Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-01

TRINITY cuurcHI sunday AFTERNOON an elaDorate us
COURSE embracing history of the rise and progress
of Methodism in this city. The clergymen of the
different Methodist societies of the city participated
in the devotional exercises. We give the following
abstract of the historical and statistical portion of
| Mr.. Dorchester's address:
The first Methodist itinerant VINO visited Wor-
ceser was that princely leader in Israel, Rev.
| Freeborn Garrettson, June 30, 1870, when there
were only 1900 inhabitants here. 1t was then twen-
/ ty-three years since Methodism had begun her mis-
1 sion in the United States. She then had in the
/ field 269 parishes, and numbered in her communion
i 5T,63l members; but they were wholly in the mid
| die and southern states, although New England
/ then embraced nearly one-third of the population
Of the whole Union. June 20, 1870, while he was in
/ charge of what was then called the northern dis
| trict, which extended from the Hudson river
| through the state of New York, Garrettson started
/ upon a preaching excursion into New England. En-
tering at the northwest corner of Connecticut, he
| passed through Hartford to Worcester and Boston,
reaching the latter place July 1st His visit here is
| recorded as follows in his journal DIN Worces-
| ter was kindly entertained by Mr.. Chandler, but
the people of the town appeared to have small
| share of religion. went from one end of the town
to the other and could get no one to open the town
| house and gather the people. l went to the house
i VI tIe new Mr. d. aHu was askeu u tAke TEA.
drew and asked if it was not customary to ask
blessing NO. said he, mot over tea 1 then
drew back from the table; his countenance changed
and he said in a very short manner, you may ask
| a blessing over your dish.' Plnching want might
drive me to eat and drink in such case. had an
| hours conversation with him. 1t is lameEtable for
master in Israel to deny the power of religion"
jesse Lee had entered the southwestern part of
Connecticut, in the previous autumn, and at the
| time that Garrettson was moving towards Boston,
he was pushing thitherward by more southerly
| route, through New London, Norwich, Newport
and Providence. But their movements were
known to each other, and Garrettson, ON his home
ward way, by more southerly route, met Lee,
greatly to their mutual surprise. the north
eastern line of Rhode Island. This was the intro
duction of Methodism into New England
Bishop Asbury, in his itinerunt rounds, passed
through Worcester several times-September ID.
1888; July 49, 1906; in 1877; June %, 1872, and
June O. 1915. But there is no record of any public
abors by him others in this place for thirythree
years after the first visit of GarrettsOn Societies
had been formed IN Milford, Northbridge, Harvard,
| Lunenburg, Ashburnham, Winchendon, Brook
field, Dana, and several other places in the county,
previous ito 1923; but there is no knowledge of
Methodist preaching in Worcester till 1923, when
Rev. John E. Risley, who then travelling the
Milford circuit with Rev. VIM. Thatcher, preached
the first Methodist sermon here Mr. Risey is still
living, and is a city missionary in Boston. The
tent of this old circuit and the amount of Mr. Ris-
leys labors that year in the various towns furnish
curious items of interest, which Mr. Dorchester
detailed. He preached in all 235 times, five of
which were in Worcester, four times in the
school house in New Worcester, and once in pri-
vate house in the north part of the town. Rev.
George Pickering also preached here few times,
through the influence of Rev. Farley Goddard, pas
tor of the Baptist church. then in the west part OF
Shrewsbury. In 1928 Rev. Ephraim X. Avery
preached here, once in the vestry of the Baptist
church, and once in the house of Elijah Brigham.
In 1929 Revs. Isaac Jennison and Daniel Fillmore
in travelling the Needham circuit preached here
few times. Mr.. Jennison says "Mr. Elijah Brigham
lived in small house near the canal. Only ten or
twelve persons ventured to come to our meetings;
the people seemed 10 be afraid to attend them But
class organized, with Mr.. Brigham leader
some of the others being Mrs Brigham, MIR. Whit
ney, and Miss Emmeline Upham now Mrs. VIM. B.
Odds of Charlton CITY," This is believed to have
been the first organization of Methodist Episcopal
church in Worcester, but it had only briei exis-
tence.
Now approaches the period when the first perma-
nent Methodist society was organized in Worcester
viz, in 1884, fortyone years after the visit of Gar
retson, and forty years after the organization of
the first Methodist society in New England. At
this time more than forty thousand communicates
had been gathered by the iiuerant preachers in the
New England states, nearly one-fourth of whom
were in Massachusetts,, and even in this county
there were about twelve hundred Methodists, but
chiefly upon the outskirts In the heart of the
county there was no Methodist society from
Webster on the south to Westminster and
North Leominster the north, nor between
Northboro and Harvard and Marlboro on
the east, and Brookfeld and Dana on the
west. AT the annual conference of 1880 Rev.
Dexter S. King, native of Leicester was appointed
to this extensive vacant field, and during the year
organized societies in Millbury, Leicester, Spencer
Barre Factories, and in New Worcester. The fol-
lowing among those composing the class at the
latter places Eleaser Baker, Mr.. and Mrs. Jesse t.
Lesare and three brothers, Stephen, John and Sa-
vile Metcalf, who had became Methodsts else.
where. Methodism got its first. permanent foot
hold here in New Worcester, several years before
the establishment of a society In the center of the
town. Worcester then had 4,173 Inhabitants, with
four churches, two Congregational, Que Unitarian
and one Baptist.
In 1881 the societies which Mr.. King had organ
lied were in what was called the Wales and Leces-
ter circuit, and Reys. Horace Moulton and Joel
Knight were appointed preachers.
In 1892 Worcester was part of the Brook6eld
circuit and Revs Samuel Davis and Ebenezer F,
Newell were the preachers assisted by Revs. iona.
than Haven and Samuel w. Coggshall. Rev. D. S.
King about this time married a Methodist lady,
miss Nancy Bryhem) living about three miles north
of the center of the town.
In 1888 Worcester was connected with the Lei
cester and Millbury circuit and Rev. Samuel Drake
was the Speaker. During this year. Mr.. and Mrs.
Soloman Parsons,land Rev. Jonathan L. Esteytthen
just graduated from Andoverl Joined the class at
New Worcester, and through the active instrument
taity of Mr. Estey and others, the first steps were
taken towards the organization of society in the
center of the town. In the early part of 1888, q
room was leased on Mechanic street, near the cor
of Union street, for class and prayer meetings
The class consisted at first OF three persons, VIM
Lucas, Daniel Ellenwood, and Jonathan l.. Estey
1t was organized by Rev. VIM Routledge, a talented
local preacher from England, then at New Worces-
ter, who became the first leader During the sum-
mer and autumn he preached occasionally in the
vesry on Thomas street, and in the First Baptist
church. In September, the class received the
following additions Mrs. VIM. Lucas Mrs Eph.
rain C. Stowell, Mrs. Samuel R. jackson and Miss
Sarah Wiuchell. The class then met at Mr.. Lucas's
house. During the autumn the Town House was
procured for meetings and Rev. Ira M. Bidwel of
Worcester, secured preacher, who was assisted
by Rev. Pardon I. Kenney, and Joseph A. Merrill |
succeeded them.
In 1884 Rev. George Pickering was appointed to
this place, during the year extending his abors to
Holden, Rutland Cherry Valley and Millbury.
During this year board of trustees appointed,
and they purchased lot OF land for $780, corner Of
Front aud Spring streets, for church edi6ce but
owing to want of funds the deed never taken.
In the winter of lS34-5 Revs A. D. Merrill and X.
Ransom afdpd Mr. Pictprinp in n prOtractQd meet
ing. The number of members reported to the con-
ference at the close of the first year was l07. Wor
cester was then part of the Providence district
Rev. John I. Burrill was preacher here in '35 and
80. Reference was made to the serious breach Of
the peace made at anti-slavery meeting in the
town hall IN 1885, where an address was being de-
livered by Rev. Orange Scott presiding elder Of the
district his notes being taken from HIM and torn
up.
Rev. Jonathan L. Esey received his first license to
preach under Mr.. Burrfil.
In the autumn Of 1895 lot was purchased ON
the corner OF Exchange and Union streets abont
where Mr. herriasldS large engine now stands,