USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 54
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The following history of East Baptist Church is contributed.
On Tuesday evening, April 21, 1874, the East Baptist Church of Lynn was regularly organized with sixty-five constituent members. At this meeting the so-called "New Hampshire Confession of Faith," pre- pared by the Rev. J. Newton Brown, was adopted and a call was extend- ed to the Reverend John S. Holmes. The first public service for worship was held on Sunday, April 28, the sermon being preached by the Rever- end E. Benjamin Andrews, a student in the Newton Theological Institu- tion, and, later, President of Brown University. For some weeks, until Mr. Holmes was able to enter upon his pastoral duties, Mr. Andrews con- tinued to supply the pulpit and to his wise, enthusiastic leadership the church is greatly indebted.
A council, called in accordance with Baptist usage, met in Lynn on Thursday, May 14, and voted "to recognize the East Baptist Church of Lynn as a regular and independent church of Christ." The public ser- vice of recognition was held on Tuesday, May 19, the preacher being the Reverend Wayland Hoyt, D.D., then pastor of the Warren Avenue Bap- tist Church of Boston. Dr. Hoyt took for his text, Galatians 6:2, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." It was a strong, eloquent and stimulating discourse and, in church anniversary meetings, it is still referred to by those who were present nearly half a century ago.
In the present meeting-house, the church was formed and launched upon its prosperous career, thought at that time the property was owned by the Free Baptist Church. After renting the edifice for about a year and a half, the East Church purchased the land and building for $18,000.
Mr. Holmes entered upon his pastoral labors on Sunday, July 5, 1874, and had the privilege, at his initial service, of administering the ordi- nances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Under the pastor's direction, the needful auxiliary societies were organized and all possible steps were taken to make the work of the new church efficient and fruitful. Con- gregations and church school attendance rapidly increased in numbers,
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and many persons united with the church. It was with deep regret that the church parted from its first pastor. Deeming it his duty to accept a call to the Baptist church in Adrian, Michigan, Mr. Holmes closed his labors on the fourth anniversary of his settlement over the East Church. Mr. Holmes was a man of winsome personality, wise in counsel, and skilful in his conduct of parish work. On his occasional visits to Lynn, he was always given an ovation by his old parishioners. His recent death is lamented by many. Through the generosity of the Misses Sawtell, the church has been presented with a trust fund to be known as "The Reverend John S. Holmes Memorial Fund." The gift is made in memory of the late Miss Lena Holmes Sawtell, a namesake of the first pastor and a sister of the donors.
Immediately following the departure of Mr. Holmes, the Reverend Henry Hinckley, Harvard '60, entered upon his fruitful pastorate of fif- teen years' duration. Coming to the church after two years of study in the Newton Theological Institution, and sixteen years of pastoral work, he brought a set of matured convictions and a disciplined practical judg- ment, which helped to make him a rare leader. He was a man of studi- ous habits and a clear and forceful writer. He brought eternal truth to bear upon human lives in a strong, positive and unforgetable manner. His sermons are still bearing fruit in the lives of those who waited upon his ministry. He was a good pastor and cherished the conviction that "a house-going minister means a church-going people." Taking a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of young men, Mr. Hinckley was success- ful in directing several of them into the work of the ministry. One of Mr. Hinckley's "boys" is the Reverend Arthur W. Cleaves, D.D., editor of "The Baptist," the official organ of the Northern Baptist Convention. During this pastorate, also, there was founded in the East Church one of the strongest C. E. Societies in this part of the country. Mr. Hinckley was privileged to lead great numbers of people into the baptismal waters and, in every way, the church prospered under his leadership. Beginning his ministry on October 3, 1878, he took a letter of dismission, September 22, 1893, in order to enter upon the pastorate of the Roslindale Baptist Church of Boston.
The third pastor of the church was the Reverend Edwin A. Hainer, whose ministry of four years extended from 1894 to 1898. He came to Lynn from the pastorate of the First Christian Church of Haverhill, Massachusetts. Warm-hearted, sympathetic, approachable, Mr. Hainer soon won a strong hold upon the affection of his Lynn parish. He had a firm grasp upon the essential truths of Christianity and proclaimed them simply, clearly and persuasively. He was pre-eminently an evangelist, and he had the joy of hearing many ask, "What must I do to be saved?" One of the notable achievements of this pastorate was the founding of the "Hainer Class," an organization of men for Bible study. Mr. Hainer left Lynn to accept a pastorate in New Jersey. Later, he was called to a pastorate in Providence, and, while in the active discharge of that fruitful ministry, he was called to the Church Triumphant. About a year ago the Hainer Class established a permanent fund, which will be henceforth known as "The Reverend Edwin A. Hainer Memorial Fund." This me- morial will perpetuate the name and labor of a man loved and honored during his life and deeply mourned in his death.
For its next pastor, the church called the Reverend Neil Andrews, Jr., pastor of the Baptist church in Shelburne Falls, Mass. Mr. An- drews graduated from Brown University in the class of 1892, and from
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the Newton Theological Institution in the class of 1895. He served the church from 1899 to the latter part of 1901. Soon after leaving Lynn, Mr. Andrews entered upon the study of medicine. He is now a practicing physician in the Middle West.
On December 1, 1901, Rev. Arthur E. Harriman of Leominster, Massachusetts, became pastor of the East Church, and, with the excep- tion of one year, has continued in the discharge of the duties of the pas- torate. The present membership of the church is 620 and the church school has a total enrollment of 1145. The value of the church lot and edifice is estimated at $40,000.
The Board of Deacons is as follows: Joseph H. Cochey, Warren M. Breed, Robert O. Bent, George Walker, Lester B. Strout, Frank Strick- land, Harry D. Brown, Lester J. Crawford, William L. Hatfield and Ralph M. Wade. Church Clerk, Harrie R. Bean; treasurer, Harry D. Brown ; Director of Religious Education, Lester B. Strout; Auditor, Miss Caro R. Leland.
The following Catholic Church history is contributed :
A Catholic historian declared some time ago, "Religious statistics in our country have been at all times in a misty, unsatisfactory condition." This is, for Catholics of our time, and will be still more for those of the future, a deplorable fact; and yet, we can blame no one. In the busy lives of our first priests,-the only ones whom we expect to have kept records of those interesting days-there was little leisure for anything of the kind. Now, however, circumstances are more favorable; and, in many parishes, a calendar or something similar is used to record im- portant parochial affairs, which, though briefly told, as needs must be, will still serve as interesting reminders of the past. As a foundation for these future records, the following brief sketch may be presented.
In 1790 the whole United States was one diocese, under Bishop Car- roll. 1796, first record of visit of Catholic priests to eastern coast of Massachusetts, outside of Boston. 1808, Rev. John Cheverus consecrated Bishop of Boston, his diocese being all New England.
No doubt the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated for the few Catholic families in Lynn; but we have no record of those days. There is a record that the first Mass celebrated in Lynn was in a house on Waterhill street, in the western part of the city, in the year 1835; and the room of that house was sufficiently large to accommodate all the Cath- olics of the city.
In 1841 Rev. Charles Smith, pastor of Chelsea, took charge of the Catholics of Lynn and its immediate vicinity ; and he made it a mission of Chelsea. In 1848 the Catholics purchased a frame building which had served in turn for a Methodist church, a Baptist church, and for a school- house. This church, forty feet by forty feet, accomodated the people for several years. It was situated in the Arcade on Ash street. Father Smith died in January, 1851. Shortly after the death of Father Smith, Father Strain was appointed pastor of Chelsea by Most Rev. Archbishop Williams. During the pastorate of Father Strain at Chelsea, Lynn re- mained a mission to Chelsea. The Catholics of Lynn at that time num- bered about three hundred, and they attended their little church on Ash street until it was burned down on the 28th of May, 1859. It was gen- erally believed that the fire was of incendiary origin. Meanwhile, in 1858, Father Strain purchased land on Lynnfield street for a cemetery
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which is now called Old St. Mary's Cemetery to distinguish it from the New St. Mary's which adjoins the old, and which was laid out in 1908. The old cemetery was blessed November 4, 1858, and its lots are all taken up.
After the destruction of the first church, the Catholics, with Father Strain at their head, secured the use of Lyceum Hall, corner of Market and Summer streets, where now stands Odd Fellows Hall, for divine and other devotional services. In 1860 the site for the present St. Mary's Church was purchased, and immediately Father Strain opened negotia- tions with P. C. Kirby, a Brooklyn, New York, architect, and set about the building of the magnificent Gothic structure, St. Mary's Church, a monument to his zeal and piety. This structure, located in City Hall Square, was completed and dedicated in 1862. In 1867 Father Strain took up his residence in Lynn, and Lynn ceased to be a mission of Chelsea.
In 1872 Father Strain turned his attention to the mission of Nahant. In that year he secured land on the main street, ad built upon it the pres- ent church, which was dedicated to St. Thomas Aquinas. During all these years Father Strain, with one assistant, administered to the wants of the people of his parish, which comprised all of the city of Lynn, Na- hant, Swampscott and Saugus.
In June, 1874, a new parish was formed in the eastern section of the city. To it Rev. J. C. Harrington, who was at that time assistant to Father Strain, was appointed by Most Rev. Archbishop Williams. Father Harrington, while building his beautiful church on Union street, corner of West Green street, hired for the time being the Christian meet- ing house on Silsbee street for the accomodation of his people, in which he had regular srvices on Sundays and days throughout the week. As soon as his church was roofed, he fitted up the basement and made use of it as a church until the building was completed. The cornerstone of the new church was laid by Most Rev. Archbishop Williams July 4, 1875. The church, dedicated to St. Joseph, was opened in the basement for divine service Christmas Day, 1875. In June, 1884, St. Joseph's Church was completed and dedicated, June 21st of the same year.
In 1879, Father Harrington purchased a large tract of land in Wyoma, thirty-two acres, for a cemetery, had it surveyed, and laid out in lots. At the present time most of these lots are taken.
In 1880 the parochial residence on Green street was purchased by Father Harrington, and is still occupied by the pastor and assistants, though at the present writing a new one is being built.
In 1886 the number of French Canadians had become considerable in the city. The pastor of the French Canadians of Salem, Rev. N. Gadoury, since deceased, under the instruction of the Archbishop, secured land for the building of a parish church on the corner of Franklin and Endicott streets. The church was commenced in March, 1886, and was completed in 1887 under the supervision of Father Gadoury. It was dedicated under the patronage of St. Jean Baptiste, by Archbishop Wil- liams, December 4th, 1887. Rev. J. B. Parent was appointed pastor of St. Jean Baptiste, December 9, 1887. He took up his residence at Lynn December 18th of the same year. The following year he built the par- ochial residence in which he and his assistants lived up to the time of his death, and which is now occupied by his successor.
During Father Parent's thirty-three years pastorate in Lynn he did extraordinary work for his people. He bought two large lots in the rear of the church. In 1892 he extended the sacristy of his church on
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one of these and in the extension established a temporary school which was taught by two lay teachers. In May, 1899, he commenced the erec- tion of the large parochial school on Endicott street. This magnificent school was opened in September, 1900, under the direction of the Sisters of St. Ann, from Canada, who took up their residence in a portion of the school building. The school opened with 620 pupils. At the pres- ent time (1920), the school has 850 pupils. Father Parent did all the work of the parish without any assistant up to the year 1892. Shortly after the completion of the large school house, Father Parent bought an estate adjoining the church property on Endicott street, and converted the building on it into a convent for the Sisters, where they still reside. A few years before his death he purchased land on Boston street, op- posite St. Joseph's Cemetery, for a parochial cemetery, and laid it out for the burial of his deceased parishioners. Father Parent was in bad health a few years previous to his death. He died January, 1919, beloved by his people and honored by the citizens of Lynn. Father Parent left a com- plete parish to his successor.
In the year 1880 Monsignor Strain crowned the whole of his mag- nificent work in Lynn by the building and establishing of a large and commodious parochial school close to St. Mary's Church, a school capable of containing nine hundred scholars. This school was opened in Sep- tember, 1881, with five hundred children, the Sisters of Notre Dame of Namur having been engaged as teachers. A house on Tremont street with a large lot of land in the rear of the school building, was purchased and converted into a convent, the large lot of land serving as recreation ground for the Sisters. The Sisters were aided in their educational work by two lay teachers for the larger boys.
In the month of February, 1893, Monsignor Strain after a long and fruitful pastorate was called to his reward. He was highly respected and much loved by the whole community of our city, both Protestant and Catholic, which was strikingly manifested on the day of his funeral. In- stead of the few lines to which we are confined in our sketch of Cath- olicity in Lynn, many pages might be devoted to the life and virtues of this holy man who was God's principal instrument in effecting the glori- ous results which we witness in our city today. Monsignor Strain, being the first pastor of Lynn and its immediate vicinity, it is proper that a short obituary notice be given of him in this sketch.
This revered priest was born in Ireland in 1827; came to this country at an early age; and after many years of earnest preparation for the exalted duties of the priesthood, both in this country and in France, was ordained at St. Sulpice, in Paris, in the spring of 1850. On his return from France he was, as has been already stated, appointed to the pastor- ate of Chelsea and Lynn, with the results already stated. At the age of sixty-five he was made permanent rector by Archbishop Williams; in 1887 he was raised to the dignity of Missionary Apostolic to the Holy See, and four years later received the Royal purple of a Domestic Pre- late to the Pope, with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor. Notwith- standing advancing age, Monsignor Strain was still planning for the advancement of the church and the welfare of his people, when in the spring of 1892 he was brought to death's door by illness resulting from a severe cold contracted some time before, during his return voyage from a visit to the Holy Father. He rallied from that, however, for a few months until the early winter, when he was again seized with illness. He recovered sufficiently to say Mass,-his last-on Christmas morning.
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Again he was stricken; and from that time forth, grew weaker and weaker until Tuesday, February 7, 1893, when, fortified by the Sacra- ments of the Church, with which he had consoled thousands of dying Christians, he passed to his reward. His funeral services on Friday morning, February 10, were most solemn and impressive. His Grace Archbishop Williams and a multitude of priests testified by their pres- ence their respect for the memory of their departed brother, while the whole city of Lynn mourned an esteemed friend; and his parishioners wept for a beloved and faithful Father.
About one month after the death of Monsignor Strain, Rev. Arthur J. Teeling, who was pastor of Newburyport for twenty-two years, was appointed pastor of St. Mary's Parish by Most Rev. Archbishop Williams, since which time the writer of this article, the present pastor of St. Mary's, is quite familiar with the history of Catholicity in Lynn.
In the month of April, 1893, Father Teeling took up his residence in Lynn. He hired a house on Western avenue; he tore down the old par- ochial house and set about the building of the present parochial residence, which was finished and occupied the beginning of February, 1894. July 10, 1893, the land and house, which stood between the parochial residence and the church grounds, was purchased from Sarah E. Tirrell of Wey- mouth. The building remained on the Tirrell estate until the year 1900. Meanwhile, the church having no basement, the want of a place for morn- ing Masses, hearing confessions, meetings of societies, was very much felt; consequently the pastor set about the forming of a chapel out of the two schoolrooms, in the northeastern part of the school building, in Sep- tember, 1894. This chapel was dedicated under the patronage of the Sacred Heart, and its marble altar consecrated by his Grace Most Rev. Archbishop Williams, on November 21st, 1894.
In the month of May, 1894, the pastor purchased a lot of land,- 17,000 square feet with the buildings thereon-on Boston street, opposite Cottage street, for the forming of a new parish. This estate was known as the Merril and Collins property. Shortly afterwards he purchased the whole of the adjoining property, known as the Colburn estate, comprising 60,750 square feet, making in all 77,750 square feet. In the middle of June that same year, the deeds of these pieces of land with buildings thereon were handed to the Most Rev. Archbishop. The first-17,000 square feet with the building located upon it-was paid for by St. Mary's Parish and presented as a gift to the new parish about to be formed. In the latter part of the month of June, 1894, the Most Rev. John J. Wil- liams appointed the Rev. Denis F. Sullivan, then assistant at Malden, to take charge of the new parish. Father Sullivan came to reside in Lynn, in a house near the church grounds, in the beginning of July, and gave to the new parish the name of the Sacred Heart. He built a large and commodious house on a portion of the Colburn estate for a parochial residence and took up his abode therein the beginning of 1895. He hired a building on Wyman street, formerly a cigar factory, and used it for religious purposes, until he completed the basement of the parish church on the land mentioned above, in the year 1896, which being roofed over and made water-tight, was used as a church until the com- pletion of the building. When Father Sullivan was appointed pastor he also acquired the whole of the town of Saugus as a mission. In 1898 Father Sullivan built a church at Pleasant Hills in the town of Saugus, and dedicated the church to the Blessed Sacrament the following year. Father Sullivan was ever desirous of providing for the children of his
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parish a Christian education and training. In the spring of 1902 he commenced the building of his parochial school, on Robinson street. This school opened its doors for the children in the month of September, 1902, with the Sisters of Notre Dame of Namur as teachers, who took up their residence in the school building, where they reside at the present writing. Father Sullivan died after a lingering illness, in July, 1905. It may well be said of him: "In breve explevit tempus multa."
On account of the large number of children in St. Mary's School and because the Sisters could not take charge of the larger boys-the number of the pupils had increased from four hundred to nine hundred-the pas- tor deemed it advisable to secure four Brothers of the Christian Schools, from Manhattan College, New York, to instruct the larger boys. The Brothers made their entry into the parish, August, 1895, four in number, and took up their residence in a house, (which was the property of the parish), 47 Tremont street. After a few years residence in this house, the pastor built for them a very fine residence, of which they took pos- session in the year 1907. The Brothers performed their work as teachers for several years. In the year 1917 the Sisters agreed to teach the larger boys, and as a consequence the Brothers took their departure from Lynn at the close of the school year of 1917.
The Sisters' Convent on Tremont street being in a rather dilapidated condition, it was found necessary to build for them a large and conveni- ent home; this building, situated in the rear of St. Mary's School, was commenced in May and completed in December. The Sisters took pos- session of their new home a few days before Christmas, 1895, and there they still reside.
In January, 1896, a large tract of land, the Newhall estate, was pur- chased by the pastor for cemetery purposes; it was the property adjoin- ing the St. Mary's Cemetery. He also purchased the Dawson estate which adjoined it, making in all, about seventeen acres. In taking charge of the parish, Father Teeling found that all the land for burial purposes in the old cemetery had been taken up, and as these two lots adjoined the old cemetery, it was deemed advisable to secure them. This land was surveyed and laid out in lots in the years 1906 and 1907, and commenced to be used for burial purposes in 1908.
On account of the increase of the number of parishioners in the southwestern part of St. Mary's Parish, the pastor purchased lots of land on the corner of Light and Hathaway streets. On June 27th, 1896, he commenced the building of a church and school, a combination building. It was solemnly dedicated, under the patronage of St. Patrick, and its beautiful marble altar, presented by Mr. P. B. Magrane, consecrated by Archbishop Williams, on December 10th, 1896. The school department of this building was opened in September, 1897.
Father Harrington, pastor of St. Joseph's, recognizing the necessity of a parochial school for the children of his parish, secured for this pur- pose a large piece of land with a building thereon on Green street, ad- joining the land on which stands the parochial house. In the spring of 1898 he commenced the erection of his beautiful school, which with the fourteen rooms and the large hall is, without exception, architecturally and otherwise, the finest grammar school building in Lynn. While building the school he fitted up a large house which stood on the southern part of the lot for a Convent for the Sisters of St. Joseph, whom he had already engaged as teachers of this school. Father Harrington opened this school in September, 1899.
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To return to St. Mary's Parish; as the number of Sisters had con- siderably increased, an addition to the Convent was built in the summer of 1901, and thereby the Convent was furnished with ten more rooms. In July, 1901, the unsightly building, 2 South Common street, then stand- ing on the Tirrell estate, which had been purchased in 1893, was removed ; and an opportunity was thus given to put the grounds of the church and parochial residence in their present satisfactory condition. Foreseeing the necessity of a primary school in the northwestern part of the parish, the pastor of Saint Mary's built upon land which he had individually pur- chased some years previous, a school of four rooms. The building was so constructed that by folding the doors which formed the division of the schoolrooms, one main auditorium was formed. In this auditorium, on Sundays and holydays, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered for the benefit of the people who resided in that neighborhood. The build- ing was dedicated August 10, 1902, under the title of St. Anthony of Padua, by the pastor, who presented the land and building as a personal gift to the people. On that day Mass was celebrated for the first time, and continued to be celebrated regularly until the building was presented as a gift to the Parish of the Sacred Heart, on condition that it be ever after used for school purposes. School had been opened in the building in September, 1902. With the building there was also given over to that parish a block of territory in that section, which was inhabited by about seven hundred Catholics.
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