History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield ...

314 Pictorial Addenda.
This was the house in which the redoubtable Dr. Parsons
Cooke for about a quarter of a century exercised his high-keyed
elocution in fervid warning to his own flock, and his keen
power of vituperation in illustrating the blemishes in other Christian
bodies. It was entirely destroyed by fire on the evening
of Christmas day, 1870. The site was soon occupied by the
much more stately brick edifice which is now the spiritual
anchorage of this ancient parish. And all will agree that if the
spiritual growth of this our elder worshiping body has been
commensurate with the architectural progress, its heavenward
advancement has not been inconsiderable.
The foregoing, in connection with the others referred to, are
sufficient to give a pretty good idea of the improvement in ecclesiastical
architecture here. There are now several very fine
and costly churches in Lynn — St. Stephen's Memorial Church,
a picture of which may be found on a leaf preceding the titlepage
being the most costly and in its features and appointments,
perhaps the most perfect and beautiful. It was erected
by the late Enoch Redington Mudge at an expense of about
$250,000. By turning to page 260 the reader will find a view
of old St. Stephen's, the first Protestant Episcopal Church ever
built here.
Methodism took root in Lynn at an early period of its propagation,
and has continued to flourish, in what appears to be a
genial soil. The first service was held by Rev. Jesse Lee, in
December, 1790. It was commenced in the house of Joseph
Johnson, which stood on the north-east side
of Market street, a
few rods from Essex, but for lack of room was adjourned to a
neighboring barn. This Johnson house was the same that many
of our elder people will remember as that in which " Old Gates,"
as he was called, had his law office for some time, and in which
Hilton and Newcomb subsequently kept their furniture store.
The first Methodist society was organized in February, 1791 —
about two months after Mr. Lee's coming ; and in about four
months after the organization, they erected a house of worship,
which is said to have been the first of the order in Massachusetts.
This was succeeded, in 18 13, by the one which now
makes a part of Lee Hall building, on Park square. The fine
brick structure on the other side of the same square, is the So-