USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Walks & talks about historic Boston > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
483
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
York, Maine, where they were passing a summer vacation, for the express purpose of being present at and attending to the music of the farewell service."
In the rooms of the Massachusetts Historical Society may be seen a model of this old church. The church erected an elegant edifice on the corner of Clarendon Street and Commonwealth Avenue. It was built of Roxbury stone, and its tall square tower, with carved figures at each corner, rep- resenting four angels blowing gilded trumpets, is very no- table and greatly admired.
The Society did not long worship in their new Church Edifice. In a few years they sold the property to the First Baptist Society of Boston, who immediately occupied it, and it has been their church home ever since.
THE OLD CORNER BOOK STORE
JN MAP STORE
MiMM
N11
PUBLISHERS.BOOKSELLERS &IMPORTERS.
A.WILLIAMS & CO. PUBLISHERS A BOOKSELLERS
Old Corner Book Store Corner School and Washington. Streets
The Arlington Street Church
This church, organized as a Presbyterian Church in 1727, has had quite an eventful history. The society first wor- shipped in an old barn on Long Lane (now Federal Street) on the corner of Franklin Street, opposite the present First National Bank building. In that location it was known as the Federal Street Church.
In 1744 they erected and dedicated a church building. In 1788, the Massachusetts State Convention, which first as- sembled in the Old State House, adjourned to the audience room of this church as being more commodious. The object of this convention was to discuss the proposed Federal Constitution, and decide whether it should be adopted by the State. Samuel Adams and John Hancock, those veteran patriots and active champions of the people's rights, were delegates to the convention and took an active part in its deliberations. In commemoration of this event the name of Long Lane was dropped and the Selectmen of the town renamed the street Federal Street, which has been retained ever since.
In 1809, a second house of worship was built from plans designed by Charles Bulfinch. Dr. Wm. E. Channing, the pastor, laid the cornerstone. He was a preacher of world- wide reputation, and his church was a great religious centre. His pastorate extended from 1803 to 1842. He was a most accomplished scholar, writer and preacher, and exerted a deep and wide influence on the religious life of his day. Following his graduation from Harvard at the age of 18, he was for two years a tutor in the family of David Mead Randolph of Virginia, where he met Judge Marshall and other great men of that day. At the age of 24 he accepted the call of the Federal Street Church. His whole life was a pure offering to philosophy, humanity and religion. He was an earnest seeker for the right and truth, and religion be- came the great fact of his life. He brought Christianity to bear on every-day life and under his preaching, religion be- came a practical and sublime reality.
484
485
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
The growth of the business section of the city, in Federal and adjacent streets, necessitated a change of location, and in 1859 the church sold their property and built the elegant brown stone building on the corner of Arlington and Boyl- ston Streets, which was dedicated in December, 1861. The present pastor of the church is the Rev. Paul Frothingham, a cultured gentleman and of high scholarly attainments.
Rer. William Ellery Channing, D. D.
-
Memorial to Rev. William E. Channing. D. D., Corner Arlington and Boylston Streets
The Arlington Street Church, 1916
Che Birthplace of the Universalist Church
in America was at the Murray Grove Association in New Jersey. Within the grounds is a large stone upon which is a tablet bearing this inscription :
"Near this spot first met Thomas Potter, the Prophet, and John Murray, the Apostle of Universalism."
"The following Sunday, September 30, 1770, in Potter's Meeting House, Murray first preached in America, from the text: 'The Wilderness and the Solitary Place were glad for them."
From this small and humble beginning has arisen a large and influential Christian denomination, having under its con- trol many educational and philanthropical institutions in dif- ferent parts of the country.
These Academies and Colleges have always been non-sec- tarian in the sense that students have free choice of churches, and proselyting and religious intolerance are not allowed.
The Second Universalist Church of Boston may well be called a historical church. The Society was incorporated De- cember 13, 1816, at a time when the lines between the religious sects wer tightly drawn, and the welcome extended to the U'ni- versalists by the Puritan churches of Boston was by no means a cordial one. The Society endeavored to secure as a location for their church edifice the site on School Street where once stood the old French Huguenot Church. Murray preached in the pulpit of that old church in 1774, and the audience became so angry over his sentiments that they stoned him. The site finally determined upon was adjacent to the lot they desired, being the lot on which the business edifice known as the School Street Block now stands.
The pastor selected by this new society was the Rev. Hosea Ballou. In an historical address given by Rev. Dr. Miner, he speaks of Mr. Ballou as "the most powerful advocate of Uni- versalism in New England or in the United States." He was at that time forty-six years of age and had been twenty-six years in the ministry. He had travelled widely and had oc-
487
488
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
cupied several of the most important places in the denomina- tion. Wherever he preached crowds flocked to hear him. He was the most incisive and the most aggressive warrior in the church militant.
He was installed as pastor Christmas Day, 1817. He had a brilliant career as pastor and under his leadership the church exercised a powerful influence upon the community. A man of his earnestness and aggressiveness could not escape criti- cism or attack. Charges of heresy were hurled at him, which he repelled with pungency and truth. For a time Mr. Ballou was deemed by the world outside as the arch heretic of the age. But the man himself was most upright in his walk, ex- tremely abstemious in his habits, most reverent towards God and His Holy Word, yet he was denounced as an immoral, in- temperate and profane man. All these detractions he preached down and lived down. For twenty-four years he was faith- ful and unremitting in his labors, and the snows of seventy winters settled upon his head.
In 1846 Rev. E. H. Chapin was installed as Associate Pas- tor, remaining two years, when he accepted a call to New York, and Rev. A. H. Miner was invited to fill the vacancy, and continued in this position until the death of Dr. Ballou, June 7. 1852. Upon the death of Dr. Ballou he was called to the pastorate. The church stood nobly behind Tufts Col- lege, which was founded in 1847.
In its long career, this congregation and its members have given to education, temperance, missions and charities nearly a million and a half of money, of which Tufts College re- ceived about one-half. At one time the financial condition of the college was desperate, and it was then that the members of the church came to the rescue. Dr. Miner bcame Presi- dent of the institution, devoting a portion of his time to it without salary and without interrupting his connection with the church, and he performed wonderful work there.
He gave the church and the college one sermon each on Sun- day and gave instruction in the college four days in the week, attending to parish work in spare hours, and through his ef- forts large donations of money were made to the college and legacies of some hundreds of thousands. Under the leadership of Dr. Miner the church took advanced ground on the tem- perance question. The temperance workers in all other churches were glad to welcome to their ranks such an aid to good morals and good citizenship. The church purchased a
489
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
lot on the corner of Berkeley Street and Columbus Avenue, and in September, 1871, the cornerstone of an elegant church edifice was laid. The present pastor, Rev. Stephen H. Roblin, was formally installed in January. 1892, and has proved an able successor to such men as Ballou, Chapin, Cushman and Miner. The new edifice cost about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
The church has been fortunate in all the years of its ex- istence in having as its Trustees broadminded and liberal- hearted men who built solidly and planned wisely for the future.
The Society still holds the valuable property on School Street, from which they derive a substantial income.
The Roman Catholic Church in Boston
The picture shows the first Catholic Church edifice in New England, the Church of the Holy Cross, which stood on the southeastern corner of Franklin and Devonshire Streets. It is stated that the first Catholic priest to arrive in Boston, was a Jesuit missionary, the Rev. Father Gabriel Druilletes, who landed here in 1650, twenty years after the founding of the town by Winthrop. "He came as the representative of the French Government to induce the Puritans to combine with the other white settlers of America against the savage Iroquois Indians. Although intolerant of all other religious creeds, the Puritans appear to have treated the Commissioner kindly." The number of Catholics in Boston and vicinity gradually in- creased and in 1788, they held their first service in a little brick chapel on School Street, built by the French Huguenots, which had been sold by them to the Congregationalists, and they rented it to the Catholics. Rev. John Thayer of Boston was one of the first priests of this little church, and proved a very popular pastor during his year of service. He was succeeded by the Rev. Francis Anthony Matignon, D. D., who was the well-beloved pastor of Holy Cross Church for twen- ty-six years.
As the congregations grew in numbers, it became apparent that a larger church was needed, which should belong to the Society, and enough money was raised to purchase a lot on Franklin Street from the Boston Theatre Corporation, the purchase price being $2,500. A new edifice was planned and contributions flowed in readily. Father Matignon was so pop- ular in the community, and so highly esteemed by all classes of citizens, that many Protestants were liberal donors to the Building Fund, among them, John Adams, then President of the United States. It was just at this time, that the Catholic Church in Boston was greatly strengthened by the arrival from France of the Rev. Jean Lefebre De Cheverus. He was born at Mavonne, France, of a distinguished family, and was edu- cated in his native city and in Paris, and was ordained to the
490
491
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
priesthood in the latter city, just before the outbreak of the French Revolution. He left his native land on account of the existing disorder, and, for a while, resided in London. He came to Boston in 1796, largely through the influence of Fath- er Matignon. These two reverend fathers were devoted
Holy Cross Cathedral 1850 Corner Franklin and Devonshire Streets
friends and earnest co-laborers for many years and until the death of Father Matignon in 1818. When it was decided to ordain a Bishop for Boston, Father Matignon shrank from the responsibilities of the Bishopric, but remained in charge
492
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
of the church. The choice fell upon Father Cheverus, who was not only revered by the members of his faith, but num- bered many leading Protestants, as his warm personal friends, among them Hon. Josiah Quincy and Harrison Gray Otis.
15500
Bishop Cheverus
The death of Father Matignon in 1818, brought sincere sor- row and regret, and the love and esteem in which he was held was made manifest by the elaborate funeral accorded him, in which his remains were escorted to the Granary Burying Ground by a procession headed by acolytes and entombed in
493
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
the vault of John Magner. At that time there was no Catho- lic burying ground in Boston.
As a mark of respect to his devoted friend, and to provide a burial place for Catholics, Bishop Cheverus in 1819 pur- chased the land now known as St. Augustine's Cemetery in Dorchester Street, South Boston, and immediately arranged for the erection of a small brick chapel in the grounds. To collect funds in those days was no easy matter, but Father Larissey came to the aid of the Bishop, proving a most able and successful assistant and the sum of $1,500 was raised. The land was then purchased, and in a short time a brick chapel, 20 feet by 30 feet was completed and the rest of the land used for burial purposes. St. Augustine was the name of Father Larissey's patron saint, and Bishop Cheverus gave that name to the Chapel, and the burial ground.
The Cemetery was part of a fine old estate. The magnifi- cent elms rose to a great height, and in summer their verdant branches almost covered the little chapel. When the chapel was completed the remains of Father Matignon were removed from the tomb of Mr. Magner and placed in a sepulchre at the right of the altar in St. Augustine Chapel.
A few pews were put in the little chapel, and services were held there. The congregations increased. Catholics, for miles around worshipped there, and in 1838 it was found necessary to enlarge the chapel, giving it a seating capacity of 250. Still the congregations kept on growing, and the chapel be- came inadequate to hold the large number of worshippers. A large church edifice became necessary in South Boston and the church of S. S. Peter and Paul was the outgrowth of this mission. This fine Gothic structure of dark granite stands on West Broadway between A Street and Dorchester Avenue. It has had able pastors, who won the love of their flocks, and the respect and good will of the citizens of the peninsula ward. Many of them have been deservedly popular, because of their kindly and genial manner, and their deep interest in the moral and religious welfare of that section of the city.
As South Boston became thickly settled, the number of Catholics increased, and the district was divided, and there are now several large and flourishing Catholic churches in that section. Bishop Cheverus remained in New England for twenty-seven years. but the rigorous New England winters finally compelled him to return to France, his native land.
494
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
He was made Bishop of Montauban in 1823, Archbishop of Bordeaux in 1826, and a Cardinal in 1836, the year of his de- cease. "For a second time, the highest honors of the Church have fallen upon a man who has labored here in Boston, but the difference in conditions between the two periods is startl- ing."
The Catholic churches in New England today, are almost numberless. In 1810, there were only three in the most easterly states, the Church of the Holy Cross on Franklin Street, a church in New Castle, Maine, and a log cabin at Pleasant Point, Maine. Salem added, the fourth in 1820. During the Civil War the business area of Boston increased rapidly ; the residential district of Franklin and Summer streets gave way to mercantile blocks, and in 1870, the Cathe- dral of the Holy Cross was one of the last of the down town churches, and its parishioners lived a long distance from their House of Worship. Bishop John B. Fitzpatrick was the pas- tor of the church at that time, and it was decided to sell the property. The amount realized was $115,000. A lot was purchased on the corner of Washington and Malden streets and a new Cathedral of the Holy Cross was erected and dedi- cated in 1875. The Archbishop of the diocese at that time was the Rev. John J. Williams, a man known far and wide, and respected by all who knew him. The Archbishop's house is a very stately one and stands in the rear of the Cathedral. The Cathedral is the largest and finest Catholic Church in the city. "The building covers over 46,000 square feet, more than an acre of ground. It is larger than the European cathedrals of Strasburg, Venice, Vienna, Salisbury or Dublin. The style of architecture is the early English Gothic, cruciform, with nave, transept, aisle and dorestory, the latter being supported by two rows of clustered metal pillars. The total length of the building is 364 feet, width of the transept is 170 feet, width of nave and aisles, 90 feet, height to the ridge pole 120 feet. There are two main towers in front, and a turret, all of unequal height, and all eventually to be surmounted by spires. The great tower on the southwest corner, with its spire, will be 300 feet high, and the small tower on the north- west corner will be 200 feet high. The gallery contains a Hook & Hastings organ of unsurpassed purity of tone and remarkable power. It has more than 5,000 pipes and 76 stops. The entire interior of the Cathedral is clear space, broken only
495
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
by two rows of columns, extending along the nave, and sup- porting the central roof. The pews accommodate nearly 3500 persons. The arch which separates the spacious vestibule from the church is of brick, taken from the Ursuline Convent of Mount Benedict. The ceiling abounds in carved woods and tracery. The panels and spandrels show three shades of oak, with an outer line of African wood. Every alternate panel is ornamented with emblematical devices. The roof in the tran- sept displays an immense cross of inlaid wood.
On the ceiling of the church are painted angels, representing Faith, Hope, Charity and other virtues on a background of Gold. The frescoing on the walls is very handsome. The rose window over the principal entrance, is, in design, a fine speci- men of art. The stained transept windows, each 40 by 22 feet in size, have designs representing the Exaltation of the Cross, by the Emperor Heracilius, and the miracle by which the true cross was verified. The stained windows in the Chancel represent the Crucifixion, the Ascension and the Na- tivity. These are Memorial Windows, and were gifts to the Church.
The High Altar is formed of rich variegated marbles and is surrounded by a fine canopy. On the Gospel side stands the Episcopal throne, the Cathedra of the Bishop. On the right of the sanctuary is the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin, contain- ing a statue of the Virgin. There are three other chapels, the Chapel of St. Joseph; the Chapel of St. Patrick; and the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament."
Altogether it is a magnificent structure in its architecture and in all its fittings and appointments, and a great memorial of self-sacrifice and generosity.
Another fine church edifice at the South End which ante- dates the Cathedral is the Church of the Immaculate Concep- tion, which stands on the corner of Harrison Avenue and Canton Street. It is 228 feet long and 88 feet wide, and was built in 1860, under the auspices of the Jesuit Fathers. The lot upon which the building stands contains 90,000 feet of land and cost $45.000. The building cost over $100,000. The painting behind the Altar, represents the Crucifixion and was painted by Garibaldi of Rome. Near this church is Boston College, a flourishing educational institution of the Catholic Church.
496
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
Near Roxbury Crossing, is the Mission Church, which has had quite a remarkable history. The building, with its tall towers, and situated well back from the street, presents an imposing appearance. A very attractive feature of this church in the summer time is the beautiful and well kept lawn in front of the church with a bordering of bright flowers, show- ing the constant care of a thorough gardener. It attracts the attention and calls for the admiration of every passer by. These three large and costly edifices show the wealth and strength of the Roman Catholic Church in Boston. They have 62 churches in Boston today.
The leaders of the Church are working vigorously and sys- tematically in the temperance cause among the children and youth of their flocks, which is sure to bear good fruit in the next generation.
Cathedral of the Holy Cross, 1916, Washington Street
1
The West End Church
The history of this church dates back to 1736-37 when the first House of Worship was erected there. This old edifice had a very tall and very handsome steeple, which was a prominent landmark at the West End, and easily distinguished at the patriot headquarters in Cambridge, across the Charles. In 1775, during the Siege of Boston, the patriots of the town made use of this Steeple as a Sig- nal Station to their friends in the army. When this fact was ascertained by the British officers, the order was given to raze the steeple, which was done. It was one of the churches that was used at that time as barracks for British troops.
The corner stone of a new brick church edifice was laid April 4, 1806, and was, at that time, one of the largest in the town, and was built to accommodate the flood tide of would be parishioners which set in toward Lynde Street, immediately after the ordination of Rev. Charles Lowell, as pastor. The Rev. Charles Lowell, who was the father of James Russell Lowell, the poet, and brilliant man of letters, became pastor of the West Church in 1806, and continued, nominally, in that position until his death in 1861. "He was a man of rare culture, who to his Har- vard training had added a course at the University of Edinburgh. He spent three years in Europe, and Wilber- force and Dugald Stewart were among his friends."
The Rev. Dr. Andrew P. Peabody, who knew him inti- mately, paid him this high tribute. "Dr. Lowell was, even as compared with Buckminster, Everett and Channing, by far the greatest pulpit orator of Boston, and for prompt, continuous, uniform and intense impression in behalf of fundamental Christian truth and duty, on persons of all varieties of age, culture, conditions and character, I have never seen or heard his equal, nor can I imagine his su- perior." Rev. Charles A. Bartol was the last pastor of this church, now disbanded, serving it for forty years. The old building still remains and is used as a branch of the Boston Public Library. Among the names of pew
497
498
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
holders of this old church is that of Paul Revere, as well as the names of some less famous patriots of his day. This fact was recently brought to light by an old account book kept by the Sexton of the church which was found in a Boston junk shop.
One reason that has been alleged for Revere's defection from his old church was that the pastor of the Hanover Street Church died in 1777, and the pulpit was vacated for two years. Rev. Simeon Howard, a very patriotic gentleman, pastor of the church, made a statement that he would continue to preach, if the war deprived the church of all but three families, and even though he had to do without any remuneration whatever. "The old account book referred to contains the Sexton's ac- counts of pew rentals during the years 1777-1778, 1779-1780 and 1781. The rentals there are so large as to stagger the reader at first glance, but an explanation of them is found in the tremendous depreciation of the colonial money dur- ing the Revolution. The record shows that Samuel Eliot, a millionaire, and grandfather of the President Emeritus of Harvard University, was assessed ninety-seven pounds, about $470, 13 weeks' rental of pew in 1781. At that time one dollar in hard money was equal to about $75 in Colonial currency, in which the pew rentals were appar- ently paid.
"Some well known Boston names are found among those old pew holders. Captain John Gill; Benjamin Edes, the Printer on Queen (Court) Street; John Fleet, another printer, on Newspaper Row; Captain Bozom Foster, a merchant prince; Widow Craigie, whose name is perpetu- ated in Craigie's bridge; John Ridgway, who had a rope- walk opposite the church: Professor John Winthrop of Harvard College, the greatest American mathematician and astronomer of his time; Major James Swan, who had a fine estate on Tremont Street, between Winter and West Streets, who died in a Paris prison, where he was incar- cerated for. debt; John Avery, whose name is borne by Avery Street, a little south of the Adams House ; and Ben- jamin Coolidge, who lived in Bowdoin Square, whose house was afterwards the home of Charles Sumner when in Boston. Its site is now occupied by the Coolidge Hotel." These men were pretty well scattered over Bos- ton and were prominent in the social, professional and business life of Boston in that day and generation.
=
11
N. W. Corner Washington and Court Streets, Site of Ames Building, 1850
REAL ESTATE
MORTGAGES
NILS
SUNNI
Corner of Summer and Hawley Streets, 1850 Site of Smith, Patterson & Co. Store
The Draft Riot in Boston, July 1863
Early in the month of July, 1863, a most cruel and dis- graceful riot broke out in the City of New York. A law of Congress had just been passed, authorizing a draft to fill the ranks of depleted regiments at the front, and the riot was started by persons opposed to the cause of the Union, "Copperheads," they were called, who corresponded to the "Tories" of Revolutionary times. They instigated the lower classes in the city to resist the draft by open rioting and acts of violence. General Butler was called from the front and with some veteran regiments under his command, soon quelled the disorder. The defection and riotous spirit spread to Boston and from what had occurred in New York City the authorities here saw that there might be serious trouble unless prompt and decided action was taken.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.