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 31
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John H. Morison, D.D., of Boston and Peterborough; the right hand of fellowship, which was to have been extended by Rev. Samuel C. Beane of Concord, N. H., was extended by Rev. William H. Walbridge, who read from the manuscript that Mr. Beane had prepared; the address to the people was by the retir- ing pastor, Rev. George M. Rice of Dublin; an address on be- half of the people was given by James G. Piper, Esq., of Dublin; and the pastor pronounced the benediction. There was no formal council held.
The first important event, after the installation of Mr. Catlin, was the funeral of his venerable predecessor, the worthy Mr. Rice, which was held in the church, on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 24, 1882. There was a very large attendance of parishioners, citizens, kindred, and friends, from this and adjoining towns, all of whom retained precious memories of the dignified life and honorable pastorate of the good man who had "entered into the joy of his Lord."
On Wednesday evening, Jan. 24, 1883, Mr. Catlin gave the first of a series of lectures, to be given on alternate Wednesdays, in the Town Hall, interspersed with vesper services. This course of lectures was continued through the season.
The leading event in the pastorate of Mr. Catlin was the com- pletion of the new parsonage, which stood upon the site of the present parsonage, and which was first occupied by the family of Mr. Catlin on July 4, 1883.
On Sunday, Nov. 4, 1883, Mr. Catlin requested a vote to be taken by both the church and the congregation (other than church members) as to the propriety of adopting what is known as the symbolic method of celebrating the Lord's Supper. In both ballots, there was a majority in favor of this method. This form of the celebration was observed during Mr. Catlin's min- istry, but the church, at a later date, decided to return to the ancient custom, which was hallowed by usage and the tenderest associations.
In the latter part of 1883 and the beginning of 1884, the ves- try was renovated and certain much-needed alterations were made.
Mr. Catlin did not enjoy firm health. In the early part of 1884, the church was closed for five Sundays in consequence of his illness. For two more Sundays, services were held in the af- ternoon, conducted, as a labor of love, by the Rev. Mr. Polk of the Universalist church of Marlborough.
On May 17, 1885, the pastor read his letter of resignation.
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In the church records, we find a lengthy statement, written by himself, of his reasons for taking this step. He had desired to make a change in the phraseology of the church covenant. This led to a sharp difference of opinions, upon this subject, between himself and some of the most influential members of the church. The change was not effected. In the same note of explanation, Mr. Catlin states that his attitude upon certain political ques- tions, especially during the exciting presidential campaign of 1884, had created a certain amount of dissatisfaction among his people.
Mr. Catlin was an earnest, sincere man, and labored as assid- uously as his delicate health would permit, to promote what he conceived to be the best interests of the society. He entertained certain views, with respect to doctrines and polity, that were considered quite radical at the time, especially by the members of an ancient, conservative church. As the decades pass, such questions are viewed from new view-points, and positions once thought to be untenable are regarded more favorably.
Mr. Catlin closed his labors in Dublin, and preached his last sermon in that place, Sunday, Aug. 16, 1885. He has had three settlements since leaving Dublin: Eastport, Me., 1886-1896; Gouverneur, N. Y., 1896-1900; and Northumberland, Pa. (his second pastorate in that parish), from 1910 to the present time. Mr. Catlin's son, Joseph Priestley Catlin, who was a little lad when in Dublin, is now married and in business. A little daugh- ter, Lucy Helen Catlin, born in Eastport, Me., in 1889, died there at the close of the following year. Mrs. Catlin was Miss Hannah Taggart Priestley, a descendant of the celebrated Rev. Joseph Priestley, famed as a scientist, scholar, and preacher of an independent, liberal faith, who was the friend of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. In this country, Mr. Priestley lived and labored at Northumberland, Pa., where Mr. Catlin now resides, amid the places and scenes hallowed by the mem- ories of his wife's distinguished ancestor.
Rev. GRANVILLE PIERCE, the seventh pastor of the church, was born in Townsend, Mass., Dec. 17, 1847. He did not re- ceive a classical education. He studied two years at the Mead- ville, Pa., Theological School. Before coming to Dublin, he had filled engagements in the following parishes: First Unitarian Society of Berlin, Mass., July 1, 1873 (ordained, Nov. 19, 1873) -Oct. 1, 1876; First Congregational (Unitarian) Society, West- borough, Mass., Sept. 1, 1876-Oct. 7, 1877; First Congrega- tional (Unitarian) Parish, Medfield, Mass., October 1877 (in-
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stalled, Nov. 8, 1877)-June 30, 1881; First Congregational (Unitarian) Society, Revere, Mass., June 30, 1881-May 1883; and the Liberal Christian Congregational Society of Holyoke, Mass., May 13, 1883-Sept. 26, 1886.
With respect to his coming to Dublin, he notes upon the records: "The new pastor, after preaching here [in Dublin] the first Sunday in May, 1886, received an invitation from the society, bearing date of May 30, 1886, to become its pastor, which was virtually accepted. This invitation came not in the form of a call, but a 'formal call' was extended, bearing date, Aug. 7, 1886, and, early in September, was formally accepted. Having closed his pastorate at Holyoke, Mass., with September, he removed his family and goods to Dublin, late in that month, and began his ministerial labors in that town, Oct. 1, 1886." His first sermon, after formally beginning his pastorate, was on Sunday, Oct. 3, 1886. It was deemed best to dispense with formal services of installation.
Mr. Pierce was an earnest and faithful worker. The church prospered under his ministration, and several were received into full communion. He was genial and amiable in manner, of a sympathetic nature, entering heartily into the joys and pleas- ures of his people, and very comforting in his ministrations to those in affliction. He had a happy ministry of three and one- fourth years. He read his letter of resignation, Nov. 24, 1889, and closed his labors with the church, on Sunday, Dec. 29, 1889. The General Catalogue of the Meadville Theological School has the closing year of his Dublin pastorate 1890, by mistake. He gave, as his reason for offering his resignation, the fact that he had "received a call to a larger field of labor, which he felt that he ought to accept." The parish to which he was called was Lebanon, N. H. It was a new society, which started with much encouragement, both pecuniary and social. Notwith- standing some interesting and exciting events in its history, the Lebanon parish still continues to be a strong and prosperous organization. It is called the First Congregational Unitarian Society of Lebanon. Mr. Pierce was its minister, from Jan. 5, 1890, to Dec. 27, 1891.
After leaving Lebanon, Mr. Pierce ministered to the follow- ing parishes: First Congregational (Unitarian) Society of Chelmsford, Mass., March 6, 1892 (installed, May 2, 1892)- March 31, 1901; First Congregational (Unitarian) Parish, Pep- perell, Mass., June 2, 1901-Sept. 30, 1906; First Parish and Religious Society (Unitarian), Warwick, Mass., April 1, 1908-
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March 31, 1909; First Parish (Unitarian), Ashby, Mass., where Rev. Mr. Shaw labored many years, April 1, 1909 (installed, June 17, 1909)-1912; and the First Religious (Unitarian) So- ciety of Carlisle, Mass. He has now retired from the active work of the ministry, and is living at Kingston, Mass., in 1916.
Rev. GEORGE WILBER PATTEN, the eighth pastor of the church, was born in Stockholm, N. Y., July 6, 1843. He did not receive a collegiate education. He graduated at the Har- vard Divinity School in 1871, after pursuing a two years' course of study at that institution. He was ordained at Topeka, Kans., July 15, 1871, where he remained until July, 1874. He after- wards labored in the following parishes: Haverhill, Mass., Jan. 1, 1875-April 1876; Newport, N. H., May 1878-April 1880; Cooperstown, N. Y. (Universalist parish), April 1882-April 1886; and Walpole, N. H., in the Unitarian church, April 1887- January 1890.
He began his labors as the pastor of this church, Feb. 12, 1890, without any formal ceremony of installation. In a month after his labors began, March 13, 1890, Deacon Jesse Ripley Appleton, in consequence of advancing years, resigned the office of deacon. Until the election of a successor, Deacon Alli- son was assisted on communion days, in the duties pertaining to that office, by Mr. Charles W. Gowing. Deacon Appleton had officiated many years in that office, and his retirement was greatly regretted, and, in reluctantly accepting his resignation, the hope was indulged that he might long be spared to enjoy the honors he had honorably earned. This wish was gratified and fourteen more years were added to the life of that worthy man. On Easter Sunday, 1891, there were eight admissions to the church and four baptisms. Pursuant to a vote of the society, passed on Sept. 24, 1892, furnaces were put into the meeting- house in the autumn of that year.
Mr. Patten tried to labor for the best interests of his parish. His ministry here of six years and eight months was longer than many pastorates in small churches at the present time. He closed his labors with the society on Oct. 1, 1896.
It was more than five years before Mr. Patten was again settled. He served the Unitarian church at Bernardston, Mass., from Jan. 15, 1902, until July 1, 1904. The last days of Mr. Patten were very pathetic. During his Bernardston pastorate, while in his cellar, one day, to throw a shovel-full of coal upon the furnace, something seemed to dart through one of his eyes. It was afterwards diagnosed to be a scale that had peeled from
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an artery or nerve supplying the eye. He hoped that the diffi- culty would soon pass away, but it never did do so. The malady grew worse. Eventually, the other eye was involved. He prac- tically lost his sight. The writer recalls his entering the chapel of Divinity Hall in Cambridge, on the occasion of an annual meeting of the alumni association, when it was impossible for him to thread his way to a seat without assistance.
After leaving Bernardston, Mr. Patten and his family resided in Cambridge, Mass. Friends, classmates, and neighbors were prompt in extending the kindest courtesies and sympathy, and, in the society of cultured companions, the time did not drag so drearily as one might have expected, under the circumstances. Mr. Patten died in a Boston hospital, April 15, 1910. He was a man who was ambitious to educate his children, and was grati- fied to know that they were all succeeding well in this respect, before he breathed his last breath.
Rev. GEORGE WILLIS COOKE, the ninth pastor of the church, was born in Comstock, Mich., April 23, 1848. He did not re- ceive a collegiate education, but he was, nevertheless, a well- educated man, who had given close attention to philosophical and historical investigations. He is an extensive reader of the best literature and has a good, well-selected library.
Before coming to Dublin, Mr. Cooke had ministered to the following parishes : Unity Society, Sheboygan, Wis. (having been ordained in the Independent Congregational Church at Mead- ville, Pa., June 20, 1872), October 1872-May 1873; Liberal Christian Society, Sharon, Mass., July 1, 1873-Feb. 1, 1876; First Unitarian Society, Grand Haven, Mich., Feb. 1, 1876- Oct. 1, 1878; First Unitarian Society (now called All Souls' Unitarian Church), Indianapolis, Ind., Nov. 1, 1878-July 1, 1880; Third Parish (Unitarian) (now called First Parish of Westwood), West Dedham (now Westwood), Mass., December 1880-July 1, 1887; First Congregational (Unitarian) Parish in Sharon, Mass., Oct. 16, 1887-Nov. 1, 1891; and the Follen Church (Unitarian), East Lexington, Mass., Nov. 1, 1891-July 1, 1897. He was two years at the Meadville Theological School.
He writes, in the records of the Dublin church: "I began preaching to the First Congregational (Unitarian) Society in Dublin, N. H., with the first of January, 1898. I removed my family to the parsonage, on the first of May." After a few more entries of events of no public importance, he continues : "On the first of July [1899], I gave notice of my desire to sever my con- nection with the parish on the first of October, 1899." The
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resignation was accepted, and his pastorate terminated on the date named.
Mr. Cooke is a man of marked intellectual ability, and a very vigorous thinker. He is evidently most at home in literary pursuits. He is the author of several valuable books, among them being an elaborate life of Ralph Waldo Emerson, in which he shows a rare appreciation of the philosophical opin- ions and trend of thought of that remarkable man. Mr. Cooke has also published a work entitled "Unitarianism in America," in which he traces its origin, growth, and influence in this coun- try. He is a gifted editorial writer, and many of the leading editorials in the "Christian Register," and other prominent periodicals, are from his pen. He is a frequent contributor to magazines. He is a brilliant and lucid lecturer, and frequently appears upon the platform. He has taken up a residence in Wakefield, Mass., which has been his home for many years.
Rev. FRANKLIN KENT GIFFORD, the tenth pastor of the church, was born at Garrison, N. Y., March 6, 1861; the son of Rev. Elisha and Louise Jane (Knapp) Gifford. His father is a preacher in the Unitarian denomination, who has had pastor- ates at West Dedham (now Westwood), Mass., and Presque Isle, Me. Franklin Kent Gifford did not receive a collegiate education. He pursued a course of study at Phillips Exeter Academy, and at the Cambridge High School. Before he began his pastorate in Dublin, he had labored in liberal parishes at Jamaica Plain, Mass., 1893-1895; Melrose Highlands, Mass., 1895-1897; Asheville, N. C., 1897-1898; and Winona, Minn., 1898-1900.
Mr. Gifford began his ministry in Dublin about the first of April, 1900, after having preached a few Sundays as a candi- date. He was installed, June 6, 1900, in connection with the annual meeting of the New Hampshire Unitarian Association. Rev. William Henry Branigan of Peterborough offered the invo- cation and led the responsive readings. Rev. Clarence Fillmore MacIntire of the Universalist Church in Marlborough read the first hymn. Rev. William Frank Whitcomb of the Trinitarian Congregational Church in Dublin read the Scriptures. The installing prayer was by Rev. Charles Jason Staples of Man- chester. The sermon was by Rev. Hiram Wooster Smith (Uni- versalist) of Worcester, Mass. The second hymn was read by Rev. Henry Clay MacDougall of Franklin. The right hand of fellowship was extended by Rev. Granville Pierce, then of Chelmsford, Mass. The charge to the people was given by Rev.
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(now Rev. Dr.) Charles Brown Elder of Keene. The third hymn was read by Rev. Myron Lewis Cutler (Universalist) of East Jaffrey; and the benediction was by the newly installed pastor.
The electric lights in the church and vestry were installed at the beginning of Mr. Gifford's ministry, and were ready for use about the first of May, 1900.
Mr. Wilfred M. Fiske was inducted into the office of deacon on the fifth of May, 1900, in the place of Deacon J. R. Appleton, who had resigned some years previously.
Mr. Gifford closed his ministry, on the fourth of May, 1902, after a service of a little more than two years. He was present at the first service, as pastor, of his successor, on May 11, 1902.
After leaving Dublin, Mr. Gifford did ministerial duty at Fort Collins, Col., 1902-1906; Laconia, N. H., 1906-1908; and Sandwich, Mass., where he has resided since 1910.
About the first of May, 1902, the executive committee of the First Congregational (Unitarian) Society "voted to ask Rev. JOSIAH LAFAYETTE SEWARD, D.D., of Keene, to supply the desk." He is the eleventh and present pastor of the church. He was born in the near-by town of Sullivan, April 17, 1845, the son of David and Arvilla (Matthews) Seward. He is of Dub- lin stock, being a lineal descendant of Thomas and Mary (Tread- way) Morse, who settled on lot 16, range 5, in Dublin, where the present Troy road leads from the road to Marlborough via Stone Pond. Mr. Morse is considered to have been the first permanent English settler of Dublin. His daughter Abigail married Daniel Wilson of Keene and Sullivan. The latter's daughter, Polly Wilson, married Josiah Seward, Jr., of Sullivan. The latter's son, David, was the father of the present pastor.
Mr. Seward studied two years at the Westmoreland Valley Seminary, under the tuition of Rev. (now Rev. Dr.) S. H. McCollester. He graduated at Phillips Exeter Academy in 1864; at Harvard University, with the degree of A.B., in 1868; A.M. in 1871; and at the Harvard Divinity School, with the degree of B.D., in 1874. He taught a year in West Virginia, another year in Boston, and was the first principal of the Conant Free School in Jaffrey, now the Conant High School of Jaffrey. He was ordained at Lowell, Mass., Dec. 31, 1874, and held the pastorate of that church until July 31, 1888. He was then the pastor of the Unitarian Church at Waterville, Me., from Aug. 1, 1888, to Nov. 25, 1893. He then became the pastor of Unity Church in Allston (a section of Brighton, now a part of Boston), Mass., from Nov. 26, 1893, to Oct. 8, 1899. He then moved to
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Keene, N. H., where he has been engaged in literary work. He began his ministerial work in Dublin, May 11, 1902, without formal installation, and has since continued to labor with the society. In 1898, Colby University (now Colby College) gave him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. He has the History of Sullivan, N. H., ready for the press, and has revised and brought to date the former History of Dublin.
On the evening of Nov. 22, 1908, the parsonage of the First Congregational (Unitarian) Society, which was completed in 1883, and first occupied by Mr. Catlin's family on the fourth day of July in that year, was totally destroyed by fire. It was near the buildings connected with the Leffingwell Inn, which con- sisted of a three-story hotel and a house a few feet east of it. A fire in the hotel originated from some cause which has never been definitely explained. Both the hotel and the house east of it were soon enveloped in flames. An adverse wind blew blazing cinders upon the parsonage, only a few feet to the east. In consequence of the lack of adequate apparatus in the village to extinguish fires, it was impossible to save the building. The society built another, much better, parsonage upon the same site, in 1910-1911, which was rented by A. H. Childs, M.D., who first occupied it, Dec. 20, 1911, and continued to live there until April 1, 1915. Mrs. George H. Preston moved into it, May 8, 1915, and is living there as these pages go to the press.
On Sunday morning, Aug. 28, 1910, His Excellency WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT, President of the United States, who was spend- ing a week-end with Hon. Franklin MacVeagh, a member of his cabinet, who has a summer residence in Dublin, attended divine service in the Unitarian Church. The President was ac- companied by his wife and daughter and other personal friends. He was attended by his personal body-guard, Major Butt, who afterwards lost his life on the ill-fated Titanic. Several private detectives were present, and Sheriff Lord of Keene, with all the deputy sheriffs of the county, assisted in the measures taken to protect from possible harm the person of the chief magistrate. While such precautions might, at first thought, seem unneces- sary, the attempts upon the lives of several preceding Presi- dents have demonstrated the liability of a chief executive to such attacks, even in the most unexpected places. The fact that the President would appear in church that morning became quite extensively known in this town and in neighboring towns, and the church was well filled. The pastor's sermon, from Gen. II. 3, contained no specific reference to the President; it was
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written before it was known that he was to be one of the worshippers. The morning collection, an unusally large one, was used for the benefit of hospitals.
During the summers of 1912 and 1913, the British Ambassa- dor to the United States, Hon. (now Viscount) James Bryce, author of "The American Commonwealth," established him- self in Dublin. He was frequently seen at the morning services of this church.
During the first six years of the present pastorate, Rev. Rob- ert Collyer, D.D., then of New York, N. Y., preached two Sundays, each summer, at the usual morning hour. Rev. John William Day of St. Louis, Mo .; Rev. William B. Geoghegan of New Bedford, Mass .; Rev. Francis S. Thacher of Cambridge, Mass .; and other visiting clergymen have favored the pastor with labors of love. Mrs. Kate Gannett Wells of Boston, Mass., on two occasions, addressed the audience at morning service.
On Aug. 11, 1912, the distinguished Persian sage, Abbas Effendi, who is designated Abdul-Baha (servant of Baha), oc- cupied the desk of the Unitarian Church, addressing a large au- dience. He is the son of Baha'O'Llah, the founder of the phil- osophical and religious movement known as the Baha system, from the former part of his name. Before the latter's death, he appointed his son, Abbas Effendi, to be Abdul-Balıa, "To be the 'Center of the Covenant' of light, love, and peace, which he had founded in the Name of God." It is a pure, rational sys- tem of philosophy, inculcating the practice of moral and re- ligious precepts of the highest order. The patriarchal appear- ance and oriental costume of the speaker imparted a peculiar solemnity to his utterances. Not being able to speak English, an interpreter repeated the discourse, sentence by sentence, in that language. At the conclusion of his discourse, the sage offered a prayer, interpreted like his address, phrased in the most devout and spiritual language, which deeply moved the hearts of all who listened.
Col. Thomas Wentworth Higginson, who regularly attended the church, every summer, while his health permitted, occa- sionally addressed the people on secular subjects in the vestry. He was formerly a Unitarian clergyman, but, on leaving that profession, he said that he felt more at home upon the lecture platform than in the pulpit. He was always helpful to the pastor in many ways.
The vestry of the Unitarian meetinghouse was first used on the completion of the building, which was dedicated, March 2,
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1853. It served the purposes of a town hall from this date until the dedication of the new Town Hall, Dec. 28, 1882.
The Sunday-school has met here after the morning service. The Sewing Circle has gathered here once a month. As the vestry supplied the place of a town hall, it was used for secular purposes more commonly than would have been done other- wise. Dances were often held in the room. Richard Phillips, familiarly known as "Uncle Dick Phillips," who became famous as a violoncello player throughout this vicinity, furnished the dance music in former years. Occasionally, in the winter sea- son, there were singing-schools in the vestry. The following are recalled as teachers of singing: Hosea Holt, Miss Thurston, Chauncy M. Wyman, George W. Foster (each of the latter two, both of Keene, taught more than one term), S. F. Merrill of Keene, Orson L. Mason, and Miss Bertha F. Smith, in the order in which the names are here given. Writing-schools were also taught by Asa H. Fisk, Thomas Fisk, Allison Z. Mason, Charles K. Mason, Albert Whitney, Fred. Wellman, and Henry D. Allison. The fall term of the high school was held in this room, excepting the last, which was held on the lower floor of the Town Hall. The Good Templars have occupied this vestry and, later on, the Grange. Here flowers were brought and arranged for the decoration of graves on Memorial Day. After a time, in one corner, by erecting a partition, a room was formed for the "Juvenile and Social Library," in the place where the pulpit of the old church on the hill had been kept for a number of years.
Most important of all gatherings, perhaps, was the annual town-meeting. Here also the "Dublin Literary Society" held its meetings through the fall and winter. This society was started in the late sixties by James E. Vose of Antrim, then a teacher of the village school, and afterwards principal of Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, Mass. It was heartily sup- ported by all the literary, musical, and dramatic talent in town, of which there was then considerable. The meetings were held fortnightly, and the programme included declamations, read- ings, music, and debate, usually also a paper and a play. The play, more than anything else, served to differentiate this organ- ization from anything which had been known in the town before bearing a literary name. The meetings, especially when a play was given, were numerously attended by young people from the surrounding towns, and no other attraction would draw so many to the vestry. This "Literary Society," excepting a few
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