The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-19
PLY MOUTH
Citadel Of Strength
For the Right
IN CITY'S MIDST.
History Of One IF Worces-
ter's Strong Churches.

Among the religious denomination
that have representatives in Worcester
there is perhaps none that has wide
Influence or is more powerful in tn,
particulars Of financial strength anC
numbers than is the Congregations
Church, and of this denomination there
fare few churches more extended il
thigh spheres of influence than the one
which forms the subject of this sketch
Plymouth Church.
Although of comparatively recent Or
sanizatiot for one of the larger church
es Of the city, the congregation whose
handsome stone house of worship at
the corner of Pearl and Chestnut
streets is one. of the landmarks of
Worcester, has distinguished itself in
particular as one of the most active
and progressive of the churches of this
section, and is today attended by and
numbers among it's members many of
the most prominent people of the city,
both in religious and social activity.
Plymouth Church was founded near
" thirty years ago. It was almost by
an inspiration that the church was
formed, ana SO quickly did the idea of
It's inception take form after if was
conceived in the minds of its founders
that it seemed as though the church
was already built and launched on its
career OF material and spiritual pros
peFity before the city at large realized
project was under way In the his
tory OF the church there stands out
one name that will always be recog-
meg as that of the prime mover in its
ofganlzation. Francis B. Knowles was
the man in whose mind originated the
idea of having ". NJ c. A. church,
Ii Worcester.
For twenty years previous to the
rounding Of Plymouth church there had
oeen no Congrega church started
IN worcester and as the population of
the city had increased more than a
hundred per cent in that time it was
put matter of course that sooner or
later a new church of the denomina-
tlon would have to arise but this fact
IN no way lessons the credit due to Mr.
movies as the founder of the church
Tor II remained for him to conceive the
loea OF a church which should have as
- founders men affiliated with the Y
W. =. A. of Worcester, and all through
slS history Plymouth church has been
one of the most prominent. supporters
VI une association in the city and has
numbered among its membership a
large proportion of the active workers
IN that branch of Christian workers.
On the evening of April Is, 1863, four
Teen young men met in one of the
rooms OF the Mechanics hall building
20 consider the formation of a church
winch should be. as they fondly hoped
thurch home par excellence for the
members of the Y. NJ. c. A of the city.
~ this number, Mr.. Knowles was the
leading spirit and for that reason was
chGsen to be the chairman of the first
meeting and remained in that position
until the new church was firmly Or
Sanized as such.
me others who composed the pioneers
OF the movement We're Lyman Drury,
Gharles II. Morgan, Henry NJ. Wheeler,
Luolus ?. Goddard, who was the sec
Tetary of the meeting, and Asa L.
Aheeland. All of these gentlemen were
a. that time young men, and among
the most earnest workers in the Y. M
Z. A. That the new church had good
material for it's foundation is amply
demonstrated by the places these gen
uielnen nave since achieved for them
selves in the annals of the city.
The plan that was adopted was to
secure the names of 50 mon, each of
Whom should pledge himself to be one
oI mat number TO guarantee the eX-
Penses of the new church fer one year,
the total amount not to exceed $4,000.
rms was shortly after accomplished
q second meeting w4s held a week
. laters and at this severAl of the pastors
OF the city spoke and urged the pros
ecu1lon of the. new scheme as soon
as possible AT this meeting it was
o $50, atnough with some hesitancy
10 secure Mechanics Hall for one wear
Ior the meetings OF the church
AT third meeting of the c,urch
held week later, it was announced
that the hall had been secured and
that On the following Sunday. Rev p
p: Wepp, then OF the Shawmut Church
OF Boston, would preach. Finance and
executive committees. one from aacb
of the then existing churches of tbe
denomination in the city. were appoint
ed. During the ilDurse Of the rseetine
a subscription was opened to meet fhe
expenses of the church for the ensu-
ing year, and more than $4,000 was sub
scribed, the first subscription being one
of $500 from r. A. Goodnow, who has
always been an active worker and gen
erous benefactor of the church. The
amount of the subscription was soon
raised to more than $4,000. Jehiel Todd
was the first person to pay his sub
scription. 97
On Sunday, May 9, the first services
We're held in Mechanics Hall, the hall
being crowded at all the meetings, |
both in the+morning, afternoon and
evening. The first session of the Sun
day school was called to order the
sameg afternoon, there being over 450
persons present.
The next Sunday, the sermon was
preached by Professor Julius H. Seelye,
afterwards president of Amherst Col
lege., The Sunday school was organ
lied With Charles H. Morgan as super
intendent, The Sunday school library
was started the same day, there being
$l55 subscribed for that purpose.
The warrant for the organization of
the parish was issued on May 18th,
naming the goth of that month for
organization. c. b. Metcalf was elect
ed moderator. Edward M. Rockwell
clerk Edward A. Goodnow treasurer.
and Constant Shepard collector. The
first assessors We're s. r. Haywood, C.
b, Metcalt William p. Daniels, f. j.
Knowles and S. j. Wilcox.
May 18th, after adjournment of the
final preliminary meeting in regard to
the formation of a parish, a new Sc
ries of meetings was inaEgurated to
act in regard to the spiritual body, the
church, Committees were appointed
to formulate articles of faith and
covenant and to call a council, and to
receive the names of those who de-
sired to join the Jew church. 1S5
names were received.
The council for the recognition of the
church met in the Old South Church,
which then stood on the common, On
July 18th, 1869 On that occasion, 1877
persons were present to accept of
membership in the church, and the let
ters of CT others were read. New