USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Amherst > The history of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, pt 1 > Part 31
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
services in Amherst was Rev. Father Blinkensop of Chicopee. Other priests who visited the town occasionally and held services, before a church was organized, were Fathers O'Callahan, Sullivan, Straine and Cavanaugh. When Rev. P. V. Moyee came to Northampton, a mission was established at Amherst.
As early as 1870, Father Moyce conceived the idea of building a Roman Catholic church in Amherst. He at once began to take subscrip- tions for this purpose, being assisted in the work by Professor and Mrs. Charles A. Goessmann. In less than one year $3,000 had been subscribed. In August, 1870, the contract for the building was let to McDonald Bros. of Waterbury. Conn. Work on the structure was begun at once, and it was completed in March, 1871. It stands on Pleasant street. is a Gothic structure, built of wood, 48 x 81 feet on the ground floor, with a gallery at the west end for a choir-loft. It will seat about 480 persons, and its cost was some $13,000. It was dedicated, June 25, 1871, Right Rev. Bishop O'Rielly of Springfield officiating, and was given the name St. Bridget's church. The sermon was preached by Rev. Father Hendricken of Waterbury, Conn. Previous to the erection of this building. church services had been held for a time in the school-house on Pleasant street, and later in Palmer's hall.
It is to be regretted that the only records of the church available are baptismal records. The church has been a power for good in the commu- nity ; doubtless there are many interesting events in its history that should here be recorded, but the few facts presented were obtained with difficulty. The older members of the church have died or removed from town, and while those remaining have offered all assistance in their power the records here given are of necessity brief and incomplete. The first settled pastor of the church was Rev. Francis Brennan, who came to Amherst from Holyoke in February. 1872, remaining until July, 1878. For several years thereafter the church was conducted as a mission of the church in North- ampton, with Rev. M. E. Barry in charge. In 1887, Rev. J. B. Drennan became the pastor in charge, remaining until September, 1891. Rev. J. H. Gavin took charge of the parish in 1891. The Sunday-school connected with the church was organized in 1872. In 1870, the cemetery at Plain- ville, Hadley, called St. Bridget's cemetery, was consecrated by Archbishop Williams.
SECOND ADVENT CHURCH.
For more than seventeen years a church holding to the faith of the Second Advent has been in existence at South Amherst. Although small in numbers, and destitute of a building in which to hold religious services, its members have held meetings with great regularity and a good degree
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ST. BRIDGET'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
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UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
of interest has been maintained. Several members of the church were former members of the Congregational society at South Amherst, and .when the new organization was projected it met with little favor at the hands of those who adhered to the orthodox faith. The hard feelings that were first excited by the action of its founders have worn away, and their neighbors have learned to respect their motives however little they may sympathize in their faith. Following the custom of their sect, they observe the seventh day of the week as their Sabbath. Their meetings are held in the homes of the church members. Feb. 28, 1878, a meeting was held at the call of Elder D. A. Robinson, for the purpose of forming a church organization. At this meeting a church was formed with eleven members, six men and five women. J. E. Sanderson was chosen treasurer, G. H. Murphy clerk and E. G. Bolter leader. July 13 of the same year, E. G. Bolter was chosen superintendent of the Sunday-school. Sept. 29, the ordinance of baptism was administered to six persons. At a meeting held Jan. 5. 1879. nearly every one present agreed to give up one-tenth of their earnings for the year to the cause of the church. April 8, 1893. E. G. Bolter resigned as leader of the church and Oct. 13, 1894. E. A. Dickinson was chosen elder. The meetings of the church are frequently attended by persons of the same faith living in neighboring communities.
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
The latest church organization to be formed in Amherst was that of the Universalist faith. From time to time many persons holding to the Universalist doctrine and belief have resided in Amherst. but no attempt was made by them to form an organization or hold religious services until 18$7. In the fall of that year, nineteen persons signed articles of agree- ment to associate themselves together to constitute a corporation in accord- ance with the provisions of the public statutes. The name of the corpor- ation was to be " The First Universalist Parish of Amherst." Its purpose was, to establish and sustain public worship, to cultivate the spirit of the Christian religion and perform the work usually done by religious parishes, and to do these things according to the principles and rules of the Univer- salist Convention of Massachusetts. The first meeting of the signers of this agreement. duly warned, was held in Grand Army hall, Nov. 15, 1887. A code of by-laws was read and. adopted. Officers were elected as follows: President. T. W. Sloan; clerk, Henry E. Newton : treasurer, Lewis W. Allen ; committee, G. M. Chamberlain, J. F. Gilbert, E. G. Thayer, Mrs. Amelia M. Pierce, Mrs. Martha F. Cushman. The clerk was instructed to notify the Massachusetts Universalist Convention of the legal organization of the parish, and to request the fellowship of the con- Vention. A charter was granted to the parish, Nov. 17. 1887. Oct. 25.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
1888, committees were appointed on church extension, on hospitality and on music.
The religious services of the parish were first held in the hall in Palmer's block, preachers being supplied by the state convention. When Palmer's block was burned, in the spring of 1888, meetings were held for a time in the hall in Hunt's block, and later in Pacific hall. In July, 1888, a call to become the settled minister of the parish was extended to Rev. J. Harry Holden; he accepted and began his labors, Sept. 9. Mr. Holden was very successful in his ministry, the parish gaining in numbers and in strength during his stay in Amherst. while many important lines of relig- ious work were marked out and developed by him. He continued in office until June 12, 1895, when his resignation was regretfully accepted. Jan. 3, 1889, the parish committee was instructed to secure a lot of land as a site for a church building ; the committee purchased a lot from George M. Chamberlain, the same year. Nov. 20, 1890, a committee was appointed on church building. Jan. 15, 1891, the parish voted to build a church. The parish committee was instructed to negotiate for the purchase of a lot north of the property owned by Daniel Long and to dispose of the land already purchased. A committee was appointed to solicit funds for building a church. The building committee reported, March 22, 1892, that $1,500 had been pledged for the church, and that the state convention would probably give as much more. July 19, it was voted to build a church in accordance with the terms of the vote of the executive committee of the state convention. The building was erected in 1893, and was dedicated Oct. 12. The church was not organized until April 22, 1894. The officers chosen were: Clerk and treasurer, Malcolm A. Carpenter : deacon. Timothy W. Sloan ; deaconess, Martha F. Cushman.
CHURCH ASSOCIATIONS.
Of the many associations working within and together with the church organizations, for religious, benevolent and charitable purposes. the scope of this work will permit but passing mention. Their number is legion and they have exerted great power for good, but many have passed from exist- ence and of those remaining but few have manuscript records that furnish authentic information. The Sunday-schools, the ladies' societies. the home and foreign mission organizations, the societies of young people, all have done faithful and efficient work and are deserving of all praise. If all are not here mentioned. it is not because they are undeserving of the honor. but space forbids.
The first Sunday-school of which there is any existing record was established in England near the close of the eighteenth century. Sunday- schools in New England were unknown prior to 1813. In 1820. during
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THE FIRST SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
the pastorate of Rev. Daniel A. Clark, a plan and constitution for a Sunday-school for the First church in Amherst was prepared and presented by Noah Webster, Esq. It was adopted at a meeting held April 12, and a board of managers was appointed; April 18, the managers elected Noah Webster, H. Wright Strong and Samuel F. Dickinson directors; Joseph Estabrook, superintendent ; John Leland, Jr., treasurer ; Lucius Boltwood, secretary. For several years the school was indebted to Amherst College for superintendents and teachers. The first report of the school in exist- ence bears date of 1826. The school was kept only in the summer season, some 22 weeks. The number of pupils in the school was 150, divided into 19 classes, the average attendance 130 ; the library contained 165 volumes. As late as 1850, scholars were incited to commit large numbers of verses from the Bible to memory; it is related that one scholar com- mitted to memory in twelve weeks 450 verses. In 1820, the managers voted that "the value of premium books be fixed at the retail price, and the same be delivered to scholars in exchange for tickets, tickets to be valued at one cent each." Among the earlier superintendents of the school were Rev. Pindar Field, Prof. Samuel A. Worcester, Rev. Joseph S. Clark, Rev. Justin Perkins, Rev. Simeon Colton and Prof. W. S. Tyler .. When the meeting-house now known as College hall was erected in 1829, a vestry was built in the west end of the basement ; this was occupied by the school about ten years, when, on account of dampness and bad venti -. lation the school was removed to the audience room above, although the parish voted against such action. A ladies' society was organized in the church in 1863, during the civil war, to aid the soldiers engaged in the conflict. In 1867, the ladies of the parish organized themselves into a " Society for the Furtherance of Benevolent Purposes," and adopted a constitution. Since then, $8,500 has been raised by the society for church and parish purposes, and an average of over $1oo per annum for home missionary work. Considerable work has also been done for the needy in. the town. The Christian Endeavor society connected with the parish was organized Dec. 17, 1887 ; its first president was James Fairley ; its present membership is 135.
There is no existing record of the date of organization of the Sunday- school connected with the Second Congregational church. The oldest resi- dents living in the vicinity of the church state that the school was established before their earliest recollection. It is probable that its existence dates back more than seventy years. Among the earliest super- mtendents were Eliab Thomas, Asahel Thayer, Nelson Rust, Moses Cowles antal Horace Gray. A ladies' society was organized in the parish, June 17, mes, under the name of "The Ladies' Benevolent Society of the Second Congregational Church, Amherst." It expressed purpose was to form a
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
more perfect union, establish social intercourse, mutual good will, and hearty cheer, also to derive means for procuring funds for benevolent purposes." It had a membership of 20 and its first president was Mrs. H. H. Adams. 'A Christian Endeavor society was organized Nov. 8. 1886. It first president was A. L. Brush ; its present membership is 56.
Of the earlier history of the Sunday-school connected with the South ·Congregational church, no records are in existence. B. E. Smith, a resi- dent of the parish when it was first formed, writes from East Granby. Conn., as follows : " I can fix no definite date of the organization of the Sunday-chool at South Amherst. I remember very distinctly attending meeting while the meeting house was building, in Mr. Warner's carpenter's shop, which stood nearly opposite Dea. Reed's house, and am confident that no Sunday-school was held there. My memory of Sunday-school commences in the meeting-house. I think very soon after it was first occupied. My father led me up the north aisle to the superintendent, who I think was Dea. N. C. Dickinson." A ladies' society was organized in the parish, May 20, 1868, under name of " The Ladies' Benevolent Society." Its object was to raise funds for benevolent purposes and pro- mote Christian sympathy in the community. It had a membership of about 50, while 20 men were associated with it as honorary members. Its first officers were : President, Mrs. E. C. Miller ; vice-president, Mrs. E. Graves : secretary, Mrs. J. W. Dana ; treasurer, Mrs. E. H. Allen. A Christian Endeavor society was organized, Nov. 20, 1885, with Rev. C. S. Walker president. The original membership was 20, present membership 33.
The Sunday-school of the North Congregational church was organized in the spring of 1827. The first superintendent was Daniel Dickinson. Until stoves were put in the church the school was suspended in the fall. from Thanksgiving until May ist. The " North Amherst Female Sewing Society " was organized June 5. 1837. Mrs. William W. Hunt, the pastor's wife, was the first president. It had an original membership of 36. In 1854, a branch of the society was organized at the "City," with Mrs. Dea. Loomis as president. At the society's fiftieth anniversary it was announced that it had raised for benevolent purposes $4,228.60, of which $314.18 had been given to soldiers' hospitals during the civil war. The society is known at present as the " Ladies' Social Circle." A Christian Endeavor society was organized Jan. 14, 1885. with the pastor of the church, Rev. G. H. Johnson, as president. At its organization it had 14 active and 14 associate members. Present membership 65.
Of the organization and early history of the Sunday-school connected with the Baptist church there are no records in existence. It is probable that the school was organized about the year 1832. The " Amherst Baptist Ladies' Benevolent Society " was organized March 4, 1852. Its expressed
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RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS.
object was " To do good, and to communicate, forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Believing we can best obey this injunction by efficient and systematic action, in behalf of the benevolent and charitable objects of the day, we form ourselves into a society for the promotion of these objects." The directresses of the society were Mrs. E. Cummings, Mrs. C. A. McMaster, Mrs. A. Wellman. The Christian Endeavor society connected with the parish was organized March 1, 1891 ; its first president was Frank B. Bigelow, its original membership 28. Present membership 35.
At the first conference meeting of the M. E. church at Amherst center, O. S. Latham and Emma King were appointed a Sunday-school committee. Feb. 20, 1876. six months after the church was organized, the pastor reported that the Sunday-school had 50 members. O. S. Latham was the first superintendent. From time to time various organizations have been formed by the young people connected with the parish, includ- ing an Oxford League, a Christian Endeavor association and a Y. M. C. A. In the fall of 1889, an Epworth League was organized with Walter Pember as president. This league belongs to what is known as Group 5 in the Springfield district. A Sunday-school was organized in connection with the Methodist church at North Amherst prior to 1849. In that year it liad six teachers, 30 scholars, one Bible class and a library of 120 volumes. The total expenses of the school for the year were $11, of which $5 was donated to the M. E. Sunday-school association.
The Sunday-school of Grace church parish was organized at about the same time as the church; the first superintendent was Rev. S. P. Parker, the rector. The "Ladies Sewing Society " was organized in 1865. Its original object was to provide for the poor of the parish, but this was afterwards changed to raising funds for parish purposes. Mrs. S. P. Parker, wife of the rector, was the first president. The society purchased the building used as a parsonage and deeded it to the parish on certain conditions. A society of Daughters of the King was organized in 1891. with a membership of about 18, Miss Flora E. Lessey being its first president. Its object is parish work.
The Sunday-school connected with the Universalist church was organized Sept. 16, 1888. Rev. J. Harry Holden was elected temporary superintendent : at the end of three months, W. M. Shepardson was chosen superintendent. The school when organized had about 30 members. The " Universalist Ladies' Social and Sewing Circle of Amherst " was organized May 10, 1887, the first president being Mrs. George M. Cham- berlain ; its object was parish work. At the annual meeting in May, 1895, the name of the organization was changed to the " Ladies' Aid Society of the Universalist Church of Amherst." A Young People's Christian
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
Union was organized April 18, 1894. with 14 members : its first president was Elma S. Newton.
A Christian Endeavor society was organized at Mill Valley in 1889. as the outgrowth of a series of neighborhood prayer-meetings. Its first president was Miss Grace Phillips. The society disbanded April 1, 1895.
HAMPSHIRE EAST ASSOCIATION.
The religious history of Amherst would be incomplete without reference to two institutions which, while not distinctively of Amherst origin, have exerted a powerful influence upon the religious life of the place, and, from their frequent meetings in this town, and the large number of Amherst citizens connected with them, have come in time to be regarded as local organizations. The Hampshire East Association of Congregational ministers is of ancient and honorable origin. The body from which it was derived was known originally as the " Northern Association of Hampshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." David Parsons of Hadley Third Precinct was admitted to its membership in 1745. Later on it was known as the "Central Association in the County of Hampshire." To its fellow- ship were admitted the following pastors of churches in Amherst : Rev. Ichabod Draper, in 1786 ; Nathan Perkins, Jr., 1810 ; Daniel A. Clark, 1820 ; Zephaniah S. Moore, 1822 ; Royal Washburn, 1826; Horace B. Chapin, 1826; W. W. Hunt, 1827 : Heman Humphrey, 1826; Thomas Shepherd. 1834; Josiah Bent, 1838; Gideon Dana, 1838; George Cooke. 1838; Aaron M. Colton, 1841.
The Hampshire East Association was organized Nov. 16, 1841, by a division of the Hampshire Association. The Amherst members at the time were Nathan Perkins, Heman Humphrey, William Tyler, John San- ford, John Whiton, George Cooke, Aaron M. Colton and Dana Goodsell. Of those who signed the constitution of the new organization but one. Rev. Warren H. beaman, at that time a resident of North Hadley but later of Amherst, is now living. The constitution declared as the basis of assocation "the system of doctrines contained in the . Assembly's Shorter Catechism.'" Its business was " to examine and license suitable candi- dates for the Gospel ministry, to inquire after religious intelligence, to give advice, when requested, respecting Gospel Order, to consider Cases of Conscience, discuss questions and criticise sermons, exegeses, Skeletons and Dissertations, presented for that purpose." The first meeting was held Nov. 16, 1841, at the house of Rev. A. M. Colton, 17 persons being present. Rev. Nathan Perkins served as moderator and Rev. George Cooke as scribe. The vote of the Hampshire Association, passed in answer to a petition, was read : it gave the petitioners dismission from the old asso- ciation with leave to organize a new one. It was voted to adopt the name
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HAMPSHIRE EAST ASSOCIATION.
of the Hampshire East Association. At a meeting held Feb. 8, 1842, a committee from the Hampshire Association was present and urged a . reconsideration of the action in forming the new body, but the request was refused. A constitution and by-laws were adopted Feb. 9, 1842.
In addition to discussion of questions relating distinctively to theology and religion, the association considered leading questions of the times. Slavery, intemperance, the Mexican war, these were among the topics discussed in the earlier years. Careful attention was devoted to the position of the human body while its owner was engaged in prayer, and to the question as to whether Saturday or Sunday evening should be observed as "holy time." In 1847, the association passed resolutions of approval of the American Peace society. In 1851, it endorsed the Maine liquor law. Feb. 10, 1858, it voted to pay $250 toward the support of the ministry in Prescott, the sum to be assessed upon the churches. In 1859, the question was discussed, " Are there any good and efficient reasons why the annual Fast should be abolished?" it being decided in the negative, by unanimous vote. The same year, it was voted, " That in the opinion of this Association the raising of tobacco is an immorality." May 11, 1859, it was voted to raise $300 for the support of the Gospel in Pelham the ensuing year. It was voted, in February, 1860, to adopt the report of a committee in favor of establishing a conference of churches in the district ; a constitution to govern such a conference was adopted May 6. In 1861, the association became engaged in a controversy with the Eastern Hampden Association, as to the " regularity " of the organization of the Congrega- tional church at South Hadley Falls, but the question was finally settled in an amicable way. June 6, 1865, the wives of the brethren present were invited to participate in the exercises.
In 1873, it was voted to hold all meetings of the association in Amherst. The practice had been, from the beginning, to hold the meetings in succession at the homes of the members of the body. In 1876, an invi- tation was extended and accepted to hold the meetings in the parlors of the First Congregational church. In 1874, resolutions were passed in favor of committing the churches to active temperance work. At a meet- ing held June 1, 1880, it was voted to devote fifteen minutes to " prayer for the country, with special reference to the political conventions of the month for nominating candidates for the presidency." In September, 1881, revolutions were passed in respect to the memory of James A. Garfield, the martyr president. At the same meeting, it was voted to approve the pan of securing an evangelist to labor within the boundaries of the caddience, and to recommend to the conference to take steps at their ist meeting to institute such an enterprise. Dec. 2, 1884, on invitation
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
of President Seelye, the place for holding the regular quarterly meetings was changed to Walker hall, where they have since been held.
Sept. 20, 1887, a.committee was appointed to memorialize the national government, on behalf of the association, with reference to Indian schools. At a meeting held Feb. 5, 1889, the following resolution was adopted, a copy being forwarded to President-elect Harrison : " Resolved, that in our opinion, out of respect for the character of General Harrison, president- elect, and for the highest general good, on so public an occasion as the approaching inauguration ceremonies, intoxicating liquors should be dispensed with ; and that in place of the usual ball, a reception, acceptable to all classes of citizens, should be substituted." Dec. 5, 1893, it was voted that the churches connected with the conference ought not to employ unordained and unlicensed men to do the full work of the ministry. The association voted to approve of their doing such evangelistic work as might open before them, but expressed its special disapprobation of such a departure from the established usage of Congregational churches, as the administration of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper and baptism by any but ordained ministers. This resolution was directed toward practices that had obtained in the churches at Packardville and Pelham, where services were conducted by college students.
The "Conference of Churches in Hampshire East Association" was organized at a meeting held in Granby, Nov. 13, 1860. Its expressed object was, "the promotion of Christian Fellowship and the spiritual welfare of the churches." Ecclesiastial jurisdiction was expressly disclaimed. The churches represented at the meeting were Amherst First. Amherst Second, Amherst College, Amherst North. Belchertown, Enfield. Granby, Greenwich, Hadley First, Hadley Second, Hadley Russell, Hatfield. Leverett, Prescott, South Hadley First. A temporary organization was effected, Rev. Warren H. Beaman being chosen moderator and Rev. Franklin Tuxbury scribe. A constitution, prepared and submitted by a committee of the Hampshire East Association, was discussed, amended and adopted. Semi-annual meetings were to be held in the towns repre- sented by the churches in the conference. Soon after organization. the conference turned its attention to the collection of church statistics. At a meeting held April 24, 1866, it was voted that the committee on statistics be instructed to have blank tables for statistics printed and sent to all the pastors before the next session of the conference, so that they could be filled out and entered at that time, and that the committee combine these tables in one and have enough copies printed to put one in each family of the churches connected with the conference. Since this vote was adopted, the conference has adhered to the plan of printing and issuing annually the church statistics in tabulated form.
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