USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 61
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In July, 1850, Rev. A. Brown received a call, and was ordained the September following (September 11, 1850). His salary was the same as that of his immediate predecessor. Mr. Brown continued with the society until early in 1856. In March, of the same year, Rev. C. Fletcher received a call to settle, at a salary of $500, - but declined.
One year later, Rev. Edward Humphreys accepted a similar invitation. He was ordained May 28th, and remained as pastor of the church and society until March, 1861, when he was dismissed at his own request. The present number of church members is about cighty.
In 1857, the meeting-house was thoroughly re-modeled, and a bell added ; and the house was re-dedicated in November of the same year.
FIRST UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY.
The first mention we find of religious services being held in the First Parish by this denomination, is in February, 1811, when the Rev. Hosca Ballou preached in the mecting-house belonging to the above parish, for which courtesy, a card of thanks was presented to the parish, by "the
" Rev. John Jennings, in 1836; and Rev. John Burden, in 1838. Besides these, the pulpit was occu- pied during this time by Rev. Asa Niles (1829), Mr. Knight (1837), and others.
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members of the Universalist Society."" There was not, however, a regu- lar organization in the town, until March 17, 1823, when fifteen persons met at the tavern of Asaph Kendall, " and organized themselves by choos- ing Barnard Goodridge Moderator, & Thomas Meady Clerk & Treasurer." The name adopted, was, " The First Universalist Society in Haverhill and adjacent towns."
The first sermon before the new society, was preached by Rev. Mr. Ballou, shortly after the organization, in the old Masonic (or Assembly) Hall, which stood on the north side of Water Street, nearly opposite the ferry-way.
Public services continued to be held in the above Hall, with but few interruptions, until their new meeting-house on Summer Street was fin- ished. The latter was crected in 1825, and dedicated April 12, 1826 .;
February 28, 1826, Rev. Thomas G. Farnsworth, of Newton, received an invitation to settle with the society as their pastor, which was accepted, and he was installed April 11th of the same year.
The society was " taken into Fellowship " by the General Convention of Universalists, in 1828, In 1829, " a stove and funnel and other appa- ratus for warming the meeting house," was presented to the society by a large number of individuals. The next year, "a large Base Vial " was presented. A year still later, the present of a set of blinds for the win- dows was also suitably acknowledged. In January, 1836, a fine bell was presented to the society, by its members.
Mr. Farnsworth continued with the society until June, 1833, a period of a little more than eight years .¿ On the 27th of the last named month, thirty-seven members of the society were dismissed, " to become members of the First Parish." For an explanation of this movement, we refer the reader to our history of that parish.
At the elose of the memorable strife for the parish funds, the seceding members returned, bringing with them their share, as will be seen from the following: -
" To the Committee of the First Universalist Society in Haverhill -
Gentlemen. The undersigned, a committee appointed by certain per- sons, late members of the First Parish in Haverhill, have certain moneys
· Merrimack Intelligencer, March 9, 1811.
The meeting-house was of briek, fifty-five feet long by forty wide, and "with five arched windows each side." It was at first without a steeple. The latter was added about 1835.
# Mr. Farnsworth was afterward settled over the Universalist Society, in the West Parish. In 1842, he removed to New Bedford, where he was installed June 8th of the same year. He is now a resident of Waltham.
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in their hands, which they are authorized to give to the First Universalist Society in Haverhill, on the following conditions : - Said Universalist Society are to receive all such persons of the late seceders from the First Parish into said society as may signify their wish to do so: If the said moneys are accepted by the said First Universalist Society, they are to petition the Legislature for an act of incorporation, and appoint trustees to manage the same : The income of said moneys to be expended for the preaching of the Gospel as understood by the Denomination of Christians called Universalists.
Jany 23, 1835. Signed Ira Noyes E G Eaton Andrew Johnson S
Committee of the Seceders from the First Parish."
A meeting was held February 2d, and the money accepted. Trustees were chosen to manage the fund, and a petition forwarded for an act of incorporation, which was granted.º
June 2, Rev. Thomas J. Greenwood was invited to settle with the society. He accepted, but was released at his own request, August 15th.
In September, (2d) Rev. Otis A. Skinner, of Baltimore, received and accepted a call to become their pastor. He commenced his labors Novem- ber 1st, and was installed over the society the following January (January 20, 1836).+ Mr. Skinner labored with great faithfulness, and in the en- joyment of the esteem of all who knew him, until December, 1836, when the society reluctantly yielded to his request for a dismission, that he might accept a pressing invitation to remove to a more important field of labor. He was soon after installed over the Fifth Universalist Society in Boston.
Mr. Skinner was succeeded by Rev. Mathew Hale Smith, who was in- stalled February 21, 1837. Mr. Smith continued with the society until January 14, 1838, when he was dismissed, to accept a call to settle in Salem, to which place he immediately removed.
During the ministry of Mr. Smith, a church was organized in connection with the society. It was organized June 14th, and " publicly recognized," June 25, 1837. The officers of the church are, a moderator, two deacons, a clerk, and a treasurer. The pastor is ex-officio moderator. The dea- cons, previous to 1857, were John Crowell, Samuel Johnson, John S. Fuller. The number of admissions to the church during the same period were forty-eight.
- The Society was incorporated June 12, 1824.
t Rev. J. B. Morse was ordained to the ministry at the same time and place.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
In March, 1838, Rev. Henry Bacon, of East Cambridge, received and accepted an invitation to settle with the society, and was installed April 18th. March 31, 1840, Mr. Bacon was dismissed at his own request. He was afterward settled in Philadelphia, where he died, in 1856.
After the dismissal of Mr. Bacon, the society was without a settled pas- tor a little more than a year, during which time invitations were extended to a Rev. Mr. Quimby, (July 12, 1840,) and Rev. J. Shrigley, (August 23, and again November 30, 1840) neither of which were accepted.
Rev. T. P. Abell, of Castine, Me., commenced preaching for the society in March, 1841, and with such acceptance, that, April 4, he was invited to settle with them. He accepted, and was installed June 15, of the same year.
Mr. Abell was succeeded, in 1844, by Rev. Massenah Goodrich, who continued with the society from November, 1844, to April, 1849.
May 6th, 1849, Rev. L. B. Mason was invited to become the pastor of the society. He accepted, May 20th, and was installed on the 30th of the following October.
In July, 1853, Rev. Calvin Damon, of South Boston, was invited to settle with the society, but declined. The following November, Rev. J. E. Pomfret received a similar invitation, which was accepted. Mr. Pom- fret continued to labor with them until December 31, 1854, when he was dismissed, at his request. He immediately took charge of the society in the West Parish, where he remained until 1858. He is now engaged in the practice of medicine, in Albany, N. Y.
In 1853, the society purchased the Sheriff Bartlett estate, (where the Exchange Building now stands) intending to erect a new church edifice on that eligible site. But subsequently, the interest centered on the old site, and, in 1854, the above property was sold to Dr. George Cogswell, of Bradford, and the society proceeded to erect the present elegant church on Summer Street. The new edifice was dedicated January 10, 1856.
In 1855, the call to Rev. Mr. Damon was renewed, and accepted .- Mr. Damon labored with general acceptance until October, 1857, when im- paired health compelled him to seek a relaxation from pastoral labors, and the society yielded to his request for a dismission.
January 2d, 1857, the church was re-organized, and its Articles of Faith, Covenant, &c., revised. The following is its Confession of Faith :
" Articles of Faith. - 1. We believe in One Living and True God, who is infinite in Wisdom, Power, and Goodness, and in every possible perfection. 2. We believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son of
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God, the promised Messiah, and the Savior of the World. 3. We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as being a revelation from God, as containing rules for the regulation of our conduct, in all the relations and circumstances of life ; as declaring the character and gov- ernment of God, the rewards of virtue, the punishment of vice, and also revealing the great truth of the final reconciliation of all things to God, so that He, at last, shall be ' ALL IN ALL.' 1 Cor. 15, 18."
Since the re-organization, twenty-seven persons have signed the church covenant and articles.
The successor of Mr. Damon, was Rev. William McNeil, who com- menced his labors with the society early in 1859, and continued them until January 1st, 1860, when he was dismissed at his own request.
Soon after the dismission of Mr. McNeil, a call was extended to Rev. J. W. Hanson, who accepted, and entered upon the duties of the office in November. Mr. Hanson is the present pastor of this church and society.º
CENTRE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This church and society had its origin in the controversy which arose in the First Parish during the pastorship of Rev. Mr. Phelps. Soon after the dismission of the latter, in November, 1832, most of the members of the church, and others of the society, seceded, and united in the forma- tion of an "Independent Congregational Society."; The first mecting was held April 27, 1833, at which about one hundred persons were pre- sent, and the new society was organized. The church was organized August 28, 1833, with ninety members. Barnard Brickett and Samuel Chase were chosen deacons, and on the same day Rev. Joseph Whittlesey, of Connecticut, was installed their first pastor.
The new society worshiped for a time in the Summer Street Church, then in the First Parish Church, and for a while in the Academy Hall. The corner stone of their first meeting-house was laid June 28, 1834, and
" John Wesley Hanson was born in Boston, May 12, 1823. He was ordained to the ministry at Went- worth, N. H., in June, 1845, where he remained abont one year, when he accepted a call as pastor of the First Universalist Society in Danvers, Mass. In 1848, he removed to Norridgwock, Me., where he re- mained two years, as pastor of the Universalist Society at that place. Two years later, he accepted a call from the First Universalist Society in Gardiner, Me., where he remained until his removal to IIaver- hill. In addition to his pastoral labors, Mr. Hanson has been almost constantly engaged in other literary pursuits. He is the author of a History of Danvers (1847), History of Norridgwock (1851), History of Gardiner and Pittston (1853), and of several smaller works. From 1854 to 1860, he was edi- tor of the Gospel Banner, a weekly paper, published at Augusta, Me. In 1856 he represented the city of Gardiner in the State Legislature.
1 In 1840 the name was changed to " Centre Congregational Society."
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the edifice was dedicated on the 17th of the December following. Its cost was about $8,000.
In February, 1837, Mr. Whittlesey was dismissed at his own request. During his pastorate fifty were added to the church. In 1836, Ezra C. Ames was chosen deacon, in place of Deacon Brickett, deceased.
After the dismissal of Mr. Whittlesey, the society experienced consid- erable difficulty in the selection of a successor. Among the candidates was Rev. Job H. Martyn, who occupied the desk for several months. When the council, called to consider the matter, finally decided that it was inexpedient to settle Mr. Martyn as pastor of the society, sixteen members of the church withdrew, and, with others, united in organizing the Winter Street " Union Evangelical Church." Finally, a call was ex- tended to Rev. Edward A. Lawrence, who accepted and was ordained and installed May 4, 1839.
Mr. Lawrence labored with much acceptance and success until June 12, 1844, when he was dismissed at his own request. During his pastorate, one hundred and twenty-one were added to the church.º
The successor of Mr. Lawrence was Rev. Benjamin F. Horsford, who was settled May 21, 1845, and has labored with great faithfulness and success until the present time. t
In 1858, this church and society was again the theatre of intestine com- motion. The trouble, which originated from a variety of influences, finally culminated in the spring of 1859, in the withdrawal of nearly one hun- dred members of the church, who immediately united in a new organiza- tion, under the name of the " North Church." Soon after the withdrawal of the above members, the parent society remodeled and enlarged their house of worship, at an expense of about 11,000. The edifice was re- dedicated January 27, 1860. Large accessions have since been made to the church and society, - many of them from the late Winter Street society, - and, at the present time, it is abundantly blessed with peace and prosperity.
· Mr. Lawrence was born in St- Johnsbury, Vt., October 7, 1808, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1834, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1838. A few months after leaving Haverhill, he was set- tled over the church in Marblehead, where he remained until July, 1834, when he was elected Professor of Eeelesiastieal History and Pastoral Theology, in the Theological Seminary at East Windsor Hill, Conn., to which place he removed.
" Mr. Horsford was born in Thetford, Vt, November 11, 1817 ; graduated at Dartmouth, 1838, and at Andover Thelogical Seminary, in 1841. He was ordained at Haverhill May 21, 1845
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HISTORY OF HAVERIIILL.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.
The earliest mention we find of this religious denomination in the town, is in the records of the West Parish, and we learn from persons now living that Methodism was established in the above parish many years before it took root in the First Parish." As near as we have been able to ascertain, the first attempt to hold regular meetings in the village, was in 1830, when such meetings were held every other Sabbath, for a period of six months, in the old Masonic Hall, near the ferry-way. The next move- ment of the kind originated with four individuals, - Osgood G. Boynton, Moses M. Chase, Joseph T. George, and Mrs. - who com- menced meeting as a " class," in April, 1836, at the house of Mr. Boyn- ton. Their success was such, that, in the following July, regular weekly services were commenced in Academy Hall. For about a year their preaching was furnished by itinerants, after which, they were regularly supplied by the Conference. The church was regularly organized in the spring of 1837, and continued to prosper until about 1842, at which time it numbered about two hundred members. For various reasons - promi- nent among which were the distractions attendant upon the " Miller delusion," - the interest about this time began to decline rapidly. In the fall of 1843, the place of meeting was removed from Academy Hall, to the new hall in the rear of the old tavern of Rufus Slocomb, known as Union Hall. At this place the meetings continued to be kept up for about one year, when they were discontinued altogether.
· The present church and society originated in the formation of a class of fifteen to twenty members, August 18, 1851. They commenced holding regular services in Atheneum Hall, February 14, 1852, with an audience of forty persons. The following May, a Sabbath School was organized, consisting of four officers and six scholars. March 3, 1854, the society was legally organized, in conformity with the laws of the Commonwealth, as " The First Methodist Society in Haverhill, Mass." The present ele- gant church edifice on Winter Street was erected the same year, at a cost of about $10,000, and dedicated February 16, 1855. From that time to the present, the society has continued to increase and prosper.
WINTER STREET CHURCH.
This church, at first styled the " Union Evangelical Church, of Haver- hill, Mass.,"f was organized in the spring of 1839. . Its origin may be
" It will be seen, by a reference to our history of the West Parish, that the Methodists held religious services in the West Parish meeting-house as early as 1806. It is worthy of note that Universalism and Methodism both made their first appearance in the town in the West Parish.
t The name was changed in May, 1833.
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principally traced to the differences, or divisions, which followed the un- successful effort to settle Rev. Job H. Martyn over the Centre Congrega- tional church and society. Soon after the final decision of the Ecclesiastical Council, (in January, 1839,) that it was inexpedient to instal Mr. Martyn over the last named church, he commenced preaching at the Academy Hall, whither his earnest manner, and popular style, drew large audiences. A deep religious interest was soon awakened, which finally resulted in the organization of a new church, of which he was at once the founder and the first pastor. The following account of the formation of this church, is mostly taken from the early records of the church itself.
" A number of brethren, members of the Congregational and Baptist churches of Haverhill, feeling that the interests of the cause of Christ required the organization of a new church in this place, met, at the house of brother Joseph Johnson, on Thursday, May 2d, for consultation upon the subject. After a season of prayer, and a free and protracted discus- sion of the subject, it was unanimously
Resolved, That in the judgment of this meeting, the interests of the cause of Christ demand the organization of a new church in this village."
One week later, an adjourned meeting was held at the same place, when " A Confession of Faith, and Form of Covenant, together with several fundamental principles of Congregational Church Government were brought forward by the Moderator, the Rev. J. H. Martyn; & after exami- nation and discussion, with a few alterations, were approved and adopted."
The meeting then adjourned to Wednesday, the 15th inst., at which time " The brethren and sisters who were to compose the new church, assembled, at 9 oclk A M, at the house of brother Joseph Johnson, and spent the forenoon in prayer, for the blessing of God upon their enterprise. At this time most of them subscribed the Confession of Faith. At 2 oclk P. M., public services were held at the Academy Hall. The Rev. J. H. Martyn preached a sermon on the nature and powers of a church."
After the sermon, twenty-eight individuals," "having previously ob- tained letters of dismissal from the several churches of which they were members, for the purpose, proceeded to organize themselves into a church." (The record here gives the names of the persons, and then proceeds.) " The principles of Church Government, the Confession of Faith, the Fence to the Communion, and the questions for self-examination, were read and publicly adopted. The Church then proceeded
" Eleven males and seventeen females. Three of them were received "on Confession of Faith."
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to the choice of officers; who were chosen by ballot. The Rev. J. H. Martyn was chosen Pastor, and Dea Tappan Chase, and Edward R Dike, were chosen Deacons.""
May 19th, the new church commenced holding their regular meetings in the school-house near the foot of High Street. One week later, thirty- one persons (twenty-one of them males) were received to membership in the church, by profession. Twenty-one of them were baptized the same day, by immersion, and six by sprinkling. The other four had received baptism in infancy. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was adminis- tered to the church on the above occasion, for the first time.
As the new church was not organized by a council, according to the custom of Congregational churches, some of the neighboring churches refused to recognize it as regular, and declined granting letters of recom- mendation to those who desired to join it. This did not, however, pre- vent the new church from receiving such persons. They were " received on Confession."
Within a month from the first meeting to organize the church, a lot of land was purchased, and the erection of a meeting-house commenced. The site selected, was that on which the church now stands-on the north side of Winter Street, corner of Franklin Street. So rapidly was the work pushed forward, that services were held in the new house July 28th, -only fifteen days after the frame was raised. Temporary seats were put up while the house was being finished.
The Society was regularly organized August 10, 1839, by virtue of a warrant from Charles White, Esq., on the petition of Ezekiel Hale, Jr., and nineteen others.
The pews of the new house were completed in the following March, when they were appraised, and rented. The rents were payable monthly. This plan of raising money for the support of the gospel, continued in opera- tion until the house was remodeled, during the ministry of Mr. Comings, when the pews were appraised and sold, and the more common plan of raising money by annual subscription, was adopted.
The whole number admitted to membership in the church, during the first year of its existence, was one hundred and seventeen, sixty-six of whom were admitted by profession.
" June 16, Benj. Emerson, 2d, was also chosen deacon. In January, 1846, Alfred Gage was chosen, in place of Edward R: Dike, resigned. In 1857, Joseph B. Spiller was chosen, vice Tappan Chase, deceased. The latter was one of the most active and prominent of the first members of this church and society. Says one who knew him well : " Dea. Chase was a rare man. He was a safe counsellor, and an efficient actor. He was ever in his place. The church lost in him a most valuable member."
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
May 3d, 1841, Rev. Mr. Martyn was dismissed, at his own request, after having labored as the pastor of the church for two years. The whole number admitted during his pastorship, was one hundred and twenty, all. but three of whom were admitted during the first year. Mr. Martyn im- mediately removed to New York, and was soon after settled over the Second Congregational Society of that city. He has since left the work of the ministry, and engaged in the practice of medicine. He is now a resident of New Bedford.
On the 23d of May, 1841, an invitation was extended to Rev. Charles Fitch to become the pastor of the church. He accepted, and entered upon his charge soon after. His salary was $700. Mr. Fitch continned with the church but one year, when he was succeeded by Rev. George W. Fin- ney. He had recently adopted the views of the somewhat celebrated William Miller, concerning the second coming of Christ. He preached his farewell discourse to the society May 8, 1842, and his successor com- menced his labors on the 12th of the following month.º
Rev. Mr. Finney labored with faithfulness and success for two years. He was an early and zealous supporter of the Washingtonian movement, and his labors in that direction were not without effect. After his release from the pastorship of this church, he was for several years employed by the State Temperance Society as its Agent, in which capacity he travelled somewhat extensively. He is now a resident of California.
It was during the pastorship of Rev. Mr. Finney, that the extraordinary religious excitement occurred, of which we have already made mention. In this remarkable delusion, many of the members of this church became participants, and it was nearly ten years before the church recovered from- the disastrous shock. Some idea of its extent, may be judged from the fact that, in 1845, ten members of the church were excommunicated, and nine others stricken from the roll. These were " those who went off from this church during the excitement of '43 and '44, called the Miller ex- citement." From March, 1843, to May, 1853, we find no society records ; and from a petition dated May 6th, of the latter year, we learn that, "for the want of officers, the society were unable to assemble in the usual man- ner," and it was therefore organized anew.
The successor of Rev. Mr. Finney, was the Rev. D. N. Merritt, who commeneed his labors with the church January 1, 1844. He received an invitation to settle, in January, 1846, which was accepted in the March
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