A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH IN EASTHAM
Compiled by: Rosemary Abbott, Karie Miller, Fran and Bob Olsen, and Bob Seay
UNIVERSALISM AS A RELIGION IN THE UNITED STATES
The idea that God was a loving God and He would bring the entire human race into a state of holiness and happiness, that all men would be saved - universal salvation - had been considered by individuals for generations, but the prevailing Christian religion in our country as well as wherever else Christianity was practiced was that God was an angry God, that endless punishment in hell awaited all but the few who would go to heaven.
Those heretical individuals who considered God a loving God, who considered that man was potentially good, began by the late seventeen hundreds, to talk openly about universal salvation.
One such heretic was John Murray, an English Methodist preacher, who came to the United States in 1770 and began preaching the new doctrine. He founded the first Universalist church in the United States in Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1779. A freed slave was a charter member of this church. John Murray's preaching was an influence on the men who founded the Universalist Meeting House in Orleans.
Another important figure was Hosea Ballou, who became known as the father of American Universalism. His book Treatise on Atonement in 1805 gave Universalists a broad liberal latitude in theoglogy and a universal concern for people. (1) Ballou wrote more than 10,000 sermons and numerous hymns and essays. He was the visiting preacher at several Cape Cod Universalist churches.
From the beginning, Universalism as a denomination abhorred slavery and protested the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850. Universalists also worked in the Temperance Movement. Universalism challenged its members to reach out and embrace people whom society often marginalized. Universalism became the first denomination to ordain women to the ministry. Universalists became active participants in many social justice movements.
The reaction to this new religion was often open opposition and attack. It was said that Universalism led men to immorality. In some places, Universalists' right to testify in court was challenged. As the country moved West, the battle over religion spread with the settlers. However, after the Civil War there was a noticeably more tolerant attitude in many communities, and Universalist preachers were even allowed to join ministerial associations in some towns.
During the period of expansion into frontier regions, Universalists often held open-air meetings. They were given the name "Grove Meetings." (2) Two of these meeting places are still part of the Universalist (now Unitarian-Universalist) organization. - Murray Grove in New Jersey and Ferry Beach in New Hampshire continue as denominational meeting centers. (1) From Heresy toward Truth, Watts; (2) American Univeralism, Robinson
In 1880, the Universalist Convention (annual meeting) stated there were 620 Universalist ministers and 488 churches. The composition of Universalist church membership was mostly middle class: teachers, farmers, bankers, shopkeepers, lawyers, physicians and postmasters. All were very interested in education and determined that the education be "without stressing theological doctrines - these schools would be able to manifest a distinctive character, radiating the universalist attitude." (1)
Universalists established Lombard College, Tufts College (later Tufts University), Goddard, Knox College, Buchtel and St. Lawrence University. "It is acknowledged that not only the establishment of these colleges but their nurture to maturity was chiefly due to Universalist support." (1) The first Universalist theological school was established at St. Lawrence University in 1858. It was closed when the Unitarian and Universalist denominations joined in 1961.
Universalists were great believers in "Sunday School". The first Sunday School was in Stoughton, Massachusetts in 1819, with Gloucester following in 1820 and Providence in 1821. There were some sunday schools meeting in homes where there was no Universalist church. There was teacher training, so there would be a well- considered plan of religious instruction. Each church could decide its own program, although it was desirable that some study of Biblical passages be included each week. After that, discussion could range from a Socratic discussion to a study of Biblical geography, archaeology and history. Many Sunday Schools had libraries where Sunday School pupils could take out books for home reading. The author of the book American Universalism, Elmo Arnold Robinson, remembered what pleasure he and his Sunday School friends had in studying the list of books and checking off the books they wanted to take home to read. (2)
Many Universalists built churches or meeting halls in the simplest box-like style. At one point there was a slogan "No more boxes" prominently displayed at one annual Convention. In 1880 and again in 1917 the denomination tried to encourage more creative construction.
UNIVERSALIST CHURCHES ON CAPE COD
Universalists were very active in Barnstable Country from 1822 to the 1940's. By the time the Unitarians and Universalists merged in 1961 there were only two Universalist churches: Eastham and Provincetown.
CHATHAM organized its society in 1822 when 28 dissenters from the Congregational Church met and formed a fellowship. Their church continued to grow: they built two meetings houses, a parish house and established a cemetery. The 75th anniversary of the society was celebrated in 1897. The cemetery was turned over to the town in 1930. Records stop in 1942. BREWSTER'S Universalist church was established in 1824 by individuals who had withdrawn from First Parish (at that time Congregational) because their wish to hear Hosea Ballou preach was rejected. When they built their first meeting house Reverend Hosea Ballou delivered the dedication prayer and sermon. Females were encouraged to attend meetings and were encouraged to speak in social conferences. Brewster's second Universalist meeting house is now the Brewster General Store. In Brewster the First Parish Church is known as "the Sea Captain's Church".
In the 1850's there was considerable friction between the Universalists and members of First Parish, because Brewster, as a shipping town, had vested interests in the traffic in slaves and rum. There were many ship-masters in the town, all of whom sided with the slave interests. Naturally, the Universalist preachers talked against the slave trade and the Fugitive Slave Act.
BARNSTABLE, OSTERVILLE AND CENTERVILLE had Universalist Meeting Houses. MARSTON MILLS organized a Universalist Society in 1840. The Society became defunct in 1860, but their building called Liberty Hall still stands and is a community center.
THE HYANNIS UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY was organized in 1829 and built their first building in 1830. Many anti-slavery meetings were held there. Eventually another building was constructed which still stands. The Hyannis Congregationalists and the Universalists joined in 1916 as the HYANNIS FEDERATED CHURCH. The present church building was originally the Universalist Meeting House.
There were also Universalist Societies in YARMOUTH, SANDWICH AND DENNIS. The Cape Playhouse building was originally the Universalist Meeting House. The YARMOUTH PORT Universalist church building is on Church Street, just off Route 6A. It is a handsome gothic building, now a private home. WELFLEET, TRURO AND ORLEANS also had Universalist Meeting houses. The Society in Orleans constructed "a beautiful, little classical-style wood frame structure (3). In 1933 this Society celebrated its centenary. In 1938 it voted to federate with the Congregational Society across the road. At present the little meeting house is the headquarters of the Orleans Historical Society.
THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY IN EASTHAM
The Eastham Universalist Society was established on August 12, 1889. There is no record of any negative feeling in the town when the creation of this Universalist parish was announced. One reason probably was the timing: there were already several Universalist Societies including a thriving parish in Orleans and their members urged their Eastham neighbors to create a non-fundamental group. The Orleans and Wellfleet Universalist churches contributed financially to the building of the Chapel and Reverend Donald Fraser, Orleans minister, was also the first minister in Eastham. Another reason was that prominent people in town were involved, chiefly Captain Edward Penniman and his relatives, the Knowles family, and close friends, the Nickersons.
Front row, left to right: John Ryder, Elkany Hopkins (builder of the church), Nathan Clark, Captain Edward Penniman, Leslie Chase. Back row, left to right: Joseph Cobb, Carrie Howes, Etta CLark, Mrs. John R. Ryder, Mrs. Carrie Holbrook.
The only church in Eastham in 1889 was the Methodist church. The Congregational church which had been the original church denomination of the Pilgrim settlers had burned down years before. The closest Congregational church was in Orleans.
On the occasion of the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the founding of the parish, Mabel W. Chase who had been a member since she was a very young person made the following speech bringing greetings from the older members. This is what she said: "Early in 1889 steps were taken to establish a Universalist Society in Eastham. On the 12th of August, 23 members made John E. Ryder their president and organized the First Universalist Parish of Eastham. (3) HISTORY OF THE UNVERSALIST SOCIETY ORLEANS, BERTHA CHENEY WARD
CONSTRUCTION OF A CHURCH BUILDING IN EASTHAM
Reverend Donald Fraser of the Orleans Parish held services in the Town Hall during the summer of 1889. In August a Sunday School of 33 pupils, with six teachers appointed Luther B. Smith their first Superintendent. Measures for creating a place of worship were considered. Captain Edward Penniman headed a subscription list for the necessary funds and took untiring interest in the completion of the edifice. A site was donated by W.H. Nickerson on which a pretty church 40 x 50 feet was built and on the last Wednesday in January 1890 it was dedicated. The membership of the Society numbered 49 at that time.
At this opening meeting $878 was pledged toward the building. We are fortunate to have the small notebook in which Captain Penniman noted all contributions and all expenses related to the building of the church. Mr. Nickerson's offer of land was accepted because it was close to the center of town. Secothe and Semore Bangs also offered pieces of land, both of which were closer to Great Pond.
The official Parish Record Book indicates that 23 persons informed John Kenrick, Esquire of Orleans and Justice of the Peace, that they desired to form a religious society and form a corporation. They immediately prepared a constitution in which it states the parish wished to belong to the Massachusetts Universalist Convention. In the constitution it states Atrustees would take care of the revenues; make suitable provision for the comfort and convenience of the parish but they shall have no authority to transfer real estate nor to contract for any repairs or alteration of the property for more than $100 without the express power given for that purpose by a parish meeting.
The builder of the church was Mr. Elkanah Hopkins with the male members of the society donating many hours of labor and with a cost of approximately $2,300. Captain Penniman recorded that on January 1, 1891 there was $42.03 left in the building fund.
In addition to the money contributed from members there were donations from Universalists in Orleans, WelIfleet and Brewster. J.G. Crosby of Brewster gave a Bible, a handsome lectern and a set of three chairs for the pulpit. Captain James Savage gave the chandelier. The Ladies Society of the Universalist Church in Wellfleet gave $5.00 and Reverend Fraser brought $200 from the Orleans Parish. The lectern and chairs still grace the pulpit. An organ was purchased and a furnace installed.
Reverend Fraser preached at the dedication of the building. He had been very influential in encouraging the Easthamites to form a Universalist parish and he had been present at the first meetings in August 1889 at the Eastham Town Hall. The Thursday, April 3, 1990 issue of THE CHRISTIAN LEADER, the Universalist newspaper in Boston, headlined the new church in Eastham with an attractive drawing of the church and a photograph of Reverend Fraser.
Discussions and informal meetings must have taken place before the August 12, 1889 meeting at the Eastham Town Hall. The record does not tell us what brought this group of people to decide to take such a major step. Had some of them heard Reverend Fraser in Orleans? Had they read Universalist books or pamphlets? We know they were committed to the Universalist cause because they note in their constitution that they wanted to be included in the Universalist Convention. Two legends have grown up as to the reason: neither may be true or one may be - you can decide.
One story is that Captain Penniman's daughter, Bessie, was so frightened by the fire and brimstone sermons of the Methodist preacher that he decided to start a new church, one with a loving kind of preaching. Possibly Reverend Fraser came in that category. The other legend is that some fishermen skipped church to tend their weirs at low tide, they were caught and fined (church attendance was obligatory) so they decided to start another church with a more lenient attitude.
We do know the women who became involved with the Universalist Church were eager for this new adventure because they held their first meeting on July 18, 1889 - a month before the August meeting at the Town Hall. There were twelve present and they began work on a silk quilt to be used as a fund raiser.
In November they had a little entertainment with ice cream which each ate on a shingle (1) and then marched to the chapel and nailed their shingles on the building which was under construction.
On January 23, 1890 the ladies met at the chapel and made preparations for the dedication. The next month they made plans to put on a fair in March. There were 24 members present in the afternoon and 30 present at the evening meeting.
On March 20, 1890 the ladies approved their constitution which allowed men to become members if they paid dues. 92 persons signed the book on that date as being members. Many prominent Eastham names were on the list: Luther Smith, Ryder, Mayo, Gill, Cobb, Cole, Lombard, Philip Smith, Higgins, Moore, Penniman, Nickerson, Dill, Lacount, Fulcher, Clark and Doane.
Their constitution stated the Directors shall obtain work for the Society, superintend the work at the meetings and furnish articles which it may require to furnish employment. We have to use detective methods to figure out that this meant. Material (cloth) had to be purchased to be used to make quilts, aprons, pot holders and later bloomer and blouse sets. The minutes of some of the meetings indicated that one person would be assigned to cut material on a particular day. In July 1891 the ladies purchased a sewing machine. From time to time the minutes would say they held a fair to sell these fancy goods to support the church. Usually they would have one very special handmade article which was not sold but given to the person who guessed the correct number of beans, screws, marbles or whatever was in a jar/bottle. (An early form of raffle). Under their expenses would be listed items such as cotton, cretone, braid and other items needed for handiwork.
The profit from a fair would vary from $15 to $20 and even $30.
We have one record book which carries the Sewing Circle through 1894. They met regularly and kept meticulous notes of each meeting unless there was stormy weather or unless they were getting ready for a Universalist Convention or going to the Convention. There were two groups: afternoon and evening with more attending the evening meetings. Could this have been because men attended in the evening?
There were active Universalist meetings in Wellfleet, Brewster, Chatham and Provincetown in the early years of the Eastham church. Several times the record noted the group had a request from another Universalist church for an article for its church fair with which the Sewing Circle complied, usually sending a quilt. Once the request was from Topeka, Kansas. Another time Mrs. Fraser asked for an item for the fair in Orleans.
Nonmembers attended these fairs, paying $.15 or $.25 admission which would have included ice cream and cake. An additional $.25 would give one a chance to guess for the quilt. Whenever the church put on a supper, which was frequently, the men of the church prepared the food: clam chowder; ham and beans; or oyster dinner. For example, on February 6, 1890 there were 24 present for the afternoon meeting and 30 present in the evening.
On May 12, 1890 they made plans for an "entertainment" and "tried out the stove in the Ladies Parlor". They also purchased 24 chairs.
In 1891 they held an oyster supper and a baked bean supper. At that time there were 46 members of the Sewing Circle with two names - Brewer and Brown from Wellfleet added. In 1891-1892 membership stood at 56 including men, adding the names Chipman, Hopkins and Howes as new member families.
October 8, 1891 the State Universalist Convention was held at the chapel:
Dinner and supper meals were to be held at the chapel. On the second day ham, corn beef, pickles, bread and butter, pies and coffee being served. The parish paid all the bills. In November they decided to have an additional table made because it was needed for a Harvest Festival. Dawson Fulcher produced the table.
December 17, 1891 members voted to have a chicken pie and oyster supper on Christmas Eve. Captain Penniman was in charge of getting the tree and decorating it with him "getting his own helpers". Mrs. Chapman was in charge of the music and Superintendent of the Sunday School was to find someone to play Santa Claus.
There was a Young Peoples Fair on January 21, 1982 which involved "notifying 8 men to each dig and open a bucket of clams for the chowder. After the dinner "we all enjoyed playing games."
The Sewing Circle paid for the organ at the church. Their financial records show the Sewing Circle always contributed toward the minister's salary. On April 21, 1892 they voted to pay $100 toward the minister's salary "if we can and if they need it".
In October 1892 the Sewing Circle voted to hold a fair in the middle of December with each member to contribute something to sell and to ask friends to contribute. They also voted the committee members should pay admission. The raffle this time was an afghan. Their profit allowed them to pay to repair the front steps. Miss Bossie Penniman was always active and often in charge of refreshments. They voted to allow members to borrow the chairs and at the next meeting they voted to allow Mrs. Clark to borrow the chairs. The Sewing Circle paid to have the piano tuned - $1 .00 and purchased drama books for $1.00. They also paid $95 toward the minister's salary. Members attended the Universalist Convention on October 17, 1894.
The Parish Record shows the minister in 1892 was Reverend E.V. Pierce who received a salary of $350. Income for the church for 1893-1894 was $365.65; expenses were $363.10 leaving a balance of $2.55.
Beginning in 1889 the pages in the church ledger had a family name at the top of each page and the amount pledged "for support of preaching" for the year. As each installment was paid it was marked on that page.
On April 1, 1895 each male member was asked to bring "a load of dressing for the lawn".
There was a Special Parish Meeting on April 25, 1895 to consider a proposal to convey Reverend Evans (F. Waldon Evans was the minister at the Orleans church) back and forth on Sunday for the Sunday service. There was some sort of misunderstanding: Reverend Evans did not come. (In the first year of the church someone did go bring Reverend Fraser from Orleans for meetings and preaching). The next minister in Eastham was Reverend H.E. Lech who was also the minister in Orleans. No mention of conveying him to Eastham. November 9-12, 1898 the Annual Massachusetts Universalist Convention was held in Eastham. "Mr. Joseph Cobb (Mabel Chase's father and Russell Chase's grandfather) and Mr. Dill were to meet the delegates at the train'1.
In 1900 Reverend N.S. Hill was the new minister. He was also the minister in Orleans.
In 1902 the church borrowed $10 from the Ladies Circle.
By 1910 the church was divided into two districts - north and south. Reverend Henry Riegal was the minister in both Eastham and Orleans.
1912 the chapel was reshingled. The Ladies Sewing Circle paid for the shingles and men of the parish did the work. Reverend Arthur Mercer was the minister of both Eastham and Orleans churches.
In 1913 Bessie Penniman represented the parish at the State Convention in Beverly.
In October 1920 the Methodist church in Eastham burned. The Universalist Church offered the use of the chapel. No immediate response; however, in February the church received a letter from the Methodist minister asking if the offer was still good. Of course, the answer was yes. The Methodists used the building and shared expenses until their new building was constructed.
In the years 1920 through 1936 the church was in continuous use with the Sewing Circle's minutes giving a picture of the activities in which the parish was engaged: the women met with the Orleans Universalist ladies in 1921 and 1923. Besides the aprons, pot holders and patchwork quilts, they sold chairs and camp stools. There is no note to tell who made these articles for them to sell. The amount of money made at their fairs held at the Fastham Town Hall climbed to around $100 each time. The rent for the Town Hall was $6.50.
The Sewing Circle paid to repair the stove in the ladies parlor. The ladies gave permission for the senior class at the high school to use the chapel for supper on condition they paid for the heat and left the building "in fine condition".
The ladies were very pleased to have the minister, Reverend Hazel Kirk, visit their meeting (no date given) but Reverend Kirk became minister of both churches in 1915.
The minister's salary continued to be one of the items to which the ladies contributed. They also had the audience room floor washed and oiled; they purchased a new carpet for the pulpit (they sold the old one for $1.00); they purchased a piano from Abbott Knowles in Centerville. The ladies also paid for heating the chapel. There are several bills for coal from Brackett's store as well as other stores.
The ladies served lunch at the Eastham Annual Town Meeting in 1924, (whether at the chapel or Town Hall isn't noted), Miss Bessie Penniman was in charge of arranging for insurance on the church building (no date given).
On September 14, 1930 the ladies went as a group to a Rally in Provincetown. What kind of rally isn't mentioned.
The group gave $5.00 each year to the Doolittle Universalist Home for Aged Persons (this home still exists and advertises in the UUA magazine WORLD) and also supported the Clara Barton Home (Clara Barton who founded the American Red Cross was an early Universalist).
January 14, 1932 the 26 members of the Sewing Circle served dinner before the Annual Meeting of the Parish. On February 25 they had a talk with other Universalist churches on Cape Cod with material taken from the LEADER, the Universalist newspaper.
The ladies arranged with Mr. Harvey Moore to send a carpenter to "fix" the chapel for which they paid him $64. (Harvey Moore was the builder of the Outermost House as well as many excellent buildings around town. He and his wife were also members of the church.
The fair that year was "a great success socially and financially." November 3 the ladies purchased coal. They had a program of piano music and "some members went to West Yarmouth Universalist Women's Group meeting". They lent Reverend Otis Alford $45.
In 1934 and 1935 there were a few men members names listed. The group "planned to talk to the trustees at the Annual Meeting about electricity saying they would use their penny bank money to help pay for it."
At the June 12, 1935 meeting Miss Bessie Penniman was appointed to make arrangements to have the lawn mowed.
The minutes of the April 15, 1936 meeting mentioned that maybe "the business of keeping the circle going was getting difficult and that they should resume meetings when regular services were again held in the chapel". There was some objection to this because this would mean the "program for the youth of the church would suffer".
The official record of the chapel indicates that between 1936 and 1951 summer services only were held.
Although the chapel records do not indicate a connection with the Orleans church, the fact that they shared ministers indicates there was a connection. The Orleans parish ceased functioning in 1938 when it federated with the Congregational church. At that point Eastham universalists were without a minister.
Both these statements not withstanding, the ladies continued to meet, keep records of what they did and how they supported church activities. They voted to have the pump fixed (no date given).
On October 21, 1936 the group voted to give a musical instrument to the elementary school (Otto Nickerson, a church member, was the principal) and also to contribute $18 to the school music program.
In February 1937 they sent $10 to the Red Cross for flood relief in the West. In 1937 they also voted to stop making quilts and also not to "tie any more quilts." (Sometimes in the past a person would put a quilt together and bring it to the sewing circle to have it quilted or tied).
December 21, 1938 they held a Christmas party with thirteen present for which they had the organ tuned so they probably sang Christmas carols.
Mr. Shepard of the electric company came to discuss electric lights in 1938. The record for 1941 lists for the first time "paid Cape and Vineyard $1.60".
During the war years there were several entries such as: 1942 packed bundles of clothes for Britain three times; sent boxes to soldiers and sailors relief in 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1945. They also invited servicemen and women to join them for supper several times.
In 1944 the war news being better, they scheduled a Christmas sale, sold a "Mother's Garden Quilt" for $30 and held a big Christmas party with 24 members present.
The next meeting was January 17, 1945 with an oyster stew supper before the Annual Parish meeting.
In 1947 the Universalist Church in Provincetown wanted the Eastham church to join with them in getting a GOOD minister to supply both pulpits. Eastham Parish responded to say it was not in any financial condition to do that.
In 1947 the ladies redecorated the church.
Nine meetings were held in 1948 during July and August which were very well attended. Reverend John Christenson from Chatham spoke at these services. In May preceding the summer meetings the men cleaned the grounds and the women cleaned inside and paid to have the inside painted. 60 attended the last meeting on August 27.
In 1951 Reverend Harry W. Rogge arrived and the parish revived! The Ladies Sewing Circle had five new members including Della Macomber, a longtime school teacher and a member of the Knowles/Penniman family, Sadie Flint who was Town Librarian and Otto Nickerson, his wife, a member of the Brewer family, and their son, Thomas. Practically as soon as he joined the church Otto Nickerson became a Trustee and in 1952 upon the death of Leslie E. Chase who had been President of the Truystees since 1928, Mr. Nickerson became the President of the Trustees.
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Horton are mentioned in all accounts of these years as being instrumental in the revival of the children's choir. Several women made choir robes. Mr. Weston Wilbur was the organist assisted by J. Russell Chase. Mrs. Kenneth Young reorganized the Sunday School. 108 people attended the Easter Service. Several families had their children dedicated and at least one wedding took place. At the Christmas Party in 1957 45 people attended.
During these years the kitchen was modernized, an inside toilet facility was created and a new heating system installed.
IN THE FALL OF 1961 THE UNITARIAN AND UNIVERSALIST DENOMINATIONS MERGED
The church records indicate that at a Special Church Meeting on September 24, 1961 it was proposed to discontinue regular Sunday services while Reverend Rogge was away from October until April. Several members objected saying that if the church closed the church work with the young people would cease. It was then voted to continue for another year. Bruce Campbell said he would undertake the duties of janitor.
On January 17, 1962 the Annual Meeting was held with 22 members present. Otto Nickerson continued as President of the Trustees (he continued through 1966). The Clerk brought up the Unitarian Universalist Associations's annual appeal for money. Ralph Chase moved and it passed to send the customary $30. (Ralph Chase was one of the most influential citizens in Eastham).
At the January 23, 1963 Annual Meeting the interim minister Charles DeVries brought up four topics: (1) the name of the church; (2) should they join the Ballou Channing District (a regional district set up to handle UUA concerns in southern Massachusetts); (3) whether to join the Cape Cod Council of Churches and (4) the future of the church. A motion was passed unanimously to continue as in the past.
During the 1960's the Cape Cod Conservatory of Music used the chapel for lessons given by J. Russell Chase. The income from this helped with church maintenance.
The parish officers were working with the Brewster Unitarian church to seek a minister to serve both churches. (Imagine all the discussions which must have taken place: two different denominations now one!) The Trustees promised to pay $20 per week for Eastham's share of the joint minister.
On October 27, 1963 the new minister, Daniel William Weck, was installed as the minister of both churches in an impressive ceremony which took place at the Brewster church. On the cover of the program the "First Parish of Eastham" is called "The Chapel in the Pines" indicating the term was already in use. On the program the Brewster church is called "The Captain's Church".
In 1964 the Chapel celebrated its 75th anniversary. The program cover depicts several pine trees beside the front of the building.
The two churches continued to hold services alternately in each church until 1966 when the Brewster church announced it was not going to renew Reverend Weck's contract. Brewster asked "Could the Eastham church 'go it alone?' Of course not was the answer.
Mr. Charles DeVries filled the pulpit along with other lay persons for some time.
Dorothy Monzon, a longtime chapel member, and wife of Bertran Monzon, grandson of Captain Penniman, details the next years: "In April 1968 Reverend John Fisher was hired for both churches. At first there were sermons in both churches, then on alternating months during the summer. Finally they dwindled to one Sunday a month. On January 20, 1971 the First Parish of Eastham and the First Parish of Brewster consolidated. A lot of work was done on the chapel with Mr. Fisher donning his work clothes and working right along with Ted Barnard, Bud Monzon, Jim Melcher and others to help restore the building.
Reverend John Fisher retired from the two churches in 1974 and Reverend David Parke filled the pulpit. By that year the Chapel in Eastham was no longer in regular use for religious services. There were some Christmas Eve services.
FIRST ENCOUNTER COFEE HOUSE
At this point the Chapel began to fill another community need. First Encounter Coffee House founder, Karie Miller, describes the formation and continuation of the organization which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1999. "On a late spring evening in 1974, at the home of Barbara Melcher in South Orleans, a small group of friends were gathered for dinner. Among them were Mickey Mickle, Chuck Melcher, Reverend David Parke, musician George Gritzbach, Barbara and myself. During the evening the topic of conversation came around to George's music career. We talked about the fact George did a lot of traveling off-cape to perform, and that it was too bad there wasn't a local venue for acoustic music. Although David Parke, minister of the Brewster Unitarian/Universalist church, had talked with Barbara about the possibility of opening a coffeehouse at the church in Brewster, nothing had ever developed. Now the idea had come up again. David suggested establishing a coffeehouse at the Chapel in the Pines in Eastham. The idea was tossed around between the friends gathered there, enthusiasm grew, and the seeds of First Encounter Coffeehouse were sown. Chuck Melcher came up with the name First Encounter because the building is located on the way to First Encounter beach and because it was our groups "first encounter" to undertake such an effort.
Within two weeks a core of five or six people prepared the building, made posters, contacted the press and presented their first concert on June 28, 1974. George Gritzbach shared the bill with Provincetown musician Ruth Roberts, and the response was overwhelming; a crowd of just over 200 people squeezed into the small chapel for the concert. The volunteer staff prepared homemade baked goods and sandwiches. Cider, soda and coffee were served. The stage was lit with the beautiful wrought iron candelabra that held twelve candles each. Wooden cable spools from the electric company were gathered and used throughout the space for cozy candlelit tables. Over the summer the volunteer staff opened the coffeehouse doors every Friday night with entertainment being provided by musicians such as Peter Kaire, Bob Holmes, Lee Sills, Big Lost Rainbow, George Gritzbach and Ruth Roberts. Admission price in the early days was $2.00.
By the time winter arrived, the popularity of First Encounter's candlelit concerts grew and the staff decided to open on Friday and Saturday night. Karen and Ray Duchesneau and Linda Squire had joined us as dedicated volunteers. Lisa and Bob Seay whose home was across the street, also joined the volunteers. Thanks to their generosity, the Seay's home was often open to performers as a peaceful refuge between sets. In the early days of the coffeehouse some of the volunteers would bring their children to the concerts. The children delighted in opening the evening with a song. Usually their chosen song would be one of the FM radio top 10 of the week. Shortly after they would snuggle into their sleeping bags and be carried home to their beds at the end of the night. Soon enough money had been saved to purchase a sound system. Performers throughout New England were now traveling to the lower cape to perform in this room that was rapidly becoming known on the performance network as magical. Within the year the coffeehouse became part of the circuit for performers from around the country.
In the winter of 1978, First Encounter was confronted with the possibility of losing use of the building it had come to call home. Due to its limited amount of use, the Brewster Parish decided to sell the Chapel in the Pines. A farewell concert featuring George Gritzbach and Bill Staines took place in January. Several months passed before it became official that some members of the Brewster Unitarian/Universalist congregation and other interested folks had formed a U/U fellowship and purchased the building. This group assured the dedicated volunteers that they welcomed the concert series to continue at the chapel.
The coffeehouse has continued with concerts two Saturdays each month and an open mike on the first Saturday of each month. The First Encounter Coffeehouse has survived the ups and downs in the folk music arena and has continued to provide a listening venue where people of all ages come to hear the best of acoustic music. Today, in our 27th year, the coffeehouse continues to be supported by a volunteer staff, some of whom are, Ken and Sherry Higgins, Carol Pearl, Doug Lyons, Chuck Cole, Norm and Ruth Fields, Ray Duchesneau and myself. The admission today is $12.00.
I thank all the many dedicated volunteers who have helped produce the concerts, and of course for the audience who have shown their support over the years."
Karie Miller 23 February 2001
FOUNDATION OF THE NAUSET FELLOWSHIP
Under the agreement establishing the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Brewster Unitarian church owned the Universalist church in Eastham. The Brewster church needed repairs amounting to $30,000. The Trustees decided to sell the chapel for $30,000, offering it first to the Town of Eastham twice (Article 34, May 1977 and Article 8, Special Town Meeting, May 1, 1978). The Town of Eastham decided not to purchase it. Several Eastham voters who were present at these meetings and voted against the Town purchasing the property were in the forefront of establishing a fellowship.
Bob Seay, its first president, describes the beginning of the Nauset Fellowship.
"The idea to form the Nauset Fellowship began when the Chapel in the Pines went on the market in 1976. Not all members of the First Parish in Brewster were in favor of the sale. There were those of us who wanted to save the historic Chapel and those who wanted an alternative to the more traditional style services at First Parish. Getting them together was the key".
The first meeting was held at the Eastham library on March 1, 1978 to which all members of the community who had ever had any connection with the Chapel were invited. About 40 people attended and shared their stories about the wonderful times that they had experienced in the church. Almost everyone at that original meeting felt something should be done to preserve the Chapel to prevent it from ending up as someone's home. It was also recognized that the Chapel served other community needs including providing a space for several groups to meet including the First Encounter Coffeehouse. Eventually 28 expressed an interest in forming a fellowship.
On March 24, 1978 the first organizational meeting of the Nauset Fellowship was held. The Fellowship's first officers were Robert Seay, president, Edyth Trautz, vice president, Rosemary Abbott, secretary and Richard Delaney, treasurer. We proposed keeping the Chapel open for a two-year trial period, but First Parish's Board of Trustees eventually rejected the idea. The talks with the First Parish Board were often contentious since we wanted the Chapel on the same terms by which they had received it; that is, for free. But it was clear that they were counting on the money to be derived from the sale of the Chapel. So our only alternative was to create a new church group and purchase the building ourselves. Since the Unitarian Universalist Association provided for groups of fewer than 75 members to form fellowships, that's what we decided to become. We held several meetings and decided to negotiate with First Parish for purchase of the Chapel.
If there is one person who deserves credit for the energy and vision needed to bring all of this about it was Theodore "Bud" Fisher. Bud was a lifelong Unitarian and had been involved in the formation of several churches. He was also unwaveringly opposed to the sale of the Chapel. It was Bud who found us legal help in the person of Erwin Steif who prepared our organizational papers and helped us obtain our non-profit designation from the IRS. And it was Bud who never lost faith that through chowder suppers and other fund raising efforts we would accomplish our goal. There were those in our group who honestly asked if we needed the Chapel and its financial burden in order to have the Fellowship. The answer of course was no but there were enough of us interested in both objectives to keep pursuing the purchase of the Chapel.
When we were trying to figure out how to raise the $30,000 needed to purchase the building we went to the press with our story. Ann Fowler of Samoset Road read the story in The Cape Codder and called to see if she could help. She happened to be the secretary to George Marble, president of Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank. It was through that bank that we received $30,000. The interest rate was 1/2 of 1 percent, rising a half percent every quarter until it reached the going market rate. It was an incredible deal in the late 70's when interest rates were hovering in the 10 percent range. We were not the only ones who bid for the Chapel. There were about a half dozen parties with bids ranging up to more than $40,000, but the First Parish felt although ours was the lowest bid we deserved the building after all that we had been through.
There were several people who formed the early nucleus of the Nauset Fellowship and have remained faithful to it ever since: Fran and Bob Olsen, Herb and Bobsie Whitlock, Rosemary and George Abbott, Doug Wilcock and Mary Haynes and Bud and Ellie Fisher among others. We began not with a minister but with ourselves planning meetings among ourselves so that each member was responsible for a meeting. This served two purposes: it provided fascinating programs and enabled us to get to know each other's interests and passions and areas of expertise. However, this style made it somewhat difficult for us to obtain the IRS tax exemption for religious groups. We didn't quite fit their mold: we had no minister, said no prayers, sang no hymns, but eventually and with an attorney from the UUA at our side, Bud Fisher and I finally obtained the needed IRS exemption. All of us put our time and energy into renovating the building. This was a fun time since we all couldn't wait to see the Chapel restored to its former glory. We all pitched in and what was first thought to be a dilapidated building turned out to be fairly easy to restore.
The intent was always to keep the Chapel as close to its original condition as possible and preserve its unique carpenter gothic style. We also wanted the Chapel to be used by as many community groups as possible since lack of use in the 1970's was one of the reasons people felt it could be sacrificed. Many have commented on how grateful they are to be able to experience such a wonderful space. It is truly a gem and a very important part of Eastham's history and everyone associated with the Nauset Fellowship should be proud of what has been accomplished.
Bob Seay May 2001
RENOVATION OF THE CHAPEL
The furnishings in the Chapel when Nauset Fellowship was formed were minimal at best: there were two types of folding chairs which we still use; there was an L-shaped counter which coffeehouse member Ray Duchesneau had built for the coffeehouse's use and which we also still use. There were several large wooden spools (the electric company used them) with their flat surface covered with carpet pieces. We soon got rid of them. There were various upholstered chairs which we also got rid of because the fire department said to do so. Bob Olsen made some wooden tables of planks bolted together and placed on sawhorses. We used these for several years. (They are now being recycled as tables for the annual book sale of the Eastham Historical Society).
Work began as soon as the building was transferred from First Parish in 1979. Using the members as volunteers the interior was painted and the auditorium ceiling was painted by Bud Monzon with help from Bob Seay and George Abbott. Fran Olsen contributed new kitchen lighting.
Doug Wilcock installed a new furnace, put down a new kitchen floor and constructed the new handicap ramp to connect with the door he built which was paid for by Bud Fisher. Bob Olsen donated a very efficient gas water heater. The elctrical wiring was updated at a reasonable price by Charles Higgins.
The stained glass windows were badly deteriorated by the time the Fellowship began. All the credit for undertaking their restoration goes to Jan Laine who obtained the skilled craftsman, Peter Hughes of Harwich, to do the work. He did a beautiful job, but Jan had to keep after him until, window by window, he finished. Interestlingly, several weddings took place during that lengthy period with one or another of the windows boarded up. Each wedding group knew of this but were still eager to use the chapel for the wedding.
CHOWDER SUPPERS were the glue that held us together in the early days of Nauset Fellowship. For ten weeks each year from 1979 to 1989 we worked together. In the early days Bud Fisher made the chowder, later Bob Olsen was the chowder master with George Abbott assisting; all members contributed special desserts each week with Helen Cooper in charge; Fran Olsen, Toku Chase, Jan Laine, Bob Olsen and Ellie Fisher made the salad from the wonderful fresh ingredients grown at Fancy's Farm on land owned by Ellie and Bud. Ellie Fisher, Reta Sparrow and Lella Bennison were the hostesses to seat the customers when the people came rushing down the stairs into the Town Hall.
We all set the tables earlier in the day, whoever wasn't working, and just before the magic hour of 5:30 when the doors opened, the volunteers, as a group, sat and ate their chowder supper. Then, Bobsie Whitlock and Fran Olsen or Ralph Andrist or Bud Fisher went upstairs and began collecting the money from the guests. Peter Whitlock, Lisa and Kristen Seay, Melinda Crary and Doug waited on table while Don Sparrow and Ritz Cooper poured the coffee and juice. In the kitchen keeping the salad moving out and doing the dishes were Dorothy Gallagher ("Patsy" Reta's sister), Art Swenson, Marilyn Crary, Sadie Seay, Jan Laine and Rosemary Abbott.
We really never tired of putting on these chowder suppers: Many summer people still mourn their loss but, simultaneously with our completing our necessary fund raising goal, the stove in the Town Hall kitchen was declared unsafe by the State gas inspector (the stove still sits in the kitchen an unused relic) and that ended the chowder supper days.
THE CHAPEL BECOMES A MOVIE SET
During 1986 when Helen Cooper was President of the Fellowship we had great excitement. It made a lot of work for Helen but we all enjoyed it! A scout for a movie company approached Helen to ask if the Chapel would be interested, for a "consideration", in having a wedding scene for the movie "Tough Guys Don't Dance" from a novel by Norman Mailer be filmed at the Chapel. The consideration was a considerable amount of money to our little group. Before the filming the movie producers painted the building white to represent a rural North Carolina church; took out all our light fixtures, doorway hadrware and heating ducts and replaced with those suitable to the time and place of the story. Afterward the white picket fence used to camouflage our iron and stone fence was moved across the road where it now resides in front of Bob Seay's house. Of course, they replaced most everything and repainted the building yellow.
Many of our group including Lella Bennison, Marilyn and Melinda Crary, Betty Morgan, Jan Lane and Nancy Craven were extras and appeared in the finished movie. (George Abbott and Jack Morgan stood on the porch posed as if talking to each other for a couple of hours, were put on film and made it to the promos but were cut from the final movie). The day of the filming, November 4, 1987 the area around the Chapel was chaotic confusion with filming equipment and throngs of spectators who wanted to see the stars, Ryan O'Neal and Isabella Rosselini.
THE NAUSET FELLOWSHIP'S SECOND DECADE
Bob Olsen, Fellowship Archivist, and Fran Olsen contributed the following summary of the Fellowship:
"The profits from the Summer chowder suppers initiated under the supervision of Bud Fisher, amounted to $1759 for 1979 and totaled $36,400 for the eleven years ending in 1989. The mortgage on the Chapel building was paid off in 1985 and the following years surpluses were invested in accounts at the Cape Cod Five Cents Bank. Income from these assets and contributions were increasingly allocated each year into community building to improve the operation of local service agencies. Bud Fisher died in 1989, and the fund for such social improvement was thereafter called the Bud Fisher Outreach.
A Centennial Celebration was held on August 13, 1989, to commemorate the August 12, 1889, organization of the First Universalist Parish of Eastham by John Ryder, Edward Penniman and William Nickerson. The Chapel was built by members and dedicated in January 1890. Cur observance was from 2 to 4 PM on Sunday with a script of the building's history and the effect of the congregation on the Town. Members of the Fellowship and guests shared memories of contacts with the Universalists. Russell Chase played the organ for the hymn, "Faith of our Fathers", and the Bavarian Band played during informal exchange and refreshments.
Speakers for our Sunday programs are arranged by a committee of three to four members with broad public contacts and with several years of UUA membership. Over the years since starting in 1978, the "open style" of program presentation, followed by member discussion, has led to a basic philosophy of honest seeking of truthful knowledge, spiritual growth, generosity, and friendly mutual respect and without mythical ritual.
Cur first list of members and friends, dated September 1979, numbered 29 and 8. In February 1990, members = 32 and friends = 21. During the following years, membership has gradually increased and attendance at meetings during the Summer has usually swelled to double the number, due to the expansion of the national association. By January, 2000, the membership has totaled 47 and the friends 19.
The operation of the newly-formed Fellowship in 1978 was done very freely by a Board of four officers, President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer,and three trustees. These elected people encouraged volunteers to use their experience to manage for 1)Sunday programs, 2)operation and maintenance of the building and grounds, 3)meetings and concerts by local groups (such as First Encounter Coffee House, the Library, and Alcoholics Anonymous), 4)relations with Eastham Town functions, such as the Board of Health and the Fire Department, and 5) cooperation with other religious groups for joint community efforts. Extra social get togethers for members and friends included brunches, pot-luck suppers, men's and women's groups at homes once-a-month and celebration dinners. During 1980, plans were activated to have a yard-sale every May to raise money and to help members "clean out the attic". All of these efforts united members to work together for agreed-upon objectives. During 1982 a better organizational plan for operation was put into effect by the Board's appointing members to the following standard committees: Program, Building, Bud Fisher Outreach, Chowder Suppers, Landscaping, Lot Boundaries, Chapel Use, Denominational Affairs and Kitchen Supplies. With changes in operation during a year, new committees have replaced older completed ones, to decided improvement and satisfaction.
Starting in 1990, the State, County and Town began to emphasize the importance of purity of drinking water. On June 3, 1992, initiated by Herbert Whitlock, the Fellowship approved the installation of an alternative experimental peat septic system to replace the obsolete Chapel cesspool, to be funded almost entirely by a State Massachusetts Bays Grant. Installation took place on September 14, 1993, with a Title-5 system in parallel. A new well was also installed. Fellowship members installed a fence and a descriptive sign between the field and the parking space. After about six months of successful operation, the field was sampled for water through-put from access pipes and analysis of the water showed that the peat field removed only 32% of the nitrate from the tank effluent, compared with 90-95% in average of 100 installations in Maine: the County Agent guessed that our peat may have been too acidic. The State Department of Environmental Protection did not accept the Peat System, therefore as an approved Alternative. Recently the County Health Agent had agreed to re-evaluate the peat system at the Chapel for the purpose of determining any possible increase in the removal of nitrate.
As the members of the Nauset Fellowship chose to have members and "outside " speakers give the Sunday programs, there was never any attempt to have a ministerial employee. This was, in part, an economic as well as an intellectual and philosophical decision. The Sunday talks covered a wide variety of issues, ranging from ethical, moral, social, environmental and political problems to local areas of concern.
We would like to mention a few of the Sunday programs as representative of those of considerable importance. Russell Chase, a member of both the Eastham Universalist Parish and the Nauset Fellowship, gave a talk on how music is used as therapy, entitled "Music Therapy from Mysticism to Science". That same year, 1986, we had an outside speaker who talked on "The Medieval World in The 14th Century". Another member told of her experiences growing up in Nazi Germany and then living under the post-war communist government of East Germany. There have been talks on racism, current world-wide social problems, homophobia, world health, overpopulation, global warming and ecological transgressions. We have also had programs on Art, Poetry, Dance and Live and Taped Music. Approximately 20-30% of the programs have been given by the Fellowship members themselves. Some speakers recounted their experiences when they visited sensitive areas, such as Cuba and Israel. Fresh insights were gained from their personal impressions, and hopefully they strengthened our resolve to act politically in a moral way, when feasible.
The first Sunday of each month has always been a business meeting, which many members feel is often more stimulating than a delivered program. There can be a vociferous exchange of ideas and opinions that usually can be found only in the family setting which, in the extended sense the Fellowship has become.
And then there are celebratory occasions; A Thanksgiving dinner for members and friends has become an annual ritual, as well as the Christmas party. There have been sunrise gatherings at the beach, followed by a pot-luck brunch at Easter time.
And just so, our Fellowship continues to evolve - in a "spirit based on humanistic values and on a firm regard for each other and our communities".
Fran and Bob Olsen
June 14, 2001
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All the known historical records of the Eastham Universalist Church and copies of all the minutes, programs, and other memorabilia of Nauset Fellowship are housed in the Archive Room of the Eastham Public Library where you are welcome to read them. In addition, from early days, the programs were audio taped by Bob Olsen, catalogued and are available to be borrowed.
Nauset Fellowship Historical Dates March 1, 1978 First gathering
March 24, 1978 organizational meeting - 28 people expressed an interest.
May 16, 1978 Letter to First Unitarian Universalist Society of
Cape Cod from Nauset Fellowship offering "to pay
$30,000 for purchase of Chapel in the Pines in
Eastham "contingent on legal recognition of the
Fellowship by the U.U.A. and mortgage financing by
the Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank."
July 4, 1978 Letter from George Marble of Cape Cod Five to Bob
Seay in confirmation of underwriting a $30,000
mortgage and agreement of interest at 1/2 of 1%
and going to 9.5% over a period of 5 years.
August 29, 1978 Incorporation of Nauset Fellowship.
August 30, 1978 Letter from lawyer Ed Steif re understanding between N.F. and George Marble, President of Cape Cod Five.
September 10, 1978 Nauset Fellowship meeting vote to:
purchase Chapel in the Pines
borrow $30,000 from Cape Cod Five
authorize officers of Fellowship to
execute mortgage and other legal
documents relating to purchase.
September 21, 1978 I.R.S. letter
September 30, 1978 Purchase and Sale agreement between Nauset Fellowship and FUUSOCC.
October 4, 1978 Letter re budget for 1979-80
October 28, 1978 Letter from Ed Steiff to Bank and N.F. stating free title.
December 21, 1978 Letter from N.F. to FUUSOCC asking free and clear title, no reverter rights.
January 21, 1979 FUUSOCC Annual Meeting: voted transfer of reverter clause of Eastham propery from Brewster meeting house property to U.U.A.
February 9, 1979 Annual meeting of N.F.
February 26, 1979 Letter from Steif to Bank re papers relating to closing February 28.
February 28, 1979 Closing. Cape Cod Five Mortgage Loan Statement -
YEARLY LIST OF OFFICERS - NAUSET FELLOWSHIP
YEAR -- PRESIDENT -- VICE PRESIDENT -- SECRETARY -- TREASURER
1978 Bob Seay Dee Trautz Rosemary Abbott Rich Delaney
1979 Bob Seay Dee Trautz Barbara Whittaker-Johns Rich Delaney
1980 Helen Whit1ock Lisa Seay Barbara Whittaker-Johns George Abbott
1981 Bob Olsen Mary Haynes Judy Fuchs George Abbott
1982 George Abbott Fran Olsen Lisa Seay Rosemary Abbott
1983 Mary Haynes Lisa Seay Rosemary Abbott Fran Olsen
1984 Mary Haynes Lisa Seay Rosemary Abbott Fran Olsen
1985 Helen Cooper Bert Bennison Barbara Jones Doug Wilcock
1986 Helen Cooper Bert Bennison Rosemary Abbott Doug Wilcock
1987 Dick Brown Barbara Jones Bob Seay George Abbott
1988 Bert Bennison Barbara Jones Jan Bishop George Abbott
1989 Art Sisko Jan Bishop Dick Brown Fran Olsen
1990 Art Sisko Jan Bishop Dick Brown Fran Olsen
1991 Jan Laine Ralph Andrist Lella Bennison Mort Steinau
1992 Jan Laine Dave Eagles Lella Bennison Mort Steinau
1993 Dave Eagles Bob Olsen Barbara Jones Fran Olsen
1994 Dave Eagles Phil Johnson Rhoda Staley Fran Olsen
1995 Mort Steinau Mary Haynes Jari Rappaport Ken Ainsworth
1996 Mort Steinau Mary Haynes Jari Rappaport Ken Ainsworth
1997 Mary Haynes Jari Rappaport Bob Olsen Joan Nugent
1998 Mary Haynes Jari Rappaport Bob Olsen Joan Nugent
1999 Jari Rappaport Ilse Johnson Helen Cooper Doug Wilcock
2000 Jari Rappaport Ilse Johnson Rhoda Staley Doug Wilcock
2001 Ilse Johnson Ken Ainsworth Judith Whitney Russ Chenoweth
BIBLIOGRAPHY
AMERICAN UNIVERSALISM, Elmo Arnold Robinson. Exposition Press, New York
1970
HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY, ORLEANS 1833-1935, Bertha Cheny Ward.
Orleans Historical Society 1935
FROM HERESY TOWARD TRUTH;THE STORY OF UNIVERSALISM IN GREATER HARTFORD AND CONNECTICUT 1821-1971, Donald Watt. West Hartford Universalist Church, 1971.
THE EVANGElICAL UNIVERSALIST, JANUARY 7, 2000, Scott Wells, pages 1-3
ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, UNIVERSALISM, JANUARY 7, 2000 pages 1-3
AN INVENTORY OF UNIVERSALIST ARCHIVES IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1942
Boston, Mass. The Historical Records Survey
Records of the Universalist Church in Eastham and Nauset Fellowship:
original record book 1889 - 1894; church records 1961; Parish Book 1952-1965; Book One of Women's Group 1921-1932; Book Two of Women's Group 1953-1945; photographs and "Christian Leader" article and photographs; all records kept by Bob Olsen, Archivist, of Nauset Fellowship including publicity, meetings notices, programs and minutes of meetings.