Rev. John Barstow, a son of
Rev. E. H. Barstow, was born in Newton Centre, Mass., Feb. 16, 1857; graduated from Dartmouth College, 1883; spent two years in Hartford Thelogical Seminary, then one year in foreign travel, and graduated from
Andover, 1887; was ordained in
Groton, Mass., June 29, 887; was installed in
Glastonbury, Conn., Nov. 19, 1889; and from that church was called to
Medford and installed Jan. 2, 1895.
During his pastorate of less than five years the church has received one hundred and sixty-six members, a larger number than the admissions under any other pastor.
Including the sixty charter members, and the one hundred and eighteen received from the
First Church, the total membership to the present time (Nov. 6,
[p. 71] 1899) has been one thousand and twenty-six (I,026), of which four hundred and thirty-four (434) have been received on their confession of faith.
The present membership is four hundred and forty-seven (447).
It is fitting that in closing this narrative brief reference should be made to one layman whom both churches have been especially delighted to honor.
The name of
Deacon Galen James heads the list of charter members in each of the two colonies.
In many ways he was a wonderful man. One of his leading attributes was his practical common sense.
His convictions were intensely strong and his persistence in acting upon them was phenomenal.
Whether convinced that the town ought to have a high school, or that the Congregationalists ought to have a better newspaper to speak for the denomination, or that a new church should be organized, he allowed no obstacle to block his way to the realization of his conviction.
Had he been a mere worldling he would have been a menace to society, but, being thoroughly consecrated in heart, head, and
purse, he was eminently qualified for leadership.
He was born in 1790 and died in 1879.