Newman Congregational Church
George A. Ide’s Family
Photos courtesy of Ted & Dawn Ide
Following is excerpted from the Memoirs of George A. Ide:
The Newman Congregational Church was founded 1643 and Rev. James O. Barney became Pastor in 1815 and was pastor of this church forty-four years. My first recollections of a minister are associated with this good man. He was one of the school committee and it was his duty to visit and address our school. The only advice of his I remember he said “The girls should courtesy to their elders and the boys should lift their hats and bow.” When I was about twelve years old I heard him relate the following. “The meeting of the neighboring ministers was arranged to be held with me at my house and I was expected to entertain them in the usual way. I went to the city and purchased what I considered a supply of liquor for the occasion. On my way home I met with an accident. The demijon was broken and the liquor was lost. I was too poor to buy another supply. When the brethren gathered I explained my dilemma and it was voted then and there to dispense with that custom.”
The distance to church was three miles. The morning service was at 11 o’clock followed by an hour of Sunday school, then intermission of thirty minutes for a box of lunch which Mother had provided. This was followed by afternoon Stated Preaching service. By the time we were home and had the regular Sunday dinner, it was about the hour for the Mission Sunday School and this was often followed by preaching by our minister. He had read the notice from his pulpit saying, “the evening meeting will be held at early candle lighting.” The choir in the old church was located in the gallery opposite the minister and when the hymns were sung the congregation stood and turned their backs on the minister. A large base Viol was the leading instrument and the chorister gave the key with his steel tuning fork. The pews had doors with buttons and were occupied by the owners. My parents owned two pews but my father was liberal and often gave up his seat to strangers and would sit in the gallery. I know this to be a fact because he took me with him. There was a long row of sheds for the horses at the north of the Church and nearby at the west was a small pretty lake.
Father and Mother joined the Newman Congregational Church, August 3, 1856 and I became a member at their initiative at that time. I was then thirteen years old. I was impressed by the sacred vows and the solemn service, I sometimes was so concerned about my obligation for consistent conduct that I could not sleep at night and I would go to my dear Mother’s bedside and tell her my troubled feelings and I would be comforted by her sympathy and help. The following pledge was required for membership. “You solemnly promise to abstain entirely and forever from the use of, and traffic in, intoxicating liquors as a beverage. “ This is a promise I have not broken. I inherited my parents active belief in both the cause of anti-slavery and temperance. Before leaving home I was for three years Superintendent of the Sunday School which has become Hope Congregational Church.
It was the custom of our father to take the older children to the annual church service Thanksgiving morning. Of course mother and the younger children were fully employed in preparing the dinner at home.
Copy of application to the old Newman Church for membership. By Captain Willim T. Ide [George’s father], when he was fifty-nine years of age.
“I was helped with a praying faithful mother [Althea Tiffany Ide], who strove to impress upon my youthful mind the great importance of attending to the subject of religion. But, although I often felt impressed with the sinfulness of my heart, and my need of an interest in the Saviour, and highly respected the Christian character, I did not seek the Lord with all my heart, until death deprived me of that dear Friend. I then resolved that I would serve the Lord the remainder of my life. If I have ever submitted my heart to God, it was near that time. I lament that I have lived so much in neglect of Christian duties since. It is my purpose henceforth (looking to God for assistance) to live in obedience to his requirements; it is my wish to unite with this Church, and I now offer myself as a candidate for admission.” July 3, 1856 (Sig.) Wm. T. Ide