USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medway > The history of Medway, Mass., 1713-1885 > Part 17
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Several of the pastors have, in seasons of revival, been assisted by their brethren in the ministry. Mention should be made of the Rev. Hervey Fittz, who labored here in 1847; the Revs. William C. Patterson, and H. F. Lane, in 1857; and the Rev. William O. Holman, in 1882. In the period of seventy-one years, from November, 1832, to October, 1883, four hundred and seventy persons had been connected with the church. Of these, thirty-three were constituent members, two hundred and seventy-four were added by baptism, and one hundred and sixty-three received by letter. Eight of the church have served in the office of deacon. Wales Kimball was elected 1833, resigned 1833, reelected 1858; J. S. Smith was
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chosen 1837, resigned 1845, reelected 1867 ; H. C. Messinger was elected 1858; these three still serve ; J. Eli Pond was chosen 1852, resigned 1865. The other four, Jesse New, Charles P. Gould, Samuel Leland, and Alfred Partridge, served for briefer periods.
The Sunday School has been connected with the church from the first, but no records were kept until 1859; from that year until 1883, the average attendance was eighty-five. The highest average was during 1860 and 1874, when it reached ninety-five. The largest attendance upon any one Sunday, was May 29, 1859, when 138 were present. The present membership of the church is one hundred and forty-two. This sketch, with slight changes, was approved by the church, October 4, 1883.
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THE THIRD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
1836 - 1865.
About the year 1834 there was a movement in the First 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, which was called " The Third Congregational Society in Medway." Soon after organization, they set about the erection of a meeting-house. Meanwhile, the Rev. Mr. Bailey had resigned, but was still residing in the parish. After hearing various persons, their meeting-house being completed, the new society invited their old minister to become the pastor. Soon after, eleven persons, members of the First Church, having requested dismission, " Wishing," as they say, "to associate in public worship with the 'Third Congregational Society in Medway,' agree and covenant together to be 'The Third Congregational Church.'" And they add, "We mutually agree to walk together in Christian fellowship and to adopt as our Church Covenant the Covenant used in the said First Church. Luther Bailey, Adam Bullard, Lewis Harding, Kezia Harding, Olive Harding, Sarah Harding, Mary Richardson, Kezia Harding, Eliza Adams, Dorcas M. Wright, Abigail Lovell."
In 1836 the church was recognized, and the Rev. Mr. Bailey installed their pastor, as seen from the following record :
" Agreeably to letters missive, an Ecclesiastical Council convened in East Medway on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 1836, at the house of Col. George H. Holbrook, & was organized by the choice of the Rev. Amos Clarke, as Moderator, the Rev. James A. Kendall, Scribe.
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After an examination of sundry papers submitted to them, the Council Voted. That they were satisfied with the proceedings of the Third Con- gregational Society in Medway, respecting their invitation given to the Rev. Luther Bailey to become their religious Teacher & Pastor, and his accept- ance thereof. Also,
Voted. That they were satisfied with the measures adopted by the Third Cong. Soc'y pertaining to the formation of a Society & Church, & were ready to proceed to assign the parts for the Dedication of the House of worship, & the Installation of the Pastor. Accordingly, it was Voted. That the Introductory & Dedicatory Prayer should be offered by the Rev. Mr. Sanger ; Sermon by Rev. Mr. Ritchie; Installing prayer, Mr. White ; Charge, by Rev. Mr. Clarke ; Right hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Sanger ; Concluding prayer, by Rev. Mr. Kendall. Attest, JAMES A. KENDALL, Scribe."
This new church maintained service a number of years, and its member- ship increased ; the Rev. Mr. Bailey being their minister ; but, on his retire- ment, the organization gradually diminished, until public service was discontinued. Some of the members returned to the First Church, some removed from town, others died ; so that the Third Congregational Church and Society became virtually extinct. Their meeting-house was removed to the opposite side of the street and known as St. Clement's Church.
THE REGISTER OF THE THIRD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
PASTOR. - The Rev. Luther Bailey, installed December 7, 1836; died June 16, 1863.
DEACONS. - Adam Bullard, Amos B. Davis.
MEMBERSHIP. - Fifty-one members recorded.
THE EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
1838 -1885.
The growth of Medway "Factory Village," through its manufacturing industries, required religious privileges more accessible than either church in East or West Medway afforded. Occasional religious service was held in the school-house by the Rev. Dr. Ide, of West Medway, and Sabbath School instruction was maintained previous to 1830. The increasing interest in these privileges, and their essential importance to this growing community, excited the citizens to the purpose of erecting and maintaining a place for public worship.
The site of the present meeting-house was given by David Whiting, of New York, a native of this village, by a deed of gift of one quarter of an acre, more or less, to Comfort Walker, dated April 21, 1836. The same lot was conveyed by Mr. Walker, August 27, 1836, to the following persons, who became the original proprietors of the meeting-house property, divided into eighty-nine shares, to wit: Luther Metcalf, William White, Orion Mason, M. H. Sanford, ten each ; James B. Wilson, and Comfort Walker,
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fifteen each ; Dr. A. L. B. Monroe, six ; Titus Bullard, three ; and Wyman Adams, William Fuller, Charles Wheeler, and Collins Hathon, each two. They had become subscribers to a fund of $4,450, and they took forty-one pews in the meeting-house, to the value of $4,961.50, as follows : Comfort Walker, eleven pews, for $1,192 ; J. B. Wilson, six, for $818; L. Metcalf, four, for $580 ; William White, three, for $488; M. H. Sanford, four, for $451 ; Orion Mason, five, for $434; Dr. Monroe, two, for $280; J. O. Pond, one, $158; W. Fuller, one, $118; Charles Wheeler, one, $116; W. Adams, one, $126; Titus Bullard, one, $115 ; C. Hathon, one, $85 ; leaving nineteen pews, sold in part to other persons.
The consideration in the original deed of the land, was, " that a meeting- house shall be erected on these premises for the sole purpose of having public worship of the Evangelical Congregational order (preached and) maintained therein forever."
THE VILLAGE CHURCH. ERECTED IN 1838.
Through the agency of Deacon M. M. Fisher, the grounds were much enlarged, and were conveyed by him, by deed, dated June 9, 1846, for the sum of three hundred dollars, with the stipulation that : " No building is to be erected upon the land, except to enlarge or rebuild the meeting-house. The grounds to be ornamented with shrubs and trees, and the society to have the use of all roads upon the place of said land." Slight changes have been made, by sale, to the Parson's estate, of some twenty feet in depth, and by exchange with the Hon. Clark Partridge. The enclosure of the grounds and the lawns, as they now are, was made by the liberality of Mr. M. H. Sanford, under the careful superintendence of the Rev. R. K. Harlow, pastor of the Village church in ISS1.
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The following persons were elected to act as a committee to contract for the building of the church, to wit: Luther Metcalf, J. B. Wilson, Wyman Adams, William White, and Milton H. Sanford, and they con- tracted with James Purrington to build the house, and William Page to do the stone work. The final cost of the whole, including the bell, was $5,829.57, and it was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies, June 15, 1838. The Rev. Joel Hawes, D. D., of Hartford, a native of the Village, preached the sermon of dedication.
A religious society was legally organized, and the meeting-house was committed to its use and care for public worship, May 25, 1838.
At the first meeting the following officers were chosen :
MILTON H. SANFORD, Clerk.
A. L. B. MONROE, BENJAMIN SMITH, Assessors.
LUTHER METCALF, ORION MASON, J. B. WILSON, CLARK PARTRIDGE,
Parish Com.
WILLIAM FULLER,
COMFORT WALKER, Treasurer. CHARLES WHEELER, Collector.
The support of worship was wholly voluntary and not by any tax, as was the general practice at that time. The salary was fixed at $600, with an expected donation party giving $100 to $200 annually.
A church, called " The Evangelical Congregational Church of Medway Village," was organized September 7, 1838, consisting of thirty-four mem- bers. The organizing council was made up of representatives of the fol- lowing churches : The Second Church of Christ in Medway, the Rev. Jacob Ide, D. D., pastor, Deacon Daniel Nourse, delegate ; Church in Franklin, Brother Caleb Fisher, delegate ; First Church of Christ in Medway, the Rev. Sewall Harding, pastor, Brother Paul Daniell, delegate ; Village Church, Dorchester, the Rev. David Sanford, pastor, Brother James Burt, delegate.
THE FIRST PASTORATE.
1838-1871.
The people from the first had their eye and heart upon the Rev. David Sanford, a native of the Village, then settled at Milton Mills, Dorchester, for their pastor. He accepted the call, and was installed, October 3, 1838, pastor of the Evangelical Congregational Church and Society of Medway.
The following ministers took part in the services : the Rev. D. J. Smith, of Sherborn, introductory prayer ; the Rev. J. Codman, D. D., Second Church, Dorchester, sermon; the Rev. E. Fisk, Wrentham, installing prayer ; the Rev. J. Ide, D. D., West Medway, charge to the pastor ; the Rev. S. Harding, East Medway, fellowship of the churches ; the Rev. D. Long, Milford, concluding prayer.
In 1846, the attendance at church was so large that the society erected galleries at a cost of $550, which were well occupied for several years, and until the introduction of foreign, instead of American, labor in the mills diminished the Protestant population. The congregation formerly num- bered, at times, three hundred and fifty on the Sabbath.
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The marble clock was presented by Mrs. John W. Richardson, in memory of her father, Elias Metcalf, who was a member of the church. The clock in the tower of the church was presented in 1850, by Pardon D. Tiffany, Esq., a native of the Village, then of St. Louis, Mo.
In 1850 the vestry of the church was finished at a cost of $341.16.
In 1861 Mr. M. H. Sanford presented the society with the organ made by Mr. E. L. Holbrook, of East Medway, at a cost of $1,000, and the society enlarged the meeting-house to place the organ at the north end of the house, with singers' seats in front, with a platform and pulpit projecting into the main body of the house. This change was made at a cost of $566.25.
In 1870 repairs and changes were made at a cost of $1,991.45, and in 1874 the whole interior of the church was remodeled at a cost of about six thousand dollars. All these sums were raised by subscription.
Public worship was sustained until 1854 by voluntary subscription ; since then the pews have been rented for its support.
During this pastorate four hundred and seven were added to the church.
THE SECOND PASTORATE.
1872.
The Rev. David Sanford resigned the active duties of the pastorate, March 7, 1871, and the Rev. R. K. Harlow was installed colleague pastor, February 13, 1872. Sermon by the Rev. William B. Wright, of Boston ; prayer of installation, by the Rev. D. Sanford ; charge to the pastor, by the Rev. Isaiah C. Thatcher ; right hand of fellowship, by the Rev. E. O. Jameson ; address to the people by the Rev. Horace D. Walker.
The period represented by the pastorate of the Rev. R. K. Harlow, has been one of prosperity to the church and society. In addition to the im- provement of the interior of the house of worship, and the adornment of its grounds, provision has been made, in part, for the future support of public worship, from the income of Sanford Hall, and from a legacy of $6,000, left by the late Edward Eaton, Esq. During the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Harlow, one hundred and sixteen have been added to the church.
THE OFFICIAL REGISTER.
PASTORS. Rev. David Sanford, installed October 3, 1838 ; died December 17, 1876. Rev. Rufus Kendrick Harlow, installed February 13, 1872.
DEACONS.
Deacon Samuel Allen, ordained September 4, 1840 ; died January 15, 1866. Deacon George W. Hunt, ordained September 4, 1840 ; died March 24, 1870. Deacon Milton M. Fisher, ordained September 4, 1840.
Deacon John W. Richardson, elected November 1, 1867.
The total membership of the church to 1885 was five hundred and seventy-five. There are now two hundred and twenty-one members.
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THE ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
1850- 1885.
Thirty-five years ago very few persons of the Catholic faith resided in Medway. But these few, in 1850, gathered for religious service in the house of Walter De Wire, where mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father Callaher. These services were held at irregular intervals until about 1857-8, when they were continued under the ministrations of the Rev. Father Cuddihy at the residence of John Kenny.
The congregation gradually increased, and finally what was then known as the old straw shop was hired as a place of worship. This building stood upon the ground now occupied by the present St. Joseph's Church. In 1863 the premises were purchased with funds raised by subscription among the members of the church, sixty-two in all, viz. :
Nicholas Lanigan. Daniel Flynn.
Peter Phillips.
Walter DeWire.
Laurence McGinnis. John Buckley.
Francis Neelon.
James Logan.
Patrick Conrey.
James Finneron.
James Toohey.
Patrick Hart.
Dennis Mawn.
Patrick O'Hara.
James Brown.
Barney Rooney.
Owen Mawn.
Peter Scales.
Michael Sheehan.
Patrick McGullion.
Michael Casey.
Thomas Casey.
John Reardon. Hugh Keaney. Edward Scofield.
Michael Reilly. Thomas Malloy.
Thomas O'Gara.
Francis Namarra.
Patrick McCormick. Michael Haggerty.
Andrew J. Murphy. Patrick Keefe.
Michael Costello. John Gordon. John Lanigan. John Woods.
Francis McGullion.
Michael Cullen.
Thomas Mullen. William Wallace. Morris Kirby. John McGee. Anthony Gallagher. Thomas McGullion.
Jeremiah Colbert.
Jeremiah Desmond. Patrick Crowley.
Daniel Whooley.
Patrick Neelon.
Timothy O'Holloren. Michael Cleary.
Patrick Phillips.
James Reilley.
Thomas Kane.
James Keaney.
To these subscribers may be attributed the real formation of the present St. Joseph's Catholic Church, of Medway. During the period above named this church formed a portion of the Milford Parish, and was ministered to by the Rev. Father Cuddihy, but in December, 1870, it was detached from the parish of Milford, and joined to that of Holliston, the Rev. Father Quinlan becoming the pastor. Shortly after assuming charge of the Medway Church, he started a subscription among the members for means for a new building, work on which was commenced in the spring of 1876. The base- ment of the edifice was occupied for the first service, August 12, 1877.
At this time a debt of $8,500 existed, and to reduce this amount the society held a fair, the proceeds of which netted some $3,000, which was not enough to finish the building, and, as a consequence, it has since then remalned uncompleted, only the basement being available for public worship.
The care of both churches taxed the strength of Father Quinlan severely. Having asked for an assistant, the Rev. Father Splain was appointed as such in 1879, being succeeded by the Rev. Father John Cum- mings, and later on by the Rev. Father Campbell, who, not being possessed of a constitution of sufficient robustness to give the attention which he desired to so large a congregation, asked for his release, which, being granted, he was succeeded in June, 1885, by the Rev. Father M. T. Boylan.
James Jordan.
Patrick Keaney.
Edmund Hayes.
Edward O'Donnell.
James O'Connors.
James O'Hara.
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The congregation having increased to some twelve hundred, the parish, with the incoming of Father Boylan, was made independent.
Upon the appointment of Father Boylan, a residence was purchased for him in Medway, and he at once commenced financial methods towards the completion of the house of worship, making a personal canvass in the parish, and by this means raising by pledge the sum of $2,500.
Father Boylan was educated by the Sulpitian Fathers, in Montreal Col- lege, Canada, his theological studies having been followed there in the Grand Seminary, an institution conducted by the Sulpitians, and his ordination to the priesthood occurred there December 19, 1874. His first ecclesiastical appointment was that of assistant pastor to the Rev. Manasses Doherty, of St. Peter's Church, Cambridge, Mass., at which place he remained until his appointment, by Archbishop Williams, to the position which he now holds, as pastor of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, of Medway.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.
1857 - ISS5.
There was no organized Methodist movement in this town previous to the year 1857. Meetings had undoubtedly been held and sermons preached by Methodist ministers, in school-houses and other places, before that date.
In 1857, the Rev. William Jackson, formerly a Wesleyan minister, preached here, and such was the effect produced by his labors, that he located himself upon the hill, near the Congregational Church, and con- tinued his ministry about two years, holding his meetings chiefly in a school- house. These labors resulted, July 19, 1857, in the organization of the "First Methodist Episcopal Church, of West Medway, Mass."
Mr. Jackson was much advanced in years, and a man of marked pecul- iarities. His ministry could hardly fail to awaken the curiosity and interest of any community. He had a wonderful knowledge of the Word of God, usually referring to the chapter and place of every verse used by him, and is mentioned by one of his successors, as a man of clear and quick understand- ing, faith in the Holy Ghost, bold as a lion, fearing not the face of clay. He was childlike, excitable, and sometimes imprudent ; and while his manner awakened opposition and criticism, his wonderful knowledge of the Bible not only made him an intelligent and instructive preacher, but the writer of some useful books, The Christian Legacy, being, perhaps, the most useful of them.
In December, 1858, the Rev. L. Crowell, then presiding elder, held the first quarterly meeting of the church, at the house of Mr. Jackson, where the last meeting under his ministry was held September 23, 1859. At that time there was no depot, the railroad was unfinished, and there were but few houses in that part of the town.
Mr. William Adams, a man of wonderful enterprise and public spirit, had become so far interested in Mr. Jackson and the Methodist movement, that he generously gave the land for a church and parsonage, and in many other ways helped on the struggling cause.
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The ground was broken, walls laid, timbers and boards bought, the church raised and inclosed, but, although wonderful liberality characterized the few worthy people, the meeting-house was only partially completed.
Indeed, the society was so embarrassed by debts, that but for the timely aid of the Hon. Lee Clafflin, of Hopkinton, the house would have been sold, and the life of the society extinguished. But just at this crisis Mr. Clafflin was induced to loan the church $750, with which its obligations were met. The trustees gave him a deed of the property for that sum, which he generously deeded back at the end of three years for one-half that amount. From that time the church moved forward with renewed energy, the house being completed soon after.
In 1870 the excellent and commodious parsonage was built, largely through the generous and noble liberality of the lamented Thomas Camp- bell, who even in death loved and remembered the church. It should also be observed at this point, that Mr. Jackson's very excellent wife, and other members of his family, made most generous gifts to the church. The Rev. Mr. Jackson died distant from this place, and at his request was brought here, and buried near the Cottage Street gateway of our beautiful cemetery, and in close proximity to the church which he so much loved, and the spot so dear to his heart. Here mention should be made of others who took prominent part in the movement, viz. : Peter Ford, John Crowland, L. S. Whitney, Stephen Campbell, and several others, whose names do not appear in the records. Mr. Jackson was followed by the Rev. Mr. Tilton, of New Hamp- shire, who preached with acceptability for a short time, and was succeeded in 1860-1861, by the Rev. Josiah Higgins, a local preacher, then living in Chelsea, being here only on the Sabbath. He was a man of true piety, warm heart, earnest and affectionate manner, very useful, and much beloved.
In 1861 the Rev. George Whitaker was appointed by the Conference, and became the first regular pastor of the church. This was his first ap- pointment, having just graduated from Wesleyan University. He was with- out experience, but made many friends, and was successful in his work.
The Rev. T. C. Potter was Mr. Whitaker's successor from 1863 to 1865. A good and true minister, but of whom little is known aside from his labors here. He subsequently removed from this Conference to other fields.
In 1866 the Rev. C. W. Wilder, a modest, faithful, and useful man, was appointed to the charge, but went from Medway to the Vermont Conference, leaving before the close of the year, being followed for a short time by a young Mr. Thayer, of Mendon.
The Rev. W. A. Nottage, an educated, devoted, and faithful pastor, served the church the next two years.
In the spring of 1868 the Rev. W. P. Ray took the field, and served the church faithfully for three years. During Mr. Ray's ministry the parsonage was built, and many were brought into the church.
He was succeeded by the Rev. William Merrill, a good, earnest, winning preacher, who served the church with great acceptability till the spring of 1873, though his labors were much embarrassed by illness, the last year.
Mr. Merrill was followed by the Rev. J. R. Cushing, who was with the church but one year. He was an active, earnest, social man, gifted as a singer, and a Sabbath School worker.
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The pastorate for the next three years, from the spring of 1874 to the spring of 1877, was assigned to the Rev. L. Crowell, under whose adminis- tration as presiding elder, the church was first organized. Under his labors general prosperity prevailed. Seasons of revival were enjoyed, and about thirty persons were received into the church, making about one-third part of the whole membership at that time. During Mr. Crowell's term, $3,000 were expended in improvements on the meeting-house.
But in the midst of this prosperity there were some reverses. Many re- moved, mostly in consequence of depression in business. Twenty persons took letters, many of them permanent and valuable members, and other persons and families not members, but regular attendants, removed from the place. Mr. Crowell attended twenty-five funerals, six members of the church died, some of whom were aged and much honored and esteemed, and others helpful.
The Rev. W. N. Richardson was pastor in 1877-1879, and was succeeded by the Rev. J. C. Smith, whose labors covered a term of three years, closing in April, 1882, followed by the Rev. W. M. Hubbard, who remained three years, and was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Dwight.
The full membership as reported in the minutes of the annual Conference of 1882, was one hundred and sixteen.
The board of trustees were Aaron Brigham, E. D. Stone, J. T. Green- wood, Charles Cole, S. J. Lawrence, Seth Partridge, William Creasey.
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LACHOIX
SAINT CLEMENT'S CHURCH AND SCHOOL.
1865-1871.
The Third Congregational Society lost its organization by the failure to hold annual and other business meetings. And their meeting-house, having been closed for some years, was fast going to decay.
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A proposition was made June, 1865, by the Revs. B. I. Cooley, pastor of the Episcopal Church, of Holliston, Mass., and B. B. Babbit, of Andover, to the pew-owners, who had become the owners of the church, that it should be, for a nominal sum, transferred to a board of trustees representing the Episcopal Church of Massachusetts, who agreed to repair and improve the property, and to maintain the services of the Protestant Episcopal Church forever. Unanimous consent having been obtained of the owners, the prop- erty was deeded to the Rev. Nicholas Hoppin, the Rev. Theodore Edson, and the Rev. B. B. Babbit. Improvements were made, the whole build- ing was repaired and enlarged, a chancel built, organ and bell, and fine fur- niture obtained ; the clock on the tower repaired, and by means of funds con- tributed by wealthy and benevolent people in that denomination it became one of the best appointed churches in this vicinity. The church was named St. Clement's Church in honor of St. Clement. The Rev. Benjamin Cooley became the first rector. A few families in this section, who were attached to this service, gathered together and formed the nucleus around which a fine congregation gathered. The services were of the high ritualistic order, and very imposing. Every saint's day in the calendar was observed. The Holy Communion was observed weekly, and a large Sunday School was gathered. For several years the church prospered, though never self-sup- porting. Several members were added to the church by the active and faith- ful pastor. Gradually there arose a controversy between the pastor and lead- ing men of the church, the latter protesting against the advanced ideas of the former, and declining to support the extreme ritualistic views and prac- tices then performed by the rector. This controversy, though conducted by both parties with dignity, prudence, and Christian spirit, was a blow which destroyed the usefulness of the active, faithful, and laborious pastor, who had collected the funds and built up the church, and he sorrowfully gave up his charge. Many retired from the church, and the life and force seemed gone out of it, and the field seemed very desolate and discouraging to the succeeding pastor, the Rev. Charles Kelley. However, a small company rallied around him, more especially composed of young people, and services were continued until Sunday, February 5, 1871, the coldest day of the year, while the congregation were at worship the church took fire from the over- heated furnace, and in a few moments was entirely consumed, the congre- gation escaping by a rear door through the vestry. Services were sus- pended permanently. After several years the insurance was paid and a stone church was erected in Medway Village. Vid. CHRIST CHURCH.
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