USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Clinton > History of the origin of the town of Clinton, Massachusetts, 1653-1865 > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
* For full account of this church, see Courant of August 27, 1892.
447
ORGANIZATION.
five o'clock. Among those who preached were Revs. Cross and Tracy of West Boylston, Davis of Fitchburg and Pack- ard of Lancaster. Revivals were the result of this Sunday School and this preaching, and thus the number of those professing faith in Christ was constantly increased through confession as well as from the influx of operatives.
June 11, 1844, H. N. Bigelow, L. F. Bancroft, G. H. Ken- dall, T. B. Sawyer, C. K. Sawyer and A. H. Parker, "men- bers of the Religious Society which has recently worshiped in the Brick School-House in the South Village in Lancaster," petitioned James G. Carter to issue a warrant for a meeting to be held June 19th, for the purpose of organizing a society. Such a meeting was legally called on the specified date. William Eaton was chosen clerk and duly sworn by J. G. Carter. Levi Greene was made moderator and a committee consisting of H. N. Bigelow, J. B. Parker, Levi Greene, A. H. Parker and Haskell McCollum chosen to draft a code of by-laws for the society. This committee called the adjourned meeting July 16th, and made its report. The first article reads: "Resolved : That we form ourselves into a religious society to be known as the Second Evangelical Society in Lancas- ter, and to unite with a church of Christ which is hereafter to be formed in support of Orthodox Evangelical Preaching in the South Village of Lancaster."
No action of the society looking toward the building of a chapel was entered upon the records, but the next recorded meeting of the society was called at "their chapel," Decem- ber 10, 1844. This chapel was largely built by the means, and under the supervision of H. N. Bigelow. The site of this building was the southwest corner of Main and Ster- ling Streets. Its doors, one upon either side of the front, opened from Main Street. As one entered the audience room, the pulpit was directly in front and on the west side of the oblong structure. The singing-seats were on the east side between the doors. There were no pews, but settees
448
FIRST EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
were used. The seating capacity was two hundred. The room was heated by box stoves .*
The first entry in the records of the Second Evangelical Church of Lancaster was made September 26, 1844. It was as follows: A number of brethren who are members of Christ's visible church in different places, feeling it impor- tant on account of the growing population and other reasons that there should be a church of Christ organized in Clinton- ville. Lancaster, met at the chapel for prayer and considera- tion of the matter. After a choice of Rev. J. M. R. Eaton for moderator and after deliberation on the subject, it was thought to be the duty of all friends of Christ in the place to unite and take the steps for forming a church here. It was then voted that a committee of five be selected to draw up a form of covenant, confession of faith and articles of discipline. Rev. J. M. R. Eaton, Deacon J. B. Parker, Levi Houghton, Haskell McCollum and Hiram Morgan were chosen. Artemas H. Parker, Anson Lowe and C. K. Saw- yer were chosen a committee to obtain the names of all who would unite in building up Christ's kingdom in the place."
A meeting was called to hear the report of these com- mittees on the twenty-second of October. Fifty-five persons had been found, who, being members of churches in different places, were ready to unite to form a church here. The covenant, confession of faith and discipline and rules of the church presented, were those usual in Evangelical Congre- gational churches and possess no striking peculiarities.
*In later years, after being used by the Baptists and being altered in 1849, at an expense of about a thousand dollars, for a High School, the building was moved to the south near the present site of Wallace's grain store and raised and changed into a tenement house of two stories. The doors were put on one of the longer sides and smaller win- dows were put in. Otherwise, the outside appearance of the building was little altered. Still later, it was moved to the north side of Sterling Street, where it is now standing opposite the Wire Mill. It is known as the Dunbar or Lyman House.
449
ORGANIZATION.
November 14th, an evangelical council was called at the house of H. N. Bigelow. There were delegates from the churches in Harvard, West Boylston, Lancaster, Fitchburg and Leominster. Rev. George Fisher of Harvard was made moderator. The council then adjourned to the chapel. Letters of recommendation were presented from various churches for fifty-one persons who wished to unite to form the new church .*
"Documents were then laid before the council and state- ments made, whereupon it was
"Voted: That the proceedings of the petitioners for a new church have thus far been satisfaciory, and that it is ex- pedient and desirable that a new church be formed.
"Voted: That the persons whose names have been read be formed into a church of Christ to be called the "Second Evangelical Church of Lancaster." In the public services in the afternoon, Rev. Hope Brown offered the introductory prayer, Rev. J. W. Cross of West Boylston preached the ser- mon, Rev. George Fisher of Harvard read the Confession of
*From the church in Lancaster: Sophia Greene, John Lowe, Jr., Sylvia McCollum, Mary Lowe, Martha L. Gibbs, Lorinda Lowe, Haskell McCol- lum, Polly Bigelow, Lucy Greene, Betsy Stone, Eliza Houghton, Eliza E. Houghton, Levi Houghton, Joseph B. Parker, Anson Lowe, Eliza H. Sawyer, Joseph T. Sawyer, Emily Bigelow, Ira G. Childs, Abigail Childs, Levi Greene, Nathaniel Rice, Mary A. Parker, Mary E. Sawyer, Mary Ann Osgood, Charles Miller.
From the church in West Boylston: Elizabeth S. Parker, Lucina L. Morgan, Hiram Morgan.
From church in Shirley: Hannah Harris, Sampson Worcester, Mary B. Worcester, Almira Worcester, William Eaton, Susan Eaton, Louisa E. Jewett.
From church in Leominster: George W. Wakefield, Maria Wakefield, George H. Wheelock.
From church in Northboro: C. K. Sawyer, Nancy H. Sawyer.
From Southwick, Roxana Wilcox; Sturbridge, Enoch K. Gibbs; Hol- den, Adeline E. Howe; Oxford, Abijah Nichols, Mary E. Nichols; church in Andover Theological Seminary, A. H. Parker; Darien, James I. Wyer; Weston, Henry H. Wyer; Providence, R. I., Jonas Hunt, Eliza Hunt.
30
450
FIRST EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
Faith and Covenant by which the church was constituted. Rev. E. W. Bullard of Fitchburg offered the constituting prayer and Rev. Charles Packard of Lancaster gave the right hand of fellowship. . Rev. O. G. Hubbard of Leomin- ster offered the concluding prayer. January 7, 1845, Joseph B. Parker and Ira G. Childs were made deacons of the church.
Thus our first independent religious society with a com- plete organization was started on its course. Various auxili- ary organizations were soon added. The Sunday School, as we have seen, even preceded the church, and from its schol- ars "trained in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," the church has been constantly recruited from its earliest days. Joseph B. Parker continued to act as superintendent until 1848.
Horatio N. Bigelow was leader of the choir. Erastus B. Bigelow, when he was in town, played the violin. Gilbert Greene and James Burdett rendered the sacred music on bass viols. The only reference made in the records in these earliest years to music is as follows: "Voted, That the society pay rent for the bass viol." "Voted, That we hire the same for another year." September 9, 1849, it was voted: "The society would be pleased to have the seraphine played on trial."
Eleven days after the church was established, Rev. J. M. R. Eaton was invited to become its pastor. Joseph M. R. Eaton was born in Fitchburg, October 15, 1814. His father, Thomas Eaton, a mechanic and farmer, was a descendant from one of the Pilgrim settlers in Plymouth. He was edu- cated at Leicester Academy and Amherst College, class of 1841, and Andover Theological Seminary, class of 1844. He first preached in Clintonville, August 3, 1844. He married Harriet Downe, December 23, 1844. The society concurred in this call and offered a salary of five hundred and fifty dollars. He accepted, and was ordained January 9, 1845. He had received his license to preach from the Andover
451
ANTI-SLAVERY.
Council .* A fellow-worker remembers him especially for his "gentle and lovely" character. The house now known as the Tyler house on High Street was used by Mr. Eaton as a parsonage. He was interested, like all the clergymen of his day, in the schools, and served as a member from this district on the school committee of Lancaster.
The furniture of the Hillside Church to which several of the members of this new church had in former times be- longed, was procured for the communion service. Eleven new members were added to the church in March, 1845, and ten more in August. March 23, the church voted to join the Worcester Association.
In February, 1845, a committee was chosen to draft resolutions on the subject of slavery, and March 23, the following preamble and resolutions were reported :
"Whereas, God created man in his own image and per- mits him to enjoy the fruits of his own industry ; and has denounced a woe against such as use their neighbors' services without wages and give him not for his work; and against such as take away the key of knowledge; and whereas the system of American Slavery is the means of destroying in man the image of his Maker, of appropriating without compensation the services of one class of men to the support of another, and from taking away from millions of our fellow beings the key of knowl- edge ; Therefore Resolved :
"Ist, That we consider the system of American Slavery in direct violation of the laws of men and the laws of God ;
* For the public services of ordination, the parts were assigned as follows: Reading from the scriptures and prayer, Rev. Charles Packard of Lancaster; sermon, Rev. J. L. Taylor, South Church, Andover; ordaining prayer, Rev. W. P. Paine, Holden; charge to the pastor, Rev. E. W. Bullard, Fitchburg; right hand of fellowship, Rev. H. M. Dex- ter, Second Evangelical Church, Manchester, N. H .; address to the people, Rev. E. Smalley, Union Church, Worcester; concluding prayer, Rev. Henry Adams of Berlin; Rev. J. W. Cross of West Boylston, scribe; benediction by the pastor.
452
FIRST EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
"2nd, That, as Christians, we cannot countenance this system, but will labor in all proper ways for its extermination;
"3d, That we cannot admit a slave-holding preacher to our pulpit;
"4th, That we cannot fellowship a slaveholder at the table of our Lord."
These resolutions were unanimously adopted, and thus, at this early date, the church took a decided stand against the system of slavery. Men like J. B. Parker and his associates could bear no tampering with evil, but while the anti-slavery cause had few supporters even at the North, with all the sternness of their Puritan ancestors, they stood for the cause of righteousness.
In 1846, twenty-seven more were added to the church, and in the early months of 1847, four others. These, like those previously admitted, were mostly by letter. Of the total one hundred and three who had joined before the close of Rev. J. M. R. Eaton's pastorate, only thirteen had been added by profession.
The congregation became so large that the chapel was badly crowded, and in March, 1846, it was voted to build an addition thirty-one feet in length; Levi Greene, William T. Merrifield and Ira G. Childs were chosen members of the building committee. In April, this vote was reconsidered, and it was voted to adopt the plan recommended by H. N. Bigelow, namely, to sell the old chapel and build a new one on Walnut Street for temporary use. H. N. Bigelow and J. D. Otterson were added to the building committee. The land was given by H. N. Bigelow. The building was com- pleted before the close of the year and dedicated January I, 1847. The cost is not recorded, but the society was obliged to run in debt for a portion of it. This building had little beauty, and deserved the name by which it was familiarly known, "The Lord's Barn." It sat back from the road considerably farther than the present church, and a large oak tree grew in front of it and another on the north.
453
REV. WILLIAM H. CORNING.
In April, 1847, it was found best that the relations exist- ing between the pastor and his people should be dissolved. Mr. Eaton and his wife received letters to the church in Shir- ley, where he was pastor for three years. From February, 1851, to June, 1868, he preached at Henniker, N. H. He served as stated supply in Medfield from 1869 to 1876. Hc then lived in Fitchburg without any charge. Later, he went to California, where he is still living in Redlands, in 1896.
It was not until the 10th of October, that there was such a degree of agreement over any candidate for the pul- pit that a call was extended. At that time, it was voted by the church and society to call Rev. William H. Corning, at a salary of eight hundred dollars. He accepted, and was ordained December 8, 1847. The sermons of Mr. Corning which have been printed, show that he was a man of broad culture. In 1854, he published a volume entitled "The Infidelity of the Times." He had a remarkable clearness in his expression of spiritual truth. Dr. C. M. Bowers says of him : "He was in many respects as notable, strong and instructive a preacher as ever filled a Clinton pulpit. * * He was a man intellectually well furnished, with a proper round of the scholastic theologies of his day, abundantly able to expound the doctrines of his faith, not afraid to deal with what our times reproach as dogmas, well read in general literature, and possessing a good measure of oratorical power as a speaker. * * But he was too limited in height, size, limb and muscle for the best endurance." He acted as chairman of the school committee of District No. 10 under the new organization, and was the first chairman of the school committee of the new town.
Joseph B. Parker resigned the superitendency of the Sun- day school in 1848, and Jotham D. Otterson succeeded him. He served only one year, and was followed by William W. Parker, who was an overseer in the cloth room at the Lan- caster Mills. Mr. W. W. Parker was one of the leaders in prayer meetings and always ready to give his testimony for
454
FIRST EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
the Lord. It has been said of him that his "religion extended to the tips of his fingers." He afterwards studied theology at Andover, and became a minister. In 1850, H. N. Bigelow again became superintendent, and notwithstand- ing the pressure of his secular duties, continued in the office for six years.
Deacon Childs having resigned his office in May, 1848, James Orr, who came from Paisley, Scotland, and had begun to work at the Lancaster Mills in 1847, was elected as his successor in July, 1848. He apparently resigned or declined to serve, for November 4, Hiram Morgan was elected to the office. Mr. Orr died in 1854. He was the father of Robert Orr. Hiram Morgan was a native of Brimfield. He was employed at the Coachlace Mill. He built the house on School Street now known as the McQuaid house.
Of these early deacons, Rev. J. M. R. Eaton has recently said: "I used to think that, though his words sometimes seemed to hang in momentary hesitation, I seldom, if ever, heard a more able prayer from a layman's lips than that offered by Deacon Parker. Ira G. Childs was associated with him in the diaconate of the church. They were true yoke-fellows who honored their profession and their office. By their mutual influence they did much to build up the church. They were possessed of quite different character- istics. The milk of human kindness marked the steps of Deacon Childs. Deacon Parker was rooted and grounded in the truth as the church held it. The Book furnished him with chart and compass. If any point were under discussion, "How readest thou ?" settled it for him. Deacon Childs, while an exemplary, carnest, active christian man, was some- times a little disturbed by views held and proclaimed in the large Brick church, whose pulpit was occupied at that time by an eminent christian minister, holding, as was said, the views of Emanuel Swedenborg. The good deacon's active brain led him to think on these things, though his reason never accepted them, his will never yielded to them.
THE PARKER HOUSE.
455
REV. WILLIAM D. HITCHCOCK.
His noble wife stood as a pillar at his side, thoughtful dig- nified, a helpmeet indeed. Devout Hiram Morgan and his equally devout wife were lights that did not become dim. Necessarily employed in the labors of the day, early and late, by careful planning and strict economy of time, the family Bible and the altar of prayer and thanksgiving were not forgotten."
Mrs. Corning, the pastor's wife, died during 1850. In May, 1851, Rev. W. H. Corning was in such a precarious state of health that he was obliged to give up his work. The church granted him a vacation until November Ist, on the condition that he should resign his pastorate at that time if his health should still remain insufficient for the ful- fillment of its duties. After some months had passed by, as his immediate recovery seemed improbable and the people here were feeling the need of pastoral care, it was decided October 2d, that he should be dismissed. He subsequently preached for some months in the Park Street Church, Bos- ton. He entered some time later upon pastoral duties in New York state, where he died. During his pastorate forty- one had been admitted to the church by letter and twenty- one by profession. Eleven of the latter were admitted in 1850, when a period of religious interest began throughout the community which continued for many months.
Rev. William D. Hitchcock was the next pastor. He was called at a salary of eight hundred dollars, October 2, 1851. He was a native of Pittsford, Vt. He graduated at the Vermont State University and at the Andover Theological Seminary. During his brief pastorate of one year and nine months, twenty-four were admitted to the church by profes- sion and twenty-five by letter. The council called for his dismissal July 16, 1853, stated: "that he was a sound and discriminating theologian, a judicious, energetic and affec- tionate pastor." He served on the school committee from 1852-3. Mr. Hitchcock lived in the Patterson house on Walnut Street. Mr. Hitchcock went to Exeter, N. H. He died in 1854. Rev. C. M. Bowers thus characterizes him:
456
FIRST EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
"He was a man of wonderful sweetness and gentleness of character, almost too good for some of the stalwart work of rebuking sin and carrying on the battle against the world, the flesh and the devil. If he knew in himself what sin was or what temptation might be in any of its many forms, it hardly ever appeared to any one. He lived much in himself intellectually and spiritually. Not that he was indifferent wholly to social conditions, but his standard of self-making was so high he had to economize his whole life in reaching it. His speech, appearance and movement had almost a feminine delicacy in them. He could hardly say a rough thing and almost never a radically bold one. This does not mean that his mind was destitute of good tone and quality-far from it. If, to use a word we heard applied to a minister the other day as a royal virtue, he was no "hustler" and did not preach in capital letters and prepare his sermons with enor- mous exclamation marks, he gave his people the results of careful, honest study and was never surpassed in Sabbath ministrations in the production of discourses of able and well digested thought by any of his successors. At the same time, in his preaching, the best part of his sermon was himself. He was an infinitely modest man-too modest and given over to much quiet and retired thinking. He could not thump the pulpit or whack the bible or speak with the voice of thunder. But he could do better. Like Moses he could say: 'My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb and as the show- ers upon the grass.' Hitchcock was the embodiment of grace and goodness."
In June, 1853, the society debt of twenty-seven hundred dollars was paid. A period of nearly nine months intervened before another pastor was secured. During this time five were added to the church by letter. At length, Rev. Warren W. Winchester was chosen and it was voted that his salary should be fixed at one thousand dollars. He was ordained March 23, 1854. He had previously preached in Wilton, N.
457
REV. WARREN W. WINCHESTER.
H. He is especially remembered as a " genial and cordial" man, but of his pulpit ministrations we are told "some tardiness in the movement of his blood often prevented a proper ambition from doing its utmost. Frequently, as late as Saturday morning, he did not know what the next day might bring forth in the nature of a sermon." He had a great number of friends outside of his own society. He was especially liked in his pastoral functions. He was a member of the school committee in 1855 and 1856, and was the last of our Congregationalist clergymen to serve in this capa- city. He lived in a corporation house on Nelson Street and in the Worcester house on Walnut Street.
The first four years of his pastorate were not marked by any events which call for especial attention. In 1858, steps were taken to re-model the church building. On July 13 of this year, a building committee consisting of H. N. Bigelow, Gilbert Greene and C. W. Worcester was appointed to make alterations, enlargements and repairs upon their house of worship, agreeable to plans submitted and adopted at a previous meeting. The sum to be expended was not to ex- ceed five thousand dollars. The work was begun during the summer and pushed forward with such vigor that the re- dedication took place February 22, 1859, twelve years after the dedication of the first house on the same site. In addi- tion to the amount paid by the society, nearly as much more was paid by H. N. Bigelow and others for the building and its furnishings. The audience room was ninety-three feet by forty-five, with a seating capacity of six hundred and fifty. It was lighted by gas. The gas fixtures, the frescoes, the Brussels carpeting, the furnishings of the pews, the pulpit and the organ, gave more beauty to the church than had be- fore been seen in any house of worship in Clinton. The organ, which took the place of an eolian, cost fourteen hund- red dollars and was put in by H. N. Bigelow, and for a time it remained his private property. The old lecture room of the vestry was but little changed. Parlors and a kitchen
458
FIRST EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
were provided for the social needs of the congregation. In the new tower, a bell, costing six hundred and fifty dollars, the gift of E. B. and H. N. Bigelow, was placed. Here, too, was the new clock valued at four hundred and fifty dollars, the gift of ten gentlemen of the town. This clock and bell have been of great value, not alone to the society, but to the community at large from that time to this. For the re- building, a debt of four thousand dollars was incurred, which was paid in 1863. During the period of re-modeling, ser- vices were held in the Clinton Hall, although cordial offers of the use of their respective houses were made both by the Baptists and Unitarians.
At the dedication, a historical address was given by Rev. W. W. Winchester. Rev. W. H. Corning preached the sermon. Mr. Winchester said that in addition to the original fifty-one members of the church there had been up to this time two hundred and sixty-nine additions, one hundred and twenty by profession and one hundred and forty-nine by let- ter, making a total membership of three hundred and twenty. One hundred and three had been dismissed to other churches, twenty-seven had died. At that time, the membership was fifty-four males and one hundred and thirty-six females. The church had given two candidates (W. W. Parker and D. W. Kilburn) to the ministry. During the preceding five years the benevolent contributions had amounted to five hundred dollars annually. "To one individual (H. N. Bige- low) more than to any other, the church is indebted for the beauty, comfort, finish and taste of the present temple. He has watched the enterprise to its consummation with untir- ing care. Of him it may be said in a christian sense, ' He loveth our nation and hath built us a synagogue.'"
C. F. W. Parkhurst was made a deacon November 24, 1860, in place of Hiram Morgan who had resigned. Mr. Morgan moved to Worcester.
There was a deep religious interest during the early months of 1861, and in May, fifteen new members were
459
REV. WARREN W. WINCHESTER.
added to the church by profession, and in July, thirteen more. May 26, 1862, Rev. W. W. Winchester resigned, and June 17, he was regularly dismissed by a council. He was afterwards a hospital chaplain in Washington, D. C. His nature was peculiarly fitted for this work, and we are told by one of our townsmen who met him while engaged in this service that the sick and wounded soldiers used to long for his coming and rejoice in his presence. His sunny dispo- sition dispelled their despondency and cheered their final moments. We next hear of him as a pastor at Bridport, Vermont, then as pastor in Blackinton, Berkshire County. He died in Williamstown, Mass., August 4, 1889, at the age of sixty-five. At the time of his death, he was preparing to go to Alaska, as he had been appointed by the government as superintendent of education in that territory.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.