USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 26
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Mr. Baldwin was educated in the common schools of Boston. He came to Nashua in 1825, and was employed until his death as paymaster of the Nashua Manufacturing company,-forty-seven years. Mr. Baldwin was among the first citizens of Nashua in all things and took a deep interest in whatever his judgment commended for the interest of the city and the people. He served the town as chairman of the board of selectmen in 1846 and 1847, was town treasurer in 1848, and sat in the first and second common council as the representative of Ward Five, and during the next two years, 1855 and 1856, was a member of the board of aldermen. In the dark days of the Civil War no man in Nashua was more loyal than Mr. Baldwin or willingly sacrificed more, according to his means and opportunity, in all of which he was seconded by Mrs. Baldwin, than whom a more honored wife and mother never lived. He was a member of the Unitarian church and superintendent of the Sunday-school of the parish thirty-five years.
Mr. Baldwin was united in marriage Oct. 26, 1826, with Sarah Collins, daughter of John and Sarah (Avery) Collins. Seven children were born of their marriage, four of whom are living ; Marian Baldwin, Newton Centre, Mass .; John A. Baldwin, Brookline, Mass. ; Mary A. and Lucy A. of Nashua .;
148
HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
BY JAMES S. BLACK.
T HE ecclesiastical history of any New England community forms no small part of the whole story. It throws light upon the religious and ethical progress of society, upon much self. denying zeal, and also upon sectarian strife and narrowness. The evolution of church architecture and music indicates the progress of the æsthetic, while the growing zeal and liberality proclaim the moral development. The rise and progress of the various denominations of Christians in our city also tell the story of the changes that have taken place in the almost exclu- sively New England community of fifty years ago. It is a happy circumstance that this historical chapter has no tale of oppression or of persecution, for conscience sake, to relate. Interdenomina- tional courtesy and good feeling has been the rule. The nearest approach to strife has been not be- tween denominations, but in denominations as such, and even of these conscientious differences of opinion it can truly be said that they have passed away and left no bitterness behind.
Presbyterians from Londonderry, zealous in their adherence to the Westminster Confession, Congregationalists, who were conservative in their tastes and habits, but in doctrine were influenced by Harvard university and ridiculed Whitefield; and the New Lights, as the zealous followers of that great preacher were called, fought out their differences in wordy warfare which found its storm centre at the calling and settling of ministers.
Were we to give the history of the churches with as much detail as several of the churches have observed in their published manuals, the limits of this chapter would be transgressed; but as far as is possible we give the story of each congregation as related by its own representative.
It will be noticed that the churches are arranged in the chronological order of their coming to the city.
The following chronological table will enable the reader to follow more clearly the history of each of the churches :
1673 Organization of the town of Dunstable.
1678 The first church in the village of Dunstable. It was a log house about twenty feet square.
1684 A new meeting-house was built.
1685 A church was organized and Mr. Weld ordained as minister.
1738 A new meeting-house erected.
1747 A church was built a few rods north of the Old South church in Dunstable, New Hampshire
1753 A meeting-house built two miles below the present City hall.
1761 At a town meeting the New England Confession of Faith was adopted.
1766 Voted that the civil connection between the town and the minister of the church should cease.
1812 The Old South meeting-house was built.
1818 Organization of the First Universalist society.
1819 The First Baptist society in Dunstable, N. H., (now Nashua) was formed.
1825 Olive Street church built.
1826 Olive Street church purchased by Congregationalists.
I826 First Unitarian society organized.
1831 First Methodist Episcopal services in the city.
1833 Reorganization of the Universalist church.
1833 The First Baptist church built on the present site.
1835 First Congregational church, Main street, dedicated.
1836 Second Baptist church, corner of West Pearl and Chestnut streets.
1838 Free Will Baptist church organized.
1839 Old Universalist church on west side of Main street built.
1845 First Episcopal church service in Nashua.
1847 Pearl street church (3rd Congregational) dedicated, now owned by the Universalist church
1850 New First Baptist church dedicated.
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
1857
Church of the Immaculate Conception consecrated.
1868 Main Street Methodist Episcopal church dedicated.
1870 First Congregational church, Main street, rebuilt.
1873 Church of St. Aloysius consecrated.
1878 Church of the Good Shepherd consecrated.
1882 Pilgrim church dedicated.
1886 St. Francis Xavier church consecrated.
1894 Present First Congregational church dedicated.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Upon Dec. 16, 1685, in a new meeting-house, built of logs and located near the old burying- ground, four miles down the Lowell road, the present First Congregational church of Nashua, then called the Congregational church of Dunstable, was organized. Immediately after its organization
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
this church with its seven members, stood as a sentinel at the very fore-front of Christ's spiritual forces in this part of the newly occupied continent. "No church north of it in the whole stretch of territory up to the Canada line. No church east of it nearer than Hampton and none south or west for several miles. Just how many families there were at that time to worship in the little meeting-house we have no means of knowing.
Thomas Weld, the first pastor, came from Roxbury, Mass. Jonathan Tyng, whose name stands irst upon the roll of church-membership, came from Boston.
John Blanchard, who was elected a deacon of the church at its formation, had his early training n Charlestown, Mass.
Samuel French was born in Cambridge. Henry Farwell was a descendant of Henry Farwell of Concord, Mass. Indeed, most of the original settlers of Dunstable came either from Boston or its neighboring towns. This fact shows that they were eminently Puritan in their birth and breeding. The outlines of the history of the church may be traced through its line of ministers.
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
Rev. Thomas Weld, the first pastor, was probably ordained in 1685 and continued his ministry until 1702, when, as is supposed, he was murdered by the Indians.
Rev. Nathaniel Prentice was settled in 1718 and died in office in 1737.
Rev. Josiah Swan was settled in 1738 and dismissed in 1746.
Rev. Samuel Bird was settled in 1746 and dismissed in 1751.
Rev. Joseph Kidder was settled in 1767 and dismissed in 1796.
Andrew Elliott Thayer, who was ordained in 1806, was not minister of the church, but supplied the pulpit for some time before his ordination.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,-MAIN STREET. [Now Church of the Free Will Baptists.]
Rev. Ebenezer B. Sperry was settled in 1813 and dismissed in 1819.
Rev. Handel G. Nott was settled in 1826 and dismissed in 1834. Previous to the dismission of Mr. Nott, he publicly announced that he could no longer administer the ordinance of baptism to infants. This resulted in a division of the church. A very slight majority resented the action of the society in securing Mr. Nott's services as "supply " for the vacant pulpit. They withdrew and held worship in the Greeley building, being recognized as the First Congregational church.
Rev. Jonathan McGee, the first pastor after the division, was settled in January, 1835. In August of the same year the society completed their new house of worship at a cost of $10,000. This house served the society until April 16, 1870, when it was destroyed by fire.
I51
HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
Rev. Mr. McGee was dismissed in June, 1842. During his pastorate of seven years and five months there were 260 additions to the church, 125 by profession, and 135 by letter.
Rev. Matthew Hale Smith was settled in September, 1842, and dismissed in June, 1845. During his pastorate of two years and nine months there were 117 additions to the church, 87 by profession and 30 by letter.
Rev. Samuel Lamson was settled in April, 1846, and dismissed in April, 1848. During his pastorate of two years there were 29 additions to the church, 11 by profession and 18 by letter.
Rev. Daniel March was settled in January, 1849, and dismissed in January, 1855. During his pastorate of six years there were 133 additions to the church, 82 by profession and 51 by letter.
Rev. George B. Jewett was settled in May, 1855, and dismissed in August, 1856. During his short pastorate of one year and three months, 22 were added to the church, five by profession and 17 by letter.
Rev. Charles J. Hill was settled in January, 1857, and dismissed in April, 1864. During his pastorate of seven years and three months there were 144 additions to the church, 102 by profession and 42 by letter.
Rev. Elias C. Hooker was settled in September, 1865, and dismissed in August, 1868. During his pastorate of two years and eleven months there were 53 additions to the church, 32 by profession and 21 by letter.
Rev. Frederick Alvord was settled July 6, 1869, and dismissed May, 1883. During his pastorate of thirteen years and ten months there were 290 additions to the church, 161 by profession and 129 by letter.
Rev. Cyrus Richardson was settled Aug. 30, 1883. During his pastorate thus far three hundred have united with the church, 159 by profession and 141 by letter. The church at the present time both in membership and in pew rentals is the largest in its history.
After the meeting house which stood on Main street was burned another was immediately erected on the same site at a cost of about $45,000. This building was occupied until the dedication of the present structure, which occurred May 17, 1894. This house is built of granite, costing with land and furnishings $125,000 ; the spacious lot upon which it stands being the gift of Mrs. Lucy Spalding. In strength and beauty as well as in availability of room this house is the finest in the state and has few superiors in New England.
The following statistics will show that the church has developed in benevolence, as much as in expenditure on itself. In decades they have been as follows :-
From 1845 to 1855,
$15,200 00
1855 to 1865, 19,584 08
1865 to 1875, 11,317 21
66 1875 to 1885, 9,257 04
1885 to 1895,
32,097 13
Amounting in the last fifty years to $87,455 46
The above sum has been for pure benevolence aside from the expenses incurred in the ordinary support of the church and society.
On the sixteenth of December, 1885, this church observed its two hundredth anniversary, and many of the former members returned to join in the celebration.
PILGRIM CHURCH.
For a clear understanding of the history of the church, it is necessary to go back to the conditions which led to its establishment. Up to 1819 the Dunstable church had been a town church, supported by the town, and, to an extent, subject to the will of its inhabitants. At this date "church and state " were separated and the Dunstable church was left without financial organization of any kind, and with little vitality or enterprise. For seven years they had no stated service. Meantime, the Nashua village had taken root and begun a vigorous growth. The new comers of the village were men of enterprise and push, and they at once began to consider the matter of religious instruction and organization.
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
To this end, upon the twenty-fourth day of June, 1826, they met and organized a corporate company called "The First Congregational Society of Nashua Village," and provided a sum of $6,000, borrowed at interest, to be used for securing a house of worship. The original thought was to purchase the Old South meeting-house of the Dunstable church and remove it to the village.
At the time of forming this society there was no definite plan as to a church organization to occupy the meeting-house when procured, but, doubtless, there were hopes that the Dunstable church would consent to do so. The union between the society and the Dunstable church was consummated within the first year.
The Rev. Handel G. Nott was settled Nov. 8, 1826, as pastor over the church at a salary of $800 a year, and he preached in the Old South meeting-house until the purchase of the meeting-house built by the Nashua Manufacturing company. It was afterwards known as the Olive Street meeting-house and was situated on the same site as the present Pilgrim church.
PILGRIM CHURCH.
Until July, 1834, the Dunstable church was greatly blessed; new and strong men were constantly coming to the village and joining the church, making it strong in numbers and character. At the date given above, Mr. Nott announced his change of views on the question of infant baptism. This raised a storm of indignation and dissatisfaction on the part of many members of the church.
The Christian people of that time had been held to liberal ideas, or at least to liberal action, by the fact that all opinions had equal rights or tolerance in a "state church," but when freed, to a degree, from this binding force, the reaction drove the church members into numerous sects, dividing on points and opinions which would now be considered of minor importance. A council was called Oct. 7, 1834. Mr. Nott was commended for high Christian character by this council, but he was no longer recognized as a proper pastor for a Congregational church and he was dismissed from his pastorate.
After his dismission the society hired him as a temporary supply until a suitable pastor could be secured. Upon this action on the part of the society, the officers of the church called a meeting of the church and voted to secede from the society. The vote was a tie, the chairman voting. At an
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
adjourned meeting the measure was passed by a majority of one, and so the church, with its officers and its records, disconnected itself from the society.
A council, held December 11, 1834, decided that the "come-outers" were the church. On December 31, 1834, a new church was formed and called itself "The First Church of Nashua Village," and was recognized as a Congregational church by a council held Oct. 31, 1835. The articles of faith of the new church were the same as those of the first church of Dunstable, except that the matter of infant baptism was left to the choice of parents, most of the members favoring the ordinance.
As first organized this church had one hundred and forty-three members.
At a meeting of the church held January 25, 1836, a call was extended to Rev. Austin Richards to become its pastor. He was installed April 6, 1836. On February 8, 1846, the name of the church was changed to "The Olive Street church."
On August 1, 1846, the church voted to encourage the formation of another Congregational church, and upon the twenty-ninth of August, 1846, Josiah Kittredge and fifty others were dismissed for the purpose of forming such a church.
March 23, 1862, Rev. G. D. Pike was installed as assistant pastor. Mr. Pike resigned May, 1865, to become a secretary of the American Missionary association. After a pastorate of thirty years Mr. Richards resigned and was dismissed Nov. 16, 1867.
December 17, 1867, the Rev. Hiram Mead was installed as pastor. During his pastorate the parsonage was built. He was dismissed Sept. 22, 1869, to occupy-a professorship at Oberlin.
On March 31, 1870, the Rev. James S. Black was ordained and installed over the church, and resigned June 29, 1874. Dec. 17, 1874, the Rev. S. S. Martyn was installed, and was dismissed Jan. 1, 1876. November, 1876, Rev. J. K. Aldrich was employed as acting pastor.
At a meeting held in May, 1879, it was voted to appoint a committee to arrange for a union of the Olive and Pearl Street churches.
The old Olive Street church is proud of two of her sons who attained to usefulness and prominence as ministers of the gospel. The late Rev. Samuel Spalding of Newburyport was a man of fine scholarship. The Rev. Dr. James Powell gave the greater part of his official life to the American Missionary Association, and his praise is in all the churches.
THE PEARL STREET CHURCH.
We have seen that on August 29, 1846, fifty members withdrew from the Olive Street church for the purpose of forming a new church. The organization was effected Sept. 3, 1846, and called the "Third Orthodox Congregational church." Services were held in the City hall while a new meeting- house was being built. Nov. 21, 1847, the new house was dedicated. In January, 1848, it assumed the name of "The Pearl Street church."
June 24, 1847, the Rev. Leonard Swain was ordained and installed as pastor with a salary of $1200 without parsonage. Mr. Swain was dismissed April 5, 1852, at his own request, to occupy a larger place in Providence, R. I.
August 16, 1853, the Rev. E. E. Adams was installed. He was dismissed July 16, 1857. Feb. 24, 1858, the Rev. Edward H. Greeley was installed, and dismissed May 17, 1860. He was followed Dec. 7, 1861, by Rev. B. F. Parsons. On June 18, 1867, Mr. Parsons was dismissed. On Dec. 3, 1867, the Rev. W. L. Gaylord was installed as pastor, and was dismissed Oct. 27, 1870. Dec. 17, 1871, Rev. Chas. Wetherby was installed, and was dismissed March 28, 1879.
For some years the feeling had obtained both in the Olive Street and the Pearl Street churches that the best interests of the church required a union of the congregations. This union was, after careful negotiation, happily accomplished, and the new organization assumed the name of the Pilgrim church. Rev. George W. Grover was the first pastor. He was installed in December, 1879, and dis- missed by Council, at his own request in February, 1894.
The Pearl Street church was sold, the old Olive Street building was taken down, and, on its site the Pilgrim church was built. It was dedicated March 30, 1882.
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HISTORY OF NASIIUA, N. H.
The chapel of the church originally occupied the site of the present fire engine house. It was removed to the site of the present chapel in 1871. The present beautiful and commodious chapel was dedicated March 16, 1893.
The present pastor, Rev. R. A. Beard, D. D., was installed September 29, 1894.
THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH. .
The first Universalist society was formed January 27, 1818. There were twenty-eight who signed the original resolutions looking towards the formation of the society. The moving spirit in this enterprise was Israel Hunt, the father of General Israel and John M. Hunt. In 1819 the society was formally organized in Dunstable, N. H., with forty members and Israel Hunt, Junior, was chosen as clerk. Rev. Charles Hudson was the first pastor. This original Universalist church became merged with the Unitarian society. It was not until 1833 that the society, as a distinct organization, was reorganized, and for two years worshipped in the Old South church under the pastoral care of Rev. A. P. Cleverly. In 1839 they took possession of their former church on the west side of Main street, and for six years Rev. L. C. Browne was the pastor. He retired on account of ill health, but after two years he was re-installed and remained until 1853. During his absence on account of ill health the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Dr. W. H. Ryder. His successor was Rev. Dr. Charles H. Fay, 1853-1855. The next pastor, Rev. O. D. Miller, 1855-1860; followed by Rev. J. O. Skinner, 1860-1863. Rev. Thomas L. Gorman's pastorate 1863-1866. Rev. Dr. G. T. Flanders was pastor for five years, and he was succeeded by Rev. Dr. S. H. McCollister, who, much to the regret of his people, was called in 1872 to the presidency of Buchtel college. He was followed by Rev. H. A. Philbrook, whose successor, the Rev. Dr. H. B. Smith, although he has resigned his charge, is a much esteemed citizen of Nashua. The present pastor is Rev. F. A. Gray.
When the union of the Olive Street and Pearl Street Congregational churches took place, the Pearl Street church was purchased by the Universalist society, and is their present house of worship.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
After much thought, consideration, and planning for months and even years, "The First Baptist Society " in Dunstable, N. H., was formed May 3, 1819, when twenty-three men adopted and signed its constitution, the same year that the New Hampshire legislature, under the administration of Gov. Samuel Bell, passed the "Toleration Act," so called, the most important and far reaching measure of that session, according to Barstow's History of New Hampshire, as it, for the first time, placed all religious sects in the state upon equal ground and made them dependent upon the voluntary contributions of the people for their support.
This society sustained occasional preaching in abandoned meeting-houses, in school-houses, and in private dwellings as opportunity presented. Under the new law of liberty, the Baptists were inspired with renewed courage and hope. Still few and weak, "The First Baptist Church " was constituted July 10, 1822, of fifteen members, who had previously belonged to neighboring Baptist churches, six men and nine women. James Baldwin, the father of the late Hon. Josephus Baldwin, was the first name on the list. The organization of the church took place in a school-house that stood just north of the residence of the late Gen. George Stark.
This church was for ten years without a meeting-house, or means to build one. In this respect, at least, it was according to the pattern of the New Testament churches which was a source of much encouragement.
In September of 1822, the church united with the "Boston Baptist Association," from which it received sympathy and some pecuniary aid. Preaching was now enjoyed more frequently than before; still it was only for a few Sabbaths in succession until 1828. In May of that year, Rev. Bartlett Pease accepted an invitation to act as stated supply, and remained fourteen months. Previous to his coming only six had been received by letter and one by baptism. During the ministry of Mr. Pease to this church, nineteen were received by letter and nine by baptism.
Jan. 26, 1830, Rev. Caleb Shute was received by letter from the Second Baptist church of Boston,
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
and was ordained as pastor elect Feb. 25. During his brief ministry, of less than a year, he received twenty-seven members into the church, all but one, by baptism.
Still new trials awaited the little flock. June 12, 1831, Rev. John E. Weston visited the church, preached, and administered the ordinances. The members received him cordially, and gave him a call to be their overseer, which he accepted. He was on his way to the village to preach on the ensuing Sabbath. He stopped to give his horse some water in Sandy pond, in Wilmington, Mass., when the horse lost his footing in consequence of a deep bank near the edge of the pond, and Mr. Weston fell into the water with his carriage, and was drowned.
The necessity of a meeting-house of their own became every day more apparent. A lot was obtained where the present Baptist church now stands, and a plan was procured for a wooden house that would cost about $4,000, nearly equal to all the property possessed by the Baptists in town at that time. Largely through the energy of Mr. Wilson, the house was built and dedicated January 23, 1833. This was also the date of the ordination of D. D. Pratt to the ministry of the church.
With their new house of worship and with their new pastor, a new era dawned upon the church, which now numbered 109 members. Subsequent years showed that Mr. Pratt was the right man in the right place. As an indication of the favor of God upon his ministry, the church increased during the first three years of his pastorate from one hundred and nine to three hundred and fifty. It was during this period that Prof. David Crosby joined the church. It was at this time also that Rev. H. G. Nott, pastor of the Olive Street Congregational church, becoming dissatisfied with "infant baptism," was immersed by Mr. Pratt in the Nashua river.
Such was the rapid growth of the church that in 1836 a second church was started under the pastorate of Rev. N. W. Smith, and a house of worship built on the corner of West Pearl and Chestnut streets. In 1838 Rev. Samuel C. Pratt was ordained as the pastor. This new church had a checkered career of three years, when it was again united to the First Baptist society.
In 1848 the First church reported a membership of five hundred and forty-four, and at this time it was strong in manly material and in pecuniary resources.
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