USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medway > The history of Medway, Mass., 1713-1885 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
The Rev. Mr. Wright was a fine classical scholar. and fitted many young men for college. Students from Harvard College were sometimes placed for a season under his instruction. After a successful pastorate of seventeen years, his letter of resignation was read from the pulpit July 9. 1815. and he was formally dismissed, by advice of council, September 20. 1815.
The Rev. Mr. Wright preached his Farewell Discourse October 1. 1815, taking for his text, ". Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you." Acts ii., 29. On the same day he administered the Communion. and there were presented two children for baptism. One was the son of Marcus Richardson, who received the name of Simon Hill, for the senior deacon
112
of the church; and the other, the son of Samuel Seaver, was named Luther Wright, for the retiring pastor.
The Rev. Mr. Wright's printed sermons are : "A discourse preached May 25. 1806, at the funeral of Captain Cyrus Bullard," master of the brig Litteller, who died on his third voyage, April 13, 1806. of fever on the island of St. Thomas, at the age of twenty-six years. Captain Bullard was a young man of great promise. The text chosen was : " Thou didst say, Woe is me now ! for the Lord hath added grief to my sorrow: I fainted in my sighing and I find no rest." Jer. xlv., 3. "A centennial sermon of the town, preached November 4, 1813," the text being, " This day shall be unto you for a memorial." Ex. xii., 14. The selectmen requested a copy for printing, and it was accordingly published.
The Rev. Mr. Wright continued to preach some years, and on retir- ing from the ministry removed to Woburn, Mass. He visited Medway on his eightieth birth-day and preached to his old people, taking this text, " Lo ! I am this day fourscore." Joshua xiv., 10. This was his last visit to the scene of his early labors in the Gospel ministry. Vid. BIOGRAPHIES.
THE THIRD MEETING-HOUSE.
1816- 1850.
Early in 1813 a movement was started by Joseph Lovell, Esq .. and others to build a new meeting-house. A vote of the parish was obtained the sixth of September following. The location selected was Bullard's Hill, somewhat to the southward of the old meeting-house. Some three acres of land were purchased of Mr. Adam Bullard, who gave one acre in addition, and small parcels of land adjacent were also given by Mr. Asa Darling, Timothy Hammond, Esq., and Mr. Jonathan Bullen, amounting in all to nearly five acres. These were liberal grounds for the purpose. The site chosen on which to erect the building was the very summit of the hill, oblig- ing much labor and expense in so grading it as to make it accessible by car- riage, or on foot. The ascent, after all, was very steep. These lands in later times were purchased of the parish by Major George Holbrook, and are still retained in possession by his descendants. The avails, $200, were ex- pended in grading and fencing the grounds about the present meeting-house.
The building committee chosen were Joseph Lovell, Esq., Messrs. Theodore Clark, Comfort Walker, Moses Adams, and Thomas Harding. The building contractor was Malachi Bullard.
II3
The plan of the new meeting-house made the dimensions fifty-three feet square, with a projection in front of thirty feet by fifteen. The posts were twenty-nine feet, and it was voted to build a " steeple instead of a cupola "; with this exception, and some other slight changes, it was to be built after the plan of the new meeting-house then building in West Medway. No church steeple, as yet, had been erected in the town, and the old East Parish said, "We must have a steeple to our new meeting-house." But alas ! perhaps in rebuke of an undue pride, and certainly, to the grief of the builder, this first steeple had hardly pierced the skies, when the fearful gale of September 23, 1815, came, took it, while yet unfinished, completely off, hurled it to the ground, and broke it into a thousand fragments. However, the people came to the help of the contractor, and speedily the steeple was rebuilt.
This new house of worship was near completion when the first church- bell was cast in Holbrook's Bell Foundry. The happy thought seized the parish to purchase it; and, accordingly, it was hung aloft in the new church steeple, May 13, 1816, where it pealed forth its glad tones each Lord's Day for many years, reminding the people of the Sabbath and the worship of God in the sanctuary.
" THE EXPENSE OF BUILDING AND FINISHING the new meeting-house in East Parish in Medway (exclusive of the cost of the land whereon said house stands and the interest on money borrowed by the Treasurer of said parish to carry the same into effect) is as follows, viz. :
No. 1. To cost of underpining said house, &c., $ 386 96
" 2. To the first contract with Mr. Malachi Bullard by Bond, 6,500 00
3. To the extra paid to Malachi Bullard, 134 00
4. To the cost of dineing the men for raising said house, 39 50
66
5. To the stepstones, transporting laying the same and cherry stuff, 296 21
=
6. To the banasters, Scrapers Scrools and four Letters, 53 00
7. To the Bell, Frame wheel yoke irons rope & { the risk of raising, 535 00
8. To the committees services & sundry accounts, 99 09
Total,
$8,043 76
No. 3, for extra paid to the Building Contractor, MALACHI BULLARD.
" The Committee for effecting the building a New Meeting house in the East parish in Medway to the subscriber Dtr for Extra work on the New meeting house. Scrool and Letters on the Vain,
$ 9 00
Mahogany for the banisters,
7 58
Window in the belfry,
28 00
Work on the front Door, .
10 00
Window and side Lites to the front Door,
38 00
2 brass Latches for the pulpet,
02 00
Window over the inside Door,
09 00
For oil and Painting the third time,
25 00
For Plastering and finishing under the stairs,
06 00
Door under the stairs above the projections, .
0 50
135 08
For building Eight Pews in the Side Gallery,
025 00
For painting the floor,
16 00
To mending the windows in the belfry,
19 00
To puting up the pillers in the belfry,
1 75
$196 83
I shall want the Pay when it becomes Due
MALACHI BULLARD.
MEDWAY June the 15, 1816.
114
CR.
By a Compromise with the Committee aforesaid to the amount of,
$62 83
Balance due, · $134 00
MALACHI BULLARD.
MEDWAY June 24, 1816."
" MEDWAY, June 28, 1816.
Received of the within mentioned committee one hundred and thirty-four dollars, being in full of the within account and all other accounts except a Bond.
MALACHI BULLARD.
Attest - ETHAN COBB."
The house completed, the pews were appraised, "except the First Pew at the right hand of the Broad Alley, which is to be left for the use of the Minister of the Parish." The sale of pews is thus attested :
" We, with the assistance of the Standing Committee of the aforesaid parish sold pews in the aforesaid new meeting house at public auction to the amount of eight thousand one hundred and eighty three dollars ($8,183.00) : and have made out Deeds of conveyances of said pews to the purchasers, in behalf of the inhabitants of the said east parish in Medway; the considerations thereof made payable to Nathan Jones. Junr. Treasurer of the said east parish in Medway, or to his successor in that office agreeable to the conditions of the sale of said pews.
THEODORE CLARK, JOSEPH LOVELL,
THOMAS HARDING,
Committee for effecting the building a new meeting house in the east parish in Medway. .
MEDWAY, NOVY 11 1816."
" MEDWAY Jan 1817
We the subscribers a committee chosen by the East Parish in Medway to reckon with the committee chosen by sd Parish to effect the building of a meeting house in said Parish do certify that the within acct is well avouched, rightly cast and correct.
[ ASA DANIELS AMOS TURNER ELISHA A. JONES."
Public worship was held in the new meeting-house for the first time Sep- tember 8, 1816; the Rev. Mr. Holman, of Attleboro, Mass., preached the sermon. It was dedicated November 20, 1816, and continued to be occu- pied for worship until 1850, thirty-four years. It was then sold, taken down, removed to Rockville, re-erected, and, in 1885, stood bereft of its tall spire, emptied of its former glory, a gloomy, unoccupied building, with no token of its original sacredness. And nothing remains to remind the living of the consecrated sites occupied by the first three meeting-houses, where worshiped their fathers for more than a century. The hill on which stood the third meeting-house is now cut into two parts by the railroad, and the steam-car whistles on its iron way, thoughtless that once, just overhead, were the sanctuary and the pulpit, where the good parson preached his Gos- pel sermons and said his Sunday prayers.
THE FIFTH PASTORATE. 1816-1835.
Soon after the close of the Rev. Mr. Wright's ministry, while the church were looking for an under shepherd to go in and out before them as a pastor,
115
there appeared one Sabbath morning in the pulpit as a candidate, a young man of fine personal bearing, but exceedingly tall, so that all marveled in- wardly at his height, and some whispered, "Surely our pulpit has a minister in it to-day nearer Heaven in one respect than any one who ever stood in it before !" But by the time he had concluded the service, many thought that he must be nearer Heaven in another sense also ; for he prayed and preached with no common unction and power. The Rev. Luther Bailey made a good impression on the people of Medway, and very shortly the church and the parish agreed in sending him an invitation to settle as their minister.
The annual salary was fixed at $600, and his settlement $200. Some correspondence passed between the parties, and the Rev. Mr. Bailey finally returned his answer of acceptance, dated August 14, 1816, Taunton, Mass.
The arrangements were completed to have the dedication and the ordina- tion fall upon the same day. The day appointed was November 20, 1816. A large council was called, and the representatives of twenty-four churches met on the occasion. The examination of the candidate was highly satisfactory, and the council proceeded to the public services of the dedication and the ordination. The Rev. Daniel C. Saunders, D. D., of Medfield, preached the dedication sermon from the text, " The glory of the Lord hath filled the house." 2 Chron. v., 14. The Rev. James Wilson, of the second church in Providence, made the dedicatory prayer. The Rev. Edward Richmond, D. D., of Stoughton, preached the ordination sermon. The text was, " By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another." John xiii., 35. The Rev. Dr. Saunders made the ordaining prayer. The Rev. George Morey, of Walpole, gave the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. Jacob Ide, then recently settled over the Second Church of Christ in Medway, gave the right hand of fellowship.
These services fell on the one hundred and first anniversary of the set- tlement of the first pastor, the Rev. David Deming, which occurred Novem- ber 20, 1715. The sermons preached were printed.
The Rev. Joshua Bates, of the First Church, in Dedham, was the scribe of this council, and his record of their doings concludes thus : "All things having been done recently and in order, the council was dissolved."
At the time of the Rev. Mr. Bailey's settlement there were seventy-four members of this church. During his ministry there were added about a hundred and forty persons, mostly by confession of faith. The largest ac- cessions were in the years 1827 and 1834. But no year of his ministry passed without some additions. He was a very faithful and laborious pas- tor, but met with some peculiar trials, owing to the great controversy which arose in the churches of Massachussetts about that time, in regard to the Person of Christ. And, although troubled at the division in his own Society near the close of his ministry, he bore himself with remarkable prudence, and retained the respect and confidence of his people, as a good man and devoted Christian minister.
About the time of the Rev. Mr. Bailey's settlement, the first Sabbath School in the town was organized. A little after, in 1822, a weekly prayer- meeting was started in Rockville on Saturday evenings by the efforts, princi- pally, of two earnest Christian men living in that part of the parish, Mr. Timothy Walker, afterward a deacon of the church, and for many years the
II6
superintendent of the Sabbath School, and Mr. Matthew Brown, who after- ward succeeded Deacon Walker as superintendent of the Sabbath School. Mr. Brown was quite tried, at first, as to what he should do. He was ex- pected to be at his place of business at all hours of day and evening ; and on Saturday night, of all other times, his patrons expected to find him at his shop. However, he decided to attend the prayer-meeting, and accordingly posted a notice, politely informing his customers, that for one hour, naming the time, on Saturday evenings, he should be engaged ; at all other hours he should be happy to serve them. The result was, his business prospered even better than before, showing that it is not a vain thing to serve God, to be fervent in spirit as well as diligent in business.
This meeting was sustained for years with much interest and good result. It was in 1822 that the parish hall was built, much to the accommodation of the young and prosperous Sabbath School, which occupied it for many years. In the year 1828 it was voted to hold the monthly Monday prayer- meeting, the object of which was to pray for Foreign Missions, which at that day was a new and exciting enterprise undertaken by the churches.
About the year 1834, there was a movement by some in the parish to set up another religious service, and procure " preaching of some other denomi- nation "; and, for a time, those interested held an extra service in the parish hall by the courtesy of the First Parish. In 1835. near the close of the Rev. Mr. Bailey's pastorate, some more than forty members of the First Parish withdrew for the purpose of forming a new religious society. This new organization took the name of the "Third Congregational Society in Medway."
After a pastorate of nearly twenty years, the Rev. Mr. Bailey asked a dismission, which was granted, by advice of ecclesiastical council, Decem- ber 29, 1835. In the result of the council this was adopted: "That the Council recommend the Rev. Luther Bailey, as a minister of the Gospel in good and regular standing, and they do hereby commend him as a faithful minister of Jesus Christ to the affection and confidence of the Churches."
The Rev. Mr. Bailey was still residing in the parish, and after hearing various persons, their meeting-house being completed, the new Society in- vited him to become their pastor. He accepted the invitation, and was installed December 7, 1836. After several years he retired from the public service of the ministry, but still resided in his old parish, and worshiped with the First Church of Christ. Several sermons preached by the Rev. Mr. Bailey were published. One was preached June 9, 1824, before the Norfolk County Education Society in Randolph, Mass. ; another was preached on the Sabbath, October 17, 1830, at the funeral of Miss Betsey Adams, the text being, " Lord, make me to know mine end and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am." Ps. xxxix., 4; and another was preached at the funeral service of Abijah Richardson Thayer and Asa Clark Thayer, two brothers, whose burial occurred at the same time, October 31, 1830.
The Rev. Mr. Bailey died December 19, 1861, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was "beloved and respected by all the people" among whom he had lived and labored for so many years. Vid. BIOGRAPHIES.
-
II7
THE SIXTH PASTORATE.
1837-1851.
The First Church of Christ, under date of July 12, 1837, extended an unanimous call to the Rev. Sewall Harding, of Waltham, Mass., a native of Medway, offering a salary of $600 per annum. The invitation was accepted by letter, dated September 15, 1837, Waltham, Mass.
The Rev. Mr. Harding's installation occurred November 1, 1837. Ten neighboring churches were represented in the council. The Rev. David Long, of Milford, was chosen moderator, and the Rev. E. Smalley, scribe. The sermon of installation was preached by the Rev. Jacob Ide, D. D., of the Second Church ; installing prayer by the Rev. Mr. Cummings, of North Wrentham ; charge to the pastor by the moderator ; the right hand of fel- lowship by the Rev. David Brigham, of Framingham ; and the address to the people by the Rev. Elam Smalley, of Franklin.
At the opening of the Rev. Mr. Harding's ministry the church numbered one hundred and eighty-two : fifty-seven males, one hundred and twenty-five females. This is, probably, the largest living membership of the church.
During this pastorate of fourteen years, some sixty persons were added ; about forty of them were received on confession of faitlı.
While the Rev. Mr. Harding was pastor, the slavery agitation commenced, and the Church of Christ in Medway, although in its early history even the minister held slaves, was true to Christian instincts and the progress of ideas. Decided anti-slavery views were taken, and published to the country and to the world, as appears in the following record : "On the second of September, 1842, the church voted unanimously the following :
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, The Christian Church is established to be the light of the world, and the great instrument in the great work of the world's reformation. It is therefore
Resolved, That the Church ought to bear decided testimony against all sin, and especially reprove with all tenderness and fidelity those members of the Christian body who persist in open transgression.
Resolved, That the system of Slavery, as it exists in the United States, and as tol- erated in many Churches in our land, is a violation of the letter and the spirit of the Gospel ; inasmuch as it withholds from almost three millions of the human family their personal freedom, denies them generally the means of education, the privileges and protection of civil institutions, the sacred rights of matrimony, and the due reward of their labor, thus reducing them to and holding them in a state of oppres- sion, ignorance, and moral degradation scarcely paralleled in the civilized world.
Resolved, That we feel constrained, in the spirit of meekness, to reprove and rebuke all professing Christians, ministers, and Churches who tolerate Slavery in word or deed, and that we cannot extend the fellowship of the Gospel to those who continue to enslave their fellow-men after the faithful admonition of their Christian brethren.
Resolved, That these resolutions be published in the Boston Recorder, the New England Puritan, and the New York Evangelist, signed by the Pastor and officers of the Church."
"The above resolutions were signed and published as above voted.
Attest, SEWALL HARDING, Pastor."
By a communication, dated April 8, 1849, the Rev. Mr. Harding asked to be released from active service, and by advice of council the pastoral rela- tion was dissolved December 3, 1851. Vid. BIOGRAPHIES.
/
THE FOURTH MEETING-HOUSE.
ERECTED IN 1850.
This HOUSE FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP was erected in pursuance of a vote of the First Parish, passed June 25, 1849. A new locality was chosen, and a site on spacious grounds given for the purpose by Henry Richardson, Esq.
September 10, 1849, Joseph L. Richardson, Jr., was chosen building committee ; Messrs. Melvin and Page were the contractors. The cost was about $6,000, which was covered by the valuation placed upon the pews.
This house was dedicated November 13, 1850. The sermon on the occasion was preached by the Rev. Samuel Hunt, then of Franklin, after- wards the private secretary of the late Vice-President, Honorable Henry Wilson, of Natick. Since its erection, in 1854, the bell became damaged, and was exchanged for a new one from the foundry of Holbrook & Son. In 1857 the house was re-painted ; and in 1867, thoroughly remodeled and enlarged at a cost of nearly $5,000. The gallery was lowered, a recess made in the rear of the pulpit, twenty pews added, the organ repaired, the audience-room neatly frescoed, and the building re-painted.
In 1882 it was again painted, and at the present time, 1885, important changes and improvements are being made in the vestry and church sur- roundings.
119
THE SEVENTH PASTORATE.
1851 - 1855.
The REV. JOHN OLIVER MEANS was called September 4, 1851, to settle as pastor of the First Church of Christ. His salary was $Soo, with four weeks' vacation. The call was accepted by letter, dated Augusta, Me., October 15, 1851.
By advice of ecclesiastical council, December 3, 1851, Mr. Means was ordained and installed pastor of the church. The Rev. Benjamin Toppan, of Augusta, Me., moderator of the council, preached the sermon ; the Rev. John Dwight, of North Wrentham, made the ordaining prayer ; the Rev. J. T. Tucker, of Holliston, gave the charge to the pastor ; the Rev. A. Swazey, of Brighton, the right hand of fellowship; and the Rev. Sewall Harding made the address to the people. The Rev. George H. Newhall, of Walpole, was the scribe of the council.
The pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Means was hardly four years in length. At its commencement the church numbered one hundred and thirty-two members. During his ministry, twenty-six were added, fifteen of these by confession of faith. The influence of this short pastorate was very great, not only in the church but in the whole community. A spirit of public im- provement was inspired, and the name of the Rev. Mr. Means remained for many years peculiarly honored in the kindest remembrance of the people. His resignation took effect September 4, 1855. Vid. BIOGRAPHIES.
THE EIGHTH PASTORATE.
1856 -- 1871.
By action of the First Church of Christ, taken April 21, 1856, an invita- tion was extended to the Rev. Jacob Roberts to become their pastor ; the annual salary was $800, with a vacation of four Sabbaths. The Rev. Mr. Roberts returned a letter of acceptance, dated Fairhaven, Mass., June 12, 1856. He was installed, by advice of ecclesiastical council, October 9, 1856. The Rev. Sewall Harding was chosen moderator of the council, and the Rev. A. Bigelow, of Medfield, was the scribe. The sermon on the occa- sion was preached by the Rev. James A. Roberts, of Berkley, a brother of the pastor-elect. The text was, " For the redemption of their soul is precious." Psalms xlix., 8. Installing prayer by the Rev. J. T. Tucker, of Holliston ; charge to the pastor, by the Rev. Jacob Ide, D. D., of West Medway ; right hand of fellowship, by the Rev. H. D. Walker, of East Abington, and the address to the people, by the Rev. S. Harding, of An- burndale. The Rev. Luther Bailey, the Rev. Sewall Harding, and the Rev. John O. Means, former pastors of the church, were present in the council.
The Rev. Mr. Roberts' ministry extended over a period of fifteen years, and was greatly blessed of God. Ninety-three persons were added to the church, about seventy of these on confession of faith. Over forty were added in the single year of 1866, the results of a revival. The Rev. Mr. Roberts' health failed, and he resigned October 14, 1870. Vid. BIOGRAPHIES.
I20
THE NINTH PASTORATE.
1871.
The First Church of Christ, under date of September 26, 1871, extended a call to the Rev. E. O. Jameson to become their pastor, the parish offering a salary of $1,500, to which Mr. Jameson returned a letter of acceptance, dated October 5, 1871, Salisbury, Mass.
The installation of the Rev. Mr. Jameson took place on Wednesday, November 15, 1871. The Rev. Samuel J. Spalding, D.D., of Newburyport, was moderator of the council. The Rev. S. Knowlton, of West Medway, was the scribe. The venerable Rev. Sewall Harding, of Auburndale, the Rev. John O. Means, D. D., of Boston Highlands, and the Rev. Jacob Roberts, of Auburndale, former pastors, were present in the council. The Rev. Dr. Means preached the sermon ; the Rev. J. M. R. Eaton, of Medfield, made the installing prayer ; the Rev. Dr. S. J. Spalding delivered the charge to the pastor ; the Rev. S. Knowlton gave the right hand of fellowship, and the Rev. Jacob Roberts, the retiring pastor, made the address to the people.
THE PARSONAGE. ERECTED IN 1872.
Early in the ministry of this pastor a desirable site was secured ; a suit- able house was erected, and for the first time in the history of the church and society, a period of more than one hundred and fifty years, they had a parsonage for their minister. This enterprise was started by a gift of twenty- five dollars from some unknown person, for building a Parsonage. A site was selected and land purchased nearly opposite the meeting-house. The work was pushed forward, and November 1, 1872, the house was ready to be occupied. Two years later a stable was erected. The entire cost of land and buildings was about six thousand dollars.
October 7, 1876, the church celebrated its one hundred and sixty- second anniversary, and the Sabbath School its sixtieth. The pastor, the Rev. Mr. Jameson, preached a sermon which was published by request.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.