USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Dublin > The history of Dublin, N.H. : containing the address by Charles Mason, and the proceedings at the centennial celebration, June 17, 1852, with a register of families > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
256
HISTORY OF DUBLIN
stones, and door steps; likewise materials suitable to cover the outside of the frame, and to have it done the same season that the frame is put up. Voted that the committee have liberty to get timber on the town's lands. Voted that the selectmen pro- cure a deed of the meetinghouse spot."
The report of a committee, who drew a plan for the new meet- inghouse, had been accepted, and, in view of the whole matter, it would have been reasonable to suppose that in less than two years the house would be completed. But, at the annual meet- ing, in March, 1811, although an attempt to postpone the build- ing of the house failed, and two of the committee, R. Gilchrest and T. Morse, declined serving, yet others were appointed in their places; and said committee were empowered "to sell public lands," and the vote was still against the spot on schoolhouse hill. But another meeting was called, April 30, and the town voted "to dismiss the committee that were appointed to make preparations for building a new meetinghouse, and to pay them honorably for what services they have done respecting the same." The vote to sell public lands was reconsidered. The subject, however, was not to rest here, for, May 27, another meeting was held, and the town "voted to set the meetinghouse on schoolhouse hill"; also "voted to reinstate the former com- mittee to their office, and that they go on with the business that they were appointed for." "Then voted to set the meetinghouse in Esq. Snow's field. Voted against repairing the old meeting- house; and chose Mr. Evleth, Capt. Gleason, and Major Morse to fix the spot to set the meetinghouse upon." The select- men were authorized to purchase land for the house on school- house hill; and eighty dollars were voted to prepare the land. Here there seemed to be progress; but not so; for, September 24, same year, the town "voted that they are not prepared to build a meetinghouse on the schoolhouse hill"; also, "voted to repair the old meetinghouse." This was a triumph for the op- posers of building a new meetinghouse. But the advocates of a new house called a meeting on the eleventh day of November, and the articles which have reference to the old subject were "to see if the town will excuse those people denominated Bap- tist and Methodist from paying anything towards building a new meetinghouse, provided the town should ever build one, or act anything relating thereto." This article was passed over. Then the next article was taken up for consideration. It was as follows: "To see if the town will bind themselves by their vote to build a meetinghouse on the spot of ground that shall
257
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
be thought the most suitable by a disinterested committee chosen from the five adjoining towns." This article was dis- missed, and the new meetinghouse project was again defeated.
The subject of building a new meetinghouse was not brought forward again till the third day of July, 1815. It was laid on the shelf during the whole time of the war with Great Britain; but, then, the Dublin meetinghouse war was revived, and the article in the warrant was "to see if the town will build a new meeting- house or repair the old one, or act anything respecting a meet- inghouse." Notwithstanding the vote of 1811 to repair the old house, it seems that nothing had been done, and now the town voted against repairing it. Then, "voted to set a new meeting- house on schoolhouse hill." "Voted to choose a committee of three to stake out a spot for the meetinghouse, and to see how it can be purchased of the owner or owners for the use of the town, and report at some future meeting. Chose for the committee Whitcomb French, Thaddeus Morse, and Samuel Fisk."
Here was another beginning; but, at a meeting on the fourth of September, same year, the town voted to postpone acting on the subject. Postponing, however, was not dismissing the subject. Accordingly, in March, 1816, the town "voted to ac- cept the report of the committee which were appointed to stake out a spot for a new meetinghouse on the schoolhouse hill, which report is to purchase about one acre of land of Aaron Ap- pleton, and one acre of John Snow, Esq., which land can be had for one hundred dollars per acre." Nothing more was voted or done with respect to a new meetinghouse till March, 1817, when the question respecting the spot again came up, and the town "voted to choose two men to nominate a committee of eight, - four to belong to the west part, and four to the east part of the town, - to agree upon a spot for the new meetinghouse to stand upon. Chose Isaac Appleton and Phinehas Gleason as the com- mittee of nomination; and they nominated Thaddeus Mason, Samuel Fisk, Amos Emery, David Townsend, Ruggles Smith, Joseph Gowing, Joseph Hayward, Jr., and Stephen J. Woods, which nomination was accepted, and the town voted that they make their report at this meeting." The committee reported that "the meetinghouse be set north of Joseph Appleton's blacksmith shop, and that the road be turned south of the Potash to the post-guide south of Esq. Snow's, and thence south of the burial ground across the point of the pond to inter- sect the road that leads from the old meetinghouse to Capt.
258
HISTORY OF DUBLIN
Hayward's." "Chose a committee of five to agree for the spot for the meetinghouse to stand upon, - to procure materials to build said house with."
On the eighth of June, 1817, the "long agony" about the new meetinghouse was over, but not without changing the spot. In the first place, the town voted against turning the road ac- cording to the committee's report, which had been accepted. Next, they voted against building the meetinghouse north of Joseph Appleton's blacksmith shop. Then "voted to build a meetinghouse on the schoolhouse hill, and have it completed in one year from November next." After this, strange as it may appear, the town "voted to build the meetinghouse on the spot where the old meetinghouse now stands, in preference to build- ing it on the schoolhouse hill." In favor of the old spot, forty- four; against it, thirty-three. This last vote was reconsidered immediately; and then the town "voted to choose a committee of five to procure a spot to build the meetinghouse upon, and procure materials for building said house with. Chose for the committee Capt. Ebenezer Richardson, Thaddeus Morse, Esq., Lieut. Thaddeus Mason, Jr., Rufus Piper, and Samuel Fisk." At an adjourned meeting, June 23, the committee reported in favor of the spot on the schoolhouse hill, and their report was accepted by a vote of eighty against thirty-seven. John Crom- bie was appointed on the building committee in the place of Samuel Fisk, who asked to be excused. Joshua Greenwood and Moses Marshall were chosen in addition to the meetinghouse committee. The building committee were to make the house "after the plan of Ashby, or Fitzwilliam, or any other they may think proper." They were directed to purchase the materials, and to let out the building of the same. The selectmen were in- structed to level the meetinghouse spot. In October, two hun- dred dollars were raised for this purpose.
The change of the town's vote, with regard to the spot, on the eighth of June, was owing, in part, to the high price asked for the land, and, in part, to the expense of making the road which was recommended by the committee. The making of this road would have given the west part of the town easier access to the meetinghouse, if situated as proposed; that is, on a spot a little north-east of the site of the former brick church. Mr. Sprague, it is said, was strongly opposed to the spot on the hill, on account of its bleak position. He is reported to have said that he never would preach in a house placed there.
V P. Greenwood del
CHURCH IN DUBLIN, N. H. ERECTED 1818; TAKEN DOWN, 1852
259
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
This meetinghouse was finally completed, after all the discus- sion and contention which its erection had occasioned. It was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God on Dec. 3, 1818. The sermon was delivered by the Rev. Thomas Beede of Wilton. The edifice had been raised the previous June, and the raising, which lasted two or three days, was a joyous occasion, for which many former residents assembled, to join their former fellow townsmen, and renew the acquaintances of former days. Both the exterior and the interior of this edifice were of a very beau- tiful architectural design. The spire was one of the most ele- gant and attractive works of its kind to be found in this part of the country. It was admired by travellers, and its demolition, at a later time, removed one of the most beautiful landmarks of the neighborhood. The galleries were supported by graceful, slender, fluted columns, with handsome capitals. The high pul- pit, shaped like the half of a tall vase, was rich in mouldings and decorative designs. Over it was one of those elaborate, bell- shaped sounding-boards, the base being relieved with panels. Behind the pulpit was a mass of wine-red draperies, hanging in graceful festoons, caught up by stout cords, on the ends of which were large tassels. In front of the pulpit was a mahogany com- munion-table, in the form of the segment of a circle. The pews were of the rectangular, high-backed variety, each provided with a panelled door, and the seats all facing the pulpit. These pews were owned by individuals as real estate, whose rights had to be purchased before removing the edifice.
THE THIRD MEETINGHOUSE of the First Congregational (Uni- tarian) Society, and the one now used by them, was not ob- tained without a considerable amount of deliberation and controversy. As usual, under such circumstances, there were many opinions about the locality of the new structure, as well as about the style of the architecture and the expense of the building.
After the meetinghouse on the hill came into possession of the First Congregational Society, so far as the right or ownership of the town was concerned, the question of repairing the house, or of taking it down and using its materials in the erection of another house on some other spot, was frequently discussed. The old house, standing in a bleak position, had suffered from its exposure to the winds and rains, and considerable expense would have to be incurred in order to have it thoroughly re- paired. An article in the warrant for the annual meeting of the society, March 21, 1848, "to see what measures, if any, the
260
HISTORY OF DUBLIN
society will take to move, alter, or repair their meetinghouse the coming season," was dismissed. In 1849, the society "voted that a committee of five be raised to ascertain the cost of a site for a meetinghouse, the probable expense of taking down the old house and rebuilding it in a suitable form, and how funds can be raised to pay for the same; together with such other in- formation as they may be able to obtain, in order that the so- ciety may have a full understanding of the subject; and report at a future meeting. Calvin Mason, Rufus Piper, Jacob Gleason, Jesse R. Appleton, and Ephraim Foster were chosen said com- mittee."
At the annual meeting, Jan. 8, 1850, the above-named con- mittee made a report favorable to the removal of the meeting- house, and Calvin Mason, Jacob Gleason, and Jesse R. Appleton were chosen a committee to take measures "to have the pews in the centre meetinghouse appraised by a disinterested com- mittee, and report at the next meeting." An article to hear the report of this committee, Jan. 14, 1851, was dismissed, and the society "voted to instruct the executive committee to ex- amine the meetinghouse, and cause to be made such repairs as they may deem expedient." The committee did not think it expedient to make repairs; and, at the annual meeting, Jan. 13, 1852, the society "voted, yeas thirty-three, nays nine, that the church be taken down, and a new one built on a plan ap- proved by the society, on land of Josephus Snow, southwardly of Rev. Mr. Leonard's house, provided funds can be raised by voluntary subscription; and provided further, that the pew-owners can be settled with on reasonable terms. Voted that a committee of three be chosen by ballot to report to the society the proper method of settling with the pew- owners, the probable cost and plan of a meetinghouse. Chose J. K. Smith, Calvin Mason, and Charles W. Pierce for said committee."
At an adjourned meeting, February 3, a report was read by the committee, in which they said that progress had been made in reference to settling with the pew-owners; and that they estimated the expense of taking down the old church and erect- ing a new one at two thousand dollars. The society then voted that said committee continue their inquiries on the subjects referred to them. The meeting was adjourned to February 23. In the meantime many persons joined the society who were opposed to the location of the church in the place where it had been voted to erect it; and, after the committee, who were in-
261
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
structed to continue inquiries, had presented a report, a mo- tion was made "to reconsider the vote to build a new meeting- house on the spot that is now contemplated." The yeas and nays were called for, and the result was, yeas, thirty-two, nays thirty-two. The moderator voting made the number of yeas and nays equal; consequently it was not declared a vote to re- consider. The meeting was adjourned to the first Monday in April.
At the adjourned meeting, the following resolution, with the preamble, was adopted: yeas, fifty-three, nays none: -
"Whereas there is a division of opinion among the members of the First Congregational Society in Dublin as to the proper site of a new church, therefore -
"Resolved, That the question of the location of a new church be referred to a disinterested committee."
The rest of the resolution prescribes the mode of appointing this committee, and includes a reconsideration of the former vote respecting the location of the church on the land of Jose- phus Snow.
At the same meeting, the following resolution, with the pre- amble, was adopted: yeas, thirty-four, nays none: -
"Whereas the decision of a disinterested committee should be final, therefore -
"Resolved, That we, as individuals, will not in any way directly or indirectly oppose the decision of the committee, or countenance it in others; neither will we oppose the erection of a new church upon the spot which they may designate."
The committee to whom the location of the church was re- ferred were Messrs. Leonard Stone of Templeton, Mass .; Thomas Stevens of Pepperell, Mass .; and Howard Gates of Ashby, Mass. The essential part of the report of the above committee was: "We are unanimously of opinion that the meet- inghouse should be erected on or near where the house of Daniel Fiske now stands."
The whole matter of building the new meetinghouse was re- ferred to the stockholders. A share was twenty dollars; and the following is the list of the stockholders, with the number of shares taken by each annexed. The building committee were Jonathan K. Smith, Charles A. Hamilton, and Charles W. Pierce.
262
HISTORY OF DUBLIN
STOCKHOLDERS
SHARES
STOCKHOLDERS SHARES
Thaddeus Morse
5
Charles E. Townsend
1
Jacob Gleason
3
Jonathan K. Smith
5
Jesse R. Appleton
15
Calvin Mason 4
Daniel Fiske 10
Calvin Learned
5
Dexter Derby 3
Ebenezer Greenwood 2
Charles W. Pierce
3
Hervey Learned
3
James Moore
1
Joseph Evleth
2
Almerin Gowing
2
Ephraim Foster
3
Asa H. Fisk
3
Daniel Townsend
1
John Piper 1
Charles A. Hamilton
5
Rufus and Henry C. Piper
31/2
Lewis P. Randolph
1
Joseph Morse
1
Mrs. Amy C. Hayward 1
Asa Fisk
3
Dexter Mason 5
Samuel F. Townsend
1
James Allison 2
Reuel Brigham
2
Cyrus Frost
3
Charles W. Gowing
1
William Darracott
2
First Congregational So- ciety, by Jona. K. Smith, agent
6
Silas P. Frost
1
Warren L. Fiske
1
Elliot Twitchell
1
Moses Adams 1
R. N. Porter
3
Isaiah Adams
5
Levi W. Leonard
5
Solomon Piper
5
Lewis P. Randolph
3
Jesse R. Appleton
5
Cyrus E. Hardy
2
Roland Farnum
1
The new meetinghouse was dedicated, March 2, 1853. The sermon was delivered by the pastor, the Rev. Levi W. Leonard, D.D., and was printed at the request of the society.
THE RIGHT OF THE TOWN IN THE MEETINGHOUSE was a matter that had to be adjusted before the society could dispose of the second church edifice and build a new one. As the meetinghouse of the First Congregational (now Unitarian) Society was built by the town before the passage of the "Toleration Law," the town held a right of property in it. On several occasions, prop- ositions were made to sell the town's right, but they all failed of adoption till 1847. The following article was inserted in the warrant for town-meeting of that year: "To see what order the town will take in regard to the meetinghouse built by the town, or act any way in relation to said house." The result was: "Voted that the town sell at auction all the right they own in the meetinghouse built by the town." "Voted that the select- men give notice of the time of sale." At a meeting, July 8th of the same year, Calvin Mason was chosen an agent, with au- thority "to convey to the purchaser all the right, interest, and
--
F
CHURCH IN DUBLIN, N. H. ERECTED, 1852; DEDICATED, MARCH, 1853
263
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
property that the town own in said house." In accordance with the foregoing votes, the house was sold by auction, and purchased by Thaddeus Morse. At a meeting of the First Con- gregational Society, Oct. 8, 1847, "Voted that the society pur- chase the right to the centre meetinghouse bought by Thaddeus Morse." The said right was purchased of Mr. Morse by the so- ciety for what it cost him.
WARMING THE CHURCH was a subject which occasioned no little debate. At a meeting of the town, June 5, 1820, "Voted that the First Congregational Society in Dublin have the use of the new meetinghouse for the purpose of attending public worship and other ecclesiastical purposes, reserving to the owners of pews their right." The seats for the singers were not included in the above vote. The above vote was not considered as authority for warming the house with a stove. Accordingly, the following article was inserted in the warrant for a town- meeting, March 12, 1822: "To see if the town will consent that the Congregational Society put a stove into the new meeting- house." The town "voted against having a stove put into the new meetinghouse." In consequence of the above refusal, the society, Dec. 31, 1823, "voted to have only one service on sab- bath days, until the annual meeting in March next; the service to commence precisely at 12 o'clock at noon." This arrange- ment did not prove satisfactory; and, in subsequent winters, when the severity of the cold was very great, the schoolhouse on the hill, as it could easily be warmed, was taken as a place of worship. In 1827, the town gave leave to have a stove placed in the church; but some men of influence were still opposed to the measure, and a stove was not procured. But, in the year 1830, many persons were determined that the place of worship should be made comfortable; a subscription was raised for procuring two stoves for the meetinghouse; and they obtained a policy of insurance for the house, in case of its being burned in conse- quence of putting up the stoves. A short experience in a warm church changed public opinion. No more objections were ever expressed, and those who had been most opposed to stoves seemed equally with the rest to rejoice in the comfort of their warmth.
Previous to this arrangement, the only heat in the church was derived from the little foot-stoves brought into the pews, more generally for the use of women and children. These little re- ceptacles were supplied with live coals from the spacious fire- places in neighboring houses, whose occupants generously
264
HISTORY OF DUBLIN
built good fires on Sunday mornings, that there might be an abundance of coals for such a purpose. The first meetinghouse was never provided with any other kind of heat. The third and present church edifice has been heated by furnaces since the autumn of 1892. The furnaces were introduced in accordance with a vote of the society passed Sept. 24, 1892.
LIGHTING THE CHURCH was not a matter of serious consider- ation in the early days, because there were no evening services. The worshippers lived in various parts of the township; some of them several miles from the place of worship, and evening serv- ices were altogether impracticable. It is not probable that the old first meetinghouse, near the cemetery, was ever lighted, un- less there was some unusual reason for doing so. If there were, tallow candles would have been used for the purpose. The second meetinghouse, which stood upon the hill, was seldom lighted, as there were no evening services, while that edifice was used for worship, except upon some extraordinary occasion, when candles or whale-oil lamps were used. The present edifice was lighted, at first, when necessary, with whale-oil lamps, which were replaced by kerosene-oil lamps, after the introduc- tion of that illuminant. This method of lighting continued until the spring of 1900, when electric lighting was introduced, the arrangements being finally completed on the first of May. The audience room is seldom lighted, because, as of old, the worshippers are so scattered over the town that evening services are not convenient. The vestry is frequently used for assem- blies, lectures, entertainments by the Sewing Circle, and other appropriate exercises, and the electric lighting has proved a great convenience.
AQUEDUCT WATER from an excellent spring was introduced into the basement of the meetinghouse by the society in 1912, and has proved a great convenience to the ladies, who have a well-equipped kitchen, which serves their purpose well on oc- casions when collations are served.
SACRED MUSIC, SINGING-MASTERS, AND SINGING-SCHOOLS are to be considered in connection with the history of this society. Owing to the want of psalm or hymn-books, it was the practice, in the early days of the Dublin church, as in other churches, for the minister to read the whole hymn; and, after that, one of the deacons read one line, which the choir sang, and then he read another, which was also sung; and so on, reading and singing, alternating till the hymn was finished. This was called "deaconing" the lines. Even after the choir were supplied with
265
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
books, the practice was not wholly discontinued. The deacon, however, in such a case, would read two lines or a stanza, which the choir sang after him, using their books at the same time. When the practice was changed in Dublin is not known; but it has been said, that one of the deacons was disturbed by the change, and expressed much dissatisfaction.
Joseph Greenwood, Esq., is said to have been the first leader of the singers in the Dublin church. Among those who were leaders after him, we find the following names, but the list may not be complete: Ebenezer Twitchell, Benjamin Mason, Kim- ball Ames, John Perry, Joseph Twitchell, Jr., Joshua Flint, Samuel Fisher, Nahum Warren, Moses Adams, Jr., Abraham Mead, Reuben W. Twitchell, Benjamin F. Morse, Corydon Jones, and Joseph Morse; and, still more recently, John H. Mason. For many years, the singing has been furnished by an excellent quartette, among whom there has been a somewhat mutual leadership, the care of the singing being under the general oversight of Mrs. C. W. Leffingwell, who, for many years, has generously favored the society with her services. It would be an impossibility to recall the names of all the singers. For that reason, no list of them can be attempted. It is proper, however, to acknowledge the long and faithful services of the present bass and soprano singers (Mr. and Mrs. Wm. W. Andrew), which have been rendered gratuitously for a long pe- riod. The organists cannot all be remembered. Those who have officiated since the writer's connection with the church have been: Mrs. Laura W. (Rice) Piper, Mrs. Clifford Gowing (now deceased), and Mrs. George H. Preston. Others have played for short intervals, during the illness or temporary absence of the regular organists.
The first teacher of sacred music in Dublin is supposed to have been Joseph Abbot, whose school was provided with a room in the house of the Rev. Mr. Sprague. The names of other instructors in this branch are imperfectly remembered. We give the following, the individual names of many of them being unknown: Mr. Pratt; Mr. Hamilton; Jacob P. Willard of Ashby, Mass .; Mr. Cutter; N. D. Gould; James Robbins of Templeton, Mass .; John Clark of New Ipswich; Mr. Barrett; Samuel Slade of Alstead; Nahum Warren; Col. Newhall of Boston; Charles S. Symonds; Mr. Mason of Shrewsbury, Mass .; Moses Adams, Jr., of Dublin; Mr. Sanborn; Mr. Hutchins; Peter Clark of New Ipswich; C. S. Crossman; and Osgood Collister.
For the support of singing-schools, the town made occasional
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.