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 7
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1867-'68. Reverend Elisha Adams returned here. Repairs were made to the church, and new furnishings supplied at a cost of four hundred and ninety-one dollars.
1869-'70. Reverend Edward A. Titus. The best evidence of the church's prosperity was the two increases in the pastor's salary, which rose in the two years from one thousand dollars to one thou- sand three hundred dollars and one thousand five hundred dollars, respectively.
1871-'73. Reverend Alfred E. Drew. The pastor reported three happy and prosperous years. The membership reached its highest point, four hundred and three, at the close of Mr. Drew's third year.
1874. Reverend Morris W. Prince. The high-water mark of the society under the last pastorate vanished under this, for in October the church was divided, a considerable body of the members going with Mr. Prince to form the Baker Memorial church. Yet the society did not cease activity. The singing-seats and organ were moved from the west to the east end of the audience-room, securing ten new pews. The room was newly frescoed and new windows put in. The cost of these changes and improvements was two thousand six hundred and fifty-eight dollars.
1874-76. With the division of the church Reverend Leon C. Field was appointed to the pastorate of the old church, and reappointed in 1875 and 1876. Mr. Field was a preacher of rare power, and the church prospered under his ministrations.
1877-'78. Reverend Orange W. Scott. Again the house of worship was changed and im- proved. The building was raised, and new vestries and new front with tower built. This was accomplished in 1878 at a cost of three thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars, and the next year the front ground and walks were improved. Best of all, the improvements were paid for when com- pleted, largely through the efforts of Dr. Elisha Adams, who assumed all unpaid bills. In July, 1877, was celebrated the forty-seventh
Present Church of First Methodist Society.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
anniversary of the organization of the society, a feature of which was the participation therein of the first pastor, Reverend Samuel Kelley.
1879-'80. Reverend Edward C. Bass. A bell was added during this pastorate, and the library room for the Sunday-school was finished.
1881. Reverend Leon C. Field was returned for one year. The membership was now reported as two hundred.
1882-'84. Reverend James H. Haines. The membership grew to two hundred and eighty during these three years. Then followed two pastorates of one year each, filled by Reverend James M. Will- iams and Reverend Charles S. Nutter, the latter of whom became a presiding elder in the Vermont conference.
Reverend Samuel C. Keeler succeeded with a pastorate of two years, which he relinquished to become presiding elder of the dis- trict. He was a strong and earnest man, a leader in the denomina- tion. He was succeeded by Reverend Joseph E. Robins in 1889, who remained for five years, the longest continuous pastorate in the history of the society. He was afterwards presiding elder in the Dover district.
From 1895 to 1898 Reverend Elihu Snow occupied the pulpit by repeated appointments, to be succeeded by Reverend Charles D. Hills, who continued with the society until 1901. Mr. Snow was obliged to give up work for a time on account of ill health. Dr. Hills is one of the strong men of the denomination, quiet and reserved. Under his leadership a considerable reduction was made in the church debt.
The Reverend Joseph Simpson succeeded Dr. Hills, and is the present pastor. Through the efforts of Mrs. Simpson, the pastor's wife, the church debt has been paid, she having secured pledges from members and friends by personal appeals.
Besides the support of preaching, and domestic benevolences not a few, this church has since 1856 contributed to missions, education, the Bible cause, Preachers' aid, Freedman's aid, and other objects, an aggregate of over nine thousand dollars. To this may be added thirty-seven hundred dollars, the centenary thank-offering of 1866, which went to the Conference seminary, Wesleyan university, and other educational institutes. Also five hundred dollars to build a church on the Plains, which passed into the control of the South Congregational church. Yet in all this time there is but one re- corded legacy, a small sum of one hundred dollars, the receipt of which, however, is not known to a certainty. The history unwritten and now beyond recall would fill many pages. "The few dates, names, and facts stand for tears and trials, doubts and difficulties,
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THE UNITARIAN CHURCH.
and also for triumphs of faith, patience, and Christian work." So wrote Reverend E. C. Bass, while pastor of the society in 1880, as he gathered up the fragments of the life of the church and wove them into a connected sketch.
THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL (UNITARIAN) CHURCH.
The Unitarian society was organized in 1827. The initial step was taken April 4, 1827, when several prominent citizens associated themselves together as " The Second Congregational Society in Con- cord," agreeably to the laws of the state. August 8, 1827, Richard Bartlett, Moses Eastman, William Kent, Sampson Bullard, Stephen Brown, John Leach, Woodbury Brown, William M. Virgin, Elijah Mansur, Joseph Manahan, Washington Williams, James Wilton, Joseph C. West, Timothy Chandler, Benjamin Grover, and William Francis met at the court room of the old town house and elected Timothy Chandler chairman and William Kent clerk of the society. A committee, consisting of Moses Eastman, Richard Bartlett, and Jacob B. Moore, was chosen to prepare by-laws and regulations for the government of the society. Public notice of the formation of the society was given, and at an adjourned meeting, August 25, the by-laws reported by the committee were adopted. September 4, 1827, Moses Eastman, William Kent, and Stephen Brown were elected a prudential committee, and Jeremiah Pritchard, treasurer.
The organization of this society was the first separation from the parent church of the town, and although the withdrawal was caused by dissent from the doctrines of the church, it will not to-day give offense to call the Unitarian church the first child of the old North church. Nor did the separation occasion in this community the intensity of feeling which in many localities was the result of like withdrawals from Congregational churches.
From the time of the first organization of the society its members had been active to secure Unitarian preaching. Colonel Kent visited Portsmouth and arranged with Rev. Dr. Parker of that place to come to Concord and preach two Sundays during the session of the legislature in June. In those days it was customary for members of the legislature to remain at the capital from the beginning to the close of the session, very few returning to their homes over Sunday. During the legislative session, therefore, there was quite an attend- ance of the members at the various churches. The use of Repre- sentatives' hall was secured by the Unitarians for their first two services, and the first professedly Unitarian sermon heard in Concord was preached by Dr. Parker June 17, 1827. The second service was on the following Sabbath. " The services," says Colonel Kent,
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
" were highly appreciated, and the audiences very respectable in numbers."
The new society conferred with Dr. Parker in reference to the work it had in hand. He advised against completing the organiza- tion. He thought the society too weak to start, that it was not likely to get sufficient encouragement, and that it would be better to wait before undertaking the burden of maintaining consecutive liberal preaching. Colonel Kent was enthusiastic, however, and inspired his associates with his enthusiasm. He visited Boston and secured the services of several pastors of Unitarian churches in that city and the adjacent towns for a Sunday each; and the court room was secured as a place of meeting. This supply gave to the inhabitants of Concord an opportunity of hearing men who were then eminent in the denomination ; and afterwards, in arrangements for the set- tling of a permanent pastor, of listening to others who became dis- tinguished leaders of the Unitarian faith.
The Rev. Dr. Barrett was the first volunteer from Boston to be heard by our people. He preached here July 8, 1827, and was fol- lowed by the Rev. Messrs. Gannett, Pierpont, Tuckerman, Whitman, and Warc. After that Christopher T. Thayer, Ralph Waldo Emer- son, and Moses G. Thomas preached, with reference to settlement.
In April, 1828, the society voted to raise three hundred dollars by taxes on its members, for the support of preaching for the ensuing year. In November, however, having decided to extend a call to Mr. Thomas, the society voted unanimously to pay him a salary of six hundred dollars a year for the first five years; and as soon as its means should be sufficiently augmented by the addition of new members, the salary was to be increased to eight hundred dollars. A committee was chosen to communicate to Mr. Thomas the votes of the society; and in reply to their communication, Mr. Thomas, in a letter dated December 26, 1828, accepted the call.
February 25, 1829, was the day fixed for the ordination of Mr. Thomas. This took place in the Old North church, where most of the new congregation were pew-owners, in generous response to a request for its use. On the same day previous to the ordination services, a church organization consisting of eight members was formed. The original church members were William A. Kent, Will- iam Kent, Catherine Kent, Mary J. Kent, Moses G. Thomas, Polly Odlin, Timothy Chandler, and Ruth Bartlett. Having secured a set- tled minister, the next thought of the society was a place of worship. It was a great undertaking for a society so few in numbers, as nearly all were people of limited means. It was estimated that such a structure as they required would cost six thousand dollars, besides
.
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THE UNITARIAN CHURCH.
the site. The latter was given by William A. Kent, on condition that a sum sufficient for the erection of a churchi could be secured. Mr. Kent not only gave the site for the Unitarian church, but also to the town of Concord, land for school buildings, and to the First Baptist society on State street, land for its church. After a thorough canvass, three thousand dollars, just one half the amount needed, was subscribed. It was a liberal subscription for the times; but nothing could be done unless the remainder were in some way obtained. Col- onel Kent determined to seek aid outside. He went to Boston and solicited it from wealthy friends of the denomination in that vieinity. In a fortnight he had succeeded in raising the amount required, and the report of his suceess to the society was an occasion of great eon- gratulation.
John Leach, a member of the society, was employed as master builder, and under his supervision the work of construction was pushed rapidly forward. The corner-stone was laid May 2, 1829, with appropriate exercises, and on November 11, 1829, the church was formally dedicated. On this oceasion the introductory prayer was offered by Reverend Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose wife later made a gift to the church of its present communion service.
Major Lewis Downing, Jr., says of the church building: "It was one of the finest specimens of church architecture in the city when it was built, and so continued until it was destroyed. It was built of wood, was seventy-eight and one half feet in length by fifty feet in width, with a tower and belfry surmounted by a cupola in the form of an inverted acorn,-the whole being about seventy- five feet in height. The audience-room contained eighty-two pews. In the east end was a gallery for the orchestra, with eight additional pews. The vestry was in the basement. Here the Sunday- school was held, with William Kent as superin- tendent, the sessions being at nine o'clock in the morning in summer, and at the noon hour in win- ter.
The music for a little time after the dedication was furnished by a voluntary choir, accompanied by a bass viol, a bassoon, and occasionally a flute. Lewis Downing, Senior, Woodbridge Odlin, and Stephen Brown were some of the male singers, while the Misses Cady, Martha Hutchins, and Mrs. Buzzell were among the early soprano and alto singers. The Unitarian church had the first organ in Concord. It was played by Mrs. Lodge, a music teacher; and the "blow boy" was Lewis
First Unitarian Church.
744
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
Downing, Jr., until recently the patriarch of the church, then in the tentli year of his age,-a service he rendered without money and without price. The musical talent of the church appears to have been ambitious, for about the year 1833, a new organ, larger and finer than the first, was purchased, which was the marvel of people of Concord and the surrounding towns, who came from long dis- tances to hear it played by the organist, Henry E. Moore.
Twice the Unitarian church of this city has been destroyed by fire. To have built three church edifices within a period of a little more than half a century is a task that seldom falls to the lot of a single congre- gation, yet each time the Unitarian society has risen superior to its misfortunes, and upon the site of the building destroyed a more modern and more commodious structure has been erected. The first building was burned just after being repaired, and its destruction was on this account a heavy blow to the society. It was being fitted up for the use of gas, and the carelessness of a workman in leaving open one of the pipes was the cause of the conflagration, which took place on the evening of November 2, 1854.
If any encouragement was needed to induce the society to rebuild, it came in the kindly feeling and practical sympathy shown by the other religious denominations of the city. The use of their churches a part of the day each Sabbath was in several instances offered to the Unitarians, and accepted. Union services were held,-the members of the Unitarian society, and those of the society whose guests they were, participating,-the clergymen of one society officiating in the morn- ing, and the minister of the other in the afternoon. Soon, through the kindness of the First Baptist society, the use of their chapel was secured for Sunday services during the winter, after which services were held in the large hall in the railway passenger station.
Christian unity must have had, even at this early day, a firm hold upon the people to have permitted such generous acts of Christian fellowship to a society whose belief was looked upon by many as heretical. Nor was this Christian spirit confined to the religious societies. The editor of the New Hampshire Statesman, Asa McFar- land, himself a somewhat strict Congregationalist, expressed the gen- eral sympathy in his newspaper as follows :
"We should be a people unworthy of the Christian name if it could be said of us that we had not profound sympathy for the society whose agreeable place of public worship, with its furniture, its organ and its bell, some of which were procured by the slow processes usual to country towns, has been consumed in an hour. Although other fires have destroyed a far larger amount of property, yet none more sad ever took place in Concord. That the society may soon find
.
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THE UNITARIAN CHURCH.
themselves in readiness to go on and replace what is destroyed, is the desire of all in whom is that essential element of Christian character, a catholic spirit, and the kindness which flows therefrom."
In eighteen months, lacking a day, from the time of the fire, the Second Unitarian church was completed and dedicated. Twenty- three years later the present chapel in the rear of the church was built by the Chapel Fund society, without expense to the pews. On the afternoon of April 25, 1888, the high school build- ing, then as now adjacent to the Unitarian church, caught fire. The flames soon com- municated to the church, and in a very brief time, owing to prolonged drought, both the buildings were completely de- stroyed. The chapel was pre- served, and in this the society held its services until the present handsome edifice was completed.
Second Unitarian Church, with High School.
Of the first pastorate, that of Mr. Thomas, there are many pleasant recollections. It was the longest in the history of the society,-from February, 1829, to April, 1844,-and was terminated with deep regret on the part of both pastor and people. Mr. Thomas was of a genial disposition and an untiring worker. He conducted three services every Sabbath, and during the two or three years that he preached " to the spirits in prison," these Sunday services num- bered four, beginning with the service at the state prison at nine o'clock in the morning. He also held a social religious meeting one evening during each week. He was methodical in all his work, every hour having its allotted duty. He knew intimately every man, woman, and child of the society. He loved his work, and he was most hap- pily assisted in this by his wife, the daughter of William A. Kent. During his ministry he made frequent exchange of pulpits with the Methodist ministers settled at Concord, and he held pleasant personal relations with the ministers of all denominations. After service else- where, he returned to Concord, his first love and his first pastorate, to reside for the few months his life was spared.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
Mr. Thomas was succeeded by Reverend William P. Tilden, an aggressive reformer, but of so sweet a life that he got the title of " saint," even while he vexed those who disagreed with him on pub- lie questions. His ministry was during the Mexican War, to which, as to all wars, he was firmly opposed. He not only preached against war but against intemperance and slavery, with the result that at the close of his third year his services were not continued. He was never formally installed. In after years, returning to the dedication of the third church of the society, he thus spoke most feelingly and charitably of his ministry here :
" The three years I was with you, from 1844 to 1847, were years of great excitement. The 'devil's trinity,' as we used to call it,- war, intemperance, slavery,-some of us fought against with all the non-resistant fight there was in us. The first two remain, wounded, but still vigorous, while what seemed then the master evil has been swept away forever. But the opposition to any word spoken against the divine institution at this time, on the part of many, was intense. They closed their ears. One Sunday, when I was so unwise as to speak of the iniquity of the Mexican War, one of my influential parishioners rose in his seat, wrapped his martial cloak around him, and walked down the aisle and out of the church, as he had a perfect right to do. . . . On the other hand there were those who were loyal to the true and the right, who held up my hands and encouraged my heart to speak without fear or favor what I believed to be the truth of God. Could your fathers and mothers only have known that in twenty years from that time 'liberty would be proclaimed throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof,' I think they would have kept me another year. But it was all right, for if I had not gone you would not have had the blessed ministries of Woodbury, Beane, Gil- man, and the rest, to lead you on to the higher life."
The Reverend Augustus Woodbury, who succeeded Mr. Tilden, was installed August 1, 1849, and continued as pastor until his resig- nation, August 1, 1853. This was Mr. Woodbury's first pastorate, and a remarkable coincidence is that his last public act in the min- istry was for the same society and in the present church. He had returned to Concord to pass his remaining days in retirement. At a lay service conducted by members of the congregation he was present. The service made a deep impression on him, and at its close he was ยท invited to pronounce the benediction. The fervency of the closing exhortation, taken in connection with his sudden death a few days later, fixed this last public event of his life strongly in the minds of this society.
Mr. Woodbury was deliberate in his delivery, but his sermons
747
THE UNITARIAN CHURCH.
showed thorough preparation. He took a great interest in the society, which he showed in many ways during his absence in other fields, and on his return to Concord in later life. It was an affection which was warmly reciprocated by all members of the society.
Thus far the society had had smooth sailing and a comparatively pleasant course, but an event occurred during the next pastorate which taxed its resources and knit the members more closely together. Reverend Artemus B. Muzzey was called in January, 1854, and in- . stalled the following March. In the month of November occurred the fire before referred to, which destroyed the church. To both Mr. and Mrs. Muzzey was due the speedy rebuilding of the temple of wor- ship. They were untiring in their efforts to complete the structure, Mrs. Muzzey giving personal attention and labor to the furnishing of the building. Both the pastor and his wife are held in grateful remembrance, and their three years' stay was fruitful of great benefit to the church.
With the departure of Mr. Muzzey a call was extended to Rev- erend Cyrus Farrington, who was ordained in December, 1857, and continued his pastorate until January, 1861. It was during his ministry that the parsonage was purchased, and he was the first min- ister to occupy it. It continued to be the residence of the pastor until 1875, when it was sold, and the funds invested for the benefit of the society. The resignation of Mr. Farrington compelled the society to make efforts to secure another minister, and for a year and six months Reverend Liberty Billings occupied the pulpit without formal settlement. In December, 1863, Reverend T. J. Mumford received an invitation to take charge of the society, which he declined. February 7, 1864, Reverend Junius L. Hatch was invited to become the pastor, and accepting, was installed in the June following. Mr. Hatch's pastorate was short and uneventful, and in January, 1866, Reverend Joseph F. Lovering was called and installed on February 27 following. Mr. Lovering's ministry lasted for nine years. He was an eloquent pulpit orator, and the vesper services of his time were largely attended. He resigned April 1, 1875, and was suc- ceeded by Reverend William G. Todd, who entered upon his duties without any formal introduction early in the year 1876, and after remaining one year resigned.
From March, 1877, to November, that year, three ministers were called,-Reverend R. F. Stebbins, Reverend T. F. McDaniell, and Reverend Samuel C. Beane,-the last of whom accepted and was installed January 9, 1878. During Mr. Beane's pastorate the Chapel Fund society was formed, it being the successor of the Parsonage Fund society under a new name. This society obtained lcave, April
748
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
1, 1879, to build a chapel in the rear of the church and connecting with it. This building has been used for the regular meetings of the Sunday-school and for the social entertainments of the society, and after the second fire was used as a place of worship until the present church was built. Mr. Beane, after a successful pastorate of seven years, resigned to accept a call elsewhere.
He was succeeded by Reverend John Bradley Gilman in March, 1886. Mr. Gilman also counted Concord as his first pastorate. Again the society was visited by fire and had to incur additional obliga- tions in order to rebuild. The result of its resolution and work is the present handsome church erected on the old site. A consider- able debt was incurred by the society in rebuilding, which has since been nearly liquidated. Mr. Gilman continued as pastor for six years and until after the society was well settled in its new house of wor- ship, when he was called to Springfield, Mass., where he now is the pastor of a large and flourishing society. In addition to his accom- plishments as a preacher and pastor, Mr. Gilman has attained distinc- tion in the literary world as a writer, and some of his books have had quite a popular sale.
Mr. Gilman was succeeded by Reverend Frank L. Phalen, who was called September 27, 1892, and installed December 19, 1829. During his pastorate the soci- ety worked harmoniously and effectively. Mr. Phalen was a popular minister with his own parishioners, and well liked by the community at large. After seven years of co-operation with the society lie was called to Worcester, Mass., and to the great regret of his people accepted the call. During his ministry Third Unitarian Church occurred the Spanish War, and he was elected to the chaplaincy of the regiment sent by New Hampshire in response to the call of the president for volunteers. He was granted leave of absence during the war, but illness com- pelled him to resign from the army. He returned to his church, and continued his labors until the time of his resignation, in August, 1899.
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