March, 1869; dismissed in March, 1873 John C. Osgood became pastor in June, 1873; dismissed in March, 1878. Rev. C. W. Griffin became pastor May 13, 1878.
THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
In the early part of the present century there was a great revival of Universalism in New Hampshire. Revs. Elhanan Winchester and Hosea Ballou preached the doctrine far and wide, gaining many hearers and making many converts. The church grew and multiplied in many places. Previously to 1840 there were many persons in Hopkinton who entertained some sort of preference for the Universalist form of religion. A church to be known as the Union meeting-house was projected as early as 1835. On the 5th of December of that year a meeting was held at the house of Clement Beck, at "Stumpfield," to take into consideration the erection of a church. Moses Hoyt, 2d, was chosen moderator, James Huse was clerk, and Moses Hoyt, Moses Copp and Nathaniel Colby were made a building committee. The enterprise was effected by the erection of shares, which were sold at $25 each. The whole number of shares sold was thirty-one. Representatives of different faiths in the vicinity took shares. The meeting-house was built in 1836, on a lot north of the road leading from Hopkinton village to Henniker, east of the house of Mr. Charles Barton, about three miles from the village.
There was never any settled minister in this society. Among those preaching here more or less, were Revs. A. A. Miner, J. P. Atkinson, N. R. Wright and J. F. Witherel. The meeting-house was seriously damaged by fire on the 5th of February, 1837, and was subsequently repaired. In 1865 the house was sold to Robert Wilson, and was moved to "Clement's Hill," where it was remodeled into a barn belonging to Alfred Hastings. The society had dwindled in common with many others in districts wholly rural.
A Second Universalist Society was organized shortly after the first. The new organization had its headquarters at Contoocook. A church, called a Union house, was erected in 1837. It is now used by the New Church, or Swedenborgian Society. The Second Universalist Society for a time had considerable vigor. Rev. J. F. Witherel was a settled minister. A good deal of enterprise was shown in the efforts for propagating the faith. Mr. Witherel, in company with J. Sargent, of Sutton, published the "Universalist Family Visitor," a monthly periodical. The first number was published in April, 1841. The Visitor had twelve pages, was of common tract size, and set forth its favorite principles with talent and vigor. We have not been able to find any records of the Second Universalist Society, which kept up a nominal existence till quite late.
THE NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH.
The New Jerusalem Church, more commonly called the New Church, was founded through the missionary labors of Rev. Abiel Silver, a native of this town, who first preached a number of discourses in the Union church at Contoocook, in the summer of 1851. Mr. Silver was then a resident of Michigan, visiting his old home and family scenes. The appreciation of these discourses induced a contribution in money to the reverend gentleman, who returned the equivalent in theological works of Emanuel Swedenborg, or collateral publications of the New Church.
In a year or two after further interest in the New Church was awakened in Contoocook and vicinity. Mr. Silver returned and preached at length, and finally concluded to make the village his permanent place of residence. The Union church, which had stood for some years unoccupied by any regular society, became a place of weekly worship under Mr. Silver's ministrations. The interest grew till the meeting-house was filled to its utmost capacity. Hearers were found present from various parts of Hopkinton and surrounding towns. In 1857 a permanent organization was effected. On the 24th of May of that year the Rev. Thomas Worcester, of Boston, instituted the society. The following are the names of the original members of the
