USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, Volume I > Part 38
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1 See illustrations. Ed.
2 R. H. Conwell was born in Worthington, Massachusetts, February 15, 1842. He served in the Union Army, being promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1865. He prac- tised law in Minneapolis, 1865-67 and in Boston, 1870-79. He has lectured exten- sively and is the author of many books. Ed.
3 See illustrations. Ed.
FOLLEN CHURCH (Unitarian)
CHURCH OF OUR REDEEMER (Episcopal)
BAPTIST CHURCH
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The church has one hundred and fifty members, with one hundred and fifty-four in the Sunday School. It has a board of six deacons and a Standing, a Prudential, and a Benevolent Committee. The organization is supported by voluntary offerings given weekly. The benevolences are contributed in the same way and are distributed quarterly among eight or ten different organizations. A separate fund is maintained for local charities. There are a Ladies' Social Circle, two missionary organizations, and several classes for the study of special subjects. October 3, 4, and 5, 1909, the church cele- brated its seventy-fifth anniversary with special religious exercises, with a banquet, at which personal reminiscences were given by a number of members, and with a lecture by Dr. Conwell.
THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. - As already stated, the Second Congregational and the First Universalist Churches united, under an act of incorporation accepted April 19, 1865, as the Church of the Redeemer. In 1885, however, an act was secured and accepted by the society, changing the name to Follen Church. Meanwhile the name, "Church of our Redeemer," had been adopted by the re- cently formed Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church (which see p. 375).
Rev. William T. Stowe, who was made pastor of the Second Congregational Society, in January, 1865, resigned, in No- vember, 1869, to go to New Orleans, Louisiana. He was suc- ceeded, in 1871, by Rev. William C. Gannett, son of the distinguished minister of the Arlington Street Church, in Boston, who remained until 1873, when he accepted a call to Rochester, New York, where he still remains. During this period, 1865 to 1873, much was made of the musical service under the direction of Mr. J. P. Weston.
From 1873 to 1880, Rev. Edwin S. Elder was the settled minister. In the latter year he received a call to Keokuk, Iowa. Following his pastorate there were five years during which the pulpit was supplied temporarily by a number of ministers. October 14, 1885, Rev. William H. Branigan was installed, and remained until July, 1887, when he resigned. From that year until October 16, 1890, the church was min- istered to by Rev. Thomas Thompson,1 and in the following
1 See the Genealogical Register, Vol. II. Ed.
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year came the Rev. George Willis Cooke, well known as a writer and lecturer. His pastorate extended to July 1, 1897, when he resigned to undertake other duties.
From February, 1898, to April, 1905, the settled minister was the Rev. Lorenzo D. Cochrane. During May and June of the latter year, services were conducted by the Rev. Jabez T. Sunderland. In the following year the society called the Rev. Howard A. MacDonald, a graduate, in that year, of the Meadville Theological School. He was ordained in King's Chapel, June 26, 1906, and was installed at Follen Church, October 16 of the same year. In December, 1909, he resigned to accept a call from Hood River, Oregon. Since that time the pastoral duties have been fulfilled by the Rev. I. P. Quimby, a non-resident.
Within a few years the church building has been greatly improved by extensive repairs and by providing in the base- ment commodious rooms for social meetings.
Mr. George O. Smith (referred to at some length in con- nection with the account of the Lexington Historical Society, of which he was a generous benefactor) was for twenty-seven years Parish Clerk of this society.
SAINT BRIDGET'S CHURCH: ROMAN CATHOLIC.1- There is a tradition that Mass was said a few times in a house on Concord Hill in the early fifties; but the first service held by the Catholics in the town of Lexington, so far as there are re- cords to prove it, was early in the year 1852, for in the ledger of the Town Treasurer, under date of March 5, 1852, there is the entry: "Rent of Town Hall to the Catholics, $7.00." This is where Mass was said occasionally by the Rev. Manasses P. Dougherty, pastor of St. Peter's Church, Cambridge.
Afterwards, in 1853 or 1854, the use of Robinson Hall, which is now occupied by the Knights of Columbus, was secured for services. One reason given for the change was that the rent was less. This, naturally, was a consideration, since the number of the congregation was small and their means scanty. Father Dougherty continued his attendance for a short while and was succeeded by the Rev. John McCarthy, and later by the Rev. John Qualey, both of Woburn.
This arrangement continued until August, 1865, when the 1 For this material the Committee is under obligation to the Rev. Michael J. Owens. Ed.
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Rev. P. J. Canny, who had been stationed at St. Joseph's Church, Chambers Street, Boston, was appointed pastor of the Catholics in the towns of Lexington, Concord, and Assabet, now Maynard, and took up his residence in a house on the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Curve Street, East Lexington. This was while the Rt. Rev. John B. Fitz- patrick was Bishop of Boston, and as Bishop of Boston the Church of the First Universalist Society (now Village Hall) was sold to him, November 6, 1865.
Father Canny remained as pastor until August, 1870, when the Rt. Rev. John J. Williams, Bishop of Boston at that time, sent the Rev. Matthew Harkins, now Bishop of Provi- dence, Rhode Island, to take Father Canny's place. Father Harkins was a young priest who had just returned from his theological studies in Paris and Rome; and when he looked over the territory he had to cover he thought Concord a more convenient place of residence. He resided there until October, 1870, and was succeeded by the Rev. John Dela- hunty, who was assisted by the Rev. Michael T. McManus, now pastor of the Church of the Assumption, Brookline. These two priests lived in Concord until January, 1871, and attended the Lexington Catholics, as did their successor, the Rev. John O'Brien, now the Rt. Rev. Monsignor O'Brien, of the Sacred Heart Church, East Cambridge.
Father O'Brien remained until March, 1873, when, at his departure from Concord, the Bishop assigned the Catholics of Lexington and part of Bedford to the care of the pastor of the Catholic Church in Arlington. The Rev. Joseph M. Finotti was then pastor of Arlington, having been transferred from Brookline in January of the same year.
At this time it was deemed advisable to have a larger church which would be more centrally located; therefore the present site of Saint Bridget's Church was secured in the summer of 1875 and Bishop Williams sold to "The Inhabi- tants of the Town of Lexington " the East Lexington Church, March 23, 1874. " The Lexington Minute-Man" of August 2, 1873, notices the purchase of the Davis Estate on Monument Street for $6000 cash, by the Catholics.
There was a house on the land; and again in the "Minute- Man" of September 13, 1873, there is a note to the effect that Mr. A. Ball commenced the work of tearing out the interior of the Davis House, lately purchased by the Catholics; and
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again in the issue of the same paper October 25, 1873, we are told: "Last Sunday the Catholics held service in the building lately purchased of the Davis Estate on Monument Street, for the second time." This temporary structure was used for a couple of years, when the basement of the present church was completed and the cornerstone laid in November, 1875, by Archbishop Williams.
Father Finotti remained in Arlington until April, 1876, and was succeeded by the Rev. Matthew Harkins, who had come from the parish of the Immaculate Conception, Salem, thus making him pastor of the Lexington parish for the sec- ond time. It was during his pastorate that the superstructure of the present church was built. He remained as pastor until March, 1884, when he was appointed pastor of Saint James's Church, Boston, and the Rev. Thomas H. Shahan took the place vacated by Father Harkins. While Father Shahan was pastor, the rectory in Lexington and the church in Bedford were constructed.
During the years 1873 to 1886 the following priests assisted the different pastors in ministering to the Catholics of Lex- ington : Rev. John B. Galvin, Rev. Michael D. Murphy, Rev. James J. O'Brien, Rev. John M. Gallagher, Rev. Thomas I. Coghlan, Rev. Patrick H. Billings, and Rev. Martin S. Kelley.
In April, 1866, Bishop Williams made Lexington and Bedford a parish, and appointed the Rev. Patrick J. Kava- nagh, of Saint Rose's Parish, Chelsea, pastor. Father Kavanagh took up his residence in the rectory newly erected and began to make arrangements for the completion of the interior of Saint Bridget's Church, which was dedicated Sunday, May 3, 1891, by Archbishop Williams. On that occasion the Rev. Lawrence J. O'Toole, of West Newton, was celebrant of the Mass. He was assisted by the Rev. John Murphy, of Hopkinton, as deacon, the Rev. Michael Gilligan, of Medford, as sub-deacon, and the Rev. John Dono- van, of Charlestown (a native of Lexington), as master of ceremonies. The Rev. William D. Joyce, O.M.I., of Lowell, preached the dedicatory sermon. The other priests who as- sisted at the ceremony were Rev. John Flatley, Cambridge; Rev. Timothy Brosnahan, Waltham; Rev. Robert Stack, Watertown; Rev. B. H. Billings and Rev. J. J. O'Brien, St. James's Church, Boston; Rev. James McGlew, Chelsea; Rev.
HANCOCK CHURCH (Congregational) ST. BRIDGET'S CHURCH (Roman Catholic)
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Michael McCall, Concord; Rev. John Qualey and Rev. James Gilday, Woburn; and the Rev. Richard Nagle, of the Ca- thedral of the Holy Cross, Boston.
During a part of his pastorate, Father Kavanagh was as- sisted successively by the Rev. William J. Fennessy and the Rev. Joseph J. Fitzgerald. Father Kavanagh remained in Lexington, as pastor, until May, 1904, when the Rev. Mi- chael J. Owens, of St. Catherine's Parish, Charlestown, was appointed his successor. During Father Owens's pastorate, he has been assisted, successively, by the Rev. William J. Farrell, the Rev. Joseph E. Connelly, and the Rev. Henry J. Ryan.
The Catholic population of Lexington, in 1912, is about 1200. The increase has been slow but constant, as may be seen by consulting the parish baptismal records. During the first full year after Lexington had become a separate parish, in 1887, there were eighteen infants baptized; in 1888, there were twenty-one, and in 1911, there were fifty-three.
The church property, buildings and grounds, have been much improved in recent years and a new Hook and Hast- ing's pipe organ was installed in the church in 1909. The organ was first heard at a public concert December 1, 1909.
THE HANCOCK CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 1 was organized in the spring of the year 1868. In the main village two other churches were already established. One was the First Parish Church, with its long and honorable history. At the time of the theological controversy, in the early part of the nine- teenth century, this body, unlike many of the neighboring churches, which were split into two sections, went over en- tirely to the Unitarian side. This departure accordingly left among the Congregationalists no church to represent those of the Trinitarian persuasion. This lack was felt by a group of earnest men and women, many of whom for a considerable time had attended the Baptist Church, whose organization dated from the year 1833. The doctrinal emphasis of this body, though in the main congenial, was felt to be somewhat unduly restrictive, especially in regard to participation in the Communion Service, from which those were excluded who had not been baptized by immersion. The situation thus
1 The account of Hancock Church was prepared by Rev. Charles F. Carter, a member of the Committee. Ed.
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viewed in its doctrinal aspect suggests part of the motive that, coupled with other considerations, led to the formation of a new ecclesiastical society.
The desire of the founders met peculiarly sympathetic consideration and practical aid among the churches of the Woburn Conference. The moral support of these neighboring bodies and their generous aid in providing a meeting-house, and in other financial assistance which was continued for several years, made possible what could not have been under- taken solely in reliance on local resources. This marked in- stance of wise and far-seeing fraternal helpfulness entitles Hancock Church always to be regarded as a child of the Woburn Conference.
For a house of worship, a building was made available that bore an interesting history. At the junction of Bedford Road and Hancock Street, an academy had been established in 1822, duly incorporated by some of the leading citizens of that time. Seventeen years later this building became the birthplace of the first state normal school in America, receiv- ing the impress of the genius of Horace Mann. Here, also, Frederick Douglass made his first public speech. After some years of varied history, this property was purchased at a cost of about eight thousand dollars and, adapted to the uses of public worship, became the first home of Hancock Church. On May 20, 1868, it was dedicated to religious uses by a council from the Woburn Conference, which also assisted in organizing a church of twenty-three members. For more than twenty years the congregation worshipped here, while the church grew steadily in numbers and influence. The experi- ment, which by many had been regarded as a doubtful one, justified itself and advanced in public esteem.
On August 17, 1868, the final steps were taken, legally constituting the Hancock Congregational Society. Under Charles Hudson, Esq., as presiding justice, Deacon Walter W. Baker was elected Clerk and Matthew H. Merriam was chosen Moderator. John Davis was elected Treasurer and Collector. The basis of association was adopted, affirming "that this society is to be founded and ever to be continued on an orthodox Congregational basis, according to the creed and principles of the Hancock Congregational Church herewith to be connected and corresponding in doctrine and polity with the churches composing the Woburn Conference and with
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other churches of like faith." Provision for harmonious ac- tion in calling a pastor was made by the adoption of the following article: -
"The church shall have the right in all cases to select a pastor to be proposed to the society for its concurrence. If it shall concur in said selection ... a call shall be given by the church and society jointly; but if the society do not concur, the church shall select again, and so again, from time to time, until the church and society shall agree in a choice and when so agreed a call shall be given to the person so selected by the church and society as stated above, that is, jointly."
Under this provision, so carefully framed to secure har- mony of action, a call was extended to Edward Griffin Porter 1 to become the pastor of the newly formed church and on October 1, 1868, he was ordained to that office. With twenty-four pioneer members and with twelve scholars in the Sunday School it was a day of small beginnings. Yet there were men and women who were earnestly devoted to this new enterprise with a seriousness befitting its character. Notable among them were Deacon John Davis and Mary Forbes Phelps, his wife, who are entitled to be regarded as the founders of the church and who are so commemorated by a window placed to their honor in the later edifice. With them others of like spirit were associated: Dr. and Mrs. Adams, Deacon and Mrs. Walter W. Baker, Mr. and Mrs. George F. Chapman, Mrs. Alice D. Goodwin, and Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Patch. They were simply a large family of faith, bound closely together by the responsibility of their undertaking and in earnest to secure a genuine success. Into this atmosphere Mr. Porter came and undertook his first and only pastorate. Graduating from Harvard in 1858, he pur- sued his studies in Berlin, Heidelberg, and Athens for three years, taking the degree of Master of Arts on his return in 1861. He then entered the Andover Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1864. Service on the Sanitary Com- mission during the latter part of the Civil War temporarily impaired his health and another journey to Europe became advisable. Thus his entrance upon the active duties of the ministry was delayed, but there were abundant compensa- tions in the breadth of experience gained by travel and in the
1 See illustrations. Ed.
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wealth of information which he was always able and ready so happily to impart to others. He threw himself with zest into the life of the new church and by the charm of his personality and his wide-reaching friendliness he at once gave character to this growing community of faith.
Its methods were in harmony with those of the Congrega- tional order in the surrounding towns. The spirit of its pastor was irenic. He laid no undue stress on theological doctrines, but rather gave diligent attention to the development of friendly relations among all the people and especially to the stimulus and instruction of the young. A marked emphasis was given to the importance of missions, and it is doubtful if any church in the country during the later years of his pas- torate had so many occasions of personal contact with mis- sionaries and their work as did this inconspicuous, country church. Here it was that Rev. Joseph Hardy Neesima preached his first sermon in English and received the first ten dollars for the founding of the Doshisha in Tokio; while from the Christian Endeavor Society of this church the impulse proceeded inaugurating a similar movement in New Zealand. In the spring of 1887, Mr. Porter, in company with Rev. Dr. Daniel March, of Woburn, entered upon a tour of the countries of the world where the American Board of Foreign Missions was represented by mission stations. This was a voluntary service, undertaken as a tour of inspection, one of the first of its kind, and honorable alike to these broad- minded ministers and to the churches who allowed them thus to go. From such interest in the world-wide spread of God's Kingdom there could not help but come a reflex influence upon the church itself, broadening its conception of the scope of its work.
One of the incidental results of the intimate connection between Mr. Porter and those upon the foreign field was seen in the settlement in Lexington of the veteran missionary, Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, who chose this town for a home during his later years and whose sturdy form and resolute bearing on the street down to his ninetieth year brought to mind the story of his eventful life, with its rare sagacity and practical sense, while his presence in the church always became an occasion of renewed veneration and regard.
In 1891, Mr. Porter resigned his pastorate and was dis- missed on March 2 of that year, being honored with the
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position of pastor emeritus for life. During this period of his active ministry the church had grown to a membership of one hundred and eighty-eight, twenty-four of them at this time being non-residents. Mr. Porter retained his citizenship in the town, to whose interests he was exceptionally devoted. In the wide range of his travels throughout the world, he never forgot that he was a citizen of Lexington, and he did more than any other individual both at home and abroad to awaken the sense and to extend the knowledge of the town's exalted history. Gifted with the keen scent of the antiquary and untiring in research, he brought to light many historic facts that otherwise would have passed into oblivion. The record of his published works, nearly fifty in number, ap- pended to a memoir printed for the New England Historic Genealogical Society, is only a partial indication of the in- dustry and eagerness that kept him constantly on the trail of items pertinent to the early history of men and affairs in New England. While he contributed so freely to its historic con- sciousness, it is equally true that the town with its rich heri- tage from the past helped Mr. Porter to discover himself, affording a stimulating field for the exercise of his distinctive talents. The mating between the town and this Christian gentleman was a peculiarly happy one.
After his death by pneumonia on February 5, 1900, the church placed on record its appreciation of his character, hold- ing a memorial service in his honor and later placing in the new building a beautiful window bearing the fitting inscription, -
"Citizen, Minister, Friend."
"With rare friendliness he gave himself unsparingly to others, drawing out the good in them and helping to confirm it. As a Christian gentleman he was eminent in social virtue, while his purity of heart and singularly unblemished speech commended the gospel he proclaimed. Of distinguished and courtly bearing, he yet had strong individuality, was bold and persuasive in personal address, resolute in his undertakings and efficient in accomplish- ment. The memory of his character will long remain as an inspir- ation to those who knew him."
With the growth of the church it became apparent that more commodious quarters would soon be necessary. Pre- liminary discussion was begun in the year 1887, which re- sulted in the circulation of a subscription paper and in the
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appointment of a Building Committee, of which Mr. Mat- thew H. Merriam was the Chairman. The present site at the west of the old Munroe House was purchased and the corner- stone was laid, with appropriate exercises, on July 26, 1892. At the inception of this enterprise, it was the avowed purpose of the people that the new building should be completed free from debt, but some unfortunate misunderstandings arose and this laudable purpose failed of attainment. Hence in the summer of 1893, initial services were held in the new church, but the formal dedication was postponed until the balance of indebtedness should be provided.
The cost of the edifice was approximately forty-five thou- sand dollars. It was built of field stones by Dodge Brothers, of Somerville, from plans drawn by Mr. Walter J. Paine, an architect of Boston. The stained glass was furnished by Redding and Baird of Boston, including the memorial win- dow to Deacon and Mrs. Davis, given by Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Goodwin, to which reference already has been made; another window, a memorial by Mr. Oscar Patch and Miss Patch to their parents and to his wife and daughter; and a third window in memory of Dr. Adams. To these there has been added a smaller window, the gift of Mr. Alvah C. Stone to the memory of his wife; and the large memorial of Rev. Mr. Porter. This was the gift of friends both without and within the parish and was made, at a cost of sixteen hundred dollars, by Lewis G. Flagg, of Boston. The rich and har- monious design represents for its central section a study of the woman of Samaria with Jesus at the well, as he declares to her the momentous truth, "God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth." The sur- rounding openings contain angelic faces and the entire group is treated as a composite whole, the blending of light and shade thus giving unity to the various parts. The excellent organ was built by Mr. George S. Hutchins of Boston, the purchase sum of thirty-three hundred dollars being provided by a special subscription secured through the agency of Mr. C. C. Goodwin1 and Mr. A. W. Newell,2 both of whom for many years have been zealous in promoting the interests of the church, especially in the department of music. During the entire history of the church a notable and distinctive
1 See illustrations. Ed.
2 Mr. Newell was a victim of the terrible Titanic disaster. Ed.
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feature has been the character of the music rendered in its services. For the efficiency of the chorus choir and the spirit of enthusiasm pervading its work, the devotion of Mr. Goodwin was mainly responsible, and this is effectively con- tinued by Mr. Edward P. Merriam.
With the resignation of Mr. Porter, the church was left without a pastor, and it promptly extended a call to Rev. Irving Meredith, which was accepted, and the services of installation took place October 1, 1891, the sermon being delivered by the Rev. Robert R. Meredith, D.D., the distin- guished father of the new pastor. Mr. Meredith had his collegiate training at Harvard and Dartmouth. Newspaper work in Boston widened his experience, as did also his study of the conditions of workingmen under free trade in Europe, which was undertaken during the presidential campaign of 1888. Direct training for the ministry came to him in Union Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1891, and he was ordained on May 26, at the Tompkins Avenue Congrega- tional Church of Brooklyn, New York, where his father was pastor. He also had valuable experience in home missionary work, during the summer vacations, in Wyoming, Nebraska, and Dakota, and in the mountains of Pennsylvania and Maryland.
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