly afterwards reported that the majority were Baptists ; and that accordingly it seemed best to organize a Baptist church.
Several preliminary meetings were held during the summer of 1845, at which Articles of Faith and a Church Covenant were adopted, and a call to the pastor- ate was given to, and accepted by, the Rev. D. T. Shailer.
On the 15th of September a council of the churches met to consider the recognition of the church by the denomination. The council voted unanimously to recognize the church under the name of the North Dorchester Baptist Church, and services of recognition were held in Union Hall, on Sabbath evening, the 23d of September, 1845, the Rev. Dr. Caldicott preaching the sermon. The number of original members was sixteen.
On the day of the meeting above mentioned, ground was broken for the erection of a new church building, but about two years passed before it was
86
CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
completed and dedicated. The usual dedicatory services finally took place in March, 1847.
In June of this year the Rev. D. T. Shailer resigned the pastorate. Under his ministrations nine members were added by letter and five by baptism. . \ vacancy then ensued of some months, during which four were added to the church by letter.
In March, 1848, the Rev. F. G. Brown became the pastor, and remained until April, 1850, when he resigned. His pastorate, though short, was successful, and the church parted from him with great regret. He went from this church to that at West Townsend. During Mr. Brown's pastorate. and the interval which followed, eleven persons were joined to the church.
The Rev. James W. Lathrop received and accepted a call in January, 1851. Shortly afterwards the church elected its first Deacons, who were Messrs. Caleb Coburn, Jacob Davis, and George Ellis. Within two weeks afterwards Deacon Coburn died, at the age of 62. This pastorate extended over a period of more than five years, and was a prosperous and successful one. The additions during this time and the next interval were by letter, seven ; by experience, two ; and by baptism, thirteen.
The next pastor was the Rev. Henry F. Lane, who was installed on July S, 1857, and continued until the end of 1859. Under his leadership thirty-three members joined the body.
During this pastorate the financial condition of the church and society became so urgent as to force itself on the attention of the officers and members. The indebtedness had been increasing for several years, and an effort was greatly needed for relief. Under the stimulating words and example of the pastor, the con- gregation rallied for this purpose, and succeeded, by June, 1860, in raising the required amount, and thus freeing the church from the incubus of debt.
Four pastorates succeeded that of Mr. Lane, viz. : The Rev. P. H. Steenstra, who became pastor in July, 1860, and left in October, 1863; the Rev. D. M. Crane, who was settled in April, 1864, and resigned in March, 1866; the Rev. Charles H. Rowe, settled in August, 1866, and resigned in March, 1871 ; and the Rev. M. Angelo Dougherty, who assumed the charge in July, 1872, and resigned in September, 1877.
In the spring of 1869, the number of active members was seventy-seven. In April, 1870, it was voted by the church, at a quarterly meeting, that, "whereas the town of Dorchester has been annexed to the city of Boston, this church take the name of 'The Stoughton Street Baptist Church.'"
In April, 1873, the church was presented with a baptistry by some of its members, and thereafter the baptismal services took place in the church building. I'reviously, all the baptisms of this church had been performed in the open air at
87
THE STOUGHTON STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
Savin Hill. In the early days of the Baptist church in Boston, it was usual to baptize out of doors in some of the surrounding water, very few of the churches' having baptistries. The practice was necessitated by the want of means of the younger churches, but was open to many objections, and, gradually, as the churches grew in wealth and number of members, dropped into desuetude.
On October 30, 1878, the church building was entirely destroyed by fire. It was supposed to be an act of incendiarism. It was, however, very quickly rebuilt ; being again restored, and the services of re-dedication were held on July 16, 1879. The cost of the new building was $9,000. The seating capacity is 400.
In December of the same year- 1879, the present pastor, the Rev. Albert T. Dunn, was installed, and continues in the office to the present time (1883). The church has entirely recovered from its adverse experiences, and is enjoying a season of calm prosperity. The present pastor's ministrations are effective and successful. The present membership is 240.
The history of the Sunday School is contemporaneous with that of the church. Deacon George Ellis was its superintendent, for a period of 20 years. The present officers are as follows :- Superintendent : R. B. Walker ; Assistant Superintendent : John L. Bird ; Secretary : E. P. Upham ; Assistant Secretary : W. E. Mylod ; Treasurer : S. B. Handren ; Librarian : H. F. Bryant ; Assistant Librarian: George B. Smith. Its membership, May 1, 1883, is 475.
CHURCH OFFICERS : - Pastor : The Rev. Albert T. Dunn ; Deacons : George Ellis, Alfred Haskell, James Richardson, William A. Holland, William Roberts ; Sunday School Superintendent : R. B. Walker ; Clerk : H. F. Holland ; Treas- urer : H. P. Bailey ; Collector : H. H. Leonard.
88
CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
THE ROSLINDALE BAPTIST CHURCH.
In May, 1873, the Jamaica Plain Baptist Church, from which six of the mem- bers of this church came, chose a committee to inquire as to the expediency of commencing Baptist services in Roslindale, and by their recommendation services were begun on June ist in the Florence school-house.
A church was regularly formed, with thirteen members, on March 13th, and publicly recognized April 8, 1875, under the name of the Roslindale Baptist Church. Rev. S. F. Smith preached, as a supply, for considerable time, and the Rev. G. W. Thomas was chosen pastor June 7, 1879. Mr. Thomas resigned April 14, 1881.
The Rev. W. F. Armstrong was called August 12, 1881, and resigned March 9, 1882, having received a call to labor in Providence, R. I. Mr. W. A. McKillop, a student in Newton Theological Institution, was then engaged for one year, and commenced his labors on the first Sunday in October, 1882. Thirty- four members have been added by baptism, and twenty-four by letter and experience. Seven have been dismissed by letter and three have died. The church now worships in Association Hall, on South street, and a lot has been pur- chased on which to build a new churche-difice. The present membership is 69. The Sunday School numbers 167, with an average attendance of about 100.
CHURCH OFFICERS : - Pastor : The Rev. W. A. McKillop; Clerk : John Weld ; Treasurer : J. A. Charlton ; Executive Committee : W. H. Mckenzie, B. F. Pike, J. W. Tappan.
89
THE DUDLEY STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
THE DUDLEY STREET BAPTIST CHURCH,
137 DUDLEY STREET, ROXBURY.
The history of this suburban church is but a variation of that of many of its older sister churches, placed nearer the heart of the city. A small Sabbath school, prayer meetings held irregularly in the private houses of Christian men, gradually developed into preaching services in an unpretentious and primitive hall ; from which, by slow and tedious gradations, encompassed by no few or small dis-
THE DUDLEY STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, ROXBURY
couragements, the advance is finally made to a fully organized Christian church, with regular and fully appointed services, held in a suitable ecclesiastical edifice.
The origin of the Dudley Street Church is traced back to the year 1817. At that time, even this, the most thickly settled portion of the town of Roxbury, had but a small population, and but one religious society, worshiping in the old meeting-house on the hill. Of this society, the Rev. Dr. Porter had then been pastor for thirty-five years, having been settled in 1782. The neighbouring country presented the same diversified appearance as now, with the same " remarkable
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CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
alternation of hills and hollows," but with none of the beautiful private residences and broad avenues leading to them, which are now seen everywhere. Stony Brook, whose course cannot now be so easily traced, and which was soon to become a Jordan to many a happy disciple of Jesus, pursued its open way. Boston had not then become a city, and contained not more than forty thousand inhabitants. It was fully two miles and a half away ; and the one road to it was over a bleak, uninhabited, and, as was then supposed, almost uninhabitable, neck of land. At that time, Boston had four Baptist churches all told ; the First Church, of which ' the beloved Winchell ' was pastor, though he passed to an early grave the year before this church was constituted ; the Second Church, of which Dr. Baldwin was still pastor, at the mature age of sixty-four ; the Third Church, afterwards known as the " Charles-street," where the Rev. Mr. Sharp, (he had not then attained unto the dignity of " Dr." Sharp,) was gaining a wide reputation as a preacher of the gospel ; and a colored church, now called the " Independent."
This was the year 1817. In the autumn of this year, Mr. Beza Tucker, a member of the Old South Society in Boston, but not a member of the church, being a resident of Roxbury, opened his house on Sabbath evenings for preach- ing. This house is still standing, and is situated on Shawmut Avenue, a few rods only from the church. It is well known as the Governor Sumner house ; Increase Sumner, who was governor of Massachusetts in 1797-1799, having spent the last twenty years of his life in it. Among those whose services were secured to preach in that place was Mr. Ensign Lincoln, a member of Mr. Sharp's church, a printer by trade, who had been licensed as a preacher, but was never ordained and settled as a pastor. He was in the habit, for many years, of riding out from Boston to neighboring villages to preach on Sunday where his services were 'required.
These meetings were continued till the spring of 1818, when Mr. Tucker secured the use of a large room in a building owned by Deacon Samuel Sumner, and converted it into a hali for preaching and religious meetings. On account of the manner in which the hall was fitted up, it was called familiarly, and, perhaps contemptuously, " The White-wash." Here religious services were held for several months ; the Rev. James Sabine, pastor of the Essex Street Congregational Church, officiated most frequently.
This religious movement was at first begun, and carried on by Congrega- tionalists. In consequence, however, of the difficulty of obtaining Congre- gationalist clergymen to preach in this section, owing to the rigid observance of parish lines; and the supposed impropriety at that time of crossing them ; the enterprise was handed over to the Baptists, who were then few in number, and feeble in resources ; a condition which was common to many religious communities in those days.
9|
THE DUDLEY STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
In the beginning of 1819, Rev. Stephen Chapin, who had just been led to accept Baptist sentiments, was engaged by Mr. Lincoln to preach in the hall for three months. Mr. Lincoln himself supplied the desk during the remainder of the year. In the spring or early summer, a Sabbath school was gathered in the brick building adjoining the hall ; and Jacob Frieze was elected its first superin- tendent. The labors of the year were attended by the converting power of God's Spirit ; and quite a number were brought to acknowledge their sinfulness, and need of divine forgiveness, and to trust in Him who gave his life a ransom for many.
The subject of building a house of worship had been frequently agitated ; but no active measures were undertaken until near the close of 1819. Three thousand dollars having been first subscribed, at a meeting held October 7, a committee was appointed to purchase a suitable lot of land, and superintend the erection of the building. This committee consisted of John Heath, William Wyman, Jr., Antipas Jackson, and Edward Humphris. John Heath, who was a Congregation- alist, was appointed treasurer, and rendered valuable service to the society in this office for several years. To this committee, Samuel Langley, Heman Lincoln of Boston, and Elijah Corey of Brookline, were afterward added. Again, it was increased by the addition of Beza Tucker, John Haynes, Ward Jackson of Boston, Levi Farwell of Cambridge, Timothy Corey of Brookline, and Josiah Coolidge of Watertown. The work of raising funds was pushed forward, the brethren from Brookline and other places rendering much help; and, before the winter was over, the sum of seven thousand dollars had been subscribed. Of this sum, Mr. Tucker, who had cheerfully at the first thrown open his house for the preaching of the gospel, and whose interest in the movement seemed only to increase with his declining health, gave a thousand dollars. Never can the members of this church forget their great indebtedness to Mr. Tucker, and men of kindred spirit, who, though not in all respects of this faith, contributed so generously to lay here the foundations of a Baptist church. Others wished well to the enterprise, although much opposition came from the baser sort, as might well be expected, in a place where morality was at a low ebb, and darkness had long reigned.
The lot of ground first purchased was that on which the Universalist house of worship now stands. But the present lot being deemed in some respects more desirable, the former lot was surrendered, and this one was purchased of Deacon Munroe. On the 10th of May, 1820, the building was raised ; and on that same day the remains of Mr. Tucker, the early and generous-hearted friend of this society, were carried to the grave. The house of worship was built according to agreement, by Samuel Langley and Edward Humphris, and was publicly set apart to the preaching of the gospel, and to the worship of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 1820.
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