History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

544 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
from Cambridge or Boston was present. The soci-
ety gained but slowly in numbers, and at the break-
ing out of the Eevolution was quite overborne by
the feeling against English ecclesiasticism, wliich
was considered as a part of the system of royalty.
Several persons, however, continued tlieir sympatliy
with the church, but were too few in number to
sustain an organization. In 1865 a successful at-
tempt was made to revive tlie Episcopal service.
Meetings of those interested were at first held in
Lyceum Hall. Increasing numbers led to the
building of a small church, or chapel, in 1867.
Since that time the growth of the parisli has been
steady, and, with tiie band of earnest workers it
contains, it seems likely to gain a permanent posi-
tion among the religious societies of the town. It
has had several reeldrs, among whom have been
Rev. J. AV. I'l.rier, ie'v. S. U. Shearman, and Rev.
J. Frank Wineklcy, who is the present incumbent.
Roman CaUioli.c Churdt. — There were many
members of the Romish communion in town some
time before an attempt was made to gather them
in cliarge of one of the priestly fathers of tlie
cliurcli. In 1847 the accessions had become suffi-
cient to establish regular meetings, which were
held in the town-liall. Tliis continued to be tlie
place of worship until 1852, wlien a plain but com-
modious cliurch edifice was built. The society
rapidly increased from year to year, and in 1865
the liouse had become mucli too small for the accommodation
of the large congregation. In the
following year the present stately cluircli was pro-
jected, and, through the untiring efforts of Father
Quealy and a few leading members of the society,
was completed and dedicated in 1869. Tlie building
is conveniently located on the corner of Main
and Summer streets, and is one of the finest struc-
tures in town. Father Quealy still continues to be
the presiding priest of the parish, but has been ably
sustained by assistants, noteworthy among whom
was Father McClure, who left a few months ago
as a mission worker in Essex County. His present
aids are Fathers Murphy and McDonald.
Wohiini ill the Chnl War. — In the great upris-
ing which followed the attack nu Fort Sumter,
AVoburn was as picunpt tn exliibil her spirit and
])atriotisin as any Iduii in the Slate. She bore her
part in the long struggle which followed with well-
sustained zeal, and contributed her full share in
men and money to bring about its successful issue.
On the evening' ..f Apnl IX, ISlU, u pulilie meet-
ing w;,s held m Luvmn II;dl, uliieh was hirgein
numbers and enthusiastic in its expression of resistance
to rebellion and loyalty to the Union. Ad-
journed meetings were held on the 20tli and 21st
of the same month, where the same spirit prevailed
as at the first. As the result of these meetings,
more than one hundred men offered themselves
for their country's service, and nearly S 8,000
were pledged by individuals, in sums from § 1 to
f 500, to aid in their outfit and to furnish assistance
to their families in their absence. These
events took place wliile as yet no systematic meas-
ures had been taken for enlistments either by the
state or national governments.
The MliJiUesexJonnialAwCi The irohurn Budget,
both local papers, spoke wise and brave words for
the cause. Their editorials were vigorous and
patriotic, and did much to concentrate popular feeling
upon the duties of the hour. The AVoburn
Phalanx, an old military organization of much re-
pute, was revived, and its ranks recruited to the
maximum number. Securing a new and full equipment,
it marched to Boston, under Captain Timothy
Winn, and oflered itself to the governor foriminediate
service. Several causes led to adelay of its acceptance
as a body, whereupon many of its members hastened
to join other organizations ; and it was not until the
next year that the Phalanx, under new enlistments,
went to the front in its proper place in the
5th regiment. In its municipal capacity the town
acted with decision and liberality. At a meeting
held on the 6th of May, after stating the desire of
the town to do its duty to the country in that
perilous hour, it was voted to pay to single men en-
listed from Woburn %\"l, to married men without
children §16, and to married men with children
$ 20 per month, in addition to the pay received
from the United States government, and the treas-
urer was authorized to borrow % 5,000 for military
purposes. On April 14, 1862, the town treasurer
was authorized to borrow all the money required to
pay state aid to the families of soldiers. Septem-
ber 2 of the same year § 17,000 were appropriated
for the payment of a bounty of $ 100 to each person,
to the number of one hundred and seventy, who
should enlist for nine months and be mustered to
the credit of the t.iwn. March 0, 186:5, $500
were appropriated to aid the women of Woburn in
purchasing material to be made into garments for
the soldiers in service. November 3, 186:3, the
subjoined paper was read and agreed to : " If the
town of Wobiini agrees to pay the lifty-two men
now called for to make up its quota S ;J00 each,