Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-09-23

church, and the horse of the courier bearing
the news of them fell at its very door.
The Declaration of Independence was pub
lished in the thirteenth year OF the church,
and read from its porch by Isaiah Thomas on
the l4th of July. These are but instances of
the many important incidents and events
whose history was thus pleasantly associated
with the history of the church which now is
beholding the publication of the republic and
the extinction of slavery amid the dangers and
fires Of civil war, while our area is wider than
that the Roman eagles ever travelled. He
hailed with joy the fact that the vigor of our
national lie is vanquishing our national dis
ease, and slavery is passing away forever.
The history of the growth, achievements
and pecuiarites of the old Greek and Roman
civilization; the grand achievements in art;
the structures and sculpture which modern
ages are content to initiate, and cannot hope
to surpass, was spiri:edly sketched. The
growth of the new civilization upon the ruins
of the old, with the impetus of northern vlgor
and energy, with its invention of gunpowder,
the printing press, the compass, &C., was
drawn in glowing terms.
But in the century that fills the history Of the
church, the inventions have exceeded in
wonder any preceding time. The print
ing press has, since the church was built,
bSOu DIOuSuL ~ llS pISSSHL splGHulu pGIlcC-
ton. Watts and Arckwright were then de-
veloping their great inventions, ignorant,
however, that they were working so mighty
revolution. Two years after the building of
the church, Eli Whitney was born, whose
great invention has been so important to the
successful cultivation of cotton, which has
been introduced within the century. The
steamboat existed in embryo experiments
years after the church first stood on the
green common. Franklin developed the
great truths and facts OF electricity long after
the house was erected. The physical sciences,
whose basis the philosophic mind of Bacon
| laid in the Novum Organon, were then but
poorly understood, and have advanced to
| their great perfection since. Goodyear has
within the last thirty years achieved his great
results with the India rubber. Railroads were
unknown for half century after the church
was built. The century has seen the cultiva-
ton of cotton, which has done SO much to
strengthen slavery, and during the GEN.
fury has always been associated with slave
ry, but is now becoming an agent of freedom,
and is destined in the century to come to
open up the great continent of Africa to civ
ilization and progress.
The advancement this country has made in
wealth was next considered, and the notions
of what was then necessary for comfort and
what is now, were contrasted. He asked how
many silk dresses, pianos, parasols, and car
pets were to be found here in those days.
There were many spinning wheels, but no
sewing machines; and here he touched the
root OF the difference.
The speaker then passed to the considera-
ton OF religious changes of the century, and
of the new forces at work in the civilization
of the present age, which were unthought of
in tba I,t- rlaY1 tl,o ol,u b,,;It
effects OF these outside changes upon the state
OF religion was sketched. One of the first
changes in the manner Of worship was in the
style OF singing. The struggle on this sub
Ject began forty years before this church was
built.
The first innovation was the appointment
of an elder to lead the congregation in sing
ing. The next was the institution of Il choir,
and finally the introduction Of an organ. The
defeat of one old deacon who endeavored to
breast the tide of innovation and who was
forced to leave the church in tears because of
his discontinue, was narrated. The speaker
had been acquainted with all the pastors of
the church except the first, DIR. McCarty, who
died eighty years ago. The character of the
first pastor was sketched in the lights Of ira
dition and in connection with the religious
controversies of the times; and the remark
VI OOllu -AhdillS GOuCSl llllS lllulY ludl lie WAS
a Calvinist but not a bigot,' was quoted with
appreciation. To the two succeeding pastors the
speaker paid a feeling and touching tribute,
and also spoke in high terms of the others, all
but one of whom still live.
Tho speaker then dwelt upon the changes
"hieh ha"a tahna IlnnA in III. irltA"l--.--.i--
: OF the gospels, from which he drew hopeful
indications.
The organization of the second parish of this
dvo lt md Il, r.i..
new idea which was put forth then for the first
time separating the church from all alliance
with the state, an idea which has done SO
much to increase its real power as an agent to
accomplish good. He was willing to award to
the second church of this town all the merit it
claimed as being the first to give this idea inn
pulse and life.
The progress in theology has taken the form
OF liberation, which he illustrated by the reli-
gious history of this town. The labors of the
sainted Elliot and his successors with the In
dams were in this vicinity and towards Bus.
ton. There were venerable men living when
this church was built who remembered them,
though they lived, in the morning of New
England. There was then a congregation of
Indian christians-the result of their labors.
This was then the only church, Congrega-
tiunal in form, and Cavnistic in creed.
The speaker then passed to the considera-
ton of the immutability of Christ and his
church upon earth, which are the same always
and everywhere, changeless, while everything
else changes Successive generations OF the
. congregations are gathered to their fathers
but the church remains. The grass wither-
eth, the flowers fade but the word of the
Lord endureth forever.
The discourse occupied an hour and three
quarters in its delivery, and was listened to
with the greatest interest.
After prayer by Rev. DR.. Childs of Garlic
ton, VT, the choir sung the following fine and
appropriate hymn, written for the occasion by
Mrs. Walker, the wife of the new pastor:-
The aloe in the northern cline
Gathers its strength from and rhine,
Transmitting into healing leaves
Nhater from nature it receives.
But not until hundred years
The glory of its life appears
l. he sweetness, treasured hour by hour,
The century crowns with perfect flower
And thus our ancient church, o Lord!
Has scattered healing leaves abroad
A hundred years its influence bless,
Thousands its saving power confess.
o, let this natal-day behold
Its strength and fragrance all unfold;
Accept the glory of Its days.
The blossom of its garnered praise.
The doxology was then sung, and bene-
diction closed the services at the church.
THE DINNER.
Under the marshalship of James Estabrook,
Esq, the guests and others marched to the