USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Clinton > History of the origin of the town of Clinton, Massachusetts, 1653-1865 > Part 39
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485
REV. T. WILLARD LEWIS.
prise the hearer. * 'A lion cannot fight in a bag.' ' Let the children have a hen of their own to lay eggs for the Lord.' *
* He depended on the sympathy of his hearers.
* He enjoyed to see their smiles or better their tears, to hear shouts and sobs." After leaving here in 1853, he had appointments in Marlboro, Waltham, Boston, South Boston, Hopkinton and Worcester.
In 1863, he took charge of the missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina and Florida. We are told: "The work he laid out for himself * * is prodigious to contemplate." Church after church was organized. In eight years, he saw the membership of his conference in Florida alone increase from nothing to thirty thousand with eighty-eight churches. He founded the Claflin University. Later, when he was in Charleston, 'his work was prosecuted with such unfaltering energy, that his colleagues in labor could with the utmost difficulty persuade him to abandon the fever-stricken city.' When at last he was forced to go it was too late to save his life. He died at Sullivan's Island, September 30, 1871.
"And many a poor man's blessing went
With him beneath the low green tent Whose curtain never outward swings."
In 1854, Rev. Augustus F. Bailey received the appoint- ment to Clinton. He had previously served the churches in Ballardville, Gloucester Parish and Topsfield. He remained in Clinton for only one year and then preached successively in Marblehead, Dedham, Townsend, Marlboro, Newton Up- per Falls and Natick. He was elected as a member of the school committee for 1855-6, but, as he removed from town, he did not serve. In later years, he became a member of the Troy Conference. In this year of his pastorate, the society gained two valuable new members, John H. Rowell and Linus Fitts, both of whom were destined to serve the cause of Christ many years in this community.
Rev. A. F. Bailey was followed by Rev. Newell S. Spauld-
486
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
ing, a man of many pastorates. He had entered the minis- try in 1822, and had received appointments to Lyndon, Vt., Lancaster, N. H., Mansfield, Mass., Little Compton, R. I., New London, Ct., Stonington, Ct., Warren, R. I., Somerset, Falmouth, Marblehead, Newbury, Ipswich, Topsfield, Saugus, Dorchester, Newton Upper Falls, Gloucester Har- bor, Salem, Ashburnham, Oxford, Saxonville, Sudbury, South Belchertown and Ware Village. He had been placed upon the "superannuated" list twice before he came to Clin- ton and, although he was but fifty-five, yet his health was broken. During his stay of two years, the membership of the society decreased, but, notwithstanding, the approaching hard times, a vestry was finished off for social meetings. A tenement was made in the basement of the church. After leaving here, Mr. Spaulding preached in Oakdale, Sutton and Gloucester. He was then in 1861 reckoned again as superannuated, but continued in the ministry at large until 1884, when, after sixty-two years of faithful labor, he was called to his reward.
In 1857, Rev. Daniel K. Merrill was placed over the church in Clinton. Although a much younger man than his predecessor, he was in poor health and had already been once placed on the superannuated list. He had preached in North Reading, East Boston, Salem, Winchendon, West Boylston, Dudley and Charlton, Rutland, Charlmont, East Longmeadow and Monson. After eight months' service here, his failing health forced him to seek rest. He was able on the following year to resume preaching, and served in later times in Jenksville, Coleraine, East Cambridge, Wal- tham, and Heath.
Rev. Willard F. Mallalieu, a native of Sutton, who had graduated at Wesleyan University in the summer of 1857, filled out the remaining four months of the year. Even then, he gave ample promise of the ability which was to make him one of the leading men of his denomination. His qualities and life have been thus summarized: "Inheriting
487
REV. WILLIAM J. POMFRET.
intellectual vigor and fine moral qualities from Puritan and Huguenot ancestors, he sought the best gifts of culture, and uniting consecration and energy with eloquence and enthu- siasm, he has become a recognized power for good in every community he has served." He preached in Grafton; Bellingham Street, Chelsea; Lynn; Charlestown; Bromfield Street, Boston; Walnut Street, Chelsea; Worcester; Broad- way, Boston; Walnut Street, Chelsea; Bromfield Street, Bos- ton; Walnut Street, Chelsea. In 1882, he became presiding elder of the Boston District, and in 1884, was elected to the bishopric. His episcopal residence has been in New Orleans. During the present year ( 1896) it has been fixed in Boston.
During 1858 and 1859, William J. Pomfret was pastor in Clinton. He was in the first years of his ministry. His only previous pastorate was in North Brookfield, from 1856 to 1857. The hardness of the times required that the salary paid the pastor should be reduced from six hundred dollars to five hundred in 1858, but in the following year it was raised again to five hundred and fifty dollars. There was a slight increase in the membership of the church during the pastorate of Mr. Pomfret, and when he went away in 1860, there were seventy-one names of members reported in the minutes of the New England Conference. He afterwards preached in West Brookfield, Coleraine, Ludlow, Williams- burg, Monson, Webster, Newton Upper Falls, Woburn, Marlboro, Fitchburg, Southbridge, West Quincy, West Med- ford. The average length of his pastorates has been greater than that of any other minister of the denomination who was stationed here previous to 1865.
Rev. Thomas B. Treadwell, the next incumbent, entered the ministry in 1853, and came to Clinton in 1860, after serv- ing in Marlboro, Saxonville, Woburn, Townsend and Monson. During the year in which he was here, the membership of the church was increased to eighty-six and fourteen more were on probation, The salary of the pastor was increased to five hundred and seventy-five dollars. In later times, Mr. Treadwell was in Charlton, Ct., and Weston.
488
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
E. P. Whittaker came to Clinton in 1860, and at once be- came one of the most efficient members of the church. In later days, he served as trustee and as a superintendent of the Sabbath School.
Rev. Albert Gould became pastor of the church in 1861. He was born in East Woodstock, Ct., February 21, 1832. His childhood and youth were spent on a farm in South- bridge, Mass. He was converted when about fifteen and joined the Southbridge church. An overpowering desire to become a foreign missionary took possession of him and he sought an education with this end in view. He went to Wil- braham in 1850, and to Wesleyan University in 1856. He remained in college two years. He entered the New Eng- land Conference in 1858. He first preached in South Royal- ston, where he married. "During the preaching of his first sermon in Clinton, the bells were rung to call the ladies together to fit out their brothers or sons for the war." Mr. Gould was one of the most patriotic clergymen of those try- ing times. Duty to country was often the theme of his dis- course. Many members of his society entered the army. Hence there was a decrease of membership. The society was very poor at this time, and it was only by the greatest self-sacrifice that even a meagre support could be given to the minister. No man could have been better fitted than Mr. Gould to keep up the heart of his people under such circumstances, for he was utterly unselfish and always in- clined to look at the bright side of things. His social nature led him to make many friends outside of his own society, and he thus gained the love of his fellow-townsmen as a whole. The fact that he was appointed to a second pas- torate in Clinton in 1882 makes evident the strength of the attachment which bound him to this society.
All of those who have sat under his preaching will appre- ciate the truth of the following characterization which appeared in the minutes of the New England Conference at the time of his death: "Brother Gould was a man of com-
489
REV. ALBERT GOULD.
. manding presence, but of pleasing address and of great social attractiveness. His manliness of character and the strength of his friendship bound him strongly to those who commanded his confidence. He loved truth and hated shams. His cultivated and thoughtful mind and sound judg- ment were devoted to the one work of Christian ministry. Deliberate in pulpit utterances, he was yet strong and some- times almost majestic in the fervor and power of his mighty argument, urgent appeal and persuasive tenderness. His love of music and his rare gift of song were of great service in his ministry. He was wise and judicious in administra- tion, a faithful pastor and successful in leading many into the fold of Christ."
He held in all fifteen pastorates. Among the most im- portant of these were Lynn, Gloucester, Chicopee, Canı- bridge and Cambridgeport. He was acting as chaplain at the Deer Island Reformatory at the time of his sudden death, November 18, 1890.
In 1863, Rev. J. P. W. Jordan was appointed to the Clin- ton church, but, as he did not serve, the pulpit was filled by Rev. John P. Coolidge who was on the superannuated list dur- ing this year, and Rev. William G. Leonard, who subsequently served as a chaplain in the army. In this year, the member- ship of the church went down to sixty-three, the amount of money raised for salary to four hundred and fifty dollars. The next year, the church was again unfortunate, since the appointee, Rev. J. N. Mars, who had just been admitted to the New England Conference on trial, failed to fulfil his ap- pointment, but was transferred to the Washington Confer- ence. Rev. E. F. Hadley supplied the pulpit. It is said that he afterwards died at Brooklyn. There seems to be no record that he was ever a member of the New England Con- ference. During this year, thirty-two were received into the church on probation, so that during the following year the membership reached ninety. Meanwhile the receipts of the church were estimated as only three hundred and thirty-five dollars.
490
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In 1865, Rev. E. S. Chase, a young man who had preached only two years previously, one at North Brookfield and one at Warren, came hither. With his coming a new era of spiritual and financial prosperity began in the church.
The story of most of the leaders in the church has been told in other connections, but the story of John H Rowell seems to belong here rather than elsewhere. John H. Row- ell was a native of Mason, New Hampshire, where he was born October 18, 1824. He was descended from the first settlers of the town. His father, Artemas Rowell, was a farmer. The boy worked on the farm and attended the dis- trict school. He moved to South Royalston, Mass., where he became a section-hand on the railroad. He married Hannah D. Lewis, a sister of Rev. T. W. Lewis, May 18, 1848. He came to Clinton in 1854 as a section-hand on the Worcester and Nashua Railroad. He held this position for ten years. He then worked on the construction of the Bos- ton, Clinton and Fitchburg in the same capacity for two years. He was afterwards engaged in jobbing. He was a road commissioner for three years, and superintendent of streets for four years. Since 1857, he has lived in the cot- tage back of the church which was built by his brother-in- law, Rev. T. W. Lewis. He has been a class leader. He was a trustee for about thirty years and a steward from 1854 to the present time. The inquirer in regard to matters con- nected with the Clinton Methodists is constantly referred to Mr. Rowell, both by persons in his own society and outside of it, with the statement, "Mr. Rowell knows more about the church than anybody else. No one here has been con- nected with it longer or has loved it better or lived more closely according to its principles."
No adequate idea of the history of the local Methodist Church can be reached unless one becomes intimately ac- quainted with the spiritual life as it has been manifested in the devotional meetings. While pastors were constantly changing there were many consecrated men and women
491
DEVOTIONAL MEETINGS.
within the church who worshiped together with exhortation and prayer and song through many years until their souls became as one in the Lord. The fervor of those meetings cannot be told. Now, under the leadership of George E. Harrington or Daniel Houghton the song of praise burst in unison from every heart. Now, the voice of Brother Foster or Maynard or Rowell was heard, urging the sinner to turn from the error of his ways and seek the joys of salvation. Now, the prayers of Ephraim Hunt or Francis A. Davidson were rising to the throne of grace. Nor did the men alone give utterance to their spiritual emotions and aspiration ; the women, too, found voice as the spirit moved, with no less freedom. In addition to the wives of the members we have mentioned, Betsey Cutting, Mary Ann Eveleth, Lucy Sawyer, Betsey Flood and Carrie Bixby are remembered as women of great spiritual gifts. Here, in the devotional meetings was the real life of the church ; here, sorrow- stricken hearts found peace ; here, doubts were laid at rest ; here, souls were born anew.
In a paper published at the twenty-fifth anniversary of the church, in 1877, the outline of the history of the church is summed up as follows: "This church, like all others, has experienced many vicissitudes in its history. Sometimes circumstances have been unfavorable and discouragements have seemed almost unsurmountable. But a few faithful, heroic ones pushed on amid the gathering gloom, till, with the blessings of the Lord, they came out of the cloud into the sunshine of prosperity." One whose position as presid- ing elder afforded him an opportunity for observation, said : "This society contains some of the most noble, liberal and self-sacrificing members that can anywhere be found. It has been noted from the commencement for the liberal and energetic ladies connected with it. But few instances can be found of equal devotion to the church and determination to sustain its institutions.
CHAPTER XXX.
THE FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF CLINTON.
THE Unitarian Church in Clinton is the child of the Unitarian Church in Lancaster, and as such may claim closer connection with the original ecclesiastical institutions of the mother town than either of our other churches. There was never a time from the first settlement within our borders to the establishment of the Unitarian Church in Clinton, when the pastor of the old church in Lancaster was not recog- nized as the pastor of a considerable portion of our people here, and the modification of the creed of the church did not cause many to withdraw until the coming of the Bigelows. When religious conviction and pecuniary advan- tage led to the establishment of other forms of worship, many yet continued to worship under Rev. E. H. Sears and Rev. G. M. Bartol in the old Brick Church. By 1850, services were held in Burdett Hall. These were conducted by Rev. George M. Bartol of Lancaster. Mr. Bartol was born at Freeport, Maine, September 18, 1820. He fitted for college at Exeter, N. H. He graduated from Brown University in 1842, and at Cambridge Divinity School in 1845. He came to Lancaster, and was installed August 4, 1847. He preached here in Clinton for a number of months, coming over after holding two services in his own church. He has remained in Lancaster for nearly half a century, and during all that time he has frequently exchanged with the Unitarian pastors of Clinton. He has also officiated at many funerals and weddings herc, and has been so closely associated with the
493
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH.
life of our Unitarians, that he has seemed to many of its members as one of their own pastors.
On July 29, 1850, a society was legally organized .* At this meeting, Ezra Sawyer was chosen moderator and Charles S. Patten, clerk. Ezra Sawyer, William Stearns and A. P. Burdett were chosen assessors and standing parish committee. Sidney Harris was made treasurer and collector. Steps were taken toward securing the use of Clinton Hall as a place for holding Sunday services. Franklin Forbes and C. W. Worcester were elected to act in conjunction with the standing committee in choosing a name for the society. At an adjournment of this meeting, held October 7th, it was voted to adopt the name, "First Unitarian Society of Clinton."" Rev. G. M. Bartol was invited to preach on October 13th in the Clinton Hall, which had been hired at a rent of two hundred dollars per year. James A. Weeks had charge of the music. A seraphine was hired. From October 20th to April, the cost of preaching was two hun- dred and twenty dollars.
April 7, 1851, it was voted to invite Rev. Leonard Jarvis Livermore to preach for one year. His salary at first was ten dollars per Sunday, then at the rate of six hundred dollars a year, then at the rate of seven hundred dollars per year. It should be remembered that there were two regular
* The members of this society were Ezra Sawyer, William F. Conant, Camden Maynard, William Stearns, Joshua C. Jewett, Nelson Whit- comb, Thomas Wellington, Henry Butterfield, Eliphas Ballard, Jr., H. N. Sweet, Augustus J. Sawyer, Simeon Bowman, Alfred Knight, Charles D. Dowse, Sidney Harris, Charles Holman, Jonas B. White, Frederic Flagg, William E. Frost, John P. Merrill, Levi Harris, Charles Colburn, Charles S. Patten, J. W. Willard, James A. Weeks, Josephus Wilder, A. P. Burdett, A. L. Fuller and Franklin Forbes.
t During the first year, the following gentlemen, in addition to those whose names have been given, were appointed on various committees: C. W. Blanchard, Aaron Weeks, James Needham, Joshua Thissell, B. R. Cotton, Edward E. Harlow, B. E. Sampson, Jerome S. Burdett, F. C. Messinger, John V. Butterfield.
494
REV. LEONARD J. LIVERMORE.
preaching services each Sunday at the Unitarian as well as all the other churches, during the whole period covered by our history. Mr. Livermore was born in Milford, New Hampshire, December 8, 1822. His grandfather, a clergy- man, and his father, a lawyer, were both graduates of Harvard. He followed in their footsteps, as his son did after him. Thus, in the course of one hundred and nineteen years, from 1756 to 1875, four successive generations studied in the same classic halls. Leonard J. Livermore received his diploma in 1842. He took a three years' course in the theological school, from which he graduated in 1846. The following year he was settled over the East Boston Unitarian Church, where he remained until he came to Clinton. While here, he built the main part of the house on Water street, since known as the Palmer house, and here he lived during the last years of his residence in Clinton. It is said that the house had originally belonged to his wife, and that it was taken to pieces and brought here and set up again. We have seen him as the editor of the Courant. He also served from 1853 to 1856 as a member of the school committee. At one time, he taught for a few weeks when an emergency demanded it. He was a man of large heart and very much beloved in his pastoral relations. Those who were children then recall how they used to love him and delight to visit his home. Few of our Clinton ministers have had such a wide acquaintance or exterted such a wholesome influence on the community at large. He was not especially brilliant as an orator. His theology was that of the old school Uni- tarians. He was "sound" and never erratic. His manner of delivery was quiet and sincere, and there was no straining after effect. Such was the depth of his reverence. the power and the charm of his presence, the benignity of his countenance and the visible purity of his character, that one of his parishoners said that it did him more good to see Mr. Livermore in the pulpit than to hear any other man preach.
Rev. C. M. Bowers has said of him: " By social gifts, by
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FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH.
his courtesy, affability, spirit of helpfulness, ready fellowship and pleasantry, he ( Mr. Livermore ) had an admirable outfit for large usefulness. He was a piece of sunshine. Kind words dropped from his lips like healthy breathings. He had a vein of wit, but it was never tinged with a purpose to sting. His heart had in it a good deal of fellowship with all hearts. In his public discourses he did not try any of the ambitious exaggerations of eloquence, knowing, as once was said by a sharp literary critic, 'when a man begins to be eloquent he begins to lie ;' nor did he ever carry his hearers into what has been declared the popular distinction of one of our living tongue performers, 'flights of fancy, oratory and metaphor which are almost bewildering at times,' but his preaching was a kind of more easy conversation with his people, full of good counsel for daily use, and distinguished by sound, practical sense. He did not effect the profound in unprofitable discussions, but taught the wisdom of Scrip- ture as related to human responsibility and life. He noticed with pain the trivialities and small ambitions that enter so generally into social conditions, and his ministry was marked by a special effort to lift the people into the larger relations of true being."
Before the close of 1851, some consideration was given to the subject of building a church. The Courant of March 20, 1852, said that it was proposed to build a Unitarian church north of the Clinton House. This must have been the cor- ner now occupied by Brimhall's Block. But the matter passed out of the hands of the society into those of a corpor- ation known as "The Proprietors of the First Unitarian Meeting-house in Clinton." The original applicants for organization were William Stearns, Alfred Knight, Nelson Whitcomb, Charles Holman, George F. Howard, Camden Maynard, Augustus J. Sawyer, Eliphas Ballard, Jr., Franklin Forbes, P. L. Morgan and James A. Weeks. The preamble to the by-laws adopted June 12, 1852, states: "Persons be- longing to the First Unitarian Society of Clinton having
496
CHURCH BUILDING.
determined to erect a meeting-house for the public worship of God, the subscribers have organized themselves into a corporation for the more effectual management of business." One of the by-laws states: "Each share of twenty-five dol- lars shall entitle the holder to a vote in all meetings of the proprietors; provided that no proprietor shall be entitled to more than ten votes." The house several years after was reckoned, according to the accounts, to have cost six thou- sand one hundred and twenty-five dollars. The land, valued at seven hundred dollars, was given to the proprietors by Henry P. Fairbanks, on certain conditions, among which was the erection of a building for the use of the Unitarian Society of Clinton. The original debt incurred by the proprietors was twenty-six hundred dollars. The use of the meeting- house was given to the society for the interest on this amount or one hundred at fifty-six dollars per year. The debt was gradually decreased by subscription to stock until, in 1865, it amounted to only nineteen hundred and five dollars, and the rent decreased proportionately. November 26, 1866, the proprietors voted to convey the property to the Unitarian Society. The society assumed the debt of eighteen hundred and thirty dollars, which was soon paid off. The original church has since been raised and thoroughly renovated.
The frame of the church was put up September 16, 1852, the building was completed at the beginning of the follow- ing year and dedicated February 2, 1853. Rev. L. J. Liver- more preached the dedication sermon. Rev. George M. Bartol gave an address to the society and church. Rev. T. P. Allen of Sterling, Rev. F. T. Gray of Boston, Rev. C. Lin- coln of Boston, and Rev. Washington Gilbert of Harvard took part in the dedication service. April 30, 1853, the mother church in Lancaster presented to this church part of its old silver, hallowed by sacred memories, for communion service.
Rev. L. J. Livermore remained as pastor until 1857. In September of that year, he went to Lexington to preach. There, he remained nine years. Ill health forced him to re-
.
497
REV. WILLIAM CUSHING.
sign his pastorate. After resting a year, he became pastor of the Unitarian Church in Danvers, where he continued to preach, with several interruptions on account of ill health, until his death. He was for a time assistant of the Ameri- can Unitarian Association, and afterwards secretary of the Sunday School Society. This work he carried on in connec- tion with his regular pastoral duties. He was the compiler of the "Hymn and Tune Book" so commonly used in Unitarian churches. He died in Cambridge in May, 1886. Mrs. Livermore is still living in Cambridge.
After Rev. L. J. Livermore went away, the pulpit was occupied for several months by Rev. William Cushing. He was a brother of Mrs. Franklin Forbes, and was the son of Hon. Edmund Cushing of Lunenburg. William Cushing was born May 15, 1811. He graduated from Harvard Col- lege in 1832. He taught school in Fitchburg. He gradu- ated from the Harvard Divinity School in 1839. He was ordained at Calais, Me. He also preached in Saco, Me., and at Bedford, Mass. In 1843, he formed the first Unitarian Society in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the same year, he married Margaret Louisa Wiley. He lived for many years on a farm in the southern portion of the town on the banks of Mine Swamp and Spring Brooks, near the point where they enter the river. He served on the school committee from 1863 to 1868. In the latter years of his life, he was assistant librarian at Harvard University. He published several volumes bearing on library work, of which his " Ini- tials and Pseudonyms" is the best known. He died in Cam- bridge, August 27, 1895.
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