The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-19

aIuIhS elGer OF the district, Rev. Dr.
Crowell, and this conVocatton decided
mat a church should be built on the let
at the earliest possible moment The con-
terence was held in Worcester that year
ana that body appointed Rev, Edward
| Si1ase as the first pastor of the church.
ne conducted regular preaching SER
ytees in the quarters used by the Sun
Jay scnooi having a congregation of
anout 20 persons at his first service.
The church itself was erected under
the auspices of the city mission board
which met at Grace church on April %.
1S f9, 70 CONSIDER plans for the immediate
ERECTION Of the new house of worship.
Ihe mission board al that time did
Hot feei 1T advisable to begin the eree-
ooE OF the church On account OF the
paCGHy Of the funds that were availa-
Bile, the demands on it's means at that
tine being very extensive.
The building committee Of the C<,,lpcsa
Wss. however, made of sterner stuff.
anu the members Of this body deCtd-
led to close the contract for the build
ing OF the CHURCH and 20 so ahead con-
iident in their ahilsty to overcetRe the
dlfheuldes, they could not conceal from
themselves, but really did exist.
On May 10, the church was organized
by the presiding elder with a fIieubeP-
ship Of is persons. At this time thu
church passed through the bitterest
STRUGGLED it's existence and it was with
dtfticufty that the members OF the liz
tie band of pioneers were able to keep
things going and make any percep1i-
Die progress. They were, however, en-
doR-ed with great determination to
carry their beloved project TO a sue
cessfui outcome and despite the ardu-
BUSINESS of the way they persisted, and
day by day the church gained a strong
e. foothold, aud year by year it has
pFospered and waxed raoFe stable eEer
SINCE.
Rev. M Chase was made the pastor
OF t1e Church Tor second year, and
on April Is, 1853, a great event in the
histotF Of the Church occurred. On
that occasion the services of Rev. s. S
Ives, one Of the most noted exhoFters
Of the time. were secured and through
his efforts $3.50 in pledges and cash
were secured for the removal of the
debt on the new church which was
dedicated on thai occasion. Bishop l.
W. Wiley preached the sermon Of dea-
ication, and ct the conclusion of the
services Of The day, the church was
free from debt, During Rev. Mr..
Ghase's pastOrate, 80 persons were hap
H3ed AID IS were received Ehto fun
membership
p 1875, Rev; II: 2. Weston was APP
pointed pastor Of the church, During
the following year it was decided to
| rsise the church and bnild ON audience
| room underneath it. The new vestry
was dedicated on December t2th, 1876
Fifteen hupdred dollars was secured
on that day. Rev Mr. Weston served
the church as its pastar for three
years It was resolved 20 buAd par
sonage on the f6t above the church ON
Coral street, and the buitd}ng ives
con- pleted on February BSta and dedi-
GATED on February G1St, 1878. During
Mr.. Weston's pastorate, other improve
n1ents N*ere made which cost in the
neighborhupd of $3.50 Mr. Weston bat1-
tfzed 81 persons and received So into
fun membership.
IN the spring Of 1873 Rev. jesse.
Wagner was appointed as the pastor
of the church and finished his term u
service in 1881. In April of that xear.
Key, ~ f. HerrCk becauae the pastor
| of the church, he being appointed by
| Bishop J. o. Peck. He remained here
for two years and during his psstorate
| involved $4,000. II. c. Grafton gave one
half of this sum and the remainder
was given by the other mem bers Of the
church. In addition to this, mort
gage Of 5000, bearing interest at per
cent was taken up and another bearing
interest at only per cent, IT'S face be-
ing $500, Was secured from the Five
Cent Savings bank
| In the years following the Dastorate
of Rev. Mr. Herrick, The church was
presided over by number Of rever-
end gentlemen, each of whom added
something to the onward march Of the
| churCh's prosperity. The pastors in
order after Mr.. HeCrick were Rev.
Charles Young, Rev. W, ?. Roy, Rev
J. Q. Knowles. Rev. J. n. Emerson ana
( Rev H. p. Rankin.
The present pastor Of tfa church,
Rev George r. Ssn6eNson, waS APP
! pointed IN 1898 by Bishop Fowler and
thus far ia his term there have been
| 80 persons admitted to the church Rev.
Mr.. Sanderson is among the most pop
ular ministers Of his denomination in
| the city and has thus far errdeared
| himself very highly TO his people as
we'll as having gained the respect and
cordial esteem of all Of whateSeF faith
with whom he has conae in contact
His executive ability in thu mana ge-
ment Of The church affairs Is undis-
puted and the financial standing Of the
chureh has been greatly improved
| through his dntiring efforts seconded
by the ready assistance rendered him
| by the members of his congregation.
At the present time the church is in
q most au2rishiag condition and is
constantly enlaTging the sphere of It's
usefulness. Few churches OF the city
| are more pa.instaiSiRg in their efforts to
make the social life Of the church what
3 it should be and entertainments and
social gatherings that tend to bring the
people nearer together end to interest
them in greater degree in the vital
work of the church, are very frequent
and always enjoyable
The church has had during its cor
porate existence nine pastors OF whom
six have remained three years each. IN
this time 235 persons have been bap-
| tized, $50 received on probation and sos
taken into full membership in the
church. During this period the church
has raised for benevolent purposes
! $780, for current expenses S147 700, and
for salaries $41,231 At the present
/ time the membership of the church is
over 100.
The 25th anniversary Of the church.
| which was celebrated on Dec. 4th last.
| was made the occasion of special SER
vices of a very interesting character,
! in which all the pastors of the demon.
! ination in the city took part, and de-
| hvered messages from their congrega-
| tons OF COngratulation and earnest as
surance of regard and esteem The
principal sermon of the occasion was
preached by Rev. DR.. M. 3. Chapman