USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Brookline > History of Brookline, formerly Raby, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire : with tables of family records and genealogies > Part 25
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At 1.30 P. M. two hundred sat around well-laden tables in the ves- tries below. When the appetites seemed to have been satisfied, Rev. J. A. Belanger introduced Rev. F. D. Sargent as toastmaster of the occa- sion. Dr. A. Wallace, of Nashua, responded to the toast, "The Relation of the Physician to the Minister." Mr. James Peabody, of Harvard University, to that of "The Young Men." Rev. C. F. Crathern to that of "Opportunities of the Young." Rev. F. E. Winn, "The Sphere of the
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Country Church." Rev. J. A. Belanger, "The Brookline Ministry of the Future."
The "Old Meeting-house." By HON. EDWARD E. PARKER
Upon the hill-top's rounded crest, naked, and brown, and bare,
Firm and securely founded on its solid granite base,
The father's ancient meeting-house uplifts, in crystal air, Its crude and homely outline; void of beauty and of grace. Yet there are those who love it, and the memories it recalls, And traditions which surround it, from the days of long ago; Which, like a flame of glory, deck its time-defaced walls,
With a drapery of beauty human skill could ne'er bestow.
To them the rough-hewn timbers which enter in its frame, From the massive superstructure to the porches quaint and odd, Are witnesses forever of the fathers' zeal and fame,
And their fixed and firm reliance on the promises of God; And the croonings of the night winds, through each crevice rare and slim, Are but the ghosts of melodies,-the solemn, sad refrains,- Of spirit choirs invisible, who, in its shadows dim, Still chant their adoration in the old-time minor strains.
Around its sacred precincts, as a centre fixed and firm, Are grouped the township's records through a century of years; All of ill the fathers suffered, all of glory they could earn, As Providence dealt with them, in its history appears. There they worshipped, there they married, and there, when time was o'er, Their tributes of affection to departed friends were paid; E'er the living, through its portals, in sad procession bore Their dead to rest forever in the churchyard's quiet shade.
And there the sounding viol, and the cornet's silver tones, First broke the Sabbath stillness with melodies profane; Which the elders heard with horror, and trembled, in their bones, At the sound of other music than the pitch-pipe, wind and rain. Alas, for its departed days! Deserted now and still, The summer winds around it whisper dirges soft and low, And the demon winds of winter, sweeping down from Ramond hill, In scorn of its long vanished fame, their blatant trumpets blow.
The Pastorate of Rev. John Thorpe.
The Rev. John Thorpe was called to this church May 11, 1899. He accepted the call and on the first day of June of the same year, without any formalities, entered upon the performance of his pastoral duties. His term of service was somewhat brief, lasting only a few days over two
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years. But, brief as it was, it was sufficiently long to enable him to es- tablish the reputation of being an able minister and a faithful servant of his Master.
During his pastorate the church and society experienced little or no change. He resigned his pastorate May 5, 1902, to take charge of the Congregational Church in Centre Harbor.
REV. JOHN THORPE, son of Joel and Sarah Brown Thorpe, was born in Manchester, England, May 4, 1845. He was educated in the schools of Manchester, and studied theology with a pastor of that city. At the age of sixteen he began preaching in Manchester as a local Meth- odist preacher. He came to the United States in 1871, and settled in Lawrence, Mass., as an employee in the mills. While in Lawrence he also engaged in local preaching. June 1, 1885, he was called to supply the pulpit of the Congregational Church in South Weare; where he was or- dained Dec. 20, 1885. From June 17, 1888, to Sept. 1, 1894, he was pastor of the church in Mount Vernon. Sept. 1, 1894, he took charge as pastor of the Congregational churches in Andover and East Andover. June 1, 1899, he commenced his duties as pastor of the Congregational Church in this town. From June 1, 1902, to January, 1908, he was pastor of the Congregational Church at Centre Harbor. From Centre Harbor he removed to Dolgeville, Los Angeles County, Cal., where, Jan. 12, 1908, he entered upon his duties as pastor of the Bethlehem Congrega- tional Church, a position which at this date (1908) he still holds. In addition to his abilities as a preacher, Mr. Thorpe is also a poet, he having been the author of over fourteen hundred religious hymns, many of which have been published.
Feb. 22, 1870, Mr. Thorpe married Emily A. C. Bennett, daughter of Alfred and Sarah Ann (Clowes) Bennett of Newton Heath, England. No children were born of the marriage.
In 1902, after Rev. Mr. Thorpe had resigned his charge, representa- tives of the local Congregational and Methodist Episcopal churches joined in an attempt to bring about a union of the two churches. After several weeks of conference and discussion, however, the project was found to be impracticable and, for the time being, at least, it was abandoned.
The Pastorate of Rev. George A. Bennett.
The Rev. George A. Bennett was called to the pastorate by the church and society, June 5, 1903. His salary was fixed at five hundred dollars per annum, to be paid in monthly installments, and an annual
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vacation of two weeks in duration. He began his duties as pastor, June 24, 1903. There is no record of any installation services.
Meeting-house Repaired and Rededicated-1906.
During Mr. Bennett's pastorate in the months of June and July, 1906, the meeting-house was repaired and improved at an expense of nine hundred and forty-five dollars, raised by subscription, by putting in new ceilings and new coverings upon the walls of the auditorium. The auditorium was also provided with a new carpet, and other needed repairs and improvements made at a total cost of sixteen hundred dollars. Upon the completion of the work, the church was rededicated Thursday, Aug. 23, 1903. The dedicatory services were as follows:
Sermon,
Rev. Frank D. Sargent.
Dedicatory Prayer,
Rev. John Thorpe.
Remarks,
Rev. Mr. Corson, Mason; Rev. Mr. Harmon, Townsend, Mass .; Rev. W. F. Bennett, of the local Methodist Church, and the Pastor.
Nov. 4, 1908, Mr. Bennett tendered his resignation. But the church declined to accept it and, upon the receipt of a petition signed by seventy- five of his parishioners requesting him to reconsider it, he withdrew the same. October 1 of the same year he again tendered his resignation. It was accepted, and November 1st he severed his connection with the church.
REV. GEORGE ALFRED BENNETT, son of Alfred Lorenzo and Ann (Nutting) Bennett, was born in Groton, Mass., Oct. 11, 1853. He was educated in the public schools of Groton and Pepperell, Pepperell and Ashby high schools, and Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass. After leaving school, although desirous of fitting himself for the ministry, Mr. Bennett was compelled to devote several years of his young manhood to mercantile pursuits. In 1874 he commenced doing evangelistic work from which in 1895 he was called to the pastorship of the Congregational Church in Ripton, Vt. During his pastorate in Ripton he studied the- ology with Rev. Robert J. Barton, pastor of the Congregational Church at Salisbury, Vt., and, in the meantime, received a license to preach from the Addison County Minister's Association.
In December, 1898, he was called to the Congregational Church in Acworth, N. H., where he was ordained July 3, 1900. June 3, 1903, he
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
accepted a call to the church in Brookline, a position which he resigned Oct. 1, 1908.
Mr. Bennett has been twice married. Sept. 25, 1879, he married Ella S. Robbins, of Pepperell, Mass., who died Oct. 14, 1882. He married Abbie V. Hartford, of Brockton, Mass., Sept. 20, 1884. His children are -by his first wife-Etta L., born July 19, 1880. By his second wife: Gladys Hartford, born at Watertown, Mass., Jan. 17, 1890; Charles Alfred, born at Ripton, Vt., June 1, 1896.
The Pastorate of Rev. Warren L. Noyes.
From the date of Rev. Mr. Bennett's severing his connection with the church, Nov. 1, 1908, to April 1, 1909, the church was without a pastor. During this period the pulpit was filled by stated supplies. In the meantime, however, the church and society were in communication with various parties with a view to filling the vacancy. Finally, the church succeeded in entering into an agreement with Rev. Warren L. Noyes, then pastor of the West Church in Peabody, Mass., whereby he was engaged to fill its then vacant pulpit. Rev. Mr. Noyes assumed his pastoral duties April 1, 1909. No formal exercises were attendant upon the occasion. He continued to act as pastor of the church until Novem- ber , 1913, at which date he resigned his position and removed to Nashua, where he is residing at the present time (1914). Mr. Noyes proved himself to be a faithful pastor of his flock. He was well liked by his people and by the citizens generally, whose respect and esteem he ac- quired by his uniformly gentlemanly and courteous deportment, and by whom he was regarded as a power for good in the community.
During Mr. Noyes pastorate, among the events which transpired in connection with the church are the following: The month of January, 1909, was distinguished by a series of revival services. In January, 1910, a new order for morning worship was instituted. In February, 1910, a new communion service was purchased. In December, 1911, the Apostle's Creed was adopted as the creed of the church.
In 1909, under Mr. Noyes influence and governed by his counsels, the church effected the organization of an association to be known as the Congregational Brotherhood.
This Association was constituted of members of the church and society and of non-church members resident in the town. It had for its object the general uplift of the community along the lines of morality and religion. It was organized Dec. 15, 1909, with the following board of
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officers: President, Chester B. Valedge; Vice-President, Arthur A. Goss; secretary, Stephen T. Marshall; treasurer, Perley L. Pierce; teacher, the Rev. Warren L. Noyes; membership and invitation committee: Frank E. Gilman, chairman; Henry S. Bailey and Charles R. Hardy; com- mittee on religious work, H. Arthur Brown, chairman, Carl Clifford and Luther J. Lawrence; committee on public meetings, C. H. Holcombe, chairman, Stephen T. Marshall; committees on benevolence, and finance, Chester B. Valedge, chairman, Perley L. Pierce and the Rev. Warren L. Noyes; citizenship committee, A. A. Goss, chairman, Albert T. Pierce. The Brotherhood met on the first Friday evening of each month. The association is still in existence at this time (1913).
During Mr. Noyes pastorship thirty new names were added to the church's roll of membership. At the present time it has a membership of eighty souls, of whom a considerable number are out of town residents. Its Sunday school library contains 300 volumes.
REV. WARREN L. NOYES was born in Chelsea, Vt., Dec. 25, 1841. He is a son of Abiel and Louisa (Corwin) Noyes. His father was a farmer, poor in worldly possessions, but rich in the possession of a large family of children. Until he was thirteen years of age, he remained at home, working on his father's farm and attending the public schools of his na- tive town. From his thirteenth to his twentieth year, lie worked out much of the time for the neighboring farmers, his wages contributing to the support of his father's family. During this period he attended the public schools in the winter terms, often working for his board and lodg- ings. In his twentieth year, realizing that the time had arrived for him to begin the carrying out of his long cherished plan of obtaining a liberal education, he abandoned farming forever, and entered his name as a stu- dent in New Hampton, N. H., Academy. His capital at this time amounted to twenty-five dollars. With that amount and such additional sums of money as he was able to earn by working as janitor of the academy, teaching school, and working out during vacations, he was able to com- plete his academic course, graduating in severely broken health in 1865.
Soon after his graduation from New Hampton, he entered Dartmouth College, where, however, he remained but a short time, ill health and lack of funds compelling him to abandon his college course. After leaving Dartmouth, he entered Bates Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1868. He was ordained to the ministry as a Free Baptist at Sutton, Vt., in 1868. Subsequently he left the Baptist denomination and united with the Congregationalists. His pastorates under the Baptist
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
denomination were at Sutton, St. Johnsbury, and Lyndon, Vt .; and he supplied pulpits, for one year each, in Chicago, Ill., and Jackson, Mich.
After uniting with the Congregationalists, he was pastor of the churches located at Chester and Castelton, Vt., and the West Church at Peabody, Mass. For a period of nearly three years in duration, begin- ning in 1901, he was located at Harriman, Ten., where he was in the em- ploy of the American Missionary Association. In 1898 his wife died at Castelton, Vt., and at the same time he had a severe and protracted attack of illness. Soon after his wife's death, influenced thereto by a hope of regaining his health, he went to California, where he remained for a considerable time. For five consecutive years from the time of his going to California, including his stay in that state, he was without a settled pastorate, the condition of his health being such as to prevent his ac- cepting a permanent position. During the greater part of that time he preached in response to calls for stated supplies. In 1903, having in some measure recovered his health, he accepted a call to the pastorate of the Congregational church in Francestown, a position which he occupied until 1905. In the latter year he severed his connections with the church at Francestown, and took charge as pastor of the West Church in Peabody, Mass., where he remained until 1909. From Peabody he removed to Brookline, where he accepted a call to the pulpit of the local Congrega- tional Church, of which he became pastor April 1, 1909, a position which he resigned in November, 1913, when he removed to Nashua, where, at the present time (1914), he is residing.
Mr. Noyes has been twice married. He married first, July 15, 1868, Miss Susan S. Johnson, of Springfield, N. H. She died in 1898. One child, Clarence E., was born Sept. 2, 1874, the result of this marriage. Married, second, in May, 1902, Miss Mary Olivia Northrop of Castelton, Vt.
Deacons of the Brookline Congregational Church.
Joseph Emerson, 1795-1812. Removed to Wendell, Mass., 1812
Eleazer Gilson, 1795 Died, Dec. 21, 1851, aged, 95.
Thomas Bennett, 1812-1855. Dismissed June 12, 1855.
Christopher Farley, 1833-1839. Died March 21, 1859, aged 48.
Timothy Wright, 1833-1849.
Died Nov. 10, 1871, aged 80.
Eldad Sawtelle,
1855-1857. Died Sept. 12, 1857, aged 51.
J. Henry Hall,
1859-1870. Dis. to Cong. Ch., Pepperell Mass
John Peabody, 1859-1876. Died Jan. 13, 1878, aged 48.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
George W. Peabody, 1871-1873. Died Dec. 18, 1873, aged 35.
Charles H. Russell, 1876-1882.
Jefferson Whitcomb, 1876-1882.
Died March 16, 1882, aged 53.
Perley L. Pierce, 1882-
Edward T. Hall,
1886-1888.
Charles H. Holcombe,
1888-
Charles H. Russell, elected honorary deacon, Jan. 1, 1908.
Clerks of the Church.
Joseph Emerson, 1797-1812. Dismissed to Wendell, Mass. 1812
Thomas Bennett, 1812-1855. Dismissed June 12, 1812.
James H. Hall,
1855-1859. Died Aug. 15, 1874, aged 64.
Rev. Theophilus P. Sawin, 1859-1866. Died at Medford, Mass., Jan. 19, 1886, aged 68.
Francis A. Peterson, 1866-1884. Died Jan. 14, 1884, aged 70.
Henry C. Hall, 1884-1886.
Emily C. Peterson, 1886-1907. Died Nov. 6, 1907, aged 68.
Marion Stiles,
1907-
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
CHAPTER XV.
Ecclesiastical History, Continued.
The Methodist Episcopal Church and Society.
Organization of the Church and Society-Pastorship of Rev. Amos Mer- rill-Sketch of Rev. Mr. Merrill's Life-Pastorate of Rev. Gusta- vus Silverstein-Pastorate of Rev. Henry B. Copp-Sketch of Rev. Mr. Copp's Life-Names in the Order of Their Succession of the Ministers Succeeding Rev. Henry B. Copp-Building of the Methodist Meeting-house-The First Organ Installed in the Church-The Second Organ-The Church Bell-The Gift of the Pulpit, 1907-The Gift of the Communion Service, 1908-Cele- bration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Building of the Meeting- house-Boards of Trustees-The Joseph Tucker Gift to the Church and Society-The Calvin R. Shedd Devise-The James N. Tucker Bequest-The Wilkes W. Corey Bequest-The Albert W. Corey Memorial Fund-The Mary Corey Legacy.
The Methodists commenced holding services here as early as 1848. Tradition says that the first clergyman of that denomination to preach in town was Rev. Horace Moulton of Townsend, Mass., who conducted a series of meetings in the old meeting-house in the fall of 1850. Mr. Moul- ton was followed by Rev. Samuel Tupper of Townsend, and by Rev. Mr. Parmenter of Lunenburg, Mass.
Organization of the Church and Society.
On the 12th day of March, 1852, the present local Methodist Church and society were formally established by the organization of an official board, or quarterly conference. The record of its organization is as follows:
"The male members of the Methodist Episcopal Society of Brookline, N. H., met in the old meeting-house for the purpose of organizing an Offi- cial Board or Quarterly Conference of the M. E. Church of this place.
METHODIST MEETING-HOUSE-1859
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
"The meeting was opened by prayer by Rev. C. N. Smith, the pre- siding elder for this district.
The following named members of the society were elected as officers of the Board:
Secretary, pro tem, O. P. Pitcher.
Stewards, Gardner Shattuck, Randal Daniels, Samuel Gilson and Henry Spaulding,
Recording Steward, Ralph Burns.,
Estimating Committee, Eliab B. Shattuck, Henry Spaulding."
For the first few years of its existence the society worshipped in the old meeting-house. But about 1858 it began to hold its meetings in Tucker and Stiles' hall, where it continued to worship until the comple- tion of its new meeting-house in 1859.
The first settled pastor of the church was the Rev. Amos Merrill, who commenced his pastoral duties a short time prior to its organization, coming here from New Ipswich, where up to the date of his advent in Brookline he had been pastor of the local Methodist church.
As it was organized at first, the society was, of course, small in num- bers. But what it lacked in that respect was amply compensated for by the zeal and enthusiasm of its members, who were instant in season and out of season in rendering service to the Master; doing in His name what- ever their hands found to do, and with an eye single to His glory. As a result of their devotedness, in a very few years after its organization, the society was firmly and securely established in the community.
Mr. Merrill's pastorate ended in 1855. He went from Brookline to the state of Vermont, leaving beliind him the reputation of being an able, earnest and sincere preacher of the Word. As a pastor he was courteous and gentlemanly in his intercourse with his fellow-citizens'and, at the same time, fearless in the expression of his religious views. Although not a man of liberal education, he was endowed with a natural eloquence which ena- bled him to present the truths of Christianity in a way and manner which carried conviction to the souls of his hearers.
The local church was most fortunate in having secured his services as its pastor in the days of its infancy. He found it weak in numbers, poor in wealth, and with but a dubious outlook for the future. He left it, still weak in numbers, to be sure, and poor in worldly possessions, but strong in a spirit of self reliance, and rich in the possession of an abundant faith in the promises of God, which eventually established it upon a sure and firm foundation.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
Biographical Sketch of Rev. Amos Merrill.
REV. AMOS. MERRILL, a son of Benjamin and Polly (Kyle) Merrill, was born at Corinth, Vt., Oct. 26, 1809. He was educated in the common schools of his native town. In his early manhood he was employed as a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, officiating in Vermont and New Hampshire. About 1842-43, he removed from Corinth to New Ipswich, N. H. In 1852 he was called to the ministry in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Brookline, he being its first pastor. In 1855 Mr. Merrill resigned his pastorship in Brookline and, after preaching for several years in different towns in Vermont and New Hampshire, finally took charge of the Methodist Church in East Haverhill, N. H., where he died June 29, 1865.
Mr. Merrill was twice married. His first wife was Phoebe Reynolds, of Wilton, Canada. She died at Corinth, Vt., June 31, 1871. His second wife was Amelia C. Martin, a sister of his first wife, of Wilton, Canada. She died at Somerville, Mass., June 18, 1893.
Mr. Merrill was the father of three children, all by his first wife, viz: Charles N. Merrill, born at Corinth, Vt., Oct. 22, 1831; died at Nashua, Dec. 25, 1874. Melvina, born at Corinth, Aug. 13, 1833; died at West Corinth, Aug. 30, 1858. James A., born at Corinth, Vt., Sept. 12, 1835; died at Nashua in 1913.
Charles N. for several years prior to and at the time of his decease was instructor in music in the public schools of Nashua. James A. was secretary of the New Hampshire State Temperance Union from 1882 to 1894.
For the three years immediately following Mr. Merrill's pastorate, the pulpit was filled by the following named clergymen: 1854, Rev. Henry Chandler; 1855, Rev. Joseph C. Emerson and Rev. A. McLean; 1856, Rev. Linvill J. Hall.
The Pastorate of Rev. Gustavus Silverstein.
REV. GUSTAVUS SILVERSTEIN was installed as pastor in 1857. Mr. Silverstein was a foreigner, a Swede, and, when he came here, but a short time in this country. He was possessed of a considerable natural ability, educated, and devoted to his work and, notwithstanding his im- perfect knowledge of English, an eloquent and effective pulpit orator and exhorter.
During his ministry here the country was swept by the great relig- ious revival of 1857, the effects of which were largely felt in this town. In the revival Mr. Silverstein labored earnestly and zealously and, through
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
his untiring efforts, was instrumental in bringing many souls to repent- ance and, by newly acquired membership, strengthening his charge in numbers and spirituality.
Mr. Silverstein's broken speech and lack of command of language in which to express his ideas were oftentimes productive of ludicrous results and, not infrequently, the cause of his hearers, even in their soberest moments, being convulsed with merriment. Such was the case when on one occasion at the close of an evening service he made the following announcement: "Brederen and sisters, dere vill be a evenin' meetin' here nex Vendnesday night if it don't rain; und dere vill be a meetin' here if it does rain; und if you can't come yourselves, blease bring your lankerns."
At that time whale oil lanthorns and lamps were in ordinary use for illuminating purposes; and in such an interior as that comprised in the old meeting-house, where the feeble glimmer of a few such lights only served to make the darkness more apparent, the more of them displayed the better.
Mr. Silverstein's term of service expired in 1858. He was succeeded as pastor by Rev. Levi Smith. Mr. Smith occupied the pulpit from April, 1858, to April, 1859; when he was succeeded as pastor by Rev. Henry B. Copp.
The Pastorate of Rev. Henry B. Copp.
Rev. Henry B. Copp officiated as pastor of the church from the 18th day of April, 1859, to April, 1862. Mr. Copp came into his pastorate here at an interesting period in the history of his church. As the result of the revival of 1857, its membership at that time was largely increased in numbers. This increase had also been augmented by the addition to its membership in 1858 of twelve citizens who, having formerly been members of the local Congregational Church, had withdrawn from its communion at the time of Rev. Daniel Goodwin's resignation as its pastor in 1855. As one of the results of the withdrawal of the twelve from the Congrega- tional Church and their subsequent uniting with the Methodist Church, the relations existing between the two churches were not, to say the least, of the most cordial nature.
It was the period, also, in which were transpiring the momentous events which subsequently culminated in the War of the Rebellion; and which, because of their importance as bearing upon the future of the Republic, engrossed the attention of the public to the extent that all other matters of general interest, even those of a religious nature, were, for the time being, in danger of being relegated to a secondary position as subjects for its consideration.
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