USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America. > Part 85
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Nothing of moment appears from this till May 4, 1777, when Mr. Adams, of Lynnfield, died, 58 years old, after twenty-one years' ministry. There had, indeed, been all the greatness of the American Revolution in this interval ; but it affected only in a very slight de- gree the social and religious condition of the people. Mr. Treadwell was a patriot of the warmest kind, and always carried his musket and trappings into the pulpit on Sundays. The Old Tunnel, for those long, troublous years, must, on meeting-days, have resembled a mili- tary station as much as anything. But it all passed happily away. The Lynnfield pulpit was vacant till Sept. 24, 1780, when the Rev. Joseph Mottey was ordained to its care. But these things were never long at rest. Mr. Treadwell, for some cause, grew tired of his charge, concluded to resign it, and, having done so. returned to Ips- wich, where he was born. This was in 1782, nineteen years after his settlement. And now followed a vacancy of near three years, after which the church succeeded in settling the Rev. Obadiah Parsons, Feb. 4, 1784, as Sparhawk's memorandum says, "in peace, harmony, and concord." Yet so blessed a condition cannot have long endured, for Mr. Parsons had been charged with sad irregularities at Squam, and barely obtained an acquittal before the council, while the par- ish rejected that verdict and unanimously dismissed him. He was not successful at Lynn, many would have nothing to do with him, and the church never prospered.
The last era worthy of remark, as noted in the religious history
of Lynn, is found in 1790. That year dates the incoming of a new sect ; to wit, the Methodists. The Rev. JJesse Lec, the " Methodist Apostle," having arrived here Dec. 14, and receiving, perhaps ask- ing, no favor at the hands of the "Standing Order," had organized his meetings at the house of Benjamin Johnson, on the spot now occupied by Exchange Hall, Market Street. He had such success that he proceeded, Feb. 20, 1791, to form a society, which went into immediate activity. Next, a church was needed, and a spot at the east end of the common, now Park Square, was secured, and a house was raised there, June 21, 1791. Mr. Lee worked on it with his own hands; and in less than one week it was so well advanced that he held in it the services of its dedication. This was the third religious society in Lynn proper, the Friends being the second. A number left the old parish and joined the Methodists : both the deacons went, and, worst of all, carried the communion- plate, so that the First Parish had to borrow from their friends, the church at Saugus. The deacons were threatened with prosecu- tion, and finally gave up the plate ; and the old church, though re- duced to three male members at one time, showed such mildness toward the seccding parties as to invite them, in 1794, to reunite, without discipline of any kind ; and many did return, Dea. Farring- tou among them. It was a very trying time; and other churches finally fared worse, in other places, than this at Lynn, consider- ing all their causes of sorrow, without and within.
After Mr. Lee chose to retire, the Rev. Amos G. Thomson was stationed here by the conference, being the first regularly installed minister of that faith in Massachusetts. At length, July 16, 1792, Mr. Parsons resigned, after being here eight years, and went back to Gloucester. With his retirement, certainly, if not that of his predecessor, was closed what Dr. Cooke has called the " Century of Puritanism." From this out there was a decided diversion toward a laxer faith, almost reaching Unitarianism. But Aug. 13, 1794, the Rev. Thomas C. Thatcher was installed. He was highly edu- cated, graduated at nineteen, and was now only twenty-three. The old parish thought themselves fortunate for this time at least.
And now the wheel turned again, and Mr. Roby, of Saugus, passed away, Jan. 31, 1803. This venerable man, one of the best and holiest we ever had among us, had preached to this people fifty-one years, and reached his seventy-ninth birthday. Probably no name abides more tenderly in the memory of the inhabitants of Saugus than that of the pious, genial, good old " Parson Roby." He was followed by the Rev. William Frothingham, ordained Sept. 26,1804.
A crisis that must be noticed happened in 1805, when, as the inhabitants of the town had become so much divided among differ- ent denominations, the members of the First Church and Parish came to think the "Old Tunnel" was not a town-house, but a church, and their own. They therefore refused to have the town- meetings held in it any more. Sharp controversy arose, but the town finally retired, and engaged the Methodist church for the pur- pose. No wonder they felt the expulsion, for they had met in the old church, first and last, for a hundred and seventy-three years.
The ancient faith of the settlers had now lost its potency. The town had no responsibility to protect it; it was left wholly to its God. Other tenets were accepted all around it, other houses of worship sprung up on either hand ; for there was no more any king, and people felt their freedom in their thoughts of heaven, as well as earth. The Rev. Josiah Flagg, of Salem, came in 1811, preach- ing the gospel of Universalism. The Methodist society had grown by the same time, so that a second went out from it, built a new church on the site of the present St. Paul's, on Union Street, and dedicated it November 27th, with the Rev. Epaphras Kibbey, first in charge. And so far from being depleted was the original society of Lce, that they moved away their old house, in May, 1813, having commenced in the year before a new and more capacions edifice for worship, on a lot just south of where the old one stood; the street was after opened over the exact spot.
It was time now for another movement in the old parish. Mr. Thatcher concluded, in 1813, to apply his talent elsewhere, to which there seemed not enough objection to overrule him ; so he resigned and went to Cambridge, having preached here nineteen years. The people appear to have esteemed him well, and, at his departure, gave him a present of $800. Let us here remark, that with all their changes and laxities, the people had by no means lost their love for Christian institutions. It was still considered wrong to break the Sab- bath by needless travel, and the town now (1813) chose thirty-nine tythingmen to make all due effort to prevent it being done. It prob-
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ably amounted to nothing but an expression of sentiment. By this time, a new pastor for the old parish was found. The Rev. Isaac Hurd received their call, and was ordained Sept. 15, 1813; but, if we do not err, he was found too much inclined to Unitarian views, and hardly ever gained decided favor with the descendants of those who were taught of Whiting and Shepard. He only stayed some two and a half years, and resigned his charge May 22, 1816. Meanwhile the Baptists, children of the sufferers of old, rallied, and claimed a share of religious attention. They formed a vigorous society March 17, 1815, and, in May, purchased the old house of the Methodists, and commeneed their meetings therein. Next year they were incor- porated April 15, 1816, and September 15 the Rev. George Phippen was settled over them. There was prosperity in other churches. The Quakers thought their house too narrow, removed it to the corner of Broad and Beach streets, where it yet stands, and built another, more thau twice as large, on the same ground. It stood there till 1852, when it was moved to a new lot on Silsbee Street, where it is at pres- ent. In 1817, Mr. Frothingham was dismissed from the church at Saugus.
After a space of two years and more, the First Parish found a shep- herd, in the person of the Rev. Otis Rockwood. He was ordained to the vacant pulpit July 1, 1818, and manifestly to the relief of those who had deplored the late near approaches of heterodoxy to this ancient fold. Mr. Rockwood was undoubtedly free from Unitarian affections, and, as a proof of this, may be cited the attachment that his people speedily conceived for him. But new societies kept form- ing round them. An Episcopal church was gathered Jan. 27, 1819, and made their tabernacle in the Lynn Academy. Mr. Mottey, of Lynnfield, died July 9, 1821, at the age of sixty-five, after a ministry of forty-one years.
There can hardly be a religious body without dissension. It was now the Quakers who were to attract the notice of every one. Early in 1822, or perhaps the year before, a worthy female member came to imagine herself in a manner inspired, and, among other predictions, announced the day of her own approaching death. She obtained a number of adherents in the society, and their belief, with others' opposition, grew rapidly into a violent controversy between the two. The delnded sister did not die at all as announced, to the disappoint- ment of many ; but the debate that had arisen would not be settled so readily. Finally, the party representing the "New Light " deter- mined to possess themselves of the honors of the meeting ; and, on Sunday, Feb. 17, 1822, one of these, a wealthy citizen, not necessary here to be named, with others, entered the house and sought to take position in the " minister's scat." The leader above mentioned was equipped with a sword, which did not help make him welcome. The party werc expelled, but renewed the effort in the afternoon, attract- ing so much attention that the sheriff came and dispersed the crowd. Some were arrested, the leader among them, imprisoned till March 16th, and, after trial, two were acquitted and the rest fined; but the spirit of quarrel was so rife in the society that the boys had a saying, " Let's go and see the Quakers fight !"
As there was now no prospeet that the First Church would ever adopt or consider the Unitarian faith, those who preferred that belief formed a society for themselves, and were incorporated June 15, 1822. November 25th following, they began the building of the church still occupied by then, South Common Street, corner of Church. It was dedieated April 30, 1823. June 21, 1824, the Lynnfield church passed into the charge of the Rev. Joseph Searl. The Methodists had already a society and meeting-house there. The new Unitarian society settled their first pastor, the Rev. James D. Greene, Nov. 3, 1824. It was now the turn of the old parish to tire of their old-fash- ioned temple. It had served in all weathers for one hundred and forty-five years; it was well and honorably worn, and its people decided to build afresh. Therefore, pulling the old edifice in pieces, they selected the best portions, took them to the coruer of South Common and Commercial streets, and constructed the house that yet stands there. This was done April 11, 1827; and the new house was dedicated October 17th following. Mr. Greene left the Unitarian society Aug. 4, 1828 ; aud Dee. 9, 1829. the Rev. David H. Barlow succeeded to the place. In 1830, the Methodists, more and more numerous, formed their third society, and built a house in South Street, dedicated Angust 3d, the Rev. Rufus Spaulding being the first minister.
Mr. Rockwood at length thought best to leave the First Church, where he had gained a popularity only excelled hy that of Shepard, Henchman, or Thatcher. He was dismissed May 12, 1832, and the Rev. David Peabody, receiving a call soon after, was ordained pastor
November 15th ensuing. By this time the ancient character of Lynn for conservatism in religious thought was all gone, and every fanatic and innovator thought this a promising field. The Mormons made an effort in 1832, and then, as well as in the ten years after, made and carried off some couverts. The established churches kept on. Mr. Barlow left the Unitarian, Feb. 2, 1833, succeeded by the Rev. Sam- nel D. Robbins, November 13th, same year ; February 14th, the Bap- tists dedieated their house on North Common, corner of Park Street ; March 25th, the first Universalist society was formed, meeting in the town hall ; April 22, 1835, Mr. Peabody gave up the charge of the First Parish ; a wholly new candidate for attention appeared in a " Christian " society, which was gathered, and built a house in Silsbee Street, November 5th, same year ; while, December 10th, the Univer- salists dedicated their house, just finished, on Union Street. But those of them who lived in the westerly section, disliking the new location, formed a second society, and finally bought the house of the First Church, corner of Commercial Street. They first had for min- ister, the Rev. Duuhar B. Harris. They organized March 9, 1836. The Episcopalians tried their hand again, and formed a very small church of three members, January 7th, same year, taking the name of Christ Church ; November 5th, they had a house begun on North Common Street, just above Hanover. It is now called St. Stephen's.
In this year, 1836, the First Church made another selection of a pastor, and succeeded in installing perhaps the most remarkable man who ever had charge of their pulpit. The Rev. Parsons Cooke, then of Portsmouth, N. H., was placed in the desk of Cobbett and Whit- ing May 4th, and continued active in its duties till his death, only a little while after his last discourse, Feb. 12, 1864. The society felt stimulated to fresh exertion, and at once begun a new house of wor- ship on South Common Street, corner of Vine. It was dedicated Feb. 1, 1837. The new Episcopal church was dedicated July 20th, same year, and, June 7, 1839, Mr. Robbins left the Unitarian society. to be succeeded by the Rev. William G. Swett, Jan. 1, 1840.
The year 1841 is to be remembered in Lynn as the time of a fresh efflux of "free" thought, exhibited by what became widely known as the "Comeouters." The case deserves a brief consideration. These people were primarily Garrisonian abolitionists, starting with the unimpeachable doctrine of human "equality before the law." But, not finding the cause of the slave well espoused by most of the religions bodies of that day, they unwisely pronounced all the churches in league with slavery ; and called for good men and true to "come out" and testify against them. Hence the name. They were not confined to Lynn; but had a strong position here, being upheld by such men as Christopher Rohiuson, Jonathan Buffum, and others, men of private and public excellence, apart from the delusion here sustained. The real mischief was from without, as will appear. Finally, on a Sunday, in 1841, they rallied here in force, determined to try a bold though foolish movement. The people in general knew nothing of it ; but there were in town Stephen S. Foster, Nathaniel P. Rogers, Parker Pillsbury, Thomas P. Beach, Henry Clapp, Jr., and mauy others, full of bitter words and martyr spirit. Dividing into par- ties, they repaired to several of the churches of largest congregations, entered without ceremony, and interrupted the services with excited harangues.
Foster led off at the First Church. Dr. Cooke commanded him to " sit down"; but as he paid no heed, half a dozen muscular men quietly seized him and carried him out passive as a log, and set him on the sidewalk, his mates following. Pillsbury, at the same time, headed an attack on the Baptists ; and, proving more troublesome, was shut up in a closet, and detained till the end of service. Afternoou, nothing daunted, Beach entered the First Methodist Church alone, leaped the altar-rail during the last prayer, and began to talk. No questions were asked, for the thing was well noised about, and Methodist blood is not giveu to hesitation. In a minute he was going " neck and heels," and struggling smartly, down the aisle and down the steps, more being willing to help than could get a ehance. He claimed that his thumb was broken iu the affray ; but it was not credited. Some of the others had visited the Quaker meet- ing in the morning, and, finding opportunity without interrupting others, had spoken and been sharply rebuked in turn ; but no conflict happened there. About six o'clock, P. M., Lyceum Hall was opened, and they made a demonstration of their own; where, probably, more harshness, more invcetive, and more unreason were poured out within an hour than most ever hcar in a lifetime. But there was no more disturbance. Foster ranted to small crowds about the strects for a few days, not much noticed, and then disappeared. Others made some trouble for themselves elsewhere, and their
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printed effusions were abundant in Lynn ; but their strength was all gone in that one effort.
Mr. Swett, of the Unitarian society, died Feb. 15, 1843. We cannot find space, nor is it necessary, to chronicle further the various changes of the now numerous religious bodies recognized in Lynn. Many different pastors, of diversified talents and graces, had filled the score or so of pulpits that opened to the people every week. Within their own denominations, several of these afterward proved to be eminent and influential ; but none are remembered as having made such impression on public attention as to call for larger notice here. Thus, therefore, we close the consideration of the religious annals of Lynn, in which it has been sought to show the growth of its spirit and ideas through the long period of its town history.
This sketch would remain very incomplete without some little account of the town in respect, particularly, to its
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
The method of the early Puritans, as is well known, was not specially favorable to the establishment of town schools. They believed in education, and valued learning more, perhaps, than most other people ; but they also believed, most religiously, in the pre- eminence of parental instruction. They acted accordingly. Har- vard would found his college, and Dummer his academy, as soon as there were any young men for students ; but those young men should he catechised and taught the elements at home, and afterwards " fitted" at the minister's, with little or no reference to any profes- sional teacher intervening. Perhaps the remark of Gov. Dudley, in 1642, when writing to his son, "There is a want of schoolmasters hereabout," may indicate about the earliest attraction of public notice to the subject. But this want naturally grew to be more and more felt and understood; and at length, in October, 1647, every town was ordered to have a school for reading and writing where there were fifty families, and a grammar school where there were a hundred. There seems a probability that both the ministers, Whiting and Cob- bett, did something in Lynn in compliance with the above, as they arc both called "teaching elders" in papers of that day ; but there is no better evidence on the point than that the town was liable to a fine if the school was not kept, and we find no sign of their being com- plained of. We find, further, that on the accession of Mr. Shepard to the pastorship, Mr. Joseph Whiting was selected as " teacher"; but the fact of his being "ordained" to the office shows that it was rather a religious than literary calling. It hardly seems that he did much in either capacity ; and, in 1687, we find the Rev. Mr. Shepard keeping the school, as says Lewis, "several months this winter." Probably he so continued ; for, Dec. 21, 1691, the selectmen appointed him schoolmaster for the year ensuing " with his consent." There is reason to think that this consent was not readily obtained very long ; for in 1696, the town hired Abraham Normenton to teach for the next year, giving him five pounds, and hiring Nathaniel Newhall's house for a school-room. Newhall had twenty-five shillings. But things did not remain quiet then, any more than now, for, June 7, 1700, they went back to Mr. Shepard, and engaged him to keep a grammar school, giving him thirty pounds for it. They had, plainly, either grown richer than formerly, or else discriminated forcibly between the candidates. By 1702, a more complete arrangement had been digested ; and the grammar master was voted, December 14th, ten pounds for his maintenance ; beside which, he was to have a graduated pay of two, three, or six pence per week from each parent, according to the branch of study pursued by the pupil.
The next teacher heard of here was John Merriam, who came in 1713. He taught both Latin and the English branches, though not English grammar, no text-book of that kind then existing. Neither, says Lewis, was there any spelling-book nor arithmetic: but all " sums" were set upon the slate, and spelling went wholly by fancy. A teacher of that day would be staggered by the breadth and exact- ness of the present. In 1716, Mr. Merriam was succeeded by one Bishop. A little later, 1720, the school passed into the care of John Lewis. The statements on record leave some question whether Lynn had then four separate schools, or whether one which opened in suc- cession on the common, at Woodend, in Saugus, and Lynnfield. Certainly one Samuel Dexter, of Malden, taught somewhere here about the whole of 1720, as he very distinctly states in his diary. And as to the circuit method, if they then kept a three months' school in each district, they must soon have modified the plan ; for, in 1728, a new school-house was built in " Laighton's Lane," which is the same as Franklin Street, and similar movements soon after must have brought any such itinerancy to a close. This new house is supposed to be the
one now standing on the rear of the lot of Mr. Thomas J. Lummus, nearly opposite the Cobbett School. We find that, in 1738, Richard Mower was schoolmaster: but yet discover nothing as to which dis- triet employed him. Very likely there had been sharp controversies ; for, Aug. 3, 1731, the westend people had succeeded in getting a vote, and removing the new school-house to Water Hill, - Federal Street, probably. They kept it there, too, for the next seventeen ycars ; but, in 1752, the others overpowered them, and the school- house travelled back to Franklin Street.
Wc remark, in 1784, the occurrence of a kind of era in the cduca- tional concerns of the town. The Friends had always been propor- tionately numerous in Lynn, as well as wealthy; and though they would neither pay taxes to support the old church, nor perform or recognize military duty, they had paid their part toward common schools, even while maintaining a separate school of their own. But in the above year they felt yet stronger pulses of sectarian blood, and demanded that part of the town tax should be spent on their own school. It was not wholly equitable, nor a policy safe or sound ; yet they had influence enough to prevail with the town, and they obtained an allowance for several years after.
In connection with this part of our history, there naturally runs some inquiry as to the mental habits and disposition of the people. This is amusingly, yet very characteristically, satisfied by a record of instructions voted in town-meeting, May 8, 1786, to John Carnes, Esq., one of the first representatives under the constitution. In this, he was taught to " endeavor to bring about another mode of proceeding in our law matters, and to put it out of the power of the Gentlemen of the law to take such advantage of their clients as they have often done. And if it cannot be done in any other way, that you endeavor to bring about an annihilation of the ofice." This was only a gentle showing of the strong disposition that grew here so carly and so vigorously against all professional and otherwise eminent characters. They were as good as resolved that no one should be greater than another, and something of the feeling yet remains.
The multiplication of schools had fairly commenced, and the method of succeeding in local plans and purposes by " pressure " on the town- meeting. A few person clubbed together in 1794, and built a new school-house where they chose. Then bringing their forces properly to bear, they succeeded in selling it to the town, though probably no amount of effort could have obtained the building of one by public vote. We do not learn where this was.
It was in the next year, 1795, that Nathaniel Massey, a respectable and worthy townsman of West Lynn, often prominent and enter- prising in public matters, built an cdifice on Boston Street, exactly opposite the old mill, the like of which had never appeared in Lynn. This was a public hall, the first place of public assembly, save the churches, and long known as " Massey's Hall." It yet stands in good condition, having been altered into a dwelling, now owned by Mr. A. Judson Fuller. Five years after, in 1800, the first dancing-school was opened here in this same hall.
It may have been so throughout New England or not ; but hitherto the school privileges of Lynn had only been conceded to males. Girls never went to school, with few exceptions. Benjamin Mudge, Esq., writes, that up to 1801, when he left school, he never saw but three girls in the public schools, and they only in the afternoon, to learn to write. It is indeed sixteen years after this when females arc first mentioned in the school reports.
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