|
Book Two ""TO JUDGE THE FUTURE" CHAPTER ONE - REV. JOHN E. MORGAN CHAPTER TWO - ROBERT JEFFREY MACLEOD Boylston's
eighteenth pastor was born April 27, 1918 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the
son of Neil C. and Mary Gray MacLeod. After attending local schools, he
traveled to Marietta College in Ohio where he received his Bachelor's
degree in 1942. Upon graduation, he was accepted at the Andover-Newton
Theological School. He completed his academic work there in 1946. With
Mr. Morgan's resignation, the local church was in the process of searching
for a new pastor. The young divinity student was asked to supply the church
with his services in the Fall of 1945. Impressed by his fine preaching and
friendly manner, the church called him to ordination and on March 8, 1946,
the 28 year old Robert MacLeod became pastor of the
Congregational church in Boylston. The
new pastor's salary was a modest $3000 a year plus housing. Unfortunately,
the so-called Bigelow Parsonage, built in 1873 on Scar Hill Road, had become
inadequate and so was sold by the church trustees. Mr. MacLeod lived with
Ernest and Hazel Fuller until his marriage to Nancy Fay on October 17, 1949. Meanwhile,
plans were under way to build a new parsonage next to the church. Ground was
broken in September, 1949 with Erland
Ekbloom serving as chairman of the Building Committee
and Winston Lund the contractor. On September 24, 1950, the new structure was
dedicated with a open
house in the afternoon and a prayer service in the evening. Rev. and Mrs.
MacLeod moved into the parsonage where they lived a happy family life. Rev.
MacLeod was assisted by a group of dedicated deacons. Men like Clayton Cory,
George Boyden, Ernest Fuller and Alfred Brousseau. On June 8, 1948, Calvin H.
Andrews was made Deacon Emeritus after serving 50 years in that position - a
first in the history of the Boylston church. The
minister was a busy man on Sunday mornings. After conduction Sabbath services
at the church in the Center, he rushed to the Morningdale
Chapel for a second service scheduled for 12:30. The 33
year old Chapel had served the church members in the southern section
of town very well over the years. It even ran a thriving Sunday School for
neighborhood children. Some church members in the Center believed that
everyone should attend a single service there but the Morningdale
worshipers held fast. Rev.
MacLeod created a minor sensation when he introduced the General Confession
as part of the order of worship. Some of the parishioners argued that since
they never sinned, they should not take part in this ceremony. The minister
did not remove the controversial segment of worship, and the issue soon
disappeared. Mr. MacLeod was well respected and his
preaching style widely admired. A ministerial colleague once remarked that
the Boylston minister's style was "simple, sincere and always contained
a definite message". The
Boylston church struggled through the post-war years with a frugal budget
that often contained small deficits. Since the
financial atmosphere of the entire country was poor, it was natural that bad
economic times were reflected in the church's finances. Attendance was good -
on a typical Sunday, 94 people attended the service at the church in the
Center and 39 at the Chapel making a total of over 100. The MacLeods were a popular couple and were often involved in
both church and civic affairs. Mr. MacLeod was understandably proud of the
Men's Club, the Ladies Benevolent Society and the
Ladies Aid Group. He remembers the year when he was asked to be the MC for
one of Harry Souci's legendary minstrel shows. The clergyman appeared on
stage in his kilt, with a bushy beard and spoke in what he terms "a
Glaswegian immigrant's" accent. After
a fruitful pastorate, Rev. MacLeod left Boylston in 1951 to accept a call to
the South Congregational Church of Newport, N.H. In 1956, he became pastor of
the First Congregational Church of Stoughton; in 1962 he went to the Central
Congregational Church of Attleboro and in 1970, to the Central Congregational
Church of Newburyport. He retired in 1983 and resides with his wife in Milbury. Since 1985, he has served as Minister of
Visitation for the church in Auburn. CHAPTER THREE - FREDERICK BELCHER COOK In a
statement presented to an Ecclesiastical Council of the Worcester Central
Association of Congregational Christian Churches in January,
1952, Rev. Frederick Cook summed up the essence of his ministerial vocation: I am
certain that there is no more important field of endeavor for I am certain
that people need to know God...I am certain also that God depends upon human
beings to help Him reach individuals and to help Him develop a Christian
Society. His
was a calling which began within his own family circle. Born on January 20,
1901 in Petersham, Massachusetts, the son of Allen
B. and Emma Shepardson Cook, he was nurtured in a thoroughly Christian
atmosphere. His
family moved frequently yet he managed to find in every church he attended,
ministers and Sunday School teachers who, in his words, "helped me to
find a place in the life of the church". He
attended the University of Massachusetts where he was active in the Student
Christian Association and where he made his decision to become a minister of
the Gospel. He followed his graduation, then enrolled in Oberlin Theological
Seminary in Ohio where he received a degree of Divinity in 1928. In that same
year, he married Lallange Evelyn Cauthen of
Lancaster, South Carolina, and was called to the Congregation Church of
Gypsum, Ohio. Gypsum's
congregation was a blend of rural farmers and mill workers and at one time,
his congregation encompassed over 20 different Protestant denominations. His
three children were born in Gypsum:
In 1937,
he accepted a call to the Congregational Church of Brownshelm,
Ohio and in 1941 to the Congregational Church of Covington, Ohio. In 1947, he
was chosen as Field Secretary for the Pennsylvania Conference of
Congregational Churches, headquartered in Milroy, Pennsylvania. The position
included responsibility for Christian Education, Pilgrim Fellowship,
Stewardship and Audio-Visual Aids. In January, 1952, he was ordained for the Boylston
Congregational Church succeeding the Rev. MacLeod. Mr. Cook served during
difficult times. The Korean Conflict began in 1951 and several of his flock
were part of that "police action". It was also during this time
that the United States, still in the grips of the Cold War, became involved
in Southeast Asia. The
new minister found a vital and active church in Boylston where the spiritual
life was healthy but the financial picture always a struggle. His own salary
was $4100 plus the use of the parsonage and car expenses. When he left, the
salary had risen to $4800, hardly a princely sum. The
Boylston church boasted numerous organizations: the
Ladies' Benevolent Society, The Young Women's Social Club, the Morningdale Chapel Ladies' Aid and the Inner Circle.
Youth ministries were divided along age groups with a Sunday School that
boasted well over 200 participants plus staff. In
1958, the church purchased the home of George Boyden to the east of the
Meeting House. The structure was moved to a Central Street location in order to add needed area to the church property. By 1961,
the need for a Parish center had become a major concern and a committee was
appointed to investigate the church's needs and the available resources. Mr.
Cook proved to be a kind and dedicated pastor. He was concerned with the
welfare of all his flock and truly lived the creed he had outlined for the
Church Council.
Rev.
Cook left Boylston in 1962 to accept a call to the Congregational Church of
Pelham, N.H. He retired in 1966 to Cape Cod where he had built a home. He
remained active in Craigville community activities
and did pastoral work in various area churches. In
the spring of 1980, he and his wife moved to Prestonburg,Kentucky. Mr. Cook had been diagnosed
with cancer and wished to be close to his son William who was a physician. Lallange died suddenly on
October 15, 1980 and was followed by her husband on February 26, 1981. They
are both interred in the Centerville cemetery on Cape Cod. To
paraphrase John the Evangelist (John 10:10 & 17:3), Rev. Frederick Cook
lived a life that was abundant here on earth - a life of such quality that it
did indeed last into eternity. CHAPTER FOUR - H. MILTON BARTLETT Herman
Milton Bartlett was born in Manchester, N.H., the son of Norman Henry and Jennie
Viola Jenness Bartlett on June 23, 1931. Mr. and
Mrs. Bartlett were living in Walpole, Mass. at the time, but decided to go
"home" for the birth of their child. Rev. Bartlett has since taken
great pride in proclaiming himself a New Hampsherite. He was
baptized "Herman": for his paternal grandfather but when some
confusion arose about the many Hermans in the
family, his parents began to use his second name Milton. He attended the
public schools in Walpole and spent much of his leisure time helping out at the United Church in that community. He
felt a strong call to serve the church when he enrolled in Northeastern
University as an Electrical Engineering major. The
young student changed to the Liberal Arts program, majoring in Sociology with
a minor in Psychology and Education. He graduated in 1953 and entered Andover
Newton Theological School in the Fall. He received his degree of Divinity in
1958 and returned in 1976 for his Doctorate in Ministry. His
first ministerial position was at the Park Congregational Church in Worcester
where he served as Minister of Youth for 1954 to 1957 and was ordained to the
Ministry of the Gospel in 1958 while serving as Associate Pastor of the West
Medford Congregational Church. In July, 1958, he was
called to the Rockdale Congregational Church in Northbridge and the following
year, to the Union Congregational Church of Oakville, Ct. He
married the former Janice Irene Haskins in 1957 in Worcester. Mrs. Bartlett
returned to her college studies after her family was sufficiently grown and
obtained her Bachelor's degree at Worcester State
College and later her Master's in Education. The couple are blessed with five
children: Jennie Elizabeth, Jonathan Milton, Jodie Irene, Jeffrey Haskins,
Jamie Claire. In
1962, Rev. Bartlett received a call from the church in Boylston, succeeding
Rev. Frederick Cook. While pastor, he also served in the Greater Worcester
Area Council of Churches on the Pastoral Services Committee;
the Protestant Committee on Scouting, and the Pastoral Counseling Center
Advisory Board. He also served as Protestant Chaplain for several summers,
for Treasure Valley Boy Scouts, Camp Putnam and the
Boys' Club Camp. He was also appointed Protestant Chaplain at the Worcester
County Hospital. In
1962, the Study Committee which had been investigating the need for a Parish
Center, recommended the purchase of the house of Dr. Joseph Millin who had offered his home to Rev. Bartlett within a
week of the new minister's arrival. The house was converted into the
"Christian House" which contained offices for the pastor and the
staff as well as accommodations for grades 1 to 8 of the Sunday School.
Nursery and Kindergarten classes were held at the Morningdale
Chapel. Interestingly, the Christian House was built in the early 1800's and
served for a time as a tavern, "The Abbott Inn". The
large tract of land that was part of the Millin
property was developed as an outdoor recreational facility in which the
church held Camp Pilgrim, a day camp in the summer months. Mr.
Bartlett supervised changes in the sanctuary of the church including the
rearrangement of sanctuary furnishings which gave a modified divided Chancel
configuration. During
Rev. Bartlett's pastorate, the Boylston church was fortunate to have the
services of a number of dedicated Christian
Educators including Michael and Sally McCain who were later to become
missionaries to Turkey. On
December 17, 1967, the church inaugurated the celebration of its 225th
anniversary. The many activities culminated on September 29, 1968 with a
special service and buffet dinner. Former pastors and clergymen from
neighboring communities attended. Rev.
Bartlett left the Boylston church in 1970 to accept the Directorship of the
Main South Neighborhood Center of the Worcester Community Action Council. In
September 1971, he began Counseling training at Worcester State Hospital and
accepted Interim positions at numerous churches. Thus
was begun a unique form of ministry, the Interim Clergy of the Central Area. During
Rev. Bartlett's 8 years in Boylston, he greatly enhanced the church's youth
programs and helped to develop the new facilities which the church was able
to acquire during this period and before. He had helped his flock to face the
difficulties of the Viet Nam era with its upheaval and division, with
understanding and Christian compassion. CHAPTER FIVE - HAROLD E. CRAW In a
booklet prepared in early 1970 which served as an introduction to the
Boylston Church for prospective ministers, the anonymous author penned these
words:
Anyone
who knew Rev. Harold "Pappy" Craw must admit that these words seem
to have been written with him in mind. Harold
E. Craw was born in Schenectady, N. Y. on September 23, 1905, the son of Frank
D. and Edna Florence Van Wie Craw. His elementary schooling was taken in
South Glen Falls, N. Y. as was his secondary education. He attended Weslyan College where he was a member of the Psi Epsilon
Fraternity. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1929. Answering
the call to ministry, he enrolled in the Hartford Theological Seminary
Foundation and was awarded a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1934. In that
same year, he was ordained by the Naugatuck Valley Association of
Congregational Churches of Waterbury, Ct. His marriage to Janet Coffeen on November 17th crowned an already eventful
year. Janet
Craw is a graduate of the Emma Willard School, Russell Sage College, and
received an M.A. from the Hartford Seminary Foundation. The couple has three
children: Cornelia, Katrinka, and Jeffrey. Mr.
Craw held a number of pastorates between 1934 and
1963. They include an Assistant Pastorate in the Berlin Connecticut
Congregational Church and one in the First Church in Waterbury, Connecticut.
His first pastorate was in Danielson, Ct. at the Westfield Congregational
Church. In
1963 he was appointed Director of Christian Education and Youth Work for the
Chicago Congregational Union which served 85 churches and institutions. He
went back to parish ministry, accepting the pastorates of several churches in
Connecticut including Danbury and Meriden. In
1970 he was called to assume the leadership of the Congregational Church in
Boylston. The association with the church and the community was to prove one
of the most fortuitous in both their histories. The
Boylston church in 1970 boasted a membership of 375 out of a town population
of 3500. This was down slightly from a 1965 high of 425 members. There were 7
church organizations as well as Boards of Deacons and Deaconesses, and
committees from music to stewardship. The Christian Education program had 12
teachers and 119 students enrolled in Nursery to grade 8. The financial
picture was sound with a 100% rate of stewardship and a budget in 1969 of
over $22,000. Almost
immediately, "Pappy" and Janet became two of the most popular and
well-liked people in Boylston. Both were involved in community endeavors with
"Pappy" appointed the chaplain of the Fire Department in 1971. He
was honored by the local American Legion with the Outstanding Citizen Award.
He and his wife bought a vitality, a youthfulness to the church that affected
all of its members. He was easy to spot, even in a
crowd, with his bright red hat and cheery smile that was more eloquent than
most sermons. He
established a remarkable friendship in 1974 with the new pastor of St. Mary
of the Hills church, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Charles E. Lenk. It was the beginning of
Ecumenism in Boylston. In
1975, Rev. Craw decided that his task in Boylston was complete and he
accepted a call to a small church in Acworth, New Hampshire. His farewell was
an emotional one for he and his wife had endeared themselves not only to the
members of the Congregational church but to people of every faith in
Boylston. Within
a few years, "Pappy" left the Granite State and became pastor of
the Second Congregational Church in Middle Haddam, Ct. He has retired several
times but always manages to return to his first love - the ministry of the
Gospel. In a
letter written in March, 1992, "Pappy"
expressed his feelings about Boylston and her people. "We
are impressed by the enthusiasm of the people and by the substantial numbers
of young people who are involved in the parish....First
Church is a parish of loyal and devoted people, with a real sense of family,
one which strengthened and encouraged us...Our association with the Boylston
Fire Department complemented our ministry in a special way. I am honored to
be their chaplain for life!" Rev.
Craw left and indelible mark on Boylston as an example
of a caring, compassionate and friendly minister
whose smile could encompass every person he met. CHAPTER SIX - RICHARD L. SNYDER Rev.
Harold Craw tendered his resignation as pastor of
the Boylston Church on April 3, 1975 to become effective on August 31st of
that year. He cited his desire to enter into
semi-retirement, having, as he put it, achieved his allotted "three
score years and ten". As is
customary, the church elders convened a Search Committee headed by Moderator
Kenneth Engvall. Meanwhile, Dr. David H. Reinke of Leicester was appointed
Interim Pastor to begin his duties on September 1st. Questionnaires were
studied, meetings held and the age-old process finally selected Richard L.
Snyder to be the new Pastor. Born
in Philadelphia on June 16, 1918, he attended local schools. In 1940, he
obtained his A.B. from Oberlin College. He went to Columbia University where
he was awarded a Master's Degree in 1941. That same
year he married Sarah (Sally) Atkinson, also an Oberlin graduate, in a Quaker
ceremony. They have three children: Leigh Robert, Margaret, and David. He
entered Union Theological Seminary in New York City and received an M.A. in
Divinity in 1943. He has since done more study at Union (1950-51) and later
training in human relations and organizational development. Richard
was ordained in New York City in 1943 and accepted ministry as pastor of the
Church in Freyburg, Maine (1943-44); served as
Chaplain in the Navy (1944-46) and again from 1952-53. In 1946, he became
pastor of the Congregational church in Grey, Maine and in 1948, pastor of the
Church in Milford, New Jersey. He
was appointed Minister of Education for the First Congregational Church of
Madison, Wisconsin and held that position from 1951 to 1955. He accepted a
call to become Associate pastor of the Payson Park Church in Belmont, MA.
where he remained for two years. He then moved to Saugatuck Congregational
Church in Westport, Ct. as Associate Pastor and left there in 1963 to accept
the position of Secretary for Adult Education for the United Church of
Christ, Board of Homeland Ministries. In 1969, he accepted a call to become
pastor of the Groveland Congregational Church in Groveland, MA. He
accepted the pastorate of the Boylston Congregational Church in January, 1976 and was officially installed on May 16, 1976
with numerous members of the clergy present including the pastor of St. Mary
of the Hills church in Boylston, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Charles Lenk. Richard
Snyder came to Boylston bearing impressive credentials. He had been quite
active in community affairs in the various locales where he served and is the
author of numerous articles for church periodicals. He is also the author of
the United Church Curriculum course, "Jesus of Nazareth", and of
the accompanying book, Reuel Makes a Decision. Rev.
Snyder, in a statement published in October, 1975,
immediately after his acceptance of the pastorate, outlined his thoughts on
the ministry. He stated that above all, he valued the ministry of the members
of the church. As a
pastor I am a member of the church I serve and accept the members' ministry
even as they accept mine. We are ministers together, each one called to serve
as he or she is able. The
new pastor was committed to the Ecumenical movement. He wrote: "I
realize that no one congregation or denomination can go this way alone, so I
give time and energy to the denominational and ecumenical ventures".
Soon after his arrival he entered into a warm
friendship with Father Charles Lenk, pastor of the local Catholic church, St.
Mary of the HIlls. Since both men were interested
in fostering closer ties between the two churches, they inaugurated an
Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service in 1976 at which time members of both
congregations gathered to give collective thanks for the year's blessings.
The event became a tradition which is still observed yearly and was the first
tangible step toward improving the relations between the two Christian
communities. In
his later life, Dick Snyder pondered a question which all clergymen of all
faiths have asked: "Did my preaching become part of the lives of the
people I served?" A number of Rev. Snyder's
sermons were duplicated and distributed to the church members and so we have
examples of his style and depth. He was a preacher who touched on the events
of the world and their impact on the lives of his flock. His style was
academic and showed the breadth of his knowledge. His words were challenging
and went to the heart of Christian thought and living. It seems more than
likely that his words sustained and gave hope to those who heard them and
tried to live a better Christian life. In
1978, the church celebrated Rev. Snyder's 35th anniversary of ordination with
a special service and reception. It was also during his pastorate that the
church began the refurbishing of the Flagg Memorial organ. The Morningdale Chapel's use as a place of regular worship
had ended in the 1950's but Sunday School classes continued to be held there.
In order to help defray the expense of keeping the
Chapel operational, a Thrift Shop was opened in 1977 conducted by Morningdale people whose ties to the small house of
worship spanned several generations. In
1981, Rev. Snyder announced his intention to retire from the active ministry.
The church gave him and Sally a splendid testimonial thanking Dick and his
wife for five years of selfless dedication to the Boylston congregation. In a
statement published in 1976 just before his acceptance as pastor of the
Boylston Church, Rev. Snyder wrote: Our
ancestors spoke of a Christian's life as a pilgrimage. That is still a
helpful description. Rev.
Snyder's pilgrimage had led him to Boylston where he gave of himself to his
people and to the preaching of the Word. His tenure will long be remembered
and cherished. CHAPTER SEVEN - CHARLES V. FORD JR. Charles
Ford was born in Presque Isle, Maine on February 22, 1944. He was raised and
attended school in Mars Hill, Maine and in 1970 he graduated from the
University of Maryland with a B.A. in Ancient History and Philosophy. He
attended Andover Newton Theological Seminary where he received a Master of
Divinity degree, cum laude, in 1973. While at Andover, he was awarded the
Russell M. Tuck Award for "Excellence in Biblical Scholarship". He
was given a stipend from the World Council of Churches which enabled him to
do post-graduate work in New Testament studies at the University of Bonn,
West Germany from 1973 to 1975. He was also a member of the Theological
faculty of that distinguished academic institution during the same period. Rev.
Ford was ordained September 26, 1976, while serving the Alfred Parish
Congregational Church in Alfred, Maine. He served that church until July 1,
1978. On July 15th of that year, he assumed his duties at St. Mark's UCC in
Allentown, Pennsylvania. Rev.
Ford and his wife, Rebecca, were married in Bar Harbor, Maine in 1969 and
they have two children, Matthew and Tamara. He
took up the pastorate of the Boylston Congregational Church in 1982 becoming
the 23rd minister to serve this church. The decade since Charlie's arrival
have been filled with numerous accomplishments both for the church and for
its minister. Charlie's
arrival in Boylston came with a crash. The first day in town he crushed Josh
Bradford's basketball hoop with a U-Haul truck! Fortunately
things have gone up ever since! The
spirit of Ecumenism grew under Pastor Ford. He formed a deep friendship with
Rev. Paul J. Tougas, the pastor of St. Mary of the
Hills, who arrived in town at about the same time as Charlie. The two
churches not only continued the tradition of the Thanksgiving Eve Ecumenical service, but began exchanging pulpits at least once a
year. A joint Summer Bible School was initiated drawing youngsters form both
congregations. The collaboration between the two churches can serve as a
model of inter-Christian cooperation. Charlie also initiated the "lunch
and learn" series with Temple Beth Israel of Worcester. A
devoted runner, Charlie helped organize the first Annual Boylston Biathlon
and was the first Boylston resident to cross the finish line. He was also the
first Boylston clergyman to qualify for the Boston Marathon and to compete in
one. He ran in 1984 and 1985 and raised over $1000 for muscular dystrophy
from pledges. He also ran in the Philadelphia Marathon in 1984. From
1984 to 1988 he was president of the Central Area Clergy Fellowship. Also in 1984, he spearheaded the "Share Our
Campaign" which raised $80,000 for the church. In 1985, he attended a
summer session at Mansfield College, Oxford University in England. Always
involved, he has participated in several of the town's famous
"Musicals". He learned the lines for "Captain Hook" for
another of Jan Fuller's productions and later was cast as Cher's (Jan
Bradford) other half, Sonny Bono which required him
to re-learn the "stroll". He
has never neglected the intellectual/spiritual dimension. In his own words,
he has "re-discovered a deep appreciation of the significance and
contribution of the Protestant Reformer, John Calvin". Although his
devotion to the 16th century divine is the source of some light-hearted
witticisms among his close associates, there is no denying the depth of
knowledge and devotion to a man who represents the roots of Protestantism. Rev.
Ford is also a devote of the more modern theologian Karl Barth (d. 1968). Nor
does he restrict himself to theology. He has read the works of William
Faulkner, Umberto Eco, Jane Austin, Thomas Hardy, D.H. Lawrence
and Willa Cather. Concern
for those in emotional turmoil Charlie requested and received permission from
the Board of Trustees to establish a non-smoking Alcoholics Anonymous meeting
each week at the church. In
1983, he presided over the re-dedication of the newly rebuilt George F. and
Sybil H. Fuller organ which was donated to the church in memory of Montraville and Abbie Davis Flagg. Performing for the
event were former Boylstonians Virginia French
Helton (organist) and Carol French Gellert (soprano). When
Charlie arrived in Boylston, the church membership stood at 433. There are
presently (1992) 558 members, indicative of the growth which he has helped to
generate. An Associate Pastor has been added to the staff in the person of
Rev. Carol Ahlstrand. Rev. Ford's warm and sensitive nature has made him a
sought-after counselor both within and without his own flock. Certainly one of the Church's
finest accomplishments was the "Sharing One Foundation" campaign
which successfully built a much needed addition to the church and renovated
the "Christian House" turning it into a comfortable and commodious
parsonage. The million dollar project was realized
by the Lamoureux, Pagano & Associates Architectural firm and was
dedicated on June 10, 1990. Mrs. John E. Morgan, widow of the late Rev.
Morgan attended as did Rev. Robert MacLeod, Rev. Dr. Milton Bartlett, Rev.
"Pappy" Craw and Rev. Richard Snyder, all past ministers of the
church. The
new facility will enable the church to expand its services to its members and
to the community at large. It will be used for large gatherings including
meetings of the Worcester Horticultural Society, aerobics classes, special
area Ecumenical conferences, youth meetings, basketball
and educational events. Such
an undertaking required the skills and dedication of many people. The Parish
Improvement Planning Committee was the driving force behind the project.
Among its members were Mark Johnson, General Chairman; Gerald Jones,
Financial Chairman; Calvin Hastings, Construction Chairman, and members
Robert Chaplis, David Fehser,
Mark Fuller, Susan Moore, Eric Pearson, Carolyn Stowe, Nancy Tomb, Ralph Mongeon and Rev. Ford. One
of the church's most difficult decisions was to close the venerable Morningdale Chapel in 1985. Despite the valiant efforts
of a group of dedicated people, the facility no longer seemed able to provide
the parish with the space it needed yet demanded a constant outlay of funds
for its maintenance. The closing of the 72 year old
chapel caused understandable sadness to the parishioners from Morningdale. The bell was removed from the steeple and
placed on the church's property in Boylston center. The
Boylston church continues to foster a myriad of activities for young and old
alike including but not restricted to Bible studies, Women's Fellowship,
Youth Groups and Sunday School classes. And we must not forget the fund raising events chaired by David Fehser
whose innovative approaches to such projects has enabled the church to meet
its financial obligations. In many ways, the UCC in Boylston seems to be in
the forefront of a movement by many Christian communities to re-discover
their past and to return to a truer and deeper commitment to the principles
and beliefs of the followers of Jesus Christ. The
United Church of Christ in Boylston enters the last decade of the 20th
century well prepared to face the challenges of the modern era and those
which will arise in the next century. Charles Ford's pastorate has infused
new life into the church and given its members cause to rejoice in the many
blessings showered upon them by the Lord. Charlie
will be leaving for a three month Sabbatical in
November which he will spend at the Divinity School of Duke University. He
will surely return to Boylston, refreshed and ready to take up the challenge
of ministry begun 250 years ago by the first pastor, Rev. Ebenezer Morse. In
the words of the poet, "The best is yet to come!"
George
I. Adams Flora
M. Adams Ruth
E. Adams Clarence
C. Allen Frederick
C. Anderson Jr. Calvin
H. Andrews Daniel
Andrews (1794-1826) Dr.
John Andrews (1829-1837) Robert
Andrews Jr. (1821-1829) Edwin
O. Backholder Amariah Bigelow (? -1779) Jonathan
Bond (1779-1793) Jonathan
Bond Jr. (1797-1821) George
H. Boyden Fay
L. Brigham Henry
H. Brigham (1846-1888) L.
Vera Brigham Deaconess for Life Marjorie
E. Brigham Alfred
J. Brousseau Emeritus Robert
J. Brousseau Horace
E. Brown Jonathan
Bush Jr. (1837-1844) Frances
M. Cassella Robert
O. Chaplis Helen
M. Christenson Joy Clarvi Edwin
M. Colton A.
Stephen Demoorjian Claire
M. Eaton Robert
W. Eaton Kenneth
R. Engvall David
J. Fehser Susan
K. Fehser Virginia
E. Felch Jean Feldkamp Abijah
Flagg (1829-1837) Mabel
V. Flagg Mary
A. Flagg Grace
M. French Ernest
M. Fuller Emeritus Jonas
Goodenow (1794-1811) William
R. Hagberg Ralph
W.Hager David
L. Hagstrom Janet
C. Hagstrom Lawrence
J. Hagstrom Esther
Hakala John
Hancock Calvin
R. Hastings Clara
W.Hastings Alan
J. Havens Deacon for Life Peter
Haynes Marion
Horne Cyrus
Houghton (1794-1797) Robert
E. Jewers Gerald
K. Jones William
O. Keck Lyman
P. Kendall Cyprien Keyes 1743 John
Keyes Sr. 1743 Jonathan
Keyes 1743 Edward
R. King Preston
P. Lane (1877-1881) Raymond
P. Lovell Donald
F. MacKenzie Frank
A. MacKenzie Nellie
M. MacKenzie Peter
L. MacLeod Loran
A. Malone Levi
Moore (1760-1815) William
H. Moore (1837-1846) Ralph
K. Mongeon Linda
G. Morwick Richard
H. Morwick Colvin
Nelson Oliver
W. Nelson Suzanne
C. Olsen Marion
Olsen Simeon
Partridge (1844-1865) Eric
B. Pearson Helen
R. Pelkey Robert
A. Pelkey Robert
E. Perreault Alexander
V. R. Prouty 1888 Bertil G. Quist Frances
Scott Carl
M. Sharpe James
B. Stanton Fred.
C. Stark Joshua
Stiles (1809-1827) Herbert
P. Stone Harvey
A. Stowell (1867-1877) Bruce
Symonds E. E.
Tainter Gertrude
E. Viner Lyman
S. Walker 1876 Shirley
Warren Everett
Wilcox Jr. Edward
B. Wirt Anna
M. Young John
J. Young
Every
institution, like every individual, marks the significant milestones in its
life with appropriate ceremonies and nostalgic reminiscences. Although this
is right and proper to do, we must never lose sight of the principle that the
past serves us best when it points the way to the future. The
chronicle of the Boylston Congregational Church's 250 years of existence is a
fitting remembrance of this auspicious occasion. As you read the names of the
people who have served your church and of their accomplishments, you are
justified in taking pride in them. In a
sermon delivered by your brilliant first pastor, Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Morse in
1769, he used as his text the words of Ezekiel: "And I will settle you
after your old Estates, and will do better unto you
than at your beginnings". Since the address was delivered on the occasion of the installation of a new pastor and
the gathering of a new church, the text was thought provoking. Morse used the
trials and tribulations of the past as a foundation for future hope. He wrote
Thus those who have worked diligently on this
history offer the same prayer - that the trials and tribulations of the past
may inspire all who read these lines to a greater reverence for their Faith
and a renewed commitment to the Church of Christ. The
future is exciting. It holds the promise of ever closer ties with churches of
all denominations and the opportunity for all men and women of faith to bond
as one in bringing about the Kingdom of God on earth. The
problems that beset society in this your anniversary year, are part of the
challenge. Your church, as should all churches, must stand as a beacon for
the lost and grieving, for the abused and rejected, for the downtrodden and
less fortunate. America's social ills are not restricted to the streets of
the large urban centers, but are finding their way
into every village and hamlet no matter how remote or isolated. The
pride you take in your 250 year history should be
the occasion for celebration. But it can also be an unprecedented occasion
for all of you to re-state your faith and dedicate yourselves to what Rev.
Morse referred to as "the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom, that
the knowledge of the Lord may cover the earth...". Your
pride should embrace all those men of the Gospel, from Dr. Morse to Rev.
Ford, who have served you so well - Ward Cotton, Samuel Russell, John Morgan,
"Pappy" Craw - all came here to serve and not to be served, to
minister, to teach and preach the message of the Good News. No one is
perfect, but as Rev. Morse explained, God places the treasures of the Gospel
"into earthen vessels" yet into vessels "qualified to receive
them". May
this history inspire those who read it to re-examine their church and its
impact on this community. It has indeed been great! |