Norfolk County, Massachusetts - Chapter 49: Church History, Continued, 1918

Chapter 49: Church History, Continued

In 1701 a "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts" was organized in London. About 1728 this society appointed Rev. Timothy Cutler a missionary in America. Mr. Cutler was a native of Charlestown, Massachusetts, a graduate of Harvard College, had been pastor of a Congregational Church at Stratford, Connecticut, and upon his conversion to the doctrines of the Church of England was made rector of Yale College. In 1731 he was rector of Christ Church in Boston, and in that year conducted the first religious services according to the Episcopal ritual in Norfolk County in a house owned by Joseph Smith in westerly part of Dedham Village. Here he preached at intervals to a small audience until about Christmas, 1833, after which he visited the village only occasionally.

In 1758 a church building near the corner of Court and Church streets was commenced and the first services therein were conducted on Easter Sunday, 1761, by Rev. Ebenezer Miller, a resident of Braintree, who succeeded Mr. Cutler in charge of the society at Dedham. In August, 1767, Rev. William Clark began conducting the services in Dedham. He became a resident of Dedham in 1772. When the law was passed in 1777 forbidding prayers for the king of England, Mr. Clark closed his church. At a town meeting held on May 29, 1777, he and three members of his church were declared by vote to be inimical to the United States. On the fifth of June he was arrested and taken to Boston, where he was finally adjudged guilty and sentenced to banishment and confiscation of his estate. After being confined for nearly three months on a ship in Boston Harbor, he was released and returned to Dedham, but it does not appear that he attempted to conduct services. On June 10, 1778, he left Dedham, having obtained a passport through the influence of Dr. Nathaniel Ames, and went to England. After the war was over he returned and died at Quincy in 1815.

When first organized the church took the name of Christ Church. The building began in 1758 was not finished at the time of the Revolution and was made a depot for military stores. A minister by the name of Parker conducted services on a few occasions after the departure of Mr. Clark, but no real effort was made to reestablish the church until 1792, when Rev. William Montague came to Dedham. On February 19, 1792, Fisher Ames leased to the church two tracts of land for 999 years. The church building was repaired and in 1797 it was removed to Franklin Square. In November, 1821, Rev. Isaac Boyle was installed as rector and the name of the church was changed to St. Paul's. The church building was totally destroyed by fire on December 7, 1856, and the present stone church, on the corner of Court Street and Village Avenue, was then erected, at a cost of $30,480. The brick chapel on the opposite side of Court Street was built in 1875.

That services were conducted according to the Episcopal forms in Braintree as early as 1761 is certain, for in that year Rev. Ebenezer Miller, of Braintree, is mentioned as succeeding to the charge of the services in Dedham. A small meeting house had been built as early as 1728. After Mr. Miller's death Rev. Edward Winslow was in charge of the Episcopal society in Braintree. The church was in the North Precinct (now Quincy) and in June, 1777, Mr. Winslow's name was among those presented to the selectmen "as inimical to the popular cause." He left the town and followed the British army to New York. After the Revolution the church was revived and is now known as Christ Church, of Quincy, with Rev. William Grainger as rector. The present house of worship is located on the corner of Quincy and Elm streets.

St. Chrysostom's Church in Quincy is situated on the corner of Hancock and Linden streets, with Rev. F. H. Stemstra as rector, and in the Town of Braintree the Episcopal Church of the present was organized in 1900. It owns no house of worship, services being conducted in the Masonic Temple.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Brookline was organized in July, 1849, with Rev. William Horton as the first settled pastor. In 1850 a movement was started for the erection of a church building. Harrison Fay gave $5,000 toward the fund and Augustus Aspinwall donated the site, at the junction of St. Paul Street and Aspinwall Avenue, and $2,000 in addition. The total cost of the structure was $25,000. In 1857, during the pastorate of Rev. John Seeley Stone, a chapel was built at a cost of $6,000, of which $4,000 were contributed by the women of the parish and $1,000 was given by Mrs. Sarah P. Rogers of Boston. All Saints Church in Brookline was organized later and has a neat house of worship at the corner of Beacon Street and Dean Road.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church of Cohasset dates its beginning from April 26, 1893, in the Grand Army Hall. On June 4, 1893, tne parish was organized and soon afterward Rev. Charles Ferguson was installed as rector. He was succeeded in 1895 by Rev. J. B. Thomas, who remained until 1898. On December 8, 1899, tne corner-stone of the church edifice was laid by Bishop Lawrence and the building was consecrated in June, 1900. though the tower was not then finished. It is a handsome stone structure and stands upon a commanding eminence on North Main Street near the center of the village. In June, 1917, Rev. Howard K. Bartow was rector.

Christ's Church in Brookline was erected in i860, at the private expense of David Sears, "to provide a Liturgy which shall comprehend those doctrines, and those only, which are essential to guide the mind in a right worship of God." The building is modeled after a church in Colchester, England, and is located on Colchester Street, Longwood. It is a handsome stone structure, with paneled walls and a large, square tower.

Medway (now Millis), with Rev. Benjamin F. Cooley as the first rector. On February 5, 1871, the building was burned and was never rebuilt, but in 1874 a stone edifice was commenced in Medway Village. It was completed in 1880 and was given the name of Christ's Church. On Christmas evening, 1881, the first services in the building were conducted by Rev. John S. Beers, a missionaryat-large, and on January 8, 1882, Rev. Samuel Edwards became officiating missionary under the Diocesan Board of Missions.

The Episcopal Church in Wrentham was organized about 1878 or 1879 and soon afterward erected a building for purposes of worship. According to the town report for 1916, this society then owned property valued at $6,000.

Trinity Episcopal Church of Canton was organized about 1890. A neat house of worship was erected a little later and is still used by the society. In June, 1917, the rector of this church was Rev. John H. deVries.

Episcopal services were conducted in Stoughton as early as 1769 by Rev. William Clark, who officiated on alternate Sundays in Stoughton and Dedham. A church was afterward established in Stoughton, but its history could not be ascertained. There is also an Episcopal Church in Norwood, and the Church of the Good Shepherd in Dedham is located on the corner of Cedar street and Oakdale avenue.

Methodist Episcopal Church

The Methodists did not gain much of a foothold in Norfolk County until about the beginning of the Nineteenth Century. In 1800 a Methodist Church was built on Pine Plain, in what is now the Town of Wellesley. Rev. George Pickering was the first minister. The puplit was supplied by circuit ministers for about forty years, when the church went down, owing to dissensions among the members.

In 1810 Rev. John Tinkham held services occasionally in Stoughton, at the house of Hezekiah Gay. A class was formed on January 30, 1812, and Stoughton was added to the list of appointments on the Mansfield and Easton circuit. In 18 18 a church building was erected in West Stoughton and the society was formally organized. Stoughton became a station in 1834. At North Stoughton another class was formed in 1827 and preaching was held at the house of Elijah Gill. In 1835 some of the West Stoughton Methodists proposed to build a new church near the center of the town and asked the North Stoughton class to join in the movement. This North Stoughton declined to do and the result was the erection of two meeting houses - one at North Stoughton and the other at the center of the town. The latter cost about two thousand dollars and was dedicated on September 16, 1835. North Stoughton failed to receive a minister from the conference in 1836 and became a Protestant Methodist Church. The present Methodist Church in Stoughton Centre was built in 1866. A parsonage was also erected about the same time.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Cohasset was organized on December 17, 181 7, part of the membership coming from Hingham. The first meeting house was dedicated in June, 1825. It was replaced by a new and more commodious building, which was dedicated on September 3, 1845, Rev. E. E. Taylor preaching the sermon. The church is located in North Cohasset.

In 1822, owing to trouble in the "Old North Church" of Weymouth, some of the members withdrew and early in 1823 formed the first Methodist class in the town. A meeting house was built in 1825 and the rapid growth of the society made the enlargement of this building necessary three years later. About 1833 a division arose and some of the members separated from the conference and organized a Protestant Methodist Church. Being in the majority, these members claimed the old church property and the others built a new Methodist Episcopal Church in 1844. It was enlarged in 1850 and was destroyed by fire on December 28, 185 1. Another house of worship was soon erected and dedicated on October 12, 1852. This building also was burned on February 23, 1870, after which the present church edifice was built. A fine parsonage was built in 1867, three years before the burning of the second house of worship.

Another Methodist Episcopal Church in the Town of Weymouth is located at Lovell's Corner. It was organized as a Congregational Society in 1866 by Rev. D. W. Waldron, then pastor of the church at East Weymouth. A regular pastor was installed in 1872 in the person of Rev. Joseph C. Halliday, who remained with the church until July, 1877. For a few months there was no regular pastor, but in November, 1877, Rev. Henry P. Haylett, a student of the Boston University was engaged. Under his pastorate the church was changed to its present denominational connection.

About 183 1 a few Methodists living in Braintree united in the formation of a class and meetings were held in Arnold's Hall, the services being conducted by such clergymen as could be obtained. Rev. Jefferson Hamilton was oftener thus engaged than any other minister, but he removed from the town after a few years. The organization appears in the town records as the "Methodist Episcopal Society of Braintree," though it is doubtful if a complete church organization was ever effected. After the departure of Mr. Hamilton the class tried to obtain the town hall in which to hold meetings, but the request was refused by the selectmen and soon afterward the little society disbanded.

On February 22, 1874, the present Methodist Episcopal Church in East Braintree was organized, with Rev. Louis E. Charpiot as pastor. Soon after the organization of the society the building formerly used by the First Baptist Church was purchased and used as a house of worship until the latter part of the year 1883, when it was destroyed by fire. The present church building was then erected. The pastor of this church at the beginning of 1917 was Rev. Earle M. Rugg. There is also a Methodist Church in South Braintree, organized about the close of the last century. Rev. O. W. Reynolds was pastor of this church in June, 1917.

On October 12, 1843, a Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated in East Dedham. Rev. Enoch Mudge and Rev. Timothy Merritt, two Methodist ministers, had held services in the town at intervals since 1817, and in 1825 a class of twenty members was formed, most of whom belonged to the church in Dorchester. After the organization of the society in 1842, meetings were held for a time in Trescott's Hall. The original church building was twice enlarged, and was then replaced by the handsome stone structure on the corner of Oakdale avenue and Fairview street. The society is now known as the "First Methodist Episcopal Church of Dedham."

first services of that faith were held in the town as early as 1853 by Rev. John M. Merrill, who preached several times in the town hall and gathered a considerable congregation. He was succeeded by Rev. Pliny Wood in 1855, an<^ tne next year Rev. M. P. Webster took up the work. In 1857 the conference declined to furnish a minister and nothing further was done until 187 1, when meetings were again started under the charge of Rev. John R. Cushing, which led to the organization of the church the following April. The corner-stone of the church building was laid on October 3, 1872, and the house was dedicated on June 25, 1873.

On July 19, 1857, the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Medway was organized and Rev. William Jackson was installed as pastor. A house of worship was erected in West Medway, where the society still holds services.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Highlandville (now Needham Heights) was organized in April, 1867, with Rev. John W. Coolidge as the first pastor. Before the organization of this society, the Methodists living in the vicinity had been accustomed to worship at Newton Upper Falls. Thirty- four members of that church then became identified with the Needham Heights Church and meetings were held in a hall. The church building was dedicated in 1876. It cost about ten thousand dollars and in 1884 the debt that had hung over it from the time of its completion was canceled.

In the spring of 1873 the Washington Street Methodist Church of Brookline was organized and the old house of worship that had been erected by the Harvard Congregational Church was purchased for $24,500. It was refitted and Rev. E. D. Winslow was appointed by the conference as the first pastor. In 1876 the house was sold and the society held services in the town hall until May, 1879, when the site of the present church was purchased and the building erected at a cost of $2,657. It was dedicated in September of that year.

The Methodist Church of Walpole Centre was formed in 1874 with twelve members. A Mr. Noon was the first preacher, but was succeeded at the end of one year by Rev. J. H. Vincent. About 1882 the society bought the lot adjoining the town house and a chapel was erected thereon. It was afterward enlarged and remodeled into its present form.

Methodism had been introduced in Walpole as early as 1818, when Rev. Benjamin Haines began holding meetings in South Walpole. A class was formed the next year and in 1822 a church was organized. The first house of worship was built in 1830 on the lot where the parsonage was afterward located. The second and present church edifice was dedicated in 1846.

On the evening of July 26, 1878, a few Methodists living in the Town of Holbrook held an informal meeting, at which it was decided to organize a class and hold weekly meetings. Interest in the class meetings developed to such an extent under the leadership of Rev. Joshua Monroe, of West Abington, that a church was organized on February 11, 1879, by Rev. D. A. Whedon, presiding elder of the Providence District. Services were held in Library Hall until that was burned on April 13, 1880, and then in the committee room of the town building. On February 8, 1882, the first house of worship was dedicated. It is thirtyone by fifty feet and cost $2,275.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Norwood was organized on June 26, 1887, and the church edifice near the corner of Dat and Washington streets was erected soon afterward. A Methodist Church was organized in Sharon in 1876. There are four "Methodist Churches in Ouincy, viz.: The Hall Place Church, which was organized in 1872, in West Quincy. Rev. W. H. Germany was the pastor of this church in the spring of 1917. The First Wollaston Church, located on the corner of Beale and Safford streets, with Rev. George M. Bailey as pastor in 191 7. The Atlantic Church, at the junction of East Squantum and Hunt streets ; and St. Paul's Swedish Methodist Church on Fort Street.

Unitarian Churches

The oldest Unitarian Church in Norfolk County is the First Parish Church of Dedham, which according to the Unitarian Year Book for 1917 was organized in 1636, though Erastus Worthington's History of Dedham and Mann's Annals both give the date of organization as November 8, 1638. The first pastor of the church was Rev. John Allin, who was ordained on April 24, 1639, and remained with the church until his death on August 26, 1671. The pastors who succeeded Mr. Allin were: William Adams, 1673-1685 ; Joseph Belcher, 1693-1723; Samuel Dexter, 1724-1755; Jason Haven, 1756-1803; Joshua Bates, 1803-1818; Alvan Lamson, 1818-1860. As told in the preceding chapter, in connection with the Dedham Congregational Church, it was at the time of the election of Mr. Lamson that a division occurred in the parish. Concerning this division Worthington says: "As it often happens in public discussions, the real points of difference were kept in reserve. But there can be no doubt that the parish and the church were then divided into two religious parties, known afterwards under the distinctive names of Unitarian and Orthodox. Mr. Lamson was a graduate of the Divinity School of Harvard College and was a Unitarian. The Rev. Dr. Henry Ware, who preached the ordination sermen, had been elected in 1805 Hollis professor of divinity as a Unitarian, and Doctor Channing, who was one of the council, had his celebrated controversy with Doctor Worcester in 181 5, which resulted in the separation of the Unitarian from the Orthodox Congregationalists. All the members of the ordaining council represented churches which were either at that time or afterwards became Unitarian."

That portion of the parish which accepted Mr. Lamson as pastor retained possession of the church property and has since been known as a Unitarian Church. The first meeting house was finished in 1646. It was afterward enlarged and in 1673 was replaced by a new one. In 1762, while Rev. Jason Haven was pastor, a new house of worship was erected. After the division in 1818, the house was enlarged, and in 1857 it was again remodeled. It is still used by the society. Rev. William H. Parker is the present pastor.

The Unitarian Church of the First Parish in Ouincy was originally the parish church of Braintree. The Unitarian Year Book for 1917 says it was organized in 1636, but Samuel A. Bates, who was well informed on the subject of Braintree history, gives the date of its establishment as September 16, 1639. and Charles Francis Adams, in writing of the present church edifice says: "Thus, when the meeting house of 1732 was removed in 1828, the visible emblem which connected the modern with the colonial town may be said to have disappeared. The connecting link between the two chains was broken. The period, therefore, of one hundred and eighty-nine years which elapsed after the gathering of the

Ixitariax Church. Dkdham

First Church of Braintree, and before the pulling down and moving away of the third meeting house in Quincy, must historically be considered by itself."

Going back 189 years from 1828 would establish the year of organization as 1639, which agrees with the statement of Mr. Bates. Rev. William Tompson was the first settled minister. He remained with the church for nineteen years. He was succeeded by Henry Flint (or Flynt) in 1659, but lived only one year and four months after becoming pastor.

In 1708 the Town of Braintree was divided into precincts and the church became the North Precinct Church, remaining so until the incorporation of the Town of Quincy in 1792. From 1792 to 1820 it was known as the Quincy Church. Among the pastors while the North Precinct Church was Rev. John Hancock, father of the John Hancock who was president of the Continental Congress at the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and afterward governor of Massachusetts. Mr. Hancock was ordained on November 2, 1726, and served as pastor until his death in May, 1744. The present pastor is Rev. Adelbert L. Hudson.

The Unitarian Church of Medfield was established in 1651, with Rev. John Wilson as the settled minister. Mr. Wilson built his house where the town hall was afterward erected. For the first two or three years services were held in the homes of the settlers. In 1653 a meeting house was commenced, but it was not finished until three years later. It was a small building, with a thatched roof, and stood where the present Unitarian Church is now located. Rev. Joseph Baxter succeeded Mr. Wilson in 1697, ar,d in 1706 the old meeting house was replaced by a new one, which served the society for eighty-three years. In 1827 several members of this church asked for and were granted letters of dismissal. They then formed an orthodox Congregational Church. In 1874 the church building was remodeled, at a cost of $6,000. Rev. Leonard Cushman was pastor of this church at the beginning of the year 1917.

Milton was ^incorporated as a town in 1662, but no regular church was organized until April 24, 1678, though Robert Vose had deeded eight acres of land in 1664 "for a meeting house and other ministerial purposes," to a board of trustees. A meeting house was built in 1672 and Rev. Thomas Mighill, who had conducted services since 1660, closed his labors in the town and went to Scituate. Rev. Joseph Emerson had also preached at various times prior to the organization of the church and the erection of the meeting house. Rev. Samuel Mann (or Man), who was driven out of Wrentham by King Philip's war, acted as pastor for about two years, and in 1681 Rev. Peter Thacher was settled as minister. He continued as pastor for forty-six years.

On October 3, 1785, a town meeting voted to build a new meeting house, 52 by 66 feet. It was dedicated on New Year's day, 1788, and served the congregation for one hundred years or more. It was then practically rebuilt. Rev. Roderick Stebbins is the present pastor.

On Christmas day in 171 1 the Town of Needham voted to build a house for public worship and appropriated eighty pounds for that purpose, "one-half to be paid in money and the other half in labor." The frame was raised in 1712, but the house was not finished until the following year. Services were held in it, however, before it was fully completed. On the night of October 17, 1773, the meeting house was destroyed by fire and a controversy immediately arose over the location of a new one. This resulted in the town being divided into two precincts. In the old parish a new house of worship was ready for use in the latter part of July, 1774, though it was not finished for some time after that date. It was taken down in 1835 and part of the timbers used in the construction of the present church edifice. In 1879 tne building was removed to its present location. The present pastor is Rev. Arthur W. Littlefield.

The present Unitarian Church of Canton was organized as a Congregational Church on October 13, 1717, and Rev. Joseph Morse was then ordained as pastor. In 1727 he was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Dunbar, who remained with the church until his death on June 15, 1783, a period of almost fifty-six years. A small meeting house had been built before the church was organized in 1717, but it was replaced by a new one, which was dedicated on January 26, 1825. Rev. Bradley Oilman was pastor of this church in June, 191 7.

On October 26, 1717, the First Unitarian Church of Brookline was organized with thirty-nine members by Rev. Ebenezer Thayer of the Roxbury Church. A meeting house was soon afterward built and on November 5, 1718, Rev. James Allen was installed as the first pastor. The present house of worship of this society is located on the corner of Walnut and Warren streets, with Rev. Abbot Peterson as pastor.

Cohasset was set off as the Second Parish of Hingham on November 21, 1717, and at the fist precinct meeting on August 11, 1718, it was voted to raise twenty-five pounds for the support of a minister. The church was not fully organized until 1721, Rev. Nehemiah Hobart, "who had preached several times," being ordained as pastor on December 13, 1721, the day following the organization. A meeting house had been built by the residents about eight years before the church was established. A new house was erected in 1747. The present pastor of this church is Rev. William R. Cole.

What is now the Unitarian Church of Walpole was organized as a Congregational Church in 1724, and on March 30, 1725, the town meeting voted to erect "a suitable house for public worship." Pending the completion of the meeting house, services were held in the homes of some of the citizens. The first regular settled minister was Rev. Joseph Belcher, who accepted a call on May 17, 1728. He was dismissed by vote of the town on May 5, 1729, and the following October Rev. Phillips Payson was ordained as his successor. He continued as pastor until his death on January 22, 1778. In 1781 it was voted to build a new meeting house on the site of the old one. The new structure was completed in 1791 and Rev. George Morey came to the church as pastor. About 1839 the meeting house was removed to its present location and remodeled.

A new church was established in the western part of Dedham on June 4, 1735, and after a parish was incorporated on January 10, 1736, it took the name "The Clapboard Trees Church." On the day the church was organized Rev. Josiah Dwight was installed as pastor. A meeting house had been commenced before that time, but it was not finished until 1736. In 1808, when the division occurred over the location of a new meeting house, those that remained with the original church built the present house of worship, which was dedicated on March 1, 1809. It is now known as the Westwood Unitarian Church, of which Rev. Alfred C. Nickerson is pastor.

Unitarian Church, Needham

when the town was set off as the Second Precinct of Stoughton and the church was organized as a Congregational society. The first meeting house was commenced the same year, but was not finished until 1744. Rev. Philip Curtis was the first regular pastor. A new meeting house was built in 1787. In 1821 part of the members withdrew and formed the Christian Society (Trinitarian), of which Rev. Joseph B. Felt was the first minister. At that time Rev. Samuel Brimblecom was pastor of the old precinct church, which had in the meantime adopted the Unitarian doctrine and is known as a Unitarian organization.

Dover was set off as the Fourth Parish of Dedham in 1748 and incorporated under the name of Springfield. On March 14, 1749, a precinct meeting voted to appropriate twenty-five pounds to pay for three months' preaching and a committee was appointed to procure a minister. It was also voted to build a meeting house 34 by 42 feet. The building was completed in due time and on March 20, 1754, a precinct meeting was held within its walls. Rev. Thomas Jones was the first minister, who preached thirteen Sundays in the spring of 1749. Probably because the twenty-five pounds voted for three months' preaching was exhausted, no further services were held until the year 1754, when the grand jury of Suffolk County warned the inhabitants to give reasons for this neglect. During the next six years services were irregularly held by various ministers. In 1762 the General Court admonished the people that they must settle a minister. Accordingly, on November 10. 1762, Rev. Benjamin Caryl was ordained as pastor. The meeting house was burned on January 20, 1839, and. the present house of worship was completed within the next eight months. Rev. Daniel M. Wilson was pastor in 191 7.

In December, 1869, a few Unitarians living in the vicinity of Grantville engaged Rev. A. B. Vorse to conduct services and a tentative organization was formed. In 1871 Maugus Hall was purchased by the society and the organization of the church dates from that year. It is now known as the Wellesley Hills Unitarian Church.

There are several other Unitarian Churches in the county, the history of which the writer was unable to learn. The Wollaston Church was organized in 1888 and in 191 7 the pastor was Rev. Carl G. Horst. Mr. Horst was also at that time the pastor of the Church of the Unity, which was organized at Randolph in 1889. The second Unitarian Society of Brookline was formed in 1896 and the church edifice on the corner of Sewell Avenue and Charles Street was soon afterward erected. Rev. Thomas Van Ness is the present pastor. All Souls Unitarian Church of Braintree was established in 1900. This society has a neat chapel on Elm Street, with Rev. Frank A. Powell as pastor.

The Universalists

The oldest Universalist Church in Norfolk County is the one located at Stoughton. It was incorporated on August 10, 1744, as the orthodox Congregational Church of the Third Precinct. On December 26, 1744, it was voted to built a meeting house, in which the first service was held on May 23, 1745. While it was under construction Rev. Thomas Jones preached for three months, and on January 5, 1746, Rev. Jedediah Adams was installed as pastor. He continued with the church until 1792, when Rev. Edward Richmond was ordained.

On January 7, 1818, Rev. Ebenezer Gay was ordained as pastor and it was under his pastorate that the differences arose that finally resulted in a division of the church. He was a strict Calvinist and quite a number of the members soon grew dissatisfied with his teaching. The previous pastors - Adams and Richmond - had been rather liberal in their views, but with Mr. Gay there was no compromise. Samuel Bird, who leaned toward Universalism, was excommunicated. This did not improve the situation any, and on July 3, 1822, a formal separation took place. In the meantime a new house of worship had been built and dedicated on June 2, 1808. This building was left in the hands of the minority and Rev. Ephraim Randall served as pastor until the annual parish meeting in 1825. In 1826 it was voted to have eight months' Unitarian preaching and four months' Universalist. Rev. William L. Stearns, a Unitarian, was settled as pastor in October, 1827, and remained until dismissed by the society on December 13, 1830. At that time the church became a Universalist organization, with Rev. Massena B. Ballou as pastor. The Unitarians then withdrew and started a society of their own, but it was not long until they returned to the church and accepted the Universalist doctrine. The church building was remodeled in 1848, and in 1870 it was practically rebuilt, at a cost of over eleven thousand dollars.

On January 26, 1 819, the "Norfolk Universalist Society" was organized at the home of George Downs in Canton, with nearly one hundred members, from Canton, Stoughton, Sharon, Milton and Dedham. Meetings were held in Leavitt's Hall and the old town hall until 1848, when the first steps were taken for the erection of a meeting house. It was dedicated on February 3, 1849, when the name of the organization was changed to the "First Universalist Church of Canton." In June, 1917, the pastor of this society was Rev. Isabella Macduff.

The Norwood Universalist Church was incorporated in response to a petition dated October 8, 1827, and signed by Jeremiah Draper and thirteen others. It was at first known as the Universalist Church of the South Parish of Dedham. Services had been held prior to that time by Rev. Thomas Whittemore, Rev. T. B. Thayer, Rev. Hosea Ballou and others. Soon after the incorporation of the society steps were taken to erect a house of worship, which was dedicated on June 14, 1830. Rev. Alfred V. Bassett was then installed as the first regular pastor. On April 22, 1863, the old church building was sold to the Catholics and a new one was erected on the corner of Washington and Nahatan streets. It was completed in 1864, at a cost of over sixteen thousand dollars, and is still occupied by the society.

The First Universalist Church of Ouincy was organized in 1832. A church building was erected soon afterward. This building was offered to the town in 1844 for a town hall, but the offer was declined. The present church is on the corner of Elm and Washington streets.

A Universalist society was organized in Braintree in 1833, chiefly through the efforts of Samuel V. Arnold, who gave the use of his hall for holding meetings. Upon the death of Mr. Arnold the society was disbanded.

In the early part of the year 1836 some of the citizens of Weymouth Landing grew somewhat restive under the teachings of the pastor of the Union Church, and on July 21, 1836, organized the First Universalist Society of Weymouth. Rev. Matthew H. Smith was engaged to preach on alternate Sundays in Wales'

Hall. On September 13, 1839, the church edifice was dedicated, having just been completed at a cost of $6,400. Rev. Calvin Gardner conducted services in the new house for three Sundays, and in November, 1839, Rev. John S. Barry was installed as pastor. During the next ten years no fewer than six ministers were called to the pulpit, and for about two years during the Civil war no regular services were held.

The Second Universalist Society of South Weymouth began holding meetings in Columbian Hall in 1835 (during the controversy in the Second Congregational Church), with Rev. Sylvanus Cobb in charge. At that time there was no society and there was considerable opposition to the movement on the part of many of the people of South Weymouth. In 1848 the "Washington Corporation" was formed, out of which grew the Second Universalist Church, and in 1849 Rev- John Parker became the first regular pastor. The next year a house of worship was erected.

Universalist services were held in Foxboro in the latter '30s by visiting ministers and a small society formed. In 1843 the Universalist Church, at the head of Bird street and facing the Common, was erected and Rev. Charles W. Mellen was installed as pastor. The church building originally had a spire, but it was blown away by a storm and was never replaced.

On November 19, 1853, the Third Universalist Society of North Weymouth was organized, though the first regular pastor. Rev. R. L. Killam, began his labors on April 1, 1855. The meetings were held on alternate Sundays in Harmonial Hall, Mr. Killam preaching at Scituate on the other Sundays. From 1859 to 1 87 1 the society had no regular pastor, services being conducted by such ministers as could be procured from time to time. On April 1, 1871, Rev. G. W. Skinner, of Quincy, was installed and remained one year, when he was followed by Rev. G. W. Whitney. During his pastorate a meeting house was built. It was dedicated on January 16, 1873, and on the 28th of June following the society was reorganized with a membership of twenty-two.

The Universalist Church of Franklin was organized on October 4, 1856, under the name of "Grace Church." Meetings were at first held in the town hall. Dr. Oliver Dean gave a liberal donation to the new church and on May 5, 1858, a church building was dedicated. Its cost was about seven thousand dollars. In 1873 the present church edifice, directly in the rear of the first one, was dedicated. It is one of the finest churches in the county and cost $52,000. The first settled pastor was Rev. A. N. Adams, who was installed the day the first church building was dedicated. The Franklin Church is one of the strongest Universalist churches in the county. There is also a Universalist Church in Brookline.

Miscellaneous

In Milton there are two Evangelical churches. The First Evangelical Society is an offshoot of the orthodox church established in 1678. It was organized in 1834 by Rev. Samuel Gile, pastor of the First Parish, who with a number of the members withdrew to form the new church. Rev. Albert K. Teele was pastor of this church for a quarter of a century.

was then known as "Railway Village," now East Milton. The first regular pastor of this organization was Rev. Edwin Leonard, who was installed on March 25, 1852.

The New Jerusalem Church of Brookline was established in 1852 by a few members of the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem who were residents of Brookline. Services were at first held in the town hall. A complete organization was effected in April, 1857, when Rev. T. B. Hay ward was installed as pastor. In 1862 a temple was built at the corner of High and Irving streets. It is a neat Gothic structure, the walls of stone and the interior finish of oak. A parsonage was built in 1882.

One of the most attractive church edifices in the county is the Church of Our Saviour at Brookline, the parish of which was organized on February 19, 1868, by Amos Lawrence and a few others. The church building was erected by Amos A. and William B. Lawrence and presented to the parish as a memorial to their father. It is located at the corner of Carleton and Monmouth streets.

Along in the early '70s a few members of the New Jerusalem or Swedenborgian Church began holding meetings in Franklin, at the house of J. A. Woodward, but there is no record of a society ever having been regularly organized.

In Quincy there are two Presbyterian churches. The First Presbyterian Church, located on the corner of Quincy and Water streets, was organized on November 19, 1884. Rev. C. E. Campbell was pastor of this church in June, 191 7. The First United Presbyterian Church is located at Fort Square and is under the pastoral charge of Rev. J. H. Sankey.

The Pope Memorial Church at Cohasset was built in 1890 as a memorial to Charles L. Pope, who was one of the town's active and influential citizens in his day ; there is a Jewish synagogue on Winthrop street in West Medway ; in Quincy there is a Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church located on Granite street, with Rev. Leander Hokenson as the present pastor; and the Ponkapoag Chapel in Canton is under the pastoral charge of Rev. David W. Dunlap.

Within recent years the growth of the Christian Science Church has been almost remarkable. In several of the Norfolk County towns services have been conducted according to the doctrines of this denomination. On June 3, 1917, a handsome edifice of Quincy granite, with trimmings of Indiana limestone, was dedicated as the First Church of Christ. Scientist, of Quincy. It is located on Greenleaf street, is one of the most attractive church buildings in the county, and cost in the neighborhood of fifty thousand dollars.

In this chapter and the preceding one, the object has been to give in a general way the leading incidents in the religious development of the county. When it is remembered that there are more than one hundred and fifty church organizations in the county, many of them over two hundred years old, it will be seen that to go into a detailed history of each would require more space than a work of this nature could be expected to devote to the subject. It is possible that a few religious organizations have been omitted. This has not been done intentionally, but because not enough information concerning them could be obtained to give an intelligent account of their establishment and career.