History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

242 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
$ 7,998.45. Besides tlie subscription to pay this
ainouut, a sinking fund was instituted at the be-
ginning to pay the salaries of the first professors,
and afterwards a $100,000 fund, a $£00,000
fund, and a library building fund of about
S 40,000. Several acres of the estate have been
sold for building purjjoses ; these portions are on
the west, bordering on the Conunon and Centre
Street, extending the whole distance from Cypress
Street to Station Street ; and on the north, border-
ing on Station Street, and including several streets
which have been laid out within the territory,
especially Chase Street, Ripley Street, and Knowles
Street, named in honor of tlie first three professors.
The corner-stone of the Eliot Church edifice,
Newton, was laid March 19, 184-5, with religious
services. The building was dediratcd July ],
1845, and the church orgaui/.rd the same day.
Tlie church was composed of thirl\ -m\cii inriiibers,
of wiioni thirty-one were from the I'ir>l i'arisji
Church in Newton Centre. The name ul' Hon.
William Jackson heads the list, and hi- uilhieiirc
and eounsc'l were at tlic foundalicju nf I his iin|i(n--
Thfolosfical Iiistilulion.
tant measure. William S. Leavitt, the first pastor,
was ordained December .'3, 1845, and was dismissed,
at bis own request, November 8, 1853. In the
spring of 1849, the house of worship, being insuffi-
cient to accommodate the increasing congregation,
was enlarged by the addition of twenty-eight pews,
making the whole number ninety-two, and reopened
for public services May 13, 1849. The
second pastor, Eev. Lyman Cutler, was installed
October 25, 1854 ;
but his health declined rapidly
from the time of his settlement. He was able to
preach but once a day for eight successive Sabbaths ;
he administered the sacrament the first Sabbath in
January, 1855, and then asked for a susjjension of
his labors for three months, which was granted. But
lie continued to decline, and died April 28, 1855.
June 11, 1850, Rev. J. W. AVellinan was in-
stalled pastor, and remained in office about seven-
teen years. The old church-building was removed
a few rods northerly, and converted into a public
hall, and the present house of worshi]), on the
original site, was commenced about January 1,
1 8(10. Tiie corner-stone was laid on the day of the
slate East, Ajiril 5, 1860, and the church was dedi-