Universalists Joined Religious Secessionists

At the time so many different groups were becoming disenchanted with the Reverend Mr. Ritchie, members were withdrawing in rapid succession from the congregation of the First Parish. As a result of these secessions many new religious groups were born. Such a group was the Norfolk Universal Society.

By 1812 so many members of the old church had joined the ranks of the neophyte religious organization that it was agreed to pay Mr. Ritchie the sum of fifty dollars, an amount he had formerly relinquished with the refund of the ministerial taxes.

Each member who united with the Universalist band received an attested certificate of membership. The certificates were duly signed by every member of a committee, which in 1820 consisted of Samuel H. Horton, Samuel Leonard, Consider Southworth and Simeone Presbrey

No meeting house was available to the group for many years. For some time, therefore, business meetings were held at Downe's Tavern and religious services were conducted at Carroll's Tavern, then owned by J.G. Wood.

The Reverend Richard Carrique, one of the first ministers of the Universal Society, was a frequent preacher at Carroll's. Other services were conducted by the laymen of the group. By 1840, meetings and services were moved to the schoolhouse in South Canton which would one day become the armory.

The Reverend Edwin Thompson, who handled the ministerial responsibilities of that period, has recorded much of the history which he helped to make. Mr. Peter Wales, whose introduction was responsible for the congregations solicitations of Rev. Thompson, was married to the daughter of Joseph Downes. It was Wales, who, following a single guest sermon, convinced Mr. Thompson to take up pastoral duties in South Canton.

Reverend Thompson lived in the home of his friend, Edwin Wentworth, and never in all his years of residence there did he ever receive a bill for his quarters. Mr. Wentworth held an open house each and every Sunday, to which he invited his friends and relatives from Ponkapoag and other "distant" parts of the town. Mr. Wentworth was likewise instrumental in rallying the people to church on each Sabbath.

It was not strange, therefore, that Reverend Thompson conducted the largest meetings in Canton. Very quickly it became necessary to hire Leonard's Hall for the religious services. Next, the congregation purchased and installed several settees in order that the members might be more comfortable.

In 1842, the services were moved to Leavitt's Hall, then to the Town Hall and finally, in 1845, the Universalist Hall. The meeting house was erected the following year and dedicated in 1847.

ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE Universalist Society, Samuel Chandler, spent most of his life in Canton, finally passing away in 1874, during his ninety-first year. "Father Chandler", as he was affectionately known, was a conscientious supporter and defender of his faith. For more than three-quarters of a century he was a pillar of the community, respected and loved by all who knew him. He too, as the result of a wonderfully retentive mind, was able to record much of the history of his beloved community.