USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Woburn > The history of Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass. from the grant of its territory to Charlestown, in 1640, to the year 1680 > Part 43
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15 Parlsh Records, Vol. III., pp. 36, 57.
16 Phineas O. Sargeant, Esq., his son; Am. Quarterly Register, Vol. XI., pp. 176, 189.
17 Church Records.
18 Town Records, Vol. XIII., pp. 46, 60, 61. Church Records, Vol. I., p. 81.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
meeting, December 21st, it was stipulated, that if Mr. Lane should be taken off from preaching by infirmity or old age, he should " relinquish one half of his salary"; thus virtually prom- ising to pay him, through life, under the circumstances supposed, the other half if he continued in his pastoral relation.
Upon these terms, Mr. Lane accepted the invitation given him to settle in Woburn. December 28th, committees of the church and town met with Mr. Lane to make some necessary arrange- ments preliminary to his ordination. But not being able to finish them then for want of time, they adjourned the completion of them for a few days. But before the day of adjournment arrived, Mr. Lane altered his mind, and requested the town in writing, with- out assigning his reasons, to release him from his engagement to settle with them as their minister.18
At. a meeting, May 17, 1802, the church gave a call to Mr. Humphrey Moore, another son of Harvard, of the class of 1799. to become their pastor. With this call, the town concurred. by a very full vote. But Mr. Moore's answer was in the negative. He was subsequently settled in the ministry at Milford, N. H. where ( August 19, 1867) he still continues.
At a meeting, December 5, 1803, the church, by an unanimous vote of all the brethren present, made choice of Mr. Joseph Chickering for their pastor. In this choice the town concurred unanimously, December, 22, 1803 ; and voted, December 29th, to give him an annual salary of six hundred and fifty dollars, and fifteen cords of good hard wood; and eight hundred dollars within a year from his ordination, as a settlement: and further- more the town voted, January 26, 1804, " That when by reason old age, or other infirmity, Mr Joseph Chickering shall be unable to perform the work of the Gospel Ministry, he shall then receive one half of the aforesaid Annual Salary, to be equally apportioned on the Money and Wood, during the time he shall stand in the connection of a Gospel Minister in the Town of Woburn. 19
This invitation Mr. Chickering accepted, February 12, 1804.
19 Parish Records, Vol. III., pp. 96, 98.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
The ordination was appointed to be on Wednesday, March 28th ; and the following churches with their respective pastors were requested to assist in the solemnity : viz.
Lexington, under the pastoral care of Rev. JONAS CLARK.
Reading, North Church,
Rev. ELIAB STONE.
Medfield,
Rev. THOMAS PRENTISS.
Andover, South Church,
Rev. JONATHAN FRENCH.
Medford,
Rev. DAVID OSGOOD.
Billerica,
Rev. HENRY CUMINGS.
Burlington,
Rev. JOHN MARRETT.
Dedham, First Church,
Rev. JOSHUA BATES.
Dedham, South Church,
6
Rev. JABEZ CHICKERING.
Dedham, West Church,
Rev. THOMAS THACHER.
Cambridge, West Church,
Rev. THADDEUS FISKE.
Brookline,
Rev. JOIN PIERCE. .
Bedford,
Rev. SAMUEL STEARNS.
Medway,
Rev. LUTHER WRIGHT.
Milford, N. H.
Rev. HUMPHREY MOORE.
On the day set for the ordination, delegates from all the afore- named churches, and all the pastors except Rev. Messrs. Prentiss and French, appeared at the place appointed, and formed in council choosing Rev. Jonas Clark for Moderator, and Rev. Thaddeus Fiske for Scribe. Having gone through with the usual preliminary inquiries and examination, the council ex- pressed unanimously their satisfaction, and voted they were ready to proceed to ordination.
To Rev. Mr. CLARKE the Council assigned The Charge.
To Rev. Mr. STONE
“ The Ordaining Prayer.
To Rev. Mr. MARRETT
The Right Hand of Fel- lowship.
To Rev. Dr. CUMINGS, "
The Introductory Prayer.
To Rev. Mr. THACHER " The Concluding Prayer.
At the meeting-house, all the parts were performed agrecably to the above appointments of the Council. Rev. Jabez Chicker- ing, father of the pastor elect, by previous request, preached the sermon. "The exercises were performed and attended to with 39*
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
becoming solemnity ; and perfect order and regularity marked the proceedings of the whole day." 20
In 1808, the third meeting-house in Woburn, erected on the southeast side of the common, finished in 1752, and in which Rev. Mr. Chickering was ordained in 1804, was burnt down. This catastrophe is noticed as follows, in a note to his dedication sermon. "On the night of the 17th of June, 1808, at about half past cleven o'clock, the meeting house was discovered to be on fire, and in less than an hour was reduced to ashes. Several circumstances evinced design, and caution to prevent other dam- age. There is only one considerable opening from the common where the house stood, which is to the southwest ; and a night was chosen, when the wind blew from the northeast. Had it blown from any other quarter, other buildings must inevitably have been consumed. Most of the powder in the tower of the house, amounting to near 200 pounds, must also have been removed, as the explosion was so inconsiderable, that many persons who were awake, and within a mile of the spot, did not notice it. The west door was also observed to be open, when the fire was first discovered. Notwithstanding design was so evident, no circumstance has transpired to justify a suspicion of any indivi- dual." 21 A reward of five hundred dollars was offered by the town, and advertised in two of the public newspapers, to any who would deteet the person or persons who perpetrated the crime 22; but no discovery was ever made public, and the in- cendiary or incendiaries escaped with impunity.
At several town meetings previous to the fire, it had been a question for consideration, whether to repair the old meeting- house or build a new one ? 23 At an adjourned meeting, June 5th, especially, it was at one time decided by thirty-four votes to thirty-three, to repair. But this decision was presently recon- sidered ; and a committee was appointed to examine the meeting house, to see what partial repairs might be made to save the timbers from their present decaying condition, and to report at an adjournment of the meeting for one fortnight, viz : on June
" Church Records, Vol. I., pp. 82-83.
" Town Records, Vol. XIII., p. 274.
21 Dedication Sermon, note (n), p. 24.
23 Town Records, Vol. XIII., pp. 269, 271.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
19th. Hence, there was obviously cause for suspecting that the author of the conflagration was some one who was opposed to repairing the meeting-house, and who hence took this effectual method to prevent it.
The town met June 19th, at the Centre school-house, and decided by sixty-seven votes to three to build a new meeting- house ; and chose a committee to draught a plan for the same, and to estimate the quantity of materials requisite to build it, either of wood or brick.24 This committee made report to the town at its next meeting, June 27th, when their plan for the new house was accepted; and then, and at a subsequent ad- journment, it was determined to build it of wood, and to erect it on the spot where the centre school-house then stood; a com- mittee was chosen, consisting of Maj. Benjamin Franklin Bald- win, Lieut. Willard Jones and Licut. Bartholomew Richardson, Jr., as agents for contracting for the materials and workman- ship; the sum of $6,000 was raised for the purpose of building, to be assessed according to the direction of the Treasurer; and the Treasurer himself was authorized to hire that sum, as it might be demanded for use.25 Such was the abundant prepara- tion made by the town for the erection of its fourth meeting- house, to supply the place of the third, which had been burnt. And such was the zeal and expedition with which the above. named agents, as a building committee, discharged their trust, that within one year from the time the old one was destroyed by fire, the new one was ready for occupation. It stood on the site afterwards occupied by its successor, the fifth congrega. tional meeting-house, now owned, enlarged and adorned by the Unitarian Society; " was a building fifty-five feet wide, and sixty long, exclusive of a projection, six feet by thirty in front, and ornamented with a handsome steeple. The entry on the gallery floor afforded a convenient hall for public meetings on business, and was finished with accommodations for that pur- pose." 26 It was solemnly dedicated, June 28, 1809, when an appropriate and interesting discourse was delivered to the large
24 Town Records, Vol. XIII., p. 272.
25 Town Records, Vol. XIII., p. 275. 26 Dedication Sermon, note (h), p. 28.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
audience assembled on the occasion, by Rev. Joseph Chickering, the pastor, from Acts VII. 48. " The Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands." This discourse, with very valuable historical notes appended to it, was afterwards published by request.
Previously to the dedication, it had been decided in town meeting, May 25, 1809, and subsequently, not to pay the ex- pense of building the new meeting-house by a tax on the town, but by the sale of the pews at publie auction.27 In pursuance of this plan, the building committee was directed to number and appraise the pews; and according to the report of this commit- tee (enlarged by the addition of four other persons) made June 8th, and accepted, each pew was to be appraised in proportion to its value and situation in the house; the sum total was to amount to $8,000; no pew was to be sold for a sum less than the appraisement; the town clerk was to make a record of all the pews sold, together with the purchasers' names and prices paid; and pew No. 51 was to be reserved for the use of the town.26 The auction was held in the meeting-house on Monday, June 19th; and the proceeds of the sale, including the choice money, amounted to $10,911, which exceeded the cost of the building by $3,000.24
In regard to this surplus, arising from the sale of pews in the meeting-house, a committee chosen by the town to devise the best method of appropriating it, recommended in their report, to make of it, and of all other moneys that might be given for the same end, " a perpetual fund, towards the support of the Regular Ordained Minister of the Congregational Society " in Woburn ; and that when the interest of the whole fund should amount to two hundred dollars per annum, " to apply the interest of the whole Fund, annually, towards the support of the said Congregational Minister." 28 This report was accepted : and agreeably to its recommendation, the town voted October 16, 1809, " to choose a Board of Trustees, to be incorporated into a body politie for the
27 Town Records, Vol. XIII., p. 317.
28 Town Records, Vol. XIII., p. 320. For the clerk's record of the pews sold, names of purchasers, cte, see Town Records, Vol. XIII., pp. 435-437.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
purpose of superintending and taking care of any Money, Money's, Lands or Donations, appropriated or established as a Fund for the purpose of supporting the Gospel Ministry in the Con- gregational Society in the Town of Woburn." The gentlemen chosen as trustees of this fund on this occasion were :
Maj. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BALDWIN,
Lieut. BARTHOLOMEW RICHARDSON, Jr.
Lieut. WILLARD JONES,
Mr. JACOB PEIRCE, Mr. DANIEL WYMAN.29
The Legislature was petitioned to incorporate these trustees and their successors for the end mentioned, by a committee of the town's appointment: and the desired act of incorporation was granted, February 24, 1810.30 But by an act of Court, passed April 1, 1861, the trustees were authorized to apply the fund in their hands, which had been designed for the support of the Congregational minister in Woburn, to the payment of the debts of the First Congregational Society. See Acts and Re- solves, 1861 : p. 444.
At the commencement of Rev. Mr. Chickering's ministry in Woburn, circumstances bade fair that it would be long and suc- cessful, and very acceptable to the people. Attendance upon his public services on the Sabbath was unusually full and constant. The young manifested, it is understood, an unwonted concern in spiritual and divine things. Through the exertions of the pas- tor, a warm interest had been excited in the breasts of the people in several of the benevolent and religious societies got up at that day ; as the Middlesex County Bible Society, and the Mid- dlesex Evangelical Society. And as his ministry progressed, there were, previously to 1811, large accessions to his church, of members both male and female, young and old.
But at the expiration of about seven years from his settle- ment, a cloud arose, which darkened the fair prospect which had hitherto presented itself. About that time, an unhappy variance took place between Rev. Mr. Chickering and a prominent pa-
2 Town Records, Vol XIII., pp. 324, 326. 30 Special Etatutes of Mass., Vol. IV., p. 255.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
rishioner, a gentleman of high standing and extensive influence. It respected (as it is understood) a piece of land belonging to Mr. Chickering, which the gentleman referred to wished to pur- chase, that he might avail himself of a brook running through it for manufacturing purposes. Mr. Chickering was willing to sell it; but requested some security to be given, that seemed to him necessary, that the use to be made of it might not damage his other property in the vicinity. The security demanded, that gentleman was unwilling to give. Mr. Chickering still insisted upon it, as an indispensable condition of selling his land. But the other persisted in declining to give it. Hence the negotia- tion between them was broken off; and an alienation ensued which was never healed. Mutual friends to them both looked on with sad concern, and made repeated attempts to effect a reconciliation ; but in vain.31 Neither party would yield what the other insisted on, to make up the breach between them. And though the church continued to increase, especially during a sea- son of revival in the year 1817, yet, through the influence of some opponents doubtless, the minds of many of the people were soured, and they no longer appreciated Mr. Chickering's services as they once did. At length, at a meeting of the parish, held January 8, 1821, such votes were passed, as induced Mr. Chick- ering to make the following communication, first to the society, and then to the church.
"A. 'D. 1821, Jan. 28. The church was requested to stop after publie worship, and the following communication was made by the pastor.
" Dear brethren,
" You all know, that the following communication has been made to the parish, and accepted by them in a regular parish meeting."
31 One such effort is referred to in Article 16th, of Warrant for Town Meeting, March 4, 1811, as follows : "To see if the Town will by a Com- mittee or otherwise take any measures to settle the unhappy difficulty existing between the Rev. Joseph Chickering and Major Benj. F. Baldwin; or do any thing whereby the peace, unity and happiness of the Congrega- tional Society In sald Town may be restored and preserved." -(Town Records, Vol. XIII., p. 378.)
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
"To the Congregational Parish in Woburn.
" Brethren & Friends :
" It was long my expectation and the wish of my heart to spend my days in your service. I would still cherish this wish, were there such a degree of union among you, as might encourage a reasonable hope, that my labors might be useful. But the result of your last parish meeting is in my view, and in view of most of those I have consulted, a decisive indication that my removal has become expedient, and that any further effort to prevent it would be injurious to your peace and to the interests of religion. I hope therefore, that those who have been most attached to my minis- try, will acquiesce, with Christian condescension, in an event pain- ful alike to themselves and to me. To avoid unnecessary delay and discussion, I propose that my pastoral and ministerial relation to this church and people be dissolved on the following conditions :
" 1. That the church shall consent to my removal.
" 2. That an ecclesiastical council be called to look into our pro- ceedings, dissolve the relation, and give me such a recommendation as they may think proper.
" 3. That the relation be dissolved in six months, from the time when these proposals shall be accepted and recorded by the parish ; during which time I shall supply the pulpit, and perform such pas- toral duties, as under existing circumstances may be convenient.
" 4. That my salary for the present year be paid with the usual punctuality ; and the proportion of it which may be due for the next year, ten days before my removal ; the wood being com- muted to money, as for several years past.
" 5. I am willing that these proposals, when accepted by the parish and church, should be laid before a council for' their sanc- tion, as soon as the parish may choose.
"6. If any of them be thought objectionable, they shall be sub- mitted to the council for their decision.
" When it is considered, that I have voluntarily relinquished all claim of indemnification for the pecuniary loss which I must inevi- tably sustain in disposing of my property, I trust that none will think these proposals unreasonable. And, Brethren and Friends, let ine intreat that neither unchristian irritation or resentment may be indulged on the one hand, or unbecoming exultation on the other. The event is solemn. It must be reviewed at the judg- ment day ; and so must the feelings with which it is effected.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
God grant, that you may now, and at all future times, follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another ; that your self command, mutual forbearance, har- mony and Christian feelings, on this trying occasion, may be a presage of the manner, in which you will seek, and settle another minister : And may the great Shepherd give you a pastor, who shall be more prudent, more useful, and more happy in retaining your affection, than
" Your humble, afflicted, but affectionate Servant in the Lord,
" Woburn Jan. 22, 1821.
" JOSEPH CHICKERING."
" As one condition of my being dismissed is the consent of the church, I now ask your consent, dearly beloved brethren, to this measure. None will doubt, that such a request must be painful to me, as the granting of it will be to most of you. But I am fully satisfied, after the most mature and prayerful delib- eration, that such an event has become expedient; and therefore hope, that you will unitedly acquiesce in it, and seek the con- tinuance of Christian ordinances, after the period above speci- fied, by such instruments as God in his good Providence may provide."
" Whereupon voted,
" 1. That a meeting to consider and act on this communica- tion be holden on Saturday next, one o'clock, P. M.
" 2. That the meeting be at the centre school-house.
"3. At the request of the Pastor, that the Rev. Mr Emerson of South Reading, be invited to attend and moderate the meet- ing." 32
" Feb. 3, 1821, the church met according to appointment.
" The Rev. Reuben Emerson being present, agreeably to the request of the church, moderated the meeting.
" The record of the last meeting was read ; after which the Mode- rator led in prayer.
" After free conversation,
" Voted, that a committee of three persons be chosen to prepare, and lay before the church, votes on the subject now under con- sideration.
"2 Church Records, Vol. I., pp. 176-179.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
" Voted, that the committee consist of three persons.
" Chose Deacon Wyman, Brother Calvin Richardson and Jona- than Tidd.
" The committee reported the following resolutions :
" 1. Resolved, as the expression of the feelings of the members of the church, that it is not their wish and desire that the Rev. Joseph Chickering should be dismissed from his pastoral relation to them, could he continue in that relation with a prospect of future usefulness.
"2. Resolved, as the sense of this church, that under the exist- ing circumstances of the parish, and in consequence of the pro- posals made by the Rev. Mr Chickering to said parish, and accepted by them at their last meeting, the members of the church view it to be their duty (though with the deepest feelings of regret) to yield their consent, that the pastoral relation between them and their pastor should be dissolved, agreeably to the proposals made by him.
" The first Resolution was passed unanimously.
" The second Resolution was passed, nemine contradicente.
" Voted thanks to the Rev. Moderator for his kind services.
" Voted, that after prayers this meeting be dissolved.
" The meeting was concluded with prayer by the Moderator. " REUBEN EMERSON, Moderator.
" JOSEPHI CHICKERING, Scribe." 33
"Feb. 11, 1821. The church being requested to tarry after the close of public exercises :
"Voted, To choose a committee of four, to join with the Pas- tor and a committee already chosen by the parish, in agreeing on and assembling a council for the purposes specified in the communication acted on at our last meeting : also to appear be- fore the Council in behalf of the church, to give any information, and make any communications that may be requested.
" Chose Deacon Benj. Wyman, and Bros. Calvin Richardson, Uriah Manning and Josiah Walker.
"Feb. 15, 1821. The above named Committee met, on the 15th of February, with the parish committee and the pastor,
35 Church Records, Vol. I., pp. 179-181.
40
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
and agreed on the churches and time named in the following letter missive, which was sent to cach pastor to be communicated :
" The Congregational Church and Parish in Woburn to the Church in - under the pastoral care of Rev .-
" Reverend and beloved :
" It has pleased God to permit such opposition to arise against the Rev. Joseph Chickering our Pastor, that he has judged it expedient to propose to us the dissolution of his ministerial relation. Ilis proposal, with the terms annexed to it, have been accepted by the parish. The Church has also deemed it 'their duty, though with the deepest feelings of regret, to yield their consent.' The parties have mutually agreed to request an ecclesiastical Council, to consist of the following pastors and churches. Rev. Dr. Ripley, Concord; Rev. Dr. Holmes, Cambridge; Rev. Freegrace Raynolds, Wilmington ; Rev. Samuel Stearns, Bedford ; Rev. Reuben Emer- son, S. Reading; Rev. Samuel Sewall, Burlington; and Rev. Justin Edwards, Andover; to meet, according to our Pastor's request, ' look into our proceedings, dissolve the relation, and give him such a recommenda- tion as they may think proper.' This is therefore to request your assist- ance, by your Rev. Pastor and a delegate, on Wednesday, the 11th day of April next, for the purposes above specified.
" Wishing you grace, mercy and peace, and requesting your prayers to God for his blessing, direction and support under our trials, we subscribe ourselves very respectfully.
" Yours in the Lord.
"Signed by the Pastor, Benj. Wyman for the church, and Bill Russell for the Parish." 34
" Result of Council.
" A Council, convoked by the Congregational Church and Parish in Woburn, in concurrence with their Pastor, to look into their proceedings, with a view to the dissolution of the pastoral relation, met at Woburn on the 11th day of April, 1821.
" Present :
" The Church in Concord, Rev. EZRA RIPLEY, D. D., Pastor.
" The first Church in Cambridge : Rev. ABIEL HOLMES, D. D., Pastor ; Bro. ABEL WHITNEY, Delegate.
" The Church in Wilmington : Rev. FREEGRACE RAYNOLDS, Pas- . tor ; Dea. BENJ. FOSTER, Delegate.
" The Church in Bedford : Rev. SAMUEL STEARNS, Pastor ; Bro. AMARIAH PRESTON, Delegate.
" The Church in So. Reading : Rev. REUBEN EMERSON, Pastor.
" The Church in Burlington : Rev. SAMUEL SEWALL, Pastor ; Bro. EBENEZER CUMMINGS, Delegate.
" The South Church in Andover : Rev. JUSTIN EDWARDS, Pastor ; Bro. SOLOMON HOLT, Delegate.
34 Church Records, Vol. I., pp. 181, 182.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
" Rev. Dr. Ripley was chosen Moderator, and Rev. Mr. Edwards, Scribe.
" The Council, having attended to the subject before them with that serious deliberation which its importance required, and with prayer to the Father of lights for direction, came unanimously to the following Result :
" That the pastoral relation between the Reverend Joseph Chick- ering and the Congregational Church and Society in Woburn be, and hereby is dissolved, on the conditions to which they have mutually agreed.
" In arriving at this result, the Council have been highly grati- fied to find nothing alleged, or insinuated against the moral, or Christian, or ministerial character of the Pastor : yet this fact could not but render the measures for his dismission the more mysterious, and this act of the Council the more difficult and reluctant. Tak- ing into view however past occurrences and the prospect of the future, the Council are united in approving the measure proposed by the Pastor and People ; a measure, which, although " deeply regretted" by the Church and many others, appears to be best adapted to the interests and happiness of the whole.
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