CHAPTER XXXIII.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.-GRACE CHURCH.-ST. BRIDGET'S CHURCH. SECOND ADVENT CHURCH.-UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.

- CHURCH ASSOCIATIONS. - HAMPSHIRE EAST ASSOCIATION.

HAMPSHIRE EAST CONFERENCE.

Of the church at

Within a little more than a half century three Methodist churches have been organized in Amherst, one of which has gone out of existence, another is continued in union with the church in West Pelham, while the third, the Wesley M. E. church, is well supported and bears an honored place among the church organizations of the town. North Amherst, the parent organization, complete and interesting records have been preserved, to which the writer is largely indebted for the following facts. In the month of August, 1842, Rev. E. S. Potter began to preach in the school-house at North Amherst "City." He held his appointment under the presiding elder of the Springfield District, New England M. E. Conference. A part of the time he preached at Hadley. As a result of his labors at North Amherst, a society was organized, with 45 members. In 1843, the New England Conference re-appointed Mr. Potter to Hadley and North Amherst. He resided in the latter place and preached with great acceptance. In June, 1843, he withdrew from the M. E. church to unite with the "Wesleyan Connection." Through his influence many of the members withdrew from the M. E. society to unite with the same "Connection." He continued his labors at North Amherst until the meeting of the Wesleyan M. E. Conference in 1844, when he received another appointment. The Wesleyan Conference, in 1844, appointed Rev. James Billings to North Amherst and Hadley; he remained until October, when he removed from town and was succeeded by Rev. John Pike, who continued his labors until the close of the conference year. In 1845, Rev. William Bevins preached at North Amherst and Hadley, under appointment of the Wesleyan Conference; the same Conference appointed Rev. Mr. Palmer to the charge in 1846, but on visiting the station and becoming acquainted with its prospects he declined the appointment, and left the pulpit unsupplied. From April to November, the church was without a regular preacher; in November, Rev. J. W. Dadmun of the M. E. church was engaged to supply the pulpit until the next session of the New England M. E. Conference, held in April, 1847. From April, 1847, to April, 1848, the station was without a preacher.

In April, 1848, Rev. J. M. Clark of the M. E. church was appointed to the charge. On his arrival, he found a few friends of the M. E. church, but no members. March 9, 1849, an official Board was organized, according to the usage of the M. E. Church. The Conference met at the house of the minister, and Jonas M. Clark was elected secretary. The minister reported but three church members in full communion, but the probationary term of several others had nearly expired. The minister's "disciplinary allowance" amounted to $370. In April, 1849, Rev. H. M. Nichols was appointed as Mr. Clark's successor, and was continued in the charge two years. During his ministry, the church declined in spirituality and there. was a considerable deficiency in the finances. From April, 1851, to December, 1854, there were no records of church doings. In October, 1854, Rev. W. M. Hubbard was pastor, continuing in charge until the close of the conference year. From 1855 to 1858, there was no regular pastor, but students from Amherst College preached occasionally. From 1858 to 1860, Rev. John Peterson served as pastor, the church enjoying a good degree of prosperity. From 1860 to 1861, Rev. J. O. Peck, a student at Amherst College, served as pastor; he was succeeded by Rev. Robert H. Wilder and Rev. Rufus Gerrish, each of whom served

for one year.

In 1863, Rev. John Jones, a local preacher resident in Pelham, supplied the pulpit on the Sabbath and continued his services with the society until 1867. From 1867 to 1868, Rev. John W. Lee served as pastor of the church, under appointment of the New England M. E. Conference. In 1868, Rev. John Jones was once more pastor in charge. From April, 1869, to August of the same year, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Lorenzo Dibble, a local preacher; for the remainder of the year local preachers from Wilbraham Academy preached occasionally. In 1870, William S. Jagger, not then ordained, was the preacher in charge. Rev. John Jones supplied the pulpit in 1871 and in 1872, and in 1873, Rev. D. K. Banister was appointed to the charge. In 1874, Rev. S. L. Rodgers was appointed to the "Amherst circuit" and remained in charge until 1876. For several years the church was without a regular supply for its pulpit, Rev. Jason Hatch serving as preacher for a time in 1881, and in 1882, the charges at Amherst and North Amherst were combined, under the care of one pastor. In 1887, the church at North Amherst and the church at West Pelham were united as one charge. The pastor appointed in 1894 was Rev. George Hudson, and 1895, Rev. E. B. Marshall.

The chapel building, located at the "City," was built in 1844, and was dedicated Jan. 1, 1845, the dedication sermon being preached by Rev. E. S. Potter. The chapel was built by a stock company and owned by them, the principal stockholders at the time of its construction being Peter

King and L. L. Draper. Repairs costing some $400 were made on the building in 1867; in 1874, a vestry was built and alterations made on the chapel at the cost of $600.

SOUTH AMHERST METHODIST CHURCH.

Of the Methodist church at South Amherst, no records are in existence. The only accurate information in regard to it is found in the records of the New England M. E. Conference, which contain a list of the preachers in charge. The church was probably organized in 1847, as the church building was erected in that year and completed in the spring of 1848. This building stood at the corner of the Bay Road and East street at South Amherst, on land owned by Dwight E. Dickinson. It is still standing, though moved from its former location since the church organization was given up. It is now used for other purposes.

For several years the station was united with that at North Belchertown, with one preacher in charge. The list of ministers, as found on the conference records, is as follows: 1848, John Smith; 1849-51, Ephraim Scott; 1851-53, Daniel Wait; 1853-54, David Todd; 1858-60, John Jones; 1862-63, John Jones; 1864–65, J. M. Hascall: 1866-67, J. W. Lee; 1866-68, E. F. Pilcher; 1869-70, Lorenzo Dibble and W. S. Jagger. There is no record of preaching at the Methodist church in South Amherst after 1875, and it is probable that church services were discontinued at about that time.

WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH.

The Methodist church at Amherst center was organized in 1868 as a branch of the church at North Amherst. It was composed, in part, of members of the latter organization, together with a few members from the church in Pelham. It was organized as a separate society in August, 1875, when the first quarterly conference was held. The first meetings were held in Parmenter's hall at East Amherst. At the first meeting of the church, Cummings Fish, O. S. Latham and Hiram Ballou were appointed trustees, and O. S. Latham Sunday-school superintendent. Committees. were appointed on missions, on Sunday-school, church extension, church records, parsonage and furniture, church music, and estimating preacher's salary. The first pastor was Rev. S. L. Rodgers who was appointed to the "Amherst circuit " by the New England M. E. Conference. At the end of the first year of its existence, the church had a membership of about 30, and the Sunday-school of over 50. In 1876, Rev. D. S. Coles was appointed pastor of the Amherst circuit, comprising the church at North Amherst and the new organization. After being pastor about a month, he was advised by the presiding elder that the interests of the church and the cause of Christ would be advanced if the relation between the societies