Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-10
CITY AND COUNTY.
Baptist semi-Centennial Anniver

baptist Sem1-CenTenn10l anniversary.
The First Baptist church of this city celebra-
ted the ffteth anniversary of its organization
on Tuesday, Dec. 9th, by appropriate services in
the church, commencing at ten O'Clock in the
forenoon. The historical address was then de-
lvered by Hon. Isaac Davis, who gave an inter
esting sketch of facts and "reminiscences, gather
ed mostly, as he stated, from private notes of
deacon James Wilson, formerly and for many
years postmaster of this city, and who did more
than any other person to organize the church.
When deacon Wilson came here in 1895, there
were only three Baptists in Worcester, one of
whom was Dr. John Green, grandfather of the
present DR.. John Green, and son of DR. Thomas
Green, who founded the church in Greenville
Leicester. These til rec individuals were ali
dead in 1872, and deacon Wilson was left
the only Baptist in this place, when he
started the church here alone Previ-
GUS to 1912 there had been occasional
preaching at bis house the Old South
church, over which Rvv. DR.. Austin was pastor,
had been refused The first persons baptized
were Rebecca Parsons and John NJ Hunt, May
81, 1912. In July, six more were baptized, in
Col. Samuel Flagg's mill pond year from
that time, DR.. Austin attended public discourse
by Elder Bentley, and took exceptions to bis po-
sitions
November u, 1912, this church was founded,
and December 9, following, council was con-
vened and the church organized with twenty
eight-members, fourteen males and fourteen fe-
males, although only eight months before there
was only one baptist in town. The meetings
were hid in the old centre school house on
Main street. Elder William Bentley from liver
ton, Rhode Island was called here to preach,
and recognized as pastor December 10, 1873
The services on this occasion being held in Rev.
DR.. Bancroft's church, the Old South being re-
fused by DIR. Austin, who preached many bitter
sermons against the Baptists
The church united with the Warren Baptist
Association, the oldest Baptist association in the
United States. The building of the first meeting
house was commenced in May, 1914, and was
finished in December following, when it was
dedicated. Its cost was seventeen hundred dol
lars.
The first evangelist sent out by the church was
Rev. Gustavus F. Davis, afterwards D. D., who
was ordained in June, 1914, and at 10 years of
age The church has sent out 81 evangests in
all, 5 of whom had become doctors of divinity,
presidents of colleges, and A missionaries
of the latter, Mr.. Slater, among the Indians, be-
ing the Oldest missionary new living. OF its
se"en pastors, four were now living. Of its ten
deacons, six were now living. In 1926 the house
was enlarged at a cost of 5000. In 1886 the
house was burned, and another, the present one,
built on the same site, at an expense of SIT 600
Elder Going established the first sabbath school
in 1916, the oldest in the county.
The Worcester Baptist Association was forraed
in 1919, and then it comprised eleven churches
In 1918 the Wachusett Association was set off
from it. This church has contributed $4,000
for gospel purposes abroad and 900 at home,
besides $4,000 for educational purposes In
1853 the pews were made church property by
subscription of $4,000. The Pleasant street
church was organized fom this in 1S41, and the
Third Baptist church in 1853.
The afternoon was devoted to hearing reports
of various committees, on matters connected
with the history of the church. The exercises of
the day closed with a social reunion at the YES
try in the evening.