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 9
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During one period of this pastorate, Mr. Noyes was assisted by Reverend Ezra E. Adams, a native of Concord, preacher at the sea- men's church in Havre, France, and during his own absence in Eu- rope, in 1846, the pulpit was occupied by Reverend Daniel Temple, a returned missionary, who had served at Malta and other Eastern stations.
Among active parishioners of the early time not hereinbefore men- tioned were Theodore T. Abbott, William H. Allison, Epps Burn- ham, John F. Brown, Elliot Chickering, Nathaniel Evans, Joseph French, Samuel Farrington, Ira Foster, David Kimball (editor of the New Hampshire Observer), Nathan Kendall, Dr. E. G. Moore, Asa Morrill (afterward captain of Boston police), David L. Morril (an ex-governor of New Hampshire), Levi P. Morton (afterward vice- president of the United States), John Niles, Franklin Pierce (after- ward president of the United States), Ira Perley (afterward chief justice of New Hampshire), Benjamin Rolfe, Reverend Andrew Rankin, Nathan Stickney, Reverend Benjamin P. Stone and Rever- end Henry Wood (editors of the Congregational Journal). Henry Wilson (afterward vice-president of the United States) was a par- ishioner during his Concord school-days in 1837.
The second pastorate was that of Reverend Henry E. Parker, a . graduate of Dartmouth college and Union Theological seminary, who came to the church, at the age of thirty years, in April, 1850, from temporary service at Eastport, Me., and was installed May 14, 1851.
This pastorate was attended by most salutary results. There was a net gain of one hundred and twenty members. In 1857 (another year of general financial disturbance) the church edifice was repaired and
759
THE SOUTH CHURCH.
improved, but in 1859 it was destroyed by a fire which originated on neighboring premises. After futile efforts at rescue, when it became evident that destruction was inevitable, the pastor gave a final pull to the bell, which had been sounding loud tidings of disaster. There was no insurance, and all that remains of the old building is a framed large photograph of its exterior, the pulpit sofa, and the communion table. A temporary place for public worship was found in Phenix hall, but the historic site of the present church was before long chosen on which to build in a larger, better way. Here had been the residence of William A. Kent, where Marquis de Lafayette was lodged in 1825, Ralph Waldo Emerson was mar- ried in 1829, and Daniel Webster was at various times an honored visitor. Charles Edward Parker, a brother of the pastor, was the designer of the new church, and Lyman R. Fellows, Dutton Woods, Will- iam G. Mason, and Daniel H. Fletcher, all of them parishioners, were concerned in its construction. The building com- mittee were Nathaniel G. Upham, George Hutchins, Arthur Fletcher, John Kimball, George Clough, Dutton Woods, Caleb Parker, E. G. Moore, and Joseph L. Jackson. The corner-stone was laid on May 3, 1860, and on the 27th of the following Novem- ber the completed building was dedicated. Its lofty interior and its exposed beam work were architectural features new to Pilgrim churches in this vicinity, and excited the surprise of some of the visiting clergy. So did the cross on the tall tower, until reflection proved that no other Christians had better claim to the use of that sacred emblem.
Present South Congregational Church.
The interior of this church had originally three aisles, and six rows of pews on the main floor, numbering in all one hundred and forty- two. Besides these, there were nine in the north gallery. One hundred pews were appraised for sale at prices which would produce nineteen thousand five hundred and seventy dollars, and title to the remainder was retained. The interest in land on which the old church stood was sold for one thousand one hundred dollars, and a considerable sum was derived from premiums for choice of the new pews. The bell was obtained by public subscription. This church, together with the chapel which has recently become only a memory, cost twenty-four thousand five hundred and forty-five dollars, but it
760
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
was evident very soon that the expectation of growth in the list of parishioners would be realized.
The second pastor of the church endeared himself not only to his own but to all the townspeople, being everywhere and always a public-spirited, large-hearted Christian gentleman. He had leave of absence twice, once to serve as chaplain of the Second New Hamp- shire Volunteers from June, 1861, to August, 1862, and again, to go abroad for six months from September, 1865. While in London he resigned the pastorate, and a council held in March, 1866, granted a dismissal. He went hence to Dartmouth college, where he was until recent years professor of Latin, and died in Boston, November 7, 1896.
The church had no installed pastor from March, 1866, to January, 1869. It was voted, September 24, 1866, to call Reverend William F. V. Bartlett, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; he accepted conditionally, but his health failed, as he had apprehended, and he withdrew in May, 1867, leaving very agreeable impressions with all who are old enough to remember his brief term of service.
There was then a period of nearly two years for which there is not much but material progress to relate. In January, 1867, a debt of two thousand eight hundred and ninety dollars and fifty cents, a part of which appears to have been left over from construction of the church, was cancelled. That same year the side galleries were built and the north gallery enlarged, whereby space for forty pews was gained, but six floor pews were removed to obtain stairways. Funds for this enlargement, three thousand one hundred and four dollars and fifty-six cents, were provided by twenty-five associates,1 known as the Gallery association, who were gradually reimbursed by appropriation to that purpose of a portion of the gallery pew rentals. In 1868 the fourth organ was obtained. It cost four thousand dollars, and the sum of four hundred and twenty-four dollars and two cents was ex- pended in making a place for it, because the original design located the organ where is now the choir room. Towards this expenditure one hundred and fifty-six contributors gave three thousand five hun- dred and twenty-two dollars and eighty cents, and the Social circle six hundred and thirty-one dollars and nineteen cents. From other sources three hundred and twenty dollars and three cents were derived, and nine hundred and fifty dollars were borrowed tempo- rarily.
1 William H. Allison, Jesse P. Bancroft, Lewis Barter, Henry T. Chickering, Joseph A. Cochran, Lyman R. Fellows, Arthur Fletcher, George Hutchins, George H. Hutchins, Calvin Howe, George E. Jenks, John Kimball, Benjamin A. Kimball, Samuel G. Lane, Asa McFarland, Henry McFarland, William G. Mason, Franklin Moseley, E. G. Moore, Caleb Parker, Hazen Pickering, L. D. Stevens, N. G. Upham, E. W. Woodward, Calvin C, Webster,
761
THE SOUTH CHURCH.
During this period one error occurred, which was that many preachers were heard with a view to ministerial service, and diver- gent views developed to some extent. These symptoms of disquiet were put at rest in December, 1868, when a call was extended to Reverend Silas L. Blake of Pepperell, Mass., a graduate of Middle- bury and Andover. His service commenced the first Sunday of Jan- uary, 1869, and his installation was on the 27th of the same month.
The nearly nine years' pastorate which followed was eminently satisfactory. Two hundred and forty-seven persons came into the church, of whom one hundred and fifty-seven were on confession of faith. At the height of the pastor's usefulness he received a call from the Woodland Avenue Presbyterian church of Cleveland, Ohio; so he resigned, and was dismissed by council, October 14, 1877.
If we may consider the year 1869 as a fair example for that decade, it will be interesting to note here that the current income of the society that year was three thousand six hundred and eighty- seven dollars and eighty-four cents; expenses, three thousand six hun- dred and thirty-eight dollars and twenty-four cents ; benevolences, one thousand five hundred and seventy-five dollars and six cents. These figures are exclusive of certain receipts and payments towards an organ debt hereinbefore mentioned.
The fourth pastorate was that of Reverend Charles E. Harrington, called from Lancaster, N. H., and installed by council, April 18, 1878. This was a period of earnest endeavor and devotion, termi- nated by a call to the pastor from a church in Dubuque, Ia. He was dismissed by council August 31, 1882.
During this pastorate the South Church Relief society was formed. Franklin Evans gave to it at the outset the sum of two hundred dollars. At his death in April, 1903, he bequeathed to it the sum of ten thousand dollars, one half of such bequest to be kept as a fund in memory of his first wife (Sarah E.), and one half in memory of his second wife (Pauline L.), the income of the whole to be applied to the benevolent purposes of said Relief so- Chapel on The Plains. ciety. For a series of years the South church sustained a Sunday- school (later a church) on the Plains and another at the south end of Main street.
The fifth pastorate was that of Reverend William H. Hubbard, called from Merrimac, Mass., and installed June 4, 1883. One of the notable events of that year was the National Triennial Council of Congregational churches for the United States, which assembled
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
in this church the second week of October, bringing hither distin- guished delegates from many distant churches. Mr. Hubbard was zealous as pastor and citizen, and a man of high purpose. He re- signed the pastorate and was dismissed by council September 22, 1885.
At various periods when the church has had no pastor Reverend Alfred Goldsmith, Reverend Samuel G. Brown, Reverend Samuel C. Bartlett, Reverend Cyrus W. Wallace, Reverend William J. Tucker, and Reverend S. R. Dennen have occupied the pulpit, besides Rev- erend Daniel Temple and Reverend William F. V. Bartlett, herein- before mentioned.
In 1886 material improvements again became desirable. The pews were then rearranged with four aisles, and refurnished, and the choir gallery and pulpit space enlarged. These changes involved the loss of sixteen pews. There was also general renovation, the sum expended being near three thousand five hundred dollars. Through the generosity of many individuals the society obtained title to nearly all pews which had hitherto been in private owner- ship, and a plan for defraying ordinary expenses by pew rents was adopted.
In 1887 a half century of the history of the church had gone. It had grown steadily and surely, without keeping close grip on its membership. It had sent many good people with a benediction into other churches.
It may be that the names of all of its sons who have gone into the ministry are not recalled when mention is made of Henry L. Low, William L. Gage, James E. Rankin (president of Howard univer- sity), Nathaniel L. Upham, Charles L. Hutchins, Benjamin T. Hutchins, Rockwood McQuesten, Clarendon M. Sanders, and Arthur W. Jenks.
The sixth pastorate was that of Reverend H. P. Dewey, a graduate of Williams and Andover, who came to the church at the age of twenty-five years. His ordination and installation occurred on Octo- ber 12, 1887. This pastorate of almost thirteen years was eminently successful. Mr. Dewey became widely known as an attractive min- ister of the gospel, and was often chosen to preach at college chapels such as Dartmouth, Williams, and Vassar. Dartmouth college, in 1898, conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was regretfully dismissed by council on May 23, 1900, to accept a call to ยท the Church of the Pilgrims, Brooklyn, N. Y.
The seventh pastorate is that of Reverend Edwin W. Bishop, a graduate of Williams college and Hartford Theological seminary. His pastorate began October 7, 1900, and his installation was on November 13 following.
763
THE SOUTH CHURCH.
The history of the church in recent years need not be told to con- temporary readers. There has been gain in various directions. A year book 1 has been printed annually since 1890. The parishioners number nine hundred and sixty-nine; the church members, four hun- dred and forty-nine. It may be useful to mention the expenses and benevolences for ten years, premising them by saying that the benev- olences are probably understated. They are never all on record, and are more carefully noted some years than others :
Expenses.
Benevolences.
1891
$5,456.49
$1,859.10
1892
5,707.16
2,457.61
1893
6,282.61
2,790.22
1894
5,672.45
2,635.34
1895
6,195.00
3,369.65
1896
6,587.71
2,727.33
1897
7,090.69
2,525.18
1898
7,356.06
2,558.89
1899
7,989.54
3,003.26
1900
8,313.29
4,207.91
Total,
$66,651.00
$28,134.49
The year 1896 was of more than ordinary consequence. Although one of three years of monetary trouble, it witnessed the removal of the chapel of 1860 and the building of another, which is adequate to the larger needs of the parish. The new chapel is the handiwork of parishioners, the designer being George S. Forrest, and the builders L. R. Fellows & Son. The building committee were B. A. Kimball, E. B. Hutchinson, L. H. Carroll, Laura A. McFarland, and Charlotte A. Spencer. To defray the cost of this building, with its seats and fixtures, thirteen thousand eight hundred and thirteen dollars and twenty-four cents, two hundred and fourteen persons contributed. Other gifts were received, such as plans for the building, pulpit furniture, parlor chairs, desks, clocks, andirons, etc., to the value of about six hundred and seventy-five dollars. The Ladies' Social circle provided parlor and other outfittings to the amount of about six hundred and thirty dollars. The choir room was equipped by use of part of the proceeds of a chapel concert. This carries the total outlay above fifteen thousand dollars.
The opening of the century finds the church thriving in all its undertakings. A new organ, the fifth in parish history, has just been installed at a cost exceeding nine thousand three hundred dollars. It contains a chime of twenty bells, a memorial to Asa McFarland, a parishioner for forty-three years.
1 The church manual was prepared by Major Henry McFarland, from which the data here given were obtained.
764
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
THE WHITE MEMORIAL (UNIVERSALIST) CHURCH.
In a sermon devoted to the history of the Universalist society of Concord, Reverend E. L. Conger says that in 1833 the New England Convention of Universalists met in this city, and there were present as clergymen the Reverends Hosea Ballou, I. D. Williamson, Men- zies Raynor, and John B. Dodds. The convention was held in the First Baptist church through the courtesy of that society, and this in spite of the sharp antagonism of that time between the two denom- inations elsewhere. How much the liberal giving of certain Univer- salists of Concord to the Baptists when they were building their church had to do with this courteous act it is impossible to say, but the two societies have always been friendly and lived as near neigh- bors in a very cordial way. The records of the Universalist society show, January 24, 1847, the following vote : "Voted, that this society pay for the use of the bass viol belonging to the Baptist society." This would indicate that they could harmonize in their music if they could not in their creeds.
Probably at this meeting of the New England Convention of Uni- versalists in Concord the first Universalist preaching was heard in this city. After that there were occasional visitations of Universalist ministers here. Among the earliest was Reverend John G. Adams, afterwards of Lowell, Mass., and he was followed by Reverend Thomas J. Whittemore, Reverend Hosea Ballou, Reverend William Bell, Reverend N. R. Wright, and Reverend George W. Anderson. At that time there were not a great many families of professed Univer- salists in town, though nearly everybody who did not attend other religious meetings was classed as a Universalist or Unitarian, as was the case in other towns in the state seventy years ago. From 1836 to 1841 there was no stated preaching, but there was a legal organiz- ation kept by a half dozen earnest members in order to secure the " parsonage fund " from the town. The allotment to the Universa- lists was about thirty dollars, which furnished them about all the regular preaching they had.
The Reverend Mr. Adams had been a mechanic in Concord, having learned of William Low the trade of painter. He was subsequently employed to do painting at Rumney for the vencrable stage pro- prietor, Robert Morse. While he resided in Mr. Morse's family he imbibed the principles of the Universalist faith, and subsequently became an earnest expounder of those principles. He at one time published a religious paper in Concord called The Star of the East, which, not proving profitable, he gave up, and continued preaching.
In 1841 vigorous efforts were made to sustain preaching through-
765
THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
out the year. Reverend N. R. Wright of Dunbarton, father of Car- roll D. Wright of the Labor Bureau at Washington, was engaged to preach at a salary of three hundred dollars. After a good deal of canvassing, this sum was subscribed, but part of the contributions came from outside of Concord. During 1841 Mr. Wright preached about half the time, and Reverend George W. Anderson most of the other half. On the first Sunday of June, 1841, William H. Ryder, then a student at Gymnasium academy, Pembroke, preached one of his first sermons, and formed an acquaintance which led to his being called by the society later when he entered the ministry.
Mr. Anderson was a Scotchman, a recent emigrant to this country .. He is remembered as a man of strong logical powers, a good reasoner, and an effective preacher. He subsequently removed to New York. Mr. Wright was later settled at Lynn.
There are no records of the organization that precede that of 1841. The first recorded meeting for the purpose of organizing a society was held in the court room, January 5, 1842. At this meeting Stephen S. Swett was moderator, and Joel C. Danforth, clerk. A constitution containing nine brief articles was adopted, and signed by the following: Stephen S. Swett, Chase Hill, Aaron Carter, William H. Wyman, John Fox, William Page, Joel C. Danforth, John Taylor, Amos B. Currier, Joseph B. Smart, Isaiah Merrill, Philip B. Grant, Philip Sargent, and James Simpson. Nathaniel White, who after- wards became the pillar of the society, was prevented from being at the organization meeting, but immediately afterwards joined the soci- ety. A later addition was Moses Humphrey. Mr. Swett-who has one or two grandchildren living at the South end-was really the leader of the movement. In those days every church organization had its trials; and when the First Baptist society was struggling to build its church, it was cheered and encouraged by the kindly and liberal spirit shown by Mr. Swett, who, although a strict Universa- list, helped the Baptists in various ways. Any person could become a member of the Universalist society by a majority vote, and by sign- ing the constitution, but a continued neglect to attend Sunday ser- vices and regular meetings was deemed sufficient excuse for dropping such delinquents from the rolls.
At the same meeting John Taylor was chosen clerk, Joel C. Dan- forth, treasurer and collector, and Amos B. Currier and Aaron Carter, prudential committee. No nanies of women appear on the rolls for several years; but it is a fact that but for the earnest and zealous co-operation of a dozen or more determined and persevering women, the attempt to organize a society would have failed. Among these women were the wives of the original members and Mrs. Nathaniel
7
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
White, Mrs. Joseph S. Lund, Mrs. Mitchell Gilmore, Mrs. William Coffin, Mrs. Jeremiah S. Noyes, Mrs. Joseph G. Wyatt, Mrs. Philip B. Grant, Mrs. Nathan Call, Mrs. David Watson, Mrs. Lyman Dear- born, and Miss Julia Austin. Women were admitted to the councils of the society in the early fifties, through the influence of Mr. White, and as full members of the society January 6, 1869, and the records seem to indicate that it was their financial aid which led to their admission.
Simultaneously with the organization of the society was a move- ment to erect a church. On the same evening that the society organized a building committee was appointed, with full power to buy a lot, and to contract for and finish such a house as was thought best. The lot purchased is part of the one now owned by the society, and a church was erected thereon at a cost of four thousand dollars. This church was located on the front half of the lot facing School street. The house of Dr. Willard afterwards stood on the rear of the lot between the old Universalist church and the First Baptist church. At one time when Dr. Willard was asked where he resided, his reply was " Between heaven and hell," referring to the doctrines of the two churches. The church was dedicated Thursday after- noon, October 6, 1842, and the dedicatory sermon was preached by Reverend Otis A. Skinner of Boston. The sale of pews occurred the following Saturday. The church appears to have been the prop- erty of the building committee for a few months; for at a special meeting of the society, held January 23, 1843, Mitchell Gilmore was appointed agent of the society to buy the house of the building com- mittee, and to pledge the property of the society for any debt that might remain unpaid. In 1855 this church was sold to the Free Will Baptist society for one thousand dollars. It was sawed into two parts, and moved by halves to that society's location on the corner of State and Cross (now Concord) streets, where it continued to be occupied by them until they built a new church elsewhere.
After the expiration of the time for which Mr. Wright was engaged, perhaps two months elapsed before the first regular min- ister was called. He was Reverend Ezekiel Dow, who came from the vicinity of Newport. He began his pastorate in June, 1842, and closed it, somewhat summarily, the following December. During this time he changed his theological ground as a result of the Elder Knapp excitement of that year. He made a public recantation of Universalism at the Old North church in December, 1842, joined the Congregational church, and went from Concord to Loudon, where he preached for a time, and afterward removed to Massachusetts.
At a meeting of the society, March 2, 1843, a ballot for the suc-
767
THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
cessor of Mr. Dow was taken. It was nearly equally divided between Reverend R. S. Pope of Hardwick, Mass., and Reverend James F. Witherell, who was publishing a religious paper in Concord called the Balm of Gilead, which had a short career. As Mr. Pope received the most votes, a call was given to him at a salary of five hundred dollars, which he declined. Then Mr. Witherell was engaged. His pastorate was of short duration. He had some difficulty with the society, and his connection terminated July 18, 1843. He was a great controversialist, in print and elsewhere. He afterwards removed to Maine.
September 4, 1843, the society gave a unanimous call to Reverend William H. Ryder, then a young man fresh from his studies, to settle at a salary of four hundred dollars. He accepted the call, and began his labors at once. He was a native of Provincetown, Cape Cod, and his pastorate continued for two years, closing October 1, 1845. The society prospered great- ly during that time. He removed to Nashua, and afterwards to Roxbury, Mass. Finally he was called to Chicago, and became one of the leaders of the Universalist denomination. Early in his ministry a church organization was formed, December 28, 1843, which numbered about thirty members ten years later, and was subsequently reorganized.
Soon after Dr. Ryder's leave-taking, an invitation was given to Reverend Thompson Barron of Win- chester, and he began his pastorate the first Sunday in January, 1846, at a salary of five hundred dollars. His ministry extended over four years. He was some- what doctrinal in his preaching and tenacious of his opinion, but was withal an intellectual man. The society had no great increase of numbers during his ministry. He went West after leaving Concord, but the climate not proving agreeable to him, he returned to New Hampshire, preached at Wentworth and Newport, and died at Sut- ton, January 4, 1870.
His successor was Reverend John Moore, familiarly called Father Moore, who began his ministry June 2, 1850, and continued it to the day of his death, February 5, 1855. He was a marked man in any gathering. Ile had a splendid physique, a genial disposition, and his life seemed a constant benediction to all who came in contact with him. He was born in Strafford, Vt., February 5, 1797, and spent his early life on a farm. At the age of eighteen he devoted a few months to work in a store and teaching. His father dying about this time and leaving his mother with seven children, of whom he
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