History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

108 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
the corner of Shattuck and Market streets. June
30, 1836, the first meeting was held to form this
society, which was organized September 21. November
6, Rev. Zenas Tliompson was called as
pastor, and installed February 3, 1837. On the
15th of November, 1838, the church building was
dedicated. Mr. Thompson resigned his pastorate
March 10, 1839. August 26, Rev. Abel C.
Thomas was ordained pastor, and continued luitil
the first Sunday of July, 1842. On the afternoon
of the day that Mr. Thomas preached his farewell
sermon, Rev. Alonzo A. Miner commenced his
duties as pastor, and continued until May, 1848.
Rev. L. J. Fletcher immediately succeeded Mr.
Miner, and remained till September. October 1,
1848, Rev. L. B. Mason became pastor for a short
time. September, 1849, Rev. J. D. Williamson
commenced his labors. Owing to ill health he remained
but one year. May 14, 1850, Rev. N. M.
Gaylord was installed as pastor, and remained two
years. Rev. J. S. Dennis was the immediate suc-
cessor of Mr. Gaylord, and remained two years.
Rev. Charles Cravens followed, and resigned at the
end of the year. In April, 1855, Rev. C. II. But-
ton was settled as pastor, and resigned in June,
1858. In March, 1859, Rev. L. J. Fletcher became
pastor, and remained till 1863. July 1, 1864,
Rev. Francis E. Hicks commenced his labors here.
He died April 23, 1865. November 18, 1865,
Rev. J. G. Adams became pastor, and remained
till July, 1872. In April, 1873, Rev. W. G.
Haskell took charge of the parish, and remained
till April, 1876. In April, 1877, Rev. R. A.
Greene, the present pastor, began his work.
The Third Universalist Church was built in
1843, on the corner of Merrimack and Central
streets, and was dedicated January 31, 1844. Rev.
H. G. Smith was the first pastor. Difference of
opinion on doctrinal points arose between Mr.
Smith and Rev. A. A. Miner, pastor of the Second
Church, which caused a lengthy and acrimonious
discussion in the Gospel Fonntam, a Universalist
paper printed here at the time. A majority of the
Universalists of the city espoused the views of
Dr. Miner, and the result was Mr. Smith resigned.
He was succeeded by Rev. John Moore and L. J.
Fletcher, but the society languished and ceased to
exist. The building was leased to the Second Wes-
leyan Methodist Society, W. H. Brewslcr, ])astor.
April 1, 1864, this church building was cliangiMl
into stores and offices, and called Barrister's Hall.
T/ie Firsf Unitarian Sorir/// was orgaiii/cil Scn-
1 tember
26, 1829, and procured a hall in the school-
house of the Hamilton and Appleton companies,
which was furnished with conveniences for a house
of worship. This school-house is now the Free
Chapel of the Ministry at Large. October 8, 1830,
the society voted to assume the name of South Con-
gregational Society, and that has ever since been
the legal name of the society. For the first year
various persons supplied the puli^it. September 8,
1830, a call was extended to Mr. William Barry,
who was ordained November 17, 1830. Mr. Barry
resigned December 2, 1835, and Rev. Henry A.
Miles was installed as his successor December 14,
1836. The long pastorate of Dr. Miles was one
of great prosperity to the parish ; the church was
greatly enlarged in numbers, and he is still affec-
tionately remembered not only by members of his
own parish, but by many of our citizens. He re-
signed in 1853. Dr. Miles was afterwards secre-
tary of the American Unitarian Association ; trav-
elled extensively, and is now active and vigorous
as pastor of'the North Church in Hingham.
His successor, Mr. Theodore Tebbets, was or-
dained September 19, 1855 ; he retained his pastor-
ate eight months, and resigned on account of ill
health in May, 1856. He died of consumjjtiou in
1863.
Tlie fourth pastor, Rev. Frederick Hinckley,
was installed in Lowell, November 12, 1856; remained
about nine years, and was succeeded by
Mr. Charles Edward Grinnell, who was ordained
February 19, 1867. He remained a little more
than two years, and afterwards took charge of a
parish in Oharlestown, and has now left the min-
istry for the law.
Rev. Henry Blanchard, the sixth pastor, was
ordained January 19, 1871. After remaining two
years he resigned, and took the Church of the
Unity in Worcester, where he now preaches.
The seventh and present pastor. Rev. Josiah
Lafayette Seward, was ordained in Lowell, Decem-
ber 31, 1874.
Tlie parish contains three hundred and nine fami-
lies; the church numbers about one hundred and
seventy-five members, and the Sunday-school about
one hundred members, exclusive of the Bible class,
about fifty more. The number of children in the
parish is small compared with the number ol' adults.
The fiflicth anniversary of the parish was duly ob-
served September 26, 1S79.
SrroN,/ Coiif/r.-f/a/iiina/ (7,/irr/,. -^Thr Appleton
Sireet Church was organized nccinber 2, 1S30.