USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 62
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· Mr. Fiteh died in Cleveland, Ohio, soon after.
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following, and he was installed in April. Mr. Merritt remained pastor of the church until July 10, 1848, when he resigned.º
In the November following, Rev. E. J. Comings received a call to settle as pastor of the church. He accepted, and entered upon his duties Decem- ber 5, 1848. His salary was $400. He served as pastor until April 25, 1852, when he was dismissed, at his own request. He soon after went to Ohio, and subsequently to Vermont, where he still resides.
April 28, 1850, (during the pastorship of Rev. Mr. Comings) the church unanimously voted to invite an ecclesiastical council, to consider the subject of receiving the church into fellowship with the other churches. The council met May 7th, and, after due deliberation, resolved to recog- nize the church, and receive them into fellowship, provided they would " adopt the Congregational platform as the basis of their ecclesiastical order." May 10th, the church unanimously agreed to the terms, and on the 15th of the same month, it was publicly recognized and received into fellowship, as proposed.
The total number of recorded admissions to the church, from the close of its first year to January 1, 1853, is forty. We find no record of admissions from 1852 to December 1858, though it is certain there were admissions during that period.
March 16, 1853, Rev. Leonard S. Parker was unanimously called to the pastorate of this church. He was installed June Ist of the same year. His salary was $800. Under his ministry there was a steady and healthy growth of the church and society, the former nearly trebling in numbers, and the latter increasing in proportion. The Sabbath school became one of the largest in town, including many children whose parents attended public worship nowhere. In 1854, several members of the church united in building a house to be occupied as a parsonage. In 1856, a fine organ was placed in the church at an expense of $1,000. In 1858, the congre- gation had increased to such an extent, that the house of worship was enlarged by the addition of twenty pews. At the same time a large and convenient vestry was built in the basement, and other extensive improve- ments made in and about the edifice. The whole cost of these changes fell a little short of $3,000. The same year the pastor's salary was increased to $1,000. The formation of the North Congregational Church led to the inquiry whether it was best for the cause of Christ to have three churches of the same order in the village, especially as the religious wants of the community were largely met by the new churches of other denominations. The unhappy revival of a family feud soon after, which found its way into
- In 1833, he was deposed from the ministry, for gross immorality.
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the church, and resisted its utmost efforts to settle it, although aided by the unanimous decision of two councils, and in August, 1859, issued in the secession of thirty-four persons from the church, strengthened the opin- ion of some, that the disbandment of this church might be a christian duty. After many meetings for conference and prayer in reference to the subject, and taking the advice of the neighboring pastors and churches, the conclusion was reached to unite with the other churches in town. Rev. Mr. Parker accordingly resigned his charge, and was dismissed by an ecclesiastical council March 26, 1860, and a few months later was installed as the pastor of the First Church and Parish in Derry, N. H. The church having previously granted letters to many of its members, on the 25th of June, 1860, voted letters to all the remaining members in regular stand- ing, and then voted to disband. The church edifice was soon after sold to the Free-will Baptist Society for $11,000, including the organ.
Though this church existed but twenty-one years, and passed through severe trials, yet its usefulness was marked, especially during a part of its history. The stranger was ever welcomed; and the young were partieu- larly cared for. Probably no society in town has been sustained by more cheerful, generous, and self-denying benefactions. Many of its former members are now adding to the strength and usefulness of other churches, while some have joined the church in heaven.
THE TABERNACLE CHURCH.
When Rev. Henry Plummer left the Christian Union Society, in 1843, he was accompanied by a number of the principal members of that church, among whom were the two deacons, -Deacons John Morse and David Evans. These were joined by others," who belicved with them that the second coming of Christ was then near at hand, and immediately after, a temporary building was erected by them for worshipping purposes, in the rear of Essex Street, near the freight depot of the Boston & Maine Railroad Company, which was known as " The Tabernacle." They temporarily organized by the choice of Mr. Plummer as pastor, and the above named Morse and Evans as deacons.
In 1852, the Tabernacle building was removed, and the present larger and more permanent building was ereeted in its place. The new chapel was dedicated January 27, 1853.
Mr. Plummer remained as pastor of the society until 1855, when he resigned his charge, and entered upon a new field of labor -that of an Evangelist. In 1858, the Tabernacle building was sold at public auction,
G Principally from the Winter Street Church,
LS
CHaudora's A.
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and was purchased by Mr. Plummer, who immediately re-commenced holding regular services in it, at the solicitation of some ten or twelve families of his former charge, and has so continued from that time to the present.
The church and society worshipping in the Tabernacle, at the time of the transfer of the property, in 1858, immediately removed to the Atheneum ' Hall, where they have continued to hold meetings, a part of the time only, until the present time.
Rev. Henry Plummer, the founder of the Tabernacle church and society, and for so long a time its spiritual leader, is a native of this town, where he was born February 22, 1794. At an early age he learned the trade of a baker, and in 1823 established himself in that business in this town. He was engaged in this business at the time of his ordination to the ministry, and for some time subsequently, when he was appointed Agent of the Haverhill & Boston Stage Company, and relinquished the former business. In 1831, he removed to Philadelphia, and engaged in the shoe business, with his brothers. He also preached in that vicinity regularly upon the Sabbath. While in Philadelphia, he was frequently urged to return and take charge of his former church, and finally consented, after being absent about a year. Upon his return, the chapel was enlarged, of which we have already given an account.
It is worthy of note, that Mr. Plummer has never received a regular salary as pastor. From his ordination, in 1826, to his removal, in 1831, his pastoral labors were entirely gratuitous, unless we except an occasional individual donation. He was induced to return to his former charge in 1832, by assurances of an adequate support, and from that time to the present he has labored faithfully and constantly in his chosen field, relying upon the frec-will offerings of his church and people. He believes that " the gospel should be free," and that its preaching should never be made a matter of bargaining; and for nearly forty years he has applied the principle to his daily practice. Mr. Plummer is a man of more than ordinary ability, perseverance, and consistency ; and whether we regard him as a preacher of the gospel, or as a neighbor and a citizen, he has always commanded the respect, the confidence, and the love of all.
ST. GREGORY'S CHURCH.
The first time that religious services were held in the town, upon the Sabbath, according to the forms of the Roman Catholic Church, was the second Sabbath in September, 1850. Previous to this time, the town had been occasionally visited by the officiating priest at Lawrence, who
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had several times held religious services with the people of that faith, upon a week-day. On the 10th of August, 1850, Rev. John T. McDonnell, a native of Galway, Ireland, arrived in Boston, and was immediately sent to Haverhill, for the purpose of establishing a church at this place." On the second Sunday in September, mass was performed for the first time. A. few days later, the foundations for a church edifice were laid, and on the 4th of July, 1852, the new church was appropriately dedicated. A commo- dious house for the priest was also erected immediately adjoining the church. In 1859 the church edifice was considerably enlarged, to make room for the increasing congregation. Soon after the completion of the above improvements, a school for Catholic children was opened in the vestry of the church, by Mr. Francis J. Nichols, which is still in a flourish- ing condition.
TRINITY CHURCH.
The following account of the early history of this church, is principally taken from a pamphlet entitled " An Historical Sketch of the Church Missionary Association of the Eastern District of the Diocese of Massachu- setts," by Rev. Wm. S. Perry, Boston, 1859 :-
Toward the close of the year 1853, a renewed missionary spirit seems to have pervaded the Association. A committee appointed at the forty- third meeting, held at St. Stephen's, Lynn, July 19th and 20th, of that year, to address the Diocesan Board with reference to the appointment of an itinerant missionary for the Eastern district, and to devise means for his support, reported at a subsequent meeting the favorable answer of the Secretary of the Board, and an assessment on the parishes of the district for the amount of eight hundred dollars. In view of this response, and the circumstances of the town of Haverhill, a committee was appointed to visit this place, and to hold services there if deemed expedient. This was the beginning of another and a most flourishing parish.
Forming, as it did, the residence of the Rev. Moses Badger, M. A., itinerant missionary of the venerable society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New Hampshire and parts adjacent, from the years 1767 to 1774, it can hardly be supposed that one so efficient in ferreting out, in towns and hamlets, the scattering churchmen of his cure, should not have occa- sionally held services in Haverhill, the home of his family and his connections by marriage. In confirmation of this supposition, we may refer to casual allusions in the "Frontier Missionary," to exchanges between
* Rev. Mr. McDonnell was born May 20, 1822. He was educated principally at Rome, and came to America soon after the completion of his studies.
.
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the Rev. Jacob Bailey, of Maine, and Mr. Badger, which strengthen the inference that the services of the church were, from time to time, held at Haverhill. Be this as it may, the Rev. Rana Cossit, who was licensed by the Bishop of London to officiate in New England, March 27th, 1773, and who seems to have shared to a certain extent the itineracy of Mr. Badger, is expressly registered in the records at Fulham as incumbent of " Haverhill parish.""
From this time until about the year 1820, but few services appear to have been held in this immediate vicinity .; At this date, an effort was made to introduce the church in Haverhill, and services were celebrated in a hall for nearly six months, with a regular attendanec of about sixty persons, embracing some of the most intelligent and influential men of the town. The pulpit was supplied by the Rev. Drs. Wainwright and Eaton, of Boston, Morss, of Newburyport, and others, and in their absence, the services were conducted and sermons read by Mr. Hovey, a devoted church- man of the place, and a young lawyer, the present Hon. J. H. Duncan. Soon after, Mr. Hovcy was removed by death, and, for want of ability to secure the services of a resident elergyman. the effort was discontinued.
Occasional services were, however, held from 1833 to 1835, mainly through the personal exertions of A. W. Thayer, Esq., now of Northampton, Mass. The Rev. James Cook Richmond, at that time in deacon's orders, officiated several times, in the Baptist meeting-house, during the winter of 1833 and the following summer. On Sunday, March 1st, 1835, the Rt. Rev. Alexander V. Griswold, D. D., Bishop of the Eastern Diocese, preached three times to large and attentive congregations, in one of the meeting-houses of the town.
Early in the month of June, 1855, Charles Wingate,¿ a parishioner of St. Peter's, Philadelphia, removed from that city to Haverhill, his native town. Anxious to extend to his relatives and friends the privilege of the church of his love, he at once began his efforts by opening, on the 17th of the same month, as a preparatory step, a Sunday school in a neighboring school-house. A correspondence with the Rector of Christ Church, Boston, requesting a supply of Testaments for the little school, revealed, inci- dentally, to Mr. Wingate, the fact that another gentleman in that vicinity,
· See page 378.
1 We find, in the Merrimack Intelligencer of August 20, 1814, the following :- " The Rev. Asa Eaton, Rector of Christ Church, Boston, is expected to preach to the Episcopal Society in this town, tomorrow." This is, we believe, the only reference of the kind we have noticed in an examination of a nearly complete file of Haverhill newspapers from 1793 to 1816 .- G. W. C.
# Mr. Wingate is a son of Moses Wingate, Esq., and is now Rector of a flourishing church in New- port, R. I.
77
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Mr. B. R. Downes, of Bradford, was a churchman. An interview with Mr. Downes resulted in the securing of the Unitarian meeting-house for July 22d; on which occasion the Rev. Dr. Packard of Lawrence officiated morning, afternoon, and evening, to large and interested congregations. So great an interest was excited, that a vigorous effort for the introduction of the church in this important town was resolved upon. In view of the pressing need of immediate action, the Rev. Thomas F. Fales, of Waltham, wrote at once to the Rev. W. Colvin Brown, at that time connected with the diocese of Missouri, inviting him in behalf of the Association, to take charge of the new movement, and offering to be personally responsible for his salary until his appointment was confirmed. Mr. Brown, accepted this invitation, reached Haverhill on the 11th of August, and the following day held the first regular service of the new enterprize in the chapel of the Centre Congregational Society. Beginning with a congregation of from twenty to thirty at the morning service, and a fuller attendance at evening prayer, the increase was steady and promising. The Association at their next meeting approved the course of Mr. Fales, and immediately undertook the whole support of Mr. Brown. On the Sth of October, 1855, a parish was organized by the name of Trinity Church, and the Rev. Mr. Brown invited to the rectorship. Pledges to the amount of $2,000 for church- building purposes were immediately secured in the town, which were con- siderably increased in Lowell, and subsequently in Boston ; and so speedy was the success of this new movement, that on the 15th of the following May, the Bishop of the diocese laid the corner stone of a neat and beautiful building, which, on the 7th of January, 1857, was consecrated by him to the worship of Almighty God. The consecration of this new church, costing, with the ground, $6,500, of which amount $4,800 was raised in Haverhill, and the remainder contributed by friends in Boston, Lowell, Waltham, Andover, and Lawrence, was rendered doubly pleasant to the parishoners by the meeting at the same time of the Church Missionary Association of the Eastern District, to whose willing help this rewarding result was mainly due.
Rev. Mr. Brown remained with this church until June, 1858, when he accepted the Rectorship of Zion Church, Newport, R. I., where he still resides. In October of the same year, Rev. Charles H. Seymour commenced his labors with this church, under whose care it has steadily continued to increase and prosper. The number of church members at the present time is about seventy.
Mr. Seymour is a native of Watertown, Conn., where he was born May 15, 1829. He graduated at Trinity College, Hartford, in 1851; was
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admitted to Deacon's orders in 1855, and Priest's orders in 1859. In 1850, (continuing his college studies in the meantime) he became connected with the Military school, at Hamden, as instructor, where he remained about three years, when he established a similar school at West Hartford, under the name of "St. James' School." In 1854 he disposed of his interest in this school, and soon after opened another upon the same general plan, at Litchfield, in the same State, under the name of the " Wolcott Institute." Both of these schools are still in successful opera- tion. In 1855 he was elected Principal of the " Punchard Free School," at Andover, Mass., to which place he immediately removed, and where he remained until called to take charge of the above church, in 1858.
THE THIRD BAPTIST CHURCHI.
The flattering and almost unexampled prosperity of the First Baptist Society in the years immediately preceding 1858, led to the consideration of the question whether it was best to provide adequate worshiping accom- modations for the large and rapidly increasing number of applicants, by an enlargement of the already capacious church edifice, or by the organiza- tion of a new society. After much consideration, the latter course was decided upon, and thirty members of the church withdrew for that purpose, and commenced holding religious services in the Town Hall, on Sunday, December 12, 1858, under the direction of Rev. Benjamin Wheeler. Early in the following February, the new church was regularly organized. They continued to worship in the above named hall until January, 1861, when they removed to the new building on Winter Street, near Spring Street, known as Music Hall, and which had been erected by some of the members of the society, partly for that purpose. The present number of church members is about one hundred and twenty.
Rev. Benj. Wheeler, the pastor of this church and society, is a native of Salem, N. H., where he was born March 14, 1807. He fitted for the ministry principally at New Hampton, N. H., and was ordained as first pastor of the First Baptist Society in Plaistow, N. H., in November, 1836. With this society, the fruit of his first, earnest, and well-directed ministerial labor, he remained until April, 1852, when he accepted an invitation to a larger field of labor, and was settled over the First Baptist Society in Randolph, Mass. In 1858, impaired health induced him to resign his position as pastor of the above church, and accept the charge of the proposed new society in Haverhill. He came to this town in Decem- ber, 1858, immediately entered upon the work, and was installed as its first pastor, at the organization of the new church, in February, 1859.
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THE NORTH CHURCHI.
The North Congregational Society was organized March 1, 1859, and the Church was constituted on the 30th of the same month. This Church had its origin in the differences which convulsed the Centre Church and Society in the year preceding, and, with a few exceptions, was at first com- posed of members of the latter, who had been regularly dismissed for that purpose. April 12th, a call was extended to Rev. B. F. Horsford, to become the pastor of the new church, which was declined. Soon after, an eligible lot of land was purchased, situated on the south-cast corner of Maine and White Streets, and July 20th the corner stone of a new church edifice was laid, with appropriate ceremonies. July 28th a call was extended to Rev. Alonzo U. Quint, of Jamaica Plain, which was also declined.
The new church edifice was completed the following winter, and was dedicated February 21, 1860. The cost, including the organ, was within a fraction of $30,000. The number of pews is one hundred and thirty-two, ninety-three of which were sold for a total of $22,500. From the organi- zation of the church, until their new place of worship was ready for occupancy, regular services were held in the First Parish Church.
June 4, 1860, a call was extended to Rev. R. H. Seeley, which was accepted, and he was installed August 8th of the same year.
Rev. Raymond H. Seeley, is a native of Norwalk, Conn. He graduated at the New York City University, in 1839, and at the Union Theological Seminary, New York city, in 1842, and was ordained as pastor of the Congregational Church in Bristol, Conn., July 5, 1843. In March, 1849, he was called to the pastorship of the North Church in Springfield, Mass., where he remained until February, 1858, when he was selected to take charge of the American Chapel, in Paris. He remained in Paris until November, 1859, when he returned to Springfield, from which place he removed to Haverhill, in August, 1860.
FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCHI.
This society originated in 1858, when a number of persons in Haverhill. and Bradford, believing in the principles of faith as laid down in the order of the Free-will Baptist denomination, commenced holding regular meetings in the Atheneum HIall, on Main Strect. The first services were held June 27th, by Rev. William C. Clark. Soon after, a lot of land was purchased on the east side of White Street, ncar Winter Street, and a vestry, capable of accommodating two hundred persons, was immediately erected on the rear of the lot. The building was dedicated January 6, 1859, at which
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time a church was regularly organized. The latter consisted of twenty- three members.
Soon after the organization of the church, a difficulty arose among its members, which finally, December 10, 1859, resulted in a division of the church, -or, rather, the secession of a part of its members, including its pastor. A few months later, (April, 1860,) the original society purchased the church edifice of the Winter Street Congregational Society, then recently disbanded, at a cost of $11,000, and immediately removed to that place.
A call was soon after extended to Rev. Joseph S. Burgess, then of Lewiston, Me., which was accepted, and he was regularly settled over the church and society in the following October.
RANDALL CHURCH.
This church and society had its origin in the schism which took place in the Free-will Baptist Church, in 1859, and was originally composed of the members who seceded from that church, December 10, 1859. Soon after the above division, the seceders commenced holding meetings in a hall finished for that purpose in the house of their pastor, Rev. Mr. Clark, on Duston Street. On the 13th of April, 1860, the hall was formally dedi- cated, and a church regularly organized by a council, under the name of the " Randall Church." " The latter now numbers fifty-four members. Though organized by a council, the church as yet stands as an " indepen- dent" church, not having applied for admission to the fellowship of the other churches of the denomination.
Rev. Wm. C. Clark, the pastor, is a native of Middleborough, Mass., where he was born, September 13, 1817. He prepared for the ministry principally at Holliston Wesleyan Academy, and was ordained at Lowell, in 1846, by the N. E. Wesleyan Methodist Conference, as pastor of the church at Leicester, Mass. In 1848 he removed to Duxbury, where he remained as pastor of a similar church, until 1850, when he accepted a call from the church in Rockport, Mass., where he remained one year, when he removed to Exeter, N. H. He continued with the church in Exeter until 1855, when he removed to Elliot, Mc. Two years later, he removed to Hampton, where he resided until called to take charge of the new movement in this town, in 1858.
FREE EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
In May, 1858, a new religious society was organized in the Central village, under the name of the Free Evangelical Church. Rev. Charles H.
" The church is named for Benjamin Randall, the founder of the Free-will Baptist denomination in 1780.
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Cole, (who had been for some time employed as a missionary in the town,) was chosen pastor. The object of the organization of this society, was, to provide a free meeting for all who could not, or did not choose to attend any other church. Sustained by the contributions of the public generally, it was for a time successful in accomplishing its object. The attendance was quite large, - many being induced to attend who had long been strangers in a religious meeting, -and the interesting Sabbath school connected with the society was the means of exerting an extensive and favorable influence over large numbers, who otherwise would not have been reached. Owing to a variety of causes, prominent among which may be mentioned the formation of several other new churches, and the extensive increase of worshipping accommodations, this society failed to receive sufficient support, and, after an existence of about two years, the organiza- tion was abandoned.
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