Dedication of the New Congregational Church - Part 1

1903 - Safford Hill

1903

This lengthy news item was published in 1903 describing the new Congregational Church that replaced the one that burnt in 1902. The article will be serialized over several days - this is part 1 which describes the fire.

NEW IPSWICH. 1903 

Dedication of the New Congregational Church. 

   For days this beautiful edifice, erected on Safford Hill, has been the mecca of all. Stranger, visitor and resident have admired its beauties and roamed freely through the auditorium, watching the finishing touches as well as the work of setting up the elegant pipe organ situated at the left of the preacher's desk. There is always a charm about new buildings, and so many had subscribed for this sacred structure that the ownership seemed to belong to the people. On dedication day, last Saturday, its walls sheltered no stranger and a cordial welcome was extended to all, while the echoes of kindly voices reverberated through all parts of the building. The site on which the church was rebuilt was presented upwards of a century ago by Benjamin Safford, great-grandfather of Rev. Mary A. Safford of Des Moines, Iowa, who was in town during part of the exercises.

   John W. Cummings presided at the dedicatory services. The exercises opened with an organ prelude; doxology; invocation by Rev. W. R. Thompson; anthem, "Send Out Thy Light;" reading of Scriptures and prayer by Rev. Perley B. Davis, and a hymn. Then came the presentation by Myron Taylor, chairman of the building committee, who said: A year ago you stood on this hill watching the burning of your church. It seemed to you as it did to those other disciples that the heavens opened to receive the object of your devotion and reverence. Like theirs, your hearts sank within you as you realized your sad bereavement. When all was over and darkness begun to gather, you returned to your homes in sorrow. Then indeed you "Hung your harps" on the willows and wept when you remembered Zion.

    You could not discern through the blackened sky one ray of hope for the future, and it seemed as though you had lost all incentive to religious effort Then the Lord spake unto his servant, Elizabeth, and said, "Seest thou the affliction of my people, Israel?" and I think she answered, "Yea, Lord I thank thee that thou hast made it possible for me to relieve their dis- tresses."

    When you first heard the rumor that Mrs. Barrett had made a most generous gift of money to aid in rebuilding, you could hardly credit the report, but later when it came to be known as a fact and you realized that by this single act a new church home was made possible, that you might yet again hear the Sabbath bell calling you to worship, or ring its curfew, how quickly was your mourning turned into joy and your sorrow changed to rejoicing. May we not trace the providence of God in having upon the spot at this critical moment one who was quick to see and grasp the opportunity! Sympathy had been greatly touched, hearts were tender, and in order to take the best advantage of the situation organized effort must be immediate and decisive. The necessary qualities for leadership in this direction were found personified in our Brother Cummings.

Fire - July 15, 1902

One Hundred Formulas -

George Carmichael donated a copy of Stephen A. Thayer’s “One Hundred Formulas” which was published in 1883. It contains recipes from everything from printing ink to pain killers. Today we will share the formula for another ink concoction. Thayer claimed that this was the people’s favorite. Copperas is hydrated ferrous sulfate FeSO 4 ·7H 2 O used especially in making inks and pigments. It is also used to add iron to lawns.

This book sold for a dollar and was one of the many enterprises that Steven A, Thayer was involved with (He had a cigar factory too). He had some advice for preparing the recipes.

James Roger diary entry

October 12^th 1908 (Monday)

Dull and cool wind west to N.W. sunny during the day.  David on roads down town.  I finished the Gordon lot today.  Hamish went with milkman in morning. There was report circulated today that Mr. John Crow of East Jaffrey had been shot by a Finn from (?) he was collecting an account (not true). Mrs. Parker very ill last night but better today.  John Preston shutting off water and fixing up house for winter.