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 44
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" The spirit which has marked the proceedings of the Church and Society during the sitting of the Council has been honorable to both; and is considered as a favorable indication of future union and peace. For that peace and union the Council devoutly pray ; and unitedly commend the Church and Society to the care and benediction of the Divine Head of the Church.
" With the knowledge of the respectable talents, the moral and Christian character, and the ministerial qualifications of the Rev. Mr. Chickering, and in the belief that his past success in the min- istry is a good pledge of his future usefulness, the Council very cordially recommend him to the Christian community, as a pious, able and faithful minister of Jesus Christ, wherever the Providence of God may call him.
" Attest. JUSTIN EDWARDS, Scribe, EZRA RIPLEY, Moderator.
'. ABIEL HOLMES. ABEL WHITNEY. FREEGRACE RAYNOLDS. BENJAMIN FOSTER.
SAMUEL STEARNS. AMARIAII PRESTON.
REUBEN EMERSON. EBENEZER CUMMINGS, Jun.
SAMUEL SEWALL. SOLOMON HOLT." 35
35 Church Records, Vol. I., pp. 183-185.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
1821, July 17, the church met, agreeably to appointment on the previous Sabbath, and voted to choose a Moderator, and a clerk, to serve during the pleasure of the church, after the pas- toral relation of Rev. Mr. Chickering shall cease.
Chose for Moderator, Deacon Benjamin Wyman.
Clerk, Deacon Benjamin Wyman.
"Voted, That a Committee of five persons be chosen to form a vote expressive of the affection of this church towards their Pastor, the Rev. Joseph Chickering; containing such a recom- mendation as may be proper in such a case; and to lay the same before the church. Chose Deacons Josiah Wright, Ebenezer Lawrence and Benjamin Wyman ; and Brothers Jonas Hale and Uriah Manning."
September 9th, (Sabbath) the church being stopped after the exercises of the day, the above committee submitted to them the following vote for their acceptance, viz :
" That the Rev. Joseph Chickering has been the pastor of this church more than seventeen years last past ; during which time he has conducted himself as a diligent, faithful and affectionate pas- tor, and one whose labors (we believe) have been blest to the good of many souls in this place; and they do hereby express their united and most cordial affection for him, as their late pastor ; and do most deeply lament the occasion of his pastoral relation to them being dissolved.
" With the knowledge they have of his respectable talents, his moral and Christian character, and his ministerial qualifications, and in the full belief that his past success is a good pledge of his future usefulness, [they] do most cordially recommend him to the Christian community as a pious, able and faithful minister of Jesus Christ, wheresoever the providence of God may call him.
" Woburn, Sept. 4th, 1821.
". JOSIAN WRIGHT, EBENEZER LAWRENCE, BENJAMIN WYMAN, JONAS HALE, URIAN MANNING. -
Committee.
" Voted unanimously by the Church." 36
86 Church Records, Vol. I., pp. 186, 187.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
During the ministry of Rev. Mr. Chickering, one hundred and sixty-four were admitted to the church, viz: Fifty-five males, and one hundred and nine females; and two hundred and seventy were baptized, viz: Two hundred and thirty children, and forty adults.
Of the one hundred and sixty-four admissions, sixty-six were during a season of revival, in 1817; and of these, twenty-four were in one day, viz : June 1st.
One hundred and eighty-seven couples were united by him in marriage.
Rev. Mr. Chickering was son of Rev. Jabez Chickering, pastor of the church in the South Parish of Dedham. He was born in that parish, April 30, 1780; graduated at Harvard Uni- versity, 1799; studied theology at Cambridge under the direc- tion of Rev. Professor Tappan; ordained at Woburn, March 28, 1804; dismissed at his own request, with the sanction of a Council, April 11, 1821; and after retiring from Woburn, was installed over the church in Phillipston, Worcester County, Mass., July 10, 1822; dismissed at his own request, in conse- quence of bodily infirmity, July 16, 1835; but continued to reside at Phillipston till his decease, January 27, 1844, where also his widow died shortly after him.
Mr. Chickering married twice: first, Miss Betsey, daughter of the venerable Deacon John White of Concord; and she dying, November 3, 1815, he married, secondly, Miss Sarah Abbot Holt, of Albany, Me. By his first wife, he had five children, of whom the three youngest (one an infant) died with- in about a fortnight of their mother's decease, before or after. By his second wife, he had a daughter and two sons, Betsey, Henry and Abbot, born at Woburn; and one or more children, it is believed, born at Phillipston. Of his two surviving chil- dren by his first wife, the elder is Rev. John White Chickering, D. D., recently pastor of a church in Portland, Me .; now an agent in the temperance cause, a resident in Boston : the younger is Mr. Joseph Chickering, a very successful and highly respected mechanic at the west.
After the dismission of Rev. Mr. Chickering, in 1821, the
40*
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
church took some steps, in September following, towards settling in the ministry Mr. Hutchins Taylor, with whose preaching, they expressed themselves satisfied.37 But not succeeding in this attempt, they gave an unanimous call, November 19, 1821, to Mr. Joseph Bennett, to become their pastor. In this choice, the parish unanimously concurred; and offered him a salary of seven hundred dollars per annum.38 Mr. Bennett communicated to the people his acceptance of the invitation given him, on Thanksgiving day, December 6th ; and, subsequently, committees of the church and parish agreed with him on the day for the ordination, and the churches to be invited to assist in Council on the solemn occasion. The result of the Council was as fol- lows :
" At an Ecclesiastical Couneil holden at Woburn, January 1st, 1822.
" Present :
"Andover, Theological Seminary : Rev. Dr. JAMES MURDOCK, Pastor ; LEWIS DWIGHT, Delegate.
" Andover South Parish : Rev. JUSTIN EDWARDS, Pastor ; NA- THANIEL SWIFT, Delegate.
" Tewksbury : Rev. JACOB COGGIN, Pastor ; OLIVER CLARK, Delegate.
" Wilmington : Rev. FREEGRACE RAYNOLDS, Pastor ; Dea. BENJ. FOSTER, Delegate.
" Reading, West Parish : Rev. SAMUEL GREEN, Pastor ; TIMIO- THY WAKEFIELD, BENJ. PRATT, Delegates.
" South Reading : Rev. REUBEN EMERSON, Pastor; JAMES GOULD, Delegate.
" Burlington : Rev. SAMUEL SEWALL, Pastor ; Dea. JONATHAN SIMONDS, Dea. NATHL. CUTTER, Delegates.
" Stoneham : Rev. JOHN H. STEVENS, Pastor ; Dea. JABEZ LYNDE, BRO. THADDEUS RICHARDSON, Delegates.
" Bedford : Rev. SAMUEL STEARNS, Pastor ; BENJ. SIMONDS, JUN., MATTHEW HAYWARD, Delegates.
" Charlestown : Rev. WARREN FAY, Pastor ; Dea. ISAAC WAR- REN, MATTHEW SKELTON, Delegates.
" Church Records, Vol. I., p. 188.
36 Parish Records, Vol. III., pp. 366, 367.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
" Dorchester : Rev. JOHN CODMAN, Pastor ; BRO. NATHANIEL SWIFT, Delegate.
" Framingham : Rev. DAVID KELLOGG, Pastor ; Dea. LUTHIER HAVEN, Delegate.
" West Cambridge : Rev. THADDEUS FISKE, D.D., Pastor ; Dea. EPHRAIM FROST, EPHRAIM CUTTER, Delegates.
" Tyngsborough : Rev. NATIL. LAWRENCE, Pastor ; Dea. JOIIN FARWELL, JEREMIAH HOWARD, Delegates.
" Chose Rev. Mr. David Kellogg, Moderator: Chose Rev. Samuel Sewall, Scribe.
" The Council opened with prayer by the Rev. Moderator.
" The proceedings of the Church and Parish in regard to the choice of Mr. Joseph Bennett as their Gospel Minister were then read by the Scribe, and were voted by the Council to be regular and satisfactory.
" Certificates of Mr. Bennett's church membership, and of his Approbation and License to preach by the Marlborough Associa- tion, were then produced and read, as likewise his answer to the call of the Church and Society; acceptance of all which docu- ments was voted by the Council.
" The Candidate then read his Confession of Faith. The members having put such questions as they pleased to the Candi- date, voted themselves satisfied, and that they were ready to proceed to the Ordination.
" Voted that the Rev. Mr. CODMAN make the Introductory Prayer.
Rev. Mr. FAY preach the Sermon.
Rev. Dr. MURDOCK make the Ordaining Prayer.
= Rev. Mr. KELLOGG give the Charge.
66
Rev. Mr. GREEN give the Right Hand of Fellowship.
Rev. Mr. COGGIN address the Church and People.
Rev. Mr. LAWRENCE make the Concluding Prayer.
" The Council then adjourned to the Meeting House.
" DAVID KELLOGG, Moderator.
" Attest. SAMUEL SEWALL, Scribe." 39
30 Church Records, Vol. I., pp. 200, 201.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
" Previous to the Ordination, the Church were requested to assemble for a few moments; when, they having received Mr Bennett's Dismission and Recommendation from the Church in Framingham, voted unanimously to receive him as a member in full communion with this church.
" Moved by Dea. Wright, that the thanks of this Church be presented to Benjamin Wyman for his faithful service as Mode- rator & Clerk of the Church. Voted unanimously.
" Attest, BENJAMIN WYMAN, Clerk.40
The ministry of Rev. Mr. Bennett was distinguished by large accessions to the church, especially in the year 1827, (a year of revival,) when two hundred and twenty-six were added to its numbers, two hundred and twelve by profession, and fourteen by letter. During the same period, too, the discipline of the church was enforced with more than usual strenuousness ; 41 the Sabbath school was diligently promoted and numerously attended; and various societies, both of the town and State, for the advancement of Christian knowledge and charity, were lib- crally encouraged. For all these tokens of spiritual and moral growth and prosperity, the town and the public were largely indebted to the zealous labors and kind efforts of Rev. Mr. Ben- nett.
But in 1840, the increase and prosperity of the church sus- tained a temporary check by the dismission of the members of the South Village. It was in this quarter, probably, that the first dwelling-house in the town was erected, viz: at the Con- vers' mill. And yet, for a long succession of years, the settle- ments there had been so slow, and the inhabitants so few and scattering, that no school-house appears to have been built in the place till 1790; and though a public school was some years appointed to be kept there, it could be accommodated only in some private house, and that only for a few weeks in the course of the season. Other years, the children who attended school must be provided with a private one at the cost of their parents,
40 Church Records, Vol. I., p. 201.
" Between 1823 and 1841, thirty-two cases of discipline are recorded in Church Records, Vol. I., of which twenty resulted lu excommunication.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
or travel to the centre of the town, which is from one to two miles distant.
But, from the operation of various causes, especially the loca- tion of the Lowell Railroad through the centre of the village, it began, about 1830, rapidly to increase both in business and in population ; and at length, feeling themselves competent to sus- tain public worship among themselves, the inhabitants com- menced a series of measures to obtain for themselves the privilege. The first step taken to this end was the following resolution, submitted to the church by Deacon Benjamin F. Thompson, at a meeting, March 21, 1839 : " Resolved as the sense of this church, that there ought to be another orthodox church and society established in this town, when, in the opinion of this church, the necessary funds shall be obtained to carry the same properly into effect." 42 But the discussion to which this resolution, and another offered in its stead, gave rise, occasion- ing delay, they were both withdrawn by the mover; and the following letter was read to the church after Communion, November 2, 1840.
" To the Congregational Church, Woburn, Mass.
" Dear Brethren and Friends :
" We, the subscribers, deeming it our duty, as well as our con- venience, to colonize and congregate in the South Village of this town for the purpose of worshipping the God of our fathers in the way we have been taught, request that you would give us a dismis- sion from the body with which we are still happily united, to the end that we may be constituted the South Congregational Church in Woburn. And we ask it, not from any dissatisfaction as it respects Pastor, Church, or Congregation ; for no dissatisfaction exists, as we hope there never may, but love, concord, and recip- rocal kindness. But we make the request, because we are per- suaded that the advancement of truth and righteousness will be promoted by the means, as more will be induced to attend the public worship of God, and can attend it more conveniently : Be- cause the church is so large and efficient, that we can well be spared, and a large and flourishing church still remain : Because
42 Church Records, Vol. I., p. 245.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
the growing population of the town demands another place of wor- ship, and the place we have chosen is suited to accommodate such increasing population : Because we think we can sustain the reg- ular administration of the word and ordinances, and have ample means to sustain the same here : and Because we think that both you and we can to better advantage enjoy the stated means of grace.
" On these principles, we present the preceding request : hoping and expecting, that it will not only be kindly and cheerfully granted, but that Christian love, brotherly kindness, fellowship and good- will, which we trust we now feel, will henceforth be reciprocated. [Subscribed by]
" N. B. JOHNSON. B. F. THOMPSON. MARSHALL WYMAN. STEPHEN CUTTER. OLIVER R. CLARK.
[and by ninety-seven others, male and female.]
The request presented in the foregoing letter was immediately granted. The result was, the dedication in South Woburn, December 30, 1840, of a new house of worship, which had been some time, apparently, in process of creetion ; the speedy gather- ing of the brethren and sisters dismissed as above from First Church of Woburn, into a distinct Congregational Church; the ordination of Rev. George P. Smith as its pastor, June 17, 1841; and the incorporation by the Legislature of the village of South Woburn, together with portions of Medford and West Cambridge, as the town of Winchester, April 30, 1850.43
The day next after the dedication in South Woburn, viz : December 31, 1840, the fifth meeting-house of the First Congre- gational Society in Woburn was dedicated. Its fourth house of public worship had stood only thirty-one years. But upon exami- nation, in order to some repairs, it was ascertained that the timber used in its construction had become so far decayed and rotten, in consequence probably of having been cut at a wrong season of the year, that it was judged safest and best to take it down
43 Massachusetts Special Laws, Vol. LX., pp. 234, 235.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
entirely, and to build anew. Accordingly, a handsome and con- venient edifice, seventy feet by sixty, was erected on the site of the former meeting-house, with a vestry in the basement, which had for some time been finished and occupied as the place of worship, before the main building was completed. The dedi- cation services, December 31, 1840, were, 1st. Invocation, and reading of portions of the Scriptures by Rev. Mr. Sewall, of Bur- lington ; 2d. Introductory prayer by Rev. Mr. Baker, of Med- ford; 3d. Sermon, by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Bennett, from Haggai ii. 9. " The glory of this latter house shall be greater," etc., ete .; 4th. Consecrating prayer, by Rev. Mr. Coggin, of Tewks- bury; 5th. Address to the people, by Rev. Mr. Albro, of Cam- bridge; and 6th. Concluding prayer, by Rev. Mr. Norwood, of Wilmington.
For many years, Rev. Mr. Bennett continued to be very pop- ular and successful in his ministry. His pulpit services were highly acceptable both to his own people, and to all the churches in the vicinity. But he was naturally of a very nervous tempera- ment, and easily excited ; and hence at times he would be very elevated in his spirits, and at others deeply depressed. Over this, his natural predisposition, his excellent lady exerted a powerful influence ; and so long as her life was spared to him, she gener- ally managed so as to keep it from running into either extreme. But after her decease, February 11, 1846, there was nothing left to check and regulate it. Causes comparatively trifling would often raise his spirits so far, as that he would unawares become quite eccentric both in speech and in action ; and then again his spirits would flag and sink so low, that he would apparently begin to think that his usefulness was gone, and that his life was no longer desirable to himself or others. And hence, in one of these deplorable turns of melancholy depression, he was left to take his own life, November 19, 1847. His funeral was very largely attended at the meeting-house by his brethren in the min- istry, and by the inhabitants of Woburn and the neighboring towns. A sermon was preached on the solemn occasion by Rev. Dr. John W. Chickering, of Portland, who happened to be on a visit to Rev. Mr. Bennett at the time of his decease. This
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
sermon was published at the expense of the church; and at a parish meeting, December 6th following, it was voted to pay a full year's salary to the heirs of Rev. Mr. Bennett.44
Rev. Joseph Bennett was born at Framingham, May 13, 1798; was graduated at Harvard University, 1818: studied theology at the institution in Andover ; was ordained at Woburn, January 1, 1822, and was married in February following to Miss Mary Lamson, " his ever-discreet counsellor, as well as affectionate and beloved friend." By her he had two children, viz: 1. Rev. Joseph Lamson Bennett, minister first at East Cambridge, now at Lockport, N. Y .; and 2. Mary Lamson Bennett, married to Rev. Thomas Morong, of Gloucester, Mass.
During his ministry in Woburn, seven hundred and sixty persons, (including himself,) were admitted into the church, viz : five hundred and ninety-six by profession, and one hundred and sixty-four by letter; and six hundred and nine were bap- tized, viz : three hundred and seventy-one infants and children and two hundred and thirty-eight adults. Also, two hundred and forty-two marriages are recorded, as solemnized by him to January 1, 1843, inclusively. Marriages solemnized by him subsequently to that date, were not recorded by him on the church book.
44 P'arish Records, Vol. III., p. 523.
CHAPTER XV.
First Church : Rev. Messrs. Edwards, March, and Bodwell. - Congrega- tional Church, North Woburn. - Baptist Church. - Independent Baptist Church. - Universalist Church. - Unitarian Church. - Methodist Epis- copal Church. - Roman Catholic Church. - Protestant Episcopal Church.
AFTER the decease of Rev. Mr. Bennett, the church took speedy action for the settlement of another pastor. It gave, March 17, 1848, an unanimous invitation to Mr. Jonathan Edwards, of Andover, to become their pastor. In this measure of the church, the parish concurred, March 20th, and voted a salary to Mr. Edwards of a thousand dollars per annum, payable semi-annually, with this proviso, " That either party might dissolve the connec- tion by a mutual Council, after giving six months' notice of its intention." 1 And at a meeting, May 22d, in compliance with a wish expressed by Mr. Edwards, the parish voted to allow him the privilege of an annual vacation of four Sabbaths ; and added, to his salary before stipulated, fifty dollars, to enable him to supply the pulpit during his vacation .? The invitation given him thus qualified, Mr. Edwards accepted May 26th. In the interval which elapsed before his ordination, the church voted as follows : " Resolved that we do not consider the relation of Pastor and Church to be complete, without the pastor becoming a member of the particular church of which he is the overseer." 3 Agreeably to this vote, Mr. Edwards was admitted into the First Church of Woburn, September 3d, and ordained its pas- tor, September 7, 1848.
The ordaining council consisted of pastors and delegates from eleven churches, and of Rev. Justin Edwards, D. D., father of the candidate. The public services on the interesting occasion were as follows, viz :
1 Parish Records, Vol. III., pp. 528, 529. - 2 P'arish Records, Vol. III., pp. 530-532. 3 Church Records, Vol. III., p. 213.
41
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
Reading of the minutes, by the scribe, Rev. William Ives Burdington of Charlestown.
Introductory Prayer, by Rev. J. L. TAYLOR, Andover.
Reading the Scriptures, by Rev. ALEXANDER J. SESSIONS, Salem.
Sermon, by Rev. E. N. KIRK, Boston.
Ordaining Prayer, by Rev. REUBEN EMERSON, South Reading.
Charge, by Rev. JUSTIN EDWARDS, Andover.
Right Hand, by Rev. GEORGE RICHARDS, Central Church, Boston.
Address to the People, by Rev. JOHN W. CHICKERING, Portland.
Concluding Prayer, by Rev. JACOB COGGIN, Tewksbury.
Rev. BROWN EMERSON, D. D., Salem, Moderator. 4
During the eight years of Rev. Mr. Edwards' continuance in Woburn, entire harmony and mutual confidence prevailed be- tween him and his people. In discharging the duties of his sacred office, his heart was often gladdened and encouraged in perceiving that his labors were not in vain in the Lord; and the people on their part repeatedly manifested their satisfaction with him, and respect for him, by various tokens of kindness and affection ; and especially by complying, virtually, with the follow- ing vote of the church, passed February 20, 1854. " Voted unanimously, that we recommend to the Parish, to raise the salary of Rev. Jona. Edwards to a sum not less that fifteen huu- dred dollars." 5
But suddenly this fair prospect of a long, as well as success- ful ministry by Rev. Mr. Edwards, was broken up. January 2, 1856, he requested the church to unite with him in calling a mutual council for his dismission, he having received, as he stated to them, a pressing call to go elsewhere "to engage in a new and highly important church enterprise in an unoccupied field ; " expressing at the same time the pleasure he had derived from his present connection; his regret at leaving, his best wishes and prayers for the church, etc., etc. The church, with
" Church Recorda, Vol. III., pp. 216, 217.
Church Records, Vol. III., p. 227.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
expressions of regret, acceded to his request for calling a council ; and voted to unite with the parish committee, if they saw fit, to carry this measure into effect.6 Accordingly, a council was called ; and agreeably to its decision, Rev. Mr. Edwards was dismissed from Woburn, January 21, 1856.6
Rev. Jonathan Edwards was son of Rev. Justin Edwards, D. D., of Andover, and Mrs. Lydia (Bigelow) Edwards; was born at Andover, July 17, 1820; graduated at Yale College, 1840; studied theology at New Haven and at Andover; was graduated at Andover Theological Seminary, 1847, but contin- ued there a year longer as " Abbott Resident." Upon his leav- ing Woburn, he took charge of Plymouth congregational church in Rochester, N. Y., as its first pastor, February 14, 1856 ; removed from Rochester on account of health, November 1862, came to Dedham, Mass., and was there installed, as successor to Rev. Ebenezer Burgess, D. D., January 1, 1863, over the First Congregational Church in that ancient town, which was gathered in 1638. Upon February 26, 1865, he sailed on a voyage for health ; and after visiting England, Scotland, France, and other countries on the continent of Europe, he returned to his charge in Dedham, August 1865.7
During his ministry in Woburn, fifty-nine were received into his church by profession, and ninety-nine by letter : total, one hundred and fifty-eight.
There were seventy-eight baptisms of infants, and thirty-one of adults : total, one hundred and nine.8
Marriages solemized by him, during his ministry, were fifty- two.8
1856, August 18, the church voted unanimously to extend a call to Rev. Daniel March, of Brooklyn, N. Y., to become their pastor.9 The parish concurred with the church in this choice. and offered Rev. Mr. March a salary of $1,600 annually, in case he should accept the call given him to become their gospel minister. Mr. March accepted the call given him, and October 1st was appointed as the day for his installation. On that day, a
6 Church Records, Vol. III., pp. 229-231.
· Church Records.
7 Letter of Rev. Mr. Edwards, June 8, 1866.
· Church Records, Vol. III., p. 235.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
council of fourteen churches assembled in the vestry of the church, and after the usual examination and inquiries were gone through with to their satisfaction, the council voted they were ready to proceed to installation. The public services on this occasion were :
1. Introductory Prayer by Rev. DANIEL R. CADY, West Cam- bridge.
2. Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. J. I. M. MANNING, of Mystic Church, Medford.
3. Sermon, by Rev. A. L. STONE, Park Street Church, Boston.
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