Worcester County, Massachusetts - Chapter 65, 1889

Rei,Igious Societies

The Congregational Church. - As we have seen in the beginning, the town as such provided for Gospel ordinances, and for a place of public worship, employing the preacher and building the meetinghouse. For these purposes of religion, all the citizens were taxed, save those who belonged to other denominations than the standing order, which was Congregationalist. These by law were exempt from this taxation if they confessedly belonged to some other religious body and made their contributions to its support. In this town were Quakers, Baptists and a few Universalists to be thus relieved. The town employed Rev. Aaron Bliss for some two years before the church was formed. Rev. Mr. Crane gathered the church which was organized June 6, 1782. There were now two bodies having to do with religious matters, - the town and the church. The church took the initiative as to the calling and settling a pastor. The town was asked to concur, and it was responsible for his support. Soon a third body appears, "The Congregational Society," which is first mentioned in 1784. Yet it is so far identified with the town that in the warrant for town-meeting in 1784 the fifth article is "To see if the Congregational Soeic/y wiW choose a committee to settle with John Adams and Major Batcheller for Boarding Mr. Crane and the Council, when Mr. Crane was ordained,'' and in 1787, " To see if the Town will choose a collector to collect ministerial money, and also a Treasurer to receive the same, and for said Treasurer to be accountable to the Congregational Society as the Town Treasurers are or may be to the town, and the town chose such a collector."

The town slowly finished the meeting-house, selling " pew spots," or rights to build pews, first on the sides and then in the centre of the house, building a gallery, and some years after finishing the stalls to the same. In 1801 $60 were votfd for last bills for finishing the inside of the house, which had just been accomplished. The repair of the house still came upon the town. But in their last action in reference to it, in 1808, the warrant for town-meeting has an article to see if the town will vote "to shingle the meetinghouse for what they have used it to do town business in."

From this it is manifest that the town does not now feel it is sole owner of the house, but is under obligation to another body for its use, and the same is shown by the vote on this ariicle, which is " to shingle the meeting-house by the society" and yet at the next meeting they appoint Paul Whitin, Marvil Taft and Thos. Goldthwait a committee to inspect the work. This is the last mention of the town's doing anything to repair or control the meeting-house.

For more than thirty years the town had had the care and control of the meeting-house. During these years it is called in the warrant for town-meetings: " The Town Meeting- House," or " The Meeting-House in Northbridge." But in 1819 the language is changed to " The Congregational Meeting House." Four years before this it had ceased to be town property. In March, 1814, " John Crane and others " pray the town to be incorporated as a religious society. Their petition was "passed over." In the next meeting it was not noticed. Now John Crane and thirty-one others petitioned the General Court to be incorporated as a religious society in Northbridge'. Their request was granted. They are spoken of as " members of the Congregational Society in Northbridge." But now they are incorporated as such, August 27, 1814, and they became liable to pay all taxes voted by the society and responsible for the support of the minister, and the members can be released from the obligation only as they furnish a certificate that they have joined some other religious society. Still must all belong to some religious society and help in its support. This continued until the amendment of the Constitution, in 1833, when the towns were relieved from all responsibility for the support of ministers, and citizens from the liability to be taxed for religious purposes, and all connection between church and state at last ceased.

The Congregational Society was invested by the act of incorporation with the meeting-house property, and was authorized to hold other property. We find no action of the town acknowledging this incorporation or the transfer of the property, but the town takes no action after March, 1814, as to ministerial support or of control of the meeting hou>e. It considers itself a tenant of the society, and obtains permission from the society to put up a hearse-house in the " burying-ground." Soon after the incorporation of the society an effort was made to raise a fund for the support of the minister, as was said in the preamble of the subscription : " To abolish forever ministerial taxes in this town, and to establish a fund for the support of a learned Congregational, Calvinistic Ministry in Northbridge, the subscribers promise to pay ; " $2475 was subscribed, in sums from $20 to $500, but in 1816 it was voted to return the sums already paid in, and a committee was appointed to devise some other way of raising the fund. This was never done, and most withdrew their contributions. But Mr. Paul Whitin, Sr., left his in the hands of the society, and this, increased by interest, enabled the society, in 1867, to purchase the parsonage now owned and used by it. The society at once assumed all ministerial charges, .and taxed the property of the members. But this did not satisfy all, and for several years the pews were taxed to raise part of the funds needed. From 1838 to 1846 the salary was raised by subscription ; from 1846 to 1850 property was taxed ; then there was a return to subscription ; and now, as

Early in 1835 the society, haying determined to have a new meeting-house, and having purchased the land for it, voted to move and repair the old meetinghouse, if it was deemed worth moving. But not being deemed worth removal, it was soon taken down. The first Sabbath of May, in the same year, Dr. Crane preached his last sermon in the old house. The records of the parish show no vote to build the new meeting-house, but February 5, 1836, they voted to convey the land and the new house to the deacons of the church, and they direct their committee to convey their thanks to Mr. Orra Taft for the bell he had given them. Now the old New England custom of ringing the bell for Sabbath services, for tolling the years of the dead, and for marking the hours of noon is begun. It was also voted to have the footstoves filled at the stoves in the meeting-house.

The parish was as reluctant as the church to allow any of its members to leave for the formation of a new parish in Whitinsville, in every instance where a petition for this was presented, either passing it or voting not to grant it. But when the separation took place they did not lose heart. They went on in their work of maintaining the ordinances of religion at the Centre. In 1832, soon after the resignation of Dr. Crane, Rev. Samuel H. Fletcher was called and installed, March 14th. He was dismissed in March, 1834. Rev. Charles Forbush was installed June 4, 1834. He continued pastor until his death, June 9, 1838. Rev. Lewis Pennell was installed April 3, 1839,and dismissed April 11, 1842. Rev. William Bates was ordained and installed November 5, 1845, and dismissed November 23, 1857. Mr. Bates was the last installed pastor. The church has since been supplied by Eevs. Messrs. George B. Safford, Hiram Day, Sylvester Hine, Calvin Terry, D. W. Richardson, W. H. Haslewood, Thomas L. Norton, James Wells, J. T. Crumrine, R. M. Burr and J. H. Childs. Rev. Mr. Childs is the present acting pa.stor, who also has the charge of the Rockdale Church. In 1877 this parish united with the parish in Rockdale in the support of the minister, who has since had the care <)f both parishes, residing at the Centre.

The church gathered by Rev. Mr. Crane, in 1782, of eight members (five from the church in Uxbridge, three from the church in Upton), received five on confession the same day, thus beginning their separate life. As was customary, there were no " Articles of faith," it being understood that all accepted the " Catechism of the Westminster Assembly " as the standard of belief. They entered into covenant with God and each other. In this covenant there is a consecration of themselves to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and a giving of themselves to each other to walk together as a rightly-ordered Congregational Church, to maintain all Gospel ordinances ancj watch over each other, - a consecration to woik against all ungodliness in the world, to maintain secret and family worship, to train their households in a Christian manner ; especially catechising them in the family, instructing, exhorting and commanding them to attend the more public catechising and instruction of those meetings which may be appointed for that end. The articles of faith were adopted probably April 1, 1814, hut were not recorded. There is evidence that church discipline was not a mere name, as we have record of discipline for watering cider, for deceiving in trading for a horse ; and tlie church recognized its own duty to repair a wrong done a member, in making confession to one whom it felt it had misjudged. For the first few years, like all the churches of the period, it received but few additions - only eighteen for twenty-six years. But it has known its times of enlargement, as in 1808, 1820 and especially in 1831, when fifty-four additions were made ; and the removal of so many, to form the village church did not take as many members as had been added in this year. It had, January 1, 1888, one hundred and six members.

The Village Congregational Church in Whitinsville. - During the latter part of Dr. Crane's ministry it had been common to hold meetings in the school-house in this neighborhood Sabbath evenings, at which he and other ministers occasionally preached. The feeling that more was needed led to the formation of a Sabbath-school in 1833, having two sessions each Sabbath.

The conviction that a church should be formed, and regular Sabbath services maintained, becoming fixed, several members of the first church sought dismission from it for this purpose. This being denied, five gentlemen, not members of this church, were requested to call a council " to advise on the question whether it is expedient to estab!i>h a church and society in said village of Souih Northbridge." The council met April 17, 1834, and advised that it was expedient that a church should be formed and Gospel ordinances established. In 1833 " The Chapel " had been built and had been dedicated to religious uses early in 1831. Regular preaching was now provided from Rev. Caleb B. Elliot, of Millbury, and afterwards from Rev. William Whittlesey, of New Britain, Conn. The society was formed June 20, 1834. The members of the first church desiring to form the new church, still failing to obtain letters of dismission, called by their committee a council to be held July 31st, "to carry out, if it should be thought best, the recommendation of the previous council." By this council the church was constituted, consisting of thirty-three members. Seven more were received by letter from the first church August 26th, and became ideatified with the church in its beginning. Rev. Michael Burdett was soon called, and was installed April 15, 1835. He was dismissed April 29, 1841, after a pastorate of six years. Rev. Louis F. Clark was ordained and installed pastor June 1,

1842, and continued his labors here as pastor until his death, October 3, 1870, - a man greatly beloved and greatly useful. Rev. John R. Thurston was installed April 20, 1871, and continues pastor.

The Congregational Church in Rockdale. - There were no regular public religious services in this village until after P. Whitin & Sons purchased the property in 1856. They finished a hall over the store and dedicated it to religious worship. In the fall of 1861 Rev. E. F. Williams, of Uxbridge, was employed, and labored there somewhat more than a year. His work was blessed by a revival, and there was some thought of forming a church. When Mr. Williams left. Rev. Mr. Harding, of Boston, was engaged to supply, and he preached there for some years, though not residing there for pastoral service. From November 1, 1871, to December 1, 1872, Rev. J. C. Halliday preached and resided there. For some time after this there was not regular preaching, bat the Sabbathschool was maintained, and the pastor at Whitinsville preached there occasionally. In 1877 the people united with the parish at Northbridge Centre in the support of a pastor and since that time regular Sabbath services have been maintained. It had long been felt that a church organization was needed for the best religious result and plans had several times been made for forming one, but they had not been carried out. December 30, 1879, a council was called and a church of fifteen members was formed, which has since grown to thirty-nine, January 1, 1888. This church, with the church on the Hill, has Rev. James H. Childs as pastor.

The Quakers. - We have seen ' that early in the last century a few families of Quakers moved up .the Blackstone Valley in what is now Northbridge, and they experienced difficuliy from their unwillingness to serve in the French and Indian War. They had the same difficulty after the town was incorporated during the Revolutionary struggle. By colonial statute, passed in May, 1776, among those exempted from the necessity of military service are " those persons who had, befo'e the nineteenth day of April, one thousand seven hundred aiid seventy-five, been by law deemed to be of the denomination of Christians called Quakers." It appears from the State archives that one Thomas Eddy, who had become a Quaker in 1777, was allowed exemption on petition of the town, by the Colonial Council, July 27, 1778. Said Eddy had been sent to the garrison at Rutland, but had refused to do duty on the ground that he was a Quaker. January, 1779, the selectmen of the town, having doubts whether the town had a right to assess the Quakers for their part of the tax of two hundred pounds laid upon tlie town " to pay men who had been, or had hired men, to go into tlie army," send a petition to the " Honorable Council and house of Representatives " that they would solve their doubt " and make it certain whether we have a Right to tax said Quakers," Thus scrupulously were their rights regarded. We have uo record of what answer was given to this petition, but as later we find frequent mention of a " Quaker Tax," we learn that it was felt that they must in some way contribute to the defence of the country.

Before the town was incorporated the first meetinghouse was built by the Quakers. On petition of Samuel Aldrich, for the building of a meeting-house, a committee was appointed at the Smithfield Monthly Meeting of Friends, November 28, 1765, " to judge whether there was need of one." This committee reporting favorably, a committee, consisting of Samuel Aldrich, Moses Aldrich and Moses Farnam, Jr., " was appointed to oversee the building of said house."

" Twelfth Month, 1776, the Building Committee exhibited an account of the Cost of Building the Uxbridge (now Northbridge) Meeting-house, amounting to £70 16«. Id. lawful money, which is accepted." Forty pounds of this money was contributed for this purpose by Rachel Thayer, of Mendon. We see it is ten years after the committee is appointed to oversee the building of the house before the final account of cost is rendered, and we do not know when it was first occupied, but probably before the " Town's Meetinghouse." The first mention of this meeting-house is in the town-meeting of March, 1778, when it was "voted to warn town-meetings by notifications to Be posted at Capt. Baldwin's Mill, Ye Quaker meetinghouse, and ye Town meeting-house in Northbridge." This became the custom ever after. This meetinghouse stood about one-fourth of a mile south of the present house, on the east side of the road. Respecting the present meeting-house the following items are furnished : " At an Uxbridge Monthly Meeting in 1804, Nathaniel ^Idrich, Richard Mowry, Elisha Arnold and others were appointed to exchange lots and contract for building the present meeting-house in Northbridge. They reported in the Third Month, same year, that they had done so. The new house to be built for $650 and the old house. The new one was built that year." Saml. Aldrich was one of the contractors for building it. In this house the Friends have worshipped God for more than four-score years. They have met each week, and the spirit has moved to words of exhortation, as to the faith and the life. In recent years their numbers have diminished, but their meetings are maintained with the instruction of the young in the Sabbath-school. In May of each year Quarterly Meeting is held here. There has been special interest in temperance the past few years.

The meeting in Northbridge was a part of the Smithfield Monthly Meeting till Seventh Month, 1783, when the several meetings held in Uxbridge, Northbridge, Richmond, N. H., and Leicester were set off and formed a separate Monthly Meeting under the name of the Uxbridge Monthly, which continues until the present time. We have no record of the residence in the town of a minister approved by the meeting, and the ministry has been by those belonging to the meeting but residing usually in Uxbridge. Mrs. Salome C. Wheeler, who is an approved minister, residing in Uxbridge, usually ministers at the Northbridge Meeting-house.

Baptists in Northbridge. - From the following certificates it is manifest that there was early in the history of Northbridge an acknowledged body of Baptists, having a " society," if not a church organization :

We, the Subscrihera, being chosen a committee by the Society of People called Anti-pedo Baptist, we (who?) met together for religious worship on the Lord's day, in Northbridge, to exhibit a list of the names of such persons as belong to said society or congregation ; Do certify that Timothy Winter, Nathaniel Cooper, Jan., John Cooper, David Dunn, Jonathan Bassett, Barnabas Aldrich, William Rawson, Joseph Hill, Nathaniel Cooper, do belong to the said congregation, and that they do frequently, and nsiyilly, when able, attend with us in our meetings for Religious Worship, on the Lord's Day, and we do thereby believe are, with respect to the Ordinance of Baptism, of the same religious sentiments with us.

From this we infer that thus early in the history of the town these men, wishing to be relieved from paying the town tax for the support of the Congregational minister, and building the meeting-house, obtained this relief by these certificates.

John Cooper, an ordained Baptist elder, was for many years the preacher, preaching frequently until near the time of his death, in 1818. His brother Nathaniel also preached occasionally. "The Baptists had their meetings in private houses, mostly in those of the preachers."

In April, 1787, it was voted that the warrant for town-meeting be put, "one at the place where the Baptist meet for publick worship," from which it is manifest that they early had a place of usual meeting, probably the house of " Elder John Cooper," near the Cooper grave-yard. Jesse White, the blacksmith, was deacon.

In 1793 Whitney speaks of ten families of Baptists, " at present destitute of any settled teacher." Yet there was a Baptist society as late as 1812, for Abner Cooper and John Cooper, "committee,"' certify that "Phineas Taft, of the town of Uxbridge, is a member of the religious society in the town of Northbridge called the Northbridge Baptist Society." After the death of Elder John Cooper they did not have preaching regularly. Mr. Sawyer, and after him Mr. Rufus Bennett, preached occasionally, but soon all public services ceased, and the society has had no existence for many years. The few of this persuasion in the town have identified themselves with the Baptist societies of Farnamsville, or North Uxbridge, or with tlie Congregationalist or Methodist Churches in the town.

The Methodist Church in Whitinsville. - The first Metliodist services in the town were held in the house of Rufus Bennett, near the Quaker Meetinghouse, early in 1828. Miss Rebecca Bradford, of Providence, R. I., a school-teacher, secured the preaching of the first sermon by her pastor, Rev. Mr. Osgood, in this house. "As a result of this and other meetings, a revival of religion followed, in which a number were converted. Among them were Amasa Benson, Amos White and Lyman Aldrich, who became pillars in the church. Mr. Bennett, who had been connected with the Baptist Church of Upton, joined them, and became a local preacher among them.

" The meetings were held in private houses, in the school-house near the Quaker Meeting-house, and in the stone school-house at Plummer's Corner, and the Lord's Supper celebrated in Captain Amos White's new barn a number of times.

"At the session of the New England Conference, which met at Lynn July 23, LS28, Bishop Elijah Hedding presiding, 'Northbridge Circuit' was organized. It was in the New London District, Edward Hyde, Presiding Elder. Will- J. Lovejoy and Joseph Iveson were the preachers."

During most of the years until 1850 preachers were appointed for this circuit, and religious services were maintained. Two camp-meetings and several grove-meetings were held on the Benson farm. But it was not in this part of the town that Methodism was to have its permanent and central place. The village of Whitinsville had been and was still growing and giving promise for the future, and here was the Methodist Church to find its home. The first Methodist preaching here was secured by Mr. Charles Taylor. The preacher was Rev. Joseph W. Lewis, of Webster. He was assisted by Chas. W. Ainsworth, of Millbury. The services were held in the hall just erected on Railroad Avenue, which became the place of worship for many years. This was early in 1850. April 24th of the same year, at the session of the New England Conference in Boston, Bishop Thomas A. Morris presiding, " Whitinsville took its place in the list of appointments. It was included in the Worcester District, J. Hascall, Presiding Elder ; H. P. Andrews, preacher." " June 23, 1850, Dr. Hascall organized the Quarterly Conference" here. Since that day the church has maintained regular worship, and had constant preaching. They remained in the hall where they began for twenty-five years. October 22, 1875, the new meeting-house was dedicated. In 1882 a troublesome debt was removed, with the generous help of friends in the place. It was a happy day, October 22d,when they held their meeting-house and parsonage free of all encumbrance. The church has grown with the village, and now numbers ninetyone members. The preachers have been : 1850-51, H. P. Andrews ; 1852, Cyrus L. Eastman ; 1853, Jonathan L. Esty ; 1854, Jonathan D. Bridge (during this year a colleciion of $6.50 was reported " to assist fugitive slaves"); 1855, it was united with East Douglas; 18.56-57, Wm. P. Blackmer; 1858-59, Geo. H. Mansfield; 1860, Nath. A. Soule; 1801-62, William Merrill; 1863-64, Abraham M. Osgood; 1865-67, William A. Braman ; 1868, Robert G. Adams; 1869, D. D. Hudson; 1871-73, Emory A. Howard (during this pastorate, the Spring estate was purchased, with the house which has since been the parsonage, and the ground for the new meeting-house); 1874-75, William Merrill (during this pastorate the meetinghouse was completed and dedicated); 1876-77, Edward A. Manning; 1878, J. W. Fenn; 1879-80, Seth C. Gary; 1881-83, Lyman D. Bragg (during this pastorate the debt on the property was paid); 1884-86, James Mudge ; 1887, E. Stuart Best.

The United Presbyterian Church. - For some years previous to 1871 there had been an increasing number of United Presbyterians in Whitinsville- They had brought from their homes in the north of Ireland and Scotland a strong aflection for their own faith and worship. They had worshipped occasionally and " communicated " with the United Presbyterian Church in Wilkinsonville. Some had united with this church. But they felt they must have for themselves and their children more regular Sabbath services, and early in 1871 they began such services with Rev. Mr. Cres«well as minister, and soon a " congregation " was formed and became connected with the Boston Presbytery. Worship was held at first in Smith's Hall and subsequently in "The Chapel" formerly used by the Congregational Church. Here they continued uutil they went into their new meeting-house, save during an interval of about seven months, when, owing to internal difficulties, the congregation was disbanded for a brief time. It was reorganized December 16, 1874. In 1881 a meetinghouse was built on Cottage Street, in the erection of which, friends in the village greatly assisted them. It was dedicated February .22, 1882. In 1888 a parsonage was built on the same lot with the meetinghouse. The preachers have been Rev. Robert Harkness, January 21, 1873, to April 22, 187-1. For three years it was supplied by various ministers. Rev. J. L. Thompson was installed June 11, 1878. He was released April 11, 1882. Rev. J. Crawford McKay, installed April 24, 1883; resigned in July, 1884. It was supplied by Presbytery with various preachers, among 'them Rev. J. R. McAllister from January, 1880, to July, 1887.

manufacturing in the recent years has brought many of foreign birth into the town for labor. In 1875 there were one thousand three hundred and six who were born in Ireland or Canada ; most of these were of the Catholic faith. They have always belonged to the parish of Uxbridge and been under the care of the Priest resident there. As their numbers increased, it was felt that they should have a church in this town, and Rev. Dennis O'Keefe purchased the land for one in 1868. His successor. Rev. Dennis Morau, built the church. The first service was on Christmas, 1870. Rev. Henry L. Robinson became pastor in 1871 and remains such. He is assisted by Father Langier, who especially ministers to the French, who are the larger part of those of the Catholic faith. The church was moved to its present site on Church Street, and enlarged and a basement added in 1883.