USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Shirley > History of the town of Shirley, Massachusetts, from its early settlement to A.D. 1882 > Part 24
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At a subsequent meeting of the parish, holden April 29th, 1865, the legacy of Mrs. Whitney was accepted and the usual complimentary resolutions were unanimously adopted.
It may also be set down as an item of history that Mr. Martin Turner, who died July 16th, 1869, left to the parish funds a legacy of fifty dollars, on the same con- ditions as those specified in the legacies of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Whitney.
At a parish meeting holden April 30th, 1869, the executor of the will of Mrs. Clarissa Isaacs presented a communication, containing the following item from her last will and testament :
"I give to the First Parish in Shirley, over which my respected father was settled for a series of years, the sum of two hundred dollars, for the same purpose, and on the same terms and conditions as specified in the will of my late brother, Thomas Whitney, respecting a similar bequest made by him." It was voted "to accept the bequest of the late Mrs. Isaacs."
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Miss Rebecca Day, who died September 28th, 1869, left for the use of the parish the sum of three hundred dollars, which was accepted by the usual legal formali- ties.
The names and deeds of these benefactors have found an honorable place in the records of the parish ;- but that they might be more extensively understood and appreci- ated they have been transferred to the pages of this history.
These legacies, amounting in all to $2,300, were intrusted with Thomas E. Whitney, as treasurer of the parish, by whose family a large portion of the funds had been donated. For this reason-and from the general apprehension that both the disposition of Mr. Whitney toward the good of the object and his supposed pecuniary ability to meet any liability he might assume-no special security was required at his hands. But the result proved that this was a mistaken trust, as the whole was sunk in the abyss of misfortune that came over the plans and pur- poses of the unfortunate treasurer. The parish would have lost the entire debt but for the timely assistance of Mrs. Mary D. Whitney of Boston, an aunt of the deceased treasurer. Although she was the greatest loser by his failure, and probably a heavier creditor than all the others united, yet she generously made over to the parish, on certain conditions, an amount of real estate of equal value to the fund owed by her deceased relative.
By a judicious care and use, this fund,-either as it is, or by any expedient transposition of it,-will be a salutary help in the support of public worship, in all coming time.
The present is perhaps an appropriate place to note the existence of the Parish Library, designed for adult reading. This library was commenced, in a small way, in the spring of 1839, through the efforts of a few ladies. It has continued to make small yearly additions until it numbers 548 volumes of useful books, and is a source of valuable entertainment to those families who avail them- selves of its privileges. The late William Parker and the
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late William F. Whitney, of Boston, have been liberal patrons of this library. It is deposited in the vestibule of the church, and the books are distributed on Sundays, both before and after divine service.
The church connected with the first parish was organ- ized in 1762, as before related. It has had but three settled pastors ; the second was a colleague, and was dis- missed before the death of his predecessor. The united ministries of the first and third cover a period of one hundred and one years, allowing the active ministry of the third to close June 1, 1879, when he had completed his forty-fifth year. During the interregnum of sixteen years between the death of Mr. Whitney and the engage- ment of Mr. Chandler the church was left without the word and ordinances for only a single year.
Forty-five years of active ministry with one and the same people opens a field of varied experience, which cannot be reviewed without mingled emotions of pleasure and regret. The candid minister who should have this experience must, upon reflection, behold his own short- comings in a variety of forms, and be led to believe that his labors would have been far more effectual for good had they been attended by a greater degree of thought- fulness, carefulness and prudence. And, undoubtedly, a people, under the same circumstances, who as faithfully scan their own motives and actions as they do those of their minister, would find their own conduct open to cen- sure as well as approval.
The length of Mr. Chandler's ministry, in these times of sensational preaching, fitful hearing and short engage- ments, is tolerable evidence that there have been mutual forbearances and mutual confidences between the parties, and mutual good feeling largely entertained during the entire continuance of the union.
In looking back upon his public labors Mr. Chandler cannot hesitate to acknowledge that he has experienced many especially gratifying favors. The church music, which has always been conducted without internal jars or
Autoglyph Print, W. P. ALLEN, Gardner, Mass.
RESIDENCE OF REV. SETH CHANDLER.
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bitter corrodings, has been a very important feature of the Sunday services ; it has been invariably excellent, exhila- rating, and constant. There never have been long breaks in the regular services on the Sabbath, through sickness of the minister or other cause, and there has been but one Sunday gathering (and only two meetings on extra occasions) when the congregation-great or small-failed of being enlivened by cheering music! This constancy and faithfulness are largely due to the fidelity of one man, and he the choir leader - HON. E. DANA BANCROFT. For a period of some thirty-five years he has been at his post of duty, in season and out of season. Though his residence has been from two to four miles from church, his seat has rarely been found empty. In this thing he has led his household after him. He has braved all storms, overcome the obstacles of bad travelling, and thus given his untiring labors, for a very meagre compensation during all these years. He has also manifested a becoming pecuniary liberality in furnishing music books for the choir and Sunday-school. Indeed, he has engaged in every good word and work for the parish benefit with heart and hand. His works and those of other helpers assist to cheer the depression of a retiring minister.
At the commencement of his ministry Mr. Chandler found the church to consist of twenty-six members, and during his pastorate one hundred and nine were added. He baptized one hundred and forty-six persons, and joined in wedlock five hundred and seventy-four individuals. He performed six hundred and sixteen funeral services, many of which were in other towns. He has served in twenty-nine ecclesiastical councils in other churches, and closed his regular duties with the parish on the first Sunday in June, 1879. He still holds a nominal connec- tion with the church, and has performed pastoral and pulpit labor's since the close of what may be called his regular engagement. The society is now (1882) without preaching.
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HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
During the last ten or fifteen years the First Congre- gational parish in Shirley has been subject to a change common to towns situated near, yet not directly upon, the line of a railroad. The villages that gather about the stations have a tendency to bring within their focus the tradesmen, and other business workers, and gradually draw away the young men from the surrounding farms. This of necessity must deplete the church support and attendance that is left behind. Thirteen and more families who gave the first church their presence and assistance have emigrated to Ayer during this period, and have left their sittings vacant. Drains have been opened other ways with the same sad effects. Worse than all, the farms, upon which a rural parish depends for its sustinence, have largely passed into the ownership of a Catholic community, who have no regard for religious institutions outside the forms of their own communion, and who give neither their persons nor their property in any way to sustain a Protestant worship,-the corner stone of that liberty which the Catholic foreigner first in his life realizes in this land of his immigration !
The first society in Shirley, with many other New- England churches, has suffered from these causes. Its funds, however, with an awakened energy on the part of its remnant members, may eventually resuscitate it to renewed action, and give it a name and standing among the religious institutions of the land.
CHAPTER VII.
Orthodox Society - Church Organization - Meeting-
Houses-Ministers-Miss Jenny Little-Benefac- tions-Sunday-School, etc.
The next religious division that occurred in Shirley was made by the organization of a Trinitarian Congrega- tional Church.
When the First Congregational Parish was incorpo- rated a minority of its members did not fully sympathize with the doctrinal opinions of the majority. They con- tinued, however, to worship at the same altar for the space of six years. During this period divisions had been effected in the Congregational denomination, throughout those parts of the Commonwealth, where what was termed the "liberal sentiment" had established its claims.
In the vicinity of Shirley this division had extensively prevailed. In almost every town two church spires arose when but one had previously existed. It was therefore deemed expedient that however small a town or precinct, it should not be exempt from this rule; and hence the rule was adopted in Shirley, with all its attendant good and evil consequences. The trinitarian minority regarded their doctrinal speculations as being at such variance with those of the unitarian majority, that they could not con- scienciously worship at the same altar, but must seek out a new locality as a resting place for the "ark of the Lord."
That this history may present a true record of this new movement, an account of it is transferred from the archives of the seceders, and given in their own words :
"Shirley, Feb. 3, 1828. A number of people in this place met at the house of Miss J. Little, and after prayer, the Rev. J. Todd acting as moderator :
" Voted, that it be expedient to form a church in this place, of evangelical principles.
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" Voted, that a committee of three be appointed to make the necessary arrangements.
" Voted, that Samuel S. Walker, Imla Wright, and Dea. Joseph Brown constitute this committee.
" Voted, that the churches in Groton, Dunstable, Har- vard, Leominster, Townsend and Fitchburg, be invited to constitute an ecclesiastical council for the purpose of organizing said church.
" Voted, that Thursday, February 14th instant be observed as a day of fasting and prayer.
"SAMUEL S. WALKER, Scribe."
It was settled that when the proposed council should assemble, the business meeting should be at the house of Samuel S. Walker, in the forenoon, and that the public religious services should be in the afternoon, in the south [Universalist ] meeting-house ; and that the church be called "Orthodox Congregational."
At the appointed time the council was convened. and the following extract from its proceedings will be a faith- ful and permanent record of the origin of this important movement :
"March 12th, 1828. At an ecclesiastical council, convened by letters (missive) at the house of Samuel S. Walker, for the purpose of organizing a new church, on evangelical principles, the following churches were present by pastor and delegate :
"Church of Christ in Dunstable, Rev. Samuel H. Tol- man, pastor, Mr. Joel Keys, delegate; church of Christ in Harvard, Rev. G. Fisher, pastor, Dea. Reuben Whit- comb, delegate; Union church of Christ in Groton, Rev. J. Todd, pastor, Wm. L. Chaplin, delegate; church of Christ in Leominster, Rev. P. Payson, pastor, Abel Ken- dall, delegate ; church of Christ in Fitchburg, Rev. Rufus A. Putnam, pastor, Dea. F. Downe, delegate; church of Christ in Townsend, Dea. J. Adams and Bro. Samuel Walker, delegates.
"The council organized by choosing Rev. S. H. Tol- man, moderator, and Rev. Rufus A. Putnam, scribe.
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"The moderator led in prayer for light and direction.
"The articles of faith and form of covenant, proposed to be accepted by the candidates in being constituted into a church, were examined, and after a few amendments were approved by the council.
"The candidates (sixteen in number) then presented themselves for examination, viz: Joseph Brown, Esther Brown, Rhoda Brown, Harriet Walker, Saml. S. Walker, Esther R. Jefts, Jenny Little, Nancy Holden, Imla Wright, Sarah Meriam, Amelia Shipley, Lucy Porter, Jacob Harrington, Sarah B. Harrington, Elizabeth Har- low, A. Livermore.
"Rev. J. Todd led in prayer at the throne of grace.
"The candidates were then examined in regard to their faith, religious experience, reason of their hope in Christ, and their determination to confess him before men ; in all of which respects the council obtained satisfaction. Whereupon it was voted, unanimously, that this council proceed to organize said persons into a church of Christ, to be denominated The Orthodox Congregational Church in Shirley.
"The parts for the (public) services were assigned in the following order, viz : That the Rev. Mr. Fisher read the scriptures and offer the introductory prayer ; that Rev. Mr. Todd preach the sermon; that Rev. Mr. Tolman read the articles of faith and form of covenant, admin- ister baptism and offer the consecrating prayer ; Rev. Mr. Putnam to express the fellowship of the churches; Rev. Mr. Todd to preside in administering the holy supper ; Rev. Mr. Payson to offer the concluding prayer.
"The council then adjourned to meet at the south meeting-house for the performance of the above-named services. The council met according to adjournment, and the church was constituted accordingly.
(Signed,) "SAMUEL H. TOLMAN, Moderator. "RUFUS A. PUTNAM, Scribe.
" A true copy from the original minutes.
" Attest : RUFUS A. PUTNAM, Scribe."
40
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From this beginning Trinitarianism has progressed until its body has assumed a respectable position with the other religious societies of the town. The church with which it has been mainly identified has had its seasons of prosperity and adversity, passing through each with a good degree of equanimity, and sustaining a zealous interest in the privileges and ordinances of a stated gospel ministry. In its early years it had two "protracted meet- ings," which were followed by encouraging revivals of religion. In fine, it has enjoyed all the ordinary and extraordinary means of grace that circumstances could afford or that the efforts of its friends could produce. Three or four persons have been excommunicated from church fellowship ; and one ecclesiastical council has been called to settle a difficulty occasioned by the removal of the location of the place of worship, which change will be more particularly noticed in a subsequent page of this history.
There are few corporate or associated bodies, how- ever high or holy their motives may be, who do not occasionally err from the paths of rectitude, and indulge in short-comings-for all men are human ; but the more than fifty years of the history of this church prove the general uprightness, sincerity and devotion of its members ; that it has been their design to save themselves and the masses from that moral degradation towards which an unchecked community is prone to hasten ; to fulfil the purposes of a true earthly being, and secure a good hope of future blessedness in the eternal world.
It may be proper here to record the names of the persons who have filled the official position of deacon in this church, viz : Joseph Brown, John Park, Asa Douglass, Jacob Harrington, William Boynton, Daniel Livermore, John W. Thacher.
The congregation with which this church was con- nected had no legal existence until 1846, when it was duly incorporated by the name of the Orthodox Congre- gational Society in Shirley.
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During the summer that followed the organization of the church, a meeting-house was erected on an area of land given by Miss Jenny Little, as a permanent meeting- house locality. It was a delightful spot, and well adapted to its sacred purpose. It was situated a few rods north of the church of the First Parish, in the central village of the town. Leading from the same area, a pastoral man- sion was subsequently built, for the use of the minister and his family. The circumstances of nature and art were happily combined to adapt this location to its appointed uses.
The church was dedicated in December, 1829. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. John Todd of Groton. It was built with funds derived in part from subscriptions made by members of the newly-gathered congregation, and in part from the contributions of other churches. It was constructed of brick, was of humble pretensions, and not very well adapted to its intended pur- poses ; yet it was the best that the times and circumstances would admit, and perhaps never were a feeble band of worshippers more grateful than were this people to find a place where the ark of God could rest, and where they could pay their devotions with a full and free spirit.
For nearly twenty years these emotions were fully realized, when it was deemed expedient to seek out a new and more central locality for "the gathering of the people" for worship. This plan was at length effected, though not without a stern protest from a minority, who were greatly incommoded by the change. And, indeed, it was not without some regret to them all to be separated from a place of so many and tender associations. The property thus vacated was sold and converted to secular purposes.
The reasoning of the two parties was on this wise, as to the expediency and justice of the plan. Those who lived in the South Village said that the party lines had become so completely established in all the rural districts of the town as to preclude all reasonable ground of hope that any accessions could be made to the society as at
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present situated ; but, by removing its place of worship, as had been proposed, the meeting-house would be located in a flourishing village, where the manufacturing interest was yearly increasing, which would ensure such an influx of population as to place the society, and the cause which it sustains, on a safe and permanent basis.
Those who lived in the northerly sections of the town could not acquiesce in any plan that threatened to deprive them of dearly-bought and highly-prized privileges. Most of them had been connected with the society from its commencement, had made great sacrifices in its sup- port, had watched with paternal regard over its interests, and had hoped that they and their children would long be enabled to assemble around a tabernacle that had been consecrated by so many labors and prayers. They regarded the proposed change as an encroachment upon their just rights; and hence all the advantages it could promise would never reconcile them to its adoption.
As neither party could be reasoned out of its convic- tions, or made to yield its claims, the matter was decided by vote, and carried in favor of removal. With sad feelings the minority bade adieu to their sanctuary ; many of them sought other places of worship, not being content to follow the ark of God into what they deemed a strange land. The disaffected church-members were-by the advice of a mutual council called to settle this unhappy state of things-recommended to sister churches in the vicinity. Thus ended an unfortunate schism, which could not be avoided.
For a season the Orthodox society held religious services in a school-house; but the people were soon heartily engaged in the erection of a new temple of prayer and praise. By unwearied efforts on their part, and by the aid which they received from other sources, a meeting-house was completed and dedicated in the spring of the year 1851.
The sermon of dedication was preached by Rev. G. W. Adams, who was then provisional minister of the
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society, and Messrs. Hodgman of Lunenburg and Hub- bard of Leominster were present and took parts in the solemnities of the occasion.
The church stands upon the table-land which rises north of the Catacunemaug valley,-has an agreeable locality, and, in its original finish, was a neat and commo- dious structure. It contained forty-eight pews, and its basement was furnished with a vestry and lecture-room. It was surmounted by a tower and steeple, and supplied with a bell, which has since been changed for another and better. The first cost of the building was $3,300.
For over twenty years this temple had continued to fulfil the purposes of its erection, with occasional slight repairs. Thither on each returning Sabbath the devout congregation assembled to hear and ponder divine truth ; there they offered their children to God in baptism, and themselves by covenant engagements; and from thence the bodies of many late worshippers were borne to their long homes. But now the effacing fingers of time were perceivable, both from within and without, and improve- ments of form and fashion seemed to demand the attention of the faithful incumbents of pews and pulpit. Accord- ingly, in the year 1872, a few external repairs were made, while internally there was a thorough renovation.
The pulpit was revolutionized, and brought down to meet the exigencies of modern taste; the pews were newly upholstered, and the walls were ornamented with appropriate fresco. Thus, by the energy and persever- ance of a determined people, their church auditory was changed from a dingy and forbidding apartment to a light, convenient and inviting sanctuary of worship. The cost of these improvements exceeded $2,500.
The Orthodox Congregational Church had been two years in existence, and nearly all of that time their first temple of worship had been completed, before a stated ministry had been established. Mr. Hope Brown, of Fitchburg, was then invited to the vacant pastorship. He accepted the appointment, and June 22nd, 1830, was set
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apart as the day for his ordination. The following churches were represented in the ordaining council :
Church in Townsend, Rev. David Palmer, Dea. Joel Adams; church in Braintree, Rev. R. S. Storrs, D. D .; church in Westminster, Rev. Cyrus Mann; church in Harvard, Rev. George Fisher, Bro. A. Wetherell ; church in Fitchburg, Rev. Rufus A. Putnam, Bro. W. Downe ; church in Groton, Rev. John Todd, Bro. Joseph Blood ; church in Leominster, Rev. Phillips Payson, Bro. Eph- raim Lincoln ; church in Concord, Rev. D. S. Southmaid, Bro. Moses Davis; church in Ashby, Rev. A. B. Kemp, Bro. Asa Walker; church in Westford, Rev. Leonard Luce, Bro. Amos Flagg ; church in Boxford, Rev. T. R. Cushing, Bro. P. Hayward ; church in Bolton, Rev. T. W. Chickering, Bro. P. Fairbanks.
The public services of the ordination were conducted in the following order :
Mr. Payson read the Scriptures, Mr. Putnam offered the introductory prayer, Mr. Todd preached the sermon, Mr. Fisher made the ordaining prayer, Mr. Mann gave the charge, Mr. Chickering the right-hand of fellowship, Dr. Storrs addressed the people, and Mr. Kemp offered the concluding prayer.
Mr. Brown was a truly devoted pastor, was much beloved by his people, and continued his connection with them for nearly fourteen years. He was then dismissed, at his own request, and removed with his family to Naper- ville, in Illinois, where he for a time had charge of a parish. He now lives in Rockford; is without a stated ministry, and has been engaged in some educational calling.
While Mr. Brown held his pastorship in Shirley he conferred the rite of baptism upon forty-nine persons, and received eighty-eight into church communion. He was very active and faithful in the discharge of his parochial duties ; was ready in season and out of season to offer counsel or exhortation. He had frequent calls from other towns to sit in ecclesiastical councils, and wherever
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he was known he secured the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens. His separation from his parish and his removal from the neighborhood were very generally regretted, and many of his friends could hardly be recon- ciled to a policy that dissolved a connection that had been so long and so prosperously sustained. The subsequent history of the society has fully proved the injudiciousness of short ministries. Mr. Brown was an indefatigable worker in the causes of temperance and education. He was an active and energetic member of the school com- mittee during the whole period of his residence in town. He was also, for several years, a trustee of the Lawrence Academy, in Groton.
After the dismission of Mr. Brown the pulpit was chiefly supplied by Mr. John P. Humphrey, a licenciate from Andover, (who has since been settled in Winchester, N. H.,) until July, 1847, when Mr. Joseph M. R. Eaton, who had previously filled the ministry for one year in Clinton, received and accepted an invitation to the vacant church.
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