USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Townsend > History of the town of Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from the grant of Hathorn's farm, 1676-1878 > Part 8
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As a compliment to his integrity, and from motives of benevolence and respect, he was elected by the town a representative to the General Court in 1833 and 1834. His successor in the ministry also, Rev. Mr. Rogers, ex- tended to him many courtesies and kindnesses during his short pastorate, and although he keenly felt the ingratitude of those who cast him off, still he encountered old age with cheerfulness, and death with the hope of a believer in the doctrine which he had preached.
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HISTORY OF TOWNSEND.
After 1830 the town in its corporate capacity was not represented by any religious society or minister of the gospel. Previous to that time, unless by special vote of the town, the expenses of preaching were paid by a tax, assessed on all the polls and estates in town. The con- gregationalists, considering that another church was about to be organized in Townsend, saw that their church must have a more definite name than "The church of Christ in Townsend" (by which name the church under the town's ministers was known), so that February 8, 1830, the church assumed the name, "The Orthodox Congrega- tional Church of Christ in Townsend." A clerk, treasurer and prudential committee, were also chosen about that time.
The first pastor of this church, the REV. WILLIAM MATTICKS ROGERS, was ordained February 16, 1831. Invocation by Rev. Phillips Payson, of Leominster ; prayer, by Rev. Charles Walker, of New Ipswich, New Hampshire ; sermon by Rev. John Codman, D. D., of Boston ; ordaining prayer by Rev. Rufus A. Putnam, of Fitchburg : charge by Rev. Ebenezer Hill, of Mason, New Hampshire ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. John Todd, of Groton. This gentleman was born in England, but came to this country in his boyhood under the care of his relatives who carefully superintended his education. He graduated with honor at Harvard University, 1827. and at the Theological Seminary, at Andover, in 1830, where he ranked the first in his class. His father fell at the battle of Waterloo. His name was Kettell, but at the suggestion of one of his uncles, who had been his patron and was about to endow him quite liberally, it was changed by an act of the Legislature to Rogers, his uncle's name.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
In a pecuniary point of view he was extremely fortunate. The legacy, a rich wife, and the large salaries he received during the last ten or twelve years of his life brought him wealth in abundance. He married Adelia Strong. daugh- ter of Judge Strong, of Leominster. He possessed little physical force and vitality, but was an active, keen man.
The church made a judicious choice in selecting their first minister. As a sectarian. Mr. Rogers was extremely prudent ; and he was much more . anxious to build up his own church and society than to pull down that of its op- ponents, the unitarians. He was a good writer. had a winning address, and was a popular minister. During the four years and five months of his pastorate, one hundred and forty-nine members were admitted to the church. At his request he was dismissed in July, 1835. He removed to Boston and was installed pastor of one of the churches in that city, where he died in 1851.
REV. COLUMBUS SHUMWAY was the second pastor. He was born at Belchertown, graduated at Union College and at Auburn Theological Seminary, and was installed, January 6, 1836. In every particular, he was a respect- able preacher. Mr. Shumway must have been placed in a delicate position, and experienced all the difficulties of being the successor of a first-class man. Undoubtedly too much was expected from him. The notice of his dismis- sion, tendered to him March 28, 1837, was a surprise to him, from the fact that up to that moment, everything on the surface indicated both unanimity and satisfaction.
REV. DAVID STOWELL, born 1804, at Westmoreland, New Hampshire ; graduated at Dartmouth College. 1829 ; was installed third pastor of this church, June 28. 1837.
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HISTORY OF TOWNSEND.
Mr. Stowell was a man of good intellectual abilities, on account of which he was selected to fill this position. There were some irregularities in his conduct during the latter part of his pastorate, which caused both him and the church considerable excitement and trouble. Two or three ecclesiastical councils were convened to con- sider the case. At the last council, the opponents of Mr. Stowell secured the services of Rev. John A. Albro. formerly of Fitchburg, to substantiate the charges alleged against him. A lawyer from Boston appeared as counsel for the defence, and the merits of the case were discussed ably and somewhat sharply by both parties. This council, after due deliberation, ordered the dismission of Mr. Stowell, on the fifteenth of August, 1843. Before coming to Townsend, Mr. Stowell had been settled at New Boston. New Hampshire, where he preached for some time. From Townsend, he went to Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, where he died in 1854.
REV. LUTHER H. SHELDON, the fourth pastor of this church, was born at Easton, 1815 : graduated at Middle- bury College, 1839; graduated at Andover Theological Seminary, 1842, and ordained, August 15, 1844. Invoca- tion by Rev. Joseph B. Hill, of Mason, New Hampshire : sermon by Rev. R. S. Storrs, of Braintree ; ordaining prayer, by Rev. Dudley Phelps, of Groton ; charge by Rev. Luther Sheldon, of Easton, (father of the pastor elect) ; fellowship of the churches by Rev. E. W. Bullard, of Fitchburg. Mr. Sheldon was a very active man. prompt at an appointment, and always prepared for any pastoral work to which duty called him. He took an unusual interest in education, and he served on the school
Nev. Luther H. Shecom
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
committee, to the advantage and acceptance of all in- terested. The abolition of slavery was an object that engrossed his attention. Some of his sermons on that subject were printed. During the anti-slavery excitement, and what was known as the Washingtonian movement in the temperance cause, he was more independent and out- spoken than most of his brethren in the ministry. He was a diligent student, a forcible writer, and, although not an orator of the first class, he delivered his sermons in an im- pressive, intelligible manner. In proof that he not only had the moral and intellectual equipments indispensable to every minister of his denomination, but that he possessed much shrewdness and good judgment, it may be mentioned that he remained pastor of this church more than double the length of time of that of any of his predecessors, and about four times as long as the longest time of any of his successors, during the twenty years that followed after his dismission. Mr. Sheldon was dismissed. at his own request, March 7, 1856, after a successful pastorate of about twelve years.
After about the usual time spent in "candidating," the REV. ELI W. COOK, a graduate of Yale College, 1837. was chosen pastor of this church, and he was installed on the twenty-eighth day of April, 1858. This Cook did not prepare and dispense "the bread of life" in a manner cal- culated either to please or edify the people, who looked to him for a good example and a character above reproach. Some irregularities caused his connection with this church to be of short duration. It is probable he was not deficient in either natural ability or education, but he lost the con- fidence of the church and society and was dismissed
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HISTORY OF TOWNSEND.
October 12, 1859, his pastorate being less than a year and a half.
REV. MOSES PATTEN was ordained pastor of this church on the seventh of June, 1860. Sermon by Rev. Austin Phelps, of Andover; ordaining prayer by Rev. Theophilas P. Sawin, of Brookline. New Hampshire ; charge by Rev. William T. Herrick, of Pelham : fellow- ship of the churches by Rev. George Mooar, of Andover. Mr. Patten was graduated at Dartmouth College. 1850, and at Andover Theological Seminary, in 1855. He was not a fluent speaker, or a man calculated to present a first-class sermon ; but he sustained an excellent moral character which won for him the respect of the entire com- munity. Had his intellectual ability been proportional to his wish to do good and his honesty of purpose, perhaps his pastorate would have been longer. He was dismissed April 27th. 1863.
On the twenty-seventh day of August, 1863. the church "Voted to instruct their committee of supply to employ REV. JOHN C. HUTCHINSON as their acting pastor." This gentleman had good abilities, but withal, was rather eccen- tric. Occasionally his sermons, viewed from either a literary, elocutionary or ecclesiastical stand-point, would not suffer in comparison with those of the popular preach- ers at that time. Sometimes after reaching near the close of a discourse, to which the most delicate mental organiza- tion could take no exceptions. an uncalled-for sentiment or an indiscreet expression would drop from his mouth which would tarnish the entire effort. His remarks at funerals were generally timely, appropriate and well received. The church record has it. that "July 22. 1866.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Mr. Hutchinson preached his farewell sermon and left this field of labor," being acting pastor some less than three years. He was a close student and attended strictly to his own business.
REV. GEORGE WILLIAMS was installed pastor of this church, May Ist, 1867-dismissed February Ist, 1869. Mr. Williams had been a chaplain during the rebellion. It was considered, previous to the time when he left, that he did not give that study of and attention to his duties which his calling demanded.
REV. GEORGE H. MORSS was the successor of Mr. Williams, the church voting to employ him as acting pastor, June 17, 1869. Mr. Morss was born in Lowell, in 1832. Ile fitted for college at Phillips Academy, An- dover, graduating there in 1857. His health failing him, he did not enter college. Ile went south and spent about a year in teaching among the Choctaw Indians. Having regained his usual health. he returned home and took some of the college studies with a private tutor. He passed the usual three years at Andover Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1862. Mr. Morss was a quiet, conscientious, amiable man. There was nothing overbearing or dictatorial in his manner or intercourse with his fellow-men. His words were well spoken and well adapted to the occasion which called them out. His sermons were carefully written and sometimes consider- ably above mediocrity. One of them, a historical dis- course, printed by order of the church, and the result of much labor, was well received. He was dismissed, April 10th, 1873. At present, he is located very pleasantly at Clarendon, Vermont.
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HISTORY OF TOWNSEND.
On the twenty-ninth day of September, 1873, the church "voted to invite REV. HENRY C. FAY to become its acting pastor ;" and he immediately accepted the invita- tion and entered upon his duties with this church and congregation. He was born in Shrewsbury, 1827,-grad- uated at Leicester Academy, 1850,-graduated at Amherst College, 1854,-graduated at the Theological Seminary. Bangor. 1857. Was ordained at Northwood, New Hamp- shire, 1858, where he remained six years. He was four years at Newton, two years at Hubbardston, two years at Harwich Port, and three and one-half years at Townsend. He is a live preacher, a close student, having much enter- prise and force of character. He has most of the qualities requisite for a leader. If he had been educated at West Point, instead of Bangor, he probably would have suc- ceeded well under "shoulder-straps." Considered as a writer, or a speaker, he is well cultivated and appears to good advantage. He was dismissed in September, 1876.
Three or four candidates appeared. in turn, to preach for the congregationalists, during the next six months, when sometime in the summer of 1877. the church ex- tended a unanimous call to Albert F. Newton to become their pastor. He accepted the call, and was ordained on the fifth of September, 1877.
REV. ALBERT F. NEWTON was born at Salmon Falls. New Hampshire, in 1848; graduated at Appleton Acad- emy. New Ipswich, New Hampshire, 1870 : graduated at Dartmouth College, 1874 : graduated at Andover Theolog- ical Seminary, 1877. The clergymen of the council, who took a part in his ordination, were as follows : invocation
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
by Rev. Daniel E. Adams, of Ashburnham ; sermon by James H. Thayer, D. D., of Andover ; ordaining prayer by Rev. Marcus Ames, of Lancaster ; charge by Rev. George Pierce, of Milford, New Hampshire; fellowship of the churches by Rev. J. H. Barrows, of Lawrence ; address to the people by Rev. F. D. Sargent, of Brookline, New Hampshire. The day was beautiful, and many joyous faces lighted up the large assembly that witnessed these exercises. Mr. Newton has zealously entered upon his labors under favorable auspices, and in the lives of most of his predecessors, he may find patterns worthy of his imitation.
The congregationalists, during the year 1877, erected a set of buildings suitable for a parsonage. the result of the untiring efforts of the Ladies' Benevolent Society. connected with this denomination. The land on which the buildings stand was the gift of Deacon Walter Haynes. The dwelling, for the convenience of its internal arrange- ments, its general good proportions. and the faithful manner in which it is completed, is a source of credit to the committee which superintended its erection.
As the parsonage house, given to the town by "Lieut. Amos Whitney," in 1769, although renovated and wrought into another structure, has escaped the corroding, devour- ing elements, and come down to us through the lapse of more than a century, so may this elegant, unostentatious house stand, to become the pleasant abode for pastors yet unborn, who in their turn, shall "bring glad tidings" to the on-coming generations. It is a happy thought that this church has furnished a suitable residence for its pastor. situated so convenient to the church edifice.
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HISTORY OF TOWNSEND.
Names of the deacons during the time the church was a town institution :
JOSEPH STEVENS, appointed, 1734, died, 1738.
ISAAC SPAULDING, .6 1734, .. 1776. SAMUEL CLARK, .. 1738. .. 1783. JONATHAN STOW, .. 1763. 1780.
* RICHARD WYER, .. 1773.
1812.
JAMES HOSLEY, .. 1778,
JONATHAN WHEELOCK, 1782, .. -.
DANIEL ADAMS. ..
1782, 1827.
JOHN GILES,
1812, .. 1825.
JOHN BOUTELL.
1812,
1860.
Names of the deacons who continued with the con- gregationalists at their separation from the town and those who were appointed by them afterwards :
JOEL ADAMS, appointed, 1824. died. 1854.
DANIEL GILES. 1828. .. 1858.
+SAMUEL WALKER,
1828, . . 1859.
JOHN SPAULDING, 1845, .. 1866.
JOHN PROCTOR, .. 1845.
ABIJAH BLOOD, 1870.
WALTER HAYNES, . .
1875. SAMUEL F. WARREN,
1875.
AMBROSE G. STICKNEY. " 1875.
When the congregationalists seceded from what was the first parish in Townsend, they took with them every member of the church, the communion cups and baptismal
* Deacon Wyer fell while planing a board and died almost instantly.
t Deacon Walker fell while at work in the hay-field and died suddenly of heart- disease. He withdrew from the orthodox church and joined the baptists, about fifteen years previous to his death.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
basin ; no one appearing to object, and no one that remained having any use for these things. It must not be taken for granted, that either party to this controversy. during these exciting times, could lay claim to all the consistency or amiability. No one can deny, when com- paring the opinions and faith of the trinitarians of the present time, with the printed discourses and doctrines of their clergy of fifty years ago, but that a more rational faith, a more Christ-like spirit has taken possession of the minds and hearts of these disciples of Knox and Calvin. One might attend church anywhere, now, with- out hearing anything of the doctrines of foreordination, predestination or election, each of which was extensively preached by the clergy, previous to the advent of uni- tarianism.
It may appear singular, that a part of the town at that time, making no pretensions to religion, should insist on the use of the meeting-house a part of the time; but it must be considered, that the people asked for something more than the dry dogmas of the school in which their pastor had been educated. This they would have had (for Mr. Palmer kept up with the spirit of the times). but for an undue influence, exerted by the same individuals, who eventually cast him off and put Mr. Rogers in his place.
The most prominent men left in 1829. to represent the first parish, were Paul Gerrish, Aaron Keys, Richard W. Pierce, Solomon Jewett, Isaac Turner, Benjamin Barrett, Jr., Jonathan Richardson, and John Preston. Two of these persons were lawyers, all of them men of influence and intelligence, of good morals, and the fathers of the town, but to all appearances not particularly pious.
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HISTORY OF TOWNSEND.
The parsonage given to the town by Lieut. Asa Whitney, by act of the Legislature, passed into the hands of the unitarians. There were not any regular meetings of this society on the sabbath, or much preaching for some time after the "orthodox " built their house.
REV. WARREN BURTON was preacher for the first parish for a part of the year 1831. Allow the writer, just here to say, that Warren Burton was a clear-headed man. an excellent scholar, interesting as an author, attractive . as a preacher, and by far the ablest minister who preached for this society. He graduated at Harvard College, 1821. died 1866, after a life of usefulness.
For the next three years REV. JESSE CHICKERING was the preacher for a part of the time. Occasionally the pulpit was supplied by universalists and restorationists. During the year 1835, there was not much preaching. The treasurer's book of this society does not show that any money was paid for preaching during this year.
REV. EZEKIEL L. BASCOM, commenced preaching in the winter of 1836, and continued till the end of the sum- mer, during which time he gathered a church, consisting of about twenty-five members. Mr. Bascom was a man of prepossessing appearance, of good address, social in his manners, spoke easily and logically, without notes, and his labors were highly appreciated by this denomination. He was an active preacher of the gospel, after this time, at Ashby. Graduated at Dartmouth College, 1798. died at Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire. April. 1841, aged 63. and was buried at Ashby.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
During the autumn of 1836, LINUS H. SHAW preached as a candidate for the office of pastor of this church and society for four or five sabbaths, when he received a call for a settlement, which he accepted. He was ordained. December 21st, 1836. The following was the programme carried out on this occasion : Prayer by Rev. Nathaniel Whitman ; sermon by Rev. Andrew P. Peabody, of Ports- mouth, New Hampshire ; charge by Rev. Samuel Barrett. of Boston ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Charles Babbidge, of Pepperell ; address by Rev. Calvin Lincoln. There was a drenching rain throughout the whole day, and for this reason, there was not a large audience in atten- dance. Rev. Linus H. Shaw was a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, 1833. For some reason, the mantle of the man who gathered and founded this church did not fall upon this young pastor, for although he was a gentle- man of unsullied moral character, a good thinker and a good writer, yet, there was something lacking in his social qualities, whereby he was never popular with his church and congregation. One great obstacle in the way of his success, was, that every time he attempted an extempora- neous address, he made a complete failure. For a man of his experience, he wrote good sermons and read them quite well, but "his occupation was gone" unless his thoughts were fully submitted to writing. After a pastorate of about two years, his connection with this parish was dissolved, and he moved out of town.
From this time till 1852, when the first parish sold the meeting-house to the methodist society, the unitarians had no settled minister. Occasionally, the universalists and restorationists, as well as the unitarians, occupied the
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HISTORY OF TOWNSEND.
pulpit. A gentleman by the name of SAYWARD labored here the longest of any one from 1840 till the sale of the meeting-house. When the universalists built their meeting- house at West Townsend, the people in the westerly part of the town, who usually attended the unitarian church, withdrew from that society and associated with the univer- salists. The most influential members of the first parish. by this move, were found to be residents of the easterly part of the town. There were two meeting-houses at the centre of the town, and two at the west village, so that the influence of the Harbor in asking for one church building, caused the sale of the old meeting-house to be effected.
The meeting-house at the Harbor was built according to written contract, by John Hart and Amos Morse, in 1853. Daniel G. Bean, of Lowell, was the architect. Perhaps the shade of Sir Christopher Wren never hovers over this edifice without hastening to Lowell to salute this "cunning artificer." This house was dedicated in the spring of 1854.
REV. STILLMAN BARBER was hired to preach by the unitarians, about that time, and supplied the pulpit for some more than two years, when, for some reasons, best known to the unitarians themselves, no money was raised to support the preaching of the gospel. Mr. Barber left town, and all interest in the denomination melted like an April snow wreath. Since that time, with the exception of one or two law-suits growing out of some financial matters, and the settlement of its affairs generally, nothing of late, has been heard of "The First Parish in Town- send." The fathers of this denomination have been gath- ered to the innumerable multitude of the departed, and
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
the temple of worship erected by their sons, now stands deserted, cheerless. and seldom entered for any purpose whatever.
For two years previous to the time that the unitarians sold their house to the methodists, its walls echoed the ringing appeals of two earnest methodist clergymen. Rev. Horace Moulton and Rev. Samuel Tupper.
REV. HORACE MOULTON was the pioneer methodist of Townsend ; he seemed peculiarly adapted for an evan- gelistic pioneer work ; revivals had attended his labors in nearly forty towns, before he came to Townsend. His biographer says : "He probably organized more methodist churches from converts saved through his instrumentality. the last half century, than any other minister of our con- ference." In 1849, he was stationed in Lunenburg, but he never seemed satisfied unless he was engaged in revival work, so he got his place supplied one-half of the time, and preached in Townsend and Pepperell. He organized a class in Townsend, that year, as a branch of the church at Lunenburg. In 1850, Townsend became a separate charge.
In April, 1852, REV. SAMUEL TUPPER, preacher in charge, organized the Methodist Episcopal Society, in con- formity with the provisions of the statutes of Massachusetts. From 1850, until the present time, 1877, this society has sustained preaching and weekly religious meetings. Con- siderable interest has been manifested from time to time, and numbers added to the church. The revival that
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HISTORY OF TOWNSEND.
attended the labors of I. T. Johnson, the evangelist, that commenced in January, 1876, was the most extensive the church ever experienced. The membership of the church at that time was forty-four ; the membership the first of January, 1877, was one hundred and twelve, and seventy probationists.
During the history of this church it has enjoyed the services of eighteen different pastors of various degrees of ability and spirituality. Their names and order of succes- sion are as follows :-
Horace Moulton, Samuel Tupper, Pliny Wood, Windsor Ward, J. A. Ames, T. B. Treadwell. A. F. Bai- ley, M. P. Webster, C. H. Hanaford, S. K. Bailey, Burtis Judd, E. A. Howard, A. K. Howard, T. R. Tisdale, E. Burrlingham, A. P. Adams, A. W. Baird, W. E. Dwight.
The first three gentlemen mentioned in this list are dead ; they were men of influence with their denomina- tion. Mr. Ward died in Townsend and was buried here.
CHAPTER IV.
THE BAPTISTS AND UNIVERSALISTS.
Formation of the Baptist Society in 18IS-Inauguration of the Church in 1827-Levi Ball Chosen Deacon-Action of the Town in Favor of the Baptists-Pastorate of Rev. James Barnaby-Concise Memoir of Mr. Barnaby-Some Account of the Successors of . Mr. Barnaby-Pastorate of Rev. Willard P. Upham-The Uni- versalist Restoration Society-Rev. John Pierce-Committee to Build a Meeting-house-Mention of the Several Pastors of this Society.
The following are among the first entries in the records of the baptist society in Townsend :-
"Be it remembered that April 20, 1818, Asa Baldwin. Joseph Walker. Thomas Weston and Solomon Stevens, who were members of the churches of New Ipswich. Mason and Harvard and others, met and formed ourselves into a society by the name of The first Baptist Society of Townsend.
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