USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Ludlow > The history of Ludlow, Massachusetts > Part 12
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"The especial message of the country church should be to say to every one, 'This is the way, walk ye in it.' What a condition it would be if the church did not present the message that would convict of sin!"
At the noon hour the 200 guests enjoyed the luncheon which they had brought, in the grove of massive oaks in the yard. Families and acquaintances gathered in groups, renewing old friendships and making new ones. Afterwards many visited the two cemeteries near, where so many of the former church members rest.
The afternoon's service opened at 2.30 with "Sherburne" sung by the choir. Rev. Mr. Curtis offered prayer and E. E. Chapman sang "Light of Our Way."
The speaker of the afternoon was Rev. C. B. McDuffie of Three Rivers, taking for his text, "I am come that ye might have life and that ye might have it more abundantly." He dwelt particularly on the hopeful side of life as presented by the Gospel and earnestly advised the members of the Ludlow country church to be earnest and faithful.
Many former residents made it a point to come to Ludlow to visit again the scenes of their childhood and attended this service. Guests
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were present from New York City, Lancaster, Pa., Worcester, and the surrounding towns,
LEADERS OF THE SINGING IN THE FIRST CHURCH
To the worthy line of choristers and singers, who without compensa- tion have contributed so much to the public worship of God, great gratitude is due. The history shows that the changes in choristers have been less frequent than in the ministers, and there are more than one of these leaders of the singing whose form of service has outlasted by several years the longest pastorate of the church.
Probably Gad Lyon was one of the first leaders of the choir in Ludlow. He was the great-grandfather of David L. Fuller and Mrs. Frederick L. Burr. David L. Fuller has a pitchpipe which Gad Lyon used.
One of the early leaders was Gates Willey. He was grandfather of Mr -. Harriet Baggs.
David Lyon, son of Gad Lyon and grandfather of Mrs. Frederick L .. Burr, was also a leader.
The next leader that we can get any trace of was Hubbard Dutton, son of Dea. Oliver Dutton and father of Caroline Sikes, wife of Charles Sikes. Deacon Button was a leader for many years and also taught singing school several times in town.
It is thought that Lyman Fuller was a leader. He was grandfather of Mrs. Charles P. Jones.
Dr. Washington B. Alden is believed to have been a leader.
Davenport L. Fuller was a leader of the First Church choir for about twenty-five years. He also led the choir in the Methodist Church in Ludlow and taught singing school in town.
Jeremiah Dutton, nephew of Hubbard Dutton, is believed to have been a leader.
James S. Sikes, son of Chester Sikes, led for a time.
Benjamin F. Burr was leader of the choir for thirty years almost continuously. The church desiring to recognize his faithful services, adopted the following testimonial at their annual meeting, held January 3, 1889: "Whereas Brother Benjamin F. Burr has decided. much to the regret of the people, to retire from the office of chorister, it has seemed fitting that some recognition of his long service in the public worship of this church be expressed. Therefore it is
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resolved: that this church extends to Brother Benjamin F. Burr its warm appreciation of his more than twenty years' leading of the singing in our public worship; for his conscientious fidelity in attend- unce, his fine sense of fitness in suiting the music to the various occasions of sorrow and joy; for maintaining such continuous har- mony not only among the mem- bers of his choir, but with the congregation and the pastor. And also we would gratefully re- member the many years that he served under other leaders before his services as chorister. For these manifold services we ex- press our thankful appreciation and commend him to the great Rewarder, who suffers not that a cup of cold water rendered in his name shall be without recom- JAMES OSMYN KENDALL pense of reward."
Other leaders have been: Mrs. Mande Fuller Rhodes, Edward E. Chapman, Willis Fisher, Mrs. Lillian Jones Blish, and Miss Marion Jones, who is the present leader. The last two are daughters of Charles P. Jones.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
The first musical instruments known to be used in the first church (which is now the town house) were a bass viol and violins. The bass viol was played by Miss Caroline Fuller, daughter of Ely Fuller. Violins were played by Edmund and William Sikes, and Lyman Burr, father of B. F. Burr.
After leaving the first church building and going into the new church more instruments were added. A dute was played by Nathaniel Stebbins, uncle of B. F. Burr, also one double bass viol and one single bass viol. Later, at times, more violins and flutes were used. Austin Dutton, nephew of Hubbard Dutton, and Dr. W. B. Alden and Chauncey L
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HISTORY OF LUDLOW
Buell played the bass viols. Violins were played by Edmund Sikes. William Sikes, Albert Fuller, and Lyman Burr; Albert Fuller, also a Mr. Wilcox, and B F. Burr, played flutes. There was then quite .in orchestra.
In May, 1836, a flute was bought " for the use of the choir of singers in the first parish in Ludlow, to be parish property." In accordance with a vote passed April 16, 1838, a violin was purchased "for which was paid fourteen dollars and fifty cents, to be parish property."
In 1867 there was a change of musical instruments in church. Dea. Joseph Miller presented the church with a fine Excelsior organ that was used for some time and then the church placed it in the chapel and bought a seraphine. In 1885 Mrs. Angeline White, widow of Samuel White, presented the church with a Clough & Warren organ, which is now in use.
The organists, as remembered, have been: Mrs. Eliza Dutton Alden. daughter of Hubbard Dutton; Mrs. Julia Parsons Bodfish, daughter of Dea. Elisha T. Parsons: Miss Harriet Fuller, daughter of Gilbert E. Fuller: Mrs. Angelia Fairbanks Wait, widow of L. C. Wait; Miss Carrie Sikes, daughter of James Sikes; Mrs. Emma Lyman Charles, widow of Edmund Charles; Mrs. Sarah E. Fisher, wife of E. N. Fisher; Mr- Lillian Jones Blish and the present organist, Miss Marion Jones.
The church has received several bequests and gifts during its existence as follows:
BEQUESIS
In 1869 from the Pamelia Sikes estate, $300; an income $282.00
tx of SES was paid, leaving the net amount,
In 1871 from the Chester Sikes estate, 225.00
In 1892 from the Parma Grout estate, 984 41
In 1892 from the James O. Kendall estate, 1.000 00
In 1898 from the Samuel ( Ray estate, $100. The per
cont in his estate paid, reduced the sum for the church to 32 00
In 1903 from the Susan A. Green estate, 500 00
In 1907 from the Theodocia P. Clough estate. 200 00
In 1909 from the Angeline White estate. 300 00
In 1911 from the Miss Mary C. Atchinson estatt, 500 00
$4.023.41
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GIFTS
In 1789, from the First Church in Springfield a communion service, used by the Ludlow Church until 1846. On this service was inscribed the date 1742. It is probably the most ancient service used in that town. and is made of pewter. Now in the Historical Room in Ludlow Village.
In 1837 a bass viol was given by individuals. It was burned in 1894. when C. L. Buell's house was burned.
In 1841, from Edwin Booth of Philadelphia, a Bible for the desk of the church. It was burned in 1859 with the church.
In 1846, from Abner Cady, a prominent member of the church and citizen of the town, a silver communion service at a cost of $75. It was used by the church until Jan- uary, 1908. Now in the His- torical Room of the Hubbard Memorial building at the Village.
In 1867, from Dea. Joseph Miller, a fine Excelsior organ.
In 1870, from William Graves, $20. He did not as- sist in parish support twenty years ago.
FIRST COMMUNION SERVICE
In 1885, from Mrs. Ange- This pewter communion service bearing the in- scription, "Springfield First Church, 1742," w.15 I resented to the First Church in I udlow in 1789. line White, a Clough & War- ren organ the price paid by the committee chosen to purchase it was $175. It is still in use.
In 1887, from Mrs. Harriet Burr (widow of Lyman Burr), 8 dozen silver-plated spoons of the value of $18, and by subscription enough was raised to purchase 7 dozen silver-plated knives and forks, costing $51.90.
In 1907 and 1908, Charles D Rood of Springfield, Mass., a native of Ludlow, who has always manifested a deep interest in the town, gave to the Church the munificent sum of $10,000, the interest of which is to be used perpetually and annually, to be divided as follows: the sum of $1,000 for the Sabbath school: $1,000 to add to the pastor's salary; $1,000 for repairs to the church; $2,000 for the worthy poor of Ludlow Center; $1,000 for prizes to the best scholars in the different schools; $4,000, known as the Centennial Fund, to be used for the centennials of the town in 1974, 2074, 2174, and 2274.
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HISTORY OF LUDLOW
The church passed the following resolutions at their annual meeting. after a vote was taken "to accept the bountiful and generous gift of Charles D. Rood with its various provisions":
Resolved: That the First Church of Ludlow wish to extend to Charles D. Rood of Springfield their hearty thanks for his generous Christmas gift and for the heartich interest he manifested in making such a donation to the old Church in the town which was the home of his father and grandfather and also the place of his birth, and in which he has always manifested a deep interest.
Resolved: That whereas these gifts are to be perpetuated through future generations, the giver has endeared himself not only to us but to our children and children's children.
Resolved: That his thoughtfulness to provide for the poor, the Sunday School, and the encouragement to young men to grow up to clean, pure, and noble manhood is the beautiful side of such a gift, and we feel that as the years go by the gift will be more and more appreciated.
In 1908 a group of pictures of the former and prosent deacons of the church was presented by Benjamin F. Burr and hung at the right of the pulpit.
In the same year Charles D. Rood gave to the church an individual communion service, to the value of $55. He also gave $20 towards repairs on the parsonage and later gave a new carpet at & cost of $281.48.
Other gifts are 825 from Mr-, James Talcott of New York City to the young people to help procure an organ for the chapel, and from .I. W. Lincoln and J. C. Bridgman of Springfield, who gave in 1859 a Bible for the pulpit, and after the creation of the chapel a Bible for use in the chapel.
Mr. and Mrs. Moses Clark of Newton, Mass, gave to the church a baptismal ewer about 1908.
DENCONS OF THE CHURCH
Jonathan Bartlett (?) Timothy Keyes Jonathan Clough (?) David Lyon Job Pose Stephen Jones
Benjamin Sikes Oliver Dutton
Joseph Miller chosen in 1824
Ashbel Burr > 1824
Alva Sikes 1839
Elisha T. Parsons " 1848
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George Booth chosen in 1853 Alfred T. Jones chosen in 1900 Oshea Walker 1854 Elbridge J. Streeter " 1904
Henry S. Jones ..
" 1866 George H. Sprague " 1904
George R. Clark .. 1866 Elmer H. Carver * 1907
Herbert E. Miller ١١ " 1893
Gillen D. Atchinson 1897
the present deacons.
CLERKS OF THE PARISH TO 1897
Theodore Sikes
Simeon Jones
Lucien N. Lyon George R. Clark
Chauncey L. Buell
Herbert E. Miller
George Booth
Charles P. Jones
Benjamin F. Burr
Rev. M. P. Dickey
Edwin Booth
George Il. Sprague
Gillen D. Atchinson
Mrs. Amnie Hubbard
J. O. Kendall
Affred T. Jones
Benjamin F. Burr
Rev. Everett D. Francis
We find that the records of the church business were made by the pastors previous to the year 1867. In that year, Rev. C. L. Cushman was elected clerk; he signed the records as scribe.
CHURCH CLERKS AFHER INCORPORATION IN 1897
Rev. Everett D. Francis, 1897 1905
George H1. Sprague, 1905 A. Lincoln Johnson, 1905 1906
Leavitt Perham, 1906 -
The last named person is the present clerk.
In January, 1900, a Young People's Christian Endeavor Society was organized, which was well supported by the young people of the church. Meetings were held in the chapel every week and much interest manifested. In 1909 the society was given up and for several months no young people's meetings were held. In the winter of 1910 and 1911, meetings were again held under the auspices of the young people of the church, and in May, 1911, a new Christian Endeavor Society was formed.
Other organizations in the church are the Ladies' Missionary Societies, auxiliaries of the American Foreign Missionary Society and the Home Missionary Society, to which they contribute annually.
The last three named persons are
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HISTORY OF LUDLOW
There is a Ladies' Society which looks after the social interests of the church. It contributes to the home expenses of the church and for other worthy objects in the community.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL OF THE FIRST CHURCH
The first Sabbath school was established in the spring of 1820, during the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Wright. He was chosen president and Messis. Jonathan Sikes and Eliphal Booth, directors. Their work was like that of the superintendent of the present day. There were about 50 members at that time.
The order of exercises consisted of recitations of portions of the Scriptures and hymns, and the Ten Commandments. (Perhaps portions of the Catechism were committed to memory, but there is no record to that efect.)
No records of the school were kept in the first twenty-seven years and they are very imperfect for the most part since that time. But it is safe to say that the history of the Sunday school of this church, though unwritten, is one of its brightest pages. In few churches have the members so generally attended the school and by example. as well as diligent interest in the study of the Word, commended Bible study to the youth. This is true now and was as true a half century ago. when the Sunday school was regarded more of a children's insti- tution than it is to-day.
In 1847, the year when the records were begun, Elisha T. Parsons was chosen superintendent and continued until 1850 in that capacity. There tre no records from 1850 to 1857 when the election of Henry S. Jones is noted: he was re-elected in 1858.
Following are the names of the superintendent from 1850 to 1911: James W. Kendall, 1859, 1860; Franklin P. Tilley, 1861; no record for 1802; David C. Jones, 1863, 1804; Chauncey 1 .. Buell, 1865, 1806, 1867; Franklin P. Tilley, 1869; Davenport L. Fuller, 1870, 1871; Lucien N. Lyon, 1872, 1873; Gillen D. Atchinson, 1874, 1875; E. E. Charles, 1870; James O. Kendall, 1877, 1878; George R. Clark, 1879 to 1884; Rev. M. P. Dickey , 1885 to 1889; Robert H. Jones, 1890; Gillen D. Atchinson, 1891, 1892; George Il. Sprague, 1893, 1894; Frank E. Sikes, 1895 to 1897; Gillen D. Atchinson, 1898 to 1901; Edwin A. Davenport. 1902; 1. Lincoln Johnson, 1903 to 1905; Charles W. Streeter, 1900 to 1908; Charles 1. Chapman, 1909 to 1911.
OLD MIRTHODIST CHURCH AL LUDLOW CENTER
VI
OTHER CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
THE METHODIST CHURCH -The beginnings -- The first itinerants " Master Frost"-Evangels-The first class The quarterly meeting - Elder Elijah Wedding-Alexander McLean -" Methodist Legal Society" Rev. Wilbur Fisk Building the church "Parson Jennison" Difficulty -- McLean's appeal-Aid-A great revival -- Other revivals -Millerism-Remodeling "Father Banister"-War record-Rev. Mfred Noon-Wesleyan Praying Band-New edifice-List of preachers.
THE UNION CHURCH-Beginnings Pioneer-A revival Meeting places Erection of church-Question of privileges-Division Congregational organization- Original members Financial disaster-Reorganization I'nion Church-Rev. Austin Gardner-Renovation of church interior Rev. John Coyle-Improvements - Other pastors-Rededication Present pastor-List of pastors -List of deacons.
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH Early efforts A mission First services First confirmation- Building the church Dedication- Officers-Memorial gifts Boy choir.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH AND PARISH - Parish formation - Rev. M. ... Desrochers-First meeting place- Gift of church site-Erection of church - Dedication-Size of parish Increase -Value of buildings- Present pastor.
THE METHODIST CHURCH
THE beginnings of Methodism in Ludlow occurred in the last decade of the eighteenth century. The first itinerant to visit the town was probably George Pickering, and the second was George Roberts. The efforts of both antedate 1793. The first prominent layman was Samuel Frost, familiarly known as "Master Frost," who lived in the south- western part of the town. This same Samuel Frost was a very liberal man, and gave freely of his means to support the itinerant preachers. To those remonstrating at his prodigality, he retorted that he could raise "Methodist ears of corn" as long as his arm. In 1793, Mr. Frost invited the itinerants to visit the town and to preach at his house. Nathaniel Chapin, Uriah Clough, and Joel Farnum responded and services were held. The experiment was successful in awakening an interest, and in 1795 the Tolland circuit itinerants supplied statedly for a time. The names of the evangelists have been preserved; the most
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HISTORY OF LUDLOW
prominent being Menzies Rayner, Lemuel Smith, Zadoc Priest, Daniel Ostrander, and Laban Clark.
These flying evangel- left their pointed message and spec away. leaving no organization and no apparent lasting results, save the good seed sown. which, to all appearances, was buried deeply.
But these old itinerante knew no such word as fail. In 1801. probably on invitation of " Master Frost," the preachers again visited the town and we're successful. Meanwhile the new cause had received accessions. In the autumn of 1801, David Orcutt removed hither. The first Methodist class was organized March 22, 1802, by Henry Eames, a circuit preacher. There were about a dozen members and David Orcutt became the first class leader. For seven years at least meetings were held at the house of Samuel Frost. Augustus Jocelyn, the next circuit preacher, established a Sabbath appointment in Ludlow and spent a considerable portion of his time here.
In August, 1802, occurred a notable event in the history of the movement- what is now remembered as an "old-fashioned quarterly meeting." The place appointed, of course the house of Samuel Frost on what is now the Kellogg place, near Eaton's mill ), being too small, was enlarged for the occasion by the addition of a rude shed covered with brush and tree branches. Preparations complete, an audience was not wanting, for crowds assembled. A large delegation from the towns around, even as far as East Hartford, Granville, and Pomfret. came to the place of rendezvous. The townspeople, of course, were out in force to see the first real demonstration here of what some have been pleased to term "Christianity in earnest." A sermon by the presiding elder. Daniel Ostrander, perhaps his grandest effort, made the occasion memor- able to all. From this time to 1808 there were maintained services. private and public, without much omission. For a while there were preaching services in two places in town. Among the preacher- were Gove, Tucker, Sampson, Norris, and Lambord. There was rather decrease than otherwise in the latter part of the time mentioned, until finally the class was discontinued by Lambord. Frith Clough, how- ever, gathered the remnants of the organization into another class after a little delay. This class seems to have lasted during half a score of years at least.
In 1810, or in the succeeding year, came Elder Elijah Hedding to Ludlow. Appointed to the New London district as presiding elder, he
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OTHER CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
found it desirable to move from his itinerant's home at Winchester. N. H., to some convenient point in the central part of the field assigned. The feebleness of the denomination in New England at the time is evident from the fact that Mr. Hedding selected Ludlow as his home. His oversight reached from New Hampshire line to Long Island Sound, from Needham to the ridge of the Green Mountains.
Here he uniquely combined the duties of presiding elder in the Methodist church and pastor in the Congregational for a year, both with complete satisfaction.
The Rev. Alexander McLean has already been introduced as the acting pastor of the Town church from 1813 to 1817, when he terminated his official services.
Of course no demonstrations towards a pulpit supply were made during the labors of Hedding and McLean. Yet during the ministry of the latter he seems to have encouraged the visits of Methodist preach- ers, who often, we are told, spoke in the old meeting-house. Quarterly meetings were held in the edifice, and a local preachers' conference once occurred there. He also reorganized the West Middle class on a more permanent basis.
After 1816 there was little done by the Methodists for a number of years. Occasional preaching services occurred throughout the town, and the social meetings were more or less faithfully attended. Yet there was little accomplished save by the agitation of the Arminian tenets and preparation for future successes. About 1820 the opponents of the parish tax law formed an organization under the name of the " Methodist Legal Society," with MeLean as nominal pastor. The class was almost defunct in 1825, when aid came from an unexpected quarter.
The earlier itinerants were not men of eminent scholastic attainments, and hence found themselves at a disadvantage when before many of the New England people. And yet their natural qualifications were not to be despised, while the experience gained in their peculiar work was better for them than a collegiate education. Still, advantage would frequently be taken of their lack of specific education by pedantic clergymen of the standing order. Not always did the itinerant come out second best, even in these encounters. The anecdote of Jesse Lee is illustrative of this. An Orthodox minister addressing him in Greek, he replied in Low Dutch, much to the discomfiture of his antagonist, who supposed the response was in Hebrew.
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HISTORY OF LUDLOW
But when Rev. Wilbur Fisk, a graduate of Brown University, went into the Methodist itineraney, the new movement received a dignity not before obtained this side of the sea. As he took the school recently established in the northern wilds of Newmarket, N. H., and transplanted it to the town of Wilbraham, scarcely less undeveloped. the people of the standing order looked on at least with respect. And when this same Wilbur Fisk, as pious as learned, as earnest in mission work as in founding schools, of rare eloquence and rarer earnestness, left his classes behind and rode into Ludlow to preach the gospel to handfuls of people. it began to be understood that Methodism had come to town to make its abode here.
Dr. Fisk was not long in winning the confidence and attention of those who were willing to convene at the residence of Rev. Alexander Melean (the present home of Eugene Clark) to listen to his earnest proclamation of the gospel truth. Soon there was a harvest of souls and a demand for organization into a church. In a few months Mr. Fisk, through Mr. McLean, caused letters missive to be sent through the town, inviting the Methodists and all favorable to the enterprise, to meet at the house of Zera Fuller (where Mrs. A. J. Chapin now lives), on the afternoon of February 5, 1827, to consult with reference to "erecting a house for the Public Worship of God, to be located as near the center of the M. E. Society in this town as possible." Soon everything was under way. Captain Joseph Miller furnished the timber. Rev. Isaac Jennison, preacher, architect, and boss-carpenter, went with the old gentleman and his little grandson (the late Dr. William B. Miller of Springtiekb) to select the tall straight pines for the sills, posts, and plates. They were gathered from the forest near Wood's pond, where Sylvester Miller, (brother of Col. John Miller and uncle to Wilbur F. Miller) cut down the first tree marked.
McLean was a valuable and persistent worker in the enterprise, soliciting funds and lal or and material the whole town over. Few, if any, were slighted in those invitations. The axe and adze were made to fly thy none more dexterously than by Parson Jennison), the patient oxen and sturdy drivers conducted the logs to the mill, and soon the hand of Jennison had framed the massive timbers. The crowd who came to that raising saw every stick take its place in order, every mortise receiving its tenon to the very shoulder, every trunnion going home tightly, and no rum to help either, thanks to the advance in temper ance
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principles in half a century. The building was 40 by 50 feet. At last the work was done and the place ready for the dedication, which occurred, probably, July 5, 1828.
Methodism was now fairly established in the town. Parson Jennison and Noah Perrin supplied the charge that year, while a new minister was appointed to preach after the dedication.
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