USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Memorial history of Bradford, Mass. > Part 14
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
and Northampton. The honored pastor of this church may well rejoice that the lines. are fallen unto him in pleasant places, and he may well indulge the hope that the truth which he dispenses from Sabbath to Sabbath will continue to exert an influence long after he has been gathered to his clerical fathers.
THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO EARLY MISSION WORK.
Address by Rev. E. K. Alden, D. D., Sec. of A. B. C. For. Missions.13
It is interesting in the study of Divine Providence to note what is caught, held, and made permanent in his- tory as related to person, time and place. Other poor women in Jerusalem had been accustomed to put small sums of money into the treasury of the temple ; but on a particular occasion, one woman dropping in her "two mites which make a farthing," even " all her living," is doing it, unconsciously to herself, beneath the eye of Jesus Christ ; and the act is taken by him and set up on high for all after ages in immortal honor. More than one woman has poured out the fulness of her heart's affection for her Lord in some special sacrificial service ; one woman did it at such a peculiar hour in the history of the Lord and in the history of his church, that when she broke the alabaster box of precious ointment and poured it upon his head, lo ! the fragrance of that oint- ment filled not only the whole house but the whole world, and it has been told as "a memorial of her" for all succeeding generations.
So it is with two names which will ever be associated together in the history of missions and in the history of Bradford Academy, and which are appropriately honored by a special mention at the two hundredth anniversary
172
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
of this First Church. Those were peculiar lines of Di- vine Providence which at a peculiarly eventful hour, met just here, associating this spot and this church with that broad department of the Kingdom of Christ which reaches around the world and constitutes the pre-eminent glory of the times in which we live. More illustriously even than they do to-day will those two names shine forth in our spiritual firmament a hundred years hence, and another hundred and yet another beyond.
Think of those two young girls as they were in their school-life in Bradford Academy in 1806, the elder but seventeen years of age, the younger but thirteen. Through what severe struggles are those youthful spirits passing, what momentous decisions are they forming, as at length they are brought into the light of the Lord, and confess him as their personal Savior,-one uniting with the church upon this side of the river, and the other a little later with that upon the opposite, forever associating the churches upon the two sides of this historic river in a delightful missionary fellowship.
It so happens-thus we sometimes make mention of the great appointments of God, the significance of which may span the continents and reach down the ages-it so happens that four years after 1806, in the year 1810, the General Association of Massachusetts holds its an- nual meeting with the First Church of Bradford, and that at that meeting four young men from the Divinity School at Andover present themselves with their grave statement and inquiries which they lay before their fa- thers in the ministry for their consideration and counsel.
Upon that memorable Thursday afternoon the 28th of June when the young men present their memorial, it is not a large number who are here assembled ; sixteen regular members from Massachusetts, two from Connec- ticut, one from New Hampshire, also Jonathan Allen, pastor of the church in Bradford, Morrison of London- derry, Enoch Hale of Westhampton, Spring and Dana of
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
Newburyport, and the four Divinity School professors, Pearson, Woods, Stuart and Porter, twenty-eight in all. Their officers are scholarly and able men. Rev. Manas- seh Cutler, LL. D., of Hamilton, Moderator, Rev. Sam- uel Worcester, of Salem, Scribe, Rev. Thomas Snell, of Brookfield, Assistant Scribe.
It is a suggestive fact as to the spiritual atmosphere of the hour when this meeting was held, that the mar- rative of the state of religion, presented that same day, reports that "no period for sixty years past has been so distinguished for religious revivals in this part of Christ's vineyard or opened such a moving and animating scene" as the year under review. Of twelve hundred reported accessions to the churches on confession of faith, six hundred were gathered in from seven rural towns in Worcester county and five hundred from Essex county.
The paper presented by the young men upon this in- teresting occasion is also exceedingly significant, in that they base their serious inquiries for counsel upon the more serious personal statement of their own convictions. The statement is in three counts : 1. "Their minds have long been impressed with the duty and importance of personally attempting a mission to the heathen." 2. "The impressions on their minds have induced a serious and, they trust, a prayerful consideration of the subject in its various attitudes, particularly in relation to the probable success and the difficulties attending such an attempt." 3. "After examining all the information which they can obtain, they consider themselves as devoted to this work for life, whenever God in his providence shall open the way." Then follow the four practical inquiries, whether with such views and feelings they ought to renounce the object of missions as either visionary or impracticable ; whether they ought to direct their attention to the East- ern or Western world ; whether they may expect sup- port from a Missionary Society in this country, or must commit themselves to the direction of a European So-
.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
ciety, and what preparatory measures they ought to take previous to actual engagement.
Of the four names subscribed to this document two stand forth prominently as worthy of special mention in the history we celebrate to-day, because these are the two which by Divine appointment are to be forever as- sociated with the two bright stars which shine above the churches upon the two sides of this river. It was be- cause the General Association of Massachusetts met with the First church of Bradford, June 27, 1810 ; that when the five young men stood up in the Tabernacle church at Salem to be ordained as the first missionaries of the American Board Feb. 6, 1812, there were present with them two young women who were to be known for all coming time as Ann Hasseltine Judson, and Harriet At- wood Newell. There are two lone graves upon the East- ern hemisphere, which we think of with special tender- ness to-day, where sleeps dust precious to all the people of God throughout the world. Missionaries from other lands have made pilgrimages to those sacred spots in or- der that kneeling there they might renew their own personal missionary consecration. One of them is on the coast of Burmah, at Rangoon ; the other is off the coast of Africa, on the Isle of France. They are the peculiar treasure of the associated churches of Bradford and Ha- verhill. Many are the honorable records which you have
recounted in the interesting review of your past two hundred years. Never forget that your supreme honor is your identity through your missionary history with that great "gospel of the kingdom" which is moving on to the conquest of the world to Christ. Soon will the grass grow green above all our graves ; other centuries will roll on, and our names will be forgotten. But down the ages to the end of time those twin stars will shine above these churches on the opposite banks of this river, and those two names will never grow dim,
ANN H. JUDSON AND HARRIET NEWELL.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
It is related of the younger of these twain, who passed away at the age of nineteen years and one month, that upon the day before her death she partook of the sym- bols of the sacrament, and then uttered these words, "I have had it in my heart to do what I can for the heathen, and I hope God will accept me." How marvellously has the significance of this sentence, as illustrated in her world-wide influence, unfolded during the past three score years and ten! God grant to each one of us, be our years few or many, that with the same sincerity, and with the same consciousness of personal consecra- tion to the proclamation of Christ among all nations, we may be able to utter the same words !
SABBATH SCHOOL WORK.
Address by Harrison E. Chadwick, A. M.
The first Sunday School in Bradford was organized on the second Sabbath in May, 1814. The place was the "Old Red School House," one of those unpretending struc- tures which have so often been prominent in New Eng- land history, whence have proceeded many of the in- fluences of religion and patriotism so potent in our gov- ernment, and which from the prevailing fashion of the times, were always painted red, when painted at all. At that time this was the only school house in the cen- tral part of Bradford, the village. In 1832 the brick school-house was built on the opposite side of Main street, and this old structure was enlarged and made into the dwelling-house now owned and occupied by Mr. Francis Croston. About thirty children were gathered at this first Sunday school at the close of the afternoon ser- vice. The person who was foremost in the organization
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
of this school was Miss Mary Hasseltine, elder sister of Miss Abigail C. Hasseltine, afterwards Principal of Brad- ford Academy. One of her assistants was Miss Char- lotte Gage, daughter of Mr. Peter Gage, living at the west end of the town, on the road to the ferry at the junction of the Cross road. She afterwards became the wife of Rev. William Gould, who was settled in Fair- haven, Mass. Another assistant teacher was Miss Lydia Kimball, daughter of James Kimball, sister of Dea. Jesse Kimball, afterwards the wife of Dea. Eliphalet Kim- ball, of Boston.
These are all the persons whose names are mentioned in connection with this beginning of the Sunday school. Nothing of record appears for a long time in regard to the school. Rev. Ira Ingraham at the time of his installa- tion in 1824 took a great interest in the Sunday school and was at times its superintendent. This is stated from the memory of elderly people. When Mr. Ingraham was dismissed . in April, 1830, Dea. William Day was the superintendent, and continued until the settlement of Rev. Mr. Hoadley in October following. During the pastorate of Mr. Hoadley and Mr. Searl, Dea. William Day and Mr. Isaac Morse were superintendents, and Mr. Benjamin Greenleaf probably a portion of the time when the Sunday school was held in the old Academy, about 1834. The number of scholars at that time was something more than one hundred. During this period the prominent lady teacher was Miss Sarah Kimball, the daughter of Mr. Moses Kimball.
The first Sunday school concert of which I can gain information was in the old meeting-house on the com- mon. The children "were there to recite verses and the catechism and listen to long speeches and hear their el- ders sing hymns to the tunes of Dundee, St. Anns, Pe- terboro', &c., and keep still." There is also the recol- lection of the school's being in the old Academy as early as 1818 to 1820 with about 50 scholars. The reports
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
of the American Sunday School Union at Philadelphia began in 1825, and from that time until 1829 Bradford was the only place in all New England that reported a Sunday School, except some of the New England Col- leges. From this fact we may know that our church was much interested in its Sunday School. The Mass. Sabbath School Society was formed in 1833, and our school made a report the next year, and until 1846. Since the year 1850 the reports have been made to the Mass. Gen- eral Conference. Perhaps some statistics from these re- ports will give us as good an idea of the school as we can have. The Bradford Sunday School is mentioned in the report of the Mass. Sabbath School Society for 1834. It was then the West Bradford School : 30 teachers, 176 scholars, 300 vols. in library. The concert and teachers meetings were observed.
In 1835 two schools were reported by Bradford West. Mr. William Day, Jr. and Isaac Morse, supts. : 28 teach- ers, 158 scholars, 21 over 14 years of age, showing that but few adults were then enrolled as members. .
In 1836, Isaac Morse, supt., 23 teachers, 151 scholars, 65 over 18 years of age, 300 vols.
In 1837, 22 teachers, 155 scholars, 200 vols.
In 1838, Dea. Jesse Kimball, supt., 24 teachers, 203 scholars, 78 over 18 years, and 200 vols.
In 1839, 27 teachers, 169 scholars, average attendance 120, 35 over 18, 19 conversions, 7 of them baptized in infancy.
In 1840, 25 teachers, 175 scholars, average 125, 40 over 18, 2 conversions. The teachers' meeting and con- cert were observed and collections taken for benevolent objects.
In 1841, there were reports to the Mass. Sabbath School Society from only four schools. More than twen- ty should have reported, which seems a small number. Bradford made no report that year.
In 1842, Bradford First Parish reported 25 teachers,
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
175 scholars, average 125, 4 conversions, 225 vols. Dea. Daniel Fitts, Supt. The report says, " There has been an increase in numbers and interest in the school the past year. The monthly concert has been better at- tended by parents, teachers and scholars than in pre vious years." This is the only instance where the Report gives anything from Bradford but statistics. This year reports Miss Sarah Kimball as being made a life mem- ber of the Mass. S. S. Society. This is the only person up to this date of Bradford.
In 1846, which was the last report from Bradford, 17 teachers, 109 scholars, average 84, 18 over 18 years, 1 conversion, 172 vols. The society gave up sending out blanks for the statistical reports in 1850.
Life members reported in 1867, Rev. Nathan Munroe, Dea. William Day, Isaac Morse, Miss Sarah Kimball, Daniel B. Kimball, Rev. J. T. McCollom. I have not a list of other life members.
May 5, 1850. Mr. John P. Montgomery was chosen Supt., Mr. Henry Hill, Asst. Supt., Mr. George Gage, Librarian, and Mr. John G. Ingersoll, Secretary. There were then from 150 to 175 scholars, and 30 to 35 teach- ers during the year.
The next year, 1851, Mr. Montgomery was Supt., and Dea. Wm. Day, Asst., Samuel W. Hopkinson, Librarian, and William B. Kimball, Assist. Librarian, John G. Ingersoll, Secretary. The number of teachers and schol- ars about the same.
May 2, 1852. Mr. George Johnson was chosen Supt., Dea. William Day, Assist., Isaac N. Carleton, Librarian, William M. Hall, Assist., Samuel W. Hopkinson, Secre- tary. The number of teachers and scholars about the same. Mr. George Johnson, the Superintendent, offered a bible to each scholar who would learn and repeat the Westminster Catechism. Quite an interest was thus excited, several scholars receiving bibles for this work. From the record which is quite complete for this period,
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
it appears that the school was in a very prosperous condition.
July 17, 1859. There is recorded this: "It was then voted unanimously that we have a meeting of the teach- ers once every month, Saturday evening, to adopt such measures as seemeth good for the school, and that the first meeting be held at Mr. L. Johnson's Saturday even- ing previous to monthly concert." During the super- intendence of Mr. Luther Johnson a mutual class of elderly ladies was formed. The school has seemed to have a very even and progressive course under the su- pervision of the several superintendents during these years, who have left a record of faithful labor.
During the superintendence of Mr. Laburton Johnson, which continued nearly nine years, from 1865 to 1874, a great impetus was given to the school by the increased attention given to music. He himself being able to lead it was comparatively easy to conduct this part of the ex- ercises. New books and tunes were introduced with good effect. During this time music was introduced as a regu- lar exercise into the public schools. Thus the singing in the Sunday School had the benefit of the public instruction.
The year 1867 under the superintendence of Mr. La- burton Johnson, was one of great interest and prosperi- ty. The whole number connected with the school 898, average 212. Contributions for the year, including the west school, $390,52.
Of this amount there was given to Freedman's Sabbath
School at Newburn, N. C.,
$12 00
Mass. Sabbath School Society,
30 00
A Western Sabbath School Worker,
55 00
$67 00
The balance was expended to defray the expenses of the school and for home charities.
In 1868, whole number 412, average 212, contributions,
$323 18
Given for benevolent objects,
112 27
Balance for home purposes,
$180 91
In 1869, whole number, 423, average 236, contributions,
$398 90
Given to a Missionary,
10 00
This balance amounting to
$356 90
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
was used to buy an organ for the use of the school, regular expenses, and to pay the expense of a barge to bring in scholars from the east part of the town.
In 1870, whole number 340, average 218, given to Little Wander- ers' Home in Boston, $60 00
A. B. C. F. M. for school in India, 60 00
Other benevolent objects,
22 00
Balance for home purposes,
$142 00
In 1871, whole 384, average 220, contributions,
$331 72
Given to American S. S. Union,
27 00
Given for building in Chicago, 133 00
160 00
Balance for home purposes,
$171 72
January 22, 1874, a change was made in the time of electing the officers of the Sunday School from May to January, the election being now by the church at the annual meeting and not by the Sunday School as for- merly. At this time Dea. A. L. Kimball was chosen Superintendent, John L. Stanley, Assist. Supt., Edwin C. Kimball, Clerk and Treas., Nowell F. Sawyer, Li- brarian. The teachers' meeting under charge of the Pas- tor was resumed, having been neglected at times. Mr. Kimball continued in office four years. The school was uniformly prosperous under his charge.
At the annual church meeting January 7, 1878, the following officers were elected for the Sunday School : Mr. D. Freeman Towne, Superintendent, Dr. William Cogswell, Assist. Supt., Nowell F. Sawyer, Librarian, Albert L. Kimball, Clerk and Treas. The school was in a prosperous condition, with a membership of 280, number of classes 34, and an average of 170 scholars. In January, 1880, the school removed from the church to the new chapel, where its sessions are now held, having admirable accommodations. The oldest classes occupy the Ladies' Parlor, the adult portion the large chapel and the youngest the small one. The change to more suitable accommodations soon had the effect to increase the number of scholars, the whole number being
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
325, average 204. New singing books, the Hymnal, 240, were bought from the weekly contributions for the use of the school. Total amount of contributions during the three years of Mr. Towne's superintendence was 8550 00.
The officers of the school at the present time are : Ar- thur H. Hall, Superintendent, Benj. G. Perry, Asst. Supt., Charles G. Johnson, Clerk and Treas., Nowell F. Sawyer, Librarian, Miss Mary E. Webster, Musical Directress.
The Sabbath School at the present time, Dec. 1, 1882, consists of 446 pupils and teachers, 39 classes, 249 schol- ars over 18 years old, and 138 over 30 years. The con- tributions for 1881 were $276 97. Benevolent contribu- tions as follows : American Indians, $30 00, Cong. Pub. Society, $43 00, A. B. C. F. M., $80 00. The school supports two students and pays for their education at Pasamalie, Madura India. A record has been kept dur- ing Mr. Hall's administration of the attendance of each . member of the school each Sabbath, those who have the best record receiving mention at the end of the year. During 1882 the school purchased three large maps of Palestine, Egypt and Asia Minor at an expense of $40 00. From the best information within our reach it is estimated that the aggregate contributions of the school have been not far from ($20,000) twenty thou- sand dollars, including the library, though this may be too high as the records are so imperfect it is impossible to tell in many years. The library in 1834 had 800 volumes. New books have been added as the wants of the school required. The last addition was in 1879 when $200 00 was expended and about 200 volumes added. The present library contains 800 volumes.
NAMES OF SUPERINTENDENTS.
Ending.
Commencing. 1814, Miss Mary Hasseltine,
1824, Rev. Ira Ingraham,
1830, Dea. Wm. Day, 1833
1833, Benjamin Greenleaf,
1834, Isaac Morse, 1836
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
1838, Dea. Jesse Kimball,
1842, Dea. Daniel Fitts,
William Hall,
1845, William F. Johnson, Daniel B. Kimball,
1847
May
5, 1850, John P. Montgomery, 1852
May
2, 1852, George Johnson,
1854
1854,
Luther Johnson,
1856
1856, Dea. S. L. B. Speare, 1860
May 17, 1860,
Dea. Nathaniel Hatch, 1861
June, 1861,
Warren Ordway, 1865
April 16, 1865, Laburton Johnson, 1874
Jan. 22, 1874, Dea. Albert L. Kimball, 1878
Jan. 7, 1878, D. Freeman Towne, 1881
Jan. 13, 1881, Arthur H. Hall (now in office).
EAST SCHOOL.
There have been occasional Sunday Schools at the school house in former years, but not a regularly organ- ized school until 1879. In this year Mr. Orestes West was the Superintendent. Teachers from this village went with him to the school house. There were at times about 30 scholars. It continued for about three years and was given up. The school had diminished in numbers to such an extent it was thought best to close it for the present.
WEST SCHOOL.
We have knowledge of a Sunday School in the west .part of the town as far back as 1835, which seems to have been intermittent for several years, having sessions in the summer and more favorable parts of the year. Dea. Win. Day was the Superintendent. Mr. Isaac Carleton, Mr. Joseph Hall, Miss Lydia Carleton, Miss Betsey Hall, Miss Louise Carleton, Miss Mary Carleton, Misses Mary and Priscilla Gage were teachers in those years. Afterwards in September, 1861, it became a reg- ularly organized and permanent school continuing to the present time. Mr. A. L. Kimball acted as Superintend-
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
ent for a short time. There were then twenty scholars. Mr. William Hilton was the Superintendent until 1864, when he was succeeded by Mr. Jacob Gale, who con- tinued in office nine years, until 1873.
In 1867, the number in this school had increased to 100, averaging 73.
In 1868, whole number 90, average 80.
In 1869, whole number 130, average 101.
In 1870, whole number 145, average 95.
John L. Stanley, Eugene W. Day, William R. Adams, Harlon P. Waldo, and Samuel Driver, have been Su- perintendents. The present Superintendent is Mr. Geo. F. Bradstreet. The school is in a very prosperous con- dition. The tenth and twentieth anniversaries of its permanent organization were observed by appropriate exercises. The number of deaths of persons connected with it since 1861, has been 23, and about 30 have united with the church. There is a well-selected libra- ry belonging to the school. This school during the last twenty years has filled a very important place in the religious instruction of the young, as well as older per- sons who would be otherwise deprived of these privi- leges owing to their distance from the central school. In connection with this school at its close there is held a religious service largely attended by people in the vi- cinity, participated in by the Pastor and many mem- bers of the church.
REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS.
Address by H. I. Ordway, A. M.
Mr. President, and Ladies and Gentlemen :
You will hardly expect me to appear before you to- day to indulge in reminiscences of Old Bradford, and as none of my ancestors dwelt here, my only excuse for
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
occupying a portion of your time must be my own great interest in the subject, and the fact that I have recently noticed several papers containing references to the early history of the town which may not be familiar to you all.
We have heard to-day of the pleasant relations which have existed between the churches of Haverhill and Bradford, but before these churches were formed there was some dissension between the people interested in the two places. Nathaniel Ward, father of the first minister of Haverhill, and himself interested in its set- tlement, wrote to Gov. Winthrop, the same year that the settlement was made, as follows :
" Our neighbour towns are much greiued to see the lauish liberality of the Court in giving away the countrye. Some honest men of our towne affirme that in their knowledge there are 68 towns in England within as litle compasse as the bounds of Ipswich : I knowe neere 40 where I dwelt: Rowly is larger than Ipswich, 9 or 10 miles longe & will have other planta- tions within it, tributaries to it, & intend, as we heare, to stretch their wings much further yet, will spoile & Qutchicqute vtterly, if not Pen- tucket. We earnestly pray you to prevent it."
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