USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Winchendon > History of the town of Winchendon (Worcester County, Mass.) from the grant of Ipswich Canada, in 1735, to the present time > Part 32
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
fidelity, he was very useful as a member of the School Committee. Af- ter his removal to the Baptist Church in the Village, Mr. Cooper re- turned, and remained several years. He was indefatigable and self- sacrificing in procuring the remodeling of the meeting-house, in 1851, by which it was greatly improved in appearance and convenience. Of late years, the pulpit has been acceptably supplied by elder Fay, of Athol, and elder Culvert. The following have been deacons of this Church, viz : Asa Nourse, Isaac Stockwell, Joseph Norcross, James Norcross.
3. THE METHODIST CHURCH.
In preparing the following account of the Methodist Church, the au- thor is indebted to the late Mr. Smyrna Greaton, for most of the facts, and much of the language used. In making extracts, there is a change from the first to the third person. As Mr. Greaton was a leading mem- ber of the Society for many years, and held several official relations to the Church, at different times, he was qualified to give a correct narrative. He begins his manuscript with the heading : " A correct account of the rise and progress of the Methodist Episcopal Society in Winchendon." According to him, the " first sermon ever delivered in Winchendon, by a Methodist preacher, was by Rev. Lorenzo Dow, about the 26th or 27th of October, 1796." Mr. Dow says in his Journal : " From War- wick I went to Orange, and preached in the Presbyterian Meeting-house, the clergyman having left town. Being this day nineteen years old, I addressed myself to the youth." On the 23d of October he says : " I preached in Warwick, thence to Petersham and Winchendon, to Fitch- burg, and also to Notown ;* thence to Ashburnham." Under date of November 21, he says : " I preached in Rindge." Mr. Dow was born October 16, 1777 ; consequently the date of his preaching here is Oc- tober, 1796. Mr. Greaton continues :
" As early as 1797, the Methodist preachers commenced their labors in the east part of this town, and preached occasionally at the house of Mr. Roger Big- elow, which stood a few feet east of where Oliver Estey recently lived ; [that is, just east of the No. 5, School-house,] and more recently at the house of Mr. Ebenezer Richardson, f and also at Mr. Bartholomew Stearns'.# Mr. Bigelow and two daughters, and Mr. Richardson, made a profession of religion,
* This was a tract at the east of Wachusett mountain.
+ Now Henry Wyman. # Now Capt. Levi Stearns.
'REROH TOOHOS
Methodist Church.
WILLIAM BEAMAN.
...
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
and (if I have been rightly informed,) united with the Society in the north- westerly part of Ashburnham. One or two others united with them in the course of the next two years. There was also preaching occasionally by Meth- odist ministers, at the northwest part of this town, and the southeast part of Fitzwilliam, in the years 1797-8-9, and quite a number professed faith in Christ as their present Saviour."
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in this town, in the year 1800. It was composed mostly of members from Fitzwilliam and the westerly part of Rindge, numbering in all, not more than twelve or fourteen members.
" During this and the succeeding year, some fifteen persons were added to . the Church by profession. From 1800 to 1807, meetings were held regu- larly on the Sabbath, at the house of Mr. Stephen Weston. This year, 1807, the Society built their first Meeting-house, on land given by Mr. Weston for the purpose. The building committee and trustees were William Poland, Ste- phen Weston, Silas Warner, William Crane and Barzillai Martin. The house was located some twenty rods northwest from the house now owned and occu- pied by Mr. Eleazar P. Weston, and on the road leading from Mr. Weston's to Mr. Sumner Brooks'. The house was 36 by 28 feet, with 10 foot posts, with door in front. The aisle was four feet wide ; the pulpit was in the rear, and elevated about three feet from the floor. The house was furnished with free seats." "
NEW MEETING-HOUSE.
In 1832, this house being too small for the accommodation of the grow ing congregation, and being located at the northwest part of the town, and in a corner of the territory over which the congregation were scat- tered, it was thought expedient to build a house in a more central place. After holding several consultations on the subject, the Society conclu- ded to build a house in the Village. " A building committee consist- ing of Edward Loud, Smyrna Greaton, David Poland, Joseph Stone and Simon B. Poland, was appointed, who secured a spot of ground, and contracted with Capt. Ephraim Murdock to build a house thereon, 66 by 41 feet, with a tower ; for which they agreed to pay the said Murdock, $1900. The house was finished according to contract, and was dedicated on the 11th day of October, 1833." The dedication ser- mon was by Rev. Orange Scott. Rev. Oliver E. Bosworth assisted in the devotional services. This was a convenient house, and well pro- portioned, with the exception of the tower, which was according to a
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
style then prevalent. The top resembled a table turned bottom upward, with the four legs projecting into the air. A good bell was placed in the tower in 1840 or 1841.
In 1851, the house being very much out of repair, the society pro- ceeded to reconstruct and enlarge it. The audience room was re-fin- ished, and a new pulpit and altar were procured. The orchestra was erected in the rear of the audience room, and a vestry was fitted up in the gallery. Three feet were added to the length of the house, to make room for stairs and a recess. The tower was raised twelve feet, and a steeple was added, extending about thirty-five feet above the tower. The audience room and orchestra were carpeted, and the seats were cushioned. The whole expense for these repairs was about $2300. The house was dedicated on the 2d day of October, 1851. The devotional exercises were conducted by Rev. Philander Wallingford, the minis- ter then in charge. Rev. Miner Raymond preached the sermon, and Rev. A. P. Marvin, by request, delivered an address on the proper care of the House of God.
There were some additions to the Church by profession, from 1801 to 1823, but the increase in number did not much exceed the decrease by deaths and removals.
" In the fall and winter of 1824-5, there was a good revival of religion in the Society, and some twelve or fourteen persons united with the Church. In 1827 also, several joined by letter and profession. In 1833 a protracted meet- ing was held in connection with the dedication of the meeting-house, and a re- spectable number were added by profession of their faith. In the fall of 1837 another protracted meeting was held, which resulted in the conversion of some fifteen or twenty persons, most of whom united with the Church. In the win- ter of 1842-3, there was a powerful revival of religion in this place, and about twenty persons were added to the Church. From that time to the present, there have been frequent accessions, both by letter and by profession, but the decrease by deaths and removals has sometimes nearly equaled the increase. But on the whole some progress has been made in regard to numbers. In 1833 the membership did not exceed fifty ; in 1865 there were one hundred and seventy-one in full membership, besides seventeen probationers."
Mr. Greaton continues :
" Our former records were very imperfect, at best, but were all lost down to the year 1837. I have had access to the first and second volumes of Dr. Abel Stephens' History of Methodism in New England, where I find the names
-
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
of the preachers, and where they were stationed by the Conference, from the commencement of Methodism in New England, down to the year 1809, which was three years previous to the time when I became a member. From the time of the formation of the Society to 1812, (the year that I became a mem- ber, ) I am indebted to Mrs. Eunice E. Poland for much valuable information. She united with the Church in 1801, and is now,-1865-the senior member of the Church, by eleven years. My name appears next on the Records, bear- ing date March, 1812. The Records now show that all of the former mem- bers of the Church have passed away by death or removals, (with the two es- ceptions above named, ) down to 1824. In this and the succeeding year, we find an addition of ten or twelve members, five of whom are still living in this town, and are members of the Church. Of those who were members when the present house of worship was first occupied in 1833, only twelve members remain, all others having been removed by death or otherwise."
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
The first Sabbath School in connection with the Methodist Episcopal Society, was organized in the summer of 1824. It consisted of about twenty scholars, a superintendent and three teachers. "The first ten or twelve years, our school was discontinued through the winter, and for several years we were destitute of a library." A few books were occasionally purchased, which " were distributed as presents among the children. Some thirty-three or four years ago, one hundred vol- umes, (published expressly for Sabbath Schools,) were purchased, and our library has been replenished from time to time, till now, in 1865, it contains six hundred and thirty volumes." The scholars number one hundred and seventy-one.
NAMES OF THE PREACHERS.
It would be impossible, says Mr. Greaton, " for me to give a correct list" of all the Methodist ministers who have preached in this town. In the early days of Methodism, it was hot unfrequently the case that the Presiding Elder transferred preachers from one field to another, after three or six months, where it was thought they might be more useful. " As new fields were frequently opening, the early preachers were often transferred to those new fields of labor, and generally in a few weeks, some other persons would be appointed to fill their place. Consequently we can obtain from the minutes of the Conference, only
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
the names of the preachers who were stationed at the meeting of the Conference." Here follows the list, from 1796 to 1868, inclusive :
MINISTERS' NAMES.
1796. Lorenzo Dow, P. Wager.
1825. Asabel Otis.
1797. Sınyth Weeks.
1826. J. E. Risley, Hiram Waldon.
1798. Elijah Bachelor.
1827. Wm. Nelson, R. Spaulding.
1799. John Nichols, D. Browley.
1828. Henry J. Wooley.
1800. Henry Eames.
1829. Enoch Bradley, H. Mayo.
1801. Abner Wood, Martin Rutter.
1830.
William Braynard.
1802. John Gove, Nathan Felch.
1832. P. Townsend, Obed Sperry.
1804.
Thomas Ravlin.
1834. HI. Moulton, Philetus Green.
1806.
Wm. Stephens, J. Tinkham. Benjamin Hill, Bela Willis.
1835. Otis Wilder, Thos. Marcy.
1807.
Asa Hunt, Elisha Streeter.
1836-7. Richard Livesey.
1811.
Joel Steele, - Lewis.
1844. Kinsman Atkinson.
1813.
E. Streeter, V. R. Osborn.
1814.
A. Stebbins, Benj. Shaw.
1815. B. Sabin, S. Winchester.
1849. Howard C. Dunham.
1816.
Edw. Hyde, L. Bennett.
1850-1. Philander Wallingford.
1817.
L. Bennett, E. Steele.
1852-3. Damon Y. Kilgore.
1818.
Joel McKee, Wm. Wright. A. Taylor, G. W. Fairbanks. Phinehas Crandall.
1857-8. William J. Hambleton.
1821.
F. Dunham, H. Thatcher.
1859-'60. J. W. P. Jordan.
1822. Barzillai Pierce.
1861-2. Thomas B. Treadwell.
1823.
W. Barstow, Benj. Paine.
1863-5. Edward S. Best.
1824.
A. Lummus, J. Harrington.
1866. William Pentecost.
" P. S. Previous to 1836. Winchendon Society belonged to Ashburn- ham circuit, which accounts for having two preachers in a year. In 1836, we were made a station."
The following, found in the .Town Records, follows properly as an appendix to the foregoing account of the Methodist Episcopal Society. It is entitled,
" EBENEZER RICHARDSON'S LICENSE TO PREACH."
" This may certify that Ebenezer Richardson has applied to us for liberty to preach in our Church, and after examination concerning his gifts, grace and usefulness, we judge him a proper person to be licensed, and we accord-
1808.
Benj. Hoyt, G. R. Norris.
1838-9. Stephen Cushing.
1809.
David Carr, Robert Arnold.
1840-1. Nathan B. Spaulding.
1842. George W. Bates.
1810.
Ph. Munger, Step. Wingate.
1848. John T. Pettee.
1812. Thomas W. Tucker.
1845-6. David K. Merrill.
1847-8. William Gordon.
1854. A. Flagg.
1819.
1855-6. Silas Piper.
1820.
1831. P. Townsend, E. Stephens.
1803. Joshua Crowell, Phin. Cook.
1833. O. E. Bosworth, D. Graves.
1805.
North Congregational Church.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
ingly authorize him to preach. Signed in behalf of the Quarterly Conference held at Ashburnham. ERASTUS OTIS, Presiding Elder.
Rindge, July 18th, 1818."
" This may certify that Ebenezer Richardson, Jr., of Winchendon, is a regular member of a religious Society in Winchendon, called Methodist, and pays there.
STEPHEN WESTON,
SMYRNA GREATON,
BARZILLAI MARTIN.
Winchendon, Sept. 7, 120."
THE PARSONAGE.
The old parsonage was not owned by the Church, but by an associ- ation of the members formed for the specific purpose. The present par- sonage stands on the old location. It was finished in June, 1864. The cost was about 82500. It is a residence creditable to the Society. The building committee were Messrs. William L. Woodcock, Aaron Winch and William Wilder. The Rev. Mr. Best, who was in charge at the time, was very efficient in his efforts to secure a good parsonage for his successors. New parsonages and church edifices are his monu- ments in various places.
4. THE NORTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The tendency of the population towards the Village, which began about 1830, created a necessity for religious privileges there. Accord- ingly the Methodist Society acted wisely for themselves, and for the public good, when they erected their new house of worship, in 1832-3. For similar reasons, those members of the Congregational Church and congregation who resided in the northern part of the town, felt impelled to establish a meeting for themselves, and others who might join them, in the Village, and in 1842, or the beginning of 1843, several per- sons formed a company to build a meeting-house, which should be trans- ferred to a regular Congregational Parish, in due time. The names of the members of this company are copied below, to gratify the curi- osity of a future generation. They are as follows : Reuben Hyde, Ez- ra Hyde, Asa Hyde, Job Hyde, Artemas Edmands, Alvah Godding, Elisha Hyde, John Hyde, Oliver Lovejoy, Samuel Brown, John For- ristall, Isaac Goodspeed, Elisha Beaman, Ebenezer Butler, Nathan H. Hand, Mark Whitcomb, Harvey Wyman, Levi N. Fairbanks, William
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Tolman, Sidney Fairbanks, William Brown, Daniels Ellis, Seth Tucker, Jr., Cyrus Houghton. This company chose a building committee, con- sisting of Mark Whitcomb, Esq., Dr. A. Godding, Dea. Ebenezer But- ler, and perhaps others were members.
The frame was raised on a pleasant day in June, 1843. A prayer was offered on the occasion by Mr. Marvin, at the time supplying the pulpit on the hill. The house was about 64 by 44 feet, including the portico and pillars-five feet-in front. The spire rose 110 1-2 feet from the ground. There were sixty-two slips on the floor of the house, besides a singers' gallery. The audience room was neatly finished, and quite pleasant. The original cost was not far from $5,000.
CHURCH ORGANIZED.
THE NORTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH in Winchendon, was consti- tuted by a regular Ecclesiastical Council, on the 7th day of December, 1843. The Council was composed of the following members : From the Church in Royalston, Rev. Ebenezer Perkins, Br. William Chase ; Rindge, Rev. A. W. Burnham, Dea. L. Goddard ; Templeton, Rev. Lewis Sabin, Dea. B. Hawkes ; Winchendon, Dea. Paul Raymond. Rev. Benjamin Rice acted with the Council by request. Mr. Perkins was moderator, and Mr. Sabin scribe. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Rice ; Recognition and Consecrating Prayer by Mr. Perkins ; Fellowship of the Churches by Mr. Burnham ; Concluding Prayer by Mr. Sabin.
The original members of the Church were sixty-seven, who were all members of the First Church, with one or two exceptions. They adopt- ed the following CONFESSION OF FAITH, which, as it is brief, is given entire.
" We believe there is one God, self-existent, eternal, perfectly holy ; the Creator and rightful Disposer of all things, subsisting in a manner mysteri- ous to us, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Bible is the revealed will of God to mankind, and was given by inspiration, as the only unerring rule of faith and practice.
We believe that mankind are fallen from their original rectitude, and are, while in a state of nature, wholly destitute of that holiness which is required by the divine law.
We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Word, was made flesh, or in a mysterious manner, became man, and by his obedience, sufferings and death, made full satisfaction for the sins of the world, and opened a way by which
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
all who believe in him, with repentance for their sins, may be justified and saved, without an impeachment of the divine justice and truth.
We believe that they, and they only, will be saved, in consequence of the merits of Christ, who are born of the spirit, and united by a living faith to the Son of God.
We believe that God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world ; when there shall be a resurrection of the dead, and when all the righteous will enter on eternal happiness, and all the wicked will be condemned to eternal misery "
The Covenant adopted at the same time, is substantially, and almost literally, like that of the First Church, as found on page 314. At this meeting, the Church voted unanimously, the female members concur- ring, to invite Mr. Abijah P. Marvin, a graduate of Trinity College, Hartford, and of the Yale Theological Seminary, who had been approba- ted to preach by the New London, Conn., Association, to settle with them in the Gospel Ministry. The Parish, which had already been legally constituted, united in this invitation, without a dissenting voice. The correspondence between the parties is omitted. The invitation was ac- cepted, and the ordination services took place according to the follow- ing record.
THE ORDINATION.
The Council met on the 9th day of January, 1844, at the house of Dr. Alvah Godding, and was made up of ministers and delegates from the following Churches : Rindge, Rev. Mr. Burnham, Br. J. B. Breed ; South Royalston, Rev. S. H. Peckham, Br. D. W. Upham ; Temple- ton, Rev. Mr. Sabin, Br. Daniel Foster ; Athol, Rev. R. Mf. Chipman, Dea. Samuel Clapp ; Gardner, Rev. W. B. Stone, Br. R. G. Cowee ; Ashburnham, Rev. E. Jennison, Br. O. G. Caldwell ; Royalston. Dea. E. Pierce ; Winchendon, Br. Henry Greenwood. Rev. B. Rice, of Winchendon, and Rev. Edward R. Tyler, (editor of the New England- er) of New Haven, being present, by verbal invitation of the Church and pastor elect, were invited to sit with the Council. Mr. Burnham was moderator, and Mr. Jennison, scribe. The examination of the can- didate took place in the afternoon and evening.
The next forenoon, which was a bright and pleasant winter day. the new meeting-house was dedicated to the worship of the triune God. The Rev. Richard M. Chipman offered the Introductory Prayer ; the
.
350
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Sermon was by the pastor elect, and the Prayer of Dedication was by the Rev. Samuel H. Peckham, of South Royalston.
In the afternoon, the Ordination services took place in presence of a crowded assemblage. The Rev. Benjamin Rice, then ministering to the First Church, read the Scriptures, and made the Introductory Prayer ; the Sermon was by Mr. Tyler, of New Haven ; the Ordain- ing Prayer was offered by Mr. Jennison ; Rev. Mr. (now Dr.) Burn- ham, gave the Charge to the Pastor ; the Right Hand of Fellowship was by Rev. (now Dr.) Sabin ; the Address to the people was by Mr. Chipman, and Mr. Stone closed the exercises with prayer. The sing- ing, under the direction of Mr. Osgood Collester, was excellent, and all the services were well received by the large audience." The min- ister was settled on a salary of $500 per annum, which was about the average of salaries in the neighboring parishes.
Though the projectors of this new enterprise had misgivings about their ability to sustain public worship, and doubts whether a congrega- tion, respectable in number, could be collected ; and though they had but scanty encouragement from others, yet the house was immediately filled up, and from that time, there has been no lack of pecuniary means necessary to pay all the expenses of the parish. The congregation be- came, and remained the largest in town since the flourishing days of the First Church.
The day succeeding the ordination, the pews were offered for sale, and nearly money enough was raised to pay for the meeting-house.
Brothers Reuben Hyde and Ebenezer Butler, were chosen to the office of Deacon.
. In the year 1844, sixteen persons were received into the Church by letter, making the whole number eighty-three. Seven were received in 1845, four in 1846, three in 1847. In the next year, there were fifteen additions, eleven or twelve of which were by profession. From that date there have been admissions by profession, every year, except 1852.
* The following is taken from the Boston Recorder, January 25, 1844 : " The day was beautiful for a wintry day-the house crowded to overflowing, the services solemn aud appropriate, the music excellent, and the appearance of the audience furnished ample evidence that a good impression was produced. This new church, having but just been organized, with their new meeting- house located in a flourishing village, and their young pastor in the freshness of ministerial life, commences its career by the brightest prospects of useful- ness and success."
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
ENLARGED HOUSE, AND BELL.
In 1855, there was a need felt for more room, and money enough was subscribed for enlarging the house of worship. The east end of the house was removed, and an addition built on large enough to ad- mit twenty-four new pews. The gallery was enlarged by adding the front row of seats. In this way the capacity of the house was increas- ed about one half; that is, before the enlargement, the house would accommodate only about two-thirds as many as afterwards. There are eighty-six pews on the floor of the house, which will hold five or six persons, according to their size ; and the gallery will accommodate about fifty. At the same time, the eastern half of the basement, which is entirely above-ground, was finished off into a Lecture room, two Parlors, a Dressing room, and large entry, for religious and social uses. The whole cost of these improvements was about 82,000. The entire length of the house, outside, is 84 feet. The audience room is about 70 by 42 feet. Dea. E. Butler, Mr. C. R. Whitman and Capt. C. W. Big- elow had charge of the work.
The first bell was purchased by subscription, and was hung in the year 1848. It weighed 1640 pounds, and cost nearly 8600. It was from the Meneely foundry, and was one of their sweetest toned bells. This was broken, and in 1864, was replaced by another, which did not give satisfaction. This was returned, according to agreement, and the present bell obtained, in that year, at an expense of about $300.00 in addition to the old bell metal. Its weight is 1818 pounds.
There were additions to the Church, from year to year, amounting in all, during the pastorate of the first minister, to one hundred and thirty-two. Of these, about ninety joined by confessing Christ, all of whom were added in the eighteen last years of the period. The. ut- most harmony prevailed during these years of rise and progress. Only a single instance of discipline-involving three persons-occurred, and in that case the conclusion reached was unanimous. No member who first united with this Church, by confessing Christ, has been a subject of discipline. The utmost care has been taken in the examination of candidates.
Mr. Marvin asked a dismission on the 20th of July, 1865. The Church and Parish voted instead, to give him leave of absence for a year. Near the close of the year, (July 22, 1866,) he renewed the request,
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
and the Church united with him in calling a Council, by whom the dis- solution of their relation as pastor and people, was effected, on the 22d day of August, 1866.
A Sabbath School was organized soon after the commencement of public worship, in 1844, and has been in a flourishing condition to the present time. The Superintendents have been Deacons Hyde and But- ler, and Messrs. Maynard Partridge, Harvey Wyman, Grover S. Whit- ney, and Orlando Mason ; the latter having served many years. The library contains a good collection of books, numbering several hundred volumes, some of them of permanent value. The Sabbath School, for several years, has numbered about one hundred and eighty.
The salary of the minister was $500 for several years. For a year or two it was $550; and then $600. In 1856 it was raised to $800, and so remained till 1866, except that in 1862, Mr. Marvin gave up 10 per cent., or $80, on account of the " hard times." On the settle- ment of Mr. Austin Dodge, who was ordained and installed on the 9th of October, 1866, it was raised to $1200. He continued as pastor about one year, when he was dismissed by a mutual Council. The Church passed highly complimentary resolutions in his favor. The Rev. Davis Foster is now supplying the pulpit on an engagement for a year, with a salary of $1500.
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