USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > The history of Melrose, County of Middlesex, Massachusetts > Part 16
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A very important place in the early history of Melrose, was occupied by this little unpretentious, unpainted building; util- ized as it was, not only for all the school purposes of the inhabitants of the "North End," but for religious meetings by various denominations, and, possibly, for other occasions. Some are now living who, not only went to school in this build- ing, but also attended church therein. Small as it was, it was the only public building standing on the territory. After the new school-house was built on Upham Street, in 1828, occa- sional services were held there; also in Academy Hall, then standing on Berwick Street. Among the preachers at this time were Revs. Sylvanus Cobb, Thomas Whittemore, Lemuel Willis, Henry Jewell, E. H. Locke, Hosea Ballou and John G. Adams, then settled at Malden Centre.6
of one of our former citizens, John Pratt, father of the late Charles
6 The following incident is told Pratt, when the Malden Centre Church, after a bitter struggle, passed, by action of the courts,
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
In this manner, with these occasional services, a number of years passed before any permanent organization took place, which occurred February 10, 1849. The first minister was Rev. Josiah W. Talbot, who began his labors, as pastor, March 18, 1849. April 8, 1849, the constitution was adopted, one article of which declared that " this society shall be called the First Universalist Society in Melrose." December 30, 1856, the society adopted a new constitution in accordance with the laws of the State, bearing the following signatures: Artemas Barrett, James Barrett, Joseph H. Green, Josiah W. Talbot, Benjamin B. Day, Thomas B. Woodward, Henry Sprague, James M. Thresher, Franklin Taylor, William Lynde, Kitridge Avery, George B. Talbot, Augustus Barrett, Thomas C. Board- man, Martin Ellis, John H. Green, Elbridge Green, Abel Willis, George Lynde, Anthony Crosby, James D. Littlefield, John Crocker, H. G. Tucker, Lorin L. Fuller, David Fairbanks, Moses Eastman, Francis D. Howe, Henry A. Norris, Charles H. Isburgh, Walter R. Collins, Joseph D. Wilde, Walter Babb, George M. Morse, Jonathan Barrett, Benjamin F. Jones, Thomas J. Kimball and B. Franklin Green.
By the untiring energy and perseverance of Mr. Talbot a church building was erected on Essex Street, and dedicated January 1, 1852, with sermon by Rev. Alonzo A. Miner. Revs. John G. Adams, Otis A. Skinner and Hosea Ballou, also took part in the exercises. Mr. Talbot bought the land for the church site with his own money, deeding it to the society February 9, 1852, soon after the church edifice was finished. He drew the plans, bought the material, superintended the construction, and was largely instrumental in raising money for the same. In the terrible gale of April 16, 1851, when Minot's Ledge Lighthouse was destroyed, the partly finished spire was blown over.
from the jurisdiction of the Ortho- dox to the Universalists, and the former withdrew and built another church edifice: "One of the most wealthy and prominent citizens of Malden at this time was a Univer- salist, and he had in his employ a negro, who attended these meet- ings. At the final meeting, as they were leaving the old church, some
Mr. Talbot was active also in town affairs, serving as one of one told Mr. John Pratt, an eccen- tric and sturdy old Orthodox, living in this part of the town, that this negro voted with the Universalists. In his indignation he stepped into the street facing the church, took off his hat, and made a very low bow, saying, "Good-bye, old meet- ing house ! The niggers have got you."
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the financial committee during the first year of its incorpora- tion, and on the school committee for the year 1851.
Mr. Talbot resigned the pastorate November 13, 1853, and was succeeded by Rev. J. A. Cooledge, who served one year on the school committee and who remained until 1856. when the Rev. Joseph S. Dennis was called, and he was installed as his successor April 1, 1856. During his pastorate the church edi- fice was enlarged by the addition of sixteen pews, a new organ purchased, and an additional piece of land bought on the east side of the lot. Mr. Dennis served on the school committee for the year 1857. He resigned in July, 1858, and was suc-
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FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
ceeded in the November following by the Rev. Benjamin F. Bowles, who remained only until the end of the year 1859. His successor, Rev. George H. Deere commenced his labors September, 1860, continuing until 1862, when he was succeeded by Rev. George W. Quimby, who remained two years. From April 1, 1864, to March 20, 1865, the pulpit was supplied by seventeen different clergymen. The Rev. Selden Gilbert then received a call and entered upon his duties, remaining until 1866. The following three years, to 1869, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. B. H. Davis, and September I, of that year the Rev. John N. Emery received a call which he accepted.
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During his ministry the existing mortgage of $2,500 was paid off and the Church was free from debt. During a thunder storm in June, 1870, the church was struck by lightning, setting the top of the steeple on fire, and doing other damage. Mr. Emery resigned September 1, 1872, and was succeeded December 13 of the same year, by Rev. James E. Bruce. He closed his connection with the Church July 1, 1875, and No- vember 15, 1875, Rev. William A. Start received a call, and was installed March 6, 1876. He resigned in December, 1877, and was succeeded by Rev. Charles A. Skinner in September, 1878. During his ministry stained glass windows were put into the church, and other improvements made. Mr. Skinner resigned May 1, 1881, and was succeeded by Rev. Richard Eddy, D. D. Under the pastorate of Dr. Eddy, the society prospered to such a degree that a new edifice, costing $16,138.68 was built on the site of the old one.7 Had the church been built on any other site than this, the land would have reverted to the heirs of Mr. Talbot, the donor, that being one of the conditions of his gift. The new church was dedicated March 24, 1889, with a sermon by the pastor, and an address to the people by Rev. A. A. Miner, D. D., in the afternoon, and a sermon in the evening by Dr. Miner, who preached the dedication sermon of 1852.
For the dedication of the first edifice in 1852, the then pastor, Rev. Mr. Talbot, wrote a hymn, of which the following is a stanza:
And may this earthly temple Our humble souls prepare, To praise Thee in thy heavenly, And all its glories share. Then shall Thy ransomed children Assemble round Thy throne, When all shall be immortal, And know as they are known.
Mr. Talbot was present and read the hymn then written, at the dedication of the new church.
A fine organ was presented to the Church by Hon. Daniel Russell, and a beautiful memorial window was given by Joseph C. Crocker, a former resident, and one of the soldiers who served on the quota of Melrose during the great rebellion, in memory of his parents.
7 The old church was sold to west side of Essex Street, and be- came our present Franklin Hall.
M. Frank Eastman, removed to the
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HISTORY OF MELROSE.
After a successful ministry of eight years, Dr. Eddy re- signed, July 6, 1889, and was succeeded by Rev. Julian S. Cutler, who was installed the following November. Mr. Cut- ler also remained eight years, when he resigned to accept a call to Orange, Mass. The Church remained without a pastor but a short time. Rev. Edwin C. Bolles, D. D., who has held pastorates in Portland, Salem and New York City, received a call which he accepted. He was installed January 4, 1898. Mr. Bolles remained until January 1, 1902, when he resigned to devote his whole time as professor of history in Tufts College. He was succeeded April 22, 1902, by Rev. Andrew J. Torsleff, the present pastor. On the 10th of February 1899, the Church celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its organiza- tion, on which occasion a banquet was given in the vestry, and addresses were made by the pastor, two past pastors, Revs. Charles A. Skinner and Julian S. Cutler, Mrs. Mary A. Liver- more, Rev. Thomas Sims, D. D., pastor of the Congregational Church, Rev. Henry A. Westall, pastor of the Liberal Christian Union Church, at the Highlands, and an historical address by Sidney H. Buttrick. The only one of the original members present was Abel Willis, who was also a member of the choir, and who took part in the musical exercises of this occa- sion. Mr. Willis died March 23. 1902, aged 85. The present number of members of the Church is fifty. The Sabbath School numbers one hundred and fifty members. The follow- ing persons have served as superintendent: David Fairbanks, Charles H. Isburgh, (who served over thirty years, ) Joseph D. Wilde, Robert J. Chute, Walter Babb, Cummings L. Lothrop and Sidney H. Buttrick, the present incumbent. The affiliated societies of the Church are the Russell Club, Young People's Christian Union, the Ladies' Social Circle, and Junior Christian Union.
THE TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH. This is the fifth Church organized in Melrose. Beginning April 13, 1856, five services were held by Rev. William H. Munroe, in the parlors of Mrs. Samuel Rice, on Lake Avenue. Following those, one or more public services were held in the Congregational church, at five o'clock in the afternoon, Rev. Mr. Munroe, who became the first rector, officiating. From the Orthodox church the society went to Lyceum Hall, Main Street, where the Sunday School was established and services held. From there to
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
the hall in Waverly Block, Essex Street. The Church was or- ganized May 20, 1857, at the house of Charles P. Gordon, on Linden Place. During Mr. Munroe's pastorate, a church edifice was built on West Emerson Street, which was dedicated March 25, 1860. It was consecrated June 13, 1866 by the Rt. Rev. Manton Eastburn, D. D., Bishop of Massachusetts, being then free of debt. Mr. Munroe resigned in 1862, going first to Philadelphia, and afterwards became rector of the famous "Christ Church," Salem Street, Boston, dying a few years since. While here he served on the school committee for the years 1857, 1858 and 1859. He was also instrumental in organ- izing the first Young Men's Christian Association of Melrose, in 1858, being its president.
Mr. Munroe's successor was Rev. John B. Richmond, who remained until July, 1868. During his pastorate, in July, 1866, the church was entered by burglars, and the carpets stolen. Mr. Richmond served on the school committee for the years 1864 and 1865. Rev. Robert Ritchie succeeded to the rector- ship remaining only one year. June 13, 1870, Rev. Charles Wingate was chosen rector, remaining until 1876. During this time he was absent a year in Europe, and Rev. Samuel P. Parker, D. D., had charge of the parish. During the year 1875, the church was again entered by burglars, and the hand- some communion service, given by Oliver L. Briggs, in 1860, was stolen.
Rev. Henry A. Metcalf was chosen rector April 27, 1876, and he remained until 1880. During his pastorate a new organ was placed in the church.
Mr. Metcalf was succeeded by Rev. Charles L. Short, who was installed December 21, 1880, and who remained until May 21, 1888. During his ministry a chapel was built, adjoining the church, in 1885, at a cost of $3,000, and a little later a beautiful new stone church was erected to take the place of the old one, which was consecrated June 21, 1887, the history of which is told in the following letter:
MELROSE, MASS .. Dec. 28, 1885.
To the Corporation, Trinity Parish, Melrose :
I have been requested by the heirs of the late Miss Catherine L. Tyer to communicate to you the following: No legal will has been found among her papers, but instead thereof, an expression of her wishes written June 6, 1884, requesting that certain amounts of money be given to parties specified, in the event of her decease. The pro-
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HISTORY OF MELROSE.
perty will be settled by an Administrator, and divided according to law. At a meeting of the legal heirs: Horace H. Tyer, Elizabeth Savery, Mary T. Fiske, Frances A. Flint and Laura B. Thomas, held in Melrose on the 28th day of November, it was unanimously voted that the requests contained in the papers found be complied with in full. The seventh article reads as follows: I desire that $10,000 be given to Trinity Parish, Melrose, Mass. The sentence following prescribed that " the gift to said church or parish be disposed of by the pastor, wardens and vestry, as they shall decide, will be for the best good of said Parish." It was known to some members of the
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
family that the late Miss T'yer intended, if she lived, to within a few years erect in Melrose a church as a memorial to her father, mother and brother, if acceptable to your parish. In consideration of this intention, the members of the family propose, if acceptable to you, to carry out her wishes as a memorial to her as well, on the following conditions : First, the amount donated by her ($10,000) to be devoted to that purpose. Second: the Parish to erect, within a reasonable time, a stone edifice complete in every part. including furnishing and
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
all that is necessary to provide a suitable church building, according to plans furnished by, or acceptable to the legal heirs; the whole cost and expenses, including additional land necessary, to be paid by them. providing that the same does not exceed the sum of $20,000. That is to say, the members of the family will provide $10,000 in addition to the $10,000 mentioned in the first article. Third: A suitable tablet to be placed in the church to denote that it is erected as a memorial to Henry George Tyer, Elizabeth Tyer, and Catherine Louisa Tyer. Fourth : Such memorials as are now incorporated in the present church building, or used therein. to be used in the proposed structure as deemed best.
The foregoing is respectfully submitted for your consideration.
Your obedient servant, F. W. THOMAS.
This generous gift was accepted with heartfelt acknowledge- ments to the donors. After the plans and estimates had been made, it was found that the cost would exceed the $20,000. The heirs at once authorized the committee, Rev. Charles L. Short, Royal P. Barry, William H. Allen, W. Irving Ellis, and Frederick W. Thomas, to proceed and they would make up the deficiency. The church was built. The total cost of the edi- fice and 15,000 feet of extra land was $28,467.40. An appro- priate memorial brass tablet was placed in the west wall of the church. The Perkins memorial window which was placed in the old church July 3, 1884, was replaced in the new. Its in- scription is: "To the Glory of God and in memory of Horatio Nelson Perkins."
The widow of Samuel Rice gave the new church a baptis- mal font, on which is the following inscription: "To the Glory of God and in memory of Samuel Rice, one of the trustees and first warden of the Church. Born January 30, 1814, died April 18. 1885. The pure in heart shall see God." The altar is a memorial gift from Mr. and Mrs. P. Morton DeWolfe, and bears this inscription: "In Memoriam. Louisa Margaret DeWolfe. Born November 5, 1879; entered into rest, August 23, 1884."
Through the kind efforts of the late William L. Williams, the church received a unique gift; a carved stone from the ruins of the celebrated Abbey of Melrose, Scotland. It is placed under the support of one of the trusses on the south- erly side of the church. The tablet is inscribed as follows: "The above carved stone once formed a part of the Abbey
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HISTORY OF MELROSE.
Church of St. Mary, Melrose, Scotland, built about A. D. 1400. It was obtained through the kind offices of Alexander T. Simons, Esq., Gildon Grove, Mel- rose, and the Rev. James C. Herdman, Melrose, and presented to William L. Williams of this town, and by him to Trinity Parish, A. D, 1886."
Rev. Mr. Short was succeeded in the rectorship by Rev. Charles H. Sey- mour, S. T. D., who was elected to that position September 12, 1888, and who remained till April 13, 1891. The pres- ent rector, Rev. Paul Sterling, began his pastorate September 15, 1891.
Present number of communicants four hundred and thirty-one. The Sunday School has one hundred and fifty-four members. The affiliated societies are St. Margaret's Chapter, St. Agnes Guild, Dorcas Chapter and the Young Men's Guild.
THE MELROSE ABBEY STONE.
The present officers of the Church are: wardens, Royal P. Barry and Henry A. Bush; treasurer, Henry F. Grout; clerk, Samuel S. Preble, Jr.
THE UNITARIAN . CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY. The first per- manent movement for the establishment of a Unitarian Church in Melrose, was made November 18, 1866, when services were begun in Concert Hall, on Main Street, near the corner of Essex Street, by Rev. William P. Tilden, under the auspices of the American Unitarian Association. Soon after, in July, 1867, the Unitarian Congregational Society was organized. Previous to this, as early as 1848, a short time after the Boston and Maine railroad was opened through Melrose, services were held for several months in the old Academy Hall, on Berwick Street, by the Rev. F. W. Holland, under the auspices of the American Unitarian Association. The new Society met in Concert Hall, where it continued to hold services for a number of years, having for pastors, besides Mr. Tilden, Revs. John D. Wells, John A. Buckingham, William Silsbee and William S. Barnes, who had left the Baptist denomination, and the pas-
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
torate of the First Baptist Church, to become pastor of this Church. He was installed July 30, 1868, but remained only a few months, resigning January 5, 1869. During his ministra- tion the name was changed to the Liberal Christian Congrega- tional Society, but the old name was resumed in July, 1870. Rev. A. S. Nickerson was installed as pastor July 7, 1869, with the installing sermon by Rev. Warren H. Cudworth. Mr. Nickerson resigned June 1, 1870.
At this time, while without a settled minister, a new church building was erected on the corner of Myrtle and West Emer- son Streets, largely through the efforts of the late Frederic Kidder, and Thomas B. Peck, now of Walpole, N. H. In addition to subscriptions made by the members, donations were made by the American Unitarian Association, the South Middlesex Conference and by the Boston churches. It was dedicated May 1, 1872, with sermon by Rev. Andrew P. Peabody, D. D., of Cambridge. Services had been continued meanwhile, by the friendly offices of a number of pastors; among them Revs. J. B. Green, H. H. Barber, H. C. DeLong and Richard Metcalf. Other neighboring ministers and theo- logical students at Harvard University also officiated from time to time. During this interregnum, on one intensely stormy Sunday, when the committee had deemed it unwise to send for Mr. Barber, then of Somerville, the congregation was surprised to see him enter Concert Hall, where they then wor- shiped ; and still more so, when they learned that he had walked all the way from Somerville in the storm, having failed to make connection with the horse-cars.
This Society instituted a course of lectures at this time from which financial aid was derived for their enterprise. Among the speakers were Rev. William H. H. Murray and Prof. J. Wesley Churchill. This course was the immediate prede- cessor of the Melrose Lyceum which had a successful life of twenty-one years. The Society was also aided by a very suc- cessful fair given at this time under the auspices of the ladies of the Society.
The first minister to be settled in the new church was Rev. Daniel M. Wilson, who had just graduated from the Harvard Divinity School. He was called October 24, and installed November 15, 1872. Sermon by Rev. Rufus Ellis, D. D., and an address to the people by Rev. A. P. Peabody,
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HISTORY OF MELROSE.
D. D. Mr. Wilson resigned March 1, 1876, and was succeeded September 1, 1876, by Rev. Nathaniel Seaver, Jr., who remained five years, and October 29, ISSI, was succeeded by Rev. Henry Westcott, who was settled over this Parish in conjunction with the newly formed one in Malden, October 29, 1881, conducting services in Melrose in the morning, and at Malden in the evening. Mr. Westcott died July 14, 1883, much lamented. A handsome memorial volume was published soon after his death, containing a number of his sermons, and an appreciative memoir by John Oscar Norris, which was first read at a meet- ing of the " Roundabout Club." The volume also contained poems, "At Rest," by Henry H. Clark, and "In Memoriam," by Mary A. Livermore.
The Rev. John H. Heywood, D. D., who had been forty years a pastor in Louisville, Ky., was called by the Church in April, 1884, and was installed May 6. He was welcomed at the morning service by John O. Norris, in behalf of the Parish, and in the afternoon by addresses from Rev. Andrew P. Peabody, D. D., Rev. H. H. Barber, Rev. Richard Eddy, D. D., then pastor of the Universalist Church, and Mrs. Mary A. Livermore. During Mr. Heywood's ministry the mortgage, which had rested on the church from its dedication, was paid off. Mr. Heywood remained until September 1, 1889, when he resigned and returned to his old home in Louisville. When his successor, Rev. Joseph H. Weeks, was installed, February 1, 1890, with sermon by Rev. Minot J. Savage, and address to the people by Rev. Henry C. DeLong, Mr. Heywood wrote his former Parish a letter full of good wishes and pleasant remem- brances. Among other things he said:
It is now almost fifty years since I first came to Louisville and entered upon the active work of the Christian ministry. They have been years of very varied experience. I have seen life in its mani- fold phases of peace and war, of joy and sorrow. of blight and bloom. but as I look back upon the half century, which has proved so event- ful to our country and the world, and compare the past with the pres- ent, I find myself no less an optimist now than I was in the buoyant season of youth and early manhood. I rejoice with grateful joy at the advance made all along the line-the deepened and quickened thought, the larger hope, the more living faith and the warmer, more generous love. Never much of a sectarian and becoming less and less so all the while, with fuller appreciation of all earnest, humane work. with heartier " God speed " for everyone, whatever, wherever,
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whoever he may be, who is seeking and laboring in the spirit of Jesus to do good service to God and man, in making or in trying to make, life purer, sweeter, brighter, better, happier, for all. Thus thinking, thus feeling, I can say this from the depths of my soul and with the emphasis of firmest conviction, that never have I felt warmer grati- tude than in the 72nd year of my life, for the gracious influence of the Divine Mind and Spirit-sweet as the air from the spice-islands of the blessed -which have led me and are leading true-hearted men and women in all communions, to the larger, profounder and more loving conception and interpretation of Christianity, by which are brought into ever bolder relief, the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of Man, the unbroken Continuity of life, the ultimate redemption of all
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UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
souls from ignorance, error, selfishness and sin, and their constant pro- gression in truth, knowledge, righteousness, and benificent activity through the eternal ages - the grand conception and inspiring inter- pretation which make religion to the followers of Jesus what it was to him, " the life of God in the soul of man," and to which the religion of Christ " is not so much a theory to be explained as a life to be copied."
The Society now needed more room, and during 1891, under the auspices of the Ladies' Aid Society, an enlargement was completed by the erection of an adjoining building, nearly re- sembling the original church, containing Sunday School room, a ladies' parlor, supper room and kitchen, costing $5,000.
Mr. Weeks resigned December 15, 1891, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas W. Brown, who was installed June 1, 1892.
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HISTORY OF MELROSE.
After a useful and successful pastorate of six years, Mr. Brown resigned June 1, 1898; he still remains a resident of Melrose.
After the resignation of Mr. Brown, the Parish remained without a regularly settled minister until November 5, 1899, when the present pastor, Rev. Thomas Jay Horner, commenced his ministerial duties in accordance with a request made by the Society. There are two hundred and twenty-five church ad- herents.
The Sunday School connected with this Parish has had among its superintendents, Rev. William S. Barnes, Rev. Hobart Clark, George H. Dearborn, 1870 to 1880, John O. Norris, 1880 to 1890, George E. Munroe, the late Capt. John C. Maker, Harlan E. Glazier and at present, George L. Davis. The School has a membership of one hundred and twenty-five.
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