tJmh i 
 
 m 
 
 ml 
 
HISTO R Y 
 
 OF 
 
 KING'S CHAPEL 
 
HISTORY OF KING'S CHAPEL, 
 
 IN BOSTON; 
 
 THE FIRST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
 
 IN NEW ENGLAND; 
 
 COMPRISING NOTICES OF THE INTRODUCTION OF EPISCO- 
 PACY INTO THE NORTHERN COLONIES. 
 
 BY F. W. P. GREENWOOD, 
 
 JUNIOR MINISTER OF KING'S CHAPEL. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 CARTER, HENDEE & CO. 
 
 AND 
 ALLEN & TICKNOR. 
 
 1833. 
 
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833, 
 
 By Carter, Hendee & Co. 
 in the Clerk's office of the District Court of Massachusetts, 
 
 PRINTED BT I. R. Bl'TT». 
 
TO 
 
 MY FRIENDS AND PARISHIONERS, 
 
 THE SOCIETY WORSHIPPING AT KING'S CHAPEL, 
 
 AND 
 
 TO MY VENERABLE COLLEAGUE, 
 
 THE REVEREND JAMES FREEMAN, D. D., 
 
 THIS 
 
 HISTORY OF OUR CHURCH, 
 
 IS RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. 
 
 F. W. P. G. 
 
PREFATORY NOTICE. 
 
 The substance of the following pages was preached 
 before my Society in a series of eight discourses, in 
 the spring of 1S32. In printing these discourses, I 
 have given them the title of Periods, because the 
 name of Sermons seems too formal for such a subject, 
 and disturbs the appearance of historical continuity. I 
 have, however, retained the style of direct address to 
 an audience, in the belief that by so doing I should 
 rather help than hurt or hinder the narrative. 
 
 I have ventured to publish this History of King's 
 Chapel, because I trusted that it would be interesting 
 to the members of my congregation ; because I hoped 
 that it might be interesting to readers in general, as a 
 contribution, though small, to the ecclesiastical history 
 of New-England; and because I was almost sure of 
 the favor of antiquaries, to whom facts are never un- 
 important or dull. 
 
Vlll 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Except in the introduction, I have confined myself 
 almost exclusively to the path which was marked out 
 for me by the records of the church. I might have 
 made the narrative more complete by a more diligent 
 search into other authorities ; but this would have in- 
 volved much labor and correspondence, for which I 
 had not the requisite time. Besides which, the ful- 
 ness of the records leaves little to be desired, with 
 respect to the immediate history of the chapel. 
 
 In the Appendix I have introduced such a selection 
 from the mass of manuscript documents, as I judged 
 would be most worthy of publication. More would 
 have been printed, had it not been for the fear of 
 swelling the book to a size which might have seemed 
 unnecessary. The largest share of space has been 
 given to those papers which relate to the change of 
 doctrine which took place in the church at the time of 
 the settlement of Dr Freeman ; because this is an 
 event which has been exceedingly misrepresented. 
 
 Owing to the residence of my highly respected col- 
 league, the senior minister of King's Chapel, at the 
 distance of some miles from the city, I have been al- 
 most entirely deprived of his assistance in my work, — 
 a circumstance which I cannot but greatly regret. 
 
PREFACE. IX 
 
 From several gentlemen, well acquainted with the 
 early history of our state, I have derived valuable 
 information ; and with regard to the antiquities of the 
 Chapel in particular, I am so much indebted to the 
 kindness of my friend, Col. Joseph May, that I feel 
 desirous in this public manner to return him my 
 thanks. 
 
 Boston, Jan. 1, 1833. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 HISTORY. 
 
 Introduction. Love of God's House. First Epis- 
 copal Controversies in New-England, . • 1 
 Period First. Formation of the First Episcopal Soci- 
 ety. Robert Ratcliffe, the First Rector, . . 15 
 
 Period Second. From the Formation of the First Epis- 
 copal Society to the Building of the First Chapel, . 33 
 
 Period Third. From the arrival of Mr Myles, the Se- 
 cond Rector, to the dismission of Mr Bridge, his First 
 Assistant, . 50 
 
 Period Fourth. Arrival of Mr Harris. Chapel enlarg- 
 ed. First Organ. Attempt to make American Bishops, 69 
 
 Period Fifth. Death of Mr Myles. Arrival of Mr 
 Price. Increase of Episcopal Churches, . 
 
 Period Sixth. Resignation of Mr Price. Settlement 
 ofDrCaner. Building of the Stone Chapel, . 101 
 
 Period Seventh. From the Erection of the Stone 
 Chapel to the Present Time, . • .128 
 
Xii CONTENTS. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 I. Curious Extracts from the Old Records, . 151 
 
 II. King's Chapel Library, . . 161 
 
 III. Address of the Church to the Bishop of London, 
 
 in favor of Governor Dudley, . . 164 
 
 IV. Some Papers concerning American Bishops, 167 
 
 V. Address of the Churches at Boston, Newbury 
 
 and Marblehead to George I. on his Accession 
 1714, 170 
 
 VI. Address to George II. on his Accession, 1727, 172 
 VII. Bishop Gibson's License to Mr Price, . 173 
 
 VIIL Inventory of Church Furniture, 1733, . . 175 
 IX. Letters relating to Mr Davenport's Settlement 
 
 at Trinity Church, ... 176 
 
 X. Address to Bishop Sherlock, . . 178 
 
 XL Letter to Bishop Provost, and his Answer, . 180 
 XII. Protest against Mr Freeman's Ordination, and 
 
 the Answer of the Wardens thereto, . 183 
 
 XIII. Ordination of the Rev. James Freeman, . 192 
 
 XIV. Dr Belknap's Remarks on Mr Freeman's Ordi- 
 
 nation, ..... 195 
 XV. Clerical Excommunication of Mr Freeman, 197 
 XVI. Some Notices of the Rev. Samuel Cary, . 198 
 XVII. Inscriptions on the three Monuments in King's 
 
 Chapel, . . . .204 
 
 XVIII. List of Ministers of King's Chapel, . 209 
 
 XIX. List of the Wardens of King's Chapel, . 209 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 LOVE OF GOD'S HOUSE. — FIRST EPISCOPALIAN CONTRO- 
 VERSIES IN NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 LORD, I HAVE LOVED THE HABITATION OF THY HOUSE, 
 AND THE PLACE WHERE THINE HONOR DWELLETH.— 
 
 Ps. xxvi. 8. 
 
 The place in which we are accustomed to 
 meet together for the worship of God, and, as the 
 sabbaths and the seasons roll on, to unite in praise 
 and prayer with kindred and friends ; the place 
 in which our Saviour is commemorated, our child- 
 ren are baptized, our sorrows find their consola- 
 tion, and our cares their rest, is a holy place, and 
 one which we well may love. The Jews were 
 devotedly attached to their temple ; they were 
 deeply impressed with the idea of its holiness ; 
 they were proud of its rich and solemn beauty. 
 It was associated in their minds with their glory 
 as a nation, with their existence as a favored and 
 separate people. This attachment grew to be 
 excessive ; it lost the spirituality of its character ; 
 the temple was admired more for its external 
 form than for its sacred uses ; and the regard 
 1 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 which was paid to it became in a high degree 
 superstitious, formal and exclusive. While we 
 would avoid these perversions of the love which 
 they entertained for their sanctuary, we cannot 
 help sympathizing with the sentiment itself. Nor 
 is it desirable that we should struggle against a 
 feeling so natural, and, if well regulated, so useful. 
 Let us say what we will against attachment to 
 particular places, it is one which nature and the 
 operations of our own minds will always oblige us 
 to form. Let us assert as we may that one place 
 is no holier than another, yet will holy associa- 
 tions continue to make holy places, so long as 
 religious feeling exists, and the worship of God 
 endures. If we fully receive the great Christian 
 principle, that God must be worshipped in spirit 
 and in truth, we are completely guarded against 
 an undue attachment or reverence for the house 
 in which he is worshipped ; and then the affec- 
 tionate reverence which we may freely cherish for 
 the house, will even aid the warmth and sincerity 
 of the devotions which we offer therein to Him 
 who is a spirit. 
 
 Such are my own feelings, such my convictions. 
 I am not so afraid of superstition as to keep up a 
 perpetual war with my heart. I love the place 
 where God's honor dwelleth — the holy place 
 where his name and praise are publicly acknow- 
 
INTRODUCTION. 3 
 
 ledged, and the majesty of his presence is unitedly 
 felt. I love, more especially, this house in which 
 we are now assembled. My associations with it 
 are many, and early, and sacred. I love it for 
 the beauty of its construction, for the memories 
 with which it is filled, for its connexion with 
 times that are gone, countenances that have been 
 changed, and friends who have passed away. 
 
 It is this love which has prompted me to inves- 
 tigate the history of our church. Some who 
 hear me, have associations with it very similar to 
 my own. Some have known it much longer 
 than I have, and are more variously connected 
 with it. Its history includes so many well known 
 names, important events, and changes of opinion, 
 that the relation of it will, I trust, be uninter- 
 esting to none. 
 
 The materials of this narrative will be chiefly 
 derived from the original manuscript records of 
 the church ; but I have also, as time and oppor- 
 tunity permitted, consulted printed histories and 
 documents. 
 
 The first serious and organized efforts to erect 
 an Episcopal Church in Boston were made in the 
 year 1686. It is not to be supposed, however, 
 that there had not been, before this time, and 
 even from the first settlement of the Massachusetts 
 
4 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 colony, some who disliked the religious discipline 
 and forms of their rigid dissenting neighbors, and 
 were in heart members of the church of England. 
 William Vassal, who came over with Gov. Win- 
 throp, in 1630, and was one of his assistants in 
 that year, was perhaps of this way of thinking.* 
 As the colony increased, and the intercourse with 
 the mother country was enlarged, many must 
 have resorted here, either temporarily, or for per- 
 manent settlement, who were members of the 
 English establishment, and retained their attach- 
 ment to its communion. 
 
 In 1646 a " Remonstrance and Petition" was 
 sent into the General Court by Robert Child and 
 six others, in which, after stating some grievances 
 of a civil nature, they complained " that they 
 were debarred from christian privileges, viz. the 
 Lord's Supper for themselves, and baptism for 
 their children, unless they were members of some 
 
 * The Rev. Mr Deane,in his history of Scituate, says that 
 President Chauncy suspected Mr Vassal of being an Episco- 
 palian, but that there is no evidence to prove him to have 
 been so. The truth is, no doubt, that he was a gentleman 
 of high and honorable feelings, who looked with contempt 
 on many of the narrow notions of the day, and entertained 
 just ideas on the great subjects of religious toleration and 
 liberty. Being such a one, it is but of little consequence 
 whether he was an Episcopalian or not. He was certainly 
 not a riind Puritan. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 5 
 
 of the particular churches in the country, though 
 otherwise sober, righteous and godly, and eminent 
 for knowledge, not scandalous in life and conver- 
 sation, and members of churches in England. 
 And they prayed that civil liberty and freedom 
 might be forthwith granted to all truly English, 
 and that all members of the church of England 
 or Scotland, not scandalous, might be admitted to 
 die privileges of the churches of New England ; 
 or, if these civil and religious liberties were re- 
 fused, that they might be freed from the heavy 
 taxes imposed upon them, and from the impresses 
 made of them or their children or servants into 
 the war." In case their wishes were denied, the 
 petitioners threatened to appeal to the honorable 
 houses of parliament, who, they hoped, would 
 take their sad condition into consideration, procure 
 able ministers for them, " this place not being so 
 well provided as to spare any," or else transport 
 them to some other place, where they might live 
 like Christians, and not be accounted burthens, 
 but serviceable both to church and state. On 
 the other hand, they hope, should their requests 
 be granted, to see the now contemned ordinances 
 of God highly prized, the gospel much darkened, 
 break forth as the sun at noon day, christian 
 charity and brotherly love, almost frozen, wax 
 warm, jealousy of arbitrary government (the bane 
 
6 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of all commonwealths) quite banished, and many 
 other blessings and advantages as the consequen- 
 ces of the reformation which they proposed. 
 
 This bold and irritating remonstrance* pro- 
 duced a great excitement and disturbance at the 
 time, and was answered f in the same year by the 
 court, four months after it was presented, who 
 condescended to enter into a long argument with 
 the petitioners, and treated them with still less 
 ceremony than they had themselves received. 
 They examine, in a contemptuous manner, the 
 characters and pretensions of the seven petition- 
 ers.;]; " And these are the champions," say they, 
 " who must represent the body of non-freemen. 
 If this be their head, sure they have an unsavoury 
 head, not to be seasoned with much salt." They 
 reply, according to their own notions of church 
 order and membership, to the application for 
 church privileges, and then refresh the memory 
 of the petitioners with a reference to the recent 
 case of another company of remonstrants, mean- 
 ing Roger Williams and his friends, who not ob- 
 taining their desire, had removed to Rhode Island, 
 where they presently fell at variance among them- 
 
 * Printed in Hutch. Col. Pa. p. 188. 
 t Also in Hutch. Col. Pa. p. 196. 
 
 \ Robert Child, Thomas Burton, John Smith, Thomas 
 Fowle, David Yale, Samuel Maverick, John Dand. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 7 
 
 selves, and instead of establishing church and civil 
 state, had overthrown both. " Such peace, 
 unity, prosperity, &c," say the General Court in 
 conclusion, " is that which we may expect, if we 
 will cast off the rules of God's word, the civil 
 prudence of all nations, and our own observation 
 of the fruit of other men's follies, and hearken to 
 the counsell of these new statesmen. From 
 which the Lord deliver us, and all the seed of 
 Israel to the coming of Christ Jesus. Amen." 
 
 The end of this matter was, that the petitioners 
 were fined for contemptuous and seditious expres- 
 sions, on their refusing to acknowledge their of- 
 fence, and their papers, among which was a peti- 
 tion addressed to the commissioners for plantations 
 in England, were seized. 
 
 Such was the first Episcopalian controversy, as 
 it may be called, on these shores, and such is a 
 specimen of our forefathers' yet imperfect notions 
 of religious liberty. 
 
 In 1662, soon after the downfall of the Com- 
 monwealth and the accession of Charles II. who 
 was proclaimed in London, May 29, 1660, a 
 letter from that monarch to the colony was re- 
 ceived, which on the whole was cheering to the 
 people and their governors, as it was kinder to 
 them, and more respectful to their charter and 
 liberties, than they had reason to expect. Some 
 
8 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 things in it, however, were less relished, as they 
 touched the sore point of their ecclesiastical pecu- 
 liarities and prejudices. The king required that 
 their laws should.be reviewed, that the oath of 
 allegiance should be duly administered, that the 
 administration of justice should be in his name, 
 " that freedom and liberty should be duly admitted 
 and allowed to all such as desired to use the book 
 of Common Prayer, and perform the devotions in 
 the manner established in England, and that they 
 might not undergo any prejudice or disadvantage 
 thereby, they using their liberty peaceably with- 
 out disturbance to others ; that all persons of 
 good and honest lives and conversations should be 
 admitted to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, 
 according to the said book of Common Prayer, 
 and their children to baptism ; that in the choice 
 of governor and assistants the only consideration 
 to be had should be of the wisdom, virtue and 
 integrity of the persons to be chosen, and not of 
 any faction with reference to opinions and outward 
 profession ; that all freeholders of competent 
 estates, not vicious in conversation, and orthodox 
 in religion, though of different persuasions con- 
 cerning church government, should have their 
 votes in the election of all officers, both civil and 
 military."* 
 
 * Mass. Hist. Col. 2d S. vol. viii. p. 52. 
 
INTRODUCTION. V 
 
 The Boston agents, by whom this letter was 
 brought over, were Simon Bradstreet, one of the 
 magistrates, and John Norton, one of the minis- 
 ters of the First Church. As soon as their con- 
 stituents had given expression to the first emotions 
 of joy at having been no more severely dealt 
 with, they began to murmur at the obnoxious 
 parts of the letter, and charge them as faults 
 on the poor agents. Although these gentlemen 
 were so hailed on their return, that the court or- 
 dered a public thanksgiving partly on account of 
 it, as well as for the " continuance of the mercies 
 of peace, liberties, and the gospel," they were 
 afterward so neglected and even reviled, that the 
 sudden death of Mr Norton by apoplexy the 
 next year was attributed to the distressed and 
 melancholy state of his mind which this treatment 
 occasioned. " The agents," observes Gov. 
 Hutchinson with truth and sagacity, " met with 
 the fate of most agents ever since. The favors 
 they had obtained were supposed to be no more 
 than might well have been expected, and their 
 merits were soon forgot; the evils which they 
 had it not in their power to prevent were attribu- 
 ted to their neglect or unnecessary concessions."* 
 
 The authorities of the colony here, being very 
 
 -Hutch. Hist. 1. 222. 
 
10 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 slow in complying with those requisitions of the 
 king's letter which did not suit them, he sent four 
 commissioners,* with powers to hear and determine 
 all matters of complaint, and to settle the peace 
 and security of the country, who arrived in July, 
 1664. One of these commissioners was Samuel 
 Maverick, Esq. a son of the Samuel Maverick who 
 joined in the " remonstrance and petition " of 1646 
 mentioned above. Like his father he was an 
 Episcopalian, and like him probably entertained 
 not the most kindly feelings toward his fellow 
 colonists .f Among the instructions of these 
 commissioners, was one directing them to inquire 
 how far the requisitions of the king's letter of 
 1662 had been complied with. The third requi- 
 sition is thus re-stated ; " that such as desire to 
 use the book of common prayer, be permitted so 
 to do without incurring any penalty, reproach or 
 disadvantage, it being very scandalous that any 
 persons should be debarred the exercise of their 
 religion according to the laws and customs of Eng- 
 land, by those who were indulged with the liberty 
 of being of what profession or religion they pleas- 
 
 * The commissioners were Col. Richard Nichols, George 
 Cartwright, Sir Robert Carr, and Samuel Maverick. The 
 two former arrived at Boston, the two latter at Piscataqua, 
 about the same time. 
 
 1 Both the Mavericks are mentioned in Eliot's Biog. Diet. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 11 
 
 ed." It sounds strange to hear Charles II. read- 
 ing a lesson on religious freedom to the pilgrims ; 
 but it was a good lesson, though delivered in an 
 arrogant style, and by a profligate tyrant. 
 
 It was with some difficulty that the general 
 court were brought to answer at all to an authority 
 not recognised in their charter, but at length they 
 did so to each instruction, more or less explicitly. 
 With regard to the king's letter they say, that 
 they had endeavored formerly to satisfy his ex- 
 pectations, and now farther say that touching the 
 oath of allegiance, they had ordered it to be 
 taken, in that form prescribed by the cohny Jau\ 
 by all freemen and other householders ; and that 
 touching civil liberties, they observed the qualifi- 
 cations mentioned in his majesty's letter ; " and 
 as to ecclesiastical privileges they had commended 
 to the ministry and people here the word of the 
 Lord for their rule."* This last answer was 
 plainly evasive, or rather it was an absolute refusal 
 to be dictated to in religious matters. Our fathers 
 could dictate very well, but they could not so well 
 endure dictation. 
 
 In reply, the commissioners say, " The end of 
 the first planters coming hither was, as the court 
 expressed in their address, 1660, the enjoyment of 
 
 * Hutch. Hist. 1. 243. 
 
12 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the liberty of your own consciences ; we therefore 
 admire that you should deny the liberty of con- 
 science to any, especially where the king requires 
 it ; and that upon a vain conceit of your own, 
 that it will disturb your enjoyments, which the 
 king often hath said it shall not. Though you 
 commend to the ministers and people the word of 
 the Lord for their rule, yet you did it with a pro- 
 viso, that they have the approbation of the court ; 
 and we have great reason both to think and say, 
 that the king and his council and the church of 
 England understand and follow the rules in God's 
 word as much as this corporation." Finally they 
 advise them, for fear of consequences, to " an inge- 
 nious and free consent to what the king desired."* 
 But " an ingenious and free consent," it was 
 not the purpose of the Massachusetts corporation 
 to give. The commissioners were foiled and re- 
 turned to their master. Charles had so many 
 affairs to attend to at home, that the colony re- 
 mained untroubled for some years, or not seriously 
 troubled;! but in 1683 he sent Edward Randolph J 
 
 * Mass. Hist. Col. 2d S. vol. viii. p. 76. 
 
 t The subject of the common prayer, &c, continued, how- 
 ever, to be pressed from time to time. See Hutch. Col. Pa. 
 p. 520. 
 
 t Randolph first came to Boston in 1676. " After a tedious 
 passage of 10 weeks, arrived at Boston on 10th June." — 
 His letter to the king. Hutch. Col. Pa. p. 503. In 1673 
 
INTRODUCTION. 13 
 
 with a quo warranto against their charter, which 
 the following year was taken away. In 1685, 
 Feb. 6, Charles died. His successor, James II. 
 was proclaimed in Boston, in April of the same 
 year. On the 15th of May, 1636, the Rose fri- 
 gate arrived from England with a commission to 
 Mr Joseph Dudley as president of Massachusetts 
 and the colonies north of it, and to other gentle- 
 men to constitute his council ; and in the same 
 frigate came Mr Robert RatclifFe, the first Epis- 
 
 Randolph came over again, having been to England in the 
 interim. He was in England again in 1679, and returned the 
 latter part of the same year. He went home again the next 
 winter, and returned in 1681, bringing with him his com- 
 mission from the crown constituting him collector and sur- 
 veyor and searcher of the customs in New England. Hutch. 
 Hist. 1. 330. We find Randolph in England again, Feb. 
 1681. lb. 335. He arrived with the quo warranto, in Oct. 
 16S3 ; having come, however, to Boston, and gone back to 
 England between these two years. lb. 336. 
 
 Since writing the above, I have seen a MS. of four pages, 
 lately presented to the Mass. Hist. Soc. being Randolph's 
 own account of his voyages to and from England. The re- 
 cital is brief, consisting of little else beside dates ; but a fact 
 or two like the following, which he records, mark the kind 
 of people he had to deal with. 
 
 " 17 December, 1681. I arrived againe att Boston in 
 New England, with his Majesty's Commission, appointing 
 me Collector, &ca. But that commission is opposed, being 
 looked upon as an encroachment on their Charter. A Law 
 revived by the assembly to trye me for my life, for acting 
 by his Majesty's Commission before it was allowed of by 
 them. 
 
14 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 copal minister of Boston, and indeed of New 
 England. 
 
 I find that I have completed the limits of a 
 discourse, without coming even to the building of 
 the wooden church which the Episcopalians first 
 erected on this spot. The early history of our 
 church is, however, the history of the introduction 
 of episcopacy among those who fled from it and 
 hated it. As such it possesses a peculiar interest 
 and value. There is another light in which it is 
 more interesting still, which is its connexion with 
 the great history of religious liberty. The 
 thoughtful observer will mark the strange pro- 
 cesses by which the human mind is often forced 
 to the most simple and excellent conclusions. 
 He will see arbitrary power from the mother 
 country, contending against arbitrary power here, 
 and the result of these conflicting and angry au- 
 thorities to be toleration, liberty and peace. 
 
PERIOD FIRST. 
 
 FORMATION OF THE FIRST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY. 
 ROBERT RATCLIFFE, THE FIRST RECTOR. 
 
 BUT THE FOUNDATION OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD WAS 
 
 not YET laid. — Ezra iii. 6. 
 
 The " Rose frigate " must have seemed to the 
 greater part of the Bostonians, or Bostoneers, as 
 Randolph called them, freighted heavily with 
 wo, bearing as it did the Rev. Robert Ratcliffe, 
 of the church of England, with his surplice, and 
 his book of Common Prayer ; to say nothing of the 
 commission which appointed a president over 
 them, by the king's sole authority. It was as 
 new to them, and as disagreeable, to have in 
 their midst a settled clergyman of that church, as 
 it w r as to see at their head a ruler not of their 
 own choosing. " There had been very few in- 
 stances of even occasional assemblies for religious 
 worship according to the rites and ceremonies of 
 the church of England for more than fifty years. 
 
16 PERIOD FIRST. 
 
 When the commissioners from King Charles were 
 at Boston in 1665, they had a chaplain with them, 
 but there was no house for public worship. Most 
 of the inhabitants who were upon the stage in 
 16S6, had never seen a church of England assem- 
 bly."* The time was now come for the strange 
 sight to be exhibited, and for the members of the 
 episcopal communion to rally under the counte- 
 nance and influence of the royal government. It 
 should be stated, too, that the general court had 
 declared in 1677, that no persons should be hin- 
 dered from performing divine service according 
 to the church of England.^ The way therefore 
 appeared to lay smooth and open for the Episco- 
 palians to introduce their forms of worship and 
 government. 
 
 As Randolph had the chief hand in overturning 
 the old charter of the colony, so was he most 
 active and efficient in establishing an Episcopalian 
 church here, and procuring the services of a cler- 
 gyman from England. For the former purpose 
 he had acted as a constant spy upon the colonists, 
 and had been backwards and forwards between 
 the two countries ten or eleven times in as many 
 years. He was indeed, as Hutchinson says, 
 " incessant." For the latter purpose, the build- 
 ing up of episcopacy, he was diligently employed 
 in moving the ecclesiastical dignitaries at home, 
 
 * Hutch. Hist. 1.353 t Ibid. 
 
PERIOD FIRST. 17 
 
 as will appear by his letters preserved in Hutch- 
 inson's Collection of Papers. In a letter to the 
 Bishop of London, dated, Boston, July 14th, 
 1682,* he urges both of these objects. " Nothing 
 will so effectually settle this government on a 
 firm dependence upon the crown," he says, " as 
 bringing a quo ivarranto against then charter, 
 which will wholly disenable many, now great 
 sticklers and promoters of the faction among us, 
 from acting further in a public station." With 
 regard to the church he says, " We have advice 
 by Capt. Barrett, now arrived from London, that 
 your lordship hath remembered us, and sent over 
 a minister with Mr Cranfield ; the very report 
 hath given great satisfaction to many hundreds 
 whose children are not baptized, and to as many 
 who never, since they came out of England, re- 
 ceived the sacrament." And again ; " If we are 
 misinformed concerning your lordship's sending 
 over a minister, be pleased to commiserate our 
 condition and send us over a sober discreet gen- 
 tleman. Your lordship hath now good security, 
 as long as their agents f are in England, for his 
 civil treatment by the contrary party ; he will be 
 received by all honest men with hearty christian 
 respects and kindness, and if his majesty's laws 
 
 * Hutch. Col. Pa. p. 538. t Dodley and Richards. 
 
 2 
 
18 PERIOD FIRST. 
 
 (as none but fanatics question) be of force with 
 us, we could raise a sufficient maintenance for 
 divers ministers out of the estates of those whose 
 treasons have forfeited them to his majesty." 
 
 In a previous letter to the bishop, elated May 
 29th of the same year, Randolph had given sim- 
 ilar assurances of the safety of any clergyman 
 who might be sent over. " Your lordship hath a 
 great pledge for such ministers as your lordship 
 shall think convenient to send over, for their civil 
 treatment, and I think no person fitter than Major 
 Dudley,* their agent, to accompany them, who 
 will be very careful to have them settled as or- 
 dered in England." He had also spoken of the 
 feasible means of maintaining such clergymen. 
 
 * Dudley's character is well hit off by Randolph in this 
 tsdme letter. " Major Dudley is a great opposer of the fac- 
 tion heere, against which I have now articled to his majesty, 
 who, if he finds things resolutely maniged, will cringe and 
 bow to anything. He hath bis fortune to make in the world, 
 and if his majesty, upon alteration of the government, make 
 him captain of the castle of Boston and the forts in the collo- 
 ney, his majesty will gain a popular man, and obleidge the 
 better party." Of Richards, the other agent, he writes, ' : As 
 for Capt. Richards, he is one of the faction, a man of mean 
 extraction, coming over a poore servant, as most of the faction 
 were at their first planting heere, but by extraordinary feats 
 and coussinadge have gott them great estates in land, espe- 
 cially Danford, so that if his majesty doe fine them suffi- 
 ciently, and well if they escape soe, they can goe to worke 
 for more." Randolph likens the two agents to the two 
 consuls of Rome, Cxsar and Bibulus. 
 
PERIOD FIRST. 19 
 
 u In my attendance on your lordship, I often 
 expressed that some able ministers might be 
 appointed to perform the offices of the church 
 with us. The main obstacle was how they should 
 be maintained. I did formerly, and do now pro- 
 pose, that a part of that money sent over hither, 
 and pretended to be expended among the Indians, 
 may be ordered to go towards that charge." 
 And again he says, " My Lord, your goodness 
 and readiness to serve his majesty in the settle- 
 ment of this great plantation, invites me, upon all 
 occasions, to interpose your lordship's more 
 weighty affairs, but since we are here immediately 
 under your lordship's care, I with more freedom 
 press for able and sober ministers, and we will 
 contribute largely to their maintenance ; but one 
 thing will mainly help, when no marriages here- 
 after shall be allowed lawful but such as are made 
 by the ministers of the church of England." 
 
 The length and number of the above extracts 
 will be pardoned, on account of the strong light 
 which they throw on the movements of the party 
 who were now arraying themselves so boldly 
 against the old puritanical influence of the colony ; 
 and particularly on the views and character of 
 Edward Randolph, who may be called the head 
 of that party. We see what lofty ideas of the 
 royal prerogative he entertained, in his proposing 
 
20 PERIOD FIRST. 
 
 to destroy the ancient civil rights of the colony 
 by taking away their charter, and setting over 
 them a governor appointed by the crown. And 
 we see- that his notions of the English Church 
 were no less lofty, in his suggestions that not one 
 clergyman only of the church, but several might 
 be maintained, by the high-handed methods of 
 diverting the funds of the " Society for propagating 
 the Gospel among the Indians " to their support, 
 and of applying confiscated estates and all mar- 
 riage fees to the same use. But in the whole of 
 this arbitrary course I can easily conceive that he 
 was actuated by a sense of duty towards his sove- 
 reign, who was also the sovereign of these colo- 
 nies, and who, Randolph might well imagine, was 
 not treated here with the deference and obedience 
 which were his due. He considered that the 
 Bostonians were stiff-necked, refractory and re- 
 bellious, and that he ought to curb and turn their 
 spirit. They, on the other hand, looked upon 
 him as the myrmidon of a tyrant and a hateful 
 spy, and said that " he went up and down seek- 
 ing to devour them."* He despised their prim 
 and exclusive Congregationalism, and they abom- 
 inated his stately and formal episcopacy. He 
 was arbitrary after his fashion, and they were so 
 
 * Hutch. Hist. 1. 319. 
 
PERIOD FIRST. 
 
 21 
 
 after theirs. If he had not been excited by their 
 inveterate opposition to what he deemed alone 
 true and venerable, he probably would not have 
 troubled them as much as he did. If they had 
 not been too weak at that time to resist the 
 royal power, they would not have borne his arro- 
 gant interference for a day. 
 
 We have seen that Randolph carried his two 
 great ends, the destruction of the original Massa- 
 chusetts charter, and the importation and intro- 
 duction of an Episcopal clergyman. 
 
 On the 15th of May, 1686, as I have before 
 stated, arrived the Rose frigate, commanded by 
 Captain George. On the 25th, Dudley entered 
 on the duties of his temporary presidency.* On 
 the 26th, Mr Ratcliffe waited on the council, 
 and Mr Mason and Randolph proposed that he 
 should have one of the three congregational meet- 
 ing-houses to preach in. This was denied, but 
 he was granted the use of the library room in the 
 east end of the town house, which then stood 
 where the Old State House, or, as its present 
 name is, the City Hall, now stands. 
 
 But the formation of the First Episcopal Soci- 
 ety is to be dated from the 15th of June, same 
 year, on which day the records of the church 
 
 ♦See Hutch. Hist. 1.343. and extracts from Se wall's 
 MS. Diary, in Wisner's History of the Old South, note 27. 
 
22 PERIOD FIRST. 
 
 commence. The first page of this valuable man- 
 uscript * I shall now quote entire, as it comes in 
 order in the narrative, and gives an account of 
 the original steps taken by the society, as briefly 
 as they could well be stated, besides informing us 
 who the founders of the church were. 
 
 " Boston in JV. England. June 15th, 1686. 
 
 " At a meeteing, wherein were present the Gent, 
 following — vizt. Mr Ratcliffe, our minister. 
 Edward Randolph, Esq. one of his majestie's 
 councell. Captaine Lydgett. Mr Luscomb. 
 Mr White. Mr Maccartie. Mr Ravenscroft. 
 Doctor Clerke. Mr Turfery. Mr Bankes. 
 Doctor Bullivant. 
 
 " Agreed. That every Sabbath day after 
 evening sermon, shall be made a publique collec- 
 tion by the churchwardens for the time being for 
 
 * It is a folio volume, bound in parchment, and bears the 
 following as its title page ; " Boston in New England, Anno 
 Domini, 1686. An entry booke, of all such meetings, agree- 
 ments, and other matters, proper to be recognized, had, and 
 done from time, to time ; by the members of the church of 
 England, as by law established, under the gracious influen- 
 ces of the most illustrious Prince our Sovereign Lord, James 
 the 2d. By the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, 
 and Ireland king, defendourof the faith &c. — Anno Dom- 
 ini, 1686, and in the 2d yeare of his said Majestie's Reign, at 
 Boston within his said Majestie's territory, and Dominion of 
 New England in America." 
 
PERIOD FIRST 
 
 the servise of the church,, and to be continued 
 untill some publique and settled provision be made 
 for the same.* 
 
 "Agreed. That Doctor Benjamin Bullivant, 
 and Mr Richard Bankes, are elected churchwar- 
 dens, and to continue untill Easter next. 
 
 " Agreed. That Edward Randolph, Esq. Capt. 
 Lydgett, Mr Luscomb and Dr Bullivant, with 
 our minister, should wayte on the President and 
 Councell to treate about our church affaires. 
 
 •■ Agreed. That an humble addresse be made 
 to hisMajestie, and to be signed by the gentlemen 
 as above-named, to implore his Majestie's favour 
 to our church, and it is consented that all other 
 true sons of the church of England, may join with 
 us in the same. 
 
 " Agreed. That in the same method, a letter 
 be sent to the Right Reverend father in God, 
 the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and one 
 other to the Reverend father in God, the Lord 
 Bishop of London, to implore those prelates favour 
 towards our church. 
 
 * The first recorded collection is on June 20, 16S6,ainount- 
 ing to £3 lis. Qd. and the account is regularly kept from this 
 time forwards. On the 22d of October, same year, the bal- 
 ance of the collections made up to that time, remaining from 
 necessary expenses, is ordered to be paid to Mr Ratcliffe. 
 The whole amount of collections was £48 8s. 4cZ. Expenses 
 £19 14s. 6d. Paid Mr Ratcliffe £28 13s. lOd. Mr Ratcliffe's 
 receipts for this sum in two several payments are given. 
 
24 PERIOD FIRST. 
 
 " Agreed. That Mr Smith the Joyner do make 
 12 formes, for the servise of the church, for each 
 of which he shall be paid As. Sd. 
 
 " Agreed. With the said Mr Smith the Joy- 
 ner, that this church will pay and allow unto him 
 20s. quarterlie, and every quarter, for and in con- 
 sideration of his cleaneing, placeing, and remove- 
 ing the Pulpit, formes, table &cc, and dooing 
 ail other things which shall be convenient and 
 necessary in our place of publique Assembling." 
 
 The accommodations provided for and referred 
 to in the two last votes, were intended to furnish 
 the library room in the town house in a decent 
 manner for the performance of divine service. 
 This was truly an humble beginning for those 
 who made such high pretensions as did these 
 zealous royalists and churchmen. As they as- 
 sembled in the east end of the town house, and 
 looked round on their twelve forms and their 
 movable pulpit, they must have felt the contrast 
 between such a tabernacle and the solemn old 
 cathedrals at home ; and have felt too that they 
 were among a people, who, though of the same 
 blood with themselves, were strangers to their 
 mode of faith and worship, despising what they 
 esteemed most sacred, and setting at nought the 
 power which they deemed unquestionable. It is 
 hardly to be supposed that these feelings were 
 
PERIOD FIRST. 25 
 
 calculated to conciliate them toward the congre- 
 gationalists, or that the condition in which they 
 found themselves was favorable at the time to 
 their growth in christian humility or charity ; for 
 truths taught by experience are learned slowly. 
 That they even had the town house for their 
 worship, is, however, a proof that the colonists 
 were to a very considerable degree overawed and 
 restrained, by the attitude which the mother coun- 
 try assumed towards them. 
 
 The second recorded meeting of the church- 
 men took place on the 4th of July, still the same 
 year.* At this meeting it was agreed to pay Mr 
 Ratcliffe fifty pounds per annum salary, beside 
 what the council might think fit to settle on him ; 
 and that if Mr Buckley, the chaplain of the Rose, 
 should please to assist Mr Ratcliffe, lie should 
 " receive for his paynes 205. a weeke." It was 
 also agreed that " a sober and fitt person be 
 sought after for a clarke," and that there should 
 be a Sacrament on the second Sabbath of the 
 month. But the most important vote was the fol- 
 lowing ; " Agreed. That the councell be addressed 
 unto, to give us libertie and authority by a briefe, 
 to passe through the whole territory of his majes- 
 
 * Beside those persons who attended the first meeting, 
 there were present at this, Mr Proctour, Mr Steph. "Wissen- 
 dunke, Mr Thomas Brindley, and Mr Mallett. 
 
26 PERIOD FIRST. 
 
 tie in New England, and therein to collect and 
 receive all such voluntary donations as all 
 persons whatsoever shall be disposed to give 
 us, for and towards the building of a church in 
 Boston, to be erected for the servise of God, 
 and for the use of the church of England as per 
 law established." The liberty and authority 
 applied for according to this vote, were probably 
 granted, as a list is given in the records of a num- 
 ber of persons who furnished donations, which I 
 shall more particularly notice presently. We 
 find by the succeeding and last vote at this second 
 meeting, that worship was still performed in the 
 town house, not only on the Sabbath, but on 
 Wednesdays and Fridays. "Agreed. That the 
 prayers of the church be said every Wednesday 
 and Friday in the yeare, (for the present, in the 
 Library chamber in the town-house in Boston,) 
 and in the Summer Season to beginne at 7 of the 
 clock in the morning, and in the winter season, at 
 9 of the clock in the forenoon." 
 
 Of Mr Ratcliffe, and his service in the town 
 house, there is a brief notice in the journal of 
 John Dunton, a bookseller of London, a singular 
 character, who came to Boston in the year 1686, 
 in order to secure a debt for books, as also to dis- 
 pose of a cargo of the same article, and who 
 arrived here in March, after a passage of more 
 
PERIOD FIRST. 27 
 
 than four months.* He says, " About this time 
 arrived the Rose frigot from England with a new 
 charter, procured by one Randal, which gave 
 major Dudley the title of president, and the ma- 
 gistrates were now changed into counsellors. 
 Parson Ratcliffe came over with the charter, and 
 on Lord's days read the Common Prayer in his 
 surplice, and preached in the Townhouse. Mr 
 Ratcliffe was an eminent preacher, and his ser- 
 mons were useful and well dressed ; I was once 
 or twice to hear him, and it was noised about that 
 Dr Annesly's son-in-law [himself] was turned 
 apostate. But I could easily forgive 'em, in re- 
 gard the common prayer and the surplice were 
 religious novelties in New England." 
 
 This account of Mr Ratcliffe as a preacher, 
 short as it is, is the only one which I have yet 
 been able to discover. Randolph, in a letter to 
 the Archbishop of Canterbury, of the date 1686,f 
 mentions the services in the town house, and 
 speaks of having transferred the place of assem- 
 bling to the " exchange." This letter is a great 
 curiosity, as indeed are all which are preserved of 
 
 * See Mass. Hist. Col. 2d S. vol. 2d, p. 97. It is worthy of 
 notice that when Dunton arrived, some time in March, the 
 harbor was frozen over. 
 
 t No other date is given to this letter. Hutch. Col. Pa. 
 p. 549. 
 
28 PERIOD FIRST. 
 
 his. They not only let us far into the spirit of 
 the times, and the men of the times, but show 
 the perfect calmness and conscientiousness of his 
 own tyranny in a way, which, however exasper- 
 ating that tyranny was to our fathers, is to us, at 
 this distance of time, only amusing. He begins 
 his letter thus ; " May it please your Grace, — I 
 have forborne writing to your grace till I had 
 been some time upon the place, to see how the 
 poor people here would demean themselves under 
 the new government." After noticing the refrac- 
 tory disposition of these poor people, he thus 
 goes on to speak of his ecclesiastical efforts. " I 
 take leave humbly to remind, that when your 
 grace was present at a committee of the Lords, 
 and was therein pleased to move, that one of their 
 meeting-houses in Boston should be ordered to 
 be set apart for the exercise of the religion 
 according to the church of England, it was then 
 answered by some of those noble Lords who dis- 
 coursed in their favour, provided they might have 
 1 iberty of conscience in matters of religion, they 
 would voluntarily submit to have one of their 
 three meeting housen * to be disposed of by the 
 president and council for that use. Since my 
 arrival with Mr Ratcliffe,f a sober man, recom- 
 
 * Housen, so spelt. 
 
 * There must have been a royal company in the Rose. 
 
PERIOD FIRST. 29 
 
 mended by my lord of London to be our minister : 
 who besides his lordship's fair testimonials, brought 
 with him a letter from the right honorable the 
 Lords of the committee for trade and foreign plan- 
 tations to the president and council, for their coun- 
 tenance and encouragement in the discharge of 
 his office ; } T et 'twas a long time before they took 
 the least notice of him or his business. At last, 
 though strongly opposed, I got a little room in 
 their town-house, for such as were of the church 
 of England to assemble in, but found it so strait 
 that we are forced now to make use of the ex- 
 change for that purpose ; where, to humour the 
 people, our minister preaches twice a daj and 
 baptises all that come to him, some infants, some 
 adult persons. We are now come to have 
 prayers every Wednesday and Friday mornings 
 on their exchange, and resolve not to be baffled 
 by the great affronts ; some calling our minister 
 BaaFs priest, and some of their ministers, from 
 the pulpit, calling our prayers leeks, garlic and 
 trash." He then recurs to the subject of mainte- 
 nance, saying, " W"e have often moved for an 
 honorable maintenance for our minister ; but they 
 tell us those that hire him must maintain him, a> 
 they maintain their own ministers, by contribu- 
 tion." He humbly represents to his grace " that 
 the three meeting-houses in Boston might pay 
 
30 PERIOD FIRST. 
 
 twenty shillings a week, a piece, out of their con- 
 tribution, towards the defraying our church 
 charges ; that sum being less per annum than each 
 of their ministers receive." He speaks of the 
 necessity of having another minister sent over, to 
 supply the place of Mr Ratcliffe, in case any ill- 
 ness or indisposition should happen to him. He 
 then repeats his favorite project of laying hold of 
 the money designed for converting the Indians ; 
 calls it a " bank of money," and doubts not that 
 it amounts to at least two thousand pounds, but 
 says that he does not adventure to stir in it, hav- 
 ing already brought upon himself so many ene- 
 mies, and to all his crimes " added this one as the 
 greatest, in bringing in the liturgy and ceremonies 
 of the church of England."* 
 
 Nothing could be more graphic than the strong 
 and natural touches of this letter. We see the 
 Bostonians angry and abusive, the ministers railing 
 in their pulpits against the English Liturgy, in 
 terms which few ministers would use now of the 
 prayers of the most degraded heathen ; and on 
 the other hand we have the usual steady and un- 
 ci oubting arrogance of Randolph, who talks of 
 making the three congregational churches support 
 the church of England, in ways as oppressive 
 
 * Spelt in the letter " letherdge and cerimonise." 
 
PERIOD FIRST. 31 
 
 as those which compelled the fathers of that gen- 
 eration to fly from their native land. 
 
 In still another letter to the Archbishop, dated 
 " Octo. -27th, '86," Randolph again exhibits the 
 necessities of his church. " I have some time 
 since,'' he begins, k * humbly represented to your 
 grace a necessity of having a church built in Bos- 
 ton to receive those of the church of England. 
 We have at present 400 persons who are daily 
 frequenters of our church, and as many more 
 would come over to us, but some being tradesmen, 
 others of mechanic professions, are threatened by 
 the congregational men to be arrested by their 
 creditors, or to be turned out of their work, if 
 they offer to come to our church ; under such 
 discouragements we lie at present, and are forced 
 to address your grace for relief.'' He once more 
 speaks of the funds for evangelising the Indians, 
 which he says are shamefully misapplied and 
 even embezzled ; mentions that Mr Ratcliffe lives 
 on a small contribution, and that they are yet 
 forced to meet in the town house ; and finally 
 entreats the efficient aid of the Archbishop, lest 
 the small beginnings of the church of England, 
 settled here with great difficulty, fall to the ground 
 and be lost, for want of timely relief and counte- 
 nance. 
 
 But the face of things was now to experience 
 
32 PERIOD FIRST. 
 
 another change, the operation of which was to 
 give more confidence to the episcopalians, and 
 more trouble and disquietude to the great body of 
 the people. I refer to the arrival of Sir Edmund 
 Andros to supersede President Dudley. 
 
 Having advanced thus far in our history, it is 
 easy to perceive that episcopalianism in New 
 England was in a great measure indebted to the 
 efforts, official and personal, of Edward Ran- 
 dolph. Though he was not so bad a man as the 
 colonists represented and believed him to be, yet 
 he was arbitrary, selfish and grasping, and not a 
 champion for a religious denomination to be 
 proud of. But a cause cannot always choose its 
 promoters, and many promoters of this cause 
 were highly respectable members of the commu- 
 nity, fairly entitled from the first to the liberty 
 which they won at last. 
 
PERIOD SECOND. 
 
 FROM THE FORMATION OF THE FIRST EPISCOPAL SOCI- 
 ETY TO THE BUILDING OF THE FIRST CHAPEL. 
 
 SO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD WAS PERFECTED. — 2 Chron. 
 
 viii. 16. 
 
 In the two preceding discourses I have been 
 somewhat minute and circumstantial in relating 
 the history of Episcopalianism previous to the 
 erection of the first Episcopal chapel in Boston. 
 But such particularity seemed to be required, in 
 order that the temper of the times relating to this 
 subject might be exhibited with some distinctness, 
 and justice might be done to the events which 
 led to what was in reality a great moral innovation, 
 if not revolution in these colonies. 
 
 I have also been obliged, in order to be faithful, 
 to record much contention and recrimination. 
 Considering the condition of the two religious 
 parties, together with the frailty of human nature, 
 no less was to have been expected. One party. 
 
34 PERIOD SECOND. 
 
 the great majority, had always been accustomed 
 to rule here ; the other were attached to the 
 church which was established and dominant in 
 England, and their deficiency in numbers was in 
 a good measure supplied by the countenance of 
 royal authority. The latter were determined to 
 enjoy their own mode of worship ; and the former 
 were determined to prevent them as long as they 
 could. In this state of things it is not in the least 
 to be wondered at, however it may be regretted, 
 that both parties should far transgress the bounds 
 of moderation, and the laws of Christian charity 
 and liberty — which laws, by the way, were cer- 
 tainly not understood at that time as well as they 
 are now, and are not so generally understood now, 
 as I trust they will be hereafter. 
 
 But though it must be acknowledged, and ac- 
 knowledged to be deplored, that much acrimony 
 accompanied the beginnings of our church, and 
 that much pride and unholy warmth was mingled 
 with the just zeal of its founders, it must not be 
 supposed that all were equally liable to such a 
 charge and equally reprehensible. John Dunton, 
 from whose journal I have already quoted, says 
 expressly of one of the chief promoters of the 
 undertaking, Dr Bullivant, the first senior warden 
 of the Episcopal church, that " he was so far from 
 pushing things to that extremity as some hot 
 
PERIOD SECOND. 35 
 
 spirits would have had him, that he was for ac- 
 commodating things, and making peace."* No 
 
 * As Dr Bullivant was a conspicuous Episcopalian in those 
 days, and stands at the head of the list of Wardens of the 
 Chapel, I shall make no apology for here inserting the 
 whole of his character, as given in the quaint manner of 
 Dunton. 
 
 "From Dr Oakes I pass to my good friend Dr Bullivant, 
 formerly my fellow citizen in London. I must consider 
 him both as a gentleman and aphysitian. As a gentleman, 
 he came of a noble family, but his good qualities exceeded 
 his birth. He is a great master of the English tongue, and 
 the Northampton people find him a universal scholar. His 
 knowledge of the laws fitted him for the office of attorney 
 general, which was conferred upon him on the revolution in 
 Boston ; it is true he sought it not, but New England knew 
 his worth, and even forced him to accept of it. While he 
 held this place of attorney general, he was so far from push- 
 ing things to that extremity as some hot spirits would have 
 had him, that he was for accommodating thiugs, and making 
 peace. His eloquence is admirable ; he never speaks but 
 'tis a sentence, and no man ever clothed his thoughts in bet- 
 ter words. 
 
 " I shall next consider him as a physitian. His skill in 
 pharmacy was such as had no equal in Boston, nor perhaps 
 Northampton. — He is so conversant with the great variety 
 of nature, that not a drug or simple escapes his knowledge, 
 ro that he never practises new experiments upon his patients, 
 except it be in desperate cases, where death must be expel- 
 led by death. This also is praiseworthy in him, that to the 
 poor he always prescribes cheap, but wholesome medicines, 
 not curing them of a consumption in their bodies, and 
 sending it into their purses, nor yet directing them to the 
 East Indies to look lor drugs, when they may have far better 
 out of th&ir gardens." 
 
36 PERIOD SECOND. 
 
 doubt the same might have been said of many 
 others, both on the episcopal and congregational 
 sides. Neither must it be supposed that the reli- 
 gious services of the Episcopalians were not 
 soberly and devoutly performed, because they 
 had so much trouble in obtaining a place wherein 
 to perform them. In the most contentious and 
 stormy periods, I doubt not that a holy calm was 
 shed upon the heart of many a worshipper as he 
 offered up his prayers in the way which to him 
 was best and most affecting, and perhaps the way 
 in which, long years ago, he had offered them up 
 in some ivy-clad village church of green England, 
 with many dear friends about him, now absent or 
 dead. And when, according to the agreement 
 before mentioned, they celebrated their first com- 
 munion, on the second Sabbath in August, 1686, 
 I am fully persuaded that it was celebrated in 
 that small room which they held by reluctant 
 sufferance, and round that " table " which was 
 their cheap and lately constructed altar, with as 
 much reverence and humility and edification as it 
 was in any church or meeting-house in Old Eng- 
 land or New. 
 
 Let us now return to the narrative of events. 
 My last discourse concluded with an intimation 
 of the expected t rrival of the royal governor, in 
 whose favor Mr Dudley was to resign his tempo- 
 
PERIOD SECOND. 37 
 
 rary presidency over the New England colonies. 
 Randolph was anxious for his coming, as a cool- 
 ness had for some time subsisted between himself 
 and Dudley ; the latter gentleman not having 
 proved so favorably disposed to his views, when 
 surrounded by his own people, as he had given 
 Randolph reason to suppose he would have been, 
 by his former apparently interested and almost 
 servile conduct. Nor was Randolph obliged to 
 wait long. Sir Edmund Andros arrived at Nan- 
 tasket on Sunday the 19th of December, in the 
 Kingfisher, a 50 gun ship, landed at Boston on 
 the 20th, and published his commission on the 
 same day, about seven months only after Dudley 
 had come over with his commission as president. 
 The new governor was not long in showing 
 his arbitrary dispositions, and the strong hand 
 with which he intended to rule. One of the first 
 acts of his despotism is connected with the history 
 of our church, and indeed comes in regular con- 
 tinuation of it. The very day of his landing and 
 the publication of his commission, he had a con- 
 ference in the library of the town-house with the 
 ministers of the three congregational churches, 
 concerning the accommodation of the Episcopal 
 society, and suggested that it might be so con- 
 trived that one house might serve two assemblies. 
 The ministers, with four lay members of each 
 
38 PERIOD SECOND, 
 
 congregation, held a meeting the next day, to 
 consider what answer to give to the governor, 
 and it was agreed, as Judge Sewall says in his 
 diary,* that they could not with a good conscience 
 consent that their meeting-houses should be made 
 use of for the common prayer worship. On the 
 evening of the following day, December 22, Mr 
 Mather and Mr Willard waited on the governor 
 at his lodgings, and " thoroughly discoursed his 
 Excellency about the meeting-houses, in great 
 plainness, showing they could not consent." 
 The governor, either from an unwillingness to 
 hurt their feelings too rudely, or from a fear of 
 displaying his power too suddenly, seemed to say 
 that he would not impose upon them what was 
 manifestly so disagreeable. And so the matter 
 was suffered to rest, but only for a short time. 
 On the 23d of March, 1687, the governor sent 
 Mr Randolph for the keys of the South meeting- 
 house, now called the Old South ,f that the 
 Episcopalians might have prayers there. A 
 committee of six, of whom Judge Sewall was one, 
 thereupon waited on his Excellency, to show 
 that the house was their own property, and to 
 
 * A manuscript yet unpublished, and in possession of the 
 Sewall family. 
 
 t It was called the Old South, after the New South in 
 Summer Street was built, which was in the year 1717. 
 
PERIOD SECOND- 39 
 
 repeat that they could not consent to part with it 
 to such use. This was on Wednesday. The 
 following Friday, which was Good Friday, Sir 
 Edmund Andros sent to command the sexton of 
 the South church to open the door, and rin«- the 
 bell for those of the Church of England. The 
 sexton, though he had resolved not to do so, was 
 persuaded or intimidated into compliance, and 
 the Governor and his party took possession of 
 the house, and the church service was performed 
 there. 
 
 In looking back on this event, we are obliged 
 to consider it, though not of itself of great political 
 importance, as one of the most arbitrary acts ever 
 perpetrated in this country, while it remained 
 under the English government. No excuse is to 
 be rendered for it. It was such a deliberate 
 outrage on the common rights of property, to say 
 nothing of conscience and liberty, that we may 
 only wonder that Andros and his abettors, of 
 whom Randolph was doubtless one, suffered no 
 personal violence from the people. But none 
 seems to have been offered ; and the proprietors of 
 the South meeting-house, finding that they could 
 not resist the imposition, submitted to it as well 
 as they could. Both parties, indeed, after the 
 intrusion was effected, and regarded as a settled 
 thing, evinced some desire to accommodate each 
 
40 PERIOD SECOND 
 
 other with regard to the hours of their several 
 meetings, though Andros was still the dictator. 
 On Easter day, March 27 , # the governor and his 
 retinue again met in the South Church, at eleven 
 o'clock, word having been sent to the proprietors 
 that they might come at half past one ; but it 
 was not till after two that the church service was 
 over, owing, as it is stated by Judge Sewall, to 
 " the sacrament, and Mr Clarke's long sermon ; 
 so 'twas a sad sight," he continues, " to see how 
 full the street was with people gazing and moving 
 to and fro, because they had not entrance into 
 the house." 
 
 From this time the South meeting-house was 
 occupied by the governor and the Episcopalians 
 for divine worship, if not constantly, yet whenever 
 they pleased to order it. On Friday, Feb. 10, 
 1688, it was used for the funeral service over 
 Lady Andros, who was buried with all the state 
 attendant on such occasions in England. There 
 is something quite striking in the few words of 
 Judge Sewall's description of what he witnessed 
 of this ceremony. " Between 4 and 5 I went to 
 the funeral of the Lady Andros, having been 
 invited by the dark of the South Company. 
 Between 7 and 8 (lychnsf illuminating the cloudy 
 
 * Entry in the old book, under the date of March 27, 1687. 
 " Paid for wine one gallon 12s. — Paid for bread 6d." 
 t Torches. Link has the same Greek derivation. 
 
PERIOD SECOND. 41 
 
 air) the corpse was carried into the herse drawn 
 by six horses, the soldiers making a guard from 
 the governor's house down the Prison Lane to 
 the South meeting-house ; there taken out and 
 carried in at the western door, and set in the 
 alley before the pulpit, with six mourning women 
 by it. House made light with candles and torches. 
 There was a great noise and clamor to keep peo- 
 ple out of the house, that they might not rush in 
 too soon. I went home." 
 
 On the 14th of April Mr West was sent by 
 the governor to the Rev. Mr Willard, to request 
 him to begin at 8 in the morning, and said that 
 this should be the last time, for they would build 
 a house. However, it was not the last time, and 
 the governor probably continued to use the house, 
 till he was deposed by a popular insurrection the 
 next year. The Episcopalians were nevertheless 
 sincere and earnest in their intentions to build a 
 church for themselves forthwith. Judge Sewall 
 was applied to at different times, and once parti- 
 cularly by Mr RatclifFe, for land at " Cotton 
 Hill,"* on which they might set their church. 
 But his constant reply was, that he could not ; 
 first, because he would not set up that which the 
 people of England came over to avoid, and sec- 
 ondly, because the land was entailed. 
 
 * Cotton Hill is the elevated ground on which Mr Phillip's 
 house now stands, opposite the Chapel burying ground. 
 
42 PERIOD SECOND. 
 
 It appears from the above account, as well as 
 from other authorities, that Mr Ratcliffe had an 
 assistant by the name of Clark, or Clarke. His 
 christian name was Robert.* It is probable that 
 he was sent over by the Bishop of Lon Ion, at 
 the instance of Randolph ; but I have not been 
 able to learn anything of his history. 
 
 As illustrative of the times, it may not be amiss 
 to mention in this its proper place, that a person 
 by the name of Lilly having died, and left the 
 ordering of his funeral to his executors,! Mr Rat- 
 cliffe undertook to perform the funeral service at 
 his grave, the deceased having probably belonged 
 to his society .% The executors forbade his read- 
 ing it, and when he begun, Deacon Frairey, of 
 the South Church, interrupted him and stopped 
 his proceeding ; for which the deacon was bound 
 to his good behaviour for twelve months. 
 
 * Christian name Robert. So says the list of the ministers 
 of King's Chapel in Hist. Col. 1 S. vol. iii. p. 250. But the 
 following memorandum from the old book makes me doubt 
 it, and think that his name was Josiah. After a receipt of 
 Mr Ratcliffe for twenty pounds and fourteen shillings from 
 the wardens Bullivant and Maccartie, comes the " memo- 
 randum, that Mr Ratcliffe gave of the above sum, and at the 
 same time, unto Mr Josiah Clarke minister for his afternoon 
 Lecture, Tenn pounds. As attests Benjamin Bullivant." 
 The date of Mr Ratcliffe's receipt is Decemb. 31. 1686. 
 
 t Hutch. Hist. 1. 356. note. 
 
 1 1 find the name of Edward Lilley among the subscribers 
 to the church. 
 
PERIOD SECOND. 43 
 
 We now approach the close of Andros's tyran- 
 nical government, which was brought about 
 through the influence of one of the most auspi- 
 cious changes in the government of the mother 
 country, the glorious revolution, as it is called, of 
 16S8. The spring succeeding the landing of 
 William of Orange at Torbay, news was brought 
 to Boston of the event, by way of Virginia, by a 
 Mr Winslow. He was immediately imprisoned 
 by Justice Foxcroft and others, " for bringing a 
 traitorous and treasonable libel into the country," 
 and though he offered two thousand pounds bail, 
 it was not accepted. The old magistrates, and 
 other principal colonists, secretly hoped and 
 prayed for the success of the Prince's enterprise, 
 but thought it best to wait for the consummation. 
 But the people could not wait. The wrath which 
 had long been pent up within them, broke out 
 into open revolt on the 18th of April, 1689; the 
 governor, Randolph, Bullivant, Dudley, and 
 many others were seized and confined, the fort 
 and the Rose frigate were taken, and the old 
 magistrates were restored as a sort of provisional 
 committee of safety. Sunday, the 26th of May, 
 the joyful news arrived of the proclaiming of 
 William and Mary, and on the 29th, the pro- 
 clamation was published in Boston with great 
 ceremony. Late in the year, an order from the 
 
44 PERIOD SECOND. 
 
 king * was received, requiring that Sir Edmund 
 Andros, Edward Randolph, John Trefry, and 
 others that had been seized by the people of 
 Boston, should be sent to England in the first 
 ship bound thither, and in February, 1690, they 
 embarked, and Boston was rid of them and their 
 tyranny.f 
 
 Mr Ratcliffe and his assistant, Mr Clark, must 
 have also gone back to England about this time, 
 as I find no notice of either of them, after the 
 deposition of Andros. J 
 
 But in the meantime the Episcopal church 
 had been built. How the land was procured, or 
 of whom, when the building was dedicated, or 
 by whom, there is no record, or if there be one, 
 I have not met with it.$ The entry which im- 
 
 * Dated July 30, 1689. Hutch. Hist. 1. p. 391. 
 
 t Andros " obtained, some time after, the government of 
 Virginia. Dudley was appointed chief justice of New York, 
 and, the latter end of the year 1690, was at Boston, in his 
 way to his post. Nicholson endeavored for the government 
 of New York, but had not interest to carry it, and was ap- 
 pointed Lieut, governor of Virginia." Hutch. Hist. 1. p. 
 395. 
 
 t Mr Ratcliffe must have gone to England before Andros, 
 and very soon after his deposition, as is evident from the fol- 
 lowing entry on the records. " July 27, 1689. By disburse- 
 ments for the accommodation of Mr Ratcliffe for his voy- 
 age home, as appears by several bills on file, £11 4s. 3d." 
 
 § The following dates from the old record-book may give 
 some light. Under the date of March 20, 1687, there is the 
 
PERIOD SECOND. 45 
 
 mediately follows the record of the second meet- 
 ing, mentioned in my last discourse, is a list of 
 ninetysix contributers to the building, dated July, 
 1689, and headed thus ; " Laiis Deo — a memo- 
 randum of such honest and well disposed persons 
 that contributed their assistance for, and towards 
 erecting a Church for God's worship in Boston, 
 according to the constitution of the Church of 
 England, as by law established." The sum con- 
 tributed by these ninetysix individuals, was £256 
 9s. The cost of the house is then stated to be 
 £284 16s. A few lines further on, is inserted 
 the following remarkable note : — 
 
 " Note that on 18° Aprill preseeding the date 
 on th' other side, began a most impious and de- 
 testable rebellion ag st the King's Maje ty ' s Gov- 
 ernment, the Govern r , and all just men to the 
 same were brought into restraint." Then fol- 
 lows ; " S r Edmund Androse K l left for the 
 
 last regular entry of the weekly contribution till after An- 
 dres's deposition. On the 30th of June, 1689, these entries 
 are again resumed. It will be remembered that on the 23d 
 of March, 16S7, Androstcok possession of the South Church, 
 aad on the 18lh of April 18S9, was deposed. July 1, 1689, 
 there is an entry of 20s. paid to Mr Niles, and 5s. to the 
 " Clerke :" and July 5, of £1 15s to " Mr Wm. Smith for 
 Benching the church." Putting these dates together, I 
 think it almost certain that worship was first performed in 
 the wooden church on the last Sabbath and day in June, 
 16S9. 
 
46 PERIOD SECOND. 
 
 church service 30 Capt. frrancis Nicholson 
 
 left 25 ." 
 
 Next to the above it is recorded that in the 
 year 1693, the officers of Sir Francis Wheeler's 
 fleet, which put into Boston to recruit, after an 
 unsuccessful expedition against Martinique, gave 
 twenty four pounds, and the gentlemen land officers 
 thirty two, making fifty six pounds. After these 
 are recorded some other donations. 
 
 Still the church was without pews. In 1694 
 an agreement was entered into with a carpenter 
 to build them, which he was to do for £85 — 
 and a subscription was made by fiftythree persons, 
 which more than covered the expense. " So the 
 house of the Lord was perfected." 
 
 This first church was built of wood. It stood 
 on t e spot covered by the present church, but 
 did not occupy nearly so much ground. In an 
 old engraving which I have examined, represent- 
 ing the town of Boston as it was in 1720, this 
 church, among others, is introduced. It stands 
 in the same position with the present one, has a 
 squire tower at the west end, from the roof of 
 which rises a staff supporting the vane, and just 
 uncer the vane is a large and quite observable 
 crown. It was the fifth house of public worship 
 erected in Boston. The congregational houses 
 were then three in number, and the Baptists had 
 
PERIOD [SECOND. 47 
 
 succeeded in building themselves a church, seve- 
 ral years before the Episcopalians commenced 
 theirs.* 
 
 Some of the circumstances connected with the 
 origin and progress of the Episcopal society must 
 always be regretted. And yet it is pretty certain 
 that had there not been such an excess of oppo- 
 sition, bigotry and contumely on the other side, 
 there would not have been so much overbearing 
 pride excited on theirs. There are some who 
 undertake to defend our puritan fathers through 
 the whole of their exclusive course. This can 
 never be done with success. If they were pro- 
 scribed and oppressed in the mother country, 
 they ought to have learned that proscription and 
 oppression are hateful everywhere. If they suc- 
 cessfully resisted or eluded proscription and op- 
 pression, they might have learned that wherever 
 there is true strength in the public mind, pro- 
 scription and oppression are as useless as they 
 are hateful. If it is said that it was necessary 
 for the safety of the puritans, that they should 
 persecute all who dissented from them, and keep 
 
 * The first Baptist meeting-house in Boston was op ned 
 for worship on the 15th of February, 167!). The Baptists 
 " proceeded with so much caution in huilding their house, 
 that it was not known for what purpose it wa* erected until 
 it was completed." — Snow's History of Boston, p. 151, 
 
48 PERIOD SECOND. 
 
 any mixture of doctrine from coming among them, 
 I must be pardoned for not believing it ; espe- 
 cially when I see that in thirtyfive years after the 
 planting of this city, one of the three churches then 
 gathered in it was a dissenting church, and that 
 in less than thirty years more, two out of the five 
 houses of worship erected in it were not congre- 
 gational, and yet the colony was as safe as ever. 
 I must be pardoned for believing that the propor- 
 tion of dissenters would not have been greater, 
 had our puritan fathers been more liberal in their 
 principles ; and that there would have been quite 
 as much unity of opinion, with a great deal more 
 of that which is a great deal better, namely, unity 
 of spirit. There would hardly have been more 
 dissenting houses than there were, and they would 
 have been built up more religiously and peace- 
 fully. If I am pointed, as the petitioners of 1646 
 were pointed, to the case of Rhode Island, I say 
 I want no better case for my argument. If all 
 who were rejected here fled there ; if Gortonists 
 and Hutchinsonians and Baptists and Quakers 
 and Episcopalians, and freethinkers and revellers, 
 if all of every name and character who were 
 compelled to quit this state, settled down to- 
 gether on that little lot of land, and still Rhode 
 Island succeeded as she did and has, I desire no 
 better case ; for it only shows me what a bond of 
 
PERIOD SECOND. 49 
 
 discordant elements, what a sweetener of bitter 
 waters, is holy freedom. 
 
 My sympathies are not with Episcopalians or 
 royalists, as such. They rather cleave to the 
 puritans, whether in the mother country or in this 
 — that noble company, who separated themselves 
 from the corruption which was in the world through 
 lust, the lust of pleasure and the lust of power, 
 and founded an asylum on these shores for virtue 
 and liberty. But they had their faults ; and ex- 
 clusiveness, which was one of them, deserves 
 reprobation, wherever and by whomsoever it is 
 manifested. In looking at those times which are 
 now passing under our review, I may be permitted 
 to rejoice, therefore, and I do rejoice, that the 
 Episcopalians accomplished their object, and ob- 
 tained a house of prayer which they could call their 
 own ; in which they could worship God in their 
 own chosen way, and commemorate their Lord 
 without going through a discipline of rigid creeds 
 and confessions, and baptize their children as 
 they themselves were baptized in the land of their 
 birth. 
 
PERIOD THIRD 
 
 FROM THE ARRIVAL OF MR MYLES, THE SECOND 
 
 RECTOR TO THE DEATH OF MR BRIDGE, HIS 
 
 FIRST ASSISTANT. 
 
 AND THE PRIESTS WAITED ON THEIR OFFICES. — 2 Cliroil. 
 
 vii. 6. 
 A BISHOP THEN MUST BE BLAMELESS — VIGILANT — APT 
 
 TO TEACH. — 1 Tim. Hi. 2. 
 
 The successor of Mr Ratcliffe, as minister of 
 the " Congregation of the Church of England in 
 Boston," was the Rev. Samuel Myles. As the 
 records of the church show that the first weekly- 
 contribution after the deposition of Andros was 
 paid to Mr Myles, July I, 1689, and that on the 
 27th of July, a disbursement was made " for 
 the accommodation of Mr Ratcliffe for his voy- 
 age home," there is reason to believe that both 
 these gentlemen were present at the opening of 
 the newly erected church. Taking into view the 
 highly excited state of the popular mind at the 
 time, it is not likely that any great ceremony 
 was attempted on the occasion. 
 
PERIOD THIRD. 51 
 
 I presume, though I am unable to state it as a 
 fact, that Mr Myles was sent over from England 
 to the Episcopalians, by their diocesan, the Bish- 
 op of London, because such was the constant 
 practice. He waited regularly on his office, 
 from the time of his induction, June 29, 1689, 
 to some time in July, 1692,* when he took a 
 voyage to the mother county, for the purpose of 
 laying before the high authorities there the con- 
 dition of the Chapel and congregation, and ob- 
 taining aid in their behalf. 
 
 In his absence the pulpit was supplied by a 
 Mr Smith, who officiated till the middle of June, 
 1693 ; and from that time till the return of Mr 
 Myles, it was filled by Mr George Hatton. 
 
 Of the former of these gentlemen I can learn 
 no particulars. Of the latter there is a notice in 
 the records, which will be copied in its place. 
 
 On the 24th of July, 1696, Mr Myles return- 
 ed from England, having executed his commission 
 in such a manner as to infuse new life into his con- 
 gregation. He had found means so to interest 
 the royal partners, that they extended to the 
 church their personal protection and patronage ; 
 and though Queen Mary died while he was in 
 London, William III. continued to perform what 
 she had engaged to do on her part for the adher- 
 
 * Mr Myles's last receipt at this period is dated July 17, 
 1692. 
 
52 PERIOD THIRD. 
 
 ents to the English establishment in these distant 
 dominions. The influence of the Bishop of 
 London was no doubt the channel through which 
 Mr Myles effected his purposes. 
 
 His arrival is thus recorded. " Boston, 1696. 
 This year Mr Samuel Myles, Pastor of this 
 Church, returned from England; hee arrived 
 July 24th and brought with him part of the Gift 
 of Quene Mary performed by King William 
 after her decease, viz. the Church furniture, which 
 were A Cushion and Cloth for the Pulpit, two 
 Cushions for the Reading Deske, a carpet for the 
 Allter, all of Crimson Damask with silk fringe, 
 one Large Bible, two Large Common prayer 
 Books, twelve Lesser Common prayer Bookes, 
 Linin for the Allter. Also two surplises." 
 
 Soon after is the following notice, which has 
 just been referred to, respecting Mr Hatton. 
 " Boston, October 28th. Mr George Hatton, 
 who had preached here in the Absence of Mr 
 Myles for about three years, at his going home to 
 the Island of Providence the Church presented 
 him with twenty pounds, which was paid him. 
 Tenn pounds by Thaddeus Mackarty and Tenn 
 pounds by Capt. nra ffoxcroft out of the church 
 stock." 
 
 Then are recorded gifts to the church in mon- 
 ey, from Dr Biillivant, and Capt. William 
 
TERIOD TniRD. 53 
 
 Higgins, commander of his Majesty's ship the 
 Arundell, after which is the following memoran- 
 dum ; k - The Decalouge, viz. thee tenn Com- 
 mandments, the Lord's Prayer and the Creed, 
 were drawne in England and brought over by Mr 
 Samuel Myles in July, 1696."* A costly service 
 of communion plate is described as brought over 
 by Capt. John Foye, the next year ; another 
 proof of the bounty of the King and Queen.f 
 It formed a part of the service no doubt, which 
 was carried back to England by Dr Caner, in the 
 war of the revolution. 
 
 But a more substantial evidence still of the 
 
 * It is no stretch of charity to believe that the honest war- 
 den who made this memorandum knew better how to keep the 
 Decalogue, than he did to describe or to spell it. 
 
 t " Boston 1697, then received of Mr Myles too great 
 Silver Flagons, and one sallver and one boul and one Civer 
 all of Sill ver which was given to the Church by the King 
 and Queen and broughtover by Capt. John Foyp, Received 
 by me Giles Dyer Church Warden." 
 
 Mr Giles Dyer seems to have had a generous soul, which 
 was inflamed with the desire ot imitating the royal benefac- 
 tors of the Chapel ; as his own records may witness. " To 
 my Labor for making the Wather Cock and Spindel, to Duing 
 the Commandements and allter rome, and the Pulpet, to Du- 
 ing the Church and Winders mor to Duing the Gallarey 
 and the Kings Armes, fortey pounds which I Freely Give, 
 G. Dyer." In return for these benefactions the church 
 should have taught Mr Dyer the useful science and accom- 
 plishment of Orthography. " Duing," probably means 
 painting, which was Mr Dyer's business. 
 
54 PERIOD THIRD. 
 
 royal favor, was an annuity of one hundred pounds, 
 for the support of an assistant minister at the 
 Chapel ; though some subsequent events made it 
 extremely doubtful whether this provision was 
 for the real benefit of the cause. 
 
 The first assistant appointed by the Bishop of 
 London, was a Mr Dansy, who died on his pas- 
 sage to Boston.* The next was a Mr White, 
 who was sent with Lord Bellomont, when that 
 nobleman came out to succeed Sir William Phips 
 in the government of New England. j- The man 
 of war in which they sailed was blown off to Bai - 
 badoes, where Mr White died. Thus twice de- 
 prived of their expected minister, the church 
 applied for another, in a letter to the Bishop, of the 
 2d of May, 1698. A letter of the same date is re- 
 corded, being a congratulatory address to the Earl 
 of Bellomont, on his arrival at New York. It is 
 superscribed " To his Excellency, Richard, Earl 
 of Bellomont, Capt. Generall and Governour in 
 Chief of his Majesties Provinces of the Massa- 
 
 * Mr Myles married his widow, and went to housekeeping, 
 and his salary was increased in consequence from two to 
 three pounds per week. 
 
 t Sir William Phips arrived with the new charter May 
 14th, 1692. He returned to England in 1694, and died there 
 Feb. 18, 1695. Richard, Earl of Bellomont, arrived in New 
 York, May, 1698, and in Boston, May 26, 1699. 
 
PERIOD THIRD. 55 
 
 chusetts Bay, New York and New Hampshire ;" 
 and is in the adulatory style common to such 
 addresses. 
 
 With the new Governor arrived a very valua- 
 ble present of books to the Church from the 
 Bishop of London.* A complete catalogue of 
 them is preserved in the book of records of this 
 period, and an examination of it enables me to 
 say, that they formed a theological library which 
 was perhaps the best at that time in the country, 
 and would be now considered as of great excel- 
 lence and such as any institution or individual 
 might be glad to possess. It was carefully de- 
 posited in boxes made for the purpose by order 
 of the wardens, and placed in Mr Myles's house. 
 It has since been neglected, dispersed and abused 
 in various ways, till the sad remnant was saved, 
 by being deposited a few years ago in the Libra- 
 ry of the Boston Athenaeum. 
 
 The receipt of these books was acknowledged 
 in a letter to the Bishop, dated 21 July, 1698, 
 written by the wardens in behalf of the congre- 
 gation. " We have received," say they, " an- 
 other experience of his Lordship's care and kind- 
 ness in sending us a Library, which we have 
 received in good condition, and having this op- 
 
 ' * The gift of books was actually from the King. This I 
 infer from its being afterwards called the King's library. 
 
56 PERIOD THIRD. 
 
 portunity of a worthy Gent. Coll. Andrew 
 Hamilton, Late Governor of the Jerseys, may not 
 omit to render your Lordship our most hearty 
 thanks ; and shall see them improved to the true 
 intent : for the present have lodged them in Mr 
 Myles his study, for the use of him, the assistant 
 when he comes, and his or their successors, and 
 take care that no abuse or imbecilment be made 
 of them." 
 
 In a third letter of the 21st November, same 
 year, the wardens renew their request for an as- 
 sistant to Mr Myles, " for," they urge, " should 
 any sickness or distemper happen to him, we 
 should run adventure of being dispersed, which 
 would overthrow in an instant what we have 
 been this ten years endeavoring, the firm estab- 
 lishment of a Church of England Congregation 
 in this place." They further entreat his Lord- 
 ship not in the least to admit of Mr Myles's re- 
 moval, " for he is well liked of all of us," say 
 they, " a good liver and a painfull preacher." 
 They end by assuring his Lordship that they are 
 very zealous in promoting their increase, " and 
 are intended, finding it will be needful, to enlarge 
 their chapel." 
 
 The following letter mentions the arrival of 
 an assistant. 
 
PERIOD THIRD. 5d 
 
 " Right Hon'j'o and Right Reverend Father in God. 
 May it please your Lords p - 
 
 We have gladly received the 
 effect of our formers by the appearance of Mr 
 Christopher Bridge amongst us. Which favour 
 of your Lordship we acknowledge with all thank- 
 fulness : And doubt not but he will be to satis- 
 faction : We shall constantly pay him 40 shillings a 
 week, which we began the 5th instant the first day 
 of his arrival. Also we continue unto Mr Myles 
 his 3 pounds a week, besides his perquisites, and 
 shall not be wanting in our due respects to both 
 of them. We have received the goods from Mr 
 Wessendunck, and pray the continuance of your 
 Lordship's favour. We shall alwaies endeavour 
 to approve ourselves 
 
 Y r Lord ps Most obedient Sons. 
 
 George Turfrey > lir 7 
 T , > H ardens 
 
 John Ixdicot ) 
 
 Of the King's Chappell in Boston in New 
 England. 
 
 20 March, 1691." 
 
 The Mr Wessendunck mentioned in the above 
 letter, was an original member of the church, 
 and at this time their agent in London, who 
 transacted their business, and through whom 
 their letters were transmitted. The " goods," 
 were articles of merchandize, in which form it 
 
58 PERIOD THIRD. 
 
 was more advantageous to the church to receive 
 the king's bounty than in money. 
 
 About a month after Mr Bridge's arrival, the 
 congregation, whose temporal concerns had hith- 
 erto been managed by two wardens, voted to 
 constitute a body of vestrymen to be joined in 
 authority with the ministers and wardens. This 
 vote was passed on Easter Monday, April 10th, 
 and the next day the vestrymen were chosen, 
 according to the following vote. 
 
 to o 
 
 " Voted that Francis Foxcroft, Thaddeus 
 Mackarty, Thomas Newton, Giles Dyer, Benja. 
 Mountfort, John Cooke, Savil Simpson, Edward 
 Lyde and Edward Turfrey be a Vestry of this 
 Congregation for one year ensueing, to advise 
 and consult with the Ministers and Wardens upon 
 and concerning all matters and things as shall by 
 them be from time to time thought necessary 
 to be done and performed relating to the said 
 Church, and the placing and seating of persons 
 therein, and to represent the whole congregation 
 in all matters and things whereunto the consent 
 of the same is necessary. And that whatsoever 
 the Wardens with the advice of said Vestry or 
 major part of them shall do in the premises be 
 accounted the act of the whole Congregation. 
 Provided that this shall not be understood so as 
 to hinder the Wardens from paying the weekly 
 
PERIOD THIRD . 59 
 
 allowance of 3 ft, to MrMyles, 2ft to Mr Bridge; 
 
 os. to Edward Hill, Sexton, and lofb a year to 
 John Giles, Clerk, without the consent of the 
 said Vestry, but that they pay the same as has 
 been accustomed. 
 
 " Voted also That a Vestry be alike annually 
 chosen."* 
 
 The next month, May 1699, Lord Bello- 
 montf came to Boston from New York. The 
 churchmen must naturally have expected that 
 much consequence, if not advantage would be 
 gained to them by counting a nobleman among 
 the members of their society, and they exerted 
 themselves to show him attention. They fitted 
 up a state pew for him, J and at their Easter 
 meeting, April 1, 1700, at which he was present, 
 placed him first on their list of vestrymen. But 
 it was his Lordship's policy, as it was for his in- 
 terest, to conciliate the general favor, and there- 
 fore though he attended public worship at the 
 
 * The next year, April 1, 1700, the number of vestrymen 
 was increased from nine to eleven, the next year to thir- 
 teen, and the next to twenty. In 1706 it was agreed that 
 there should be " twelve, besides his Excellency, the Left. 
 Governor, ministers and church wardens, in the vestry." 
 Dudley was then Governor. Afterwards the number was 
 constantly varying. 
 
 t Hutchinson spells the name Bellamont. 
 
 | " 1 Aprill. By Capt. ffoxcraft pd for my Lord's pew to 
 Mr Everard £13. — ." 
 
60 PERIOD THIRD. 
 
 King's Chapel, he went also to hear the congre- 
 gational ministers at the Thursday Lecture, and 
 was so far from imitating the conduct of Andros, 
 that lie was inclined perhaps to the opposite 
 error of indifference to his own mode of faith.* 
 Thus it happened to the episcopalians as has 
 often happened to others before and since, that 
 one worldly interest was counteracted and nul- 
 lified by the operation of another equally as 
 worldly. There was little time, however, for 
 the noble governor and vestryman either to pat- 
 ronize or disappoint them. He went back to 
 New York this year, where he soon after died. 
 In the beginning of the year 1702, news was 
 received of the death of King William, and the 
 Church was put in mourning. Before his de- 
 cease, Mr Joseph Dudley, who had rendered 
 himself so obnoxious here, as in many things the 
 coadjutor, and, for his own selfish ends, al- 
 
 *Hutchinson in his second volume, page 112, tells in a 
 note this anecdote of the Governor. e *« Among the more 
 liberal was one Bullivant, an apothecary, who had been 
 a justice of peace under Andros. Lord Bellamont, going 
 from the lecture to his house, with a great crowd round him, 
 passed by Bullivant standing at his shop door loitering. 
 ' Doctor,'' says his lordship with an audible voice, ' You have 
 lost a precious sermon to day.' Bullivant whispered to one 
 of his companions who stood by him, ' If I could have got 
 as much by being there as his lordship will, I would have 
 been there too.' " 
 
PERIOD THIRD. 61 
 
 most the creature of Randolph, had interest 
 enough to obtain while in London, the appoint- 
 ment of Governor of Massachusetts, which he 
 had so long and eagerly coveted. On his 
 reappearance in Boston, invested with his new 
 dignity, he was received kindly, and with a for- 
 getfulness of past offences. He joined himself 
 to the congregation of Queen's Chapel, as it was 
 now called, on the accession of Queen Anne ; 
 and his name, together with that of the Lieuten- 
 ant Governor, constantly appears on the list of 
 vestrymen ; it having been voted that these two 
 magistrates should belong to the vestry from their 
 office. 
 
 We now come to an unpleasant part of the 
 history of the church. Toward the end of the 
 year 1703, it was voted at a vestry meeting that 
 Mr Bridge, thea<si>tant minister, should proceed 
 to England in order to solicit subscriptions for 
 enlarging the chapel, a measure which had been 
 made necessary by the increase of the congrega- 
 tion. But either before he took his voyage, or 
 during his stay in England, or after his return to 
 Boston, there were misunderstandings between 
 him and Mr Myles, which grew into serious di- 
 vision, and threatened the church's peace and 
 prosperity. Something too, which I do not clear- 
 ly understand, is said about Mr Bridge's breaking 
 
62 PERIOD THIRD. 
 
 open a letter written by Mr Myles, and sending 
 it to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the 
 Bishop of London for their inspection, thinking 
 that would injure Mr Myles. At any rate, the 
 Bishop of London was so much displeased with 
 Mr Bridge, and as it would seem, with the church 
 also, that he sent an order for his removal, and 
 deprived the church of part of the one hundred 
 pounds a year which they drew from the royal 
 bounty. The church was alarmed, and at a ves- 
 try meeting held on the 19th of August, 1705, 
 voted that articles of agreement and peace should 
 be drawn up, and presented to the two ministers 
 to be signed by them. Such a paper was accor- 
 dingly prepared, consisting of a preamble and 
 eight articles, which was signed by the two 
 ministers on the 22d. By this agreement they 
 bound themselves not to join with any persons in 
 doing, saying or reporting anything that should 
 tend to the damage or dishonor of either ; that 
 they should unite in promoting the welfare of the 
 church, and that they should not officiate anywhere 
 but in their own chapel, without mutual consent. 
 Mr Bridge was not to receive any perquisites, 
 which all belonged to Mr Myles as minister of 
 the church, and were appropriated to him by the 
 bishop's especial order ; and neither of them 
 ivas to warn any vestry without the full concur^ 
 
PERIOD THIRD. 63 
 
 rence of the other. These were the main arti- 
 cles ; and a copy of them was transmitted to the 
 Bishop of London, inclosed in a letter from the 
 wardens, in which they assure his lordship that 
 in many things he had been misinformed, that 
 Mr Bridge was not of a proud, lofty and haughty, 
 but of a courteous and agreeable deportment, as 
 became his profession and the gospel, and that 
 both of their ministers were worthy of their 
 esteem, " whether in regard of their doctrine, life, 
 or conversation." They speak of an inclosed 
 affidavit, which they trust will clear up the diffi- 
 culty about the intercepted letter, and humbly 
 beg the continuance both of the salary and of Mr 
 Bridge's stay with them. 
 
 The Bishop of London at this time was Henry 
 Compton, who held that see from the year 1675 
 to 1713, in which year he died. The present 
 cathedral of London was commenced by Sir 
 Christopher Wren, about the time of his induc- 
 tion, and he lived just about long enough to see 
 its completion. He was wise, energetic, moder- 
 ate and munificent. "The princesses Mary, and 
 Anne, (both successively queens of England) 
 were educated, confirmed, and married by him, 
 and he also crowned the former, together with 
 her husband, William III." " He warmly inter- 
 ested himself to bring about the revolution of 
 
64 PERIOD THIRD. 
 
 1688, and was afterwards one of the commission- 
 ers for the reform of the liturgy," in which en- 
 terprise his own liberal and tolerant intentions 
 were unhappily defeated. 
 
 From such a bishop, it was to be expected 
 that whatever demanded attention in the way of 
 duty, however distant it might be from the place 
 of his residence, would be attended to in a proper 
 manner. In answer to the representations of the 
 church here, he sent a letter, which is marked 
 throughout by a practical good sense, joined with 
 good feeling, which show that he was well fitted 
 for his responsible office. It is to be clearly seen 
 from it, that he was not a man to be trifled with, 
 and that having authority, he was determined to 
 exercise it in a steady and decided manner, and 
 as much for the real benefit of the church as pos- 
 sible. As this letter may give us some idea of 
 the way in which our predecessors in this church 
 used to be governed, and as it is itself a good 
 letter, from a distinguished person, I make no 
 apology for giving it entire. Fortunately for us, 
 as I think, we now govern ourselves, without in- 
 terference from bishops at home or abroad ; but 
 while the church was lawfully under such authori- 
 ty, it could hardly have had a better overseer 
 than Henry Compton, Bishop of London. " The 
 Copie of my Lord of London's Letter," say the 
 records, " is as ffollowet.h." 
 
PERIOD THIRD. 65 
 
 " Gentlemen, — I am sorry with all my heart 
 you have so little concerned yourselves for the 
 peace of the church, as to uphold a controversy 
 which may so easily be laid asleep, and whilst 
 these two gentlemen are together upon the same 
 place I do not see how it ever will be effected. 
 As to your imagining that I might too easily blame 
 Mr Bridge concerning the letter of Mr Myles 
 which was broken open, I can assure you the 
 first copy I saw of it was sent up in triumph to 
 London, either by Mr Bridge or his order, from 
 Plymouth or Portsmouth, soe that I took it not 
 at second hand ; though I blame Mr Nicholls ex- 
 tremely for promoting that which he must needs 
 know could produce nothing but animositie, but 
 can by noe means excuse Mr Bridge ; and in- 
 deed I hope there is none among you that can 
 approve of that malitious practice of spreading 
 about copies of this letter, which must needs 
 breed very ill blood among you. But I say this 
 rather for my own justification, than that I would 
 quarrell any further with Mr Bridge on that ac- 
 count, and therefore I shall not be soe earnest for 
 his removall, otherwise than that I am convinced 
 it is impossible for him and Mr Myles to live to- 
 gether in peace. I know his spirit is too high to 
 submit to that subordination which it is absolutely 
 necessarie he should comply with whilst he stayes 
 5 
 
(y(j PERIOD THIRD. 
 
 at Boston, soe that I would by all means advise 
 him to goe to Narragansetts, where he may have 
 an hundred pounds per annum sterling, besides 
 what perquisites he may make upon the place, 
 and there he will be his own Master. 
 
 " You must likewise give me leave to tell you 
 that I think you have made a great mistake in one 
 of the articles of reconciliation which you have 
 drawn up, where you have in a manner sett Mr 
 Bridge upon an equall foot with Mr Myles, by 
 making the call of a Vestry depend upon their 
 joynt consent, whereas Mr Bridge hath nothing 
 more to doe in the Church than what Mr Myles 
 shall direct him, as he is the Curate and Assist- 
 ant ; wherefore you must pardon me, if after all 
 the due regard I have for you, I must deale soe 
 plainly with you as to tell you that you have been 
 carried on too far in this matter by some that have 
 more respect of persons than for the reall good 
 and peace of the church. I know I shall be 
 forced at last to recall Mr Bridge, and therefore 
 I wish you would persuade him to make it his 
 owne choice to retire to some other place, where 
 he shall find me his sincere friend, notwithstand- 
 ing all that has been said. — I pray God direct 
 you for the best, and desire you would believe 
 me, Gentlemen, 
 
 1 " Your most assured friend and servant 
 
 "H. London. 
 
PERIOD THIRB. 67 
 
 " Postcript. — I forgot to give you a more par- 
 ticular account in the inclosed of Mr Bridge's 
 proceedings in that letter of Mr Myles; that he 
 writt from the Port in England, before he went 
 away, to Mr Wessendunck, to take care to com- 
 municate that same letter, or the copie, to my 
 Ld. Arch Bp. of Canterbury, and myselfe ; which 
 I think is evidence enough of his concern in it. 
 " Fulham : feb : 12 : 1706. H. London." 
 The effect produced by this letter may be seen 
 from the following record, which precedes the 
 copy of it. 
 
 " Boston, Sept. 23. 1706. Att a meeting of 
 the Vestry at Mr Paule Dudley's, his Excellency 
 being present, my Lord of London's letter was 
 read relating to Mr Bridge his removall to the 
 Narrowgansetts &c. to which he complied, and 
 wished me, Savill Simpson* to tell Mr Myles 
 that he left the Charge of the Church wholly to 
 his care, and intended to goe to Narragansetts in 
 three days." 
 
 Thus was this very disagreeable affair termina- 
 ted, affording, most probably, some matter of 
 triumph to the many, who, as the wardens in their 
 letter to the Bishop express it, waited for and 
 would have greatly rejoiced at the halting and 
 
 * Junior warden this year. 
 
PERIOD THIRD. 
 
 destruction of the episcopal church. We are not 
 permitted, happily, to believe Mr Bridge's char- 
 acter to have been an unworthy one, for the war- 
 dens speak of him with regard and respect, and 
 the Bishop promises to him the continuance of 
 his friendship ; but it is impossible to suppose, 
 from what the records deliver to us, that his con- 
 nexion with the church could have been of much 
 service to it, or to the episcopal cause. 
 
PERIOD FOURTH. 
 
 ARRIVAL OF MR HARRIS. -CHAPEL ENLARGED. - FIRST 
 ORGAN .- ATTEMPT TO MAKE AMERICAN BISHOPS. 
 
 PRAISE HIM WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS AND ORGANS. 
 
 Ps. cl. 4. 
 
 Mr Myles, being left without an assistant by 
 the departure of Mr Bridge to Rhode Island, 
 remained alone in the care of the Church about 
 two years. Early in the year 1709, arrived Mr 
 Henry Harris, with authority from the Bishop 
 of London to take Mr Bridge's vacated place. 
 The letter which Mr Harris brought with him 
 from the Bishop, bears the marks of the same 
 strong hand which penned the former one al- 
 ready copied. At a vestry meeting on the 1st 
 of April, this year, it was ordered, upon the 
 reading of these instructions, " that the same be 
 entered verbatim as followeth, viz 1 ." 
 
 " Having appointed Mr Harris to go over as- 
 sistant to the Minister at Boston ; for his better 
 satisfaction, I have thought fit to declare; that 
 as he is not to go under the absolute command of 
 
70 PERIOD FOURTH. 
 
 Mr Myles, yet is he to pay a respect to him in 
 all reasonable things, and take an equall share 
 with him in supplying the Church, but not to 
 meddle in anything that relates to perquisites, 
 whether for marriages, bury alls or Christenings, 
 and to be contented with what is alloted him from 
 home, and by all means to avoid the insinuation 
 of any, that shall attempt to make matters un- 
 easy betwixt him and Mr Myles, whom I do 
 likewise require to receive this his assistant with 
 all fair and good usage, and that they both con- 
 spire into so good an understanding, that nothing 
 may creep in to make a breach between them : 
 And that they do agree to relate all story es, that 
 shall be whispered to them, publickly in the 
 next vestry ; that such little make-bates may be 
 discouraged and made ashamed of such base be- 
 haviour. And therefore I desire likewise that 
 this paper may be read in a full vestry, that they 
 may be witnesses of your sincere conformity to 
 what is appointed. I do also declare that Mr 
 Harris shall have the full allowance of the ap- 
 pointed bounty, by Midsummer next come twelve 
 month at furthest, as not being yet fully informed 
 to what degree, and upon what grounds Mr 
 Bridge hath committed that insolent Riott upon 
 the Church of Road Island : which so soon as 
 I am ascertained of, I intend the full allowance 
 shall commence from that time. 
 
PERIOD FOURTH. ^1 
 
 « Given under my hand this Twenty Eighth 
 
 day of May. 1708. 
 
 H : London." 
 
 We may gather, if I am not mistaken, from 
 these instructions, a principal reason of the form- 
 er assistant's discontent. A great inequality, by 
 far too ^eat, existed between him and the rec- 
 tor of the church. Before he left the mother 
 country, he could easily make up his mmd to 
 take a curacy abroad, on the same terms of in- 
 feriority on which hundreds of his brethren took 
 curacies at home ; but when he came to New 
 En-land, and began his duties at her Majesty s 
 Chapel, and instead of being kept contented by 
 the customs of the place, and .the example of 
 those about him, saw that in every congregation- 
 al church which supported two ministers, they 
 were regarded as colleagues, having equal rights, 
 privileges and duties, his own subordinate situa- 
 tion must have grown every day more irksome to 
 him and the task of obedience to his superior 
 every day more difficult. It was not in human 
 nature to rest satisfied with such a condition. It 
 certainly was not in Mr Bridge's nature, and in 
 the sequel we may have cause to believe that it 
 was not in Mr Harris's. 
 'What is meant by the violent riot committed 
 
72 PERIOD FOURTH. 
 
 by Mr Bridge upon the church of Rhode Island, 
 alluded to by the Bishop in the instructions 
 above, I have not ascertained.* 
 
 All this time the chapel congregation was 
 steadily increasing, and at the Easter meeting in 
 1708, it was " agreed, that on Whitsunmunday 
 there be a meeting of the congregation about en- 
 larging the Queen's Chappell." The work, how- 
 ever, seems not to have been commenced till the 
 year 1710, when a subscription was raised to 
 
 * Mr Bridge did not remain long in Rhode Island, but re- 
 moved to Rye in New York, where he was again settled in 
 the ministry, and where he finished his uneasy pilgrimage 
 on the 23d of May, 1719. The following obituary notice is 
 copied from the " Boston News Letter," a weekly paper, 
 and the first newspaper published in Boston, where it was 
 commenced in the year 1704. The date of this number is 
 "June 1 to 8. 1719." 
 
 " We have an account from Rye in the government of New 
 York, of the death of the Reverend Mr Christopher Bridge, 
 M. A. a Presbyter of the Church of England, and Minister of 
 the Gospel in that Place ; who Died on Saturday the 23d of 
 May last : He was formerly for many years together, one 
 of the Ministers of the Church of England in Boston, a 
 Religious and Worthy Man, a very good Scholar, and a fine 
 grave Preacher, his performances in the Pulpit were Solid, 
 Judicious and Profitable, his Conversation very agreeable 
 and improving : And though a strict Church Man in his 
 principles, yet of great Respect and Charity to Dissenters, 
 and much esteemed by them. He was bred at the Univer- 
 sity of Cambridge in England, and was about 48 Years oi 
 Age when he Died. Very much lamented." 
 
PERIOD FOURTH 
 
 73 
 
 effect its accomplishment. It amounted, in- 
 deed, to a rebuilding of the church, which was 
 enlarged to twice its original size ; nor was it 
 till the year 1713, that the pillars, capitals and 
 cornice were painted, and the scaffoldings were 
 taken down. Places were assigned anew to the 
 proprietors, and each person paid for the build- 
 ing of his own pew. And whereas the pews had 
 been built before, according to the usual fashion, 
 with little rails or banisters, running round the 
 top, it was now voted that they should " be 
 built in one forme without banisters." The 
 pulpit was removed from its former situation " to 
 the next pillar at the East, being near the Cen- 
 ter of the Church." The two long pews front- 
 ing the pulpit were made into two square pews, 
 one for Col. Tailer, Lieut. Governor, the other 
 for Mr Jekyll, and the two pews behind them 
 were made into one, for the use of masters of 
 vessels ; and the pew behind that was appropri- 
 ated to the accommodation of eight old men. A 
 shell was placed over the south door. 
 
 A clock was given by " the Gentlemen of the 
 British Society ;" and a more important present 
 still, that of an organ, demands a more particu- 
 lar notice * The following is a record of a meet- 
 ing held in consequence of the bequest. 
 
 * The clock was not given till a year after the organ. 
 
74 PERIOD FOURTH. 
 
 " At a meeting of the gentlemen of the Church 
 this 3d day of August, 1713, referring to the 
 Orgains given them by Thomas Brattle Esq. 
 deceased, Voted that the Orgins be accepted 
 by the Church, and that Mr Myles answer Mr 
 William Brattle's letter concerning the same." 
 
 A few days afterwards, the organ, or organs, as 
 that instrument seems to have then been com- 
 monly called,* was brought into the church, 
 though it was not put up till the following 
 March. f A Mr Price was engaged to be the 
 organist, but only temporarily till one could be 
 obtained from England ; and a contribution was 
 raised from sundry " well disposed gentlemen 
 and other persons," of whose names a list is 
 given, " towards the maintenance and support of 
 the Orgins," which amounted to between forty- 
 three and forty four pounds. The wardens were 
 instructed at a vestry meeting, to write to Col. 
 Redknap, their agent in London, to entreat of 
 him his favor in going to Mr Edward Enston, 
 living next door to Mr Masters's on Tower Hill, 
 to inquire into his ability as an organist, and to offer 
 
 * It may have been called so only by the ignorant, of 
 which description was the warden who made the entry, as 
 appears by his spelling, which I have not always literally 
 copied, for fear that the original might not be understood. 
 
 t "To Cash payd forbringin the Orgins, 10s." 
 
PERIOD FOURTH. 75 
 
 him the situation at the Chapel, with a salary of 
 £30 per annum, colonial currency, " which," 
 they observe, " with dancing, music, &c, they 
 doubt not will be sufficient encouragement." 
 Col. Redknap attended to the commission at 
 once, and writes, in a letter dated April 27, 
 1714, that he had engaged Mr Enstone or In- 
 stone, to go over to Boston on the proposed sal- 
 ary, on the condition that £10 sterling should be 
 paid him for his and his wife's passage ; that he 
 would probably sail about the end of July, and 
 in the meantime was to acquaint himself with 
 the manner of keeping an organ in repair. In 
 July he writes again, and sends over a copy of 
 the articles of agreement made with Mr Enstone, 
 but says that he will not be able to sail so soon 
 as was expected. Another letter, dated Sept. 
 7, same year, mentions Mr Enstone as having 
 taken his passage, and speaks of him as " a 
 person of a sober life and conversation, and well 
 qualified for what he hath undertaken." He 
 entered on his duties here as organist, about 
 Christmas, 1714, till which time Mr Price had 
 been serving for the same salary. This interest- 
 ing business was thus happily concluded and the 
 music of the Chapel must now have been a 
 great and attractive, though to many a very 
 offensive novelty ; for there is no doubt that this 
 
76 PERIOD FOURTH. 
 
 organ was the first ever heard in public worship 
 in all New England.* 
 
 This year, 1714, Queen Anne died, and 
 George I. ascended the throne of Great Britain ; 
 in consequence of which event, the Chapel 
 was again called King's Chapel. The year be- 
 fore, Henry Compton died, and John Robinson 
 was created Bishop of London. 
 
 At this period the cause of episcopacy had 
 made rapid strides, and its advocates were un- 
 wearied in their efforts to advance it. The in- 
 crease of episcopalian strength was owing in part, 
 it is likely, to a weariness which some began to 
 feel of the rigid discipline of the puritan church- 
 es, but chiefly to the continually multiplying 
 numbers of emigrants from the mother country, 
 attracted here by various interests, and in com- 
 munion with the established church at home. 
 The exertions which were made by the episco- 
 palians of Boston, and other places in the colo- 
 nies, were greatly aided and inspirited from Eng- 
 land, by the influence and pecuniary aid of the 
 Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in 
 Foreign Parts, which was established b y charter 
 from King William in 1701. In October, 1712, 
 the Hon. Francis Nicholson having been ap- 
 
 * Tate and Brady's version of the Psalms was introduced 
 into the worship of the Chapel about this time, 
 
PERIOD FOURTH. 77 
 
 pointed her Majesty's commissioner in North 
 America for several purposes, the Society, of 
 which he was a member, furnished him with an 
 instrument, dated the 17th of the same month 
 and year, by which he was requested, in sub- 
 mission to the royal prerogative, and the jurisdic- 
 tion of the Bishop of London, to make inquiry, 
 as he should see fit, " of and concerning such of 
 the Society's Missionaries, Schoolmasters, and 
 Catechists with respect to the good purposes 
 and designs of the Society relating to them, and 
 of the present state of the Churches, Glebes, 
 Parsonage-Houses, and Libraries (sent by the 
 Society) within all and every such part and parts 
 of Her Majesty's Dominions and Countries as 
 are comprized in the Commission now granted 
 to the said Francis Nicholson from her Majesty 
 for the purposes therein mentioned. To the end 
 the said Francis Nicholson may give and trans- 
 mit to the said Society a full, particular, and im- 
 partial account thereof, that the said Society may 
 be the better enabled to discharge the great trust 
 reposed in them, the advancement of the glory 
 of God, the Honour of her Majesty, and spirit- 
 ual good and welfare of her Subjects in those 
 Parts." 
 
 There is a record in the old book, which gives 
 us an instance of Nicholson's exercise of authori- 
 
78 PERIOD FOURTH. 
 
 ty as Commissioner, and is also evidence of the 
 existence of a church in Braintree over which 
 the wardens and vestry of Queen's Chapel had 
 some control. It is a petition of Thomas Eager, 
 clerk, to his Excellency Francis Nicholson, Esq. 
 showing that the petitioner had been appointed 
 by the Society for Propagating the Gospel, to 
 officiate as minister at Braintree, but had found 
 himself very uneasy there with the people, and 
 therefore desired to be dismissed, and to have 
 the arrears of his salary paid him, that he might 
 discharge his debts and remove elsewhere. This 
 petition was referred by Gov. Nicholson to 
 the gentlemen of the Chapel vestry, who decid- 
 ed that it was for the interest of the church that 
 Mr Eager should be dismissed. This was in 
 December, 1713. 
 
 But the matter to which, as being of the high- 
 est moment, the Society devoted their most 
 earnest attention, and in the prosecution of which 
 they were warmly seconded by the congrega- 
 tion of the Chapel, was the establishment and 
 endowment of Bishoprics in the colonies. The 
 design met with the approbation of Queen Anne, 
 and though, when it was known here, it created 
 a great ferment among the people, it can hardly 
 be doubted that, had it not been for the Queen's 
 death, it would have succeeded, and this country 
 
 
PERIOD FOURTH. 79 
 
 would have witnessed, what in the event it never 
 did witness, the settlement in its borders of Bish- 
 ops of the English Church. This attempt de- 
 serves, as one of the curious and interesting 
 events connected with the history of our church 
 and of colonial episcopacy, more than a passing 
 notice. 
 
 The preamble of the " Society's Representa- 
 tion to her Majesty for the sending Bishops into 
 America," sets forth " That as it hath pleased 
 the Divine Goodness to dispose your Majesties 
 Royall Heart for the establishing of Bishops and 
 Bishopricks within your Majesties Plantations or 
 Colonies, and other your Majesties Dominions of 
 America, in like manner as the Church of Christ 
 is settled for Ecclesiastical Government in En*?- 
 
 o 
 
 land and Ireland, pursuant to the Apostolical 
 form and order in all Christian Nations where 
 Bishops have been deemed the true Successors 
 of the Apostles, and as is most agreeable to the 
 inclinations of many of the present Inhabitants of 
 those places, whence there have been made for 
 these Eleven Years past earnest application for 
 such Bishops to preside amongst them, that they 
 may ordain some, Confirm more, and Bless all 
 by the most Orderly Administration of the Holy 
 Word and Sacrament." The Society then pro- 
 ceed to lay before her Majesty a complete 
 
80 PERIOD FOURTH. 
 
 scheme of transatlantic hierarchy, in which they 
 represent it as their opinion after mature deliber- 
 ation, that it is expedient that four Bishops be 
 sent as soon as conveniently may be, " two for 
 the care and superintendency of the Islands, and 
 as many for the Continent, with the appointment 
 of fifteen hundred pounds per annum for each of 
 the former, and one thousand pounds per annum 
 for each of the latter, as the nature of their Dio- 
 cesses seems to require in case the Sees of the 
 former be settled, as is humbly proposed by the 
 said Society, the one of them at Barbados, for 
 itself and the Leward Islands, the other at Ja- 
 maica, for itself with the Bahama and Bermuda 
 Islands ; those for the Continent, the one of them 
 at Burlington in New Jersey (where the Society 
 has been at six hundred pounds charge and up- 
 wards to purchase a very convenient house and 
 land for his residence) for a District extending 
 from the East side of Delaware River to the ut- 
 most bounds of your Majesties Dominions East- 
 ward, including Newfoundland ; the other at 
 Williamsburg in Virginia, for a District extending 
 from the west side of Delaware River to the ut- 
 most bounds of your Majesties Dominions West- 
 ward." The Representation concludes with a 
 particular exposition of the ways and means by 
 which the above Bishops and Bishoprics are 
 proposed to be supported. 
 
PERIOD FOURT H. 81 
 
 As was observed before, this representation of 
 the Society was followed up most cordially by 
 the Congregation of the Chapel, who, by their 
 ministers, wardens and vestry, presented an ad- 
 dress to the Queen on the subject. In this ad- 
 dress they say, that nothing can tend more to 
 make religion flourish among them than the com- 
 pletion of the Society's scheme in all its details, 
 and humbly entreat her Majesty to carry it into 
 execution. In an address to the Bishop of Lon- 
 don, written at the same time,* they enter into a 
 brief history of their church ; mention that the 
 congregation is very much increased and consists 
 of about eight hundred persons ; speak of the 
 late enlargement of the Chapel, and pray his 
 Lordship's good offices that the money from the 
 privy purse may be constantly and regularly 
 paid. These addresses were entrusted to the 
 care of Col. Redknap, their agent in London ; 
 who writes word, the following April, that they 
 were delivered faithfully, and that the gentlemen of 
 the Society, being fully persuaded of the neces- 
 sity of having Bishops sent to America, were 
 resolved to join their Address to those of New 
 York, New England and Rhode Island to her 
 Majesty, that she would be pleased to appoint some 
 
 * December 8, 1713. 
 
 6 
 
82 PERIOD FOURTH. 
 
 proper person for that work so soon as possible. 
 " I did speak/' he continues, " to several of the 
 members of the Society, particularly to my 
 Lord of London and Clarendon, that they would 
 be pleased to consider of our Northern parts be- 
 fore Jamaica or Barbados, there being a greater 
 necessity for having one amongst us where Whigs 
 and fanaticks swarme, than in those parts." 
 
 Hut all the Societies and Bishops in the world 
 could not arrest the warrant of death, even though 
 it was issued against a queen. The decease of 
 Anne put a stop, for the time, to the proceed- 
 ings relating to American bishoprics, and though 
 the plan was presented and urged in succeeding 
 reigns, it was never accomplished, and perhaps 
 never came so near accomplishment as at this 
 first trial. 
 
 The next occurrences of importance in the 
 history of the church, are, Mr Harris's voyage to 
 England, the death of Mr Myles, and the arrival 
 of Mr Price as his successor. 
 
PERIOD FIFTH. 
 
 DEATH OF MR MYLES. — ARRIVAL OF MR PRICE. -IN- 
 CREASE OF EPISCOPAL CHURCHES. 
 
 JOUR FATHERS, WHERE ARE THEY? AND THE PROPHETS, 
 DO THEY LIVE FOREVER? — Zech. \. 5. 
 
 In the winter of 1714, Mr Harris the Assis- 
 tant, at the suggestion of General Nicholson, took 
 a voyage to England, having previously obtained 
 the consent of the church. He went partly to 
 attend to some affairs of his own,* and partly to 
 make application to the Society for Propagating 
 the Gospel in Foreign Parts, for ministers to 
 supply two new Episcopal churches, one in New- 
 bury, the other in Marblehead. So it appears 
 there were now three churches, if no more, which 
 had sprung from, and were in a great measure 
 dependent upon, the King's Chapel ; that in 
 
 * There was a heavy tax on Mr Harris's allowance of 
 £100, which he wanted to be relieved from, a9 also to have 
 some arrears paid him. Through the assistance of Bi3hop 
 Robinson, he succeeded, but not till after his return. 
 
84 PERIOD FIFTH. 
 
 Braintree, and the two just mentioned. An ad- 
 dress of congratulation to George I. on his acces- 
 sion, which was sent about this time, and probably 
 by the hands of Mr Harris, was signed by the 
 members of the churches " at Boston, Newberry 
 and Marblehead." A " publick testimonial," or 
 letter of recommendation was furnished to that 
 same gentleman by his church, in which they say 
 that he has resided among them about six years, 
 in all which time they had observed him " faith- 
 ful in the discharge of his duty, and regular and 
 inoffensive in his life and conversation, by which 
 he has gained the esteem and love of the whole 
 church." 
 
 The congregation were not willing that Mr 
 Harris should stay away long from them, and 
 therefore the Bishop sent him back in the summer 
 of 1715. He arrived late in the year, and was 
 received by his people with joy ; but misunder- 
 standings afterwards arose between them. 
 
 The cause of episcopacy, continually advancing 
 as we have seen, in Massachusetts, was suddenly 
 and remarkably developed at this period in the 
 neighboring colony of Connecticut. Mr Timothy 
 Cutler, President of Yale College,* and Messrs 
 
 * He was the first resident rector or president of that in- 
 stitution. 
 
PERIOD FIFTH. 85 
 
 Johnson * and Brown, tutors in the same institu- 
 tion, had convinced themselves of the invalidity 
 of Presbyterian or Congregational ordination, and 
 the impropriety of public extempore prayer, as 
 also of the apostolical authority of the English 
 Church and the superior beauty and advantages 
 of its Liturgy, and in the year 1722 came to 
 Boston, to take passage for England, for the pur- 
 pose of being there invested with holy orders. 
 Mr Brown died in England. The two other gen- 
 tlemen, after effecting their object, returned to 
 America the next year. Dr Johnson took charge 
 of a small Episcopal church, then the only one, 
 in Connecticut, and Dr Cutler became the first 
 rector of the North or Christ Church in Boston. 
 This, the second episcopal church in the town, 
 had been built while he was abroad. The design 
 had been greatly encouraged and forwarded by 
 a subscription of the congregation of King's Cha- 
 pel, and was undertaken, according to the pre- 
 amble of the subscription paper, because " the 
 church of England at the south part of Boston, is 
 not large enough to contain all the people that 
 would come to it." The corner stone of Christ 
 Church was laid by the Rev. Mr Myles, on the 
 
 * Mr, afterwards Dr Samuel Johnson, was at the time of 
 his resolution to obtain orders, minister of a congregational 
 church in West Haven. — Chandler's Life of Johnson. 
 
bO PERIOD FIFTH. 
 
 15th of April, 1723, and was opened for public 
 worship by Dr Cutler, on the 29th of Decem- 
 ber. 
 
 In the summer of 1727 Mr Myles was obliged, 
 through illness, to cease from his duties at the 
 Chapel, where his portion of the services was 
 performed by a Mr Watts. The next February 
 he directed a letter " to the Parishioners of the 
 King's Chapel at Boston in New England," as 
 follows : 
 
 " Gentlemen, — Inasmuch as I am at present 
 in a very low and languishing condition, and God 
 only knows when I shall recover my health, so 
 as to be able to perform the Duties of my Holy 
 Function, I therefore most earnestly intreat you 
 speedily to find out some method to procure me 
 a Curate from England, who may come over as 
 soon as may be ; and in so doing you will oblige 
 your very weak and afflicted but faithful Friend 
 ■ — Samuel Myles. 
 
 Boston N. E. Feb. 2nd : 1727-8." 
 
 In the beginning of March Mr Myles died.* 
 He may be considered the first rector of the 
 Chapel, though not of the Society, because Mr 
 RatclifFe left Boston soon after the Chapel was 
 
 * The expenses of his funeral were nearly £200, and 
 were defrayed by the church. 
 
PERIOD FIFTH . "87 
 
 built. With the exception of his voyage to Eng- 
 land, and occasional services rendered to the 
 church at Marblehead, he officiated constantly 
 at the Chapel, from its opening till within a few 
 months of his decease, a period of nearly forty 
 years. To judge from the steady increase cf his 
 congregation, he must have been a worthy and 
 pious man and an acceptable preacher. His suc- 
 cessful mission to England, shows him to have 
 been prudent and energetic. He certainly was 
 not very happy with either of his assistants, but 
 the nature of the relation between them suffi- 
 ciently accounts for this ; and though he may 
 have committed no aggression or wrong, he pro- 
 bably maintained all his rights. He lived peace- 
 ably and usefully with his congregation, much of 
 whose prosperity was owing to his exertions, and 
 which continued to flourish without intermission 
 under his equable care, till he was called, as we 
 may trust, to higher services in a holier temple. 
 On his decease, his people paid every mark of 
 respect to his memory, but were divided among 
 themselves with regard to a successor. There 
 was a party in favor of Mr Harris, but they were 
 a minority. The larger portion were much 
 offended with him, and were opposed to his being 
 either rector or curate. The causes of this op- 
 position I am not enabled by the records to 
 
88 PERIOD FIFTH. 
 
 determine. They could not have affected his 
 moral character, nor could the opposition have 
 been carried to any extreme of virulence, because 
 he all the time officiated at the Chapel, and con- 
 tinued so to do, by vote of the congregation, till 
 his own decease. 
 
 Another difficulty was raised respecting the 
 right of presentation to the rectorship of the 
 Chapel. The congregation were afraid that the 
 Bishop of London would claim it, whereas they 
 insisted on its belonging to themselves, and voted 
 to defend it at any expense against any who 
 might dispute it. Their agent in this business in 
 London, was Mr Thomas Sandford. He had sev- 
 eral interviews with the Bishop, in some of which 
 he was accompanied by Mr Charles Apthorp who 
 was then in England, and an amicable settlement 
 was the result. Even on his first visit to the 
 Bishop, the latter told him that he did not pre- 
 tend to the right of presentation, but thought 
 that it was in the congregation who supported the 
 minister ; and it was agreed that his lordship 
 should recommend, some fit person as rector, who 
 should be the person whom Mr Sandford, as the 
 agent of the congregation, should present to his 
 Lordship for his license. Accordingly Mr Roger 
 Price was recommended, presented, and licensed. 
 
PERIOD FIFTH. 89 
 
 The Bishop* says of him, in a letter written in 
 April, 11*29, "He has been long known to 
 me, and is one whom I am willing to en- 
 trust with the power of commissary for in- 
 specting the lives and manners of the clergy, if 
 he succeed in that place ; and I think a better 
 service cannot be done the congregation than the 
 inducing both parties to unite in him." 
 
 The account of the new rector's induction is 
 truly a tale of old times to us, and must impress 
 every reflecting mind with a sense of the changes 
 which a century has produced on this spot. 
 
 " At a meeting of the Vestry in King's Chapel 
 on the 25. June, 1729, 
 
 " Present, 
 
 William Handle, > ni z T ^ 7 
 -„r > Church wardens. 
 
 William speakman, ) 
 
 James Stevens, Esq. John Checkley, 
 
 George Cradock, Benjamin Walker, 
 
 Joshua Wroe, Samuel Grainger, 
 
 George Stewart, Robert Skinner, 
 
 Jonathan Pue ,Esq. Thomas Creese, Junr. 
 
 Thomas Child, Thomas Holker. 
 Thomas Wallis. 
 
 " About four o'clock in the afternoon, the 
 Rev. Mr Roger Price was conducted into Kind's 
 
 * Edmund Gibson was then Bishop of London. 
 
90 PERIOD FIFTH. 
 
 Chapel by the Rev. Mr Henry Harris, it being 
 a few hours after the arrival of the Rev. Mr 
 Price, and a letter from Mr Thomas Sandford to 
 the Committee was read, importing that the Rev. 
 Mr Roger Price was the person he had present- 
 ed to the Lord Bishop of London, by virtue of 
 the power devolved upon him by the votes of 
 the Congregation of the 13th March, 1727-8. 
 Whereupon the Rev. Mr Price produced the 
 following Licence and Certificate, reading them 
 in the Church, and then delivered them to the 
 Church Wardens to be recorded in the Church 
 Book/'' 
 
 Here follow copies of the Bishop's Licence in 
 Latin, and Mr Price's declaration in English to 
 conform to the Liturgy, duly sealed and signed. 
 Then the account proceeds. 
 
 " These above being read, the Rev. Mr Henry 
 Harris, the Church Wardens, the Vestry-men, 
 and the people who were present, all went out 
 of the Church, the Church Wardens at the door 
 delivering the key of the Church to the Rev. 
 Mr Price, who locking himself in the Church, 
 tolled the bell, and then unlocked the door of 
 the Church, receiving the Church Wardens and 
 Vestry men into the Church again, who wished 
 him joy upon his having possession of the Church. 
 
PERIOD FIFTH. 91 
 
 — Then the Rev. Mr Price ordered the Clerk 
 to give public warning in the Church upon the 
 Sunday following, that the Congregation meet in 
 the Church next Wednesday, at eleven of the 
 clock in the Forenoon." 
 
 This ceremony was in accordance with the 
 customs of the English Church ; but though it 
 was gratifying to many of the Chapel congrega- 
 tion, and met with open opposition from none, 
 there were yet many who did not in the least 
 relish it, for a republican spirit was even now 
 working in this most royal and loyal church. 
 There were many who preferred to come to the 
 King's Chapel, who yet were not thorough Eng- 
 lish churchmen. They had the congregation- 
 al notions respecting their property, and could 
 with difficulty agree that Mr Price should own, 
 even in form, what they had paid for. They 
 had a dislike, also, to the whole proceeding of 
 foreign presentation to the Bishop. These sen- 
 timents spread and prevailed in the church more 
 and more. 
 
 Mr Harris survived the arrival of Mr Price 
 but a few months. He died on the 16th of the 
 following October; and it may serve to show 
 the terms on which the church and he had lived 
 together for a few years past, to state, what b 
 
92 PERIOD FIFTH. 
 
 unpleasant to state in the solemn connexion of 
 death, that more than a year after his decease, 
 the congregation voted that no money should be 
 paid out of the church stock toward defraying 
 the charge of burying him, though they had 
 granted an expensive funeral to Mr Myles. His 
 life, indeed, for the last years of it, must have 
 been but a " fitful fever," and whatever were the 
 exciting causes of it, or whoever was most to 
 blame for it, himself or others, it is enough now 
 to know, that " after it he slept well." This is 
 the universal termination, and it is a quiet one. 
 And, truly, as I turn over the yellow leaves of our 
 records, and read the lines of faded ink, and note 
 the successive variations of orthography and style, 
 and the constant changes of handwriting, and see 
 names, some familiar and some forgotten, of min- 
 isters, governors, wardens and vestrymen, appear- 
 ing and then disappearing, the representatives of 
 generations which have here " kept holy time," 
 the fleeting nature of our life, with all its scenes 
 and occupations, is revealed to me with more 
 than a common distinctness, and men and ages 
 seem to melt away before me like the flakes of 
 snow in spring-time, which dissolve as they feel 
 the earth. And when I have perused votes, ex- 
 pressive of division or estrangement, and think 
 that the hands which were held up to pass them, 
 
PERIOD FIFTH. 93 
 
 and the hands which were employed in record- 
 ing those, are now turned to dust, and that some 
 of those who were so active and so heated then 
 are now sleeping coldly in the green yard beside 
 us, or beneath this very floor,* I seem to hear 
 the voice, the " still small voice " of peace. It 
 speaks of love ; it speaks from the grave ; it 
 speaks to those for whom the grave is waiting — 
 and alas for us if it speaks in vain. 
 
 Immediately after Mr Harris's death, the con- 
 gregation applied, as usual, to the Bishop of 
 London, for some one to succeed him. The 
 Rev. Thomas Harward was accordingly sent; 
 and the Bishop, in a letter to Mr Price, dated 
 July 3d, 1730, thus speaks of him. " Mr 
 Harward, who comes over to succeed Mr Harris, 
 is well recommended by the neighboring clergy 
 in Surrey, where he has been an incumbent for 
 many years, near Guilford ; and their recommen- 
 dation is confirmed by the Bishop of Winchester, 
 their Diocesan, according to the method I use for 
 receiving due satisfaction concerning the Charac- 
 ters of such Persons as offer themselves for mis- 
 sionaries. He is directed to behave himself to- 
 wards you with all due respect, as his Superior, 
 
 * There are family tombs under the Chapel, and a large 
 one, called the Stranger's Tomb, under the tower. 
 
94 PERIOD FIFTH. 
 
 and not to intermeddle in any matter, but what 
 shall appear to belong to him as Lecturer, But 
 it is impossible for me to descend to particulars, 
 since I do not know what share of duty properly 
 belongs to him as such. If you can fix that mat- 
 ter between yourselves, with the advice and as* 
 sistance of some serious persons of the Congrega- 
 tion, I shall be ready to ratify it, that it may be 
 a rule to all future Ministers and Lecturers of 
 that Church." 
 
 Mr Price received at the same time from the 
 Bishop his Commission as Commissary ; an of- 
 fice which had been created for the sake of the 
 English Church in America, to answer the pur- 
 poses in some measure, of the episcopal function 
 and dignity. It was a kind of vicarage under the 
 Bishop, invested with a superintending authority 
 from the Bishop, and subject to his control. 
 Other Commissaries beside Mr Price had been 
 appointed for other parts of the country. " I 
 also send you," says Bishop Gibson, " three 
 copies of the Directions I have drawn, for all the 
 Commissarys in the Plantations, in order to their 
 proceeding against irregular Clergymen, which 
 I hope you will have no occasion to carry into 
 practice." 
 
 Of Mr Har ward, the assistant, or lecturer, or 
 king's chaplain, as he was indifferently termed, 
 
PERIODFIFTH. 95 
 
 we hear nothing in connexion with the Chapel, 
 but that not long after his arrival he refused to 
 join with a Committee appointed by the united 
 vestries of King's Chapel and Christ Church, in 
 drawing up a memorial to the Bishop of London, 
 and a petition to the King, respecting what were 
 called " the sufferings of the Churchmen in this 
 Province." 
 
 The sufferings of the Churchmen ! What a 
 change, and what a retribution ! Think of the 
 days of Archbishop Laud. Think of the " suf- 
 ferings " of the old puritans. And think, and 
 think again, how unjust, how blind are pains and 
 penalties and all kinds of coercion in matters of 
 religion. History teaches nothing more plainly 
 than this ; and it teaches nothing more impor- 
 tant than this, or more necessary to be learned, 
 and got by heart ; and yet how slowly it has 
 been learned, and with how little heartiness have 
 its truth and necessity been accepted. The suf- 
 ferings complained of, arose directly from the ope- 
 ration of the laws of the Colony. Members of 
 the Church of England were distrained and im- 
 prisoned for not paying towards the building of 
 Congregational, or what they termed Dissenting 
 meeting-houses, and the support of Dissenting 
 teachers. Application was made for redress 
 to the " Great and General Court ; " and the 
 
96 PERIOD FIFTH. 
 
 Court being backward in affording redress, the 
 united churches employed counsel to prosecute 
 their claims in London, and chose a committee, 
 as before stated, to represent their case to their 
 Diocesan and to the King. 
 
 The answer which the Bishop returns, sets 
 forth, it must be confessed, in a strong light, the 
 impartiality of the gentlemen of the law abroad, 
 and their adherence to their principles in spite of 
 their feelings and prejudices. " We have at last 
 obtained," he says in his letter to Mr Price, of 
 Feb. 6, 1732-3, " the opinion of the Attorney 
 and Solicitor General in relation to the New Eng- 
 land Charter, and the power of the Legislature 
 there to make laws for rateing the members of 
 the Episcopal Churches to the Independent 
 Ministers." He then declares, though with sor- 
 row, that those high legal authorities thought that 
 the exercise of the power claimed by the colony 
 began so early, and had continued so long, that 
 there was little encouragement to hope that their 
 acts could be pronounced null and void. " I am 
 obliged to write," he adds, " in this plain, though 
 uncomfortable manner, that you may judge how 
 far it will be advisable for the members of the 
 Church there to make it a Cause ; and if judge- 
 ment be given against them, as it certainly will, 
 to bring it before the King and Council by way 
 of appeal." 
 
PERIOD FIFTH. (J 7 
 
 Here was consistency, at least. Dissenters 
 in England were ?/ and still are obliged to support 
 the clergy of the establishment, beside obliging 
 themselves to support their own, and it was but 
 fair that Churchmen, when surrounded abroad 
 by a majority who looked on them as Dissenters, 
 should not be permitted to complain very loudly 
 or effectually of the operation of a principle 
 which was acted on at home.* But how defec- 
 tive is the principle itself; and how impossible it 
 is, at least in this case, for an old wrong to grow 
 into a right. 
 
 On the 15th of April, 1736, Mr Harward 
 died,f and the usual application for another Assist- 
 
 * The grievance to the Churchmen here, was not in fact 
 very great. Only three cases of oppression could be produced 
 before the General Court, and the churches were obliged to 
 pay for hunting up raore. One thing complained of \ 
 the refusal of seats in the Board of Overseers of Harvard 
 College to the ministers of King's Chape! and Christ Church. 
 
 t At a vestry meeting, April 16, 1736. «' Voted that Mr 
 John Merrett, Mr James Gordon, and Thomas Greene be •* 
 Committee to take care that the Rev. Mr 1 nomas Harward 
 be buried in a decent frugal manner, and in the absence of 
 either of them, Mr Samuel Bannister is to act in his room." 
 At a meeting of the Congregation, April 18. " Voted that 
 the charges that shall arise by burying the Rev. Mr Thomas 
 Harward, deceased, be paid out of the Church Stock. Voted, 
 that Mr John Merrett, Mr James Gordon, and Thomas 
 Greene be a Committy to order the way and manner of the 
 funeral." 
 
 7 
 
93 PERIOD FIFTH. 
 
 ant was again made to the Bishop, in a letter 
 from the rector, wardens and vestry. In this let- 
 ter they say, " Our infant Church being sur- 
 rounded with ten dissenting Congregations in this 
 principal Town, which are provided with Minis- 
 ters the most esteemed for Learning and Piety 
 among them, its prosperity depends much on the 
 Abilities and good Qualities of our Ministers. 
 We therefore relye on your Lordship's Judge- 
 ment and Goodness in speedily supplying us with 
 a proper Person." The person appointed was 
 the Rev. Mr Addington Davenport, who had 
 been for some time minister or missionary to the 
 church in Scituate. He entered on his duties 
 about a year after the death of Mr Harward. 
 Bishop Gibson wrote him the following letter on 
 his appointment. 
 
 "Whitehall, Jan. 29, 1736-7. 
 " Good Sir, — I have appointed you to suc- 
 ceed Mr Harward in the duty at the King's 
 Chappie, there to be performed by you under 
 the rules and directions which have been given 
 by the Bishop Compton and myself. You will 
 not fail in general to pay all due respect to Mr 
 Price, both as chief Pastor of the congregation 
 and as my Commissary ; and when the duty of 
 this latter station obliges him to be absent from 
 Boston, which, as I am informed, is very seldom. 
 
PERIOD FIFTH 99 
 
 I think it reasonable that you should perform his 
 duty there without expecting any gratuity for it. 
 As to the other accidental inabilities or absences 
 on account of health or necessary business, which 
 both of you in your turns may have occasion 
 for, I hope there is no need to exhort either of 
 you to afford mutual assistance to each other. 
 I desire you to communicate this letter to Mr 
 Price, and have no more to add at this time but 
 to commend you to the Divine protection, and 
 to wish you success in your pastoral labours, which 
 will always be a great satisfaction to 
 
 Sir, your assured Friend and Brother, 
 
 Edm. London." 
 And still Episcopacy continued to spread in 
 Boston. Notwithstanding Christ Church was 
 built in 1723, and large galleries had since been 
 added to King's Chapel, it had been resolved as 
 early as the year 1728 to build a new Church at 
 the corner of Summer Street and Bishop-alley, 
 now Hawley Street, " by reason that the Chapel 
 was full, and no pews to be bought by new 
 comers." The corner stone of Trinity Church 
 was laid by Commissary Price, on the 15th of 
 April, 1734. On the 15th of August, 1735, the 
 Rev. Mr Harward read prayers there, and Mr 
 Price preached the first sermon. Afterwards 
 Mr Price and Mr Davenport officiated there, by 
 
100 PERIOD FIFTH. 
 
 leave of their own church, as did other episco- 
 pal ministers. In May, 1740, Mr Davenport, 
 who had so recently been made Assistant at 
 King's Chapel, accepted the invitation of the 
 congregation of Trinity Church to become their 
 pastor, and he was accordingly inducted as their 
 firs 1 , rector. 
 
 To prove still further that episcopacy was then 
 prevailing as it has never since prevailed here, at 
 a vestry meeting holden on the 18th of Septem- 
 ber of the same year, 1740, the following vote 
 was passed to consider of the rebuilding the 
 King's Chapel. " Voted that a Committee of 
 six persons of this Church shall be joinad with 
 the minister and church wardens, and shall be 
 chosen to consider of a method of raising a sub- 
 scription for the rebuilding the King's Chappel." 
 The measures which were taken in pursuance 
 of this vote, and which resulted in the erection 
 of the elegant and spacious church in which we 
 now worship, will be considered, with other 
 matters, in the next discourse. 
 
PERIOD SIXTH. 
 
 RESIGNATION OF MR PRICE. — SETTLEMENT OF DR CA- 
 NER. — BUILDING OF THE STONE CHAPEL. 
 
 THE GOD OF HEAVEN. HE WILL PROSPER US} THEREFORE 
 WE HIS SERVANTS WILL ARISE AND BUILD. — Nek. il. 20. 
 
 In consequence of the vote passed in 1740 to 
 consider of the rebuilding of the Chapel, William 
 Shirley, Esq. a warden of the church, and after- 
 wards Governor of the State, was appointed to 
 draw up a subscription paper, which he did, and 
 headed the list himself with the liberal sum of one 
 hundred pounds sterling. Other subscriptions to 
 a considerable amount were obtained, and Peter 
 Faneuil, Esq.* was constituted Treasurer of the 
 building fund. Owing to his death, however, and 
 some other circumstances, the business received 
 a temporary check, and was suffered to rest for 
 several years. 
 
 On the removal of Mr Davenport to Trinity 
 Church, the Bishop of London was applied to 
 for a successor to fill his place at the Chapel. 
 
 * The same who gave to the town the famous hall called 
 by his name. 
 
102 PERIOD SIXTH. 
 
 The Rev. Stephen Rowe, or Roe, was mention- 
 ed, who was at that time a minister in South 
 Carolina, but unable to stay there on account of 
 his health. The applicants spoke of him as a 
 person who, they were sure, would be agreeable 
 to them. To use their own expressions, they 
 " begged leave to insinuate that they had once 
 heard him read divine service, and preach, and 
 well approved his talent therein. Yet finally," 
 they say, " we rest ourselves in your Lordship's 
 wisdom and goodness, properly and seasonably to 
 supply us." 
 
 Mr Roe, after some delay, was appointed to 
 the situation, and entered on his duties in 1741 : 
 but he did not remain long at the Chapel, nor do 
 I learn anything of him or his departure from the 
 records. 
 
 The ecclesiastical condition of the church at 
 this period experienced some important changes. 
 Mr Price had not been long settled as rector, be- 
 fore differences began to spring up between him 
 and his congregation ; the short account of which 
 is, that he presumed too much on his place and 
 dignity of Commissary, and they were growing 
 jealous of their congregational rights and privi- 
 leges. In May, 1734, he communicated his in- 
 tention of leaving the church and returning to 
 England, and no regret was manifested by his 
 
PERIOD SIXTH. 103 
 
 people at the prospect of losing him. He took 
 his passage on board a vessel bound to London, 
 and actually set sail in her ; but being detained 
 at Nantasket by contrary winds, he came up to 
 Boston, requested the wardens to call a vestry 
 meeting, and announced his resolution to stay with 
 his church. Whereupon a list of his former pre- 
 tensions was made out, and on his agreeing to give 
 them all up, it was voted by the congregation, on 
 the 26th of May, that he should be Rector and 
 minister of the Church as before. The six arti- 
 cles thus consented to by Mr Price, serve as an 
 explanation of the principal causes of contention 
 between him and his people. They are as follows. 
 " 1 . To have no pretentions to the perquisites 
 of the money for burying under the church. 
 
 2. To have no pretentions in chuseing a Church 
 Warden. 
 
 3. To have no pretentions to the Church 
 Stock. 
 
 4. To have no pretentions to the Church Li- 
 brary ; only the use of them. 
 
 5. To preach on Sunday afternoons ; when it 
 can be done. 
 
 6. To make due entries of the Church mar- 
 riages, christenings and burials in the book provi- 
 ded for that purpose." 
 
 That Mr Price should ever have made such 
 
104 PERIOD SIXTH. 
 
 pretensions as are here resigned, appears singular 
 to us, with our present customs and habits of 
 thinking. But it must be recollected that Mr 
 Price came over from England, and took posses- 
 sion of the Chapel, with English notions of a rec- 
 tor's prerogatives, and that some of the conces- 
 sions which he was obliged to make, were extort- 
 ed by the innovating spirit of the church. With 
 regard to the appointment of wardens, for instance, 
 it would seem that Mr Myles, the predecessor of 
 Mr Price, exercised the privilege of nominating 
 to that office ; for it is recorded, that in the year 
 1726 he informed the vestry that Charles Ap- 
 thorp refused to serve as Church Warden, and 
 nominated Mr Thomas Selby, who was chosen. 
 I have been told that the English custom is, that 
 the Rector nominate one of the wardens, and the 
 vestry the other. But Mr Price undoubtedly as- 
 sumed too much, and by thus rendering himself 
 unpopular, lost some privileges which by quiet- 
 ness he might have retained. 
 
 Several other troubles of a serious nature arose 
 between the parties, and reference was occasion- 
 ally had to the Bishop of London. At length, on 
 Thanksgiving day, Nov. 27, 1746, Mr Price signi- 
 fied to the congregation his final intention of going to 
 England, and quitting the rectorship and cure of the 
 church. The congregation then took the bold 
 
PERIOD SIXTH. 
 
 105 
 
 and unprecedented step of choosing a committee 
 to consider of a fit person in holy orders, and to 
 recommend him as such, not to the Bishop of 
 London, but to the congregation, to be appointed 
 Rector of the King's Chapel, in the room of Mr 
 Price. On the evening of the same day, this 
 committee met at the Royal Exchange Tavern, 
 and agreed unanimously to recommend the Rev. 
 Mr Henry Caner, minister of the church in Fair- 
 field, Connecticut, to the congregation of the 
 Chapel, to be their rector. At an adjourned 
 meeting of the congregation, on Sunday the 30th, 
 Mr Price's letter of resignation, and the report of 
 the committee having been read, the question was 
 put, " Whether wee should choose a minister to 
 succeed the Rev d Mr Commissary Price from 
 amongst the clergy in holy orders in New Eng- 
 land, or write to his Lordship our Diocesan, and 
 other friends in Old England to procure us a min- 
 ister from thence ; and it was carried by a great 
 majority that wee should choose a minister from 
 amongst the Clergy in New England." After 
 this, the congregation proceeded to the choice of 
 a minister, and the Rev. Henry Caner was 
 chosen by a great majority. 
 
 This independent line of conduct shows a wide 
 departure from the old course, which had always 
 pointed hitherto in the direction of London. The 
 
106 PERIOD SIXTH. 
 
 assistant minister or lecturer, however, was ac- 
 knowledged to be at the disposal of the Diocesan, 
 because his salary came from abroad ; and the 
 church were regular in their applications to the 
 Bishop for the appointment of this officer on 
 every occasion of vacancy. 
 
 The customary letters having passed between 
 the conoretration and Mr Caner, of invitation 
 on their part, and acceptance on his, he removed 
 from Fairfield to Boston, and the day succeeding 
 his arrival, Saturday, April 11, 1747, was con- 
 ducted to the Chapel by the Rev. Mr Commis- 
 sary Price, and there put in possession of the 
 church after the same manner and form which had 
 been observed in the case of the latter gentle- 
 man ; no mention being made of the Bishop of 
 London, however, throughout the whole affair.* 
 
 The terms on which he was settled were, that 
 
 * From the record?. " The Reverd Mr Henry Caner 
 came (o town on ffriday Evening, and the next morning, 
 April 11, 1747, about Eleven o'clock in the forenoon, he was 
 conducted to the King's Chapel in Boston by the Reverd Mr 
 Commissary Price, the Church Wardens and others of the 
 Comittee appointed as above, who all went out of the Church, 
 the Church Wardens at the door delivering the key oi 
 the Church to the Rever d Mr Caner, who locking himself 
 in the Church, tolled the Bell, and then unlocked the Door, 
 receiving the Church Wardens and Comittee &c. into the 
 Church again, who wished him joy upon his haveing Posses^ 
 sionof the Church." 
 
PERIOD SIXTH. 107 
 
 he was to be paid the long established salary of 
 one hundred and ten pounds sterling per annum, 
 at that time equal to eleven hundred pounds old 
 tenor ; that he was to share the public services 
 of the church with the Assistant for the time be- 
 ing, and receive all perquisites as the Rector's 
 due. 
 
 In the summer of this year, 1747, the Rev. 
 Commissary Price sailed for England in the Mer- 
 maid man of war. Though he had not lived on 
 the happiest terms with his people, his talents 
 were good and his morals irreproachable. His 
 great failing was, that he could not accommodate 
 himself to the country to which he had come, and 
 was always wishing to live more like a dignitary 
 of the church at home than the habits of this 
 country would bear. He published two sermons 
 here, if no more. One was preached in January. 
 1733, on occasion of the death of John Jekyll, 
 Esq. collector of Customs ; and the other on the 
 death of the queen, in March, 1733. The former 
 of these 1 have seen. The style is considerably 
 studied and ornate, and the sentiments are good 
 and well suited to the occasion. It is such a ser- 
 mon as would be heard with interest at any time 
 by any congregation. 
 
 Mr Caner entered on his duties, as Rector of 
 King's Chapel, with a high reputation. He was 
 
108 PERIOD SIXTH. 
 
 educated at Yale College, and became a candi- 
 date for episcopal orders two or three years after 
 the ordination of Doctors Johnson and Cutler. 
 " In 1727 he went to England for ordination, and 
 the Society appointed him their missionary to 
 Fairfield. His occasional services at Norwalk 
 greatly recommended the Church ; and it was 
 not long before he had a respectable congregation 
 there, as well as at Fairfield." * In Boston he 
 was considered as a more than commonly good 
 preacher ; and his congregation at the Chapel, 
 essaying to turn his popularity to their advantage, 
 were led into an unpleasant altercation with the 
 Assistant or Lecturer, the Rev. Charles Brock- 
 well, who had been appointed to succeed Mr 
 Roe in 1747, and who had previously been min- 
 ister of the churches at Scituate and Salem. Mr 
 Brockwell, according to the appointment of the 
 Bishop of London, w T as " Lecturer or Afternoon 
 Preacher," and of course his time of officiating 
 at the Chapel was the afternoon. But the week- 
 ly collection, on which the church mainly depend- 
 ed for the rector's salary, was taken in the after- 
 noon ; and it was the desire of the congregation 
 
 7 O O 
 
 that Mr Caner, as the most attractive preacher, 
 should officiate at that season, rather than in the 
 morning, which more particularly belonged to 
 
 * Chandler's Life of Dr Johnson, p. 62. 
 
PERIOD SIXTH. J09 
 
 him. This desire they expressed, in a formal 
 manner, to Mr Brockwell ; and that gentleman's 
 meekness not being prepared for such an appli- 
 cation, by no means a flattering one, he at first 
 refused his consent, and resolved to abide by the 
 very terms of the Bishop's appointment. But 
 he afterwards, with a reservation of his right, 
 agreed to the proposed arrangement. This af- 
 fair occupies in its details, several pages of the 
 records. Without making the comments which 
 might be made upon it, it will be sufficient to re- 
 mark on the change of customs of which it fur- 
 nishes another example. The afternoon would 
 not now be selected here, as the season for the 
 fullest congregations. 
 
 Beside Mr Caner's popularity in the pulpit, 
 he had also a remarkable talent for business ; and 
 it was probably owing in a great measure to this 
 characteristic of the Rector, that soon after his 
 settlement, the design of rebuilding the Chapel 
 was resumed, and prosecuted with vigor and dil- 
 igence to its completion. The subscription paper 
 was revived ; letters were sent in all directions, 
 in the country and out of it, to solicit aid ; con- 
 tributions were taken in the church ; assessments 
 were laid on the pews ; and every effort and 
 method was resorted to which seemed to promise 
 any furtherance to the desired end. The difficulties 
 
HO PERIOD SIXTH . 
 
 contended with were great, the exertions and 
 sacrifices made were constant and eminent. In 
 our own days of activity, there has not been a 
 church erected in the land at a greater expense 
 of labor and time, nor with a greater straining of 
 means. In all the measures which were pursued, 
 Mr Caner took a leading part ; he attended to 
 many if not most of the business details, and wrote 
 nearly all the letters of application, in which a 
 remarkable ingenuity is displayed in varying the 
 terms of the same oft repeated story, told in dif- 
 ferent phrase to each individual applied to, through 
 a series of documents which would fill a volume. 
 Indeed the records of this undertaking form a thin 
 folio volume, entitled, " A Record of Votes and 
 Resolutions, &c, together with some brief Me- 
 moirs of the Transactions relating to the rebuild- 
 ing King's Chapel in Boston." This volume is 
 my guide in the narrative which follows, and my 
 authority for all the facts. As it recounts some 
 things which have been already briefly mention- 
 ed, it may serve the purpose of a useful recapitu- 
 lation, to present an abstract of the entire story, 
 as there given. 
 
 The manuscript begins with stating that King's 
 Chapel was first erected of wood in the year 
 1688, that it was enlarged in 1710, and being 
 found in the year 1741 in a state of considerable 
 
PERIOD SIXTH . Ill 
 
 decay, that it was proposed to rebuild it of stone. 
 The Rev. Roger Price was at that time '• min- 
 ister," and Wra. Shirley, Esq. (about the same 
 time appointed Governor of the Province) and 
 Mr Saml. Wentworth, wardens. A voluntary 
 subscription was set on foot, and Peter Faneuil, 
 Esq. chosen treasurer for receiving sums sub- 
 scribed. The building was to be of stone, and 
 to cost £25,000, old tenor. It was net to be 
 commenced till £10,000 were subscribed. 
 
 The names on the first subscription paper were 
 as follows : Win. Shirley, Esq. ; Sir Henry Frank- 
 land ; Ed. Tyng ; Eliakim Hutchinson ; Charles 
 Apthorp; Henry Caswall ; John Gibbins ; 
 James Gordon ; James Smith ; Robert Lightfoot ; 
 Thos. Hawding ; Chas. Paxton ; Saml. Went- 
 worth ; Peter Faneuil. 
 
 The principal contributers among these were, 
 Mr Faneuil, for £200 sterling (i. e. 2000 old 
 tenor), Mr Shirley, £100 stg. and Sir Henry 
 Frankland, £50 stg. The rest subscribed from 
 one to two hundred pounds old tenor. 
 
 As the whole sum subscribed was only £5,250 
 old tenor, little more than half the sum proposed 
 to begin with, and as Mr Faneuil soon afterwards 
 died, the affair languished, and was for some time 
 laid aside. In 1747, Mr Price having resigned, 
 and Mr Caner having been chosen to succeed 
 liim, it was revived. 
 
112 PERIOD SIXTH. 
 
 Though the Chapel was now more ruinous 
 than before, It was objected by some to the re- 
 building it, that the war had raised the price of 
 materials and made building more expensive. 
 To this it was answered that the war had also 
 brought a number of army and navy officers into 
 the town, who might be expected to assist the 
 design. 
 
 A meeting was held at Mr Caner's house * 
 
 o 
 
 for the purpose of reviving and prosecuting the 
 old subscription ; at which were present Governor 
 Shirley, Sir Henry Frankland, the two wardens, 
 (James Gordon and John Box) Eliakim Hutch- 
 inson, Thomas Lechmere, Charles Apthorp, Dr 
 Silvester Gardiner, and James Smith. A new 
 subscription paper was drawn up and proposed 
 by Mr Caner, to which all present agreed and 
 subscribed. It was dated Sept. 30, 1747. By 
 it the subscribers, " out of regard to the honor of 
 God, and the more decent provision for his pub- 
 lick worship, and for confirming and promoting 
 the said subscription heretofore begun," oblige 
 themselves, executors and administrators to pay 
 to Charles Apthorp, Esq. appointed their trea- 
 
 * Situated on the north side of the burying-ground, and 
 lately taken down for the purpose of building on the lot a 
 new Savings Bank of stone. It was of wood, rough-cast 
 outside. In this house were the rooms of the Boston 
 Athenamm from 1810 to 1822. 
 
PERIOD SIXTH. 113 
 
 surer, or to his successor, the sums annexed to 
 their names. But it was provided, that if the 
 sum of two thousand pounds sterling was not 
 raised within a year and a half from the date of 
 the paper, the subscriptions should be considered 
 void, and all moneys paid were to be refunded. 
 
 On this second paper Gov. Shirley stood first, 
 and enlarged his subscription to £200 stg. Sir 
 Henry Frankland gave £150 stg. and Charles 
 Apthorp £1000 old tenor, or £100 stg. The 
 whole subscriptions of nine persons amounted to 
 £6200 old tenor, which was more than was 
 before obtained from fourteen. 
 
 The paper being handed round, a considerable 
 sum was subscribed. It was resolved that a weekly 
 meeting should be held at some public house, in 
 order to advance the design ; that the church 
 should be enlarged as well as rebuilt ; and that 
 an address should be made to the town for ground 
 sufficient to effect this enlargement. And, " not 
 to lose time while these things were in agitation, 
 sundry letters were drawn up to be sent abroad 
 to ask assistance of well disposed persons towards 
 carrying on the good work." 
 
 The first of these letters was to Wm. Vassall, 
 
 Esq. then in the Island of Jamaica. It was dated 
 
 Jan. 28, 1747-8, and signed by the minister, 
 
 wardens and vestry. They mention that a vio- 
 
 8 
 
114 PERIOD SIXTH. 
 
 lent storm had carried away a large part of the 
 roof, which obliged them to hasten their opera- 
 tions in the design of rebuilding the church. 
 They observe that they have already obtained 
 about £1600 stg. " We have," they say, 
 " upon former occasions, particularly at the first 
 erecting the chapel, experienced the generosity 
 of the gentlemen in the West India Islands, and 
 their readiness to assist their brethren in these 
 parts destitute of the favour of the government and 
 many advantages which they enjoy to promote 
 affairs of this nature." They beg Mr Vassall to 
 obtain aid for them from the charitable and well 
 disposed people in the Island of Jamaica, and to be 
 their agent in receiving and transmitting the same. 
 The next letter was to the Bishop of London, 
 and is sufficiently curious to copy entire. 
 
 " To the Right Revd. Father in God, Edmund, Lord Bishop 
 of London. 
 
 " Boston, July 25, 1748. 
 " May it please your Lordship, 
 
 " We think it our duty to acquaint your 
 Lordship, that Time and other accidents, partic- 
 ularly a late remarkable storm, have so much 
 impaired King's Chapel in Boston, that it is be- 
 come necessary to rebuild it ; to which purpose 
 the Congregation have cheerfully entered upon a 
 Subscription which at present amounts to £ 16,000 
 
PERIOD SIXTH 115 
 
 New England Currency, equal to so many hun- 
 dreds Sterling, and is daily increasing ; but as we 
 have no expectation of their ability to compleat 
 the work of themselves, they have thought proper 
 to apply to such friends whose ability and virtue 
 give hopes of their encouraging a design of this 
 nature. But as all probable means in our power 
 will he found little enough to accomplish the 
 aood work, we humbly beg leave to ask your 
 Lordship's opinion of the propriety of an appli- 
 cation to his majesty, in favour of a Church, the 
 first in America ; and who at the publick Charge 
 erected a very handsome Pew for His Majesty's 
 Governour, a Church which has heretofore tasted 
 of the Royall Bounty, and if we may judge by 
 the Name, seems in some measure encouraged 
 to expect it. We are sensible your Lordship's 
 interest and influence would be the greatest se- 
 curity of success, if such an application were 
 thought practicable and proper, whether that 
 assistance were asked from the Royal Bounty or 
 by virtue of an authoritative Brief. — In hopes 
 of being favoured with your Lordship's direction 
 and supported by your interest, we beg leave to 
 assure your Lordship that we are, with all duty 
 and submission. 
 
 " Your Lordship's most obedient and most 
 Humble Servants." 
 
116 PERIOD SIXTH. 
 
 Matters being advanced thus far, it was thought 
 expedient to take a public and authoritative vote 
 of the proprietors on the subject of rebuilding, 
 which was accordingly done on Sunday, March 
 27, 1748, when it was unanimously determined 
 that on account of the ruinous and decayed con- 
 dition of King's Chapel, it should be taken down 
 and rebuilt. A few days previously, a petition, 
 as before agreed on, had been presented to the 
 town, for a piece of ground at the east end of the 
 church, that the new building might be made 
 more spacious and commodious than the old one. 
 The town chose a committee to confer with the 
 committee of the church, and the result of the 
 conference was a proposal that the church should 
 have the lot occupied by the school-house at the 
 east end of the old building, with the reservation 
 of a passage way of ten feet wide into the bury- 
 ing ground, on condition that the school-house 
 should be rebuilt by the church on a convenient 
 spot in the vicinity. Thereupon the petitioners 
 bargained for a piece of ground at a short distance 
 from the school-house, and also for another more 
 expensive lot opposite the school-house, on the 
 south side of School Street, as the former coold 
 not be purchased without the latter.* But the 
 
 * Col Saltonstall was owner of this land. 
 
PERIOD SIXTH. 117 
 
 Committee of the town, finding the latter piece a 
 more desirable situation than the other, rose in 
 their demands, and insisted that a school-house 
 should be erected for them there. This came 
 near to break off the negotiations, and compel the 
 church to rebuild according to the old dimensions. 
 But Governor Shirley and others came forward, 
 and said nobly and sensibly, " that as the Build- 
 ing was designed for Posterity as well as them- 
 selves, it would hereafter be deemed very injudi- 
 cious if an advantage of enlarging it into a con- 
 venient and regular building should now T be lost 
 for the sake of an increased charge." The 
 church was induced to persevere, and to present 
 to the town another petition. Much obstinate and 
 vexatious opposition was encountered, especially 
 from one or two of the selectmen, and Mr Lovell 
 the schoolmaster, but the end of the whole busi- 
 ness was, that the church erected a school-house 
 on the required lot opposite the old one, and on 
 which the present Latin School now stands, and 
 gave it, together with the ground, to the town, 
 and in return were granted the lot at the east end 
 of the Chapel, and a strip four feet wide on the 
 north side of it, and thus were enabled to rebuild 
 the Chapel according to its present location and 
 measurement. Wherever the new boundaries 
 encroached on tombs or graves, leave w T as readi- 
 ly obtained from the friends of the deceased for 
 
118 PERIOD SIXTH. 
 
 the removal of their remains, and their decent in- 
 terment elsewhere. 
 
 Toward the end of this year (1748J the school- 
 house being nearly completed, the Committee 
 turned their attention to contracting for materials 
 for the church, and collecting the first payment of 
 their subscriptions. For the subscription of Peter 
 Faneuil, Esq. deceased, they were unfortunately 
 obliged to sue his brother and executor, Benjamin 
 Faneuil, from whom, after a disagreeable lawsuit, 
 they at last recovered it. 
 
 " In order to make an estimate of the quantity 
 and cost of the materials, it was necessary to fix 
 on some plan of the building ; for which purpose 
 the Rev. Mr Caner projected one, and also wrote 
 a letter to Mr Harrison of Rhode Island, a gen- 
 tleman of good judgment in architecture." 
 
 This letter, addressed to a gentleman who real- 
 ly deserved the name of an architect, and to whom 
 this part of the country is indebted for more than 
 one specimen of correct, tasteful and appropriate 
 architecture, is as follows. 
 
 " Boston, 5th April, 1749. 
 
 "Mr Peter Harrison, 
 
 "Sir, — The Committee appointed to have 
 the care of rebuilding King's Chapel in this town, 
 as they design with all convenient expedition to 
 
PERIOD SIXTH. 119 
 
 proceed In the business committed to their trust, 
 have desired me to acquaint you that they should 
 esteem it a favour if you would oblige them with a 
 draught of a handsome Church agreeable to the 
 limits hereinafter assigned. 
 
 " The length of the Church from West to East, 
 including the Steeple is to be 120 feet, besides 
 which there will be 10 feet allowed for a Chancel. 
 The breadth is to be 65 feet 8 inches. The ground 
 has a declivity of about 5 feet from West to East. 
 It is bounded with a fair street on the West End, 
 and another on the South Side. The North Side 
 has a large open space or Burying Ground. The 
 East End is bounded by private property at about 
 12 feet distance. As the chief beauty and strength 
 of building depends upon a due proportion of the 
 several members to each other, the gentlemen of 
 the committee are encouraged to make this appli- 
 cation to you, whom they have often heard men- 
 tioned with advantage for a particular judgment 
 and taste in things of this kind, and for the know- 
 ledge you have acquired by travelling and obser- 
 vation. We do not require any great expense of 
 ornament, but chiefly aim at symmetry and pro- 
 portion, which we entirely submit to your judg- 
 ment. The building is to be of rough stone, and 
 since the charge will greatly increase by carrying 
 the walls very high, if it does not interfere with 
 
120 PERIOD SIXTH. 
 
 your judgment, we should perhaps be pleased with 
 one tier of windows only. This indeed will be 
 inconvenient for the Gallery s, and therefore if it 
 be not too much trouble, the gentlemen would be 
 glad to have a Prospect of a side of each sort, one 
 with a single tier of windows, and the other with 
 two. The Steeple and Spire for bigness, height 
 and ornament is left with you to determine, a 
 Draught of which, together with a Ground Piatt, 
 is what is desired and would extreamly oblige the 
 gentlemen of the Committee, and be esteemed a 
 very great favor by 
 
 " Sir, your most obt. and most humble Servant, 
 
 " H. Caner." 
 
 Contracts were made in July with Mr Hay- 
 ward and Mr Hunt of Braintree for North and 
 South Common stones, the stones from the North 
 Common being charged the highest. " Laborers 
 were now employed to open a trench for the 
 foundation, which being soon accomplished, to the 
 depth of between seven and eight feet, the Com- 
 mittee directed that the first stone for the founda- 
 tion should be laid on the 11th of August, 1749." 
 Governor Shirley was desired to lay the same, and 
 Mr Caner was invited to preach a sermon on the 
 occasion. 
 
 On Friday, the day appointed, " Mr Caner, 
 
PERIOD SIXTH. 121 
 
 Mr Brock well, the Treasurer and Committee, to- 
 gether with the wardens, vestry, and other prin- 
 cipal gentlemen of the church, waited on his Ex- 
 cellency William Shirley, Esq. from the Province 
 House to the ground laid out for the. Church, 
 amidst a large concourse of spectators, where a 
 stone was prepared with the following inscription. 
 
 Quod felix faustumque sit 
 
 EcCLESIiE ET ReIPUBLICE 
 
 Hunc Lapidem Deo sacrum 
 
 Regime Capellje 
 
 Apud Bostonium Massachusettensium 
 
 RESTAURATiE ATQJJE AUCTiE FuNDAMENTUM 
 
 posuit gulielmus shirley 
 
 Province Prjefectus 
 
 Augusti IImo, Anno Salutis 1749. 
 
 " When the masons had placed the Stone at 
 the N. East corner of the trench, his Excellency, 
 according to custom, settled it with a stroke or 
 two of a mason's hammer, and after giving the 
 workmen about £20 to drink his health, went 
 into the [old] Church, as did also most of those 
 who were present, where, after Prayers, a Ser- 
 mon was preached with a view to the occasion 
 , by the Rev. Mr Caner from Neh. ii. 20." The 
 words of the text are those which I have placed 
 at the head of this discourse ; " The God of 
 heaven, he will prosper us ; therefore we his ser- 
 
122 PERIOD SIXTH 
 
 vants will arise and build." The sermon was 
 printed at the request of the Committee. 
 
 The ceremony above related was attacked with 
 witty scurrillity in a paper called the Independent 
 Advertiser ; " but," say the records, " the malice 
 and ill manners of the writer got the better of his 
 wit, and exposed him to resentment and contempt 
 where he thought to have merited applause. 
 And indeed the sober and serious men of all par- 
 ties in the town were so much offended at the ill 
 manners and irreligion discovered in this libel, that 
 it soon gave occasion to the suppressing the paper 
 in which it was published, especially as it had 
 long been made use of for a vehicle of scandal and 
 disaffection to Government." 
 
 In September an answer was received from Mr 
 Harrison of Newport, with the plans and eleva- 
 tions which had been requested. 
 
 "Newport, September 15th, 1749. 
 
 " Sir, — Since I first undertook to draw a De- 
 sign for the new Church, many things have un- 
 expectedly occurred to prevent me from finishing 
 it in the time you requested. However, I have 
 at last compleated it, and now send you per the 
 Post Rider all the Plans and Elevations (as men- 
 tioned below) which I should be glad to hear an- 
 swer your expectations, and that no material al 
 
PERIOD SIXTH. 123 
 
 teration is made in the execution, as it is very 
 possible by that means the symmetry of the whole 
 may be destroyed. 
 
 " The Body of the Building (as you directed) 
 is as plain as the order of it will possibly admit 
 of, but the Steeple is fully decorated, and I be- 
 lieve will have a beautiful effect. The inside is 
 likewise designed plain, and as regular as can be 
 contrived from the dimensions you limited me to. 
 — From these hints you may perhaps be able to 
 answer the objections of such of the Committee 
 and others who may not be conversant with 
 drawings, or have not a taste in things of this na- 
 ture. I am, Sir, 
 
 " Your most humble Servant, 
 
 " Peter Harrison. 
 
 "The Plan. —The Elevation of the West 
 Front. — The Elevation of the South Front. — 
 The Section. — Breadthways. — The Plans of 
 the Steeple. — The Plan of the Pews. 
 " To the Rev. Mr Henry Caner." 
 
 As I have not seen these plans of the archi- 
 tect, it is impossible for me to say how closely 
 they were followed. But as the Committee were 
 well pleased with them, and wrote to Mr Harri- 
 son that they should follow them as nearly as they 
 could, it is not probable that there was any great 
 
124 PERIOD SIXTH. 
 
 deviation from them. It is to be regretted, that 
 the means of the church did not permit them to 
 erect the steeple, as this must have proved a great 
 ornament both to the building and the town. 
 
 The workmen proceeded with their labor but 
 slowly. Granite was not then the manageable 
 material that it is now. In the meantime the 
 congregation continued to worship in the old 
 chapel, decayed and partially unroofed by a se- 
 vere storm as it was, while the walls of the new 
 structure were gradually rising around it. The 
 committee also continued to write letters to wealthy 
 men and dignitaries ; but not much fruit was ob- 
 tained from them, and the church were left to 
 rely mainly on their own resources, which is 
 generally, after all, the best reliance.* I have 
 
 * Among other unsuccessful applications was one to Capt. 
 Coram, the founder of the Foundling Hospital in London. 
 Mr Barlow Trecothick, who was then in London, waited on 
 him, and though graciously received, had no sooner mentioned 
 the purpose of his visit, than he was obliged to listen to a burst 
 of most passionate reproaches against the vestry of King's 
 Chapel for slighting a present which Capt. Coram had for- 
 merly made them of a piece of land. All the explanations 
 of Mr Trecothick served not to cool the old gentleman's rage, 
 who at last flatly told his visitor, with an oath, " that he 
 knew it was in his power to serve the church very much, 
 but that if the twelve apostles were to apply to him in be- 
 half of it, he would persist in refusing to do it." This, 
 says Mr Trecothick in his communication to the Committee 
 " I thought a definitive answer, and so took my leave." 
 
PERIOD SIXTH. 125 
 
 hitherto in these discourses called our church the 
 oldest episcopal church in New England, not 
 venturing to go further ; but these letters advance 
 a still higher claim, as they almost constantly de- 
 scribe it, though no doubt erroneously, as the 
 " oldest Church in British America." 
 
 In March, 1753, the new church being so far 
 advanced that it was necessary to desert the old 
 one, the congregation requested and obtained 
 leave to meet in Trinity Church on Sundays, at 
 separate hours from the congregation of that 
 church, and on festival and prayer days in Mr 
 Croswell's meeting-house.* In April the old 
 church was pulled down. Before it falls to the 
 ground, let us take such a glimpse of its venera- 
 ble interior, as the mist of dim ages will allow to 
 us. 
 
 Since the enlargement of the Chapel in 1710, 
 and the erection subsequently of galleries, it con- 
 
 An application was also made to the celebrated Ralph 
 Allen, Esq. of Prior Park, near Bath, for freestone from his 
 quarries, for the interior and ornamental part of the work. 
 The stone was promised, but as it was found that the ex- 
 pense of working it would be greatly beyond the means of 
 the church, the design of using it was relinquished, and 
 wood was employed instead for the pillars and decorations. 
 
 * Dr Sewall's church was applied for to be used on Christ- 
 mas day. A verbal answer was returned that the request 
 was granted, only it was "expected that the House should 
 not be decorated with spruce, &c." 
 
126 PERIOD SIXTH. 
 
 tained 122 pews, of which number 82 were on 
 the ground floor. But these pews must have 
 been small, as the present church contains no 
 more. The pulpit was on the north side of the 
 church, at about the midst. A finely decorated 
 pew for the governors who sat successively in it, 
 was opposite ; and near it there was another pew 
 reserved for officers of the British army and navy. 
 In the west gallery of this first episcopal church, 
 was the first organ which ever pealed to the 
 praise of God in this country ; while displayed 
 along its walls, and suspended from its pillars, 
 after the manner of foreign churches, were es- 
 cutcheons and coats of arms, being those of the 
 king, Sir Edmund Andros, Francis Nicholson, 
 Captain Hamilton, and Governors Dudley, Shute, 
 Burnet, Belcher and Shirley. In the pulpit 
 there was an hour glass, according to the old 
 fashion, mounted on a large and elaborate stand 
 of brass. At the east end there was " the Altar 
 piece, whereon was the Glory painted, the Ten 
 Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, 
 and some texts of Scripture." It was a strange 
 sight among the bare churches of New England. 
 Much that was in it has gone, never to return. 
 We do not desire that it should return. But the 
 mind may muse on these tokens of rejected royalty 
 and forgotten heraldry, if without regret, yet with 
 
PERIOD SIXTH. 127 
 
 that tenderness which pays a due respect to things 
 which were venerated aforetime, and which, with 
 other shadows of earth, have passed away. 
 
 On the 16th of August, 1754, letters of thanks 
 were written to the Ministers and Wardens of 
 Trinity Church, and to Mr Croswell and his Con- 
 gregation, for the use of their respective houses 
 of worship ; and on Wednesday, the 21st of the 
 same month, the new Chapel was opened with 
 prayers, and a sermon by Mr Caner, from Leviti- 
 cus xix. 30. " Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and 
 reverence my Sanctuary ; I am the Lord." Af- 
 ter the sermon " the sum of £342 Old Tenor, was 
 collected towards finishing the Chapel, and paid 
 by the Church wardens to Charles Apthorp, Esq. 
 treasurer to the Committee." Though the house 
 was in a fit state for the services of the sanctuary, 
 it was yet far from being completed. As the 
 Society obtained means, they went on with the 
 work of finishing and beautifying it ; and up to the 
 month of June, 1758, it had cost £7405 sterling. 
 
 It now remains for me to give an account of 
 that revolution in the religious sentiments of 
 our church, which was a consequence of the 
 great political revolution of our country. 
 
PERIOD SEVENTH. 
 
 FROM THE ERECTION OF THE STONE CHAPEL TO THE 
 PRESENT TIME. 
 
 THE GLORY OF THIS LATTER HOUSE SHALL BE GREATER 
 THAN OF THE FORMER, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS ; 
 AND IN THIS PLACE WILL I GIVE PEACE, SAITH THE 
 
 lord of hosts. Haggai, h- 9. 
 
 But few events in the history of the church 
 require to be recorded, between the period of the 
 erection of the " latter house," and the breaking 
 out of the war of the Revolution. 
 
 The Rev. Charles Brockwell, assistant, died 
 on the 20th August, 1155, and the Rev. John 
 Troutbeck was appointed to succeed him the 
 same year. 
 
 In 1756 the noble organ which now stands in 
 our west gallery was procured from England, and 
 paid for by the subscription of individuals belong- 
 ing to the church. Its original cost in London 
 was £500 sterling ; and when all charges were 
 added, its whole expense amounted to £637. 
 As it was obtained by private subscription, no 
 
PERIOD SEVENTH. 
 
 notice of it whatever is taken in the church re- 
 cords. The only memorial concerning it with 
 which I am acquainted, is a paragraph in the 
 " Boston Gazette and Country Journal" of 30th 
 of August, 1756, which is copied into our later 
 records, and is as follows. 
 
 " We hear that the organ, which lately arrived 
 from London by Capt. Farr for King's Chapel 
 in this Town, will be opened on Thursday next 
 in the Afternoon ; and that said organ (which 
 contains a variety of curious stops never yet heard 
 in these parts) is esteemed by the most eminent 
 masters in England, to be equal, if not superior 
 to any of the same size in Europe. — There will 
 be a sermon suitable to the Occasion ; Prayers to 
 begin at four o'clock." 
 
 There is a very current tradition respecting 
 this organ, that it was selected by Handel him- 
 self. Taking into consideration the above refer- 
 ence to" the most eminent masters in England," 
 we may receive this tradition as founded in truth. 
 And moreover, as the organ was designed for the 
 King's Chapel in New England, we may readily 
 suppose that his Majesty's favorite musician would 
 at least be desired to give his opinion of its mer- 
 its ; and this opinion, being favorable, might be 
 called a selection, even if the " mighty master" 
 gave himself no further trouble with its purchase. 
 9 
 
130 PERIOD SEVENTH. 
 
 Handel died in 1758, and was blind eight years 
 before his death. But sight was not at all ne- 
 cessary in the office supposed to be consigned to 
 him, and though his eyes never could have mea- 
 sured the external proportions of this organ, his 
 ears most probably have judged of its tones and 
 powers, and his own hands rested on its keys. 
 
 In August, 1760, Francis Barnard made his 
 public entry into Boston as Governor of the State ; 
 and Mr Caner having convened the Clergy and 
 Wardens of the three episcopal churches, waited 
 on him with an address of congratulation. The 
 next year, at the Easter meeting, Gov. Barnard 
 was placed, according to the established usage, at 
 the head of the vestry of the Chapel. 
 
 On the arrival of the intelligence of the death 
 of George II. and accession of George III., Mr 
 Caner was appointed by the governor, council 
 and house of representatives to preach a sermon 
 on the occasion ; which he did at the Chapel, 
 Jan. 1, 1761 ; and the sermon was printed. 
 " May we," says the preacher, in the concluding 
 sentence of his discourse, " May we and all his 
 subjects, duly considering whose authority he 
 hath, faithfully serve, honor, and humbly obey 
 him, [the King] for conscience' sake, according to 
 God's holy Word and ordinance, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord ; to whom with the Father and 
 
PERIOD SEVENTH. 131 
 
 Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, might, ma- 
 jesty and dominion, both now and for evermore, 
 Amen." The good man little thought that he 
 was on the brink of a deep and mighty change. 
 He little thought that a political revolution was 
 soon to drive him from the pulpit and country in 
 which he was so warmly expressing his loyalty, 
 and that in a few years his concluding ascription 
 and the doctrine which it denoted, would no lon- 
 ger be heard within the walls of this chapel. 
 
 In 1766, Florentius Vassal], Esq. of London, 
 sent over a marble monument in honor of his an- 
 cestor Samuel Vassall, requesting that it might 
 be erected in the Chapel. Whereupon the ves- 
 try voted to place it on the north side of the door, 
 and charged Mr Vassall with the price of pew 
 No. 43, which was removed to give it room. It 
 is an interesting monument, and still stands on the 
 spot of its original location, which seems to be- 
 long to it by right of purchase. 
 
 In 1772, an additional service of plate, together 
 with new pulpit furniture, was obtained from the 
 King through the influence of Governor Hutchin- 
 son. 
 
 In 1773, the ancient records end. If there 
 are any others in existence, embracing the remain- 
 ing three years during which Dr Caner discharged 
 his duties as rector of the church, they have not 
 
]32 PERIOD SEVENTH. 
 
 been recovered. The last record is that of the 
 Easter meeting of 1773, and the last vote record- 
 ed is, " that the old bell,* with the Apurtenances, 
 be given to the Saint Ann's Church in Gardi- 
 nerston." 
 
 A short time previous to the breaking out of 
 the war, and through the whole of the year 1775, 
 King's Chapel was the place of worship of many 
 of the officers of the navy and army of Great 
 Britain, who were stationed in and near Boston ; 
 and the duties of Dr Caner and his assistant 
 were consequently much increased. The Church 
 Register of Births, Marriages, and Burials for the 
 years 1775 and 1776, furnish ample evidence of 
 this fact. The last burials recorded by the hand 
 of Dr Caner, at this time trembling with age, 
 are those of three soldiers of the 65th regiment. 
 In March, 1776, the British troops evacuated Bos- 
 ton, and Dr Ca ler went with them. His assist- 
 ant, Mr Troutbeck, left the church in November. 
 The congregation, consisting mostly of royalists, 
 were dispersed, and the doors of the chapel were 
 closed. Dr Caner took with him the church 
 registers, vestments, and plate, and part of the 
 
 * A new bell had been obtained the year before, which 
 was perhaps the finest ever heard in this town, ft was made 
 in London, and weighed 2475 lbs. It was cracked in the 
 year 1814, by an injudicious manner of tolling it. 
 
PERIOD SEVENTH. 133 
 
 records of the Vestry. The registers were ob- 
 tained from his heirs in 1805. In the Register 
 of Marriages he had written the following note. 
 
 •.March 10, [1776.] An unnatural Rebell- 
 ion of the Colonies against his Majesties Govern- 
 ment obliged the Loyal Part of his subjects to 
 evacuate their dwellings and substance, and to 
 take refuge in Halifax, London and elsewhere : 
 By which means the public Worship at King's 
 Chapel became suspended, and is like to remain 
 so, till it shall please God in the Course of his 
 Providence to change the Hearts of the Rebels, 
 or give success to his Majesties arms for suppress- 
 ing the Rebellion. 
 
 " Two boxes of Church Plate, and a Silver 
 Christening Basin were left in the hands of the 
 Rev. Dr Breynton at Halifax to be delivered to 
 me or my Order, agreeable to his Note Receipt 
 in my hands. H. Caner." 
 
 The above mentioned plate was the gift of 
 three kings, and amounted to 2800 ounces of 
 silver. Neither this nor the vestments were ever 
 recovered ; nor is their recovery to be desired. 
 
 The Chapel remained closed till the autumn of 
 1777 ; and thenit wasopened,not for episcopal but 
 congregational services, very contrary to all the 
 anticipations of Dr Caner. The congregation of 
 the Old South Church, not being able at that 
 
134 PERIOD SEVENTH. 
 
 time to repair the desolations of their own sanctu- 
 ary, which had been desecrated, spoiled, and used 
 as a riding-school by the British troops, applied 
 for the use of King's Chapel, or the Stone Chap- 
 el, as it then for obvious reasons, began to be 
 universally called.* The application was made 
 to the few proprietors of the Chapel who were 
 left, and was readily granted. " The congrega- 
 tion," says Mr Wisner in his History of the Old 
 South Church, " were kindly and gratuitously 
 accommodated at the Chapel about five years." 
 This, taken in connexion with an earlier event, 
 is one of the most remarkable incidents in the 
 history of our church. The reception of the 
 Old South Congregation into the Chapel, ap- 
 pears in the light of an atonement made by the 
 successors of those episcopalians, who, nearly a 
 
 * Everything with a royal sound was of course unpopular 
 with the republicans. King Street was changed to State 
 Street, Queen Street to Court Street, and King's Chapel to 
 Stone Chapel, which is still its common though not legal 
 and proper name. I have been informed by a gentleman 
 well acquainted with the antiquities of the Chapel, that 
 before the revolution, the organ was surmounted by a gilt 
 crown in the centre, supported by two gilt mitres on the 
 sides, and that on the evacuation of the town by the troops, 
 some friend or member of the church prudently caused 
 them to be taken off and deposited in his garret. These 
 ornaments, as may be supposed, have not shared with the 
 name of the Chapel in its restoration. 
 
PERIOD SEVENTH. 135 
 
 century before, took forcible possession of the 
 South Meeting-house. The event could not 
 have been more happy, and pleasant to contem- 
 plate, if it had been devised and arranged on 
 purpose. Well would it be, if all the wrongs 
 committed by parents, could thus be expiated 
 by the children. 
 
 In 1779, the Rev. Joseph Eckley, pastor of 
 the Old South congregation, was ordained in this 
 church, on the 27th of October. The congre- 
 gation remained here till February, 1783, when 
 their own house being repaired, they re-dedicated, 
 and returned to it, with joy and singing. 
 
 But in the preceding summer, the proprietors 
 of the Chapel had resolved to re-occupy it for 
 their own worship ; and on the 8th of Septem- 
 ber, 1782, Dr Thomas Bulfinch, the senior war- 
 den, addressed a letter to Mr James Freeman, 
 then at Walpole, which was followed by a more 
 formal one, signed by both the wardens,* in 
 which he was invited to officiate at the Chapel 
 as Reader, for six months. On the 18th of 
 October, Mr Freeman entered on his duties in 
 that capacity ; and on the 21st of April, 1783, 
 at the Easter meeting of the Proprietors, he was 
 chosen Pastor of the church, with a salary of 
 two hundred pounds, lawful money. 
 
 * James Ivers was Junior Warden. 
 
136 PERIOD SEVENTH. 
 
 In the letter of the wardens to Mr Freeman, 
 above referred to, it is said " the Proprietors con- 
 sent to such alterations in the service as are made 
 by the Rev. Dr Parker ; and leave the use of 
 the Athanasian creed at your discretion." These 
 alterations of Dr Parker were merely such as 
 the altered political state of the country required. 
 The Athanasian creed was always unpopular in 
 the American Episcopal Church, and when that 
 church was regularly organized, was left out of 
 its Book of Common Prayer. But much greater 
 alterations than these were afterwards contem- 
 plated by Mr Freeman, whose opinions in the 
 course of a year or two underwent some important 
 changes, and who then found that some parts of 
 the Liturgy were so inconsistent with the faith 
 which he derived from the Scriptures, that he 
 resolved no longer to read such portions, and to 
 propose to his Society an amended Form of 
 Prayer for public use at the Chapel. 
 
 Before such a form was offered, however, the 
 proprietors had taken measures to ascertain who 
 properly belonged to the church as pew-holders, 
 and what pews had been forfeited by the absence 
 of their former owners, according to the letter of 
 their deeds. And in order that no ground of 
 complaint should be suffered to exist, the proprie- 
 tors engaged to pay for every vacated pew, al- 
 
PERIOD SEVENTH. 137 
 
 though legally forfeited, the sum of sixteen 
 pounds to its former owner, if application were 
 made for the same within one year from the pass- 
 ing of the vote, which was on the 10th of Jan. 
 1785. Twenty nine pews were declared, by the 
 report of a committee chosen for the purpose, to 
 be forfeited to the church, and together with the 
 Governor's pew, and eight others, making thirty- 
 eight in all, were put to sale for its benefit. They 
 were first offered to those who occupied them at 
 the time, who were generally desirous of pur- 
 chasing them. The proceeds were to be devot- 
 ed " to the repairing of the church, and finishing 
 the colonnade and spire." The colonnade which 
 now surrounds the tower was not reared, how- 
 ever, till 1790. The spire is not yet reared ; 
 and we have been so long accustomed to the 
 present appearance of the tower, that most of 
 us, perhaps, regard it as finished already. 
 
 On the 20th of February, 1785, the proprie- 
 tors voted that it was necessary to make some 
 alterations in some parts of the Liturgy ; and ap- 
 pointed a committee to report such alterations. 
 This committee consisted of seven gentlemen,* 
 in addition to the wardens, who were to consult 
 
 * John Haskins, John Gardiner, Charles Williams, Perez 
 Morton, Samuel Breck, Charles Miller, and John Wheel- 
 wright. 
 
138 PERIOD SEVENTH. 
 
 and communicate with the Rev. Mr Freeman. 
 On Easter Monday, the 28th of March, they 
 reported that some alterations were essentially 
 necessary ; and the alterations as reported were 
 read, considered and debated at several adjourn- 
 ments. On the 19th of June, the proprietors 
 voted, " that the Common Prayer, as it now 
 stands amended, be adopted by this church, as 
 the form of prayer to be used in future by this 
 church and congregation." The yeas and nays 
 being called for, it appeared that of yeas there 
 were twenty, and of nays seven ; and three out 
 of the seven dissentients had worshipped at 
 Trinity Church ever since the year 1776.* The 
 alterations made in the Liturgy were principally 
 those of Dr Samuel Clarke, the celebrated Eng- 
 lish divine, and for the most part were such as 
 involved the omission of the doctrine of the 
 Trinity. The work as amended was immediate- 
 
 * The yeas were Thomas Bulfinch, John Gardiner, John 
 Wheelwright, Joseph May, John Jutau, Eben. Oliver, 
 George R. Minot, John Amory, John Templeman, Joseph 
 Barrell, Andrew Johonnot, Charles Miller, Henry Johnson, 
 Joseph Coolidge, Jacob Porter, Robert Hewes, Thomas 
 Clement, Joseph Eayres, Samuel Breck, Perez Morton. — 
 The nays were James Ivers, Theodore Dehon, John Box, 
 John Haskins, Matthew Nazro, Charles Williams, Ambrose 
 Vincent. Messrs Dehon, Box and Nazro were those who 
 had worshipped at Trinity Church since 1776. 
 
PERIOD SEVENTH. 139 
 
 ly put to press, and was used in this church till 
 the year 1811, when other amendments were 
 made.* 
 
 Here was a most conspicuous, and as we must 
 regard it, a most happy revolution ; an auspicious 
 turning from the dominion of creeds and phrases 
 of men's device, to the easy yoke and authority 
 of simple Scripture. This important change is 
 to be attributed mainly to the judicious and learn- 
 ed expositions of Mr Freeman, who preached a 
 series of doctrinal sermons to his people, and by 
 the aid and influence of the word of God, moved 
 them to respond to his sentiments. The first 
 Episcopal church in New England, became the 
 first Unitarian church in America^ and our 
 venerated senior minister, though not absolutely 
 the first who held or even avowed Unitarian opin- 
 
 * In 1828 a third edition of the Chapel Liturgy was pub- 
 lished, with alterations and additions, and in 1831 a fourth, 
 containing the Chapel Service as in the third, with the ad- 
 dition of family services and prayers, and a collection of 
 hymns for private and domestic use. 
 
 A collection ot Psalms and Hymns for public worship at 
 the Chapel, was published in 1799, superseding Tate and 
 Brady. Another collection was introduced in 1830. 
 
 t The writer does not mean to a-sert that King's Chapel 
 was the first church in America, in which Unitarian opinions 
 were to any extent entertained, but the first which came 
 out and appeared before the world, in a body, as a Unitarian 
 Church. 
 
140 PERIOD SEVENTH. 
 
 ions, still on many accounts deserves to be con- 
 sidered as the father of Unitarian Christianity in 
 this country. 
 
 Although the congregation thus adopted a 
 Liturgy from which all recognition of the doc- 
 trine of the Trinity was excluded, as being an 
 erroneous and unscriptural doctrine, they never- 
 theless continued to regard themselves as episco- 
 palians, and desired to remain in connexion, if 
 possible, with the American Episcopal Church. 
 At a meeting held on Sunday, July 22d, 1787, 
 they voted " that a letter be addressed to the 
 Rev. Bishop Provost at New York, to inquire 
 whether ordination for the Rev. Mr Freeman 
 can be obtained on terms agreeable to him and 
 to the proprietors of this church, — and that this 
 letter be drawn up by the Rev. Mr Freeman, 
 and signed by the Wardens." The letter was 
 written, approved, and sent ; and an answer 
 thereto was returned by the Bishop, in which he 
 declined giving a decision in a business of such 
 moment, and stated that it was to be referred, by 
 advice, to the ensuing General Convention. 
 
 The congregation then determined to ordain 
 Mr Freeman themselves. A plan of Ordination 
 was reported on the 4th of November, and 
 adopted on the 11th, and on the 18th of the 
 same month, 1787, it was carried into execution, 
 
PERIOD SEVEiNTH. 141 
 
 and the Rev. James Freeman was ordained on 
 the afternoon of that day, by a solemn and ap- 
 propriate form, " Rector, Minister, Priest, Pas- 
 tor, teaching Elder, and public Teacher 1 ' of the 
 Society worshipping at King's Chapel. The 
 evening service being performed as usual, the 
 wardens joined Mr Freeman in the desk, and the 
 senior warden made a short address to the pro- 
 prietors and congregation, setting forth the reasons 
 of the present procedure. The first ordaining 
 prayer was then read by Mr Freeman, after which 
 the senior warden read the ordaining vote, which 
 was unanimously adopted by the Society, and 
 signed on the spot by the wardens in their be- 
 half. Mr Freeman next declared his acceptance 
 of the office to which he had been chosen, and 
 signed the same. The ceremony of ordination 
 was then performed by the senior warden, who, 
 as the representative of the Society, laid his 
 hand on Mr Freeman, and declared him to be 
 their Rector, &c ; in testimony of which he de- 
 livered to him a bible, enjoining upon him " a 
 due observance of all the precepts contained 
 therein." He then blessed him in the name of 
 the Lord, and " the whole assembly, as one 
 man, spontaneously and emphatically pronounced, 
 Amen /" 
 
 After this, Mr Freeman read the second ordain- 
 
142 PERIOD SEVENTH. 
 
 ing prayer, and, an anthem having been sung, 
 preached on the duties and offices of a Christian 
 Minister. Another anthem closed this affecting 
 and appropriate service. 
 
 The validity of this ordination was furiously 
 assailed in the newspapers of the day, as might 
 have been expected, and vehemently protested 
 and argued against by some of the former propri- 
 etors of the church. The newspaper abuse was 
 sufficiently and pleasantly answered in a short 
 piece attributed to the Rev. Dr Belknap,* always 
 a truly liberal and charitable man. The protest 
 was triumphantly refuted by an unpublished re- 
 ply of the wardens of King's Chapel, distinguish- 
 ed for good sense and sound argument. A sort of 
 repudiation or excommunication of Mr Freeman 
 and his church, was also circulated by the clergy- 
 men of five episcopal churches of New England. 
 But all the notice which Mr Freeman took of 
 this, was to send it to the Columbian Centinel, 
 requesting its insertion in that paper. 
 
 This ordination was certainly not according to 
 received episcopal usage ; but in the circum- 
 stances of the church it was the only ordination 
 attainable ; and it is impossible to prove that it 
 
 * Minister of the church in Federal Street, author of a 
 History of New Hampshire, &c. 
 
PERIOD SEVENTH. 143 
 
 was not according to Christian principle. With 
 regard to its validity, there are few liberal Chris- 
 tians at this day, who would think of calling 
 it in question, or of doubting that it was as 
 valid as that of any clergyman of any denom- 
 ination in this or any other land. The con- 
 gregation of the chapel were well acquainted 
 with the ground which they had been obliged 
 to take, and therefore they took it with a calm 
 and intelligent determination. " A minister after 
 ordination," say the wardens and vestry in their 
 recorded defence of their Plan, " remains exactly 
 the same man he was before ; ordination there- 
 fore is only a decent human institution. It is a 
 ceremony by which a minister is publickly intro- 
 duced into office. In some churches the bishop 
 performs this ceremony, but this is not indispens- 
 ably requisite ; for any person might perform it 
 whom the people chose to appoint. — All the 
 essential powers of ordination are derived from 
 their choice ; the bishop gives this choice his 
 sanction by imposition of hands ; but where he 
 refuses to do it, the minister is not for that reason 
 the less elected or ordained." * 
 
 * The Defence of the Plan of Ordination, or Reasons of 
 the Wardens and Vestry, was thought to be too long to be 
 inserted in the Appendix. It is an able document, in which 
 the purposes and nature of ordination are discussed with 
 learning, good sense and a manly freedom. 
 
144 PERIOD SEVENTH. 
 
 It will be only necessary for me to glance 
 at some remaining events, which, though not less 
 important than others which have been more par- 
 ticularly stated, are too recent to admit of being 
 dwelt upon more minutely. 
 
 A bequest of Mr William Price to the church, 
 made in 1770, of an estate in that part of Wash- 
 ington Street then called Cornhill,was accepted by 
 the church in 1789. And this, so far as appears 
 from any records, was the first acceptance of it. 
 The principal condition of holding it, was the 
 preaching of a course of eight Lectures during 
 the season of Lent, by the Clergymen of the 
 three episcopal churches. The right of our 
 Church to the estate was afterwards called in 
 question by Trinity Church, and submitted to a 
 long course of litigation. The result was a com- 
 promise lately made between the churches, ac- 
 cording to which, Trinity Church performs the 
 conditions of the will, takes care of the property, 
 and divides the income with King's Chapel. 
 
 In 1806, the members of the West Boston 
 Society worshipped in this house, while their 
 present church was building. 
 
 On Sunday, Jan. 1, 1809, the Rev. Samuel 
 Cary was ordained associate minister, the Rev. 
 Mr Freeman assisting at the ordination. Mr 
 Cary continued with his people, useful, respected 
 
PERIOD SEVENTH. L45 
 
 and beloved, till ill health compelled him to re- 
 linquish his duties in 1815, and seek restoration 
 abroad. He died at Royston in England in the 
 October of this same year, at the age of thirty, and 
 was interred in the Unitarian Burying Ground at 
 Hackney, near London, where a suitable monu- 
 ment with an inscription was erected over his re- 
 mains by his people, who had been called so early 
 to mourn for him. He is remembered by many 
 among us, and by none without affectionate 
 emotion. 
 
 The Rev. Dr Freeman remained in the sole 
 care of the church till the year 1824. On Sun- 
 day, Aug. 29, of that year, the present associate 
 minister was publicly inducted into the office 
 which he holds.* In the summer of 1826, Dr 
 Freeman's health demanded his retirement into 
 the country, and he has not yet been able to re- 
 sume his pastoral duties. 
 
 The history of our Chapel is now brought to 
 a close. It contains more interesting facts than 
 belong, as I am convinced, to the history of any 
 other church in our country. I have endeavored 
 to state these facts as concisely as I could, with 
 
 * On this occasion, as well as at the ordination of Mr 
 Cary, the ceremony of presenting a Bible was performed 
 by Dr Freeman. 
 
 10 
 
146 PERIOD SEVENTH. 
 
 a proper attention to their importance, and the 
 space of time which they occupy in the life of 
 our native state and native land. I began with 
 the first symptoms of episcopacy in the time of 
 our first governor ; proceeded to the erection of 
 the wooden Chapel in 1688 or '9, and the ser- 
 vices of the first Rector, Robert RatclifTe, and 
 have brought the narrative down through the 
 times of the three other ante-revolutionary rec- 
 tors, Myles, Price and Caner, with their respec- 
 tive assistants, in number eight, to the present 
 republican and unitarian era, during which there 
 have been only one rector, or senior minister, 
 and two associates or colleagues. 
 
 Our church, as a building, has undergone no 
 considerable change since the revolution, ex- 
 cept the erection of the colonnade at the West 
 End, or Front, winch, as already stated, was 
 put up in the year 1790. The crown and mitres 
 have, to be sure, disappeared from their stations 
 on the top of the organ, and the Governor's 
 pew, with its Corinthian pillars and crimson dam- 
 ask tapestry, has been lately taken down, and 
 converted into two pews of common size and 
 pretensions. But the architecture and interior 
 arrangements, are, in all other respects, the same 
 as before the war. The Vassal monument, and 
 wo mural tablets, one to the memory of Frances 
 
PERIOD SEVENTH. 147 
 
 Shirley, the lady of Governor Shirley, and their 
 daughter, Mrs Bollan,* and the other to that 
 of Charles Apthorp, Esq. maintain their old 
 situations, and form interesting and appropriate 
 decorations of the church ; — so interesting 
 and appropriate that I have sometimes wondered 
 that others of a similar character have not been 
 added to their number. I speak with particular 
 reference to the tablets, which seem to be better 
 adapted to the size of our churches, than larger 
 and more expensive monuments, because they 
 clothe the walls and fill the sanctuary with solemn 
 and tender associations, without obtruding them- 
 selves, or occupying a disproportionate or incon- 
 venient share of space. 
 
 With regard to our religious opinions, we in- 
 deed differ widely, in some respects, from those 
 who once met for worship in this temple. Of 
 these it is sufficient to say, that we believe them 
 to be true and scriptural, and hold them to be 
 precious. Though we have no objection to the 
 name or office of bishop, when used in a scriptural 
 sense, and exercised in a scriptural manner, yet we 
 claim to be interpreters of the meaning of scrip- 
 ture, on that as well as on other topics, for our- 
 selves. And though we refuse not to be designa- 
 
 * The Latin inscription on this tablet has been greatly 
 and deservedly admired. Over the tablet is a marble bust 
 of Mrs Shirley. 
 
148 PERIOD SEVENTH 
 
 ted by the term episcopal, yet so long as episco- 
 palians deem the doctrine of the trinity to be 
 essential, and an assent to it indispensable, we, 
 as Unitarians, cannot join with them, nor can they 
 receive us ; and our communion with our Unita- 
 rian brethren of the Congregational order must 
 necessarily be much more intimate than with 
 them. But we retain and prefer the ancient 
 Liturgy, simplified and altered in conformity with 
 our opinions, and in this respect differ from Con- 
 gregationalists and others who use no regular form 
 of public worship. In unity of spirit and the 
 bond of peace we desire to join with all our 
 brethren, and in righteousness of life to be re- 
 conciled unto God, through his Son Jesus Christ. 
 This is not the place to enter into an argument 
 concerning the truth or excellence of our doctrin- 
 al opinions, as compared with those of our pre- 
 decessors. I must, however, observe, that if we 
 have not more truth, we certainly have more 
 peace than they. This is not to be attributed, 
 however, so much to our change of religious sen- 
 timents, as of our political and ecclesiastical con- 
 dition. It has given me pain to relate the conten- 
 tions and troubles which arose from time to time 
 between the rector and his assistant, and the 
 church and their ministers, and principally concern- 
 ing services, prerogatives and perquisites, from the 
 
PERIOD SEVENTH 
 
 149 
 
 beginning down to the revolution. From that 
 date, from the very time of our severance from 
 the mother church and the parent state, there has 
 been not a single disagreement from those causes, or 
 from any cause, so far as I can learn. The words 
 of the prophet which stand at the head of this 
 discourse, sound in this connexion like prophecy 
 for us. " The glory of this latter house shall be 
 greater than of the former, saith the Lord of 
 hosts, and in this place will I give peace, saith 
 the Lord of hosts." So may it ever be. " Peace 
 be within thy walls ! — for my brethren and com- 
 panions' sakes I will wish thee prosperity." 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 CURIOUS EXTRACTS FROM THE OLD RECORDS. 
 
 Aug. 8. 1686. Pd Mr Maccartie for the outside of 
 the pulpit Cushion and Silke £1, 7s. Pd Mr Buckley 
 for makeing fringe and Tassells and Silke 10s. Pd. 
 Mr Shippen makeing the Cushion, for the feathers, 
 pillow, and Case, 16s. 
 
 Sept. 20. Pd for wood delivered the old Elathera 
 man and woman 10s. 
 
 Xov. 1. By money given a poore man in Necessi- 
 tie, 2s. 
 
 July 22. 1689. By cash paid Mr Miles and Clarke 
 £1, 5s. And to old goody, a poore woman, 5s. 
 
 July 23. By Cash paid for our Church Bell to Mr 
 John Butter by Mr ffoxcroft, £13, 5s. 
 
 Feb. 20. By Cash for one and twenty weekes for 
 Mr Miles at 12s. per weeke, for meatte, drinke, wash- 
 ing, lodging, fire and candle, £12, 12s. 
 
 July To. Being a day of Humilliation, Reed for 
 the poore £3, 5s Sd. 
 
 Sept. 21. 1691. It must not be forgot that Sir Rob- 
 
152 APPENDIX. 
 
 ert Robbinson gave a new silk damask cushion and 
 cloth pulpit cover. 
 
 Mr John Mills, a Barbados gentleman gave a piece 
 plate, a Cup. 
 
 Dec. 25. 1691. Mr Thomas Gold and Mr Wm. 
 Weaver gave a brass standard for an hour-glass. 
 
 April 3. 1692. Payd for greene boughs against 
 Whitesun-tide Is 4c?. 
 
 January, 1695-6, Governor Nicholson sent ffox- 
 croft a bill for sterl. £15, and ordered the disposall 
 thus, £5 to the minister, £5 to the poore at Xmas, 
 £5 to buy bibles with Common prayers and singing 
 psalmes for the poorer sort of the Church. 
 
 1697. WhitSunday, Paid Mr Coyneyball for buy- 
 ing and carting Poses, and hanginge the Doares, 8s. 
 
 Dec. 20. Paid for a stone Gug Clark Hill broak, 6s. 
 
 Crismas day, paid for Bread and Wine at the Sacra- 
 mant, 12s. 
 
 March 29. 1698. Paid Mr Shelson for his Loucking 
 after the Boyes, £1.* 
 
 April 1. 1699. By Loss in brass money, 13s. 
 
 July 24. 1701. At a vestry meeting. Ordered, 
 that Gierke Hill shall wash the Church once in a 
 month during the Summer ; Sweep it twice in every 
 week, and brush the dust off the seats, shelves and 
 tops of the pews ; Shall go out and appease the boys 
 and Negros and any disorderly persons ; to provide a 
 seat for Strangers according as they appear ; to ring 
 the bell, open the doors and windows and shut them as 
 formerly, and take care of the books, &c. 
 
 * The miserable spelling which occurs in the four last en- 
 tries is to be placed to the account of the churchwarden, or his 
 amanuensis, and not of the age. 
 
APPENDIX. 153 
 
 Aug. 4. Paid for scouring the brass frame for the 
 hour glass, 10a. Paid for broom and brush and pail 
 3s. 
 
 March 28. 1702. Reed from Doct Checkley, being 
 most part bad money £15 8. 
 
 .Vor. 23. Paid Mr Childe painting the hour glass, 
 3s. 
 
 Aug. 17. 1705. Vestry meeting. Ordered that the 
 Deed of Land given by Coram, lying at Taunton, be 
 recorded, that the Church Wardens enquire into the 
 value of the Land, and to deliver their opinions to the 
 Vestry at their next meeting. 
 
 April 15. 1713. James Berry chosen to look after 
 the Boys, and is to have 26s. per yeare for the same. 
 
 Voted that there shall be 20 Vestry men beside the 
 Gov r Left Gov r Church Wardens and minister. That 
 whereas Judd had 5s. per week, he shall have 6s. 
 The last Bell to ring at 10 of the Clock in the Morn- 
 ing the whole yeare, and 3 o'Clock in the Afternoone 
 from the 10th of March to the 10th September, and at 
 2 the other months. The Bread and Wine at the Com- 
 munion to be payd out of the Contribution money. 
 The Psalmes of Tate and Brady to be sung in the 
 Church. Every Sunday the Commandments are to be 
 read at the Communion Table. 
 
 Aug. 12. Voted that the Pillers, Capitalls and Cor- 
 nish of the Church be painted wainscott colour, before 
 the scaffold be taken down. 
 
 JVov. 16. 1714. Voted by the Vestry (with Mr 
 Myles's Approbation) that Mr Harris may go Home; 
 he proposing to return by Midsummer next ; and that 
 Mr Myles be allowed 20s. more per week during Mr 
 Harris's absence. 
 
154 APPENDIX. 
 
 April 18. 1715. Mr James Baker chosen Clerk for 
 the year ensueing, he behaving himself as he ought 
 to do. 
 
 July 10. 1717. Vestry Meeting. Upon reading an 
 Agreement of the Neighbourhood of School Street re- 
 lateing to the Paveing of the same, it was then and 
 there Agreed that the present Church Wardens should 
 agree with suitable persons to pave the Churches pro- 
 portion in said street, and to pay for the same out of 
 the Church Stock, if they cannot obtaine subscriptions 
 for the same. 
 
 Decemb. 6. Voted that there be a new Pulpit forth- 
 with built, and that it stand against the pillar in the 
 officers Pew. 
 
 Voted that Mr Mills and Mr ffrancklin have liberty to 
 build a Tomb under the East End of the Church. 
 
 April 18. 1720. Those that have the possession of 
 pews and don't pay contribution, to have them taken 
 away and sold to others that will ; notice being first 
 publickly given, the Churchwardens being empowered 
 to dispose of them. 
 
 That D. Rutley be appointed to keep good order 
 amongst the Boys, and that for his trouble he be allow- 
 ed 12c?. per Sunday.* 
 
 April 6. 1724. Voted, by a vote of the congrega- 
 tion, that Mr Nathaniel Gifford be organist for the 
 year ensuing, and that he play a Voluntary before the 
 first Lesson, and attend the Church upon all Holy 
 Days. 
 
 * To keep good order among the boys, or in the words of 
 the vote of 1701, " to appease the boys and negros," was 
 in fact a regular office in the church, for many years, dis- 
 tinct from the sexton's. 
 
APPENDIX. 155 
 
 June 4. Voted that Mr William Randle be sent to 
 the Reverend Mr Henry Harris, to desire the letter 
 he promised to give the 30th of last April ; and 
 answered he had no timely notice, and that he would 
 have nothing to say to us. 
 
 Voted that the Minister and Churchwardens of the 
 King's Chappie make a faithfull and just representa- 
 tion to my Lord of London of the Revd Mr Henry 
 Harris's conduct for the last two years. 
 
 April 4. 1727. Voted, that the Church Wardens for 
 the time being provide a good strong Box, with three 
 different Locks and Keys, one of which Keys shall be 
 always kept by the eldest Church Warden, one other 
 key, by the other Church Warden for the time being, 
 and the third key by such proper person as the Congre- 
 gation shall appoint, and that the Box containing the 
 Church money shall be lodged at the ministers house. 
 
 Voted. That Mr Job Lewis be the third person to 
 keep the third key for the year ensuing. 
 
 Voted. That the said Church Wardens and said 
 Mr Job Lewis shall meet at the place where the said 
 box is kept on the first Monday in every Month, and 
 make fair entries in the book, and put into the said 
 strong box such monies as shall be in the eldest church 
 Wardens hands, and do all other business relating to 
 the stock which is never managed only by the eldest 
 Church Warden, except paying the weekly saleries 
 and mending the windows. And that no sum of money 
 shall be put out to Interest without the consent of two 
 of the key keepers at least. And in case any one of the 
 key keepers should want any money upon Interest with 
 Good Security, he shall have the approbation of the 
 other two. And that no person shall have any Sum 
 exceeding one hundred pounds without Land Security. 
 
]56 APPENDIX. 
 
 Aug. 3, 1727. At a meeting of the Vestry at Mr 
 Thomas Selby's, voted, that the Church Wardens be 
 desired and empowered to sign a certain memorial to 
 the Generall Court, in relation to the ministers of the 
 Church of England in Boston being overseers of the 
 Colledge att Cambridge. 
 
 Voted, that the Church Wardens shall be empowered 
 to pay one half of the present contingent charge, and 
 what hereafter may arise by presenting to effect a 
 certain memoriall to the Great and Generall Court ex- 
 hibited asserted and maintaining of the Right of the 
 Rev. Dr Timothy Cutler and Samuel Miles being re- 
 jected as Overseers of Harvard Colledge according to 
 the originall Establishment. 
 
 April 29. 1728. Voted that the Governors Pew be 
 new lined with China, and that the Cushions and 
 Chairs be covered with Crimson Damask, and the Cur- 
 tains to the Window be of the same Damask. 
 
 Nov. 25. Voted that the Church wardens look into 
 the Vault where Mr Myles lyes interred, and consider 
 what may be proper to be done in removing his Corps 5 
 and to act as they shall think proper. 
 
 July 25. 1729. Voted that a Gallery be built on the 
 South and S. East of the Church, excepting over his Ex- 
 cellency's seat, over which there is only to be a passage. 
 
 Aug. 11. 1730. Voted, that His Excellency Gov. 
 Belcher's Arms be painted and put over his Pew in 
 King's Chapel. 
 
 March 26. 1733. The Rev. Mr Roger Price claimed 
 his right of choosing a Church Warden, but was over- 
 ruled by the Congregation. 
 
 March 30. Voted, that the pew (No. 62) that was 
 formerly the Reverend Mr Samuel Myles's, our late 
 
APPENDIX. 157 
 
 Oct. 11. Voted, that the Brass Stand for the hour 
 glass be lent to the Church of Scituate, as also three 
 Diaper napkins, provided the Reverend Mr Addington 
 Davenport their minister gives his note to return the 
 same to the Church wardens of this Church for the 
 time being whensoever this Church shall see meet to 
 demand them. 
 
 Oct. 29. Voted, that Robert Auchmuty, John Reed, 
 John Oberine, William Shirley and William Bolan Esqrs, 
 have, each of them, a retaining fee of three pounds for 
 the service of the suffering members of the Church of 
 England in this Province. 
 
 May 22. 1734. Voted, that the Church Wardens be 
 empowered to have a place fixed up in the Belfrey to 
 place the Books in belonging to the Library of King's 
 Chape], and that the Books be removed from Mr John 
 Barnes's house to said place in the Belfrey, the Church 
 Wardens taking a Catalogue of the same. 
 
 April 7. 1735. Voted, that the Church Library be 
 delivered unto the Rev. Mr Roger Price for the use of 
 the Ministers belonging to the Church of England in 
 Boston, he giving a Receit to be accountable for the 
 same to the Church Wardens for the time being, when 
 and so often as desired by the Church. 
 
 June 17. 1737. Whereas Thomas Child one of the 
 present Church Wardens is chose a Juryman for the 
 next Inferior Court of Common Pleas to be holden at 
 Boston the first Tuesday of July next, Voted, that he do 
 not serve, and if he is fined, to appeal to the Seshions 
 and stand tryall, and the Charge to be paid out of the 
 Church Stock. 
 
 Sept. 5. The Rev. Mr Price informed the Vestry 
 that severall Gentlemen had desired him and the Rev. 
 
158 APPENDIX. 
 
 Mr Davenport to performe Divine Service in Trinity 
 Church untill the said Church was supplied with a 
 Minister, and desired to know if they had any objec- 
 tion. The major part was of opinion they might sup- 
 ply that Church till Easter next. 
 
 May 15. 1738. Voted, that the Sexton be sent to 
 each family of the Congregation of the King's Chappell, 
 with one of Mr Commissary Price's Sermons preached 
 on the death of the Queen, and that a Church Meet- 
 ing be called as soon as conveniently can be to know 
 whether the charge shall be paid out of the Church 
 Stock. 
 
 April 14. 1740. The question being put whether 
 the Pew number 39 is become vacant by the Rev. Mr 
 John Checkley's removal with hisffamily to Providence 
 in Rhod-Island Government, and being there settled 
 as a missionary to the Church there — and it not ap- 
 pearing that he has paid contribution according to the 
 votes of this Church — It passed in the affirmative. 
 
 April 3. 1740. Reed, of Mr Sylvester Gardner Six- 
 teen Pounds Two Shills, in full for Wine for the Chap- 
 pie for the year past. Jno. Hancock. 
 
 May 16. 1751. Voted, that the following advertise- 
 ment be printed in the Newspapers that come out on 
 Monday and Tuesday next, and that the Wardens 
 cause the same to be done. 
 
 Advertisement. — Upon the melancholy News of the 
 death of his Royal Highness the late Prince of Wales, 
 the Wardens and Vestry of King's Chapel mett, and 
 voted that the same be Solemnised at King's Chapel on 
 Wednesday the 22d instant. Upon which occasion 
 the Pulpit will be hung in Black, and a Sermon 
 preached by the Revd. Mr Caner suitable to that So- 
 lemnity. Divine Service will begin at 11 O'Clock. 
 
APPENDIX. 1 59 
 
 Oct. 31. 1753. That a Guinea each be given to 
 Jeremiah Gridley and James Otis Esqrs. as a retain- 
 ing fee for defence of the Church's right to the Lands 
 at Taunton left to the Chappel by Mr Thomas Coram, 
 in case a suit should commence on said account. And 
 that Eliakim Hutchinson take the conduct of said affair 
 in behalfe and for the benefite of the Church. 
 
 May 27. 1754. At a Vestry. Eliakim Hutchinson 
 Esq. reported, that agreeable to a vote of the Vestry 
 the 31st October, 1753, he had settled the affair of the 
 Land at Taunton left to the Chapel by Mr Thomas 
 Coram, with Mr Stephen Burt the present possessor, 
 and the said Burt would pay the Gentlemen of the Ves- 
 try one hundred pounds Lawfull money within twelve 
 month? from the 25th cf this instant, upon their suffer- 
 ing a recovery against them at the next Inferior Court 
 at Taunton in the County of Bristol, and giving a 
 Quitt Claim to said Land. — Voted that Eliakim 
 Hutchinson be impowered to proceed in the above 
 affair according to the agreement made with Mr Burt, 
 and that the hundred pounds Lawful money when re- 
 ceived shall be applyed towards the building of the 
 new Chapel. 
 
 •Aug. 21. 1754. Voted that no Negros be admitted 
 to sitt or stand in any of the Isles dureing the time of 
 Divine Service, but that the Sexton be directed to 
 order them up into the Gallery. 
 
 Oct. 13. 1759. Whereas the Governor, Council and 
 house of Representatives appointed Tuesday the 16th 
 Instant to be observed at Doct SewalFs meetinghouse 
 as a Public Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the great 
 Victory his Majesty's Arms has obtained over the 
 French at Quebeck, and for reducing that City to 
 
160 APPENDIX. 
 
 Obedience of the Crown of Great Britain — Voted, 
 that the same be observed at the same time by this 
 Church, and that the Rev. Mr Caner be desired to 
 preach on that Occasion. 
 
 Sunday, March 30. 1760. A Brief was read in the 
 Church for a collection to be made the 3d of April to- 
 wards the relief of the sufferers in the great Fire which 
 happened in this Town on the 20th March, 1760. 
 
 Agreeable thereto there was collected on said 3d of 
 April, being the annual Fast day appointed by the 
 Government Nine hundred and twenty five pounds six 
 shillings old Tenor towards the relief of said suffer- 
 ers ; which sum was paid into the hands of John 
 Phillips Esq. Treasurer to the Committee appointed 
 by the Government to distribute the same. 
 
 (A collection had been made Nov. 25, 1759, for the 
 sufferers by another fire, at which were collected 
 £529 12s. Old Tenor.) 
 
 April 1. 1771. Whereas the Hon Lieutenant Gen- 
 eral Shirley, formerly Governor of this Province, lately 
 deceased, did for several years attend the public wor- 
 ship at King's Chapel, to which he was a warm friend 
 and a very generous benefactor — For his more Hon- 
 orable Interment and to testify their gratitude for his 
 many useful and excellent services, the Proprietors of 
 said Chapel have this day Voted, that John Erving Jun. 
 Esq. have liberty to deposit the Corps of the said Lieut. 
 Gen. Shirley, and any other of his family, or decend- 
 ants, in the Tomb No 18 under said Chapel. 
 
 April 20. 1772. Voted that the Vestry be desired to 
 form a plan for one or more Stoves in the Church, and 
 report to this Congregation. 
 
 Aug. 13. The question being put whether the Ves- 
 
APPENDIX. 161 
 
 try has power to regulate Toleing the bell for funer- 
 als, voted in the affirmative. 
 
 Voted, that that the first and second hell for Funer- 
 als be Toled in the usual manner, and hut Eight min- 
 utes each time. 
 
 Voted that the manner of Toleing the third or pass- 
 ing bell be altered, and that she strikes only four times 
 in a minute. 
 
 Dec. 1. Voted, that the Rev. Dr Caner and the 
 Churchwardens wait on his Excellency the Governor, 
 and return him thanks for procuring the King's donation 
 for a Service of Plate and pulpit Furniture for the 
 King's Chapel. 
 
 Voted, that as Salem Church has made application 
 to this Church at Easter last for their old pulpit Furni- 
 ture as soon as they shall receive their new, by the 
 influence of Governor Hutchinson, Vote that the 
 Minister and Wardens deliver to them the Old Furni- 
 ture on their application for the same. 
 
 Voted, that three new Folio prayer Books be also 
 given to Salem Church, who we understand is almost 
 destitute of common prayer books, for their Reading 
 Desk and Clerks Desk. 
 
 II. 
 
 king's chapel library. 
 
 [See page 55. J 
 
 1. A record of the meeting of the Proprietors, at 
 which it was voted to deposit the library in the Boston 
 Athenaeum. 
 
 11 
 
1(32 APPENDIX. 
 
 July 27. — At a special meeting of the proprietors 
 held pursuant to the usual notification, at the Vestry 
 immediately after morning service on Sunday, 27 July, 
 1823. 
 
 Revd. Dr Freeman opened the meeting by stating 
 the object for which it was called, Avith suitable re- 
 marks ; after a short discussion Col. May proposed 
 the following which was unanimously adopted, viz. 
 
 Whereas the Books belonging to King's Chapel Li- 
 brary, were in the year 1807, by permission of the Pro- 
 prietors deposited with the Theological library in the 
 Vestry Room of First Church, in Chauncy Place ; and 
 whereas the Proprietors of the Theological Library, 
 have at a regular meeting lately passed a vote, that in 
 their opinion it is expedient and advisable for the pre- 
 servation of the books and for the better accommoda- 
 tion of the Proprietors, that the said Theological 
 Library be removed from First Church vestry, and 
 placed in the Atheneum under charge of the proper 
 officers of that institution. 
 
 Therefore — Voted, that the Proprietors of this 
 Church do consent and agree that the said books be- 
 longing to King's Chapel library be removed carefully 
 with the other books of the Theological library from 
 the Vestry of First Church to the Atheneum, and de- 
 posited in the keeping of that establishment on the 
 following conditions. 
 
 First. That a fair catalogue of all said books, be 
 made out by the Librarian of the Atheneum, and lodged 
 with the Wardens of this Church. 
 
 Second. That the Ministers of this Church and 
 their Successors shall be entitled to the privileges of 
 Life subscribers of the Boston Atheneum. 
 
APPENDIX. 163 
 
 Third. That the Wardens of the Church, for the 
 time being, shall have the right to visit semiannually 
 the Atheneum, to witness the safe keeping and good 
 order of the books. 
 
 Fourth. That the Proprietors of this Church shall 
 have the right to withdraw and remove from the Athe- 
 neum at any time and without cost or expense all the 
 Books which they hereby consent to deposit there 
 whenever a majority of said proprietors, at a regular 
 meeting, shall so determine. 
 
 Ebe>\ Oliver. ) JTr , 
 Jos. May. 
 
 2. The agreement between the wardens of King's 
 Chapel and the Trustees of the Athenaeum relating to 
 the said deposite. 
 
 Boston, July 31, 1823. 
 It is hereby agreed by the standing Committee of 
 the Trustees of the Atheneum to receive the deposite 
 of the Library known by the name of the King's Chapel 
 Library on the terms following — to wit. 
 
 First. That the Ministers of said Chapel shall be 
 admitted to the Rooms of the Atheneum as Life sub- 
 scribers while said library remains in the Atheneum. 
 
 Second. That the books of said Library shall be 
 properly arranged in the Atheneum in the room appro- 
 priated to Theology, and an accurate Catalogue of 
 the same shall be made out and preserved, it being 
 always understood that the said library shall remain 
 under the care of the officers of the Atheneum, shall 
 be subject to all the rules of that Institution, and furth- 
 er that the Atheneum shall not be accountable for any 
 
164 APPENDIX. 
 
 loss or injury that may happen to said books other than 
 shall arise from manifest negligence, the same care 
 being taken of these books as is taken of the Books of 
 the Atheneum. For the Committee, 
 
 Theodore Lyman, Jr.* 
 
 Ill, 
 
 address of the church to the bishop of london, in 
 favor of governor dudley. 
 
 Boston, New Engld, Feb. 4, 1705-6. 
 
 May it please your Lordship, 
 
 The constant experience we have of your 
 Lordships fatherly care over us encourageth us freely 
 to address your Lordship, being sensible of your great 
 regard and esteem for his excellency our Governor. 
 
 Therefore we are humbly bound to informe your 
 Lordship that he has been very successfull in his gov- 
 ernment for the security of the country from the 
 Indians to the observation of all Her majesties good 
 subjects, the ennemie haveing been often defeated and 
 the frontiers preserved more than in any former trou- 
 ble. 
 
 That notwithstanding the taxes have been and are 
 very burthensome to support and carry on the war 
 
 * This same agreement was subscribed by Ebenezer 
 Oliver and Joseph May on the part and in behalf of the 
 Proprietors of King's Chapel. 
 
APPENDIX. 165 
 
 wee are engaged in against the French and Tndians, 
 who in conjunction have done us much mischiefe, yet, 
 through the noted prudence and good conduct of his 
 Excellencie the ennemie have not only been repulsed 
 but are now constrained to abandon their own coun- 
 tries and places of retreate unto some hundreds of miles 
 distance from these parts ; the administration of the 
 Govern™ 1 and expense of the Revenue is and has been 
 such as give a general satisfaction and make us easie 
 and thankfull unto God, for her Majesties wisdome 
 and good grace to us in appointing such an one 
 over us, who by his long experience in government 
 and knowledge of the country in particular renders 
 him (as we humbly conceive) the most proper person 
 to promote and maintaine the honour and interest of 
 the Crowne, here every thing proceeding well except 
 the gov rs own salary which is by no means sufficient 
 notwithstanding her Majesties repeated comands in 
 the matter ; 
 
 That his constant attendance and care for the peace 
 of the church and support and honor thereof is appa- 
 rent to all men as well as his example of justice and 
 vertue, upon all which account wee are humbly bold 
 to informe your Lordship this his continuance in the 
 government will be most acceptable to all her majes- 
 ties good subjects, merchants ? and planters that have 
 their dependance on the government of England as 
 well as the Church here, and therefore humbly pray 
 your Lordships favourable acceptance and representa- 
 tion of this our address as need be for Coll Dudley's 
 continuance in the Govern mt which wee are well as- 
 sured will be to her Majesties honour, the peace and 
 
166 APPENDIX. 
 
 satisfaction of this province, and most particularly of 
 ourselves and the congregation of the Church of Eng- 
 land under your Lordships care and patronage here. 
 We are, My Lord, with all submission, 
 
 Your Lordship's most Humble, most dutifull, 
 and most Obedient Servants, 
 Gyles Dyer. Samuel, Myles. 
 
 Samuel, Checklev. Christopher Bridge. 
 Anthony Blunt. Nicholas Roberts. ) 
 
 John Devin. John Nelson. 5 
 
 Thomas Child. Church Wardens. 
 
 John Eastwick. John Endicott. 
 
 Cyprian Southack. Edward Lyde. 
 
 John Redknap. Easte Apthorpe. 
 
 Peter Hawksworth. Samuel Baker. 
 
 John Oulton. Savii.l Simpson. 
 
 Ra. Harrison. Henry Franklyn. 
 Benjamin Mountfort. 
 
 Wee have avoyded troubling your Lordship with a 
 number of Names, these being the Cheife of the 
 Church. 
 To the Right Revd Father in God Henry.. Lord Bishop of 
 
 London, and one of Her Majesties most Honble Privy 
 
 Councille. 
 
APPENDIX. 167 
 
 IV. 
 
 SOME PAPERS CONCERNING AMERICAN BISHOPS. 
 
 [Sec Page 81.] 
 
 1. LETTER TO THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION - OF 
 
 THE GOSPEL. 
 
 At a meeting of the Vestry of her Majesties Chap- 
 pell in Boston New Eng d - Dec. 8 th - 1713. — 
 To the IIon'>le Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in 
 Foreign Parts. 
 The representation and request of the Ministers 
 and Church Wardens, and Vestry of the Church of 
 England, in Boston. 
 
 We are informed by the Hon ble Gen 1 Nicholson 
 a most worthy member of y r Hon ble society, and a 
 most generous benefactor to the Church in these parts, 
 that y hon bl6 Society have laid before her Majesty a 
 particular scheme for Setling Bishops in these Ameri- 
 can parts, and as nothing can contribute more to the 
 nourishing state of Religion among us, we have made 
 our humble Address to her most Sacred Majesty upon 
 that head, and would humbly entreat some of the mem- 
 bers of y r Hon ble Society to be our remembrances to 
 her Majesty on that behalf, and that Almighty God 
 would bless and prosper all y r pious endeavors for the 
 good of his Church, and bless you for those endeav- 
 ors, is the hearty prayer of y r most obedient and most 
 devoted humble serv ts - 
 
 J. Dudley, Gov. 
 
 Wm. Tailer, Esqr. Lt. Gov. 
 
 Samuel My les ) Ministers , 
 
 Henry Harris ) 
 
168 APPENDIX. 
 
 Charles Hobby. > ^ Warden ^ 
 
 JOHN JEKYLL. ) 
 
 J. Redkjtap. Wentworth Paxton. 
 
 Tho : Bannister. Cyprian Southack. 
 
 J. Bridges. Jno. Nelson. 
 
 Jno. Valentine. Jo : Hearnes. 
 
 Tho. Newton. Go. Dyer. 
 
 John Oulton. Geo. Turfrey. 
 
 2. ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN. 
 
 To the Queen's most Excellent Majesty. — The humble 
 Address of the Ministers, Church Wardens, and Vestry 
 of the Church of England in Boston, New England. 
 
 May it please y r Majesty. 
 
 Your Royall goodness being extended to all, 
 even the Remotest parts of y r Majesties Dominions, 
 we take this opportunity of expressing our humble 
 tho ; Imperfect Thanks to y r Majesty for the many 
 Blessings we have enjoyed in the Course of y r Glori- 
 ous Reign: Such was y r Majestys care of us during 
 the War, that our ease was in a measure Secured by 
 the happy Reduction of the Important fortress of Port 
 Royall under the Auspicious Conduct of General 
 Nicholson, and now that Hon ble and Advantagious 
 Peace which y Majesty has concluded dose mightily 
 Increase our Happiness, by delivering us from the vio- 
 lence of Barbarous Savages who continually infested 
 our country, and acted unheard of Cruelties : To com- 
 pleat our Felicity, we humbly Entreat of y r Majesty 
 to provide for our Spiritual concerns, and to Establish 
 Bishops and Bishopricks within y r Majestys Planta- 
 tions in America. 
 
 Wee are informed by Gen 1 Nicholson, whose Piety, 
 Generosity and Zeal for the Church, we cannot suffi- 
 
APPENDIX. 169 
 
 ciently commend, that the Hon bl ° Society for Propa- 
 gating the gospel in Foreign Parts ; have laid before 
 y r Majesty the particular Manner of the Bishops Res- 
 pective Settlements. Since nothing can tend more to 
 make Religion Flourish amongst us, we promise our- 
 selves that y r Majesty will take this Affair into 
 y r Royal Consideration. And that it may please Al- 
 mighty God to grant y r . Majesty a long and happy 
 Reign over us, and Advance you to Immortal Glory 
 hereafter is the constant and fervent Prayer of — 
 Y>" Majestys most Loyall, most Dutifull and most obe- 
 dient Subjects. 
 
 3. LETTER TO BISHOP ROBINSON". 
 
 May it please yr Lordship. 
 
 The Episcopal Congregation at Boston in 
 New England haveing been favoured with many re- 
 peated Instances of their late Diocesans love and 
 kindness towards them, Humbly presume to lay before 
 y r Lordship the State and Circumstances of our Church, 
 not doubting of an Equal Regard from y r Lordships 
 known Goodness, and Consummate Prudences, the In- 
 fluences whereof we hope to Enjoy in these Remote 
 Parts. 
 
 About Twenty years since, a handsome Chappell 
 was built in this place, by the Subscriptions of Sir 
 Edmund Andros, and other well disposed Gentlemen, 
 particularly by the Benefactions of the Hon bIe Francis 
 Nicholson Esqr (whose Eminent services to his Queen 
 and countrey, and Affectionate Concern for the Church 
 of England, will render his name ever precious amongst 
 us, and famous to Posterity) and has since been 
 adorn'd by the Bounty of the late Queen Mary of Glori- 
 
170 APPENDIX. 
 
 ous Memory ; Our Ministers are supported in the same 
 manner : One by the Voluntary Contributions of the 
 People ; the other, by a Sallary of One hundred pounds 
 per Annum paid out of the Privey Purse ; and entered in 
 her Majesty s Books : Our Congregation is very much 
 increased, and consists of about Eight Hundred persons ; 
 and the Chappell has lately been enlarged into twice 
 its former dimentions : This Additional Building has 
 put us to a very considerable Expense, and therefore 
 we humbly entreat y r Lordships good offices in our 
 behalf, That the money from the privey purse may be 
 Constantly and Regularly paid. Thus we shall be 
 enabled to Finish the Work we have begun, and may 
 reasonably expect to be in a flourishing Condition : 
 We will not trespass any longer ony r Lordships Time 
 but beg leave to Subscribe Ourselves &c — 
 
 Boston, Dec. 8th, 1713. 
 
 Signed by the Governor and Lieut. Governor, Min- 
 isters, Wardens and Vestry. 
 To the Rt. Revd Father in God John Ld. Bishop of London. 
 
 V. 
 
 ADDRESS OF THE CHURCHES AT BOSTON, NEWBURY AND 
 MARBLEHEAD TO GEORGE I. ON HIS ACCESSION. 1714. 
 
 To the King's most Excellent Majesty. — The humble 
 Address of the Ministers, Vestry Gentlemen and others of 
 your Majesty's Chappell in Boston in New England. 
 
 May it please your Majesty, 
 
 Wee your Majesty's most dutifull and loy- 
 all subjects in this place of the Church of England as 
 
APPENDIX. HI 
 
 by law established, humbly approach your Majesty 
 with the most sincere and hearty joy for your peaceful! 
 accession to the Crown, yours by superior right and 
 merit ; a blessing so great as mitigates our sorrows 
 for the demise of your Royall predecessor of happy 
 Memory, who was always to us a gratious and bounti- 
 full Sovereign. 
 
 It's our misfortune to be removed to so great a 
 distance from your Majesty's Royall Person, whose 
 comfortable influencys fall with directer Rays upon your 
 more happy subjects in Great Britain. It behoves us 
 therefore to be constant in our solicitations, as we 
 doubt not to approve ourselves in our obedience, loyal- 
 ty and zeal for your service. Though distance may 
 make us late with our addresses, yet none of your 
 Majestv's subjects shall appear more early and dili- 
 gent with their Lives and Fortunes in defence of your 
 sacred person and government. 
 
 Extend, therefore, most gratious Sovereigne, your 
 princely care toward us, that whilst the hearts of those 
 subjects, who more immediately share the blessings of 
 your auspitious reign, overflow with joy, we may par- 
 ticipate in your Royall Favours. 
 
 That your Majesty may long wear the Impenall 
 Crown of your great Ancestors, and the glorys of 
 your reign increase with the number of your days, 
 and every day accompanied with an affluence of all 
 that can make a Monarch great and happy, is the 
 hearty prayer of your Majesty's most dutyfull and 
 most lovall subjects. 
 
 Signed by the Members of the Church at Boston, 
 Newberry, and Marblehead. 
 
J72 APPENDIX 
 
 VI. 
 
 ADDRESS TO GEORGE II. ON HIS ACCESSION. 
 
 To the King's most Excellent Majesty the Humble Address 
 of the Ministers and Congregations of the Episcopall 
 Churches in Boston in the Massachusetts Bay in New 
 England — 
 May it please your Majesty. 
 
 We your Majesty's Dutiful] and Loyall Subjects 
 humbly beg leave to condole with your Majesty on the 
 Death of your Royall Father our late Gracious Sove- 
 raign, a loss only to be repaired by your Majesty's hap- 
 py and peaceable Accession to the throne of your An- 
 cestors, to which you are entitled by your vertues as 
 well as by your Birth, it being the united voice of all 
 your Majesty's Loyall subjects that the Graces and 
 Perfections which adorn your Royall Person reflect a 
 greater Lustre upon the Crowne you wear than they 
 receive from it, and the Gems in your Imperialle Dia- 
 dem are not so resplendent as the shining accomplish- 
 ments of our most Excellent Queen rendered still 
 more Glorious by the beautifull Prospect of your Illus- 
 trious Offspring. We are indeed far removed from 
 the centre of your Majesty's Government, nevertheless 
 we doubt not but your propitious influences like the 
 Rays of the Sun will be extended to the utmost bounds 
 of your large Dominions. Your Majesty's most Gra- 
 cious Declaration has already filled our hearts with ex- 
 traordinary Joy, Wee are thereby encouraged to hope 
 for your Majesty's Protection and especialle favour to 
 the Episcopall Churches in New England being in 
 
APPENDIX. 173 
 
 their infancy and strugling with many Difficulties, and 
 tho' we are net so Capable of serving your Majesty 
 as some of otir fellow Subjects who are placed under 
 your immediate Presence, yet in our inferiour Station 
 We shall embrace all Opportunities of demonstrating 
 our hearty Zeal and unfeigned affection for your Sa- 
 cred Person and Government. We shall always 
 esteem it our principall and most Comprehensive Duty 
 to fear God and Honour the King our Rightfull and 
 lawfull Soveraigne, King George the Second, and 
 pray with the most fervent Devotion that God would 
 be graciously pleased to grant your majesty a long and 
 happy Reign over us, that he would crowne you and 
 your Royall Consort with everlasting felicity and make 
 you glad with the joy of his countenance and grant that 
 there never may be wanting Princes of your August 
 Family and of your faith who may transmitt the 
 Blessiags of your Majesty's Reign to After Ages. — 
 
 Signed by two hundred and nine names. 
 
 Written by Dr Cutler, rector of Christ's Church, 
 Aug. 1727. 
 
 VII. 
 
 bishop gibson's license to rev. mr price. 
 [See Page 90.] 
 
 EDMUNDUS permissione Divina LONDINEN- 
 SIS Episcopus, Dilecto nobis in Christo Rogcro Price 
 Cler. Salutem et Gratiam. Ad peragendum Officium 
 Ministrale in Provincia de Nova Anglia in America, in 
 
174 APPENDIX. 
 
 Precibus communibus aliisque Ministeriis Ecclesiasticis 
 ad Officium Ministri perlinentibus juxta Formam de- 
 scriptam in Libro publicarum Precum Authoritate Par- 
 liament! hujus inclyti Regni magna? Brittannia3 in ea 
 parte edit, et provis. et Canones et Constitutiones in 
 ea parte legitime stabilitas et publicatas, et non aliter 
 neque alio Modo : TIBI cujus Fidelitati, Morum Inte- 
 gritati, Literarum Sciential, Sanse Doctrinse et Diligen- 
 tise plurimum confidimus (Subscriptis prius et Juratis 
 per Te coram Nobis omnibus et singulis Articulis et 
 Juramentis in hac parte de jure subscribendis etjuran- 
 dis) LICENTI AM et Facultatem nostras concedimus et 
 impartimus per Prsesentes : ad nostrum bene placitum 
 duntaxat duraturas. In cujus Rei Testimonium Sigilium 
 nostrum (quo in hac parte utimur) Prassentibus apponi 
 fecimus. Dat. apud VVestmonast. quarto Die Mensis 
 Martis, Anno Dui millesimo septingentesimo vices- 
 simo nono. Nostrseque Translationis Anno Sexto. 
 
 I do declare that I will conforme to the Liturgy of 
 the Church of England as it is now by Law Establish- 
 ed. ROG. PRICE. 
 
 , — ^ This declaration was made and 
 
 \ subscribed before me by the said 
 
 Seal. J Roger Price to be lycensed to per- 
 
 ^ • forme the Ministerial Office in 
 
 Boston in New England in Ameri- 
 EDM. LONDON, ca this fourth Day of March in 
 the Year of our Lord 17^8-9, and 
 in the sixth year of our Transla- 
 tion. 
 
\PPENDIX. ]75 
 
 VIII. 
 
 INVENTORY OF CHURCH FURNITURE. 
 
 An Inventory of Vestments and Ornaments belonging to the 
 Church Called King's Chappel in Boston in New Eng- 
 land, taken by George Steuart and Mr George Stone, 
 Church Wardens, and Mr George Craddock one of the 
 Vestrymen of the said Church on the 19 April 1733 — 
 
 Six Surplices of fine Bagg Holland. 
 
 The Altarpiece, whereon is the Glory painted, the 
 Ten Commandments, The Lords Prayer, The Creed, 
 and some Texts of Scripture. 
 
 A Communion Cloath of the finest Crimson Genoa 
 Damask. 
 
 An old Communion Cloath of silk Damask. 
 
 Five China Cushions, Given for the Communicants 
 to kneel upon, without the rails of the Altar, by Cap- 
 tain James Sterling when he was Church Warden. 
 
 The pulpit Cloath, Desk Cloath, and three Cushions 
 of fine Genoa Damask. 
 
 Two old Cushions of Silk Damask. 
 
 An old pulpit Cloath of ditto and a cushion lent the 
 Church at Braintree. 
 
 Three Table Cloaths of fine Damask Linnen. 
 
 Seventeen Napkins of Ditto. 
 
 Two pieces of fine Diaper ten yards in apiece. 
 
 The stand for the Hour Glass of Brass, given by 
 Thomas Gold and Mr William Weaver. 
 
 One Bible and fifteen Common Prayer books all old. 
 
 One New Bible and fourteen Common Prayer 
 Books. 
 
176 APPENDIX, 
 
 One large Common Prayer book given by Thomas 
 Lechmere Esq. 
 
 Twelve Leather Buckettes given by the Gentlemen 
 of the British Society. 
 
 A Clock given by the Same Gentlemen. 
 
 An Organ Given by Thomas Brattle Esq. 
 
 The King's Coat of arms. 
 
 The Arms of Sir Edmund Andros, Knight and Gov- 
 ernour. 
 
 Of Francis Nicholson Esqr Lieutenant Governor. 
 
 Of Captain Hamilton of his Majesty's Ship. 
 
 Of Joseph Dudley Esqr Governor. 
 
 Of Samuel Shute Esqr Governor. 
 
 Of William Burnett do do. 
 
 Johnathan Belcher do do. 
 
 The Bell. 
 
 An inventory of the Silver Plate taken by the above per- 
 sons, 19 April 1733. 
 
 Four large Flaggons. 
 
 Three Chalises and their covers. 
 
 One Bason. 
 
 One Receiver. 
 
 Two Servers. 
 
 IX. 
 
 LETTERS RELATING TO MR DAVENPORT S SETTLEMENT AT 
 TRINITY CHURCH. 
 
 [See page 100.] 
 
 1. Mr Commissary Price delivered a letter from the 
 Revd Mr Davenport, and it being to vote whether the 
 
APPENDIX. 177 
 
 letter should be recorded in our church books or no, 
 and it passed in the affirmative, the letter is as fol- 
 lows — 
 
 Revd Sir As I have determined to comply with the 
 
 repeated desires of the Proprietors of Trinity Church 
 in removing there, upon receiving an Equivalent for 
 my present allowance, and our worthy Diocesan not 
 forbidding it ; I therefore think it just and proper to ac- 
 quaint you and your vestry herewith, that so what is 
 best and most convenient may be done to supply the 
 Lecturer's place, if it should be vacant. 
 
 I, am sir your most obedt humble Servant, 
 
 Addington Davenport. 
 Boston, May 9, 1739. 
 
 2. Voted, That the letter from the Revd Mr Adding- 
 ton Davenport to the Revd Mr Roger Price be record- 
 ed — Done as follows, viz — 
 
 Revd Sir — I have at length accepted the care of 
 Trinity Church, you will not therefore expect any furth- 
 er assistance from me at the Chappel, and will be so 
 good as to communicate this advice to the gentlemen of 
 that Church as soon as conveniently may be. 
 
 I am, Revd Sir, your most obedt humble Servant, 
 Addington Davenport. 
 
 Boston, May 9, 1740. 
 
 3 Copy of a letter to the Bishop of London, from 
 the Ministers, Wardens and Vestry of King's Chapel. 
 New Engd. Boston, May 24, 1740. 
 May it please your Lordship. 
 
 The Revd Mr Davenport hath at length re- 
 signed his place in the Kings Chappel for Trinity 
 VI 
 
178 APPENDIX. 
 
 Church. A copy of his letter whereof is here inclosed. 
 Wherefore we humbly pray your Lordship to supply his 
 place in the Chappel with such a person as your Lord- 
 ship shall judge most suitable, by his learning and piety, 
 to honnour the Church in the Capital town of New Engd, 
 and that as soon as conveniently may be, because in 
 case of sickness we have no assistance from any casu- 
 al lecturer, in these parts. And as wee are informed 
 that the Revd Mr Stephen Rowe for want of his health 
 cannot continue in Carolina, wee begg leave to insinu- 
 ate, that wee once heard him reading Divine Service, 
 and preaching among us, well approved his talent 
 therein, and shall be generally gratified in his removal 
 to this place, for what wee then saw and have other- 
 wise heard of him. Yet finally wee rest ourselves in 
 your Lordships wisdom and goodness, properly and 
 seasonably to supply us, and wait, 
 
 Your Lordships most Dutiful and Obedt Servants. 
 
 X. 
 
 ADDRESS TO BISHOP SHERLOCK. 
 
 At a Vestry meeting, March 2d, 1748. Tt was pro- 
 posed that a letter of Address should be sent to our 
 Diocesian, D oct. Thos Sherlock, Lord Bishop of Lon- 
 don, upon his translation to the See of London, and 
 upon a draught of a letter being presented, it was 
 read and agreed to be Signed by the Minister, Church 
 Wardens and Vestry — as follows. 
 
APPENDIX. 179 
 
 Boston, Feb 29, 17 IS. 
 
 May it please your Lordship 
 
 To receive the Address and congratulation 
 of the Minister, Wardens and Vestry of Kings Chapelj 
 in Boston, upon your Lordships translation to the See 
 of London. 
 
 Wee sincerely bless that good Providence of God 
 who disposed his Majesty to appoint and your Lordship 
 to accept a situation of so great importance to the 
 Church ; the Importance of which may reasonably 
 employ your Lordships great ability. 
 
 Remote as wee are from the Episcopal Throne wee 
 have yet the honour of being esteemed a part of your 
 Lordships Diocese, in consequence of which we doubt 
 not of shareing your paternal care and Benediction. 
 
 King's Chapel is the first Church erected in New 
 Engd ; it has laboured under a series of opposition, 
 tho' now pretty well and firmly established ; all the 
 Churches in New Engd have taken their Rise from its 
 Countenance and support, and particularly two other 
 large Churches in this town of Boston. 
 
 Its priority in point of time and the difficulties 
 which have attended it from that circumstance, have 
 entitled it to singular honours and priviledges. An as- 
 sistant was procured for it by Bishop Compton, now 
 paid out of the civil List, and a small Library, by the 
 same Interest. 
 
 The Rector of it had the honour to be appointed 
 Commissary by our Late Worthy Diocesian and en- 
 joyed other marks of his Favour. And as wee hope 
 by our Dutifull Behaviour to merrit your Lordships 
 Notice in like manner, so wee begg leave in all humil- 
 ity to expect it, and in particular your Lordships Episco- 
 
180 APPENDIX. 
 
 pal Benediction most highly valued by your Lordships 
 most dutifull and most obedt Servants. 
 
 To the Right Revd Father in God Thos Lord Bishop of 
 London. 
 
 XL 
 
 LETTER TO BISHOP PROVOST, AND HIS ANSWER. 
 [See Page 140.] 
 
 At a meeting of the proprietors of King's Chapel 
 held at the vestry room, Sunday, 29 July 1787. 
 
 The following letter to the Rev. Bishop Provost 
 being reported by the Rev. Mr Freeman, was read and 
 approved, whereupon, Voted that the said letter be 
 signed by the Wardens, and sent to the Rev. Bishop 
 Provost, with a copy of the Liturgy. 
 
 Boston, 29 July, 1787. 
 To the Right Rev. Bishop Provost. 
 
 Right Rev. Sir, — We the Wardens and Vestry of 
 the Chapel church in Boston take the liberty, in the 
 name and by the special direction and unanimous vote 
 of the church, to address you on a subject very inter- 
 esting to us. Above four years ago we made choice 
 of the Rev. Mr Freeman for our Minister, and we are 
 so well satisfied with his services that we hope to con- 
 tinue him with us so long as shall be agreeable to him. 
 This gentleman has made several attempts to procure 
 ordination, but he has not yet been so happy as to ob- 
 tain it, for a declaration is required of him, which we 
 know he cannot in conscience subscribe, and which we 
 do not wish him to make. By our desire he has written 
 
APPENDIX. 181 
 
 to you on the subject, requesting that a relaxation 
 may be made in the articles of subscription. You have 
 been pleased to refer him to the general Convention. 
 It appears from your last letter to him that that body 
 will not probably sit very soon. From our attachment 
 to the Episcopal Church, and from our desire to pro- 
 mote its interest, we should be disposed to wait the 
 determination of the Convention, could we be assured 
 that it would probably meet our ideas. We therefore 
 request that you would have the goodness to give us 
 your opinion upon the subject. We have long been 
 deprived of the benefit of the ordinances of religion, and 
 we feel the inconvenience, but we would consent to 
 forego the advantages of them untill the meeting of 
 the Convention, if you could encourage us with any 
 hope that the American church will acknowledge us as 
 brethren, and agree to the ordination of our Minis- 
 ter, upon terms to which Ave can submit. We flatter 
 ourselves that to a gentleman of your well known lib- 
 erality we shall not appear presumptuous when we say 
 that those terms which are agreeable to us are rea- 
 sonable, for it is our fullest determination sacredly to 
 adhere to what we conceive to be the doctrines of 
 Scripture, at the same time that we endeavour to pro- 
 mote the honour and welfare of the Episcopal Church. 
 From information which we have received, we have rea- 
 son to fear that our church has been misrepresented by 
 our enemies to the Episcopal Clergy of the Southern 
 states. It has been suggested, we are told, that we 
 are already dissatisfied with the new liturgy which we 
 have adopted, that we do not wish that our Minister 
 should obtain ordination, but are anxious to return to 
 the book of common prayer of the church of England. 
 
182 APPENDIX. 
 
 We assure you with the utmost sincerity that there is 
 no ground for these insinuations. We are extremely 
 desirous to procure ordination for Mr Freeman ; but 
 while we make use of all proper and decent methods 
 to obtain it, we are religiously resolved to persevere 
 in adhering to the spirit of a form of prayer which we 
 are convinced is rational and scriptural. 
 
 By the terms of the ordination which Mr Montague, 
 Minister of Christ's church in this town, has received 
 of the Right Rev. Bishop White, we find he has only 
 subscribed a declaration of faith in the holy scriptures, 
 and a solemn engagement to conform to the doctrines 
 and worship of the Protestant Episcopal church in the 
 state of Massachusetts ; in this state no doctrines or 
 form of worship are yet established. Has not our 
 Church therefore as good a claim to style itself the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church of Massachusetts as any 
 other ? We beg leave humbly to enquire, whether it 
 is not in your power to ordain Mr Freeman on the 
 same conditions as Mr Montague ? We are willing 
 that he should make the same subscription, provided 
 that he might be allowed to declare that he conceives 
 his own church to be one of the Protestant Episcopal 
 churches of the state of Massachusetts, and might be 
 allowed to use the Liturgy of this church, a copy of 
 which we do ourselves the honour to present you. 
 With anxiety we shall wait for an answer to this let- 
 ter, and for your opinion upon the matters contained 
 in it. 
 We have the honour to be with the most profound 
 
 respect, Right Rev. Sir, your most obedient and 
 
 most devoted Servants, 
 
 Thomas Bulfinch. 
 Shrimpton Hutchinsoi*. 
 
APPENDIX. 183 
 
 BISHOP'S PROVOST'S \N-wru. 
 
 New York, 13 Aug. 1787. 
 
 Gentlemen, since I was honoured with the receipt 
 of your letter, I have collected the sentiments of the 
 Council of advice, appointed by a late convention of 
 the Protestant Episcopal church in this state, consist- 
 ing of the Rev. xMessrs Beach, Moore and Bloomer, 
 the Hon. John Jay, Hon. James Duane and James 
 Alsop, Esqrs, and find them to be unanimously of 
 opinion that it would be improper for me to enter into 
 a discussion of the business of your letter, as they 
 think a subject of so much importance to the church 
 at large ought to be reserved entirely for the consid- 
 eration of the general Convention. It is in compli- 
 ance with their advice that I now refer you to the first 
 meeting of that Assembly. 
 
 Be pleased, gentlemen, to accept my thanks for the 
 copy of your Liturgy, and believe me to be with great 
 respect your most obedt and very humble servant, 
 Samuel Provost, 
 
 Bp. of the Prot. Ep. Ch. New Yo?k. 
 
 XII. 
 
 protest against mr freeman's ordination, and 
 the answer of the wardens thereto. 
 [See Page 142.] 
 
 Protest, delivered to the Church wardens by Messrs 
 Deblois, Ivers, and Williams, with a request that the 
 same may be recorded in the Church books. 
 
 Boston, Nov. 16,1787. 
 
 Whereas certain persons calling themselves proprie- 
 
184 APPENDIX. 
 
 tors of the Stone Chapel in Boston have of late de- 
 clared that the pews of a number of the original 
 proprietors are forfeit, on account of their absence, 
 and have sold said pews to persons who never were of 
 the Episcopal church, and who hold sentiments diame- 
 trically opposite to said church; and said new pro- 
 prietors have introduced a Liturgy, different from any 
 now used in the Episcopal churches in the United 
 States, and articles of faith which in our opinion are 
 unscriptural and heretical ; and have thereby deprived 
 many of the proprietors of said house of their proper- 
 ty and the privilege of worshipping God therein 
 according to the dictates of their consciences ; and 
 whereas we are informed by a Committee from said 
 proprietors, that they intend next Lord's day, to take 
 upon themselves to authorize Mr James Freeman to 
 administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's 
 Supper in said Church, and to receive him as a regu- 
 lar ordained Minister, which step in our opinion is 
 unprecedented, irregular and contrary to apostolic and 
 primitive usage, and to the common sentiments of 
 almost every sect and denomination of Christians, a 
 step which may be attended with fatal consequences 
 to the interests of religion in general and that of the 
 Episcopal church in particular. We therefore the 
 subscribers in behalf of ourselves and other original 
 proprietors of this church, who have authorized us to 
 act for them, do hereby enter our most solemn and se- 
 rious protest and dissent against all such proceedings, 
 and particularly against the settlement and pretended 
 ordination of the said James Freeman, declaring our 
 utter abhorrence of measures so contrary to the doc- 
 trine, discipline and worship of an Episcopal church 
 
APPENDIX. 185 
 
 and which will include in them a total alienation of 
 the property of said house from the use intended by 
 the original donors or founders. 
 
 James I vers, for himself and Jas. Trecothiclc, Esqr. 
 Gilbert Deblois, for himself, Lewis Deblois, and 
 Henry Leddell. James Lloyd, for Wm. Vassall, Esqr. 
 Henry Smith for Henry Lloyd. James Apthorp. 
 Charles Williams. Theodore Dehon. John 
 Box. John Haskins. Lydia Box. Matthew 
 Nazro. Ambrose Vincent. Grizzell Apthorp. 
 Dorothy Forbes. 
 
 answer to the protest, by the wardens. 
 
 The Wardens of the Chapel being two of the un- 
 doubted proprietors of it, think themselves called upon 
 to vindicate the conduct of that church respecting the 
 ordination of the Rev. Mr Freeman on the last Lord's 
 day. They would have been happy if some of the 
 former proprietors had not thus obliged them to ap- 
 pear in public ; but the foregoing protest being of such 
 a nature as to mislead the public at large, obliges them 
 to display the impropriety of it. At the same time 
 from the respect due to some persons whose names 
 appear in the protest, they are very unwilling to hurt 
 their feelings, which must necessarily be done in the 
 following remarks. 
 
 Before they enter on the merits of the cause, it will 
 not be amiss to go over the names and circumstances 
 of the Protestors, and leave the world to judge of the 
 expediency or propriety of their acting in this matter 
 at all. — Previous to their dissent a Committee from 
 their body called on the senior warden desiring in- 
 formation respecting the ordination. This desire 
 being made known to the vestry, they empowered a 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 committee to wait upon them and to furnish them with 
 a copy of the votes relative to the business ; among 1 
 which votes there was one expressly forbidding any 
 votes by proxy. Notwithstanding this, five proxies 
 have appeared in behalf of those whose local situa- 
 tion and circumstances do not at present admit of their 
 voting. The dissentient committee were at the same 
 time informed that if any objections lay against our 
 procedure a meeting should be called, and they heard 
 upon the subject before the time fixed for the ordina- 
 tion. No such meeting was desired, and the ordina- 
 tion accordingly took place. On Saturday evening 
 previous to the ordination, another Committee called 
 on the Wardens and presented the protest, which was 
 on the next day after service laid before the church, 
 and congregation,, and dismissed by an unanimous vote 
 for reasons which will be given. Now let us see who 
 the Protestors are, and what right they had to make 
 this protest, and how far their right extended. 
 
 The protestors- consist of 17 in number, five of whom 
 we conceive had no right to protest at all, for although 
 the agents who appear for them may be their lawful 
 attorneys in secular matters, yet we do not believe it 
 probable that they can be competent judges of their 
 opinions on matters of faith ; and there is quite as 
 much reason to think that some of them at least would 
 unite with us in opinion, as that others would unite 
 with the Dissentients. For instance how does Mr 
 lvers or Dr Lloyd know that Mr Trecothick and Mr 
 Vassal would not join in the ordination? As how- 
 ever it is very improbable that Mr Trecothick, who is 
 settled in business in London, and has a family and 
 connexions there, will ever come to this country, ex- 
 
APPENDIX. Ig7 
 
 cept on a visit, this vote can hardly be reckoned. The 
 same may be said of Mr Henry Lloyd, whose depar- 
 ture we most sincerely lament ; Mr L. Deblois and Mr 
 Leddell. Where then could be the necessity of ap- 
 plying- to these gentlemen for their opinion ? Or 
 must a church in this country be deprived of the bene- 
 fit of the holy ordinances lest the mode of administer- 
 ing them should not be agreeable to some of its breth- 
 ren at a distance ? However, to gratify our dissentient 
 brethren, we will admit the votes of these five. The 
 next person we shall mention is Mr James Apthorp of 
 Braintree, a gentleman who left this town several 
 years ago, and joined himself to the church at Brain- 
 tree, and who although he was upon the spot when Mr 
 Freeman was chosen Minister of the Chapel, and had 
 heard of the amendments making in the Liturgy, yet 
 never appeared to disapprove of them ; and yet he 
 and all the other proprietors were desired in public 
 prints to appear, and show cause if any, why the 
 church should not proceed to the business which they 
 have since transacted. With how much propriety 
 therefore he appears in the above protest, the candid 
 will judge. — The next three persons we mention are 
 Mrs Forbes, Mr Dehon and Mr Nazro, neither of whom 
 have worshipped at the Chapel since 1775, altho' they 
 are worthy proprietors; but have continued to worship 
 at Trinity Church previous to any alteration in our 
 service. — We have now mentioned eight persons out 
 of the seventeen of whose right to interfere we leave 
 to the decision of the public. Of the remainder we 
 might except against Mrs Box as an elderly lady who 
 has been unable to attend public worship for several 
 years past ; and to Mr Haskins and Mr Williams as 
 
188 APPENDIX. 
 
 having voted for many of the alterations. As we do 
 not recollect whether Mr Ives and Mr Box voted for 
 the alterations, we shall not include them in that num- 
 ber. — With respect to Madam Apthorp and Mr Vin- 
 cent, they have frequently worshipped with us since 
 the alterations were made, and therefore cannot be 
 presumed to object on that account, but only on ac- 
 count of the mode of ordination. 
 
 The last person to be mentioned is Mr Gilbert Deb- 
 lois, a gentleman, who, having so lately returned among 
 us, we fear has not had time to pay sufficient attention 
 to the alterations, but who, we hope when he has done 
 it will make us happy in returning with his family to 
 our Christian communion. Now let us see how many 
 of the old proprietors, those we mean who were such 
 before the war, are still remaining with us. Of these, 
 as it appears by the Church books, there are twenty- 
 Jour ; who without mentioning any other persons, be- 
 ing a large majority, are fully justified in taking upon 
 them the conduct and management of the church. 
 But beside these there are twenty other persons who 
 having joined themselves to the church by purchasing 
 pews and becoming proprietors, have an undoubted 
 right to give their assent and vote in Church transac- 
 tions. We might go on, and reckon a great number 
 of other respectable persons, who by occupying pews 
 and statedly paying their dues, have likewise a right 
 of voting. And of these Old and New proprietors 
 and Occupiers not one dissenting voice was heard 
 respecting the ordination. 
 
 We will now enter upon the merits of the protest 
 itself. The protest begins thus, " Whereas certain 
 persons calling themselves a majority of the proprie- 
 
APPENDIX. 189 
 
 tors of the Stone Chapel," did &c. — We acknowledge 
 this to be true ; and whereas this majority consisted 
 of at least Jive if not six to one of the proprietors, no 
 man in his senses will assert that they had not a just 
 right so to do. But what have they done ? " They 
 have declared that the pews of a number of the orio-i- 
 nal proprietors are forfeit on account of their absence." 
 But the Protestors do not say that these forfeitures 
 are just, by the very tenor of the deeds ; nor do they 
 say that there is a standing vote of this Church, that 
 if any of said proprietors either by themselves, or their 
 special attorney apply within a certain time, they 
 shall be reimbursed the expenses of their pews, after 
 deducting the arrears due upon them ; — nor have they 
 given the reason for this step, which was to defray the 
 necessary expenses of repairs of damages incurred 
 during the war, and the time in which the Church lay 
 unimproved, and to finish the building. They further 
 say that those pews "have been sold to persons who 
 never were of the Episcopal Church." This is a very 
 extraordinary remark. We would wish to know if in 
 the Episcopal Church or elsewhere, any person, whose 
 life and conversation was blameless, was ever prevent- 
 ed from joining any particular society, or becoming 
 the proprietor of a pew, provided there was room for 
 him and he able to make good his purchase. We have 
 always believed that the Episcopal church displayed 
 a liberality in this respect which Avas truly commenda- 
 ble. And when a person has once become a purcha- 
 ser, we wish to know by what authority he can be 
 prohibited from giving his vote many case whatever, 
 and whether such a proprietor's vote is not as valid as 
 even the first and most respectable of its Founders ? 
 
190 APPENDIX. 
 
 We are not able to find any record of this church from 
 its foundation which prohibits the sale of pews to 
 persons of any persuasion whatever ; and the old pro- 
 prietors of the Church we doubt not are so far from 
 disapproving of the sale of pews to the late purchas- 
 ers, that it would make them happy to dispose of as 
 many more to persons of equal merit. We would ask 
 these Protestors if they do not wish from their hearts 
 that the Episcopal church in general might grow ? and 
 how is it to grow, if not by additions from other 
 churches ? But look at the other Episcopal Churches 
 in this town ; of whom do the far greater part of them 
 consist, but of those who were educated in another 
 persuasion? and are they allowed to have no vote at 
 all ? But this matter is too futile for serious discus- 
 sion. 
 
 The Protestors next say that " these new proprie- 
 tors have introduced a Liturgy different from any 
 now used in the United States." This assertion is on 
 many accounts very extraordinary. Before any alter- 
 ation was made in the Liturgy, was it not considered 
 at a meeting of the Members whether any alterations 
 in the service were necessary ? was it not voted in the 
 affirmative by Messrs Haskins and Williams ? was not 
 a committee then appointed to inquire what alterations 
 were necessary ? Did not that Committee consist of 
 persons, who have always been of the Church ? How 
 then can it be said to have been done by the new pro- 
 prietors ? This is a subterfuge too little to be offered 
 to the public in a matter of such importance. Further, 
 was there not an unanimous vote at the first meeting 
 of the Committee before any business was acted upon, 
 that it was still the opinion of the Committee that some 
 
APPENDIX. 191 
 
 alterations were necessary? We pledge our word to 
 the public for the truth of the affirmative of these 
 queries ; and also that Messrs Haskins and Williams 
 voted personally for many of these alterations tho' not 
 all. And now because the business has not termin- 
 ated exactly to their minds, they appear thus openly 
 against the Church. However, as we greatly respect 
 these gentlemen as worthy, conscientious men, we 
 will not wound their feelings by saying more on this 
 part of our subject. 
 
 We come now to the last article to be taken notice 
 of, which is that " we have introduced articles of faith 
 which in their opinion are unscriptural and heretical 
 and have thereby deprived many of the proprietors of 
 their property in the house, and the privilege of wor- 
 shipping God therein according to the dictates of their 
 consciences." As to depriving them of their property, 
 the church never had a thought of doing it. We shall 
 be very happy in having them join with us in religious 
 worship ; but if they cannot do this, they may still re- 
 tain or doubtless dispose of their property in the 
 Church to great advantage. As to the introduction of 
 any articles of faith, the charge is totally without 
 foundation. We have no articles of faith but the 
 Apostles' creed. It is true some parts of that are 
 omitted, and for these omissions all the members of the 
 Committee voted, Mr Haskins and Mr Williams not 
 excepted. That the world however may know what 
 those tenets and articles are which are so unscriptu- 
 ral, Ave hereby declare, that we worship and adore one 
 only living and true God, the parent of mankind, the 
 bountiful Giver of all Good ; that we offer our adora- 
 tions to him in the name of his dearly beloved Son, 
 
192 APPENDIX. 
 
 the Redeemer of mankind ; and that we expect and 
 hope for pardon and acceptance and eternal happiness 
 only thro' the mercies of God in Jesus Christ. And if 
 this is the doctrine which they call heresy, we pro- 
 fess thus to worship the God of our fathers. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 ORDINATION OF THE REV. JAMES FREEMAN. 
 
 On Sunday, 18th November, 1787, after the Rev. Mr 
 Freeman had finished the reading of Evening prayer, 
 the Wardens joined him in the reading desk, when the 
 Senior Warden (Thomas Bulfinch, M. D.) made a short 
 but pertinent address to the vestrymen, proprietors and 
 congregation, on the importance of the service in 
 which they were now engaging. 
 
 " Brethren of the Vestry, proprietors and congrega- 
 tion who statedly worship in this Church ! At your last 
 meeting at this place you appointed this day for the 
 ordination of the Rev. Mr Freeman ; you then deter- 
 mined it by a vote which I shall now read, to be signed 
 by the wardens on your behalf. But as this mode of 
 procedure may appear new and unprecedented to some 
 of this Audience, it may not be amiss to assign a rea- 
 son for adopting it. 
 
 " It is now upwards of four years, since you made 
 choice of the Rev. Mr Freeman for your Minister, 
 since which time you have been anxious for his ordi- 
 nation, that he might be empowered to administer the 
 
APPENDIX. 193 
 
 ordinances of the Gospel — and although you have re- 
 peatedly sought for this power, yet you have not been 
 able to obtain it. Some hopes have been conceived 
 from the American Bishops, the Right Rev. Dr Sea- 
 bury, and since from the Rt Rev. Dr Provost, but that 
 prospect being still distant, you have adopted the pre- 
 sent mode, rather than be longer deprived of those 
 ordinances. As the business before us is of a serious 
 and important nature, it becomes us to begin it with a 
 solemn address to the great Parent of mankind." 
 
 The first ordaining prayer Avas then read by the Rev. 
 Mr Freeman. The Senior Warden then read the or- 
 daining vote, Viz. " We the Wardens, vestry, propri- 
 etors and congregation of King's Chapel, or first 
 Episcopal church in Boston, do, by virtue of the third 
 article in the declaration of rights, hereby solemnly 
 elect, ordain, constitute and appoint the Rev. James 
 Freeman of said Boston to be our Rector, Minister, 
 Public Teacher, Priest, Pastor and teaching Elder, to 
 preach the word of God, and to dispense lessons and 
 instructions in piety, religion, and morality ; and to 
 minister the holy sacraments in the congregation ; and 
 to do, perform and discharge all the other duties and 
 offices, which of right belong to any other Rector, 
 minister, public teacher, Pastor, teaching elder, or 
 Priest in orders. 
 
 " And it is hereby understood and intended, that the 
 authority and rights hereby given to the said James 
 Freeman, to be our Rector, Minister, public Teacher, 
 Priest, teaching Elder and Pastor, are to remain in full 
 force so long as he shall continue to preach the word 
 of God, and dispense instructions in piety, religion and 
 morality, conformably to our opinions and sentiments of 
 13 
 
194 APPENDIX. 
 
 the holy scriptures, and no longer: and that ourjudge- 
 ment of his not thus conforming to our religious senti- 
 ments and opinions, shall be ascertained by the votes 
 of three fourths of the wardens and vestry, and of 
 three fourths of the proprietors usually worshipping in 
 said church, separately and individually taken." 
 
 " Brethren ! if this vote be agreeable to your minds, 
 if you readily and cheerfully adopt it, if you mean to 
 convey all the powers expressed in it — please to sig- 
 nify it." — In token of their unanimous approbation, 
 the proprietors lifted up their right hands. 
 
 "If it is your desire that the said vote be now signed 
 by the wardens in your behalf, please to signify it." — 
 The Proprietors, as before, unanimously lifted up 
 their right hands. The Senior Warden then ad- 
 dressing Mr Freeman, said — " Rev d Sir, it appears by 
 the vote in favour of your ordination that you are law- 
 fully chosen — it is expected that you now declare 
 your acceptance of the choice." — Mr Freeman then 
 read and presented to the Senior Warden the following 
 subscribed by him. Viz — " To the Wardens, Vestry, 
 proprietors and congregation of the Chapel or first 
 Episcopal church in Boston. Brethren, with cheerful- 
 ness and gratitude I accept your election and ordina- 
 tion which I believe to be valid and Apostolick. 
 And I pray God to enable me to preach the word, and 
 to administer the ordinances of religion in such a man- 
 ner as that I may promote his glory, the honour of the 
 Redeemer and your spiritual edification. 
 
 James Freeman." 
 
 The Senior Warden then delivered to Mr Freeman 
 a copy of the ordaining vote signed by the Wardens, 
 and laying his hand on Mr Freeman, said, 
 
APPENDIX. 195 
 
 as Senior Warden of this church, by virtue of the 
 authority delegated to me, in the presence of Almighty 
 God, and before these witnesses, declare you, the Rev. 
 James Freeman, to be the Rector, Minister, Priest, Pas- 
 tor, public Teacher, and teaching Elder of this Epis- 
 copal church ; — in testimony whereof I deliver you 
 this book (delivering him a Bible) containing the holy 
 oracles of Almighty God, enjoining a due observance 
 of all the precepts contained therein, particularly those 
 which respect the duty and office of a Minister of 
 Jesus Christ. — And the Lord bless you and keep you, 
 the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you 
 and give you peace now and forevermore." The whole 
 Assembly as one man, spontaneously and emphatically 
 pronounced Amen. 
 
 The Rev Mr Freeman then read the second ordain- 
 ing prayer, and after an Anthem was sung by the choir, 
 preached on the duties and offices of a Christian Min- 
 ister. Another Anthem then closed the Evening 
 service. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 DR BELKNAP'S REMARKS ON MR FREEMAN'S ORDINATION. 
 
 [See page 142.] 
 For the Centinel. 
 
 A ROWLAND FOR YOUR OLIVER. * 
 
 On Sunday the 18th inst. was exhibited at the house 
 formerly called the King's Chapel, an instance of the 
 public exercise of a long dormant right, which every 
 
 * In answer to a scurrilous piece in a preceding paper. 
 
196 APPENDIX. 
 
 Society civil and religious has to elect and Ordain their 
 own officers. It is to be observed that application had 
 been made to one or more of the laivned successors of 
 the humble apostles, for ordination in the Episcopal 
 mode, but it was withheld on account of the unpliable 
 integrity of the Candidate, in scrupling subscription 
 to articles of faith of human composure. And though 
 the Bible, the work of Prophets, Evangelists, and Apos- 
 tles, was acknowledged as the standard of faith, yet 
 this acknowledgment was insufficient ! When priestly 
 usurpation is carried to a certain pitch, the people 
 (thank Heaven) can, and will find out their own rights, 
 and know how to exercise them. Invested with this 
 right by the God of nature, secured in the exercise of 
 it by the civil constitution, and encouraged by all the 
 consistent friends of order and liberty ; the independ- 
 ent congregation by their representatives publickly in- 
 vested with the ministerial office a sensible, honest man, 
 who publickly accepted the Bible as the only standard of 
 his faith, and directory of his preaching and ministra- 
 tions. Thus without any mysterious unintelligible 
 ceremonies ; without any assumption of apostolick 
 powers ; without any pretended superiority of office ; 
 without any affected communication of sacerdotal 
 effluviee, was a servant of Jesus Christ introduced into 
 his office in a style, simple, decent, primitive and con- 
 stitutional. Then was cut the aspiring comb of prela- 
 tic pride, — then was undermined the pompous 
 fabrick of hierarchical usurpation ; — then was pricked 
 the puffed bladder of uninterrupted succession ; while 
 the eye of liberty sparkled with joy, and the modest 
 face of primitive, simple, unadulterated Christianity 
 brightened with the conscious smile of a decent, man- 
 ly, substantial triumph. 
 
APPENDIX. 197 
 
 XV. 
 
 CLERICAL EXCOMMUNICATION OF MR FREEMAF. 
 [See page 142.] 
 
 From the Centinel of Jan. 28. 1783. 
 EX COMMUNICATION". 
 
 Mr Russel. By publishing the following Protest, or 
 Excommunication in the Centinel, you will oblige 
 y r humble servant, James Freeman, 
 
 Minister of the Stone Chapel, Boston. 
 
 Whereas a certain congregation in Boston calling 
 themselves the first Episcopal Church in that town, 
 have in an irregular unconstitutional manner, intro- 
 duced a Liturgy essentially differing from any used in 
 the Episcopal churches in this commonwealth, and in 
 the United States, not to mention the Protestant 
 Episcopal church in general, and have also assumed 
 to themselves a power unprecedented in said Church, 
 of separating to the work of the ministry Mr James 
 Freeman, who has for some time past been their Read- 
 er ; and of themselves have authorized or pretendedlv 
 authorized him to administer the Sacraments of Bap- 
 tism and the Lord's Supper ; and at the same time 
 most inconsistently and absurdly take to themselves 
 the name and style of an Episcopal Church : — We 
 the Ministers of the Protestant Episcopal church 
 Avhose names are underwritten, do hereby declare the 
 proceedings of said congregation usually meeting in 
 the Stone Chapel in Boston, to be irregular, unconsti- 
 tutional, diametrically opposite to every principle 
 
198 APPENDIX. 
 
 adopted in any Episcopal Church, subversive of all 
 order and regularity, and pregnant with consequences 
 fatal to the interests of religion. And we do hereby, 
 and in this public manner protest against the aforesaid 
 proceedings, to the end that all those of our commu- 
 nion, wherever dispersed, may be cautioned against 
 receiving said Reader or Preacher, Mr James Free- 
 man as a clergyman of our church, or holding any 
 communion with him as such ; and may be induced 
 to look on his congregation in the light in which it 
 ought to be looked on by all true Episcopalians. 
 
 Edward Bass, of St Paul's Ch. Newburyport. 
 
 Samuel Parker, Trinity Ch. Boston. 
 
 William Montague, Christ Ch. Boston. 
 
 John C. Ogden. Queen's Chapel. Portsmouth 
 
 N. H. 
 Bee. 1787. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 SOME NOTICES OF THE REV. SAMUEL CARY. 
 [J?ee Pago 145.] 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Cary was the son of the Rev. 
 Thomas Cary of Newburyport, in which place he was 
 born. Nov. 24, 1785. He was graduated at Harvard 
 University in 1804. He studied divinity at Cambridge 
 for three years, and was invited to preach on probation 
 at King's Chapel in Nov. 1808. He was ordained, 
 Jan. 1, 1809. He was married in 1811, and died Oct- 
 22.1815. 
 
APPENDIX. 199 
 
 His publications are, 1. A Discourse before the 
 Merrimack Humane Society; 180G. 2. A Discourse 
 at his own Ordination. 3. A Discourse delivered on 
 the Day of the National Fast; Sept. 9. 1813. 4. A 
 Sermon before the Ancient and Honorable Artillery 
 Company ; June 6. 1814. 5. A Discourse on the Igno- 
 rance of the true Meaning of the Scriptures, and the 
 Causes of it ; 1814. 6. Sermon on the Death of 
 Madam Susan Bulfinch ; Feb. 26. 1815. 7. Review of 
 English's " Grounds of Christianity Examined;" 1813. 
 
 The intelligence of Mr Cary's death called forth 
 warm and heartfelt tributes of respect and love from his 
 friends. A Sermon on the occasion by the Rev. Dr 
 Freeman, and a part of a sermon by the Rev. Henry 
 Colman, in which his virtues and talents were feeling- 
 ly portrayed, were printed, though not published. His 
 congregation ordered a monument to be erected over 
 his remains, and an epitaph in Latin to be inscribed on 
 it, which was from the pen of his classmate, Professor 
 Andrews Norton. 
 
 An account of Mr Cary was also published in Eng- 
 land, in the Monthly Repository for December, 1815, 
 consisting principally of an extract from a Funeral 
 Discourse delivered the Sunday after his decease, at 
 the Essex Street Chapel, by the Rev. Thomas Belsham. 
 As this extract contains an interesting narrative of the 
 circumstances attending his death, I will here copy 
 the larger portion of it, without apology. 
 
 " Dr Freeman, after twenty years' active service in 
 the church, finding his health beginning to decline, 
 requested and obtained from his numerous and flourish- 
 ing congregation the assistance of a colleague. That 
 colleague was the Reverend Samuel Cary, a young 
 
200 APPENDIX. 
 
 man of distinguished ability, and piety, who on the 
 first of January, 1809, was ordained co-pastor with the 
 Reverend Dr Freeman. The talents and the virtues 
 of this excellent young man are spoken of in the high- 
 est terms by all who had the happiness of his acquaint- 
 ance, and especially by those who enjoyed the great 
 privilege of attending upon his ministry. 
 
 " The greatest advantages were naturally antici- 
 pated from this auspicious connexion. The venerable 
 pastor of the society whose precarious health led him 
 to apprehend that his own labours might be speedily ter- 
 minated, or at least frequently interrupted, was delight- 
 ed with the prospect of leaving the people of his 
 charge, the objects of his affectionate solicitude, and 
 particularly the rising generation, in whose welfare 
 and improvement he felt a peculiar interest, under the 
 care of one who would follow his steps, and perfect 
 the work of instruction and edification which he had 
 so happily begun. The members of the society also 
 rejoiced that they had found a minister who in- 
 herited so large a portion of the spirit of their 
 admired and beloved pastor ; and one who would be so 
 well qualified, with divine assistance, to support and 
 to carry on the great cause of truth and goodness, 
 when his venerable colleague should in the course of 
 nature be dismissed from his labours, or by declining 
 health and the infirmities of advancing years be under 
 the necessity of retiring from his official duties. 
 1 With such an affectionate people' (saith this exem- 
 plary minister of Christ, in a charge delivered upon 
 the solemn occasion of Mr Cary's settlement as a co- 
 pastor with him) ' my brother has reason to hope that 
 his life will be happy. And you, my friends, on your 
 
APPENDIX. 201 
 
 part have cause for pleasing expectation. The youth 
 and health of your new pastor promise you many 
 years of usefulness and love. And long after I am 
 laid in the grave, the light of his instructions will shed 
 a kindly influence upon your children.' 
 
 " Alas ! how little can we see what lies before us. 
 For what is human life ? It is even a vapour, which 
 appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 
 
 " How much nearer to the truth, much nearer indeed 
 than any one at the time could have suspected, were 
 those sadly prophetic words which occurred a few sen- 
 tences before in the same discourse, and upon the 
 same occasion. ' You are still young : but death will 
 soon overtake you. This solemn truth furnishes you 
 with a strong motive to diligence. The world abounds 
 with comforts and even pleasures. It is a world every 
 part of which displays the goodness of God. But the 
 present scene is not permanent. All its joys are pass- 
 ing rapidly away, and you look for something more 
 substantial.'* 1 
 
 " These prophetic words have been but too literally 
 and exactly fulfilled. After a connexion of six years, 
 the result of which was the increasing attachment of 
 his reverend colleague, of his numerous congregation, 
 and of all who had the honour and the happiness of his 
 acquaintance, Mr Cary was arrested in the midst of 
 his days, and in the prime of his usefulness, by the 
 hand of death. 'His purposes were broken off, even 
 the thoughts of his heart.' His sun is gone down 
 while it was yet day. All his schemes of usefulness, 
 all his flattering hopes of glorifying God and Christ, 
 
 * Dr Freeman's Sermons, pp. 294-5. 
 
202 APPENDIX. 
 
 and of contributing to the diffusion of trutli and vir- 
 tue and genuine evangelical piety in the world are cut 
 off in the bud. And his family, his colleague, his con- 
 gregation, his friends, and the public, are left to de- 
 plore their irreparable loss, and to adore the unfathom- 
 able mysteries of Divine Providence which baffle all 
 human sagacity, and whose ways are past rinding out. 
 " Endued with a vigour of constitution which pro- 
 mised length of days, and which perhaps occasioned 
 the neglect of prudent caution, he was seized in March 
 last with an accidental cold, which not exciting imme- 
 diate alarm, was not treated with sufficient attention, 
 and which of consequence went on increasing in vio- 
 lence, and gradually sapping his excellent constitution, 
 till in the month of July he found himself incapable of 
 continuing his public services, and retired for a few 
 weeks to what was conceived to be a more salubrious 
 climate. He returned somewhat relieved, but without 
 any radical improvement. Some of his friends then 
 suggested, and he was himself inclined to hope, that 
 a voyage across the Atlantic might be of service to 
 his health ; and that a winter spent in the mild cli- 
 mate of England might perfect his recovery. He 
 accordingly left Boston in the month of September. 
 His passage was remarkably expeditious. But the 
 weather being uncommonly wet was unfavorable to an 
 invalid. About three weeks ago, he landed at Liver- 
 pool, and proceeded to Yorkshire, where he passed a 
 few days in the house of a friend. But finding himself 
 a little revived he was anxious to continue his progress 
 towards the south : being desirous after passing a few 
 weeks near the metropolis to spend the winter in the 
 West of England. He travelled slowly, and by short 
 
APPENDIX. 203 
 
 stages, as he was able to bear it (accompanied by Mrs 
 Cary, whose tender solicitude fur his health and com- 
 fort animated her to endure the fatigues of a long voy- 
 age, and of a residence in a land of strangers, together 
 with another friend.) Being refreshed by gentle 
 exercise and change of air, he pleased himself with 
 the hope that upon some early day, perhaps at this very 
 hour, he should be able to assist in divine worship in 
 the Chapel which Mr Lindsey had founded, in which 
 that great and good man had statedly officiated, and 
 where the doctrine which he himself regarded as of the 
 first importance, that of the sole unrivalled majesty 
 and worship of the one God and Father of all, was 
 still publicly taught. But this favour was denied. Last 
 Lord's Day (October 22,) he was at Cambridge, in bet- 
 ter spirits than usual ; and expressed his delight in 
 the transient view which he enjoyed of the venerable 
 and majestic buildings of that ancient seat of learning. 
 In the evening he pursued his journey, but a mile 
 before he came to Royston, he was seized with a diffi- 
 culty of breathing, and an acute pain across the chest. 
 With much difficulty he was taken forward to the end 
 of the stage : and notwithstanding all the assistance 
 which could be given, and the humane attention which 
 he experienced not only from the few friends who ac- 
 companied him but from the strangers who surrounded 
 him, Mr Cary expired within two hours after his 
 arrival. 
 
 " Almost with his latest breath he expressed a wish 
 that his remains might be taken to London, and that 
 his funeral service might be performed by the officiating 
 minister of Essex-Street Chapel ; to whom he had 
 brought a letter of introduction, and with whom he 
 
204 APPENDIX. 
 
 had expressed a desire to become acquainted, and who 
 on his part would have been truly gratified had an in- 
 terview, however short, been permitted with a charac- 
 ters© interesting. All that Divine Providence in fact 
 allowed was, that he should fulfil the dying request of 
 his unknown friend by officiating at his funeral. Such 
 was the will of Him who doth all things well. And 
 may his will be done, and ever be cheerfully acquiesced 
 in by all his reasonable creatures. Nor, after all, was 
 the disappointment of great account. Pass but a few 
 fleeting years, and the virtuous of all countries and of 
 all ages, will meet, to part no more." 
 
 XVII. 
 
 INSCRIPTIONS ON THE THREE MONUMENTS IN KING'S CHAPEL. 
 1. THE SHIRLEY TABLET. 
 
 M. S. 
 
 FRANCISCO SHIRLEY, 
 
 Quam Virginem 
 
 Omnium Adnrirationi commendavit 
 
 Eximius Formre Nitor, 
 
 Familiarium vero eliam Amori 
 
 Gratior veniens in pulchro Corpore virtus : 
 
 Quam Nuptam 
 
 Fides intcmerata, Amor sincerus, 
 
 Rerum Domesticarum prudens Administratio, 
 
 Indoles suavissima, 
 
 In tantum Marito devinxerunt, 
 
 Vt Cor ejus in ilia tutissime confident : 
 
APPENDIX. 205 
 
 Quam Matrem 
 
 Nulla prius habuit Cura 
 
 Quam ut Liberorum Animoa prestantiasimia nioribus im- 
 
 bueret, 
 
 Quod et strenue laboravit et feliciter : 
 
 Quam Demum, 
 
 In omni Vitae statu et Conditione, 
 
 Summa Ingenii Elegantia 
 
 Quicquid Decorum atque Honestum diligenter excolentis 
 
 Quiequid Vanum contra et Leve serio aversantis 
 
 Morum Simplicity Candida 
 
 Pietas infucata 
 
 In Egeno Liberalitas, in omnes Benevolentia, 
 
 Dolorum Tolerantia, Voluptatum Temperantia, 
 
 Omnis denique et omnimoda Virtus 
 
 Ut amabilem fecerunt omnibus 
 
 Ita Amorem ipsum et Delicias hujus Provincial Vivam, 
 
 Desiderium triste et insolabile reddiderunt mortuam. 
 
 Maritum habuit Gulielmum Shirley hujus Provinciae 
 
 Praefeetum, 
 
 Quern Filiis quatuor, Filiabus quinque beavit. 
 
 E Stirpe Geuerosa Nata est Londini mdcxcii, 
 
 Denata Dorcestriaj Massachusettensium pi id: Kal. Sept. 
 
 MDCCXLVI, 
 
 In communi hujus Op pidi Caemeterio conditae ipsius Exuviae 
 Felicem ad meliorem vitam Reditum expectant. 
 
 Juxta banc Prsestantissimam .Matrem positum est 
 Quicquid Mortale fuit Filice Natu secundaj FRAXCisCiE 
 
 BOLLA.V, 
 
 Gulielmi Boll an Armigeri 
 
 In Curia Vice Admiralitatis apud Massachusettenses 
 
 Regii Advocati, 
 
 Nuper Uxoris, 
 
206 APPENDIX. 
 
 Quam Virtus et Forma excellens, 
 
 Prudentia et Ingeniurn excnltum, 
 
 Pietas et Mores suavissimi, 
 
 Dilectissimam omnibus, dum in vivis fuit finxerunt. 
 
 Spatiolo Vitae, (heu brevi) percurso, 
 
 Annum quippe vix quartum supra vicessimum attigit, 
 
 Primo in Partu diem obiit supremum xn Kal. Martias 
 
 mdccxliv 
 
 Marito, Parentibus, Amicis, 
 
 Ingens sui Desiderium relinquens. 
 
 1. THE APTHORP TABLET. 
 
 M. S. 
 CAROL1 APTHORP, 
 
 QUI 
 
 PATERFAMILIAS PEUDENS ET LIBERALIS. 
 
 MERCATOR INTEGERRIMUS, 
 
 INSIGJVI PROBITATE CIVIS, 
 
 INTER HUJUS .^DIS INSTAURATORES 
 
 PRECIPUE MTJNIFICUS, 
 
 SINCERA FIDE ET LARGA CARITATE 
 
 CHRISTIANUS, 
 
 OBIIT SEXAGENARIES 
 
 XI. NOVEMBR. MDCCLVIII, 
 
 REPENTINA 
 
 ET SUIS IMMATURA 
 
 MORTE PRJEREPTUS. 
 
 NE 
 
 TANTARUM VIRTUTUM 
 
 MEMORIA ET EXEMPI.UM 
 
 OBSOLEREf, 
 
APPENDIX. 207 
 
 VIDUA ET XV LIBERI 
 
 SUPERSTITES 
 
 HOC MARMOR 
 
 A^ORIS ET PIETATIS MONUMENTUM 
 
 P P. 
 
 3. THE VASSALL MONUMENT, 
 
 Sacred to the memory of 
 
 SAMUEL VASSALL, Esq. of LONDON, Merchant, 
 
 one of the original proprietors of the lands 
 
 of this Country ; 
 
 a steady and undaunted 
 
 asserter of the Liberties of ENGLAND, 
 
 in 1628, 
 
 He was the first who boldly refused to submit to the tax 
 
 of Tonnage and Poundage, 
 
 an unconstitutional claim of the Crown 
 
 arbitrarily imposed : 
 
 For which (to the ruin of his family) 
 
 his goods were seized and his person imprisoned by the 
 
 Star Chamber Court. 
 
 He was chosen to represent the City of 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 in two successive Parliaments which met Apr. 13 and Nov. 3, 
 
 1640. 
 
 The Parliament in July, 1641, voted him 
 
 £10445. 12. 2 
 
 for his damages, 
 
 and resolved that he should be further considered 
 
 for his personal sufferings ; 
 
 But the rage of the times and the neglect of 
 
 proper applications since 
 
208 APPENDIX. 
 
 have left to his family only the honour of that 
 
 Vote and Resolution. 
 
 He was one of the largest subscribers 
 
 to raise money 
 
 against the Rebels in IRELAND. 
 
 All these facts may be seen in the Journal 
 
 of the House of Commons. 
 
 He was the Son of 
 
 the gallant JOHN VASSALL 
 
 who in 1588 
 
 at his own expense fitted out and commanded two Ships of 
 
 War, 
 
 with which he joined the Royal Navy 
 
 to oppose 
 
 the SPANISH ARMADA. 
 
 This monument was erected by his great grandson, 
 
 FLORENTIUS VASSALL, Esq. 
 
 of the Island of JAMAICA, now residing in ENGLAND, 
 
 May, 1766. 
 
 Beside these monuments in King's Chapel, there is a 
 small marble tablet inserted over the door of the vestry 
 room, bearing the following inscription : 
 
 William Price, 
 
 a benefactor to this church, 
 
 died, May xix, mdcclxxii. 
 
 aged lxxxvii. years. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 •209 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 LIST OF MINISTERS OF KING'S CHAPEL. 
 
 Inducted. Died or removed. 
 
 Robert Ratcliffe, 
 
 Rector. 
 
 1686 
 
 Left 
 
 1689 
 
 Robert Clarke, 
 
 Assistant. 
 
 1686 
 
 
 
 Samuel Myles, 
 
 Rector. 
 
 1689 
 
 Died 
 
 1728 
 
 George Hatton, 
 
 Assistant. 
 
 1693 
 
 Left 
 
 1696 
 
 Christopher Bridge, 
 
 do. 
 
 1699 
 
 Rem'i 
 
 d.1706 
 
 Henry Harris. 
 
 do. 
 
 1709 
 
 Died 
 
 1729 
 
 Roger Price, 
 
 Rector. 
 
 1729 
 
 Resi'nd. 1746 
 
 Charles Harward, 
 
 Assistant. 
 
 1731 
 
 Died 
 
 1736 
 
 Addington Davenpo 
 
 % do. 
 
 1737 
 
 Left 
 
 1740 
 
 Stephen Roe, 
 
 do. 
 
 1741 
 
 Rem' 
 
 ^d. 1744 
 
 Henry Caner, 
 
 Rector. 
 
 1747 
 
 Left 
 
 1776 
 
 Charles Brockwell, 
 
 Assistant. 
 
 1747 
 
 Died 
 
 1755 
 
 Johr. Troutbeck, 
 
 do. 
 
 1755 
 
 Left 
 
 1775 
 
 James Freeman, 
 
 Reader. 
 
 1782 
 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Rector. 
 
 1787 
 
 
 
 Samuel Cary, Ass 
 
 ociate Minister. 
 
 1809 
 
 Died 
 
 1815 
 
 Francis Win. Pitt G 
 
 •eenwood, do. 
 
 1824 
 
 
 
 XIX. 
 
 LIST OF THE WARDENS OF KING'S CHAPEL. 
 
 16S6tol687, 
 1689, 
 1690, 
 1691, 
 1692, 
 1693, 
 
 1694 1695, 
 1696, 
 1697, 
 1698, 
 1699, 
 17C0, 
 1701, 
 
 1702 1703 : 
 
 Benjamin Bullivant 
 Francis Foxcroft 
 Benjamin Mountfort 
 Savill Simpson 
 Nicholas Tippet 
 
 William Hobby 
 Thaddeus Maccarty 
 Giles Dyer 
 Giles Dyer 
 George Turfrey 
 
 John Indicott 
 
 William Hobby 
 
 East Apthorp 
 
 Edward Lyde 
 
 14 
 
 and Richard Banks. 
 
 Samuel Ravenscroft. 
 Giles Dyer. 
 Harry Clark. 
 Edward Gouge. 
 George Turfrey. 
 Francis Foxcroft. 
 Benjamin Mountfort. 
 Shubal Simpson. 
 John Indicott. 
 William Hobby. 
 East Apthorp. 
 Edward Lyde. 
 Samuel Checkley. 
 
214 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 1704, Thomas Newton 
 
 1705, Nicholas Roberts 
 
 1706, John Nelson 
 
 1707, Savill Simpson 
 1703, William Tailer 
 
 1709, Thomas Newton 
 
 1710, Arthur Langharne 
 
 1711, Anthony Blount 
 1713 1714, Sir Charles Hobby 
 1715 1716, John Oulton 
 
 1717 1718, Giles Dyer 
 
 1719 1720 Henry Francklyn 
 
 1721, John Cutler 
 
 1722, John Cutler 
 
 1723, Francis Brinley 
 
 1724, James Stirling 
 1725, John Barnes 
 
 1726, John Gibbins 
 
 1727, Thomas Selby 
 
 1725, John Eastwicke 
 
 1729, William Randle 
 
 1730, William Speakman 
 
 1731, Job Lewis 
 
 1732, Charles Apthorp 
 
 1733, George Steuart 
 
 1734, George Shore 
 
 1735, Thomas Greene 
 
 1736, John Read 
 
 1737, Thomas Child 
 
 1738, William Coffin 
 
 1739, Silvester Gardiner 
 
 1740, James Gordon 
 
 1741, William Shirley 
 
 1742, S.imuel Wentworth 
 
 1743, Eliakim Hutchinson 
 
 1744, Charles Apthorp 
 
 1745, George Cradock 
 1746 to 1752, James Gordon 
 
 1753, John Box 
 
 1754, James Forbes 
 
 1755, James Forbes 
 1756 1757 Silvester Gardiner 
 1758 1759, Silvester Gardiner 
 1760 1761, Nathaniel Wheelwright 
 
 Nicholas Roberts. 
 John Nelson. 
 Savill Simpson. 
 William Tailer. 
 Thomas Newton. 
 Arthur Langharne. 
 Anthony Blount. 
 Cyprian Southack. 
 John Jekyll. 
 John Valentine. 
 Edward Mills. 
 George Cradock. 
 Henry Francklyn 
 James Smith. 
 James Stirling. 
 John Barnes. 
 John Gibbins. 
 Thomas Selby. 
 Thomas Phillips. 
 William Randle. 
 William Speakman. 
 Job Lewis. 
 Charles Apthorp. 
 George Steuart. 
 George Shore. 
 Thomas Greene. 
 John Read. 
 Thomas Child. 
 William Coffin. 
 Silvester Gardiner. 
 James Gordon. 
 William Shirley. 
 Samuel Wentworth. 
 Eliakim Hutchinson. 
 Charles Apthorp. 
 George Cradock. 
 William Shirley, jr. 
 John Box. 
 James Forbes. 
 John Box. 
 Thomas Hawding. 
 Henry Lloyd. 
 Nathl. Wheelwright. 
 Charles Paxton. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 21! 
 
 1763 
 1769 
 
 17S3 
 1793 
 
 1796 
 1798 
 1827 
 
 1762, Charles Paxton Silvester Gardiner. 
 
 176S, Silvester Gardiner Charles Paxton. 
 
 1774, Silvester Gardiner Gilbert Deblois. 
 
 Revolutionary interval. 
 
 17S2, Thomas Bulfineh James Ivers. 
 
 1792, Thomas Bulfineh Shrimp. Hutchinson. 
 
 1794, Thomas Bulfineh Joseph May. 
 
 1795, Charles Miller Joseph May. 
 1797, Charles Miller Ebenezer Oliver. 
 1826, Ebenezer Oliver Joseph May. 
 
 , Francis Johonnot Oliver William Minot. 
 
 King's Chapel as in 1720. Beacon Hill in the distance. 
 

 DATE DUE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 &&)£?& **?** 
 
 pg| 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 297