History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

112 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
scription of §1,000 by citizens, and an equal
amount by the manufacturing corapanies.. In
addition to these, the income of the Nesmith, Tyler,
Dalton, and Holbrook fufids is devoted to this ob-
ject, making altogether an income of 33,000.
Eev. Horatio Wood was the Minister at Large
from October, 1844, to January, 1869, and was
succeeded by Rev. H. C. Duganne, the present
minister, in July, 1872. Mrs. Duganne is an
assistant in the work.
July 30, 1860, St. John's Parish was organized.
August 29, Eev. C. W. Homer was elected rector.
Services were held in Wym.au's Hall, on Merrimack
Street, until October 6, 1861, when the church on
Gorham Street was finished and occupied. The
corner-stone was laid April 15, 1861. The church
was consecrated as sooii as the debt on it was
cancelled, July 16, 1863. It cost $ 14,000. Mr.
Homer's connection with the church ceased in
November, 1862. He was succeeded by Rev.
Cornelius B. Smith, May 24, 1863, who remained
until May 18, 1865. In November of the same
year Rev. Charles L. Hutchins l)ecame rector. He
resigned May 24, 1869. During his rectorship
the chapel was built, at a cost of $5,000. From
June 1, 1869, to June 30, 1873, Rev. D. C. Rob-
erts was rector. Rev. Leander C. Manchester, the
present rector, came October 1, 1873. The pres-
ent number of communicants is two hundred and
seventy.
T/ic First Preslji/lerlan C/iurch was established
June 2:5, 1869, with the Rev. J. L. Robertson as
stated supply. He had declined a call. Novem-
ber 9, 1869, Rev. John Brash was installed as
pastor. He resigned May 31, 1870. Rev. A. C.
Rowe came in June, 1870, was installed Novem-
ber 1, 1870, and resigned May 3, 1871. Rev.
S. F. Calhoun was installed in November, 1871,
and resigned September 9, 1873. The church on
AppletoTi Street was purchased in the fall of 1873
for $15,000. The fir-st service was held November
2. Rev. Robert (.'ourt, the present pastor, was
installed in March, 1874.
T/ie Fiflh-Street BnplUl Church was organized
March 17, 1874. The ciiajjel was dedicaled Jan-
uary 2, 1873. It was under the cliarav of iicv.
T. J. B. House from November, 187.1, to I he dose
of the year 1876. I!cv. \\. V. 'I'ln(inir, tli,- pn-cnl
pastor, was installnl March 1, ls77. It cdm-
menecid with twenty-six, and now has two hundivd
and five members.
The Jfighland Melhodlil Episcnpal Church was
organized March 12, 1875, with Rev. G. W. H.
Clark as pastor. He remained until August, 1875.
The house was dedicated June 11, 1876. It cost
$7,000. Rev. A. R. Gregory came April 11,
1877, and left April 9, 187^8. Rev. George H.
Clark came April 9, 1878, and left April 8, 1879.
Rev. Austin H. Merrill, the present pastor, came
April 8, 1879.
The Mt. Vernon Free Bapt/si Church, located
on the corner of Mt. Vernon and Butterfield streets,
was built in 1872-73, and dedicated July, 1873.
In July, 1874, Rev. George S. Ricker of Richmond,
Maine, was called to labor as a missionary, and
commenced his labors August 1. The church was
organized December 29, 1874, with twenty-six
members; the present membership is one hundred
and twenty-six. The Mt. Vernon Church is con-
ducted on the free-seat system, and all funds are
raised by voluntary contribution. Connected with
the church and parish is a literary society, a young
Christians' association, a ladies' benevolent society,
and a band of Little Mission Helpers. The Sunday
school numbers more than two hmidred, with an av-
erage attendance of about one hundred and twenty.
The Young Mens' Christian Association was or-
ganized in the fall of 1854. S. N. Merrill was
president, and continued about two years. After
a number of preliminary meetings, the present in-
stitution was organized January 26, 1867, with
Ithamar W. Beard as president. The rooms in
Barristers' Hall were dedicated April 4, 1867, and
the Association was incorporated February, 1868.
The rooms consist of a hall, reading-room, parlor,
lodging-room, and secretary's office. The present
officers are Philetus Burnham president, Henry J.
ilcCoy missionary and general secretary.
St.' Patrick's,' Femcick Street. — Octoher 28,
1828, religious services were held in the Merrimack
Company's School-house on ]\Ierrimack Street,
under the direction of the bishop of the diocese.
July 3, 1831, St. Patrick's Church, wliich had
been erected on land donated by the Locks and
Canals Company, was dedicated. It was a frame
building seventy by forty feet. Father Afahoncy,
who had charge of the parish, built the priest's
liouse, located next to tiie church, in 18:52. In
LS;55 Father Curl in came (o Lowell as an a.'^sistant
lo l''allier Maiionrv for a short lime. He was siircvdrd
by Fatlwr Conn.lly, wlu,, under I'alhcr
Mahoney's direction, built two wings to the ciiurcii.
I''atlier J. T. McDermott succeeded Fatiier Malioney
in 1837. In 1839 Rev. James Conway was