History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

ward till 1867. Rev. E. B. Fairchikl, in 186S,
commenced holding an afternoon service in Lyceum
Hall. A house of worship was built in 1871,
where the society has since continued to hold its
tled in February, 1878. In June of the same year
the society placed itself in fellowship with the Uni-
tarian denomination.
T/ie Salem Street Bupiid Church was organized
in 183;J, with sixteen members. The meeting-
house was built in 1836. The pastors were settled
as follows: Rev. Henry Smith, June, 1837;
Rev. J. Woodbury, 1SI2; Rev. John Upton,
1843; Rev. J. G. Townsend, 1845; Rev. John
Cookson, 184-8; Rev. E. K. Fuller, 1854; Rev.
A. M. Higgins, 1858; Rev. William R. Davy,
1859; Rev. H. P. Guilford, 1865: Rev. T. W.
Crawley, 1867; Rev. Luther D. Hill, 1870; Rev.
James K. Ewer, 1874.
Bethesda Church and Society. — The Bethesda
Society was formed in 1849. The first meeting
was called April 23. Captain Timothy Wakefield
was moderator ; Oliver Peabody, clerk ; Timothy
Wakefield, Aaron Parker, John H. Bancroft, as-
sessors; Milo Parker, collector and treasurer.
Stillman E. Parker was chosen clerk in 1855, and
has held the office to the present time. The church
edifice was dedicated January 1, 1850.
The Bethesda Ciiurch was organized April 17,
1849, with ninety members. Rev. Edward W.
Clark, the first pastor, Avas ordained January 1,
1850, and remained two years. Rev. W. H.
Beecher became pastor, September 14, 1853, and
was dismissed in 1856.
Rev. William H. Willcox, the third pastor,
was installed July 3, 1857. His pastorate was of
unusual length and prosperity. His resignation
being accepted, the connection with the church
and society was dissolved March 5, 1879. On the
same day Rev. William B. Ely was installed as his
successor.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized
June 9, 1867, with nineteen members. The meet-
ing-house was built in 1870. Rev. Stephen Gush-
ing preached one year. Rev. H. D. Weston suc-
ceeded in 1869, and preached two years; Rev.
READING. 287
J. N. Short, three years ; Rev. W. H. Hatch, three
years ; Rev. J. L. Hanaford, one year ; Rev. J. F.
Mears, the present pastor, entered upon his labors
here in 1878.
meetings. In 1869 a new society was formed, un- The First Presbi/ferian Church was organized
der the name of The Christian Union. It adopted February 27, 1873, with twenty members. Its
the following as its platform and creed " : A belief house of worship was dedicated Februar}', 1874.
in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Rev. A. S. Gardiner was installed as jmstor. May,
Humanity, as taught by Jesus Christ, and acknowl- 1873, and remained till September, 1875. Rev.
edging Him as Our Teacher and Guide."
P. M. Macdouald has since supplied the pulpit.
The present pastor. Rev. C. "\V. Heizer, was set- In 1871 J. Hilary Skinner, Esq., correspondent
of the London Times, attended a political banquet
in this town, of which he gave a pleasant descrip-
tion in his paper. A few extracts from his narra-
tion may properly be given in closing the historical
sketch of the town.
" You must picture a brightly lighted hall, with
a gallery at one end where a band of music and six
rows of tables stretch down the centre. You must
fill the hall with quiet, earnest-looking people of
both sexes, and imagine the usual table at the top,
furthest from the music, where sat the principal
guests of the evening You may fancy that
the scene is before you, and hurry on to discuss
its social bearing without having heard of the
pretty young waitresses.
" Yet stay a moment, I entreat, for this matter
of pretty young waitresses aforesaid is worthy our
attention. The well-behaved, neatly dressed girls
who hand round the coffee and tea so demurely,
and who are, in one sense, the chief ornament of
the room, belong to the same class of society as those
on whom they wait Vanish all thought of
dull-eyed and weary British waiterdom, — vanish
the nimble gargon and the obliging Icellner. AVe
are waited on by nymphs who bring us the fra-
grant coffee or the sleep-killing tea, and my only
trouble is about asking for more. Shall I venture
to beckon to me that pretty creature who has just
embraced the old dame on my right ? Shall I call
out "Waiter! " in a firm undertone, and hold up
my cup at this smiling young person whose httle
head overflows with curls ? Tiie question is momentous
to a timid Briton, but its answer is sim-
l^le. Hold up the cup, ask for more, do anything
that reason and friendship will permit, and tiie at-
tendant nymjohs will be found as much alive to the
work of the hour as their countrymen are apt to be
alive to any work which they take in hand
I cannot attempt to tell all that was said, or to
give the names of all who spoke, but such a slight
sketch of the leading speeches as has gone before