USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dover > Narrative history : a history of Dover, Massachusetts, as a precinct, parish, district, and town > Part 12
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The ever-officious tithing-man, who looked so zeal- ously after the church attendance and the congregation while assembled, had passed away, to the great satisfac- tion of the people and the relief and delight of the boys.
The English custom of bell-ringing, which was so common in surrounding towns, never obtained here, except " the pealing bell to announce that some mortal had put on immortality." The ringing of the bell at noon and the curfew bell, rung at nine o'clock as a signal for retiring, were never practised here.
Dr. Sanger, after taking up his residence in Cam- bridge, continued by the unanimous vote of the parish to supply the pulpit. This arrangement was found very arduous and inconvenient ; and, seeing no prospect that
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the circumstances would essentially change, and think- ing it for the good of the society, Dr. Sanger closed his active ministry September 19, 1858, but continued senior pastor of the church until his death.
In the loss of Dr. Sanger's house in 1857 the commun- ion service was destroyed. The next month the Messrs. Melancthon Smith, Jonathan Ellis, James Newell, and Joseph A. Allen united in presenting to the church a beautiful silver service, which was greatly appreciated.
The parish voted, November 1, 1858, to invite Ed- ward Barker, Jr., to settle over the First Parish Church as a colleague of the Rev. Dr. Sanger, with an an- nual salary of five hundred dollars, payable quarterly, together with five cords of wood to be furnished from the parish wood-lot.
Mr. Barker was a native of England, and was gradu- ated from the theological school at Meadville, Pa. He accepted the call of the First Parish and was or- dained December 8, 1858. The council met at the house of Benjamin Newell at eleven o'clock. The pub- lic services were held in the church at two o'clock in the afternoon, and were as follows :
Introductory prayer, the Rev. F. M. Dorr, Sherborn; reading of the Scripture, the Rev. William G. Babcock, South Natick ; sermon, the Rev. Dr. Ezra S. Gannett, Boston; ordaining prayer, the Rev. Dr. Ralph Sanger; charge, the Rev. Calvin Lincoln, Hingham; right hand of fellowship, the Rev. S. W. Bush, Med- field ; address to the people, the Rev. J. M. Merrick, Walpole ; concluding prayer, the Rev. John S. Berry, Needham ; benediction, the Rev. Edward Barker, Jr.
Mr. Barker's pastorate was not harmonious, and he was dismissed by vote of the parish at the end of the
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second year of his ministry. The additions to the church numbered three. The Rev. Horatio Alger, Jr., supplied the pulpit for six months in 1860; but, deciding to make literary pursuits -the writing of juvenile books - a life work, he did not continue in the ministry.
In April, 1863, the Rev. George Proctor, of North Billerica, Mass., a minister of the Universalist denomina- tion, was invited to become pastor. He accepted the invitation and continued pastor for five years. He was successful in his pastorate, and thirty-four persons united with the church under his ministry. There was a discussion in 1859 about reorganizing the church and having a test for membership; but no definite action was taken until 1867, when the following covenant, which is still in force, was unanimously adopted by the church :
Ist. I believe in the one living and true God, who is the Father of our spirits and the Preserver of our lives, the Governor of the moral world, and the Disposer of all things and events.
2nd. I believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, the spiritual Son of the living God, the great teacher of truth and righteousness to the world, and a Saviour ; that he fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, and established the Holy Gospel for our guide in faith and practice.
3rd. I believe that the Lord will justly reward every man according to his works, and that we ought to do justly, love mercy, walk humbly before God, and dwell together in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace.
Mr. Proctor was born in Chelmsford, Mass., Sep- tember 5, 1814. He studied theology with the Rev. Rufus S. Frost, of Hyannis, Mass. It was during his ministry that the children were brought into the church
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service, through the Sunday-school concert which took the place of the afternoon service once each month.
Soon after the resignation of Mr. Proctor the com- mittee of the church invited the Rev. Calvin S. Locke, of West Dedham, to preach two Sundays. His service was so acceptable to the people and so pleasant to him- self that he continued to supply the pulpit for eleven years, although actively engaged in teaching in his private school in West Dedham. Mr. Locke imme- diately began to enlarge the work of the church. The Sunday-school was made more efficient and attractive through the introduction of an appropriate service-book, the purchase of a cabinet organ, and the introduction of the best lesson-books. The regular afternoon service was soon given up, and the length of the session of the Sunday-school was increased.
The church service was enriched by the adoption of a new hymn-and-tune-book and the purchase of a fine pipe-organ. During Mr. Locke's ministry the church was adorned and beautified through the generosity of Frederick Barden, Esq., of Newton, a former member of the parish.
Feeling the need of a library for his people more mis- cellaneous in character than that of the Sunday-school, a "parish library " was organized, to which Mr. Locke contributed books from his own library as a nucleus. This library flourished, and in the absence of a town library greatly added to the pleasure and intelligence of the members of the society. Feeling the burden of a double service, Mr. Locke closed his connection with the church in 1880, and devoted his energies to his successful private school. He was a preacher much
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esteemed, a friend much loved, and a man respected by all. Six persons united with the church under his ministry.
Calvin Stoughton Locke was born in Acworth, N.H., October 1I, 1829. He graduated from Amherst Col- lege in 1849 and the Harvard Divinity School in 1854. The same year he was ordained as pastor of the Third Parish Church at West Dedham. His pastorate con- tinued for nearly ten years.
In the spring of 1880 the Rev. Eugene De Nor- mandie, of Sherborn, a native of Pennsylvania, and a graduate of the Meadville Theological School, was invited to become pastor, and for seven years divided his labors with the churches of the two towns. At this time the hour of public worship was changed from eleven A.M. to two o'clock in the afternoon.
In January, 1888, the Rev. George Henry Badger, of Charlestown, Mass., a graduate of Williams College and Harvard Divinity School, was ordained and settled over the Eliot Church at South Natick.
Mr. Badger accepted an invitation to supply the Dover pulpit, which he did most ably until called, in 1892, to a church in New Jersey.
On the resignation of Mr. Badger the Rev. Obed Eldridge, minister of the Third Parish, West Dedham, was invited to supply the pulpit, which he continued to do until within a short time of his death, which occurred December 14, 1895.
In his ministry in Dover, Mr. Eldridge endeared himself to his people, and was very popular with all. Without the advantages of high-school or college train- ing, by dint of perseverance, and with the burden and
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care of a large family already on his hands, he acquired a degree of learning and culture which made him an acceptable preacher of the Unitarian denomination.
After leaving the district school, Mr. Eldridge learned the trade of a nailer, which he pursued until his ordina- tion at Dighton, Mass., in 1880. He was very pleasing as a platform speaker. His noble aspiration for an education should be an encouraging example to all aspiring youth. Possessed of a warm and sympathetic nature, Mr. Eldridge excelled at funeral services, and was enabled to impart hope and solace in an unusual degree to mourning hearts.
The Rev. Philip S. Thacher, of Needham, is the present pastor of the First Parish Church. He began his services the first Sunday in November, 1895. Mr. Thacher is a graduate of the Meadville Theological School, and represents the advanced theological thought of the time. He has held pastorates at Augusta, Me., and Santa Barbara, Cal.
The year 1898 will mark the one hundred and fifti- eth anniversary of the organization of the First Parish, and an unbroken record of one hundred and thirty-six years of the First Parish Church, of which the following persons have been the deacons since its organization in 1762 to the present time: Ralph Day, Joseph Haven, Ebenezer Newell, Ebenezer Smith, Ephraim Wilson, Jonathan Battle, Ralph Battelle, Joseph Larrabee, Jo- seph A. Smith, Asa Talbot.
The evening of Sunday, January 20, 1839, had been set apart for a service of praise in the First Parish church. In carrying coals of fire from one part of the building to another, some were accidentally dropped ;
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and these finding lodgment under the steps of the meeting-house, it was soon on fire. This occurred be- tween four and five o'clock in the afternoon. Before assistance could be summoned, the building was in flames, and was totally destroyed. The church was well built ; and its frame of oak stood in the early twi- light until it was one blaze from the sills to the top of the steeple, furnishing a sight of grandeur and beauty which was never forgotten by those who witnessed it. Rising above the circumstances, which were peculiarly discouraging, the members of the parish assembled the next morning around the smouldering ruins of their church, and arranged to call a parish meeting.
At a meeting of the parish held February 11, 1839, it was voted to build a new meeting-house, and the fol- lowing gentlemen were chosen a building committee : Hiram W. Jones, John Williams, and Daniel Mann. The committee acted with much energy and prompt- ness. The society decided to build a church, not of ambitious architecture, but comfortable and convenient, and well adapted to the changed condition of the parish. February 15, 1839, it was voted "to build a meeting- house fifty feet long, forty feet wide, and to be finished in the same manner and style as the new Baptist meet- ing-house in Medfield, and to be in every respect equal to that house." -
The town was anxious to provide itself with a hall ; and, having made arrangements with the parish, the town constructed the vestry of the church, which was used for town purposes. The contract for building the church was awarded to Thomas Phillips, of South Natick, who constructed a building of fine workman-
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ship throughout. The work was pushed with rapidity, and in less than eight months the church was dedicated. While the new meeting-house was being built, the congregation worshipped in the Center schoolhouse. Recognizing the burden of the society, Mr. Sanger re- linquished one fifth of his salary for the year 1839. The church cost, above the expense met by the town, $2,878.35, and was dedicated free of debt. Friends of the parish in adjoining towns, also at Jamaica Plain, Brighton, Brookline, and Hollis Street Church in Bos- ton, furnished pecuniary aid amounting to $587.77. These contributions greatly encouraged and strength- ened the people.
The tower of the church was furnished with a bell weighing ten hundred and fifty pounds. An effort was made to beautify the grounds ; and Capt. Timothy Allen, John Williams, the Rev. Ralph Sanger, and Luther Eastman were chosen a committee to invite the people to meet at a given time and plant trees. The members of the parish responded to the invitation, and a large number of trees were set out; but, the people failing to note the nature of the soil, the elms, maples, and ash- trees which were planted did not flourish, and few lived to ornament the grounds. Had the conditions been taken into consideration, the ample grounds of the par- ish might have been made a thing of beauty. The new meeting-house was dedicated September 18, 1839, with the following exercises, including appropriate music :-
Introductory prayer, the Rev. Mr. Clarke, of Sherborn ; read- ing of Scripture, the Rev. Mr. White, of West Dedham; sermon, the Rev. Ralph Sanger; dedicatory prayer, the Rev. William Ritchie, of Needham; concluding prayer, the Rev. Charles Robinson, of Medfield.
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A majority of the older Sunday-schools in Massachu- setts were organized in 1818. In April of that year Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Battle organized a Sunday-school for the instruction of the laboring people who worked in the mills. The exercises of the Sunday-school were held over the store of Capt. Josiah Newell at Charles River Village. Little is known of this early Sunday- school. It had a short life, but was soon followed by the organization of another, which was later connected with the First Parish Church.
In 1822 Miss Mary Perry entered upon the duties of teacher in the Center School. To encourage an interest in religious exercises, she invited her pupils to commit to memory passages of Scripture and verses of hymns, to be repeated to her on Monday morning. Some of the pupils entered upon the work with pleasure ; but, as the interest increased, jealousies arose, and some of the parents complained that too much time was taken from the school duties. Miss Perry then invited her scholars to meet her in the schoolhouse on Sunday noon. This invitation was heartily accepted, and she soon had a class larger than she could attend to. In 1824 the session of this school was held in the church.
Many of the early Sunday-schools were held for years in schoolhouses and halls, independent of the church. They were not generally esteemed. For years the First Parish Sunday-school was kept open only through the summer months, always adjourning as cold weather approached. This was at first necessary, as there was no means of heating the church; but the custom con- tinued long after the meeting-house was warmed. Seventy-five years ago children were not generally
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taken to church in inclement weather. The men and boys kept warm as best they could, while the women and girls depended upon extra clothing and the foot- stove.
Mr. Sanger did not fail to recognize the value of the Sunday-school as a means of promoting the intellectual, moral, and religious improvement of the young, and early did much to foster it.
In 1869 Calvin Richards, who interested himself in the re-establishment of a library, examined the books of the "Proprietors' Library," in connection with the Rev. C. S. Locke, who proposed to the First Parish to establish a parish library, purchasing the books of the Proprietors' Library as a nucleus. Mr. Locke offered to add some books of more recent date from his own library. The proposition met with favor ; and January 1, 1870, the First Parish, having purchased for the sum of fifteen dollars the right and title to the Proprietors' Library, organized the Dover First Parish Library, with a full board of officers. The library was opened for the delivery of books on the first and third Sundays of each month. Frederick Barden, Esq., a lifelong friend of the First Parish, presented to the library in 1874 a fund of one thousand dollars, the income of which is used for the purchase of books. It was Mr. Barden's ex- pressed wish that the fund should forever remain for the support of the First Parish Library. In his letter of presentation he said, " I do not love the town less, but I love the parish more." The rules of the library have been somewhat modified since its organization. It is now open for the delivery of books each Sunday after- noon, and is free to all the members of the First Parish
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and church attendants. Others have access to the library on the payment of a small annual fee.
In the early time all the able-bodied had to attend the church service. In 1760 the General Court of Massa- chusetts passed a law that " any persons able of body who should absent themselves from public worship of God on the Lord's Day should pay a fine of ten shillings."
The following record is in Col. John Jones's " Book of Minits " : ---
Dom. Rex vs. Ephraim Bacon. Suffolk ss. Memo, That on ye 25th day of July, 1774, Ephraim Bacon, of Dedham [Dover], yeoman in ten pounds, Oliver Kendrick, of Dedham [Dover], yeoman in ten pounds, Recognized that ye said Ephraim should appear before ye Court of General Sessions of ye peace to be held at Boston on ye 26th Inst. at 10 A.M., to answer for his unlawfully absenting himself from Publick Worship of God on Lord's Days three months, as Expressed in a bill of indictment filed in said court.
Suffolk ss., August 8, 1744. Ephraim Bacon in ye same sum and ye same surety recognized and held to answer at ye Gen'l Sessions of ye Peace ye Ist Tuesday in October next.
Whether the plaintiff (Dom. Rex) or the defendant (Ephraim Bacon) gained the case does not appear.
The First Parish Sunday-school established a library in the early thirties, which in the selection of books received much attention from the Rev. Dr. Sanger and others. It was for many years a valuable library, con- taining several hundred volumes, but declined after the establishment of the parish library, as the members of the Sunday-school had access to this library and were encouraged to read books which did not find a place in
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the Sunday-school library. After the destruction of the Rev. Dr. Sanger's house in 1857, there was no col- lection of books accessible to the people except the libraries of the several Sunday-schools until 1870.
The parish made an early provision for singing. At a meeting held January 13, 1764, before even the new schoolhouse had been accepted, it was voted to open it two evenings in a week for a singing-school. This instruction was intended to lead to singing by note. At the March meeting in 1770 Lemuel Richards, Joseph Fisher, and Asa Richards were chosen to tune the psalms for the year ensuing. A little later the singers were seated in the front gallery in the meeting- house, and only one person was appointed to tune the psalms. We can easily imagine Joseph Fisher standing, perhaps on the pulpit stairs, with a pitch-pipe in hand, " tuning the psalms." He reads two lines, adjusts his voice, and then the congregation "joins in the arduous pursuit." In this way the whole psalm is sung.
The district of Dover voted November 29, 1824, to appropriate fifty dollars for the support of singing in church. Ralph Battelle, Josiah Newell, and Fisher Tis- dale were appointed to superintend the expenditure of the money. This was probably devoted to the support of a singing-school rather than to the payment of a choir. Singing-schools were sustained by the town for many years, and were under the instruction of promi- nent singing-masters. Watts's Psalms and Hymns, which were almost universally used in the church ser- vice after the Revolution, was probably the first hymn- book used in the Dover meeting-house.
The singing in country churches of this period must
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have been bad, as it was largely by rote. The impor- tance of singing by note was not recognized. The tunes at first were all dancing-tunes adapted. With the intro- duction of sacred airs the singing greatly improved, and in time became excellent in the Dover church.
Before the introduction of an organ a variety of instrumental music was introduced into the church service. Moses Draper played the bass-viol ; Aaron Miller, William Cleveland, Willard Battelle, Samuel F. Allen, violin ; Elijah Perry, Alonzo Howe, 'cello ; Thomas Smith, William Tisdale, Benjamin Newell, flute. The first organ was a reed instrument, which was not satis- factory. A pipe-organ was introduced about 1845.
Christmas for the first time was publicly observed with a festival and Christmas-tree in 1859. This early celebration of Christmas by the First Parish Sunday- school was doubtless due to the efforts of the Rev. Mr. Barker, who was of English birth and accustomed to the celebration abroad. The first celebration in Boston antedates this observance by only four years. There was great prejudice against the celebration of Christmas in New England, as the service was looked upon as popish.
The women came to the front in the organization of a Ladies' Benevolent Society about 1830. The organi- zation had a full board of officers, of which Mrs. Jona- than Battelle was the first president. Regular monthly meetings were held, at which time there was much quilting and sewing, and many fancy articles were made. The meetings were held at the homes of the members of the society, and often took the form of a social in the evening, to which the young people and the gentle- men were invited.
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An annual fair was held, at which time their handi- work was offered for sale.
The church organ was purchased by the ladies, and up to the present time they have always met the ex- pense of the organist.
Through the labors of the Ladies' Benevolent Society the women of the parish have helped to support preach- ing, repaired and beautified the church, and in all the years since its organization have rendered substantial aid.
When we gaze at Easter-time upon the beautiful church decoration, we may remember that this is a comparatively recent custom.
It is said that Warren Street Chapel in Boston, which was organized in 1832, was the first Protestant church in America to introduce flowers as a part of the regular Sunday decoration of the sanctuary.
The observance of Easter came about gradually in the Dover churches, and it would be impossible to tell at what time or in which church it was first observed.
At first the sermon alone called attention to the day, while later special music and decorations were added ; and, lastly, the children were brought into the service by means of the Sunday-school concert, which often took the place of the evening service.
Happily, our fathers had the true New England spirit, and placed their meeting-house upon the hill-top, where it has been kept, for a century and a half, as a beacon light. We shall never know how many persons have unconsciously absorbed higher aspirations, and been made more faithful in the discharge of duty through the silent influence of its heavenward-pointing spire.
CHAPTER XIV.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY .- Continued.
BAPTIST CHURCH -THE REV. A. E. BATTELLE -SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH -THE REV. GEORGE CHAM- PION - THE REV. CALVIN WHITE - THE REV. O. W. COOLEY - THE REV. JOHN HASKELL -THE REV. THOMAS NORTON - THE REV. J. G. WILSON -THE REV. S. C. STRONG - THE REV. JOHN WOOD -THE REV. PIERCE PINCH -THE REV. J. W. BROWNVILLE-THE REV. P. C. HEADLEY -THE REV. H. L. HOWARD -THE REV. A. M. RICE -THE REV. A. H. TYLER -THE REV. EDWIN LEONARD - CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY - MILLERITES - CATHOLICS.
One holy Church of God appears Through every age and race, Unwasted by the lapse of years, Unchanged by changing place. - SAMUEL LONGFELLOW.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Baptists had a definite religious belief from the first, and their rates were abated as early as 1774. In 1780 they were relieved by vote of the parish from pay- ing to the support of the First Parish Church whenever a certificate, properly signed, was presented stating that the bearer was of the Baptist persuasion.
The Baptists in Medfield were among the first to organize a church. The Dover Baptists attended this church, which was organized in 1776, for many years. After the organization of the church in West Dedham,
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in 1824, some of the residents worshipped there. But the desire to have a church of their own was so strong that as early as 1835 regular religious services were held at the house of Dea. Calvin French, at Charles River Village. This move did not meet with the ap- proval of the West Dedham Church; but in 1837 the Baptists of Dover, Needham, and Natick united in inviting an ecclesiastical council to meet on Tuesday, October 3, 1837, and recognize them as a church, to be known as the Needham and Dover Baptist Church.
The articles of faith and practice of the Federal Street Baptist Church in Boston, now Clarendon Street, were adopted. The council, representing all the Baptist churches in the vicinity, met, as invited, at the house of Deacon French, and, after fully considering the matter, resolved : -
That the council rejoice in the progress of divine truth in this place, and that it be recommended to the brothers and sisters asking advice in reference to organizing themselves into a distinct church to go on and do all in their power in forming a religious society, sustaining the preaching of the gospel, erecting a chapel, etc .; but that the council deemed it expedient to defer the forma- tion of a church for the present.
The people entered upon the work of church-building with enthusiasm. A lot was purchased of Dea. Calvin French for twenty-five dollars ; and the next year they completed a chapel, which, to meet the convenience of . the three towns, was located on the Dover side of the Charles River, nearly opposite the present residence of Mr. Jolliffe on Center Street.
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