old table, not harmonizing (in color) with the pulpit, was placed at the rear of the church where it served as a receptacle for denominational tracts until the early days of October, 1907, when it was stolen by a Worcester man who made the stealing of antique furniture his business. The author traced it to Joliet, Illinois, thence to Chicago. It went into the possession of a lawyer of unsavory reputation, from whom it could not be restored. THE PULPIT BIBLE One of the treasures of the church is its pulpit Bible in two volumes. The following inscription which appears on the flyleaf of each volume explains where it came from: The of the CHURCH AND TOWN NORTHBOROUGH. The GIFT of MR. JOSEPH FOSTER, RESPECTABLE MERCHANT In the of JANUARY 31, 1809. BIRTHPLACE OF FREEMASONRY It has already been stated in another place, that the Evangelical Congregational Church was organized in the Unitarian Church. This church was also the birthplace of local Freemasonry. The first Masonic Lodge in what was once a part of Marlborough was consecrated in this church, January 1, 1811, Right Worshipful Grand Master, Timothy Whiting of Lancaster, officiating. The Grand Lodge opened its session at Abraham Munroe's Tavern. Then a procession was formed, consisting of the Grand Lodge, the Lodge about to be consecrated, and a number of the reverend clergy and brethren of other Lodges, and proceeded to the Meeting-house where the following exercises were carried out: 1. An appropriate anthem. 2. Prayer by the Grand Chaplain, Rev. James Thompson of Barre. 3. An appropriate anthem. 4. A Masonic discourse by the Grand Chaplain. 5. Consecration of Fredonia Lodge. 6. Installation of its officers. 7. A Masonic address by the Grand Master. 8. An appropriate anthem. The procession then reformed and returned to Munroe's Tavern "where they partook of an excellent dinner." The new Lodge bore the name, "Fredonia," and continued in existence until early in the thirties, when it was obliged to succumb (as did may other Lodges) on account of the AntiMasonic agitation which was then sweeping over the country. The charter of Fredonia Lodge is now in the possession of United Brethren Lodge, of Marlborough. MINISTERS Rev. John Martyn, May 21, 1746 to April 30, 1767. Rev. Peter Whitney, November 4, 1767 to February 29, 1816. Rev. Joseph Allen, D.D., October 30, 1816 to February 23, 1873. Rev. Trowbridge B. Forbush, January 1, 1857 to July 1, 1863. Rev. Joseph Henry Allen, D.D. (Supply), about two years. Rev. Henry L. Myrick, D.D., June 27, 1866 to October 1, 1868. Rev. Frederick L. Hosmer, D.D., October 28, 1869 to October 25, 1872. Rev. Charles T. Irish, July 1, 1873 to July 1, 1876. Rev. Obed Eldridge, January 1, 1883 to 1891. Rev. James Aubrey Chase, 1892 to January 1, 1895. Rev. Josiah Coleman Kent, December 1, 1895 to April 1, 1921. CHAPTER XII THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH The ecclesiastical history of every old New England town forms the most important part of the early history of that town. Originally, there was only one church-the town's Meeting-house. It was the common property of all the inhabitants, and all the inhabitants resorted to it on the Sabbath to partake of its spiritual ministrations. There was not much diversity of thought upon theological matters in those early days. With few exceptions, all were happy and contented with the New England form of religion into which they were born, and in which they were bred. Our fathers took their religion very seriously: it formed an integral part of their character, and developed within them what has come to be known throughout the country as the "New England Conscience." This New England conscience was, for many years, a very real thing, and it reflected the hard, austere life which our forefathers lived on these barren hills. But human life is not static: and as the austere life of our fathers became less and less severe, and their simple life more complex, some changes of great moment were quietly taking place which were destined to work a complete revolution, not only in their individual lives but in the life of the communities in which they lived. Not the least of these changes was the revolution in theological thought. In a democratic country such as ours, founded upon the inherent right of every man to the exercise of his own conscience in the matter of government and religion, it is impossible that there be only one church and one religion. We do not recognize the right of the state to impose any form of religion upon our consciences. Every man is "free and independent" in these matters to work out his own theological belief and to choose his own church. So it is not at all surprising that, in a town which had been foremost in shaking off the shackles of a form of government which was irksome to it there should develop a form, or forms, of religion different from that which had held sway for many years. So it was in Northborough. "The Church of Christ," established in 1746, held undisputed sway over the moral and religious lives of the community for a period of eighty-one years, |