USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > West Newton > Our church, its history, its buildings, its spirit. The Second Church in Newton, West Newton, 1926 > Part 4
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MARY A. MOULTON
KATHERINE MUIRHEAD
LULU HUNT NESBITT LIDA P. NEWHALL
ALICE NEWTON
ANNA H. NEWTON
KATE MORTON NICKERSON
ELIZA ETTA NODEN
JULIA GLAZIER NODEN
RANGHILD M. NORDSTROM
CAROLINE P. NOWERS
IDA J. NOWERS
FANNIE PATTON OTT MARITA HODGMAN OTT LYDIA DEXTER OWEN
MABEL C. PAGE
PERSIS A. PAGE
CHARLOTTE MANN PAINE
HARRIET GOULD PAINE
MARGUERITE TAYLOR PAINE
MARY WOOLSON PAINE
VIOLA C. PAINE MARION C. PALMER
GRACE BURTT PARK
SUSAN EDGAR PARK ALICE PAINE PAUL
MAY PERKINS DOROTHY L. PERRY
MARY S. PERRY
HELEN R. PETERS
MARY F. PHISTER
LOUISE FOWLER PICKHARDT
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THE SECOND CHURCH BOOK
KATHERINE PETERSON POLLOCK ETHEL VARS POTTER
LILLIAN WARNER POTTER ELLA WINIFRED PRATT ELLEN ELIZABETH PLIMPTON PRATT ELIZABETH PRICE
CHARLOTTE HART PRIDE
MARGARET BULL PRUDDEN FLORENCE J. PUTNAM HELEN PRESTON HAUGHWOUT PUTNAM
HELEN MORTON RAE
EMMA ELIZABETH RAMEE SARAH ELIZABETH RAMEE SARAH MATILDA RAY
ELLA S. RAYLE
NELLIE BENSON RAYMOND
NOANI FRANCIS RAYMOND
CARRIE GRAVES REED
MARY J. REED
IRETTA HIGHT RETAN
REBECCA G. REYNOLDS
ADDIE S. RICE MAUDE E. RICE
CAROLINE WILLSON RICHARDS
CARRIE E. RICHARDSON
LUCY HELEN RIPLEY
ANN ROBINSON OSILDA V. ROBINSON
ETHEL M. ROGERS LUCIA ROHNSTOCK EFFIE ROUNDS
MARION AGNES RUSSELL CLEMENTINE U. RUWE
EUNICE CARTER SAFFORD LUCY METCALF SANDERS ELIZABETH CUTLER SANDERSON OLIVE JANE SANDERSON LUCY T. SANGER
ANNIE A. SARGENT
MARIA J. SARGENT
ETHEL N. SCARBOROUGH
CHARLOTTE C. SEAVER
MARY ESTELLE SEAVER
LYDIA CLARK SHEDD MARY A. SHELDON MARY ELLA SHURBERT
CLARA J. SMITH
ELIZABETH J. SMITH
MARION C. SMITH
MARY LEWIS SMITH MARY ELLA SNELL HARRIET P. SNOW SARAH BARTON SNOW
SOPHRONIA SOULE
CAROLINE E. SOUTHARD
LUCY A. SPURR EVELYN STAFFORD EVA GILLAID STEARNS
MARY BALDWIN STEARNS
BERTHA BLANCHE STEELE LUCY PHEBE WHEELER
STEVENS SIBELLA KIRK STIMETS SARAH JANE SYMONDS
CHRISTINE TANGE MARY BRADFORD TAYLOR
MAUDE ELIZABETH TAYLOR
ROSE TAYLOR
ALICE MAY CHANEY THOMAS
CAROLINE SWAIN THOMAS CHARLOTTE THORNTON THOMAS FLORENCE COPELAND THOMAS
SARAH JANE THOMAS ADELIA M. THOMPSON EMMA H. THOMPSON ANNIE MARTIN THORNTON ALICE RACHEL TOOMBS ELIZABETH ANN TOWNLEY ADELIA J. TROWBRIDGE SUSAN W. TROWBRIDGE
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OUR MOTHERS' NAMES
JOSEPHINE OAT UNDERWOOD
ISABEL GUILBERT WALES LYDIA A. WALES
HARRIET M. WARREN
CLARA BELLE WEAVER AGNES SMITH WEBSTER
AUGUSTA J. WEBSTER CHRISTINE MCLEOD WEBSTER MAYFLOWER LYMAN WEBSTER MARION W. WELLS HENRIETTA HARRISON WEST ELIZABETH LORING WESTON ELLEN MAY WHEELOCK AMY E. WHITING
MARGARET WEBSTER WHITING SARAH LEARNED WHITMORE LAURINDA COLLINS WHITNEY MARY BOND WHITON JULIA W. WILDER FLORA HARVEY WILSON
MARION N. WILSON
MARY E. WING GUNDA H. WITTIG
RUTH A. WOLLEY ELIZABETH K. WOOD
LUCY M. WOOD
ISABELLA LARCOM WOOD-
BERRY SARAH METCALF WYMAN
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THE FRONT ENTRANCE WITH THE MASSIVE OAK DOORS
THE SERVICE
THE SERVICE
A S you approach this church, you find everything designed to produce the worshipful effect. You enter, kneel for a moment and offer prayer alone with God. In the distance the organist is playing softly, giving you a chance to close out the outside world - to listen, and to think. If you ask God to speak to you and wait for His voice, the still small voice answers in your heart as you sit or kneel in quiet. In a mo- ment from the distance you hear the sound of voices singing without the doors of the sanctuary. Slowly those doors are opened, the voices come nearer and nearer, just as God's voice comes if you give Him a chance to speak to you. You rise and sing yourself, knowing that if you can join your own voice with the congregation's you are no longer a spectator, but a part of God and his people, and will find both body and spirit renewed. So the choir passes up the aisle. They are vested in black cassocks covered with white cottas, a symbol of the white forgiveness over black sin and also a way of making the service of the church democratic so that rich and poor are dressed alike. The minister is vested either in a surplice or a black gown. The black gown was used in ancient times to show the scholar, the man who devoted his life to learning about God and sacred things, and it is worn today to remind the minister to speak not his own words and fancies, but God's eternal truth as he can find it. The "Amen" to the hymn is sung by the people.
In every land there is a call to worship, as, for instance, in Mohammedan countries a cry rings out above the market places from the tall towers in the temples. So in this church, the minister calls the
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THE CHANCEL CHOIR SINGING THE RECESSIONAL
THE SERVICE
people to worship with verses from the Scripture full of great promises and inspiration.
There are three historic approaches to the Unseen - self-abasement, ritual, and silence. In the general confession one finds the first of these methods of ap- proach. We abase ourselves before God. He is so much purer and nobler and loftier than we that with all our righteousness we confess ourselves to be miser- able sinners, and this can be sincerely done when we compare ourselves, our morbid moods, our fears and doubts and selfishness, with the calm serenity and charity of the Christ. At the close of the general con- fession the minister pronounces absolution. Chris- tianity teaches that God does not hold grudges; He forgives and forgets and is always willing to give us a new start. The minister does not forgive. He tells the people God forgives us if we feel sincerely sorry and gives us this new start.
During all this time the ushers have been perform- ing the most useful task of keeping the few late comers from interrupting the beginning of the service. At this point there is an interval when late comers may take their places without disturbance. Then come the call to the people to praise the Lord, the prayer of the minister, "Oh, Lord, open thou our lips," the anthem in which the choir strives to express for you your in- expressible aspirations.
There is always a hush in the church when the Scripture lesson is read. For many today it is the only opportunity of the week to hear the Bible, and if the people will see with the minister what he sees as he reads, the Scripture lesson marks a high point in the service.
Then come the prayers - the general thanksgiving and the national prayer, and all join together in spirit in the pastoral prayer which is the incense of the Protestant church rising up to the roof of the church and through that to the very gate of heaven.
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A TYPICAL GROUP LEAVING THE CHURCH AFTER A SUNDAY SERVICE
THE SERVICE
The offering is a part of the service, not an intru- sion, and no great human need has been neglected in the offerings made in this church on historic occasions in the past.
The sermon consists not of abstruse theology nor pious platitudes - but of truths that one can live by.
The benediction is not an idle gesture; something actually happens then - good will passes from God through the hands of his minister into the hearts of the people. The congregation united in common thought and common feeling by the songs and prayers and sermon are melted into new unity at the moment of the benediction; life seems more worth while, God more real, hope more radiant, conscience more keen, and good will and blessing are communicated to all. The aim of the service is to bring every member of the congregation up the seven altar steps in spirit and on into the sacred place beyond, where stands the Ever- lasting Cross and where glows the light of God's eternal presence. But even on the Mount of Trans- figuration one cannot abide. One must return to life again, its tasks and problems, and so the chancel is again at the close of the benediction filled with song which slowly withdraws down the steps and down the aisle and past your pew and fades away with a far "Amen" without. Then comes a moment of silent prayer as the minister's voice is heard in the distance communing in devotion with the choir. With the final "Amen," we are back to the world again, and, washed in God's love, we turn out to our streets and homes, and the light of the candle of the Lord burns in our hearts all through the week as this or that event re- minds us of the thought or inspiration of the Holy Place.
The people are dismissed and go their ways, and when they enter their homes it is as if an invisible presence entered with them; as though they had with
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THE CHAPEL, ARRANGED FOR A SPECIAL EXHIBIT
THE SERVICE
them by the hand, all unseen, one of the little children of the font; or as though one of the brave Evangels on the choir stalls, the first friends of Jesus, came with them ready to help them endure all things with cheer and faith; or as if the song of praise that filled the House of God continued to fill their home and all its rooms with melody; or as if the light above the altar shone on their hearth; or perchance as if One greater than all, the Master Himself, came into the house with them and His mystic presence made all the sands of time run golden and all the limitations of this present life seem as nothing compared with the promises of the future which in very truth pass man's understanding. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have en- tered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."
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A VIEW OF THE CHANCEL, SHOWING THE OLD BLUE WINDOW, THE CROSS, AND THE COMMUNION TABLE IN THE CENTER
HOLY COMMUNION
HOLY COMMUNION
IN this church the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is observed in two ways. At our early services and upon special days the sacrament is dispensed at the chancel rail by the minister to the kneeling communi- cants.
The individual comes forward and kneels down and receives each for himself and herself the body and blood of the Lord. The method used is that of intinc- tion. The minister dips the edge of each wafer in the wine. The communicant receives this in the hand and immediately raises it to the lips, as the minister says the words :- "The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was given for thee preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Take this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and be thankful."
This way of celebration emphasizes the individual's part in the sacrament. Each one has to rise, come up the chancel steps and receive individually among the kneeling row of communicants at the rail.
It seems to many to show a greater reverence and to be more fitting in its seemliness than any other form. For each communion ought to be a new beginning for every one who partakes. The value of the rite lies in that which transpires in each individual's mind and heart. It is the interior devotion for which the ex- terior rite is but an occasion, a suggestion, a frame. Here also is felt most deeply the intimate relation be- tween minister and member. One who as Christ's servant has been companion and helper through life's bright and dark days, here often gives directly in the spirit of deep understanding of the hopes or triumphs, of the problems and joys, of the communicant.
Each communion becomes for the participant an-
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THE SECOND CHURCH BOOK
other pearl in the lengthening string of a life's devo- tion.
A beautiful silver communion service, designed for this particular form of administration, was given to the church by a friend in 1926.
On Easter Day at the early service the confirmation and first communion of new members is held.
Those becoming members of the church kneel at the chancel rail. The minister asks each in turn, "Dost thou believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?" The answer is, "I do believe." After this, baptism from the small font by the altar takes place. The minister then places his hands on each head in turn and offers up the Confirmation prayer: "Defend, O Lord, this thy Child by thy heavenly grace; that he may continue thine forever; and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he come into thy everlasting kingdom." The group kneeling at the rail then re- ceive at the hands of the minister the communion.
Once in every two months during the year, in con- nection with morning worship, the communion is held in the other form. Here the deacons distribute first the bread and then the wine to the communicants seated in their pews. This form of celebration seems to many to have about it more of the primitive feeling of the earliest Christians. It is the festal form, and the hush that pervades the whole church as the deacons pass among the pews gives a sense of a worshipping con- gregation united in common devotion.
So in our churches, when we have striven to express the mystery and greatness of our life by spoken word, by cathedral, and by song, when picture and poem have done their best to impress upon the worshipper the mystic depths of meaning which life holds, at the last, having found that all these fail to express the truth in all its richness, we return to what we call the sacraments. It is as though we should say: After all,
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HOLY COMMUNION
it is in the common responsibilities and personal ties, the common social relations, the meal times and the daily tasks of life that this evanescent mystery lies which we have been trying to express by song, and carven stone, and spoken word. Our passing life, with its trivial duties, its familiar associations, is the mys- tery of mysteries; it is the holy ground. After all the aspiring attempts of music and eloquence and archi- tecture to express the unexpressible, we come at last back to the common water and bread and wine of our daily lives, and passing them around among us, we spend a few moments in trying to realize the sacred- ness of the common day. A few moments once in a while are spent in realizing that this time, this life, which we are bartering away daily for the things that perish, has in itself possibilities of priceless beauty and value. It was this that Christ did when he instituted the Lord's Supper. He took a quiet time in which he might hold, as it were, the passing moment in his heart, that he might realize afresh how good the fel- lowship and life of the present were, before they be- came things of the past.
When we have been able to forget all our own little- nesses in great loyalty to Him as Redeemer and Friend, then some of the consecration and inspiration of that first communion season shall descend upon the remembrance of it in our church. And, lo, we shall all feel with us the mystic presence of One who loves us all as individually and tenderly as He did those first friends of His. To each of us He will speak in accents no child of His can doubt. In His own voice we shall each of us hear those great words of personal affec- tion and trust :-
This is my body which is given for you. This is my blood which is shed for you. This do in remembrance of me.
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THE LADIES' PARLOR WITH ITS LOW, DISTINCTIVE CEILING AND FURNISHINGS
APPENDIX
On the following pages are printed a few of the interesting documents preserved in the church archives. It was no easy task to transcribe these yellowed records, scrawled as they were by careless writers of an earlier day. Modern type can keep the curious tricks of spelling and of capitaliza- tion; it can set up, though awkwardly, the punctuation and the paragraphs as they once were; but it cannot retain the scratched deletions and the numerous in- terpolations that individualize the crum- bling pages now half illegible but still in- tensely human.
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THE SECOND CHURCH BOOK
APPENDIX Early Minutes of the Church
March 30th. 1763.
Mete upon an adjournment & Voted that there be a petition Sent Into next May Meeting for to know wheather the Town will Grant the westerly Inhabitants four months preching In the winters Seasons In a House that they Shall provide to meet In and Chose a Committy to Draw up a petition upon this Vote: Viz Mr. Alex. Shepard Mr. Thomas Miller & Mr. Joseph Hide.
The Meeting is adjourned to this Day fortnit
Minutes of the Meeting, 1764
The Socitey met at the House of Mr. P. Bond on Adjournment The Socitey was pleased to make Choice of Mr. Moses Wheat as Clark for this Evining.
I. it is Noted that the uper Window frames of the Gallery is to be Left till the House is up
2. Voted that the pulpit Window be arching atop & four Quarreys Wide
3. Voted that the Timber and slit work Bee on the Spott on the Midle of May Next.
Voted that you meet at the School House this Day fortnight . to Settle Accounts with the Minister.
March 16: 1764 Met at the School House on Adjornment to Settle the Subscription and to make up what is wanting to pay the minister and to pay Doc Moses Wheat for Enter- taining the minister
Voted that this meeting be adjourned to the 21 Day of March to finish the settlement and anything else to act on. Newton December 3, 1764.
Meet at the House of Mr. Phinihas Bond on adjornment and the meeting was opened and voted to Chouse a Committee to Lay out the money that is or Shal Be Subscribed for Preaching in the winter Season in the meeting House or sum other Convenant House and made Choyse of Mr. Jonathan Williams Thos Miller and Ens Jonathan Fuller for Sd Com- mittee
Voted to Adjorn the meeting to the 17 Day of this Instant December at the House of Mr. Phinihas Bond at three oclock on Sª day
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Know all DEN & tok
That I Shinehas Bond of Newton in the County of Middlefex. Inneholder, 12 Consideration of the Jum of Sub Bound Eight Fillings by me Received Thomas Miller, Inholder, Jonathan Williams, forman. an Samuel Hastings, Sonnen, all of Newton (foreri) a Committee Chofeh By the Society Concerned in. Building a Meeting Houle at the Westwardly part of said Newton DO' hereby Give, Grant af Convey to the said Thomas Miller Jonathan William, Samuel Hastings and all others belonging to The Society aformais, on that may hereafter along thereto, To be Held and Enjoyed by them their their
afrique Forever, And Certain Tracts of Land Lying to Sweet a meeting tempis on Meeting though and go other Ofje in Raroton foresaid Containing about fight hod un Bounded, Westwardly & Northwardly By Low. Eastwardly by the Country Road, Southwardy by the Land of Jake Williams ( And I do Proven ants with the said Society their Pleins and afrique. That Said Permites are file of all Incumbranded, and that I will Warrant & Defend the Same to them their Hlin Y afsigne forever, against all. Lawful Claims, Witness
Sigrid, Fals Deliv in Prefered my Hand & Steal July 2. ADAMDA.
1 of John Rogers! Thishas Bens
Teruel Dratt
Facsimile of the original deed by which Phinehas Bond, on July 2, 1764, in consideration of the sum of two pounds, eight shillings, conveyed to the Society eight rods of land in the "westwardly part of Newton" on which to erect a meeting house. This docu- ment, in form and penmanship, is similar to those here reprinted in the appendix. (See next page.)
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THE SECOND CHURCH BOOK
Deed Conveying Ground for the Church Building
KNOW ALL MEN by these presents that I Phinehas Bond of Newton in the County of Middlesex, Innholder. In Con- sideration of the Sum of Two Pounds Eight Shillings by me received of Thomas Miller, Innholder, Jonathan Williams, Yeoman and Samuel Hastings, Tanner, all of Newton afore- said, a Committee Chosen by the Society Concerned in Build- ing a Meeting House at the Westwardly part of said Newton Do hereby Give, Grant and Convey to the said Thomas Miller, Jonathan Williams and Samuel Hastings, and all others be- longing to the Society aforesaid, or that may hereafter belong thereto, TO BE HELD and Enjoyed by them their Heirs and Assigns forever, One Certain Tract of Land Lying in Newton aforesaid to Erect a Meeting House on, Meeting House and no other use, Containing about Eight Rods and Bounded West- wardly and Northwardly by my own Land, Eastwardly by the Country Road, Southwardly by the land of Isaac Williams; And I do Covenant with the said Society, their Heirs and As- signs, That said Premises are free of all Incumbrances, and that I will Warrant & Defend the Same to them, their Heirs and Assigns forever against all Lawful Claims. WITNESS my Hand & Seal July 2d A. D. 1764
Signed, Sealed & Deliv. in Presence of John Rogers
Phinehas Bond Lemvel Pratt
Method of Raising Subscriptions (before the call- ing of a regular minister)
Newton September 13th, 1775
We the Subscribers do promise & engage each one for himself that we will pay unto Mr. Alexander Shepard the sum affixed against our names for contribution each Sunday that preaching is performed in the Proprietors meeting at the West part of this Town from this time until the next Spring unless any of us should remove from the town.
Lawful Money
Joshua Fuller, o"I" o John Pigeon, a Sundays dinner for the minister
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APPENDIX
Meeting of the Inhabitants of the West Precinct in Newton, March 1, 1781
At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the West Precinct in Newton on the first day of March A. D. 1781.
I. Voted that Col Nathan Fuller be moderator of ye Meeting
2. Voted Alex. Shepard Jun. be Precinct Clerk for the Ensuing Year
3. Voted that the remaining part 2ª Article be referred untill the 3d Article shall be considered
4. Voted to proceed forthwith to the choice of a Public Teacher Religion among us
5. Voted to choose a Committee to consist 9 persons to consider of Ways & means for the support of a Public Teacher of Religion among us, who are to report at the adjournment of this meeting & then made Choice of Mr. N. Greenough, Doc. Parker, Joseph Jackson, Alex. Shepard Jun., Col. Nathan Fuller, Capt. Jenks, Joseph Adams, Sam. Wood- ward, Josiah Fuller, Alex. Shepard.
6. Voted that Col. Nathan Fuller be treasurer .Lt. Josiah Fuller, Joseph Jackson be Assessors.
Voted to excuse Alex. Shepard, Jun., be excused from serving as an Assessor the present year And that Sam. Woodward be an assessor in person of A. Shepard Jun. excused
Voted That ...... the Collecting the Precinct Taxes the Present Year be sold at Public Vendue to the person who shall bid the lowest sum for said Collection. ... Which was accordingly immediately sett up at public sale as aforesd & Moses Craft bid it off at 3d upon the pound, he Giving Bond for the Performance.
Voted that Moses Craft be a Collector of Precinct Taxes for the year ensuing
Sworn at the time of choice Voted That List or Tax Roll of the last Grant made by the Precinct to be paid into the Treasurer on or before the first day of Feby shall be committed to Moses Craft the present collector for him to collect & the past year as- sessors are Directed to compleat sd List before the as- sessors for the ensuing year be sworn & committ the same to sd Collector.
Voted to adjourn this meeting to the 3ª Monday in this Instant at 2 oClock P. M. at this place.
Met agreeable to the above adjournment at time & place.
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THE ENTERTAINMENT ROOM AND ITS FURNISHINGS
APPENDIX
Meeting continued
I. Voted that Mr. Nathan Greenough, Col. Fuller, Mr. Francis Wright, Joseph Jackson & Moses Craft for a Standing Committee to manage the Prudentials of the Precinct the ensuing Year.
2. Voted that such persons now present as were absent at the Choice of a public Teacher of Religion on the Ist Days of this Meets now give in their Votes for a choice as aforesd.
3. , Voted the Sum of £180 Silver money at 6/8 p. ounce
or other money equivalent be and hereby is granted to be assessed on the Polls Estates in this Precinct £60 of Said Sum to be paid in one year after Mr. William Greenough shall be ordained as a public teacher in this Precinct. £60 more of sd Sum to be paid in within two years after sd ordi- nation & the other £60 to be pd in three years after sd ordination, which sums are to be appropriated as a Settle- ment for sd Greenough.
4. Voted that the sum of £70 Silver Money or other money. equivalent to be estimated in Rye at 4/p Bush1 Indian Corn @ 3/p Bush1, Beef at 2} p lb. & Pork at 3} p lb. be and hereby is granted to be assessed in such manner as shall hereafter be directed, which Grant shall be appro- priated as a Salary to be paid annually to Mr. Wm. Greenough should he settle as a pastor of the Church in the West Precinct untill he shall choose to receive £80 in Silver Money to be paid in sd Silver or other money equiv- alent, & also 12 Cords of good wood to be delivered annu- ally unto sd Greenough at his Dwelling house.
5. Voted to choose a Committee to treat with Mr. William Greenough & to lay the aforesaid grants before him, & in behalf of the Precinct to make the aforesaid proposals to him and make a report of their doing to the Precinct at the adjournment of this meets ... & then made Choice of Joseph Jackson, N. Greenough, Capt. Jenks, Sam. Wood- ward, A. Shepard Jun, for sd Comtee
6. Voted that this meets be adjourned to tomorrow fortnight at this place 2 oClock P. M.
At a Meeting agreeable to adjournment the 3ª April, 1781.
I. Voted That the use of pew No. 12 be immediately set up at public sale for the Term of one year which was accordingly done & Mr. Nathan. Greenough bid off the same for 152 pecks of Indian Corn
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THE SECOND CHURCH BOOK
Meeting continued
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