History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

266 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY
ganization, commenced to build a commodious
meeting-house, which was dedicated October 31,
183-2. Previous to this time their public services
had been held in an unfinished hall over the store,
where the town-house now stands. Mr. Howe,
having an hereditary tendency to consumption,
found his health and strength gradually failing,
until he was obliged to ask for a colleague to as-
sist him in his labors. After a trial of several
candidates, the choice fell on Rev. David Andrews
of Dedham, a graduate of Amherst and of Andover,
and he was ordained January 29, 1840. Mr. Howe
died the following summer, July 19, 1840, aged
forty-four. Tic was a man of unusual sagacity and
foresight. With remarkable tact as well as judg-
so large a majority of church and congregation.
There was no legal controversy, no actual quarrel.
A .spirit of bitterness, however, was developed
among the people, and the town was divided into
two politico-theological parties, which existed for
many years. But the ministers of the opposing
sects, although they could not meet each other
theologically, always met as gentlemen, on the
common ground of Christian courtesy.
ilr. Andrews, who became sole pastor on Mr.
Howe's decease, was, in many respects, quite differ-
ent from his predecessor. Tiiough a thorough
scholar and forcible writer, he was no orator. Kind
and sympathizing, he was externally cold and un-
congenial. A perfect gentleman at heart, in his
deportment he was awkward and constrained. He
had no policy, no finesse, but in everything pursued
an honest, straightforward, outspoken course. He
preached the gospel, as he believed it, plainly, and
with a directness that was often more pungent than
agreeable to his hearers. More tlian ten years of
the best portion of his life wnv liicially devoted to
his church and society, and he Iciinicd, by bitter
experience, that republics arc ungrateful. He
asked a dismission, which was granted April 2,
1850. He afterwards j)rcachcd several years at
Tiverton, Rhode Island, and llicn went to the West.
He settled in Winona, Minncsoia, whrrr lie resided
till his decease, in 1870.
Rev. Jyyman Cutler of Dorchester, a graduale f)f
Dartmouth and of Andover, was ordained Jan-
uary 22, 1851. He was a superior scholar, with
a ready command of language, and a nervous style
to the fingers' ends. Open-hearted and free from
guile, he won the regard of all. But he w-as am-
bitious for literary distinction, and unsuited to the
])arochial duties of a country parish. His request
for a dismissal was granted November, 1853. The
following year he was settled in Newton, where, af-
ter a brilliant but brief career, he died. May 2, 1855.
Rev. Thomas Morong, a graduate of Amherst
and of Andover, was ordained April 12, 1854, and
dismissed November 4, 1855.
June 11, 1856, Rev. Edward P. Smith, a grad-
uate of Yale and of Andover, was ordained pastor
of the church and society. He w-as endowed with
remarkable executive ability. With him, to think
was to act ; so much so that he was liable to
ment, his administrative abilities were of a high hastily follow his first impulse, rather than wait for
order. Very few ministers could have led
so successfully, and withal so peaceably as
off
he,
the sober second thought. In his preaching and
in his whole bfe — pastoral, civil, and political —
this characteristic was prominent. At the begin-
ning of the Rebellion he took an active part in
arousing the people and procuring enlistments.
Having obtained a month's leave of absence in
January, 1863, he attached himself to the United
States Christian Commission, and went to the
front. The month's absence was extended in-
definitely, and a dismissal was asked for. But
the society were unwilling to grant it, vainly
hoping that, after the wax, he could content him-
self with the quiet life and circumscribed sphere
of Pcpperell. At length, December 7, 1864, his
repeated request for a dismissal was granted. At
the close of the war he engaged with his natural
ardor in the cause of the freedmen, and held a
prominent position in the American Missionary
Society. He was afterward Indian agent in Min-
nesota ;
then was appointed commissioner of Indian
affairs. Having resigned this position and been
elected president of Howard University, he went
to Africa, to become more intimately acquainted
with the needs of the Negro race, and the most
feasible methods for missionary work among the
native tribes. While on this mission he died of
African fever, (in board of the United States vessel
Amliri-, in ihetlulf of Guinea, June 15, 1876,
atred fiirt\-niiie. One of his colaborers thus
wriirs (if him " : lie was noted for his love of chil-
dren, his mirtlifnlness, his generosity, his strong
attachments, and his advocacy of the cause of the
opiH'cssed. Doing good in forgetfulness of self
was his business, and he pursued it to the end."
In July, 1859, the meeting-house was en-
of tliought and delivery, which thrilled his hearers tirely destroved bv fire, together with Mr. T/Uther