USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Concord > History of Concord, New Hampshire, from the original grant in seventeen hundred and twenty-five to the opening of the twentieth century, Volume II > Part 15
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" The good work done in the village by Father O'Donnell during his pastorate was continued and augmented during that of Father Barry. To the day of his sad death he was honored and loved by his Penacook people, and his memory will never die among them until they are called to their last account. He was succeeded in July, 1880, by Reverend Michael P. Danner. He was a native of Bavaria, but educated in this country. He was a man of the most amiable disposition, acquiring while here the affection of his congrega- tion. He rented a dwelling for a short time on Main street, and then purchased a dwelling on High street for a parochial residence. His sole thoughts were bent on the erection of a new church, but his health failing, he died fourteen months after assuming the pastorate. His body was taken to Boston for burial. The funeral services were held in the German Catholic church, which he attended as a boy, and where he served mass for the pastor, Father Nopper, in his youth.
" His place was taken by Reverend John T. McDonnell, who had for many years been pastor of a church at Haverhill, Mass. He was a native of Ireland, receiving his education in his native land, in Paris, and in Italy. He was twenty-five years in Rome. He was well advanced in years, but regardless of that fact, he was indefatigable in the discharge of his duties. During his stay he endeared himself to his congregation and won the respect of the people of Penacook. He was transferred to Rochester in April, 1885. He built a church there, and died shortly after its completion.
"Father McDonnell was succeeded by Reverend Lewis M. Wilde, who was a native of Belgium. During his pastorate he exchanged the dwelling purchased by Father Danner for the brick residence known as the Holmes place, on Summer street, now the property of David Toomey. He was transferred from Penacook to Hinsdale in June, 1888. Father Wilde was a man of fine presence and pleasing manner.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
" Reverend Martin H. Egan was appointed his successor. He was a native of Nashua, educated in this country. He labored so zeal- ously for the welfare of the parish, and succeeded so well, that his services were deemed to be of more importance in a larger field. He was transferred to the Lebanon parish in November, 1892, leaving one thousand eight hundred dollars in a bank to the credit of the congregation, and no outstanding obligations. Before his departure he had secured an option on the Sanders property. This bargain was closed by his successor, who was enabled with the property on hand and the cash in the treasury to practically pay for it. The value of this purchase can be estimated when, for five thousand dollars, a lot extending from Main to High street, with a residence on it which cost eighteen thousand dollars, was transferred to the Catholics of Penacook. This, perhaps, is the best evidence of Father Egan's labors, and will be for all time the proof of his wisdom.
" Reverend Denis F. Hurley was the next pastor. He was born in Ireland, educated in this country and England. He was ordained in the latter country in July, 1875, and in the November following came to the United States, devoting himself first to negro mis- sions. He labored in Baltimore, Md., Louis- ville, Ky., and Charleston, S. C., until he was obliged to resign on account of failing health. While on the colored mission he baptized Father Uncles, the first negro priest ordained in the United States. Later he was stationed in Great Barrington, Mass., Littleton, N. H., and from the latter place he came to Pena- cook in 1893. Four days after taking charge he secured the option on the property above mentioned, which contained about sixty thousand feet. In 1896 he built a hall in the rear of the rectory, and in the same year, in the early spring, he began the construction of the church of the Immac- ulate Conception, adjoining the parochial residence, which was com- pleted in the fall of the same year and dedicated by Bishop Bradley. Father Hurley was a man of exceptional ability, well educated, and a ready, eloquent speaker. The disease contracted during his labors in the South could never be eradicated, and after long illesss he died on March 10, 1901. The beautiful church which he built will, while it stands, be a monument to his labors in Penacook.
Church of Immaculate Conception.
"On August 1, 1900, Reverend John J. Brophy was placed in
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THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AT PENACOOK.
charge of the parish. He was born in New York city, educated in this country and in France. He was a zealous, energetic man, and worked hard during his stay for the spiritual welfare of his people.
" He was followed on March 17, 1901, by Reverend David Fitz- gerald, who was appointed the permanent pastor. He was born in Ireland, and educated in that country and in France. He had labored, before coming to Penacook, in Portsmouth, Manchester, and Hillsborough.
" Up to 1875 the greater part of the congregation were of Irish parentage. After that time there was quite an accession of French Canadians, who now probably outnumber the Irish Catholics. From the beginning complete harmony has existed between members of the congregation of both races. Two former members of the parish have been ordained to the priesthood, namely, the Reverend T. P. Lin- ehan of Biddeford, Me., and the late Reverend George H. Feeney of Walpole, N. H. The latter was the son of a soldier of the Fifth New Hampshire regiment who was killed at Gettysburg, and whose name appears on the regimental monument there. Two others, Cor- nelius J. Coakley and George Keenan, died on the point of ordina- tion. Another, John Francis Dolan, is a lay brother in the Notre Dame university, South Bend, Ind. The only daughter of John C. Linehan entered the Order of the Sisters of Mercy in Portland, Me., in 1885.
" It can be truly, as it ought to be justly, said, that the members of this congregation from the beginning have been among the most thrifty and industrious of any in Penacook. The evidence of this is the fact that the permanent residents of the village are the owners of their own homes. They have always been liberal contributors to the support of their church, and have ever been loyal to the faith. None of the Catholies of this congregation who are from Irish ancestry have deserted the faith into which they were born and baptized.
"The present generation of Catholics owe to the first settlers of their own faith here a debt they can never repay, but will keep their names forever in grateful remembrance. From the beginning the relations between the members of this congregation and the others in the village have been harmonious and pleasant. Perhaps the best proof of this was the gift by the members of the Woodlawn Ceme- tery association to St. John's parish, of the land set apart for Cal- vary cemetery. This body, with one exception, was composed of members of the different evangelical churches of the village.
" Although it was but nine years before the beginning of the Civil War that Catholics in any considerable number came to Penacook, yet before that struggle had ended forty-eight of them had volun-
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
teered to serve in the Union army. Of this number forty-five were of Irish birth or parentage and three of French-Canadian birth or parentage. Nearly one third of theni-to be exact, fifteen-sealed their loyalty to their country with their blood, two thirds of them being killed in action. Their individual records can be found in the Memorial volume of Penacook soldiers, deposited for safety in the state library. With this record it goes without saying that the Catholics of Penacook have done their full part for the maintenance of religion and good government."
In June, 1902, a bell was presented to the church by Reverend Timothy P. Linehan of Biddeford, Me., and John C. Linehan of Pen- acook, in memory of their parents. It bears an inscription commem- orative of the services of these parents in the early days of this parishı.
THE PLYMOUTH BRETHREN.
This gathering of Christians had its beginning in Concord on the return of Reverend J. P. Nutting in 1872. Mr. Nutting was the pastor of the Free Will Baptist church of Concord from 1857 to 1866, resigning the latter year and going to New York. While absent he embraced the faith of the Plymouth Brethren, a religious fellowship started in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. Its founder was Reverend John Nelson Darby, a curate of the Epis- copal church of Ireland until 1827, when he felt himself constrained to leave the established church. Going to Dublin, he became associ- ated with several devout people who refused all ecclesiastical fellow- ship, met steadily for public worship,-at first in private houses, --- and called themselves " The Brethren."
In 1830 or 1831 Mr. Darby began work at Plymouth, England, where he won over quite a number of people to his views, and from his work there The Brethren came to be called "The. Plymouth Brethren." Their form of worship is based upon the twentieth verse of chapter eighteen of St. Matthew's Gospel, and the second and third chapters of Second Timothy are made a guide for their conduct. They hold that all official ministry, or anything like a clergy, is a denial of the spiritual priesthood of all believers, hence they have no fellowship with any ecclesiastical organization. They break bread every Lord's Day, and hold to the full divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures.
When Mr. Nutting returned to Concord, he and a neighbor,- Wilson E. Morton,-met together with the object of forming an assembly of fellowship, apart from all denominations, for religious worship. They were soon joined by others, until it was inconvenient
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THE BAKER MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH.
to meet in private houses. Then Mr. Nutting built an addition to his house at the corner of Grove and Perley streets, and in this addi- tion finished off a hall, which has since been the meeting place of The Brethren. A small sign on this building bears the modest des- ignation " Meeting Room." When Mr. Nutting moved from Concord in 1889, his property was sold and the hall is now rented by The Brethren.
Among the early members who were associated with Mr. and Mrs. Nutting were Mr. and Mrs. Josiah S. Ingalls, who reside near the chapel, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson E. Morton, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Giles, Mr. and Mrs. Walter T. MeLam, Mr. and Mrs. John Allison, Mr. and Mrs. Leander White, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. N. Green, Mrs. Mary F. Tilton, Mrs. Amanda J. Lund, and Mr. John Caswell. The assembly still numbers some twelve families.
The expenses of worship are wholly met by voluntary contribu- tions, The Brethren having no organization for any purpose, and no records are kept of membership. Occasionally, when one of The Brethren from some other locality visits Concord as a preacher and laborer, notice of the Sunday service appears in the local papers with the other Sunday services of the city. Regularly, however, The Brethren break bread Sunday morning, and there is reading of the scriptures and prayer. The evening service is devoted to preaching, if a preacher is present, otherwise to the reading and study of the Scriptures.
There are five hundred or more gatherings of The Brethren in Great Britain, a large number in France, Germany, and Switzerland, and a considerable number in Holland and in Canada. The work in the United States is of more recent date, yet there are assemblies in most of the important cities of the country, as well as in Mexico, Central and South America.
THE BAKER MEMORIAL (METHODIST) CHURCH.
In speaking of the growth of Methodism in America, Luther P. Durgin, of the Baker Memorial church, says that New England has been one of the hardest fought fields, and Concord has been one of the least fruitful for that church. Here for forty years the Metho- (lists had but one small church, but gradual increase in numbers made this structure too contracted, and, to use the words of one of the founders of the Baker Memorial church, " It was deemed best to have another hive and swarm." On the night of October 30, 1874, in Rumford hall, the new enterprise took form and life, and the new church was duly christened. Reverend Theodore L. Flood stood as godfather, being then the presiding elder of the Concord district,
820
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
and something more than one hundred Methodists stood up and answered to the roll-call as sponsors. The Reverend Morris W. Prince was appointed pastor. The first quarterly conference was held, consisting of the presiding elder, the preacher in charge, Rev- erend J. W. Merrill, a superannuated preacher, and Luther P. Dur- gin, class leader, at which a full board of trustees and stewards was appointed. The church was named the Baker Memorial church, in memory of Bishop Osman C. Baker.
The first public service of this society was held in Phenix hall on Sunday, November 1, 1874. At the close of the preaching a Sunday- school was organized, with the pastor as president and Luther P. Durgin as superintendent, together with a full corps of officers and teachers. A few classes were organized, one at the center, one at the west end, and another at the south end, and Luther P. Durgin, W. S. Davis, and Frederick Ruggles were chosen leaders. In Jan- uary, 1876, church services were held in the chapel on Green street, by the generous offer of Theodore H. Ford. Immediately after the organization of the society, a committee was appointed to secure a lot for a church. They bought land at the corner of State and Warren strects, with the honse thereon, of Charles H. Norton, for eight thousand dollars, giving their notes therefor. From subscrip- tions for pews in the proposed church three thousand one hundred and seventy dollars were raised and paid to Mr. Norton within a year. The house upon the lot was rented for a timc, afterwards used as a parsonage, and in later years demolished to make room for the present church.
The ambition of the society was to build immediately a church, and an attempt was made to secure subscriptions to the amount of twenty thousand dollars ; but hard times prevented the realization of this object, and so the society had to content itself with a chapel, leaving the larger task until later.
The rear of the lot was set apart for the chapel, and here it was built, in the summer of 1876, by a committee consisting of Joseph B. Rand, Theodore H. Ford, and Daniel E. Howard. It is of wood frame, with brick walls and slated roof. It cost, with furnishings, upward of five thousand dollars. The pulpit is the gift of John B. Watson. The seating capacity is five hundred. The dedication occurred December 21, 1876.
In April, 1877, the pastorate of Mr. Prince expired by limitation, and he departed with the universal regret of the church and congre- gation. He was succeeded by Reverend William Eakins, who for two years filled the pulpit acceptably, making large additions to the church membership. His successor was Reverend Charles E. Hall,
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THE BAKER MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH.
who came in April, 1879, and continued for two years as pastor. During his ministration two thousand dollars were paid on the debt of the society, and the Sunday-school was reorganized. His was a very successful pastorate.
In April, 1881, Reverend Charles Parkhurst, of the Vermont Con- ference, was transferred to the New Hampshire Conference, and appointed pastor of this church. During his stay of little more than a year two thousand five hundred dollars were paid on the church indebtedness. Failing health compelled him to seek another climate, and for twelve weeks from August, 1882, the pulpit was supplied. In October, following, Reverend William Sterling was appointed to fill out the conference year. He proved a very energetic and success- ful pastor during the six months of his stay. He, however, declined to remain another year, in order that he might return to his confer- ence work in Maine. On the first Sunday in May, 1883, Reverend George W. Norris began his labors as pastor of this church. ITis ministration was of only two years' duration ; for in April, 1885, he was made presiding elder of the Concord district, and the bishop transferred Reverend David E. Miller from the Vermont Conference, and appointed him to this place. The history of this church during these ministries was a constant struggle to meet expenses, pay inter- est on the debt, and the principal of the debt as it became due. The enthusiasm which secured early pledges for the enterprise had in a measure cooled, and the society was brought face to face many times with the practical business problem of supporting a church organ- ization. At no time, however, did the early founders show any abatement of their zeal or of their desire to construct an edifice of greater pretensions than their modest chapel. In 1884 a building fund association was organized to gather funds in aid of the church, with W. S. Davis as president, Maria E. Davis as vice-president, and Harriet E. Davis as treasurer. The payment of one dollar a year made a person a member of the association, and in this way the sum of nine hundred and forty-five dollars was raised during the four years of its existence. Reverend Charles W. Bradlee was appointed to the society in the spring of 1888. For four years his ministra- tions continued. In December, 1889, a building committee of the church was appointed. Two years later the committee reported plans, but they proved too large for the lot, and too expensive to undertake, and were therefore abandoned. In the meantime, other pledges were obtained of money to build the church.
In the spring of 1892, Mr. Bradlee having declined to return for a fifth year, Reverend George M. Curl was transferred here from the Vermont Conference. A new effort was now made in behalf of the
822
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
church. Other plans were seeured, and a building committee, eon- sisting of Mr. Curl, W. S. Baker, Allen Wilson, H. C. Bailey, Charles A. Davis, Luther P. Durgin, and J. W. MeNaughton, was appointed. To the pastor was assigned the task of raising additional funds. On September 25, 1892, Reverend J. O. Peek of New York was present upon invitation of the pastor, and assisted in raising the last five thousand dollars of twelve thousand subscribed. With this sum as a guarantee, the quarterly conference felt assured in proceeding with the ereetion of the church. Proposals were then invited, and the contraet was let to E. B. Hutchinson of Coneord. In a little more than a year the building was completed,-an attractive addition to the church property of the eity. It has a seating eapaeity, ineluding the eonneet- ed chapel, of one thousand. Light eomes in through stained-glass windows, two of which eost five hundred dollars each ; one being in memory of the Reverend Elisha Adams, D. D., contributed by his widow, and the other in memory of Joseph B. Rand, contributed by his widow and ehil- dren. The entire church property is val- ued at twenty-five thousand dollars, on which there is but a small debt.
The dedieation of the church oeeurred May 17, 1894. In the afternoon there was a sermon by Reverend Charles Park- hurst, editor of Zion's Herald, and former pastor of the church. In the evening the venerable Bishop R. S. Foster preached. Luther P. Durgin then, in behalf of the Baker Memorial Church. trustees, presented the ehureh for dediea- tion. Presiding Elder S. C. Keeler gave the dedieatory serviees, ineluding the prayer, and Bishop Foster pronouneed the benedietion. The handsome communion service of the church was presented by Stanley & Ayer.
In the spring of 1896, Mr. Curl having been made presiding elder of the district, Reverend George N. Dorr was appointed pastor, and served the society until 1897, when he was sueceeded by Reverend Jolm H. Emerson, whose pastorate was equally brief. In 1898 Rev- erend William H. Hutehin was appointed to this society, and eon- tinued until April, 1901. He was sueeeeded that year by Reverend Edward C. Strout, from Saco, Me., the present pastor.
Nothing eventful has oeeurred during these four pastorates. The
823
THE SALVATION ARMY.
society has grown in numbers, justifying the hopes of those who so strenuously urged the organization of the church. When some were fearful that the undertaking might hopelessly involve the society in debt, these courageous ones felt that it was either go forward or cease altogether. The society has now begun its second quarter- century with every encouragement of a long life of usefulness. Of one hundred members who formed the society, less than half are now living.
THE SALVATION ARMY.
The exact date of the first appearance of the Salvation Army in Concord is not known. Unlike other religious societies the army does not start in a community by the organization of followers resid- ing there, but its beginning is the coming of a small band of mission- aries sowing seed and content with small harvests. The first reliable record of their work in this city is a notice in the Saturday evening Monitor of April 24, 1886, of several meetings the following day. As no place of meeting is given, it is probable that their services were held out of doors. Two weeks later among the notices of Sunday services is one of the Salvation army to be held at Whittredge's hall. The next week the services were held in Dow's building on Bridge street, which has been the place of meeting since, except on special occasions when some distinguished officer of the army has been here for a brief stay. The old skating rink on Pleasant street was used by the army at times when their quarters on Bridge street were not adequate. The local records of the Concord corps do not throw any liglit upon its permanent location here, for they do not go back of 1894. An official report from the national headquarters in New York fixes the date at September 12, 1891. This may be due to the fact that Concord does not furnish so active a field for the labors of the army as localities that are manufacturing centers, and that for several years the stay of the corps at the capital of the state was uncertain. During the decade from 1880 to 1890 the services at Concord may have been conducted by a detail of the corps located at Manchester or elsewhere, as the meetings at Franklin are now con- ducted by a detail of the corps at Concord.
The small number of members at any time apparent in this city does not give much idea of the work done and the good accomplished by the corps. They labor among people who are not reached by others, and the public knows little of their help in reclaiming the fallen or assisting the necdy. Christmas time is an occasion when their work in behalf of suffering humanity is most appreciated by the recipients of their benevolence. The following from the Patriot of
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
December 26, 1902, shows that there is opportunity for the army even in Concord, and that it is fully improved by the corps :
" The Salvation Army free Christmas dinner to the poor was a grand success. Seventy-one family basket dinners were distributed from the hall. In cases where there was sickness the dinners were delivered.
" The following things were used : Potatoes, eight bushels; onions, two and one half bushels ; turnips, two hundred and ten pounds ; sugar, seventy pounds ; candy, seventy pounds; oranges, thirty-five dozen ; nuts, seventy pounds; butter, thirty-five pounds; fowl, two hundred and thirty-three pounds; cranberries, seventy quarts.
"The generous response of the public made this dinner possible. The officers in charge take this opportunity to thank the public for donations given. There were fifty children present at the Christmas tree. One hundred presents were given out. The greater part of these presents were sent in by the Sunday-school. In one instance two little girls came with their donations themselves."
The present corps in this city numbers twenty-two officers and sol- diers, of whom four or five are detailed for work at Franklin. They are under command of Captain L. B. Heughins. The earliest officers, of whom there is authentic record, were Captain Harry White, Ensign Persons, and Cadet Rich. Members of the corps all speak in praise of the spirit with which their appeals for financial assistance are met by the Concord public.
THE FRENCH CATHOLIC CHURCH.
French Canadians are known to have been in Concord as early as 1860, but their increase was slow, owing to the absence of manufac- turing industries. By 1890 their number had grown to several hun- dred, and feeling their ability to support an independent church organization, they obtained the consent of Father Barry to create a new parish. On February 1, 1892, Bishop Bradley appointed Reverend Joseph N. Plante as first resident pastor. Mass was first celebrated in Phenix hall, and subsequently in Grand Army hall. That same year a tract of land on the north side of Pleasant street, just west of the corner of Green, was bought for church purposes at an outlay of eleven thousand dollars. Here Father Plante built the combination chapel and school building which now occupies the lot, and it was dedicated June 24, 1894. The chapel is only temporary, as Father Plante intends building a church in the near future. The chapel on the first floor will seat seven hundred people. It is sup- plied with stained-glass windows and a beautiful set of relief stations of the cross. The wainscot is of cherry and the pews are of ash. An
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