The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-22

ter Fitch, Thomas, Thayer, Young,
shepard, Putnam and many others that
nave appeared with frequency and
prominence in the annals of Worces-
ter,s corporate, civic and social life.
Rev Mr.. Jennings assumed the pas
torate Jan. l, 1912, and held it for a
number of years He had a long line
Oh prllllaht successors, who We're in the
order of their tenure of office as fol
lows: Rev. Charles Colvin. Rev. DR..
fucker, Rev. Daniel w. Faunce. who
renamed eight years with the church
ana LED it to a most magnificent
growth, Rev. David Watson. who was
man of much learning and finally
concluded his life as a professor OF
Greek in Hamilton University, Rev. J.
T. Wheelock Rev. S. L. Holman. Rev,
ii: +. Lane. Rev. H. j. White. during
whose pastorate the present church ed
ifice was built, and Rev. Woodman
Bradbury, the eloquent and talented di-
VINE, who is at the present time the
pastor of the church.
The first church edifice was built in
1855 on the site now occupied by 10th
fop's Opera House on Pleasant street
Inc land was bought by the society
Tor the sum of $500, and at the time
mat the purchase was made there
We're not lacking those who considered
49, - iNiSs7S etllu dllDOSI IOQllSh invest
ineht, for 1t was said that the site was
too far away from the centre of the
Town and the busiest part of Main
street to ever be worth anything more
than what it sold for.
The land when bought was in use
as coward. When sold. previous to
TIE demolition of the old church a few
Years since, the purchasers paid the
church the tidy sum Of $4S, 900 for what
IL mad bought for one lhirtieth Of that
amount half century before. This
was most noteworthy instance of the
protection that has been influenced
over the church during all the wears
OF It's existence, for with the profits
mus obtained, the church was able to
clear its new edifiee OF debt at once
and it has never been obliged to incur
any since.
Az special meeting of the church
held April %, 1S43, it was voted to
raise $500 for the purpose of build
ing a church ediice provided there
could De FOUND ten men who would
stand ready to shoulder the financial
responsibility of the church for one
year. These men we're found at once
ana the sum was raised and the church
punt on the site already bought for
me price named Some years later
~ihNi - W as ItlIlOuelleQ and a new
tower added and during all the time
that the church ediffce stood if was
recognized as one of the handsomest
ana most commodious of the old style
houses OF worship of the city.
On May Z, 1887, the present clerl, of
the church, Mr.. ]. p. Cheney. intro
duced motion into the business meet
ING OF the church 10 the effect that
II was the sense of the church that a
new house of worship sht-.d be erect
ed provided it could. be done without
mourning any debt or materially de-
creasing the membership of the church
rms motion was passed and the sale
Oh the old property, the purchase of
the new and the erection of the present
very commodious church, followed in
Idplu succession. The present proper
W of the church located at the cor
ner of Pleasant and Ashland streets
600 WV
Inc present church edifice is of brick
ana brownstone, located on the corner
OF the two streets named The auditor
ltln OF the church is a very handsome
one as regards interior decorations and
nutings, The auditorium seats about 50O
persons and the vestry nearly half as
many more. The lower portion of the
otiNANh dAsO contains parlOrS, class
rooms, and all the modern adiuncts of
church edifice. The entire building is
very imposing bit of architecture and
a decided credit to the section of the
CITY IN which tits located. Aside from
the church edifice ITSELF the church is
the fostering protector Of mission To-
Gated in the Oak hill district.
The societies of the Pleasant Street
Baptist Church are very numerous ana
so well organized are they and co-or-
dlnated With respect to the work that
each is expected to do. that they form
very effective working force to carry
on the activities of the church. The
chureh Itself has a very strong organ
lZatlon and its affairs are in the hands
OF men who are particularly selected
Tor their fitness to deal with the prob
lens Of finance and general corporate
life that confront every church and Of
women who are eminently fitted to he
the taeUul managers of the social and
Charitable life of the church. The off
GERS of the church for the ensuing wear
are as follows:
Pastor - Rev Woodman Bradbury. 40
| Cedar street. "
Deacons-R, f. Comstock, "A Kingsburv
street; j. P. Cheney, 20 Bowdoin Street.