The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-29

AsSt. ~. w ll1ild1l1 III IlulIlIlS ION, now
rector of Grace church in New Yorl,
city. DR.. Huntington passed a number
OF years in Massachusetts, and was a
very familiar figure in Worcester q
quarter of acentury ago. He was al
that time rector of All Saints, and was
noted. all over the state as, being one OF
the most eloquent and progressive OF
New England diyines. He was a man
who laid the very greatest stress on
work of missionary nature, and it is
due to this fact that the subject of the
present sketch is in existence.
DR.. Huntington conceived the idea. at
once poetical and practical, of estab-
fishing mission church in each of the
four quarters of the city, and of nam
Ing these after the four writer's of the
gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and
John. The first Of the quartette of
churches that were to be established
as heralds of the faith to the various
sections OF the city was st. Matthew's
at South Worcester.
St. Johns church was the second of
those to develope from the central idea
originated by DR.. Huntington. Much
to his regret, he was obliged to leave
the city before the mission was fully
accomplished, before he saw the rise
OIL 81. Marks church, and so soon that
st. Luke church has not as yet be-
come a reality.
st. Johns church is young organ
Natlon, but one full of vigor, and at the
present time enjoying most remarka-
Die period OF prosperity, both financial
and spiritual. The inception OF the
church dates back only to 1883, bu- in
the brief period of 10 years, which ii
has lived as portion of the church
body, 1t has attained wonderful
standing and influence in the commune
ty and IS recognized as a great and
vital working force in the interests OF
morality and religion
The flrsL service held by the body of
people who afterwards formed the
church, was held in a little room at No.
l, Lincoln square, on March IL, 1853
The service was Of the nature of a Sun
day school, ana was attended on this
initial occasion by AZ scholars and
teachers an unusually large gathering
as compared to the handful of people
qwhe have composed the first congrega-
ton Of many another Worcester church
had been occupied previously by the
Lincoln square Baptist church, which
moved on the Sunday previous TO the
date mentioned from this location into
their new house of worship.
The superintendent of the new school
was Lemuel A. Bishop, WHO was assist
ed by Stephen C. Earle, as treasurer
Robert Cook as librarian, and the late
rs. c. A. Hathaway as superintend-
ent of the infant classes.
The first regular evening service OF
the church was held in the same place
on March &c. 1888, and was conducted
by Rev. Henry Hague, now pastor OF
st. Matthew's Church. Services were
held nearly every Sunday evening after
that date by Rev. MIR. Hague. Rev. DR.
Huntington, Rev. Messrs. John S
Beers and George Paine.
The first regular Sunday service was
held on the feast of the Epiphany, jan
uary Z, 1884, Rev. John 5. Beers, at that
time missionary of the diocese. con-
Quoting the services. rhe rite of con-
firmation was administered to the
younger members of the church by Rt
Rev. Bishop Paddock for the first
time.
The first rector Of the church was
Rev. Edward Cross, who assumed his
duties March 8, 1884. He conducted the
first Easter service in the history Of
the church on April IS following, and
on the oath Of the same month the
land for the erection of the present
church edifice was purchased and the
building of the structure was soon af-
forwards begun.
The ground for the new edifice was
broken just one month after the pur-
chase of the land, and the first soc
was turned on that occasion by one
of the Oldest as well as one of the or
iginal members of All Saints Church
- Merthiah B. Green.
On the 5th of July of the same year
the cornerstone of the church was laid
Rev. John S. Beers officiating in the
unavoidable absence of the TT. rev
bishop of the diocese. Rev. Mr.. Beers
was assisted on that occasion by the
rector, Rev. Edward S. Cross and by
Rev. George W. Shinn of Newton.
September IS, "a, the church was
made a corporate body. The following
is the list of parish officers who frs
assumed the guidance Of the welfare
Of the church. Rector, John S. Beers
wardens, Lemuel A. Bishop and Isaac
N. Metcalf vestrymen, Edmund l.
Parker, Edmund NJ. Barton. Edwin
Todd, liver Johnson, Charles E. Pierce
treasurer, Stephen c. Earle; clerk
Charles E. Neale.
The pastorate of Rev. Mr.. Cross was
a very successful one, but 1t was Of
brief duration. He preached his rare
well sermon on the 18th of OCTOBER
and on November Goth, 1884, Rev. Fran
els G. Burgess assumed the duties Of
rector.
Rev. Mr.. Burgess endeared himself t
the congregation of st. Johns Church
and to the people of the city in as higl
a degree as it has ever been the 10
of any man to do. He was a preache
of remarkable power, and leader b!
nature Under him the church pros
pered and grew to a notable extent
and the interest in religious matter
that he succeeded in arousing amoni
his people kept the church steadily ad
vancing, with never a pause during al
the IL years he occupied the position
or rector. 1t was with intense regre
that his people parted with him whel
he left the city in 1892, and the feelin
OF loss extended to people of all de
nominations here for Mr.. Burgess in
terest IN the welfare and growth of tn
municipality, was no less strong tha
the love for his own church.
1t has been a. remarkable fact in tn
history OF st. Johns Church that tn
parish has never allowed itself to b
without spiritual head. During al
It's existence, 1t has been without a rec
tor less than six months after tn
coming Of the first holder of the posi-
ton, and the largest part of that ne
riod was after the departure of Rev
Mr. Burgess, when it was nearly rou
months before the arrival of Rev. Elio
White, his successor and the nresen
rector Of the church.
Rev, Eliot White came to st. John