USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Framingham > Memorial of the bi-centennial celebration of the incorporation of the town of Framingham, Massachusetts, June, 1900 > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
The next pastor of the old church was the Rev. David Kellogg, ordained January 10, 1781. A man of vigorous intellect, a native of Amherst, Mass., where his youth had been spent under the influence of Rev. David Parsons, he had maintained high rank as a scholar and graduated at the head of his class at Dartmouth College. Of genial, yet dignified manner he maintained throughout his long public life his reputation as in the best sense a christian gentleman
Rev. David Kellogg, D.D.
Hon. Jonathan Maynard Abner Wheeler
Former Distinguished Citizens of Framingham
Rev. Charles Train
79
GRACE CHURCH
of the old school. Mr. Bridge had built and occupied the gambrel-roofed house which is now the farm house on the Mellen estate. The May following his ordination Mr. Kel- logg married the daughter of Mr. Bridge and lived, till his death, August 1843, in the old parsonage.
But Dr. Kellogg was not only a christian gentleman, a superior scholar, a wise, faithful, godly minister and helpful pastor, he was also an exemplary citizen, identifying him- self with the best interests of the Town which had become his home. As such we find him among the leading spirits in the originating and incorporation of the Framingham Acad- emy. We are not surprised to find his name at the head of the list of its first Proprietors. Twenty or more persons, the Proprietors of the Brick Schoolhouse organized a society whose object was to disseminate piety, virtue, and useful knowledge. No person could be a preceptor who had not received a collegiate education. In 1799 the Trustees were incorporated as the Framingham Academy, which continued for over fifty years a career of great usefulness, until by the permission of the Legislature it was merged with the Town High School in 1851. The brick schoolhouse was replaced, in 1837, by the stone building which now serves for the Cen- tre Primary Schools. Dr. Kellogg was a member of the Board of Trustees until 1825, making 33 years of continuous service in this supervision of educational work.
It was during the ministry of Dr. Kellogg that the two great missionary organizations of our Congregational churches were organized,- The American Board of Foreign Missions and the Home Missionary Society. We cannot but think that his hearty sympathy with both these causes had much to do in interesting Peter Parker in the cause of Foreign Mis- sions, and in awakening that interest in both Home and Foreign Missions which has always characterized the Church. That period was marked also by the beginnings of the Sun- day Schools of our country and that in Dr. Kellogg's church was one of the earliest to organize in New England. Re- vivals of religion were of periodical occurrence during his ministry ; and we can easily imagine the deep interest which the veteran pastor felt in seeing the hundreds who were
80
TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
coming out as Christians during those revivals which swept this region in the years 1830 to 1833, in which 63 males and 134 females united with his church. He was settled over the church at the close of the Revolutionary war, when a great wave of French infidelity had gone over the country. His pastorate was synchronous with the growth of Unitarian- ism in this region. Rev. James Freeman, the grandfather of James Freeman Clarke, having been appointed rector of King's Chapel in Boston, in 1783, two years after Mr. Kel- logg's ordination. Mr. Freeman soon after persuaded the congregation of King's Chapel to adopt a revised prayer book, leaving out all distinctive recognition of the Trinity. But Mr. Kellogg, by his plain preaching, by his devout, studious, wise conduct of his parish, so instructed his people that while liberal in his public life he yet held the mass of his church loyal to the doctrines of the Cross, so that when the time of division came, over 160 of the 170 members of the church were ready to go out with him, and hand down to his and their successors the old confession of faith and the treas- ures of hope which had been the confidence and consolation of those who from the beginning had constituted "The Church of Christ in Framingham." It was practically a separation of the church from the parish. At a meeting of the Parish in Dec., 1829, by a small majority it was voted to have Unitarian preaching. The first of the following year, Jan., 1830, all but two of the male members and all but five or eight of the female members of the church, at least 160 of the 170 members, with the pastor and deacons, left the old Sabbath home and began worship in the Town House. The parish consisted of men, voters, real estate owners, in Town. By decision of the Supreme Court the majority of the Parish held the property and records,- the church having no legal standing with the Court. The Court drew a distinction between a church in law as a holder of property and a church ecclesiastically. The question before the Court was as to who should hold the property. But they admitted that the church could exist separately from the parish in a religious point of view for administering ordinances and other religious offices. Consequently a new parish or society had to be
=
St. Bridget's Catholic Church
St. George's Catholic Church. Erected 1845
٠٦
81
GRACE CHURCH
organized in connection with the church which had seceded from the old Parish. The new parish took the name of " The Hollis Evangelical Society," after the name of the founder of the Hollis Professorship at Harvard, in evident protest against what the Evangelicals claimed to be a diversion of the funds of that professorship, but the church, claiming to be the original church organization which had from the first been known as "The Church of Christ in Framingham," never changed its name until in 1871, after the society had changed its name from Hollis Evangelical to Plymouth So- ciety, the Church voted to adopt the title "Plymouth Church " to conform to the action of the society. In 1890 Plymouth Church was incorporated under the new laws of the Commonwealth and the Plymouth Society conveyed its property to the Church. Meanwhile the majority of the old Parish in 1830 held the property and have continued from that day to this on the old site. I was informed the other day by one of their officials that there is no First Parish Church, that they are simply the First Parish,- and we have no Parish, but are simply "Plymouth Church in Framing- ham." So the close of the two centuries, through the evolution of the years, finds the old Parish and the old Church on opposite sides of the street, the Church without a Parish, the Parish without a Church, living and working side by side, very cordially, and joining this afternoon in a Thanksgiving Service to the praise of the God of the Fathers for His unnumbered benefits these two hundred years. We are like a grand old tree which stands on my lawn ; - One large trunk for many feet from the ground, and then sepa- rating into two large branches which grow in abundant thrift spreading out into many branches, but all growing out of and belonging to the same trunk and having the same source of strength and life in the deep soil of God's truth and infinite love.
The Methodist Episcopal Church began its history in the United States in 1766, when Philip Embury was preaching in New York. In 1783 the first Methodist Conference was held in New York. In 1784 Wesley sent Rev. Thomas Coke to this country as a Bishop to organize the Methodist Episcopal 6
82
TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
Church of the United States. By him Asbury, who had been laboring in this country for several years was ordained and consecrated Bishop. There seems to be good evidence that a class was organized about 1788, holding its meeting beyond Saxonville. For nearly forty years they were few in numbers, but held together steadily, and finally in 1833 a house was built near Mr. Benj. Stone's, a mile north of Saxonville on the road to Sudbury. In 1844 the church was moved to · the village, and in 1880 the "present tasteful house was erected."
The Edwards Congregational Church in Saxonville was organized May 26, 1833, twenty-five members having been dismissed from the Centre Church for this purpose.
A Society of Universalists was formed in 1829 and built the meeting-house which is now occupied by the Catholics at the Centre. The Universalist Society continued for about twenty years and then dissolved, selling their edifice to the newly organized Episcopal Parish of St. John's. The Episcopalians occupied the building until 1871 when, on Easter Sunday, they entered their beautiful church on the westerly slope of Normal Hill. The Catholics purchased the building on Main street and have held services there ever since.
The Catholics began their work in Framingham in 1844, when a mission was commenced by Rev. George Hamilton, which resulted in the organization of St. George's Parish. When I began my pastorate, June 1, 1871, the Rev. Father A. J. Rossi was in charge and also had the care of St. Bridget's at the Centre. In June 1876, Rev. Fr. Rossi began services in Waverley Hall, the outcome of which, under the efficient leadership of Rev. J. S. Cullen and his successor Rev. John F. Heffernan, is the large and prosperous congregation of St. Stephen's.
March 17, 1854, twenty members of the First Baptist Church united with others living at South Framingham to form the Park Street Baptist Church. The meeting-house was dedicated March 15, 1855.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of South Framingham was organized on November 5, 1869. It worshipped in Wav- erley Hall until 1873, and from that time until 1884 in Irving
P
South Framingham Methodist Church. Erected 1884 Remodeled 1897
83
GRACE CHURCH
Hall. The present handsome church was erected in 1884 and re-modeled in 1897.
In the autumn of 1872, some two score devout, godly men and women,- whose pastor I had been for a year and a half and whom I had come to love and trust and depend upon as among my choicest fellow-workers in the old Centre church,- were moved by the same deep moral purpose which actuated the founders of the Town, "that they might sanctify the Sab- bath and more efficiently build up the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," to leave the old home and organ- ize a new church in the South Village. They had held many meetings for prayer. In the early part of Nov., 1872, they began services in the hall which was then the upper story of Nobscot Block. They asked me to conduct their first Sab- bath Services. They were organized as a church by a coun- cil held Jan. 2, 1873. Their first pastor was an old and intimate friend of mine in the theological seminary, Rev. David M. Bean. Their second my honored cousin, and their third our beloved brother whom we all delight to honor, for his big heart and his works' sake. I do not need to tell you of the phenomenal growth which the Divine favor has granted them these twenty-seven years, and which we have all watch- ed with supreme satisfaction. It was a fitting thing for them to do, to change their title from the South to that of Grace Church, for surely we know that the central thought of their faith and the substance of the utterances of our brother in this pulpit is the infinite riches of the Grace of our Divine Father manifested in the redeeming work of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; - the Gospel of the Grace of God.
Bethany Universalist Church was organized April 26, 1878. It is a strong and growing Society with a tasteful meeting- house on Franklin Street, erected in 1882. This Society has no historic connection with the one which formerly existed at Framingham Centre. Previous to the building of its church it held services in Liberty Hall, now the Y. M. C. A. Gymnasium.
St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church began its work in 1884 when services of the denomination were begun under the charge of Rev. Frank S. Harraden, rector of St. John's
84
TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
Church at Framingham Centre. Meetings were held in various hired churches and halls until 1897, when a pretty chapel was erected at the corner of Concord and Clark Streets on land donated by R. M. Everit. The Church is now active and growing under the pastoral care of Rev. Frank H. Bigelow of Natick.
Hope Presbyterian Church was organized in December, 1886, and for a time worshipped in Irving Hall, and later in Pythian Hall. The present Church was built in 1891.
But my friends,- as I draw to a close this résumé of the story of the Church Life of our dear old Town, these Two Centuries,- may your patience suffer a word more from one who has been identified with that life nearly as long as one of those first three pastors whose combined service covered its first hundred and thirty years. It is impossible to estimate the influence of all the sermons which have been preached these two centuries upon the lives of the people, -or the effect of the numberless prayers rising like daily incense from the Christian homes where so many devout children of God have lived their patient, faithful, diligent lives. But surely today we may well thank God that this has always been a. Christian Community. The principles and teachings of the Christian religion have from the beginning been the controll- ing influence which has guided the Town in all its growth and in its relation to the great questions of municipal and national polity and weal. The character of a community is the sum-total of the character of its individual citizens. Just in proportion as those individual units are men and women of sterling integrity and virtue, of the highest degree of attainment in intelligence and moral strength, will the con- munity as a whole stand high in the scale of moral and in- tellectual power and influence in the Commonwealth. It is the special aim of all churches of every denomination to produce just such individuals as the fruits of their work, and the church which is true to its mission can never lose its place and its importance in the community. May I tonight express to you my profound gratification at the fraternal feeling which exists today between the various bodies of Christian believers in our good old Town,-in which I have
==
St. Stephen's Catholic Church. Erected 1884
85
GRACE CHURCH
enjoyed so much of confidence and respect these many years,- which I have learned to love so much and whose best traditions I have done what I could to preserve. And if it were the last exhortation which I were to make as a minister of the grace of God to the Christian people of Fram- ingham, I would say, Never forget that ye are all brethren. That ye are sons and daughters of the One Living and True God. That ye will attain the highest ideals of citizenship just so far as ye realize the highest possibilities and attain- ments of the children of God, your common Father in whose likeness ye are made. As our honored Governor Wolcott said and as our brother here has reminded you, "May God in his mercy grant that the moral impulse which founded this town, as well as nation, may never cease to control its destiny ; that no act of any future generation may put in peril the fundamental principles on which it is based,- of equal rights in a free state, equal privileges in a free church, and equal opportunities in a free school."
PROGRAM
MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1900
2 P. M. FIRE DEPARTMENT EXHIBITION. 8 P. M. CANOE FLOAT AT LAKE WAUSHAKUM.
HONOR IHR MASSACHUS! TO VOLUNTEERS
GOD BE WITH YOU TILL WE MEET AGAIN
-
Arch erected in 1898 to honor Massachusetts Volunteers for the Spanish War
CHAPTER III. EVENTS OF MONDAY.
No special attraction was placed on the program for Mon- day forenoon, but the opportunity was largely improved to complete the work of decoration, begun several days before. Under the management of the Committee on Decorations of which Chas. H. Fuller was chairman, the various schoolhouses and public buildings in Town assumed a holiday appearance and many business blocks and private dwellings were also handsomely and appropriately decorated, especially those along the line of march marked out for the Military, Civic and Trades' Procession of Wednesday. It was the original intention of the Committee to erect on Con- cord Street a Commemorative Arch, differing in design but modelled somewhat after the one which had been placed there in the summer of 1898, to honor the Massachusetts Volunteers who were starting from the State Muster Field within our border, to unknown scenes and events of the Spanish War, ( see illustration ) but on account of the expense this plan was abandoned. But however beauti- ful these special decorations might be, they only rendered more noticeable the general condition of tasteful neatness and thrift which marked the residences and grounds of our citizens and helped to make Framingham seem so attracitve on those beautiful June days.
FIRE DEPARTMENT EXHIBITION.
On Monday afternoon the entire Framingham Fire Depart- ment was called to Irving Square, South Framingham, to give an exhibition, partly competitive, but chiefly to show what, with its modern equipment of three steam fire engines
90
TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
and hose wagons and one hook and ladder truck, its efficient leadership and enthusiastic firemen, the Department is capable of doing. Chief Engineer A. Howard Fiske was in full charge of the program, assisted by Engineers William O'Callahan, James P. Shay, John P. Kyte and David Gor- man. Regular calls were sounded on the fire alarm, summon- ing each piece of apparatus from the respective engine houses, and the fire drill, as given, proved that every man on the force knew his place and was ready to fill it. A crowd of interested spectators from this and other towns watched the exhibition, which passed off with entire success.
CANOE FLOAT.
The only feature of the entire celebration which was not favored by having perfect weather was the Canoe Float at Lake Waushakum on Monday evening. Much time and effort had been given to the preparation, decoration and illumination of the canoes and floats ; music, and prizes to be awarded had been provided and all arrangements made to give pleasure and delight to the hundreds of people who assembled ; but a sudden, though brief shower just before evening, followed by a high wind, roughened the water and extinguished the lights so that a large part of the beautiful and elaborate display had to be abandoned. The committee in charge decided however to award the prizes, as the floats were already prepared, and Bert Schnapp was awarded the first prize for the handsomest float, while the prize for the finest canoe went to Ralph Dewey.
PROGRAM
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1900
9.00 A. M. EXERCISES IN SCHOOLS.
1.00 P. M. CHILDREN'S PROCESSION AND ENTERTAIN- MENT.
ATHLETIC EVENTS DURING THE DAY. GUN CLUB SHOOT. BICYCLE ROAD RACE. SPORTS AT FAIR GROUNDS.
8.30 P. M. CONCERT AND BALL AT ARMORY.
.
CHAPTER IV. EVENTS OF TUESDAY.
CHILDREN'S DAY.
EXERCISES IN THE SCHOOLS.
For several weeks previous to our celebration, special study in all the schools had been given to the History of the Town and its Institutions. A prize of ten dollars was offered by Orville W. Collins, M.D., Chairman of the Committee on Exercises in Schools, to the pupils of the Public Schools of Framingham, for the best essay of not more than fifteen hundred words on the topic " A General History of The Town of Framingham." This prize was won by Miss Helen Hazel Videto, a pupil in the High School. Her essay is here given in full as a comprehensive and concise statement of the History and growth of the Town and its Institutions.
THE PRIZE ESSAY. A HISTORY OF FRAMINGHAM, JUNE 1, 1900. BY HELEN HAZEL VIDETO.
Framingham is a town of about 11,000 population, in Middlesex County, 20 miles South by West of Boston. It possesses good railroad, telegraph and banking facilities, and has manufactures of Straw Goods, Boots and Shoes, Rattan Chairs, Wooden Lasts, Rubber Clothing, Wooden and Paper Boxes and Wheels. It is also the location of the celebrated Saxonville Mills, and of the great plant of the Dennison Manufacturing Company. Farming and market gardening are carried on extensively.
The first knowledge we have of this territory, came in 1633 from men on their way from Watertown to the Connecticut
94
TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
River. The first grant of land was made in 1640. Further grants were made between 1640 and 1660. In 1660-'62 grants were made to Thomas Danforth, Esquire, who added by purchase and the place became known as " Mr. Danforth's Farms." Mr. Danforth called it Framingham, a contraction of the name of his birthplace, Framlingham, England.
The natural features consisting of rivers and ponds, hills, dales and meadows made it a very desirable place for settle- ment. There is no doubt but that it was inhabited by Indians as unmistakable signs of their occupancy have been found. Few of those receiving grants settled on the territory, however in 1675 Framingham was recognized as a plantation.
After the end of King Philip's War in 1676, during which occurred the Massacre of Thomas Eames' family, settlers began to come in considerable numbers. About 1687 Mr. Danforth disclosed plans for leasing his lands and settlers began to locate on them. In 1693 a movement to obtain incorporation was inaugurated but it was not until 1698 that the General Court appointed a committee to view the lands. The erection of the first meeting-house was commenced in 1698.
On June 25, 1700, an act of incorporation received the consent of the Governor and on August 5th a Town Meeting was held.
Queen Anne's war was inaugurated May, 1702. Several Framingham men participated therein. Neighbors combined for mutual protection but no serious disturbance occurred in the town.
In 1705 an ordinance was passed against cattle or horses running at large on the common lands, and also, regulating the cutting of wood and timber. September 3, 1706 the town chose a school master, who taught the scholars in his own house until the first schoolhouse was built in 1716.
Slavery existed as early as 1716 and continued to at least 1797. Race prejudice was strong. As late as 1826, the First Baptist Society in building its meeting-house con- structed an attic gallery for the use of colored people.
Father Ralle's War, 1722 - 1726, strongly interested the town and many Framingham men saw service therein.
95
EXERCISES IN THE SCHOOLS
The French and Indian War began in 1744. Framingham furnished her quota of soldiers. In 1754 began the last French and Indian War, Framingham did her part in furnish- ing soldiers both for the invasion of Canada and for home defense.
On September 23, 1754, the town voted in favor of the "Excise Bill " putting a tax on the consumption of wine and distilled spirits.
With the close of the French and Indian War began the friction with England which led up to the Revolution. Framingham took an early and active part. October 21, 1765 the town instructed its representative to join in an effort for the repeal of the "Stamp Act" and further instructed him against assenting to any taxes except those imposed by the Great and General Court of the Province. September 6, 1768, a delegate was chosen to join a "Committee in Con- vention with Others" at Faneuil Hall to consult measures for the safety of the Province.
At the Boston Massacre, March 5, 1770, Crispus Attucks, a native of Framingham was killed. This was the first bloodshed in the Revolution, and a monument to him stands on Boston Common to commemorate the event.
On January 25, 1774, the town passed a resolve refusing to buy tea subject to duty or trade with anyone dealing in that detested commodity. March 14 the town gave the selectmen authority to call meetings on emergencies without posting fourteen days' notice. June 27 the town voted to accept the covenant. August 30, at Concord, Middlesex County held the first delegate convention which adopted measures looking to organized opposition to England. Framingham was represented by two delegates. This convention adopted resolutions recommending the assembly of a Provincial Con- gress. September 30, the town elected a representative to the General Court and instructed him to adhere firmly to the Charter of the Province and at the same meeting voted to purchase a chest of fire-arms and two Field-Pieces. This meeting was adjourned to October 3, when it was voted, " That there be two militia companies besides the Troop in this town," and that they be guided by the Province laws
96
TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
relative to the militia. November 8, the collectors were instructed to pay all moneys to the Treasurer and Receiver General of the Provincial Congress. In December two companies of minute men were organized, each man provid- ing himself with the necessary equipment including ammu- nition.
April 19, 1775 on receiving information that British troops were marching to Concord, bells were rung and an alarm was fired. In about an hour part of the two companies of minute men and one company of militia were on the road to Concord. Arriving there too late to take part in the battle they joined in the pursuit of the retreating British soldiers whom they harassed until after they had passed Cambridge. 153 Fram- ingham men took part in this engagement, and all, with the exception of eight, remained at Cambridge in order to hold the ground until more permanent companies could be enlisted. Framingham although not the scene of conflict nobly res- ponded to all calls made upon her, during the entire Revo- lution.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.