Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/42

 so THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

population of the town increased in a marked degree. Dr. Cummings, in June, I S50, removed to Newark, N. J., thence in November to Springfield, Mass., thence in April, 1852, to Pittsfield N. H., afterwards returning to Concord, and was installed pastor of the newly formed Pleasant Street Baptist Church, January 11, 1854, and continued in that relation till the spring of 1867, when he retired from active service as a pastor, but acceptably supplying, from time to time, churches that were temporally destitute of pastors. No brief sketch, in connection with this article, would do justice to Dr. Cummings, and it would be fitting that a complete record of his life might appear in the Granffe Monthly.

Rev. Charles Worthen Flanders, d. d., was installed as the fourth pastor of this church, January 13, 1851. Dr. Elanders was born in Salisbury, Mass., February 9, 1S07, graduated at Brown University, in the class of 1839 ; pursued his theological course under the instruction of Rev. John Wayland, then pas- tor of the First Baptist Church, Salem, Mass. His first settlement, often years duration, was over the First BaptistChurch, Beverly, Mass., coming to Concord in 1850. Of this clergyman it can well be said, that he was eminent for his goodness and christian charity, and was thoroughly consecrated to the ofifice and work of the ministry. Under his labors, for a period of sixteen years, the church increased in numbers and influence, and two hundred and forty names were added to its membership. The benevolent work of the church was never more successfuly carried on, and those who commenced their religious course during his pastorate, ever found in him a wise counsellor and friend. In 1866, Dr. Flanders removed to Kennebunkport, Maine, thence to VVestboro', Mass., thence to Beverly, Mass., where he died in the summer of 1875, ^^ the age of sixty-eight.

Rev. Daniel Webster Faunce, d. d., became the fifth pastor of the church, in September, 1866. He was born in Plymouth, Mass., a graduate of Amherst College, and had been pastor of churches in Worcester and Maiden, Mass. His style of preaching was in marked contrast with that of his predecessors. A ([uick thinker, a ready writer, and a good speaker, his pulpit utterances were earnest, eloquent, and practical. It was during his pastorate, that the semi- centennial of the organization of the church occured, October 8 and 9, 1868. This was an interesting occasion, and participated in by many who had been members of it in former years. The exercises consisted of a voluntary and anthem ; reading of scriptures and prayer, by Rev. Samuel Cooke ; reading ot the early records of the church, by A. J. Prescott ; the first pastorate (Rev. William Taylor's), by Rev. Ira Pearson ; the second pastorate (Rev. N. W. Williams), by his son, Rev. N. M. Williams ; the third pastorate, by Rev. E. E. Cummings, d. d. ; the fourth pastorate. Rev. C. W. Flanders, d. d. ; the fifth pastorate, Rev. D. W. Faunce, d. d. and concluding with an anthem and bene- diction. On the evening of October 8th, an historical sermon was preached by Dr. Faunce. It was during Dr. Faunce's residence in Concord, that he wrote the work entitled, "The Christian in the World," a prize essay. In January, 1875, Dr. Faunce received and accepted a call to the Washington Street Baptist Church in Lynn, Mmss.

In September, 1875, Rev. William Vaughn Garner entered upon his labors as the sixth pastor. Previous to his coming to Concord, Mr. Garner had enjoyed pleasant and successful pastorates with churches at Hastings, on the Hudson, (the home of Admiral Farragut), at Binghampton, N. Y. ; at St. John, N. B. ; and for more than nine years at the Charles Street Baptist Church, in Boston, over which for forty years Rev. Daniel Sharp, d. d, was the beloved pastor. At the time of Mr. Garner's settlement, the church edifice was undergoing ex- tensive repairs and improvements, making it one of the most commodious and

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