USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Westfield > Mundale : the West parish of Westfield, Massachusetts, in the olden days. > Part 5
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83
James Noble, Jr .. 15
Hazwell Loomis 5
Henry Holland 5
Loomis Holcomb
Charles Spencer 5
J. R. Gillett
MUNDALE IN THE OLDEN DAYS
Those residing in West Parish or in nearby districts and attending Church there who gave were the following:
Dayton Loomis $200
H. A. Cowles $10
Leicester Loomis
200
Collins Pomeroy 10
Thomas Cowles 200
A. J. Whittaker 10
James Noble
200
M. B. Loomis
Harvey Everton
100
E. M. Herrick.
5
Daniel Drake
100
Daniel Stiles
5
Oren Cowles
100
Noah Sackett
5
John Gillett
50
L. A. Lambson 5
David Drake
50
O. B. Loomis
5
Titus Pomeroy
50
F. D. Lambson 5
Archibald Little
25
Joseph Fowler
5
E. L. Spelman
20
F. C. Kellogg
3
M. C. Chapin
IO
Martin Stiles . .
3
Two residing in Granville who gave were the fol- lowing :
Mrs. Tersie Hamilton ... $26 Mr. Silas Noble . 5
"I will not forget to add the generous voluntary dona- tion of ten bracket lamps for the church, value, I suppose, about $40, by Grove H. Loomis of Boston.
"Ground was broken for the church May 26, 1868. Almost every hand was a helping hand in the work.
"The vestry by some was said not to be needed but it certainly is a great convenience.
"During the building of the church, meetings were held in the schoolhouse, and Sabbath School concerts, etc., one of which will not soon be forgotten by the little folks espe- cially. Most of the children and adults had pieces or dia- logues. Among the rest Thomas Cowles had a piece entitled 'Ring Tingle,' which made every young heart bound with joy as he presented one of Naylor & Co.'s cast steel bells in
84
MUNDALE £ THE OLDEN DAYS IN
picture and asked them to give one dollar each to purchase a bell for the new church with the promise that their names should be recorded and the sum each gave. It was to all a surprise, and when we counted up our list we found one hundred and forty dollars had been raised, which was a greater surprise. We then made a committee to solicit aid and in one week we had $200, sufficient to purchase a good bell, which has been ever since giving us pleasant salutes, and I hope will never miss a week while there is a people in West Parish.
"The next thing in order is the great supper which the ladies got up in October for furnishing the church with carpets, etc. Three tables were set the length of the church at which were seated over 200, 100 of whom were from the center of the town, which testified that they got their money's worth, and they hoped we would repeat it every year. Two hundred dollars was the net gain from the supper.
"The material was purchased for cushions, etc., and the ladies did the sewing and Brother Brown the upholstering The carpeting was put down in the aisles and afterwards Sister Clarissa Noble said, 'Carpet the pews,' and so she gave $25 more and the pews were carpeted.
"Mariah H. Loomis* was a grand good worker all the time, but to make a finishing stroke she started out and raised enough money to buy a communion service, chairs and table, which were very much needed.
"The time of dedication was set for December 17th. On the 14th a committee found an indebtedness of $651.03 with not a cent to pay it with. I felt sad and expected to
* Maria Happilonia, daughter of Leicester.
85
MUNDALE £
IN THE OLDEN DAYS
be blamed but was conscious I had done the best I could. I could not bear to have this weak Church in debt and be blamed for it. I resolved that it should not be dedicated till it was free, if I paid it all myself. On this I retired to rest and dreamed that I called on Brother James Noble to help me. I awoke deeply impressed that Brother Noble would help me. There were but two busy days more to the dedication.
"Brother J. Gillett, who has always been a kind friend to me and the society, called to give me words of consola- tion. He said, 'You must not pay all that debt. It is not right.' I said, 'I shall if I don't get help.' He said, 'You shall have help. I am going to work for you.' I thanked him. So he went among the people and got pledges from some. I felt that God was in the move.
"The time of dedication came. Brother Daniel Chapin* who was to preach the dedicatory sermon had arrived. I told him the circumstances and said it must be freed from debt before it was dedicated. He thought it to be impossible I told him to preach and then let me make a statement. He preached from Matt. XXII : 42, 'What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he?' It was the exaltation of Christ, a mov- ing and melting sermon, after which I arose with much trembling and announced that there was a debt on the church of $650, and to seat the vestry would add $100 more, which must be paid before it was dedicated. I turned to Brother J. Noble, related in part my dream, asked him
*The Rev. Mr. Chapin was pastor of the Methodist Church in Westfield for three years from 1858, the longest pastorate up to that time. While there, his son, Charles Sumner Chapin, who many years afterward became the highly efficient and respected principal of the Westfield State Normal School, was born.
86
MUNDALE IN THE OLDEN DAYS
to give $200 and I would add $150; he nodded assent, and in twenty minutes the $750 was pledged. The dedicatory prayer was offered by Brother J. H. Mansfield of West- field and the Doxology sung by the congregation. Bene- diction when all looked joyous and happy. To myself it was truly the happiest hour of all my life. And from that time up to the present date Jesus has been drawing me closer and closer to Himself. To Him be all the praise."
Those from West Parish who gave at the dedication were :
James Noble $200
John Gillett $50
Thomas Cowles
150
Harvey Everton 50
Mrs. Leicester Loomis .. 100
Titus Pomeroy 10
Dayton Loomis . 100
Merritt Drake IO
Those from Westfield were:
H. J. Bush . $20
Mrs. Eager Loomis. $5
Rev. Daniel E. Chapin* IO
Lyman Loomis 5
Merwin Loomis .
Lemuel Grant
5
David Lamberton
IO
William Phelps 5
Loomis Holcomb 10 D. W. Palmer (Southwick) I
"The ladies are now turning their attention to the par- sonage by adding articles of furniture and making a pleas- ant home for the preachers.
"One thing more noticeable than all others is that while we were doing with our might what our hands found to do, the Good Lord added spiritual blessings to our souls. Blessed be His Name."
S. O. Brown continued his labors until July Ist, 1869, when S. Mclaughlin, a Scotchman about 32 years of age, who had preached with success in the old country, four years in London as city missionary, landed on the Ameri- can shores in Boston Sabbath morning, June 6, 1869, with
*Formerly of Westfield.
87
MUNDALE IN THE LDEN DAYS
wife and four children and came to West Parish by the appointment of the T. E. D. Sherman. He usually preached three times on Sunday and every day in the week, if there was an opening made. He has done much good service in Springfield Central Church, also in Chicopee Falls. He joined the Conference on trial in April, 1870. Was re- turned to us the second year, much to our satisfaction. The undersigned was returned to us the third year. In the last months of 1870 he took a subscription paper around in a day to get the whole debt off the church and raised two hundred and twenty dollars which cleared the Church of every cent of debt.
And the name signed below and the copier of all the history from which I have taken this account, written in beautiful backhand, is S. M. McLaughlin himself who ends by saying: "For these three years I have had a good time serving the Lord among the people here, and my prayer to God is that they may all be saved in the Great Day."
Of interest to Westfield people is the fact that in 1854 the Church was supplied by Rev. Ephraim Scott, grand- father of Mrs. Benjamin Chadwick of Hancock Street. Among the list of names of the children who contributed to the bell are those of Lottie, Nellie, and Etta Scott, the last becoming Mrs. Chadwick, and Freddie, who died at his sister Etta's home May 8, 1931. The Rev. Ephraim Scott lies buried in the Mechanic Street Cemetery, West- field.
Of interest also to Westfield people is the coming to West Parish in April, 1872, of Rev. William Gordon, father of Dr. Will C. Gordon, pastor of the Second Con- gregational Church of Westfield, Massachusetts, from Sep-
88
MUNDALE IN THE OLDEN DAYS £
tember, 1899, until January, 1908. In 1873 Rev. William Gordon was returned to West Parish with Southwick added to the charge. He spent alternate Sundays in each place and as far as practicable attended the weekly prayer meeting in Southwick on Tuesday evening. It was in the West Parish Church that Carrie Gordon, who became Mrs. Luther K. Leland, and her brother, William C. Gordon, were received as probationers March 27, 1873, by their father, but left before they were received in full con- nection into the Church. Five marriages were performed by Reverend Gordon during his two years of ministry here, so that if his good wife, Sarah, had the proceeds from such ceremonies, her pocketbook was not swelled over much thereby. Mr. Gordon's salary was estimated at $700 and he received $800, the largest for any of the ministers.
In 1878 Sister Lucy Cowles [daughter of Seth] offered $40 and use of the money needed to enlarge the vestry. The work started in the autumn and was finished in time for the chicken pie supper December 4 and 5, by which it was dedicated. The expense was $200, of which $100 was borrowed of Sister Cowles. In June was the first annual strawberry supper. In the postscript added March 30, 1880, to the account of the previous two years Mr. Wm. H. Adams says: "The success of this Church spiritually and financially is largely due to the labors of Brother Thomas Cowles, the faithful class leader and treasurer. God bless him and spare him long to the Church."
The Rev. L. White received a cordial greeting when he commenced his pastorate of one year in April, 1881. He also preached in Granville, either each Sunday afternoon or each alternate Sunday, by invitation of a delegation from Granville and the approval of the elder. In his report con-
89
MUNDALE IN
THE OLDEN DAYS
cerning the Church in West Parish, he said: "The year has not been one in which progress has been apparent. In the milder months when a preaching service was held each Sunday morning, followed by Sunday School and sustained by prayer meeting in the evening, the attendance was com- paratively large and quite uniform, averaging about 50. But with the setting in of the long and cold winter and the return to two sermons, morning and afternoon, each alternate Sunday, came depression. Sunday School has been very small and prayer and class meetings have sometimes failed, because none came to the place of appointment.
"Doubtless the explanation is found, in part, in causes not discreditable. It is not the fault of the faithful fathers and mothers who linger here awaiting their summons to the Eternal Home that the children born and born again here, and here nurtured up to young Christian manhood and womanhood, have gone out from thence to seek for them- selves homes and make their lives a blessing in stirring vil- lages. And it is not the fault of these veterans that they feel the weight of years with many infirmities, and some- times have to hide away for a season from Winter's chilly breath. May they live to bless the Church and the com- munity here as long as life can be a blessing to them, and then enter joyfully the life that knows no end."
And also from Mr. White's report: "After a brief ill- ness our esteemed brother, Leicester Loomis, closed a life of 73 years on the morning of January 8, 1881, ripe in age, yet young in look and heart. He was a man of excel- lent natural endowments and of marked intelligence. For a time he felt moved to devote his life to the Christian min- istry, and for some years held a local preacher's license. In 1841 he assisted in the supply of the pulpit in this place.
90
MUNDALE £ IN THE OLDEN DAYS
He was a lifelong and vigorous advocate of the cause of temperance, was a lover of truth, had sharply-defined opin- ions. If he seemed at times over eager in their defense, his friends will remember to his credit his increasing liberality towards those who differed from him.
"More beautiful ofttimes is the evening of day than its dawning. So in every life that ends well: first conflict, how often at fearful odds: then victory, though it may be with many scars: then the peace of God. I saw our de- parted brother only in the evening of his life. In his last months I knew him intimately. And I take great pleasure in saying that, though he talked with great freedom, I do not recall an unkindly word that fell from his lips. He was human like ourselves, but have we not reason to be- lieve that, as he neared the end that meets the great begin- ning, more and more the good prevailed ?"
From 1898-1900 the Rev. J. Alphonso Day held forth in West Parish. At the chicken pie supper of '98 Mr. Thomas Little [late of Westfield, and son of Mr. Archi- bald Little] spoke of placing a tablet in memory of Mr. Thomas Cowles, who had died December 18, 1897. It was accomplished and the dedicatory exercises took place in the church by a fitting and singular coincidence on Decem- ber 18, 1898, the anniversary of Mr. Cowles' death, with- out having been previously planned with reference to. it. Reminiscences were given concerning "Uncle Thomas' " life by Merwin Loomis, Wesley Cowles, James Noble, T. M. Cowles, and O. L. Cowles. An address was made by the Rev. L. H. Dorchester of the Methodist Church in Westfield, and Miss Lucy A. Little* sang, "Gently Lord,
*Daughter of Mr. Thomas Little; became Mrs. C. H. Abbe, then and now of 62 Franklin Street.
91
MUNDALE IN THE OLDEN DAY
O Gently Lead Us," accompanied by Miss Alma Camp- bell *.
In 1905 a two-story addition was built at the rear of the church, the lower room to be used as a kitchen and the upper one for Sunday School and Epworth League pur- poses. Besides time, labor generously furnished by the men, and money given by young and old in Mundale, Mr. John Hallbourg came to Westfield where he raised over $120 for the work.
Sunday, November 17, 1929, the Church commenced the celebration of the 135th anniversary of the religious work of the Methodists in Mundale and the 100th of the first Methodist Church edifice in Westfield. Nearly all protestants in the community attended and some came out from Westfield. On that day the Rev. Harry G. Butler, pastor jointly of the Church in Mundale and the Lay Memorial Church in Feeding Hills, preached a historical sermon. Miss Dorothy Butler, the pastor's daughter, sang. The Rev. Dr. Arthur Stroud, pastor of the Methodist Church in Westfield, closed the service with an ardent prayer and benediction.
The following Thursday evening an old-fashioned sup- per, consisting of baked beans, ham, cabbage salad, rye bread, pies, cakes, etc., was served in the vestry, followed by a meeting in the church auditorium with addresses full of deepest interest, given by the Rev. Dr. L. A. Nies, District Superintendent, Judge Robert Chapin Parker of Westfield, and Rev. William Dockham of Southwick, a former pastor. Rev. Mr. Butler read letters from Rev. Jerome Wood, Rev. Francis Hale, and Rev. Wilbur Hale,
*Granddaughter of Mr. Cowles; now deceased, but then living at 74 Franklin Street.
92
MUNDALE IN THE OLDEN DAYS
former pastors. A musical program was furnished by Miss Butler and Mrs. Miller of Feeding Hills.
The next Sunday Rev. Mr. Dockham preached a Thanks- giving sermon. Special music was furnished by Miss But- ler, accompanied by Mrs. Ralph Nelson. Thus was brought to a close the week's celebration of the important anniver- saries of this historical Church.
Mr. James Noble left to the Church a legacy of $3000; his sister, Clarissa, $500. Miss Clarissa Loomis* left $125; Dayton Loomis, son of Joshua the third, $500; Merwin Loomis, son of Thomas, $100; Juliet, sister of Merwin, $100. The first two go to the Conference and to the Methodist Missionary Society unless regular preaching is conducted in the church at least six months of the year by someone appointed by the Conference. The bell still rings during the warmer six months after Conference every Sunday afternoon at one-thirty and service is held at two- thirty. By their attendance a faithful few help to main- tain the Church "which the good old Fathers built," being still "unwilling to let the gospel preaching stop in the neighborhood" or to "abandon the prospect of sustaining preaching" in the first Methodist Church edifice built in our beloved Westfield.
*Sister of Mr. Oliver Loomis, late of Bush Street.
93
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Gc 974.402 W537s 1225935
M.L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
1225935
NaHOWS.
Jonathan Strickland
John Gillett & cider mill
Roderick Pomeroy Powder Keg Factory Stephen Seymour
Loomis
Marble and Sand stone Quarry.
- EAger Noble Valnes Noble
Brush House First Home of John Nelson's Son
Saw mill of Stephen Spelman
Lay House - 2nd Home > John Nol soit .< 3rd Home) son
Parmenus Barnes
Sandstone Quarry
John Nelson's
Som.
0
aaron Nelson
Charles Wright .
David Drakevr. .
Sam Gillett
David
Drake ..
. Joshua loomis Whip Factory
moses Socket
Sawmill
Holcont
Lyman kilbourn
titus fomeray 2nd House
Dwight Drake
Fretus Jones
LOOMIS
School
House
Seldon Jours
HOVER.
methodist Church) Hotel- 7
cidern
thomas loomis
House. .
Brook
West Harish Street.
Old Cemetery
. Rogers
+ Purchase
Mother Walker
Little River
· John Shepard
. (archibald Little)
Factory
Blacksmith Shop.
Munn's
Samuel Lee
Y Brook
Luca 5 Cowles)
Saw mill
Old Road to
Whip"
Paper
Carding
Westfield.
Road
Dennis Barnes
Horton's Mulle
Powder hill
( Sackett District . )
Made by HORACE G. NELSON, March 17, 1931
WEST PARISH
From a Map of
Capp House
Urt-anville
ABOUT 1850
( Fox District . ) Whittaker Road.
Boarding
cotton mill
thomas lowks.
Cider Brands
Distillery
Jehiel Shepard
Solomon Shepard
Powder Reg
Cemetery
· Pirates House .
Walker Brook
OH Rd. .WOEST
Jim's.
Bull District
Fward
methodist church y Ra
william
martin Couples
. North West Road.
Drake
Samuel
aaron Nelson Jr. - Powder Keq
Factoris
ttale ,
LogHouse EberCowles
Soren lowles
Honeypot road
It simay Roland.
+ School
Pirates' Lane
titus Pomeroy ,& Hhouse Bootand Shoe Factory LeicesterLoomis James Lamberlón
HOUSE .
George Nelson thill
New Raj Lysander, Iscarles
to Westfeld.
· Purchase mill
Loomis Street
Boulevard.
to Westfield -
3 Noble or Mill Brook!
District
Daniel Sibley .
Harvey Everton Rufus Hertick
Old Road to Granville
William Everton
Lucas Cowles
U
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