USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Amherst > The history of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, pt 1 > Part 30
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MISCELLANEOUS VOTES.
In 1838, new articles of faith and a new covenant were adopted. In 1840, a committee was appointed to meet in Cummington with other churches, to form a society " to promote gospel preaching and Christian edification among churches in destitute places in this region." Feb. 24, 1843, standing rules and regulations for the church were adopted. May 19, 1848, it was voted " to form the church into a benevolent association, with a constitution and by-laws." In 1857, it was voted to sustain a weekly prayer-meeting. Another change in creed and covenant was made in 1864. Rules for the regulation of the Sunday-school were adopted in 1878, and a Sunday-school constitution in 1881. In 1878, a committee was appointed to take charge of a series of entertainments to be given during the winter. Many cases of church discipline are recorded, quite a number on account of members absenting themselves from religious services. In 1835, a committee was appointed to visit a brother, " for the purpose of stirring him up to his duty in attending meetings."
The first mention in regard to church music is found in the records under date of 1838, when there was a little trouble in the choir. Dec. 5, 18440, it was voted, "To draw 6 dollars from our treasury to pay for a flute for the use of the Chh in aiding their Chh music. It is ever to be considered as the Chh's property exclusively & wholly and always at their disposal." In 1878, an organ society was formed and purchased an organ and put it in ; in the same year, a committee on singing was appointed. The " old organ " was presented to the Baptist church in Wendell. June 18, 1879. a committee was appointed to investigate and report in regard to a parsonage. This committee reported, June 30, that H. D. Fearing had offered to give them his house if they would grade the cellar for his new house. The committee advised the church to accept this offer and to purchase the lot north of D. W. Palmer's house as a site for the building, at an expense of $800. The offer was accepted, but the committee after- wards purchased what was known as the " Hannah Wedge lot" as a site for the parsonage.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES .- GRACE CHURCH .- ST. BRIDGET'S CHURCH .- SECOND ADVENT CHURCH .- UNIVERSALIST CHURCH. -CHURCH ASSOCIATIONS. -- HAMPSHIRE EAST ASSOCIATION. - HAMPSHIRE EAST CONFERENCE.
Within a little more than a half century three Methodist churches have been organized in Amherst, one of which has gone out of existence, another is continued in union with the church in West Pelham, while the third, the Wesley M. E. church, is well supported and bears an honored place among the church organizations of the town. Of the church at North Amherst, the parent organization, complete and interesting records have been preserved, to which the writer is largely indebted for the follow- ing facts. In the month of August, 1842, Kev. E. S. Potter began to preach in the school-house at North Amherst "City." He held his appointment under the presiding elder of the Springfield District, New England M. E. Conference. A part of the time he preached at Hadley. As a result of his labors at North Amherst, a society was organized, with 45 members. In 1843, the New England Conference re-appointed Mr. Potter to Hadley and North Amherst. He resided in the latter place and preached with great acceptance. In June, 1843. he withdrew from the M. E. church to unite with the " Wesleyan Connection." Through his influence many of the members withdrew from the M. E. society to unite with the same " Connection." He continued his labors at North Amherst until the meeting of the Wesleyan M. E. Conference in 1844, when he received another appointment. The Wesleyan Conference, in 1844, appointed Rev. James Billings to North Amherst and Hadley ; he remained until October, when he removed from town and was succeeded by Rev. John Pike, who continued his labors until the close of the conference year. In 1845, Rev. William Bevins preached at North Amherst and Hadley, under appointment of the Wesleyan Conference ; the same Con- ference appointed Rev. Mr. Palmer to the charge in 1846, but on visiting the station and becoming acquainted with its prospects he declined the appointment, and left the pulpit unsupplied. From April to November, the church was without a regular preacher; in November, Rev. J. W. Dadmun of the M. E. church was engaged to supply the pulpit until the next session of the New England M. E. Conference, held in April, 1847. From April, 1847. to April, 1848, the station was without a preacher.
WESLEY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
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METHODIST MINISTERS.
In April. 1848, Rev. J. M. Clark of the M. E. church was appointed to the charge. On his arrival, he found a few friends of the M. E. church, but no members. March 9, 1849, an official Board was organized, accord- ing to the usage of the M. E. Church. The Conference met at the house of the minister, and Jonas M. Clark was elected secretary. The minister reported but three church members in full communion, but the probationary term of several others had nearly expired. The minister's " disciplinary allowance " amounted to $370. In April, 1849, Rev. H. M. Nichols was appointed as Mr. Clark's successor. and was continued in the charge two years. During his ministry, the church declined in spirituality and there was a considerable deficiency in the finances. From April, 1851, to December, 1854, there were no records of church doings. In October, 1854. Rev. W. M. Hubbard was pastor. continuing in charge until the close of the conference year. From 1855 to 1858, there was no regular pastor, but students from Amherst College preached occasionally. From 1858 to 1860, Rev. John Peterson served as pastor, the church enjoying a good degree of prosperity. From 1860 to 1861, Rev. J. O. Peck, a student at Amherst College, served as pastor: he was succeeded by Rev. Robert H. Wilder and Rev. Rufus Gerrish, each of whom served for one year.
In 1863, Rev. John Jones, a local preacher resident in Pelham, supplied the pulpit on the Sabbath and continued his services with the society until 1867. From 1867 to 1868, Rev. John W. Lee served as pastor of the church, under appointment of the New England M. E. Conference. In 1868. Rev. John Jones was once more pastor in charge. From April, 1869. to August of the same year, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Lorenzo Dibble, a local preacher ; for the remainder of the year local preachers from Wilbraham Academy preached occasionally. In 1870, William S. Jagger, not then ordained, was the preacher in charge. Rev. John Jones supplied the pulpit in 1871 and in 1872, and in 1873, Rev. D. K. Banister was appointed to the charge. In 1874, Rev. S. L. Rodgers was appointed to the " Amherst circuit " and remained in charge until 1876. For several years the church was without a regular supply for its pulpit, Rev. Jason Hatch serving as preacher for a time in 1881, and in 1882, the charges at Amherst and North Amherst were combined, under the care of one pastor. In 1887. the church at North Amherst and the church at West Pelham Were united as one charge. The pastor appointed in 1894 was Rev. George Hudson, and 1895, Rev. E. B. Marshall.
The chapel building, located at the "City," was built in 1844, and " is dedicated Jan. 1, 1845, the dedication sermon being preached by Rev. !. S. Potter. The chapel was built by a stock company and owned by them. the principal stockholders at the time of its construction being Peter
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King and L. L. Draper. Repairs costing some $400 were made on the building in 1867 ; in 1874, a vestry was built and alterations made on the · chapel at the cost of $600.
SOUTH AMHERST METHODIST CHURCH.
Of the Methodist church at South Amherst, no records are in exist- ence. The only accurate information in regard to it is found in the records of the New England M. E. Conference, which contain a list of the preachers in charge. The church was probably organized in 1847. as the church building was erected in that year and completed in the spring of 1848. This building stood at the corner of the Bay Road and East street at South Amherst, on land owned by Dwight E. Dickinson. It is still standing. though moved from its former location since the church organization was given up. It is now used for other purposes.
For several years the station was united with that at North Belchertown, with one preacher in charge. The list of ministers, as found on the conference records, is as follows: 1848, John Smith ; 1849-51, Ephraim Scott ; 1851-53, Daniel Wait: 1853-54. David Todd; 1858-60, John Jones ; 1862-63, John Jones : 1864-65, J. M. Hascall : 1866-67, J. W. Lee ; 1866-68, E. F. Pilcher; 1869-70, Lorenzo Dibble and W. S. Jagger. There is no record of preaching at the Methodist church in South Amherst after 1875, and it is probable that church services were discontinued at about that time.
WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH.
The Methodist church at Amherst center was organized in 1868 as a branch of the church at North Amherst. It was composed, in part, of members of the latter organization, together with a few members from the church in Pelham. It was organized as a separate society in August, 1875, when the first quarterly conference was held. The first meetings were held in Parmenter's hall at East Amherst. At the first meeting of the church, Cummings Fish, O. S. Latham and Hiram Ballou were appointed trustees, and O. S. Latham Sunday-school superintendent. Committees were appointed on missions, on Sunday-school. church extension. church records, parsonage and furniture, church music, and estimating preacher's salary. The first pastor was Rev. S. L. Rodgers who was appointed to the " Amherst circuit " by the New England M. F. Conference. At the end of the first year of its existence, the church had a membership of about 30. and the Sunday-school of over 50. In 1876, Rev. D. S. Coles was appointed pastor of the Amherst circuit. comprising the church at North Amherst and the new organization. After being pastor about a month. he was advised by the presiding elder that the interests of the church and the cause of Christ would be advanced if the relation between the societies
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was severed. This suggestion was promptly acted upon, and Mr. Coles continued as pastor of the new society at East Amherst.
In 1877, Rev. E. C. Ferguson was pastor of the church. He was succeeded by Rev. E. P. King, who was appointed by the conference in IS78, and continued in the pastorate until 1881. For the first few years after the church was organized, the pastor's salary was $500. Rev. W. G. Richardson was appointed pastor in 1881, and served for three years. He was succeeded, in 1884, by Rev. W. H. Daniels, who remained but one year. In 1885, Rev. J. H. Emerson began his pastoral services continu- ing in office three years. For three years, 1887-90, Rev. C. R. Sherman served as pastor, he being succeeded, in 1890, by Rev. S. A. Bragg, who continued in office until 1894, when Rev. A. L. Squier was appointed.
At a meeting held June 15, 1876, the trustees were instructed to buy a lot on which to build a church edifice. The pastor and two members were appointed a committee to secure funds for building purposes. The pastor, Rev. D. S. Coles, expressed the opinion that the society should take steps at once to build a church costing not more than $5.000. Aug. 13, 1876, the committee reported that they had received subscriptions, amounting only to $1,325. Aug. 15, 1877, the society decided to build a church that fall and to use all available resources. Sept. 3, the society accepted plans submitted for a building, appointed a building com- mittee and voted to secure the " Dickinson lot." The committee reported, Feb. 13, 1877, that they had purchased the " Whitney lot." The corner- stone of the church was laid, Oct. 17, 1878, and the work progressed so rapidly that services were held in the vestry, Jan. 26, 1879. In 1880, a committee was appointed to superintend the building of sheds on the church lot. In 1886, the grounds about the church were graded and improved. A bell was procured in 1887.
In 18So, a committee was appointed to consider the matter of building a parsonage. In November, 1890, Miss Betsey Locke died, bequeathing to the church her house and lot, the house to be used as a parsonage, or the property to be sold and the proceeds devoted to building a parsonage. The new parsonage, a neat and ornamental structure, was built in 1894. In 1876, it was reported that an organ had been purchased and partly paid for. In 1882, a vote was passed to purchase a pipe organ. The whole number of church members in March, 1877, was 25. In 1881, a vote was passed to publish a small weekly paper, if it could be made self sup- porting, but the project was abandoned. The church has been blessed with many revivals of religion, one of especial interest occurring in the spring of 1886. another in 1890. A class-meeting was conducted from the beginning, in charge of Cummings Fish, lovingly remembered as " Father " Fish. It was given up for a time, but was revived in 1894.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Sept. 20, 1864, a number of men residing in Amherst met at the residence of Mrs. Mary H. Jones, to consider the practicability of forming in Amherst a parish of the Protestant Episcopal church. The meeting was organized by choice of I. F. Conkey as chairman and O. G. Couch as secretary. It was voted practical and expedient at that time to elect wardens, vestrymen, and a parish clerk. In accordance with this vote, officers were chosen as follows: Senior warden, George Burnham ; junior warden, John M. Emerson : vestrymen. I. F. Conkey, H. C. Nash, Horace Ward, Charles Deuel, Luther D. Sheppard. John C. White, M. M. Marsh, M. N. Spear, R. W. Stratton ; clerk and treasurer, O. G. Couch. Rev. Frederick D. Huntington, at that time rector of the Emmanuel church in Boston, was present at the meeting ; it was largely owing to his efforts that the parish was formed. Being invited to give a name to the parish, he selected that of "Grace church." A meeting of the vestry was held two days later, at which time committees were appointed to secure a place for holding religious services, to prepare by-laws for the government of the parish, to form a choir, and to recommend a location for a building for the use of the parish. Arrangements were made with the Baptist society for the temporary use of their house of worship in which to hold services, but the agreement was promptly canceled when Rev. Mr. Huntington announced that on a certain Sabbath he would preach a doctrinal sermon ; in this emergency. the First Congregational society offered the use of their meet- ing-house for the service referred to.
Oct. 20, 1864, the parish voted to extend a call to Rev. S. P. Parker, D. D., to become the rector of Grace church, offering him a salary of $1,200, including $200 per annum to be paid by Rev. F. D. Huntington. Mr. Parker's acceptance of the call was read at a meeting held Jan. 15, 1865. The agreement to become members of an Episcopal parish, sbould one be formed, was signed by 41 names. That the parish might have a legal standing, and be enabled to hold property, it was necessary that it should be organized under the provisions of statute law. April 10, 1865. the following petition was addressed to Henry A. Marsh, a justice of the peace, resident in Amherst :
" The undersigned members of an unincorporated religious Society in Amherst in said County known as the Protestant Episcopal Society known as Grace Church and containing more than ten qualified voters hereby make application to you to issue your warrant to one of the subscribers requiring him to warn the qualified voters of said unincorporated Society to meet at such time and place as you may appoint to organize a religious Society under the Statutes of this Commonwealth and to act on the following articles:
First, To choose a Clerk for said Society.
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RECTORS OF GRACE CHURCH.
Second, To choose a moderator to preside in said meeting.
Third, To adopt such Bye-Laws or rules to govern said Society as shall be deemed best.
Fourth, To elect such other officers for said Society as may be determined by its Bye-Laws or rules or as the Society may direct.
Fifth, To determine the manner of notifying and calling future meetings of said Society."
Justice Marsh issued his warrant to John C. White, requiring him to notify and warn the members of the Protestant Episcopal Society known as Grace Church to meet at the hall in the Academy building, April 17, to act on the articles set forth in the petition. The meeting was held on the date specified, and was organized by the choice of O. G. Couch as clerk and George Burnham as moderator. It was voted that the parish be know as Grace Church parish ; the officers should consist of a rector, two wardens, seven vestrymen, a clerk and a treasurer. The officers chosen were : Wardens, George Burnham. Horace Ward ; vestrymen, E. F. Cook, D. W. Palmer, George M. Lovell, I. F. Conkey, H. C. Nash. J. A. Baker, R. W. Stratton ; treasurer, O. G. Couch. Rev. S. P. Parker served as rector for four years, until Jan. 17, 1869, when he tendered his resigna- tion, which was accepted with deep regret ; resolutions were passed express- ing the sense of loss experienced by church and parish in parting from one whose labors among them had been so untiring and crowned with such success. March 29, 1869, a call was extended to Rev. Andrew Mackie, who accepted in a letter dated April 7. Mr. Mackie remained in office only two years, resigning April 12. 1871. The third rector was Rev. Henry F. Allen of Stockbridge, who was called to the parish in February. 1872, and served for five years, his resignation bearing date of Feb. 19, 1877. During his ministry the church was greatly prospered. In the spring of 1878, the precise date not being recorded in the parish records, Rev. Frederick Burgess became rector, continuing in office until 1882. when he resigned. Feb. 12, 1883, a call was extended to Rev. Louis A. Arthur of New York city, but Mr. Arthur declined. During a part of the year 1883 the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Mr. Tisdal. June 6, 1883, a call was extended to Rev. Samuel Snelling of Charlestown ; he accepted in a letter dated June 12. Mr. Snelling's ministry was most successful and he gained to a marked degree the esteem and affection of his parishioners. He tendered his resignation. Nov. 20, 1886, but it was voted unanimously not to accept the same, and he was prevailed upon to withdraw it. His resig- nation was tendered a second time. Dec. 19, 1887, and again a unanimous vote was passed against its acceptance, but although repeated and urgent efforts were made to retain his services, they proved unavailing. March 26. 1888, a call was extended to Rev. W. J. Tilley of Brandon, Vt. ; he
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
accepted, and continued in office until Dec. 20, 1892, when he tendered his resignation, which was accepted. Mr. Tilley was a faithful and efficient minister, and was highly esteemed both by his parishioners and by the general public. In 1893, a call was extended to Rev. Walter M. Breed, but he declined. Aug. 28, 1893, a call was extended to Rev. David Sprague of Amsterdam, N. Y. He accepted and began his ministry in Amherst in the fall of 1893.
At a meeting of the parish held in Academy hall, Jan. 9, 1865, a committee was appointed to consider the matter of securing a site for the erection of a building, and to examine such plans for a Sunday-school room as might be presented to them. This committee reported, Jan. 25, in favor of buying the " John Emerson lot " on Prospect street as a location for the church, and also in favor of accepting the plans presented by R. Turner. The committee was authorized to buy the Emerson property, or any other property that they might deem more suitable. The parish voted, May 26, to ratify the purchase of a part of the Newman estate as a site for the church building, and the wardens and vestrymen were instructed to purchase for the parish what was known as the Palmer estate, at such a time and for such a price as they should deem expedient. At the same meeting, it was voted that the parish build a stone church, a committee of five being appointed to have charge of the work. Work on the building was begun that year, and was carried on so rapidly that the parish held a meeting in the basement of the church, April 2, 1866. The building was consecrated by the Bishop of the diocese, July 17. It was designed by Henry Dudley of New York, the type of architecture being 13th century English. It was built of a gray gneiss, quarried in Leverett. The audience-room affords seating accommodations for 420 persons, and there is a commodious and finely-arranged Sunday-school room in the basement. At the time of its consecration the church contained six handsome memo- rial windows. A beautiful set of communion plate and linen was presented to the church by members of Grace church in Boston. Other articles of church furniture were donated by friends in Boston, New York. Springfield and Amherst. June 27, 1868, the parish voted, " That we accept the very generous offer of Rev. George Champion Shepherd. D. D., to erect the tower and place therein a clock and bell."
The parish voted, June 1 1, 1866, that the pews in the church be appraised yearly on or before the first Monday after Easter, and be rented at the annual meeting at public auction, at not less than the appraisal, by bid for the choice of the same. In AApril, 1867, the parish appropriated $2,025 for the year's expenses, including $150 for heating and lighting, $150 for an organist and " blower," and $125 for a sexton. In 1869, it was voted " to do away with the assessments." In March. 1871, a committee appointed
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ST. BRIDGET'S CHURCH.
to consider the subject of liquidating the parish debt of some $5,000, proposed a plan to divide the debt into 250 shares of $20 each, to be assumed by subscription and paid for by promissory notes without interest, payable in four equal amounts on the first day of June, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874. A committee appointed to carry this project into execution reported, two months later, that all the shares had been subscribed for.
The Episcopal church in Amherst, in common with its sister churches in neighboring towns and cities, has ever been noted for the excellence of the music at its religious services. At the first meeting of the vestry, a committee was appointed to form a choir. The records contain frequent allusions to the church music, and liberal sums were annually appropriated for its maintenance. Soon after the church was erected it was furnished with a fine organ. As early as 1875, ladies were engaged to sing in the clioir. Jan. 26. 1870, it was voted, " That the parish accept the propo- sition of the proprietors of the rectory property, to give us a deed of the same to be held by the parish for its use only, and when it ceases to be used for parish purposes it shall revert to the above proprietors for the sum specified in the legal writing." In 1879, a proposition was made to place the church property in the hands of the diocese, but was decided in the negative. The first vote in regard to the appointment of ushers is found under date of 1879. In 1880, the parish accepted the offer of Professor Tuckerman to surround the grounds with a neat fence, at his own expense. The same year, it was voted to accept the bequest of a theological library from Rev. Samuel P. Parker, the first rector of the church. July 17, 1891, the church held exercises in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the church building. An interesting historical discourse was delivered by Bishop F. D. Huntington.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The first communicant of the Roman Catholic church to settle in Amherst was John Slater. Other Catholics had lived in the town for a short time, but he was the first to make Amherst his home. Mr. Slater was born in Ireland in 1803 ; in 1832, he came to Quebec, and having resided there some two years, in government employ, he removed to Vermont and afterwards, in 1840, to Amherst. He was a devoted adherent of the church, and frequently journeyed as far as Springfield to Bend upon its ordinances. The first mass held in this town was celebrated it his house more than forty years ago. and frequently thereafter religious meetings were held there before a church was built. Mr. Slater was hably esteemed in the community, and was known as one of the pioneers of the Roman Catholic faith in the Connecticut Valley. He resided in Amberst until his death, in 1886. The first priest to officiate at religious
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