USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Clinton > History of the origin of the town of Clinton, Massachusetts, 1653-1865 > Part 38
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The meeting-house was dedicated with appropriate cere- monies, January 10, 1849. Before Clinton became a town in 1850, the church had ninety members. It has since been known as the First Baptist Church of Clinton. Among those members who were received after the original seventeen and who afterwards became especially prominent in the affairs of the church and society, may be mentioned Rev. C. M. Bow- ers, William H. Gibson, N. C. Martin, Wright S. Keyes, George P. Smith. William Walker, Alfred A. Burditt, Orlando A. Smith, Benjamin Willard and Benjamin Ring. Many who were not Baptists attended their services, so that the new house was comfortably filled. Of those not in the church, whose names are found most often in the transac- tions of the society or on the subscription lists may be men- tioned Alanson Chace, Lory F. Bancroft, S. B. Pollard, Charles Ryan and Dr. G. W. Symonds.
L. B. Tinkham succeeded J. A. Weeks as chorister, and was in turn followed by O. A. Smith, David Wallace, W. H. Putnam, H. G. O. Hooker, Daniel Marsh, W. A. Macurda, M. C. Healey, C. W. Moore and Birney Mann.
The Baptist Society of Clinton has always been preëmi-
473
LADIES SEWING CIRCLE.
nently social and benevolent in its nature. Warmth of heart characterized the people as well as the pastor. This social spirit found its expression in the Sabbath greetings and in the prayer meetings where all were made to feel that they were surrounded by personal friends. All tried to satisfy each others needs. It was felt by the pastor in 1848, that while this social and charitable spirit should continue to pre- vail through all the work of the church, it would be well to have it fostered by the ladies in a department peculiarly their own. Hence, under the leadership of Mrs. G. W. Bur- dett, the "Ladies' Sewing Circle" was formed. Mrs. C. M. Bowers was the first president. Mrs. Alanson Chace was vice-president, and Mrs. G. P. Smith, secretary and treasurer. There were forty-two members. The aims of the organiza- tion are stated in a constitution which was first recorded in 1857. "Believing that in properly conducted social gath- erings whereby we may form a more intimate acquaintance, we may receive both pleasure and profit, by the improve- ment of our social, intellectual and moral faculties and thereby advance the cause of morality and religion, both by the cultivation of Christian sympathy and fellowship and by furnishing aid to some benevolent object: we, the under- signed, do form ourselves into a society." The society has amply fulfilled the purpose for which it was organized. It has been productive of "good times" in the highest sense of the word, and has also exerted a wide-spread influence as a charitable organization.
The story of the Baptist Church from the incorporation of the town to 1865, contains no startling features. Rev. C. M. Bowers remained as a pastor. He did not serve the church and society alone, but the community as a whole felt the inspiration which came from his devoted life and active citizenship. The sick were cheered by his presence, mourn- ers were comforted, sleeping consciences were awakened, noble endeavors were encouraged, while year after year the special work of the church went on and many souls were
474
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
gathered into the spiritual fold. No man ever cared less for his salary than Mr. Bowers. It was raised from time to time until it was eight hundred dollars in 1857. Owing to the hard times of that year, the pew rents came in very slowly, and Mr. Bowers asked that for the next year his salary might be reduced. The society responded by paying him the same salary and by raising it the next year to nine hundred. Again in 1862, in 1863 and in 1866, he refunded a considerable portion of his salary against the will of his parishioners. But it made little difference what he was paid, since his purse was always open to the needy, and every worthy public enterprise was sure of his hearty support. With his tender sympathies, he united intense convictions, so that he was always among the foremost in advocating the great reforms of the day. No voice sounded more fervently than his the call to serve the country when the storm of war burst over our land, and no one was chosen so often as he to say the last words for those who had fallen.
He was deeply interested in every movement for the progress of the community. He served on the school com- mittee of District No. 10 for two years, on the general school committee of Lancaster for one year, and for eleven years, on the school committee of Clinton. This period of service exceeds that of any other citizen during the time with which our history properly deals. In this office, he showed the same keenness of insight, the same progressive spirit and the same warmth of heart which characterized him in his chosen profession. His report for the year ending March 6, 1862, for instance, calls for a system similar to the kindergarten, long before the educators of the country took any steps in this direction. Mr. Bowers was the successful candidate of the Republican party for a seat in the state legislature in the closing year of the war. He was elected again the following year as an independent candidate in- dorsed by Clinton Republicans. Few ministers have been better fitted for such a position, for, to sound common sense
475
THE DEACONS.
and native wit, he united a most thorough acquaintance with the questions of the day and the most intense patriotism.
We have already noted that John Burdett was elected deacon of the church as soon as it was organized. He died August 14, 1856, after working for the Baptist faith in Lan- caster for more than half a century. In a church letter written a short time after, we read: "Most sorely did we weep when the good man died-not that we doubted his future reign with God whom he worshiped here-but we wept that we should see his face no more-that we should receive no more counsel from his holy lips-but more than all this, we wept because the sinner had lost a faithful friend, for there was no one among us who recommended the religion of Christ so earnestly to ungodly men."
William Walker, who became deacon April 30, 1848, died March 7, 1853. He is spoken of in the church manual as a man of "sterling character," and " true christian principle." William H. Gibson, who was chosen deacon March, 1851, died October 16, 1866, after being connected with the church as one of its most devoted and faithful members for nearly a score of years. George P. Smith was elected deacon September 3, 1852, and May 6, 1854, but declined to serve in both cases. Being elected again, however, December 4, 1857, he served until his resignation, May 19, 1865. He was admitted to the church by letter from Nashua, N. H., January 2, 1848. He received a letter of dismission to the church in Bricksburg, N. J., May 4, 1868. He was a man of large means and generous heart, and was, during the twenty years he remained connected with the society, one of its most liberal supporters and active workers. The communion service now in use in the church was his gift. Benjamin Ring served as deacon from May 6, 1854, until August 6, 1858, when he received a letter of dismissal to join the church in Addison, N.Y. Joshua Thissell, Jr., John G. Heigh- way, Daniel B. Ingalls and Henry C. Greeley were chosen deacons May 29, 1867. The story of their devoted service
476
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
to the church and society must be left for the future historian .*
In the early days of the Civil War, steps were taken toward enlarging or rebuilding the meeting-house, but the depression and doubt that filled the minds of men at the time, rendered it expedient to postpone action to a later date. Soon after the war was over, on the 3d of October, 1866, the subject was taken up again. Deacon George Cummings offered the society " to pay one-half of all the expense of altering and enlarging the meeting-house, pro- vided the society should accept the offer immediately." Of course the offer was accepted, and a committee which event- ually consisted of Joshua Thissell, Wilson Morse, H. C. Greeley, Oliver Stone, Alanson Chace, D. B. Ingalls, G. P. Smith, G. W. Burdett and A. A. Burditt were chosen to look after the building. The work was pushed forward so that it was finished ready for dedication by February, 1868. The total cost as reported by the building committee was eight thousand four hundred and three dollars and ninety-three cents. The organ cost sixteen hundred more, and the money spent for furnishing brought the total up to about eleven thousand. Most of this was paid at the time, but a debt of three thousand dollars was left for some years. This addition of twenty-seven feet to the west side increased the number of pews by thirty-eight, so that the new building was capable of seating five hundred and twenty people. A new spire was built about the old one, twenty feet higher than that had been. A baptistry, a pastor's room, a "ladies' room," an en- larged vestry, and frescoing were among the improvements. The Bible now on the preacher's pulpit was at this time given by Mrs. Horatio S. Burdett of Brookline; the com- munion table was given by J. W. Converse of Boston. The dedication took place on the 6th of February.
* The history of the Baptist Church is extended somewhat beyond that of the other churches in order that the work of Rev. C. M. Bowers may be considered as a unit.
477
RELIGIOUS INTEREST.
Even with the enlarged accommodations, the meeting- house was comfortably filled, for previous to its completion five hundred and sixteen members had united with the church since its organization. Of these, about half had died or moved away before this time, yet an active membership of more than two hundred and fifty was left. Among those who had joined the church during this period the names of the following appear frequently in the records of the church and society : Charles W. Walker, 1853; Joshua Thissell, T. F. Sibley, D. B. Ingalls, H. C. Greeley, Lucius Field, W. A. Macurda and John G. Heighway, 1857; S. H. Hosmer, 1858; Daniel Marsh, 1864; T. A. Leland, B. S. Walker, 1866; E. WV. Burdett, G. A. Heighway, Abial Fisher, 1867. There were doubtless many others, both male and female, the equals of these in spiritual gifts, whose names do not so often appear on the records of the church and society.
While baptisms were of frequent occurrence during all these years, there were four periods when the religious interest was deeper than usual. These were in 1850-51, 1857, 1861 and 1867. The sacrament of baptism in the sixties was administered a few rods north of the Harris Bridge over Water Street. The Courant says that at one immersion in 1867 there were fifteen hundred people gathered to witness the solemn rites.
These additions to the church through conversion came largely from the Sunday School, which was from the begin- ning cherished by the church as the source of its growth. Among the superintendents who labored here most effi- ciently in early years, we may mention G. P. Smith, H. C. Greeley, A. A. Burditt, Daniel Marsh, Dr. D. B. Ingalls and Joshua Thissell. In 1854, the average attendance had reached about one hundred. In 1866, it was about one hundred and fifty. The church has always been deeply in- terested in missions, and has given a large proportion of the receipts to this purpose. Mrs. Bowers has been especially devoted to this work.
478
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
In 1866, Dr. Bowers' salary was increased to one thousand dollars; the next year, to twelve hundred. In 1871, he had a vacation of eight months for needed rest. The society, with the liberal aid of Caleb T. Symmes of Lancaster, paid his expenses for a trip to Europe and the Holy Land. He left New York on the seventeenth of January, and went as far east as Damascus. When he returned refreshed to his labors, at the request of the church he delivered a series of lectures on his travels. During his absence, the pulpit was filled by Rev. David Weston, principal of Worcester Academy.
In 1872, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the organization of the church and of Dr. Bowers' pastorate, was observed. The services were held at the meeting-house on the twenty- fourth of April. In the afternoon, there were among other exercises, a sermon by J. D. Fulton, D. D., of Boston, and a historical sketch of the church by the pastor. In this sketch he said, as reported by the Courant: "During its history, the church has not been called to great troubles, trials or conflicts; the choir have behaved handsomely ; the deacons have conducted themselves discreetly ; the sextons have not magnified their office above measure ; and harmony has pre- vailed. The union of pastor and people has been of lengthy
duration. * Ours is a small, quiet people, not given to discontent and change. Few pastors have been settled on such unsettled conditions. Although the prolonged court- ship has not resulted in marriage, the parties have been engaged and re-engaged more than a score of times, yet each is still on its good behavior. Only one other Baptist pastorate in Massachusetts has extended over a longer period of time." In speaking of the fruits of his labors, he said : "During the existence of the church, there have been six hundred different members connected with it, four hun- dred of which number have been added by baptism."
In the evening there was a supper at which Dr. G. W. Burdett, who had served with little interruption as the clerk
479
TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY.
of the church since its origin, presided as toastmaster. Many who had been connected with the church in the past, but had moved elsewhere, as well as those who still kept up their connection, recalled their experiences. The pastors of the local churches added their words of cheer. The joy of the occasion was heightened by the announcement that money enough had been raised to pay the church debt of three thousand dollars, and that the surplus in the treasury was sufficient to present a well-filled purse to the pastor. "Thus ended," in the words of the record, "one of the most interesting occasions ever enjoyed by the church and the like to which in all its features can hardly ever be enjoyed again."
But the work of the pastor was by no means finished. For fourteen years longer he continued to serve the church and people. He retained the vigor of his youth and united with it the experience of age. His final sermons as pastor were preached March 28, 1886. He had kept up the custom of an afternoon service as well as a morning service, after it had been abandoned in the other churches, on the ground that if anybody desired to hear an afternoon sermon there should be an opportunity to do so. He averaged at least two ser- mons a week during his ministry, or preached about four thousand sermons in all in Clinton, and perhaps five thousand in his ministry as a whole. This total amount of his pulpit production would equal fifty or more volumes of the size of this history.
After he resigned his position here in 1886, he continued his ministry, acting as pastor over the Baptist church in Spencer until he had completed in all more than half a century of service. Dr. Bowers is still living in Clinton, in 1896, and during the past year has several times occupied his old pulpit. The fruits of this long ministry are beyond all earthly reckoning.
CHAPTER XXIX.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
HENRY LEWIS, who came to this community in 1815, as an apprentice at comb-making for Nathan Burdett, became in after years, an earnest Methodist. His house on North Main Street was freely opened for Methodist meetings, and there for many years a little band of devout Christians were accustomed to gather at stated intervals, or whenever any special opportunity was offered of hearing the gospel preached. It is said that John H. Hall, a layman from Albany, New York, was the first to organize a class and preach here. This class numbered forty-one members and continued in existence for two or three years during the early thirties. Many of its members made great sacrifices to attend Methodist services elsewhere after the class was given up.
Among those who preached at the occasional services from 1834 to 1842, were: Rev. E. F. Newell, called Father Newell, who, after sixty-one years of preaching, died in 1867, at the age of ninety-one; Rev. Joseph A. Merrill, who began preaching in 1807; and Rev. Orin Scott. John Burdett, Jun- ior, became as devout as a Methodist as his father was as a Baptist, and in these early days was among the foremost in the support of this form of worship.
In the autumn of 1842, the Methodists secured the use of the Brick School-house on Main Street for their Sunday services. Here, Rev. Joseph W. Lewis, who was then sta- tioned in West Boylston, preached. This Rev. J. W. Lewis
481
THE BEGINNINGS.
was in 1868-9, regularly stationed here as pastor, and passed the closing years of his life in town. There was so much opposition to the use of the school-house for these meetings that, after two weeks, they were held in private houses. As the number of Methodists increased with the growing popu- lation of the community, the meetings became more frequent and regular. In 1847, Rev. Horace Moulton preached here at the house of Mr. Coburn. Later, Rev. D. K. Merrill of West Boylston organized a society. The following are the names of the original charter members of the Clinton Metli- odist Episcopal Church: Henry Lewis and wife, Charles B. Sherman and wife, Leonard B. Tinkham and wife, Mary A. Harris. Mary A. Harris Butler is now living in New Hamp- shire. She is eighty-two years old. Revs. C. W. Ainsworth and Gardner Rice each preached here a few times. Class- meetings were held at Charles B. Sherman's near the bridge on Water Street opposite the Quilt Mill, and at L. B. Tink- ham's on Nelson Street. The dining-rooms at the boarding- house in East Village were also used for services. Miss S. Hemmenway, who kept one of the boarding-houses, acted for a while as the leader of a class which met with her. In February, 1850, George E. Harrington came to Clintonville from Lunenburg. He opened a grocery store in the base- ment of Burdett's Block at the corner of High and Union Streets. He was a Methodist, and so effectual were his labors and so inspiring his influence that it soon became desirable to form a second class. He was the leader in sing- ing among the Methodists while here. Mr. Harrington moved to the West some years later, and lived in Madison, Wisconsin.
Rev. Philip Toque, a local preacher, was sent by Rev. Phineas Crandall, then presiding elder of the Worcester dis- trict, to preach in Clinton, in November, 1850. The services were held in the hall of Burdett's Block, at the corner of High and Union Streets, then known as the Attic Hall. At this time, a Sunday School was organized. George E. Har- 32
482
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
rington was the first superintendent. In George H. Foster, who came here in 1850 and worked for Dea. James Patter- son, and was then in the loom harness and belt business for himself, the denomination found another faithful and influ- ential member. In January, 1851, George H. Foster, George E. Harrington and James Sherman were appointed stewards.
Rev. George Bowler, who had been admitted to the New England Conference in 1849, was sent to Clinton in the spring of 1851. Such was the growth of the society that a larger audience room was needed, and the Concert Hall in John Burdett's building opposite the site of the present Methodist Church, was hired. During the single year of Mr. Bowler's pastorate, more than ninety joined the church on probation. A church building had now become a neces- sity, as Concert Hall no longer accommodated the congre- gation. There was some talk of building near the Common in the vicinity of the other Protestant churches, and H. N. Bigelow is said to have offered the society a lot of land on condition that it would do so, but it seemed best at the time that the church should be nearer the business center, "so that sinners couldn't dodge the means of grace," as Rev. George Bowler is reported to have said. The present site of the church building was therefore purchased. The price was five hundred dollars. The first board of trustees was appointed October 5, 1851. The members were: Jonathan Weeks, George E. Harrington, Leonard B. Tinkham, George F. Goodale (secretary), Mark Andrews, Estes Wilson ( treas- urer), Francis A. Davidson. The Ladies' Benevolent Asso- ciation was organized in 1851. Mrs. Bowler was the presi- dent during the first year.
In the spring of 1852, Rev. George Bowler was appointed to the church in Watertown. He was a very stirring man. He talked and preached with great vigor. In 1852-3, he served on the school committee. He carried from Clinton, as the Courant said, "the esteem of all with whom he had been associated here." He afterwards preached in East
483
JAMES F. MAYNARD AND WIFE.
Cambridge, Charlestown and Westfield. He withdrew from connection with the New England Conference in 1862-3.
It was during Rev. George Bowler's pastorate here in 1851 that James F. Maynard came to Clinton from Boylston and opened a grocery store. During the next thirty years of the history of the church, Mr. and Mrs. Maynard were among the foremost in every good work. In the funeral sermon preached by Rev. Albert Gould on the death of Mrs. Maynard, May 21, 1882, we find the following picture: "A beautiful symbol of her life as a helpmeet to her husband and a help to the church occurred in 1852, when the church edifice was built Those were the days when our people were not only few here, but they were in great poverty. * * Brother Maynard was confined to his store in the day-time and part of the evenings, and could therefore do no work in the build- ing of the church unless it was done in the night after leav- ing the store. It was the time when they were putting in the foundation walls. When the store was closed for the night, he came here to work, * * * and his faithful wife was wont to stand near by him, holding a lantern so he could see how to lay the stones. That lantern in the hand of Sister Maynard, pouring its light upon the foundation stones as they went into their places by night, is a beautiful symbol of her life as related to that of her husband and also to the · history of the church. Her light has been steadily shining within the walls ever since, a loving reminder of duty and a guide to its performance." Mrs. Maynard was especially devoted in her personal attention to the sick and the poor, while Mr. Maynard was one of the trustees of the society for many years after May, 1852, and was for eleven years, begin- ning in 1854, superintendent of the Sabbath School. In the first year of his superintending, the first Sunday School Library was bought at a cost of thirty-six dollars and thirty- two cents.
Although the building of a church edifice was planned during the pastorate of Rev. George Bowler, the actual work
484
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
of building was done during the following summer while Rev. T. Willard Lewis was stationed here. The pastor, with George E. Harrington and Francis A. Davidson, constituted the building committee. The cost was four thousand dollars. The work was completed by December, and the dedication services were held on Christmas, 1852. Daniel Wise, D. D., of Boston, editor of Zion's Herald, gave the sermon.
T. Willard Lewis was a native of South Royalston. He was born August 6, 1825. He was converted in 1842. He went to Fitchburg the same year to learn the scythe-maker's trade, and there he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1844, he began his studies preparatory to entering the ministry. In this, he was entirely dependent on his own ex- ertions for support. He fitted for college in Wilbraham Academy, and then spent two years at Union College, N. Y. He did not graduate, but received in after years the honor- ary degree of M. A. He was licensed as a preacher in Sche- nectady in 1847. Having joined the New England Confer- ence, he was appointed to Leicester in 1849, where he stayed two years. His next pastorate was in Hopkinton. Here, his wife died. He came to Clinton in the spring of 1852. During his first year here, his duties as the head of the build- ing committee were added to his regular pastoral duties. He also built the house in the rear of the church as a parson- age and, as he married a second time in 1853, he was the first to occupy it. During his second year in Clinton, he acted as secretary of the school committee. One who knew him well has said of him: "Brother Lewis was endowed with a warm, tender heart, a large and active imagination and a good, sound judgment. * * * He was eminently social. Most people as they passed would pause and go off with grateful imagination, ever after remembering the man as a friend and brother. * * * He was an interesting preacher, seldom profound and never dull. Narration and description suited his power of invention more than abstraction or dis- cussion. Some new comparison or witty remark would sur-
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