J. /If .2,1, LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PRINCETON, N. J. Purchased by the Mrs. Robert Lenox Kennedy Church History Fund. Division.jQ./\.../ / « Section.UJ.-2--0 V, / i /^a^A^fia^dr/ ' HISTORY JAN 14 1921 OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH (G^irD &fyuttt)) BOSTON 1669 — 1884 HAMILTON ANDREWS HILL IN TWO VOLUMES VOLUME I. BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY C&e EtoeraiUe Press, Cambrtlig;?, Jlaes. 1890 Copyright, 1889, By HAMILTON ANDREWS HILL. All rights reserved. The Riverside Press, Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A. Electrotyped and Printed by H. O. Houghton & Company. "For well she keeps her ancient stock, The stubborn strength of Pilgrim Rock ; And still maintains, with milder laws, And clearer light, the Good Old Cause/" PREFACE. SIXTY years ago the Rev. Dr. Wisner preached four sermons on the History of the Old South Church in Boston. These sermons were published, with a series of notes which turned to the best account all the information relating to the church then accessible. In 1883 an Historical Catalogue was printed, containing a list of the members from 1669 to 1882, together with the names of those who had owned the covenant. At the annual meeting of the society in 1884 the preparation and publication of a more complete history were determined upon, and, soon after, the present work was undertaken. The author's plan at the beginning was to print in full the records of the church and society down to a recent date, and all the more important papers which had been preserved, with sketches of the ministers, officers, and members, so far as mate- rial could be found for this purpose, and, as a setting to the whole, and in order to its better understanding, to make mention of the principal events, secular as well as religious, which the church had witnessed, and to recall, to some extent, the circum- stances in the midst of which its members had lived and la- bored. It soon became apparent, however, that so far as related to the records, if the work were to be compressed within rea- sonable limits, it would be necessary either to give only an abstract of them for the entire period of the church's history, or to print them in full for a portion of the time. The author decided upon the latter course, and those with whom he con- sulted concurred in the decision. Accordingly, the records are given in full for about a century and a half, or down to and including the ordination, in 182 1, of the Rev. Benjamin B. Wisner, while only the more noteworthy events of his pastorate, and of the pastorates of Dr. Blagden and Dr. Manning, have VI PREFACE. been dwelt upon. The history closes with the installation in 1884 of the present minister, the Rev. George A. Gordon. After the first part of the history had been written, the attention of the author was called, during a visit in New Haven, by Professor Franklin Bowditch Dexter, to an old manuscript in the library of Yale University relating to the Old South Church. Upon an examination of this manuscript it was found to be an account, prepared by a committee of the church in 1693 or 1694, of the circumstances which led to the formation of the church and of its early experiences. This long-forgotten docu- ment, to which we have given the name of the Third Church Narrative, was so much more complete than the record books of the church, and contained so much that seemed interesting and important, that the rewriting of the first two or three chap- ters became necessary. Professor Dexter superintended the copying of the Narrative, and has taken a most kind interest in its publication. This document, with the diaries of John Hull, Samuel Sewall, and Joseph Sewall, throws much light on the history of the church and its membership for nearly a hundred years. In the transcription of the records and other papers, as the aim of the work is historical rather than antiquarian, the original spelling has been followed for the most part, but not the old-time abbreviations, which too often perplex the reader of the present day and obscure the meaning of the documents. To any one engaged in historical investigation it is a great privilege to have access to such libraries as those of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the Massachusetts His- torical Society, and the Boston Athenaeum, and to the Congre- gational Library, the Boston Public Library, the University Li- brary, Cambridge, and the Seminary Library, Andover. This has been the privilege of the author, and he hereby expresses his appreciation of the courtesy which has been extended to him in his frequent use of these rich depositaries. He desires to make special acknowledgments to his honored and much es- teemed friend, Mr. John Ward Dean of the Historic Genealogi- cal Society, whose advice and assistance from time to time have been most valuable. Important suggestions and aid, also, have PREFACE. VH been received from the Hon. Peter Thacher, Professor Edward E. Salisbury, the Rev. Dr. Samuel E. Herrick, Mr. George Lamb, Mr. Samuel Sewall, Dr. Samuel Abbott Green, the Rev. Edward G. Porter, Dr. George Frederick Bigelow, and Mr. Samuel Johnson. To the chairman (Mr. Joseph H. Gray) and members of the standing committee of the Old South Society, the author returns his thanks for their hearty and appreciative cooperation. To this list it was intended to add the name of the Rev. Henry W. Foote, the beloved minister of King's Chapel, but he has been called away from the associations of earth to join the generations of the redeemed in heaven. The etchings of Old Washington Street and Old Milk Street, which appear as the frontispieces of these volumes, follow two very interesting pictures owned by Mr. Abbott Lawrence, and painted probably between the years 1830 and 1840. Mr. Law- rence cordially allowed the pictures to be drawn for this work, and took much pains personally that the best result might be secured. Dr. Fitch Edward Oliver, also, afforded every facility for copying the portrait by Copley of his ancestor, Lieutenant- Governor Oliver, and Messrs. Ticknor and Company gave their ready permission to take drawings from the Memorial History of Boston of the mansion houses of Edward Bromfield and William Phillips. The Bibliography appended to the second volume has been compiled by Mr. Appleton P. C. Griffin of the Boston Public Library. There never, perhaps, has been a better understanding of the fathers of New England, or more clear and just discrimination in reference to them and their work, than now prevails. Their descendants are beginning to judge them not so much by what was external, incidental, and accessory in their lives, as by their character, their principles, and their purposes, and, also, by what they accomplished. Even the Puritan theology, in its spirit and essence, is beginning to be understood more intelligently, and estimated more fairly, under the influence of the intellectual and spiritual quickening which has come, of late, to the Congre- gational and other churches of New England. The annals Vlll PRE FA CE. contained in these volumes have been collated and edited with some appreciation of the earnest lives and faithful labors which they serve to illustrate, and with the highest admiration for them. On the part of those who shall read the record, may there be at the least as much appreciation of these lives and labors, and as hearty a sympathy with them. Boston, October 10, 1889. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. 1669. INTRODUCTORY. — THE SEPARATION FROM THE FIRST CHURCH. PAGES New England Congregationalism. — The First Church. — Death of Mr. Nor- ton and Mr. Wilson. — The Proper Subjects of Baptism. — The Synod of 1662. — The Rev. Jonathan Mitchell. — The Third Church Narrative. — The Minority in the First Church. — The First Church asks the New Haven Church to release Mr. Davenport. — Reasons of Dissent signed by Thirty Brethren. — Letter from Mr. Davenport to the First Church. — Letter from the New Haven Church. — A Second Letter from Mr. Davenport. — Mr. Davenport comes to Boston. — The First Church calls a Council. — Result of Council. — The Dissenting Brethren request a Dismission. — Mr. Daven- port formally called. — A Letter from the New Haven Church concealed. — A Church Meeting. — The New Haven Letter as read and as written. — Dismission of the Minority refused. — Four Churches advised with. — Further Advice sought. — Mr. Davenport ordained, — Charges against the Dissenting Brethren. — Letter from the Rev. Nicholas Street. — The Dea- cons called to Account and dismissed from Office. — Memorial of the Dis- senting Brethren to the Governor and Council. — A Church Meeting in the Town House. — A Second Council called by the Minority. — Letter from John Allin and John Eliot. — Further Charges against the Minority. — The Case stated to the Second Council. — The Council's Letters to the Elders of the First Church and their Replies. — The Council's Letter to the First Church. — Result of Council. — Letter from the Rev. John Allin. — Letter from the Dissenting Brethren. — Their Third Declaration to the First Church. — Approbation of Six Magistrates. — The Governor and Others pro- test.— The First Church protests. — The Third Church constituted. — Mr. Davenport's Statement. — The Testimony of many Ministers. — A Fast Day appointed 1-89 CHAPTER II. 1669-1671. THE DISPUTE BECOMES A POLITICAL QUESTION. John Hull's Diary. — Extracts from the Records of the Salem Church. — Mr. Davenport's Election Sermon. — Differences in the General Court. — Memo- rial from Hadleyand Northampton. — A Joint Committee appointed. — Two Reports. — Communication from the Magistrates. — A Paper from the Dep- uties. — Another Paper from the Deputies. — A Letter from the Deputy- Governor. — A Day of Humiliation appointed. — An Election. — The House of Deputies changed. — Memorial of Fifteen Clergymen. — Report on the Memorial. — Seventeen Deputies dissent 90-112 CONTENTS. CHAPTER III. 1669-1674. ORGANIZATION. The Founders of the Third Church. — Mrs. Norton. — The Rev. Thomas Thacher. — Covenant of the Third Church. — Opposition to the Erection of a Meeting-House. — Land given by Mrs. Norton. — Governor Winthrop's Estate, the Green. — Mrs. Norton's First Deed. — The First Church and the Green, 1639. — Meeting-House completed. — Call for a Meeting of the Coun- cil.— Judgment of the Council. — Meeting of the Selectmen. — Petition to the Governor and Council. — Action of the Council ; its Letter to the Elders of the First Church. — Church Officers chosen. — Mr. Hull's Mission to England. — Letter Testimonial to Ministers and Brethren in England. — Mr. Thacher's Dismission from the Church in Charlestown. — Letters-Missive. — Reply of the First Church. — Mr. Thacher's Ordination. — Request of the Women for Dismission from the First Church. — Death of Mr. Davenport. — Refusal to dismiss the Women. — A Second Request. — Perplexities of the Women. — A Letter to the First Church. — An Essay for Accommoda- tion.— The Attitude of the First Church. — An Appeal to the First Church for Peace. — Its Reply. — Letter from the Church in Plymouth. — The Rev. Leonard Hoar. — Called to the Presidency of Harvard College. — His Ad- ministration.— His Resignation and Death. — A Vote of the Church. — Death of Governor Bellingham. — His Will. — Mr. Oakes's Election Ser- mon. — The Extreme Men rebuked. — Another Appeal for Peace. — Reply of the First Church. — Fast-Day Sermon by Mr. Thacher. — Request of the Women for Admission to the Third Church. — Judgment of the Ministers in their Favor 113-204 CHAPTER IV. 1675-16S3. philip's war. — the Quakers. — reconciliation. A Brief Period of Quiet. — Philip's Intrigues. — Attack on Swanzey. — Cen- tral Massachusetts desolated. — Soldiers in Philip's War. — Mrs. Rowland- son. — A Letter from Mr. Thacher to his Son in London. — Samuel Sewall. — Mrs. Norton's Second Deed. — The Quakers. — Margaret Brewster. — Mrs. Norton's Death. — Her Will. — Her Estate. — The Rev. Samuel Wil- lard installed. — Mr. Thacher's Last Sermon. — His Death. — The Rev. Peter Thacher. —The Reforming Synod. — The Confession of 1680. — A Large Accession to the Membership. — Death of Mr. Shepard of Charles- town. — The Ordination of his Son as his Successor. — Simon Bradstreet. — Letter from the Church in Andover. — Renewal of the Covenant. — Death • of Edward Raynsford and Thomas Savage. — Reconciliation between the First and Third Churches. — Death of John Hull 205-248 CHAPTER V. 1 683- 1 696. THE INTER-CHARTER PERIOD. — WITCHCRAFT. Edward Randolph. — The Charter threatened. — A Public Fast. — Regulation of Seats. — Ordination of a Deacon. — A Council at Maiden. — The Rev. John Bailey. — The Rev. Charles Morton. — The Anglican Hierarchy. — The Rev. Robert Ratcliffe. — The Charter vacated. — Letter from John Eliot. — CONTENTS. XI Arrival of Sir Edmund Andros. — The South Meeting-House seized. — Death and Funeral of Lady Andros. — An Exciting Interview with the Gov- ernor. — A Declarative Deed. — Edward Lilley's Funeral. — The Revolution of 1689. — Simon Bradstreet. — The Woeful Decade. — Peter Sergeant.— The Province House. — Council at Lynn. — Witchcraft in New England. — A Special Court constituted. — Trial of John Alden. — Mr. Willard's Attitude. — Judge Sewall's Penitence. — His Public Confession. — Death of Jacob Eliot. — A Subscription for Mr. Willard. — Council at Salem Village. — The Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth. — Church gathered at Lexington. — The Rev. William Brattle 249-300 CHAPTER VI. 1 696- 1 707. A PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT. — THE PRESIDENCY OF HARVARD COLLEGE. Death of the Rev. John Bailey. — A Church Meeting at Judge Sewall's. — Mr. Willard asks for a Colleague. — The Rev. Simon Bradstreet and the Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton. — The Latter chosen. — Cases of Church Disci- pline. — Roger Judd and Others. — A Party of Progress. — President Math- er's Attack on the Tutors at Cambridge. — New Church formed by Thomas Brattle and Others. — Its Manifesto. — The Rev. Benjamin Colman. — Fast at the New Church. — Mr. Pemberton called. — His Ordination. — Judge Sewall's Tract on Slavery. — Sickness of Mr. Willard. — Death of Deacon Frary. — The Artillery Company. — The Mather Controversy. — Resignation of President Mather. — Mr. Willard chosen Vice-President of the College. — Mr. Willard's Influence. — A Sabbath at Brattle Street. — Death of Robert Gibbs and Nathaniel Oliver. — A Second Parsonage to be built. — The Ob- servance of the Lord's Supper. — Baptism of Benjamin Franklin. — His Father, Josiah Franklin. — The Proposals of 1705. — John Wise on the Rights of the Churches. — Jonathan Belcher. — Death of Mr. Willard. — Funeral Sermon by Mr. Pemberton. — Mr. Willard's " Body of Divinity " 301-340 CHAPTER VII. 1707-1717. CHURCH WORK AND GROWTH. Fast at the South Church. — The Rev. John Leverett. — Mr. Pemberton and the Mathers. — James or St. James ? — The New Parsonage completed. — Judge Sewall and his Minister. — The Fire of 171 1. — Meeting-House of the First Church burnt. — The Church invited to worship with the South Church. — Death of John Walley. — Mr. Joseph Sewall called to the South Church. — He accepts. — Arrangements for the Ordination. — The Ministers' May Meeting. — Episcopal Parishes organized. — Primitive Congregational- ism. — Mr. Sewall ordained. — The Rev. Joseph Stevens. — Death of Peter Sergeant. — Sickness and Scarcity in the Town. — The New North Church gathered. — The Rev. John Webb. — Ministers' Meeting at Mr. Pemberton's. — John Wise's Second Book. — The Rev. Thomas Bridge. — The Rev. Wil- liam Cooper. — Loss of the Amity. — David Jeffries. — Death of Mr. Pem- berton and Mr. Brattle. — Mr. Colman's Funeral Sermon. — A Great Snow Storm 341-382 Xll CONTENTS. CHAPTER VIII. 1717-1730. THE BEGINNING OF A LONG CO-PASTORATE. Confession of Nathaniel Oliver. — The Rev. Thomas Prince. — His Travels. — A Subscription for Mr. Sewall. — Death of Judge Sewall's Wife. — Death of Andrew Belcher and Wait Still Winthrop. — The Rev. Thomas Foxcroft. — Mr. Prince called to the South Church. — A New Precentor. — Mr. Prince's Ordination. — His First Sermon as Pastor. — The New South Church. — The Rev. Samuel Checkley. — Two Deacons chosen. — Marriage of Judge Sewall and Mr. Prince. — Votes of the Church. — Council at the New North Church. — The Rev. Peter Thacher of Weymouth. — The New Brick Church gathered. — Enlargement of the South Meeting-House proposed. — Increase Mather preaches before the Ministers. — The Small-Pox. — Judge Sewall's Third Marriage. — A Council at Watertown. — Days of Fasting with Prayer. — Death of Increase Mather. — A Council at South Braintree. — A Sabbath at the New Brick. — Death of President Leverett. — Mr. Sewall called to Harvard College. — The Rev. Charles Chauncy. — Depreciation of the Cur- rency.— Collections for Benevolent Purposes. — The Earthquake of 1727. — Death of Cotton Mather. — Proposal to build a New Meeting-House. — Pro- test from Judge Sewall. — A Building Committee chosen. — The First Duel in Boston. — Arrival of Governor Burnet. — Terms of Membership. — Leg- acy of Mrs. Mills. — Hospitality of the First Church. — The Gift of Timo- thy Cunningham. — The Old Meeting-House taken down. — Death of Judge Sewall 383"44S CHAPTER IX. THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE. — COLLECTIONS FOR CHARITABLE USES. Tenure of Pew Property. — First Services in the New House. — Description of the Building. — Arrival of Governor Belcher. — The Governor's Pew. — The New Bell. — Death of Daniel Oliver. — Collections for Charitable and Pious Uses. — Hollis Street Church. — Jonathan Simpson. — Ordination of Missionaries. — Dr. Sewall's Sermon. — Death of Edward Bromfield. — A Day of Fasting and Prayer. — The First Church in Salem. — Sentence of Non-Communion. — Death of George Bethune and Thomas Fitch. — Confer- ence with Indian Chiefs at Deerfield. — Death of Mrs. Belcher. — The New England Chronology. — Death of President Wadsworth Public Reading of the Scriptures. — The West Church. — Death of the Rev. Nathaniel Wil- liams. — The New Brick Church. — The South Kingston Lands. — Death of Samuel Checkley. — Thomas Hubbard. — A Charitable Fund. — Organized Benevolence. — Ordination at Newport 446-499 CHAPTER X. 1 740-1 744. MR. WHITEFIELD'S FIRST VISIT. — THE REVIVAL PERIOD. The Rev. George Whitefield. — Mr. Prince's Retrospect. — Times of Religious Awakening. — Mr. Whitefield's Arrival. — First Sermon at Brattle Street. — Visit to Cambridge. — He preaches the Lecture. — Journey to the Eastward. — His Return to Boston. — His Impressions of the Town. — His Departure. — Mr. Whitefield and the Governor. — Dr. Sewall preaches before the Gen- eral Court. — The Rev. Gilbert Tennent. — A Large Ingathering. — Governor CONTENTS. xiii Belcher superseded. — Governor Shirley. — The Rev. Eleazar Wheelock. — Division in the Second Church. — The Rev. James Davenport. — The An- nual Convention, 1743. — Testimony against Mr. Whitefield. — A Second Convention. — Counter - Testimony. — A Separatist Church. — Nathaniel Wardell admonished and suspended. — A Letter to the Separatists. — Church Troubles in Newbury. — A Second Letter to the Separatists. — A Letter from Deborah Prince 500-549 CHAPTER XL 1744-1749- MR. WHITEFIELD'S SECOND VISIT. — THE FRENCH WARS. — THE SEPARATISTS. Mr. Whitefield lands at York. — Communion Service at Brattle Street. — Dis- cussions and Divisions. — Action at Cambridge. — The Various Testimonies. — Mr. Whitefield and Dr. Chauncy. — Great Popularity of the Former. — The Expedition against Louisburg. — William Pepperrell. — Richard Gridley. — The Capture of Louisburg. — Death of Thomas Cushing. — The Rev. Sam- uel Cooper. — A Thanksgiving Sermon. — The Destruction of the French Fleet. — Mr. Prince's Prayer, and his Thanksgiving Sermon, " The Salva- tions of God in 1746." — The Rev. Jonathan Mayhew. — Death of Dr. Col- man. — The Rev. Samuel Checkley. — Election of Seaters. — The Church in Ipswich. — Nathaniel Wardell excommunicated. — A Second Separatist Church. — The Rev. Andrew Croswell. — Protest of the South Church. — Reply from Mr. Croswell. — A Council at Medfield. — The Drought of 1749 550-602 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Old Washington Street {Etched by Sidney L. Smith) . Frontispiece Porch in Boylston Street i Joshua Scottow's Certificate 12 Old Charlestown 89 John Norton's House, Ipswich 90 Portrait of Edward Rawson 95 Negative Vote on the Report of 1671 11 1 Door from Mr. Norton's House, Ipswich 112 Milton Clevedon Church, Somerset 113 Portrait of Thomas Thacher 123 Signature of John Davenport and Others 159 Essay for Accommodation, 1670 174 Leonard Hoar to Simon Bradstreet 184 Vote relating to Leonard Hoar 189 Signatures of the Women, 1674 202 Memorial Tablets 205 Portrait of Thomas Savage 208 Cup given by Hezekiah Usher 212 Receipts under Mrs. Norton's Will 224 Portrait of Samuel Willard 226 Letter from the Church at Andover 239 Action of the First Church, 1682 244 Tomb of Peter Thacher, Salisbury 248 Province House 249 Portrait of Simon Bradstreet 279 Portrait of Samuel Sewall 292 Carved Vane from the Province House 300 Record of Benjamin Franklin's Baptism 330 Signature of Josiah Franklin 345 Ground Plan of Parsonage House 347 Baptismal Basin given by Mrs. Saltonstall 358 Portrait of Joseph Sewall 366 Portrait of Ebenezer Pemberton 379 Old Gravestones, Old South Porch 382 Sacramental Silver 383 Portrait of Thomas Prince 390 Flagon given by Samuel Sewall 442 Memorial Tablet to Samuel Sewall 445 Old South Tower, Washington Street 446 Portrait of Jonathan Belcher 454 Corner Stone, Milk Street 499 Edward Bromfield's Mansion 55° Old Doorway, Milk Street 602 CHAPTER I. 1669. INTRODUCTORY. THE SEPARATION FROM THE FIRST CHURCH. THE history of the several Congregational churches in New England is the history of New England Congregationalism. These churches are not constituent parts of a compact and comprehensive ecclesiastical organization. John Cotton, in his "Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven," insists that each single congregation "is endowed with a charter to be a body-politic to Christ." There is no Congregational Church in the United States, in the sense in which there is a Presbyterian or a Prot- estant Episcopal Church. Should there ever be such a Church, there will be no longer Congregational churches. It is true, there is a fellowship or sisterhood of churches ; but those who have entered it have done so without any surrender of their 2 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. individuality or individual rights, and they continue in it as peers. The Cambridge Platform says : " Although churches be distinct, and therefore may not be confounded one with another, and equal, and therefore have not dominion one over another ; yet all the churches ought to preserve church communion one with another, because they are all united unto Christ, not only as a mystical but as a political head, whence is derived a com- munion suitable thereunto." The enduring basis of this com- munion is not an inflexible uniformity or absolute sameness in relation to all questions of faith and polity, but a spirit of har- mony, the result of Christian sympathy, confidence, and charity.1 To understand New England Congregationalism, therefore, we must know what has been "professed and practised" in the churches of New England,2 and, so far as possible, in each of them. Every historic church is a source of supply, from which information of value may be communicated, and its records and traditions should in some way be made available for the pur- pose of adding to our knowledge on the general subject. The history of the Third Church of Christ in Boston — the i "A company of conscientious Chris- tians, fleeing from an oppressive hie- rarchy because it hinders the development of pure Christianity, making the wilder- ness their home because it affords them ' freedom to worship God,' selecting their own religious teachers by popular vote, and these teachers taking the Bible as their ' professed, perpetual, and only di- rectory ' in the administration of their affairs, — such a company commence their career in this secluded spot, free from all other restraint than that which Christ, their acknowledged sovereign, imposes. In these untrammelled circumstances, each body of believers assumes its own inde- pendent form, — a form which, owing to a similarity of sentiment and condition, will be very likely to have a sameness in its essential features, with considerable variety in its minor details. At length they come together, not to enact a code of ecclesiastical laws, not even to con- struct an original system of church polity, but simply to compare notes and usages, and commit to writing that system which had already sprung up into use among them, and thus make ' a declaration of the church order wherein the good hand of God had moulded them.' The decla- ration thus made was the Cambridge Platform, which has ever since been re- garded as the ground-plan of New Eng- land Congregationalism." — A Historical Sketch of the Congregational Churches in Massachusetts from 1620 to /8j8, by Joseph S. Clark, D. D., p. 40. 2 John Higginson and William Hub- bard, in a Testimony added to John Wise's Vindication of the Governme?it of New England Churches, say : " It was a joy unto us, to see and read a book which the reverend president of our college [Increase Mather] lately published, under the title of 'The order of the gospel professed and practised by the churches of Christ in New England : ' A book most highly needful, and useful, and sea- sonable. . . . But we must herewithal testify, that in that worthy book, there is nothing obtruded upon the churches, but what they who were here, capable of observing what was done sixty years ago, do know to have been professed and prac- tised in the churches of New England ; (except in one or two) then and ever since, until of late, some who were not then born have suggested otherwise." INTR OD UCTOR Y. 3 Old South — covers a period of more than two centuries. The history of its membership goes back to the emigration under John Winthrop and to the Mayflower. Thus allied, at the beginning, to the first Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay, and also to the first Pilgrims of the Old Colony, it has drawn its inspiration, more perhaps than almost any other church, freely and indifferently both from Salem and from Plymouth. It has always endeavored to uphold the fellowship of the churches, while it has maintained with equal persistency its own individ- uality and independence. Born in the midst of conflict, and as the result of conflict, it has had a conspicuous part, during the more than two hundred years of its existence, in all the contro- versies through which the churches of its order have passed, and in all the social and political struggles which have touched more or less closely the religious life of New England. It has had a share, also, in the privileges of Christian service, which, in new and varied forms, have presented themselves to each suc- ceeding generation in the same period, as well as in the abun- dant blessings with which this service has been crowned. From the nature of the case, therefore, its history and that of its mem- bership must be a history, in part, of the sister churches by which it has been surrounded, and with which it has been asso- ciated in the Christian walk and in Christian work. For twenty years — from 1630 to 1650 — the First Church was the only church in Boston ; and for nearly twenty years longer it shared with the Second Church the responsibility of maintaining and representing the established faith and polity in the chief town of the Massachusetts Colony. The Second Church was gathered, June 5, 1650, with the cordial concurrence of the First, for the purpose of meeting the religious necessities of the increasing population.1 Unhappily, the formation of the 1 In his Life of the Rev. John Cotton, ship of our common Lord. Now, it has Cotton Mather says : " The gathering of pleased the Lord so to order it, that the second church in Boston, was evi- many years after his decease, that self- dently very much to the disadvantage denial of his holy servant has turned unto of Mr. Cotton, in many of his interests, some account, in the opportunities which But he was a John, who reckoned his joy that very church has given unto his chil- fulfilled in this, that in his own decrease dren, to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, in the interests of the Lord Jesus Christ the conduct of it : his son-in-law has been would increase ; and therefore, with an for more than thrice ten years, and his exemplary self-denial, divesting himself grandson for more than twice seven of all carnal respects, he set himself to years, the ministers of the gospel, in that encourage the foundation of that church, very church, accommodated with happy out of respect unto the service and wor- opportunities to serve their generation." 4 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Third Church * was the result of dissension and division in the First, and of a secession from its membership which it strenu- ously resisted, and for many years refused to forgive. The death of the Rev. John Norton in 1663, and of the Rev. John Wilson in 1667, left the First Church without either pastor or teacher.2 To find worthy successors to such ministers as John Wilson, John Cotton, and John Norton was not an easy task. These were no ordinary men. Exceptionally endowed by nature, carefully trained amid the elevating and quickening influences then dominant in the University of Cambridge, and thoroughly consecrated to the work of the ministry, they had become eminent as clergymen of the Church of England. Driven from that Church and from their native land because of their refusal to conform to a ritual which their consciences condemned, they received a warm welcome on their arrival in New England, and they had a large share in moulding the polit- ical no less than the religious institutions of the infant state. Mr. Wilson's ministry covered a period of thirty-seven years, going back to the first settlement of the town and to the gather- ing of the church. He was the honored friend and counsellor of Winthrop and Dudley, and, later, he was held in the highest reverence and love by the younger generation. As he had been sole minister since the death of Mr. Norton, there was now a double vacancy to be filled. In 1663 the church sent a call to one of the most distinguished Puritan ministers of the day, the Rev. Dr. John Owen, of London. The Governor, John Endicott, in concurrence with the General Court, seconded the call in a 1 The First Baptist Church, organized exhortation, and therein to administer a in 1665, was the third Christian church word of wisdom; the teacher is to attend gathered in Boston, but not being of the to doctrine, and therein to administer a established order, it was not recognized word of knowledge ; and either of them as such. In designating the Old South to administer the seals of that covenant as the Third Church, we only use the unto the dispensation whereof they are historical name which has come down to alike called." " All this," says Dr. Jo- us, and do not intend any disrespect to seph S. Clark, in his Historical Sketch, our Baptist friends. " appears to us like a distinction without - "A church fully furnished had a pas- a difference. Practically, these two offi- tor and a teacher, whose duty it was to cers were colleague pastors, as we should preach and administer the ordinances ; the now call them." distinctive function of the former being The Independent Society that after- private and public exhortation, of the ward worshipped in Silver Street Chapel, latter doctrinal and scriptural explana- London, had at one time as its teacher tion." — Palfrey's History of New Eng- the Rev. Philip Nye, and as its pastor the land, vol. ii. p. $j. Rev. John Loder. — Wilson's Hist, and According to the Cambridge Platform, Antiq. of the Dissenting Churches, vol. iii. " The pastor's special work is to attend to p. 69. THE PULPIT OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 5 strong appeal, October 20, 1663 ;a and the correspondence be- tween leading men here in church and state and Dr. Owen, on the subject of his removal to Massachusetts, continued through three or four years. He at length decided, reluctantly, that it was his duty to remain in England. It was not until the autumn of 1667 that two men were found who were qualified to become the " teaching officers " of the First Church, and who were prepared to assume the responsibilities. These were the Rev. John Davenport, of New Haven, and the Rev. James Allen. They had both been educated at Oxford, and had been minis- ters of the Established Church, in which they had suffered per- secution for conscience' sake. Mr. Allen is said to have been ejected from his living by the Act of Uniformity which went into effect on Saint Bartholomew's Day, 1662, but this could have been only by anticipation, as he arrived in Boston in the month of June in that year. He was then thirty years of age, and some of " the great church," we are told, were anxious to secure his services at once as an assistant to Mr. Wilson and Mr. Norton, " the Lord having given him large room in the hearts of the people." Others were not then prepared to unite in calling him, but he became a member of the church and occa- sionally preached in its pulpit. It does not appear that there was any opposition to his settlement in 1667. Mr. Davenport at this time was about seventy years of age.2 1 "In consequence of this pressing Dr. Owen was dean of Christ Church, invitation, Dr. Owen was induced, in the Oxford, from 1651 to 1659, and vice- year 1665, to prepare for a voyage to chancellor of the university. Increase Boston, but was prevented from his Mather speaks of his being invited to design, first by the plague and fire of succeed the other famous Johns, who London, which took place in the follow- had been burning and shining lights in ing year ; and next by the king's decla- that which was the first candlestick set ration of indulgence to the Dissenters, up in this populous town, and of his being which opened to him a prospect of diverted by a special providence. See greater usefulness by remaining in Great Preface to Cotton Mather's Johannes in Britain. In an interview, also, with the Eremo. king himself, by his majesty's special 2 Mr. Davenport was born in Coven- request, at which they discoursed together try, in 1597, and his father was at one about two hours, he received such assur- time mayor of that city. He was edu- ances of royal favor and respect as led cated at Brazen-Nose College, Oxford, him to lay aside all purposes of quitting and was vicar of St. Stephen's, Coleman the country. Besides his kind profes- Street, London, from 1624 to 1633. He sions, the king gave him a thousand fled to Holland to escape from the perse- guineas to distribute among those who cution of Laud, then Bishop of London, had suffered most by the late severities." Theophilus Eaton also was born in Cov- — Coll. Mass. Hist. Society, vol. ii. 2d entry, and was one of Mr. Davenport's series, p. 266. parishioners in London. 6 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. With Theophilus Eaton and others, he had founded the New Haven Colony ; he had filled an important place in the direction of its affairs, and for nearly thirty years he had been minister of its First Church. He had all the qualifications of learning, reputation, experience, and Christian character essential for the position to which he was invited ; but on the part of an influ- ential minority in the church there were objections to his com- ing which could not be met or satisfied. He was thought to be too old; and this consideration was to be speedily justified, for he lived only fifteen months after his installation in Boston. Another and more serious objection was, that upon the question of the baptismal covenant, by which the churches of New Eng- land were then greatly exercised and sharply divided, he main- tained opinions directly opposed to those which had prevailed among the members of the church to which he was called, and which had been held by its late ministers. To settle him as their pastor was felt by the minority to be altogether at variance with the attitude held by the church on what was regarded at the time as a very important issue. In order to a proper understanding of this question, diver- gence of opinion upon which had so much to do with the for- mation of the Third Church, we present the following clear and condensed statement from the pen of the Rev. Daniel T. Fiske, D. D., of Newburyport : x — " The early Puritan fathers held most strenuously, in opposition to the views prevalent in their day through a large part of the Christian world, that only regenerated persons should be admitted to full com- munion and all the privileges of the church. They also attached great importance to household baptism, and held that the children of believers, as included in the covenant of their parents, were in a qual- ified sense members of the church ; such children were regarded as under the watch and discipline of the church, and were often dismissed with their parents from one church to another. Most of the early set- tlers were church members in full, and, as a matter of course, had their children baptized. But many of those children, on reaching mature age and becoming heads of families, did not feel prepared to own their baptismal covenant, and come into the full communion and fellowship of the church, and so could not have the ordinance of baptism ad- ministered to their children. This was the occasion of much grief to the godly grandparents. As Cotton Mather observes, ' The good old generation could not, without many uncomfortable apprehensions, behold their offspring excluded from the baptism of Christianity, and 1 Contributions to the Eccles. Hist, of Essex County, Mass., pp. 271, 272. HOUSEHOLD BAPTISM. 7 from the ecclesiastical inspection that is to accompany that baptism ; indeed, it was to leave their offspring under the shepherdly government of our Lord Jesus Christ and his ordinances that they had brought their lambs into this wilderness.' " What shall be done ? Shall they, on the one hand, make ' no ecclesiastical difference ' between their children, who have been bap- tized and educated in the church, and ' pagans, who might happen to hear the word of God in their assemblies ' ? This, they think, will be ' quickly to abandon the biggest part of the country to heathenism.' Or shall they, on the other hand, with the English Episcopalians and Scotch Presbyterians, lower the terms of communion, so that all who have been baptized, and are outwardly moral, though unregenerated, may be admitted to all the privileges of the church ? This, they fear, will bring into the church a ' worldly part of mankind, and so work mischief.' In this dilemma they found themselves. To solve the difficulty, at the motion of certain ministers in Connecticut, a council or synod of ministers was convened at Boston, in 1657 ; and in 1662, another and larger synod was convened at the same place, composed of ministers and messengers of the churches.1 Substantially the same result was reached by both synods in regard to baptism, namely, ' Church members who were admitted in minority,' that is, who were baptized in childhood, ' understanding the doctrine of faith, and publicly professing their assent thereto, not scandalous in life, and solemnly owning the covenant before the church, wherein they give up themselves and their children to the Lord, and subject themselves to the government of Ghrist in the church, their children are to be baptized.' 2 . . . " At first it [this result] met with extensive and strenuous oppo- 1 [Two questions were submitted for thereof." — Magnolia (Book V.), vol. ii. the consideration of the synod. One p. 301.] was, Who are the subjects of baptism ? 2 [The decision of the synod was : This was " the grand question." The 1. They that, according to Scripture, are other was, Whether, according to the members of the visible church are the word of God, there ought to be a conso- subjects of baptism. 2. The members of ciation of churches, and what should be the visible church, according to Scrip- the manner of it ? The synod defined ture, are confederate visible believers, in consociationism as the equivalent of the particular churches, and their infant seed, communion of churches, and then, of /'. e., children in minority, whose next course, gave its approbation to it. " Com- parents, one or both, are in covenant, munion of churches being commanded, 3. The infant seed of confederate visible and consociation being but an agreement believers are members of the same church to practise it, this must needs be a duty with their parents, and when grown up also." "There has constantly been in are personally under the watch, discipline, these churches a possession of commu- and government of that church. 4. nion, in giving the right hand of fellow- These adult persons are not therefore to ship in the gathering of churches, and be admitted to full communion merely ordination of elders ; which importeth a because they are and continue members, consociation, and obligeth to the practice without such further qualifications as the 8 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. sition, but gradually gained ground, and at length was almost univer- sally adopted by the New England churches. It has often been said that its adoption was due to political quite as much as to religious considerations. By a law passed in 1631, the elective franchise was limited to members of the church, and the half-way covenant scheme, it is alleged, was devised to enable those who were not communicants to exercise the rights of freemen. This view is put forth by scores of writers, and yet, so far as I can discover, it is unsupported by facts. " 1. This reason does not appear in the discussions which the new measure called forth. Cotton Mather gives a summary of the argu- ments advanced on both sides, but makes no allusion to this. " 2. There is no evidence that persons admitted to this half-way membership in the church were thereby invested with any of those civil rights from which non-church-membership had excluded them. They were not entitled to vote, even in ecclesiastical affairs, and hence we infer that they were not entitled to vote in civil affairs, and so were as much as ever disfranchised by the law of 163 1. "3. The law of 163 1 was, by royal order, repealed in 1664, or so far modified that any person obtaining from a minister a certificate that he was a man of orthodox principles and good morals could be admitted to the rights of freemen, even though not a member of the church at all. "4. The whole controversy on the subject originated in the Con- necticut Colony, where there never was any law which, like that in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, restricted the right of suffrage to church members. " These facts, I think, show conclusively that the motive which led to the adoption of the half-way covenant was not a political one. The originators and promoters of the new scheme were evidently actuated by purely religious considerations. And it would have been compar- atively harmless in practice, if its original form and spirit had been retained. But it underwent various changes, all of which lowered it, and increased its mischievous tendencies." We think it will appear, as we proceed, that the original form and spirit of this new scheme were retained in the Third Church, and that as practised there it was, to say the least, harmless. word of God requireth thereunto. 5. Christ in the church, their children are to Church members who were admitted in be baptized. Two other articles related minority, understanding the doctrine of to children who had been hindered from faith, and publicly professing their assent baptism by the death of parents, or some thereto, not scandalous in life, and sol- other providence, and to the baptism of emnly owning the covenant before the children whose parents had moved away church, wherein they give up themselves from the churches in which they held, and their children to the Lord, and sub- their membership. — Magnalia (Book V.), ject themselves to the government of vol. ii. p. 279.] THE SYNOD OF 1662. 9 The Rev. Jonathan Mitchell, of Cambridge, was one of the authors of the Result of the synod of 1662, and he has been called "the father of the half-way covenant." Some of his words also first suggested the name. " We make account," said he, "that if we keep baptism within the non-excommunicable, and the Lord's Supper within the compass of those that have (unto charity) somewhat of the power of godliness, or grace in exercise, we shall be near about the right middle-way of church reformation." This middle-way has ever since been known as the half-way covenant. Mr. Mitchell preached the election sermon in 1667. He took for his text Neh. ii. 10: "When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel." In the course of his sermon upon this suggestive text, he laid down the following principles for ad- mission to the privileges of baptism and the Lord's Supper : " To leave the children of non-scandalous orthodox Christians unbaptized, will, I doubt not, be one day found a thing dis- pleasing unto Jesus Christ. But on the other hand, to baptize in such a lax and licentious way, as serves to dress men in the livery, without bearing the yoke of Christ, to have his name upon them with rejection of his government, will not suit either the principles of reformation or the rules of Scripture. So though rigid severity in admissions to the Lord's Table is to be avoided, yet to be lax and slight therein, to admit all sorts to full communion, or upon very slight qualifications, is against the principles and interest of reformation." 1 There was a minority, small in number, but highly respectable in character and learning, which dissented from the position taken by the synod on the question of baptism. It included such men as the Rev. Charles Chauncy, President of Harvard College,2 the Rev. John Mayo, and the Rev. Increase Mather. President Chauncy and Mr. Mather published their views, but the latter came over afterward to the side of the majority, con- 1 John Hull, recording Mr. Mitchell's Felt's Eccles. Hist, of New England, vol. death "9th 5th mo., 1668," speaks of him ii. pp. 416, 417. as " the chief remaining pillar of our 2 President Chauncy was not so set in ministry." his opinions that he could not take part Increase Mather writes : "That blessed in the installation of Mr. Thacher, the man, concerning whom I may say, as first minister of the Third Church. His sometime Beza concerning Calvin, now grandson and great-grandson, both of Mitchell is dead, life is less sweet, and whom bore his name, became members death will be less bitter unto me." — of this church in the next century. IO HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. vinced, in part, by the arguments of Mr. Mitchell, and influenced, also, by his venerable father, the minister of Dorchester.1 In this controversy, Mr. Davenport, of New Haven, was not only on the opposite side from that on which Mr. Wilson and Mr. Norton had stood, but he was the leading champion on that side ; according to Cotton Mather, he was "the greatest of the anti-synodists."2 It was inevitable, therefore, that when it was proposed to invite him to the vacant pastorate in the First Church there should be serious opposition, and that when this purpose was persisted in two parties should find themselves 1 In view of the controversy which prevailed with regard to the formation of the Third Church, and its favor for the half-way covenant, and the opposition of the members of the First Church and others to it, Increase Mather wrote, May i, 1 67 1, his preface to the following work : The First Principles of New England, concerning the subject of Bap- tism and Communion of Churches, col- lected partly out of the printed books, but chiefly out of the original manu- scripts of the first and chief Fathers in the New England Churches, with the judgment of certain learned divines of the Congregational way in England, con- cerning the said questions. The author says that his design is to " commend a few things to the serious and Christian consideration of the anti- synodalian brethren," and that he was formerly of their persuasion. He observes that some who dissented from the late synod de- cided for the enlargement of baptism ; the minority of that body thought the rest of it had apostatized ; his father, Richard Mather, gave his dying counsel to him, that he should endeavor to have children brought under the government of the church, and when grown up, to have baptism for their children. — Felt's Eccles. Hist., vol. ii. p. 478. " My father," says Mather, " when he was leaving the world, did commend it as his dying counsel to me, that I should endeavour the good of the rising gener- ation in this country, and in special, that they might be brought under the govern- ment of Christ in his church, and when grown up and qualified, as in the late Synod book expressed, have baptism for their children. What impression those words; since they were the words of a father, and of such a father, and dying words also, have had upon my heart, is known to the Father of Spirits, who only searcheth hearts, and converseth with the souls of men, nor am I able to utter it." 2 Cotton Mather tells us that Mr. Davenport held views (as he himself did) in reference to the fulfilment of prophecy such as are now called millenarian. " In the earliest of the primitive times, the faithful did in a literal sense, believe the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the rising and reigning of the saints with him, a thousand years before the rest of the dead live again : a doctrine, which however some of later years have counted it heretical ; yet, in the days of Irenaeus, was questioned by none but such as were counted hereticks. . . . But here was the special favour of heaven, to our Davenport, that so many years ago, when in both Englands the true notion of the Chiliad, was hardly apprehended by as many divines of note, as there are mouths of Nilus, yet this worthy man clearly saw into it, and both preached and wrote those very things, about the future state, and coming of the Lord, the calling of the Jews, and the first and second resurrection of the dead, which do now of late years get more ground against the opposition of the otherwise minded, and find a kinder entertainment among them that search the Scriptures. . . . Even, then, so long ago it was, that he asserted, A personal, visible, powerful and glorious coming of the Lord Jesus Christ unto judgment, long before the end of the world." THE THIRD CHURCH NARRATIVE. II arrayed against each other. The majority, however, was in his favor, and they carried their purpose, as, from their point of view, certainly, it was right that they should. They were not to blame for insisting upon having their own way ; nor is there any evi- dence that the minority, "the dissenting brethren," as they came to be called, opposed them in this in any spirit of faction. Before final action was taken, but when it was foreseen what this would be, the brethren of the minority, as will appear pres- ently, proposed to submit the question in dispute to a mutual council ; and after the call had been given, they begged permis- sion to withdraw and to organize another church, for which there was ample room in the growing town.1 As the discussion proceeded, another objection arose to the settlement of Mr. Davenport over the First Church. This had reference to the methods employed to detach him from his New Haven pastorate and bring him to Boston ; and it soon came to overshadow, in its importance and seriousness, all questions growing out of the synodical controversy.2 We have hints as to what these methods were in the various histories of the time, but we find them fully set forth, with many other interesting particulars, in a Narrative prepared under the authority of the new church, and compiled from the original documents then extant, which, so far as we know, has never been printed until now. " The Third Church," we are told, " after great travell and trouble being furnished and supplyed with officers and ordi- nances, did agree that there should be a narrative of the whole progress of their proceedings, drawn up and kept among the Churches Records for Posterity." This compilation was not made immediately, but in 169 1, probably, a committee, consist- ing of Samuel Sewall, Jacob Eliot, Theophilus Frary, and Joshua Scottow, drew up a statement of what took place during the years 1667 to 1674. A copy of this document, authenticated 1 Dr. Abiel Holmes, following George generally, in connection with the forma- Chalmers, says that in 1673 the town of tion of the old South Church. Thomas Boston is supposed to have contained Pemberton, descended from one of the fifteen hundred families ; but Dr. Palfrey founders, in his Description of Boston, regards this estimate as altogether too published in 1794, speaks of the brethren high. — History of New England, vol. iii. who separated from the First Church as P- 36- being dissatisfied " on account of the 2 At the end of the next century, the Rev. Mr. Davenport's leaving his church question of the half-way covenant had at New Haven for a settlement here." — dropped out of the thought of people Mass. Hist. Collections, vol. iii. p. 258. 12 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. ^ if f|1i WhIlU by Joshua Scottow,1 has been preserved in the library of Yale University, and we shall make free use of it in this history.2 The first leaf of the MS., which for con- venience of reference we shall call the Third Church Narrative, is missing, and the account opens in the autumn of 1667, in the midst of the proceedings of a meet- ing of the First Church, presided over by James Penn, ruling elder, a*t which "the dissenting brethren " sought opportunity 1 Mr. Scottow's certificate may be found at the close of the Narrative, in the third chapter. We present a facsimile of it on this page. 2 How this MS. found its way to New Haven we have no means of knowing. President Stiles records in his (MS.) diary : " Nov. 14, 1770. Read a long MS. Account of the Removal of Mr. Davenport from New Haven in 166S to the first Chh in Boston, upon the Death of Mr. Wilson; & the Councills & Gathering the third Chh in Boston." In the winter of 18S5-86, the attention of the author was called to this Narrative in New Haven by Professor Franklin Bowditch Dexter, who not only gave permis- sion for copying it, but carefully compared the copy, when made, with the original. Professor Dexter, writ- ing under date of Aug. 14, 1886, says : " As you will see from a notice at the end, the transcript was not probably made by any of the church members, but by hired writers. There are two very different hands em- ployed, — perhaps three, — and I can trace no convin- cing similarity to any of the written autographs of the founders. The brief certificate near the end, purporting to be by Joshua Scottow, I believe is wholly in his hand ; the date is uncertain, — whether 1693 or 1691." This valuable MS. adds greatly to our knowledge of the early history of the Third Church. It must have been prepared in duplicate. Dr. Wisner says : "Among the papers of the Old South Church I have found two leaves, paged 148, 149, 154, 155, of some manuscript volume, on which is written what appears to be parts of the reply of the church in New Haven to this third letter from the church in Boston. On the top of the last page is written ' D. Dismission.' A portion of it purports to be a quotation of the most material part of the first letter from the church in New Haven." Dr. Wisner then quotes the fragment of the letter signed by Nicholas Street, and dated "12. 8°. 68," which we shall be able to give in full. — History of the Old South Church in Boston, in Four Sermons, 1830, pp. 74, 75- THE REQUEST OF THE DISSENTERS. 13 to state their reasons for opposing the call to Mr. Davenport, but in vain. DISSENTERS REQUEST. . . . office in this Church they supposed they had good reasons against it, and desired before they proceeded to vote they would heare what they had further to say, the Elder and Brethren answer[ed] they de- sired not to heare their reasons, and proceeded to vote, some of the Brethren dissent[ing] then desired the Elder that he would at least be pleased to take notice of the number of the persons soe minded, and that without offence they might give in their names and reasons nex[t] Church meeting, he Answered they might against the next Church meeting give [in] their names, together with the reasons of their dissent if they pleased in writ[ing]. And soe the major parte went on (in a full concurrence) to vote letters to be writ[ten] persons to Draw them up, and Messengers to goe with them to New Haven. The Church mett againe and found the Brethren since called dis- senting Brethren presenting [the] Elder with a writting containing their humble request that they would not [ hastily proceed, and after reading of it, Pathetically intreated that the Church would harken to the request of their Brethren, which writing is here inserted. HUMBLE REQUEST OF THE DISSENTING BRETHREN. Honoured, Reverend, and Beloved Brethren When we consider how long the Good hand of the Lord hath bin extend [ed to] this Congregation, in the mercifull injoyment of all his holy appointments [in] peace, through the vigilance and dextrous guidance of those (never to be forgotten) renowned labourers that the Lord of the harvest was pleased to set in th[is] parte of his vineyard, the remembrance of whome, their faithfull pious and profita[ble] labours for winning of soules to Christ, and stablishing our heartes in the fait[h] and order of the Gospell should never be forgotten, according to Heb : 13 : 8. it is the great greife of our hearts, to thinke that after their departure Satan doth take advantage against us, through our watchlessnes soe as to threaten the disturbing] if not totall bereaving us of our future peaceable Communion in the thing[s] of God, unles the ffather of mercies, open the eyes of the Congre- gation, really [to] see our impending evill, and by a timous and unani- mous application of our sel[ves] to a regular observance of the rule to and with one another, to Counter worke the enemy ; Deare Brethren it is our ffurther trouble that we cannot see our way cleare [to] so act with yourselves in what you have proposed, and seene cause to proceed in [with]out us, wee humbly desire you not to interprett it to be willfullnes in [us]. We doe as before the Lord profess the con- trary, but a Religious tye of Con[s]cience that is upon us, to attend 14 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. our Duty in waiting the answer of him wh[o] is soe much desired. We therefore desire you to put on charity, and not to thinke of us, nor act otherwise towards us than become Brethren, as we [ ] desire to carry it to you ; And if we cannot all speake the same thing [ judging yourselves to exceed us in number, yett shew the spirit of Christ Jes[us] in a patient bearing with us and regular indeavour of our convictions [if] we erre in not acting with you, we trust through grace we sh[all] attend your ffull indeavours that way, that soe if it be possible we ma[y] be of one heart and mind in the Lord, whereby they that seek an advantage [over] us, and would rejoice in our.divi- sion may be disappointed, we therefore beseech [you] to surcease that prosecution of your votes till we may have opportunity for [a] free and full consultacion togither with yourselves of what may most con- duce to] the glory of god, the wellfare not only of this Church but of all the Churches he[re] and elswhere, and if upon a deliberate , )6 consideracon of things we cannot We hereby declare ourselves ready and willing and oblige ourselves to ac- quiesce in the advice of a Councill of Elders and Messengers of Churches mutually to be chosen, we shall add no more but that of the Apostle 2 : Phill : 2 : 3 : subscribed by the dissenting Brethren 28 : (7) 1667. Notwithstanding this our petition or addresse some of the Brethren desired they might not be hindered in the work they were met about and that the Elder would attend to the work of the day, although the Elder did affectionately with teares in his eyes desire that the motion of the dissenters might be harkened unto, but he could not prevaile being overruled to read the letters agreed to be sent unto Newhaven Church and Mr. Davenport a coppy whereof followeth.1 The church of Christ at Boston to the church of Christ at New- haven wisheth all grace and peace may bee multiplyed. Reverend and beloved in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, wee „ „. . know vou cannot butt have heard of the dispensations of Boston Churches J L letter [to] Mr. the Lord in his afflicting of us. by his righteous bereav- Davenports . i • [church] at mgs of those pretious instruments who sometimes were as stars in his right hand, and officers, having the over- sight of us in the Lord, under whom, and their Administration of his ordinances, wee had greatt delight refreshing and aedification through his rich grace, butt nott soe improoving under enlargements, we are streightned, and breaches have beene made upon us one after another, and that which adds to our affliction before wee could obtaine a repayre of the first (notwithstanding our endeavours) a second hath overtaken us, whereby we are made to sitt sollitary, which our con- dition we are providentially led to present unto you, hoping to find 1 [We have corrected the copy of this draft, now in the possession of the Mass. letter by what appears to be the original Hist. Society.] LETTER TO THE NEW HAVEN CHURCH. 1 5 that Christian sympathy and fellow feeling with us, that your pure minds will bee ready to contribute to our assistance thereby forward- ing the work of the Lord amongst us, by your willing resigning to the will of the Lord your sometimes settled pastor the Reverend Mr. Davenport, though now as wee understand providentially loosned from those engagements hee sometimes were under to and with you, unto whome wee have sent as to yourselves, by our beloved Brethren Mr. Ed. Tyng, C[apt.] James Olliver and L[ieut.] Richard Cooke whome wee desire you to receive in the Lord and to give creditt to in this matter ; and although the call of the Church is nott soe unanimous as were to bee desired, yett itt it is soe full free and large, that wee ac- compt it our duty to make this Essay by our Brethren and letters, that thereby wee may have discovery of the mind of the Lord in the case, hoping that the houre of temptation passing over our Brethren nott so minded with us, they will nott onely acquiesce, butt rejoyce in the accomplishment of the will of the Lord, when they shall see his work to prosper among us though by an instrument they did nott so eye with their Brethren : wee cannott butt be under a good degree of sence how exercising itt must needs bee for you to part with soe Reverend a person as the Reverend Mr. Davenport is, who is so richly furnished, that wheresoever hee is or shall bee disposed, hee may bee as a pol- ished shaft in the hand of Christ coming in the fullness of the bless- ing of the gospell : yett resignations in the most desirable blessings circumstanced with the highest grounded expectations, have beene testimonyes of loves sincerity to him that gives, and to and for whome wee ought to part with all when hee calls thereto : itt was enough to make free to send, when by him itt was said the Lord hath neede, that itt is so in this case wee speak as wee beleive the Lord hath need of Mr. Jno. Davenport att Boston, and that you may so beleive and accordingly doe, wee pray the mover of all hearts to work you up togither that you may say wee have a little sister and shee hath no breasts, and what shall wee doe for our sister in the day when shee shall be spoken for, and wee further pray that you and wee may in all conditions tryalls changes bee so managed in our day, that when our Lord shall come, wee may bee so watching and doing that wee may bee counted worthy to enter into his joy through the meritts of him that hath purchased us to be a peculiar [people] to himselfe, zealous of good workes, unto whom with the ffather and the eternall spirit the onely one and true good bee glory for ever, in whome we remaine. yours in the highest and best bond 28 : (7) Boston. J. P.1 in the name of the Brethren.2 1 [James Penn, ruling elder in the First " In the last Letter our church re- Church, Boston, from 1650 to 1671.] ceived from Rev. Dr. Owen it is [ ] he 2 [On the back of the paper with which had such a valedictorie speach to our we have compared this letter we find reverend Pastor Wilson that iff the wise what we suppose to have been a post- orderer of all things should soe design script, as follows : — that he should not see him in this world l6 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. At the same time we presented them with the reasons of our dissent, Reasons of intreating they might have bin read before they voted dissent. their letters, but could not prevaile untill their letters were read and voted : Reasons of our dissent from calling of Reverend Mr. Davenport unto office relation with us and subscribed by 30 Brethren were as followeth. REASONS OF DISSENT. i.ly ffrom the state of the Church he stands now an officer unto, which is a state of peace and amity wherein they have lived without the least breach unto us knowne, [which] hereby may be broken to the occasion of the hazard of the ruine or rent both of Church and towne. 2.1y from the state of the person called who as it hath bin reported by some of our Brethren looketh at himself as free from the Church but by what doth appeare hath not bin dismissed from them, whose temptation may hereby be heightned to dessert his flock without any cause that ever we heard of uhlesse alteration of civill government which hath not put any impositions upon them nor abridged their Church liberties.1 3iy from the persons calling whose acting as we humbly conceive hath bin sudden and not soe suitable unto the order of the Gospell and discipline which we all profess as a matter of such high concern- ment might require. Gall: 5. 13: 1: in respect that free debate in matters of such import was not without reflexion upon the dissenters. 2. in respect where as it was agreed that what was to be voted should be written, yet that all votes did passe and none were written. yet att that great Assembling there would which had so acted. There was another be A glad meeting. And he earnestly particular which brought the leading men, desired our church would not hinder such as Leverett, to like him more than themselves from Enjoyment of Able they had disliked him for what he wrote Teachers for soe unworthy a one as against the half-way covenant. This was himselfe who was hindered yet withall the decided and strong encouragement Promised that he would take the first which he gave the authorities of Massa- opertunity that the Providence off god chusetts to deny the offensive claims of should offer to him off coming unto us the royal commissioners, and to hold out wher in he might but Rationally hope to in their independent attitude. In ad- have the free exercise of his ministry dition, he and his Boston friends seem when he should come."] to have so far tolerated each other in 1 [" There was one point," on the part their different views of such a covenant of Mr. Davenport, "which made it de- as not to disturb their friendly cobper- sirable for him to change the location of ation in other respects." — Felt's Eccles. his ministry. This was his strong dis- History, vol. ii. p. 421. approbation of the policy adopted by Mr. Davenport declined a call from the Connecticut to compel the union of the Second Church to become its minister at New Haven colony with them, and his the time of its formation. The Rev. aversion to live under the government John Mayo was settled over it in 1655.] POSITION OF THE DISSENTERS. 1J 3. in that the dissenters though soe considerable a number appeared declaring ourselves ready to render our reasons before the vote was passed, yet soe violently was it carryed on by our brethren manifest- ing that they desired to heare none, we suppose that [in] a civill Assembly the like would not have bin done, much lesse ought our brethren soe to have acted, who in diverse Church administrations of far lesse concerne than this of dreadfull obligation to office, and when pressed by lesse than the 7th part of ourselves, yet the body of the Church rather than to act unto their greivances hath desisted there- from. 4 in that when we desired an orderly councill our motion was not complyed with but they proceeded unto action. 5 that the Reverend Mr. Allin hath bin acknowledged by our Brethren the voters as unmeet to lead and rule our congregation alone, and therfore another must be first voted to guide and rule him, which we conceive may tend unto the confirmation of Prelacy, and we see not but that it may be contrary to that of the Apostle, who requireth a sufficiency in the Ruler to Rule well. 6 in that some of the cheif voters saw not ground to admit Mr. Thatcher to be a member of our body for deserting his flock [at Weymouth] although they were supplyed with another officer, amicably parted with him, and had recommended him to our communion, yet now as we conceive incourage that in one which they condemne in another. 4 [1.] from the state of the dissenters who lay under an awfull ingage- ment to maintaine the travelling truth relating to duty unto the children of the Church and Heb : 13 : 8 : to remember those who have spoken the word of the Lord unto us, which now we should forgit pluck- ing downe what they have built and in stead of following their faith, should now divert from it, and cease to consider the end of their conversation Jesus Christ the same yesterd[ay] and to day the same forever : 2 we should walk contrary to Rev : 3 : 3 : not holding fast what we have received Coll 12:6: nor should we as we have received Christ Jesus the Lord soe walk in him, it having bin a received and pro- fessed truth, by the body of our Church having voted it in the affirma- tive, and that after much patience with and candour towards those otherwise minded diverse daies having bin spent in inquiring about this great Generation truth which (since hath bin confirmed by the Synod) full liberty also being granted unto those (who scrupled) to propose their questions and were answered with such Publique satis- faction ; that those few who remained unsatisfied promised to sitt downe, and leave the Body to act, excepting one or two ; accordingly there was an entrance upon the worke, But the Lord lay not to the charge of those that hindered the progress therein ; which with 1 8 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. great blessing and success hath bin and is practiced in neighboring Churches : Thirdly our Churches double experience of her widdow hood, and the difficulty of meat supply, causeth us in prudence to conceive, a person of soe great an age not soe suitable to that end. 4-ly and lastly in that we take ourselves regularly bound by an unanimous consent of the Church, further to waite the determinate answer of the Reverend Dr. Owen which [were then by an ordinary1] disapointement of providence and hath bin hether to retarded. The Reasons were then read and no answer was made unto them for 9 months time (onely mr. Stodder said they were irregular, irrationall and he was ready to say ungodly) but after 9 months in the Publique a paper was read which the Elder said was an answer to the Reasons, the dissenters desired to know whether it was from him [self or] the Church, he said from the Church, then up stood mr. Ed : Ting an honourd Brother of the Church and said he doubted the Elder might not say the Church, for he knew not that he had ever heard them read before ; the dissenters desired a coppy, the Elder said he would give no coppy ; neither was it any more than once read at that or any other time untill the councill sate and then it was read. After the Lord brought in Ships from England and they could heare of no letters from Dr. Owen many of them together went to the Elder to solicite and intreate for a Church meeting freely to consider and debate about any persons meet to be called to office in the Church but the Elder totally refused to grant any. Mr. Davenport wrote to the Church where in he saith he considered the clearnes and strength of the call of christ by the Church and that they may take notice and be assured of his strong inclination to obey this call, and hoped to be with them before winter. COPPY OF MR. DAVENPORT FIRST LETTER TO THE CHURCH : 8 (8) 67. Honourable Reverend and dearly beloved in our Lord Jesus The hast of your Honoured Messengers to returne unto you, com- pelled! me to be more briefe than other wise I should have bin, Let it please you to accept many harty thankes for this reall expression of your love in your invitation of me to such a service, as I accont the minnistration of the Gospel in your Church to be, both in respect of those eminent lights, which have formerly shined in that Golden Candlestick, and in reference to the Generall Influences from thence through out the Country, In which respects I am apt to be dis- couraged from such an undertaking, being — conscious to my selfe of my nothingness in myselfe, yett when I consider the clearnes and strength of the call of Christ, by you unto worthless me, to come and helpe you in such atime of your streights, I finde myselfe incouraged 1 [These words are erased in the MS.] LETTERS FROM NEW HAVEN. 1 9 to beleive that his power will be glorified in my weaknes ; and his grace in my unworthynes where upon I wholy cast myselfe, and rely through the helpe of his spirit, waiting upon God in Christ to manifest his will, and my way soe clearly to myselfe and to his people, that we might be brought into a full acquiescence therein and obedience there unto, In order here unto this Church being assembled on the 7th day of this month I read your letters one directed to them and the other sent to me, and having some thing touching two things to be con- sidered in a call of God, viz: that it be from such a place, 2ly to such a place ; And cleared my call from them by some arguments which were of force with me (and it appeares) that one of them was confessed by the ablest among themselves to be unanswerable : And for clearing my call to you, the letters read before them were in my apprehensions sufficient ; The conclusion was that the matter under debate was looked upon, and that Justly soe weighty, as that a day for extreaordinary humbling of ourselves to seek the face of God and guidance by his spirit, before the question be Issued : should be set apart the weeke following, and on the day after they would Consult and conclude with Gods helpe, After that you will receive from them their full answer, In meane time you may be pleased to take notice and to be assured of my strong inclynation to obey this call, which seemeth to me to be a call of Jesus Christ the Lord, your Lord and our, And accordingly I hope to be with you this winter with the con- sent of this Church if God permit, by the first opportunity after the fast is over in reference to all the premises, I humbly and earnestly begg the helpe of your fervent prayers and rest in Jesus Christ » yours engaged to serve you in my worke where unto Jesus christ shall call me Jo : Davenport : Sen : THE CHURCH OF NEW HAVEN LETTER IN ANSWER TO THE BRETHRENS LETTER RETURNED BY CAPTAIN CLARKE. Directed to Elder Pen. Reverend Sir we received your letter Dated the 28 : 7 mo : 67 subscribed with your name and with the consent of the Brethren, your- selfe and the Brethren in whose name you writt, we salute in the Lord with this returne. Your letter to the Church was read at a Church meetting on the 7th Instant, the Con- . . , & , .' ' Church of tents where of have put sundry pretious soules among us, New havens on a farr greater tryall and exercise than they are able to beare, unles supported by the same hand, and power that made and doth uphold the world ; your loss of such eminent lights and guides, which God hath bereaved you of is also our and all New Englands, where of we cannot but be deeply sensible ; It hath bin and shall be 20 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. our earnest prayer to the Lord of the Harvest to send forth some faithfull labourers according to your need in to his harvest at Boston ; But your motion to part with our Deare Pastour, for soe many Chil- dren to part with such a father, who hath bin an Instrument in Gods hand, and through his blessing on his ministry of the conversion of many soules amongst us, And of the Edification and building up of many more ; (you are pleased in your letters thus to express your- selves) your some time settled Pastour Reverend mr. Davenport, though now as we understand providentially loosened from those ingaigments he was sometime under to and with you ; we doubt not but by this time, your Honoured Messengers have informed you that here in you are mistaken, for when they were present with us, they were both eye and eare witnes of his Pastourall officiating in Pub- lique, both in preaching the word and in Administring the Lords Supper; (and though our Revrend Pastour) hath some time de- clared his apprehention, concerning his liberty for to lay downe his office upon the Change of the drill Goverment, the report where of may be the ground of that passage in your letter, and we yeild it for to be true that this hath bin his firme apprehension, and he hath foremerly expressed soe much ; yett with due Reverence to our Pastours Judge- ment, we can not but let you understand, that the Brethren have unanimously declare[d] themselves to be of a different aprehention in this matter, we are also the less forward for to attend your motion (from what yourselves express) that the call of the church were not soe unanimous as were to be desired, fearefull we are what his tender spirit now in his old age may meet with all on that account and what may be the sad consequence of trouble that may arise in a Church divided about his call both to him and to yourselves ; The premises considered we see no cause nor call of God to resigne our reverend Pastour to yourselves, or to the Church of Boston, by any immediate act of ours, But such is our tender respect to him that we have soe declared ourselves to his satisfaction as we hope ; As he is able for to give you a more full answer not only of his owne minde but of our also in this weighty matter, as he shall see cause (to whom wee refere you) now the father of lights grant that in his light our Reverend Pastour may see light for to guide him in his way, And the father of mercy supply both his and your need according to the riches of Glory by Jesus Christ N. Street in the name of the Church l this letter directed to Eld : Pen. to be communicated. 28 : 8 : 67 : 1 [The Rev. Nicholas Street was or- with the Rev. William Hooke and as his dained teacher of the church in New successor, and he was called to be his suc- Haven, Nov. 26, 1659. It is not known cessor also at New Haven. Dr. Bacon in what year he came from England. He says: "Of the character of Mr. Street, was settled for twenty years at Taunton, as of his life, we know but little. He in the Plymouth Colony, as associate appears to have been a pious, judicious, MR. DAVENPORT'S SECOND LETTER. 21 A SECOND LETTER OF MR. DAVENPORTS THAT CAME PER CAPTAINE CLARKE. Reverend Sir In my last sent by your Honoured Messengers (which I heare was publiquely read before the mixt assemblje) where my humble desire is that this may be read also, I declared my acceptance of the call tendred to me by the Church of Boston, in hope that this Church of Newhaven would have consented thereunto, wherein I was strengthned [by] your approving my reason for warranting my remove from hence, grounded upon i Timoth : 5 : 8 : I looke at your call as the act of the church it being consented there to by the major part by farr, for otherwise nothing shall pass as a Church act if the minor part dissent, which is contrary to the scripture and to Reason, and constant aproved prac- tices of all publique societyes, hence I Looke at your calling of me as cleare and full on your part, And accordingly signifyd my hope and purpose of coming to you, with the consent of this Church after we had sought God in an extraordinary manner, for the guidance of his holy spirit in this weighty afayer, this being done the Brethren result, about an Answer unto you, the result where of you will receive from themselves where by you will finde they decline giving a possitive answer, but leave that to me, (where as it is my judgment) that I should be puerly passive in a matter of this Importance concerning my selfe, that I might more clearly discerne the holy will and hand of God appear- ing in the whole busines, But soe farr as they doe answer it is a re- fusall of Consent which was a matter of no small exercise to me, and that was increased partly by the greife of the whole Church and Towne, and of many godly people in sundry townes aboute us, upon their feare of my departure hence, and partly by constant reports, of, not only the dissent, but of the strong oposition of above 40 Brethren of your Church against my coming to you, some of them saying if I should come thither, it would be breaking of that Church, and some here fearing that would be the breaking of this Church If I should remove hence, yet at our last meeting I presented my desire of making a journy to Boston for this winter, and part of the spring for a further triall for to finde out the minde of God, to my full satis- faction, promising for to returne to them againe, in case of my dissatis- faction, And if satisfied yett not to ingage myselfe for office untill I had given them account of the event (and shall receive theire answer) {Against this they exprest themselves unani?nously) I haveing thus farr proceeded, considered the dificultie and hazard of winter voyage and modest man," and " no inferior preach- minister of the New Haven church, and er." He sympathized with Mr. Dav- so continued until his death, April 22, enport in his anti-synodical views, and 1674. See The Ministry of Taunton, wrote in support of them. After the re- by the Rev. S. H. Emery, vol. i. pp. moval of the latter to Boston he was sole 156-164.] 22 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. journy, and in hope for to see the Church better settled by that time, I consent to stay with them this winter, yett telling them I must make a journy to Boston by the will of God, before the hott monthes of the next summer, for the reason before noted from the i Timoth : 5 : 8 : and all were satisfied. What remaines Honoured and Beloved in the Lord but that we con- clude if this Counsill be of God it shall stand if not the will of the 1 Lord be done. my fundamentall Reason from the Church agrement with me in our first begining for my being at liberty to follow the call of God, either in any other place or to continue here is of the same force with me now, as it was two years since when I pleaded with them against my goeing to Dellaware, though while I stay here I am their Pastour, and doe accordingly officiate, with them passed without oposition It is onely the will of God that I looke at, and wait for to be clearly manifested to mee in this weighty buysines, being desirous for to be approved of him in all my waies, and to act in all things to his honour. I shall humbly crave leave to ad[d] a word or two for your peace, the Prophet saith love the truth and peace, truth and peace are sisters, and will not be separated, let the truth be first regarded and minded and your hearts be united to the truth of the gospell and yourselves for the truthes sake, It is recorded concerning Jehoshaphat that the Lord was with him because he walked in the first waies of his ffather David 2 Chr : 17 : 3 : soe will the Lord be with you Honoured and beloved in the Lord if you walk in the first waies where in you walked according to his Rule under that faithfull and blessed servant of Christ mr. John Cotton ; But if you fall into divissions amongst yourselves, by different principles, some striving for one way, some for another : I feare I feare [sic] and forewarne, that the Isshue will be a rent amongst you, unto Gods great dishonour, to the corrupting of the Church from the symplicity that is in Christ Jesus, which God in mercy avert ; and I doe humbly Beseech you in the name of our Lord Jesus : The Bretheren that have declared themselves oposite to my coming to you, let nothing be done throug[h] strife and vaine glory ; And that theire be noe scisme amongst you for my sake, but that you be perfectly joyned together in the same minde, and in the same judg- ement striveing together for the faith of the Gospel, and for the holy order where in Christ hath appointed his Church for to walke, then will be given teaching officers according to his owne heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding, and god will Bless theire Administration for the spirituall Good of yourselves and your pos- terity. The God of patience and consolation graunt you for to be like minded one towards another according to Jesus Christ, that you may with one minde and one mouth glorify God, even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. J : D 28 October 1667. MR. DAVENPORT COMES TO BOSTON. 23 Att a Church meeting Some of the Brethren spake as if they were called to deale severely with their Brethren dissenting, citing Joshu : 7 : 10. to 15 up Joshua the accursed thing must be removed else God will not be with them &c : Deut : 22 : 1 [ ] And if a virgine of Issraell be defamed it is an jnnjqu[i]ty to be punished by the judges here is a virgin Church defamed &c : Rom: 16: 17: marke them which cause divisions &c : Sundry of the Brethren called out publiquely to the said dissenting Brethren why doe yee not aske for your dismission, others why doe they not depart in peace and fall upon practise of what they beleive Robert Walker presently move[d] to the Elder in the same publique meeting that he might be dismissed, the Elder tells him this is no [ ] a season, But be assured Brethren the Church shall not be a prisson to any ; the dissenting Brethren as they had often besought the Church to take advice of sister Churches soe now urge them no longer to neglect it, it being Gods way when any church wants light or peace ; Another time some of the Brethren met at the Governours and press the Elder to admonish the dissenting Brethren and be cause the Elder hearkeneth not, they were much displeased ; 2 (3) 68 Mr. Davenport cometh to Boston 1 Then a Church meeting is called, and the Church urged to make an address to Mr. Dav[enport] The dissenters intreated them not to pro- ceed further withoout Councill the Church hearkneth not att all to their motion, but choose major Leveritt, to goe in the Churchs name to give mr. Davenport a fresh invitation, he inquireth whether the Church is agreed, and because not telleth them he cannot give them any answer, but waiteth to see the mind of God. Elder Pen further considerd, soe as that he will call no more Church meetings untill either the dissenters consent unto Mr. Davenports call, or the other Brethren are willing to have a Councill. And at a Church meeting The dissenting Brethren having liberty and incouragement by the Church to goe unto and treat Mr. Davenport they thankfully accept thereof, and upon their address unto him he freely consents to appoint them a time which they attended, and came about 20 but when they come they find him unwilling to treat with them, without the presence of some of the other Brethren, they tell him they would not have any occasion of strife before him, at least this being their first opportunity with him, they only desiring to informe him of the true state of mat- ters, at length he consents to heare them, but desired to be excused 1 [" May 2, 166S. In the afternoon them." — Felt's Eccles. Hist., vol. ii. p. John Davenport and wife, with his son 427. and family, reach Boston, and are wel- Daniel Searle married Deliverance, corned by many of the inhabitants. They daughter of Edward Tyng ; her sister, are sheltered from a heavy shower by the Eunice, became the second wife of the coach of Mr. Searle, sent out to meet Rev. Samuel Willard.] 24 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. from giving a present answer to any thing, whereunto they readily consented, they proceeded and declared the whole case impartially, Mr. Davenport according to his liberty above maketh no answer to any thing, the Brethren ready to take their leave requested him to Com- mend than to the Lord by prayer but himself not free wito it they take leave and depart. About a week after W D and I H 1 gave Mr. Davenport a visit and treated with him of the whole matter with loving: accept- 16: (5)68. b f ance and respect and soe parted, but soone after Mr. Davenport without signifying any displeasure to any of the dissenters upon a lecture day had these expressions in his prayer before sermon in the presence of a great part of the Countrey : viz : This Church sometimes famous for unity as a Citty compact within Mr. D: expres- itself, but now there are risen up a company in opposition upon a'kcmre to the rest, even to the multitude of the Church about the day- choice of their officers, and will not consent but upon such a Condition as neither Christ himself, nor his Apostles gave any warrant for, or the highest Councill in the world can impose upon any Minister of the gospell persisting therein peremptorilly, whither it be from errour in judgement, or whither it be a designe it is not yet manifest, but it is evident Satan hath a great hand in it. Where as these Brethren desired no Condition of the Church before their falling upon Election but the liberty which Christ Jesus had purchased for all his people viz liberty of a free debate, and hearing of their reasons, or in case of their non agreement that the help of neighbour churches might be called in as doth appeare by their addresse unto the Church before they had made any application unto Mr. Davenport : The dissenting Brethren seing themselves thus en- gaged against by mr. Davenport before the whole Country, without any cause to them known, began to thinke if the Lord opened a doore of departure from their relation to the Church, they were called to imbrace it, and in conjunction with this Elder Pen told Sundry of them, two of which especially who before this prayer were in serious thoughts, that haveing frequently and publiquely testified to the truths under labour, (viz) the truth of order relating to the liberty of the Brotherhood to choose their owne officers, And that relating to the relation of the Children to the Church, and the Churches duty to them, and to the ordinance of Councills as necessary to the well being of these Churches, they might sit downe silent, and the Lord they hoped would accept their sincere desire for the progress of truth, but said Elder told them he had put the Question to mr. Davenport, whether it would not satisfie him, if the Brethren could be brought to sit downe silent ; And he answered if they did no more, he could not officiate as a Pastour to them. 1 (Probably William Davis and John Hull.] THE FIRST CHURCH CALLS A COUNCIL. 25 The active Brethren of the major parte of the Church had a private debate with the Elder relating to the censuring of the dissenters, for their non concurrence with the Church (which since some have pub- likly bewayled the loosing of its opportunity) but the Elder consented not, theire way of Censure being not cleare unto him, where upon a Church-meeting was called, and the Elder propounded to the Church for a Councill, which was good newes to the dissenters who gave thankes to the Church for it, where at some of the Church publikly declared, that it was not at all in favour to them, but that they might know what to doe with them, nor were they permitted any vote, nor influence either in framing the question to be put to the Councill, nor in nominating any one Church to be sent unto, its end being to take advice in order to Censuring of them, — but God diverted it as the sequell declareth, the question solely stated by the major parte and the Churches nominated and sent unto only by them, was considered and determined by the Councill when they met, and accepted of and submitted unto by the dissenting Brethren The Counsill then met at Boston, where Elder Pen and Major Generall Leverit by Church vote managed the churches case . ,/«,«, •' ° August 6 (6) 68. against the dissenters the churches narrative was read and voted unto by the Church the dissenters narative and preceeding reasons of dissent were also read, and after a free debate in the face of the Country, it pleased God to direct the Counsill to give the advice following, An answer of the Messengers of the Churches, called by the first Church of Christ in Boston to give their advice and Result of th Councill according to God, in reference to their Brethren first Councill. who have dissented from the Church in their present proceeding in calling of teaching officers 1. We cannot but sadly lament this awfull dispensation of God, in depriving this eminent Church of Christ, of teaching officers And his sollemn ordinances soe long a time, and that in parte by leaving the Church to such differing apprehensions, in their endeavours to obteyne soe great a blessing, which we humbly desire the whole Church seri- ously and deeply to lay to heart. 2 Yett with thankfullnes to God acknowledge that good measure of moderation and grace appearing in their agitations aboute the case, together with their affectionate desires, and indeavours that have bin used to attaine the unitie and Cconcurrance of all in this sollemn worke, there by manifesting that the spirit of love and unity is yet active in the Church. 3 It appeares to us that not withstanding all endeavours herein, As on the one side the major parte of the Church profes their clearnes and full satisfaction in their way, and that they can not condisend to 26 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. the desire of their dissenting Brethren, who profes that there is an awfull ingagement upon them, and that in a matter of waighty con- cernment where by they cannot concur with their Brethren in their choice. The premises considered togither with the grounds of the dissention more fully appearing in those writings that have passed from one to another, and have bin publiquely read and delivered to us, Also con- sidering that the Honour of our Deare Lord Jesus, and of the holy Institutions, and the edification of the Church : of Christ is soe much depending upon his peoples walking to gether in Brotherly love one towards another, which in this Case not being attaineable by continu- ance in one Church Body, yet finding it to be the prayers of the Apostle for the Church of the Thessalonians that the Lord would give them peace all wayes by all meanes, 2 Thess : 3: 16:, And also it being apparent that through the blessing of God upon the Towne, the Inhabitants there of are now soe numerous that the two places of their publique Assembling to worship God can not entertaine them, by reason where of many persons that are not Conscientious of sancti- fing the Lords day, doe make it an opportunity of great profaneness we doe judge meet to propound our Councill and advise in the Case as followeth. 1. That mutuall greivances that have fallen out through humaine frailtie, and the temptations of Sathan in the transactions of this matter may now be coverd with that love, that is not easily provoked, that hopeth all things, beleiveth all things, endureth all thinges, 1 Cor : 13 : 7 : And as the elect of God holy and beloved to put on bowells of mercy, kindnes, humblenes of minde, long suffering, forbearing one another, forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you soe also doe yee. Collos : 3: 12: 13: v. 2. In case the dissenting Brethren can not yett consent with their Brethren in their call of officers, nor sitt downe quietly, and submitt to the act of the rest therein, That then the Church upon their desire to be dismissed from them would give them up to the Lord with love and prayers, Recommending them to the grace of God in order to the propagation of another Church, to be sett up in the Towne of Boston according to the rule of the Gospell, yett soe that in the meane time they may have Communion with this church, or some other in the ordi- nances of God. This issue of the differences we conceive to be a way of peace Consonant to Scripture example for ending of strife, not only in civill matters as in the case between Abraham and Lott Gen : 13 : 7 : 8 : 9 : But also in a religious case, between Paul and Barnabas, that were by the spirit seperated, and called to the worke of the Gospel Acts : 13 : 2 : 4 : yett by the only wise God being left to a sharp Contention aboute the choice of John Marke, they departed THE ADVICE OF THE COUNCIL. 2 J asunder one from another, Acts: 15: 39: But as to proceeding to Church censure in such a case as this is we finde no rule in Scripture Dan : Gookin Rich : Mather Sam : Danforth Wm Parkes Tho : Danforth John Alline Ed : ffrost : Roger Clap Eliaz : Lusher John Elliot Jo : Hunting Hop : ffoster.1 Boston the 8th Aug: 1668. Elder Pen upon reading the Councills advice by the moderatour be- fore the whole Assembly, declared though those Brethren were very deare unto him, yet seing now it appeared to be the will of the Lord, he would say with those Acts. 21 : 14: the will of the Lord be done : the moderatour of the Councill having declared that it was their advice unto the Church to dismisse their Brethren before they pro- ceeded to ordination of Mr. Davenport, some of the Church expressed they know not whether the dissenters would not make the Church wait many yeares, before they declared their owning of the advice of the Councill, or desired their dismission (which the Brethren should have otherwise pawsed upon had they not upon this occasion bin soe suddenly put upon it) upon occasion of which speech one of the Reverend Councill declared, there needed no long time for the dissenters to suspend their owning of the Counsell, for they might doe it at present, and they having bin formerly warned by Mr. Davenport interceding to God against them above mentioned, declared in the presence of the Councill that if the Church would give them their dismission they would accept of it. Twenty nine of them went with their request unto Elder Pen for their dismission subscribed with their hands as followeth desiring him to present it to the Church. ffor the Reverend Elder and the rest of our Honoured and Beloved Brethren of the Church of Christ at Boston. It having Coppy of their pleased God soe to direct the late Councill of the request- Honoured Reverend and beloved Messengers of the Churches held among us, as that (upon the hearing of the cause depending between us) they give in this advice as that they judge according to the word of God, to be best Conducing to the Desired issue of the late and unhappy difference between us, that upon our Desire the Church would give us up to the Lord with their Love and prayers, recommend- ing us to the grace of God in order to the propagation of another Church to be sett up in the Towne of Boston according to the rules of 1 [In the records of the Roxbury church, propagation of another church in Bos- by the Rev. Samuel Danforth, it is said : ton." " 166S. 5 mo. [? 6 mo.] A Council of 4 The churches represented in thiscoun- churches called by the Elder and major cil were those of Dorchester, Dedham, part of the church of Boston in reference Roxbury, and Cambridge. Mr. Mitchell, to their dissenting brethren. Their ad- minister of the Cambridge church, had vice was to dismiss them in order to the just died.] 28 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. 1668, the Gospel, we doe therefore (though not without a very affectionate sence of the present dispensation of Divine Providence in this Day of our trouble, as also our owne unmeetnes for soe great a worke) Tes- tifie our acquiescing in the decissian of the Councill, and humbly request that, the advice may be attended, And therefore that you would pleas to grant us that dismission, which we now here by crave, who have subscribed our names unto that Church relation, and orderly constitution which (through grace) we are desire- ous ready to attend, And accordingly that our Deare relations who are in Covenant with yourselves may pass forth with us, unto that Church fellowship aforesaid ; thus praying that the father of lights and mercies may abide with us, by the gracious presence of his glory both while wee are togither, and when we shall be come as two Bands But still under the same banner of love, and may allso be presented] at length faultless before him, without spot or wrinckle, or any such thing at his coming, we remaine your Dearly loveing (And we hope no lesse beloved) Brethren in the Lord Ed : Rawson Tho Savage John Hull Joshua Scottow Peter Oliver Hez: Usher Robr. Walker Jacob Elliot Jos Belknap Wm. Dawes Theop : ffrary Jos : Belcher John Sanford John Allden Thomas Brattle John Tappin Edw : Alline Seth Perry Wm. Salter1 James Pemberton Theo : Attkinson Ed : Rainsford Peter Brackitt Joseph Rocke Joseph Davis Ben : Thirston John Pease Benj Gibbs This (10) 6th mo. a day being apointed by the Elder for the Church to meet in, And when met told the Church he had received a writing from the dissentors requesting their dismission which he would read, And when read sundry Brethren desired the dissenting Brethren might be absent, who answered if they desired their absence to con- sider of their motion they thought it reasonable, But if the Church had busines to transact that concerned all the Church they durst not absent themselves. The Elder againe and againe declared to them Itt was the Churches Desire they would withdraw, which accordingly they did, when they were departed some of their wives continued in the Church : some of the Brethren spacke to the Elder, that they also should depart as well as their husbands, because as they desired — their owne dismission — 1 [There are only twenty-eight signa- from the town at this time. We do not tures on this paper, although it is said find the signature of Edward Alline or of that twenty-nine joined in the request to John Pease on any other paper, or in the Elder Penn. William Davis was absent list of members.] MR. DAVENPORT CALLED. 29 soe they desired their Relations might be dismist with them, where upon the sisters were desired by the Elder and ordered to with draw, which accordinly they did. when they were departed, jmmediately two of the Brethren were sent from the Church to mr. Davenport who suddenly returned, and mr. Davenport with them to the meeting house, where the Church was met, they gave mr. Davenport a call to office, and he gave account to them that, the writing of his letter, and coming to Boston was not upon any sudden motion, But there had severall letters passed in order there unto the yeare before, which the dissentors had not heard of, since this meeting where they were thus secluded, the Major parte mett at the Governors house, and agreed to send Messengers and letters to New Haven church, never , , ,. • , , 1 • 14 (6.) 1668. acquainted the dissentors with the second meeting, ap- ointed a fast and called before them Deacon Ransford, and Deacon Elliot dealing with them for their dissent after the[y] had transacted and finished their letters for New Haven &c : The 19th of Aug : was apointed by the Church to be a fast, day to seeke Gods presents with their Messengers who were gone with letters from their Church to the Church of New haven for mr. Davenports Dismission, which day accordinly was Celibrated by mr. Davenport who in his prayer publiquely com- plained to God of the sufferings which he here had met with and that being Gods servant as Elias was left alone, and also sollemly apealed to God that he depended upon the advice of the Church now sent unto, relating to the owning of his call to this church of Boston, upon returne of these Messengers it was by them declared, and genrally beleived to be true that the Church of New haven had not then sent any answer to the letter sent to them by this church, but suspended their answer concerning mr. Davenports dismission, untill they had received an answer from mr. Davenport to the letter which they had sent him, but this was untrue for they brought a letter along with them which was concealed from the Church, it never being publiquely read, though the Church had kept a sollem day as before to seeke the Lord about the same, and Mr. Davenport he told God depended upon its advice but instead thereof it was read (as the dissentors were informed) to aboute 22 of the Church which managed the whole as to a conclusion with mr. Davenport upon whose counsell he cast him selfe instead of the major parte of the Church, if this letter had bin read our trouble had bin over, for the Churches of New Havens answer was in the nega- tive and the publique profession of many of the active Brethren of the major parte of the Church and their promise was, that if the church of New Haven did give them one deniall, they would never send more; but they did break this promise, in sevrall of these their meeting there was not the major parte of the church Body and their meetings were in a private house. 30 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. COPPY OF THE CONCEALED LETTER. Honoured Reverend and Beloved the Church of Christ in Boston Grace mercy and peace be multiplyed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Your letter by your Honoured Messengers hath bin read befor this n. Haven Church, a passage in the beginning of it we make bold to whlch^con- sPea^ a nttle to» vlz '■ (The benifit we have of these late ceaied. monthes this sommer received by your resigning your Reverend Pastour our Mr. D : to the will of God for the more clear discovrie of his minde in our motion to you and him) Answer : We doe not know that we have soe done, either by word written or spoken, or by any act of ours towards him or you, but against it we pleaded at our last meeting we had with our Pastor, and were not driven from it, That it was his onely way to attend and judge of a call of God in and with the church, not to goe to Boston for a discovrie of Gods mind in this matter, — to this we hold and suppose ever shall, In our former letter to yourselves, we declared sufficiently our dissent from our Reverend Pastors apprehensions, about the maine ground of his pleah for his freedome from office, and likewise gave reasons why we could not consent to your call of him from us, therefore concluded, we could not resigne him up to your call of him from us, And therefore concluded we could not resigne him up to you by any imediate act of ours, we are still the same, we doe not to this day see light to give him up to you, by any volantary act of ours and therefore can doe nothing in order to the writing and sending such a dismission (which would be a voluntary act) as yourselves and our Reverend Pastor hath sent for, we are not ignorant of, that our re- fuseall may expose us to blame and censure with some, we can better beare that than God's displeasure by wronging of our consciences, we can truely say it is purely from principles of Conscience, that we are withheld from acting according to your desire, you may deeme it our weaknes, be it soe, weake consciences may not be pressed and urged too far: i Cor: 8 : Rom : 14: As for the last clause in our letter (but such is our tender respect unto him selfe that we have soe declared ourselves to him as that he is able to give you a more full answer not onely of his owne minde but of ours allsoe) this passage doth onely speake our Due respects unto our Reverend Pastor, and doth show our readines to yeild as far as we could to give him satisfaction, but no voluntarines in us, nor the least approbation of the motion in hand, yet we acknowledge this passage singly considered as separated from the rest, is capable of a strained interpretation of a vertuall dismission, But yet we thinke it had not bin Honourable to yourselves, and our Reverend Pastor for you to have proceeded upon, considering how fully we expressed our dissent from your motion, and to tell you the truth we know not any THE CONCEALED LETTER. 3 1 two first or last, that clearly expressed their consent in this matter, but all as one man have bin against it, and one thing more have we to say, If this passage had bin in it selfe improveable in the way and to the end that now is expressed, yet some passages between our Reverend Paster and ourselves (at a meeting before winter and after our letter to your Church is a sufficient prohibition to the improve- ment of it in any such way) doe make null, what ever may be looked at to be of any for[ce] to such an end in our concession, our Reverend Pastor was willing to know the minde of God in the Church, concern- ing his call to Boston he bing unsatisfied that the Chur[ch] had left it to himself, (a meeting was apointed and called to that end) sundry things were spoken by the Brethren against it, some expressed that if he left us the — the Church would be broken, this tooke with him, he answered that indeed is considerable, and here upon resolved to stay the winter, onely expressed his desire to make a journy at the spring, and to stay the 3 hot moneths in the summer for hi[s] wives health and settlement of his son, where unto the church freely consented — we generally toke it, that he intended onely a journy as before, and to the ends as befor[e] and we expressed in his hearing this our sence of his words which he did not gaine say, we gave him then thankes for his willingnes to continue with us, and the Teacher was called upon to returne thankes to God for bowing our Pastors hearte to speake soe fully to the Churches satisfaction which he did, and soe concluded the meeting these passages are avouched and testified by very many and we suppose not one can gainsay, through streights of time we cannot inlarge : The Lord of the Harvest thrust forth faithfull labour- ers into your fields and guide you and all your motions in your weighty affaires, committing you to God and his grace, we crave your prayers a poore afflicted Company and rest your Brethren in Christ and fellowship in the name and with the unanimous Consent of the Church. New haven : 25. 6 : 1668 N : S. This letter being kept from the cognisance of the Church (yea con- siderable time it was before there was any owning of any such thing) when it leaked out it was acknowledged, but renderd full of mistakes and nonsense, and therefore not fit to be communicated to the Church, meanwhile an expresse was forthwith sent, with a letter from Mr Davenport to the Church of Newhaven, whose purport may be guessed by the next letter which they returne to the Church as will appeare in its place. The dissentors went to the Elder for an answer to theire ,,„ , , 1668 4: (7) request for dismission but could not, obtaine their desires. i: (8> Att last upon the 9th of October the Elder called a church meet- 32 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. ing, the dissentors intreated him that they might have their answer for their dismission in writting, and that they might neither by their ab- sence give any occasion to judge them sullen, nor by their presence Eider Pen ap- give offence, they appointed some to acquaint the Elder motion saying in case ne should approve of it they would be at Cap- they had better tame Davis house being next doore to meetinghouse 1 and not come but o o wait- if the Church did desire their company they would come in, and if not they would there wait the Churches answere,2 accord- ingly they waited there the whole meeting time being near night. Mr. Edw. Tyng, Elder Pen, Captaine Clark, Mr. Belcher and Mr. Everill came to them, and told them they were sent by the Church to give them this answer. That the Church did earnestly desire their reuniting, and allso that this was not a season for them to move for their dismission, n^r the Church to consider of their motion, they being then (as the dissentors supposed by reason of N. haven letters) unlikely to proceed unto Ordination. News came of Mr. Davenports dismission from Newhaven Church 22: (8) and upon the 25. October the Elder propounded him to 2S' the Church for admission, the dissentors thought then they ought to urge againe for their dismission, and upon the 26. 27. 28. October went in severall Companies in the name of the whole, humbly desiring the Elder that they might obtaine their dismission, before he proceeded to Call Mr. Davenport forth for admission. Some of them allso told him they had just offence against Mr. Davenport for his publique charge upon them before the Countrey, in his prayer fore- mentioned, and desired it might be orderly removed before his admis- sion, the Elder promised the Deacons who were of the dissenting Brethren that he would not call Mr. Davenport to be admitted before there was a meeting about it, but upon the next sabbath day some hearing, that the Elder did intend to call him forth, they went that noone unto him, and desired and besought him that the dissenters might be first dismissed, but what they said was not harkned unto, and Mr. Davenport was admitted a member of the Church of Boston upon his pretended letter of dismission, which then was read in the face of the Church but how this contrivance was brought about, and how much of the originall letter was concealed, there being onely an extract of it drawne up as much as might make up a pretended dismission but the substance of it being left out, and the extract how it spake against the intent of the letter sent by the Church 1 [According to the Book of Posses- house on the north, and the prison garden sions, William Davis's first house and on the west. The garden of Richard lot were on the south side of what is now Trewsdale adjoined Mr. Davis's land on State Street, part of the site occupied by the north in the rear.] the Merchants Exchange. In 1645, he 2 [The words " which was acceptable bought of Valentine Hill a house and lot to the Elder," following the word " an- on the high street, having the meeting- swere," are erased in the MS.] THE ABBREVIATED LETTER. 33 of N : haven, the comparing of them both togither will demonstrate : and how the providence of God revealed this work of darknes the sequell will declare though it lay hid diverse moneths : Coppy of the letter abbreviated and read to the Church of Boston by Elder Pen, drawne up by Mr. James Allin and Elder Pen, Mr. John Davenport senr knowing and approving of ' ' * the same, transcribed and subscribed by his son Mr. Jo : Davenport Junr and sealed by them, none of the Church knowing of this trans- action but these 4, untill Mr. Street came downe next summer by whome this mystery of iniquity then was revealed and made manifest. Honourd, Reverend and Beloved Grace mercy and peace be multiplyed through Jesus Christ our Lord. In answer to a letter from your Church subscribed by your Reverend Elder in the name and with the consent of the Brethren bearing date 28 : 7. 67, we made a returne as yourselves know:, and since both yourselves and Mr. Davenport have written to this Church for his dismission, such is our honorable respect to him, our love to peace, our desire of your supply, that we shall goe as far as we can safely in order to your and his satisfaction in this matter, if this will satisfy we are conten[t] to leave both yourselves and him, to make what improvement you see cause without any clog or impediment from us upon that Account, of the liberty mentioned, in order to his joyning to your Church and if he doth proceed with you in order to membership and taking office in your Church as he hath bin a faithfull Labourer in gods vineyard at N : haven for many yeares to the bringing home of many soules to god and building up of many others, soe it is and shall be our prayer to God to lengthen his life and tranquillity in Boston, to double his spirit upon him, assist him in his work and make him a blessed instrument of much good to yourselves and many others, the good Lord pardon on all hands what he hath seen amiss in these actings and motions, that no sinfull malignancy may obstruct or hinder god's blessing upon Churches or Church administrations, as himself and his son both desired, we doe dismisse unto your holy fellowship Mr. Jo : Davenport Junr Mrs. Davenport Elder and younger, desiring you to receive them in the Lord as becometh Saints and imploring Almighty God for his blessing upon them from his holy ordinances in your Communion and walking with you, the God of all grace supply all your and our need according to his riches in glory through Jesus Christ, thus craving your prayers for us in our afflicted condition we take our leave and rest Yours in the fellowship of the Gospell. N: haven : 12 : (8) 68. N. Street. In the name and with the consent of the Church of Christ at N : haven : To the Reverend Elder of the Church of Boston Mr. James Pen &c 34 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Mr. Streets name was written in this letter with another hand to counterfeit his handwriting : and the transcript was sealed : Coppy of the Original] letter sent from New haven the words drawne with a line under them are the Extract read, the rest being the mind of the Church declaring against his dismission left out and concealed about 8 moneths as the sequell doth declare fol : 49 : 50. Honourd Reverend and Beloved. Grace mercy and peace be multiplyed through our Lord Jesus Christ. In answer to a letter from your Church subscribed by your Reverend Elder in the name and with the consent of the Brethren bearing date 28 : 7 : 6j. we made a returne as yourselves know this letter con- wherein we gave you to understand for reasons exprest ceaied 8 months that we could not approve of our Pastors grounds that from the Church _ * L ° and not known had bin alledged for his removeall or the Church of Bos- as there appear- ton call, therfore thus concluded. The premises con- sidered we see no cause or call of God to resigne our Reverend Pastor to yourselves or to the Church of Boston By an immediate act of ours, But such is our tender respect to himselfe, that we have soe declared ourselves, unto him as that he is able to give you a more full answer not onely of his own minde, butt of ours also in this waity matter as he shall see cause, to whome we refer you, upon which latter passage you have proceeded soe fare, as we understand by our Reverend Pastors letter that the Church of Boston hath not onely given him a call (as he doth express it in your own words) renewed and confirmed your call of mr. Daven- port to be a teaching officer to them and that was done unanimously and mr. Davenport fully accepted and soe the matter is made up : and since both yourselves and mr. Davenport have written to this Church for his dismission ; we suppose that should have proceeded : A man can not have the essentials (which are the Churches call, and the person called his acceptance there of) of a Church officer put upon him in your Church that is not first a member of your Church soe that your hands are tied up by your own act, It is not for us to dismiss to the Church of Boston one that is all ready called to be a teaching officer to your Church at Boston, and if the match is made up as you say, what need a dismission from us to helpe make him a member or officer in your church, but that which doth most strike with us is matter of conscience though yourselves and our Reverend Pastor are fully satisfied in these No eviiis toiler- m°tions, yet the church of Newhaven is not soe, and atedintheCoun- though vou iud°:e it the best expedient for your releife try by others, to J J to r J which this might and remedy of some evills growing in the countrey, as pre\fent unlesse . , , , , church duty to also we might doe the same, if we had nothing before our forercckoned" eyes but his accomplishments, and fitness for high service d?eTof 'the Chi1' to God in his Church, But being soe much in the Darke cimrch. about his way in leaving this Church and joyning to yours, but we are not without doubts and feares of some uncomfortable THE SUPPRESSED LETTER. 35 issue, there fore cannot clearly act in such a way as is expressed and desired, we are of the same mind as when we returned an answer to your first letter, thus expressing ourselves, we see no case, or call of God to resigne our Reverend Pastor to the Church of Boston by an imediate act of ours, therefore not by a formall dismission under our hands : It is our great greife and sore affliction that we can not doe for him (whome we soe highly esteem in love for his worke sake and profitable labours among us) what is desired without wronge to our Consciences, any thing that we have or are, besides our Consciences, we are ready to lay downe at his feet : yet such is our Honorable respect to him, our love to peace, our Desire of your supply we shall goe as fare as we safely can in order to your and his satisfaction in this matter ; having before us our warrant, Acts. 21: 14 — when he would not be perswaded we ceased, saying the will of the Lord be done, There- fore to suppresse what we could say touching that passage in our first letter, whereof such hold have bin taken, and what we have said in our last letter to you of our Reverend Pastors making null the liberty be- fore granted, which we doubt not we are able clearly to demonstrate, yet if this will satisfy (but not otherwise) we are content to wave and bury in silence and leave both yourselves and him to make what improvement you see cause (with out any clogg or impedime?it from us upon that Account) of the liberty before mentioned in order to his joyning to your Church ; and if he shall see it in his way soe to doe, following what light he hath from the word of God for his guidance, as we doubt not he will carefully attend, though ourselves are in the darke about these motions, yet we shall lay a law of silence upon our tongues, that in our mouthes may be no reproofes nor repro[a]chfull speeches upon this account, as judgeing ourselves rightly worthy of such a bereave- ment for our great unprofitablenes, onely we shall reserve liberty to defend ourselves against the tongues pens or speeches of any, by whome we may unjustly suffer in this matter; if he doth proceed with you in order to 7nembership and taking office in your Church As he hath bin a faithfull labourer in Gods vineyard at New haven for many y cares, to the bringing hotne of many soulcs to God and building up of maney others, soe it is and shall be our prayer to God to lengthen his life, and tranquility in Boston ; to double his spirit upon him, assist him in his worke, and make him a blessed instrument of much Good both to yourselves and many others. The good Lord pardon 011 all hands what he hath seen amisse in these actings, and motions that no sinfull malig- nancy may obstruct or hinder Gods blessing upon persons, churches or church administrations ; here in we have gone as far as God and Con- science doe permitt us ; we are come to the utmost bounds, and there shall stop we have forborne to say very much of what we could say, where by it may appeare to all men that we are for peace, and that we are not yea, and nay in anything, we pray you that Brotherly love may 36 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. continue, if matters issue beyond and better than our feares, it shall be no greife of heart to us, butt matter of rejoicing and of thanks- giving if there be a procedure in your church with mr. Davenport than as himself e and his son have desired, we doe dismiss tinto your holy fellowship mr. John Davenport Jutir. mrs. Davenport both Elder and younger, desiring you to receive them in the Lord as as becometh saints, and imploring the all mighty God for his blessing upon them from his holy ordinances in their communion and walking with you : The God of all grace supply all your and our need, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus thus craving your prayers for us in ottr afflicted condition we take our leave and rest yours in the jfellowship of the Gospel. New haven the 12th : (8) mo 68 Nicolas Street In the ?iame and with the consent of the Church of Christ in New haven To the Reverend Elder of the church of Boston, mr. fames Pen to be communicated to the Church .' A church metting was called, the dissentors acquainted the Elder they would attend the Church pleasure at Captaine Davis 9 (9) mo 68. J ,11. • p -1 , house, where after they had bin some time me[tj they sent for the dissenters, the Elder proposed their motion for dismission to the church who instead of granting it, did desire them to become one with them and returne againe, yet proposed no one thing to them as a motion thereto, but their forgivenes of all past matters, the dis- senters professed their adherence to the advice of the Reverend Coun- cill, and did humbly intrea[t] them a dismission, the Church refused, professing they saw not light to concur with the Councill, and at the same time proceeded to give Mr. Davenport a full and authorative call, he being then one of them, the dissenting Brethren manifested 1 [It was a fragment of this letter following estimate, a very just one, as it which was before Dr. Wisner when he seems to us, of the Rev. Mr. Street : — wrote the notes to his history (pp. " This fragmentary production of Street 74,75). After copying it, he added: speaks volumes for him as a man of wis- " Then follows, on the bottom of the dom and grace. He certainly showed page, these notes in another hand : himself the equal of his eminent col- ' The Elder labouring to convince, 24, 4, league in prudence and forethought. The 69, Mr. James Allen [minister of the letter could not well breathe a better First Church] of his iniquity of dealing spirit. It reveals a man rid of that deceitfully about the letter from New petty jealousy which cannot endure a Haven, and in saying Mr. Davenport rival, which covets not copartnership, was innocent in that matter, he acknowl- The extreme reluctance of Street to part edged that Mr. D. knew the matter as with his distinguished associate indi- much as he and his unckle, and that cates an unfeigned attachment towards he had sinned in saying Mr. D ' " him, and no fear lest 'so considerable a Mr. Emery, in the Ministry of Taunton Gideon as Mr. Davenport ' (as Hooke (vol. i. p. 164), with the same fragment was pleased to style him) should leave before him which was before Dr. Wisner no room for one of the ' lesser lights ' to when he wrote, has drawn from it the revolve."] FOUR CHURCHES ADVISED WITH. 37 their dissent thereunto, yet Mr. Davenport dec[la]red his acceptance of it said that which was the dissenters cheif reason of non comply- ance therein was his Crowne The premises considered and the Church preparing in order to Mr. Davenports ordination and the dissenters desires being as far as they knew their own hearts that their motions might be becoming the gospell they wrote as followeth to foure neighbour Churches Honourd, Reverend and Beloved Our undoubted expectation of a speedy ordination in the Church, the remembrance of the Councills declaration, whose advice was that we should have our dismission before such ordination, togither with the consideration of what may be the sad consequence, if the said advice be not obtayned before their proceeding, occasion us to give you this trouble of sending your former Messengers if it may be, who are already soe far acquainted with our case as renders them we humbly conceive, most meet to further advise therein, that we may neither be discouraged in the work of God among us, nor oppressed by our Brethren, nor yet be left for want of advice to doe any thing that may have the least evill savour, to these that seriously and impartially consider both our present and former actions and con- ditions craving the help of your prayers. &c. The time in which we intreat your help is upon 23 : (9) at Captaine Davis house: These letters were directed to the Churches of Christ at Roxbury : Dorchester Cambridge and Dedham. On the day appointed these met and treated at Mr. Davenports house That as to the dissenters the Ordination might passe without publique opposition they obtayned a prom- ise of Mr. Davenport, Mr. Allin, and Elder Pen viz : In order to healing of the present differences between the Church of Boston and sundry of their Brethren Refering to their Election of teaching officers (it is propounded) that the dissent of those Brethren being all ready manifest there in, they observing the advice given by the Messengers of the Churches ; not to make any further disturbance in the Churches proceeding, Their silence in the day of ordination shall not conclude them, as Coactors with the Church there in, and that mutuall love and amity should be maintained in walking together untill the minde of Christ may further appeare for direction, to any other way ; the 23 (9) mo. 68 this agreement above though it was not signed by mr. Davenport and the two other Gentlemen yet it was writ in their presence read unto them and by them faithfully promised that it should be made good to the dissenters and to that Ende a coppy of it left with them by the members of the late Councill. Three Questions sent by : J : A : [the Rev. James Allen] to the dis- senters to have their answer 38 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. i Question In case any words, have unadvisedly fallen from any of you in publique or otherwise that are justly offencive, whether you have bin ready to tender regular satisfaction or are willing soe to doe. Answer wherein any of us singly or all of us unitedly have given any offence publiquely or privately in the management of a Case soe labouring among us, we doe seriously professe ourselves ready as according to rule bound to acknowledge the same, as we have cause to reflect upon ourselves, and indeed to be ashamed before the Lord and his people, for what hath bin humane in our motions, and doe heartily beg pardon of the Lord and of the Church for the same. 2. Question whither may you not conceive to be most for peace and edification to submit to the election of the Reverend Mr. Davenport, in case the Church with at least one of the teaching officers will owne the Church seed, exercise Church watch and discipline to them accord- ing to the late Synod. Answer To this was answered in the Negative. 3 : Question In case your dismission be yet thought requisite, to remove all jealousies, all of you would solemnly professe your cleav- ing to the present government of this Collony, and in gathering into another Church to be carefull in admitting into the Church or unto full Communion therein, such as may be sutable to the purity, peace, safety, and good of the Church and Commonwealth. Answer i : That we doe all of us solemnly professe our faithfull owning of and fixed cleaving to the present Government of this Col- lony, and shall be ready upon all occasions to demonstrate it, if we have given cause to be suspected herein we are very sorry. 2 : That referring our gathering into another Church to be carefull in admitting &c. we declare in the name of all our Brethren that we intend no other than the word of god to be the rule of our motion therein, and as made knowne to us by the joint agreement of the Elders and messengers of Churches in the booke entitled the platforme of Church discipline and the result of the Synod 1662 Subscribed by severall Brethren. Those proposals or quiries of the dissenting Brethren to 4 : (10). the Reverend Elders 1 Question, whither a Church which is lytigant, wherein a numerous partie (from conviction) of duty to god unto the Church and them- selves, and from conscience of sincere love unto any fundamentall of order in the administration of any ordinance dissenting from their Brethren in the Election and ordination of any person or persons unto Church office, and managing of their dissent without offence in a way of order unto peaceable issue on their parts by the Councill and advice of neighbour Churches wherein they are willing to acquiesce : FURTHER ADVICE SOUGHT. 39 we humbly inquire whither such a Church though affectionately and importunately sollicited thereunto by their dissenting Brethren, may without breach of Communion within itself or Communion with those Churches proceed unto such election or ordination. 2 Question whither such Brethren who have received any divine truth in the plain evidence and demonstration of it unto their con- sciences from the word of God, and have bin settled and established in the knowledge and beleif of that truth, by the sound doctrine of these able and faithfull Ministers whose ministry they have lived under, and that have had the truth delivered unto them in the forme of sound words according to analogy of faith cleared from all these Controversies which it hath laboured under by the contention of Brethren and commended unto them by publique and solomne decla- ration, as a present truth unto these Churches, and allso that doe find themselves obliged to professe and practise that truth, from an awfull apprehension of that great concernment of gods glory and the salva- tion of soules in the sincere profession and practise thereof we humbly inquire whither such Brethren may or can with peace of their owne consciences and safety of their owne soules, doe, or consent to the do- ing of any thing which doth tend to the hindrance of their profession or practise of that truth in that Church of which they are, and whither they are not bound in a way of peace and order to manifest their Contra dissent, and with love and meekness to contend for the truth. 3 : Question whither such a part of the Brethren be not bound in duty unto the improvment of the intherest of liberty which Christ hath betrusted them with all, for the regular and orderly managing of the affaires of his Church or whither they may divest themselves of that liberty, by a voluntary and designed secession or silenc[e] or whither they may suffer themselves to be divested of that liberty by their Brethren by a seclusion from Communion with them in Church acts, or whither to desert the intherest of liberty be not unfaithfullnes and breach of Covenant. 4. Question whither a Church having secluded such Brethren from their meetings and transacted any weighty affaires of the Church for the most part without them, soe as that they doe not throughly un- derstand the ground of the Church proceedings therein. We inquire whither such Brethren can Act in faith and in a way of order with the Church or whither the Church can require or desire such secluded Brethren to concurre with them in the issue of that proceeding whether the Church may regularly, orderly, and effec- tualy, call and elect an officer, or officers in the intirim of that suspen- sion, and in the absence of theire Brethren whither a parte, though a major parte of a Church may call an officer, secluding a great though a minor parte of the Church from their Communion therein. 5 Question Whether the Church hath power to hold any member 40 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. or members standing free and cleare from offence in their Communion, such member or members desiring their dismission in a way of order, either to some other church that is orthodox and walking orderly, or to the propogation of some other church according to rules of gospel order (espetially) when such dismission is by the Councill of other Churches offered, and by those Brethren accepted, as a regular expedient, to issue Controversyes in a way of love and peace, by an orderly improvement of christian liberty, in such a way of secession, or whither such restraint of inofensive members, be not a violence offered to their Christian liberty, and in consistent with the freedome of Church Communion, and repugnant to the peace and edification of the Church, whether any Instance can be given of such a Coercion and exercise of Church power towards in offensive Brethren 6 Question Whether any person can receive a divine call from a major parte of a church during the dissent of a minor parte, espetially himselfe. being concerned as the subject of the dissention, And deeply Censured the dissentors, or whether the church circumstanced with such, and soe many difficulties may orderly proceed unto election and ordination. Boston : 4 : 10 : 68 : given into the Elders of neighbor churches and 4: (.068. signed by Ro. Walker in name of the dissenting Bretheren — The Elders met at Boston at HV1 to consider of the foregoing queries presented to them in the name of the dissenters but no answer returned. The 9th of (10) being the day of ordination appointed by the Elder on the saboth before he acquainted the Church with their purpose, after prayer and blessing was over and the people going out saying he had forgot to mention the desire of send- ing to other Churches for their messengers but no vote passed upon it, yet the Churches were sent unto, one if not two of the Churches had their letters before any mention was made to the Church of sending letters : The day of ordination being come ; the Elder passed the vote in the affirmative, and soe worded as it reached not the dissenters at all as will appeare, but were disinabled from expressing assent or dissent : (1) vote Brethren this Church that have formerly chosen and called the Reverend Mr. Davenport, if you hold in the same mind and god keep you in the same mind to give Reverend Mr. Davenport the call to be a teaching officer, for to be a Pastor over you, manifest it by your usual signe : 2 1 [Hezekiah Usher's. This was in 2 ["2ly. you in this congregation who King Street, on the north side, opposite are not of this Church if you have any the town house. The property had just exception why we should not proceed formerly belonged to the Rev. John to the callinfg] Mr. Davinport to be a Wilson.] pastor to this Church you have your MR. DA VENPORT IS ORDAINED. 4 1 The vote reached onely those who had given Mr. Davenport a call and continued in the same mind that he should be a Pastor unto them, Mr. Davenport being desired to declare himself whither he accepted of this call, thus expressed himselfe An outward call could not satisfy mee, if I had not an inward call, it hath bin the greatest exercise of my soule, next to the Mr Davenports clearing: of my good estate towards God in my effectual speech at the o J o J day of ordraa- calling, this call from New haven, and I have desired the tion- Lord to show mee his way, and not leave mee to any temptation, but lead mee in a plaine path because of my observers, and in this way I have waited for a long time, for sundry months at New haven, and sundry months here, and soe continued untill I received my dismis- sion from New haven, and joyned in membership here, and soe to office here : Now I look upon it as a call from the Church an authoritative call, I being a member with them, the former I looked on it as an Invitation, and still kept mine ey on Christ to cleare his will unto mee, which I confesse he hath now done to the full satisfaction of my conscience, I am soe ully satisfied in it, that I can plead it to god in Christ in prayer, in the time of any difficulty or danger what ever difficulty I may be in. Thou Lord knowest I did not make hast to be a Pastor over this people, but waited on thee to know thy mind, and I can plead this also to all the world, and am ready to publish to the world the grounds whereupon I see myselfe called by Christ to this service, I speak it the rather because of some uncomfortable speeches I have heard, that put mee upon a necessity to declare thus much &C.1 There was a church meeting called, the dissenters observed the same method that they had done the two former meetings Tanua and signified to the Elder they would wait at Captaine >:(")6S[6g]. Davis house unlesse the Church desired them to come in : when the Church had bin met about an houre they sent for the dissenters in, where when they came and were sit downe the Elder with great dis- pleasure demanded of them : whither they did acknowledge them for a Church of Christ and whither their officers were true officers, and told Mr. Rawson he demanded the answer of him, who answered they did acknowledge them to be a Church of Christ and their officers to be true officers, and desired to walk in communion with them according to the advice of the Councill. 6 : Another Church meeting called the Elder proposed that the end liberty to declare it : the like votes passed dained. The dissenting brethren humbly, for Mr. James Allin to be Teacher." earnestly and frequently entreated for The above paragraph appears to be their dismission before the ordination, erased in the manuscript.] but could not obtain it ; neither could 1 [John Hull writes Dec. 9, 1668 : — they, without much trouble, enjoy com- " Mr. Davenport and Mr. Allen or- munion at the table."] 42 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. of it was to remove all offences, and that with unity of Spirit we might sit downe at the Lords table, Captaine Davis then humbly desired satisfaction of the Elder who had said the last meeting before a great part of the Town, and some of the Countrey, that Seclusion b r _ » . , , owned by 2 dissenters were not desired by the Church to with draw, then Major Leverit and Deacon Trusdale testified that the dissen[ ] were not willing to goe out, and declared if there was any Church buysines to be done that concerned the whole body it con- cerned them to be present, though if the Church desired their absence whiles they considered of their petition for their dismission they did not looke at it as unreasonable, then Mr. Davenport acknowledged that the Church ought to have called the dissenters in before they pro- ceeded to any act relating to the calling of him to office. Deacon Trusdale complayned of [something] that was greivous to him spoken by James Everill in a former meeting, who said that if the dissenters were suffered to goe on, it would open a doore to all licentiousnes, whereas this partie viz : James Everill was he who publiquely declared formerly that if the Brethren would manifest themselves to be seekers of the peace of the Church, they should not obstruct the Churches proceedings, but quietly let them proceed, and fall themselves upon the practise of what they looked at themselves obliged to performe unto the children of the Church, the said deacon complained of a letter which he had heard was sent to the Church from the Church of New Haven but was not read to them Mr. Davenport answerd him, it was in the power of an Elder to forbeare to read a Churches letter, in case it was not for edification : he reflected upon the Church of New haven as havino- sent a letter full of mistakes, and such as did not concerne the Church of Boston to answer but himself and that he had answerd that, which letter is the concealed letter before mentioned, and was sent to our Church but not read unto them, and himself then being neither an officer nor member of our Church was pleased to censure the Church of New haven by his answer unto it this letter had it bin publique[ly] read had put an end to the question about Mr. Daven- ports call, being a call for him to returne unto his flock as may appear by said letter : Offer was then made by the Elder and Mr. Davenport to the dis- senters if they had anything against any Brother if they would prove their charge they might. The dissenters by the advice of the Councill being to bury all Tanr6:(n). offences against them before the advice, and supposing it 1668. [69] bootlesse to speak of any greivances since by way of Com- plaint against such as were the onely Judges, told them they desired to let all passe, onely standing, under the guard of the Councill they wayted for their dismission, and that they did desire to forgive forgit and bury all things in this late houre of temptation, that had bin CHARGES AGAIXST THE DISSENTERS. 43 greivous to them and to Judge themselves before the Lord for their owne miscariages, and to come in true love to God, to his ordinances, and to their Brethren. Then the Elder proposed if any of the Church had any thing to yurge upon the dissenters either by word of mouth or by writing they might proceed. Mr. Stoddard made this motion that the Church might humble themselves before god and renew their Covenant with God and one with another : Some of the dissenters told him that to come regularly to the Lords supper was to renew their Covenant with the Lord and one with another : Mr. Davenport looked over the Pulpit once or twice to Mr. Stoddard, and said, if there charge was were anything further by word or writing to be brought v^SgTutnot forth, let it be attended, then Mr. Stoddard replyed, he brought forth, had three morall evills to charge upon two of the dissenters. Mr. Thatcher then moved, that if any such thing were, that they would please to mention them, being of such a nature they ought to be removed. Mr. A. Stoddard * would not presently mention either person or thing but because the dissenters had earnestly moved that they might walke in Communion he said if they were soe desirous of Communion he would say to them, as the Prophet Amos did, chapter 4. 4. 5 come to Bethell and transgress, goe up to Gilgall and multiply transgression, bring your sacrifice of thanksgiving and offer them with leaven : At length out came his Charge, two morall Evills against Captaine Davis first he had said the church did not begin with God Secondly that it was not the Church that wrote to New Haven. And one morall evill against John Hull for saying the church had wrested their liberty from them, all which he charge of 3 s said were transgressions, against the 9th Commandment. morra11 evills- The said dissenters desired to know whether this was onely mr. Stodders charge, or whether the church did make it their charge. But neither Elder or any Brother would make any answer though they begged it Sundry times. It seemed to the dissenters by [o]therwise the managing of matters that mr. Davenport, mr. Allen, {^^5^ and mr. Pen, mr. Everill, Captain Clark mr. Cooke, and against it and ' r ' Sundry Breth- the hands of many of the Brethren were in this charge, ren desired mr. as well as mr. Stodder ; — Captain Davis answerd, where beare the as I am charged with two morall evills the one, that I [hjeTfd de-°re should say that the church neither begun nor ended with cIar[ ] God — he desired to know of that Brother whether that was his whole speech or parte of his speech — Answer was replied he could not tell 1 [Mr. Anthony Stoddard. He mar- Simeon Stoddard, an active member of ried as his fourth wife the widow of one the Old South in the next century, were of the dissenting brethren, Thomas his sons, and Deacon Charles Stoddard Savage, who died in 16S2. The Rev. of the Old South was a descendant in Solomon Stoddard, of Northampton, and the fifth generation.] 44 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. whether it was the whole or not. — Captain Davis replyed if it, were not my whole speech, the speech was his owne and not mine, if that were my whole speech I desire you to prove it, and the rather because I am confident, no one in the Congregation can or will say it was soe, It is true there was a time when the church was in a strife, and I did say upon that disorder that was among us, that I did feare we had not begun with god : at which time one of the brethren replyed, did we not begin with prayer ? I then answered my meaning was not, that the Elder had not begun with prayer, but apprehended we had not begun with the rule, that is not to begin with God, this was all that I said, and therefore the charge is unjust, for the second charge saying that the Church did not send to New Haven, that remaines yet sub judice : but my speaking at that time was lesse expedient, and better I had forborne, — but wherein I have given any offence to any in anything for matter or manner I am sorry. We interrupt the Narrative at this point, to present a letter written by the Rev. Nicholas Street to a correspondent in Bos- ton, probably Increase Mather, which throws much light on the meaning and object of the letter from the New Haven church of October 12, 1668, suppressed by Mr. Davenport and his friends : — Reverend Sir Yours dated Nov. 17, 68 I received wherein you have ingaged me to you by the Intelligence I have from you of news from England as also how matters are in Boston, no other nor worse than I expected, and it will be a pity if the fire kindled there doth not spread further I am not without more sad apprehensions and fears than I am willing to express. As for the true sense of our Letter sent to the church of Boston the Letter itself doth shew, our intendment in it is Playnly expressed without the least obscurity. The letter doth not run in the ordinary form of dismissions, yet it is (and so we intended it) a dis- mission ad placitum Reverendi magistri Davenport et ecclesiae Bostoni- ensis, if they should see it that way so to improve it we could not give such a dismission in form as was desired without wrong to Conscience, which is a tender thing, not being satisfyed either in Mr. Davenports call to the church of Boston or grounds of his moving from us, — that we were not satisfyed we have signify ed so much in our letter to Boston church, The reasons and grounds of our dissatisfaction we have not layd before them, — out of our honourable respects to mr Davenport but have in a pri- vate letter sent them to himself And though we saw it not our way to give him a dismission in form for the reason expressed, yet after sundry overtures between us and him, we finding his Spirit to be so strongly PRIVATE LETTER FROM MR. STREET 45 even unalterably bent and bound in spirit for Boston, we thought it our way no further to struggle with him, but to leave him at his liberty to doe as God should guide him, resting our warrant from Acts 21. 14. when he would not be perswaded we ceased saying the will of the Lord be done. This first narrative I suppose may be sufficient to satisfy understanding ones (if unbiassed) and our actings and carriage in this busines. If any should asperse us on the one hand, that we have not given so fair and full and honourable a dismission as may be thought Mr Davenports desert might challenge at our hands you have our Answer we were not satisfyed in the motions in this matter, therefore could not without injury to conscience act in such a way or resign him up to the church of Boston by an immediate act of ours as we signifyed so much to the church by our letter from very first. Had we bin as clear at his leaving this church and joyning to Boston church as himself seemed to be, and had apprehended that his settling there in office would quiet and compose all matters in that church as some seemed to be of that mind, though our loss would have bin [incomparably] great, yet I think we should have denyed ourselves, and have given him as full and as honourable a dismission as our understandings could have reached to have framed. It is our great greif that we are so bound up even in conscience that we could not anszver his and others desires and expectations, but the truth is we were so in the dark about these motions, and so fell of fears of a different effect (and it seems by your letter that our fear was not vain) that we could not act that way with any liberty of spirit or conscience. If we are aspersed on the other hand, because we yielded so farr as we did to leave him to his liberty, the Holy ghost seemeth to answer for us in the text before alledged Act. 21. 14 wherein we suffer in these matters we have the testimony of our consciences, that we have bin true to our present light, faithfull to Christ and his rules in the management of this busines, though accompanyed with human frail- tyes. And if we suffer herein we must bear it, and shall look higher than men even to the hand of God which hath bin upon us of late 7jery sore (though below our demerits) since this troublesome exercise began, our ways and hearts are known to him. our [name] is with him. to whom we commit our Case, not doubting but hee will bring forth our righteousness and plead our Cause for us in his owne time and way. the Lord be with you and yours and rest your brother in the fellowship of the Gospell N. H. 2. of dec. 68 I pray be careful to whom you Communicate this, that I may not suffer for my readines to answer your desire. due respects to your wife to [ ] and his.1 1 [Evidently a copy of this letter was stroyed, so that Mr. Street might not be made, and the original was then de- drawn into the controversy. The copy, 46 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. We now return to the Third Church Narrative : — Mr. Davinport in his sermon held forth that the dissentors par- taking in the supper, would actually and really demonstrate their acceptance of the teaching officers, as well as if they had consented from the beginning ; and spak allso in excuse of the Church and said they had fully tendrd satisfaction, and the dissentors had offred something that way, but it did not reach, the Church wearyed with contests desired to have the Lords supper administred, and the officer could not deny to administer to any not under censure, all which made the dissentors feare some did intend a snare for them viz. if they did partake they would never give them their dismission, but tell them they had lost their case by their owne consent, and if they did not partake, they would improve it against them in order to cen- sure, the Lords supper was appointed to be celebrated the 24th (11). The dissentors sent therefore 3 Brethren with their request in writ- ing to all the Elders that they did humbly intreat, that they might partake at the Lords table now in the season agreed upon by the Church ; according to the advice of the Reverend Councill, and the agreement made by the severall Reverend Elders and Honourd Brethren of other Churches before the ordination, with- out any such condition imposed upon them as was the last Lords day by Reverend Mr. Davinport insisted upon but the Elders would not concede to their motion. The dissenters considered that unlesse they had some opportunity publiquely to declare, that they onely came with a full salvo to their Case, it would not be safe for them to come, and . there was no opportunity in their power but on the saboth day just before the Administration and to speak then might hazard the peace of the Church and therfore thought it not safe, and waited untill Saturday in the afternoone to see if the Elders would show them any compassion, the three deacons allso had told the Elders that they could not partake unlesse that snare were removed, then the dissenters sent 4. brethren in all their names, to the Elders with a writing directed to them and rest of the Church contents is as followeth. Revrd and beloved we desire to hold Communion with you in all the ordinances of Christ according to the advice of the Reverend Coun- cill which we looke at ourselves bound to adhere unto, but in asmuch Coppy of a as Reverend Mr. Davinport did on the last Lords day de- ^EfdLuJon clare> that if we should sit downe at the Lords table with bearin°nthfef°r" y°u' we should really and actually demonstrate our ac- Lords supper, knowledgement and consent to the teaching officers which which has been preserved in the Mass. the authorship of the letter. At the foot Archives (vol. x. p. 56), is without a sig- are the words : " Received 19. 10. Tran- nature, but there can be no doubt as to scribed 1 mi. 1 mo."] THE DEACONS CALLED TO ACCOUNT. 47 the Church hath chosen, asmuch as if we had consented to their Election from the beginning, we in respect thereof are forced to for- beare, and intreat it may not be an offence to the Church But the Elders showd no pitty unto them neither x reading to the Church the letter signed by the dissenters nor expressing any word to ease or incourage them. Soe when as the time of Administration . , ,,a o _ 24: (,11; 1668. came all the dissenters after a pawse to see if the Elder or Church would offer any ease unto them or give them any oppor- tunity of declaring themselves by their invitation thereunto they all withdrew themselves except the deacons. The 3 deacons staid least if they had left their charge to wait upon the table, they should have bin found Culpable but they durst not partake least they should be ensnared. A Church meeting was appointed, and it appeared by the sequell, it was to deale with the deacons, but in the interim between they gave them no knowledge of any offence taken, the Church being met the 3 deacons were called forth (two of them being dissenters from the first and the 3d not cleare in the Churches call and actings relating to Mr. Davinport) they were charged with high contempt of the holy ordinance of god, and agravated, in being present waiting upon their office and not partaking, that it was a will- full presumptuous contempt of the Lord Jesus Christ and his body and blood, and deserved cutting of according to Num : 9:13: a sin against the Institution of Christ against the Church of Christ and against the Officer or Administrator. The deacons desired them not to construe it as contempt, their desire being not to give offence but considering their office charge Rom : 12 : 6. Acts 6. they doubted their absence would have bin much more agravated against them, and therefore chose rather to shew utmost willingnes to serve them, they had taken what paines and care they could before to have the cause removed, speaking to the Elders themselves and by their Brethren, but at that time as matters were circumstanced, they judged they could not safely partake accord- ing to Rom : 14 : 23 : and if it was an evill it was through their owne darkenes, and intreated the Church to passe it by. Mr. Thatcher offerd to moderate between the Church and them, but was with great displeasure commanded silence, and because he offered speech the second time, he was taken up sharpely, telling him he showed how litle he knew what belonged to be an officer, who had bin so many yeares in office and could not be silent when required. Mr. Thatcher said he ought indeed to have ben silent 2 and therefore desired pardon, Mr. Davinport much undervalued all that the deacons 1 [These words are crossed out in the 2 [The words " when required " follow MS. : " But the Elders showd no pitty the word " silent " in the MS., but have unto them neither."] been erased.] 48 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. said, saying that they had cleare light held forth unto them, and their acknowledgments were Jejune and poore, soe they kept the deacons untill nigh evening, then concluded the meeting and gave them time to consider untill that day seven night which they appointed for another meeting. The Church when met applyed themselves to the deacons as men under great offence, and used exhortations as if they had great care of their soules good, which the unintherested bystanders toke it as if their reall indeavour was to minister occasion to them to slip into some unadvised expression that they might take advantage to censure them for, some of the dissenting Brethren spake on the deacons behalf but were sharply reproved for diverting the Church from their work with them at length Deacon Ellyot was vehemently urged by diverse Brethren to speake unto sundry things, he declared he had some trouble and doubt in his mind about the regu- larity of Mr. Davinports dismission, which word was snatched up and with much violence managed against him, and agravated as being that which highly reflected dishonour upon Mr. Davinport, upon this Church, upon the Church of New Haven, and upon 6 Churches more, who were present by their messengers at his Ordination, and gave him the right hand of fellowship.1 The honest 2 deacon presently owned it was his folly to mention that which he did not soe [well] understand and was freely willing to beare any blame for it, thus they held the deacon upon the rack this day likewise, and it seemed to be no litle provocation unto the Church and Elders that in these two daies they could find no more against them, yet because the evening was come they concluded the meeting, but would not cleare them, and therfore appointed another meeting for the same end. A third time the Church met for the same buysines, and all these meetings were publique, neer five hundred persons present and diverse not of the Church, the deacons acknowledg- ment was much the same, and now the matter became publique talke, and people ready to cry out upon them for their severity, — the Church therfore toke what had bin said for good satisfaction for this their highly aggravated offence, but then some of the Church used another stratagem, seing they had soe far and soe well satisfyed the Church that now the 2 deacons would compleat all by withdrawing their hands from a letter upon Church record for their dismission, saying all were as nothing unlesse that were done, and the Elders said it would declare their hearts to be cordiall unto them but otherwise not, 1 [The following words in the MS. letter of his dismission as hath bin partly are erased: "but indeed this Church and declared, but as then it was not known the other Churches were grossely deceived unto them."] about his ordination and the pretended 2 [The word " honest " is erased.] FOUR PROPOSITIONS. 49 but the deacons could not come up unto them in that and the Church concluded them unmeet to be continued in their office, and did there- fore vote them out,1 and at the same time elected 3 other deacons in their roome.2 Mr. Bridgham was the first new deacon nominated and chosen, and being called to shew his acceptance, said he had rather indeed they had chosen some other, but seing the holy ghost had elected him, he did give up himself to the work, the other two desyred time to con- sider of it, but upon the next Lords day they were all three ordayned by Mr. Davenport &c who read Acts. 6 : 1 to 7 : Rom : 12 : 7:8. 1 Tym : 3 : 8 : 13. and then said if any had any objection against the men as to these qualifications laid downe in those scriptures they might speak. The dissenting Brethren sate downe with the Church at 0 21 : (12). the Lords table. Mr. Davenport the last Church meeting acknowledging that what he had spoken in his sermon the Lords day before the first supper did not alter the state of the dissenters from that which the Councill put them under : The dissenters sent foure of their Brethren in the behalf of all the rest with a request written and subscribed by . . . .26: (12). them all (because their former writing delivered in by them to Elder Pen was by Mr. Davinport called clandestine) this was declared to all the Elders, desiring according to their former re- quest upon Church record their dismission : and by word of mouth in the name of the rest of their Brethren was proposed, 1. That they would call the Church togither in convenient time in order to their dismission. That was denyed. 2. That they would promise to give them a dismission in 4. 6. or 8 months time when they should have built a meeting house for the Lords service. this was denyed allso. 3. That the Church would recall Councill, or give way that the dis- senting Brethren might doe it. this was allso denyed. 4. That they would then please to dismisse them unto some other Church, this allso was denyed. 1 [" On 12 Feb. 1669, Edward Ransford not voted out then [Richard Trewsdale] and Jacob Eliot were dismissed from the (he being none of the first dissenters) but office of deacons for setting their hands, none of these votes were put in the nega- with other brethren, to desire their dis- tive, supposing (as there was cause) that mission from the church, because the many of the Church besides the dissent- church had chosen Mr. Davenport for ers were against, and did not goe along their pastor." — Ellis's History of the in these strange motions."] First Church in Boston, p. 117. 2 [The three deacons chosen at this The following words in the Narrative time were Henry Bridgham, Robert San- are crossed out : " onely one of them was derson, and Henry Alline.] 50 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. The Third Church Narrative does not contain a memorial which at or about this time was addressed by the " dissenting brethren " to the Governor and Council. The copy of this memorial which has come down to us bears no date, but it is indorsed " Petition to the Governour and Councill /6g," and is in the following terms :x — To the Honourable the Governour and Councill of the Massatusett ?iow sitting in Boston — The Humble Petition of us whose names are subscribed Whereas the uncomfortable differences under which wee have divers months laboured, are butt too well knowne of all, to the no small greife of our owne hearts, and to the greatt scandall of religion, which wee hoped would have beene eased and issued, by that remedy which the Lord Jesus hath appointed in case of such a prevailing malady : vizt : the Councill of Churches (concerning which wee att the first pro- fessed ourselves willing to acquiesce in, as also did our Elder in the face of the church) who in their Advice declared our dismission (as expressed) to bee the best expedient for the issue of our then differ- ences, and agreeable to the mind of Christ, since which wee have travailed and with patience waited for itts accomplishment, upon our frequent desires thereof, butt hath beene hitherto denyed us ; yea though some dayes since, wee renewed our motion in writing under our hands unto the Reverend Elders of our Church to promove itt to the church by calling a meeting to that end, yett this endeavour also hath beene fruitles, either as to a church meeting or hopes of ever gaining our dismission according to the advice of the Reverend Coun- cill ; nor to dismiss us to such a church as wee should desire, nor to have further Advice from sister Churches, ishatt wee ought to doe in such a case ; Butt are wholly shutt upp and deprived (as wee conceive) of that Christian liberty, which Christ hath purchased for his people in church estate, and contrary to the professed practise of our churches our studiousnes to avoid schisme and scandall being improoved against us, as if wee had deserted that cause and interest of truth, which ought to bee dearer to us then our very lives. Worthy Patrons (in the failure of all endeavours hitherto) under God wee are necessitated to take sanctuary att your Altar, and to implore your aid, as from those who are the nursing ffathers of our Israeli, and who by divine appointment are made the keepers of our Libertyes both Ecclesiasticall and Civill, that under your Covert wee may have such encouragement, as that withoutt offence (the numer- 1 The copy, which, with the signatures, make use of it. It will be noticed that we think is in the handwriting of John Edward Rawson, who was an officer of Hull, belongs to Mr. Walter Lloyd the Council, did not sign it, nor did Jeffries, who has kindly allowed us to Richard Trewsdale. TO THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL. 51 ousnes of inhabitants, together with the confluence of strangers calling for enlargement) to build a house for our seasonable assem- bling to worship God : And that you will please to provoke the churches unto that duty and help that our condition calls for (that so our greivances (which lye heavy upon us may bee removed) [which] have beene multiplyed since the last Councill, and more especially the ejection of our faithfull Deacons) that wee may doe our duty to God, our owne soules, the churches of Christ and our Posterity. Wee further beseech you to accountt of us (how ever traduced) as true and faithfull both to the Civill Government here established, and to the professed interest of Christ Jesus in these Churches, according to the Platt-forme of church Government here established, and decla- ration of the Synod in 62, withoutt any desire of innovation upon either in any measure. Thus craving your Honours candid consider- ation of our present application to yourselves, and your seasonable releife, wee shall further pray for your prosperity, and that wee may long live under you a quiett and peaceable life in all godlines and honesty. Tho: Savage Josh. Scottow Hez. Usher Edwd. Rainsford josiah belshar Jno. Alden Benj. Gibbs Benj. Thirston Peter Oliver Joseph Rock Joseph Belknap Peter Brackett James Pemberton Jno. Wing Jacob Eliot Theoph. Frary Wm Davis Robt. Walker Wm. Dawes Jno. Hull Theode. Attkinson Jno. Tappin Wm. Salter Jos. Davis Tho Brattle Seth Perry We return to the Third Church Narrative : — 7 : (1) 68-69. A motion was made by the Church that deacon Trusdale might have his dismission from his office because of his many bodily infirmities which passed, giving him thankes for his former faithfull service : then it was moved that all the former deacons might have some appointed to give them a discharge, which allso was voted.1 The Elder told the Church that they intended to call forth Brother Negus his daughter a child of the Church who had com- & 20. mitted fornication, but that she was not well enough to come abroad, it was supposed by this motion they did now intend to shew some Church care towards the Church children. 1 [The following words are crossed out the Church, the Elder bad him forbeare, in the Narrative : " One of the dissenting pretending it was not a season, but gave Brethren desired to make a motion unto him no liberty that meeting."] 52 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Being the saboth day the Elder in the latter part thereof, declared that now they should have proceeded in the matter of Brother Negus daughter, but her mother would not suffer her to come forth into the Congregation, therefore the matter being soe fowle and haynous, we doe declare her to be none of us, and this past without any vote of the Church.1 The whole Church met in the towne house private, the dissentors again humbly desired the Church to give them their dis- 2 9- mission, or to Consent that a Councill of Churches might be called to heare the whole Case, and they would oblige to sit downe by their counsell and determination, the dissenters then desired of the Church that if the Lord should favor them in their application unto Churches of the neighborhood, that they would please to give them a meeting when they should convene in order of a Councill, the dis- senters were often charged with willfullnes and obstinacy and that they had not one sillable of rule, but of will. Then severall Brethren urged for the admonition of the dissenters and Mr. Davinport said, he thought that had bin meet to have bin done before now, and because it was not, therefore they were thus hardned, for he discerned nothing but will as the cause of all, and if now they did not hearken he should looke at them as under great hardness. One of the dissenters told them if there were but a free passage of the just scripture liberty of the Belovd the owning of scripture Councill with a decisive power according to the judgement of our best Orthodox divines, and the owning and attendance of Church duty to the children of the Church he should asmuch delight in the Church as formerly. In this meeting was put to vote whether the church would grant the dissentors their dismission, which vote was expounded both in the Negative and afirmative by mr. Davenport ; It was caryed in the negative by the lifting up of hands.2 conference being, about the dissenting Brethren desiring of a Coun- Assuredthat c^- Tllat also was resolved in the Negative though not there was no by any stated vote which they did decline but by personall major or minor J , , , __,. . , -,-. d. part in a conclusion of many against it both Elders and Brethren, church it beine . , . n-ii , , r-i one intire com- as instances some speeches : viz : I nat to grant a Loun- pieatebody. ^ tendg tQ overthrow the Congregation all way. That 1 ["Mary Negosse, the Daughter of 2 [» On 29 March, 1670, [? 1669] at our brother Benjamin Negosse for com- a meeting called about our dissenting mitting fornication was declared to be brethren, the question, whether the none of its, and so left till God shall give church see light from the word of God repentance, on the 28. 1 mo. 1669."— to dismiss our dissenting brethren that First Chtirch Records. In this instance desire it, was answered in the negative, the church was dealing with a baptized unanimously." —Ellis's History of the child not in full membership.] First Chtirch, p. 117.] A SECOND COUNCIL CALLED. 53 there was no releife for a greived Brother or Brethren in a church un- less the Church will releive them untill the day of judgement and That the church itselfe is the sole and alone Judge (infm[e]) they tooke of- fence at the dissenting Brethren for pressing for their dismission, and indeavoring to procure a councill, for which both Elders and Brethren did exhort them to repent, with some intimation that otherwise, they should be looke[d] upon by the church, and proceeded with, as those that did harden their hearts, and not harke[n] to Counsill according to God. The dissenting Brethren met to seeke the Lord to direct and guide them in considering what the Lord calld them to doe in ° 31 (1) 69. this their present distres, seing the Church was soe pro- voked, on the desire of their dismiss[ion] and on the deniall to call in the helpe of other churches, it was agreed to make their request by sending letters to severall churches the coppy thereof (as followeth) Honoured Reverend and Beloved &>c : We cannot but with much greife of heart be waile the sad occasion of this our present application to yourselves, and that at such a time when it is a day of Jacobs trouble abroad in other parts, the Bush on fire ready to be consumed and the Tremendious dispensations of the holy God, in a vicissitude of providences upon our Nation all which calls for the most deep and serious thoughts and sorrow of heart in all Sions lovers, And especially among his outcasts in this Country. Yet as if this were not enough, but that they should be increased by the noise of hammers in a tribe of our Israeli the sound where of is gone through the Country viz : The divissions of our Rewben, This as it calls for great searching of heart in us, and is that for which we have cause to lye with our mouthes in the dust, and to be a shamed before the Lord soe fare as we have bin any just occasion there of, soe all soe it provokes us to seek all regular endeavours for the removeing of the same, that no scandall may be layed, upon the Church of Christ for our sakes What essay for the healing of our differences ; hath bin heither to used proves successles : viz : The result of the late reverend Councill (called by Elders and Brethren) to grant us an amicable dismission in order to the propogation of another church Body among ourselves upon our desire, which advice was proposed by them as the next ex- pedient to an issue of our uncomfortable contest, with our Brethren in the church, and declared publiquely by the moderator as meet to be compleated before their proceedure to ordination, This advice of the said Reverend Councill hath bin attended by us, who have accordingly severall times moved for our dismission, but in vaine. We are therfore necessitated to make our addresse to yourselves, with other churches as the onely next refuge in order left us by christ in his 54 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. word, Assuring you that how ever, we are traduced, yet we are not in the least Alienated from the forme of Government according to Pattent under which God hath soe long blessed this Collony ; But are ready to spend and to be spent for it, according to that sollemn oath which we have taken Neither are we for any other way respecting church order than sollemnly declared from the Scriptures in the Plat- ,gp=, forme of discipline, and the last Synods determination 54 about the subjects of Baptisme, and consociation of churches, nor is there any averseness in us, but a firme resolution to mainetaine due Brotherly love with our church, in all things consistent with what we have professd whiles we are with them, and when we shall be parted from them (as the Lord shall dispose) as with a pretious Church of Christ and much Honoured mother in Israeli Honoured Reverend and deare bretheren we humbly againe and againe request you in the bowels of Jesus Christ, that you receive no such reports against us, whose travile of soule is to mainetaine the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace with you, and all the churches of Christ, we humbly beseech you to spread our case before the Lord in your fervent prayers, and to send your Elders and Messengers to meet in Councill at Boston, upon the 13th of Aprill next at 8 Oclocke in the morning, to consider, consult, and give your helpefull advice in our labouring case, and we and ours shall be for ever engaged to Blesse God for you, Thus we commend you unto the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and subscribe ourselves Your distressed Brethren members of the first church of Boston Subscribed by 28 hands of the dissenting Brethren 31 (1) 69 Memento : just as a Messenger was dispatching to Lyn Sallem and Ipswich this under written was brought by Goodman Chandler to Captaine Davis one of the dissenters. Honoured Sirs According to the desire of the writer I have sent you this inclosed that (if) upon perusall you judge it expedient you may by some faithful! messenger send it to the persons to whome it is in scribed The busines as he saith requiring a speedy trusty and private Conveyance who also ads, that he shall willingly beare his parte in the charges, I shall ad noe more but commend you to him who is perfect in wisdome and councill take leave and remaine your affectionate freind Sam: Danforth.1 Subscribed for my Honoured friend Captain Wm. Davis 1 [Mr. Eliot's colleague at Roxbury.] MR. ALLIN AND MR. ELIOT INTERVENE. 55 Reverend and Dearely Beloved We thought it needfull to acquainte you with the present state of the church of Boston which doth not a litle exercise and aflict our thoughts, upon the 2d day las[t] in a Church meeting, The dissenting Brethren wer charged as disturbers of the Church by desiring of their dismission according to Counsill given by the neighbour churches in conclusion it was voted (not to dismis them) with intimation of further proceeding against them if they submit not (as they conceive) the consequences where of are like to be dangerous not onely in the suffering of the dissenters, in a Good cause as they in Conscience judge it to be, but also it will tend much to the dishonour of God and the scandall of the way of those churches as haveing noe meanes to heale breaches and other Evills in our churches, yea to cast aside that ordinance of Communion of churches by way of Counsill, And it will occasion much disturbance in our neighbour churches here upon it was yesterday amongst us thought to be high time for the Elders to Interpose by such reasons as the Lord may helpe us with all to per- swad the Elders of Boston to graunt their dismission as the best expedient to themselves, we do not feare to justify that Councill for dismission to be regular expedient and necessary. We are here few to appeare in the case, mr. mather cannot travell nor mr. Syms the Elders of the new Church of Boston1 are not free to ap- peare in respect of their vicinity, wherefore we earnestly request you to assist us, with your Councill and helpe in soe needfull a case, if you would come to Charlstowne upon the 4 day next, some of us God willing, will meet you there, and prepare our thoughts for a conference with the Elders of Boston, after the lecture on the 5th day. If we should not prevaile, yet we shall discharge our Duty soe farr, and discover what need there may be of some more sollem way to be taken in this sad case, thus not doubting of your readines unto this service of Christ, Beseeching the God of peace to tread downe Satan under the feet of the saints shortly, with tender of our love and respects we leave you in the arms of everlasting mercy and rest with desire of mutuall prayers. 2 (2) 69 Yours in the Lord Jo : Alline. Superscribed Jo : Elliot.2 To the Reverend Elders of the churches of Christ in Salem, Lyn and Ipswich these — The church had a meeting upon short worning and private notis given to some of not twenty four hours before the time appointed, Att the begining of it Elder Pen declared the 1 [The Second Church.] Dedham and Mr. Eliot of Roxbury, and 2 [This letter was from Mr. Allin of was written probably by the former.] 56 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Cause of it to be in as much as the time of the Lords Supper drew neer, some Brethren had given offence, That offences might be removed soe as that there might be a comfortable sitting downe, (or words to that purpose) and then he first singled out Captain Davis, and mr. Hull as haveing layed a false charge upon the M?Huii av's Elders in saying that they did not desire the last church Charge[d] meeting Captain Davis being upon some publique imploy- ment was absent. Mr. Hull stood up and pleaded his integrity that he had layed noe charge upon the Elders nor that he had spoaken any falsehood, mr. Stodder, mr. Houching,1 Lieutenant Cooke and Captain Hutchinson and severall backed the Elders charge And Captain Hutchinson said that Captain Davis and mr. Hull had charged the whole Eldership with a lye, in denying whatt they had declared, mr. Hull stood up and further vindicated himselfe, and desired seeing other Brethren were there as well as himselfe that they might be heard, Jos : Scottow being one of those Brethren and being desired to speake stood up and said, If what he knew to be truth might not be interpreted according as mr. Huchinson had spoken, as charging the lye upon the Eldership he should speake, if not he should choose to be silent, mr. Davenport incouraged him to speake, where upon he did justify mr. Hull speech, soe did Mr. Usher and mr. Bratle, who were present with the Elders at the first discourse it being private [ ] Some of the Church would have wrung something out of their speech to have confirmed the charge, This designe failing charg agTinst then Elder Pen declared, that all the dissenters had what rukdoth"5 given offence to the church by absenting themselves from !endCthoUhdidat" the Lords Supper, and that they had come to the Lords fedfa^XTft] Supper without giving satisfaction to the Church, but offence're-ukr now it: was expected that they should give it, and singled out mr. Rawson, mr. Hull and Josh : Scottow. Mr. Rawson and Captain Savage were spoken unto, mr. Rawson said as to forbearing of the Lords supper it was but once, and occasioned upon what hath bin given in writing to the Elders, which we gave as our reason of our then forbearing And that we looked at ourselves as those in a journy. Mr. Ting stood up and said that the dissenters action in communi- cating with the church afterward did speake, that they had seen their errour, and that this was not a time to draw hard upon them, Captain Savage and the others spake (soe as there was satisfaction given on that account). In discourse mr. Rawson spake In case that were true that he had heard reported that at Last Church meeting, viz : that mr. Alline in answer to a Question what releef should be aforded unto 1 [Jeremiah Houchin. He died April of the second John Endicott, became the 14, 1670. His daughter Elizabeth, widow second wife of the Rev. James Allen.] THE CASE STATED TO THE COUNCIL. 57 Brethren oppressed, that [ ] there was none untill the day of judge- ment it was ground enough to call a Councill, there was 0 . mr. Rawson much discorse upon it, soe as he very hardly escaped iw escaped without a Censure : This device faylling Brother Abell Porter who had desired once or twice to speake was called upon by divers to speak : — Whoe layed a greivous charge upon Brother Porters all the dissenters, as guilty of scisme and making divis- charse- sions in the Church, and that it was the Church duty, to lay them under censure, expetially the ring leaders and seducers of others, mr. Stodder desired him to name some of them, where upon he named Captain Davis mr. Rawson and mr. Hull, at whose houses they had often meetings, many of the dissenting Brethren stood up and said that Abell Porter had laid a false charge upon Captain Davis &c : — and therefore desired he might make Good his charge, and said that they were noe ways led by them or any other, Elder Pen proposed that we might all sit downe at the Lord[s] table together and he could pass all by : Where upon mr. Davenport manifesting great displeasure against Elder Pen for soe speaking declared that he could not sitt ^ ~ ° mr. Davenport downe at the Lords Table with the dissenters, untill thev deciare.d he was . . J not satisfied had given him satisfaction which was backt with mr. with the dissent- Houchin, mr. Stodder and others the offence was for munion and yet absenting from the first Lords Supper. At last they removein^that apointed a meeting next fourth day at two of clock to offence- charge the dissenters in a better method than they had done and Captaine Clark expressed it, viz to have their charge written, and to be Commended to the Elder and managed by him, and to be attested by the Brethren, every word the dissenters spake was strained to the utmost, any Brother might charge as much as they would and all very well liked. The Councill met at Boston, and Convened 13 Aprill — 1669 — The humble Apologie of us whose names are subscribed, brethren of the first Church of Christ in Boston, together with the second Coun- sume of our case for which we have desired the Conven- Slllsmeetins tion of the Reverend Elders and Messengers of churches in Coun- cill at this time.1 A councill being called by the first church of Christ in Boston, to give them advice according unto God in reference unto us theire brethren who dissented in their proceedings in calling of teaching officers : and the Answer being given by Councill unto the church being in sume. ffirst that the mutuall greivances that have fallen out through 1 [We have corrected this " apologie " by a copy of the document in the posses- sion of the Mass. Hist. .Society.] 58 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. humaine frailty and temptation of Satan in the transaction of this matter Should be covered with love, and that in case we could not consent with our brethren in the call of officers, nor sit down quietly and submit to the act of the rest therein, that then the church upon our desire to be dismist from them would give us up to the Lord with love and prayers recommending us to the grace of God in order to the propagation of another church to be set up in the town of Boston, according to the rules of the Gospel, and yet so that in the meantime we might have communion with this church or any other. And the church having after our humble and earnest pressing before the ordination and since, voted the negative unto such, our dismission advised unto, our Consiences continueing still bound to indeavour the obtaining thereof, and restrained from consenting to those transac- tions of our Brethren. We have bin necessitated to intreat your respective churches to send their Elders and Messengers to sit in order of Councill to con- sider, consulte, and advise concerning the regularity of the sayd decision, and our right to injoy the benifit there of. There fore God having by his gratiouse Providence brought you to- gether: we humbly beseech the advice of you this Reverend Councill concerning the said decision, and our right to the benifit there of, sith that the non observance there of by our brethren hath upon our continueing steadfast in our desires of it, occasioned noe small greife and trouble, from which we could hope for no releif but in our appli- cation to yourselves as the onely ordinance of God provided in such cases, Being bold humbly to signify further, that we have many other rea- sons in a readyness to present why the decision advised to should be necessary for the peace and aedification both of our brethren and our- selves which we desire if it be possible to bury in eternall silence — Provided that we may have the releif which God in the former Councill hath seemed unto us plainly to provide, without the making mention of them. Presented with the subscription of the names of the dissenting brethren to the Councill. the 13 : Aprill : 1669 THE 2D COUNCILLS FIRST LETTER TO THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH OF BOSTON. To the Reverend Elders of the first Church in Boston Itt is not without great affliction of spirit that we have so sad an oc- casion to meet here this day being assembled as sent from our respec- tive Churches to endeavour a passification among our Honoured Reverend and deare Brethren of this 1st Church in Boston, In order to which we doe intreate the Reverend Elders of this Church to vouch- THE COUNCIL AND THE FIRST CHURCH. 59 safe now to give us a meeting, to obtaine a right and mutuall under- standing of Things labouring in this case befor us, to consider thereof, and advice there in as the Lord shall please to direct, and graunt a favorable and Christian assistance and concurrence Richard Mather Boston 13 : (2)0 69 Thomas Cobbet In the name and by the desire of the rest of the messengers of the churches assembled at Boston at the time above mentioned .... THE ANSWER OF THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH OF BOSTON TO THE LETTERS OF THE CHURCHES MESSENGERS. 13 (2°) 69 We agree to propound the desire of the Reverend Elders to the Church that when they come to a conclusion about our dissenting Brethren, they would be willing to give them the reasons of their pro- ceeding, which we for our owne parts judge to be most agreeable to the congregationall way, if they have any suspicion of any male administration, till which time we can not give them a meeting with- out offence to the church which we humbly desire the Reverend Elders candidly to Interpret. This answer was sent without any hand to it. THE 2D COUNCILLS 2D LETTER TO THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH OF BOSTON. To the Reverend Elders of the first Church in Boston Reverend Sirs Haveing Received your answer to our letter, where- in you intimate to us your unwillingnes to give us a meeting till the Church hath come to a conclusion about their dissenting Brethren We request that there may not be needless delayes of accepting that our motion now repeated againe and againe, therefore, earnestly we besech you that we may unite in an indeavour speedily and all together to promote a peacable issue of these present differences, for the glory of Christ and the edification of his people in this pretious flock of Christ in the Towne of Boston. Richard Mather Boston, 13 : 2d 1669. Tho : Cobbet In the name and with the consent of the rest of the Assembly present THE ANSWER OF THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH OF BOSTON TO THE 2D LETTER OF THE MESSENGERS OF THE CHURCHES. Reverend Brethren, The answer was not to the writing which you were pleased to send by Reverend Mr. whiting &c But to a motion made by him or some of them present, nor did I purpose to give you a meeting or Account of the offences given by the dissenting Brethren, when the Church should come to a conclusion, for I doe not 60 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. see that you are an orderly Councill, but my true meaning is that when the Church had done their duty to their dissenting Brethren, the Elders would move the Church to send in convenient time, copies of their light held forth for conviction of the dissenters unto your Churches wee cannot meet and act with you in matters that concerne this Church against the expressed mind of this Church. John Davenport Senior 13 : (2) 69 James Penn. Aprill 14th the whole Church being met togither to proceed against the dissenters the Councill sent the Reverend Mr. Richard Mather, Mr. whiting, Major Symon willard and Captaine Mason being members thereof with a letter to the Towne house where the Church was assembled, the doore was locked against them upon knocking Richard Taylour came to the doore and returned answer that Mr. Mather &c was at the doore. Mr. Davenport replyed tell them we desire to be in private and not to be disturbed, Mr. Allin said Elder Pen had better goe and give them the answer, who went and returning said that the Elders had prevailed with him to bring a letter to the Church from the neighbour Elders Mr. Davenport replyed it is not for us to take any notice of it, Mr. Davenport had sundry times moved that the meeting might be put of[f] that they might not be disturbed by the Assembly, these messengers though Reverend Honoured and aged Gentlemen wayted soe long at the doore before they could deliver their message, that Mr. Peter Oliver went to fetch chairs for them to sit downe at the doore, and others of the Church coming and finding the doors locked against them said let us goe home againe, though the letter was at length taken in from them, yet they were not permitted to come in though the Councills desire, and their request was to have delivered it to the Church with their owne hands, but it would not be granted : It was put to the vote in the negative unto the Church whither the letter should not be read and soe it was carryed, the affirmative not being voted : Major Generall Leverit expressed trouble that these Reverend Elders should have no answer returned unto them, affectionately expressing although it was a day of temptation with them yet they should desire to be kept from the evill of it : whereupon it was voted that himself, Elder Pen, Mr. Allin, Mr. Houchin, and Mr. Cooke should goe and have a private conference with the Messengers of the Churches (who were met at Mr. Ushers house * to wait the event) who went thither, and upon their returne to the Church it was voted in the Affirmative whither the letter sent should be read, and it was soe carryed, the nega- tive not being then voted, which letter followeth. 1 [See ante, p. 40, note.] LETTER TO THE FIRST CHURCH. 6l Honoured. Reverend and Beloved. Be pleased to understand that we are at this time by the providence of God convened under an Ordinance of Christ (wee hope) in observance of the right rules, and in pursuance coundii to'the2d of the good ends of consociation of Churches, and with §£"£„ o£ a faithfull designe, and sincere and fervent desire to pro- mote your peace and prosperity, In particular having bin called togither by letters unto our severall Churches from a considerable] number of your brethren (by all due means) to mediate unto a com- fortable issue of an uncomfortable dissention which hath bin between you and them and trewly the fearefull apprehension which we have, of a common danger by the prevalency of a spirit of Division in the country especially as it now begins to appeare circumstanced, with many sad and dangerous signes of a Judiciall evill working more and more strongly even unto the shaking of foundations, hath moved us with all readines to take the present opportunity in a regular way to make this interposure, wherein we desire to approve the solemnity, simplicity and sincerity of our soules both unto god and unto you, we are not without a due sense, of our owne personall insufficiency to transact in matters of soe great concernment unto gods glory and his Churches good, but from the consideration of our present publique capacity as Messengers of Churches we have bin incour- aged to implore and to expect divine Assistance in de- pendance upon which alone we have made both our entrance upon and our progres in this our present weighty undertaking, wherein we have been ingaged, onely as your servants for Christs sake, not assuming unto ourselves any undue power over you, or presuming to offer any violence unto your Christian liberty, which Christ hath purchased for you, and betrusted you with for the managing of the affaires of his kingdome among yourselves, but onely as your helpers in Christ, to give you the right hand of fellowship for your present assistance, And therefore we doe beseech you for Christs sake, let it not be greivous or offensive to you, that we doe desire, with all humillity and meeke- nes in bowells of Christian love and charity, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to close in with you in this way of Communion, by that great rule of Gospell order directing unto Councell, but let it be very gratefull unto you we pray you, that Neighbour Churches are jealous with a godly jealousy and sollicitous for you with an earnest care of your estate, the safety of which is of great concernement, to the common weal of our Israeli : the preservation and promoving of which is the labour and travaile of our very soules, ffinally therfore Reverend and dearely beloved, we doe by these our letters instantly and importunately intreat you that you will be pleased to admit of us, into your present Church assembly : Now to give us an opportunity of treating with you before you doe make any further proceedure against 62 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. your dissenting Brethren, that we may give you full assurance of our reallity in all the premises, by our faithfull indeavours, with all gentle- nes meekenes and moderation to issue your dissention in such a way as may best conduce unto the preservation of the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, hoping (that through grace) we shall treat you and be treated by you with that wisdome which is from above, which is pure peaceable gentle and easy to be intreated : confidently beleiv- ing that when you shall be quietly and peaceably settled under the administration of the kingdome of Christ it will be no greif of heart unto you, that we have made this interposition in this houre of your temptation, but that you will hereafter have cause to say, blessed be god &c. The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which is the bond of the everlasting Covenant is running through all sanctified soules in an indespensable obligation to love peace and union (then which) we have no stronger argument to assure you, that we have you in our hearts, and that we are moving towards you by the present exercise of our spirituall love and charity in this act of Communion, for the deare sake of our dying saviour, under which soule-binding compellation, wee leave you waiting and attending the instant opportunity of speak* ing with you, as wee are messengers of the Churches now convened. Boston 14: (2) 1669. Subscribed by Rich. Mather Sam : Torry Hugh Mason Sam : whiting Th : Shepheard Rog : Clap Edm : Browne Edw : Bates Wal: Price Tho : Cobbit James Humphry Tho : Lynd EDW : BULKLY John Hale JO : COOLIDGE John Sherman JOS. ESTABROOKE Luke Potter Fran Dane Anti : Newman Jo : Haines John Higginson Jo : Fry Hen : Palmer Wm. Hubbard Th : Fisher1 Wm. White Sam: Phillips Symon willard Jo : Sandly2 Jo : Rawlinson Wm. Stillson Subscribed for the Honoured Reverend and beloved the Elders and Brethren of the first Church in Boston. 1669 This preceeding letter being read, they voted to take no notice of it, and laid it by, but proceeded to that which they called the worke of the day. Mr. Davenport proposed that they who had any paper of charges against the dissenters would produce them, Elder Pen brought forth a paper called a narrative of charges against them, some being fin all against them all that they had ob- 1 [Probably Thomas Fisk.] Smedly, whose signature is on the Result 2 [This is probably the same as John of this Council.] RESULT OF THE SECOND COUNCIL. 63 structed the Churches proceeding in their election, and had divulged a paper of pernitious queries to hinder other Churches from assisting in the day of ordination, that they had refused to partake at the Lords supper with the Church, and that they had partoke with the Church againe without giving satisfaction, Captaine Davis and Mr. Hulls morall evills for which they were formally questioned and satisfaction given for, were called over againe, Captain Savage was charged for saying that Mr. Davenport left the Church of Newhaven for worldly ends &c. which occasioned Mr. Davenport to labour to cleare himself, that he came not rashly to Boston, but was invited by letters from sundry diverse moneths before the Church sent to him, and that he came not for any worldly ends or advantage, but much to his dis- advantage instancing in his farme &c. this meeting broke up and they could not make it to beare against the dissenters. Captaine Savage denying his charge, as to the first it was pleaded to be before the advice of the first Councill and that they judged it no fault in them, and for the rest satisfaction was given for in former meetings and not to be set on the tainter-hookes againe. The Councill dissolved upon the 16th of Aprill who drew up and declared the result which followeth, advising to all love and amicablenes and that the coppy of it should be deliv- ered by the dissenting Brethren unto the Church which accordingly was performed. Boston Aprill, 16th 1669. The result of the consultation of an Assembly of Elders and mes- sengers chosen and sent in the way and order of Consociation of Churches, upon the regular and orderly sollicitation of a considerable number of the Brethren of the first Church of Christ in Boston to give them counsell and advice (according to God) in a difficult case, con- cerning their duty in pursuance of the grave advice of a former Honoured and Reverend Assembly of Elders and messengers (called by the Elder with the consent of the Brethren) unto effect given by the said Assembly for the issuing of a dissention in that Church by the peaceable and orderly dismission of these Brethren unto the grace and guidance of our Lord Jesus Christ for the constitution of another Church in order of Communion with that Church of Boston, and all other neighbouring Churches further to Counsell and advise as the matter might require and god direct. The which result is as followeth. First we find that there was a momentous difference of apprehen- sions aboute the call of teaching officers in the first Church of Boston. Secondly we finde that the Elder fore seeing the dangerous con- sequence of that dissenti[on] afore said, (if not timely prevented) and that they could not agree in their choice of officers did therefore with 64 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. the consent of the Brethren, according to God call a councill of the Elders and Messengers of neighbour churches to meet at Boston on the 5th. 6mo. 1668 — impartially to heare and give their counsill and advice in the case. Thirdley we finde that the Reverend councills advice, was, that mutuall greivances that had fallen out through humaine frailty, in the transaction of that matter might be covered in a way of mutuall for- giveness, And that in case the dissenting Brethren could not yet consent with their Brethren in the call of officers, nor sitt downe quietly, and submit to the act of the rest therein, that then the church upon their desire to be dismissed from them would give them up with love and prayers to the Lord, recommending them to the grace of God : in order to the propogation of another church to be set up in this Towne of Boston according to the rules of the Gos- pell, yet soe that in the meane time they might have communion with this Church or some other in the ordinances of God &c : But as to proceeding to Church Censure in such a case as this is they found no rule in the Scripture. ffourthly We finde no other condition as to the dissenting Brethren left by the councill in order to that dismission a fore said (excepting the for giveness befor mentioned) but their desire to be dismissed from them ; to be given up by the Church to the Lord and to be recom- mended to the grace of God unto the worke above said. 5ly we finde that the dissenting Brethren did according to the Councills advice, seasonably — earnestly, frequently, and humbly de- sire of the church the said dismission. 61y We finde that the grounds held forth by the former Rev- erend Councill for such a dismission were both weighty and such as carried convincing light with them : — 7ly we assert therefore that the first ^Church in Boston, desiring the Councills advice according to God in that matter before them \ and this respecting the non Censuring and the dismission of the dissenting Brethren being a principall parte thereof the church was obliged according to order to acquiess therein, especially considering that no reasons that we have ever heard of have bin returned from the church unto the councill for the rejecting of that advice. 81y The church of Boston being obliged to dismise the dissent- ing Brethren upon their desire of it, and that being duely attended as above said by them It was the right of the dissenting Brethren according to order to have bin dismissed. 9ly We finde that not withstanding the desire for their dismission according to the advice of the Councill, yett it hath bin denied them by the church which deniall nevertheless, wee conceive doth not inval- idate that right which the dissenting bretheren had unto their said dis- mission. RESULT OF THE SECOND COUNCIL. 65 ioly The regular sentence of a councill of churches in order and orderly called by the Church concerned, adviseing to a dismission may (not withstanding that Churches not hearking to it) stand valid and regular as to immunity from censure, And secession from that particular church relation and the Brethren concerned (as if for- merly dismissed) may seasonably proceed to unite according to order in Church fellowship by themselves. nth ffinally this whole Assembly having unanimously and with one voice instantly and affectionately sollicited the Reverend Elders of this Church by two addresses in writting made unto them, for an amicable and Christian conference aboute matters in difference, in order to a right and cleare understanding, And have bin by the Elders plainly and positively denied any opportunity of such conference with expressions of their deepe disgust of our interposure in this way of order, as will more amply appeare by their answers in writing, and also having made their application unto the whole Church (Elders and Brethren Assembled) by our letters wherein we did with all meekness and humillity desire a meeting with them, onely to mediate by all due meanes unto a peaceable issue of their dissenting, have bin also utterly denied by a vote of the church, not so much as to read our letters, we are therefore hopeless of any issue then what we nextly propound. The premises being seriously considered and consented to by the Messengers of Churches conveined sent to for advice in this matter. Wee judge that the dissenting Brethren may seasonably make use of their christian liberty unto a regular coalition in an other church Body: ffirst the holy covenant of God binding these Brethren to endeavour after communion with God and his people in all his ordinances Dut. 32 : 46 : 47 : 1 Chro : 28 : 8. Math : 28 : 19 : 20 : As in particular the administration of Baptisme and ecclesiasticall discipline to the children of the Covenant, And consociation of Churches according to the late synod in 1662. which we see not that they are other wise like to ob- taine, — if they make not use of this their christian liberty: not to insist upon the danger of seduction in these dayes : in which cases when the matter is too weighty, the Apostle cautions all christians to be ware 16 Romans 17 : — 2ly from the nature of the liberty of the Brethren granted to them by Christ, for their free election of Church officers 6 : acts 11:9: and 14 : 23 : Ezek : 23 : 2 : which free election is the ground of that affec- tion and subscjection due from the people to their minister (2 Thess : 5 : 12 : 13 : Heb : 7 : 17 :) the deprivation of which liberty is reproved as injurious by the holy Ghost : Ezek : 34 : 4 :, but with force and cruelty have they ruled them, the just reproch of the prelaticall way of imposing ministers. 3ly ffrom Heb : 13 : 17 : remember your rulers who have spoken to 66 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. you the word of God whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, whence we argue that the dissenting Brethren if they should not make use of their christian liberty above said, would neglect the duty incumbent upon them of remembring them which have had the rule over them, (as the Renowned and Reverend willson, Cotton, Norton) who have spoken to them the word of the Lord, in platforme of discipline touching this matter they must not onely doe nothing against it but they are to follow it. 4.1y from 15 Acts 37 : 40 : the instance of Paul and Barnabas who departed the one from the other for peace sake in a sharpe contention, and proportion of like liberty of secession to church worke else where may be allowed those Brethren, see more in the Reverend mr. John Allins his defence of the resulte of the advice of the Messengers of the churches convened, 6 August 1668. 5ly Because the doctrine of the churches of this Collony publiquely declared from the word of God by the Synod att Cambridge Anno 1648 And approved by the act of the General Court in 165 1 And par- ticularly consented to by the Brethren of the first church in Boston, at a Church meeting when they urged the Reverend mr. Norton to give his full assent unto their call of him to the office of a teacher among them the same doctrine holding forth a parity of reason in this case, and that the withdrawing of such members, as are there spoken of, from their owne church in order to Church fellowship, elsewhere, is as if they had bin orderly dismissed thereto from their owne Church, the contrary principles, and practices where unto would Render the (Yea) of such Churches to be (Nay) 61y ffrom Math : the 6:11: Lead us not into temptation from whence we argue, that these dissenting Brethren if they should not make reasonable use of this their christian liberty, are in danger to be led into temptation (as in case of soe great a paroxysme) the pre- venting or removeing of which is their duty to endeavor. 7ly Because there is sufficient ground for the use of their christian liberty, above mentioned in cases of Lesser concernment as in case of providing for those of his owne house and cleared in the platforme of discipline — (chapter 13 Section 3 : 4.) in these or like cases a mem- ber (much more number of such members) may lawfully remove, and the church can not lawfully detayn them. 81y Because we see not any rule of Christ, that will be broken by these Brethren in the use of the above mentioned liberty : affirmanti incumbit probatio. cjly ffinally the improvement of this their christian liberty, unto such a secession is the most probable meanes unto Edification, and to the preservation of the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace as this case is circumstanced — 1 Cor : 14 : 26 : 2 Cor : 13 : 10 : 4 Eph : 5 : And now Brethren we haveing laboured according to the measure RESULT OF THE SECOND COUNCIL. 67 of grace received, faithfully to discharge our duty to God, and unto all his people concerned in this transaction, and being likewise under an awfull Apprehension of that account, which we must give unto our Lord Jesus christ our great Lord and master of this our Negotiation, in this great affaire of his Kingdome. We doe with reverence of Gods gratious presence in his name and feare, — offer you this result of our consultation as the product of the poore prayers and weake (though we trust sincere and faithfull) en- deavours of us your servants for Christs sake. We desire to be deeply humbled under the sence of our sinfull weaknesses, and infirmityes, appearing in this as in all other services, for God, and for his people which we undertake, we are also through his grace humbly confident of his acceptance of us in this our poore weake service for Christs sake, it is therefore a very small matter for us that we should be judged of man or by mans judgement he that judgeth us is the Lord. Therefore deare Brethren wee beseech you to humble yourselves deeply before the Lord acknowledging all your sinfull Aberrations that you have bin incident unto in these past transactions, and with all selfe deniall and humillity to seek unto God for a sufficiency of Wisdome and grace, to make a right improvement of this Counsell and advice given you unto his glory and your owne and others good, and to waite upon him for further discoveries of his minde and will concerning your duty. ffinally Brethren we committ and commend you to the grace and guidance of him, who is the God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepheard of the sheep, through the blood of the Everlasting covenant, he make you perfect in every good worke to doe his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen. Symon Willard Hugh Masson Roger Clap Tho : Lynd Wm. Stittson John Cooledge John Haines Tho Shepheard Jos : Easterbrooke Luke Potter John Smedly John Frey Hen : Palmer Wm. White Tho Fiske Sam : Phillips Ant : Newman Edw: Bates Thomas Cobbitt Edm : Browne Edw : Buckly John Sherman Fran Dane Wm. Hubbard Jos : Rowleyson Sam Torry James Humphry1 1 [" 13. 2m. 69. A great Assemblie of Elders and messengers of several Churches in the Bay, who upon the Call of their Dissenting Brethren at Boston, met together to consider and advise them what to do. They judged that the Dis- senting Brethren might seasonably make use of their christian libertie unto a reg- ular coalition in another church-body." — Roxbury Church Records. The Roxbury Church does not seem to have been represented in this Council, as 68 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. We whose names are subscribed though we were not sent by our churches as others of the Councill to vote therein, yet being desired by our churches to be present at the councill and to doe what Good we could, finding meanes used for mediation to be in vaine we doe approve of this Judgement of the Councill subscribed by the members there of as the next probable meanes for edification and peace. Sam : Whiting John Higginson the letter of the reverend mr. john allin member of the first councill to the 2d councill To the Honourd Reverend and beloved Elders and messengers of the Churches assembled in Boston. 13 : (2) 1669 Grace mercy and peace be multiplyed Reverend and Beloved in our Lord, the Brethren of this Church in Dedham not being convinced of their duty to send messengers at the desire of the Brethren of Boston calling for a Councill, I thought it my duty notwithstanding to give in my testimony to the sentence of the Councill at Boston 5 : (6) 68 which will necessarily fall under your consideration 1 And first to remove the uncharitable censure of such as say, we did onely accommodate the dissenting Brethren with neglect of the Church I can truly profess with good conscience (and I doubt not but it will be remembered and attested by others) that our first and cheif care was that the Church of Boston might be furnished with an able min- istrie, and considering how difficult it is for soe populous a congre- gation to agree in one in their choice, Therfore our care was that the dissent of these Brethren might not interrupt the Major part of the Church in seeking after Reverend Mr. Davenport, if regularly they might obtaine him with consent of his Church in Newhaven, and this was manifested by the indeavours of many that were of that Coun- cill to perswade unto their dismission before the ordination that no objection might be made, yea when that could not be obtayned, we were soe carefull and desirous of the peaceable preceding of the ordi- nation, that upon the promise of those that now are the Reverend Elders, that if the dissentors would be silent upon that day, their silence should not be taken for consent, but they should stand in the same state they then did, we upon this perswaded the dissenters to silence, and many of us concurred with other Church messengers, in giving the right hand of fellowship to these teaching officers, soe that the names of Mr. Eliot and Mr. Danforth been on the other side of this controversy do not appear in the Result. Mr. Wil- from himself. Joshua Fisher and Daniel liam Parke, a prominent member of that Fisher, of Dedham, voted against the church, and, then or later, a deacon, report adopted by the House of Deputies seems to have been on the other side.] in 1671, as will appear in the next chap- 1 [Mr. Allin's church seems to have ter.] LETTER FROM THE REV. JOHN ALU A. 69 if we erred in anything, it was in too much forwardnes to promote the desires of the Church in the choice of officers with neglect of the dissenters, and of the councills sentence which should have bin per- formed before ordination, or at least some reason given to us against that sentence, to the great disadvantage of setling the peace of the Church and to the losse of the use and benifit of Councills, the truth is we were led on with hopes of their dismission afterwards when offences they lay under were removed, and matters quietly settled, but now being frustrate of those hopes by the late vote of the Church not to dissmisse them, which hath occasioned these Brethren to crave coun- sell of the Churches, I shall take this opportunity to present unto your judgment, what reasons I have to prove that sentence concerning their dismission to be according to God, and therefore that it should have bin attended. The Regular sentence of a Councill of Churches in order and orderly called to consult in a Case ought to be observed. But that sentence to dismisse the dissenting Brethren in order to the propogating of another Church in Boston according to the rules of the gospell is a regular sentence of such a Councill. And therfore ought to be observed. Reason : 1 : the proposition is proved part from the example of that patterne of Councills Acts. 15 : whose sentence was joyfully received Acts : 16 : Objection : Show us such a councill as can say, it seemeth good to the holy ghost and us and we will obey it. Answer : the same may be objected against most other primitive examples where the Apostles ordered all the affaires of the Churches. 2ly: there were diverse things in the Councill ordinary: as 1 the presence of Elders and Brethren. 2ly disputations and allegations of scripture : 3b/ if the matter was carryed by the extraordinary power and authority of the Apostles, why might not Paull and Barnabas being Apostles have determined the case at Antioch : 2d Answer : the sentence of everie minister in his office work rightly grounded upon the scripture is a sentence of the holy ghost, who speaketh in the scriptures Heb : 3 : 7 : 2 Tym : 3 : 16. the same may be said of the sentence of a Councill rightly grounded on the scripture. Reason 2 : because a Person or Church calling for Councill and refusing to observe it being regular, doth highly take the name of god in vaine contrary to the 3d Commandment : Reason. 3 : Because if the regular sentence of such a Councill may be rejected, we are deprived of all meanes under God for healing of differences, errors, scandall, or maladministrations in Churches to the great scandall of the doctrine we professe. Assumption is proved thus, approved examples of scriptures espe- 70 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. cially in the New Testament, are Paternes for the Churches to walke by in all like cases — Math : 12 : 39 Heb : 12 : 1 : 1 Cor : 12:1:4 Phill : 9 : But that example of Abraham Counselling a departure from Lot, in a case of Contention, was an approved Example, for God gave him a large promise when Lot was departed — Gen : 13 : 14 : and the case is like to this, they being family churches living together had no doubt neere Communion in the worship of God, yet to end Conten- tions, parted to the losse of that neere Communion, which is the Case in dispute. 2ly This proved by the Example of Paul and Barnabas, who de- parted one from another for peace sake in a sharp contention Acts 15 : 39 : 40: which was an aproved example, at least on Pauls parte who was the dissenter in that contention, for he had an Infallible guidance in the worke of his minnistry Acts : 16 : 7. and 19:21: and 28 : 22 : 2ly Paul was approved in his departure from Barnabas by the Church of Antioch : who Commended him to the Grace of God. 2ly : That this case of the dissenters is a like case or rather more cleare, appeareth by comparing them in all the substantialls thereof as Are these joyned in memberly relation to the church from which they are to parte ; Paul and Barnabas were joyned in a greater and nearer bond of union, Being joyntly seperated by the holy Ghost to the worke of the gospel, and set apart there unto by laying on of hands with fasting and prayer, Acts 13:2:3: 2ly This difference and dissent arose upon a like occasion which was the chusing of John : Marke a Good man, a profitable minnister: 1 Tim0 : 4 : 1 1 : yea an Evangelist. 3ly The reason of Pauls dissent was because Barnabas determined to take him that departed from them at Pamphillia, and went not with them to the worke Acts : 15 : 38 : which was one reason of those dis- senters in reference to the worke of God at New haven to which also they add another Reason. from an awfull ingagement upon their hearts about the Exercise of the watch, And of the discipline of Christ to their seed, which was said in the Councill is a matter of great weight (seing to disowne them) as having no part in the Lord, is to cause them to cease from fearing the Lord Josh : 22 : 23. 4ly As then the contention grew Sharp to a paroxysme, Barnabas holding firme his determination to take John Marke, And Paul still dissenting on his former reasons (soe he) after long endeavours to unite both parties they held soe strongly to their determinations with- out councill. 5ly As both Paul and Barnabas in their parting promoted the worke of the Gospel, soe the sentence of Councill was such, as both parties should freely attend the worke of God, in promoting the Gospel and ordinances of God, The Paralel thus cleared affordes this MR. ALLIN'S LETTER. 71 argument (a pari). If Paul dissenting from Barnabas in choice of a fellow minister, in a sharp contention departed from him, and was there in Commended to the grace of God by the church of Antioch, Then by the like reason may the church of Boston, commend their dissenting Brethren for peace sake to the grace of God, for the further- ance of the Gospell, yea the argument ariseth from the greater to the less, in three respects, first in that Paul and Barnabas parted asunder being ingaged in stronger bonds of union than Brethren in a church : — 2ly In that these Brethren have a further reason to depart than any Paul alledged. 3ly In that here is an intervening of the Councill of the churches which we read nothing of in their case. — (Objection) But there is nothing said of dismission Acts 15 : and therefore it doth not suite this case. Answer ffirst they parted asunder, and Paul the dissenter was rec- ommended to the grace of God, which is the substance of the thing here advised. 2ly for the manner by dismission of members we have no Example that I finde in the New testament, what if the church will give way peaceably and loveingly to their departure it might suffice. objection 2d Paul and Barnabas were equalls, and might depart by mutuall consent but these are under the power of the Church. Answer. A minor parte of a Church have an Equall right with the major part to consent or dissent in choice of an officer. 2ly The Power of a Church is for Edification and not for destruction, what power have a Church to compell such to submitt themselves and seed to any officer they never consented unto, when they profess they cannot doe it in faith, and what soe ever is not of faith is sin, Rom : 14 : 23 : not onely in things indifferent but in whatsoever, were not this to be Lords over their faith and not helpers of their joy 2 : Cor : 1 : 24 : — objection 3d. The difference is not such but that Brethren might beare one with another. Answer Itt is one thing to beare with one of a different judgement, but it is another thing to submitt themselves and children, to a prac- tice contrary to their Conscience a practi[se] of disowning the seed of the Church which was never heard of in Scripture, or any orthodo[x] reformed church till this time. 2d. Reason from the necessity of another congregation in Boston, unto which worke none appeared and these by the Councill, were judged both fitt and able to carry it on a thing frequently practised and even in case of dissention as in the case of Hartford. objection Those set up a church in a nother place not in the same Towne. 72 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Answer In Cittyes and populous townes Multiplinge of churches is noe just offence, but for Common Edification by the various Gifts of Elders more frequent opportunities of hearing &c : objection 2d. If there be need let the Church Chuse and send out, whome they thinke fitt. Answer But that being neglected Providence cast the worke upon these whoe are approved by the Churches, and doe sollemnly professe their soundness in Doctrine worship and discipline with these churches. Deare Brethren pardon my prolixness unto tediousnes accept my will and affection to truth and peace and pray for your unworthy Brother John Allin.1 Dedham 12:2: 1669. LETTER SENT TO THE CHURCH BY THE DISSENTING BRETHREN WITH THE RESULT OF THE COUNCILL AND MR. ALLINS LETTER FORE- GOING. Honourd Reverend and Beloved Brethren By the bearers here of we have sent unto you the result of the Honoured Reverend and Beloved the Messengers of the Churches, to whome we saw ourselves necessitated to make an application, for advice and Councill in our present difncultyes, wherewith the holy and 1 [The Dedham church, as we have already intimated, was not altogether in agreement with its minister in reference to the controversy in Boston, and did not accept the invitation to the council. Mr. Allin therefore, wrote this letter for his own justification, as a friend of the " dis- senting brethren." But when his church heard of the alteration and suppression of the New Haven correspondence, it wrote to the First Church, asking for an explanation, and received a reply drawn up by a committee appointed for the pur- pose. " At a general meeting of the [First] church on 16 August, 1669, it was voted by the church, that our honored magis- trates do draw up instructions for Capt. Clarke to New Haven, that they might declare the owning of the letter sent from them to this church to be a true dismis- sion for Mr. Davenport." " At a meeting of the church : on the 20 of August : 69, It was voted by the church that major generall, the elders, with Capt. Clarke, Mr. Stoddard, and Mr. Cooke, do draw up a letter in answer to the letter sent from Dedham Church, enquiring after the proceeding of the church about a letter or letters from the church of New Haven to this church, and to sign it in the name of the church." "On 25 Aug. 1669, the church met to hear the letter read that was sent to Ded- ham ; and they did unanimously concur with it, as their own mind." — Ellis's History 0/ the First Church, pp. 117, 118. The Rev. John Allin died August 26, 167 1. His wife, Katharine, widow of Governor Thomas Dudley, died three days later. " Mr. Allin was among the chief founders of New England, in its principles of Church and State, and in its elements of character. He was able and faithful as a pastor, indefatigable and patriotic as a member of the Common- wealth, beloved and beneficent in all his relations in life." In Johnson's Wonder- working Providence he is thus described : The " humble and heavenly-minded Mr. John Allin, a man of a very courteous behaviour, full of sweet Christian love towards all, and with much meekness of spirit contending earnestly for the faith and peace of Christ's churches." — Felt's Eccles. History, vol. ii. p. 483.] RESULT SENT TO THE FIRST CHURCH. 73 wise God hath seen meet to Exercise us, wee hope we need not to apologize for seeking advice from the Churches, the holy ghost having stiled the church the pillar and ground of truth, nor for ourselves the subject thereof our act here in speaking the sence of our infirmityes and submission to the heavenly Orakle, who hath said in the Multi- tude of Counsellors there is safety, and as to the subject matter of that advice, such hath bin the presence of God with his servants the Messengers of the churches whose character and esteeme is such in the Lords account, as that the holy Ghost hath stiled them the glory of Christ 2 Cor. 8 23 : such hath bin his gratious presence with his servants, giving them that unanimity and clearenes in discovering the mind of Christ as that we are not without hope, it may satisfy all con- cerned, and yourselves much Honoured in the Lord, will with Israeli of old, blesse the Lord that there is no such evill found in their Brethren, who stand convicted of no other trespasse than the inter- prising an Altar of witnes and not of Apostasy, as some have ground- lessly charged us with we allso having bin desired by the Councill to deliver to your Reverend selves (and by you to be communicated unto the rest of the Church) a coppy of the advice in pursuance hereof, we doe here present you with a coppy of the same as it is attested by one of the Secretaries of the assembly, trusting through grace like- wise, that as we have expressed ourselves in our letters of request unto the respective Churches (who sent their messengers hither to give us their Counsell in our labouring case) we shall still continue stedfast, such who are not the least alienated from the forme of Gov- ernment according to pattent, under which God hath soe long blessed this Collony, but are ready to spend and be spent for it, according to that solemne Oath which we have taken, neither are wee for any other way respecting Church order, than that solemnly declared from the scripture in the platforme of discipline, and the last Synods determination about the subject of Baptisme and consocia- tion of Churches, nor is there any aversenes in us, but a firme resolution to maintaine due Brotherly love with this first Church in Boston the 19: Boston, as with a pretious Church of Christ and much (2>l669 honourd mother in Israeli, and whose travaile of soule is to maintaine the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace with you and all the Churches of Christ thus craving your prayers we subscribe ourselves. Your Loving Brethren Subscribed by all the dissenters. The dissenting Brethren sent the result of the Councill with Mr. John Allins letter inclosed in this letter preceding by foure ^ ^ of their Brethren who deliverd the same to Elder Pen : upon the same day there was a Church meeting, wherein there was a narrative and paper of charges read, and indeavourd to wave and dis- 74 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. owne the calling of the first Councill, and said it was onely by the Elder, and that the Church was not bound to stand to what was writ- ten in the letters sent by the Elder to the Churches. The Elder acquainted the Church he had received a paper from some of the dissenters which had two other papers in it, one of which was said to be the result of that which they called the Councill, they vehemently denied to read them, or take any notice of them till they had proceeded with the dissenters, saying their sending for councill was a great agravation to all the rest, and sending from Dedham to Rowly and not in a strait line &c : but the Lord soe ordered it that they concluded fully of nothing. Att a Church meeting they read a paper of charges against the dissentors. First charge was for endeavouring to deprive the Church of its power within it selfe, which Christ had committed to her, By twice assuming power to send to other churches to meet in Councill : the first time without the Churches knowledge, and the 2d time agains[t] their Consent, saying they would declare themselves to a regular judge, implying the church was not one contrary to Math : 16 : they required answer to them : the dissenters desired to know whatt con- nexion was betwixt depriving the church of its power and desiring a Council], when the charges were read. The dissentors were not per- mitted to write, though they told them they could not distinctly answer, without haveing the very words of their charges, then the Church de- sired the dissenters to tell them in what capacity and Estate they looked at themselves to stand in who replyed in such state as god by an ordinance of councill [of] Churches had set them before the dissenters gave in their declaration they desired to remove all offences but unlesse they might have liberty to write or have them given in writing they could not doe it. Third declaration followeth, and was read in publique. DISSENTERS LETTER TO THE CHURCH. Honoured Reverend and Beloved We are covered with shame and confusion of face, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, whilst we doe call to remem- brance our past great unworthyness of that Spetiall grace of God, vouchsaffed in stating and settling of us under a regular and orderly administration of all his holy ordinances, in a way of union and communion with this Church, unto which hath bin for a longe time continued a powerfull dispensation of that Apostolicall Bene- diction, grace, mercy, and peace from God our ffather and from our Lord Jesus christ which we pray may be continued and abundantly multiplied. It is alsoe matter of great lamentation and deepe humilliation unto THE THIRD DECLARATION. 75 us that our sinfull unworthynes hath bin any occasion of the present diminution of that Blessing (at least) as to the more full sensible comfortable influence of it upon our owne soules, we doe therefore put our mouthes in the dust, And humbly submitt unto and beare the dis- pleasure of the Lord, to gither with the rest of our Brethren who have we hope a holy simpathy with us, under that great suffering which doth arise from the evill of dissention and divission, which we feare we have in a way of just Judgment bin left unto, as a punishment of our past unthankefullnes, and unproffitablenes under the meanes of grace, And therefore after the sollem search of our hearts and wayes — having laboured to humble ourselves deeply before God, and to obtaine par- don from him and peace with him through Jesus christ And by the renewed Exercise of our faith, — to obtaine a sencible assurance of our stedfast standing in the union of that one mistical body — We doe humbly and most affectionatly crave the Exercise of Brotherly love and Christian charity with bowells of mercy, kindness hum- blenes of minde, meekenes long suffering, forbearance, 9' forgivenes, Yea beseech you to love us as Brethren to be tender hearted, and pittiful to wards us, unto the utmost degree of Christian condiscendency, in all matters of christian liberty wherein we differ from you, And this we aske of you in the bowels of our Lord Jesus Christ yea this we challenge of you as Brethren by the law of Christ, with confidence of your ready and full obedience unto the new Com- mand of our dying Saviour, this new Comandement I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, being therefore hope- fully perswaded of your tendernes towards us, we pray you to give us leave to give you an account of our present understanding of our owne state and of our duty to God, to you and to ourselves therein. first although we doe sencibly acknowledge much sinfull infirmity as hath appeared in our late transactions, as we are men and very sin- full men, yet after the sollemn examination of ourselves, we cannot, we dare not to charge ourselves as guilty of any open Publike and scandalous offence given to the Church whereby we are lyable unto the application of any Publique Censure, surely if we could have found ourselves soe guilty we should not presume to have so long expos- tulated with you about our inocency : 2ly We doe not understand that we have bin soe charged with any such offence, as that we are guilty before the church or that we are under any binding power of the keyes of the kingdome of heaven in the church regularly Exerted. 3ly We doe not understand that the present proceeding of the church hath bin in any way of discipline towards us, but that they have, by concession unto our departure actually disobliged themselves from any other duty unto us, and evacuated that relation which some- times we had to the Church : And therefore that we are not layed 76 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. or left under any regular restraint from the Exercise of christian liberty, and the performance of our part of duty in the observance of the advice of the churches offered, both unto [ ] and ourselves in a way of order, rather we take your concession unto our Departure as an Expedient offered for the more facile Expidition in the pursuance of that advice to effect by a peaceable and orderly secession. 4-ly And finally therefore with awfull feare and reverence of God in whose presence we stand, and in obedience to the power and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ your Lord and ours, unto whome both you and we have submitted ourselves, for direction unto duty in our diffi- cult case in the way of his owne ordinance, that is the way of councill As with a very high Regard and deare esteem of this church we doe humbly declare that we are under an indispensible obligation to obey God, according to that discovery of his minde and will concerning our Duty, which hath bin held forth with convincing light unto ourselves from the holy scriptures, and that therefore we are resolved by Gods gratious guidance and assistance, seasonably to make use of our chris- tian liberty, unto a coalition into another church Body in a regular and orderly way and therefore we doe instantly and importunately beg your prayers and Blessings, and that we may by you, be commended and committed to the gratious conduct of our Lord Jesus in the man- agment of this great affaire of his kingdome, And we hope the day will declare our worke, soe as that it will appeare that it is not in rebellion or transgression against the Lord, or to turne from following the Lord, that we doe interpri[s]e this thing, nor out of any designe to innovate, either in doctrine or in worship, oh God for bid that it should be soe, but it is by a loveing, peaceable, and orderly secession to prevent the breach of union, and to establish the faith and order of the Gospel, in another congregation for the settlement and inlargment of the kingdome of Christ in the present, and we hope in future generations. Subscribed by the dissenters and delivered to the church 4 : 3mo : 69. After the reading of this declaration to the church by their Elder they declared the dissentors to be under great guilt, saying God would in his time looke upon it and requier it And if not in this world yet in another, where the councill could not helpe them, Then they declared they could not Partake with them at the Lords table which non Communion they passed by a vote. They told the dissenters they were scismaticks and did rend of[f] from the church and that this Councill was not an ordinance of Christ, the dissenters heard them patiently and then humbly took leave of the Church and departed from the meeting. Here upon the dissenting Brethren applyed themselves by their THE MAGISTRATES' APPROBATION. 77 letters to five churches, having the approbation of five Magistrates to incourage them in order to gather into a Church body — which appro- bation followeth. Whereas Sundry of our Beloved Brethren and neighbours of Boston, having declared their purpose, (by the Lords assistance) Magistrals to imbody themselves in a church way, according to the aPProbation- order of the Gospel, and the platforme of discipline owned by the churches of Christ in this place, upon the perusall of the ground of their proceedings, finding their motions in such wise to be justified by the concurring issue of two severall councills The first where of was called by the first church of Boston, and the latter at the instant request of these Brethren that are concerned here in, we having weighed the case as it hath bin presented unto us with the circumstances thereof Doe here by declare our allowance and approbation of their pro- ceedings as is above promised Dated in Boston 22 : (2mo) 69. Danniell Gookin Danniell Dennison Symond Willard Richard Russell Thomas Danforth1 Allthough I have not that particular understanding of their affaires as some others, yet upon what I have heard, and out of the Confi- dence I have of the regular and just determination of the Reverend Councill I see no cause to withhold my consent but rather to approve of their proceedings and give allowance there [ Symond Broadstreet Your resolution of imbodjng (according to Councill) though it is some what a new thing, and ought tenderly and with all humility to be managed that the name of God may not suffer, yet I finde it allowed by the Platforme of discipline, And that such a thing may be without scisme, and therefore since you have the Elders and other magis- trate consent, I shall concur in giveing my approbation to your joyn- ing together in a Church Estate Your truely Loving Brother John Pinchon Springfeild — May 10th, 1669 1 [Mr. Daniel Gookin and Mr. Thomas Council, and Mr. Simon Willard was a Danforth were members of the First member of the Second.] 78 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. COPPV OF THE LETTER SENT BY THE DISSENTING BRETHREN TO FIVE CHURCHES X TO YEILD ASSISTANCE, BOTH BY THEIR ELDERS AND MESSENGERS ON THE DAY OF COALITION. Honoured Reverend and Beloved in our Lord Jesus : It hath pleased the holy God after many birth pangs of that travel- ing intherest of Christ a mong us in the first church of Christ of Bos- ton to which you are not strangers, to bring forth this as the present jssue of his good pleasure, referring to ourselves in point of our Duty, That we have bin advised by the Honoured and Reverend Councill of Elders and Messengers of churches convened (13 (2ino) 69) as is to be seen in their Councill given us (a Coppy where of we send you here in closed) That we may seasonably make use of our Church liberty, unto a regular Coalition into another church Body, whose councill therein we doe looke at, (with due thankefullnes unto him especially whose name is wonderfull &c :) As his voice who hath the Goverment upon his shoulder unto us in this houre of temptation, We in pursuance of that advice having also declared unto our Be- loved Brethren (after much confHict of spirit and patient waiting for the churches observance of the advice of this, and a former Coun- cill called by themselves, In both which the truth asserted for our becoming another, distinct church hath not bin followed by the church) our advised secession from them and we hope in such a man- ner as might become us, with full purpose not withstanding to hold Ecclesiasticall communion with them as with a pretious, and much honoured Church of Christ, According to the rule of Consociation of Churches, as also having attended whatt other requisit duty we under- stand to be in Cumbent on us, in order to our more regular proceed- ing in this weighty undertaking which we are about, thought it most expedient and seasonable to pitch upon the 12th of this 31110 for the duty of our Coalition afore said These are therefore humbly to re- quest your solemn prayers for us, by your asistance of us, by your elders and messengers for our more orderly, and edifying proceedure on that day, vouchsafing to us the right hand of fellowship, as that sisterly relation of churches one to another may require, the place of our Assembling will be at Charlestowne, The Blessed Lord who walketh in the midst of the Golden candelstickes shine upon you, and blesse all your holy administrations in whome we are your afflicted Brethren in the fellowship of the Gospel Subscribed by the dissenters Boston 8 (3) 69 1 [The churches sent to on this occa- Charlestown, Cambridge, Dorchester, sion we suppose to have been those of Dedham, and Weymouth.] THE GOVERNOR AND OTHERS PROTEST. 79 The dissenters haveing obtained leave and incouragment under the hands of seven magistrates, And also having obtained the Convention of five neighbour Churches by their messen- gers and Elders [ ] the Councill of churches that met upon the 13th day of the 2d mo by the advice helpe and direction of all these, con- vened as above at Charlestowne then gave up themselves to this great and sollemn worke of embodying into a new Church estate, Though not without sundry difficultyes which the Lord in his wise and sover- eigne guidance suffered to assaile them as the opposition of the Governour and five magistrates by a writing under their hand, by themselves brought over and read at Mr. willoughbies house to the church Messengers, And a writing from the Church of Boston sent by five of their members to the Messengers of Churches there assembled. Yet the Lord cleared all rubs l out of the way, and gratiously Perfected that great worke for them the same day to the comfort of themselves and beholders : The messengers of the Churches being sent for to Mr. willoughbies the following writing was read unto them. THE GOVERNORS WRITING SIGNED BY HIMSELFE AND FIVE MAGISTRATS TO IMPEDE THE COALITION. To the Honoured Reverend and Beloved the magistrats Elders Brethren and Messengers of the churches assembled this day at Charlstowne Salhitations. We the Governor, and magistrates Assembled, accounting it our Duty by vertu of the trust at present committed to us, to Governors pro- care for the preservation of the peace and order of the istratefa^Snlt churches of Jesus Christ among us according to law. Tit. the worke- Eccle : Sect : 1 1 : upon serious consideration of the sollemn transac- tion this day intended with you : viz : that severall persons which we understand yet to be of the first church of Boston, are about to gather into a Church estate by themselves, we judgeing it to be greatly in- consistent with, and Contrary to the said order of the Gospel doe therefore hereby declare that we approve not of the said transaction at Present, and doe desire and advise that the said proceedings be delayed untill further consideration be had there in. Rich : Belengham Governor Sam : Symonds Wm : Hathorne Eliaz : Lusher John Leveritt Edw: Ting.2 Boston the 12th: (3) 1669. 1 [Worcester defines a rub as an ob- 2 [The governor, Mr. Leverett, and struction, hindrance, obstacle, difficulty, Mr. Tyng were members of the First or cause of uneasiness.] Church.] 8o HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. THE CHURCH OF BOSTONS LETTER TO IMPEDE THE COALITION. Honoured Reverend and Beloved in the Lord We being acquainted the Eleventh day of this month By two of our dissenting Brethren that on the 12th day of the same which is the 4th day of this weeke Itt was the purpose and intention of themselves with the rest of them to gather into a Church at Charlstowne that we might not be wanting in our duty to God ourselves or them we thought it now seasonable to declare our apprehensions therein, How, farr it may prevent sin in our Brethren we know not, That it might is our desire and hope, however we are perswaded we shall hereby deliver our owne soules from the guilt or fruit of any Evill in it, by renouncing participation or fellowship in that action. We doe there- fore declare these Brethren who intend an imbodying by themselves to be members with us by covenant, a bond as yet not loosed that we know of, according to God, And that they are under offences to this church which they have not indeavored regularly to rem[ove] and therefore are not capable of such a Coalition among themselves, John Davenport James Allen James Penn with the consent of the Brethren Boston : 1 1 (3) mo 69. Superscribed for the Honoured and Reverend the Elders and mes- sengers of the churches assembled at Charlstowne Elder Pen, Captaine Clark, Captaine Hutchison, Lieutenant Cooke, James Everill were sent over by the Church with the letter foregoing who before the meeting gave the Messengers of the Churches a meeting with the said letter ; and all of them publiquely spake in the name of the Church (except Elder Pen) to impede the work and made objections against the work of the day, it was replyed unto them that there should be consideration had of what they had spoken, the meeting was adjourned about noone for half an houre, when began againe the messengers of the Church of Boston were publiquely called for, but none appeared, they being returned home the work then was finished thus this work of God after sore pangs and throws of many prayers and teares labours and conflicts very hardly escaped strangling in its birth, notwithstanding all the midwively care that the good Lord sent in as was then solemnely acknowledged by the Reverend Mod- erator In the latter end of the day, in the presence of the Honoured Mr. Oxen- and Reverend Messengers of the Churches, Mr. Oxen- singgofSGodyfor bridge being by them desired to returne thankes, praysed the worke. qocj fo^ though the day began in a storme yet that it ended in a Calme, and praid that this infant Church might live to condemne their condemners. MR. STREET COMES TO BOSTON. 8 1 Being Election day Mr. Davenport preachd, who then did grievously inveiofh against the preceding work and all that did assist '9: (3) therein, to provoke the Generall Court against it. vide Copiam. A writing was put in by Mr. Everill, Mr. Bridgam, and good[man] Grub into the house of Deputies tending to the disturbing 28 : of it. Mr. Davenport in his Lecture sermon did excuse the Churches slownes to dismisse the dissenting Brethren perceiving it stuck with the Country. The writing above mentioned put into the house was rejected by the house. Goodman Grub and Hollingshead repaired to Mr. Thatcher acquainting him with their offence against him, and desired him to absent from the Lords supper. Mr. Torry a mem- ber of the late Councill was excepted against by sundry Brethren in sitting with them at the Lords table, after debate was permitted to partake. Mr. Street coming to Boston and upon discourse of Mr. Davenports dismission there was occasion for him to informe himself _ . Occasion of the of the pretended letter of dismission read to the Church discoverie of the . . .. former fraud in and how short a letter it was, it became discourse in the concealing the Towne that the letter read in the Church of Boston was wing^uYan not the whole sent from the Church of New haven but ^SSonedfo!: part therof nor indeed the thing itself conteyned in the l6: I?: lS- said letter. it Being a lecture day Elder Pen appointed the Church to meet after the lecture when met Elder Pen declared it was to remove scandalous reports raised against the Church about Mr. Davenports dismission and the concealed letter. Mr. Davenport made an offer that the concealed letter might be read, his son was sent home for it but returned saying he could not find it, Mr. Davenport replyed though the Church had not heard it, yet above 40 of the Brethren were advised with all who thought it not fit to be read in the Church, it concerned not the Church but related to himself, having in it many mistakes, and injurious expressions which he did beleive were not from the Church but from Mr. Streets misguiding of them to consent thereunto and was to be no marveii if attributed unto him, and he said further it was done on chuTch^pon purpose to put the matter to a period in this church, but ^/^"^uch as it concerned himself he had answered it, declaring his a letter which ex- 0 traded is called resolution never to returne unto New haven againe though Mr. Davenports , . -I-, [dismission]. he had not accepted office here at Boston. The Elder then read the letter of dismission soe called as it came from New haven (which was not read to the Church be- v 17: (4) 69. fore) Elder Pen and Mr. Ja : Aliens extract being read 82 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. instead of it, they cleared all the Brethren of the Church from having any hand in it and also Mr. Davenport from any guilt therein (but this was afterward acknowledged by Mr. Allen before sundry Elders 1 at Mr. H V house that in soe doing he had told a falshood) for Mr. Davenport knew the matter and consented unto it, as will appeare by his owne publique declaration insuing : Elder Pen said that what evill was in it, he must take it upon himself, and the Teacher Mr. Daven- port replyed that he wondered what the Elder should meane by soe saying, for he saw no appearance of evill in it. Sundry Brethren shewd their dislike of it as viz : Cap : Clarke, Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Stod- dard, others saying they were sorely troubled that the name of God was dishonoured ; Major Generall Leverit said there was speech in the a reall injury in it to this Church to the Church of New haven and to the neighbour Churches, who sent their messengers to give the right hand of fellowship, further saying he knew not what self ends they might have who did it, forgitting Davids prayer, let soundnes and integrity preserve mee and that he who beleiveth maketh not hast, and that god needed none of our sinfull shifts to preserve his owne honour ; insomuch as Mr. Davenport much pressed for a vote of the Church whither they looked at his dismission valid otherwise his office relation had no foundation, and he would not be accompted their Pastour if he were not soe indeed nothing was valid, sundry saying if the whole letter had bin read instead of the extract, it had satisfyed them as to his dismission, goodman Search pleaded it might not be too much pressed, for Jacob got the blessing let the extract *n a wrong wav- Mr. Davenport said it savoured of and letter be much ignorance and malice for any to think that this ex- compared fol : ° . 16: i7. is. and tract was a forgery, (which was to make a writing con- definitioneofPfor- trary to the intent of the author,) this onely left out some fouLTin the superfluities and such things as did not properly belong to it, nor ought to have bin put to it, and indeed he looked at his dismission to be in their leaving him to give his owne answer, and they resting in what was done, saying the will of the Lord be done, Mr. Davenport concluded with prayer, wherein he much excused Mr. Allen and Elder Pen who had done what they did in the integrity of their hearts, and much complained to God of others, who had searched for haltings, with more eagernes than Laban did Jacobs stuff for his Idolls. The Elders labouring to convince Mr. James Allen of his iniquity in dealing deceitfully about the letter from New haven, in saying Mr. Davenport was innoc[ent] about that matter, he acknowledged that Mr. Davenport knew the matter, asmuch as himself and his unckle, and that he had sinned in soe saying, this con- 1 [The word " elders " is erased in the later at the house of Mr. Hezekiah MS. The meeting was held a week Usher.] MR. DAVENPORTS NARRATIVE. 83 fession was made before Mr. John Allen, Mr. Danforth of Roxbury, Mr. Increase Math[er] and Mr. Stoughton.1 The Church had a meeting pretending to satisfy those who re- mayned unsatisfyd about the former two letters, at this meeting they put forth all the sisters, not suffering them to be present, as if their consciences were not to be considered in satisfaction, Mr. Davenports narrative was read as followeth. when my dismission from the Church of new haven was sent to the Church of Boston inclosed in my letter from my Brother ..J-,..... . Mr. Davenports Street sealed up to the Ruling Elder I did not open it, narrative read but when the Elder came to mee with Brother Allen I de- liverd it before him to the ruling Elder sealed as it was, he opened it and read it in my hearing, whereby both they and I perceived that the preface to the dismission was altogither superfluous, yet such as might cause difference, they took the letter away with them to con- sider farther of it, accordingly when the substance of the dismission was extracted out of the original they brought it unto mee the last day of the week when my thoughts were otherwise exercised, my Brother Allen read what was written, and what he wrote seemed to us to be the true dismission, agreing with the originall signed by Mr. Street in the name and with the consent of the Church of New haven, it was allso said that no wrong would be done to that Church nor unto this, if the extract were read publiquely, the superfluities in the originall being left out, but that some dishonour to the Church of New haven and disturbance to this Church would thereby be prevented, I looked not at myself fit to give advice in this Case it being my owne Concernment but left it [to] them both to *9' 6q' satisfy their Judgment, for I was at that time neither member nor Elder of this Church whereof Brother Allen was member but no Elder, Brother Pen was the onely ruling Elder nor did I add nor diminish or alter anything that was written in the Extract, nor came it to my thoughts what was best to be done, whence I neither disswaded from reading the extract nor perswaded to the reading of the Originall script in publique, leaving events to God, nor had I any hand in con- triving framing or penning the Extract as both our reverend Elders have already testifyed to the Church and whereas some would prove that I had a further hand in it, because my son wrote the extract which was read by the Church this is not a Cogent or sufficient prof thereof, for it was at their motion and desire, that my son wrote not the originall but Mr. Aliens extract, which when my son had done, it was still in their power and liberty to make what use of it, they pleased or to have made no use of it, if their mindes had bin altered. My hope is that as God hath made hereby discoverie of the spirits of many soe that he will issue the whole in giving repentance, unto 1 [See ante, p. 36, note.] 84 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. some for their harsh and wrong censures and reproaches, and in vindi- cation of his owne honour, and the name of his servants who did what is done to good ends and in true simplicity and faithfullnes according to their present light in the sight of God.1 This being read to the Church and the question being put about the cause of reproches spread abroad [the towne ?] the vote passed in the Affirmative and the Lords supper appointed to be celebrated next Lords day, the other two Elders made their confession by word of mouth more largly as being more concerned in what was done, soe then Brethren departed well satisfyed. and Then Mr. Thatcher came into question, and was after some discourse voted cleare of all of- fences, and at liberty to come to the Lords supper. The Lords supper was celebrated, Mr. Allen offered something towards the satisfaction of the sisters, who had bin ex- 4 : (5)- . eluded last Church meeting, who appealed to God, that what he did was in the integrity of his heart but because there was appearance of evill, and Gods name had bin dishonoured and his ways scandalised he desired it might be recovered, and for his owne honour no matter if it lay in the dirt. Elder Pen consented to his speech : Mr. Davenport then replyed, that those who raysed the re- ports were the offendors, and not the Elders who had done no evill, nor had given any just cause of scandall. The testimony of many of the Ministers of the gospell in Massa- chusets Collony in New England against the scandall given by the present Elders of the first Church of Christ in Boston, by their fraudulent dealing about the letters sent from the Church in New Haven to the Church of Boston: 15 : (5) 1669. 2 We being justly offended at the great and publique scandall of un- faithfullnes and falshood committed by the 3 Reverend Elders of the first Church in Boston to the great dishonour of God, the scandall of our profession the reproch of New England and of the Elders in par- ticular, desiring to be found mourners in Syon for the same, and not perceiving as yet any suteable repentance for it, least we ourselves and the Churches in the Countrey should be involved in the guilt thereof, 1 [In Mr. Davenport's words, when generation of religious controversialists, vindicating his own honor, — who did that God needs none of our sinful shifts what is done unto good ends — we find to preserve his own honor.] an explanation, as we think, of the ex- - [The Mass. Hist. Society has in its traordinary proceedings in connection possession a partial copy of this letter, with the New Haven letter of October made at the time it was sent or received, 12, 1 668. He and his friends made the the last third and the signatures being fatal mistake of deviating from the strict wanting. Comparing the letter as it ap- line of rectitude for the sake of " the pears in the Narrative with this partial good cause." How often has a similar copy, we have found the deviations very mistake been made since, in times of re- slight, and we have made no changes ligious controversy ! Mr. Leverett's re- except to correct two or three obvious mark may well be pondered by every inaccuracies.] THE TESTIMONY OF MANY MINISTERS. 85 if no full and open testimony be given against it, beyond any that we have yet heard of, out of conscience towards God, being awed by that word, neither be partakers of other men sins, keep thyself pure 1 Tym : 5. 22 and that Eph : 5:11. have no fellowship with the un- fruitfull workes of darkenes, but rather reprove them and considering how the Lords name is blasphemed, allso in love and faithfullnes to our Brethren, that we may not suffer sin upon them Lev : >5' (s) 1669 19: 17 : and as watchmen to foresee the Evill and give warning, doe therefore declare and testify as follo[ws] 1. That mr. Davenport as a gift of Christ for the work of the min- istry Eph: 4: n : 12 : was set by the Lord Jesus christ, a Pastor in the Church of Christ at New haven 1 Cor: 12: 28: and therefore such was the right of that Church in their Pastor that neither Mr. Davenport could remove himselfe from them, nor the Church of Bos- ton regularly call him to office with them without some rule of Christ directing the Church to Consent there unto, this is a confessed truth by mr. Davenport himselfe in his printed Apologie 1 page 109. where speaking of his Church in Coleman Street in London being about to withdraw from them into Holland the Church (saith he) I confes might have required me to stay with them by virtue of that rule, Say unto Archippus take heed to thy Ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fullfil it, If they had soe done I purposed to yeild whatever had become of me, Yea I confess the churches right to be such in their Pastor, that being withdrawen if they had sent for me to return to my function promising to sticke by me where in law- fully they might I hold myselfe bound to have returned ; Allso the right of New haven in him their Pastor as owned by his sollem ap- peale to God, in publique prayer where in he professed to this effect, that he desired onely to know the will of God as to his staying here at Boston or returning to New haven, and wayted for the manifesta- tion of the Lords will by the returne of Messengers which were then gone to New haven for his dismission, likewise the right of New haven in Mr. Davenport hath bin confessed by the Church of Boston, who notwithstanding any other dark or doubtfull pleas applyed themselves by Messengers and letters to obteine the consent of New haven in the dismission of Mr. Davenport unto them, expressing themselves in a certaine writing that without his dismission they would not proceed. 2ly: The translation of a Pastour from one Church to another being a momentous and solemne act of kingly Government of Christ in his Church, Acts: 13 : 1 : 2 : 3 : as it calleth for serious Councill to find out the mind of God, soe it requireth great faithfullnes in the stewards of God that s[tand] between two such Churches : 1 Cor : 1 [Mr. Davenport published his with the controversies in which he was Apologeticall Reply in 1636, during his engaged there on questions of baptism residence in Holland, and in connection and church government.] 86 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. 4:2: and that in serving the Lord in such part of his instituted wor- ship, it be done in sincerity and in truth Josh : 24 : 14 : 15. 3ly hence it clearely followeth, that for these Elders in this case to with hold any letters, or any part of them wherein the Consent or dis- sent of the Church of New haven is made knowne, is an act of great unfaithfullnes and neglect of sincerity and truth, and of dangerous consequence as, 1 : To the great wrong of New haven in their just interest. 2. To the deluding the Church of Boston in their proceedings in soe weighty a matter. 3. to raise scruples in mens mindes, whither a Person soe called be inde[ed] their Pastor and his administration be the Ordinance of God.1 4ly : after the concealment of one letter from New haven that spake their mindes fully, to transcribe also but part of another letter, soe much as may seeme to serve their turne, leaving out about two parts of three, to superscribe this, to subscribe it, set a seale upon it and to date it, and to indeavour to imitate the hand of another in subscrib- ing his name, and thus to produce it as if it were the same letter that was sent from New haven to the Church of Boston, calling it Mr. Davenports dismission, this cannot be lesse than great unfaithfullnes falshood if not forgery. If Doeg concealing part of the truth is charged with a deceitfull tongue : Psal 152:4: If Ananias conceal- ing part of the price of the truth is said to lye unto God, how much more to conceale soe much of the truth in soe weighty a Case and of soe great consequence : And therefore we must beare witnes against this practise as contrary to the scripture, the light of nature, to the lawes of all Civill governments even in all civill commerce, and ther- fore much more in the things of God, who is soe jealous in the matters of his worship, and before Jesus Christ who is the Amen the true and faithfull witnes, It is also destructive to the Communion of Churches by letters, for Churches cannot understand the meaning one of another, where there is such corrupting of letters, and therfore this is a great and scandalous sin : 5ly. to pretend a dismission of Mr. Davenport from a small part of a letter, whereas the other part left out doth argue the contrary, wherein the Church of New haven gives reasons why in conscience they could not give the dismission desired, this is a practise con- demned in the scripture 1 : Thess : 4 : 6 : let no man defraud or goe beyond his Brother in any matter : Phill 14:8: finally whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, what- soever things are of good report &c. 2 : Cor : 7 : 2 : receive us, we 1 [In the copy of the Mass. Hist. So- called to approve such proceedings at ciety (see ante, p. 84, note), the sentence the ordination " follows the words "Or- " To the deceiving neighbour churches dinance of God."] THE TESTIMONY OF THE MINISTERS. Sy have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man : 2 Cor : 13 : 8 : we can doe nothing against the truth but for the truth. Ma : 7 : 12 : therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should doe unto you, doe soe even unto them, had the Elder of New haven dealt soe with the letters sent from the Church of Boston, we suppose those Elders would have deeply condemned him. 61y That all the 3 : Elders of the Church are jointly guilty of these evills and sins, even Mr. Davenport himself, who doth most justify the fact and himself as having no hand in the writing : Its evident, The matter of fact in concealing one letter wholly, and framing an abstract out of another and reading it to the Church as the whole this is confessed of all three : as for Mr. Davenport it concerned him most to see matters carryed clearely, because he could not in con- science joine to the Church of Boston, nor take office without the consent of the Church of New haven, and therfore not withstanding the deceit, renders him guilty of it, besides he confesseth that he knew of the letter from New haven and of the abstract out of it, as hath bin acknowledged allso by the other two Elders, allso he called it his dismission, joyned in membership and office upon that very ground, having thereby his dismission from New haven, and was highly offended with one of the deacons for questioning the clearenes of it, and therfore cannot be excused from being alike guilty with the other Elders. Thus far we have in all plainnes given our testimony against thes[e] deceitfull and false wayes with all due abhorrency against them Psal : 119: 128: desiring with bleeding hearts and faces full of shame to humble our soules before the Lord, who hath justly left these Elders unto soe great a scandall : and humbly doe beseech the God of all grace, to raise up our Brethren that are falne by a suteable manifes- tation of their repentance, to the recovering of the name of God which suffers by it : And the good Lord in mercy through the blood of Christ pardon, and impute it not to any of us nor to the Country : we desire allso to looke upon our Brethren with all due compassion and to reflect upon ourselves with trembling hearts, least we allso fall being compassed with infirmities, and subject to manifold temptations. Subscribed by. John Allin John Sherman Th : Cobbet . John Higginson Sam : Phillips Zach : Symmes John Ward Tho : Shepheard John Brock John Willson Inc : Mather Edw : Buckley Edm : Browne Sam : Torry Sam : Whiting Jun Sam : Whiting Sen John Hale : Superscribed To the Rev. Elders of the first Church of Boston. 1 [" Seventeen ministers bore a public three elders of the first Church in Boston, testimony against the proceedings of the viz. against Mr. Davenport for leaving 88 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Upon the 5 th of the 6th moneth there was appointed a ffast, the day before the fast, the Elders of severall Churches sent to the Elders of the first Church of Boston the testimony fore recited togither with the letter ensuing. Reverend and Beloved Brethren &=c. Wee looking upon ourselves as the Lords watchmen, under the ey and observation of God and man, what zeale we have for gods glory, what love to our Brethren and feare least we allso should fall, and your- selves knowing that there are diverse Brethren that have in faithfull- nes declared unto you some of those evills, which are justly offensive to your Brethren. It is an amazing thought unto many to think that you should be found and left soe insensible thereof, which hath occa- sioned us (especially considering there is intended a day of humiliation among you on the morrow) to present unto you this our inclosed testi- mony against such evills, whereby we desire and hope the Lord will help you to see conviction in the matter, and no ill spirit in the man- ner towards God or yourselves, If the Lord please to bring you soe as to recover the honour of Gods name, that is blasphemed by your meanes (as we heart[ily] pray) then we have our end, if not (which God forbid) we shall be forced to consult with God and one with another, what the Lord shall require further of us, thus desiring the his church at New Haven, contrary to We see no reason for the implied cen- his professed principles, and against all sure of the New Haven church in this of them for communicating" parcels only last sentence. We fail to see in its of letters from the church of New Haven part of the correspondence before us, to the church in Boston, by which arti- any want of fairness or straight-forward fice the church was deceived, and made dealing. Dr. Benjamin Trumbull says to believe the church of New Haven con- of Mr. Davenport's removal to Bos- sented to his dismission, when, if the ton : — whole had been read, it would have ap- " He had been about thirty years min- peared they did not. This testimony was ister at New Haven, had been greatly sent to the elders the day before a public esteemed and beloved by his flock. This fast. An answer was given, in which the circumstance, with his advanced period elders deny that the letters concealed of life, made his removal very remark- would have been evidence of the refusal able. His church and people were ex- of the church of New Haven to consent ceedingly unwilling that he should leave to Mr. Davenport's leaving them and them, and it seems, never formally gave settling at Boston ; the church was only their consent. The affair, on the whole, unwilling to make his dismission their was unhappy. It occasioned a separation immediate act. Neither the church of from the first church in Boston ; and the New Haven nor the elders of the church church and congregation at New Haven of Boston can be wholly justified. There for many years remained in an uncom- does not seem to have been that fairness fortable state, unable to unite in the and simplicity in their proceedings which choice of any person to take the pastoral the gospel requires." — Hutchinson's His- charge of them." — Complete History of tory of Mass., vol. i. p. 24S. Connecticut, vol. i. p. 4S4.] MR. DAVENPORT REFUSES TO CONFER. 89 Lord to pardon, and heale those evills and all sharp contentions among us we rest Your Loving Brethren Sam : Whiting Senr. John Ward Ed: Browne Sam : Phillips Sam : Whiting Junr. John Higginson Tho : Cobbet Ed. Buckley Tho : Shepheard John Hale Increase Mather By the letter above appeareth what private meanes had bin used for their conviction but uneffectuall, Mr. Davenport refused conference with some of them and would not admit them into his presence. OLD CHARLESTOWN.1 1 This plan of old Charlestown, drawn by Mr. George Lamb, is intended to mark the site of the house (Mr. Willoughby's) in which the third Council met, and of the meeting-house in which the public services of recognition were held, when the Old South Church was formed. 1 shows (sufficiently for our purpose) the site of the "Great House," which was first occupied by Governor Winthrop and several of the patentees, and afterward, until the meeting-house (2) was built, was used for public worship. 3 is Mr. Willoughby's mansion house, and 4 and 4 show his land. The Waverly House stands on one of these lots, on the corner of what is now Jenner Street. 5 is where Joseph Hills lived. Fore Street is now Main Street. The Ferry Way is Charles River Avenue. The Street Way is Harvard Street. Mid- dlegate Street is Prescott Street. Maul- sters Lane is Arrow Street, and Garden Lane is Washington Street. CHAPTER II. 1669-1671. THE DISPUTE BECOMES A POLITICAL OUESTION. JOHN HULL, in his diary, narrates briefly and graphically the proceedings recorded in the closing pages of our first chapter : — 1669 6th 2d Sundry ministers met at Charltown, to advise whether they ought not to apply themselves to the church, and ac- quaint them that they were grieved and offended at their refusal to dismiss their brethren, and move at their desire, and endeavor to cen- sure them. That day was a great deal of rain. 13th 2d The elders of fifteen churches convened at the request of the dissenting brethren, and sat a council in Boston. 1 6th 2d Gave in their conclusion. The elders and the church refused all their applications to them. 23d Rev. Mr. Richard Mather, teacher of the church at Dor- chester, died. The church of Boston would not let him into the doors, when he, with sundry others, waited with a letter from the council to them ; but the Lord soon opened his way into the church triumphant.1 12th 3d The third church in Boston gathered or coalesced in For divers days, whilst he was attend- ing this consultation, he enjoyed his health better, than of some later months ; but as Luther was at a Synod surprised with a violent 'attack of illness,' which caused him to return home, with little hope of life, so it was with this holy man. 1 [Cotton Mather, in his Life of Richard Mather, says : " A council of neighbour- ing churches being assembled at Boston, April 13, 1669, to advise about some dif- ferences arisen there, Mr. Mather, for his age, grace and wisdom, was chosen the Moderator of that reverend assembly. RECORDS OF THE CHURCH IN SALEM. 91 Charltown. Six magistrates opposed it, — R. B., S. S., W. H., J. L., E. L., E. T. Eight magistrates encouraged it ; 1 and no ministers opposed, but encouraged, except J. A., J. D., and S. M. [James Allen, John Davenport, and, probably, Samuel Mather.] The records of the Salem church, kept by the Rev. John Higginson,2 confirm the statements of the Narrative, and the entries of Mr. Hull : — On the 3d of the 2d month [1669] was read a letter from the dissenting brethren at Boston, sent unto this Church, wherein they expressed that the result and advice of the Council called by the Elder and brethren the last summer, was to grant them an amicable dismission, in order to the propagation of another church ; this advice they had attended, having several times moved for a dis- mission, but in vain. Therefore they made this address to sundry other Churches, as their only next refuge left them by Christ in his word ; professing their firmness to the government, according to the patent, and that they are not for any other way of church order, than that solemnly declared from the Scriptures, in the Platform of Disci- pline, and the last Synod about the subject of Baptism and consoci- ation of Churches, desiring ever to maintain brotherly love and com- munion with the Church they desired to be dismissed from as also with the rest of the Churches. They did humbly again and again desire us, in the. bowels of Jesus Christ request and desire us, not to On April 16, lodging at the house of his government of Christ in his church, and worthy son [Increase Mather], a minister that when grown up, and qualified, they in Boston, he was taken very ill. ... So have baptism, for their children. I must his Lord found him about the blessed confess, I have been defective, as to prac- work of a peacemaker ; and with an tice ; yet I have publickly declared my allusion to the note of the German Phce- judgment, and manifested my desires to nix, Mr. Shepard of Charlestown, put practice that which I think ought to be that stroke afterwards into his Epitaph : attended ; but the dissenting of some in Vixerat in Synodis, Moritur Moderator our church discouraged me. I have in Illis. Returning by coach, thus ill, thought that persons might have right to unto his house in Dorchester, he lay baptism, and yet not to the Lord's Sup- patiently expecting of his change ; and, per ; and I see no cause to alter my indeed, was a pattern of patience, to all judgment, as to that particular. And I spectators, for all survivors. . . . His son still think, that persons qualified, accord- perceiving the symptoms of death upon ing to the fifth proposition of the late him, said ' Sir, if there be any special Synod-Book, have right to baptism for thing which you would recommend unto their children.' "] me to do, in case the Lord should spare ' [In addition to the seven magistrates me on earth, after you are in Heaven, whose approbation appears on p. 77, I would intreat you to express it ; ' at there was the deputy governor, Francis which, after a little pause, with lifted eyes Willoughby, who was a friend of the and hands, he returned, ' A special thing new church.] which I would commend to you, is, care 2 John, son of the Rev. John Higgin- concerning the rising generation in this son, married, October 9, 1672, Sarah, country, that they be brought under the daughter of Thomas Savage. 92 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. receive sinister reports against them, but to send the Elder and messen- gers of our Church to meet with others in council at Boston upon the 13th of April, to consider, consult, and give their helpful advice in their labouring case. After the reading of this letter it was desired to defer the issue till the Lord's day after, till it might be known from the Elders of Boston Church whether the Church there consented to such a council, or would give them a meeting : which by the Pastor (and others) was enquired of the week following, who brought a negative answer from the Elders. Yet the brethren of the Church generally did agree in this, that there was and ought to be relief against miscarriages in par- ticular churches in the Congregational way. And in the issue by a vote they desired the Pastor and Capt. Price, to go not as members of the Council to vote therein, but to be present at the Council, and so to do what good they could, as they heard Mr. Whiting and Mr. Laiten of Lin Church were desired so to go. At a Church meeting, April 30, 1669. The Pastor made some report of what was done at the Council, wherein there was a meeting of messengers from thirteen other Churches besides Salem and Linne, and that they applied themselves first unto the Elders twice, and then to the Elders and brethren of the Church of Boston ; the 3d time in way of mediation for a pacification, but were three times denied to admit of any conference with them. So the Council considered of the advice of the first Council, and the Scripture grounds of it, and saw cause to approve of it, viz., that the dissenting brethren might have their dismission, and in case the Church persisted in denying their dismission, they might take their liberty seasonably to be a Church of themselves, as if they had had a formal dismission. On the 16 day, [May,] being the Sabbath, was read in the public assembly, a letter sent from the three Elders of the first Church at Boston, to the Church of Salem, expressing their desires of a chari- table construction of their actions, and their willingness to declare the reasons of their actions, when it should be desired. The Pastor declared that the week past the dissenting brethren had made use of their liberty at Charlestown in gathering into a Church body of them- selves, according to the advice of two Councils in their case, with the approbation of Magistrates and Elders according to the law, and had the right hand of fellowship given them by the messengers from five Churches, — so he saw not any need of any further discourse about the contents of the former letter at present. So it rested at the present.1 1 [Mew England Congregationalism, by The records of Roxbury church con- Daniel A. White, pp. 76-7S. tain this entry : — MR. DAVENPORTS ELECTION SERMON. 93 We will now return for a moment to the Third Church Nar- rative : — 19: (3) Being Election day Mr. Davenport preachd, who then did greivously inveigh against the preceding work and all that did assist therein, to provoke the Generall Court against it. Vide Copiam. 28 : A writing was put in by Mr. Everill, Mr. Bridgam, and good- man Grub into the house of Deputies tending to the disturbing of it.1 30. Mr. Davenport in his Lecture sermon did excuse the Churches slownes to dismisse the dissenting Brethren perceiving it stuck with the Country. 2 (4). The writing above mentioned put into the house was rejected by the house. On account of this controversy, "two parties," says Hutchin- son, " were produced, not in the other churches only but in the State also ; " and " the whole people of God," says Cotton Mather, "throughout the colony, were too much distinguished into such as favored the old church, and such as favored the new church ; whereof the former were against the synod, and the latter were for it." 2 Mr. Davenport was, in part at least, responsible for bringing the dispute between the two churches into the politics of the day. In the month of May following his installation he was invited, as we have seen by the Narrative, to preach the Elec- tion Sermon, and he took the opportunity to defend his side of the controversy, and to sharply criticise his opponents.3 The " 12 3m 69 The Dissenting Brethren parties and great disturbances." Dr. aforementioned, made a Secession from Wisner thinks that members of the new the Church at Boston and gathered them- church may have been imprisoned for selves into a new church estate at Charles- not attending the authorized worship, town, having the approbation of seven of and for setting up a church assembly the magistrates and the right hand of without permission from the magistrates ; fellowship from the Elders and Messen- but this is doubtful, because the majority gers of five churches."] of the magistrates, and by far the larger 1 [These were petitioners, and not portion of the people, believed the seced- members of the house. Mr. Bridgham ing members from the old church to be with Peter Tilton represented Hadley in in the right, and public opinion, we think, 1670. In 1668 Thomas Grubb, with Ed- would have shielded them from punish- ward Hutchinson, Richard Way, Benja- ment for any such reason. The " im- min Negoos, and others, addressed a prisoning of parties," of which Randolph memorial to the General Court in behalf wrote, was probably the arrest of some of the " Anabaptists," and were admon- of the members when they began prepa- ished for " many reproachful expres- rations for building, as will appear in the sions " against the authorities which their next chapter. paper contained.] 3 Mr. Davenport's text was 1 Sam. 2 Edward Randolph wrote to the xxiii. 5 : "So David and his men went Bishop of London that the dispute ran to Keilah, and fought with the Philis- so high " that there was imprisoning of tines and brought away their cattle, and 94 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. deputies, most of whom favored the First Church, passed the customary vote of thanks. The majority of the magistrates or assistants, who constituted the upper branch of the General Court, refused to concur in the vote, thinking that the occasion should not have been used in such a partisan manner, and that the Third Church and those who supported it had been dis- honored by the preacher. A remonstrance was therefore sent down to the deputies, declaring the vote of thanks " to be alto- gether unseasonable, many passages in the said sermon being ill-resented by the Reverend Elders of other churches and many serious persons," and the request was made that "they would forbeare further proceeding therein." Governor Belling- ham, who was in the chair, refused to put the question on send- ing down this remonstrance, and at the call of his associates it was put by Simon Bradstreet, who himself, a few years later, became a member of the Third Church.1 The deputies, how- ever, refused to give way. When the members of the new church took steps towards the location and erection of their meeting-house, the ultra-con- servatives, as we shall see in the next chapter, placed every possible obstacle in their way. These men seem to have been strangely unconscious of the general drift of opinion among the churches and in the community ; otherwise, after the action of the influential and representative councils in favor of the breth- ren of the new church, they would have abandoned the struggle as hopeless. But failing, as they did, to discern the signs of the times, they persisted in their opposition, only to make the ultimate triumph of the seceding brethren more signal and complete. It has been said that just after Mr. Davenport's Election Sermon in 1669 the House of Deputies was asked to consider the question of the organization of the new church, but declined to do so. The public excitement, however, increased to such an extent, and the relations to each other of Church and State were such, that the General Court could not but take cognizance of the controversy. At the opening of the session in May, 1670, the magistrates passed a "vote to heale differences," to which the deputies would not consent, their objection being to the proposal to call " the teaching elders of the churches," or some of them, into conference. smote them with a great slaughter. So l May 25, 1669. Mass. Archives, vol. David saved the inhabitants of Keilah." x. p. 7. A VOTE "TO HEAL DIFFERENCES:' 95 The magistrates Apprehending that it is the duty of this Court by all possible and lawfull wayes and meanes to seeke the Composing of the present differences that are of late increased among the churches of these parts, and as much as in us lye that the stumbling blocks to our peace may be removed : Doe Judge meet that there be a Con- ference of both houses, referring to those matters, and that the Teach- ing Elders of the churches so many as may Conveniently be desired to be present to give their advice and helpe as the matter may require. The magistrates have past this their brethren the Deputies here- to Consenting : Edw : Rawson Secretary. The Deputyes Consent not hereto but are very willinge and ready to attend by all wayes and meanes for the Composure and healinge of any differences that are amongst us So it be in a reg- ular way, and Desire our Hon- oured magistrates, would please to draw up some meete expedient for the attaynment of the ends before proposed our Honoured magistrates Consenting hereto William Torrey Cleric.1 12 : 3 1670 The next action was initiated by the deputies, and was prompted by a memorial addressed to the General Court, in the name of the freemen of the town of Hadley and of sundry free- men of the town of Northampton. This paper was drawn up by the Rev. John Russell, of Hadley, a friend of Governor Bel- lingham,2 and evidently at the instance of the latter, for there was no reason why these distant towns should concern them- selves in this particular way about the formation of the new church in Boston. The memorial has been preserved in the Massachusetts Archives, and is as follows : — 1 {Mass. Archives, vol. x. p. 287.] 2 Mr. Russell was one of the executors and trustees under Governor Bellingham's will, the others being Mr. Oxenbridge and Mr. Allen, of the First Church, and Mr. Anthony Stoddard. He graduated at Harvard College in 1645, was one of the settlers of Hadley in 1660, and was the minister there from that time until his death in 1692. In 1657 he favored the Baptismal Covenant. Walker's First Ch. in Hartford, p. 193. g6 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. To the Worshipfull and much Honoured Generatt Court of the Massa- chusetts now sitting in Boston. It being abundantly manefest to them that know the Lord and doe considar the oparation of his hands, that his carriage toward his churches and people in this Country : hath not bin as in former times the yeers of the right hand of the most High : but that instead of his wonted blessing and lifting up the light of his Countenance he hath shewed us both many signes of his displeasure against and departure from us : which if he proceed to doe then is that fearful woe Hos : 9 : 12 accomplished towards us. The Consideration and fear wherof occasioneth us to present this our humble Enquiry to this Honoured Court viz Whether the rods of God upon our churches and land have not this speaking voice to us that there should be some publike and solemn enquiry what it is that hath provoked the Lord (who doth not afflict willingly but if neede be) against us. The genuine and tender filiall spirit when it sees the father angry cannot rest without enquiry why it is : The example of that man after Gods own hart 2 Kings [? Samuel] 21, 1 : 2. (as well as others) is a pattern to us : Our owne both distresses and dangers may necessitate us to faithfull and diligent search if there be any Achan or Jonah that may hazzard the Losse and ruine of all. The finding and unanimous agreing in what our evill is : seems to be the necessary and first means and part of our turning to the Lord wherby only we can hope for his return (in mercy) unto us accord- ing to his wonted loving kindnesse : which that we may surely and speedily finde is the earnest prayer of your humble servants Hadley May 3d 1670 In the name of the ffreemen Henry Clarke of the Town of Hadley. John Russell Samuell Smith William Holton ) ,,. ^ \ of northampton William Clarke ) ^ in the name of Sundrey of the freemen there who have had Consideration of the above mentioned premises.1 There haveing bin a motion to this Court by sundry ffreemen Inhab- itants of Hadley and Northampton, Subscribed in their Names by severall gentlemen and wel disposed persons, and herewithall pre- sented the Contents whereof is of great Concernment to our peace and the Contynuation of the presence of god with us as also remove- all of these evills, that have bin and are at present upon us, which on due and serious Consideration, the Deputyes Judge meet, to reffer to the further perusall of A Committee, and to that end have nominated 1 [Mass. Archives, vol. x. p. 286.] MEMORIAL FROM HADLEY. 97 Captain Edw : Johnson [Woburn] x Captain Rich. Walderne [Dover] mr. William Parke [Roxbury] mr. Edw : Woodman [Newbury] and mr. Peter Tilton [Hadley] unto whom they desire some of our Honoured magistrates may be Added to act herein and to draw up their appre- hentions about the same, and seasonably make returne thereof to this Court, Desireing our Honoured magistrates Concurrance herein. William Torrey Cleric. 13 : 3. 1670 The magistrates have nominated mr. Thomas Danforth to Joyne in this Committee accordingly Edw : Rawson Secretary.2 13th may 1670. Mr. Danforth was one of the magistrates who had given his official sanction to the formation of the new church, and it was not likely that he would be able to agree with his associates on the joint committee, representing, as they did, the majority in the House of Deputies, who were on the opposite side. The result was the presentation of two reports, one signed by the members of the House, the other by Mr. Danforth. In the former, various "demonstrations of the Lord's displeasure against this poor people " are enumerated, " some whereof are more immediately from his own hand, and others more mediately the corruption of man's nature, being through the Lord's judi- cial hand, made the executioner of his good pleasure." " Those that are more immediate are such as these : " blasting the choicest of the grain for several years ; the great loss sustained in shipping, and obstruction to the trade of the country ; cater- pillars, and grasshoppers of late years, and during the last sum- mer extraordinary floods ; God's visitation of the bodies of men with sicknesses, as agues, fevers, etc. ; the death of so many of the Lord's servants, the ministers of his word ; and sundry pro- digious signs, such as comets, earthquakes, etc. " Those that are more mediate are these — contentions, unbrotherly dis- 1 [Edward Johnson was the chief the church there. Whether he or the founder of Woburn, and the author of Rev. John Russell was the author it is Wonder-working Providence of Siori's impossible now to say. Saviour in New England. Although Hutchinson, speaking of Peter Tilton chairman of the committee on the part in another connection, says that he " was of the deputies, he does not seem to one of the most rigid, and was concerned have written the report that follows, in a paper published about that time, This and the other papers on the con- representing the great apostacy both of servative side in the controversy are in magistrates and ministers." Captain the handwriting of Peter Tilton, one of Johnson died April 23, 1672.] the founders of Hadley, and a deacon in 2 [Mass. Archives, vol. x. p. 287.] 98 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. tances, such as do seem by a judicial hand of God to prevail among the churches and people here." The majority report proceeds to specify under twelve heads " some of the causes of these epidemical judgments." It will be enough for our present purpose to quote the eleventh : — XI. Weariness of the rule and government of Christ in Church and Commonwealth 2 Chron xii. 5. Jer ii. 5. 6. The effects or consequents whereof are ; — 1. Formality and slightness in the awful and solemn administrations of God's house. 2. Woeful declining from our primitive and foundation work. 3. Innovation threatening the ruin of our foundations, and the ex- tirpation of those old principles of the congregational way laid by so many of the Lord's worthies who are now at rest. In the third part of the report, some "helps or means" are proposed, "for the removing the Lord's hand, and stopping his displeasure so signally manifested." (1.) The appointment by the Court of a solemn day of humiliation. (2.) Consideration by "all sorts, rich and poor, high and low, of what estate or condi- tion soever throughout this Colony," of the professed ends for which it was planted, namely, to serve in God's holy institu- tions, according to his own mind and will. (3.) " That our bitter strifes, envyings and contentions be heartily bewailed before the Lord and confessed one to another, and that instead thereof, according to the counsel of the Holy Ghost, Col. iii. 12. we put on bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind." etc. The deputies approved of this " returne," and desired the concurrence of the honored magistrates, but they consented not thereto (25. 3. yo).1 . Mr. Danforth said in his report : — As to the causes of God's anger, I do fully concur with our breth- ren in those twelve particulars before mentioned, as to the substance thereof, only in those three things that are entered, as the effects and consequences of the eleventh particular, viz. weariness of the rule and government of Christ, I cannot concur nor subscribe thereto, not so fully understanding what they intend. He then propounded whether the "weariness of Christ's easy yoke," which had been deplored, did not more truly appear (1) in families, in the governors of them, and those who should be governed ; (2) in churches, " by a practical rendering the church 1 Mass. Archives, vol. x. pp. 289, 290, 292. ACTION OF THE MAGISTRATES. 99 covenant to be an empty, useless and mere titular matter ; " (3) in the boldness found in many to rise up against the Lord's faithful ministers ; (4) in a practical denial, on the part of many, of subjection to the government of Christ and his church, and in others, want of zeal against such sinful practice ; (5) in the great neglect of multitudes, old and young, in not joining them- selves to the Lord and his people. And he concluded : — Many more things might be added, but some of the Reverend Elders having taken pains, more particularly and fully to discover both the causes and remedies, and is in a manuscript that may be seen and considered, and will be found of general use if the Court please to call for it, I shall not further enlarge. Having declined to concur with the deputies in approving the majority report, the magistrates sent down on the following day a communication to this effect : — Beloved Brethren Being Apprehensive of the Sad Simptomes of the displeasure of God against us, increasing upon us of late, wee thought it a duty incumbent on us. to make a serious Inquiry into the Causes, by Im- prooving the best meanes within our power, and for that end proposed to our brethren the Deputies, to make use of the help of the Elders, then assembled at the Election, which proposall was by yourselves waved, yet soone after yourselves mooving for a Committee of this Court to be imployed in such a Service, in Compliance with you, wee assented, and after a large time of Consultation returned their result which being Approved by the deputies and sent up to the magistrates for their Consent ; uppon a slender perusall thereof ; (though many things therein represented must be acknowledged) severall particulars therein being less clearely expressed yet manifestly insinuating, if not reflecting blame upon the Elders and a Considerable part of the Coun- try, wee thought it necessary, to desier a cleerer explication in two particulars, which having received from yourselves, wee must professe and declare our greiffe and dissatisfaction to your sence, not owning or knowing of any Elders or Churches amongst us that can be so char- acterized without Calumny and Slaunder, in many of the particulars, and in others traduced and misrepresented and consequently abused ; and since the receipt of the former we have received a second charg- ing many Elders churches and magistrates with irregularities and breach of order and law in approving the New church at Boston ; in which actings our innocency wee beleive is yet entire, and nothing hath (to our understanding) beene offered to convince of blame : And notwithstanding wee have too much cause to feare that diverse, if they IOO HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. have not receded from, yet have imbibed other notions than were owned or intended by the first founders of these colonies and churches yet we shal forbeare to retaliate, But doe hereby profess and declare our adhaerence to the primitive ends of our coming hither, and to the practice of our churches in their purest and most athlettick Consti- tutions. Voted by the magistrates to be sent to their brethren the deputies. Edward Rawson Secretary.1 26 May 1670. Appended to this paper was the following proposed reference of the subject to the clergy : — The premises considered, wee apprehend that wee have all great cause of humiliation for the divisions of our Reuben, yet haveing con- fidence that there is not so much guilt resting on the churches, nor their leaders as to those innovations that are charged on them, al- though much cause is found to bewayle the great security and wearines of the easy yoake of Christ Jesus, and unkind enterteyment that is given to the rich offers of his grace in the gospell, Do Judge meet to commend the same as matter of humiliation and bemoaneing ourselves before the Lord, and also to the Reverend Elders to consider thereof and to present what they shall Judge meet as an expedient for healing and remedy, at the next generall Court. To this the deputies made an addition, as follows : — Besides those generall evills proposed to the consideration of this Honoured Court, as causes of gods displeasure (against this poore Collony) so signally manifested ; We we offer to ffurther Inquirye, whether their may not be allso sometimes perticular evills of persons standing in a publick capassitie, in Cases wherein they may be con- cerned or rather concerne themselves unnesesarilye, which may occasion publick Calamitye, — That Instance of davids numbring the people with the Sad Effects that ffollowed thereupon, and Gideons action in makeing that Ephod and the consequents that Issued ffrom the Same as allsoe Elies Indulging his Sonns in a matter wherein the worshipp of the Lord was so deeplye concerned and that dreadfull Testimony the Lord gave against it ; all which considered and that we may deale nakedly and Impartially- with our one [own] Soules and the Countrye we now represent in such a daye of Searching and tryeing as this is or ought to be we canot but offer the ffollowing Queres to consid- eration 1. Whether those actions that not only have in their one [own] nature a Tendencye to but doe directly Infringe any of our Church and gospell liberties (given us by god himselfe and granted to us by 1 [Mass. Archives, vol. x. pp. 288, 293.] A PAPER FROM THE DEPUTIES. IOI the Honoured Court) which we ought to account as our all, be not a provokation of divine displeasure. our law saith no Companye of men shall Joyne in any pretended way of Church ffelloshipp, Except they have the aprobation of the magistrates and Elders of the Neibouring Churches ; the meaneing of which lawe we humbly conceave, is not nor cannot in any gramaticall sence be understood, that when some magistrates apeare and declare openlye against the proceedings of any as Irregular, That others that are absent shall abett or Incourage the same before any search or Examination of the case be made : or that Neibourring Churches not approveing the same procedure yet other Churches to aprove and carye it on. that we Inferr is, That which begetts and nesesarily norishes con- fusion, breaches disunion and divission, cannot be according to any rule of religion or order, and so not the meaneing of the lawe before ex- pressed but rather diametrically contrarye ; Setting magistrate against magistrate one church against another, and so a high dishonour and provokation to the Lord. 2. We humblye Conceave it is in the libertye of every Church to Exersise all the Ordinances of god amongst themselves ; according to the rules of his one [own] apointment, the Infringing or obstructing wherof we cannot but ffeare is highly displeaseing to god. That which we offer to Quere and Consideration ffrom the premises whether in a case lately Happening amongst us notoriously known which should have binn regulated by the law above expressed against which magistrates declared, wanting allsoe that aprobation of New Churches as was meete : all things Considered whether we have not cause to suspect and therfore inquire as being a thinge of so great concerne, whether ther may be no guilt (on any our Civill or Eccle- siastick leaders, in Incorraging and countenanceing the same against the professed decleration of others ; standing in alike capassitye with themselves) which may if not Searched out become a trouble to our Israeli considering the Examples before mentioned. That we may free our selves and the Countrye whom we represent ffrom guilt, we Judg it our dutye If it might be, to bring any that have binn active in the premises seriouslye to consider of it and to prevent like miscariges ffor the ffuture. As allsoe that we may declare and leave on record our deepe Sence of such Irregularityes ; and that the hands of our Honoured magis- trates might be Strengthened ; and might not dash one against another: and that our Elders might Studdy the uniteing of our poore languising sickly Churches and ardentlye Endeavour, the preventing and ob- structing of all those wayes and thinges that have any Tendencye to divission and Breaches. The Deputyes haveing read this paper Judge meete as an addition 102 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. to what is already in Court to Commend to the Consideration of our Honoured magistrates William Torrey Cleric.1 26 (3) 1670 In their communication of May 26, the magistrates say that they have received a second report from the deputies, "charging many elders, churches and magistrates with irregularities and breach of order and law, in approving the New Church at Boston." This paper, which would seem to have been more explicit in its statements and charges than the report of which we have given an abstract, has not come down to us. Quite possibly, it was destroyed when Governor Hutchinson's house was sacked in the stormy days of 1765. The governor, we think, must have had it before him when he was writing his history ; at all events, he has preserved for us a few of its sen- tences— let us hope, the most pungent and invective — which show it to have been one of the most remarkable papers ever adopted by a legislative body. Declension from the primitive foundation work ; innovation in doctrine and worship, opinion and practice; an invasion of the rights, liberties, and privileges of churches ; an usurpation of a lordly, prelatical power over God's heritage ; a subversion of gospel order ; and all this with a dangerous tendency to the utter devastation of these churches ; turning the pleasant gardens of Christ into a wilderness ; and the inevitable and total extirpation of the principles and pillars of the congregational way : these are the leaven, the cor- rupting gangrene, the infecting, spreading plague, the provoking images of jealousy set up before the Lord, the accursed thing, which hath provoked the divine wrath, and doth further threaten destruction. As we now read the history, it does not occur to us to con- demn the " dissenting brethren," and those who approved of their course, for the " usurpation of a lordly, prelatical power over God's heritage," or for " turning the pleasant gardens of Christ into a wilderness," by the baleful introduction of strife, division, and crimination ; but in all ages, as we know, the Ahabs have insisted that not they, but the Elijahs, were the troublers of Israel. In order that there might be no mistake as to the application of the report, the committee, says Hutchinson, " then take notice of the late transaction of churches and elders, in con- 1 [A/ass. Archives, vol. x. pp. 294, 295.] ANOTHER PAPER FROM THE DEPUTIES. 103 stituting the Third Church of Boston, as irregular, illegal and disorderly." x The magistrates asked the deputies to be somewhat more definite in their " explication " of some of the causes of God's judgments, and received the following reply : — To the Answer of our Honoured Magistrates relateing to the depu- tyes explication of the 2d and 3d perticuler of the nth Heade of the Causes of Gods Judgment We cannot but with a deepe Sence be affected that such whom we hope Intend the same end yet should so disagree in the meanes or rather the malladye the cause of the Lords Controversye — Honoured Gentlemen give us leave to maintaine our inocencye so ffar as We have binn active in this so necesarye and momentous a con- cerne against some perticulers Aserted against us by your selves 1 you say we waved your proposall of makeing Inquirye into the Causes of gods Judgment, and makeing use of the advice of the Elders, To which we Answer Lett but the Bill be perused that was sent downe aboute the Same and our Answer subscribed to it and there will apeare no such thinge but our expressed willingnes to attend the motion 2 you say we Insinuate refHect traduce slander abuse Churches Elders &c : in the thinges we asert and Quere. we Answer such a spirit Very 111 becomes persons in our present capassitye, but the Searcher of Hearts knowes we have not binn led by such a principle in what we have declared, Neither can we yet thinke uppon a serious search of what we have either Aserted or Quered But the Lord will one [own] us, and Certainly if we will not Search so as to be through, god will in a litle time doe it to purpose : Honoured Gentlemen we are now Casting the lott ffor god, If we could say there was no Achan or troubler in Churches [or] in State Well were it, But doth not the Lord spitt in our ffaces and fforce us to a stand. If we should say all was well in Churches in Elders in magistrates in other Sosyeties as to publick Guilt would not the Lord reprove us and say what meanes then the Bleateing of the sheepe &zc : the Groweing ffesteringe wounds of poore New England as to religon both in power and puritye ; we Assert and Quere but what we have observed and seene as a ffretting leprosie creeping in uppon Us, and ffor Which there hath binn many prayers and Teares powered fforth before the Lord ; let us not be blamed when called by god to speake Our Aprehensions ffor the greatest Interest in the World yours and 1 Hutchinson's History, vol. i. p. 249. shall speak presently ; but we think he He may have taken the paragraph we writes as one having the original docu- have quoted from him from the me- ment before him. Felt, in his Annals, morial of fifteen ministers addressed to follows Hutchinson in his reference to the General Court of 1671, of which we this report. 104 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. ours : who I hope can beare with Bretheren of a differing mind ; Neither doe we see any reason to be Blamed ffor drinkeing in any notions Contrarye to our primitive and ffirst ffoundations, as not being ever Convicted of the same by your selves or any other ; Voted by the Deputyes to be sent to our Honoured magistrates 28 (3) William Torrey Cleric 1 While this controversy between the two branches of the General Court was in progress, the deputy governor, Francis Willoughby, detained at his home in Charlestown by illness, was following it with the deepest interest. Unable to partici- pate in the discussions in person, he wrote a letter to the magis- trates, which was pervaded by a beautiful spirit of charity and conciliation. This letter probably made very little impression upon the opposition party at the time, but it reveals to us the amiable, candid, and devout qualities of the writer's mind and heart. After reading it we can easily believe, as Backus tells us, that he was " a great opposer of the persecutions against the Baptists." The members of the Old South certainly can never forget that in the days of its trial this excellent man opened his hospitable doors to receive the council which met for its recognition, and which extended to it the right hand of church fellowship. Gentlemen The allwise God seeing fit to lay me under Such a dispensation as by which I am rendered uncapable of attending upon you and upon the work that I have been called to, being Confined to my habitation. Having varietie of visiters Sometimes, and meeting with reports, (how true I know not) that you were making it your work to be Solici- tous to know the Cause of Gods displeasure and frown upon us mani- fested in those Severall wayes which are obvious to any intelligent spirit ; It being hinted to me that the way that's taken does not seeme to produce any good Issue ; but rather to beget animosities and distances of spirit one part of the Court against the other, and one person against another; which if true, is possibly occasioned by the misrepresentation of Cases, possibly by prejudices taken up in one anothers spirits, without enquiring into the truth and reallity of things, possibly by some occasion given in some particular cases (we all, being but men, and capable of acting but as men, and so Subject to faile and miscarry in every thing we doe) I take the boldnes to hint the Same and to lay my feares before you that (if things be amongst 1 [Mass. Archives, vol. x. p. 296] THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR'S LETTER. 105 you as they are rendered, that there should be such distances in your transactions) it may tend to the provoking of God to a further degree of displeasure, and may lay us open to greater Inconvenience both at home and abroad, when it shalbe rumour'd that you shalbe at such a distance one from another ; especially if you should rise and break up Court in such a frame. As I beg your excuse wherein I may be defective in anything I say, so I would humbly entreat you would look upon your selves not only as men, but men eminently professing the name of God : Consider that the eyes of the world are in a great measure upon us, so that if we doe anything that may prove Inconvenient to our Selves, the name of God will not only suffer exceedingly, but we shalbe as persons without pitty, by how much we if by our pretended enquiry into the Cause of Gods anger, shall divide and break to peeces and bring suffrings upon our Selves, when the Lord by his providence hath prevented its coming by other hands. That there may be differ- ences of apprehension is nothing but whats Common. But our direc- tion in the word of God is that all things should be done in Love ; and if we would doe any singular thing, as we are singular in our pro- fession, Let's manifest it in our endeavouring to Subdue our Spirits, and to carry things an end with that affection and tendernes to the name of God, and one another, that it may appear the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ is breathing in us. I perswade my selfe your scope and aime is right, and for God : But the way and manner to bring about your aimes may possibly be sometimes irregular ; Let's mind the manner as well as the matter : Let the name of God be most dear and precious to us, above our private annimosities and preju- dices : Let not Jealouzy possess our spirits without sufficient ground and demonstration, and let the demonstration appear to be a Con- trivance in way of designe, before we set our selves in full opposition : For it may be upon enquiry, it may either arise from weakness or In- firmity, or from that Lattitude which we would give to others or gladly take our selves. I earnestly beg what I say may not be mis- constructed ; you know my plainess, if I err in anything Charge it to to the account of my love, and great desire the name of God may not be a sufferer by our means : And I doe earnestly beseech you that you study and contrive some way before you break up the Court, to adjorne with the demonstration of oneness and affection, that it may appear you all scope at the good of the poor Country : And that you will endeavour to have as good thoughts one of another as pos- sibly you can, retaining the Interest of the name of God among us ; Let it not be published to the world that the Government of New Eng- land is broken, and that your animosities are such that tis Impossible for you to agree in anything that may tend to the Saving the whole. Desiring a good Construction may be put upon my broken lines ; and 106 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. that you will beleeve that my scope is publike Interest ; Praying and beseeching the Lord to be with you in your Counsells and determi- nations, that his name may be gloryfied in all your transactions, with my service heartyly tendered to you I rest yours affectionately desiring the Interest of the name of God may not be buryed, but thrive in this poor wilder- ness under your hands FFR WlLLOUGHBY 1 Charlestowne 28th. 3d. 70 In one particular the two branches of the Court were able to take harmonious action. The deputies concurred with the magistrates in the appointment of a day of humiliation to be kept throughout the jurisdiction, as set forth in the following order, in the terms of which the latter seem to have gone as far as they could in their enumeration of the evils of the times, to conciliate the former : — Att A Generall Court of Election held at Boston the nth of May 1670. The Generall Court being sencible of Gods hand upon the Country sundry yeares in divers aflicting providences have been desirous to jnquire into the Causes thereof and amongst others Doe Conceive these following may be Considered : i. e. A selfish spirit minding more our owne things than the things of Christ and of private before publick good — too much slightnes and negligence in prizing and Improoving the Government and order both civil and Sacred in church and Comon-wealth — A great and gen- erall neglect of Instructing and Governing the rising Generation both in familjes and churches. A Cooling of former life and heate in Spirittuall Communion — too great neglect in some places of a Com- fortable upholding and providing for the outward Subsistance of sun- dry faithfull ministers — too much decay of love to God and one to another and harboring groundles Jealousies accompanied with whisper- ings backbitings which wayes tend to seperate very freinds — too great abounding of Sin amongst us, as pride luxury drunckenes oppression uncleanes and divers others — these with many other sins that the Lord may upon Inquiry Convince his people of Wee desire may be Confessed bewayled and a thorough reformation indeavored and for this purpose The Court doe Appoint the sixteenth day of June next for a day of humilliation to be kept throughout this Jurisdiction and doe Commend it to the churches Elders ministers and people to keepe the same solemnly and seriously accordingly 1 [Mass. Archives, vol. x. p. 297. Mr. Willoughby died April 4, 1671.] THE GENERAL COURT OF 167 1. 1 07 The magistrates have past this their brethren the Deputies hereto consenting. 31 May 1670 Edw. Rawson Secretary. Consented to by the Deputys William Torrey Cleric.1 It was at this time that the Rev. Josiah Flint, of Dorchester, wrote in his diary : — A spirit of division, persecution and oppressing God's ministers and precious saints, is the sin which is unseen, and none bear witness against. It is a great sin, and threatens a sword of divine wrath. God's seers fear it, and their bowels and compassions are moved at it. The next election turned chiefly on the question, Who are for the old church and who for the new ? and so strong was the popular feeling against the conservatives, that a majority of the members of the House of Deputies of 1670 lost their seats, and more enlightened men were chosen to succeed them. It was not then required that a deputy should reside in the town represented by him, and this made it possible for several lead- ing members of the Third Church to be returned to the new House.2 Thomas Savage was elected for Andover, William Davis for Springfield, John Hull for Westfield, Hezekiah Usher for Billerica, and Thomas Brattle for Lancaster. Major Savage, who had filled the chair in 1659 and 1660, was again chosen speaker.3 A majority of the magistrates was favorable to the new church, and with the ever faithful secretary, Edward Raw- son, at his post, its friends were now prepared to bring to speedy silence the carping criticism and calumnious aspersions with which they had borne so long and so patiently. At the opening of the session, fifteen prominent clergymen, 1 Gen. Court Records, vol. iv. p. 653. people ; but it certainly was occasioned On the 8th of September, the Council by what is commonly called the preroga- appointed another fast, " taking into their tive party in government, and, however serious consideration, the low estate of the salutary, was designed as an abridgment churches of God throughout the world, of liberty." Samuel Sewall, who had and the increase of sin and evil amongst represented Westfield in the House of ourselves." It was observed September Representatives, voted for the change, 22. — Mass. Archives, vol. x. p. 17. and so did Thomas Danforth, John 2 The law of representation was Richards, Wait Winthrop, and Jonathan changed in this regard in 1693. Hutchin- Corwin. William Stoughton, John Wal- son says of the bill then passed, restrict- ley, and Peter Sergeant voted against the ing towns from choosing representatives restriction. — See Sewall Papers, vol. i. from beyond their own limits : " This pp. 3S6, 3S7. provision is generally looked upon as a 3 He served again as speaker of the privilege, and a point gained by the House in 1677 and 1678. 108 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. indignant at the utterances of the House of the preceding year, united in a memorial in which they protested against them in their own name and in that of their friends, and asked for a reversal of judgment upon the charges which had been brought against them. This memorial begins with a recognition of God's goodness as manifested in the " transplantation of our fathers in this wilderness," and in his blessing " this our generation with the uninterrupted succession of a godly and able magistracy." It declares that the memorialists have not receded " from the safe and sober principles of the congregational way, laid in the first foundation of these churches by our first sound and sincere re- formers," and they utterly disclaim " all spurious principles and practices, as those of separation, anabaptism (anarchical), con- fusion and licentious toleration, which is no part of our cause, nor of the end and design of the Lord's faithful servants when they followed him into this land." They then take up the specific charges which had been brought against them, and vin- dicate their course with regard to the formation of the Third Church. They say : — This solemn profession we make as a vindication of our integrity and innocency from the unjust charge of innovation, which with a loud cry of clamor and apostasy is laid upon the generality of the min- isters of these churches ; [a significant clause, as showing that " the generality of the ministers " approved of the formation of the Third Church ;] which unjust charge we are the more deeply sensible of, because it hath been (if not made and managed, yet) heightened and more confidently and audibly divulged by the common and vulgar reports of the several returns of the committee chosen by the House of Deputies of the last General Court, for the discovery of the causes of God's controversies with the land, and the votes of the major part of the house thereupon, concluding determining and declaring that declension from the primitive foundation worke, innovation in doc- trine and worship, opinion and practise . . . are the leaven, the cor- rupting gangrene, the infesting, spreading plague, . . . and withal plainly insinuating that the ministry are the Achan, the chief incen- diaries of wrath and procurers of judgment on the land ; as if in cast- ing the lot of God, they were taken, and the accursed thing found with them, giving instance in the late solemn transaction of churches and leders in the constitution of the Third Church in Boston, as irregular, illegal and disorderly, and so a sufficient signal of the whole discovery. The memorialists further declare that a " sincere and sober MEMORIAL FROM THE CLERGY. 109 zeal for the glory of God and the honour of the Gospel " em- boldens them to offer their defense " for the removal of that black cloud of calumny which is drawn over the churches and the ministry." They then, under six specifications, show the injustice of the sweeping charges made by the General Court against them, and through them upon the churches and min- isters of the colony, and add : — The whole charge savoureth of a spirit under an extraordinary transportation, from a present, personal and passionate concern in the interest of a party, as appears by the instance of the business of the Third Church, and so of a design to scandalize that precious church of Christ, at least to hinder the consummation and confirmation of that work of God, by the peaceable settlement of that church in actual and full communion with all other churches. By a misrepre- sentation of that weighty and worthy transaction undertaken and managed in a regular way, to an orderly issue, it doth deeply charge and calumniate magistrates and churches, and consequently elders and church messengers, with dangerous design, yea, with a crime of infringing gospel and church liberties, with breach of law, and that in a factious way by abetting and encouraging that which is illegal, . . . thereby loading so great a part of the magistrates, churches and elders with the guilt and scandal of that which they suppose to be the great and criminal sin of the times, . . . and all this before they have orderly inquired into the case, or could have a regular cogniz- ance of the true state thereof, nor acknowledging the many signal manifestations of God's presence and assistance in his acceptance of and blessing upon that work. Finally, the memorialists lament : — " How much the Spirit of God in the hearts of many of his faithful servants hath been grieved, how much an anti-ministerial spirit hath been strengthened and emboldened, how much the hands and hearts of many that labor in the work of the ministry have been weakened, how much the spirit of many hath been prejudiced against their in- structions, and filled with groundless jealousies and suspicions by the misrepresenting and scandalizing of elders to their churches " etc.1 The clergymen who signed this memorial were Edmund Browne, John Ward, Samuel Whiting, John Allin, Thomas Thacher, Sr., John Higginson, John Sherman, Thomas Cob- bett, Seaborn Cotton, Thomas Shepherd, Samuel Phillips, William Hubbard, Antipas Newman, Samuel Torrey, Samuel Whiting, Jr. We have said that the composition of the House of Deputies 1 \_Gen. Court Records, vol. iv. part ii. pp. 4S9-492.] HO HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. had been changed very materially since the preceding session. The memorialists could not have desired a more full and com- plete vindication than that which they now received in the reply to their address. It was in these words : — Upon consideration of the petition of sundry of the reverend elders declaring the deep and afflictive sense of some votes passed in May 1670, in the House of Deputies (upon the return of part of a Com- mittee chosen by the honored Court to inquire into the causes of God's displeasure,) which they conceive to reflect great reproach and scandal on the ministry in general, and that demonstrated by an act referring to the Third Church in Boston, wherein some in particular are characterized as abettors in the constituting that church, and thereby rendered as the troublers in our Israel, and as the Achans, &c, being an act infringing of church and gospel liberties, and the free exercise of all ordinances by churches within themselves, &c, although it must be asserted that the acts of this honoured Court, being the supreme authority, are not liable to question by any, and that free de- bates are the indubitable right of the said Court, yet, forasmuch as in an hour of temptation such acts may pass in our Court as may, according to principles of religion, prudence and state interest, be reviewed, and upon mature deliberation rectified, — in this case the Court conceives it duty to declare that forasmuch as several expres- sions in the said transactions have an appearance of the justness of the complaints in the said petitions, and that they may not leave any just ground of grievance in the hearts of the reverend elders, nor their ministry be made ineffectual by that anti-ministerial spirit that too much runs through the country, the Court orders and declares, that the said papers referring to that case are to be accounted useless, and not to be improved against the reverend elders as the cause of God's displeasure against the country, or to be made public. And whereas many have taken liberty in an irregular way to publish the secrets of the Court in that case, we do declare such are to be account- able according to the nature of the fact. The Court doth further declare, that they know no just cause of those scandalizing reflections contained in the said papers indefinitely against magistrates, elders and churches, either in reference to the new church of Boston or otherwise, and therefore, till they be further informed, must judge them innocent, and unduly calumniated and misrepresented, and do hereby profess and declare with the reverend elders in their address, that we do adhere to the primitive ends of our coming hither, retaining the sober principles of the Congregational way, and the practice of our churches in their present and most athletic constitutions.1 : \Gen. Court Records, vol. iv. part ii. pp. 493-495-1 oa V *• «^-\ ^^-L" u2 ^ SEVENTEEN DEPUTIES DISSENT. Ill This action, of course, was not unanimous. Seventeen depu- ties entered their dissent from it in the following paper: 1 — Boston June 167 1 We whose names are here subscribed doe desire our dissents may be Entred (according to the libbertye the lawe gives us) with refference to the Voates that have passed in the Affirmitive this present Courtt relateing to the Addresse of the Elders Richard Waldern Anthony Stoddard Richard Beeres Edw. Johnson Edward Hutchinson John Wayte Peter Tillton Samll Wheelwright Richard Cooke Humphry Davie Tho: Clarke Daniell ffisher Oliver Purchis Joshua ffisher 2 Samuell Smith Henry Bartholmew Thomas Clarke The Rev. Dr. Wisner, in commenting upon these events in his Historical Discourses, says : — Thus the new church, and its friends through the colony, achieved a public and final triumph : a triumph to be regretted, as involving the consummation of a wide and pernicious departure from the primitive Gospel discipline of the New England churches ; to be rejoiced in, as conferring the rights of freemen to many who had been unjustly deprived of them, and laying the foundation of all the good to be effected, in the hands of Providence, by this church. 1 Mass. Archives, vol. x. p. 201. 2 The following is a list of the Deputies of 1 67 1. We give the names as spelled in the General Court Records. Those who voted against the report are marked in italics, members of the Third Church in small capitals. Mr Edmond Batter, Mr. Hen Bar- tholmew, Salem ; Capt Jno Allen, Mr Wm Stiltson, Charles Town ; Capt Roger Clap, Left Jno Capen, Dorches- ter ; Capt Tho Clarke, Mr Antho Stod- dard, Boston ; Capt Isack Johnson, Rox- bury; Capt Hugh Mason, Left Rich Beers, Water Toune ; Mr Edw Oakes, Mr Joseph Cooke, Cambridge ; Leift Olliver Purchis, Lynn ; Capt Jno Apple- ton, Left Sam Appleton, Ipswich ; Mr Jno Richards, Mr Tho Clarke, Newbery ; Left John Holbrooke, Weymouth ; Capt Joshua Hubbard, Hingham ; Capt Timo Wheeler, Concord ; Left Joshua Fisher, Ensig Dani Fisher, Dedham ; Capt Wm Davis, Mr Geo Colton, Springfeild ; Mr Sam Dolton, Hampton ; Mr Rich Swan, Rowley ; Capt Richard Bracket, Brain- try; Capt Richard Walderne, Left Rich Cooke, Dover ; Mr Humphrey Davy, Capt Edw Johnson, Wooborne ; Mr Elias Stileman, Portsmouth ; Capt Nath Saltonstall, Haverill ; Capt John Waite, Maulden ; Left Wm Clarke, Mr Wm Holton, Northampton ; Left Sam Smith, Mr. Peter Tilton, Hadley ; Capt Tho Savage, Andover ; Capt Edw Hutchin- son, Kittery ; Mr Arthur Angier, Scar- borow; Capt John Hull, Westfeild; Mr Nico Broune, Redding ; Mr Tho Brattle, Lancaster ; Mr Tho Fiske, Wenham ; Mr Hezekiah Usher, Billi- rekey ; Mr Sam Wheelewright, Yorke ; Mr Wm Sarjant, Glocester ; Mr Tho Hincksman, Chelmsford It is noticeable that William Clarke and William Holton, of Northampton, who signed Mr. Russell's memorial in 1670, did not put their names to the paper dissenting from the report of 1671. I 12 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Whether or not we can fully sympathize with the excellent pastor in all the regret which he expresses at the consummation of what he calls a departure from the primitive discipline of the New England churches, and in his estimate of the results which followed the adoption of the half-way covenant, we can heartily rejoice with him in the victory which was gained for the cause of religious liberty ; and we see occasion for congratulation to the Third Church, that in this early conflict for freedom and for the right, the honor of the front rank and of the most exposed position was accorded to its fathers and founders. " ' • - T CHAPTER III. i 669-1 674. ORGANIZATION. HE Brethren which came off from the First Church in Boston, New England, and laid the Foundation of the Third Church, partly on May 12. 1669, partly on May 16. 1669 were those underwritten : " 2 William Davis, Hezekiah Usher, John Hull, Edward Rayns- ford, Peter Brackett, Jacob Eliot, Peter Oliver, Thomas Brattle, Edward Rawson, Joshua Scottow, Benjamin Gibbs, Thomas Savage, Joseph Rock, Theodore Atkinson, John Wing, Richard Trewsdale, Theophilus Frary, Robert Walker, John Alden, Benjamin Thurston, William Salter, John Morse, Josiah Belcher, Seth Perry, James Pemberton, William Dawes, Joseph Davis, Joseph Belknap. We will give a brief account of each of these brethren, in the order in which their names stand on the church register : — William Davis : apothecary ; artillery company, 1643 ; free- man, 1645 ; joint commissioner with John Leverett to the Dutch governor of New York, 1653 ; captain of the artillery company, 1664, 1672 ; commander of a company in the Indian wars ; rep- resentative. "A man of wealth, enterprise and discretion." His first wife was Margaret, daughter of William Pynchon,2 of 1 The register of the Third Church 2 For a sketch of William Pynchon, opens with this heading. see Andover Review for September, 18S6. 114 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Springfield ; his second, Huldah, daughter of the Rev. Zech- ariah Symmes, of Charlestown, was living in 1670, but died before the wives of the seceding brethren gained admittance to the new church. William Davis died May 24, 1676. Hezekiah Usher : merchant, bookseller ; member of the ar- tillery company ; representative. " He was agent for the Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians ; and it was through him that types and paper were procured, by which Green, at Cambridge, printed the great Indian Bible in 1660-63." He went to London for this purpose in the winter of 1657-58. His second wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of the Rev. Zechariah Symmes. She died while the church stand- ing of the wives of the dissenting brethren was in a state of suspense. His third wife, Mary, daughter of William Alford, became a member of the Third Church in 1675, and after his death, in 1676, married the Rev. Samuel Nowell. His son, Hezekiah, married Bridget, widow of the Rev. Leonard Hoar. John Hull : silversmith, mint-master, and treasurer of the colony; captain of the artillery company, 1671, 1678 ; assistant, 1680 to 1685.1 His wife, Judith, was a daughter of Edmund Quincy, the emigrant. Their only child, Hannah, married Samuel Sewall in 1675. John Hull died in 1683. Mrs. Hull became a member of the Third Church in 1674, and died in 1695. Edward Raynsford : came in the fleet with Winthrop ; a brother of Lord Chief Justice Raynsford, the immediate suc- cessor of Sir Matthew Hale ;2 "one of the substantial men in the town, and is often mentioned in its history ; " deacon in the First Church. His wife, Elizabeth, and his daughter, Ranis, 1 Cotton Mather, in his Life of the - Lord Campbell says of Sir Richard Rev. John Wilson, says : " Beholding Raynsford : " He was a man of good a young man, extraordinarily dutiful in family, fair estate, decent character, and all possible ways of being serviceable, agreeable manners, with a sufficient por- unto his aged mother, then weak in body, tion of understanding and learning to and poor in estate, he [Mr. Wilson] de- keep him above contempt. Descended clared unto some of his family what he from the Raynsfords of Raynsford, in the had beheld ; adding therewithal, I charge county of Lancaster, he was of a branch of you to take notice of what I say ; John the family settled at Dullington, in North- Hull (for that was his name) shall grow amptonshire. His relations were strong rich, and live to do God good service in Cavaliers, and he himself entertained in his generation ! It came to pass accord- his heart a thorough hatred of Round- ingly, that this exemplary person, became heads." According to Hull, he was a a very rich, as well as emphatically a bitter enemy of the latter. He became good man, and afterwards diedamagis- lord chief justice in 1676, and was suc- trate of the colony." ceeded by the infamous Scroggs. THE FOUNDERS OF THE CHURCH. 115 wife of Josiah Belcher, became members of the Third Church in 1674. He died in 1680. "An island in the harbor still preserves in its name the record of his former ownership." His wife died in 1688. Peter Brackett : artillery company, 1648; representative for several years for Braintree, and afterward for Scarborough. His last wife, Mary, widow of the first Nathaniel Williams, became a member of the Third Church in 1674. He died in 1688. Jacob Eliot : son of the first Jacob, who was brother of the Rev. John Eliot, "the Apostle to the Indians;" "captain, in high esteem ;" selectman ; deacon for a short time in the First Church, in which his father had been ruling elder. He mar- ried Mary (Powell), widow of William Wilcox ; she became a member of the new church, with the wives of the seceding brethren, in 1674. He died in 1693. She survived until 1707. Peter Oliver: son of Thomas Oliver, who came to New Eng- land in 163 1, and was ruling elder in the First Church from 1632 until his death in 1657. Peter Oliver was an eminent merchant ; he was chosen captain of the artillery company in 1669, when the excitement about the new church was at its height. He died April 11, 1670, — the first on the long roll of the Old South membership to enter into the fellowship of the " church of the firstborn " above. His wife, Sarah, daughter of John Newdigate, became a member of the Third Church in 1674, and died in 1692. Thomas Brattle : merchant ; representative ; one of the wealthiest men of the day. His son, Thomas, who owned the covenant in 1680, was treasurer of Harvard College from 1693 to 1 71 3. His wife, Elizabeth, was daughter of William Tyng; she joined the new church in 1672. He died April 5, 1683. Mrs. Brattle died very suddenly, at the marriage of Daniel Quincyand Anna Shepard, which was solemnized at her house, November 9, 1682.1 Edward Rawson : came to New England in 1637, and settled in Newbury, where he was chosen town clerk and representa- tive ; removed to Boston, 1650,2 and was secretary of the colony from that year until 1686. He was the agent in New England 1 The Old South has in its possession 2 Edward Rawson sold land in New- the tombstone of Ann, or Anna, Quincy, burvport, in 1651, to William Pillsbury, sister of Daniel Quincy, mentioned in the to whose descendants it still belongs, text. She died at the house of her uncle The house now standing on it, No. 265 (by marriage), John Hull, Sept. 3, 1676. High Street, was built in 1700. Il6 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. for the first Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, from 165 1 perhaps until his death. He died August 27, 1693. His mother, Margaret, was a sister of the Rev. John Wilson, first minister of the First Church. His wife, Rachel, became a member of the Third Church in 1674, and died in 1677. Joshua Scottow : came from England 1 with his mother, Tho- masine Scottow, who joined the First Church in 1634 ; ensign in the artillery company in 1657; captain in the militia; a mer- chant of high standing ; a great proprietor, after Philip's war, at Scarborough, where he was captain of the garrison and magis- trate. He died in 1698.2 His wife, Lydia, and his five daugh- ters, Elizabeth, Lydia, Rebecca, Sarah, and Mary, became members of the Third Church.3 Benjamin Gibbs : merchant; artillery company, 1666; cap- tain in Philip's war. He married Lydia, daughter of Joshua Scottow ; after his death, she became the wife of Anthony Checkley, merchant and attorney-general, and, later, of William Colman. Thomas Savage : born in Taunton, Somerset, England. Came to Boston in the Planter in 1635, at the age of twenty-seven.4 He married, in 1637, Faith, daughter of William and Ann Hutchinson, and, as was natural, he became an earnest follower of Mrs. Hutchinson, and of her brother-in-law, the Rev. John Wheelwright. He was one of those who were ordered by the General Court, November 20, 1637, to surrender their arms,5 1 Mr. Scottow came from the east coast geon." He lived in Scarborough for some of England, probably from Norfolk, years, and a letter of his, calling for re- Scothowe signifies " the lot or portion on inforcements against the Indians, dated the hill," and this describes the little September 26, 1689, and addressed to Norfolk village which, six or seven hun- Benjamin Church, is in the Mass. Ar- dred years ago, gave its name to the chives. He made his will in London, family of De Scottowes, who were the November 14, 1698, and it was proved lords of the manor there, and patrons of there September 4, 1699. the living. 4 In the Historical Catalogue of the Old 2 The tombstones of Joshua Scottow South Church — following Dr. Wisner — and John Alden have recently been placed Thomas Savage, Jr., instead of his in the portico of the present meeting- father, is named as one of the founders, house of the Old South, in Boylston 5 The entire membership of the First Street, and on Sunday evening, October Church, with the exception of Mr. Wilson, 26, 1884, addresses were made, which Governor Winthrop, and a few others, have been published, giving an account were in sympathy with Mrs. Hutchinson, of these and other prominent members Four of those who were disarmed under of the church in the past. the order of 1637 lived to be founders of 3 Thomas Scottow, son of Joshua, the Third Church, — Edward Raynsford, graduated at Harvard College in 1677. Thomas Savage, John Sanford, and Wil- In his will he called himself a " chirur- liam Salter. The fathers of Peter Oliver THE FOUXDERS. \\J and he joined William Coddington and others in the purchase of Rhode Island, removing thither in 1638, but returning to Boston after a few months. From this time he was almost con- stantly in public office, and was especially prominent in the military affairs of the town. He was one of the original mem- bers of the artillery company, and five times was chosen its captain. " Representative, speaker, assistant, noted as a stanch soldier," says his descendant, Mr. James Savage.1 His first wife died in 1652, and in the same year he married Mary, one of the numerous daughters of the excellent minister of Charles- town, Mr. Symmes. She came into the membership of the new church in 1674. Her second husband was Anthony Stod- dard, who died in 1687 ; she survived until 17 10. Joseph Rock : freeman, 1652; merchant. He married Eliza- beth, daughter of John Coggan, who brought him a good estate. She became a member of the Third Church in 1674. His second wife, Mary, was a daughter of the Rev. John Wilson, of the First Church, and widow of the Rev. Samuel Danforth, of Roxbury. Joseph Rock died in 1683 or 1684. Theodore Atkinson : felt-maker ; came from England with John Newdigate ; artillery company, 1644; he died in 1701. His second wife, Mary, daughter of the Rev. John Wheelwright, and widow of Edward Lyde, joined the Third Church in 1673, and died in 171 2. Her sister, Hannah, was the first wife of Anthony Checkley. John Wing : son of Robert Wing, who came in the Francis, 1634; artillery company, 1671, and captain, 1693. "He was a very thrifty man," and owned a good deal of real estate " near the midst of the town." He died in 1703. His wife, Jehosheba, daughter of James Davis, joined the Third Church in 1670. Richard Trewsdale : called, on joining the First Church, 1634, " servant to our teacher, John Cotton ; " butcher ; freeman, 1635 ; was chosen deacon in the First Church in 1650.2 He and Jacob Eliot were also among the according to Stukeley, a " Sir John Trues- proscribed members, in what has been dale, then parson of Boston." In 1642, called the New England coup d'etat. the Trewsdale family was taxed in Freis- 1 Thomas Savage and Jeremiah ton, a hamlet three miles from Boston. Houchin were delegates from the First Although Richard Trewsdale held a de- Church to the Synod of 1662, together pendent position when he first came to with the elders. the colony, he must have been a man of 2 The Trewsdales were a family of ability and character, or he would not respectability in Lincolnshire. In 1309, have been chosen deacon in the First when the first stone of the steeple of St. Church. His name has the prefix of Mr. Botolph's Church was laid, there was, in Mrs. Norton's first deed of trust. Il8 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. was not one of the dissenting brethren at first ; but as the controversy went on, he was led to espouse their cause. He died in 1 67 1, leaving a wife, Mary, whose name does not appear on the rolls of the Third Church.1 Theophilus Frary : came from England with his father, John Frary, one of the first settlers of Dedham and of Medfield ; cap- tain of the artillery company, 1682; representative. "During more than thirty years, he was frequently called to serve the town as selectman and in minor offices, to arbitrate in the divi- sion of estates, and to be feoffee, to hold in trust property for others." He died in 1700. His first wife was Hannah, daugh- ter of the first Jacob Eliot. She joined the church in Dedham, 1656, and became a member of the Third Church, Boston, in 1674 ; she died previously to 1690, in which year Mr. Frary was married by Judge Sewall to Mary (Allen), widow of Nathaniel Greenwood. Robert Walker : freeman, 1634. He died in 1687, at which date Judge Sewall writes : " He was a very good man, and con- versant among God's New England people from the beginning." His wife, Sarah, became a member of the Third Church in 1674, and died in 1695. Their son, the Rev. Zechariah Walker, preached for a time at Stratford, and afterward at Woodbury, Connecticut. John Alden : eldest son of John Alden and his wife, Priscilla Mullens, both of whom came to Plymouth in the Mayflower, in 1620. He was a shipmaster, and sailed for several years in the employ of John Hull. A leading and much-respected citizen. He married for his second wife, in 1660, Elizabeth, daughter of William Phillips, and widow of Abiel Everill, who became a member of the Third Church in 1674. She died in 1696, and her husband in 1702. Benjamin Thurston : freeman, 1665. He died in 1678 (No- vember 10), and Judge Sewall then speaks of him as one of his "special friends." His wife was Elishua (sometimes called Elizabeth), daughter of Robert and Sarah Walker. She became a member of the Third Church, with her mother and others, wives of the dissenting brethren, in 1674. 1 In Mary Trewsdale's nuncupative Third Church ^10; Mrs. Maria Mather, will, proved November 26, 1674, there are £z, ; Mr. Seaborn Cotton, ^5 ; the Rev. bequests as follows : Harvard College, John Cotton, ^5 ; the town of Boston, ^40 ; the Rev. Thomas Thacher, ^5 ; ^5. A nephew, Richard Trewsdale, died the poor of the First Church, £t> ; the in Roxbury in 1677. THE FOUNDERS. 1 19 William Salter : admitted to membership in the First Church, 1635; freeman, 1636; shoemaker. He owned Spectacle Island, in Boston harbor. He died in 1675. His wife, Mary, became a member of the Third Church in 1674. John Morse: freeman, 1669. One of the original proprietors of Mendon, where lands were assigned to him in 1667 and 1668. He died in 1678 or 1679. His wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Zaccheus Bosworth, joined the Third Church in 1670. The name of her second husband was Button. Josiah Belcher : son of Gregory Belcher, of Braintree, and afterward of Boston ; married Ranis, daughter of Edward Rayns- ford, who survived him. He died in 1683. Seth Perry : artillery company, 1662 ; freeman, 1666 ; tailor. His wife, Dorothy, daughter of Michael and Abigail Powell, joined the Third Church in 1670, and died in 171 1. James Pemberton : freeman, 1648 ; brewer, near the town clock. He died in 1696. His wife, Sarah, became a member of the Third Church in 1674, and died in 1709. William Dawes : came to New England in 1635 ; first settled at Braintree; freeman, 164.6) moved to Boston about 1652, and bought an estate in what is now Sudbury Street; mason and builder. He died in 1704, and Judge Sewall records of him: " A good old man, full of days, is got well to the end of his weary race." His wife, Susanna, daughter of John Mills, of Braintree, became a member of the Third Church in 1674. Joseph Davis : we know nothing of him, except that probably he married Sarah Chamberlain, in Roxbury, in 1670. He was perhaps the youngest of the dissenting brethren. Sarah Davis owned the covenant in 1680. Joseph Belknap : artillery company, 1658 ; freeman, 1665. "Took dismission to Hatfield, there lived in good esteem from 1682 to 1696, then came back to Boston, and died, 14 November 171 2, aged eighty-two." He married Ruth, daughter of Peter Brackett. Two other men, John Tappan and John Sanford, should be mentioned among the founders of the Third Church, although, for some reason which we cannot explain, their names do not appear in the list of members. They both signed a letter, as we shall see, addressed by the church to Mr. John Hull, upon his departure for England late in the year 1669.1 John Tappan, 1 Edward Alline signed the letter to ing for dismission (see ante, pp. 27, 28), the First Church, August 10, 166S, ask- but his name does not appear in the list 120 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. who was a felt-maker or hatter, died September 14, 1678. His wife, Mary, who afterward married Dr. William Avery, joined the church in 1674, with the wives of the other dissenting brethren. John Sanford, a schoolmaster, died February 10, \6y6-y, and left property to the church. His wife, Sarah, became a member in 1676. Among those who joined the church immediately after its organization, and who thus came into the fellowship of its suf- ferings, were John Mellowes, Daniel Henchman, James Hill, Jonathan Jackson, and Ambrose Dawes.1 The faithful women who had to wait more than five years before they could become members of the new church, and who for a long time had no regular church standing whatever, de- serve to be enrolled among the founders, and they should ever be remembered at the Old South with grateful respect and admiration for what they did and for what they suffered. We have mentioned most of them in connection with their hus- bands ; there were others who also deserve our notice. Margaret Thacher was the only child of Henry Webb, a merchant, who left a very considerable property for those days,2 and widow of Jacob Sheaffe, also a prominent and wealthy mer- chant. She was born at Salisbury, in England, and was baptized there September 25, 1625. She was married to Jacob Sheaffe, by special license, in the autumn of 1642. He died in 1659, and several years later she became the second wife of the Rev. Thomas Thacher. Sarah Mather, widow of the Rev. John Cotton, of St. Bo- tolph's, Boston, Lincolnshire,3 and afterward of the First Church, Boston, who died December 23, 1652 : On the 26th of August, 1656, she was married by Governor Endicott to the Rev. Richard Mather, minister of the First Church, Dorchester, as his third wife. He died April 22, 1669. He was, as we have seen, a leading synodist, and sympathized warmly with the dissenting of members. Sewall speaks of him in churches out of town, or were admitted 1677, as one of those who sustained the on confession of their faith, neighborhood prayer-meeting, in which 2 Mr. Webb gave to Harvard College several of the founders of the Third the valuable estate in Washington Street, Church and he himself were so much Boston, upon which the store of Little, interested. See Sewall Papers, vol. i. Brown & Co. stands, pp. 31, 32, 41. 3 Mrs. Mather, to the time of her death, 1 These, and all others who joined be- was in " receipt of profits from her own fore the reconciliation of the First and estate in England." — Thompson's His- Third churches, probably came from tory of Boston, p. 424. MR. AND MRS. NORTON. 121 brethren in their long and painful struggle ; he was moderator of the council of fifteen churches called by them, and was stricken by mortal illness before its deliberations were con- cluded, or the Result was drawn up ; it was natural, therefore, that his widow, on moving back to town, should cast in her lot with them and theirs. She joined their communion March 5, 1674-5, and although she cannot technically be included among the founders, she was certainly one of the earliest friends of the new church. Mary Norton, widow of the Rev. John Norton, of the First Church, "a gentlewoman," according to the Magnalia, "both of good estate and of good esteem," was the third daughter and fourth child of John Ferneley, of West Creting, Suffolk, England, by his wife Temperance, daughter of Sir Miles Corbet. She was born October 2, 1602, and was baptized at West Creting nineteen days later. She came to New England with her husband in 1635.1 The house in Ipswich, which was their first American home, is still standing, and we have given a view of it at the head of our second chapter. Mr. Norton was educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge, but, becoming dissatisfied with the English Church, he determined to cast in his lot with the Puritan emigrants. He arrived at Plymouth in the same ship with Governor Winslow, and was urged to settle there, but declined to do so. In 1638 he was ordained teacher of the 1 Where Mrs. Norton was married is remote character." And further : " As not known, " but certainly not at West for herself, it will be seen that her im- Creting, nor at Hitchin, the registers mediate connections were of the most of which places have been carefully respectable character, and, although she searched." Her older sister, Catherine, could boast of no ' noble blood ' in her was wife of a vicar of Hitchin, Herts, veins, she could point with some degree probably the Rev. Stephen Pierce, D. D. of family pride to the facts that two of Colonel Joseph L. Chester, at the request her great-aunts [daughters of William of Mr. Joseph Ballard, of Boston, made and Agnes (Daundy) Ferneley] were investigations in England concerning the wives of two of the most eminent men ancestry of Mrs. Norton, and the result is of their day, — Sir Nicolas Bacon and Sir embodied in a paper in the possession of Thomas Gresham, — and that her own the New England Historic Genealogical cousin was that famous Miles Corbet Society. In this paper Colonel Chester whose name was once powerful in the says : " I have been thus particular in land, and whose memory, in spite of his following out the history of the different execution as a 'traitor ' and a 'regicide,' branches of this once prolific family [the is to this day precious to the descendants Ferneleys] to their entire extinction, cer- of the very people who once cried for tainly in the male line, in order to show his head." that there can be no person living at the See Boston Daily Advertiser, July 10, present day whose connection with Mrs. 1876, for a letter from Mr. Joseph Bal- Mary Norton must not be of the most lard about Mrs. Norton and her ancestry. 122 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. church in Ipswich. He was called to Boston on the death of Mr. Cotton, and after long delay, in consequence of the unwil- lingness of his people to give him up, he was installed teacher of the First Church in the summer of 1656. In 1662 he went to England with Simon Bradstreet, on an important mission in behalf of the colony.1 He died suddenly in April of the follow- ing year. His widow, in becoming one of the chief benefactors of the new church, knew that she was promoting a cause which would have been dear to her husband's heart if he had been alive. Speaking of Mr. Norton in connection with the Cam- bridge Platform of 1647, Cotton Mather says : — Into that platform he would fain have had inserted, certain propo- sitions concerning the watch which our churches are to have over the children born in them, which propositions were certainly the first prin- ciples of New England ; only the fierce oppositions of one eminent person, caused him that was of a peaceable temper, to forbear urging them any further ; by which means, when those very propositions came to be advanced and embraced in another Synod [1662], more than twice seven years after, many people did ignorantly count them novel ties.2 Mr. Thacher also should be included among the founders of the Third Church, and therefore referred to particularly at this time. He had been in full sympathy with the dissenting breth- ren, and their hearts had for some time been united upon him as one of the ministers of the new church. In anticipation of their call he took letters of dismission (October 9, 1669) to the Charlestown church, whose pastors undoubtedly understood his purpose in joining their communion.3 This was shrewdly managed, as was every movement made by the brethren, during the long progress of this controversy. If Mr. Thacher had waited until the day of installation drew near, and then asked for a dismission from the First Church, his request would have been denied, and he could not have been settled in the ministry of the new church. His formal call to the pastorate was not voted until after his admission to membership, upon a letter of recommendation from the church in Charlestown. 1 They sailed February 10, and re- Church in Boston, with Mr. Davenport, turned September 3, making both pas- in 1668. sages in the Society, a new vessel be- ~ Mogilalia (book iii.), vol. i. p. 291. longing to John Hull, who accompanied 3 " 1669. Oct. 24. Revd. Mr. Thomas them. William Davis went over with Thatcher [admitted] by a Letter of Dis- them, but came back three months earlier, mission from the first church in Boston." in the same vessel with the Rev. James — Records of the First Church hi Charles- Allen, who was settled over the First town. THE REV. THOMAS THACHER. 123 Thomas Thacher, son of the Rev. Peter Thacher,1 was born May 1, 1620, at Milton Clevedon, Somersetshire, as is supposed, where his father was vicar, but the record of his baptism has not yet been found. In 1622 his father became rector of St. Edmund's, Salisbury, and in this venerable cathedral city Thomas spent his youth and received his early academic training. He gave evidence of decided piety, and he would have been sent to Ox- ford or Cambridge, to fit for the ministry, but he could not conscientiously make the re- ligious subscriptions required at these universities. He was now fifteen years of age, and with the consent of his par- ents he resolved to come to America. They expected to follow him, for his father was a Puritan in spirit, but the death of his mother soon after broke up this plan.2 Thomas embarked at Southampton in the James, in company with the Rev. Anthony Thacher, his uncle, the Rev. John Avery, a cousin, and their families, and reached Boston June 4, 1635. From Boston the party went to Ipswich, where many of their fellow-passengers were intending to settle. Two months later, Mr. Avery received an invitation to preach at Marblehead, and with his wife and six children, together with Mr. and Mrs. - § 7K. "his grief threw him into a consumption," and he died in Boston eight months later, November 28. His widow, Bridget, who was a daughter of John Lisle, a very distinguished man under the Common- wealth, and of his wife, the unfortunate Lady Alice,3 afterward married Hezekiah Usher, Jr. His only child, Bridget, married the Rev. Thomas Cotton, of London. Among the Old South papers there is a declaration of which with more vehemency, as the only hin- l [In 1661 Mr. Hoar wrote a letter to derer of the college welfare ; when, as his nephew, Josiah Flynt, a member of by most indifferent hearers of the case, the Freshman Class in Harvard College, it was thought, that, would those that afterward minister of Dorchester, in accused him had but countenanced and which, at great length and with much encouraged him in his work, he would detail, he marked out the course he have proved the best president that ever should take as a student.] yet the college had." 2 [See Sibley's Graduates of Harvard Samuel Sewall, in a speech at Cam- College, vol. i. pp. 228-252, 587-590.] bridge at this time, October 16, insisted 3 The victim of Judge Jeffreys' bru- that "the causes of the lowness of the tality at the memorable assizes in Win- college were external as well as internal." Chester, after the Monmouth rebellion. .4 i liSWi CONDITION OF HARVARD COLLEGE. 1 89 we present a fac-simile on the opposite page, and which must speak for itself, as the records of the First Church in Cambridge throw no light upon it : — Whereas in Answer to a letter of this Church Enquiring about the dealings of Cambridge church with Leonard Hoar the said Church of Cambridge did in their letter referr us to Mr. Danforth &c. to be fully satisfied the church of Cambridge as a church never having had cog- nissence of any offense of the said Leonard Hoar This church doth declare that the said Leonard Hoar at a church meeting did de- sire a full hearing and that Mr. Danforth &c might be sent for But this church did not see reason or rule to send for him on such Ac- count And for that Cause, there was noe further Procedure in that matter. This was voted in the Church By a Silent Vote the 21 : omo 1675 * In the latter days of President Chauncy's administration the condition of Harvard College was, as we are told, critical and apparently hopeless. Its buildings were "ruinous and almost irreparable," the president was aged, and the number of scholars was below what it had been in former days. Without a new building its situation was considered desperate, and to enable it to erect one an appeal was made to individuals and to churches. Boston contributed ^800, of which more than one half seems to have been subscribed by the Third Church. It was ten years before the full sum required had been collected, and the build- ing, Harvard Hall, completed.2 1 [Nothing can be found in the records " The Wholl of the 3d Church Contri- of the First Church in Cambridge to butions." show that Dr. Hoar was one of its mem- Mr. Benjamin Gibbs, a member of the bers, or that it ever took action of any Third Church, gave ,£50, which may or kind in reference to him.] may not have been in addition to the 2 See Quincy's History of Harvard amount credited to the church in this University, vol. i. pp. 29-31, 508. statement. Mr. Walter Lloyd Jeffries, in his valu- President Quincy calls John Hull the able collection of historical papers, has earliest of the benefactors of the college, a memorandum in the handwriting of in the second generation, who encouraged Hezekiah Usher, as follows : — or aided the progress of the institution " Contriebutions Given by the Third by their bounty. The only contribution Church for the Erectinge Harvard Col- made by him of which we have positive lidge knowledge was £100 in 1681. See His- tory, vol. i. p. 406. " 10 Dec. At a meetinge of the Select- men by virtue of an order receaved from the Generall Court dated the 2d of Oc- tober 167S to apoynt and impowre meete 426: 16: — persons to inquire into the defects of I67J March the 3d To Cash Received £sv- 7 10 To Bills Received £326: iS — the 10th To Mony Received £19: 10 2 To Bills Received £21: — — 190 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Governor Bellingham died December 7, 1672, a day or two before Dr. Hoar's installation at Cambridge. Before coming to this country he had been recorder of Boston in Lincolnshire, and he held many prominent positions here, including the gov- ernorship for ten years. One of the early New England chron- iclers, Edward Johnson, records of him that he was " slow of speech," and had a " stern look." Mr. James Savage says : "The unbroken reign of dismal bigotry from 1649 t0 l&72 inclusive, under Dudley, Endicott, and Bellingham, hard, harder, hardest, between the mild wisdom of Winthrop and the tolerant dignity of Leverett, came to its end with that last of the triumvirs of Massachusetts." Mr. Savage also quotes, but does not com- mend, the remark of Governor Coddington, of Rhode Island, in connection with Governor Bellingham's death : " The hand of the Lord cuts him off, not giving him repentance to life, that other sons of Belial of his persecuting spirit might be warned, not to put the evil day far from them." Nine days before he died the governor executed a will, the chief purpose of which was to perpetuate the Congregational polity as understood and practiced by the majority in the First Church in Boston. After providing for his wife, Penelope Pel- ham, whom he married in 1641, and giving one of his four farms to his son and his son's daughter for the term of their natural lives, and making other bequests, he devoted his estate, which embraced nearly the whole of the present city of Chelsea, as we have already said, "to be an annual encouragement to some godly ministers and preachers, and such as may be such, who shall be by my trustees judged faithful to those principles in church discipline which are owned and practised in the First Church of Christ in Boston of which I am a member." He appointed as his trustees the ministers of this church, Mr. Oxenbridge and Mr. Allen, the Rev. John Russell, author of the Hadley and Northampton memorial to the General Court in 1670,1 and Mr. Anthony Stoddard, and he instructed them to those that are behinde in theire pay- And Lt. Theophilus Frary and James ments of theire subscriptions to the Hill for said subscriptions taken by the Colledge and to demand and receave officers of the third church." — Town the same, The Selectmen doe apoynt Records. Thomas Dewer and Ephraim Serle to 1 See ante, pp. 95, 96. Mr. Russell de- that worke for the subscriptions taken clined the trust under the will, pleading by the Officers and others of the first the distance at which he lived from Church in Bostone, Mr. John Cony and Boston and his pressing duties as a par- Wm. Coleman for the second Church, ish minister. GOVERNOR BELLINGHAM' S WILL. 191 build at Winnisimmett a minister's house and meeting-house, to make an annual allowance for the support of the gospel there, to train for the ministry four or six young men, more or less, as the estate would bear, and, to quote the words of his eighth direction, "That every quarter of the year, one sermon be preached to instruct the people in Boston in church discipline, according to the word of God ; and such competent allowance be given to each of them [the preachers] as my trustees shall judge fit and sufficient." This will became at once the subject of litigation. "Early the next spring, before the grass had begun to grow on the governor's grave, between Richard Wharton, representing the governor's only son, Dr. Samuel Bellingham, then in Europe, on one hand, and the Rev. James Allen and his co-trustees, on the other, began a series of legal proceedings which were prose- cuted in every tribunal, from the lowest to the highest, under three governments, — colonial, provincial, and state, — and were terminated only at the end of one hundred and eleven [fifteen] years, by a decision against the validity of the will by the Supreme Judicial Court in 1787, held by Judge Sumner." 1 Mr. Wharton, the attorney and personal friend of Dr. Bel- lingham, made the very serious charge against Mr. Allen, not only that he had exercised an undue influence over the mind of the governor upon his death-bed, to the injury of his son, but also that he had actually tampered with the will after its execu- tion by the insertion of a clause revoking all former testaments. A deposition to this effect was made before Daniel Gookin, a member of the court of assistants, January 24, 1673. It should be said that the charge against Mr. Allen was not sub- stantiated ; but we can understand that the reproach under which he rested for tampering, directly or indirectly, with the memorable New Haven letter rendered it easy to suspect him of similar action in connection with other documents, when "good ends" were to be served thereby. It would be foreign to our purpose to follow the litigation that ensued through all its tedious stages, but we could not avoid this passing reference to Governor Bellingham's will as part of the case of the First Church against the Third. Governor Bellingham was succeeded by John Leverett, who had been deputy-governor since the death of Francis Wil- loughby. 1 See Sewall's Letter Book, vol. i. pp. editors on this subject, of which we have 99-105, for a valuable foot-note by the made free use. l92 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. The extreme men in the colony, who by assertion and as- sumption in their own behalf, and by misrepresentation and denunciation of their brethren, had kindled and kept alive the fires of religious controversy, promoted distrust and dissension among the churches, and brought them to the very verge of disastrous schism, had much to answer for. They were few in number ; they could not claim to be more learned, more conse- crated, or more successful than the Christian brethren whom they denounced and calumniated ; but they were aggressive, pertinacious, self-confident, and self-willed, and they did not stop to think of consequences. They no doubt believed that they were right, but if they had been more modest they might have remembered that they were fallible, and that possibly all the wisdom and all the goodness were not on their side.1 They certainly ought to have been very confident of their position, in view of the effect of the prolonged agitation, for which they were responsible, upon the spiritual life of the community. This was suffering blight, in the midst of all the wrangling and confusion, all the " browbeatings, censures, reproaches, calumnies, and contempts." Defeated in open debate in the General Court in 1 67 1, the anti-synodists seem to have maintained what we may call a guerilla warfare of misrepresentation and slander. At length, the more judicious men among the leaders in church and state made up their minds that something must be done to stop the evil. The preacher of the Election Sermon in 1673 was Mr. Oakes, Mr. Mitchell's successor in the First Church of Cambridge, and afterward (upon the retirement of Dr. Hoar) president of the college ; and he had the courage, in the pres- ence of the influential and representative assembly before him, to rebuke in the severest terms the mistaken and mischievous 1 Increase Mather, addressing the anti- his excellent Irenicum where he saith, synodalians in 1671, made the follow- He that differs in his judgment from ing pertinent suggestions : " Consider godly learned men, had need to spend that it is possible that you may be mis- much time in prayer and humiliation taken in your apprehensions. Many before the Lord. There is a notable ex- things might be mentioned to you, which pression of Basil cited in an Epistle of ought to cause an humble jealousy in Luther to the Ministers of Norimberg, you, lest so it should be. Were there who were at variance one from another, that only consideration, that so many ' He who will separate from his brethren, learned and godly men are opposed, it had need to consider many things even ought to cause trembling, and an holy to anxiety, he had need break his sleep fear in you, lest your notions should be many nights, and seek of God with many erroneous. It is a Christian speech and tears the demonstration of the truth.' spirit which blessed Burroughs hath in Thus, he." MR. OARES'S ELECTION SERMON. 193 zeal of these partisans. He took for his text the words of Moses in Deuteronomy xxxii. 29 : " O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end ! " This is what he said to the men who had kept the churches in a ferment ever since the formation of the Third Church had been proposed : — Consider what will be the latter end of your unreasonable jealousies, abusive calumnies, or other ill usage of persons of great worth, use and interest among you. Consider (I beseech you) in the fear of God, what will be the end of the ill-entertainment of the best men among you. Who sees not (that is not wofully blind) that no men are more suspected and taken up in the lips of talkers, (Ezekiel xxxvi. 3,) ca- lumniated and abused, than pious and faithful magistrates and min- isters ? ... It is the hard condition of magistrates and ministers that they must bear all the murmurings of discontented people, and be loaded with all the obloquies and injurious reproaches that can be. They had need be men of great meekness and patience, able to bear much, that are pillars in the Church and Commonwealth. But great is the sin and unworthiness of those that put them to such an exercise of meekness and patience. And are not many among us guilty in this respect ? It is a sad time when a lying spirit is gone forth into the mouths of many professors ; when lies are invented to the disparage- ment of rulers and ministers, and calumnies and base reproaches are vended and put off and dispersed through the country with much sub- tlety and industry, as if there were some Lying Office set up in New England. It hath been my observation since I came among you, that almost all the mischief in this poor country is made and carried on by lying. Tale-bearer, or slanderer, in the Hebrew, hath its origination from a word which signifies a merchant, quasi famas ac honoris proximi nundinator, — one that sets to sale the name and honour of other men. We have many such merchants, or pedlars, rather, that go up and 1 The sermon was preached May 7, fixed to the sermon, signed by John 1673, and was published under the fol- Sherman and Thomas Shepard. lowing title: "New England Pleaded Mr. Shepard preached the Election with, And pressed to consider the things Sermon in 1672. His text was Jer. 11. which concern her Peace, at least in this 31 : " O generation, see ye the word of her Day: Or, A Seasonable and Serious the Lord: Have I been a wilderness Word of faithful Advice to the Churches unto Israel ? aland of darkness ? Where- and People of God (primarily those) in fore say my people, We are lords; we will the Massachusets Colony ; musingly to come no more unto thee ? " He rebuked Ponder and bethink themselves what is the divisions and calumnies of the times, the Tendency, and will certainly be the in connection with other public sins, but sad Issue, of sundry unchristian and not so scathingly as Mr. Oakes. The crooked wayes, which too too many have sermon was printed, with an address to been turning aside unto, if persisted and the Christian Reader by the Rev. Thomas gone on in." A brief address is pre- Thacher. 194 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. down the country with this kind of commodity ; and it is a lamentable thing that they should have so good a trade of it, and meet with so many chapmen that are ready to take their ware off their hands. . . . Many pregnant instances of this evil spirit might be produced to con- firm what I say : but herein I shall spare the guilty only, who knows not (that is no stranger in our Israel) that the ministers of Christ among you indefinitely have been deliberately and solemnly charged with " declension from primitive foundation work, innovation in doc- trine and worship, opinion and practice, invasion of the rights, liberties and privileges of churches, usurpation of a lordly, prelatical power over God's heritage," and with the like things, which are " the leaven, the corrupting gangrene, the infecting, spreading plague, the provoking image of jealousy set up before the Lord, the accursed thing which hath provoked Divine wrath and further threatens destruction ? " I need give you no other instance of this evil spirit of jealousy and calumny than this. Here is good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Enough and enough to demonstrate the disaffected and embittered spirit of some men ; and what unkind usage from some hands, those your poor ministers find among you. Such men (whom I wish either that they were better enformed and affected, or less considerable in the Commonwealth) impute all the blastings and droughts and judgments of God upon the country to the defection and apostacy of their ministers. As if the confident accusers themselves were men of such unquestionable innocency, as not to con- tribute anything to the sins and sorrows of the country ; or as if there were no other sinners among us that are kindling the wrath of God against the land, and pulling down his judgments, but a few despised ministers : Or as if there were no other sins against the Lord our God found among us, to provoke the wrath of a jealous God, but the sup- posed deviations of pious, conscientious, learned men, truly studious of truth and reformation, and a due progress therein. We could quote page after page from this faithful and fearless discourse, which might be pondered to good advantage by the men in every generation who set themselves up as conservators, in opposition to freedom and progress in religious thought, and who too often become slanderers and persecutors ; but one paragraph more must suffice : — What peace can be expected so long as this trade of lying and ca- lumniating men of piety, worth and authority is continued and driven on among us ? And indeed though it may be thought by some that these wretched practises are but the small devices of some petty poli- ticians and little creeping statesmen among us that have no very con- siderable influence into our publick affairs : yet I must needs say, that I look upon this course of calumniating your best men, as the very CALUMNIATORS REBUKED. 195 Gunpowder-Plot that threatens the destruction of Church and State. Nothing (as experience shews) is more advantagious to the designs of innovators, than the right knack of kindling and fomenting jealousies and fears in the minds of men concerning magistrates and ministers. Such men are wont to make and improve false alarms of danger, that people mav believe that religion and liberties are at the stake, and in danger to be lost ! Designers are wont to impose upon the credulitie and^easiness of well meaning people this way. . . . Moreover these calumnies are immoralities, and scandalous evils, and it is the duty of Gods servants to lift up their voice as a trumpet, to cry aloud and not spare them that are guilty whatever the issue be : yea to cry to God and man for redress. And I would humbly commend it to our Hon- ourable Rulers, upon whom the lot of this days Election shall fall, that they would take it into serious consideration and fixe upon some ex- pedient, to put these lying lips to silence, and to find out the principal authors' and fomentors of these mischievous calumnies. They are cer- tainly moral evils, and God is angry with us for them, (for he is very tender of the name and reputation of pious rulers and ministers) and many good people are deceived and drawn in the simplicity of their hearts, into a disaffection to their leaders ; yea, and the people of God abroad are abused and misinformed, and these calumnies (to my knowl- edge) are handed and transmitted over sea ; insomuch that many good people take it for granted that most of the leaders in this country are meditating a revolt from the good old principles and practises of their worthy predecessors. This sermon must have made a deep impression upon those who heard it and upon those who heard about it. It no doubt prompted the brethren of the Third Church to another attempt at reconciliation with the church from which they had felt it to be their duty to separate themselves, for, as appears from the records of the latter, a letter from the " dissenters " was read before it on the 27th of June, and was "much debated." Its further discussion was postponed to the 8th of July, when a vote was passed that it should be answered by "the three magis- trates and the three elders." An answer was prepared, accord- ingly, and, after several meetings of the First Church had been held to consider and settle its terms,1 it was transmitted, on the 22d of August, to Mr. John Hull, addressed, " To our beloved brethren, Captain Thomas Savage, Mr. Hezekiah Usher, Mr. John Hull, to be communicated to the rest of our brethren who departed from us." It was conceived in a much more concili- atory spirit than previous communications from the same source 1 See First Church Records. 196 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. had been, but it did not yield the point of dismissing and recom- mending the wives of the seceding brethren to the watch and care of the new church. This point, indeed, the First Church never conceded ; and it was only upon the recommendation of an assembly of ministers called, a year later, to consider and pass judgment upon the case, that these long-suffering women recovered their good and regular standing as members of a Christian church. The correspondence which followed Mr. Oakes's Election Sermon is given in full in the Third Church Narrative, to which we again turn : — After a long silence the 3d Church was incouraged by Magistrates and Elders of the Countrey to make another Essay for peace, the teaching Elders of the first Church allso pubr liquely prayed and exhorted to it this ensuing letter was sent unto them Hoiwurd Reverend and dearely beloved As the ey of Christ in the midst of us like a flame of fire, and his f[eet] like fine brasse is a matter of great aw, soe his severe com- mand to love one another as he hath loved us is of deep meditation for constan[t] humble obedience, the thoughts of both presse strongly to have salt in ourselves and peace one with another, for indeed what better becometh the presence of the Prince of Peace than peace in his presence among all his loyall subjects, seing that the Spirit of Christ is one in all his members and is a spirit of love and peace, hence that restlesse working in all his faithfull servants towards this peace, making it easy to them to observe all those other rules of mu- tuall forbearance and forgivenes as God for Christs sake forgave them, whiles as the Elect of God holy and beloved they put on bow- ells of mercy and kindnes, humblenes of mind meeknes long suffring to forbear and forgive one another, if any of them have a quarrell against any, even as Christ forgave them for the spirit of prayer is a spirit of forgivenes as it is said by our Lord Jesus Matt. 11. 25. and when ye stand praying forgive if ye have aught against any, that your ffather allso which is in heaven may forgive you allso your trespasses, but if you doe not forgive neither will your ffather which is in heaven forgive you your trespasses for the spirit maketh intercession according to the will of God, and this is his will that ye forgive one another, after his example, who forgave not onely the knowne grosse sins and daily infirmities of his people, which they confesse but sins that they are ignorant of, else who should stand before him, for he knoweth all things, but who of us understandeth his errours as we know in part with our best knowledge soe we obey in part in our best obedience, for our obedience cannot exceed our knowledge, what hath passed from ANOTHER APPEAL FOR PEACE. 1 97 us towards you in these last transactions could but be obedience in part that it was obedience is our comfort, that it was but in part we hope doth humble us, that your knowledge may exceed ours in that matter we would humbly suppose and therfore that which to us is obedience may to you be offence, hence there is a bar to our Com- munion you being offended, did we know as you we hope we should be as ready through the grace of Christ to yeild as you to require a particular acknowledgement, but acknowledgement cannot be without knowledge, must this be a wall of separation, and must it still keep of our peaceable and Brotherly Communion, God forbid. Is there no compassion for the ignorant, if we are ignorant is not the blood of Christ sufficient without particular acknowledgement to break downe such a wall between those which live by faith for the pardon of their ignorance which they cannot confesse, if there be any power in that better veiw of the blood of Christ to speak peace between us, then we humbly and earnestly intreat you if you have ought against any or all of us in this or any other matter that you forgive us as he hath forgiven you and let there be and continue brotherly love and Church Communion between us as becometh the Churches of Saints, As there is one body, one Spirit as we are called in one hope of our call- ing one Lord one faith one Baptisme one God and ffather of all, who is above all and through all and in all, soe let us be likeminded one towards another according to Christ Jesus that we may with one mind and one mouth glorify God and the ffather of our Lord Jesus Christ and let us to that end according to Paulls exhortation receive one an- other notwithstanding all matters of doubtfull disputations between us as Christ allso received us to the glory of God, whereinsoever therefore we or any of us have done or spoken anything that hath bin matter of greif or occasion of offence to you or any of you we againe and againe heartily desire you to forgive it and forget it. and let it be no offence to you that we receive those of you who desire it that have hitherto held Communion at the table of the Lord with us into our Communion, but grant your Loving dismission unto them, neither let it be any offence for any of ours as they may desire it to come and par- take with you in your neerest Communion, or of yours henceforth on the like occasion to sit downe at the Lords table with us, we trust it shall be no greif of heart unto you afterwards, we have all the same common cause viz the Congregationall way laid downe for substance in the Platforme of discipline, the same friends, enemies, hopes, feares, dangers, desires, imbarked in the same Commonwealth, and in hazard to be in the same Common woe, should god let loose an adversary against us, Oh let us serry close togither in the Lord, union strength- ens, division weakens, exposeth to contempt, maketh a prey to the enimy, multiplieth iniquity, and increaseth transgression and trans- gressors among men, among saints, its managed by another wisdome 198 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. than that which is from above, and therfore is suted to ends not to be desired, could the heathen come to a forgiving, forgetting, burying all offences, to heale publique breaches and strengthen a decayed and jeoparded Commonwealth by morall vertu and prudence, and will it not be below Christians to fall short of heathens in like Case, should we that have through grace bin stated in such a degree of profession fall short, God forbid, Now God even our owne God be the very God of peace, so quench and calme our hearts by his owne Spirit, and supply them with that heavenly oile that we may be tenderly affected with all brotherly love each to other and may dwell together as a daughter with her mother in sweetest neerest neighbourhood to his owne glory and the furtherance of our everlasting joy and conso- lation of his people, we shall add no more, but that you are in our hearts to dy and to live with you in that capacity wherein the Lord hath set us, to whose grace commending you and ourselves, as our- selves allso to your Brotherly love, we humbly subscribe ourselves. Your Brethren and servants in the Gospell 13 : (4) 1673 Thomas Thatcher Edward Rainsford To the Honourd Reverend and beloved Elders and Brethren of the first gathered Church in Boston. In the name and with the Consent of the Brethren. This letter was carryed to the Teaching Elders by T. S. H. U. and J. H. The 22th of the 6th in the Evening the two deacons of the old Church brought unto Mr. John Hull a letter subscribed to our beloved Brethren Captaine Tho : Savage, Mr. Hez : Usher Mr. John Hull to be Communicated to the rest of our Brethren who departed from us. the coppy whereof followeth.1 Deare and we// be/oved Brethre?i in our dearest Lord jfesus. Yours of the 13th 4th 1673 we received which gives occasion to cleare ourselves of a misconstruction of a passage in our last as if we had imposed a silence as to any friendly treaty with you, for in truth we would neither be, nor thought to be men averse from peace, but rath[er] from division and contention, the former being our duty the latter a[n] abomination to us, the Lord both yours and ours is as ye say the prince of Pea[ce] and his will it is that we should be at peace with all men, but more abundantly with such as professe themselves to have us in their hearts to live and to dy with us and to have the same common cause viz. the Congregationall way as in the booke called the Platforme, the same friends, enimies, and 1 [We have compared this copy of the Hist. Society, and we have made a few letter with a copy (evidently made at the slight verbal changes in it to bring the time) in the possession of the Mass. two into conformity with each other.] A MORE CONCILIATORY REPLY. 1 99 dangers, imbarked in the same Common weale, and in hazard to be in the same Common woe, wherfore deare Brethren we open both armes to receive and unit[e] with you for the Common weale, and against the Common woe of the Lords people in th[is] land, that transgress- ors may not be favored and multiplied among us, a[s] to your desire in yours of pardon of what may have offended any or all of us in your late transactions we understand you to speake of your depart- ing from us, which being an houre of temptation may have found in you severall deviations from the rule, and that you soe humbly heartily and earnestly againe and againe ask forgivenes as it implyeth some blameable proceeding in the action aforesaid, (for we see not what roome there is for pardon whe[re] there is no fault at all, soe we see not need of so much pressing this knowne duty of Brotherly forgive- nes upon us) wherfore leaving the Rule in its owne entireties, and not revoking our testimony to it, nor calling bitt[er] sweet, we doe in our affection to you passe by what failings have escaped you in that transaction (for soe our judgment was and is) and desire that both with you and us all bitternes wrath and anger evill speaking and clamour may be put away, with all malice, and that we may be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christs sa[ke] hath forgiven us. Another desire of yours is that without our offence you may receive some into your Communion that doe desire it, we conceive you to speak of those sisters your wives, whome we find in our Church reco[rds] to have desired a release from their Covenant ingagements. Now you may please to take notice that after that in the Case of Sarah Pemerton one of them the Church did declare that they looked on themselves as disingaged from any Cove- nant duty to her, and that she ceaseth to stand in memberly relation to us and accordingly we doe now declare in love concerning all the afore- said sisters that they are upon their owne irregular choice gone out from us and from any further Authority of this Church One request more you have is that you may have Communion with us at the Lords table in which we desire you Brethren to beare with us that we cannot as to our present light fullfill your desire, and you may the rather beare with us herein because yourselves have laid a new barr in avouching as we conceive your departure to be an act of your obe- dience and that high if we rightly understand you, Now if it were obedience, we would gladly know the scripture Command for it, that soe we may see your necessity of so doing to avoid sin, and our sin in gainesaying you therein, Yet in order to the accomplishment of your desire and that this division may be forever buryed in the fuller Amnestie, we would rejoice that the Lord may guide in his way to prevent any the like unhappy breach in any of the Churches of Christ among us. Thus have we deare Brethren received and Considered your over- 200 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. ture with all Brotherly kindnes, and we hope that neither that from you nor this from us will hinder, but further your and our indeavour of a fuller understanding one of another, neverthelesse whereto we have attayned let us walke by the same rule farewell beloved Brethren we are Yours to love and to esteem you in the Lord 19th 6th mo : 1673 John Oxenbridge, Pastor James Allen Teacher reserving mine owne understanding and exception John Wiswell Elder with the Consent of the Brethren Their Elders voted to send their ruling' elder Mr. Wiswell 1 to see if any of our sisters would confesse their fault, then they would indeavour to git them a generall dismission to some Church in order. The only sermon of Mr. Thacher which has come down to us in print was preached on a public fast-day, March 26, 1674. Its text was Isaiah lviii. 5, 6. It was published four years later, with an Address to the Reader by Increase Mather,2 and with the following title, which sufficiently suggests its scope : "A Fast of God's Chusing, Plainly Opened For the help of those poor in spirit, whose hearts are set to seek the Lord their God in New England, in the solemn Ordinance of A Fast, Wherein is shewed 1. The nature of such a Fast. 2. The Testimony God will give thereunto of his gracious acceptation. 3. The special Seasons wherein God will bear witness to such a Fast. 4. Some helps to Faith that it shall be so. 5. Why such a Fast is so acceptable and successfull. 6. How much this con- cerns Gods people in New England. Preached on a Fast Called by Publick Authority, on 26. 1. 74." 1 [Elder Penn had died October 30, Humiliation, and therefore stirred up 167 1.] the heart of his Servant beforehand to 2 Mr. Mather said in his Address : " It give instructions and Directions concern- is marvellous to consider (for his Spirit ing the acceptable performance of so knoweth what shall come to pass in the great a duty. Some that were affected world, and inclineth the hearts of his in hearing the Word preached, and that Messengers accordingly,) how God many did in short hand take what was de- times causeth the words of his Servants livered, have importuned the Reverend in their publick Ministrations to fall in Author to give way unto its publication, with his providential dispensations ; of unto whose desires he hath at last con- which we have some instance in the Ser- ceded. And I know not but that the mon herewith emitted, which was de- publication of what is in this way pre- livered some years agoe, even a little sented may be as seasonable as the before our late troubles. The Lord preaching of it at first was." The Ad- knew that Boston, yea, that New Eng- dress is dated April, 1678, six months land would have cause for many days of before Mr. Thacher's death. ADDRESS OF THE WOMEN. 201 We come now to the closing sentences of the Third Church Narrative : — The sisters being the wives of the first dissenters and now are the third Church in Boston whose dismission from the first t ](6)l6 Church was soe often sought but in vaine, and who had bin now above 3 yeares and a half denyed Communion with the said Church ; made their addresse to the 3d Church for their admission with them where they had enjoyed Communion all this time, the Addresse followeth : — Reverend and much Esteemed in the Lord. Having long tyme wated in hope of the reconcilliation of the churches and obteining a dismission to yourselves and after all at- tempts and Endeavours used by yourselves having this for answer respecting ourselves That they looked at themselves as discharged from any Covenant duty to us and that wee cease to stand in any memberly relation to them And that wee have upon our owne ir- regular choyce, gone out from them and from any further Authority of their church Wee therefore intreate you to receive us into church membership with yourselves, considering that meerly for holding church Communion with yourselves wee are brought into the same Condition with you in relation to that Church whereof both you and wee were members, For our dismission was at first desired, and that according to the first Council you were advised upon that churches refusall to take it up by a peaceable secession, which you did, and according to order joyned together into a church Society, and officers being orderly chosen and ordeyned with you, wee thought it our duty to hold Communion with you being involved in the same Cause, which holding of Communion they call our irregular going out from them &c for which indeed they never dealt with us singly or together according to anyknowne order of the Gospell, but according to their vote on 24: 2d 1670 in these words [wee doe declare that wee cannot have Com- munion with such of ours at the Lords table who have and doe com- municate with them untill they give satisfaction.] they have refused Communion with us: and so (as may be Conceived) wee ly under the same rule of Joyning to you and being received by you, as you did of Joyning together and receiving each other in your first Coali- tion for they themselves being interpreters wee have made a Seces- sion from them upon their refusing a dismission unto us, by holding church Communion with yourselves and so are hopelesse of help from them, except wee would renounce communion with you which we cannot in Conscience do, Besides wee understand that it hath bene the advice of many of the Reverend Elders severall tymes at the Election Courts Assembled and under the hands of some of the most Ancient of them, that we should joyne unto you and be received by 202 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. you, which advice concurring with the Counsell given yourselves by the Second Council in the same case, wee submit unto and accordingly desire the benefit thereof • Earnestly intreating the god of all grace so to fill us with his Spirit, that wee may be fit to renew our Covenant with him and with your church, and to walke in covenant with him- selfe and with yourselves unto all gratious acceptation with him and to his Eternall glory by Christ Jesus our Lord, wee are bold to sub- scribe ourselves, Dearely Beloved in the Lord. Your Sisters in the Lord and fellowship of the Gospell. August 27 : 1674 Margreatt Thacher Elizabeth Alden Elizabeth Gibbs Mary Norton Johanna Davis Hannah Frary Mary Salter Elishua Thirton Sara Walker Mary Tap en Elizabeth Beck Judith Hull Sarah Oliver Mary Savage Mary Ellet Reanis Belcher Mary Brackit Lidia Scottow Elizabeth Rainsford Elizabeth Rocke Susanna Dawes Sarah Pemberton Johanna Mason Alice Harper Sarah Bodeman Rachel Rawson Delivered and thus superscribed to Elder Rainsford ffor the Rev- erend Elders and Brethren of the 3d Church of Christ in Boston.1 Upon the publishing of their addres unto the Church, the sisters owning of it publiquely, they were all admitted members of this 3d Church. [October 16. 1674.] This narrative preceding was by Mr. Sam : Sewall, Deacons Ellyot and ffrary and Josh. Scottow comitted to the reverend Sam : Torry the onely surviving Secretary of the last Councill, and the Assemblies Moderator at Mr. Thatchers Ordination, by him to be examined and compared with records of transactions relating to 3d Church he after having it diverse moneths in his Custody returned it with full approbation, and that this is the true coppy of that which past his examination Attests 2 : ffe[bruary] i6o[ ] 1 [We have corrected this letter by the original, which is on the files of the Old South Church. It was written by John Hull, and the names of Joanna Davis, Ranis Belcher, Mary Brackett, Susanna Dawes, Sarah Pemberton, Jo- anna Mason, Alice Harper, and Sarah Bodman are in his handwriting. Lydia Scottow and Elizabeth Rock did not join the church until the 8th of January, 1674-5. Joanna Davis's name does not appear on the church lists.] 2 [After the certificate of Mr. Scottow, Josh : Scottow 2 who, as we judge, drew up the Narrative, is the following : — Boston January 25 91-2 Having seen a transcript of the 3d Churches proceedings containing one hundred sixtysix pages of writeing and being desired to passe my judgement on the worth of the writeing therof do accordingly judge it to be worth the summe of foure pounds three shillings money Eliezer Moody.] %5 Hi It* IT i« 1 x!4 JUDGMENT OF THE MINISTERS. 203 The final appeal of the women upon which the church acted, as a formal application for admission to its membership, was supported by the judgment of an assembly of ministers con- vened in the preceding month of May, in a document written by the Rev. Thomas Cobbett, which has been preserved on the files of the Old South : — Upon a motion made by the South church of Boston unto such Elders of other churches as were there assembled upon the 28 of May, 1674, for the resolution of this following question, "What is our duty towards those members of the Old church who were and still are secluded from communion with that church in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, only because of their participation with us therein, and who also desire to join in church fellowship with us ? " Those elders, having inquired into and labored after a right un- derstanding of the true state of the Question as it ariseth from mat- ter of fact and relates unto matter of practice in the great duties of church communion and communion of churches, do, humbly and in the fear of God, offer our sincere understanding of the case stated in this question : and, 2dly, our advice and counsell thereupon. 1. That the church inquiring, respecting both its constitution and administrations both of Doctrine and worship, is, and ought to be acknowledged, a true church of Christ, standing right in the order of communion of churches in all respects ; free and clear from any just scandall or offence given or taken. As appears by the oft renewed acts and constant practise of Communion, and by the right hand of fellowship orderlye and mutually given and taken between them and generally all other churches as occasion doth require. 2. That therefore communion with this church in the participation of the Lord's supper duely and regularly administered is not morall evil, nor justly offensive unto any other church, any of whose inoffen- sive members shall orderly and occasionally for their own edification and comfort desire to communicate with them therein, by virtue of Communion of churches. 3. That therefore for any other church to seclude or suspend a con- siderable number of their own (otherwise inoffensive members) from communion with themselves in that holy sacrament, meerly and only for participation with that church therein is not justifiable as to the grounds and reasons thereof : but seems to us to be crosse to the rules and order of the communion of churches, and so to their peace and union. 4. That so to seclude and suspend such and so many members in- definitely from church communion without the ordinary improvement and application of rules of church discipline, or any orderly proceed- 204 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. ing in a church way, to call them before the church in public church assembly to convince them of the evil and sinfullnesse of the fact, to reduce, recover them and restore them and that singly and severally, each one by themselves, and to let such and so many members to live and ly for divers years together under such a suspension without any further proceeding in any church is not justifyable for the manner of it, there having ben no regular forensicall exercise of judiciall power by the church according to known scripture rules of church discipline, nor any liberty or opportunity granted to reputed offenders either to clear their innocency, if innocent, or to hear the church and expresse their repentance if guilty, and therefore we cannot judge such a seclu- sion and suspension to be any regular church censure. 5. That therefore any such declarative act of any church whereby they do in such a way and manner sentence any or so many of their own members unto non-communion with themselves and so conse- quently with all other churches it being neither properly an Ecclesi- astical! admonition nor excommunication. It is not (de jure) binding either in foro Dei aut conscientiae, and is therefore no reall regular bar either unto those members from joining with another church, neither unto another church from receiving them into their fellowship, there having ben all due means used for their reconciliation to and dismission from the said church unto that which they find more for their edification and consolation in the Lord ; and yet, it proving in vaine and appearing altogether impossible and (as to man) after so many years waiting utterly hopelesse, that it should be obtained for the future. In such a case we judge That such members may joyne, and such a Church unto whome they desire to joyn may receive them into their fellowship without the transgression of any rule of Church order or any just offence given unto the church unto which they did belong, provided they be in a capacity, by a convenient vicinity and other necessary circumstances, to walk with that church constantly in the course of church fellowship, and come according to their church-Covenant. This judgment was signed by the following clergymen : Samuel Whiting, Sr., of Lynn, John Eliot, of Roxbury, Peter Hobart, of Hingham, Thomas Cobbett, of Ipswich, John Sher- man, of Watertown, William Hubbard, of Ipswich, John Higgin- son, of Salem, John Wilson, of Medfield, Jeremiah Hubbard, of Topsfield, Samuel Phillips, of Rowley, Joseph Rowlandson, of Lancaster, Seaborn Cotton, of Hampton, N. H., and John Hale, of Beverly. CHAPTER IV. 1675-1683. PHILIPS WAR. THE QUAKERS. RECONCILIATION. UPON the abatement of the agitation on the Synodical ques- tion, there was a brief period of quiet in the colony. The historian says : " The state of things at this period furnishes no especially exciting topics for conversation. There is no present menace of disturbance from England. The agitation about the Synodical question is abated. Quakers cause little apprehen- sion, and Baptists are getting to be kindly regarded. Now and then a villager who has been at the Thursday lecture in Boston brings back news respecting the King's attitude towards Hol- land, or the measures of Parliament against the Duke of York, or the conjectured policy of Lord Danby, or the annoyances of English or Scottish Nonconformists. The politics of town and parish are from time to time presenting some new aspect ; courtships and marriages, births and deaths, claim notice ; militia training days make a recreation and a sort of festival ; and all the year round, the doctrine delivered in the last Sun- day's sermons is matter for thought and discourse during the week. In the marts of business, interests are more various, and social intercourse has more activity and show. But everywhere alike there is a general appearance of security, prosperity, so- briety, good order, and content." 1 The quiet of this time, we are told, also, was undisturbed by any general apprehension of danger from the aborigines. " For more than a generation there has been no war with them, 1 Palfrey's History, vol. iii. pp. 136, 137. 206 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. though there have been occasional difficulties and quarrels. The youngest person of European parentage who has seen war on this continent is already almost too old for military service." 1 But this brief period of quiet was to be interrupted, and fol- lowed by years of terror and disaster. Massasoit, the friendly chieftain, died in 1660, leaving two sons, Wamsutta and Metacomet, who, being ambitious of high- sounding European names, came by order of the court at Plym- outh to be called Alexander and Philip. Alexander lived only two years after his father, and in 1662 Philip became chief sachem of the Pokanokets. From the very first, this wily savage was suspected by the colonists of Plymouth, to whom he professed allegiance and attachment. In August, 1662, they summoned him to a conference with them, when he made many protestations of friendship, and promised to adhere faithfully to the treaty engagements of his father and brother ; the English, on their part, engaging to afford to him and his people " such friendly assistance, by advice and otherwise, as they justly might," and " at all times to carry friendly towards them." But Philip was almost constantly under suspicion, although he strangely succeeded in defending himself against the charges of hostility and conspiracy which, with a good deal of circumstan- tiality, were from time to time brought against him. In 1671, during one of his periods of contumacy, he came to Boston, and seems to have made a favorable impression upon the leading men here, for some of them wrote to Plymouth in his behalf, at the same time offering their assistance in bringing about a friendly settlement of the pending quarrel. This proposal for arbitra- tion was accepted, and Major-general Leverett, Mr. Danforth, and Mr. Davis went to Plymouth, and with Governor Winthrop, of Connecticut, who had joined them, "had a fair and deliberate hearing of the controversy." The result was, that after listen- ing to all that Philip had to say for himself, in his relations with the Plymouth authorities, the arbitrators " adjudged that he had done a great deal of wrong and injury respecting the premises, and also abused them by carrying lies and false stories unto them ; and they persuaded him to make acknowledgment of his fault, and to seek for reconciliation." He made full submission to the Plymouth magistrates, by an instrument dated September 29 of the same year, and, in sign of fealty, he engaged to pay yearly a tribute of five wolves' heads, besides a hundred pounds 1 Palfrey's History, vol. iii. p. 132. PHILIP'S WAR. 207 in three years to defray the charge which he had now occa- sioned. The quiet thus obtained continued until 1674, when the governor of Plymouth was informed by Sausaman, a " pray- ing Indian " and a preacher, who had been taught at Cambridge, that Philip was endeavoring to raise new troubles, and to engage all the sachems round about him in a war. Hearing that he was again under suspicion and that he would probably be sent for by the court, he went of his own accord to Plymouth, in March, 1675, and once more made earnest protestations of his innocence. These did not satisfy the assistants, but, " not having full proof, and hoping that the discovery so far would cause him to desist, they dismissed him friendly," with some words of admonition and warning. Soon after Sausaman dis- appeared, and his murdered body was found in a pond. Philip, who lived at Mount Hope, now a part of the town of Bristol, was daily becoming more bold, and at length on Sunday, the 20th of June, commenced hostilities by a raid on Swanzey, the nearest of the English towns to his territory ; two houses were then burned, and three days later twelve more were rifled ; a day or two afterward, several of the inhabitants were massacred, and their bodies treated with barbarous indignity. ' We do not propose to narrate the events of the three years following the outbreak at Swanzey, known in our history as King Philip's War, which, spreading from Plymouth Colony, over- ran a large part of New England. Central Massachusetts was desolated, and almost every settlement beyond the Piscataqua was laid in ashes. " It was a succession of ruthless ravages on a larger or a smaller scale. Outlying houses were fired by night, while their inmates slept. Husbandmen at their work, and women at the well, and travellers on the road, were shot down. Only in the large towns could an Englishman leave his door with safety. Every bush near it might hide a watchful marksman." Of the eighty or ninety towns in Plymouth and Massachusetts, ten or twelve were wholly destroyed, and forty others were more or less damaged by fire, making together nearly two thirds of the whole number. There was scarcely an English family in the two colonies that was not in mourning. Impoverishment was added to bereavement. At the termina- tion of hostilities, the debt which had been incurred by the colony of Plymouth is believed to have exceeded the value of the whole personal property of its people.1 1 In this sketch, we have followed fourth and fifth chapters of the third closely Dr. Palfrey's account in the volume of his History. 208 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. The members of the Third Church bore their full share of the responsibilities and perils of this terrible time. William Davis, as we have seen, went to Plymouth as an arbitrator in 1671, when, it was hoped, arrangements had been made to secure a permanent peace between the red men and their white neigh- bors. As soon as the intelligence of the first attack on Swanzey reached Boston, the Council, in response to an appeal from Governor Josiah Winslow, decided to send messengers to the Narragansett and Nipmuck tribes which were within the juris- diction of Massachusetts, to prevent, if possible, an alliance on their part with Philip, and so to circumscribe the limits of the revolt. These messen- gers were Edward Hutchin- son, Seth Perry, and Wil- liam Tower. On the 24th of June, when news of the gen- eral outbreak came to hand, and a further appeal from Plymouth had been received, Thomas Savage and Thomas Brattle were sent in haste to Philip, on a mission of peace ; but when they reached Swan- zey they saw that the time for negotiation and remon- strance was past, and they returned to Boston without speak- ing with him. On the same day it was resolved to raise a company of foot soldiers and a troop of horse ; Daniel Hench- man was appointed to the command of the former, and Thomas Prentice of the latter. Other troops were raised as the war went on, and the management of the campaign was entrusted to Major Thomas Savage.1 Benjamin Gibbs held a captain's commission. John Hull was treasurer-at-war, and some of the account books, a journal and two ledgers, kept by him at o-firteof S~oJu~oM^~ 1 Edward Rawson, as secretary of the Council, wrote to the governor of Con- necticut, June 2S, 1675 : — " Major Generall Denison was chosen for to goe General of these forces, but he being taken ill Captain Savage is sent Commander-in-chief, Captain Pren- tis commanding the horse, Captain Henchman and Captain Mosley Captains of the foot. Our eyes are unto the Lord for his presence with them, and hope you will not be wanting in your prares and watchfulness over the Indians, and particularly we request you to use your utmost authority to restrain the Mon- hegins and Pequods." SOLDIERS IN PHILIP'S WAR. 209 the time are extant. His " system of book-keeping was a sort of double entry, or ' a mixed method.' It was very ex- haustive, giving to every department of the colony's transac- tions a separate ledger account, as well as to every person men- tioned in the journal." In these accounts we find three of his fellow church-members, Theophilus Frary, Jacob Eliot, and John Morse, recorded as commissaries of subsistence. We find, also, on the rolls, the names of the following members of the Third Church and congregation : Joseph Belcher, who was wounded in the knee and had his horse killed under him ; Perez Savage, who was severely wounded early in the campaign ; Nathaniel Davenport, Mr. Thacher's son-in-law, one of the six captains killed in the action of the 19th of December ; Moses Paine, Asaph Eliot, Ebenezer Hayden, William Manly, Samuel Veazie, Simon Daniel.1 In February, 1675-6, Major Savage was placed in command of an expedition for operations in the cen- tral part of Massachusetts. His son-in-law, Benjamin Gillam, was second in command, and we recognize in the lists, as Third Church men, Gilbert Cole, David Raynsford, Henry Phillips, Richard Woodye, Manasseh Beck, Benjamin Thurston, Thomas Savage, Jr., William Gerrish, William Pollard.2 John Cunnabell, who joined the church in 1689, was a mem- ber of Captain William Turner's company. He assisted in the defence of Northampton, March 14, and he was at the fight near Hatfield a few weeks later, when Captain Turner fell. While so many of the able-bodied men of the church were exposed to peril in the field, we have reason to believe that the older men and the women were doing their part at home. The Narrative of Mrs. Rowlandson, of Lancaster, who was taken prisoner when that village was sacked by Philip, February 10, 1676 (her husband, the minister of the town, being absent at the time), and ransomed after nearly three months of frightful suf- fering, on the 2d of May, tells us of their Christian sympathy and liberality : — The twenty pounds, the price of my redemption, was raised by some Boston gentlewomen and Mr. Usher, whose bounty and charity I would not forget to make mention of. 1 We read of Mr. Andrew Belcher, which there must have been great suffer- an enterprising merchant, and a promi- ing." nent member of the Third Church a few 2 See an interesting and valuable series years later, going with a sloop to the of papers on Soldiers in King Philip's Narragansett country in the winter of War, by the Rev. George M. Bodge, in 1675-76, laden with supplies, "without the N. Etig. Hist, and Gen. Register. 2IO HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Our family being now gathered together, the South Church in Bos- ton hired a house for us. Then we removed from Mr. Shepard's, (those cordial friends,) and went to Boston where we continued about three-quarters of a year. Still the Lord went along with us, and pro- vided graciously for us. " There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Truly have we found him to be such a friend to us in whose house we lived, viz. Mr. James Whitcomb, a friend near hand and far off.1 After the death of Philip, hostilities broke out in another quarter. A letter from Mr. Thacher to his son Peter, afterward minister of Milton, who had gone to England on a visit, throws some light on these troublous times:2 — Boston. 16. 8. 76. My dear Sonne Peter, I have received foure letters from you, whereby I have joyfully and I hope thankfully taken notice of the kindnesse of God in your com- fortable voyage to and kind reception in England by our freinds ; which hath enlarged my desires to hear farther from you. I hope also that you have long ere this received mine to you. At present you may understand that God hath utterly scattered, delivered up and subdued the heathen that first rose up against us, delivered up Philip to death, cleared the Costs of Plimmouth, Narranganset, Connecticut, Quabaag Sec. from those bloody and blasphemous heathen ; But behold a new Enemy is broken out to the East and Northward who have layd wast the Country &c. Slaine my good freind Captain Lake and many others : and this very day past wofull Tidings is come of the taking in by surrender Mr. Scotto's garrison at Stony-point, he being but the last week come from the Same to Boston and leaving Squire Joslin, as they call him, cheif commander ; what the particular circumstances ar is not yet certeine amongst us ; but this is certeine the place is taken, The garison strong, two great peices there and many Small armes and good store of provisions. Such a spirit of fear and cowardice is poured out on the inhabitants of those parts that it is exceeding om- inous, the Indians carry all before them by sea and land, on the maine and on the Islands in Casco. have taken severall vessells, one with two great guns in it &rc This part of the warre is like to be the more 1 [See A True History of the Captivity 1674. In tne Third Church Narrative and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowland- his name is spelled Rawlinson and Row- so>i. Her daughter, six years old, was leyson. See ante, pp. 62, 67.] struck by a bullet, in her mother's arms, 2 We are indebted to the Hon. Peter and died after nine clays of suffering Thacher for a copy of this letter. It was from exposure and want of food on the superscribed : " These, For his Sonne, march. Mr. Rowlandson was a member Mr. Peter Thacher, At Mr. Matthew Bar- of the Second Council in 1669, and one ker's, at Turners-hall, Cor. Philpot Lane, of the signers of the judgment of May, London." LETTER FROM MR. THACHER. 211 difficult, because So far off from us : because so neer the French, who are reported to be amongst the Indians. This day it was said that there were twenty in the Exploit above signifyed ; But we have no certeinty of it, and foolish Jealosies may feigne that fear makes Scare- crows to affreight the fearfull. and the sluggard says a lyon is in the way. So may those fearfull persons think to hide their shame, by such suggestions. As for myself, I at present injoy a comfortable measure of health and strength : tho' laboring under some weaknes Gotten in my sickenesse. If you have not more than ordinary En- couragement and a most Evident call to stay in England I hope I shall see you here if the Lord lengthens our lives to the next Summer. The Lord guide your whole way and blesse you with all the blessings of his everlasting Covenant : and make you a blessing wherever you come that he may be your Portion. I had almost forgot to tell you that I received a letter from my brother Paul Thacher that lives in Salisbury certifying that my brother John dyd three yeer agoe very Poor. That my mother law's [sic] Sister one Mrs. Elizabeth Coombs widdow to Mr. Coombs, the great Anabaptist, is alive. She was a lively hearty Christian when I lived at Salisbury and I am confident would rejoice greatly to See you ; being an old freind of my father's. If you go thither I presume that you will find many old freinds that will rejoice much to see you. But I fear such [ruine ?] coming on England that I wish you here. To the g[racious father of our] Dear Jesus I [commend] you resting your and loving father, Thomas Thacher. Your sister Betty is newly recovered blessed be God from a sore dysentery flux, which is malignant and hath taken away many. To B. D. your salutations were very acceptable. Your brother Thomas is not yet returned from New York, but is expected dayly. The Lord bring him in safety. Your brother Ralph and his family as also your brother Thomas's for ought I understand are all in health. If you can, get Ames Medulla and cases in English for your brother Ralph, do it and forget it not. [Here follows a sentence in short- hand.1] Once again I commend you to the grace and Benediction of God according to his everlasting covenant. 18. 8. 76. This day came news to hand, that Mr. Joslin was deserted by those in the garrison whilst he was treating with the Indians. So that he and foure more men with three women were faine to flee in the night ; 1 [Mr. William P. Upham, who is very to your [stepjmother, and if there be skilful in such matters, renders the anything you would not have her read, sentence in short-hand as follows :" Also, write it in Greek, and forget not your in all your letters, to present your duty brothers."] 212 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. one of the women dyd by the way ; they fled in old canoos to a place not far from Piscataqua ; so that Mr. Joslin was innocent in that mat- ter.1 Present my service to my brother and sister Barker and love to my Sonne and Daughter Sheaf.2 Her mother received great comfort in the letter she sent and doth vehemently long for their returne. Mr. Hull mentions in his diary, in the spring of 1676, the death of several prominent men, among them two of the founders of the Third Church : April 5, Simon Willard, one of the first set- tlers of Concord, and father of the Rev. Samuel Willard, " a pious, orthodox man ; " he died at Charlestown, during a session of the court of assistants ; April 24, " our good friend and partner," Peter Lidget ; May 14, Hezekiah Usher, " a pious and useful mer- chant;" 3 May 15, Richard Russell, magis- trate and county treasurer ; May 16, Joshua Atwater, whose granddaughter, Mary Clark, married the Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton ; May 24, William Davis. Samuel Sewall records a fast at the house of Mr. Benjamin Gibbs, "for Mr. Thacher," who was ill, May 23, 1676; he was better on the 24th, and on that day, Wednesday, the Rev. Sam- uel Willard preached the lecture for him, which we suppose to 1 ["Sabbath day, Aug. 20, [1676] we heard the amazing newes of sixty persons killed at Quinebeck, by barbarous In- dians, of which were Captain Lake, Mr. Collicot, Mr. Padashell. Dilati sunt in futurum" " October 1 5. This day we have in- telligence that the Garrison at Black- point is surrendered to the Indians. Note, Captain Scottow at home, here at Boston." "March 13 [1676-7]. Captain Lake, the Remainder of his Corps, was hon- ourably buried." " Captain Thomas Lake was, with sev- eral others, surprised and killed by the Indians on August 14, near a fort on Arow- sick Island, Maine, during the continu- ance of the war at the eastward. He had escaped to another island, and his fate was not known, nor his mangled body recovered, till many months after- wards. His monument may be seen on Copp's Hill, where he was interred, though it is not decorated with the coat of arms shown in Bridgman's Inscrip- tions." See Sewall's Dia7-yP\ 2 [Perhaps Sampson Sheaffe and his wife Mehitable, daughter of Jacob Sheaffe and his wife Margaret, after- ward Mrs. Thacher.] 3 The Old South Church has a chalice which we suppose to have been the gift of Mr. Usher. It is eight inches in height, and has four marks: 1, lion pas- sant ; 2, leopard's head, crowned ; 3, date-letter, indistinct ; 4, maker's mark, M, mullet below, heart-shaped shield. It bears the inscription, The Gift of H. V. Senior. (See the above cut.) The same maker's mark is found on London-made plate, 1659-1672. See Old Plate, Ecclesiastical, etc., by J. H. Buck, p. 174. SAMUEL SEW ALL. 21 3 have been a lecture preparatory to the communion.1 Sewall says : " Being distressed with melancholy, and troubled con- cerning my state, I was relieved by Mr. Willard's sermon, espe- cially at two places quoted," namely, " I will show thee the path of life," and " Now unto him that is able to keep you from fall- ing," etc. Until now Mr. Thacher had had no assistance for any length of time in the duties of the pastorate, and no col- league had been settled because the church had been unable to obtain the right man for the position. The destruction of Gro- ton by the Indians and the dispersion of the church there sent an excellent minister, Mr. Willard, to Boston, and two years later, having preached more or less for the South Church, he was installed as its colleague pastor. On the 28th of February, in the same year, Samuel Sewall married Hannah, only child of John Hull, and became a mem- ber of the South congregation. He speaks in his diary, to which we shall so often recur in this history, of the benefit he derived from Mr. Thacher's preaching, and, at length, of his desire to become a member of his church. Jan. 22 1676-7. Went to Mr. Thachers, found him at home, mentioned my desire of communion with his Church, rehearsed to him some of my discouragements, as, continuance in Sin, wandering in prayer. He said 'twas thought that was the Sin Paul speaks of, Rom. vii. At my coming away said he thought I ought to be encour- aged. March 19. Went to Mr. Thachers. He not within, so walkt with Capt. Scottow on the Change till about 5, then went again, yet he not come.2 At last came Elder Rainsford, after, Mr. Thacher, who took us up into his Chamber ; went to prayer, then told me I had liberty to tell what God had done for my soul. After I had spoken, 1 See SewalFs Diary, vol. i. p. 52. is now Washington Street, on the corner 2 [Evidently, Mr. Thacher lived near opposite the foot of Cornhill and near the Town House, the first floor of which Dock Square. was open and was used as an exchange. See Mass. Archives, vol. B xv. p. 163, Sewall says in his Diary, October 12, 1 69 1, for petition of Margaret Sheaffe to the — " training-day," — that he dined in the General Court, in 1662, for a title to the late Mr. Thacher's study, with Major house and land of Martha, widow of Richards, Major-General Winthrop, Mr. John Coggan (we suppose the Albion Willard, Captain Scottow, and others, lot, on the corner of Tremont and Bea- and that Major Richards had served his con streets), for which Mrs. Sheaffe had time in the house to Major Gibbons, paid the purchase-money to Mrs. Cog- We suppose, therefore, that this dinner gan before the latter, having been left took place in the house which had be- by the Lord " to Sathan's temptations, longed to Edward Gibbons, who died in which was too strong for her, made 1652; it stood on the east side of what away with herself."] 214 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. prayed again. Before I came away told him my Temptations to him alone, and bad him acquaint me if he knew anything by me that might hinder justly my coming into Church. He said he thought I ought to be encouraged, and that my stirring up to it was of God. Friday, March 30. I, together with Gilbert Cole, was admitted into Mr. Thacher's Church, making a solemn covenant to take the Lord Jehovah for our God, and to walk in Brotherly Love and watch- fulness to Edification. Goodman Cole first spake, then I, then the Relations of the Women [Anne Gannet, Rebecca Hackett] were read : as we spake so were we admitted ; then altogether covenanted. Prayed before, and after.1 In anticipation of the settlement of an associate minister with Mr. Thacher, the members of the Third Church, by the desire of Mrs. Norton, had enlarged her dwelling-house to make it available for the purposes of a parsonage, and it is possible that Dr. Hoar lived here for a time on his arrival from England. Mrs. Norton now executed a deed of the land upon which the addition to her house had been built, and this was her second deed to the Third Church. To all Christian People to whome these presents shall come Mary Norton Relict Widdow and Executrix of the Last Will and testament of the late Reverend and her deare Husband Mr. John Norton Teacher of the ffirst Church of Christ in Boston in the County of Suffolke in the Collony of the Massathewets in New England send- eth greeting Know Ye that I the said Mary Norton for divers good causes and considerations me moveing thereunto Especially for and in Consideration of that Endeared affection that my Late Deare hus- band did beare unto his and my assured friends Capt. Thomas Sav- age Mr. Edward Rawson Mr. John Hull Mr. William Davis Mr. Hez- ekiah Usher Mr. Peter Oliver Mr. Joshua Scottow Mr. Edward Rayns- ford Mr. Richard Truesdaile and Mr. Jacob Elliott all of the said Boston in confidence of their faithfullness did on the first day of April 1669 give and grant unto the persons abovementioned a certain peece and parcell of my Orchard and Land to build them a meeting house upon and for the building of an house for the Ministry as in that Deed Refference thereunto being had : amply doth and may ap- peare : And in remembrance of their faithfull love to me since my said late deare husbands death and their Erecting a meeting house on the place and becoming a Church of Christ with whome I have held 1 See SewalPs Diary, vol. i. pp. 46, 47, table. " I have been exceedingly tor- for a statement of the doubts with which mented in my mind, sometimes lest the he was troubled in joining the church and Third church should not be in God's way in coming for the first time to the Lord's in breaking; off from the old," etc. MRS. NORTON'S SECOND DEED. 21 5 communion ever since : And the Deacons of the said Church Looke- ing to and after the repaireing of my dwelling house wherein I live : Upon their invitation and comeing of the late Reverend Doctor Leonard Hoare, and for an habitation for a Minister on my desire and encouragement they have beene at the sole charge of that now ad- ditionall end or building of a Cellar and house over it Kitchen Hall Cambers [sic] and Garratts : having promised them to give them the Land on which they built with some priviledges thereunto In per- formance of which my faithfull promise Know all men that I the said Mary Norton Have absolutely clearely and fully given granted bar- gained sold aliened enfeoffed and confirmed, and by these presents Doe absolutely give grant bargain sell aliene enfeoffe and confirme unto them the said Thomas Savage Edward Rawson John Hull Joshua Scottow Edward Raynsford and Jacob Elliott yet alive and to such as they have associated unto them in Church ffellowship or shall be asso- ciated to them and to their heires and successors for ever for the Ends and purposes in the first abovementioned Deed of Aprill the first 1669 is fully and amply declaired Reference thereto being had may appeare all that peece of Land on which they built the said Addi- tionall Cellar Kitchen Hall Chambers garratts as it is adjoyned to the Easterly part of my now dwelling house being in breadth twenty two foot and in Length from my said house to the Gateway that goes into my Orchard with full and free liberty to them the said Thomas Sav- age Edward Rawson John Hull Joshua Scottow Edward Raynsford and Jacob Elliott their heires and associates as above said of ffree Egress and Regress up and down the stares on all their occasions into their Cellar and Chambers and Garratts : with free use of the Kitchen Cellar and Chimney for their washing and brewing from time to time : So as they Interfere not with the Brewing and washing dayes of such minister or ministers as shall inhabitt and dwell in that part of the dwelling house I now live in : With Liberty in and priviledge of the yard to Lay twenty Chords of wood in : And also to pass through both the yards at one End and at the other : and the orchard to the meeting house from time to time and at all times as they and their heires or successors shall or may have occasion To have and to hold the granted peece or parcell of Land with the house thereon Erected with the libertyes priviledges and appurtenances thereunto bounded and belonging as above Expressed for the Ends and uses of the min- istry that now is or from time to time shall be called by them the said Thomas Savage Edward Rawson John Hull Joshua Scottow Edward Raynsford and Jacob Elliott and such as now are associated to them : or shall be associated to that Church Society forever their heires and assignes for their publick worshiping of God : for the use of their min- isters or ministry orderly chosen by the said Society being the third Church of Christ in Boston from time to time and at all times for ever 2l6 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. And I the said Mary Norton sole Executrix of my late Reverend Deare husband John Nortons Last will and Testament for me my heires Ex- ecutors and Administrators doe Covenant promise and grant to and with the said Thomas Savage Edward Rawson John Hull Joshua Scot- tow Edward Raynsford and Jacob Elliott their and every of their heires and successors members of the said Society : by these presents that I the said Mary Norton now am and at the Ensealing hereof stand and be the true and proper owner of the above granted premisses and that I have good Right full power and Lawfull authority to give grant bar- gaine and confirme the same unto the said Thomas Savage Edward Rawson John Hull Joshua Scottow Edward Raynsford and Jacob Elliott and Company which they shall associate to them selves and their successors and heires forever And that the said Thomas Sav- age Edward Rawson John Hull Joshua Scottow Edward Raynsford and Jacob Elliott and their Company which now are or they shall associate to them selves shall and may at all times for ever hereafter have hold possess and enjoy all the above given and granted premisses to the use and uses intents and purposes as above is Expressed without the Least Lett denyall or contradiction of me the said Mary Norton my heires Executors administrators or assignes or by any other person or persons whatsoever having claimeing or pretending to have or claime any title Right or interest therein or by from or under my late Reverend and Deare Husband Mr. John Norton deceased or either of our heires Executors administrators or assignes In Witness whereof I the said Mary Norton have hereunto set my hand and seale the thirtieth day of June in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred seventy and seven and in the twenty ninth year of his Majesties Reigne Mary Norton [Seal] Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of us the grantees being al- ready in possession of the above granted premisses Jno Hubbard John Hayward scr This Instrument was acknowledged by Mrs. Mary Norton to be her act and deed this 30th of June 1677 before mee Simon Bradstreet Assist Boston Jany 13th 1S04 Received and Entered with Suffolk Deeds Lib 207 fol° 241 per Wm Alline Regr. In the summer of 1677, the good people of Massachusetts suffered from one of those incursions which it was more diffi- THE QUAKERS. 21 7 cult to know how to deal with and successfully to resist than any Indian raids against which they had to defend themselves. The savages who came stealthily upon peaceful villages and helpless women and children, with torch and tomahawk, could be met only in one way. There must be war. There was no question that force must be used, until the leaders in the cruel assaults were vanquished and slain, and their followers intimi- dated if not pacified. But the come-outers, the Quakers, who now again invaded the colony, disturbed the public peace, and testified, not in season, but out of season, against the established institutions both of government and religion, against both magis- trates and ministers, railing at them in the streets and denoun- cing them in the meeting-houses, — how could they be silenced and suppressed ? They prophesied in the name of the Lord ; they claimed to be the followers of Jesus Christ ; many of them were women. They would not listen to reason ; they would not yield to entreaty. There could be no rest for the colonists, as it seemed, while they remained among them ; there was nothing to be done, therefore, but to expel them. When they came back, as they did again and again, it is not strange that they were treated as brawlers, enemies to the peace of the people, and outlaws, and that they received in their persons the penal- ties inflicted at the time upon both sides of the ocean on such offenders.1 Dr. Ellis, in the Puritan Age, has brought to light a petition to the General Court in the autumn of 1658, signed by twenty- five of the leading men of Boston, against the Quakers as " pro- 1 It is very difficult for US to recognize " With its gentler mission of peace and good-will, in the amiable and peace-loving Friends The .«»^.'»i i liViiiiWiii"- n i imJiii .§ 4B1 >^ 1^ ^ ^ ^ ^ v s w 5^ \ xo MRS. NORTON AND THE THIRD CHURCH. 225 ton to convey her real estate to the Third Church, mention is made of " disbursements for her in repayring her dwelling house, and afterwards taking downe six chimneys and building new in their place etc, errecting a new end and addition to the said dwelling house, paying and discharging severall debts and legacies which shee had resolved by her last will and testa- ment should be paid, in all to the value of five hundred pounds at least, as in the deacons bookes of accounts do appeare." From this statement, it appears that the Third Church paid at various times to Mrs. Norton and to her estate five hundred pounds, New England money, against the gift by her, at various times, of property for which her husband, in 1659, Pa^ two hundred pounds sterling. This, however, was not all. When Samuel Sewall was in England in 1689, he " paid forty pounds to the heirs of Mr. Stephen Winthrop, for releases of Meeting- house Ground " and his own warehouse.1 The church, there- fore, paid for the land which came into its possession all that it was worth at the time, and perhaps considerably more. In say- ing this, we do not desire to detract in the slightest degree from the credit of Mrs. Norton as one of the founders and benefac- tors of the Third Church. She was warmly attached to the men and women with whom she had cast in her lot, and to the principles for the sake of which she and they had seceded from the old church. She intended, no doubt, to make a contribu- tion as valuable as that of any other founder, and whether or not her intention was literally fulfilled, she deserves honorable and grateful remembrance from the membership in every gen- eration. As we have already said, she would never have thought of claiming for her gift any consideration beyond and above that accorded to the gifts of John Hull, Thomas Savage, and the other founders of the church ; certainly, she never would have consented to the imposition for all time upon the Third Church, with which she was in full sympathy, of conditions which she did not lay upon the First Church, by whose recent 1 Sewall Papers, vol. i. p. 286. Winthrops, on account of the Land On the return voyage from England the South Meeting House stands on, Sewall wrote in his diary, concerning be given the persons concerned, that this payment, November 20, 16S9: "If so I [who?] have done them no good, it should Please God, who is Righteous may doe them no hurt. Provided no in all his Ways, and Holy in all his damage happen by a Bond I have given Works, to put an End to my Life be- the Winthrops, or one of their Husbands, fore I come to Boston, my Desire is a Copy of which is in my Papers." — . . . that the Money laid out with the Ibid., vol. i. p. 282. 226 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. action she had been much aggrieved. To this latter church she bequeathed one hundred pounds, to be used according to its discretion ; upon what she gave or intended to give to the former, she could not have wished to keep a mortmain grasp for all time. We should not have thought it necessary to be thus explicit on this subject, if it had not become the habit of those outside the church and congregation, who from time to time seek to meddle in the direction of its affairs, to invoke the name of Mary Norton, and to make her liberality a pretext for their interference. Mr. Willard was admitted to the membership of the South Church February 12, 1677-S, and was installed as colleague pastor, or teacher, a few weeks later, March 31. No particu- lars of the installation services have come down to us. He was a son of Simon Willard, one of the first settlers of Concord, — a very prominent man in the colony. Samuel was born in Concord, January 31, 1640, and graduated at Harvard College in 1659. On the 13th of July, 1664, as we learn from the Rox- bury Church Records, a church was gathered at Groton, and he was ordained as its minister.1 He had been preaching there for several months, and the town had voted " That Mr. Willard, if he will accept it, shall be their minister as long as he lives, which Mr. Willard accepts, except a manifest Providence of God appeared to take him off." Such a providence appeared in 1676, when, on the 13th of March, the village was destroyed by the Indians, and the little flock was dispersed.2 Mr. Wil- lard came to Boston, and we hear of his beginning to preach almost immediately at the Third Church, of which his father had been from the first a steadfast friend. Of his removal hither, Mr. Pemberton said in a funeral sermon, preached thirty years later : — 1 Mr. Willard married, August S, 1664, ing and begin to repair our habitations Abigail, daughter of the Rev. John Sher- again, if God permit ; and for the true man, of Watertown ; and, secondly, July performance of this agreement we do 29, 1679, Eunice, daughter of Edward engage the forfeiture of our whole right Tyng. in Groton unto those who do go up and 2 Many of the people went to Concord, carry on the work." and remained there until the spring of Soon after the resettlement of the 1678. At a town meeting of the inhab- town, measures were taken for the erec- itants of Groton, held in Concord on the tion of a new meeting-house. Mr. YYil- 12th of December, 1677, "such as were lard, however, had gone to Boston, and present did then and there agree, that if had accepted a call to the pulpit of the the Providence of God prevent not by South Church. The Rev. Gershom Ho- death or sickness, or by the enemy, that bart was settled as his successor. — But- then we will go up in the spring follow- ler's History of Groton, pp. 85, S6. THE REV. SAMUEL WILLARD. 227 At first in his younger years, his master committed to his pastoral care a flock in a more obscure part of this wilderness : But so great a light was soon observed through the whole land : And his Lord did not design to bury him in obscurity, but to place him in a more eminent station, which he was qualify'd for. The providence that occasioned his removal to this place was an awful judgment upon the whole land ; yet was eventually a mercy in this respect, that it made way for the translation of this bright star to a more conspicuous orb ; where his influence was more extensive and beneficial ; and in this it was a great blessing to this congregation, to this town, nay, to all New England. In the same sermon, we have a very full and discriminating estimate of Mr. Willard's qualifications for the conspicuous position to which he was now called. " In him, bountiful heaven was pleased to cause a concurrence of all those natural and acquired, moral and spiritual excellencies, which are necessary to constitute a great man, a profound divine, a very consider- able scholar, and an heavenly Christian." " The God of nature was pleased with a liberal hand to bestow on him those natural intellectual endowments, which laid the foundation of great improvement in knowledge. And did from his youth presage uncommon service for God and his people, which his master had designed him for. In natural endowments, he appeared as the elder son among many brethren : in these very few, if any, could pretend to stand upon a level with him." We learn fur- ther that he had a copious fancy and a quick and accurate per- ception ; in argument he was profound and clear. His piety was consistent, devoted, self-denying, and confiding. His learn- ing was extensive and solid, especially in theology, which was his favorite study, "and a great divine must of necessity be a great clerk." " His discourses, were all elaborate, acute and judicious ; the matter being always weighty, and his subjects well chosen, suited to the state of his flock, and every way adapted to make them wiser and better. His common discourses might have been pronounced with applause before an assembly of the great- est divines." "His style was masculine, not perplexed, but easy as well as strong." His delivery was characterized by " gravity, courage, zeal and prudence, and with tender solicitude for perishing souls. And, when the matter required it, no man could speak with greater pathos and pungency." " He knew how to be a son of thunder to the secure and hardened, and a 228 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. son of consolation to the contrite and broken in spirit." " His public prayers were always pertinent and pathetical, animated with a spirit of devotion and" marked by "an uncommon com- pass of thought." As a pastor, he was distinguished for "pru- dence, faithfulness and impartiality." " All his talents and acquisitions were consecrated " to the service of Christ, and over the whole was shed the lustre of a " remarkable and unaffected modesty," and a "spirit truly pacific." He was ardently at- tached to the work of the ministry, and unusually diligent in performing its various duties.1 After Mr. Willard had been admitted to the church, but be- fore his ordination, a vote was passed which was recorded by him, and which undoubtedly had his approval. It was a step towards the mitigation of the severe rules which then governed the admission of members to the churches. 1 [We have in our possession a paper containing an abstract evidently made from an account-book kept by the dea- cons, which shows the sums paid to the various pastors from 1669 to 1740, with other items of expenditure. We copy it entire : — 1669 Dec 19 Mr. Thacher 1st minister 40/ p Week Contributed this year from 7 to S£ Ministers had provisions etc. sent in to the Value of 130/. Bell cost £\Z. Deacons Frary and Eliot Brackett Tomp- son [There is a mistake in connection with the last name. It should be Williams.] A present of ,£20 made Mr. Thacher ) 1672 ; Do 20 Do 1674 Do 5 Mrs. Norton > ^75 I Help by the Ministers pd. p the Ch. @ 20/ p diem Revd. Mr. Willard settled 1678, his wood allowed him cost 8/ p Cord. 1677-8 Contrib. abt no/, p Week 1679 raised to 140/. 1685 abt no/, from 1686 to 1694 abt 100/. to 1703 abt no/. Mr. Willards Salary 60/ ) Mr. Pembertons Do 40/ ) 1701 The Ch. allowed Mr. Willard ^10 p annum for Entertaining the Elders, be- sides abt £6 for Every Election After Mr. Willards Death 1707 Mr. Pemberton had 50/ and presently after 60/ p Week Salary, and 20/ for help. Deacons Hill, Checkley, Green, Hench- man, Simpson Hubbard. Contrib. 1703 To 1708 150/ To 170/ To 1711 abt 180/. 1711 and 12 abt ^"12 dureing the Old Ch. meeting there after- wards abt £8. The Ch. allowed Mrs. Willard £40 p annum for her Support and ^10 for Entertaining, for 4 years after his Death and then the same to Mr. Pemberton for Election and Elders. Dr. Sewall invited to preach 17 13 allowed him 20 p Week Settled Sept. and then 40/ Anno 1714 50/ and Mr. P. 70/ 1716 Mar. Dr. Sewall 60/. 1719. Oct. 65/. 1725 July 85/ 1730 Aug. 120/. 1740 May 180/. Mr. Prince preacht 1st time after his return from London Aug 26 17 17. Set- tled in 1718 @ 40/. p Week 1719 Oct 65/. 1725 July 85/. 1730 Aug. 120/. 1740 May 1S0/. Capt Belcher left ^50. Legacy to the Ch.] DEATH OF MR. THACHER. 229 February 14, 1678. At a Church meeting ; That it shall be left to the discretion of the Eldership ; in case any that desire fellowship with the Church, through scruple of Conscience shall bee unwilling to consent that his Relation shall be read before the Church, apprehending it not to bee according to rule to require it ; and they shall otherwise Judge him a person desirable for communion ; that the relation of such person or persons given to the Elders, and by them attested to the church, shall be received as if it had bin made before the Church, provided that in other cases our common and con- stant practice shall be attended. Consented to by the Church. Mr. Thacher did not long survive to enjoy the benefits of the co-pastorate, nor was he permitted to see the completion of the first decade of the church's history. Under his min- istry the admissions to its membership had increased from the original twenty-eight to two hundred and seventeen ; but only in elevated spiritual vision could he have anticipated its future enlargement, influence, and prosperity. Only to the borders of the promised land might he go with the people of God whose wise and honored leader he had been through many hard and bitter experiences. Cotton Mather gives the following account of Mr. Thacher's last sermon, — preached at the North Church, — and of his sick- ness and death : — It happened that this excellent man preached for my father a ser- mon on 1 Peter iv. 18: "The righteous scarcely saved; "the last words of which sermon were, " When a saint comes to die, then often it is the hour and the power of darkness with him ; then is the last opportunity that the devil has to vex the people of God ; and hence they then sometimes have the greatest of their distresses. Do not think him no godly man that then meets with doubts and fears ; our Lord Jesus Christ then cries out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? God help us that as we live by faith, so we may walk in it ! " And these proved the last words that ever he uttered in any sermon whatever. For visiting a sick person, after his going out of the assembly, he got some harm, which turned into a fever, whereof he did, without any " hour and power of darkness " upon his own holy mind, expire on October 15, 167S.1 1 [Mr. Thacher is supposed to have penses amounted to ^45.6.3. His li- been buried in Mr. Sheaffe's tomb, in brary was valued by Increase Mather King's Chapel burying -ground; but and John Usher at £1 10, and consisted strange to say, there is no inscription to of 160 volumes in folio, 120 in quarto, show that this was so. His funeral ex- 130 in octavo, with a considerable num- 230 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Among the many tributes to his memory, perhaps the most interesting is a Greek verse, written by Eleazar, an Indian youth then studying in Harvard College, and preserved for us in the Magnalia ; the following is a translation : — Though earth contains his dust, his name is yet immortal: It shall light the future ages as o'er the past it beamed : While his soul, set free from prison, seeks the ever-open portal Where the shining ones are waiting to welcome the redeemed. Mr. Thacher's youngest son, Peter, arrived in Boston, on his return from England, May 9, 1677. He kept house here in 1679, occasionally supplying the pulpits of the Second and Third churches. There are a few entries in his diary, at this time, which seem to belong to our history. March 2. I preached at the South Church in the afternoon for Mr. Willard. My text was out of the 94 Ps. n v about the vanity of thought [The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.] the Lord was pleased gratiously to help and assist both in praying and preaching, blessed be his holy name, tho I was greatly surprized with fear and sorrow remembring my Honoured and Dear Father. March 16. I heard Mr. Willard both parts of the day. . . . About 4 aclock the morning Governor Leverit Dyed. April 3. I was at a fast at the first church in Boston occasioned by the death of Governor Leveret. Mr. Mather preached in the fore- noon Isa. 3 — 1. 2. 3, in the afternoon Mr. Willard prayed, then Mr. Allen preached 34 Ps. 18. there was much of god to be seen in carry- ing forth his servants both in preaching and praying. April 27. This day was Sacrament at our Church which I was at. Mr. Willard preached in the morning Mr. Foster in the afternoon.1 May 25. Was the Sabbath and I was at the South Church both parts of the day heard Mr. Willard of Christs being altogether lovely and Mr. Higginson 8 Ezek 15 this day I received the sacrament. August 7. Night about Twelve or one a Clock there was fire brock out at Grosses and prevailed exceedingly for soe much that most of the considerable warehouses were burnt and abundance of dwelling Houses. Mr. Ting Mr. Nowell &c. were burnt out of house and home. It is judged that there was consumed by the fire above five and twenty hundred thousand pound \sic\ lost in that fire. I was to preach the ber of small books. The inventory of his and Peter Thacher. He succeeded the estate included " 1 negro maide Nan " Rev. Joseph Haynes as pastor of the and " 1 negro man Franke." Mrs. First Church, Hartford, in 1679 or 1680, Thacher died February 24, 1693-4.] and died " in his prime or youth," August 1 [We suppose this was the Rev. Isaac 20, 1682. See Walker's History of the F"oster, a classmate of Samuel Sewall First Ch. in Hartford, pp. 212-220.] THE SYNOD OF 1679. 23 1 next Sabbath for Mr. Willard and had almost prepared upon the Heb. but when I saw the fire mind soe run upon the 4. Amos 1 1 [" Ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning"] that I must preach upon it the next Sabbath. This fire was the most dreadful that ever was in New England. It was Judged to be wilfully done, the wind dureing the fire was very little and that which was, was favourable. It was North West as I Judged but as soon as ever the fire stayed the wind came East and North East a very fresh gaile which if it had done soe before it would have carried most of the towne.1 Aug 24. Sabbath, I was at the South Church both parts and heard Mr. Willard. This day wee had a Contribution for those that were burnt out to which I gave five shillings. After this the Church stayed to chouse Messengers for the Synod, and Major Savage, Capt. Hull and myselfe were chose to Joyne with the Elders. The last entry brings us to the Synod of 1679, known as the Reforming Synod. There had been a long period of material prosperity in the colony. Hutchinson says that "the colony about this time [1669] made a greater figure than it ever did at any other time. Their trade was as extensive as they could wish. Some of the magistrates and principal merchants grew very rich, and a spirit of industry and economy prevailed throughout the colony." The same historian says, also, that during this time there had been a gradual and rapid decline of religious life, the effect in part, as was believed, of the prevailing worldly prosperity, but more especially of " the mingling of politics and religion from the beginning," and the " prostituting of the mys- teries of our holy religion to mere secular views and advan- tages." This condition of affairs gave great uneasiness to the more sober-minded and religious portion of the community ; it was seriously and earnestly discoursed upon in several elec- tion sermons as well as in the regular pulpit utterances of the clergy ; and to quote the words of Thomas Prince, " it grew very visible and threatening, and was generally complained of and bewailed bitterly by the pious." The feeling of sorrow was soon succeeded by one of alarm, for, as was thought, the dis- pleasure of the Most High began to be manifested in the events of his providence. "Consuming disasters befel the labors of the husbandman ; losses at sea were uncommonly numerous ; 1 [John Hull thus describes the extent Mill Creek to Mr. Oliver's dock, not one of this fire : " Aug. 8. About midnight house nor warehouse left ; and up from began a fire in Boston, an alehouse, my warehouse to Mr. Skerret's, thence which, by sunrise, consumed the body of to Mr. Hezekiah Usher's, thence to Mr. the trading part of the towne : from the Thacher's, thence to Thomas Fitch's."] 232 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. desolating fires wasted the chief seats of trade ; a dreadful pesti- lence raged through the colony ; and, in the political horizon, a cloud was gathering of most portentous aspect." On the other hand, Cotton Mather gives us a much less gloomy view of the moral and religious character of the colony at this time. He says : " New England was not become so de- generate a country, but that there yet was preserved in it far more of serious religion, as well as of blameless morality, than was proportionably to be seen in any country upon the face of the earth." In May, 1679, the General Court, in compliance with a me- morial addressed to it by John Eliot, Increase Mather, and eighteen others, "reverend elders," called upon the churches to send elders and messengers to a synod to be held in the follow- ing September. We give a copy of the call addressed to Mr. Willard, which is still preserved on the files of the church, with a private note from Mr. Secretary Rawson accompanying it. It is addressed : These fore the Rever'd Mr. Saml Willard, Teacher to the 3d Church in Boston To be communicated to the Church. Rev'nd. Sir. These are only to inform yourself and church of the underwritten Generall Court's Answer and order, not doubting of your and their obedience and complyance therewith at the time, remayning Your friend and servant Edw. Rawson Secty Boston nth July 1679 At a Generall Court held at Boston, 28th of May 1679 : In answer to a motion made by some of the Reverend elders, that there might be a convening of the Elders and messengers of the churches in the form of a Synod, fore the revisall of the platforme of discipline agreed upon by the churches 1647 ; and what else may appeare necessary for the preventing schisms, heresies, profaneness, and the establishment of the churches in the faith and order of the Gospel : This Court doe approve of the said motion ; and order their assembling for the ends aforesaid, on the second Wednesday in September next at Boston. And the Secretary is required to give seasonable notice hereof to the several churches. And it is further ordered that the charge of this meeting shall be borne by the churches respectively. By order of the Court Edw Rawson Sectry. Questions given in were. 1 Quest. What are the evils that have provoked the Lord to bring his judgments on New England ? 2 Quest. What is to be done that so those evils may be reformed ? THE REFORMING SYNOD. 233 While the several churches were really independent in the management of their own affairs, the mutual relations of church and state were such that they could be brought together au- thoritatively, to take united action, whenever any seeming exigency required it. Nor does the calling of a synod by the General Court seem so strange, when we know that all the members of the court were also church-members, and that there- fore the whole body of freemen in the court was only a meeting of representatives of all the churches. " In the General Courts of magistrates and deputies, none but church-members could legally sit, or have a voice in choosing others to sit. . . . Thus, when the General Court took cognizance of ecclesiastical affairs, it was but the whole body of the church legislating for its parts ; and this, with the important peculiarity that all the legislators by whom the church exercised its supreme power were of the laity. The system had no element of prelacy or presbytery : it was pure democracy installed in the ecclesiastical government." : The proposal for a synod was received and acted upon by the churches with becoming solemnity. A general fast was ob- served, " that the gracious presence and Spirit of God might be obtained " for its direction. At the appointed time, September 10, a very full representation from the churches convened in Boston. Mr. Willard was present, and Edward Raynsford, John Hull, Thomas Savage, and Peter Thacher accompanied him, as messengers from the Third Church.2 Mr. Sherman, of Water- town, and Mr. Oakes, of Cambridge, were chosen moderators. The deliberations began with " a day of prayer with fasting before the Lord." " Several days were spent in discoursing upon the two grand questions laid before them, with utmost liberty granted unto every person to express his thoughts there- 1 Palfrey's Hist, of N. E)ig., vol. ii. p. prevented by our Testimony, wee are 40. willing to send our Messengers to it : 2 The First Church voted, August 5, Tho whatever is theire determined, wee to send its elders and messengers to the looke upon and judge to bee no further Synod, but evidently with some hesita- binding to us than the light of Gods tion, fearing, possibly, that the questions word is thereby cleared to our Con- at issue between it and the Third Church sciences." This last sentence contains might be brought forward. To its vote the very essence of Congregationalism, it added this proviso : " Tho wee doe No synod or council has any right to not see light for the calling of a Synod legislate for the local churches. It may att this time, yett there being one called : commend its views "unto the serious that what good theare is or may bee consideration of all the churches and motioned may bee encouraged and evill people," but beyond this it may not go. 234 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. upon. A committee was then appointed to draw up the mind of the assembly ; which being done, it was read over once and again, and each paragraph distinctly weighed ; and then, upon mature deliberation, the whole was unanimously voted, and presented unto the General Court." 1 In an act passed October 15, 1679, the Result was "commended unto the serious consideration of all the churches and people in the jurisdiction," and all persons were enjoined and required, " in their respective capacities, to a careful and diligent reformation of all those provoking evils mentioned therein, according to the true intent thereof, that so the anger and displeasure of God, many ways manifested, may be averted and his favor and blessing obtained." 2 The Synod appointed " a committee of elders " to draw up a confession of faith for the churches, and assembled again on the 1 2th of May, 1680, to take action upon what had been pre- pared. In the preface to the Confession it is said : " That which was consented unto by the elders and messengers of the Congregational churches in England, who met at the Savoy, being for the most part, some small variations excepted, the same with that which was agreed upon first by the Assembly at Westminster, and was approved of by the Synod at Cam- bridge in New England, anno 1648, as also by a General As- sembly in Scotland, was twice publicly read, examined and approved of; that little variation which we have made from the one, in compliance with the other, may be seen by those who please to compare them." Of the Confession of 1680 we would speak with the utmost respect. It is the work of great and good men. It is the result of the best thought of that and the preceding time upon the profound and awful questions with which it deals. It is a part of the history of the ancient churches of Massachusetts. These 1 ["16 Sept. 79. There was fast in from the Church to the Synocie." — Peter the Synod Mr. Higginson began and Thacher's MS. Diary. .] prayed, then Mr. Cobbet preached Isa 2 In this account of the Synod of 1679 63. 7. Mr. Buckley prayed, in the after- we have followed Dr. Wisner, who has noon Old Mr. Eliot prayed Mr. Mather condensed the statements of Mather in preached 99 Ps. 6. Then Mr. Cobbet the Magnalia, and Hutchinson in his went to prayer who was Exceeding in- History. Palfrey says of the Result larged. there was much of god appeared (drawn up by Increase Mather), that in him. I desire to blesse god for this it is " chiefly remarkable for its freedom day my heart was much drawen forth from that sectarian jealousy which would this day and in family prayer after ward." have marked any similar document in "6. Octo. 79. The deacons of our earlier times." It contains a passing Church came and brought mee five pound reference to the Quakers and Baptists, for preaching and being a Messenger but no repressive measures are proposed. OWNING THE COVENANT. 235 churches may never have adopted it formally, — it does not appear that the Old South ever adopted it by formal vote, — and it has no binding force upon them now; but it represents historically and authoritatively the doctrinal position of these churches and of their ministers in the seventeenth century, and it should always be read in the light of the period which pro- duced it, and never in the brighter and clearer light which shines upon our homes and altars to-day.1 ''Very remarkable," says Cotton Mather, " was the blessing of God on the churches " which conformed to the recommendations of the Synod, " not only by a great advancement of holiness in the people, but also by a great addition of converts to their holy fellowship. And many thousand spectators," he adds, " will testify that they never saw the special presence of God our Saviour more notably discovered than in the solemnity of these opportunities." The additions to the Third Church dur- ing the next six or twelve months were not as many as from such a statement as this we should expect to find ; but we can- not help thinking that the register is defective here, as we know it to be elsewhere, for only two admissions are recorded during the entire year 1681, — Eunice, second wife of the Rev. Mr. Willard, and Mary Baker. We have, however, striking evidence of the religious interest which prevailed among the families of the congregation at this time in the register of the baptismal covenant, and an illustra- tion also, as we think, of the light in which this covenant was regarded, and how it was made use of by the first members of this church. On the 30th of April, 1680, seventy-nine persons owned the covenant ; of these, at least thirty were children of the founders. So far as we can judge, they were all, or nearly all, young people, and this was their first step in the open con- fession of Christ's name and of their purpose to lead a religious life. Most of them in later years became members in full com- munion of this or some other church. Among the number were three children of Elder Raynsford, Solomon, Elizabeth (Grenough), and Mary ; three daughters of Deacon Frary, Han- 1 A manual was printed in 1841 (and only in a qualified sense, as explained in another edition in 1855), entitled The the text. Manuals had previously been Confession of Faith and Form of Cov- prepared, in 1826 and 1833, in which the enant of the Old South Church, etc., in same statement about the Confession of which the Confession of 1680 was given 16S0 was made, but only the Form of in full and was declared to be that of the Covenant adopted by the Church in 1769 Old South Church. This was correct was printed. 236 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. nah (Walker),1 Mehetabel (Lilly), and Abigail (Arnold) ; Joseph, son of Deacon Eliot;2 Mary, daughter of Thomas Savage, wife of Thomas Thacher, Jr., and mother of the Rev. Peter Thacher, of Weymouth, afterward of Boston ; Elizabeth, daugh- ter of John Alden, who married first John Walley (not the Hon. John Walley), and then Simon Willard ; four children of William Davis, Benjamin, one of the founders and first deacons of Brattle Street Church, Mary (Frost), Huldah (Raynsford), and Ruth (Royce) ; three children of William Dawes, Jonathan, Mary (Webster), and Rebecca (Marshall) ; two daughters of John Morse, Elizabeth (Eustis) and Hannah (Dawes); three sons of Edward Rawson, Grindall (the Rev. Grindall Rawson, of Mendham), William, and John ; two daughters of Mrs. Joanna Mason, Joanna (Breck) and Abigail (Gillam) ;3 three sons of Peter Oliver, Daniel, Nathaniel, and James ; two sons of Josiah Belcher, John and Jonathan ; Hannah, daughter of John Hull, and wife of Samuel Sewall ; 4 four children of Thomas Brattle, Thomas, afterward treasurer of Harvard College, William, afterward the Rev. William of Cambridge, Elizabeth, wife of Nathaniel Oliver, and Katharine, who married first John Eyre, and then Wait Winthrop ; three children of James Pemberton, Mary (Breame), Joseph, and Benjamin ; Abigail, daughter of the Rev. Samuel Willard, who married first the Rev. Benjamin Estabrook, and secondly the Rev. Samuel Treat ; Mehetabel, daughter of Benjamin Thurston; Daniel Ouincy ; John Eyre; and Joseph, son of Joseph Belknap. The Charlestown church had been twice bereaved since its kindly dismission of Mr. Thacher to the membership of the Third Church, with a view to his becoming its minister. Mr. Symmes died in 1671, having passed the limit of threescore years and ten, and Mr. Shepard in 1677, in the prime of life. The latter had borne the name of an honored father, the minis- ter of Cambridge, and had given it to a son who was destined 1 Hannah Frary married first Isaac 3 Arthur Mason did not join the Third Walker, and secondly Andrew Belcher, Church until 1704, about four years be- father of Jonathan Belcher, governor of fore he died. His daughter, Joanna, Massachusetts, and afterward of New called by John Dunton " the very Flower Jersey. of Boston," married first Robert Breck, 2 Asaph Eliot, another son of Deacon and then Michael Perry. She became a Eliot, owned the covenant two months member of the First Church. before, on the 23d of February. He died 4 Mrs. Sewall became a member of September 3, 1685. Sewall speaks of the church in full communion, 1 January, his sickness, death, and funeral, in his 16S8-9. It was during her husband's Diary, vol. i. p. 94. absence in England. AN ANCIENT LETTER-MISSIVE. 237 to succeed him in the pastorate. This young man graduated at Harvard College in 1676, — his only classmates being Thomas Brattle and Jeremiah Cushing, — and while he was yet little more than twenty years of age, says Cotton Mather, he preached his first sermon at Charlestown, " with a very charming, solid, and serious gravity," from the text Exod. xv. 2, " He is . . . my father's God, and I will exalt him." The hearts of the people were drawn towards him, and in due time they called him into the sacred succession. Their letter-missive to the Third Church, inviting it to the ordination, is the oldest document of the kind upon its files, and is worthy of careful perusal, both for the quaint and beautiful simplicity of its language, and for the light which it throws upon the fellowship of the churches at this time, as exhibited among them mutually in the settlement of their pastors. " The calling together of pastors and delegates from other churches " had grown " into a custom, though the inherent right of each church to ordain their own officers was constantly affirmed." "The calling in of councils to perform the ordination services was understood to be, in theory, nothing more nor less than the church itself performing them by proxy, on the principle qui facit per alium facit per se. In their rea- sonings on the subject, to leave the ultimate decision of the question to other churches, whether a company of believers should be a church and have a pastor, would be to adopt the Presbyterian rule, which they had no thought of adopting ; to leave it to the good pleasure of neighboring ministers would be to resume the yoke of prelacy, which they had just thrown off." x Honoured Reverend and Beloved in our Lord Jesus Christ. It having pleased God, after His afflicting hand upon us, by the death of our faithfull Shepard and frustration of other endeavours for supply, to Give us Some revivall by raising up the Son of our Blessed Shepard ; whom Judging by the observation and experience we have had of him not only to have drunk in the principles, but also to be very Considerably endued with the Amiable and Christian spirit of his father ; We have unanimously Called and prevailed with to under- take, with the help of God, the office of a Pastour among us. 1 Joseph S. Clark's Historical Sketch, siastical organism — independency or pp. 23, 24. The author says further: self-government — was not endangered " Every step taken towards uniformity thereby. So that these seeming re- and affiliation during this period [1630 to straints, which the usages of the times 1640] was taken with the utmost cau- were throwing upon their liberty, they re- tion, and not till it was clearly seen that gardedas merely the bonds of fellowship, the fundamental principle of their eccle- which did not trammel their freedom." 238 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. In order to the execution of that office we doe, according to the Custome of the Churches in these parts, by these our Letters entreat you to afford us the presence of your Teaching Officer with such other Messengers as shall seeme Good to you upon may the fifth next com- ing at nine in the morning, to joyn with the Elders and messengers of other Churches we have sent unto, in the Ordination of the Rever- end Mr. Thomas Shepard ; that so by the Laying on of the hands of the Presbytery, he may be lawfully authorized to discharge the worke of a Pastour in this part of God's flock. So craving your prayers to the great Shipheard for such an Influ- ence upon the Labours of our Shepard as may cause an Increase of his flock and the spirituall growth of each member therein, we com- mend you also to the same God and the word of his grace, and Rest Your Bretheren and Servants in Christ Jesus, Signed in the Name and by the Order of the Church of Christ in Charlestowne Laur. Hammond John Cutler Joseph Lynde John Phillips Tho : Greaves Charlestowne April 4 1680 We have a brief account 0. this ordination in Sewall's diary : — The reverend Mr. Thomas Shepard was ordained May 5, 1680 by Mr. Sherman, Mr. Oakes Giving the Right Hand of Fellowship. Mr. Sh.'s Text Heb. 13. 20 — That great Shepherd of the Sheep.1 Five years later this promising young pastor was gathered to his fathers. Simon Bradstreet, who was chosen governor of the colony on the death of John Leverett, joined the church, together with his wife,2 May 22, 1680. He was the son of a Non-conformist cler- 1 [Sewall's Diary, vol. i. p. 82. The letters-missive. Peter Bulkely wrote on text given above may have been that of the death of the first Thomas Shepard : Mr. Sherman's charge. Cotton Mather Fitly his name and office were the same : says that the pastor elect preached from Shepherd by office— Shepard too by name.] Ezek. xxxiii. 7, " O Son of man, I have set 2 Anne, second wife of Simon Brad- thee a watchman unto the house of Is- street, was a daughter of Emanuel Down- rael." At Mr. Shepard's funeral, June 9, ing, and widow of Joseph Gardner, who 1685, the bearers were Mr. Mather, Mr. was killed in King Philip's War. She Symmes, Mr. Willard, Mr. Hubbard, of was the junior by nearly forty years of Cambridge, Mr. Nathaniel Gookin, Mr. her second husband. They were mar- Cotton Mather. We see above how ried june 6, 1676. He died in 1697, she much play upon the name there was in the Jn 1713. SIMON BRADSTREET. 239 gyman, was born at Horbling, Lincolnshire, in 1603, was edu- cated at Emanuel College, Cambridge, and came to New Eng- land with Governor Winthrop in 1630. He was assistant forty- eight years, by annual election, deputy governor in 1678, and governor from 1679 t0 T6S6. He was one of the first settlers of Andover, and lived there for many years, but after the death of his first wife, Anne Dudley, a highly gifted woman, in 1672, he moved to Salem, and thence to Boston. He brought to the Third Church a letter from the First or North Church of Ando- ver, of which we give a reproduction slightly reduced in size : — One of the recommendations of the Reforming Synod had been the observance of seasons of special humiliation and prayer, accompanied by a public and solemn renewal of church covenants. The Third Church responded heartily to this rec- ommendation, and held a fast with great solemnity on the 29th of June, 1680, "publicly acknowledging their sins and the sins of the people at large, binding them to a faithful reformation, and consecrating themselves and their offspring anew to the 240 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. service of God." The form of covenant used on this occasion was entered upon the records by Mr.Willard, and was as fol- lows : — June 29 16S0 The Church renewed Covenant as followeth Wee who, through the exceeding riches of the grace and providence of God, do continue to be a church of Christ, being now assembled in the holy presence of God, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, after humble confession of our manifold breaches of the Covenant be- fore the Lord our God, and earnest supplication for pardoning mercy through the blood of Christ, and deep acknowledgment of our great unworthinesse to be owned to be the Lord's covenant people ; also ac- knowledging our own inability to keep covenant with God, or to per- forme any spirituall dutye, unlesse the Lord Jesus do enable us therto by his Spirit dwelling in us ; and being awfully sensible that it is a dreadfull thing for sinfull dust and ashes personally to transact with the infinitelye glorious majesty of heaven and earth : we do, in humble confidence of his gracious assistance and acceptance through Christ, each one of us for ourselves, and joyntly as a Church of the Living God, explicitly renew our covenant with God and one with another, in manner and forme following, i. e. We do give up ourselves to that God whose name alone is Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the one only true and living God, and to our blessed Lord Jesus Christ, as our only blessed Saviour, Prophet, Priest, and King over our soules, and only Mediator of the Covenant of Grace, promising (by the helpe of his Spirit and grace) to cleave unto God as our chiefe good, and to the Lord Jesus Christ by faith and Gospel-Obedience, as becometh his Covenant people, forever. We do also give up our offspring to God in Jesus Christ, avouching the Lord to be our God and the God of our children, and ourselves with our children to be his people : humbly adoring the grace of God, that we and our offspring with us may be looked upon to be the Lord's. We do also give up ourselves one to another in the Lord, and accord- ing to the will of God ; freely covenanting and binding ourselves to walke together as a right ordered congregation and Church of Christ, in all the waves of his worship, according to the holy rules of the word of God, promising, in brotherlye love to watch over one another's soules faithfully, and to submit ourselves to the discipline and govern- ment of Christ in his Church, and duly to attend all those ordinances which Christ hath instituted in his Church, and commanded to be attended by his people, according to the order of the Gospel, and de- grees of Communion unto which we have attained, not resting in measures attained, but pressing after all. And whereas the Messengers of these churches who have met to- gether in the name of Christ, to enquire into the Reason of God's con- RENEWING THE COVENANT. 24 1 troversye with this people, have taken notice of many provoking evils and procuring causes of the judgments of God upon New England ; so farre as we, or any one of us, have bin guilty of provoking God by any sin therein discovered to us, we desire from our hearts to bewaile it before the Lord, and humbly to entreat for pardoning mercy for the sake of the blood of the everlasting Covenant, and, as an expedient to Reformation of these evils, or whatsoever else have provoked the eyes of Gods glory among us, we do freely engage and promise as in the presence of God, First, that wee will (Christ helping) endeavour, every one of us, to reforme our heart and life, by seeking to mortifye all our sins, and labor- ing to walke more closelye with God than ever yet we have done : and will continue to worship God, in publick, private, secret, and this without formality or hypocrisye : and more fully and faithfully than heretofore to discharge all Covenant dutyes one to another in Church Communion. Secondly, to walke before God in our houses with a perfect heart ; and that we will uphold the worship of God therein continually, accord- ing as he in his word doth require, both in respect of prayer and reading the Scriptures, that so the word of God may dwell richly in us : and will do what in us lyes to bring up our children for Christ, that they may become such as they that have the Lord's name put upon them by a solemn dedication to God in Christ ought to be, and will therefore, (as need shall be) Catechise, exhort and charge them, to fear the Lord, and endeavour to set an holy example before them, and be much in prayer for their conversion and salvation. Thirdly, to endeavour to be pure from the sins of the times, especially those sins which have bin by the late Synod solemnly declared and evi- denced to be the evils that have brought the judgments of God upon New England ; and in our place to endeavour the suppression thereof, and be carefull so to walke as that wee may not give occasion to others to sin or speake evill of our holy profession. Now, that wee may observe and keep this sacred covenant, and all the branches of it, inviolable forever, we desire to deny ourselves, and depend wholly upon the power of the eternall Spirit of grace, on the free mercy of God, and merit of Christ Jesus : and where wee shall faile, there to waite upon the Lord Jesus for pardon, acceptance and healing, for his names sake. This Covenant was solemnly acknowledged and engaged in by the whole church, June 29, 1680. Not long after this solemn service, on the 16th of August, Ed- ward Raynsford died, " being old and full of days." He was ordained ruling elder in 1670, on the day of Mr. Thacher's in- stallation, and he is the only member of the Old South Church 242 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. who ever served that office. The question of filling the vacancy was considered from time to time, but no action was taken. The First Church advanced two of its deacons to the ruling-elder- ship as late as 1701. Another founder, and an eminent man in church and state, Thomas Savage, died February 14, 1682.1 On the next Lord's Day, Mr. Willard preached a funeral sermon, which was printed with the title " The Righteous Man's Death a Presage of Evil Approaching." We quote a few sentences from it : — God hath now for a long time been pleading with New England in this kind ; how many precious names are there registred in the black bill of a few years? nor is his anger turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. And now God calls us again to a further occasion of deep consideration, by that awful hand of his in the sudden and unexpected departure of that precious one from us, and that at such a time as this. I know he was gathered to his People in a good old age and full of dayes. He lived long enough for himself, but dyed too soon for us : I will not be curious in noting the day of his removal, though I believe that it deserves its remark : nor need I give light to his personal worth, which challenged! a sorrowful remembrance of us ; his own works shall praise him in the gates : And though some evil tongues (which evermore account much deserving a fault) have sought to blemish him, yet his name shall live in despite of envy itself. His long service in publick imployment ; and his skilfulness in that ser- vice ; his great dexterity in military Discipline (a thing now little valued by degenerate spirits) and his great industry in propagating it to those under his guidance ; his love to his Country, testified, not in a few empty words, but real deeds ; his adventuring of himself in the highest places of the field, in the greatest difficultyes and hazards, and that once and again, at such time as eminentest dangers threatned us, and enemies flushed with success were most insolent; yea, and then when for his years he might have received his white wand, and been acknowledged to be Miles emeritus ; his tender care for the wel- fare of this people (under the weight whereof, there is good ground to think, that he sunk and dyed) these things I say, besides his upright- ness towards God as a private Christian, his tenderness and love to his brethren as a member of the Church, his affability and sweet deportment towards all men in his ordinary converse, speak eminently his worth, and our loss. He is now gone from an unthankful world, to receive his reward with God. But that which most of all should 1 The Rev. Peter Thacher says, in his death this morning before break of day." diary, February 14, 1681 - 2 : "This February 20. " Went to Major Savages night I heard of Major Savages sudden funeral." RECONCILIA TION. 243 affect us, is, that by his removal, the gap is wider, and we left the more naked. The time for reconciliation between the First and Third churches was now come. The members of both must have been drawn somewhat nearer together during the revival of religious interest of which we have been speaking ; and as the Anglican hierarchy was threatening the peace and liberty of the colony, they may have determined to forget their differences, and to unite their forces in the presence of the common enemy.1 Years before this, President Oakes told the people, in a sermon from which we have already quoted, that they were endangering their religious liberties by their uncalled-for controversies. He reminded them that God had brought them into this wilderness, that they might here set up his way and worship in the purity and gospel glory of it ; that here they had seen the orderly administration of the ordinances, and church officers duly quali- fied and ruling authoritatively in the Lord, according to the gospel, using their power to edification, and not destruction ; and that here they had to a considerable degree been enlighten- ing the world as to the pattern of God's house. He expressed the conviction that God had been doing for them that which shall be done more universally and gloriously hereafter ; and then he solemnly warned them that their differences were pre- paring the way for those who would "make no difference be- tween synodists and anti-synodists, old or new church-men," but would oppress them all alike. The first step formally taken was a vote adopted by the old church, in kindly and courteous terms, and sent to Mr. Willard by the hands of its minister, Mr. Allen,2 and Mr. Samuel Nowell, 1 "An effort was made in that year to don, May 29, 1682, he said, in refer- establish an Episcopal church in Boston, ence to the First and Third churches : Both societies regarded such a church as " But now, heering of my proposals for a common enemy, and so both came to- ministers to be sent over, (for they have gether and united their energies to pre- very good correspondancy with some of vent its establishment." — Ellis's History the clarks of the Council), they are of the First Church, pp. 134, 135. joyned together, about a fortnight ago The forms of the English Church were and pray to God, to confound the devices not introduced into Boston until 1686, of all who disturbe their peace and lib- but Edward Randolph had been schem- erties." ing and plotting for several years, and 2 The Rev. John Oxenbridge died Edward Rawson had been one of the December 2S, 1674, after a brief pastor- most prominent and persistent in resist- ate, and Mr. Allen had sole charge for ing him. Writing to the Bishop of Lon- several years. 244 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. an eminent magistrate; the original document has been pre- served, and we present a fac-simile somewhat reduced in size : — At a lectin a of ' t/fe, /irft Shurc^ m Jtrttari, Jljirtl 23- }£l%- O^ . (Vl2lt~flC7r you. Vre. lutllino lxet//>rna tfie J\_u £^ in it? ~* ^niirz-neji t ana ■no! re-v-(TX.e iriq Vour Jeffrinonit t-/?trticn-&o VIZ. fnat J\uie, cui t&Judarneii?ofy^$frurcn£J a/W'eco.&ie&n), Waif. ' Jtfttfcipt ' effapxttf ' tfreujtout) <7o Sorai'vc any/oroeSt aJe.offinc&t reyecfrna trurjofve/, ftfat *re fu^e. fiatrtjuitfu &>»n /a/en a/ oxtr^otftentiiio ffiret&reri- ^JV ill it-net & e-xpZoierittgcct it & fminfj prefin^ *, & Zetfni, anc tfat fify, tftief^J to fijn'fi, fy tMtiy.f&r approbation ffft£*t%*6j arvd $uJnc?nj anj^etna^orz £or*^ I* to foSrnju/a^nJiftft^tfefterTU. &. acceftatffe,, t&t it may &■ %ecc*rJe* -fy fto/rf, in rnwtn-ii of 'art £**>**» $iJuz, of Mat u-rzc was called to succeed Sir Edmund Andros, and he held office until the 14th of May, 1692, when Sir William Phips arrived in Boston, with his commission as first royal governor under the second charter. Increase Mather, in his Vindication of New England, re- lates " that there was a crew of Pirats under the command of one Pounds, which lay robbing Vessels on the Coast ; these were pursued by a small Vessel of Brisk Bostoneers, who in Their Majesties Name and under Their Colours, maintained a Bloody Fight with the Rogues and took them : One of them was Executed." The vessel that performed this feat was the armed sloop Mary, under Captain Samuel Pease and Lieutenant Benjamin Gallop.2 The skirmish took place in Vineyard Sound on the 4th of October, when the captain was mortally wounded, although he lived until the 12th. He and his lieutenant were members of Mr. Willard's congregation, and Mrs. Pease was a communicant.3 A general contribution for the bereaved family and the wounded men was taken on the first Sunday in the fol- lowing January, and we have before us the receipt for the amount collected at Mr. Willard's : — Reed this 6th January 1689-90 of Mr. Jacob Eliott and Capt Frary 1 Josiah Quincy, Mayor of Boston, 3 Four daughters of Samuel and Mary Oration, July 4, 1826. Pease were baptized at the South Church - For Benjamin Gallop's affidavit, see between December, 1682, and January, N. E. Hist, and Gen. Register, vol. ii. p. 1686. The mother became a member 393. November 26, 16S2. "THE WOEFUL DECADE." 28 1 twenty one pounds four shillings and six money gatherd by a publique Collection made att Mr. Willards Congregation for wid Pease and her Children and the care of Two wounded men. Reed p Adam Winthrop. The period between 1690 and 1700 has been well called, for New England, " the woeful decade." Its first year witnessed the massacres of Schenectady and Salmon Falls, and these were followed a few months later by the disastrous expedition of the united colonies, under Sir William Phips, against Quebec. Mas- sachusetts had sent an expedition to Acadia which captured Port Royal (Annapolis) ; and at a congress held in New York, in May, 1690, it was determined to prevent, if possible, further raids by the French and Indians, by carrying the war vigorously into Canada. At this congress New York was represented by Jacob Leisler and Peter De Lanoy ; Massachusetts by William Stoughton, Samuel Sewall, and John Walley ; and Connecticut by Nathan Gold and William Pitkin. The plan agreed upon was that the forces of New York and Connecticut, with the aid of the Iroquois Indians, should make an attack on Montreal, while a fleet from Massachusetts should make at the same time an assault upon Quebec. The Massachusetts troops were placed under the command of John Walley as lieutenant-gen- eral. Ephraim Savage, son of the commander in Philip's War, was second in command of the militia. But the land forces never reached their destination, and the fleet was repulsed before Quebec with great loss.1 On the night of Tuesday, the 16th of September, there was a serious fire in what is now Milk Street, and the South meeting- house was in much danger. Sewall says : " About eleven at night a Fire breaks out at the House of Jno Allen, Worsted Comber, in which his Apprentice Sam. Worster was burned, with the House of Lieut. Reynolds, Mr. Bligh, Langden and a great part of Savil Simson's. The wind being Sou-west, the South- Meeting-House was preserv'd with very much difficulty, being 1 November 7, 1690. " Between 9. and with the discourse, and some cast blame 10. at night, Governour sends to me on Major Walley; were nine weeks get- and enforms of the defeat at Canada ; ting thither and landed not before the and that Urrumbee, Hawkins and other 7th or 8th of October." (Sewall.) chief Indians sued for peace. News of The expedition was most rash and ill- Canada came from Salem. Shute comes advised. There is no evidence that into Boston that night or next morning, Major Walley failed to do anything that hath thrown over aboard more than Sixty a man could have done under the cir- persons since his going hence, most In- cumstances, and it was only for the mo- dians of Plimouth. Town much fill'd ment that he suffered in his popularity. 282 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. in a flame in diverse places of it. Capt. Cyprian Southack.1 and Lieut. David Mason did very worthily, hazarding themselves with many others on the Lead for a great while." Mr. Peter Sergeant, a prominent merchant and citizen, and an active member of the South Church, built a handsome house for himself, which was afterward the residence of a long succes- sion of royal governors, and is known in history as the Province House.2 It was of brick, three stories high, and it stood in described a visit to the old house in its later and more humble days : — " Entering the arched passage, which penetrated through the middle of a brick row of shops, a few steps transported me from the busy heart of modern Boston into a small and secluded court-yard. One side of this space was occupied by the square front of the Province House, three stories high, and surmounted by a cupola, on the top of which a gilded Indian was discernible, with his bow bent and his arrow on the string, as if aiming at the weathercock on the spire of the Old South. The figure has kept this attitude for seventy years or more, ever since good Deacon Drown, a cun- ning carver of wood, first stationed him on his long sentinel's watch over the city. " The Province House is constructed of brick, which seems recently to have been overlaid with a coat of light-colored paint. A flight of red freestone steps, fenced in by a balustrade of curiously wrought iron, ascends from the court- yard to the spacious porch, over which is a balcony, with an iron balustrade of similar pattern and workmanship to that beneath. These letters and figures — 16 P. S. 79 — are wrought into the ironwork of the balcony, and probably express the date of the edifice, with the initials of its founder's name. A wide door with double leaves admitted me into the hall or entry, on the right of which is the entrance to the bar-room. " It was in this apartment, I presume, that the ancient governors held their levees, with vice-regal pomp, surrounded by the military men, the councillors, the judges, and other officers of the crown, while all the loyalty of the province thronged to do them honor. But the 1 Captain Southack was a Boston pilot, and commanded a vessel in the expedition against Quebec. A year or two later, the meeting-house was threat- ened again : " Sabbath, Jan. 29, 1692-3. A very sunshiny, hot, thawing day. Note. Just as we came out of the meet- inghouse at Noon, Savil Simson's Chim- ney fell on fire, and blaz'd out much, which made many people stand gazing at it a pretty while, being so near the Meetinghouse." (Sewall.) 2 July 25 1699 " My Lord Bellomont deliver'd me my Commission for Judge of the Superiour Court. And the Chief Justice, Mr. Stoughton, Mr. Cooke and myself were sworn in Mr. Sergeants best chamber before the Governour and Council." November 4 " This day the Governour Treats the Council and sundry other Gentlemen in Mr. Sergeants best cham- ber. Guns fired upon account of the King's Birth-day. (Sewall.) A few days later, Judge Sewall enter- tained Lord and Lady Bellomont in the new hall which he had recently added to his house. Mr. and Mrs. Willard could not be present because it was " cate- chizing day," but the South Church was represented by Mr. and Mrs. Sergeant, Major Walley, Mr. Bromfield, Mr. Stod- dard, and Mr. John Campbell, afterward postmaster and first editor of the Boston News-Letter. Mr. Sergeant received at the rate of .£100 per annum for the use of his house fourteen and a half months, and Judge Sewall ^15 for the use of a coach-house and stable in the vicinity. See a paper on the Province House, by Mellen Cham- berlain, in the Mass. Hist. Soc. Proceed- ings, Second Series, vol. ii. pp. 122-131. Hawthorne, in Twice -Told Tales, has THE PROVINCE HOUSE. 283 spacious grounds, surrounded by magnificent trees. When the Earl of Bellomont came to Boston in 1699, Mr. Sergeant enter- tained him at his handsome residence, and was "prevailed with" to vacate it for the use of the governor during his stay in the town of a little more than a year. When Mr. Sergeant mar- ried Lady Phips, widow of Sir William, in the autumn of 1701, he took up his abode at her mansion house at the north end of the town, and let his own house to Major Hobby, afterward Sir Charles Hobby. He died in 1713, and in 1716 the house was sold to the Province, and was occupied by Samuel Shute, the first governor from beyond the sea after Lord Bellomont. We learn from Judge Sewall that the valuable papers belonging to the church had hitherto been in the keeping of Mr. Secretary Rawson, but it was proposed in 1690 to place them in Mr. Ser- geant's house, " being of brick and conveniently situated." Friday November 21. 1690. Mr. Saml. Willard, Mr. Edw. Rawson, Capt. Joshua Scottow, Deacon Jacob Eliot, Deacon Theophilus Frary and Samuel Sewall met together, at said Sewall's house in Boston. Mr. Edward Rawson in regard of his Age, and dwelling out of Town desired that Mrs. Judith Winthrop's Deed of the Meeting-house Land in Boston, her Receipt, Mr. Leveret's Release, Mrs. Norton's Deed of Gift 1669, Mrs. Norton's Deed of Gift 1677, An Instrument of Mr. Edw. Rawson, Capt. Joshua Scottow and Capt. Jacob Eliot to Saml. Sewall and others, being Six Writings in all, should be put in a Chest to be provided for that purpose, on which a Copper plate to be fastened with this Engraving, South Church, and Mr. Peter Sergeant to be en- treated to keep the said Chest in his house, being of Brick and con- veniently situated ; and that, if can conveniently do, also put the Church plate in said Chest ; and said Edward Rawson committed the above-mentioned writings to said Eliot to be disposed of as above with as great Speed as conveniently may be, according to this Agree- ment. Signed by : — Edward Rawson Sam Sewall J. Scottow Jacob Eliot Theo. Frary. room, in its present condition, cannot landing-place, whence the ascent is con- boast even of faded magnificence. . . . tinued towards the cupola. A carved The most venerable and ornamental balustrade, freshly painted in the lower object is a chimney-piece set round with stories, but growing dingier as we ascend, Dutch tiles of blue-figured china, repre- borders the staircase with its quaintly senting scenes from Scripture. . . . twisted and intertwined pillars, from top " The great staircase ... winds through to bottom. . . . The cupola is an octa- the midst of the house by flights of broad gon, with several windows, and a door steps, each flight terminating in a square opening upon the roof." 284 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Sabbath, Nov. 8. 1691 Is a Contribution for the Frontier Towns ; Capt. Eliot, though abroad on the Day of the Thanksgiving, is now ill again; ... I set the Tune; York, Windsor, 119th Ps., on the two last Staves of the 34th Psalm. Nov. 10. 1691 Council of Churches meet at Lin. From Boston, Mr. Willard, Sewall, Frary ; [James] Allen, Hutchinson, Bridgham ; [Cotton] Mather, Foster, Keech ; Maiden [Michael] Wigglesworth, Sprague, Green ; Salem, [Nicholas] Noyes, Hathorn, Corwin, Gar- dener, Lindon. Had much adoe to prevail with the Church to own us as a Council, but did do it at last ; heard what was to be said, drew up our Advice by Mr. Cotton Mather; wherein all parties blamed; They accepted of it and thank'd us heartily for our visiting them. Bell was rung both times before going into Meeting-house. Mr. Wiggles- worth Moderator.1 (Sewall.) The year 1692 is memorable for the sudden and violent out- burst in Massachusetts of what we now call " the witchcraft de- lusion." It is not for us to attempt to account for that strange combination of superstition and panic which ruled the hour, and which has engaged the attention of so many writers, nor need we dwell at length upon the painful occurrences to which it led. The history of the delusion has to do no more with New England than with the mother country or the continent of Europe ; no more with the Puritan churches than with the Anglican or any other communion. A distinguished scholar,2 speaking of the fathers in this connection, says : " About their treatment of witches there has been a great deal of ignorant babble. Puri- tanism had nothing whatever to do with it. They acted under a delusion which, with an exception here and there, darkened the understanding of all Christendom. ... It is more philo- sophical to say that the age believes this and that, than that the particular men who live in it do so. . . . The proceedings at the Salem trials are sometimes spoken of as if they were excep- tionally cruel. But in fact, if compared with others of the same kind, they were exceptionally humane." Another writer3 says : 1 [An entry by Mr. Higginson in the of Boston and Maiden, to help to make records of the Salem church refers to peace: which, through the blessing of this council at Lynn, although there is a God on their endeavours, was attained discrepancy in the date : — to the general satisfaction of all." Judge " In December there was a council at White's /View Eng. Congregationalism, Lyn, in relation to some differences p. 95.] between some brethren and Mr. Shepard, 2 James Russell Lowell, Among My their Pastor. Mr. Noys and three other Books. Articles on Witchcraft, and on brethren were, by a vote of the church, New England Two Centuries Ago. desired to go thither and join with other 3 William F. Poole, Mem. Hist, of Bos- Elders and messengers of the Churches ton, vol. ii. p. 131. WITCHCRAFT IN NEW ENGLAND. 285 " The storm of terror and death, called the witchcraft delusion, which swept over Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth cen- turies, left its traces on the early life of the New England colonies. While it raged in Europe, thirty thousand victims perished in the British Islands, seventy-five thousand in France, one hundred thousand in Germany, and corresponding numbers in Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and Sweden. Witchcraft in New England was of a sporadic and spasmodic type compared with its epidemic and protracted virulence in the Old World ; and yet the thirty-two executions in the New England colonies, for supposed confederation with devils, have filled a larger space in history and in public attention than the thirty thousand similar executions which 'occurred in the mother country. English writers at this day, when they need striking proofs of the super- stitions of former times, take their illustrations from the records of New England witchcraft. A full and impartial account of English and Scottish diabolism has never commended itself, as a subject of historical investigation, to a modern English writer." The Salem tragedy touched the Third or South Church at several points. Three of its members, Wait Winthrop, Samuel Sewall, and Peter Sergeant, were judges of the Special Court ap- pointed to try the witchcraft cases in Eastern Massachusetts.1 One of its founders and most respected members, John Alden, was accused, imprisoned, and tried, and had a narrow escape of his life. Its minister, Mr. Willard,2 was one of the most determined and influential in opposition to the judicial proceedings ; a mem- ber of the congregation, Thomas Brattle, wrote a very careful and able review of these proceedings ; and Robert Calef,3 who 1 Another of the judges, Jonathan 2 During Mr. Willard's pastorate at Corwin, married Elizabeth, daughter of Groton, in 1671, one of his parishioners Jacob Sheaffe, and widow of Robert was strangely affected, " railed at the Gibbs. Mr. Brattle, in his Account, says godly minister of the town, and at the that Mrs. Thacher was suspected of same time uttered many blasphemous witchcraft, and he calls Mr. Corwin to expressions, and then- charged all her account for favoritism, in shielding his afflictions upon a good woman in the mother-in-law, and in conniving at the neighborhood." There was no panic at escape from the province of Hezekiah that time, and Mr. Willard carefully ex- Usher (second of the name) who had amined the case with a view to ascertain been ordered to prison by a mittimus whether the possession were real or under Mr. Lynde, and had been allowed counterfeit. He was led by his investi- to live for more than a fortnight in a gation to the opinion that there was private house. Mr. Brattle says that of something preternatural in the experi- the judges, Mr. Hathorne and Mr. Cor- ences of the woman. See The Mather win were the most active, and that the Papers, pp. 555—571. chief justice, Mr. Stoughton, was very 3 Robert Calef, or Calf, owned the zealous. covenant at the South Church in 1703, 286 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. became a member a few years later, is thought by some to have been the author of More Wonders of the Invisible World, a book which severely criticised all who had been prominent in abetting or encouraging the popular excitement. In June, 1692, Sir William Phips, the newly-arrived royal governor, appointed special Commissioners of Oyer and Ter- miner to try the witchcraft cases which had been for some time accumulating, with jurisdiction in the counties of Suffolk, Essex, and Middlesex ; they were William Stoughton, deputy- governor, John Richards, Nathaniel Saltonstall, Wait Still Winthrop, Bartholomew Gedney, Samuel Sewall, John Ha- thorne, Jonathan Corwin, and Peter Sergeant, or any five of them. Previously to this, there had been legal proceedings against reputed witches before the local magistrates in Salem. Sewall records his going thither on the nth of April : — Went to Salem, where, in the Meeting-house, the persons accused of Witchcraft were examined ; was a very great Assembly ; 'twas awfull to see how the afflicted persons were agitated. Mr. Noyes pray'd at the beginning, and Mr. Higginson concluded. On the 28th of May, Captain John Alden, who had recently returned from a voyage to Quebec,1 whither he had sailed for the redemption of some prisoners of war held by the French since the preceding October, was summoned by the magistrates of Salem, "upon the accusation of a company of poor distracted or possessed creatures or witches." The names of his accusers were : Mary Lewis, Abigail Williams, Elizabeth Booth, Mary Walcott, Elizabeth Hubbard, Ann Putnam, Mary Warren. He was sent by Mr. Stoughton, and on the 31st of May he appeared at Salem Village before Mr. Gedney, Mr. Hathorne, and Mr. Corwin. Fortunately we have an account of the examination in his own emphatic language, as communicated to Mr. Calef : — Those wenches being present, who played their juggling tricks, fall- ing down, crying out, and staring in people's faces ; the magistrates demanded of them several times, who it was of all the people in the room that hurt them ? one of these accusers pointed several times at one Captain [John] Hill, there present, but spake nothing; the same accuser had a man standing at her back to hold her up ; he and had children baptized there, the last, x Captain Alden had commanded ves- " Robert, of Robert and Margaret Calf," sels several years before this for John March 3, 17 16-17. John Alden, son of Hull, and lately had been employed Captain John Alden, was one of the wit- in the public service ; he commanded nesses to his will, which was probated a vessel in the expedition against Port before Judge Sewall, February iS, 1722-3. Royal in 1690. TRIAL OF JOHN ALDEN. 287 stooped down to her ear, then she cried out Aldin, Aldin afflicted her ; one of the magistrates asked her if she had ever seen Aldin, She answered no, he asked how she knew it was Aldin ? She said, the man told her so. Then all were ordered to go down into the street, where a ring was made ; and the same accuser cried out, there stands Aldin, a bold fellow with his hat on before the judges, he sells powder and shot to the Indians and French. . . . Then was Aldin committed to the marshal's custody, and his sword taken from him ; for they said he afflicted them with his sword. After some hours Aldin was sent for to the meeting house in the village before the magistrates; who re- quired Aldin to stand upon a chair to the open view of all the people. The accusers cried out that Aldin did pinch them, then, when he stood upon the chair, in the sight of all the people, a good way distant from them, one of the magistrates bid the marshal to hold open Aldin's hands, that he might not pinch those creatures. Aldin asked them why they should think that he should come to that village to afflict those persons that he never knew or saw before ? Mr. Gidney bid Aldin confess, and give glory to God : Aldin said he hoped he should give glory to God, and hoped he should never gratify the devil ■ but appealed to all that ever knew him, if they ever suspected him to be such a person, and challenged any one, that could bring in any thing upon their knowledge, that might give suspicion of his being such an one. Mr. Gidney said he had known Aldin many years, and had been at sea with him, and always looked upon him to be an honest man, but now he did see cause to alter his judgment ; Aldin answered, he was sorry for that, but he hoped God would clear up his innocency, that he would recall that judgment again, and added that he hoped that he should with Job maintain his innocency till he died. They bid Aldin look upon the accusers, which he did, and then they fell down. Aldin asked Mr. Gidney, what reason there could be given, why Aldin's looking upon him did not strike him down as well? but no reason was given that I heard. But the accusers were brought to Aldin to touch them, and this touch they said made them well. Aldin began to speak of the Providence of God, in suffering these creatures to accuse innocent persons ; Mr. Noyes asked Aldin why he would offer to speak of the Providence of God, God by his Providence, (said Mr. Noyes) governs the world, and keeps it in peace ; and so went on with discourse, and stopped Aldin's mouth, as to that. Aldin told Mr. Gidney, that he could assure him that there was a lying spirit in them, for I can assure you that there is not a word of truth in all these say of me. But Aldin was again committed to the marshal. Captain Alden was taken to Boston by a constable, and lodged in jail there : it was in vain that he and his friends offered bail, 288 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. and he remained in confinement for fifteen weeks. When the terror was at its height, he was prevailed upon to make his escape, and with the aid of his good minister and others he accomplished this. He went to Duxbury, where, however, he did not long remain, but returned to Boston, and gave himself up to the authorities. Bonds were now accepted for him, and a few months later, when the delusion had passed away, he and others who had been similarly accused were legally discharged. While he lay in Boston jail, a fast was held at his house, at which Judge Sewall was present, and of which he gives us the following particulars : — July 20. Fast at the house of Capt. Alden, upon his account. Mr. Willard pray'd. I read a Sermon out of Dr. Preston, 1st and 2d Uses of God's Alsufficiency. Capt. Scottow prayd, Mr. Allen came in and pray'd, Mr. Cotton Mather, then Capt. Hill. Sung the first part 103, Ps., concluded about 5. aclock.1 All this, however it may appear to us now, was a terrible reality then to the magistrates and ministers of the province as well as to the people. There were few who doubted that the visitation came directly from the kingdom of darkness, and that some, at least, of the accused persons were in league with Satan, or under his immediate and personal control. But there were many who thoroughly disapproved of the wholesale and promiscuous manner in which accusations were made, and of the way in which the judicial proceedings were conducted. Two theories prevailed among those who held to the reality of dia- bolical agency. One was that Satan could operate by means of spectres, fits, and spasms, only through those who were in willing league with him, that is, actual witches. This was the generally received opinion in England, in the courts and among the lawyers. Testimony as to spectral and other preter- natural appearances was admitted there against persons accused of witchcraft, and the colonial judges naturally adopted the same course. Hutchinson says : " The evidence here was of the same sort which had been judged sufficient to hang people there ; ... we had their best authority to justify us." The other of the two theories, which was held for the most part by 1 [On the 22d of December, Judge What, if anything, the judge had done Sewall called at the parsonage, and he to prevent his attendance, we do not says : " Mrs. Willard talks to me very know. He may have thought that a man sharply about Capt. Alden's not being under accusation before a court ought at the Lord's Supper last Sabbath-day." not to approach the Lord's table.] MR. WILLARD'S POSITION. 289 the clergy of New England, was that Satan could and did cause the spectres of innocent people to appear as readily as those, of persons in league with him, and that what was known as spectral testimony should be rejected by the courts. It should be remembered to the credit of the Boston min- isters, at this trying time, that as a body they exercised a de- cidedly restraining influence upon the excited multitude and on the officers of the law. Whatever they may have thought about the possibility of demoniacal possession, they did not part com- pany for the occasion with their reason and common sense. At the request of the governor, Cotton Mather drew up a Return, June 15, 1692, in behalf of several ministers, in which it was said : " The afflicted state of our poor neighbours that are now suffering by molestations from the invisible world, we apprehend so deplorable that we think their condition calls for the utmost help of all persons in their several capacities. . . . We judge that in the prosecution of these and all such witchcrafts, there is need of a very critical and exquisite caution, lest by too much credulity for things received only upon the Devil's authority, there be a door opened for a long train of miserable conse- quences, and Satan get an advantage over us." It was urged, " that all proceedings thereabout be managed with an exceeding tenderness towards those that may be complained of, especially ■if they have been persons formerly of an unblemished repu- tation." How nobly Mr. Willard carried himself in these dark hours we learn from his funeral sermon, preached by his colleague and successor, the Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton : — It ought never to be forgotten with what prudence, courage and zeal, he appeared for the good of this people, in that dark and mys- terious season, when we were assaulted from the invisible world. And how singularly instrumental he was in discovering the cheats and delusions of Satan, which did threaten to stain our land with blood, and to deluge it with all manner of woes. The testimony of a member of his congregation is even more emphatic. Thomas Brattle, in his review of the proceedings in Essex County, addressed to a clergyman who had asked him for an account of them, said : — Although the chief judge, and some of the other judges, be very zealous for these proceedings, yet this you may take for a truth, that there are several about the Bay, men for understanding, judgment and 290 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. piety, inferior to few, if any, in New England, that do utterly condemn the said proceedings, and do freely deliver their judgment in the case to be this, viz. that these methods will utterly ruin and undo poor New England. I shall nominate some of them to you, viz. the Hon. Simon Bradstreet Esqr our late governor, the Hon. Thomas Danforth Esqr our late deputy governor, the Rev. Mr. Increase Mather, and the Rev. Mr. Samuel Willard. ... I cannot but highly applaud, and think it our duty to be very thankful for, the endeavours of several elders, whose lips, I think, should preserve knowledge, and whose counsel should, I think, have been more regarded, in a case of this nature, than as yet it has been : in particular, I cannot but think very hon- ourably of the endeavours of a Reverend person in Boston, whose good affection to his country in general, and spiritual relation to three of the judges in particular, has made him very solicitous and indus- trious in this matter ; and I am fully persuaded that, had his motions and proposals been hearkened to, and followed, when these troubles were in their birth, in an ordinary way, they would never have grown unto that height which now they have. He has, as yet, met with little but unkindness, abuse, and reproach from many men ; but, I trust that in after times, his wisdom and service will find a more universal ac- knowledgment ; and if not, his reward is with the Lord.1 It has been well said, that when we take all the circumstances into the account, "we shall be less astonished that the delusion in Salem Village rose so high, than that it subsided so soon." As the reaction began to set in, juries refused to convict. The spirit in which many of the accused and condemned met their fate made a deep impression on the community. The Rev. George Burroughs, who in happier days had been a guest at Sewall's table, " by his speech, prayer, protestation of his inno- cence, did much move unthinking [we should say thinking] persons, which occasions their speaking hardly concerning his being executed." Hutchinson says of the judges that they did not change as soon as the juries. The opinion which they had "of their own superior understanding and judgment probably made them more backward in owning or discovering their errors." One of them, however, when he came to be convinced of the terrible mistake he had made, did everything in his power to manifest his sorrow and contrition. Tradition says that Judge Sewall observed a day of private prayer annually, as long as he lived, in humble and penitential remembrance of his part in the witch- craft trials. This may not be literally true, but as to the fact of 1 [Mass. Hist. Collections, vol. v. pp. 74-77.] JUDGE SEW ALUS PENITENCE. 291 the judge's penitence there can be no question ; and the tradi- tion, as put into verse by the poet Whittier, is destined to live as long as the trials are remembered : — Touching and sad, a tale is told, Like a penitent hymn of the Psalmist old, Of the fast which the good man lifelong kept With a haunting sorrow that never slept, As the circling year brought round the time Of an error that left the sting of crime, When he sat on the bench of the witchcraft courts, With the laws of Moses and Hale's Reports, And spake, in the name of both, the word That gave the witch's neck to the cord, And piled the oaken planks that pressed The feeble life from the warlock's breast ! All the day long, from dawn to dawn, His door was bolted, his curtain drawn ; No foot on his silent threshold trod, No eye looked on him save that of God, As he baffled the ghosts of the dead with charms Of penitent tears, and prayers, and psalms, And, with precious proofs from the sacred word Of the boundless pity and love of the Lord, His faith confirmed and his trust renewed That the sin of his ignorance, sorely rued, Might be washed away in the mingled flood Of his human sorrow and Christ's dear blood ! Judge Sewall was not content with making a private confes- sion in his closet before Him who seeth in secret. He openly- acknowledged his sin, and asked the pardon of his fellowmen, in the great congregation. A public fast had been appointed by the Governor and Council for the 14th of January, 1696-7. The proclamation, drawn up by the ministers of Boston, men- tioned various calamities and judgments under which the prov- ince was suffering, and then said : " Doubtless there are som particular Sins, which God is angry with our Israel for, that have not been duely seen and resented by us, about which God expects to be sought ; if ever He turn again our Captivity." The earnest supplications of God's people were desired : "That all Iniquity may be put away which hath proved God's holy Jealousie against this Land ; that He would shew us what we know not, and help us, wherein we have done amiss, to doe so no more : And, especially, that whatever Mistakes, on either hand, have been fallen into, either by the body of this People, or any Orders of them, referring to the late Tragedie raised amongst us by Satan and his Instruments, through the awfull judgment of God ; He would humble us therefore, and pardon 292 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. all the Errors of his Servants and People that desire to Love his Name, and be attoned to His Land." Judge Sewall at this time was mourning the loss of two of his children who had died within a few months, and his conscience was in a very tender state. Between the proclamation of the fast and its observance, his son Samuel was reciting to him in Latin a part of the twelfth chapter of Mat- thew's Gospel, and he re- cords : " The 7th verse did awfully bring to mind the Salem Tragedie." The English version of this pas- sage is : " If ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacri- fice, ye would not have con- demned the guiltless." On the afternoon of the Fast Day the judge handed to Mr. Willard as, in gown and bands, he was passing up one of the "alleys" to the pulpit, the following "bill" to be read by him : — Samuel Sewall, sensible of the reiterated strokes of God upon him- self and family ; and being sensible, that as to the Guilt contracted upon the opening of the late Commission of Oyer and Terminer at Salem (to which the order for this Day relates) he is, upon many ac- counts, more concerned than any that he knows of, Desires to take the Blame and shame of it, Asking pardon of men, And especially desiring prayers that God, who has an Unlimited Authority, would pardon that sin and all other his sins ; personal and Relative : And according to his infinite Benignity, and Sovereignty, Not Visit the sin of him, or of any other, upon himself or any of his, nor upon the Land : But that He would powerfully defend him against all Tempta- tions to Sin, for the future ; and vouchsafe him the efficacious, saving Conduct of his Word and Spirit. The good judge stood, as this solemn confession was read by his minister in his behalf, and bowed at its close. In all his dis- tinguished career he was never so great as at that moment. All present, we think, must have been moved as they saw this man, 77 dear to me." * On the 6th of October, Samuel Adams, Henry Hill, and others received permission " to build a Meetinghouse with Timber, and cover it with Shingles on Church-Green," on what is now Summer Street. All the meeting-houses were crowded, and there was a movement of population to what was then considered the extreme south part of the town. It was necessary, therefore, to build the New South, which was com- pleted in January, 1717.2 On the 19th of October, 171 5, a church was formed in Rumney Marsh (Chelsea), and the Rev. Thomas Cheever, formerly of Maiden, was settled as its pastor. Lord's Day, Jan. 15. 17 16. An Extraordinary Cold Storm of Wind and Snow. Blows much worse on coming home at Noon, and so holds on. Bread was frozen at the Lord's Table: Mr. Pemberton administered. Came not out to the Afternoon Exercise. Though twas so Cold, yet John Tuckerman was baptized. At Six-a-clock my ink freezes so that I can hardly write by a good fire in my Wive's Chamber. Yet was very Comfortable at Meeting. Laus Deo. (Sewall.) On the 23d of May, Mr. William Cooper was ordained col- league pastor at Brattle Street. He had graduated at Cam- bridge four years before, and brought with him a high reputation for scholarship and piety. At the ordination service, the ser- mon was preached by Mr. Colman, and not by Mr. Cooper himself, which was a departure from the usual custom. Between the sermon and the ordaining prayer, Mr. Cooper read a paper, in which he answered four questions propounded by Mr. Col- man, relating to Christian doctrine and the work of the ministry. 1 Samuel Sewall and Edward Brom- men, October 5, 17 15, it is said: "The field wrote to Mr. Bridge, when it was Selectmen pursuant to the grant of the proposed to call him to the First Church, Town have Now Staked out the Land April 22, 1703 : — on Church Green for the setting a New " We hope if it please God to incline Meeting House on." In the petition for your heart to visit these parts, It will be " a grant of that piece of land called a happy Expedient for the satisfactory Church Green," it was said : " By the and agreeable Repairing some one of situation and name of said land it was our many Breaches : for which we shall no doubt intended by our forefathers for have cause to bless the Sun of Righte- that purpose." It is quite possible that ousness, Rising Westward on us, with this was the piece of land allotted by the Healing under his Wings." town to the Third Church in 1669, and Mr. Bridge was installed May 10, that it took its name, as above, from that I7°S- circumstance. See ante, pp. 128, 129, 2 " A piece of land commonly called 142, 143. Church Green " was granted by the town October 16, 17 16. " View'd the New to the new church, September 20, 17 15. South Church. Gave the Workmen 5s." In the record of a meeting of the select- (Sewall.) 378 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. In our day, the pastor-elect does not preach his own ordination sermon, but usage gives to him the selection of the preacher, which shows the survival of the old custom in its spirit although not in form. Mr. Cooper afterward married Judith, youngest child of Judge Sewall. In the autumn of 1716 the town of Boston was saddened by the news of the loss of the Amity, — one of the London packets, on her way down the English Channel, — with her passengers and all her crew except the second mate. Nov. 24. Chadder arrives and brings the dolefull News of Capt. Thomas lost in a storm off Dungeness, and in him Prince, Jeffrey. (Sewall.) It was supposed at first that Mr. Thomas Prince, a classmate at Cambridge of Mr. Joseph Sewall and a young minister of much promise, was among the lost. He had written to his friends here that he was proposing to embark in this vessel, with "a dear and pious friend, Mr. David Jeffries ;" but "sick- ness and other incidents " frustrated this plan, and he was spared, as it proved, for a long and faithful ministry at the Old South, and for other eminent services as a scholar and historian. His friend, Mr. David Jeffries, was just entering upon a career of honor and usefulness. He graduated at Cambridge in 1708, a year after Mr. Sewall and Mr. Prince, so that they were all in college together for three years ; and he became a member of the South Church in 171 1.1 He left an only son, David, who, nearly half a century later, became a deacon in the church before whose pulpit both his father and himself had been bap- tized, and with which both had entered into covenant in early manhood. Dec. 30. Only my Son abroad in the Forenoon. Only Mr. Pem- berton with us p. m. preaches a notable funeral Sermon from the Promise to Josiah of dying in peace : Only Mr. Belcher and I in our Fore-seat. Son preaches for Mr. Colman p. m., his wife being dan- gerously sick. (Sewall.) 1 David Jeffries united with the Cam- belonged to the same class. Mr. Jeffries bridge church, December 22, 1706, in brought a letter to the South Church in company with five of his classmates 171 1. He was the son of David, the (class of 1708) : (the Rev.) Ebenezer emigrant, for references to whom see Thayer, Recompense Wadsworth, (the ante, pp. 355, 360. Rev.) Eleazar Williams, (the Rev.) John His widow, Katharine, daughter of Webb, and (the Rev.) John Tufts, — six John Eyre, afterward married Oliver out of a class of thirteen. (The Rev.) Noyes. Her sister Bethiah married Samuel Phillips, afterward of Andover, John, son of the Hon. John Walley. MR. PEMBERTON' S LAST SERMON. 379 On the 8th of January, 171 7, the New South meeting-house was opened with appropriate services, and the Third or South Church thus became the Old South.1 Mr. Wadsworth preached in the morning, and Dr. Cotton Mather, in the afternoon. Mr. Pemberton, Mr. Sewall, and Mr. Colman also took part in the services. Mr. Pemberton preached to his people on Sunday, the 20th of January, and this proved to be his last sermon. His text was Matt. xxii. 5 : " But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise." He had never been a strong man, and for several years he had been suffering much bod- ily pain ; but he had strug- gled manfully against dis- ease, and he did his work well to the last. His col- league said : " I look upon it to be truly wonderful, that under such frequent returns of distressing maladies, he was strengthened and spirited in so great a measure to perform his ministerial labours in the house of God." Perhaps to the state of his health should be attributed, in part at least, that irritability of temper which he manifested when affairs in the churches and in the political world did not move according to his mind, and which appears to have been his only failing as a public man. Feb. 8. Mr. Pemberton is very sick ; I visit him in his little Bed- room next the Study. Feb. 10. Mr. Pemberton pray'd for as there being hopes of 's being better. Mr. Sam Fisk preaches in the afternoon. Feb. 11. A number of the Church meet at Mr. Sewall's [the old parsonage] and pray for Mr. Pemberton. Mr. Wadsworth, Dr. Cotton Mather, Mr. Colman, Mr. Webb, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Sewall, in the West- Room. Feb. 13. Susan [Thayer] brings word that Mr. Pemberton had a good night, was much better. Yet afternoon am sent for to him as 1 This name came into use very gradu- rectly, was in 1723. For half a century, ally. The first time it was used in the or longer, the church was known famil- Town Records, if we have observed cor- iarly in the town as Dr. Sewall's. gfartfLAr&i-JUn- 380 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. approaching his end. When came was finishing his Will. Then I went in to Him : He call'd me to sit down by him, held me by the hand and spake pertinently to me, though had some difficulty to hear him. Mr. Sewall pray'd fervently, and quickly after he expired, Bol- stered up in his Bed, about f past 3. afternoon in the best Chamber. The Lord sanctify it to me, and to all. My Son writ a letter to Dr. Cotton Mather to preach [the Lecture] for him, and before 'twas superscribed, he came in, which took as a Token for good. I spake to Mr. [Ezekiel] Lewis, and he approved of it. Feb. 14. Dr. C. Mather preaches and prays excellently. Come my people enter into thy Chambers — Isa. 26. Feb. 15. The Revd. Mr. William Brattle died last night at mid- night. He was a Father to the Students of Harvard College, and a Physician, My Fast Friend. I wish it be not portentous That Two Such great Men should fall in one week. Deus avertat omen. Feb. 16. Is a great Storm of Snow and Sleet, so that the Burying of Mr. Pemberton is put off to Monday, and Notice sent accordingly. Feb. 17. Serene, Mr. Wadsworth preaches at the South Excellently, from 2 Pet. 1. 15. Feb. 18. Great Storm of Snow ; yet good going under foot. Mr. Pemberton is buried between 4 and 5. in Mr. Willard's Tomb. Bear- ers, Mr. John Leverett, president, Dr. Cotton Mather; Mr. Wads- worth, Colman ; Mr. Sewall, Webb ; Dr. Increase Mather, Majr. Genl Winthrop. Col. Hutchinson not there, by which means it fell to me to wait on his Excellency : Twas good going, a broad path being made. Feb. 21. Extraordinary Storm of Snow; yet many men at Lecture to hear Mr. Colman preach the Funeral Sermon of Mr. Pemberton and Mr. Brattle, from John ix. 4. [" 1 must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day."] Compar'd Mr. Pemberton to Elijah, Mr. Brattle to Moses. After Lecture the storm increases much, grows more vehement. (Sewall.) Mr. Colman said : — There was a Great likeness in these Servants of God : I mean not in Face and Feature, nor in natural Temper or Conversation, nor in their way of Preaching ; but they were alike men of great Parts and Learning, alike Phylosophers and Divines, Masters of the best Liter- ature, and very thorow and General Scholars ; they had read Books and Men, and were good Judges of both, for they had an uncommon strength of mind, and searched every thing to the bottom, as far as the Ordinary Attainments among Men, may allow us to say so. They were very Judicious Men, and plac'd neither Learning nor Religion in unprofitable Speculations, or Superficial Notions, or in Science falsely so called ; but in Solid and Substantial Truth, to furnish themselves with that which betters the Mind and serves the World. MR. P EMBERTON'S DEATH. 381 Speaking particularly of Mr. Pemberton, the preacher con- tinued : — He imitated his great Lord and Master, who spake as one having authority. His Warm or Passionate Temper (which was sometimes his great Infirmity and Burthen) serv'd here to set the greater Edge, and give a further Energy to his Admirable Discourses, which were always Animated with a fervent Zeal for the Glory of God and the Salvation of Man. His Sermons appear'd to Others always to cost him great Pains and much Study ; They were Practical, Pathetical and very Moving ; Illuminating, Affecting, Convincing. Our Expec- tations were always Great when he stood up, and how often has he exceeded 'em, never deceived 'em : Like the Sun he ran his Course strongly and steddily, giving light and heat. The preacher made a passing reference to the controversies which prevailed during the greater part of Mr. Pemberton's ministry: — My Deceased Brother has sometimes told me how much his Spirit has been wounded, and His Hands weakned in the Master's Work, by the unjust Surmizes and Censures which have been bestow'd upon some of his most Faithful Endeavours to serve these Churches. I also have Suffer'd with him in things wherein I have the utmost Satis- faction of his Integrity and my own. Mr. Sewall paid an affectionate tribute to his departed col- league in a sermon on 2 Cor. iv. 7 : " But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." 1 We quote a sentence from it which embalms one of Mr. Pemberton's own expressions: "It is a comfort and refreshment to us that this bright lamp of the sanctuary went out at last in a sweet perfume ; that I may bor- row the phrase used by him in his excellent discourse on this subject above a year ago." Another snow-storm followed those above mentioned, which is characteristically described by Dr. Cotton Mather : — On the 24th day of the month comes Pelion upon Ossa ; another 1 This sermon was printed, with an memory, and was an hard student, Address to the Reader by Dr. Increase whence it necessarily follows that having Mather, which is suggestive when it is (as he had) a considerable time to furnish remembered what the relations of the himself with variety of learning, his ac- president and the tutor at Cambridge complishments must be eminent. But were, less than twenty years before, that which made him chiefly desirable, Says the ex-president : " I had peculiar was his piety. His gifts were sanctified reason to know him, when he was a with grace, and the fear of God." student at the college. I then observed Mr. Pemberton had just completed his that he had a pregnant wit, and strong forty-fifth year. 382 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. snow came on which almost buried the memory of the former, with a storm so famous that Heaven laid an interdict on the religious assem- blies throughout the country, on this Lord's day, the like whereunto had never been seen before. The Indians near an hundred years old affirm that their fathers never told them of anything that equalled it. Vast numbers of Cattel were destroyed in this calamity. Feb. 24. 1 Violent Storm of Snow, which makes our Meeting very thin especially as to Women. Mr. Cotton of Newtown here. Hardly any of the Ministers at Mr. Brattle's Funeral are got home. 'Tis fear'd many Congregations fail'd. There was none at the New-South. Feb. 28. Storm. Dr. Cotton Mather preaches excellent [the Lec- ture] from Psal. 147. He sendeth his word and melteth them. Ap- ply'd it also to the Conversion of the Jews. March 3. 1. Fair good wether p. m. Robert Calef is baptized ; and Mr. Abiel Wally, John James, Mrs. Margaret Wally, and Susan Thayr are admitted. Mr. Holyoke dined with us, who is still kept here by the snow that makes the ways unpassable. (Sewall.) pfiftssi ^W JW>*. S<./[,-\ 1**^ CHAPTER VIII. 1717-1730. THE BEGINNING OF A LONG CO-PASTORATE. THE young pastor who now had sole charge of this impor- tant church was less than thirty years of age. Although the three colleague pastorates thus far had covered less than one fourth of the period of the church's existence, it had be- come the settled policy to have two ministers, and it so contin- ued until the days of the Revolution. At the proper time, therefore, a colleague would be given to Mr. Sewall, and fortu- nately there were to be fewer embarrassments and less delay in making a choice than there had been in the last two in- stances. The next entries we shall quote from Judge Se wall's diary 384 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. refer very indefinitely to some irregularity of which we have no other knowledge. Nathaniel Oliver, son of Peter Oliver, left the South Church, with his wife (Elizabeth Brattle), when the Brattle Street Church was formed, and died in 1704. The name of his son Nathaniel does not appear on the register of member- ship of the South Church, but this was so imperfectly kept during Mr. Pemberton's ministry that it cannot be depended upon for completeness. March 2. Capt. Oliver comes to me, and declares his Unwilling- ness to make his Confession before the Congregation ; his friends ad- vise him. I said, you did run well, who hindered you ? March 31. Now about 'tis propounded to the Church whether Capt Nathanl Oliver's Confession should be before the Church, or before the Congregation : I opposed the former as not agreeing with the universal Practice : 'Twas brought on by our late Pastor with the design that it should be before the Congregation. Not fit that the penitent should prescribe before what Auditory his Confession should be. Some said there was little difference : I said twas the more gra- vaminous that Capt. Oliver should insist on it. f think it was the Congregation's due, all being Offended : when a person is admitted, the Congregation are acquainted with it. 'Twas carried for Capt Oli- ver, and he was restor'd, but I did not vote in it. When he spake to me, I said, you did run well, who hindered you ? He mention'd the advice of some Friends. I suppose Col. Paige. When Mr. Williams spake to me, I said let him as a Captain take courage and make it be- fore the Congregation. (Sewall.) The Congregational churches of the town decided to observe a day of fasting together, with reference, probably, to their own special needs, rather than to the general wants of the commu- nity. Two of them, the First and Third, were without colleague pastors. There was to be a public fast, by appointment of the Governor and Council, on the 4th of April. March 10. Lord's Supper at the South. Comfortable Weather- Son propounds the Turning the Lecture into a Fast. Sundry of our Fathers in the Ministry think it proper ; which I mention that I may have your Concurrence with them in the seasonable Solemnity. March 14. Fast, Mr. Webb begins with Prayer, Mr. Colman preaches ; Text, Feed me with Food Convenient — Prov. 30. Prays. P. m. Mr. Sewall Prays. Mr. Wadsworth preaches : Text 107. ult., whoso is wise — Prays; Sung. Great Congregation. Fn. and Aftn. Dr. Incr., Cot. Mather, Mr. Cooper not there, by reason of Indisposi- tion. Governour was present in the Forenoon only. (Sewall.) THE REV. THOMAS PRINCE. 385 On Sunday, the 21st of July, the London packet Martha and Hannah arrived, bringing among its passengers Mr. Thomas Prince. He had been travelling and living abroad for several years, and during a part of this time had been preaching in England. He was already beginning to be famous as a preach- er and scholar, for when it was announced that the vessel in which he was expected as a passenger was in the harbor, more than five hundred people went to the Long Wharf, between the services, to greet him as he landed. He remained on board, however, until the afternoon, when the captain's pinnace brought him ashore, and he walked quietly through the deserted streets to the South meeting-house. The Rev. Nicholas Sever was preaching. Mr. Sewall, who was in the pulpit, saw his classmate come in, and would have made some public reference to his arrival at the close of the service, but Mr. Prince modestly " made haste into the porch," and escaped observation. He had been absent eight years, during which time he had ripened into manhood, and he wore a wig, so that his old friends did not easily recognize him. On the following Thursday, at the Lecture, which was preached by Mr. Sewall, Mr. Prince put up a note, returning thanks for his preservation during his long absence and in his many journeyings. His "first sermon in New Eng- land " was preached July 28th, at the Old North ; and he ap- peared soon after in the South pulpit. On the 5th of Septem- ber he gave the Lecture in Mr. Sewall's turn, and it was printed, with the following title : " A Thanksgiving Sermon Deliver'd at the Lecture in Boston, N. E. on Thursday, September 5. 1717. Upon Occasion of the Author's safe Arrival thro' many great Hazards and Deliverances, Especially on the Seas, in above Eight Years Absence from his Dear and Native Country." From the preface, by Increase Mather, we copy the following sentences : — It was well done of him upon his safe Arrival here, to give God the glory of this Remarkable Salvation, and to do it in the hearing of a Multitudinous Auditory, many belonging to the Adjacent Towns being present at the Lecture when this Sermon was preached. ... I cannot but rejoice to see that the Author Preacheth Christ. . . . Many late preachers have little or nothing of Christ in any of their Sermons (shall I call them) or Harangues. . . . The worthy Author of the Ex- cellent Sermon which is Emitted herewith, had his Birth and Educa- tion in New England. It is no dishonour to the Country that there have been such Natives in it. 386 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Thomas Prince was born at Sandwich, Massachusetts, May 15, 1687, and was the son of Samuel Prince by his second wife, Mercy, daughter of Governor Samuel Hinckley. His father, the son of John Prince, of Watertown and Hingham, and grand- son of the Rev. John Prince, rector of East Shefford, Berkshire, England, had been a mariner and afterward a merchant, and already had a large family by his first marriage. " We can well imagine, however, that this first-born child of his young wife was a most welcome addition to his household circle, and as his property increased with the growing demands upon it, our future divine was well placed at his entrance into life. His father was, he tells us, religious from his youth, much esteemed for his abilities and gifts, and especially for his powers of argument ; while his zealous love for the principles and liberties of New England no doubt led him early to instill into the mind of his son those principles of piety and that respect for the freedom of conscience so conspicuous in his subsequent life." He entered Harvard College in 1703, under the presidency of Mr. Willard, and, as his classmate, Sewall, afterward said, " he made a laudable Proficiency in the liberal Arts ; and that which set a crown upon all, was, that he feared God, from his Youth, and early appeared a Lover of pure Religion, as well as good Lit- erature. I apprehend, I may truly say, that from his Youth, and in riper Age, as an Overseer of the College, he was a Bless- ing and Ornament to that Seminary of Learning." The two years after his graduation were probably devoted to theological study, but we have no record of them. On the 29th of March, 1709, he started on his foreign travels. He went as a passenger in the Thomas and Elizabeth, one of a fleet consist- ing of eight ships, two brigantines, and two sloops, all under convoy of the America, of twenty-four guns ; for this was dur- ing the ten years' war between England and France. The first destination of his vessel was Barbadoes, and here she remained nearly five months. Mr. Prince went ashore frequently, preached several times, and collected much and varied information, which he treasured up in his diary. On the 4th of September the Thomas and Elizabeth, in company with a fleet of about fifty vessels, sailed for London, at which port she arrived on the 17th of November. Mr. Prince spent two months visiting friends, seeing the sights of the metropolis, listening to the most famous preachers, and preaching occasionally himself ; and then he was attacked by small-pox, which confined him to his room for several MR. PRINCE'S TRAVELS. 387 weeks. As soon as he had well recovered he rejoined his vessel, and on the 17th of March, 1710, sailed in her from Gravesend for Madeira. They anchored in the road of Funchal April 27, and six days later, having taken on board a cargo of wines, proceeded to Barbadoes, and arrived there May 27. The vessel exchanged her cargo of wines for another of sugar, and sailed again for London August 3, in company with a large number of ships as before, for mutual protection against privateers. She reached the Thames in October, and Mr. Prince, landing on the 17th of that month, took lodgings, and renewed his explorations of the great city. He attended lectures at Gresham College, on law, medicine, and theology. In January the good ship in which he had crossed the Atlantic three times was burnt at Deptford. " Thus ended," he wrote, " the Thomas and Eliza- beth, that began to vie for Fame and Renown, with all the ships built in New England, or that have traded to the West Indies." She probably belonged to some member of his family. Mr. Prince was at Yarmouth in February, 171 1, at Norwich in July, and in London again in September. Early in the year he had suffered from an attack of measles. During the year 171 2, and until August, 1713, he was at Coombs, in Suffolk, and remained there until June, 17 14. He then went to Rotter- dam and spent a month, after which he returned to Coombs and lived for two years, but declined to be settled over the church there. " The Flock to whom he ministered, manifested their earnest Desire of his Continuance and Settlement with them ; but no Importunity could overcome his longing Desire after his native Country, and Father's House." He was providentially prevented by sickness and other circumstances from taking passage for New England in the Amity in the autumn of 1716, and spent another winter in and about London ; he embarked for home in May, and after a passage of between nine and ten weeks landed, as we have seen, upon his native shores.1 Towards the end of this summer Mr. Sewall's parishioners showed their appreciation of his faithful service as their minis- ter by a subscription among themselves of nearly three hundred pounds, for the purchase of " an annuity towards the better sup- port of his wife and family." His salary at this time was sixty shillings a week. 1 We have condensed the above ac- possession of the Mass. Hist. Society, in count of Mr. Prince from an article, the North American Review for October, based upon a volume of his diary in the 1S60, vol. xci. pp. 354-363. 388 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Boston in New England 23d August 17 17 Wee whose names are Underwritten Having had large Experience of the Learned and Painfull Labours of the Revd Mr. Joseph Sewall Our Honoured Pastor in the work of the Ministry, Are desirous to Shew our Thankfullness for so great a Benefit ; And do therefore prom- ise to give the Severall summs written after our Names, in order to the Procuring an Annuity towards the better Support of his Wife and Family. And Edward Bromfield Col. Saml Checkley, Danl Oli- ver, Capt Habijah Savage Esqrs and Mr. Ezekiel Lewis and Mr. Wm Clarke are requested to Collect the money for the Ends aforesaid.1 Sept. 1. Went to the Solemn Assembly p. m. the rather that I might hear Mr. Josiah Oakes, who preach'd very well, from Psal. 73- 25- Sept. 15. Went to the solemn Assembly p. m. A Fast was agreed on to humble ourselves for the breach made in the South church by the death of Mr. Pemberton ; and to Seek unto God by prayer for a Sutable and seasonable Supply. Sept 22. Went to the Lord's Supper : heard Mr. Prince in the Afternoon from the same Text he preach'd on this day four weeks. Sept 25. Fast at the South Church : Mr. Webb begun with Prayer, Mr. Sewall preach'd from Jer. 3. 15. Give you pastors. Mr. Cooper pray'd and gave the Blessing. P. m. Mr. Colman prayed, Dr. Cotton Mather preach'd from John 6. 11. And Jesus took the Loaves and distributed to the Disciples, and the Disciples to them that were set down. Mr. Wadsworth pray'd. 23d Psalm sung, D. Mr. Sewall Blessed. Twas a good day. Sept. 29. The church is staid, the calling a Church Meeting is pro- pounded to Confer about getting supply in the work of the Ministry. Majr Genl and Mr. Williams oppose it ! 'Tis voted. Then the Time was debated ; Monday morning and Friday were proposed ; which was oppos'd ; Both were voted [on] but neither Carried it. At last Tuesday come Sennight at 3 p. m. is voted. Voted twice before could tell whether 'twas a vote or no. (Sewall.) 1 [There were three subscription pa- John Nicholls, 1. Seth Smith, 1. Nath. pers, only one of which has come down Cunningham, 1.10/. Jabez Salter, 1. to us, and this bears the following names Thos. Hitchborn, — . Wm. Young, 1. and amounts : — Thos. Kimball, 10/. Francis Archball, Andrew Belcher, £15. Anthony Stod- 1.10/. Abiel Walley, 3. William Allin, dard, 5. Saml. Phillips, 8. John Camp- 2. Geo. Bethune, 3. Nichs. Davis, 2. bell, 4. John Alford, 4. John Walley, 4. John Leech, 10/. Saml. Checkley, 3. W. Foye, 4. Thos. Savage, 4. Edward Habijah Savage, 5. Total ,£91.15.0. Winslow, 2.10/. Daniel Henchman, 1.5/. The totals from the other lists are Saml. Gerrish, 2. Jonathan Simpson, brought forward on the paper before us, 1. 10/. Samuel Bass, i.io/. Thomas £So and £115.5.0, making the total of Debuke, 1.10/. Gillam Phillips, 1.10/. the subscription, so far as we know, John Gerrish, 2.10/. Joseph Maylom, 1. £287.0.0. There was a similar subscrip- Thos. Marshall, 1.10/. Elisha Story, 1. tion for Mr. Willard in 1693.] DEATH OF MRS. SEW ALL. 389 Of the meeting held on the 8th of October we have no rec- ord, but Mr. Prince was engaged for two months to supply the pulpit with Mr. Sewall. Judge Sewall's wife, Hannah, and the mother of his fourteen children, died on Saturday, October 19, at the age of sixty. She was a modest, patient, and unobtrusive woman ; self-dis- trustful, perhaps, for although she owned the covenant with many of her young friends in 1680, two years after her marriage, she did not come into full membership until 1688. Her family cares and the state of her health kept her in retirement ; that she was exemplary in her sphere, we have not only the testi- mony of her husband, but the witness of her children's character. Their training must have depended largely upon her, for their father had many public duties and was much from home.1 On the day after her death, this father attended divine service as usual, morning and afternoon, and recorded pathetically, " My Son has much adoe to read the Note I put up, being over- whelm'd with tears." Nine days later, Judge Sewall was bereft of his son-in-law, Mr. Grove Hirst, a merchant of high standing, and a faithful member of Brattle Street Church.2 His daughter, Mrs. Eliza- beth Hirst, had died the year before, and a young family of orphan children was now left to his care. Three of them, Han- nah, Elizabeth, and Jane,3 became members of the Old South in 1726. Mrs. Sewall was buried on Wednesday, October 23 ; Mr. Hirst, on Wednesday, October 30. On Wednesday, November 6, Andrew Belcher was buried. He was the most opulent mer- chant in the town, a member of the council and commissary of the forces. He had been an active member of the South Church for twenty years. On the same day, another leading member, also a councillor, died, — Wait Still Winthrop, chief justice and major-general, "for parentage, piety, prudence, philosophy, love to New England ways and people, very emi- nent." 4 Both Mr. Winthrop and Mr. Belcher were bearers at 1 Mr. Joseph Sewall says in his diary and Jane the Rev. Addington Davenport, that " under all infirmities of body and An older sister, Mary, married William spirit [she] was a diligent reader." Pepperrell in 1722. 2 See Mr. Colman's Funeral Sermon. 4 The editors of Sewall's Diary say William Hirst, father of Grove Hirst, truly that no finer tribute than this could died four days after his son. be paid. Mr. Winthrop, although chief 3 Hannah married Nathaniel Balston, justice, was more frequently called the Elizabeth the Rev. Charles Chauncy, major-general. A military title was evi- 390 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Mrs. Sewall's funeral.1 Judge Sewall heard, November 21, of the death of William Tilly, " a great loss to the South Church and to the town," and, November 30, of that of Samuel Bridge, whom also we suppose to have been a member of the church or congregation, as he left a small sum of money to the poor of the church. " The good Lord stay his hand ! " says Sewall in his diary. Mr. Thomas Foxcroft2 was ordained as colleague at the Old, or First Church, on Wednesday, November 20. Mr. Joseph Sewall joined in laying on hands. Dr. Increase Mather gave the right hand of fellowship, and said that he had per- formed this service three times at the South Church, and this was the third time it had fallen to him at the First Church. Lord's Day Dec 8. Mr. Secretary [Josiah Willard] puts up a Note for Thanksgiving for his safe Arrival [from England]. Madam Win- throp for the Recovery of her only Son. P. m. Mr. Jonathan Belcher comes to the Assembly and very pa- thetically acknowledges [we suppose, in a note] God's distinguishing Mercy towards him.3 At night the Church is stayed, and Mr. Thomas Prince's two Moneths being compleat ; Friday the 20th current is Mr. Belcher, then governor of New Jersey, thus wrote to Mr. Prince, of his father's deathbed : — " My Father was as great a Genius as his Country could boast of, but wanted an Education to Improve and polish it. Governor Dudley (who was a good judge) used to say that Mr. Commissary Belcher would make a good Minister of State to any Prince in Europe, Especially in the Article of Finance. His late Fare- well and Blessing of me show'd his strong thoughts and great modesty. Its fresh in my memory and will be till the Frost of Age seals up that Faculty ; he called me to his Bed-side, took me by the hand and said — Son you may expect me to bless you in a better manner and style than I am able to do, for God did not put it into your grandfather's power to give me the Education he Inabled me to give you, but remember my Last Words to you are — May the Blessing of the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob rest tipon you and yottr seed for Ever. Amen. Farewell. Neither the Patriarchs nor Apostles could have done it better."] dently thought more of than a judicial one. Judge Sewall was known to his townsmen as Captain Sewall, and Mr. Walley, who was also on the bench, was usually called Major Walley. The mili- tary title took precedence even of the favorite prefix, deacon ; for example : Captain Frary, Captain Williams, Colo- nel Checkley. 1 Another bearer, Col. Elisha Hutch- inson, a councillor, was buried Decem- ber 16. " Now," says Sewall, " I have been a Bearer to three of my Wive's Bearers in less than two Moneths time." 2 Thomas Foxcroft was a son of Fran- cis Foxcroft, a prominent man in King's Chapel, who designed his son for the ministry of the Church of England. After his graduation in 17 14, Thomas taught school in Roxbury, where, becom- ing intimate with the Rev. Nehemiah Walter, he was convinced by him " of the truth and excellence of the Puritan faith, which he adopted," and gave his life to the Congregational ministry. He married Anna, daughter of John Coney, the goldsmith. 3 [More than thirty years afterward, ^poorof ^to-maj Jrlmc^ A NEW PRECENTOR. 393 register, for he was undoubtedly a member of the South Church. He graduated at Harvard College in 1685, at the age of six- teen. He was chaplain to Sir William Phips, when he was gov- ernor of the province, " to whom and all persons of figure in the town, he then endear'd himself, by a shining Ingenuity, Wisdom, Humility and Piety, the crown of all." After Sir William's death, Mr. White was for three years a representative for the town of Boston, and then for twenty years he was annually chosen clerk of the House of Representatives. Upon the death of Mr. Thomas Brattle in 17 14 he was made treasurer of Harvard College, and so continued through life. He was also one of the corporation, and was " a father to that society, not only in a faith- ful care of 's estate, but also in a wise and prudent government of it." 1 March 23. Next Friday is agreed on for a Church Meeting to ad- just matters relating to the Ordination. Wednesday was mention'd ; but Mr. Bromfield said he supposed Mr. Denison's Funeral would be on that day.2 March 28 Church Meeting at the South to set a time for the Ordination of Mr. Prince. But Mr. [Edward] Winslow, Emory3 — oppos'd it as too soon ; so many did not Vote for having it in the Spring, that nothing was done. Voted Madam Pemberton 40.^ and she has had near 10.^ in wood. Propounded the chusing two Dea- cons the next Church meeting. March 30. Dr. Increase Mather preaches excellently at the South p. m. Mr. Sewall preach'd for him a. m. April 6. Dr. Cotton Mather preaches for Mr. Prince a. m. very well, and Communicats. April 9. Son holds the Catechizing. April 13. Great Lightening with Thunder, Forenoon and After- noon ; But through the goodness of God, the Claps were not very sharp. Mr. Prince p. m. order'd part of the 29th Psalm to be sung. [" The God of glory thundereth."] July 6. Cous. [the Rev. Joshua] Moodey preaches at the South a. m. Mr. Sol. Stoddard p. m. Both Excellently. August 26. Church Meeting South. Agree to have Mr. Prince ordain'd the first of October next. (Sewall.) The church records give us an amplification of the last para- 1 Mr. White died December 11, 1721, 2 [William Denison, of Roxbury, a son in the fifty-third year of his age. For of Major-General Denison, Harv. Coll. an estimate of his character, see Boston 16S1, died March 22, 1717-18.] News-Letter, quoted by the editors of 3 [The name of Emory does not ap- the Sewall Papers, vol. hi. pp. 296, 297. pear on the list of members. J 394 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. graph, and the vote, a few months before, in favor of Mrs. Pem- berton. At a church meeting March 28, 17 18. Voted — That an Allowance of fourty Pounds be made to Mrs. Mary Pemberton out of the church stock, in consideration of her being the Relict of the Rev. Mr. Ebenezer Pemberton, our late worthy pastor. Joseph Sewall. At a chh. meeting Augt 26. 1718. Voted — That Wednesday, the first of next October be the Day for the Ordination of Mr. Thomas Prince. Voted — That these Churches be sent to ; viz : The Old Church, The North Church, The Church in Brattle Street, and, The New-north Church of this Town ; The Church in Charlestown, the Church in Cambridge, The first Church in Roxbury ■ and that these churches be desir'd to Assist at the Ordination by their Elders and Messengers. Voted — That the Revd. Dr. Increase Mather be desired to Give the Charge. Voted — That the Revd. Dr. C. Mather Mr. Wadsworth, and Mr. Coleman be joyn'd with Dr. I. Mather and our Pastor in Laying on of Hands. Joseph Sewall. It is evident that in making arrangements for the ordination services, the church determined everything except as to who should give the right hand of fellowship. This being the act of the churches which should accept the invitation, it was proper, of course, that their elders and messengers should select the person to represent them in it. The terms of the last vote indicate that the church chose Dr. Increase Mather to preside or to officiate as moderator. The pastor-elect preached the ser- mon, as a matter of course. Mr. Prince was received into the church on Sunday, Septem- ber 28. Mr. Prince's Letter of Dismission was read from the church of Cambridge where he was admitted January 1705. Mr. Sewall said: " Brethren your choice of Mr. Prince to the pastoral office among you, prevents my asking your consent to his Admission," and then gave him the Covenant.1 (Joseph Sewall.) Oct. 1. Ordination of Mr. Thomas Prince. Mr. Wadsworth began with Prayer, very well, about \ past ten. Mr. Prince preached from Hebr. 13. -17. ["Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves : for they watch for your souls, as they that must give 1 [Se wall's Commonplace Book, MS. in the Prince Library belonging to the Old South Church.] MR. PRINCE'S ORDINATION. 395 account ; that they may do it with joy, and not with grief ; for that is unprofitable for you." *] Mr. Sewall pray'd. Dr. Incr. Mather ask'd if any had to object : ask'd the Church Vote who were in the Gallery fronting the Pulpit. Ask'd Mr. Prince's Acceptance of the Call. Dr. Increase Mather, Dr. Cotton Mather, Mr. Wadsworth, Colman, Sewall lay their Hands on his head. Dr. Incr. Mather Prays : Gives the Charge, Prays agen. Dr. Cotton Mather gives the Right Hand of Fellowship. Dr. Incr. Mather, when he declared whom the elders and Messengers had appointed to do it, [said] that it was a good Prac- tice. Sung Psal. 68. 17-20. ["The chariots of God are twenty thou- sand," etc.] Mr. Prince gave the Blessing. Govr. Dudley and his Lady came in about the beginning of Sermon. Entertainment was at Mr. Sewall's, which was very plentifull and splendid.2 (Sewall.) More than forty years were to pass before there would be another ordination at the Old South, and they were to be years of great religious prosperity. Mr. Prince had been supplying the pulpit with more or less regularity ever since his return from England, so that the transition to the full pastoral relation was an easy and natural one. He preached his first sermon after his ordination, Sunday afternoon, October 12, from Psalm lxxi. 14-17: "But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day ; for I know not the numbers thereof. I will go in the strength of the Lord God : I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth : and hitherto have I de- clared thy wondrous works." On Sunday, October 19, he ad- ministered the ordinance of baptism for the first time. The Rev. Samuel Fisk, who was the first choice of a minority of the members of the South Church, had previously received a call to the New South, but had declined it. He was afterward settled at Salem. The new church in Summer Street now came to its older namesake for a minister, in the person of Mr. Samuel Checkley, son of Deacon Samuel Checkley, and grandson of Joshua Scottow. Mr. Checkley graduated at Harvard College in 171 5 ; he served as minister of the New South for fifty years, and was a very excellent man. His daughter, Elizabeth, mar- ried Samuel Adams, the patriot, who wrote of her in the family Bible, at the time of her death in 1757 : " She ran her Christian race with a remarkable steadiness and finished it in triumph." 1 [Of this ordination sermon the Rev. 2 [The charge on the deacons' books Charles Chauncy said that no ordinary for wine used on this occasion was £$. man could have written it.] 17. 3.] 396 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. April 15. Mr. Samuel Checkley was Ordain'd ; Five Churches in Town, and Cambridge were sent to. Dr. Increase Mather gave the Members of the church the Covenant, and then Ordain'd ; Dr. Cotton Mather gave the Right Hand of Fellowship. Mr. Wadsworth began with Prayer, Mr. Checkley preached, Mr. Colman prayed. After the Ordination the first and last Staves of 122. Psalm were Sung. Mr. Boon set Windsor Tune, and read it well. Dr. Incr. Mather, Dr. C. Mather, Mr. Wadsworth, Colman, and Sewall, laid on Hands. (Sewall.) This was the sixth Congregational church in the town ; it began with forty-four members, of whom Samuel Adams, Thomas Peck, John Clough, and perhaps others came from the Old South. April 17. South Church Meeting p.m. Choose two Deacons; Mr. Barthol. Green, Mr. Danl Henchman. Voters 41. Mr. Green had 37. Mr. Henchman 19. Mr. Franklin 10. I was afraid we should have been hindered by Lethered's Arrival, 5. weeks passage ; but it prov'd otherwise. Laus Deo. Mr. Sewall began, and Mr. Prince concluded with Prayer. (Sewall.) Mr. Green was the principal printer of the town and country for forty years. He married, as his second wife, in 17 10, Jane Tappan, a niece of Judge Sewall. It was said of him at the time of his death in 1732 : " He was a person generally known and esteemed among us, as a very humble and exemplary Chris- tian, one who had much of that primitive Christianity in him, which has always been the distinguishing glory of New Eng- land." Mr. Henchman was a grandson of Daniel Henchman, one of the early members of the church. He was the enter- prising bookseller who caused the first edition in America of the English Bible to be printed. His daughter Lydia married Thomas Hancock, and gave the land in Court Street on which the parsonage of Brattle Street Church stood for many years.1 On the evening of Thanksgiving Day, October 29, Judge Sewall was married to Abigail, widow of William Tilly. On the following evening, Mr. Prince was married at the house of Mr. Daniel Oliver, to Deborah Denny, who had been a member of his congregation at Coombs, in England, and who, with her 1 Daniel Henchman's name does not made at this date, but the omission in appear at all on the register of member- the case of Mr. Henchman does not seem ship ; and Bartholomew Green's appears to have been noticed. Bartholomew under date of June 21, 1719, two months Green, Jr., was baptized September 1, after his election to the office of deacon. 1700, and owned the covenant January We suppose that the omission of the 2, 1725. Lydia Henchman was baptized latter name was discovered and the entry October 10, 17 14. MR. PRINCE'S MARRIAGE. 397 brother and some friends, had sailed with him in the same ship on his return to New England.1 She was about twenty-one years of age at the time of her marriage, and ten years younger than her husband. In anticipation of this marriage the church had recently taken action, asking Mrs. Pemberton to vacate the new parsonage, and placing it at the disposal of Mr. Sewall, and assigning the old one to Mr. Prince. From this time forward, the church records are more full, for which we are indebted to Mr. Sewall, who seems to have had the methodical habits of his father. At a chh. meeting Octr. 2. 17 19. Voted — That our Pastor Joseph Sewall be desired to Remove into the new Ministerial House, as soon as he conveniently may, and shall see meet so to doe. Voted — That the Gentlemen of the Fore Seats with the Deacons, be a Committee to Notify Mrs. Pemberton of the above mention'd Vote, and to desire her to Comply with it as soon as she can with convenience. Voted — That the Deacons, or any two of them be empowered to receive the Legacy given this church, by the Honorable Andrew Belcher Esqr deceased, for the use of the Church, and give a Dis- charge to the Executor accordingly. Voted — That the Summof forty Pounds be given out of the Church Stock, to Mrs. Mary Pemberton, in consideration of her being the Relict of the Rev'd Mr. Ebenezer Pemberton, our late Pastor ; And that this summ be Presented to her by the above mention'd Com- mittee. Voted — That the Summ of twenty Pounds be given by the Deacons to Mrs. Eunice Willard out of the Church Stock, in consideration of her being the Relict of the Revd. Mr. Samuel Willard, formerly our Pastor. Voted — That three Pounds, five Shillings pr. Week, be allow'd and by the Deacons paid, to Mr. Joseph Sewall, our Reverend Pastor. 1 The Martha and Hannah brought Mr. Prince, and according to Dr. Sewall as cabin passengers, besides Mr. Prince, they were influenced to migrate to this Stephen Barford and William Argent, country by a desire to remain under his from Cambridgeshire ; James Southgate, ministry. Elizabeth Southgate, a mem- his wife and three daughters, Richard ber of one of these families, joined the Southgate, his wife, two sons, and three South Church April 2, 1721. Samuel daughters, Dorcas and Margaret South- Denny went to Maine, and became Judge gate, Rebecca Harvey, Samuel Denny of the Court of Common Pleas in Lin- and Deborah Denny, all, as we suppose, coin County. His brother Daniel after- from Suffolk. There were also four ward settled in Leicester, Mass., where steerage passengers and twelve men- some of the Southgates had gone to live, servants. The Southgates and Dennys Judge Sewall speaks of visiting a Mr. seem to have been peculiarly attached to Southgate at Leicester in 1718. 39$ HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Voted — That three Pounds, five Shillings pr. Week, be allow'd and paid to Mr. Thomas Prince, our Revd Pastor from the time of his marriage ; And that he be desir'd by the Committee afore mention'd, to remove into one of the ministerial houses of this Church, as soon as may be.1 Voted — That the Honble Jonathan Belcher Esqr. be joyn'd with the Seaters. Voted — That a Committee be annually chosen to Audit the Dea- cons' accounts ; And that they annually make a Report to the church. Voted — That the Honble Thomas Fitch, Jonathan Belcher, and Daniel Oliver Esqrs. be appointed a Committee for Auditing the Dea- cons' accounts for the ensuing year. Voted i. It is just and reasonable that such Persons as enjoy the Privi- lege of the Pews and best Seats in the Meeting House, doe contribute agreeably to Support the Worship of God there. 2. That such as claim or pretend to any right in such Pews or Seats, and doe not constantly or usually attend on the Worship of God there, or doe neglect their duty in Contributing as aforesaid, may not expect the continuance of such a Privilege : but ought to give way to such as doe constantly attend, and support the Worship of God there. 3. That when any persons are remov'd from their Pews or Seats, and others placed therein, they are to be reimbursed their first cost or charge, according to our former Settlement. 4. That the Overseers or Seaters (who have power to dispose and regulate these affairs), are desired and directed, to pursue these and the former Votes of the Church relating to these Affairs, and it is ex- pected that all Persons concern'd, do conform thereunto, for the good and peace of the Church.2 Joseph Sewall Thomas Prince. 1 [A scrap of paper has been pre- day, study till \o\, then Dress served, and now belongs to Mr. David and at 11 to Lecture. Pulsifer, which shows us how Mr. Prince 5. Dine at 1. divided his time, day by day : — 6. at 2 Dress and go abroad till candle- " 1719 Oct. 30. I marry. Light. Except Wednesday, after Nov. 10 we begin to keep House. Dinner, Do something about My Proposed Order. House ; Saturday, after Dinner, 1. At 5 a Get up and go into my Study visit at Dr. Sewall's till i\ and 2. Pray and read in the orig. Bible till then Home to study. 6 and then call up the Family. 7. at candle Light and Study to 9^. 3. At 6\ Go to Family Prayers and at gi go to Family Prayers and only the Porringer of Chocolat so to Bed for Breakfast till 7 N B. I eat no supper."] 4. At 7 go into my study till I2-J- and 2 [There was a sharp controversy be- then do something about House tween Sampson Sheaffe and the widow till 1, to Dinner; except on Thurs- of Robert Gibbs, about the ownership THE OVERSEERS OF SEATS. 399 Whether this last vote, in four sections, refers to the action taken by the church in 1685, l or to anything later and un- recorded, we not know. It is evident, however, that under the ministrations of the two young men, whose joint pastorate was to constitute perhaps the most brilliant epoch in the history of the church, the congregation had already increased to such an extent that every sitting counted, and in justice to those who desired accommodation it became necessary that perma- of a pew which had been fitted up for as Lawfully as any was bought in the Richard Wharton in 1686, and which was Church and that He Had the Consent one of the most eligible in the meeting- of Mr Willard, the Deacons and others house. The following document, some- thing like a brief, lias been preserved ; it was submitted to the overseers of seats in the spring of 17 19, and was prepared, as we suppose, by Jacob Sheaffe : — " An Account of Sundry Persons that is ready to give Evidence Concerning Mr Sheafs Right to his pew, in Controversy with Mrs Gibbs. " 1. Madam Winthrop Widdow Saith She Knows the pew to be Mr Sheafs Right. " 2 Mr Benja : Emmons Saith the Same. "3 Mr Jno Kilby Shopkeepers Wife Saith that Mr Robert Gibbs Deceased in his Life time hath often told her that it was his Uncill Mr Sheafs Pew and that he Sat there only during his Pleasure. "4 Mrs Mary Alden widdow saith She was pressent at Mr Nathaniel Williams's when Mrs Sheafe gave Mrs Gibbs Leave to Sett in Said Pew. " 5 Mrs Cook Sayes She has often Satt at Said Pew Dore in the Heat of Sum- mer and that Mrs Gibbs hath often handed her out of said Pew a Stool to sett on, and would often say to her she made bould to hand her a Stool, but it was her Aunts Pew and Stools. "6 Deacon Draper Sayes he Remem- bers the fitting up said Pew for Mr Wharton. " 7 Mrs Sherrer Sayes She Heard her Father Wharton bid the Carpenters (that fitted up Said Pew) when they Came for a Lock for it) that they must go to Mr Sheafe for a Lock, for it was his Pew. "8 Mr Sampson Sheafe has often ten- dered to You to give his Oath to his Right to said Pew, and that he bought it Immediately concerned in that Affaire. "9 That the Plai'ne Record ta-k-en about Thirty four Years Past by Judge Sewall Esqr one [own] Hand writing (which was Long before any of the Gibbs'es ever had Leave to Sett in said Pew) Plainly Show's it to be Mr Sheafs Pew. " So Gentlemen, I think Every Circum- stance with the Plaine Record And Mr Sampson Sheafs Carrector and Reputa- tion (who Tenders to give his Oath to his Right to said Pew) considered will I hope be a plain and Sufficient Evidence to Shew the Pew to be his, and that you will Accordingly use Some Speedy Methods that He and his Wife and children may sett Quietly and Peaceably therein for the future." Other loose papers have been pre- served, with notes of the proceedings at the overseers' meetings, at this time. On one of them we find, "A List of such as want Seats, Mr. George Bethune, Mr. Oxenbridge Thatcher, Mr. John Walley, Brasier, Mr. Nicholas Davis, Mr. Francis Willoughby." On another : " To be In- vited to sit in the Front Gallery, Mr. Francis Willoughby, Capt. John Gerrish, Mr. Saml Gerrish, with Mr. Borland, Mr. Bethune, Mr. Ox. Thatcher, Mr. Wigglesworth, Capt. Nichs, Davis."] 1 See ante, pp. 253, 254. It is evi- dent from the record that the church recognized an ownership in pews as prop- erty, with certain limitations obviously necessary to the perpetuity and best prosperity of the church itself. The rules of the Old South society to-day, in this regard, vary little from those adopted two hundred years ago. 400 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. nent absentees should make way for them. But even this re- quirement only met the emergency for the time ; and in the course of a year or two it was proposed to enlarge the meeting- house, and the valuation of the pews was very considerably ad- vanced. Mrs. Willard, whom the church generously remembered twelve years after the death of her husband, died January 14, 1720.1 On the 27th of the same month, the Rev. Peter Thacher, of Weymouth, a grandson of the first minister of the South Church, was installed as colleague pastor with the Rev. John Webb, at the New North Church. There was very decided opposition to this settlement on the part of many in the church, the only avowed reason being that it was not right for a wealth- ier congregation to entice away a minister from a poorer one. "Weymouth," they said, "in God's sight, is as precious as Bos- ton ; and the souls there, of as great worth as the souls here. And to the common objection, that it is a pity that Mr. Thacher, being so bright a light, should smoke out his days in so much obscurity, we answer, first, bright lights shine brightest in the darkest places ; and, secondly, bright lights are the obscurer for burning in a room where there are more, and as bright." " No other adequate motive," says Dr. Chandler Robbins, " can be assigned for their opposition or their subsequent doings. Mr. Thacher himself was in all respects such a minister as would be likely to please their taste, to gratify their pride, and to build up the church. There was nothing objectionable in Mr. Webb, to excite their aversion. Nor do I find in any quarter so much as a hint that there were any latent causes of division previ- ously existing between the members of the society themselves." Taking the church and congregation together, the two parties were nearly equal ; and for this reason alone it might have been better if the friends of Mr. Thacher, in the interest of peace and fellowship, had withdrawn his name, or at least had post- poned final action for a time. The vote of the church, after a day spent in fasting and prayer, was thirty-four out of forty- four for Mr. Thacher. A week later, when the congregation came together to vote, six church members and thirty-nine others of the congregation protested, and immediately with- drew, taking their written protest with them. Forty-six persons 1 "Jan. 18 1719-20 Madam Willard Prince. Govr had a scarf, Col. Taylor was buried. Bearers, Dr. Cotton Mather, went with him, I and Col. Townsend Wadsworth ; Colman, Williams ; Sewall, &c." (Sewall.) THE NEW NORTH CHURCH. 401 remained, all of whom voted for Mr. Thacher. A few days before the time fixed for the installation services, the " aggrieved brethren," by the advice of the Boston ministers, proposed that the difficulty should be referred to a mutually called council. The church declined this proposal, on the twofold ground that it came too late, and that it came in a wrong way. " It seems strange," says Dr. Robbins further, " that the New North Church and its pastor should have persisted in their purpose of settling Mr. Thacher against the wishes of so large a portion of the congregation, against the unanimous advice of the clergy of the town, against the general sense of the religious commu- nity, and at the risk of their own dismemberment. There can be no reasonable doubt that, by a more moderate and pacific course on their part, the difficulty might have been healed, and those subsequent disturbances prevented which are a perpetual disgrace to all who were concerned in them. The counsel of such men as the two Mathers, Benjamin Wadsworth, Joseph Sewall, Thomas Prince, and William Cooper — all of them names justly celebrated in the churches of Boston — was pre- cisely such as the spirit of Christianity would have dictated." The substance of this counsel, addressed to the disaffected brethren, but intended for all, was : " A patient waiting may cool and calm spirits that are discomposed and heated. Time, by the help of God, may give more light to us, to you, to Mr. Thacher, Mr. Webb, and the New North, in the present affair, than we have hitherto had." But the majority proceeded to the installation, as undoubtedly they had the right to do. Whether it was expedient for them thus to act is another question. It seem only Mr. Thacher of Milton and Mr. Chiever of Rumney- Marsh acted in the Installment of Mr. Thacher. For though Mr. Fisk [of Salem] was here with his Delegats ; two of them, Mr. Lynde and Mr. Osgood (three came not ; Col. Browne, Daniel Epes esqr., Mr. Timothy Lindal) yet the church had limited them so that they saw not cause to Act. And Mr. Thacher is his Unkle. It seems there was a long and shamefull Tumultuous disturbance in the Meeting-house. Mr. Thacher of Milton pray'd ; Mr. Thacher of Weymouth preach'd from Psal. 57. 2. I will cry — After the church had voted him the Pastor, and Mr. Thacher had accepted ; Mr. Chiever declar'd him to be the Pastor of that church : No Psalm was sung. Col. Taylor, Townsend, Fitch, Secretary [Willard] were there. Mr. Leverett [Pres- ident] acted not because Mr. Appleton the Pastor [of Cambridge] was not present. And none from Charlestown. (Sewall.) 402 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. The " shamefull tumultuous disturbance " mentioned above was made by the disaffected members of the church, and not by any of the elders and messengers of the churches invited to participate in the service of installation. These latter, with the exception of Mr. Thacher, of Milton, and Mr. Cheever, of Rura- ney Marsh, absented themselves from services in which they could not conscientiously and cordially participate. The settle- ment of the colleague pastor, therefore, can hardly be called a settlement by council ; it was, in effect, a settlement by the church itself, and as such, afterward, it was accepted and justi- fied. The controversy brought out a large number of pamphlets and printed documents, among the rest one by Increase Mather on " the usefulness and necessity of councils, in order to pre- serving peace and truth in the churches." On the other side, a " declaration " was published by Mr. Webb and Mr. Thacher, in which it was asserted that " it is an essential right belonging to particular churches to enjoy a free liberty, within themselves, duly and regularly to inquire " into their own affairs, "and to judge upon them as becometh creatures endued with reason and conscience, who are ever to be supposed more nearly con- cerned for their own spiritual interests, than others can be sup- posed to be for them; " at any rate, "they ought to have the privilege reserved unto them of regularly determining when and in what cases to call in the help of their brethren." That consistent Congregationalist, Dr. Clark, from whom we have quoted several times in these pages, thus refers to these proceedings in his Historical Sketch : — The fact that the writers on both sides appeal to the Cambridge Platform, as they do with great earnestness, in support of their conflict- ing views, is evidence of at least an apparent discrepancy between its different parts, which we have before had occasion to notice. But the fact that the New North Church was sustained in its proceedings by a strong public sentiment, under which the disaffected party were constrained to withdraw and form a separate church (the New Brick), also shows that in those days the key-note of Congregationalism — its leading idea, to which all other ideas embraced in the system were to be held subordinate and subservient — was the right of a church to manage its own affairs : that whatever power the Cambridge Platform confers on synods and councils cannot be truly interpreted, nor law- fully exercised, to the prejudice of this right ; " that, according to the constitution of these churches," to quote the words of Messrs. Webb and Thacher, " neither the declaration of ministers nor of councils to any particular church is to be received by it as /aw only to be under- PRIMITIVE CONGREGATIONALISM. 403 stood and so obeyed, but as counsel to be advised on, weighed, and determined upon according to the word of God, by the body of Chris- tians to whom it is made ; though we freely confess the affair ought to be managed with the greatest honour and respect to those that give their advice in a solemn way and manner, as well as with a due regard totheir own both Christian liberty and holy edification." In short, the issue to which this controversy came most clearly shows that as late as 1720 it was a prevailing sentiment in Massachusetts that each particular church is the seat and source of whatever ecclesiastical power belongs to Congregationalists ; and that synods, councils, con- sociations, and whatever ciher machinery may be found convenient and helpful in the working of our system, or deemed essential to the " well-being of the churches," are to be so used as in no wise to inter- fere with the free exercise of this power. Whatever different views we may have of the expediency of settling a pastor under the forbidding circumstances which beset the New North Church in settling Mr. Thacher, it must be confessed that, as defenders of a great principle lying at the foundation of our church polity, they were clearly in the right and did a good service ; and it was by losing sight of primitive Congregationalism, and looking solely at modern usage as an exponent of Congregational law, that Mr. Ware, in his notice of their proceedings, could have reached the con- clusion that " they were clearly in the wrong" — which Mr. Robbins, in his valuable History of the Second Church, has inadvertently admitted.1 May 25. Election, the Revd Mr. Stone Preach'd from Rom. 13. 3. For Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Lord ever grant thy people such to rule over them. The Ministers met at my House.2 May 26. They Met again this Morning. Voted that a Sermon shou'd be preached annually to the Ministers on the Day following 1 [Clark's Hist. Sketch, pp. 134, 135. that place." — History of the Second Dr. Robbins's remark, quoting the Rev. Church, p. 307. See also pp. 170-177.] Henry Ware, Jr., is as follows : " Mr. 2 [The church bore at least a portion Ware's opinion seems to me perfectly of the expense of entertaining the clergy correct, viz. : ' that the New North peo- at the parsonage on these occasions, pie wrote with most moderation, though The following charges appear in one of they were clearly in the wrong ; while the the deacons' books : — advocates of the New Brick, though on 1723 May 29 Cash for Wine the right side, lost all command of their for the Ministers . . . 1. 7. 10 temper.'" 1724 May 26 MoneyforWine Dr. Robbins adds : " The result of Mr. for the Ministers . . . 1. 8. o Thacher's connection with the New !7^5 May 24 Wine taken out North was certainly in the end favorable of Stock for the Ministers 12. o to the interests of that church, and justi- 1726 May 23 Canary for the fied the good opinion, formed by those Ministers . 1.12. o] who supported him, of his fitness for 404 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. the Election. Dr. Increase Mather was Chosen to that Service for the next Year. The Revd Mr. Solomon Stoddard was also Chosen in case the Doctor shou'd fail : And Dr. C. Mather to supply his place upon Supposition that He should be Prevented by the Providence of God. Dr. C. Mather Pray'd Yesterday : Mr. John Williams to Day. It was propos'd, and I think generally agreed that Days of Fasting and Prayer shou'd be kept by our Churches successively to Ask the plentifull Effusion of the Spirit on the rising Generation. (Joseph Sewall.) During the night of the 26th and 27th of May Judge Sewall lost his wife, Abigail, to whom he had been married only seven months. May 29. God having in his holy Sovereignty put my Wife out of the Fore-Seat, I apprehended I had Cause to be asham'd of my Sin, and to loath my self for it ; and retired into my Pue. Mr. Williams of Derefield preach'd in the morning from Rom. 5. Christ died for Sin- ners. Mr. Sewall administered the Lord's Supper. I put up a Note to this purpose ; Samuel Sewall, depriv'd of his dear Wife by a very sudden and awfull Stroke, desires Prayers that God would sanctify the same to himself, and Children and family. Writ and sent three ; to the South, Old, and Mr. Colman's. Mr. Prince preaches p. m. Matt. 25. At midnight behold a Cry was made. (Sewall.) Deacon James Hill died Sunday morning, February 26, 1721, aged eighty-two ; his wife died the day before, aged eighty-three. She was a sister of the first Daniel Henchman. They were buried together on the following Thursday, after the Lecture. March 5. Lord's Day. Serene, and good but very cold, yet had a comfortable opportunity to celebrate the Lord's Supper. Mr. Prince, p. m, preach'd a Funeral Sermon from Psal 90. 10. ["The days of our years are threescore years and ten," etc.] Gave Capt. Hill a good Character. (Sewall.) The church now proposed action in reference to the enlarge- ment of its meeting-house. At a meeting of the South Chh. in Boston. Apr. 21. 1721. Voted — That the Meeting House be enlarged 16 feet on the North side to make suitable Accommodations for such as want them for their Families, and that the whole be arch'd and ciel'd, provided a suita- ble and sufficient number of Persons appear to encourage it ; and the necessary Charge of repairing the meeting house, be not increased thereby. Voted — That the Committee for seating the Meeting House and Capt. Winslow be appointed to take the oversight and management of this affair, and prosecute it with all convenient expedition. THREE NEW PEWS. 405 Voted — That Anthony Stoddard Esqr be added to the Seaters. Voted — That the former stated Price of 10^ for a Pew be annull'd and superseded, and that for the future, where any alienation may be made of a whole, or part of a Pew, or any person entitled to one, the Overseers for the time being are to govern the matter according to their discretion, not exceeding Thirty five Pounds for any one. And that if at any time, any Person purchase or offer to take possession of any Pew in the Meeting House without the consent of the Over- seers, They may disposess them and entitle any other suitable Person thereto. Voted, — That Half the Space at the Entrance of the East Door, and the Men's Short Seats by the Pulpit Stairs, be made into Pews provided the Overseers shall judge it expedient.1 Voted — That the two hind Short Seats of the Women, be made into a Pew, provided such persons as are placed there, be conveniently Seated, and the Overseers shall judge it expedient. Voted — That Thanks be given to the Committee for Auditing the Deacon's accounts, and that they be desired to stand for another Year. Joseph Sewall Thomas Prince. 1 [Aprill 15th 1724 At a Meeting of the Overseers at the house of Uaniell Oliver, Esqr Present Samuell Checkley Esqr Daniel Oliver Esqr Habijah Savage Esqr Mr. Ezekiell Lewis and Anthony Stoddard There being Three New Pews now built by Order of the Overseers Pursu- ant to a Liberty Given them by a Vote of the Church Aprill 21 1721 Voted That the New Pew at the foot of the Stairs leading up to the Pulpit be sett at thirty Pounds. Voted that the New Pew at the East Door be sett at twenty five pounds. Voted that the New Pew at the End of the Women's Short Seats be sett at thirty five Pounds. Voted that an Offer be Made to Coll : Thos Fitch Esqr of the New Pew by the Pulpit Stairs . Voted that an Offer be made to Capt John Ellery and Capt John Osborn Of the New Pew at the East Door to be possessed between them Voted that an Offer be made to Mr. Chris : Kilby, Mr. Benj : Sympson, Mr. Samll Rand and Mr. Jer : Belnap of the New Pew at the End of the Women's Short seats. Voted that Deacon Daniell Henchman be Entituled to half of the Pew between Mr. Gibs's and Mr. Bowes's (the other half belonging to Mr. Ellison's Family) he paying five pounds for the same. May 20th 1724 At a Meeting of the Overseers at the house of David Jeffries Esqr. Present : Coll : Checkley, David Jeffries, Daniel Oliver Antho Stoddard Hab : Savage Esqr and Eze. Lewis — Voted that the Wife of Mr. Nathan Lewis be placed in her Mother's Seat in the short seat next to Coll : Checkleys Pew — Voted that the Wife of Mr. Chrisr Kilby be Seated in the Pew belonging to the heirs or Children of mr. Nicholas Bowes deed : Novbr 28. 1724 At A Meeting of the Overseers at Coll. Checkleys present Danl Oliver, Coll: Checkley Antho Stoddard, Habijah Savage Esqrs and Eze : Lewis — Voted that Liberty is granted to Capt. John Ellery and Capt John Osborne to purchase the Pew that was Majr General Winthrops [he died in 17 17] in Equall halves.] 406 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Anthony Stoddard, who was added to the overseers of seats by one of the foregoing votes, and whose name will meet us frequently in this history, was one of those who were not enrolled as they should have been on the list of members. He was grandson of Anthony Stoddard, whose name appears so often in our earlier chapters, and son of Simeon. He graduated at Harvard College in 1697. The Election Sermon this year was preached by Mr. Moodey, of York; and on Thursday, June 1, Dr. Increase Mather preached a sermon to the ministers, at Mr. Joseph Sewall's house. This, we suppose, was the first of the "convention ser- mons " in Boston, which with few interruptions have been preached year by year until the present time. Dr. Mather's text was Rev. i. 20 : " The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches." " Lord grant," wrote Mr. Sewall, " that thy ministers may more and more resemble angels, for their wisdom and holiness, zeal and activity in thy service ; and stars for their light and influence." June 8. This Lecture Day was observed as a Day of fasting and Prayer at the Old-meeting-house in consideration of the Fear and Dis- tress we are in from the Smallpox. Mr. Colman Preached from Mark 6, 54-56 — they laid sick in streets — as many as touched him &c. Mr. Webb began, Mr. Foxcroft concluded with Prayer. P. M. Dr. C. Mather preached from Amos 4. 12, Prepare to meet thy God. Mr. Prince began and concluded with Prayer. (J. Sewall.) A Thanksgiving Day having been appointed by the civil authorities, the question came up whether there should be two sermons as heretofore had been the custom in the town, or only one. Judge Sewall, who was always earnest for the maintenance of the old customs, was for two sermons, but he was overruled. Oct. 15. After the Evening Exercise, Mr. Prince Read the Order for the Thanksgiving ; and then offer'd it to Consideration, that there might be but One Sermon. I spake against it. Said I had seen one such a one ; and I did not desire to see another. Twas the privilege we in Boston had, that might have two, which our Brethren in the Country could not have, because of their remote Living. No body seconded me ; and I desisted. Oct. 20. In the Council Chamber I discours'd Col [Penn] Town- send about having but one Sermon on the Thanksgiving day. He was of Opinion twas best to have two, but for the distress of the Small Pox : and could not get him to move a jot towards having Two. Oct 26. Thanksgiving ; But one Sermon in most Congregations, THE SMALL-POX. 407 by reason of the Distress of the Small Pox. Began at eleven a-clock. Note. I think so great an Alteration should not have been made ; without the Knowledge and Agreement of the Councillours and other Justices in Town, met together for that purpose. (Sewall.) During this visitation of the small-pox there were seven hun- dred and sixty-one deaths in Boston, in September, October, and November, and its ravages extended to all the neighboring towns. Among its victims was the Rev. Joseph Stevens, of Charlestown, whom some desired to settle at the South Church when Mr. Joseph Sewall received the call. His only daughter and his wife's sister died of the same disease at the same time, and all were buried in one grave. He was less than forty years of age, and he had been pastor at Charlestown only eight years. It was said of him : " In the pulpit he was to us a very lovely song ; and in his life an amiable example of the doctrines he sweetly recommended." The scourge came even closer than this to the South Church. On the nth of December Mr. John White, the treasurer of Harvard College, died ; four years be- fore, he succeeded Judge Sewall in the precentorship. A few days earlier an humbler member, Susan Thayer, had been called home, and was buried on Friday, December 1st, "just after the Sacramental Lecture." Judge Sewall's testimony to her worth was : " She had serv'd me and my family faithfully fifteen years, and now I hope she is gon to Heavenly Rest." He and his son-in-law, the Rev. William Cooper, followed her to her grave. The prevailing disease entered Mr. Joseph Sewall's family, but not in its worst symptoms. Feb 25, 1722 Was affected to hear the Confession of the Woman and her Restoration ; and to see Capt. [John] Osburn and five women admitted.1 (Sewall.) We do not know the name of this woman who confessed her sin and was restored to her former standing in the church. On the 29th of March Judge Sewall was married for the third time, namely, to Mary, widow of Robert Gibbs, and daughter of Jonathan Shrimpton by his wife Mary, daughter of Peter Oliver. Her sister Sarah married John Clark, the speaker. The Rev. Nathaniel Williams, master of the Latin School, was her half- brother. Most of her family connections were members of the South Church. Mr. Daniel Oliver, one of the overseers of seats, was her uncle. Her social position, as wife of the chief justice, now entitled her to a place in the fore seat for women. 1 [Abigail Lewis, Rachel Gilbert, Sarah Kneeland, Rachel Kneeland, Katharine Galpin.} 408 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Lord's day April i. Sat with my wife in her Pue. April, 8. introduc'd her into my Pue, and sat with her there. April 15. Conducted my wife to the Fore-Seat ; having been invited by David Jeffries esqr, Danl Oliver esqr, and Mr. Ezekiel Lewis, March, 31. as overseers. (Sewall.) May 1. 1722 A Council of about 14 Churches (of which our's was one) met at Watertown, Condemn'd the Proceedings of Mr. Sturgeon and his Party. I got home safe about 3 a'clock A. M. with Col. Fitch. O Lord give Peace with truth and holiness to that divided Town.1 May 31. [Election Week.] Dr. C. Mather preach'd at my house from Rev. 2.2. Help thy Ministers to labour in thy Service as being sensible that the Head of the Church knows their labor and Patience. (J. Sewall.) Probably the addition and alterations authorized by the vote of April 21, 1 72 1, were not made. There is no record one way or the other, but certain repairs were now necessary, and, not long after, it was proposed to build a new house of worship. 1 [For the history of a long-standing controversy in Watertown in reference to the location of a new meeting-house, see An Historical Sketch of Watertown, by Dr. Convers Francis, pp. 59-63. The governor and council were appealed to in 1692, and a committee, of which Wil- liam Stoughton and Samuel Sewall were members, considered and reported upon the questions in dispute. In a " return " of the council it was said : " There has been of a long time, even ever since the days of your blessed pastor Phillips, an earnest contending about the place of meeting for the public worship of God." In 1696, the heated state of feeling be- ing unabated, and leading to occasional disorders, the town determined that a day of humiliation should be observed, and Mr. Willard and Mr. Cotton Mather were invited to fix the time and conduct the services. The farmers in the precinct which was afterward incorporated as Weston arranged for separate religious services for themselves. In May, 1697, the Rev. Samuel Angier was settled over the old church, and began to preach in the new meeting-house. Five months later, a church was gathered at the east end of the town, and the Rev. Henry Gibbs was ordained as its pastor. Diffi- culties arose respecting the support of the two ministers, both of whom were paid from the common treasury. A defi- nite division between the eastern and western parts of the town was at length found necessary, and in 1720 the General Court appointed a committee to run a dividing line between them. Mr. Angier died in 17 19, and Mr. Sturgeon was one of his successors. Dr. Francis says : "The society, it is probable, finding themselves too feeble to exist separately, were gradually dispersed, and joined themselves to the other two parishes. Their meeting-house, being abandoned, was, we may presume, in the course of a few years demolished. It appears, how- ever, that for some time they acted as a distinct church and society, and that their proceedings were thought to be irregular and censurable. That this was the fact I infer from a vote recorded by Mr. Gibbs's successor [the Rev. Seth Storer] concerning a Mr. Daniel Whit- ney, in which it is mentioned as an of- fence, that he ' owned the covenant among and submitted himself to the watch and discipline of those who acted as a third church in Watertown, and that he had a child baptized by Mr. Robert Sturgeon after the result of the council of churches met at Watertown on May 1st. 1722.' "] DAYS OF FASTING WITH PRAYER. 409 At a meeting of the South Church in Boston Augt 21 1722 Voted ; 1. That Thanks be given to the Committee for Auditing the Deacons' Accounts, and that they be desired to stand for another year. 2. That Mr. Daniel Oliver, Mr. Edward Winslow, and Mr. Timothy Prout be a Committee to consult with Mr. Thomas Foster, and con- sider what is needfull to be done for the Reparation of the Meeting House, and the Charge ; and that they make a Report to the Church and Congregation next Tuesday at 3ck p. m. Pursuant to a Vote pass'd at a Meeting of the South Church, Augt. 21. 1722, The Church and Congregation met Augt. 28. And having heard the Report of the Committee, Voted ; 1. That Thirty or Forty Pounds only, or so much as shall be need- full to make the Roof tight, be for the present Expended towards re- pairing the Meeting House. 2. That Mr. Daniel Oliver, Mr. Edward Winslow and Mr. Timothy Prout be a Committee to Manage the Affair above voted with all con- venient Expedition. Joseph Sewall Thomas Prince. A fast was observed at the Old North on Tuesday, the 25th of September, " to pray for the pouring out of God's Spirit in New England, especially the rising generation." Dr. Mather referred during the services to the recent "apostasy" in Con- necticut, and to the remark of the Rev. Timothy Cutler and others, who had gone over to the Anglican communion, " that there was no minister in New England." There was a similar observance at the South Church a few weeks later. Sept 25. It having been agreed by the Ministers to Propose it to their Churches to keep Days of Fasting with Prayr successively, This Day a Fast was Kept at the Old-North. A. M. Mr. Wadsworth began, Mr. Walter concluded with Prayr. P. M. Mr. Colman began, and Dr. Increase Mather concluded. Dr. Cotton Mather preach'd both parts of the Day from Matt. 9. 18. — My daughter is even now dead: but come, and lay thine Hand. — N. B. The Design — is to Ask of God the Effusion of his Spirit especially on the rising Gen- eration. (J. Sewall.) Nov. 4. 1722. The church was stayed, and Voted, that the 13th of this instant should be observed by us as a day of Prayer with Fasting, to ask of God the effusion of his Holy Spirit, particularly on the rising gen- eration. Joseph Sewall Thomas Prince. 41 0 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Novr. 13. This Day was observ'd by the South-Church as a Day of Fasting with Pray'r. Mr. Cooper began with Prayr A. M. Mr. Prince Preach'd from Ps. 90. 16. Let thy work appear to thy servants &c. Mr. Webb began P. M. I preached from Luke 11. 13. — How much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit. Mr. Prince and I made the last Prayrs. I humbly Bless God for the Assistance granted his Servants, and that his people were so far spirited to Give their Attendance. We were under fears considering the time ; the Thanksgiving but the week before &c. But God favour'd us, I think, beyond our expectation.1 (J. Sewall.) Lord's day Dec. 9. I was much refresh'd by reading in course 1 Kings, 10. the high value the Queen of Sheba put on Solomon, and behold a greater than Solomon is this day exhibited in the Lord's Supper which Mr. Prince administered: Text 1 Cor. 11. 29. The Rain was so great, that Col. Partridge [of Portsmouth], and I and my Wife din'd with my Son [at the new parsonage]. His Text [p. m.] was 2 Sam. 6. 20. Of Family Prayer; very well. Dec 30. Lords Day, Notes are put up in many Congregations to this effect. His Excellency, Governour Shute, bound to Sea, desires prayers. (Sewall.) The governor sailed from Nantasket Roads a day or two later. He had been governor since 1716.2 He was succeeded tem- porarily by William Dummer, third of the name, as acting governor. The New Brick Church was formed by a secession from the New North, at the time of Mr. Thacher's settlement as col- league with Mr. Webb. When its meeting-house in Hanover Street was completed and opened for divine worship, sermons were preached by Dr. Cotton Mather and Mr. Wadsworth. The text chosen by the latter was suggested as that of Dr. Increase Mather's convention sermon in 1721 had been, by the number 1 [The other associated churches held Judge Sewall that he was of the Church similar services in turn, in accordance of England. with the recommendation of the min- The New England Courant pro- isters.] pounded the following : " Quere. 2 Samuel Shute was a colonel in the Whether (pursuant to the charter) the army, and a brother of John Shute, after- ministers of this province ought now to ward Lord Barrington, in the peerage of pray for Samuel Shute Esq. as our im- Ireland. The maternal grandfather of mediate Governor, and, at the same time, these brothers was the celebrated Presby- pray for the Lieutenant Governor as terian minister, the Rev. Joseph Caryl. commander-in-chief? Or, Whether their Governor Shute had been a non-con- praying for his success in his voyage, if formist ; but just before his departure, he designs to hurt the province, (as some in the course of a discussion upon the suppose) be not in effect to pray for our observance of Christmas Day, he told destruction ? " DEATH OF INCREASE MATHER. 411 of Congregational churches then existing in the town: "These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the golden candlesticks." The Rev. William Waldron was ordained as its first minister, May 23, 1722.1 Mr. Sewall offered prayer, Dr. Cotton Mather preached, Dr. Increase Mather gave the charge, and Mr. Wads- worth the right hand of fellowship. Late in the year 1723 Judge Sewall spent a Sabbath with this church, in token of his Christian sympathy. Dr. Increase Mather died on Friday, the 23d of August, after a ministry at the Old North or Second Church of sixty years.2 He had filled a large place in the political as well as the eccle- siastical affairs of the province, and made his mark upon his generation. On Sunday, September 1, Mr. Colman, whose coming to Boston at the beginning of the century Dr. Mather had opposed with characteristic intensity of feeling, preached to the bereaved congregation from Isaiah iii. 1,2: " For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem, and from Judah, the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, the mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient." Mr. Colman said : — I count not myself worthy nor able to speak of so great and good a man, nor to you upon this occasion. Yet if I should altogether be silent it might be justly censurable, and if I presume to speak my words will fall below his praises which are in all the churches. Mod- esty forbids me to attempt his character, but reverence commands me to pay some tribute to his memory, and love constrains me to mourn with you in your bereavement. Sept. 10, 11. 1723. Mr. Henchman and I set out together for South Braintree, where the Elders and Messengers from Nine Churches met, had a publick hearing of the Matters which are occasion of Differ- ence among them. The result of the Council was read in the meeting house, nth, p. m. and then Mr. Walter the Moderator concluded with 1 See Jeremiah Bumstead's diary, in was succeeded by the Rev. William the N. Eng. Hist, and Gen. Register, Welsteed. In 1779 the New Brick was 1861. Dr. Ware and Dr. Robbins give united with the Second or North Church. May 22 as the date of ordination ; Mr. 2 He was buried on the 29th. The Bumstead says May 23, and as this was bearers were Governor Dummer, Judge on a Wednesday, we assume that he is Sewall, President Leverett, Mr. Thacher, right. Mr. Wadsworth, Mr. Colman. "There Mr. Waldron died suddenly, Septem- was a vast number of spectatours." (J. ber 11, 1727, in his thirty-first year. He Sewall.) 412 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Prayer. We got safe home a little after sun-set. Laus Deo. O Lord restore Peace and Truth and Holiness to that divided Flock.1 (J. Sewall.) Lord's Day, Dec i. I went to the New North Brick, Mr. Sheriff Winslow accompanying me, and kept the Sabbath with Mr. Waldron, who preach'd Excellently from John, 6, 66, 67, 68, 69. verses ; adapted his Discourse to the Temptations of our Day. In concluding the Sacramental Solemnity, the two last staves of the Fourth Psalm, and the 12th and 13th verses of Rev. 5th were sung. Dined at Deacon [Solomon] Townsend's (Mrs. Waldron being with her travelling Mother at the Vinyard), where Mr. Bromfield and I dined, when we visited Mr. Webb upon the like occasion many years agoe. Major Moodey and Madam Winslow dined with us. Mr. Sheriff Winslow went home. In the afternoon Mr. Waldron baptised Thomas. Brother [the Rev. Nathaniel] Williams preached from Rev. 2. 21. And I gave her Space to repent — and she repented not. The Lord help me to hear and obey the pungent exhortations to Repentance ; and that the power of Godliness may be, and appear in me. Being dry under foot and serene weather, I had very Comfortable going and returning. I humbly bless God that I have had the Opportunity to show this Respect to Seven of the Churches of Boston : and earnestly pray that he would pardon my unworthiness to bear This Testimony for Him ; and of his boundless Benignity, He would condescend to know me, and to be known of me ! Lord's Day, April 5. 1724. The Ways are dry, and the Weather moderat, so that I comfortably goe to the solemn Assembly Forenoon and Afternoon : Hear my Son preaching from the first Commandment ; and Mr. Prince from Prov. 8. 17., both exhorting to the Love of God; may I be enabled to hear through the Long Suffering and Goodness of God ! (Sewall.) 1 [From the New England Conrant, by Rule alternately, for the Satisfaction then issued in the name of Benjamin of both parties." Franklin, his brother James, in conse- " Boston, Decemb. 9. We have advice quence of his freedom in criticising public from the South Part of Bran trey, that on men and measures, having been called to Sunday the First Instant, Mr. Niles the account by the General Court : — Minister of that Place, performed the "Boston, Sept. 16. Last week a Duties of the Day at his Dwelling House, Council of Churches was held at the among those of his Congregation who South Part of Brantrey, to regulate the are opposers of Regular Singing. The Disorders occasioned by Regular Sing- Regular Singers met together at the ing in that place, Mr. Nile, the minister Meeting House, and sent for Mr. Niles, having suspended seven or eight of the who refused to come unless they would Church for persisting in their Singing first promise not to sing Regularly; by Rule, contrary (as he apprehended) whereupon they concluded to edify them- to the result of a former Council ; but selves by the Assistance of one of the by this Council the suspended Brethren Deacons, who at their Desire prayed are restored to Communion, their Sus- with them, read a sermon &c." — Buck- pension declared unjust, and the Con- ingham's Specimens of Newspaper Liter- gregation ordered to sing by Rote and ature, vol. i. p. 86.] DEATH OF PRESIDENT LEVERETT. 413 April 14. The Council sat again at South-Braintry. An accommo- dation was proposed, and was so far effective, that the suspended brethren made some general acknowledgment and were restored. Something was also spoken (I am inform'd) in behalf of the other side towards an acknowledgment ; but it did not seem to satisfy the sus- pended brethren (N. B. Mr. Oliver and I came away before these things were done in publick.) O Lord Pardon the Sin, and heal the Distemper whereby the minds of that people are alienated from each other. (J. Sewall.) The Rev. John Leverett, the president of Harvard College, was found dead in his bed on Sunday morning, May 3, and he was buried with every mark of respect three days later. He had held the office sixteen years, and had governed the students "with great sweetness and candor, tempered with convenient severity." Judge Sewall writes, under date of August 12 : " Scipio brings word this morning from Mr. Gerrish that my Son is Chosen President." This is the only reference to the subject in his diary. The South Church had relinquished its claim on Dr. Leonard Hoar, on his arrival from England, more than fifty years before, in order that he might serve the college as its president ; and it had allowed Mr. Willard to act as presi- dent during the last six years of his life. It was now asked to make a much more serious sacrifice than in either previous in- stance, and it felt obliged to decline. It had two pastors, ad- mirably adapted to the work which had been committed to them, laboring harmoniously together and with success ; and the members of the church no doubt thought that it would be more easy to find another man fitted for the presidency of the college than to fill the place, in their pulpit, of either Mr. Sewall or Mr. Prince.1 The board of overseers sent a committee to confer with the church, and we have a brief account of the interview and of the result so far as the church was concerned, in the handwriting of Mr. Prince : — At a meeting of this church, Sept. 30. 1724. After looking to God for his gracious presence — (As is usual at all the meetings) 1 Mr. Sewall says in his diary, August but few wou'd Consent to it. Lord 29: "Several of the Brethren of the make my way clear ; shew me, thy people, Church were with me last night and to what thou wouldst have us to doe, and day, who express their Unwillingness to incline us to that which is pleasing in thy part with me, and some of them pretty sight. ... I humbly thank thee that thou strongly express'd their Apprehension hast given me such a room in the hearts that it would not well consist with the of thy people, who are dear to me : and peace and welfare of the Flock, and that humble me to the dust." 4H HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Voted That according to the desires of the Overseers of the College, their Committee be now admitted to present their desires to this church, with respect to Mr. Sewall, our Pastor, without our entering into any debate on the affair depending, while they are present. After the said committee's admittance and Recess, the Question was put ; whether the church saw sufficient reason to consent to the desires of the Overseers of the College, in the removal of their Revd Pastor Mr. Sewall from them? To which I could see but one Hand affirmative. And then the following Vote was put, and pass'd with a very gen- eral concurrence, there being about Sixty Brethren — The Hon'd and Revd Overseers of the College having appointed a Committee to ask, and move for our consent to our Revd Pastor Mr. Sewall's Removall from us to the College ; the Church being met together on that affair, and having humbly asked Council and Direc- tion of God, and fully heard and seriously considered what was offered by said Committee came to the following Determination ■ and Voted — That they can't apprehend it to be their duty, but think it will very much disserve the interest of Religion among them, and will tend very much to disturb their peace and comfort to part with their said Revd. Pastor, and therefore can by no means comply with said motion ; but earnestly desire He would as soon as may be give his Answer accordingly. Thomas Prince. We have thought sometimes that jealousy might be called "the last infirmity of noble" ministerial "mind." The follow- ing extract from the diary of a disappointed aspirant to the presidency, Dr. Cotton Mather, is an illustration in point : — I am informed that yesterday the six men who call themselves the Corporation of the College met, and contrary to the epidemical expectation of the country, chose a modest young man, of whose piety (and little else) every one gives a laudable character. I always fore- told these two things of the Corporation ; first, if it were possible for them to steer clear of me, they will do so ; secondly, that if it were possible for them to act foolishly, they will do so. Mr. Sewall was fortunate, under the circumstances, in that the possession of personal piety was conceded to him by his brother minister and rival. The members of the corporation who supported his election were Henry Flint, Benjamin Wads- worth, Benjamin Colman, and Nathaniel Appleton. They doubtless knew what they were doing, and acted under a full sense of responsibility. We may assume, therefore, that Mr. MR. SEW ALL CALLED TO THE COLLEGE. 415 Sevvall, if he was not exceptionally learned, had certain definite qualifications, both natural and acquired, for a successful college president.1 To the great satisfaction of the Third Church, he declined the invitation;2 and on the 18th of November the Rev. Benjamin Colman, of the Brattle Street Church, was chosen instead.3 He, too, declined ; and in the summer of 1725 the Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth, of the First Church, was elected and installed. The diary of Samuel Sewall, Jr., contains the following : — August nth. 1724. Brother Sewall chose President of Harvard Colledge by the Corporation.. Aug. 26th. Confirmed his choise by the Overseers of the Colledge. They chose a Committee to acquaint him with it and to desire his acceptance of it viz. Col. Byfield, Col. Adam Winthrop and Mr. Wadsworth. Brother gave them a denyal which they would not take up with when reported to the Overseers. But added Two more, Mr. John Danforth and Mr. Benjn. Colman. Sep- tember 30th. The Old South Church had a Meeting which was a very full one. The Committee, each of them, made a Speech to the Church and then withdrew. Afterwards the Church proceeded to a vote and all except Brother [in law Samuel] Gerrish voted his con- tinuance with them. ' After He gave his full answer. Mr. Colman was one of the committee which appeared be- fore the church, and pleaded for its consent to the acceptance by Mr. Sewall of the presidency. In his Life, by Mr. Turell, there is a reference to his speech on the occasion, but a mistake is made in intimating, as the author seems to do, that Mr. Col- man was called to the position before, instead of after, Mr. Sewall was chosen to it : — Although Dr. Colman excused himself from this high Honour and Trust, yet no one shewed a greater Solicitude, nor took more pains, to have the College well supplyed, — His moving Speech to the Old 1 President Quincy says that by the sessed ; and his church, by refusing their election of Mr. Sewall the corporation assent to his removal to the college, sought to conciliate the predominating expressed the wishes and affections of religious influences of the province, and their pastor not less than their own." — adds: "Sewall, though not deficient in History, vol. i. p. 331. other qualifications for the president's 2 Mr. Sewall was chosen a Fellow of chair, was not distinguished for possess- the college in 1728, and served until 1765. ing them. The office was not suited 3 On the election of Mr. Colman, Dr. either to his character or his views. Mather wrote in his diary: "The Cor- Amiable, faithful, and affectionate, he poration of the miserable College do was peculiarly adapted to the office of again, (on a fresh opportunity) treat me teacher and pastor. He had the good with their accustomed indignity." See sense to realize the advantages he pos- Quincy's History, vol. i. pp. 331-339- 41 6 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. South Church in Boston, September the 30th, 1724, to part with their Reverend and Honoured Pastor, Dr. Joseph Sewall, for that Service, which lies before me, is a Demonstration of it.1 What Mr. Sewall's attitude was in this matter we learn from the memorial sermon preached in his pulpit on the Lord's Day after his death, forty-five years later : — In consideration of the many good qualities in which he excelled, he was, so long ago as the year 1724, upon the death of President Leverett, chosen, in his room, to take the head-ship of Harvard Col- lege, in Cambridge. Upon the news of this, which, as his own words are, was " surprising " to him, I find him making that pious reflection, " O Lord ! what am I, a sinful worm, that there should be any tho't of me for so considerable a trust ! " This choice of him to so impor- tant a service, lay with great weight upon his mind, partly from his own modest diffidence, but principally from the ardor of his affection toward you of this Church and congregation. He often carried the case to God in humble earnest prayer, and more than once set apart a day for solemn application to him who dwelleth on high for direction in an affair of such consequence. On one of these days, he writes thus ; " I besought the Lord to give all needed direction to the over- seers, the flock I stand related to, and to my self. I also endeavoured to examine myself ; — and, if I know my own heart, my inclination is to abide with my dear people, and to spend and be spent in the work of the ministry here, if this be the will of God, and most for his glory. I think I can truly say, that no prospect of greater worldly honor, or gain, would prevail with me to leave this people ; and that I do not account my life too dear to be spent in the service of Christ among them." You, the people of his charge, expressed a like affection towards him, in your voted unwillingness to part with him. Upon which, your beloved Pastor, having again asked the direction of heaven, thus writes : " I suppose that now God makes my way plain to give an answer in the negative, which I accordingly did ; " adding that wish of piety, " Lord ! provide a more sutable and sufficient per- son for that important trust." 2 Nov. 22. Bro'r. Williams preaches. The prudent forseeth the evil, and hideth himself. Made a very good Discourse. Nov. 29. Mr. Charles Chauncy preaches for my Son, from Mat. 19. 17. If thou wilt enter into Life, Keep the Commandments. Mr. Sewall blessed the Congregation. Mr. Prince preached in the After- noon from Hoseah 14 — 1,2,3,4. Mr. Sewall baptized Benjamin Brandon. Gave Thanks for his [own] Recovery, pray'd that all his Sins and Defects might be pardoned. (Sewall.) 1 [Turell's Life and Character of the 2 [Ur. Chauncy's Discourse, July 2, Rev. Beiij. Colman, p. 58.] l7^>9, PP- 23, 24.] DEPRECIATION OF THE CURRENCY. 41 7 The young man mentioned above, Mr. Charles Chauncy, was a baptized child of the church, and had become a member two or three months before he preached this sermon, which was one of his first. His father, of the same name, a merchant, and his mother, Sarah, daughter of the Hon. John Walley, were also members. He married, May 9, 1728, Elizabeth Hirst, a grand- daughter of Judge Sewall. He was, therefore, a nephew of Mrs. Sewall, and a nephew by marriage of the Rev. Joseph Sewall. His name will come prominently before us, as we proceed with our history. Lord's Day, Deer. 6th. Lord's Supper. Mr. Prince's Text, Cant. 2. 14. which I hope I was the better prepared for, being ravished with Christ's Love declar'd in Psal. 40— I joy to do thy will — which sung' in course in the morning. My Son, and Deacon Green were kept at home by the Great Rain and Indisposition. Deacon Checkly De- liver'd the Cup first to Madam Winthrop, and thus gave me a Tankard. 'Twas humiliation to me and I think put me to the Blush, to have this injustice done me by a Justice. May all be sanctified. Mr. Mayhew preached p. m. Heb. 12. 14. Holiness. Fifth day, Dec. 31. [Lecture.] Mr. Prince takes notice of it as the last day of the year, and preaches an agreeable Sermon from Lam. 3. 22. It is of the Lord's Mercies that we are not consumed. Sixth day, Jany. 1. Mr. Colman in his Sacramental Lecture, men- tions Mr. Prince's Text and then reads his own, Deut. 30, 20 — for he is thy Life — and made an excellent Sermon thereupon, demonstrating that God is emphatically our Life ; natural, Spiritual. (Sewall.) The following vote explains itself : — At a Church Meeting June 25. 1725. Upon consideration had that the Bills of Credit on this Province are considerably lessened, or sunk in their value, Voted That there be allowed and paid to each of the Revd Pastors of this Church, Four pounds, five shillings per week for their support. Thomas Fitch Moderator A true copy Joseph Sewall Thomas Prince.1 Katharine, wife of the Hon. Josiah Willard, secretary of the 1 [June 25. 1725. "A church meeting 4. 5. o a peece, and the authority ordered at the Old South, and raysed our two it soon after to be increased to other ministers' (viz. Mr. Prince and Mr. ministers through the Colloney." — Bum- Sewall) sallerys from 3. 5. o a week to stead's Diary.] 41 8 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. province, died on Sunday, the ist of August, and Katharine, widow, successively, of John Eyre and Wait Winthrop, died on the following day. On the 6th of December, Mrs. Anne Pollard died : she had been a member of the church fifty-five years ; she attained the age of one hundred and five years, and left one hundred and thirty descendants.1 Lord's Day, Deer. 12. Mr. Sewall preach'd from Gen. 5. Adam died, of Mortality — a good Discourse on occasion of Mrs. Pollards great Age. Exhorted all to prepare to dye. Mr. Prince prosecuted his Discourse on Compunction in order to Conversion, Act 2. (Sewall.) Collections for benevolent purposes had been taken up in the congregation from time to time, as circumstances had seemed to make it desirable. It was now proposed that they should be made statedly, twice a year, and that a committee should be authorized to make appropriations to uses corresponding to Home and Foreign Missions, the Bible Society, and the Pub- lication Society in our own day. At a church meeting, March 13 1725-26 The following Proposal was made to the church, viz. That there be a publick Collection on our anniversary Fasts and Thanksgivings, to be bestowed on pious uses, for the advancement, of Christ's Kingdom among the poor and other proper objects of such a Charity ; first among ourselves, and then in other places, as we shall find we are able ; by putting into their hands Bibles, Catechisms and other Books of piety ; or by promoting Religion among them any other way as you shall agree and determine. Upon which the Church very generally came into this Vote — That there be a publick Collection on our anniversary Fasts and Thanksgivings, to be bestowed on pious uses, and for the advance- ment of Christ's Kingdom. The church then voted that the Honble. Edward Bromfield and Daniel Oliver Esqrs. be joined with the Deacons as Trustees of this Evangelical Treasury. The church also Voted, that the concurrence of the congregation should be asked in this affair. Joseph Sewall Thomas Prince. Pursuant to the Vote above mentioned, the Proposal was made to the Congregation March 20. who readily consented to it. Accordingly on Thursday the 24th of March 1725-6, there was Col- 1 Her portrait is in the collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society. COLLECTIONS FOR PIOUS USES. 419 lected by the whole Congregation, the sum of Eighty-three Pounds, seven shillings and eleven pence.1 March 27. Mr. Prince preach'd out of Exod. 12. Comparing the Passover with the Lord's Supper ; made good work of it. p. m. Mr. Sewall preached from Hab. 2-3. — For the Vision is yet for an appointed time &c. very well. April 3. My Son preach'd in the fore-noon from Gen. 1. 26. Read the whole Chapter, and Commented pithily and well upon it; and after that spoke to the 26th verse. ["And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness," etc.] I desire with humble Thankfull- ness to Bless God, who has favour'd me with such an excellent Dis- course to begin my 75th year, withall delivered by my own Son, mak- ing him as a parent to his Father ! (Sewall.) [From the Church Records.2] On the Thanksgiving day, Nov. 10th 1726, [there was collected] Eighty four pounds, five shillings and sixpence. At the meeting Nov 15, 1726. Voted That fourty Pounds be given out of the last Collection for supplying the poor of this Church and Congregation with Wood and other neces- saries of life. Voted, That ten Pounds be given out of the money collected by the Church and Congregation towards the encouragement of the preaching of the Gospel at Kingston in Narraganset.3 Joseph Sewall. March 3, 1726-7, Mrs. Sarah Williams, second wife and widow of Deacon Nathaniel Williams, died, " a very pious gen- tlewoman." The Rev. Nathaniel Williams was her stepson. 1 [Mr. Joseph Sewall says : — 2 [From this time, we shall usually " March 10. The united Ministers of print the church records in their order, the Town having agreed to Propose to without mentioning the record book the Churches the Having a Collection from which they are taken.] for pious Uses on our Publick Fasts and 3 [On the last Sunday of the year, Mr. Thanksgivings, Mr. Prince and I Pray'd Sewall wrote in his diary : " I have been together about the time for God's Direc- much concern'd that so few have been tion and Blessing upon this Affair." added to the Church of late : I humbly " March 13. We made the Proposal hope God hath enabl'd me to seek to the Church, who generally came into earnestly to him to Revive his work this Vote, [as above]." among us." There were five admissions " March 20. It was Proposed to the on that day (William Alden, Mary Wil- Congregation." liams, Ann Williams, Mary Simpson, " March 24. ... I am inform'd that Robert Due), and twenty-five altogether in other Congregations in this Town in 1726. In 1727 there were seventy- there were liberal Contributions."] four, and in 1728 forty-two. 420 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. She was nearly eighty years of age, and had been a member of the South Church fifty-seven years. Mr. Benjamin Franklin, an uncle of Dr. Franklin, died March 17, 1727, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. His wife, Katharine, became a member of the church in 1678, and it is more than probable that he was a member also. He was, we are told, " a rare and exemplary Christian." It was said of him : " His presence in the house of God was always solemn and affecting ; and though he courted not the observation of men, yet there were many that could not but take notice, and admire the peculiar excellencies that so visibly adorned him." In these characteristics, we should, suppose that he and his brother Josiah were much alike. Mr. John Borland, a prominent merchant, died March 30. He became a member in 1694, soon after his arrival from England. His son, Francis, was afterward active in the affairs of the congregation. At a Church Meeting, March 21. 1726-7 Notwithstanding the vote pass'd by this Church, March 13 1725-6, relating to a publick collection ; Voted, That it is the mind of the church that these collections should not be made from time to time, till the church have particularly considered, and determined upon them ; and that the money collected, shall be disposed of to charitable and pious uses as the church shall from time to time determine. Agreable to the foregoing vote, the question being put whether there should be a publick collection on the anniversary Fast, next ensuing, March 30. 1727, it pass'd in the affirmative.1 J. Sewall. March 30. 1727. Collected Ninety-two Pounds. August 9. Mr. Pemberton was Ordain'd at the Old-South Pastor to a Church at N. York. Mr. Thacher began with Prayer. Mr. Col- man preach'd from Matt. 9. 38. I pray'd. Dr. Mather gave the Charge, and Mr. Prince the Right Hand of Fellowship. (J. Sewall.) Mr. Pemberton became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in New York, then worshipping in Wall Street, near Broadway. At the Thursday Lecture, on the 17th of August, Mr. 1 [Mr. Sewall's private record of this tion made as to the Votes about it meeting is as follows : " At the Church However I hope it pleased God to bless Meeting, March 21, Some seem'd to what was said, so that the Brethren voted oppose our Proceedings in these publick a Collection on this Fast with consider- Collections, and there was some Altera- able Unanimity."] ORDINATION OF MR. CHAUNCY. 421 Sewall preached a funeral sermon for King George the First. " Twas his turn and the Council also desired him," says his father.1 October 25. This day Mr. Charles Chauncy was Ordain'd Pastor to the Old Church in this Town. Mr. Foxcroft began and Mr. Thacher concluded with Prayr. Mr. Colman gave the Charge, Dr. Mather the Right Hand of Fellowship. Mr. Chauncy Preach'd from Matt 28. 20. — Lo I am with you alway — I hope God was graciously Present with his Servants. Shew thy Servant His Need of the Pres- ence of our Lord Jesus Christ, and enable him to Live by the Faith of the Son of God.2 (J. Sewall.) The question of repairing and enlarging the meeting-house, or building a new one, could be deferred no longer, and a meet- ing was called to consider it. At a church Meeting Oct 20. 1727. Voted — I. That there be a Committee appointed to view this House ; and consider what is needful to be done towards the repairing 1 " August 14. This day we have the surprising and awfull News of the King's Death. Lord Sanctify thine Hand, enable thy people to humble themselves under it. Pour out thy Spirit on thy Servant who is our King. O make him a nursing Father to thy people ! " "August 17. It being my Lecture in course, I was Desir'd by the Governor to take notice of the late awfull Provi- dence in the King's Death. I preach'd from Isai. 33. 22. For the Lord is our Judge." (J. Sewall.) The sermon was printed with the title, Jehovah is the King and Saviour of his People. 2 [We reproduce the letter - missive sent by the First Church in anticipation of this ordination, at the risk of its be- ing condemned by some authorities as " archaic and uncongregational " : — Boston, Oct. 10. 1727 To the Church of Christ whereof the Reverend Mr. Sewall and Mr. Prince are the Pastors, The Old Church in Boston, Sendeth Greeting in our Lord Jesus. Revd Ho iid and Beloved, We presume you are not unacquainted that we have sometime since chosen and called our worthy Brother Mr. Charles Chauncy to the Pastoral Office among us. Now these come to inform you that we have appointed Wednesday the Twenty fifth of this instant October to be the Day for his Ordination. At which Solemnity We desire your Presence and Help, by your Elders and Messengers, to joyn with others in Council on that important Occasion ; agreeable to the known approv'd Custom of these Churches. And beseech you in the mean time to assist us by your fervent Prayers, in Preparing for so great a Transaction ; That We may have the gracious Smiles of Heaven on our Pro- ceedings, and experience much of the promised Presence of our Ascended Sa- viour and Head in the midst of us. The same we wish to you, and to all the Churches. Grace be with you, and peace to the Brethren, with Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus : Unto whom be Glory in the Churches World without End. Amen ! Thomas Foxcroft, Pastor In the Name of the Chh P. S. The Delegates are desired to meet at Mr. Foxcroft's House by nine 6 clock in the Morning of said Day.] 422 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. of it, and the charge ; and that they make a report to the church as soon as conveniently may be. II. That the same Committee consider whether this House may be conveniently enlarged, and the charge ; and make a report to the church at the same meeting. III. That the Honble Jonathan Belcher, Major Savage, Capt. Wins- low, Mr. Lewis and Mr. Prout, be a committee to manage the affair above voted. Voted — I. That fifty Pounds be given out of the last Collection for the further support of the poor of this church and congregation with wood and other necessaries of life. II. That ten Pounds of the Collection be laid out in Bibles and other Books of piety, to be disposed of to proper objects of such a charity in this church and congregation. III. That there be a publick collection on the Anniversary Thanks- giving next insuing, Novr. 9, 1727. And that the money collected shall be disposed of to pious and charitable uses, as the church shall from time to time determine. Joseph Sewall Thomas Prince. N. B. Novr. 9. 1727. Collected One Hundred and twenty two Pounds. Between the ordering of this collection and the date of taking it, the town was startled by one of those earthquake shocks with which New England has been visited from time to time ever since its European settlement. Oct. 29. 1727. Att better than half an hour after ten a clock att night, a very surprising Earthquake in Boston and the Towns round about. Dr. Mather had a full meeting at his church next morning ; and Mr. Sewall and Mr. Foxcroft att their churches next night by candle-light, for prayer and preaching.1 (J. Bumstead.) October 30 I find the Town was in a general Consternation last night. There was a publick and very numerous Assembly at the Old- North [this morning.] Dr. Mather preach'd from Micah 6. 9 The Lord's Voice crieth to the City. Several Ministers pray'd. O enable thy people to hear and obey thy Voice. The Lieut. Governor desired that there might be a Meeting at the Old at 5. So many came that it was found needfull to Divide. Accordingly there were two crowded Assemblies — the one at the Old, the other at the South. With us Mr. Prince began with Prayr. I preach'd from Ps : 4. 4. Stand in aw and Sin not. Then Mr. Williams pray'd and I concluded. We sung part of the 46 Ps : I hope God hath been graciously present 1 [Paul Dudley, who was a member of of the earthquake of October 29, 1727, the Royal Society, published an account in its Transactions.'] THE EARTHQUAKE OF 1727. 423 with his Ministers this Day, and the people seem to be generally affected. (J. Sewall.) " The Thursday of the same week," says Mr. Prince, " was kept as a Day of extraordinary Fasting and Prayer in all the churches in Boston ; " the earthquake was also the subject of discourse on Thanksgiving Day, a week later. Mr. Sewall's sermon of the 30th of October, the Duty of a People to stand in Awe of God, and Mr. Prince's two sermons, preached on Fast Day in the morning and on Thanksgiving Day in the after- noon, from Psalm xviii. 7, Earthquakes the Works of God, and Tokens of his Just Displeasure, were printed.1 At a church Meeting Nov 21. 1727. The Report of the Committee appointed last Meeting was read. Voted : I. That there be two committees appointed ; the one, to inquire what encouragement may be given by the church and congregation, towards the Repairing of this House ; the other, to inquire what en- couragement may be given towards the Building a New Meeting- House ; and that they make a Report to the church as soon as con- veniently may be. II. That Major Savage, Capt. Armitage and Mr. Wentworth be of the one : Capt. Winslow, Deacon Henchman and Mr. Brandon be of the other committee.2 Joseph Sewall. The Rev. Peter Thacher, youngest son of the Rev. Thomas Thacher, died December 17, 1727.3 He joined the Third Church four years after its foundation, and he had been pastor of the church at Milton forty-six years. Dr. Cotton Mather 1 A second edition of these three ser- thought to do unto them. O spare thy mons was printed; and, in 1755, Mr. people! Lord hear our Prayers." Prince brought out another edition of 2 [Nov. "On the 21, a Church meet- his sermons with addenda. The earth- ing att the Old South Church, and then quake of 1727 will be referred to again it was voted that two Committees should in a succeeding chapter. be chosen, one to see what incourage- Mr. Sewall records privately that the ment they could gett towards repairing Thanksgiving collection of 1727 amount- the meeting house now standing. The ed to £122. other to see what encouragement they There was a " Publick Fast upon ac- could get towards building a new house." count of the Earthquake," December 21, — Jeremiah Bumstead's Journal] and Mr. Sewall preached from Jer. xviii. 3 " On the 22d I accompanied my 7, 8. " At what instant I shall speak honored Father, Mr. Prince, Mr. Cooper concerning a nation, and concerning a to the funeral of the Revd Mr. Thach- kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, er — Was a bearer. . . . My Father bore and to destroy it : If that nation, against the journey very well ; but when going whom I have pronounced, turn from in at his Gate slip'd, and much hurt his their evil, I will repent of the evil that I shin." (J. Sewall.) 424 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. preached his funeral sermon, and this was the last occasion on which this eminent man officiated in public ; his own death took place Tuesday, February 13, 1727-8,1 and his funeral sermon was preached by his colleague, Mr. Gee. At the Thursday Lec- ture immediately following Dr. Mather's death, Mr. Colman, who had preached his father's funeral sermon five years before, took for his text Gen. v. 24 : " And Enoch walked with God ; and he was not, for God took him." "We mourn," he said, " the decease from us of the first minister in the Town, the first in age, in gifts and in grace ; as all his brethren very read- ily own. I might add (it may be without offence to any) the first in the whole Province and Provinces of New England, for universal literature, and extensive services." This was gener- ous praise on the part of Mr. Colman, and we may believe that it was just, for no man knew Cotton Mather — his excellences and his defects — better than he. He said further : — Love to Christ and his servant commands me to draw a veil over every failing : For who is without them ? Not ascending Elijah him- self ; who was a man of like passions with his brethren the prophets ; and we have his mantle left us wherewith to cover the defects and in- firmities of others after their translation in spirit. These God remem- bers no more, and why should we ? and he blots out none of their good deeds, and no more should we. A church meeting was notified on Sunday, February 25, to hear the reports of the committees appointed three months be- fore in reference to the meeting-house. We can well under- stand that there might be, as indeed there was, a difference of opinion as to the desirableness of erecting a new building, and that there would be on the part of the older members such an attachment to their accustomed Sabbath home that they would be unable to do full justice to the considerations presented on the other side. When the foundation of the second Jewish 1 " On the 13th between 8 and 9 a. m. " Feb. 19. The Rev'd Dr. Mather was Dr. Mather Expir'd. Thus hath the buried. Bearers, the Revd Messrs. Col- Sovereign God brought this very Active man, Thacher, Prince, Webb, Cooper, usefull life to an End. Lord Sanctify this Sewall. A vast concourse of people, awfull Rebuke, to his Family, Flock, Lord sanctify thine Hand, and help us Town and the whole Land." (J. Sewall.) duly to lay it to heart. The Brethren of There had been a public meeting at the Bereaved Flock, with their Pastor the Old North "with regard to Dr. [Mr. Gee] went before the Corpse. Mather's broken state of health " on When we return'd to the House of the 31st of January; Messrs. Colman, mourning Mr. Walter pray'd." (J. Sew- Thacher, Sewall, and Prince prayed, all.) Mr. Sewall preached at the North and Mr. Cooper preached. Brick March 10. "THE DAYS THAT ARE NO MORE?' 425 temple was laid, we are told that many of the priests and Le- vites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice. Their emotions were touched in part, no doubt, by the remembrance of the architectural magnificence which could not be reproduced by their generation ; but also, we may think, by the recurrence to their minds of all the happy days and scenes in their national history and national worship, which were gone never to return. "Oh, death in life, the days that are no more." To many of the members of the South Church it probably seemed that to take down the old walls where they and their fathers had worshipped, and where so many learned and saintly men had preached the gospel of Christ, and to rear new ones in their stead, which should be as bare of associations within as of weather-stains and ivy without, was to open a gulf between them and the past which their fond and tender sensibilities would be unable to traverse. Judge Sewall was one of these. Every timber in the building was dear to him. His honored father-in-law, John Hull, and other noble men of the early days had made personal and pecuniary sacrifices to erect this house of worship, and to maintain in it the ordinances of the gospel. Mary Chilton, who came over in the Mayflower, and Simon Bradstreet, who came over in the Arbella, had there lifted up their hearts and voices in prayer and praise. The Thachers, the Mathers, Samuel Wil- lard, Solomon Stoddard, John Eliot (no doubt), and nearly all the prominent divines of the second generation had spoken from its pulpit. Here Sewall, half a century before, and, eleven years later, the wife of his youth, when she was en- abled to overcome her self-distrust and sense of unworthi- ness, had entered into solemn covenant with God and with his church ; and here their children, most of them now in heaven, had been given to Him in baptism. Here, also, Sewall had stood, with bowed head and crushed heart, to make humble confession for his share in the madness of the witchcraft delu- sion. With all his memories and sympathies, we can well understand why he should cling tenaciously to that which was old, and earnestly deprecate its destruction. And yet, as seems to have been his habit, he contented himself with a strong and free expression of his preferences and convictions, and then, finding himself in a decided minority, he said nothing more on the subject. Mr. Bromfield, he tells us, called and urged him to attend the meeting, and, when he declined, asked him to 426 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. write a letter, which he promised to do. This letter, for which Mr. Bromfield called again to take to the meeting, was read, but does not appear in the proceedings. It was as follows : — To the Reverend Mr. Joseph Sewall, and to the Reverend Mr. Thomas Prince, Pastors of the South Church in Boston, and to the Brethren of said Church, assembled in a Church Meeting, on Tuesday, the seven and twentieth day of February, 1727-8. In which Meeting Two Questions are to be Answered to wit : Whether the Old Meeting House shall be Repaired, or a New One builded. That our Meeting House needs Repairing, is Apparent : and I ap- prehend that it ought to be done as soon as the Season of the year will admit. But as for the building of a New Meeting house, it is now unsea- sonable. God in his holy Providence preserving this, seems plainly to advise us to the contrary. This is a very good Meeting house, and we have not convenient room to build a New one in, while this is standing. And considering the Terrible Earth-Quakes we have had, shaking all our Foundations, it behooves us to walk humbly with our God and to observe the divine Counsel given to Baruch by the Prophet Jeremiah in the forty-fifth Chapter : And to take care that we do not say in the Pride and greatness of [our] heart, We will cut down the Sycamores, and change them into Cedars, (Isaiah, 9. 10.) We ought to look not only on our own Things, but also on the things of others, (Philip. 2. 4.,) and beware that we do not unjustly and violently Oust them of what they are lawfully possessed of. Besides I fear the Mischief is like to be distressing, for want of a place to worship God in, while the New Meeting House is setting up. Upon these, and such like Considerations, I dissent from those Brethren, who promote the building a New Meeting House at this Time, and pray that what I have written may be entred in the Church Records. Saml. Sewall. After the lapse of one hundred and sixty years we comply with the request of the noble judge, and give his letter a per- manent place in the annals of the church. At a church Meeting, Feb. 27. 1727-8. After some considerable discourse — This Question was put to the Brethren ; Whether it was their mind that this House should be repaired and enlarged ; or a new Meeting House Built. They voted by papers. There were twenty of the Brethren for repairing and enlarging this House. Fourty one for building a New Meeting House. A NEW BUILDING PROPOSED. 427 Upon which they pass'd this Vote ; viz. The church, having judged it advisable, with submission to Provi- dence, that a New Meeting House be built for the publick Worship of God ; Desire that the Brethren of the Congregation would give them a meeting upon that affair, next Tuesday, at half an hour past 2 a clock P. M. Voted — That Twenty Pounds be given out of the Collection for the supply of the present necessities of the poor, according to the dis- cretion of the Committee. Joseph Sewall. N. B. The Church and Congregation met, and the affair above mentioned was communicated to them. We must assume that many of the brethren of the majority who voted for a new meeting-house were as warmly attached to the old building as were the brethren of the minority. But, forecasting the future, they saw that the best prosperity of the church demanded larger and better accommodations ; that to repair and enlarge the old house would only serve as a tempo- rary expedient ; and that the question of a new structure would be sure to present itself again at no distant day. The old walls, after all, were but as the casket to the jewel, the body to the spirit, the symbol to the thing signified. The church — vital, spiritual, permanent — was of inconceivably more importance than the enclosure of wood of which it had been making use, and which at any moment might be utterly consumed by fire. Moreover, all that was truly precious in the past history of the church — the traditions of its foundation, the teachings of its ministers, the lives of its sainted members — was its assured and imperishable possession, amid whatever surrounding con- ditions it might maintain the historic continuity of its Christian worship and service. The past should be always an incentive to us, never an incubus ; a lofty inspiration, not an unyielding despotism. It is entitled to our reverential regard, but our paramount duty, both in thought and action, concerns the pres- ent and the future. And the future will mature for others, soft- ening, subduing, sanctifying influences and impressions, like those with which the past has enriched us. It would have as- tonished the men of the minority in 1728 if they had been told that a minority in 1872 would be as unwilling to vacate the sec- ond meeting-house of the South Church as they were to give up the first. They could not foresee that the bright new build- ing of 1730 was destined to become the most venerated church- edifice in New England. 428 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. At a meeting of the Church March 15. 1727-8 Voted — (out of the money collected — ) 1. That Twenty Pounds be delivered to Deacon Henchman for the purchasing of Bibles with the New England Psalms, at eight and three- pence pr. Bible, to be distributed to proper objects as there shall be occasion. 2. That ten Pounds be distributed in other Books of piety, at the discretion of the Trustees. 3. That twenty Pounds be given to Mr. Josiah Cotton, to encour- age his settlement at Providence ; provided, he accept of the call which we are informed, is given him to the work of the Ministry there.1 4. That fifteen Pounds be given to the Revd Mr. Mathew Short of Easton for his encouragement in the work of the Ministry, part in money, and part in books, as the Trustees shall judge proper upon discoursing with him. 5. That fifteen Pounds be given to the Rev. Mr. James Hale of Ashford, for his encouragement in the work of the Ministry. 6. That fifteen Pounds be given to the Rev. Mr. Nathanael Prentice of Dunstable, for his encouragement in the work of the Ministry, to be laid out in Books, as the Trustees shall judge proper upon dis- coursing with him. 7. That ten Pounds be given for the further supply of the present Necessities of the poor of this church and congregation, in wood &c. at the Discretion of the Trustees. 8. That there be a publick collection for pious and charitable uses, on the Anniversary Fast next insuing March 21. 1727-8. 9. That the Trustees have their accounts fairly stated, and lay them before the church at least twice in a year, before the Anniversary Fasts and Thanksgivings. Voted, I. That Capt. Winslow, Deacon Henchman and Mr. Bran- don, of the church, and Mr. William Foye, Mr. Daniel Goffe and Mr. Samuel Holyoke of the congregation, be a committee to take subscrip- tions towards the building of a New Meeting-House ; and make a Re- port to the church on the third Tuesday in April next. Voted, II. That the Honble Jonathan Belcher, Daniel Oliver, Jo- siah Willard esqrs. Mr. Ezekiel Lewis, Mr. Samuel Wells, Capt. Gerrish and Mr. Francis Borland, be a committee to survey the land belonging to this church, to consider of the most convenient place to 1 [Mr. Cotton graduated at Cam- Oct. 1728. " On the 23d Inst, a congre- bridge in 1722, and was settled over the gational Church was publickly gather'd First Congregational Church in Provi- at Providence, and Mr. Josiah Cotton dence in 1728. He was dismissed at ordain'd their Pastor, the Elders and his own request in 1747. The South Messengers of 18 churches being pres- Church made appropriations to encour- ent." (J. Sewall.) Mr. Prince took part age him in his work for several years, in this service.] PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS. 429 set the House upon, to draw a Projection of the Building, and com- pute the Cost ; And that they make a Report to the church on the third Tuesday in April next. Joseph Sewall. N. B. March 21. 1727-8. Collected One hundred and seventeen pounds. March 26. Mrs. Mary [widow of John] Dafforne laid in her grave in the old Burying Place, ^Ets. 78. Bearers, Sewall, Byfield ; Oliver, Capt. Ephraim Savage ; Capt Ballentine, Deacon Marshall. It seems Mr. Moffat, who married the only daughter, belongs to the old Church ; and the Bearers were equally divided [between the First and Third churches]. She was of my Father Hull's privat Meeting, I hope a good Woman ; much Confin'd. I am griev'd I visited her no more, though hindered by my own Sickness and indisposition. (Sew- all.) At a Meeting of the Church April 16. 1728. The Reports of the Committees were read. There was a motion made, whether the Vote pass'd by the church, at their meeting, Febr. 27. 1727-8, For the Building a New Meeting- House, should be re-considered. Neg. Voted; — I. That a reasonable consideration be made in the New Meeting-House to such as have a right to pews in this House, as the Church shall determine II. That the committee for taking subscriptions towards the build- ing a New Meeting-House be continued ; And that they give to the members of this church and congregation opportunity of subscribing till the end of May next; After which, they may receive the subscrip- tions of others as they shall judge proper. Voted — That Five Pounds be given out of the Collection towards the discharging Mr. Abbot's accompt relating to Providence Meeting- House. Joseph Sewall. At a Meeting of the Church April 23. 1728. Voted — I. That the New Meeting House be set upon that place on which the old House now standeth. II. That the draught of the Building drawn and offered by the committee be accepted so far as concerns the Dimensions and out- ward form of the House ; Reserving to the committee that shall be employed for the Building, a Liberty to propose to the Church, such alterations as they shall judge convenient. It was then proposed to the church whether the New House should be built with Wood ; but a vote was not obtained for it. III. That there be a committee chosen to make provision for the Building, and to take the Oversight of it : The said committees to con- 43° HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. sider whether it be advisable to Build with Brick or Stone, and make a Report to the church as soon as conveniently may be. IV. That the Honble. Jonathan Belcher, Mr. Edward Winslow, Mr. Ezekiel Lewis, Mr. Samuel Wells and Mr. William Foye be of this committee. V. That the Honble. Daniel Oliver be the Treasurer to receive the money to be collected by the committee for subscriptions towards the Building of the New Meeting-House ; and to pay out the same accord- ing to the orders of the committee for Building. VI. That Mr. James Pemberton be added to the committee for sub- scriptions in the place of Capt. Winslow. VII. That Mr. Francis Borland be added to the committee for sub- scriptions, in the room of Mr. William Foye. VIII. That the Money which the Hon. Daniel Oliver hath received for the use of the church be paid by him according to the orders of the committee for Building. Joseph Sewall. Captain Winslow and Mr. Foye were excused from serving on the committee to obtain subscriptions, because they had been placed on the building committee. A few words about the members of the building committee will be appropriate. Of the chairman, the Hon. Jonathan Belcher, we have already spoken. After spending some time abroad, he became a mer- chant, and soon entered upon political life. He was a member of the council, and in the spring of 1729 was sent to England as an agent of the province.1 This must have interfered with the discharge of his duties on the building committee. Ed- ward Winslow was son of Edward, and grandson of John and Mary (Chilton) Winslow, who came to Boston in their old age, and united with the church by letter from the Plymouth Church.2 He was a goldsmith, colonel of a regiment, captain of the artillery company in 17 14 and 1729, sheriff of the county of Suffolk, and shortly before his death judge of the court of common pleas. His wife, Hannah, was a daughter of the Rev. Joshua Moodey. Ezekiel Lewis was a son of William Lewis, of Farmington, Connecticut, and a grandson of Ezekiel Cheever, of Boston. He graduated at Harvard College in 1695, and taught for a time, first in Westfield, and then in Boston as an 1 Mch 4, 1728-9. " We were at Mr. mentions the death, September 1 6, 1728, Belcher's where the afternoon was spent of Mrs. Winslow, in her eighty-ninth in Prayr, He being with his eldest Son year, " the Eldest person of our commun- bound for London. Lord hear ! Let ion and congregation, and I trust died thy presence goe with thy Servants." in the Lord." We suppose her to have (J. Sewall.) been the mother of Edward Winslow, 2 See ante, pp. 181, 182. Mr. J. Sewall the goldsmith. THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 43 1 assistant to his grandfather. He became a successful merchant, and was selectman and representative. His first wife was Mary Brading or Breadon, and his second, Abigail, widow of Roger Kilcup, whom he married in 1704. Samuel Welles was born in Glastonbury, Connecticut, and was a great-grandson of Governor Thomas Welles, of that colony. He graduated at Yale College in 1707, and was ordained pastor of the church in Lebanon. He became engaged to Abigail (who changed her name to Hannah) Arnold, daughter of Captain Berechiah and Abigail Arnold, and granddaughter of Theophilus Frary. As she was an only child and heiress to a large landed property, her parents were desirous that Mr. Welles should move to Boston, and he did so, much to the regret of his people in Lebanon. He became a member of the South Church in 1728, and was imme- diately called to serve upon important committees. He also took a prominent position in the town and province, and, in 1753, succeeded Edward Winslow on the bench.1 William Foye was a son of Captain John Foye, who commanded vessels in the London trade, and a nephew of Jonathan Belcher; he was for many years the treasurer of the province. April 25. I was at a Council at Linn — End. (12 churches there.) Mr. Sparrowhawk not joining in calling this Council was not free to submit the matter in Controversy to their Determination. They agreed to joyn in calling another Council of 9 Churches. (J. Sewall.) The Rev. Nathaniel Sparhawk was settled over the north parish in Lynn, now Lynnfield, in 1720. A part of his people became dissatisfied with him, and, in 173 r, on the advice of some whom he considered his friends, " he asked a dismission, in order to produce tranquillity," and it was unexpectedly granted. Mr. Sparhawk took to his bed soon after, and is sup- posed to have died in consequence of his disappointment. The latest extract we shall make from Judge Sewall's diary relates to the benevolent work of the churches : — June 4. 1728. I holp to assist the Committee for allowing Mr. John Cleverly Ten Shillings a Sabbath for preaching at George-Town, on Arrowsick, for one year, to be paid Quarterly : petition'd for by Mr. Denny and others. I mention'd what I had read out of Isa 32. 20, Sowing by all Waters. Mr. Cooper said had sown little or nothing by these waters yet. Lans Deo. (Sewall.) 1 His daughter Abigail joined the 1761. Arnold Welles married Susanna, Old South in 1756, and his son Arnold, daughter of John Jones, of Bristol, Eng- Harv. Coll. 1745, owned the covenant in land, and died in 1802. 43 2 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Judge Sewall had visited Arrowsic Island on the Kennebec River in 171 7, with Governor Shute, and always afterward took a deep interest in the prosperity of the settlement there. At a church Meeting, June 26. 1728. Voted — I. That the New Meeting House be built with Brick. II. That the Subscribers doe each of them pay in to the Treasurer a third part of their subscriptions, on or before the 10th of July next. III. That the Honble Daniel Oliver having desired to be excused from serving as Treasurer for the Building ; Voted — That Capt. Osborne be the Treasurer, to receive the money to be collected towards the Building the New Meeting House ; and to pay out the same according to the orders of the committee for Build- ing. IV. That the committee for Building proceed to purchase such Materials as they shall judge proper to be laid in before Winter,1 and take other methods to forward the Building, as soon as the Treasurer hath money in his hands to enable them. Voted — That fifteen pounds be given to Joseph Secombe, out of the collection towards his support at the College. Joseph Sewall. On the morning of Thursday, July 4, which had been set apart as a day of prayer, on account of the prevailing drought, the moral sense of the town received a shock as startling as that which had disturbed the foundations of the buildings a few months before, and even more terrible. Two young men on Wednesday evening had risen, flushed with wine, from a quarrel over a card-table in the Royal Exchange Tavern, King Street, had gone to the Common, and there, "near the water side," had fought a duel with small swords, which proved almost imme- diately fatal to one of them. The unhappy victim of this quar- rel was Benjamin Woodbridge, son of the Hon. Dudley Wood- bridge, judge advocate of the island of Barbadoes, and agent of the South Sea Company there.2 He was only twenty years of age, and had just commenced business with Jonathan Sewall, a nephew of Judge Sewall. The still more unhappy youth who survived the duel was Henry Phillips, son of Samuel Phillips, a much respected bookseller.3 His mother was Hannah, daughter 1 [Dr. Wisner mentions a tradition badoes. See Memoir of the Rev. Nath. that all the mortar was made the autumn Ward, A. M., by John Ward Dean, p. before it was used.] 193. 2 He was the agent of the Society for 3 John Dunton, in his Letters from the Propagation of the Gospel in For- New Englattd, speaks of Mr. Phillips in eign Parts, and Hutchinson says he was 1686 as an old correspondent, and de- the projector of paper money in Bar- scribes him as "young, witty and the THE FIRST DUEL IN BOSTON. 433 of Benjamin and Hannah (Savage) Gillam. He was baptized at the South Church, of which his parents were members, Febru- ary 25, 1704-5, and he graduated at Harvard College in 1724, in the same class with Adam Winthrop (third of the name), Andrew Belcher (third of the name), Andrew Oliver (Senior), Dudley Woodbridge (third of the name), Phillips Payson, and Joseph Park. He was in his twenty-fourth year, and had re- cently gone into partnership with his brother Gillam, to con- tinue the business of their late father. With the help of Gillam Phillips,1 Peter Faneuil, and John Winslow, he made his escape by getting on board a British man-of-war which was just leaving the harbor, and when the town awoke next morning to the ex- citement which was awaiting it he was far out at sea. He found a refuge at Rochelle, in France, and died there within a year, of grief and a broken heart.2 The high standing of the parties implicated in this duel, and of the families made desolate by it, did not prevent the ministers of the town from speaking out faithfully and solemnly against the sin itself and the evil courses which had led to it. Mr. Colman, to whose care young Woodbridge had been commended by his father on leaving home, took his text on the following Sunday from Job x. 22, " Without any order." The whole pas- sage reads : " Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death ; a land of dark- ness, as darkness itself ; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness." The preacher in his application spoke of "a late hopeful and promising youth, who was heretofore of us, a child of great expectation, but he went out from us, and ran himself into the paths of the de- stroyer and an untimely death." And again : " You see, Children, what comes of leaving these Churches after an Education in them : even Duelling and Bloodshed and Flight from Country and Friends, may come of Bursting the Bonds of God asunder, and going after Strangers, and into the Manners Customs and impious Maxims of the World." Evidently Woodbridge had most beautiful man in the whole town of visited Mrs. Ph. O Lord sanctify thine Boston ; he 's very just and (as an effect awfull Judgment to her. Give her Son a of that) thriving." He died in 1720, at thorow Repentance." the age of fifty-eight. He was not de- Jan. 22. 1728-9. "Mr. Thacher, Mr. scended from the Rev. George Phillips, Prince and I met at Mrs. Phillip's, and Watertown. Pray'd for her Son. I hope God gra- 1 Gillam Phillips married Marie, sister ciously assisted. Lord pardon the hain- of Peter Faneuil. ous Sins of that young man, Convert - July 4. 1728. " In the Evening I and Heal his Soul." (J. Sewall.) 434 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. been a member of the Brattle Street congregation. The ser- mon was printed under the title, Death and the Grave with- out any Order. On the iSth of July, at the Thursday Lecture, Mr. Sewall preached a sermon, the subject of which was, He that would keep God's Commandments must Renounce the So- ciety of Evil Doers. His text was Psalm cxix. 115 : "Depart from me, ye evil-doers : for I will keep the commandments of my God." He endeavored to show the evil and danger of wicked company, and he condemned duelling as a bloody crime. To- wards the close he said : — Nor hath any word been spoken with a design to wound such as are greatly distressed. No ! my heart's desire and prayer is, That they may be enabl'd to Mourn after a godly sort, and then Experience the Presence of Christ with them, giving them the oyl of joy for Mourn- ing. May the Comforter which shou'd relieve their Souls not be far from them, And God, who can make all things work together for good, bring light to them out of this thick darkness. The sermon was published, with a preface signed by the other Congregational ministers of the town, ten in number. A new governor arrived at midsummer, in the person of Wil- liam Burnet, a son of the famous Bishop of Salisbury. His administration was to be a brief one, but he was very heartily received and very handsomely entertained on his arrival.1 On the Thursday following Mr. Prince preached before his Excel- lency and the General Court from Psalm lxxviii. 70-72: "He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheep- folds : from following the ewes great with young, he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands." The sermon was printed ; its title was, Civil Rulers Raised up by God to Feed His People. August 31. We are under difficulty respecting the Admission of a Member. His admission was suspended. Lord hear my poor peti- tions. Shew the Church what thou wouldst have us to doe. Let thy people keep close to Scripture rules, and require nothing more than God requires. O enable us to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (J. Sewall.) 1 " On the 19th Inst. Governor Burnet gious and civil Privileges! Bless him came to Town. The Ministers waited Pouring out thy Spirit . . . upon him." on him, and Mr. Colman made a short " August 6. Some of the Ministers Speech to him. O Lord incline thy Ser- met and pray'd together for the Govern- vant to favour this people, in our reli- or &c." (J. Sewall.) TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP. 435 The difficulty thus briefly referred to by Mr. Sewall seems to have led the church to define more precisely than before the qual- ifications upon which it would insist in those seeking admission to its membership. The question, as a practical one, may never have presented itself for settlement until now. The prayer of the pastor, of which he tells us, seems to have been answered, for the church determined, as the result of this discussion, to " keep close to Scripture rules " in this important matter, and to " require nothing more than God requires," and than was re- quired in the apostolic age, of candidates for church membership in full communion.1 At a Church Meeting, Septr. 1728. Voted — That such as come into full Communion should make a publick Profession of their Repentance towards God, and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, of their Belief of the Scriptures as a perfect Rule of Faith and life, and of their Resolution, by the Grace of God, to walk according to them. Joseph Sewall.2 At a church Meeting, Octr. 29. 1728. Voted — I. That sixty pounds be given out of the stock remaining of the collections for pious and charitable uses, for the supply of the Poor of this church and congregation, with Wood and other Necessa- ries of life. II. That Mr. William Rand, Mr. [Joseph] Belknap, and Mr. [John] Durant, be desired to collect what is behind of the first Payment of subscriptions towards the New Meeting House, and pay it to the Treasurer. Joseph Sewall.3 1 " The fundamental doctrines of were buried, the Widow Wheeler, about Christianity are not the deep results of 83, and the Widow Horton, about 80 or metaphysical skill or learned investiga- Si." (J. Sewall.)] tion, but those evident truths which all 3 ["Nov. 11. I understand there was men of ordinary capacity and diligence about 39 pounds gather'd privately on may receive from a perusal of the Bible, the Lord's day, part for publick uses of According to the most enlightened and piety and charity. There was £6.10.0 orthodox judgment, among Christians, put into the Box directed to me, about 'no doctrine is a fundamentals neces- ,£13.10.0, to Mr. Prince. Lord bless sary article of a Christian's faith, but those who thus contribute to our mainte- what is so plainly and distinctly revealed nance, with spiritual and temporal bless- as that an ordinary Christian, sincere in ings. Shew thy people their Duty, and his inquiries, cannot miss of the knowl- enable us to fulfill our Ministry." edge of it.'" "Dec. 15. I preach'd from 1 John 1. "All that," says Baxter, " without which 7. Took occasion to thank the Congre- a man cannot be a good and holy Chris- gation for the liberal Collection made the tian, is plain and easy in itself ; and last Lord's day for our support, of which Christ did choose therefore to speak to my part was £79.12.2." (J. Sewall.) the capacity of the meanest." — White's A few days after this Mr. Sewall was N. Eng. Congregationalism, pp. 166, 167. chosen a Fellow of Harvard College, 2 [" October 28. The last week two and the choice was confirmed by the aged pious Women of our Communion overseers January 2.] 436 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. At a church Meeting [at Mr. Sewall's house] Jany 15. 1728-9 Voted — I. That Mr. Timothy Prout be added to the Committee for Building. II. Upon a representation made to the church by the Committee for Building, that the money paid in to the Treasurer, was near expended, Voted, That another third part be paid in, on or before the 10th of March next ; and the subscribers are desired to pay it in accordingly. III. That a committee be chosen to take an account of the Pews in this House, and who have a right to them according to the votes of the church : That a reasonable consideration may be made to them, agreeable to a vote pass'd Febr. 27. 1727-8. IV. That Anthony Stoddard Esq. Mr. James Pemberton and Mr. [George] Bethune, be of this committee. V. That a committee be chosen to consider where it may be most convenient, for the church and congregation to meet on the Lord's days, after this House shall be taken down, and while the New House is in Building. VI. That the Honble. Coll. Fitch, Daniel Oliver, Secretary Willard, Mr. Lewis, and Deacon Henchman, with the Elders [that is, the pas- tors] of the church, be of this committee. Then the Meeting was Adjourned to the 28th of this Instant, Jan- uary. Joseph Sewall. At a church Meeting, Jany 21. 1728-9 Whereas through the good Providence of God there is a considera- ble Legacy bequeathed to this church by Mrs. Anne Mills, the Relict of Mr. Henry Mills, late of Watertown, to be improved for the Relief of the poor of this church and congregation : Voted — That Anthony Stoddard Esq. Deacon Henchman, and Mr. James Pemberton, be a committee to receive this Legacy according to the tenour of the Will, and give proper discharges to the executors. Joseph Sewall. Mrs. Mills became a member of the church in 1690. After making certain bequests, she provided by her will that all the rest and residue of her estate should be divided as follows : one quarter part to the Old or First Church in Boston, one quarter part to the South Church, one quarter part to the church in the east parish in Watertown, and one quarter part to the church in the west parish.1 The South Church received as its share about ^280, in securities, but we are uncertain as to how much it realized upon them. At a church Meeting Jany. 28. 1728-9. The Report of the committee appointed to consider where it may 1 See ante, p. 408, note. COURTESY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 437 be most convenient for the church and congregation to meet &c, was read and accepted, and Voted — I. That it will be most convenient for the church and con- gregation to meet on the Lord's days after the present Meeting House shall be taken down, and while the New House is building, at the Old Brick Meeting House. II. That it will be most convenient to meet twice on each Lord's day at said Brick Meeting-House, saving on their Sacrament days. Upon which it was agreed that a letter, then read and accepted should be sent to the Old church in a respectfull manner to ask this Privilege of them. Joseph Sewall. Feb. 16. 1728-9. I preach'd from Eph. 4. 3. O Lord enable thy people to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace ! Our Letter to the Old Church, and their Answer granting us the Privilege of assembling in their Meeting-House was read. (J. Sewall.) At a church Meeting Febr. 18. 1728-9. I. Whereas this church have determined with submission to the Providence of God, to build a New Meeting House, in the place where our present Meeting House stands, and the Materials for building are in a considerable forwardness ; Voted — That this Meeting House be taken down. II. That the committee for Building, viz : the Honble. Jonathan Belcher, Edward Winslow Esq. Mr. Ezekiel Lewis, Mr. Samuel Welles, Mr. Timothy Prout and Mr. William Foye, be impowered and directed to take down our present Meeting House, as soon as conveniently may be after the 24th of this Instant, February. III. That the said committee be directed to dispose of our present Meeting House to the best advantage. IV. Voted — That the church Propose, God willing, to begin to As- semble for publick Worship in the Old Brick Meeting House on the Lord's day which will be on the 9th of March next, at n. A. M. and 4 P. M. ; And that the congregation be desired to assemble with them. V. Voted — That the Pastors of this church be desired to return our hearty thanks to the Old Church, for the Liberty they have given us of Assembling in their Meeting House ; and to inform them that we purpose God Willing, to begin to meet there on the 9th of March next. VI. That Friday come sennight, Febr. 28. be observed by this church as a day of Fasting and Prayer, to humble ourselves before God for all our unfruitfulness under the means of Grace enjoyed in this Meeting House, and to ask his Presence and Blessing upon us in the momentous affair of taking down this House, and building another for his Publick Worship ; and that the congregation be desired to join with us in this Solemnity. 43§ HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. VII. Whereas, Capt. Timothy Cunningham x in his last Will and Testament generously bequeathed to this church two hundred pounds ; and the Execution of his Will by order of his Mother, Mrs. Ruth Cunningham, falling into the Hands of his Elder and only Brother, Mr. Nathaniel Cunningham, to whom the committee of this church have made application for the said Legacy, and which he offered to pay, at the same time signifying his desire that the money should be invested in a Bell for the new House now going to be built : Voted — That the said Money be applied to the purchasing as good a Bell as it will procure ; and that in honour and gratitude to the Memory of the Donor, there be the following Inscription cast on the Bell : viz. The Gift of Capt. Timothy Cunningham to the South Church in Boston ; Who died at Sea, Septr 12. 1728 Joseph Sewall. Mrs. Ruth Edwards, widow of George Edwards, joined the church in 1685. She afterward became the wife of Timothy Cunningham, and the baptism of their children, Ruth, Hannah, and Nathaniel, is recorded in 1689 and later. The baptism of their son Timothy is not recorded ; nor do we find either his name or that of his brother Nathaniel among the members of the church. Of their interest in the church, however, there can be no doubt. Nathaniel, a man of large wealth, when he died (in London) in 1748, left to it by his will sixty ounces of silver, to be made into some proper vessel for the communion table, and ^500 for its poor.2 His daughter Ruth and her distin- guished husband, James Otis, were afterward members of the church and congregation. The bell, purchased with the be- quest of Timothy Cunningham, did faithful service in the Old South tower until the autumn of 18 15, when it was cracked while ringing an alarm of fire. The inscription on it, which commemorated the name and generosity of the donor for more than two generations, we now enter upon these pages, in the hope that he will continue to be held in grateful remembrance while the church endures. 1 [Benjamin Walker in his Diary, ningham, married Sarah, daughter of September 23, 1728, says that Timothy Christopher Kilby. They had two Cunningham's sloop arrived from Anti- daughters, Susannah and Sarah ; and gua on that day, and that Mr. Cunning- the younger of these had a daughter, ham had died on the passage. " He Elizabeth, who married the seventh was a brisk likely young man."] Duke of Argyll. (See the cut at the 2 Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel Cun- head of this chapter.) THE OLD MEETING-HOUSE. 439 In accordance with the vote of the church special services were held on Friday, February 28. In the forenoon, Mr. Fox- croft offered prayer, and Mr. Prince preached from Lam. iii. 41, " Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens." In the afternoon Mr. Colman assisted, and Mr. Sewall preached from Psalm cxxvii. 1 : " Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it : except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." Mr. Sewall says in his journal : " I hope we had the Tokens of God's gracious Presence with us. The congregation generally at- tended, and many others with them. I hope God enabled me in, publick and private, to look earnestly to him this day. O Lord, hear, Forgive and doe as the matter may require." On Sunday, March 2, the last sermons were preached in the old building to very large congregations,1 and on the following day, Mr. Sewall having prayed with the workmen, the process of demolition began. " On the 4th. this ancient building was taken down, about 5, P. M. No hurt done." " Several of the beams and timbers " were found to be so much "decayed " that it was "apprehended " the "crowded" assemblies on the preceding Sabbath " had a very gracious preservation." Mr. Sewall, after recording this, says : " I thank thee, O thou Preserver of men. Reconcile thy Servants who have been opposite to this Work, and let there be good Agreement among thy people in the things that are pleasing in thy sight." 2 March 9. We met in the Old-Meeting-House. Mr. Prince preach'd from Ps. 119. 54. The House of my Pilgrimage. I preach'd P. M. from Isai. 12. 2. I will trust and not be afraid. O Lord enable me and thy people to put our Trust in thee ! 1 " I preach'd P. M. from Ps. 127. 1. A southern, eastern and western porches ; very great Assembly I hope God helped the length of this is near 95 feet, breadth me. But have great Reason to be hum- near 68, besides the western tower, and bled under my own great Weakness, eastern and southern porches." A1. Eng. having forgot to propound three persons Weekly Journal, March 31, April 2S, for full communion. Lord shew me my 1729. Drake's Hist, and Antiq. p. 584. own frailties and infirmities." (J. Sewall.) August 18. 1729. "On the 15th I 2 March 4. " Cut the posts and pull'd pray'd with the workmen who are raising house down, it fell into the meeting- the Roof of the Meeting-House, again house ground." (B. Walker.) this day. I thank thee O Thou Pre- They began to lay the stone founda- server of men, that this difficult work is tion for the new building March 31, so far accomplish'd and with so little " seven feet below the pavement of the hurt to any person. (Two were some- street." The old building "was near 75 thing hurt and others in danger.)" feet long, and near 51 wide ; besides the (J. Sewall.) 44° HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. March 27. A person of our Church came to me, acknowledging he had committed a very hainous Sin. I pray'd with him. 0 Lord re- buke Satan ! Save this miserable young man from his Pride discon- tent &c. I hope God hath bless'd our Endeavours with him. May 28. Several Ministers met at my House. May 29. Mr. Colman Preach'd the Sermon to the Ministers in Publick from 2 Thess. 3. 1. Brethren, pray for us. A considerable number of Ministers met again after dinner.1 (J. Sewall.) At a church Meeting [at Mr. SewalPs house] Septr. 30. 1729. Whereas the church is determined with submission to Providence to assemble for the Worship of God in the New Meeting House before winter, there being an hopefull prospect that the House will be in a condition to receive us, tho' not compleatly finished : Voted — That the subscribers be desired to pay in the Remainder of their subscriptions forthwith. Joseph Sewall.2 At a church Meeting, Octr. 29. 1729. Voted — That the Treasurer be desired and impowered to borrow such a sum of money as the committee for building shall judge need- full for expediting the Building, not exceeding Eight Hundred Pounds, which sum or sums so borrowed, the Brethren of the church hereby oblige themselves to repay to said Treasurer within six moneths from the time of borrowing the Money. Voted — That Mr. James Pemberton. Mr. Samuel Gerrish 3 and Deacon Henchman be a committee to inquire of the Seaters &c. of other churches in this Town, concerning their methods relating to the tenure of their Pews ; and make a Report to this church at their next Meeting Joseph Sewall. Upon a Report made, Voted — That the thanks of the church be 1 [We suppose that this sermon was monish'd D of his late scandulous preached at the South meeting house, as Sins. He expresseth a sorrow for them the ministers' meetings were held at Mr. and a readiness to Confess them. Lord SewalPs parsonage. We have no ac- give him the sorrow which is to repent- count in Mr. SewalPs diary of the ser- ance. Recover him and others fallen, mons in 1730 and 1731 ; in 1732 Mr. O revive a godly Discipline among us Colman preached again, his text being more and more." (J Sewall.)] Rev. ii. 1.] 3 [James Pemberton was a grandson 2 ["Sept 30. We had a Church Meet- of James Pemberton, one of the founders ing at my House. Lord hear our Prayers, of the church, and a nephew of its third Let the House be seasonably finish'd ; minister. Samuel Gerrish was a son of Preserve thy people, and Provide well the Rev. Joseph Gerrish of Wenham. for them in the mean time. O thou He married, first, Mary, daughter of great Shepherd keep us together, Lead Judge Sewall, who died at the age of and Feed us ! The Evening before the nineteen ; and secondly, Sarah, daughter Pastors with two other of the Brethren of John Coney. He was a bookseller, (agreable to the Church's Desire) Ad- and town clerk from 1733 t0 l74l-\ THE REV. OLIVER PEA BODY. 441 given to Anthony Stoddard Esq. Deacon Henchman and Mr. James Pemberton, who were appointed a committee to receive the Legacy bequeathed to this church by Mrs. Anne Mills ; for their care and pains taken in that Affair. Joseph Sewall.1 "In consideration of the danger the town and country" were "in from the small pox," the "Friday lecture [October 31] at Mr. Colman's was turned into a day of prayer." Mr. Webb preached in the morning, from the words, " Prepare to meet thy God ; " and Mr. Colman, in the afternoon, from the text, " How shall I give thee up, Ephraim ?" Dec. 17. Mr. Peabody was Ordain'd to the Pastoral Office over the Church in Natick — consisting of 4 English and 3 Indians. Mr. Appleton began with Prayr. Mr. Coleman being Confined by Illness, I preach'd from Jer. 3. 15. I will give you Pastors. Mr. Baxter gave the Charge. Mr. Williams (westown) the right Hand of Fellowship and Concluded with Prayr. O Lord Bless this little Flock, and let there be added to them many of such as shall be Saved. Pour out thy Spirit on thy Servant, that he may approve himself a Pastor after thine Heart. Turn the poor Indians from darkness to light. O when shall the time to Favour them come ! (J. Sewall.) At a church Meeting Deer 30. 1729. Voted; — I. That the last Possessors who had a right to Pews in the Old Meeting House, and desire a consideration in the New Meet- ing House, shall bring in their claims and desires in writing to Deacon Henchman on or before the 20th of Janry next ; that there may be such allowance made to them as the church shall determine. II. That the Honble. Coll. Fitch, and Anthony Stoddard Esq., with the committee for building, be a committee to consider and propose to the church, the tenure and conditions by which persons are to hold their Pews, and such Rules and Orders as are needfull about them ; To number and value the Pews below and in the Galleries, and to propose the way and method for the Disposition of them. III. That no person be allowed to enter and take possession of any pew before he produce to the above said committee a certificate or Receipt under the Treasurer's hand, that he hath paid the price of it. Joseph Sewall. The new meeting-house was nearly ready for occupancy, but Judge Sewall did not live to take possession of it with his brethren. How he felt after the work of demolition and of re- construction had been fairly entered upon, we do not know ; but 1 [Oct 29. " We had a Church Meet. Difficulties ! Let the Building be speedily ing. O Lord pity us under our present finish'd may it be thy Will." (J. Sewall.)] 442 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. perhaps it was well that he should not long survive the hallowed walls within which he had worshipped for more than fifty years. He " had served his own gen- eration by the will of God;" and another generation had now come forward, which, with the new house of worship, would desire other new things to which he might be unable to give his approval. With a different administration, there was to be the same spirit ; the inner life of the church was to be as it had been from the be- ginning, although some of the outer conditions and accesso- ries would be changed. But all this Judge Sewall, if he had lived much longer, might not have been able to understand ; and like Simon Bradstreet and Joshua Scottow,1 both of whom he had helped to lay in their peaceful graves many years before, he might have shed "old men's tears " over the degener- acy of the times. As it was, he had attained to a venerable age ; he was seventeen years old when the South Church was founded, and he had sat under the preaching of its first five ministers ;2 he took his bachelor's degree at college under Presi- 1 Joshua Scottow died January 20, 169S. In 1691 he wrote a pamphlet, enti- tled " Old Men's Tears for their own De- clensions, mingled with Fears of their and Posterities further falling off from New England's Primitive Constitution. Pub- lished by some of Boston's Old Planters and some others." In 1694 he printed a larger work, " A Narrative of the plant- ing of the Massachusetts Colony, Anno 1628," and dedicated it to Simon Brad- street. Both publications are full of lamentations over the prevailing degen- eracy from the principles and practices of the fathers. 2 In the communion service of the Old South, there is a flagon, represented above, on which the Sewail arms and the date 1730 are engraved, and which was given, no doubt, to commemorate Judge Sewall's membership in the church. The late Rev. Samuel Sewall, of Bur- lington, Mass., in a memoir of his ances- tor printed in 1S4T, in the American Quarterly Review, said : " The arms of John Seawale, Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire, 1380, are thus described by Fuller : ' S. (sable) cheveron betwixt three gadd-bees argent,' which are pre- cisely the same with those handed down by painting, tradition, or otherwise among all the Sewalls now known to reside in New England and Lower Can- ada, as their family arms." DEATH OF SAMUEL SEW ALL. 443 dent Chauncy, and his master's degree under President Hoar, and he had seen six later presidents ; he had lived under twelve governors and acting governors, and had served under nine of them. He had been a member of the judiciary forty-four years, and for ten years chief justice of the province. He had seen his son installed as one of the pastors of the church in which he had labored and prayed so long, and which he loved so well. How important and how lasting a work he had done for this church, in committing so much of its early history to paper, he could not have had the faintest conception, nor have his succes- sors in the membership understood until very recently. Had he foreseen this, he certainly would have said, in the words of Israel, what indeed he might well have said as it was, " It is enough." After " about a month's languishment," he died, on the 1st of January, 1729-30, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. Dec 26. My Father seems to grow weaker. At different times He repeated to me the Creed and the Lord's prayr. Mention'd that text, If any man Sin, we have an advocate with the Father. When ask'd what wee should Pray for — Answer, to this Effect, that he might follow the Captain of his salvation. In general, He speaks but little. Dec 29. I read to him 11 John 23-27 &c. My Father took notice and spake of what was read — that we were beholden to Martha. Spake of the brazen Serpent — of Looking to Jesus — He the only remedy. Jan 1. I was call'd up about 4 cl. (or something before) found my Father dying. He seem'd to enjoy the use of his reason. I pray'd with him, then Mr. Cooper. C[ousin] Chauncy came in and Pray'd. My Honoured and d^ar Father Expir'd about 35 minutes after 5 A. M. Near the time in which 29 years agoe, He was so affected upon the Beginning of this Century, when he made those Verses to usher in the New Year, Once more our God vouchsafe to Shine. (J. Sewall.) On the following Lord's day, at the Old Brick, where the con- gregations of the First and Third Churches were worshipping together, Mr. Chauncy preached in the morning, from John xi. 25 : " He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live ; " and, says Mr. Sewall, " made an honorable mention of my father." Mr. Prince preached in the afternoon, from Isaiah lvii. 1 : " The righteous perisheth." The funeral took place on Wednesday the 7th. " Bearers, the Honble Coll. Tailor, Simeon Stoddard, Judge Davenport, Coll. Fitch, Daniel Oliver. Mr. Bromfield was appointed ; but being ill, Mr. Secretary Willard 444 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. stood in his Room. A fair cold Day." On Thursday, Mr. Prince preached the Lecture in Mr. Sewall's turn, and took for his text, i Sam. vii. 15-17 : " And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. And his return was to Ramah ; for there was his house: and there he judged Israel, and there he built an altar unto the Lord." " Gave my Father a modest and true Char- acter." x On Sunday the nth, Mr. Sewall preached to the same congregations as above, from Psalm xxvii. 10 : " When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up." In recognition of the long and eminent services of Samuel Sewall in church and state, the members of the Old South, in 1884, placed a memorial tablet upon the walls of their present meeting-house ; other commemorative tablets were erected at the same time, and appropriate addresses were made Sunday evening, October 26, which were printed.2 Stately and slow, with thoughtful air, His black cap hiding his whitened hair, Walks the Judge of the great Assize, Samuel Sewall the good and wise. His face with lines of firmness wrought, He wears the look of a man unbought, 1 The Netvs-Letter which contains the Person, and in an high Degree and notice of his death gives the following Station, rendered Him one of the most epitome of his character : — shining Lights and Honours of the Age " He was universally and greatly rev- and Land wherein He lived ; and worthy erenc'd, esteemed and beloved among us of a very distinguishing regard in the for his eminent Piety, Learning and Wis- New English Histories." dom ; his grave and venerable Aspect Judge Sewall left no will. His sons, and Carriage; his instructive, affable and Samuel and Joseph, and his son-in-law, cheerful Conversation ; his strict Integ- the Rev. Mr. Cooper, administered on rity and regard to Justice ; his extraor- his estate. Samuel inherited the man- dinary tender and compassionate Heart ; sion house and occupied it. He and his his neglect of the World ; his abundant wife, Rebecca, had joined the South Liberality; his catholick and publick Church, May 12, 1728. Spirit ; his critical Acquaintance with the 2 For an appreciative and affectionate Holy Scriptures in their inspir'd origi- estimate of Judge Sewall's character, nals ; his Zeal for the purity of instituted see the address on this occasion by the Worship ; his constant, diligent and rev- Rev. George E. Ellis, D. D., LL. D., now erent Attendance on it, both in the president of the Mass. Hist. Society. Church and Family ; his Love for the The members of the Old South are under Churches, People and Ministers, the lasting obligation to Dr. Ellis, and the civil and religious Interests of this Coun- other editors of the Sewall Papers and try ; his tender Concern for the aboriginal Letters, for the labor performed by them Natives ; and as the Crown of all, His in preparing the five volumes for publi- Moderation, Peaceableness and Humil- cation and in carrying them through the ity ; which being all united in the same press. IN MEMORY OF SAMUEL SEW ALL. 445 Who swears to his hurt, and changes not ; Yet, touched and softened nevertheless With the grace of Christian gentleness, The face that a child would climb to kiss ! True and tender and brave and just, That man might honor and woman trust. (Whittier.) CHAPTER IX. 1730-1740. THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE. COLLECTIONS FOR CHARITA- BLE USES. THE new meeting-house was not finished as soon as had been expected, but twelve or thirteen months does not seem a very long time in which to remove an old building and erect a new one, such as this was, in its place. The various questions relating to the pews, old and new, re- quired much thought and care, but they were at length satisfac- TENURE OF PEW PROPERTY. 447 torily adjusted, and principles were agreed upon to regulate the tenure and transfer of pew property.1 At a church Meeting [at Mr. Sewall's house] Febr. 3. 1729-30. Voted — That the committee for disposing of the collection for pious and charitable uses, are desired to expend such a part of the stock as they shall judge proper for the supply of the present necessi- ties of the poor of this church and congregation. Joseph Sewall. Feb. 3. We have the joy full News that Mr. Belcher is appointed our Governor. O Lord ! Pour thy Spirit on thy Servant, and bring him in safety and make him a great Blessing to us. (J. Sewall.) At a church Meeting Febr. 9. 1729-30. Pursuant to a vote of Febr. 27. 1727-8, There was an allowance made to such possessors of Pews in the Old Meeting-House as did not see cause to resign their claims. Joseph Sewall. [No date.] Voted — That the two Pews at the right and left hand of the Dea- cons' Seat, fronting on the broad Alley, be set apart for th* use of the Ministry. [No date.] These proposalls were offer'd to the church by the committee ap- pointed to consider the tenure and conditions upon which Persons are to hold their Pews &c : And after they had been distinctly read and considered, were voted as follows. Voted — . I. That a committee be appointed, and from time to time continued, to order and regulate the Pews and Seats in the Meeting- House, and other matters relating to said House. II. That all persons keep the seats and places assigned them by the said committee, and remove not to any other seat or place, without their appointment or approbation ; that so good order and decency may be observed. III. That no Pew shall be appropriated to any particular Person or 1 The following receipt shows the stantly come to said Church, and con- conditions upon which pew property was tribute thereto ; in default thereof, to re- owned in Brattle Street Church when it sign up said pew unto the Committee for was founded : — said Church for the time being, they al- Boston 30 April 1700 lowing said Pitts or his heirs what he Received then of Mr. John Pitts the now gives for the same, I say received summe of fifteen pound for a pew in the for the use and behoof of said Church New Church in Brattle Street, No 22, p Tho. Brattle being that next the West dore on the Treasurer of said Church, left hand as one enters said Church ; To have and enjoy the said pew to him and See Pitts Jl/SS. in the possession of his heirs, so long as he or they shall con- Mr. Daniel Goodwin, Jr., of Chicago. 448 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Family, but such as at present are, or hereafter shall be of the con- stant Auditory, and Contributors to the support of the Ministry. IV. That every Person to whom a Pew or part of a pew is or shall be assigned, shall be obliged in proportion to the Privilege they enjoy, to contribute for the Honourable support of the worship of God, as well as other necessary charges. V. That every Proprietor and their Heirs, shall hold their respec- tive Pews so long as they shall comply with the aforesaid conditions of their Tenure ; and in default thereof, that such Pews revert to the church upon their paying the original cost to said Proprietors, their Executors or Administrators. VI. That no seat or Pew appropriated to any Person shall be trans- ferr'd or disposed of by such person to another without the approba- tion and allowance of the committee for the time being first had for the same. VII. Upon the death or removal of any Proprietor, such Pew shall be in the disposition of the committee, upon their paying to such per- sons, his Executor, or Administrators, the first cost and charge by him disbursed for it ; but if the church shall refuse to pay for the same, for the space of two months after an offer thereof made them, the Owner may dispose of it to some other Person that shall be acceptable to the committee. VIII. Altho' Pews may not be accounted an Estate in Fee, abso- lutely, yet it is but equal that they descend to children ; but if during their minority they are not able to perform what is incumbent upon them, the seaters may place others with them in such Pews, untill such time as they arrive to full age or shall contribute as aforesaid. IX. That all vacancies in the seats be filled from time to time, by the committee or seaters for the time being. X. It is justly expected that every Person or family that enjoy a whole Pew below, should not contribute less than five Pounds, four shillings per annum and proportionably for a part ; and those in the Gallery, in proportion to the value or cost of them. But withall, it is desired and expected that such as are in superior circumstances, will not confine themselves to that sum ; but will manifest their Liberality agreeable to their condition. XL If at any time the right or property of any Pew, or a part of one, should by descent or otherwise, Be vested in, or claimed by any person that enjoys a whole Pew, it shall be in the power of the com- mittee to dispose of it to any other suitable person, paying the cost thereof to him to whom of right it belongs. Joseph Sewall Thomas Prince. "REMOVE TO OUR NEW HOUSE." 449 At a church Meeting March 20 1729-30. The Valuation of the Pews on the Floor and in the Galleries of the New Meeting House, was accepted and voted. Severall Articles reported by the committee for seating, relating to the Disposal of the Pews on the Floor and in the Galleries of the New Meeting House were distinctly considered and accepted : And the said committee are impowered to dispose of the Pews accordingly. The said committee are also desired and impowered to Dispose of the Seats in the New Meeting House. These particulars were voted. Joseph Sewall.1 Lord's Day April 19. 1730. The church voted that they would Assemble for publick Worship in the New Meeting House, God willing, the next Lord's Day. And the congregation was notified accordingly, P. M. After the Congregation was dismissed, a letter was read to the church and accepted, in which this church gave their thankful acknowl- edgments to our Brethren of the Old Church, for the Privilege granted us of Assembling in their Meeting-House for the time in which our house was building. Joseph Sewall. The pastor added in his diary : " Lord bountifully reward the kindness shew'd us by this Church, and be graciously present with us in our Remove to our New House." There were no special services of dedication for this house of worship, which was to receive its consecration, week by week, for a century and a half to come, from the prayers and praises of God's people within its walls. On the first Sunday of its occu- pancy sermons appropriate to the occasion were preached by" the two pastors. Mr. Sewall's text in the morning was Hag- gai ii. 9. " 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."2 Mr. Prince's text in 1 [March 20. " We had a Church- comfortable Expressions of resentment Meeting to determine the way in which from several) and it is said there is a the Subscribers are to Choose their Pews, more general Satisfaction in the Choice O Lord govern this matter in mercy ; than could almost have been expected." keep us in Peace. Mr. Prince and I had (J. Sewall.)] prayd together with an especial regard 2 Mr. Sewall preached again from this to this Affair ; And this day I again com- text on the next Lord's Day, particularly mended it to God." dwelling on the words " And in this March 24. 26. 27. 28. " The Difficult place will I give peace." " O Lord," he and Critical Affair of the Choice of wrote, " I thank thee for the peace we Pews (on the Floor) was manag'd. Con- enjoy." The disturbed feeling attend- siderable offence was given about the 3 ing the choice of seats seems to have Divisions in the Choice. However all subsided very speedily, or the most chose (tho' not without un- Among those who joined the South 450 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. the afternoon was Psalm v. 7 : " But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy ; and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple." These pastors and their people had been encouraged by the promise : " He shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it," and now one of them, Mr. Sewall, hastened to record the consummation of their work upon the church's book. Lord's Day April 26. 1730. We Assembled the first time for religious Worship in the New Meet- ing House. Laus Deo. Mr. Sewall also wrote in his diary at the close of the day : " O Lord I thank thee that thou hast enabled thy people to build such an House, and hast granted us this Opportunity of Meet- ing with so much Peace to offer up our Prayers and Praises, and to hear thy Word. O give us the especial Presence of Jesus Christ with us that we may be built up a Spiritual House. O help thy people to make the Offering to thee, and accept them in thy beloved Son. And let thy people and their off- spring for a long time here worship God in spirit and in truth, and enjoy the fulness of the Blessing of the Gospel of Christ." We are all familiar with the exterior of this meeting-house, which, except in the color of the walls, looks to-day almost exactly as it did when it was first completed.1 Richard Grant 'White has left us the following description : — It is the perfect model of a New England " meeting-house " of the highest style in the olden time. Bare of the beauty of architectural detail, it delights the eye by its fine symmetrical proportion ; and its Church in 1730 were Henry Gibbs, John 1 In the southwest corner of the build- Hunt, Jonathan Loring, Thomas Hub- ing, just above the sidewalk, there is a bard, and Joseph Prince, who trans- stone bearing the letters N. E. and the ferred their membership from the First date March 31, 1729. (See the cut at the Church ; Thomas Cushing, from Brat- end of this chapter.) Dr. Wisner men- tie Street; Daniel Loring and Nathaniel tions another stone, in the northwest Goodwin, from the North Church ; and corner, on the west side, inscribed with John Smibert, the painter, who married the letters S. S. ; and another, in the a daughter of the Rev. Nathaniel Wil- northeast corner, on the east side, in- liams. scribed L. B. 1729. The letters S. S. Henry Gibbs, Harvard College, 1726, probably stand for Samuel Sewall (see married a daughter of Josiah Willard. ante, p. 360, note) ; but we are unable The first person to be admitted to to explain those on the other stones, membership in the new meeting-house Robert Twelves is said to have been the was Rebecca Walker, May 10. builder. THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE. 45 1 octagonal spire, springing from an airy, eight-arched loggia, is one of the finest of its kind, not only in this country, but in the world. Nothing more light and elegant and graceful can be found, unless in the finest Gothic work. Not a " Wren " spire (indeed an architect would scout the notion) it yet suggests Wren to the unprofessional eye ; but I have never seen a spire of Sir Christopher's which equalled it in grace and lightness. A peculiar interest attaches to it because it is of home growth. It is not a copy nor an imitation of anything else. It is the conception of a Yankee architect — the outgrowth and de- velopment of the steeple-belfry of the New-England meeting-house. New England may well be proud of it. . . . The interiors of these old meeting-houses, it must be admitted, are devoid of all semblance of beauty. In them the hard, utilitarian, unsentimental spirit of the old New England life and the old New England Puritanism was fully ex- pressed, but intuitively, and without purpose. There no charm of color, there no grace of form, there no monuments of departed nota- bility were allowed to divert the eye and mind from religious business. They were bare, galleried halls, in which mass meetings were held for worship.1 Of the interior, Dr. Wisner said in 1830: — It was finished with two galleries as at present ; and the pulpit in the same position as now, but larger and higher than this, with a sounding-board projecting from the wall above the casing of the win- dow ; and with two seats directly in front, one somewhat elevated for the deacons, and one still more elevated for the elders. On each side of the middle aisle, and nearest the pulpit, were a number of long seats for aged people ; and the rest of the floor, except the aisles and several narrow passages, was covered with square pews. Mr. Prince preached the election sermon May 27, and took occasion to commemorate the landing at Salem and the settle- ment of Boston a hundred years before.2 His subject was: The People of New England Put in Mind of the Righteous Acts of the Lord to Them and their Fathers. He showed how extremely proper it was, " upon the close of the first century of our settlement in this chief part of the land, which will now within a few weeks expire, to look back to the beginning of this remarkable transaction." Mr. Foxcroft and Mr. Sewall preached centennial discourses, at the First Church, three months later.3 1 [The Century, March, 1884.] stand still, that I may reason with you 2 His text was 1 Sam. xii. 6,7: " And before the Lord of all the righteous acts Samuel said unto the people, It is the of the Lord, which he did to you and to Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron, your fathers." and that brought your fathers up out of 3 " It has been generally said that ow- the land of Egypt. Now therefore ing to the small pox the expiration of the 452 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. At a Meeting of the South Church in their Brick Meeting House Augt 5. 1730. It being represented to the church that the Salleries allow'd our Rev'd Pastors have not been sufficient for the support of their Fami- lies, so that they are brought considerably in arrears ; Voted — That it be recommended to the congregation to have a collection to make good the deficiencies of former Salaries allowed them for their support. And it being further considered that the Sallaries allowed our Min- isters have not as aforesaid of late provided for their support by rea- son of the low value of the Bills of Credit, Voted, — That for the space of one year from this date, and untill the further determination of this church, There be allowed and paid to each of our Rev'd Pastors, viz. to Mr. Joseph Sewall and Mr. Thomas Prince, Six Pounds pr. week, for their honourable support in the work of the Ministry ; And that the congregation be desired to enlarge their contributions accordingly, the present contributions not being sufficient to raise the allowance now made them &c. A true copy Thomas Fitch Moderator Joseph Sewall.1 century was not observed in Boston. It does not appear that the government of the town did take any action for its cele- bration or observance." Mr. Foxcroft's sermon was preached August 23, and was entitled " Observations on the Rise and Primitive State of New England. With special Reference to the first Church in Boston." See Drake's Hist, and Antiq., p. 5S7. August 27. " I preached the Lecture from 2 Pet. 3. 15. Account that the long- suffering of our Lord is Salvation. N. B. It is this day 100 years since the first Church in this Town was gather'd at Charles Town. I hope God enabled me to cry earnestly to him for these Churches." (J. Sewall.) 1 [Mr. Sewall writes: Aug 17. "On the Lords Day [the 16th] the Congrega- tion had a collection for the Support of the Gospel. The Deacons bro't me SS^". Lord I thank thee for inclining and spiriting thy people to contribute so liberally for the support of the Gospel. (The Church hath also rais'd our Sala- ries to 6£ pr. week) " The salaries, since July, 1725, had been ,£4.5.0 a week. They were advanced May, 1 740, to ^"9.0.0 a week. Dr. Robbins says, in his History of the Second Church (pp. 118, 119): " Such votes as the following are of not infrequent occurrence : ' iS Nov. 1729. Voted, that, in consideration of the dear- ness of all necessaries of life, there be a present of sixty pounds now made to the Rev. Joshua Gee, our pastor, out of the money in the church's stock. Also voted, that an addition of five shillings per week be made to Mr. Gee's salary, so as to make it up four pounds ten shillings per week. Also voted, that an addition of ten pounds be made to the thirty pounds formerly allowed to provide Mr. Gee with fire- wood, for the year current, beginning the first of May last.' His salary was afterwards increased to eight pounds a week ; and, when he was alone in the care of the church, three pounds were allowed him weekly, to supply his pul- pit, as he might feel it to be necessary for his relief."] GOVERNOR BELCHER. 453 [No date.] Voted — That fifteen pounds out of the money collected for pious and charitable uses be given to the Revd Mr. Josiah Cotton, for his encouragement to continue Preaching the Gospel at Providence. Voted — That the Deacons be desired to procure some suitable Person to take the oversight of the children and servants in the Gal- leries, to take care that good order be maintained in time of divine worship ; and that a sufficient reward be allowed for the encourage- ment of such a Person. Joseph Sewall. Jonathan Belcher arrived in Boston this summer, in a ship of war, with the royal commission as governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and he was warmly welcomed, especially by the religious community of which he was a conspicuous member.1 Dr. Allen thus speaks of him as a public man, and of his personal character : — He obeyed the royal instructions on the one hand, and exhibited a real regard to the liberties and happiness of the people on the other. He was distinguished by his unshaken integrity, by his zeal for justice, and care to have it equally distributed. Neither the claims of inter- est nor the solicitations of friends could move him from what appeared to be his duty. He seems to have possessed, in addition to his other accomplishments, that piety whose lustre is eternal. His religion was not a mere personal thing, which he received from tradition, or pro- fessed in conformity to the custom of the country in which he lived ; but it impressed his heart and governed his life.2 Although Governor Belcher attended at King's Chapel occa- sionally, and occupied the official pew there, his religious home 1 The announcement of Mr. Belcher's And guide thy hand. He from the worlds on high appointment was received by the non- Came once an Envoy and return'd a King ; conformists in England with the greatest ™e.,sons, °f **? in th'ongs *eir h°mauge bring' ... _ ° T °, . While glory, life, and oy beneath his sceptre satisfaction. Dr. Watts wrote a beauti- spring. ful ode on the eve of the governor's em- barkation, of which we quote the closing 2 [American Biographical Dictionary. stanza. Its strain of panegyric seems to Hutchinson says : " By great freedom in us extravagant ; but it should be remem- conversation and an unreserved censure bered that in those days addresses of this of persons whose principles or conduct kind to persons in high station were al- he disapproved, he made himself many most always adulatory in the extreme. enemies. In a private person this may „ „ , , , . often pass with little notice, but from a Go, Belcher, go assume thy glorious sway ; . Faction expires, and Boston longs to obey. governor it is very hardly forgot, and Beneath thy rule may Truth and Virtue spread, Some never ceased pursuing revenge Divine Religion raise aloft her head until they saw him displaced." Hist, of And deal her blessings round. Let India hear A/ass vol iii D 1X2 That Jesus reigns, and her wild tribes prepare t\ -n n i xz c /-• - . i • im. u 11 i u i JJr. Palfrey s estimate of Governor r or heavenly jovs. 1 hy power shall rule by love ; J So reigns our Jesus in the realms above. Belcher as a public man is a disparaging Illustrious pattern ! Let him fix thine eye, One.] 454 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. continued to be at the South Church, when he was living in the town. At Milton, where he had a country seat, he identified himself with the Congrega- tional church, of which the Rev. John Taylor was min- ister. He was afterward charged in England, in an anonymous letter addressed to Mr. Samuel Holden, one of the most influential non- conformists in that country, with being concerned with the Episcopal interest in Bos- ton in intrigues against the established order ; but there is abundant evidence that he sincerely as well as stead- fastly adhered to the religion of his father and of his own youth to the end of his days.1 The new governor arrived at Castle William Saturday night, August 8, attended di- vine service there on Sun- day, and came up to the town on Monday morning. He was escorted by a large number of soldiers and civilians from Long Wharf to the State House ; thence " to a splendid enter- tainment at the Bunch of Grapes, and after dinner, to his own pleasant and beautiful seat." wcA&r^ 1 " Mr. Belcher some time since mar- ried a daughter to one Mr. Lloyd, a churchman, and obliged him to promise he would never more go to the Church of England, saying he would rather cut off his daughter's legs than marry her to a man of that church. This is a fact which he cannot deny." Letter of Da- vid Dunbar to the Duke of Newcastle, Feb. 4, 1730. See Palfrey's History, vol. iv. pp. 567, 56S. Mr. Belcher's daughter Mary married Byfield Lyde, and their daughter, Mary Belcher Lyde, joined the South Church July 24, 176S. Jonathan Belcher, Jr., became a mem- ber February 13, 1763. He graduated at Harvard in 1728, and in 1731 went to England. " On the 24th [May]," says Mr. Sewall, " we met at the Governours, upon the account of His Son, Mr. Jona- than Belcher bound out for Great Brit- ain. I began, Mr. Colman concluded with Prayr. Mr. Prince Preachd from Prov. 3. 6. [' In all thy ways acknowl- edge him, and he shall direct thy paths.'] " His father wrote of him to the Duke of Newcastle, November 7, 1731, that " after spending the last seven years at our little University in Cam- THE SPIRE COMPLETED. 455 August 10. Governour Belcher landed about eleven a Clock A. M. The Ministers saluted Him near the Town House. O Lord Pour out thy Spirit upon thy Servant, and make him a great Blessing to us ! August 12. The united Ministers of the Town waited on the Gov- ernour, and Mr. Coleman made a Speech to him in their Name. August 13. Mr. Coleman preach'd the Lecture from 1 Sam. 2. 8. The Pillars of the earth are the Lord's. Lord make thy Servant truly such, under God our strength and glory. August 16. Lord's day. Mr. Prince preached A. M. from Psal. 89. 19-21. ["Then thou spakest in vision to thy Holy One, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty ; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant ; with my holy oil have I anointed him : With whom my hand shall be estab- lished ; mine arm also shall strengthen him."] I preach'd P. M. from 2 Sam. 22. 24. I was also upright before him. The Governour was at meeting both parts of the day. O Lord enable thy Servant to feed and lead this people with an upright heart and skilfull hand. Sept. 15. Yesterday the workmen began to raise the Spire. Mr. Prince and I pray'd together that God wou'd direct assist and preserve them in this difficult work. O Lord hear ! Pardon thy people if they are too ambitious of an outward shew, and too much conform'd to the Vanities of the World. O let us not be high minded, but fear. (J. Sewall.) Sept. 17. They raised the vane or wether cock. Shem Drown, tin- man, made it. (B. Walker.) Octo. 19. Mrs. Vryling was buried (ob. 16) aged 47. She was of our Communion, a notable, and I hope, pious Woman. Octo. 20. This day S[imeon] Stoddard Esq. was buried. He died 15th aged 80. Was also of our Communion; but of late attended at Mr. Colman's. Nov. 3. The Church met : There was a very thin meeting ; how- ever They Voted a public Collection for the Poor on the Thanksgiv- ing. (J. Sewall.) At a church Meeting Novr. 3. 1730. Voted — That there be a publick collection on the Anniversary Thanksgiving next insuing Novr. 12. current, for Relieving the Neces- sities of the Poor of this church and congregation. Joseph Sewall. N. B. The collection amounted to about one hundred twenty-four Pounds. bridge," he was then studying in the He repeatedly appeared before the Temple ; and that he needed indulgence, Board of Trade in his father's behalf, for he "was but the new production of At his death in 1776, he was lieutenant- the wilds in America." He took his Mas- governor and chief - justice of Nova ter's degree at Cambridge in England. Scotia. 45 6 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Nov. 14. On the 10th Evening, Several of the Committee came to me, signifying that the Governour shew'd a Liking to my Pew ; The next day I went and offer'd it him, He thank'd me. Now I under- stand that Madam Belcher purposeth to goe into it to morrow, and we take the Pew shee chose by the West Door. Lord enable me and thine Handmaid chearfully to deny ourselves ; graciously reward us by granting us more evident Tokens of thy Presence in thy House. The Church and Congregation gather'd about 124 pounds on the Thanksgiving, principally for the Poor. Lord I praise thee. When the matter was consider'd and voted, it labor'd of Discouragements, by reason of the very thin Meeting &c. ; but God hath inclin'd and en- abl'd his people to offer beyond my Expectation. Nov. 15. Thanks were return'd for the wonderfull Preservation of 5 of the Wentworths (3 Brothers). The Ship was foundred, they were taken up in their Boat by a Ship that had Spent her Mast or masts. Nov. 29. Messrs. Ellery, Prince and Johnson return'd Thanks for God's Preservations of them in their difficult and dangerous Voyages. Dec. 18 The Governour had a Thanksgiving at his House to Praise God for his Preservations abroad, safe return &c. Mr. Colman began with Prayer, Mr. Cooper concluded. I preach'd from Exod. 15. 2. The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my sal- vation : he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation ; my father's God, and I will exalt him. The Governour read the Psalm in Dr. Watt's Version. O Lord hear the Prayers put up for thy Servant and his Family, Pour out thy Spirit upon him, his Yokefellow, Chil- dren, and make him a great Blessing to thy People. March 2. Capt. E. Savage was buried, aged 86. I suppose the Eldest Brother of our Church.1 (J. Sewall.) As the pew set apart for the use of the governors in King's Chapel was canopied, it was thought proper to distinguish the official pew in the South meeting-house in the same way. At a church Meeting April 5. 1731. Voted — 1. That in Honour to His Excellency our Governour, there be a decent canopy erected over his Pew, and the charge born out of the Church stock. 2. That the committee for building be desired to take care of this affair, and see it accomplished as soon as conveniently may be. 3. Whereas the Honble Coll. Fitch hath obliged this church with a new set of Flaggons ; voted, 1 [Ephraim Savage, son of Major against Quebec, served for several years Thomas Savage, graduated at Harvard as town clerk, and was a representative. College in 1662, became a member of At the time of his death, Mr. Savage the church in 1672, was captain of the was not only the oldest male member artillery- company in 1683, was in Phil- of the South Church, but the oldest ip's War and the expedition of 1690 graduate of Harvard College.] THE NEW BELL RAISED. 457 That three of the Flaggons formerly used, be given to the church in Hopkinton as a Token of our brotherly respect and Love. Joseph Sewall. May 26. Mr. Fisk preached the [Election] Sermon from Psal. 101. 6. Mine Eyes shall be upon the Faithfull of the Land. Lord Bless the Labors of thy Servant, and give us Faithfull men to Rule over us. The Ministers met at my House, chose Mr. Colman Moderator. May 27. Met again. Mr. Colman is chosen to receive what may be Collected for Providence. And I am to receive what may be Col- lected for Kingston. Lord help me to manage that Affair. O Let the Gospel be settled and prevail in those Places ! There was a Subscrip- tion for Providence. July 8. Mr. Edwards of Northampton preached the Lecture from 1 Cor 1. 29-31. Lord bless the labors of thy Servant. Sept. 13. On the 10th Inst. Three Indians, that are come hither from the Eastward, visited me : I endeavour'd, by the help of Capt. Gyles, to speak to them about the great matters of religion. Lord turn these poor people from darkness to light. Sept. 15. The Indians were at my House again with some that came more lately. Mr. Prince and I spake to them about religion. O Lord save them, and bring them to the knowledge of the Truth. In the Evening, one of them, (Sam) wou'd needs ride — the Horse ran away with him and threw him so that he died presently. Sept. 17. Dean Berkley visited the College. Coll. Hutchinson and I overtook him at Mr. Brindley's.1 Oct. 2. This Day the Bell was rais'd. Lord I thank thee for this Gift. Let thy people rejoice to hear the joyfull Sound calling them to thy public Worship.2 (J. Sewall.) 1 [Dean Berkeley, afterward Bishop ployed therein, The Select men also Ap- of Cloyne, preached at King's Chapel proving of him, as a Suitable Person, it on Sunday, September 12, from 1 Tim. was iii. 16. " And, without controversy, great " Voted, That the Care and Charge of is the mystery of godliness, etc." He Ringing the said Bell be, and hereby is sailed for England September 21.] Committed to the said John Chambers; 2 [Benjamin Walker writes, October 2, Who is accordingly Directed and ordered 1731, " they hang'd their new great bell," Constantly and Carefully to attend that at the South meeting-house. " Weighs Service as Usual, at the Hours of Nine, 1000." This bell was first used for town Five, and Eleven, as aforesaid. For which purposes in 1736. At a meeting of the he is to be paid after the Rate of Eigh- selectmen, Aug. 27, 1736: "Mr. Sendall teen pounds p annum agreeable to a Vote Williams having signified his readiness of the Town, as Entred may 21, 1735. to to resign the Care of Ringing the Old be paid Quarterly, Commencing on Church Bell at 9. 5 & 11 o'clock, as En- Wednesday the first of September next." tred the 14th July last, And his Quarter — Town Records. now Expiring, And Whereas Mr. John " The evening and the morning " then Chambers, the Sexton of the South made the day ; hence the order in which Church appears and offers to Undertake the hours are here given : 9 p. m., 5 a. m., that Service Praying that he may be Em- 11 a. m. John Chambers joined the 45§ HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. At a church Meeting Oct. 19. 1731 Voted — That there be a publick collection on the Anniversary Thanksgiving next insuing Octr 28 current; The money collected to be disposed of to pious and charitable uses as this church shall from time to time determine. Collected 128. 14. 2 Joseph Sewall. Nov. 1. I waited on the Governour to Cambridge to an Overseer's Meeting. Messrs. Colman and Prince were also in the Coach. There was a Committee chosen to Consider the State of the College, and make a report. O Lord pour out thy Spirit on this Society, and re- form whatever is amiss. Towards the close, the Governour gave to the Rev. Mr. Colman and myself Diplomas from the University of Glasgow for Doctors in Divinity.1 Nov. 8. The Society for propagating Christian Knowledge at Edinburgh have sent a Deputation to his Excellency and several others, wherein they are empower'd to Act for them here, partly to appoint three Missionaries to carry the Gospel to the Indians, who are to be allow'd twenty pounds sterling, each of them. O Lord smile on this good Work ! Give thy gracious direction and assistance to thy Servants, and bless their Endeavours that Christ's Kingdom may be enlarged. (J. Sewall.) At a church Meeting Febr. 7. 173 1-2 Voted — I. That there be given out of the collection for pious and charitable uses, a sum not exceeding Sixty pounds, to supply the Poor of this church and congregation with Wood and other Necessaries. II. That there be allowed out of the collection to Mr. Joseph Torrey, the sum of eighteen pounds for his support and encouragement in preaching the Gospel at South Kingston, in Narraganset. III. That a letter be written by our Rev'd Pastors to Francis Wilkes Esq., expressing our grateful sense of his generous Kindness in pre- senting a large Bible to this church.2 church February 18, 1727-S. William Age to Age to select and dignify an Dinsdall rang the South Church bell be- eminent Pastor or two with your highest fore Chambers. Bumstead records his academical Honours ; That in Character death, October 5, 1723.] and Style, they may appear equal to the 1 [Dr. Colman wrote to the vice-chan- assuming gentlemen of the Episcopal cellor, November 7, 1731 : — Profession who are growing on us, while "It will be mine and my Brother in Labours and Humility as well as Sewall's Ambition, to tread in the steps Learning, I trust they will not be content of so worthy a Predecessor [as Dr. Cot- to be meerly Equal." — Turell's Life, ton Mather], and by our Services to the p. 160.] Interest of Religion and Learning, to 2 [Mr. Wilkes, afterward Sir Francis render ourselves worthy of the Regards Wilkes, was a merchant in London, for you have shown us. Nor will it be a several years the agent of the province, small Service, I judge, to the Churches and a warm personal friend of Gov- of this nourishing City and Province, if ernor Belcher. See the action of the your renowned University please from church April 24, 1737.] DEATH OF DANIEL OLIVER. 459 IV. That two of the Flaggons formerly used, be presented to the Indian church of which the Revd. Mr. Experience Mayhew is Pastor, as a Token of our brotherly Respect and Love. Joseph Sewall. At a church Meeting March 28. 1732. Voted — I. That there be a publick collection on the Anniversary Fast next insuing, April 6 ; The money collected to be disposed of to pious and charitable uses as this church shall determine. II. That the Congregation be notified of this vote ; and be desired to concur with the church in the said collection. Joseph Sewall. Mr. Samuel Mather was ordained as colleague pastor at the Second Church with Mr. Gee, June 21, about four years after the death of his father, Dr. Cotton Mather. " He was recom- mended to the church, not only by their respect for the ancient family, but by his own character for diligence, zeal and learning, of which he certainly possessed an uncommon share. He had already made himself known at home and abroad by several publications." x Mr. Mather preached from 2 Cor. v. 20. Mr. Gee and Dr. Sewall prayed ; Dr. Colman gave the charge, and Mr. Cheever the right hand of fellowship. The Hon. Daniel Oliver, a brother-in-law of Governor Belcher, died July 23. 2 He was a member of the council, and "one of the most considerable merchants of this place." He joined the South Church in 1689, and took an active interest in its affairs. He was distinguished for " eminent piety, humility, and charity," and he made a large bequest for the Christian education of poor children.3 Mr. Prince preached his funeral sermon at the 1 Two Discourses, 1821, by the Rev. July 2. "Several of our Communion Henry Ware, Jr., pp. 22, 23. Mr. having died of late I preached from Mather was chosen January 28, 1732: Eccles. 8. 8." " Mr. Mather 69 votes, Mr. B. 40." Three July 20. " I visited Mr. Oliver, who days before, the church observed a day last night was seis'd with the Palsy. He of prayer and fasting ; Mr. Prince lies in a sort of stupor." preached a sermon in the forenoon, en- July 23. " I visited Mr. Oliver early. titled The Dying Prayer of Christ, which About Noon He died. ... I have lost a was printed. Dr. Colman preached in good Friend." the afternoon. July 26. "This day were Buried, Mrs. 2 June 28. " On the 18 of this Instant Elisabeth Green, only daughter of Mrs. the aged Mr. Manley of our Communion Eliz. Brattle aet. 24, A pious young was buried. On the 21, Mrs. Margaret woman — After her, the Honble. Dan. Davis." Oliver Esq. a person eminent for his June 29. " Mrs. Alford, and Mrs. Han- piety and charity." nah Davis were buried. Lord Sanctify 3 His will was signed December 17, to this Flock the repeated strokes of 1731, and proved August 7, 1732. It thine Hand." provides: "Imprimis, I give and be- 460 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Thursday lecture. Five years before, his son Daniel Oliver — baptized by Mr. Pemberton, January 16, 1703-4. graduated at Harvard College, 1722, M. A. 1725 — died of small-pox in Lon- don " as he was finishing his travels and returning to his friends and country." He was a young man of much promise, and Mr. Prince preached and published a discourse suggested by his early death, entitled : Young Abel Dead yet Speaketh. Another son, Andrew Oliver (Harvard College, 1724), married a daughter of Colonel Thomas Fitch, and became prominent in public life. At a church Meeting Octr. 17. 1732. Voted — I. That there be given out of the collection for charitable and pious uses, a sum not exceeding fifty Pounds, to supply the Poor of this church and congregation from time to time, with Wood and other Necessaries. II. That there be allowed out of the collection to the Revd. Mr. Josiah Cotton the sum of ten pounds towards his support and en- couragement in Preaching the Gospel at Providence. III. That there be allowed out of the collection to Mr. White the sum of ten Pounds towards his support and encouragement in preach- ing the Gospel at Nantucket.1 IV. That there be allowed out of the collection to the Revd. Mr. Joseph Torrey, the sum of ten Pounds towards his support and en- couragement in Preaching the Gospel at South Kingston in Narra- ganset. queath my house adjoining to Barton's 591; Memorial History of Boston, vol. ii. Rope- Walk, called Spinning House, with p. 539. Mrs. Oliver died May 21, 1735, the Lands as now fenced in, — about fifty and her funeral sermon, by Mr. Prince, feet square, — with all the profits and is in the Prince Library, incomes of it, as it now stands in my 1 ["Boston, April 18. 1728, at the books (since built), for ever to be im- House of William Welsteed Esqr. proved for learning poor children of the " Upon Consideration had of the In- town of Boston to read the Word of troduction of Mr. Timothy White into God, and to write if need be, or any the stated Preaching of the Gospel on other work of charity for the public the Island of Nantucket : And having good, according to the discretion of my received from him a serious Declaration, executors and executrix, hereafter men- and Assurance of his Willingness to en- tioned, with the advice of the ministers ter also upon the Service of the Souls of of the brick South Meeting-house and the Indians on said Island ; Voted that their successors ; and at the decease of Fifty Pounds of the Money put into our my said executors and executrix, to be Hands by the Reverend Mr. Thomas put into the hands of the selectmen or Cotton of Hamstead near London, be overseers of the poor of the town of advanced to Mr. Timothy White for his Boston, as the minister or ministers of encouragement and Support in that Ser- the said South Brick Meeting-house vice. shall advise, to improve said charity for Saml Sewall said public use." The property devised Wm Welsteed had cost Mr. Oliver about ,£600. See Benja Colman." Drake's Hist, and Antiq., pp. 560, 561, Sewall's Letter Book, vol. ii. p. 240.] HOLLIS STREET CHURCH. 46 1 V. That the Remainder, being about six Pounds, be allowed to Mr. John Cleverly, for his preaching the Gospel at Freetown. VI. That the committee for building the Meeting-House, be desired to lay their accounts before the church at their next Meeting. VII. That there be a committee to survey the Ministerial Houses which are out of Repair, and make a Report to the church at their next Meeting. That Mr. Pemberton, Mr. Cushing, Mr. Durant, and Mr. Foster be of this committee. VIII. Whereas the church stock is not sufficient to bear the charges of paying for the Ministers' wood, and necessary Repairs of the Min- isters' Houses ; Voted — That there be a publick collection on the Lord's Day, 29th of this Instant. Joseph Sewall. The South Church took much interest in the gathering of Hollis Street Church, which was formed November 14. Gov- ernor Belcher gave the land on which the meeting-house had been built j1 Dr. Sewall drew up the form of covenant ; and the following members of the church and congregation joined the new organization : John Clough, Caleb Eddy, John Bennett, Henry Gibbon, Joseph Payson, and Isaac Loring. Mather Byles, grandson of Increase Mather, was ordained as its first minister, December 20. 2 Mr. Joseph Maylem died January 29, 1733, in the seventy- fifth year of his age. He had kept a private house of entertain- ment in School Street. By his will, he left five pounds to each of the ministers, and twenty pounds to the poor of the South Church.3 His widow, "a very discreet, industrious woman," died a few weeks later, March 6. 1 " Governor Belcher resided [or had Nov. 14. 1732. " This day was kept a residence] in Orange Street in 1732. as a Day of Prayer by the New Society Shaw says he resided in King Street, and at the South. Mr. Checkly began, then that the State Bank occupied the site Mr. Cooper prayd. Dr. Colman preach'd of his residence. I locate him by the from 2 Cor. 8. 5. Then Mr. Webb prayd. selectmen's books, in which they record, Thirteen of the Brethren entred into January 12, that ' His Excellency Gov- Covenant, forming a distinct Church. I ernor Belcher had liberty granted him to read the Covenant to them and then dig up the pavement to carry a drain Pray'd." from his house in Orange Street '" etc. Dec. 20. "Mr. Byles was ordain'd — Drake's Hist, and Antiq. of Boston, Pastor to the New Church. Mr. Prince p. 585. began, with Prayr. Mr. Byles preach'd 2 July 6. 1731. "I pray'd with the from 2 Tim 3. 17. Then Mr. Walter men who this Day Raise the New-Meet- pray'd. I gave the Charge. (Dr. Col- ing House at the South End. Lord man was chosen, but declin'd it,) and overrule that Affair for the Advance- Dr. Colman the right Hand of Fellow- ment of Christ's Kingdom in the Town: ship." (J. Sewall.) Let Him Increase." 3 Neither his name, nor that of his 462 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. At a church Meeting March 20. 1733. Voted — I. That there be a publick collection on the Anniversary Fast next ensuing, March 29 ; the money collected to be disposed of to charitable and pious uses as this church shall determine. II. That the congregation be notified of this vote, and be desired to concur with the church in the said collection. III. That the Deacons be desired in the best manner they can, to procure two Velvet Palls, one for grown persons and the other for children, out of the money collected at the communion, for the benefit of the Poor of this church. Joseph Sewall. Collected 87. 10. 3 For Mr. Hale 5^. Deacon Bartholomew Green had died December 28, 1732, "a pious worthy man," says Dr. Sewall. We have already quoted from a notice of him in the News-Letter, the paper which he printed for nearly thirty years, and of which he had been the proprietor since 1722. He was a son of Samuel Green, "the famous printer of Cambridge," who came to New England with Governor Winthrop in 1630. The church chose as the successor of Deacon Green, Jonathan Simpson, "a noted shopkeeper" of the town, who lived to a venerable age. He had been admitted to the membership in 1707. His name appears on a petition with the names of Samuel Adams, Thomas Peck and others, in 171 5, for leave to erect a meeting-house in Summer Street ; but if at that time he thought of assisting in this new religious enterprise, he afterward changed his mind. At a church Meeting Augt. 7. 1733. Mr. Jonathan Simpson was chosen into the Deacon's office ; And the Pastors and Deacons of the church were appointed to acquaint him with the choice the church hath made, and to beg his acceptance of it. Voted — That the House in which our Rev'd. Pastor, Mr. Thomas wife Hannah, is on the list of members, John Maylem was baptized January but Dr. Sewall, in recording their deaths 20, 1694-5, and graduated at Harvard in his diary, says that they were " of our College, with Samuel Checkley (the communion. Seven of their children third), in 171 5. He wrote two poems were baptized at the South Church be- entitled respectively, The Conquest of tween 1689 and 1703. Drake thinks Louisburg, and Gallic Perfidy, for which that Joseph Maylem may have been a see Tyler's Hist, of Am. Literature, vol. ii. son of "John Mylam," one of the signers p. 54. Of the first, the critic says that it of the paper urging the building of the is " tumultuous, gory and gigantesque." new meeting house of the First Church Children of John and Ann Maylem were in 1639, on the Green. See ante, pp. 135- baptized at the South Church between 139- 1734 and 1739. A MISSION TO THE INDIANS. 463 Prince dwells, be new shingled so soon as conveniently may be; And that the committee appointed to survey the Ministerial Houses, be a committee to manage this affair. Joseph Sewall. At a church Meeting Augt 14. 1733. The account of the committee for repairing the Ministerial Houses was read and accepted ; And the thanks of the church given for their care and pains' in this affair. Voted — I. That the Honble. Thomas Fitch, Anthony Stoddard Esqrs. Messrs. Hugh Vans, Thomas Cushing junr. and John Hunt be a committee to examine the accounts of the committee for building and of the Treasurer ; and make a Report to the church on Wednes- day the 29th of this Instant. Any Three of them to have power to act. II. That the Committee for building take care that the weight of the Tongue of our Bell be increased according to their best Discretion. Joseph Sewall. At a church Meeting Septr. 5. 1733 Whereas by the Report of a committee specially appointed by the church Augt. 14. 1733, it appears necessary to raise very speedily 469. 12. 7. viz. To defray the charge of repairing the Minis- terial Houses ..... To pay for wood for our Rev'd Pastors , To defray the charge of Paving, Posts &c about the Meeting House . To pay the balance due for building the Meet ins House ...... 150. 116. 59. 18. 9. 143- J3- io- £469. 12. 7. Therefore voted, that Messrs. Jonathan Loring, Samuel Rand, Daniel Goffe and John Trail be a committee to take subscriptions for raising the said sum, and to pay it to the Treasurer for the Purposes above said. Voted, That the Honble. Thomas Fitch, Anthony Stoddard and George Bethune Esqrs. be added to the committee for increasing the weight of the Tongue of our Bell. Joseph Sewall. In 1709 the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge was chartered under the great seal of Scotland. Its primary object had been to carry the gospel to destitute places in the highlands and islands of Scotland ; but before many years it directed its attention to North America. In 1730 Governor Belcher, Dr. Colman, Dr. Sewall, and others, 464 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. were commissioned to be its correspondents and agents, and were authorized to select and employ missionaries in New Eng- land. On the 1 2th of December, 1733, three young men, recent graduates of Harvard College, Stephen Parker, Ebenezer Hins- dell, and Joseph Seccombe,1 were solemnly set apart to mission- ary labors among the Indians. Dr. Colman was moderator of the ordaining council, and gave the charge ; Dr. Sewall preached the sermon, and Mr. Prince gave the right hand of fellowship. Dr. Sewall's text was Acts xxvi. 16-19 \ and his subject, Christ Victorious over the Powers of Darkness, by the Light of His Preached Gospel. In urging the claims of the mission upon his audience, he said : — Give me leave then humbly to recommend to you this pious Charity, which hath such a direct tendency to promote the glory of God and best interests of men. Blessed be God for what hath been done this way more privately, and by our worshipping assemblies in their collections. I wish that excellent proposal might be generally accepted, viz. The having publick collections for pious and charitable uses on our anniversary Fasts and Thanksgivings. In this way we might honour God with our substance, and give our helping hand towards propagating Christian Knowledge among our own people and the aboriginal natives : And certainly the generous compassion express'd towards this poor people by the Honourable Societies in South and North Britain, should provoke us to an holy emulation ; especially considering God hath given us the possession of this good land which their ancestors once inhabited ; and that this was the professed inten- tion of our pious progenitors, the first planters of this country.2 1 Mr. Parker and Mr. Hinsdell gradu- the 12th Instant. I spake with one to- ated in 1727, and Mr. Seccombe in 1731. day, who met them well at Plainfield." Ebenezer Hinsdell was baptized at the Mr. Seccombe joined the South Church South Church under peculiarly affecting before he went to college. In the Mass. circumstances. Judge Sewall, writing to Archives there is a memorial, addressed the Rev. John Williams, August 22, by him, September 22, 1737, to Governor 1706, of a party of captives who had Belcher, asking for a grant of £ 100 for recently arrived in Boston, probably from " his Essays as Missionary to the Indians, Canada, on their way home to central for above five Years, at the Garrison on Massachusetts, said : — St. George's River, agreeable to an Act " As you prayd earnestly for those of the General Assembly." that returned last ; so you will be glad 2 [Such a collection as Dr. Sewall to hear, that they Landed well here the here recommended had been regularly 2d Instant. I took the widow Hoit into taken in the South Church since March, my House. It was a great pleasure, to 1726. see Mr. Willard baptise Ebenezer Hins- Gookin, writing in i67i,said that "for dal, and Sea-born Burt, two little Sons this Charity [the propagation of the born in the passage. The Captives most Gospel among the Indians] New Eng- of them, began their journey homeward land people had done not less, but far A MISSIONARY CHARGE. 465 In addressing the candidates for ordination, Dr. Sewall gave the following " Compendium or Summary of Christian Religion agreeable to the Scriptures," to be often inculcated among the natives, which, for its practical good sense, it would be difficult for those who give instructions to Christian missionaries to-day to improve upon : — Declare to them the only true and living God, who made Heaven and Earth, and all things in them ; and that He made Man upright, in His own Image. Shew them their vile and miserable State by the Fall. Declare to them that this God, who is the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, hath contriv'd a way in which they may be de- liver'd from their Sin and Misery. That in order to this, the Eternal Son of God hath taken our Nature, and became Man ; that he was obedient to Death, the Death of the Cross, rose again from the Dead, and lives in Heaven to intercede for his People. Declare to them that this Jesus is the only Mediator between God and Man ; and that they must pray to God in His Name only. Shew them the necessity of turning from all Sin to God in true Repentance ; and of receiving the Lord Jesus Christ by Faith, and depending on His Righteousness for Pardon and Justification. Declare to them that God alone hath power to forgive Sins. Shew them the nature and use of the holy Sacraments, and that those which Christ hath instituted are only two, Baptism and the Lord's Supper ; and labour to maintain in them an high esteem of them. Shew them that they must be taught the Prin- ciples of the Christian Religion, and subject themselves to the Au- thority and Laws of Christ, before these may be administered to them : That if they would receive saving benefit by Baptism, they must also seek the washing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, for themselves and their Offspring, that being born of Water and of the Spirit they may enter into the Kingdom of God. Teach them that the Lord's Supper must be receiv'd by the Communicants in both Elements, Bread and Wine ; and that tis contrary to Sense Reason and Scripture, to imagine, that these are turn'd into the very Body and Blood of Christ; and therefore that Christ, who is spiritually present with his People, must be apprehended and received by faith, if they would partake in the saving virtues of his Death. And take more in proportion, than their country- ters. That seal, so unique in the annals men in England." — Palfrey's History, of our race, — an Indian uttering the Ma- vol. ii. p. 332. cedonian cry, — expressed the thoughts The Rev. Dr. Treat said at a meeting of many hearts. Hence those laws, passed of the American Board at Salem, in from time to time, which might have 1S71: "The colonies of Plymouth and been indexed ' Missionary laws.' Hence Massachusetts, let us never forget, had that early yearning to ' preach among a missionary purpose. Their charters the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of were, in some degree, missionary char- Christ.' "] 466 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. heed you never prostitute these Sacred Mysteries of our holy Religion, by administring them to any under Heathen Ignorance, under Romish Idolatry, or that live and allow themselves in open and scandalous Immoralities. Declare to them the Commandments of the Moral Law. That God only is the Object of Prayer, and all religious Wor- ship. Tell them, forasmuch as we are the Offspring of God, we are not to think that the God-Head is like unto Gold, or Silver or Stone, graven by art, and Man's device : that it is a most hainous crime to worship God by Images ; and that He who is a jealous God, threatens to punish this Iniquity upon Parents and their Children, unto the third and fourth Generation. Teach them to Sanctify the Sabbath Dayj and in a word, the necessity of a sober righteous and godly Life : In particular, do all you can to convince them of the great Evil of that Sin which most easily besets them, and to keep them from it ; lest they wholly forget God's Law, and quench every good motion of His Spirit : Solemnly warn them of the Destruction they are bringing upon themselves by it, and how they are consuming away under the deadly influence of it. Declare to them that God alone can change their Hearts, enable them to hate Sin and love his Law ; and then direct them to ask of God His Holy Spirit, to sanctify them, and create them in Christ Jesus unto good Works. And shew them that when they have done all, they must Trust in the Merits of Jesus Christ and not presume to think that they can merit by their good Works.1 At a church Meeting Febr. i. 1733-4 Voted, 1. That there be given out of the Collection for charitable and pious uses, a sum not exceeding fifty Pounds, including ten pounds already dispos'd of, to supply the poor of this Church and Congregation with Wood and other Necessaries. 2. That there be allow'd out of the Collection — , to the Rev. Mr. Joseph Torrey, the sum of ten pounds towards his support and en- couragement in Preaching the Gospel at South-Kingston in Narra- ganset. 3. That there be allow'd out of the Collection, to the Rev. Mr. Josiah Cotton, the sum of five pounds towards his support and en- couragement in Preaching the Gospel at Providence. 4. That there be allow'd out of the Collection to Mr. White, the sum of five pounds, towards his support and encouragement in Preach- ing the Gospel at Nantucket. 1 [These doctrines, as set forth by " They were separated to their work, Dr. Sewall, were evidently intended to and commended to the grace of God, in counteract the teachings of the Roman this house, in the presence of a great Catholic missionaries. Dr. Chauncy, multitude of pious good people. But, preaching the ordination sermon of the upon trial, they found themselves unable Rev. Joseph Bowman, August 31, 1762, to serve the ends of the gospel among said of the three ministers ordained these Indians ; as they had been previ- twenty-nine years before : — ously corrupted by popish priests."] DEATH OF EDWARD BROMFIELD. 467 5. The Account of the Committee for New Shingling the Rev'd Mr. Prince's House was read and accepted ; And the Thanks of the Church given to the Committee for their care and pains taken in that Affair. 6. That the Treasurer for building, be directed to Pay to the Com- mittee for repairing the Ministerial Houses, their several Accounts, so soon as may be. Joseph Sewall. At a Church Meeting March 27. 1734. Voted ; 1. Whereas the Subscriptions towards defraying the Charges of repairing the Ministerial Houses and paying for our Rev'd Pastors Wood, are deficient about one hundred Pounds ; Voted, that there be a public Collection on the Anniversary Fast next insuing, April 4. to make up this Deficiency. 2. That there be given out of the Church-Stock, the Sum of ten Pounds to Mrs. Jane Green, Relict of Mr. Bartholomew Green, late Deacon of this Church, in Consideration of her Loss sustain'd by Fire.1 3. That the Residue of the Collection for charitable and pious uses, be laid out in Bibles, Catechisms, and other Books of piety, to be dis- pos'd of by the Pastors to proper Objects of such a Charity. Joseph Sewall. At a Church Meeting April 14. 1734. Upon reading a Letter from the Second Church of Christ in Boston &c. Voted ; That this Church will join with and assist the 2d Church in this Town in their Proceeding in the 3d way of Communion with respect to the first Church in Salem, and Second their Charitable Ad- monition given by them to said Church, if upon due Enquiry there shall appear just Cause for their so doing. Josiah Willard Esq. Deacon Henchman, Mr. Edward Bromfield junr, and Mr. Thomas Cushing, junr. were join'd with the Pastors as the Delegates of the church in this Affair. Joseph Sewall. The Hon. Edward Bromfield died on Sunday, June 2, and, says Drake, his loss was as severely felt in the town as almost any which had occurred since its settlement. He was in his eighty-sixth year, and he had been a member of the South Church thirty-six years. He was born at Hayward House, near the New Forest, in Hampshire, was bred a merchant in London, 1 [On the 30th of January, 1734, the a large quantity of type. Very little was " Printing House belonging to the widow saved. The fire took place at or near and children of the late Deacon Green midnight. — Drake's Hist, and Antiq., at the South End " was burned. In it p. 592. Mrs. Green was a cousin of Dr. two printing-presses were destroyed and Sewall.] 468 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. went to Jamaica, came from thence to Boston in 1675, "and, being a pious Puritan, decided to spend his days here." He was prominent in all religious and charitable efforts,1 and his son, of the same name, was equally consecrated with him in heart and life. He was buried on the 6th ; and on the 9th Dr. Sewall preached from Isai. lvii. 1, "The righteous is taken away from the evil to come," making " a respectful mention " of his de- ceased parishioner. Mrs. Bromfield died on the 7th of October of the same year, — "a worthy, pious gentlewoman," says Dr. Sewall. At a Church Meeting, June 9, 1734. The Report of the Elders and Messengers of the Churches, (viz. the 3d Church in Boston, the Church in Rumny-Marsh, the first Church in Glocester, united with the 2d Church in this Town,) who have given the 2d Admonition to the 1st Church in Salem for their neglecting the means of peace under Scandalous Divisions, was read ; In which Let- ter the Delegates of said Churches declare that (after waiting above a moneth), They find that things remain in the same deplorable condi- tion at Salem, the said Church there refusing to hearken to their Charitable Admonition ; and accordingly deliver it as their unanimous opinion that the Churches concerned ought to proceed to meet by their Delegates at Salem, July 16, and make use of the help of a Council of neighbour Churches for their Conviction. Upon which the Draft of a Letter propos'd to be Sent to twenty- seven churches was read and voted. Joseph Sewall. In July the governor went on a cruise to the eastward, taking with him Mr. Prince and two of the prominent members of the South Church. They were absent sixteen days. The object of the trip is given in the Weekly News-Letter of July 18, in the following announcement : — On Monday last [July 15], about 6 o'clock in the Afternoon, the Rev. Mr. Thomas Prince Sailed from Boston for the Eastward, in his Majesty's Ship Scarborough, Capt. Durell, in company with Governor Belcher, Hon. Josiah Willard, Esq. and Edward Winslow, Esq. Sheriff of the County of Suffolk and Colonel of a Regiment of Foot in this town — They go to take a further view of that spacious Country, and as we hear, to have an interview with some of the Indian Tribes, to continue and strengthen their friendship with us. 1 His mansion was in Rawson's Lane, oratory, into which he used to retire now Bromfield Street. It is said that in several times a day, in his most flourish- order to find retirement from worldly ing circumstances and heights of busi- noise and business, " he turned the pas- ness," for meditation and prayer. See ture behind his house into a very shady Drake's Hist, and Antiq. of Boston, p. grove, where, in the midst, he built an 59S. A DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER. 469 An account of the voyage, probably from the pen of Mr. Prince, appeared in a later number of the News-Letter. [At a church Meeting] Augt 4. 1734, The Church was desir'd to stay, and, Voted, That the 20th of this Instant should (God Willing) be Observed by us as a Day of Prayer with Fasting, to Humble ourselves before God for our unfruitfulness under the means of Grace, and to ask the Effusion of His Spirit, to revive the Power of Godliness among us ; And that the Congregation be desir'd to join with us in this Solemnity. Joseph Sewall. Three months previously, on the 14th of May, such a day as was proposed by this vote had been observed by the Brattle Street Church, and, says Dr. Sewall, " such days are, God will- ing, to be observed in our Congregations successively, to ask of God the Revival of Religion among us." Aug. 20. This Day was observ'd as a Day of Pray'r with Fasting by the South Church and Congregation to ask of God the Effusion of his Spirit to revive the Pow'r of Godliness among us. A. M. Mr. Chauncy began with Prayer, Mr. Prince preach'd and concluded with Prayer, text 2 Chron. xv. 2 [" The Lord is with you, while ye be with him : and if ye seek him, he will be found of you : but if ye for- sake him, he will forsake you."] P. M. Mr. Webb began with Pray'r. I preached from Rev. 2. 4. 5. ["Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love," etc.] I hope we had God's gracious presence with us. (J. Sewall.) Octr. 27. 1734. The Brethren of the church staid, and Voted — That there be a publick collection on the Anniversary Thanksgiving, the 7th of Nov'r next ; The money collected to be disposed of to charitable and pious uses, as this church shall determine ; And that the congregation be notified of this vote, and be desired to concur with the church in the said collection. Joseph Sewall. Collected 99/. 7. o. of which is appropriated 4/. At a church Meeting Febr. 4. 1734-5. The Narrative of the Proceedings of the Ecclesiastical Council con- vened at Salem in 1734 — was read, and after some discourse upon it, the brethren voted that they would defer the further consideration of that affair, to the first Tuesday in March next. Voted — I. That there be given out of the collection for charita- ble and pious uses a sum not exceeding fifty pounds, to supply the poor of this church and congregation with wood and other Necessa- ries. 47° HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. II. That there be allowed out of the collection, to the Rev. Mr. Josiah Cotton, the sum of ten pounds towards his support and en- couragement in preaching the Gospel at Providence. III. That there be allowed to the Rev'd Mr. Joseph Torrey the sum of ten pounds towards his support and encouragement in preach- ing the Gospel at South Kingston in Narraganset. IV. That the sum of five pounds be laid out in Books of piety to be distributed by the Pastors to proper objects of such a charity. Joseph Sewall. At a church Meeting March 4 1734-5. Voted — I. That our Brethren, the Hon. Ezekiel Lewis, Anthony Stoddard, Saml. Welles Esqrs. the Revd Mr. Nathl. Williams, and Mr. Thomas Cushing jr. be joined with our Pastors as a Committee to Prepare a Vote relating to the affair of the first church in Salem, to be laid before this church the next Lord's Day Evening. II. That five pounds be given out of the Church stock towards de- fraying the charge of Printing the Narrative of the Proceedings of the late Ecclesiastical Council convened at Salem 1734. III. That the charge of Sawing our Pastors' Wood, be paid by the Deacons out of the church Stock. Joseph Sewall. At a church Meeting, Lord's Day Evening. March 9. 1734-5. This church having taken into further consideration the unhappy and sorrowful state of the first church in Salem, Voted as follows, viz. Although we are greatly grieved and offended at the divisions and contentions of the first church in Salem, and their scandalous refusing of proper methods of healing ; (which appears by a printed Narrative of the Proceedings of an Ecclesiastical Council convened at Salem in the year 1734.) yet from our great concern and affection for that neighboring church, we conclude to suspend the determination of this church's withdrawing communion from said offending church, till the first Monday in April next ; to give them a further opportunity of con- sidering and retracting their disorderly conduct. Joseph Sewall. The Rev. Samuel Fisk, whom some of the brethren thought of calling to the South Church at the time of Mr. Prince's settle- ment, and who, soon after, was ordained over the First Church, Salem, became very arbitrary in his methods, "having high thoughts of church authority," and departed in many important respects " from the practice of his predecessors, and in such manner as to produce great uneasiness and disaffection among his people. He appears to have dispensed entirely with church THE FIRST CHURCH IN SALEM. 47 1 meetings, excepting when he stayed the Church after religious exercises for some particular purpose." At length ten of the aggrieved members withdrew from the communion of the church, and, having exhausted all expedients for pacification, they called an ex parte council, at the suggestion of the Boston ministers, to advise them as to their duty. This council, consisting of the representatives of ten churches, assembled in Salem on the 17th of July, 1733, and after much consideration, earnestly besought the church and its pastor to retrace their steps and put an end to the scandal, at the same time advising the aggrieved mem- bers, on their continued failure to obtain satisfaction by any other method, to seek relief through the Third Way of Commu- nion, as laid down in the Cambridge Platform. Mr. Fisk and the majority showing no disposition to yield, twenty-one of the brethren, on the 20th of December, wrote a letter to the Second Church of Boston, asking it to come to their relief. This church responded to the appeal, and sent eight delegates to Salem, "to dispense an admonition" in its name, "if the case should appear to call for it." Mr. Fisk refused to receive the delegation, and would not allow it to meet his church. The Second Church then notified Mr. Fisk that if it should not hear from him in a month, it would proceed further ; and three or four months having passed without bringing a reply, it took another step in the matter, and invited two or three other churches to join with it in seconding its " charitable admonition." This was the invitation which the South Church accepted on the 14th of April, 1734. On the 23d of the same month, repre- sentatives of the South Church, the Church in Rumney Marsh, and the First Church of Gloucester x met the representatives of the Second Church of Boston in Salem, and together they solemnly urged the First Church there to repent of its sinful course, and to call a council for the settlement of all difficulties, also warning it that if it refused to act upon this advice, its sister churches would proceed to call a council for its " con- viction," that is to say, for the purpose of convincing it, if possible, of its wrong-doing. Mr. Fisk declined to meet a committee of this council, or to receive its documents, and a majority of the church would not consent to a church meeting to talk matters over. A month later, the four churches above mentioned called a council of twenty-seven churches, to convene at Salem on the 16th of July. Nineteen churches responded to 1 The church in Ipswich was invited also, but did not attend. 472 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. this call, but four of them withdrew, after the council had or- ganized, because it declined to take into consideration certain proposals made by Mr. Fisk to the aggrieved brethren. The council addressed a solemn letter of admonition and advice to Mr. Fisk, and then adjourned for three months to await results. Reassembling on the 15th of October, it was informed that Mr. Fisk had refused to receive its letter, "but spake as if he es- teemed it a nuisance." After further examination of the case, it agreed by unanimous vote upon the terms of a final letter to Mr. Fisk and the brethren who sustained him, in which it was said : " The whole of your conduct in this affair appears to us to be very offensive, and which, if persisted in, will expose you to such a censure as we hope and earnestly desire you will use your utmost endeavors to prevent ; it being no less than a depri- vation of the privilege of communion with these churches." This missive had no more effect upon those to whom it was sent than had the letters which preceded it, and at length, the churches, one by one, passed the threatened vote of non-com- munion.1 The South Church, as we shall see, did not take this final action until June 9, 1735. 1 Mr. Fisk was " voted out " of the pastorate March 10, 1735, and he and his adherents formed the Third Church in Salem. The First Church was reorgan- ized in 1736, and the Rev. John Spar- hawk was settled as its pastor. See Diary of Benj. Lynde, Jr., pp. 140-144 ; White's New Etig. Congregationalistn, pp. 112-116. We print here, for convenience of reference, all the entries in Dr. Sewall's diary relating to the Salem troubles. [J733] July 17. I went to the Coun- cil at Salem. There were the Elders and Messengers of 10 Churches. July 20. I return'd safe with D. Hench- man. Lord command thy Blessing on the Endeavours of thy Servants to restore Peace to the first Church in Salem. [1734] May 6. On the 23d of last moneth I set out for Salem with Mr. Prince. Our Church the Church in Rumny-Marsh, the 1st Church in Gloces- ter met. After Consideration of the re- quest of the 2d Church in Boston, they united with them. And having in vain Endeavour'd to confer with Mr. Fisk and his Church they seconded the Admoni- tion given by the 2d Church in Boston. O Lord pity this Flock, and Restore Peace with truth and holiness to them. We return'd safe 25. April. [1734] May 30. I preach'd to the Rev- erend Ministers from Luk. 24. 49. And behold, I send the Promise of my Father. P. M. The Council met, agreed to send 27 Churches. July 15. I set out for Salem with Dea- con Henchman. July 16. There were the Delegates of 19 Churches. July 17. The Delegates of the 4 Churches which call'd this Council had a public Hearing in the Meeting-House. July 18. 19. The Council declar'd their Approbation of the Proceedings of the Delegates of the 4 Churches, and de- sir'd that these would Unite with them in further prosecuting this Affair. A Letter of Advice to the 1st Church in Salem was drawn up, and after some Debate Voted unanimously by the Dele- gates of 15 of the 19 Churches. Mr. Fisk and the Brethren with him refus'd to appear, save one of them, who on fryday SENTENCE OF NON-COMMUNION. 473 On the 7th of April the church met, and adjourned to the Lord's Day Evening next, April 13, 1735. Joseph Sewall. April 13. 1735. The church further adjourned to the 27th of this Instant. April 27. 1735 P. M. The Church deferr the further consideration of the Salem affair to this time Five Weeks. Thomas Prince.1 June 1. 1735. The church determin'd to meet on Monday the 9th of this Instant, further to consider the affair of Salem. Joseph Sewall. At a church Meeting June 9. 1735. After prayer to God as usual, Voted — I. We approve and accept the Judgment and Advice of the late Ecclesiastical Council convened in Salem at the Desire of this and other churches, given in their Result dated Salem October 18. J734- II. Agreeable to the advice of the said Council, We declare the Sentence of Non-Communion concerning the Rev'd Mr. Samuel Fiske, and his Brethren of the first church in Salem, until they shall betake P. M. brought in the Proposals Mr. Fisk made to the aggriev'd Brethren. N. B. The greater part of the Elders and some of the other Delegates withdrew. Oct. 15. I went to the Council at Salem with Mr. Prince. About 16 Churches met by their Delegates. They made remarks on Mr. Fisk's Proposals. Neither He nor his Brethren that stand with him would receive anything from the Council ; On Fryday these remarks were read in the Meeting-House, then a result was drawn up and accepted, in which the 1st Church in Salem is de- clar'd to be obstinate — 3 months time are given, and the Churches are advis'd if they doe not by that time manifest re- pentance, to withdraw Communion. 1735. Feb 4. The Narrative relat- ing to the 1st Church in Salem was read at a Church Meeting. The further Con- sideration is put off to the 4. March. 1 [May iS. I preach'd from John 14 16-18. I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter. Men- tion'd the account we have of the re- markable concern there appears in great numbers at N. hampton and several other Towns near, about their Soul's Salvation. May 24. Mrs. Eliz. Oliver was buried, a worthy Gentlewoman of our Com- munion. May 25. Mr. Prince preach'd a fu- neral Sermon from Ps. 116. 15. ["Pre- cious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."] I preach'd again from John 14. 16-1S, and endeavoured to improve the afflicting Providence from the 18 v. [" I will not leave *you com- fortless : I will come to you."] May 28. Mr. Prentice preach'd [the Election Sermon] from 2 Chron. 17. 3-6. May 29. Mr. Hancock to the Minis- ters from Rom. 1. 1. After Sermon they chose Mr. S. F. which hath given just matter of offence. O Lord I bewail the disorders and confusions found among us. O Pardon, Pour out thy Spirit and save us. (J. Sewall.) The Convention questioned the right of Mr. Fisk's church to dismiss him from the pastorate, and showed its favor to- wards him by choosing him as preacher for 1736. He did not, however, fulfil the appointment, Dr. Colman preaching in his place. The Legislature, by a large majority, censured the Convention for its action.] 474 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. themselves to the use of proper means of peace and healing ; except- ing those who are by name exempted in the Result abovesaid. Joseph Sewall Thomas Prince. N. B. A Letter was sent to the Rev'd Mr. Fiske in the Name of this church to inform him and his Brethren of the votes above written, and further to Exhort them to use the means of Peace. Joseph Sewall. At a Meeting of the church Augt 5. 1735. Voted — That this Meeting be adjourned to Monday next at eight o'clock in the morning for considering of some proper method for the better support of the Ministry among us ; and that it be desired that such persons of the congregation as doe usually contribute to the sup- port of the ministry would then meet with us in order to their assist- ing with their advice on this important occasion. Joseph Sewall. Augt. 11. The church and congregation met, and their votes are recorded at the end of this Book. From this time forward, when the church and congregation met together for business, their action was recorded apart from the proceedings of the church, at the other end of the volume. We shall not keep up this separation in our history, but shall give the proceedings at the meetings of the church and of the church and congregation, in the exact order of time in which they took place. August 11. 1735. The Brethren of the church and congregation met, and Voted as follows ; scil. Whereas it appears 'that the Allowance made by this church and congregation to their Rev'd Ministers hath of late through the sinking of the value of the bills of credit fallen short of what is necessary for their honourable support, Voted, I. That there be a collection made on the next Lords Day come se'nnight for raising such a sum of money as may be needful for making up such Deficiency in the support of the Ministers of this church ; And that the church and congregation be desired to make their contributions accordingly, the money that shall be so collected to be distributed to the Rev'd Ministers in equal proportion. II. That Ezekiel Lewis, Anthony Stoddard, Samuel Welles Esqrs, Mr. Thomas Cushing, Mr. Thomas Hubbard, William Foy Esq. Mr. Nathaniel Cunningham, Mr. Francis Borland, and Capt. Daniel Goffe, or any seven of them, be a committee to consider of some proper DEATH OF GEORGE BETHUNE. 475 method for the more certain and equal support of the Revd. Ministers of this church for the future ; to make report as soon as may be con- venient, not exceeding the space of two months. * Joseph Sewall. At a Meeting of the Church and Congregation Octr 1. 1735. They adjourned to the 3rd of October. Then met, and Voted, I. Their acceptance of the Report of the Committee. II. That the church and congregation have two meetings annually viz. on the first Monday of April, and on the first Monday of October, at ten of the clock A. M. to consider what may be further necessary to be done for the support of our Revd Pastors. Joseph Sewall. Nov. 2. 1735. The Brethren of the church staid, and Voted — That there be a publick collection on the Anniversary Thanksgiving, the 13th of this Instant. The money collected to be disposed of to charitable and pious uses ; And that the congregation be notified of this vote, and be desired to concur with the church in the said collection. Joseph Sewall. Novr. 13. Collected 95/. [x735~6] Jan- 14- This Day George Bethune Esq. of our Commu- nion died very suddenly at his Ware-House. I visited the House of Mourning. O Lord Sanctify this awful Dispensation to the Widow and Children. Support and Comfort them. O awaken me, thy people, that we may be also ready! The last Sermon which the Deceas'd heard was from Luk. 12. 40. [" Be ye therefore ready also," etc. Mr. Gee preached this sermon at the South Church, three days before, in exchange with Dr. Sewall.] Jan. 25. Yesterday died Mr. Robert Butcher in the g2d year, of his Age, who was the eldest Brother of our Church. (J. Sewall.) Febry 1. 1735-6. The Brethren of the church stay'd and Voted ; — I. That there be given out of the collection for charitable and pious uses a sum not exceeding fifty pounds to support the poor of this church and congregation with wood and other Necessaries. II. That there be allowed out of the collection, to the Rev'd Mr. Josiah Cotton, the sum of ten pounds towards his support and en- couragement in preaching the Gospel at Providence. III. That there be allowed out of the collection to Rev'd Mr. Joseph Torrey, the sum of ten pounds towards his support and encour- agement in preaching the Gospel at South Kingston in Narraganset. Joseph Sewall. March 21. 1735-6. The Brethren of the church stay'd, and Voted — I. That there be a publick collection on the Anniversary 476 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Fast, the ist of April next; the money collected to be disposed of to charitable and pious uses ; And that the congregation be notified of this vote, 'and be desired to concur with the church in the said collection. II. That there be given out of the last collection for charitable and pious uses, five pounds to supply the poor of this church and congre- gation with Books of piety ; and the remaining twenty pounds to supply them with Wood and other Necessaries. Joseph Sewall. Thomas Prince. April i. 1736. Collected 92/. 10s. o. At a Meeting of the church and congregation April 5. 1736. Voted, I. That the sum of fifty-three pounds, now in the hands of the Deacons be forthwith equally distributed to our Revd Pastors. II. That this meeting be adjourned to the first Monday of May next at 10 o'clock A. M. May 3. Voted, I. That the committee for building be desired to draw on Mr. Treasurer Osborne, for the ballance now in his hands, and pay the same to the Deacons. II. That the Deacons, so soon as may be, pay to each of our Revd Pastors the sum of 73. 10. o, which with 26. 10. given them at the last meeting, makes to each of them one hundred Pounds. Joseph Sewall. May 26. The Revd Mr. Holyoke preached [the Election Sermon] from Neh. 7. 2. The Ministers met, agreed to have a Sermon to mor- row, and a Collection with an especial regard to Providence and S. Kingston. May 27. Dr. Colman preach'd from 1 Chron. 29. 14. All things come of Thee. There was Collected after Sermon 97/. 1. o. Appro- priated 2. 10. o. The rest was equally divided between Mr. Cotton of Providence and Mr. Torrey of S. Kingston. (J. Sewall.) Thomas Fitch, one of the most prominent members of the church, and equally prominent in public affairs, died June 23, 1736. He was colonel of the Boston regiment, three times captain of the artillery company, representative and councillor for nearly twenty years. He was married by the Rev. Mr. Willard, April 12, 1694, to Abiel, or Abiah, daughter of the Rev. Samuel Danforth, of Roxbury,1 and had sons, Thomas, Samuel, and John, all of whom died before him.2 His daughter 1 " 1674. nth mo. 31st day," baptized : 2 John Fitch, aged twenty-six, was "Abiel, daughter of Mr. Samuel Dan- buried July 15, 1735. Dr. Sewall speaks forth, borne after her father's decease." — of him as an only son. He graduated at Roxbury Church Records. Harvard College in 1727. DEATH OF MRS. BELCHER. 477 Mary was the first wife of Andrew Oliver. Mrs. Fitch's older sister Mary was second wife of the first Edward Bromfield. June 23. The honble Coll. Fitch died aet. 68. June 27. Mr. P. preach'd. Ps : 73. 26. ["My flesh and my heart faileth : but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."] P. M. I preach'd from Gen. 47. 9. ["Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been," etc.] June 28. Coll. Fitch was buried. Regiment in Arms. I was sent for to the House of Mourning after the funeral, and pray'd with the Mourners. (J. Sewall.) A conference was held by Governor Belcher with several Indian chiefs at Deerfield, on the 27th of August, 1735, and four following days; and on Sunday, the 31st, Mr. John Sergeant was set apart and ordained to the work of the ministry among the Housatonics, in the presence of the governor, as repre- senting one of the societies for the propagation of the gospel. Several clergymen took part in the services, Mr. Appleton, of Cambridge, preaching the sermon. Mr. Sergeant labored faith- fully as a missionary in the western part of Massachusetts for a quarter of a century. It was said at the time of his death that he had baptized one hundred and twenty-nine Indians, and that forty-two were then communicants. [1736] Aug. 1. Mr. Sergeant preach'd for me P. M. There were a Number of the Ffousatonnick Indians, to whom he is a Missionary, present and behav'd with gravity. There's an hopeful prospect of con- siderable success. Several have already been instructed and baptis'd. (J. Sewall.) At a Meeting of the Church and congregation Octr 4. 1736. It being represented by the Deacons that there is in their hands of the weekly contribution 55/ more than the weekly charge, and for half the year's Wood to our Rev'd Pastors ; Voted, — That the said sum of 55/. be equally divided between our Rev'd Pastors to encourage them in their work among us. Joseph Sewall. Mrs. Belcher, wife of the governor, and daughter of Lieu- tenant-Governor Partridge, of New Hampshire, died October 6.1 The funeral pageant recalls to us the procession when Lady Andros was buried, half a century before ; but it will be observed that on this occasion there were no services in the meeting- house. 1 Jonathan Belcher married, secondly, Emily Teal, who survived him, — "a lady September 9, 1748, Mrs. Mary Louisa of great merit and a handsome fortune." 47^ HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. The Rev. Dr. Sewall made a very suitable prayer at his Excellency's house just before the funeral. The coffin was covered with black velvet and richly adorned. The pall was supported by the Honour- able Spencer Phipps Esq. our Lieut. Governor ; William Dummer Esq. formerly Lieut. Governor and Commander in Chief of this Prov- ince ; Benjamin Lynde Esq. Thomas Hutchinson Esq. Edmund Quincy Esq. Adam Winthrop Esq. His Excellency with the children and family followed the corpse, all in deep mourning • next went the several relatives according to their respective degrees, who were fol- lowed by a great many of the principal gentlewomen in town; after whom went the gentlemen of His Majesty's Council, the reverend ministers of this and the neighbouring towns ; the reverend President and Fellows of Harvard College ; a great number of officers both of the civil and military order, with a multitude of other gentlemen. His Excellency's coach drawn by four horses was covered with black cloth and adorned with escutcheons of the coats of arms both of his Excel- lency and of his deceased Lady. All the bells in town were tolled ; and during the time of the procession, the half-minute guns begun, first at His Majesty's Castle William, which were followed by those on board His Majesty's ship " Squirrel " and many other ships in the harbour, their colours being all day raised to the heighth usual on such occasions.1 His Excellency's pew at the South Church, and the pulpit, "were put into mourning, and richly adorned with escutch- eons ; " and on the following Sunday funeral discourses were preached by the pastors. Mr. Prince's text was 2 Tim. i. 10 : "The appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." In closing, Mr. Prince drew an admirable sketch of the deceased lady, but we will only quote what he said upon her relations to this church : — In the midst of all the Sprightliness of Youth, she was not ashamed of the Gospel ; but soon after her entring the married State, she made an open Profession of her Faith in Christ and Subjection to Him, and join'd to our Communion. She always set a fair Example of Gravity and Attention in the Publick Worship. And I am assured by her nearest Relative, that she daily read the Holy Scriptures ; and with great Reverence and Fear, even to a faulty Degree of Trembling, was ever wont to receive the Elements of the Holy Supper.2 1 \News-Letter, October 14, 1736.] To you O Fav'rite Man, the Pow'r supream 2 [" An Epistle in Verse " was ad- Gives wealth, and titles, and extent of fame ; j_ j . .1 v !• u Joys from beneath, and blessings from above; dressed to the governor by his nephew, i,/ ,, , , . ' . , * , , 0 J . 1 Thy Monarch's plaudit ; and thy peoples love: the Rev. Mather Byles, minister of the The same high Pow,r) unbounded, and alone, church in Hollis Street, from which we Resumes his gifts, and puts your mourning on. quote a few lines : — His Edict issues, and his Vassal, Death, THE NEW ENGLAND CHRONOLOGY. 479 Oct 31, 1736. The Brethren of the church stay'd and Voted — I. That there be given out of the collection for charitable* and pious uses, the sum of sixty pounds to supply the poor of this church and Congregation with Wood and other Necessaries. II. That fifteen pounds be given out of said collection, to supply the poor of this Church and congregation with Bibles and other Books of piety. III. That there be a publick collection on the Anniversary Thanks- giving the nth of Novr next; the money collected to be disposed of to charitable and pious uses ; And that the congregation be notified of this vote and be desired to concur with the church in the said collection. Joseph Sewall. Novr. 11. Collected one hundred and two pounds; 6/ of which were appropriated. Mr. Prince published the first volume of his New England Chronology this winter. It was dedicated to Governor Belcher, Lieutenant-Governor Phips, and the Honourable Council and House of Representatives of the province. The journal of the House, January 12, 1736-7, records the formal presentation by the author of copies of the work to the House and the speaker : — The House being informed the Rev. Mr. Thomas Prince was at the Door and desired admittance, Ordered, that Mr. Prince be admitted into the House, and coming up to the Table, he addressed himself to Mr. Speaker and the House in the following manner, viz. Mr. Speaker, I most humbly present to your Honour and this Hon- ourable House, the first Volume of my Chronological History of New England, which at no small Expense and Pains I have composed and published for the Instruction and good of my Country. And then he made a Compliment of one of the Books to Mr. Speaker by presenting it to him, and another he presented to and for the use of the Members of the House of Representatives, and laid it on the Table, and then withdrew. Of this work it has been said, that it was too great " for the period in which it appeared ; few could appreciate its extraor- dinary merits, and fewer still, probably, wished to read a work written for a far higher object than merely to amuse the reader. Hence on the appearance of the first volume a disappointment seems to have fallen upon the community, and very little, if any, Require's your Consort's— or Your flying breath. The gifts of Nature, and the charms of Art : Still be your glory at his feet to bend, So, over Death, the conquest shall be giv'n, Kiss thou the Son, and own his Sov'reign hand ; Your Name shall live on earth, your Soul in For his high honours all thy pow'rs exert, heav'n.] 4§0 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. encouragement was proffered the author to continue the work. But conscious that it would be appreciated in no very distant day, he continued to labor upon it, and from time to time issued a part of a second volume in pamphlet form. This consisted of three numbers, of thirty-two pages each, which brought the history of New England to near the close of the year 1633." The same authority says : " It embraces, however, the most obscure and difficult period of our history, namely, the first set- tlement of the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies ; and for that period it is the most complete, exact, and satisfactory his- tory extant." 1 The Rev. Mr. Wadsworth, president of Harvard College, died at Cambridge March 16, and was buried a week later. " He was eminently pious and faithful," says Dr. Sewall, " and enjoy'd the peace of the upright in his death." On Sunday, March 27, Dr. Sewall preached- at Cambridge from the text, " Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth." On the 4th of May, "the overseers met and join'd with the corporation in prayer to God for direction in the choice of a president." "The corpo- ration endeavoured to come to a choice twice, but were equally divided between Mr. Holyoke and Mr. Gee. Desired more time." On the 20th, Mr. Cooper, of Brattle Street Church, was chosen, but declined a few days later. Mr. Holyoke was then chosen, and was inducted into office on the 28th of Sep- tember. [Lord's day] March 20. 1736-7. The Brethren of the church stay'd, and Voted — I. That there be given out, of the last collection for charita- ble and pious uses, the sum of sixty pounds, to supply the poor of this church and congregation with wood and other Necessaries. II. That there be allowed out of the collection to the Rev'd Mr. Josiah Cotton, the sum of ten pounds towards his support and encour- agement in preaching the Gospel at Providence. III. To the Rev'd Mr. Joseph Torrey the sum of ten pounds towards his support and encouragement in preaching the Gospel at South Kingston in Narraganset. IV. To Mr. Ezra Carpenter, the sum of ten pounds towards his support and encouragement in preaching the Gospel at Hull. V. That there be a public collection on the Anniversary Fast, March3i.;the money collected to be disposed of to charitable and 1 See the Memoir, by Samuel G. the New England Chronology, published Drake, prefixed to the third edition of in 1S52. PUBLIC READING OF THE SCRIPTURES. 48 1 pious uses j And that the congregation be notified of this vote, and be desired to concur with the church in the said collection. Joseph Sewall. March 31, 1737. Collected one hundred and four pounds, twelve and eight pence ; Three pounds of which sum are appropriated. At a Meeting of the church and congregation, April 4. 1737. It being represented by the Deacons that there's in their Hands of the weekly contribution about 20 or 30/ more than the weekly charge has demanded ; Voted — That the said Ballance now in the Deacons' Hands, to- gether with half a year's rent of the cellar, as soon as may be, be equally distributed to our Revd. Pastors to encourage them in their labors among us. Joseph Sewall. [Lord's day] April 24. 1737. The Brethren of the church stay'd, and Voted, — That the Holy Scriptures be read in Public after the first Prayer in the morning and Afternoon : And that it be left to the discretion of the Pastors ; what parts of Scripture to read, and what to expound. Joseph Sewall. May 1. We began the Public Reading of the Scriptures. I read 1 chap. Genesis. Mr. Prince 1 Chap. Matthew. I spake a few words by way of Exposition and Exhortation. Then Preach'd from 1 Thess. 5. 27. ["I charge you by the Lord, that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren."] 1 (J. Sewall.) Elizabeth, wife of the Rev. Charles Chauncy, died May 13, "after several weeks sickness," in her thirty-first year. Says Dr. Sewall : " Shee was prudent, modest, courteous, and I be- lieve truly pious. The second Daughter of my beloved Sister Hirst ; and after her Mother's and then her Father's death, shee dwelt in my. Family about ten years." 2 Dr. Sewall preached at the First Church on the next Lord's day from the words, " For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." Mr. William Hooper was ordained pastor of the West Church May 18. This church had been gathered in the preceding Jan- uary, when the covenant was subscribed by seventeen persons, 1 [When the First Church of Salem 2 Mrs. Chauncy left a son and two was reorganized, it voted, Dec. 27, 1736, daughters. Her sister Jane, Mrs. Dav- " that the Scriptures be read as part of enport, died four months afterward, Sep- public worship."] tember 6, in her twenty-eighth year. 482 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. "after solemn prayer and preaching, in presence of Thomas Prince, pastor of the South church, and Thomas Foxcroft, pas- tor of the Old, or first church." Among the original members, William Stoddard and Hugh Hall came from the South Church, and they were followed later by John Smibert, the portrait- painter, Story Dawes, and Ebenezer Messenger. All the Con- gregational churches in the town were invited to assist in the ordination, and the French Church, of which Mr. Le Mercier, the successor of Mr. Daille, was minister. " All the parts," says the Rev. Charles Lowell, "in the solemnities of the occa- sion were assigned by the church, except one. It is stated in the records that the ministers and delegates claimed ' a right in the election of the person to give the right hand of fellowship.' " 1 Mr. Hooper preached the sermon from 2 Cor. iv. 7. Mr. Fox- croft and Dr. Sewall offered prayer, Mr. Prince read the cove- nant and gave the charge, and Dr. Colman welcomed the new pastor to the fellowship of the churches. Mr. Hooper continued with the church about nine years, " when he resigned, or rather abdicated, without a formal resignation," his pastoral office, and went to England to receive Episcopal ordination. On his return he became minister of Trinity Church, and so continued until his death in 1767. At a Meeting of the Church and Congregation, Octr. 3. 1737. Whereas there was a committee chosen Augt. 14. 1733, to examine the accounts of the committee for building, and of Mr. Treasurer Os- borne, and report thereon ; which hitherto has not been complied with : Voted, — That said committee be desired to pursue their design, and report to the next meeting thereon : Also to consider and report what method they may think proper to come into for the more certain and effectual support of our Revd. Pastors. And that Mr. Joseph Brandon be added to said committee in the Room of the Hon. Thomas Fitch deceased. A motion was made to choose new Seaters, and to turn the Wo- men's foreseat into three Pews. Voted, — That this Meeting be adjourned to Monday 24th Instant, at 10 o'clock A. M. Joseph Sewall. Oct. 17. I sat out for Concord with D. Henchman, rain'd. Lodg'd at Mr. Hancock's. Next day got to Concord ; visited Mr. W. Mr. Hancock was chosen Moderator. Council Voted Mr. W. un- 1 See Discourse by the Rev. Charles Lowell, delivered December 31, 1720, pp. II, 24. COUNCIL AT CONCORD. 483 worthy to be a Minister of the Gospel, and Advised the Church to remove him from his Office. After, a public-hearing at which Mr. W. would not be present, as he had before refus'd to submit matters to the Council. The Crime — Intemperance. 21 day. The Result was read in the Meeting-House. I pray'd. I hope God helped me. The Church (who before Voted a Concurrence with the Brethren that called the Council) then met, and Voted agreeable to the Advice of the Rev'd Council, 83 Yeas, 1 1 Nos. My B[rother] Cooper was their Moderator. Oct 23. I preach'd at Concord. A. M. from Eph. 5. 18. Be not drunk with wine &c. Endeavoured to bear Testimony against the Sin committed. P. M. from 1 Tim. 4. 7.1 Oct. 24. I return'd safe. (J. Sewall.) [Lord's day] October 23. 1737. The committee for examining the accounts of the committee for Building &c. not being able to prepare and finish their Report ; the Brethren of the church and congregation adjourned their Meeting from Munday 24th Instant, to Munday the 14th of November next at 10 o'clock a. m. Thomas Prince. Novr. 14. 1737. At a meeting of the Brethren of the South Church and Congregation. The committee for examining the accounts of the committee for Building &c. made their report, as follows The committee appointed to examine the accounts of the committee for Building, and also of Mr. Treasurer Osborne &c. have attended that service ; and as to the accounts of the committee for Building, they not having been as yet fully exhibited to us, we are not able with any certainty to report the state of them. As to the account of Mr. Treasurer Osborne, we find it right cast 1 [" Some objections were brought advised the church to dismiss Mr. Whit- against Mr. Whiting in the latter part of ing. The result was read on the 21st, his ministry, and several councils were and the church accepted it, S3 yeas and called to investigate them. In March, 1 1 nays, and voted, that the pastoral re- 1737, the deacons were chosen a commit- lation it held to Mr. Whiting should be tee ' to treat with the Rev. Mr. Whiting, dissolved. The town concurred on the to see whether he would join with the 6th of March following, 'nemine contra- town in calling another minister.' He dicente.' " — Shattuck's History of the approved of this proposition. On pre- Town of Concord, p. 165. senting their report, on the 16th of Mr. Whiting graduated at Harvard May following, the town voted, 41 to 33, College in 1700, and died in 1752. He is ■ to call and settle another minister with described in his epitaph as " a gentleman Mr. Whiting.' On the iSth of October of singular hospitality and generosity, an ecclesiastical council was convened who never detracted from the character here, of which the Rev. John Hancock, of any man, and was a universal lover of of Lexington, was moderator, which, mankind." Dr. Allen says that he was after a public examination of the charges, " learned, benevolent and rich."] 484 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. and well vouched ; that he has received of sundry persons at several times the sum of . . . . . . . .£13 029. 18. 9 of which he has paid out the sum of . . 12 987. 7. 8 So that there remains in the said Treasurer's hands the sum of ...... 42. 11. 1 And the committee are of opinion that upon his paying said Bal- lance to the orders of the church and congregation, He ought to be so far discharged. The committee also find that Captain Henchman has received Thirty Pounds of Mr. Williams for cellar Rent, one year, ending the 3d May last, and that it is in the church stock. We also find that the three Pews in the Gallery, No 16. 24 and 26 remain unappropriated. As to the affair of our Revd Pastors support which we were directed to take under consideration ; The committee are humbly of opinion that it would not be conven- ient at present to make any alteration as to the method of our Publick contribution, but that there be now a further grant made to them, of £39. 10. 1, which sum, together with 160. 9. n, allow'd in April last, and since paid to them by the deacons, will make .£100. to each of said Revd Pastors, for the space of one year ending in October last, over and above their weekly salary. All which is honorably submitted Anthony Stoddard John Hunt Thomas Cushing Jun. Jos. Brandon Hugh Vans. Boston November 14. 1737. Voted — I. That the committee's Report respecting Mr. Treasurer Osborne be accepted. II. That their Report respecting our Revd. Pastors be accepted — and therefore, Voted III. That the Deacons pay said sum of ^39. 10. 1. to our Revd Pastors, to be equally divided between them. IV. As to the first article of their Report, Voted, that said committee be desired as soon as may be, to con- sider and report on that affair ; and the Building committee to lay their accounts before them. V. That Deacon Henchman, upon the receipt of the Ballance now in Mr. Treasurer Osborne's hand, pay to each of our Revd Pastors Ten Pounds, on account of the extraordinary price of Provisions &c, for the current year. VI. That Thirty Pounds pr Annum be for the future allowed to John Chambers, our Sexton. THE REV. N. WILLIAMS. 485 VII. Ten Pounds of the last publick collection for charitable and pious uses, be laid out and disposed of at the discretion of the Pastors in Bibles Catechisms and other Books of piety, for the Poor of this church and congregation ; and that the remaining Ballance of all the past Publick Collections for said uses, be disposed of at the discretion of the Deacons, to supply the Poor of the said church and congrega- tion with wood and other necessaries from time to time between this and the spring. VIII. That there be another publick collection for charitable and pious uses, on the Anniversary Thanksgiving, on the 17th Current ; and that the rest of the congregation be notified of this vote at the end of the forenoon exercise of the said day, and desired to concurr in the said Collection. IX. That the choice of new Seaters, and the time of their stand- ing, as also the affair of Turning the women's fore seat into Pews, be referred to the next meeting of the church and congregation. Thomas Prince. Nov. 17, 1737. On this day of the Anniversary Thanksgiving, the 7th and 8th votes above were accordingly read in Publick at the end of the Forenoon exercise ; and in the afternoon were collected for said uses — For Mr. Bass ...... £1. o. o Cotton 3. o. o Torrey . . . . . 4. 10. o Unappropriated . . . . 105. 8. 9 •113. 18. 9 The Rev. Nathaniel Williams, third of the name, died Janu- ary 10, 1738, in his sixty-third year. His father had been dea- con of the church twenty-one years, and he had preached for it occasionally. " At fourteen years of age," said Mr. Prince in his funeral sermon, " he entered the School of the Prophets. He was ordained an Evangelist in the College Hall, for one of the West India Islands, but the climate not agreeing with his con- stitution he soon returned to this his native city." From being a private teacher, he went into the " Public and Free Grammar School of this great town, the principal school of the British Colonies, if not of all America. In this school, [now called the Latin School,] he continued about thirty years. He also studied and practised physic." He was master of the school from 1703 to 1734, succeeding Ezekiel Cheever and followed by John Lovell. He was " greatly beloved by the scholars for an agree- 486 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. able mixture of majesty and sweetness, both in his voice and countenance." x At a Meeting of the Brethren of the South Church and Congrega- tion April 3, 1738 Voted — I. That the Report of the committee for examining the Building Committee's accounts be accepted ; and that the Building Committee be discharged accordingly, with Thanks to them and Mr. Treasurer Osborne for their care and labour in the service of this Society. II. That there be a Committee of seven chosen to serve one year ; to have the direction and ordering of affairs relating to the Pews and Seats in the Meeting House. Votes were brought in accordingly, and there were chosen for that service, the Hon. Ezekiel Lewis, Edward Winslow, Francis Borland Esqrs. Mr. Timothy Prout, Joshua Winslow Esq. Mr. Thomas Cush- ing junr. and Mr. Edward Bromfield. Proposed, whether it be convenient at this time to turn the women's fore seat into Pews. Neg. III. That above the weekly allowance, the Deacons pay to each of our Revd Pastors forty Pounds, for their further encouragement in their labors among us. IV. That there be another Publick Collection for charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Fast, April 13th Current; And that the rest of the congregation be notified of this Vote next Lord's Day and desired to concur in the said collection. And then the Meeting was adjourned to the first Monday in May next, at 10 o'clock. Joseph Sewall. April 13, Collected 90/. Of which were appropriated To the Revd. Mr. Bass 1. o. o Mr. Carpenter 1. o. o Mr. Torrey . . . . . . .1.0.0 Mr. Callender's widow . . . . 6. o. o At a Meeting of the Brethren of the South Church and Congrega- tion May 1. 1738. Whereas there hath been a Proposal made, that some part of the money which is or may be collected for charitable and pious uses, should, as we shall find ourselves able from time to time, be made a stated fund, the income of it to be improved for said uses as the 1 The master of the Latin School at Coll. 1856, Ph. D., Amherst 1880, is an the present time, Moses Merrill, Harv. active member of the Old South Church. THE NEW BRICK CHURCH. 487 Brethren of this church and congregation shall from time to time determine ; Voted — That a Committee be chosen to consider of said Proposal, and make Report to this Meeting on Monday, the 15th of this Instant, at 10 aclock A. M. Voted — That the Honble. Ezekiel Lewis, Josiah Willard, Anthony Stoddard, Samuel Welles Esqrs. Coll. Edward Winslow, Esq. Mr. Cushing, Mr. Thomas Hubbard, William Foye, Joshua Winslow Esqrs. and Mr. Nathaniel Cunningham, with the Deacons ; be of this Com- mittee, j. Sewall. June 1. The Rev. Mr. Barnard of Marblehead preach'd to the Ministers from Col. 2. 19. Not holding the Head. Collected about June 5. Dr. Colman preached to the Hon. Artillery Company (who enter upon their second Century this Day) from Isai. 11. 10. which shall stand for an Ensign. (J. Sewall.) On the 27th of September, 1738, Mr. Ellis Gray, a graduate at Cambridge in the class of 1734, was ordained as colleague of Mr. Welsteed, at the New Brick Church. Mr. Welsteed offered prayer, Mr. Gray preached the sermon from Isai. vi. 5-8, Mr. Webb prayed after the sermon, Dr. Colman gave the charge, and Dr. Sewall the right hand of fellowship. " The part taken by Mr. Webb is the earliest notice we have of a reconciliation with the New North Church." 1 There were several adjournments to the first Monday in October. At a Meeting of the Brethren of the South Church and Congregation Oct 2. 1738. Voted, That the Deacons pay to our Revd. Pastors equally the sum of fifty six Pounds now in their hands together with 30/. one half year's rent of the cellar as soon as may be. Voted, That there be a collection the next Lords Day come se'n- night, the whole of it to be equally divided to our Revd. Pastors. The congregation to be notified the next Lord's Day. Voted, That fifty Pounds, now in the Deacons' hands of the former Collection be distributed to the poor of this Church and Congregation, to enable them the better to prepare for the approaching winter. It being also proposed that a certain Fund be established for the support of the Widows and Fatherless Children of the Pastors of the said South Church, from time to time ; Voted — That the committee to consider the proposal of a Fund for charitable and pious uses, take this also into their consideration, and 1 Historical Discourses by the Rev. Henry Ware, delivered May 20, 182 1, p. 57. 488 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. make their Report at the next Meeting. And that Messrs. Andrew Oliver and Benjamin Hallowell be added to the said committee. Joseph Sewall. At a Meeting of the Brethren of the South Church and Congrega- tion, Novr. 13. 1738. Voted — That fifty Pounds be given out of the collections for chari- table and Pious uses to the Poor of this church and congregation, to supply them with Wood and other necessaries. Voted — That Ten pounds be given out of said collection to the Revd. Mr. Josiah Cotton towards his support in Preaching the Gospel at Providence. Voted — That Ten Pounds be also given of said collection to the Revd. Mr. Joseph Torrey, towards his support in preaching the gospel in South Kingston, in Narraganset. Voted — That there be a publick collection for charitable and pious uses, on the Anniversary Thanksgiving, 23rd current ; And that the rest of the Congregation be notified of this vote, and desired to concur in the said collection. And then the Meeting was adjourned to Monday 27th of this Instant, at 10 aclock A.M. Joseph Sewall. Novr. 23. Collected ..... 95. 7. 3. Of which were appropriated, To the Ministers Widows and Children . . 10. o. o Towards defraying the charge of defending the Ministerial Lands in Kingston, in Narraganset, ^$. 12. o 43. 12. o This last appropriation, and others for the same object, made afterward, are explained by the following extract from the rec- ords of the New Brick Church : — There was a collection, I remember, in many of the congregational churches in 1739 to defend a lawsuit unjustly brought against Mr. Torrey, the minister of South Kingston, in order to recover the par- sonage estate possessed by Mr. Torrey. The estate was left by a gentleman for the support of an orthodox minister of said Kingston ; and, as I remember, one Dr. McSparrow, a church minister, took it into his head that no minister was orthodox unless he was ordained by a bishop &c. &c. ; so, by the help of some no better than himself, he brought an action to recover the estate for himself and successors ; but he failed in his unjust prosecution.1 1 [Robbins's History, p. 318. The shows that the contribution from the record quoted was made by Deacon New Brick congregation, for the use of John Tudor, and the receipt preserved Mr. Torrey in this suit, was ^35. 10. o.] THE SOUTH KINGSTON LANDS. 489 The lands in question were "granted in 1668 by the Proprie- tors of Petaquamscut Purchase, now in South Kingston in Nar- raganset, to be laid out and forever set apart for the use of an orthodox person that should be obtained to preach God's word to the inhabitants. These grantors were five, who all brought up their children in the Congregational way, and three of them were members in full communion in our churches." There being no preacher there, a Mr. George Mumford gained posses- sion of the lands, but when Mr. Torrey was ordained, he brought an action for them, and his case being carried on appeal before the King in Council, judgment was rendered in his favor. A year or two later, the Rev. James McSparran, who had gone over from Presbyterianism to Episcopacy, and who was preaching in the Narraganset country, brought suit against Mr. Torrey for the possession of the lands, on the ground that no minister could be denominated "orthodox" who was not of the Church of Eng- land. This case, also, was carried up to the King in Council, and was at length, in 1752, decided in favor of Mr. Torrey, who was declared to be " the first incumbent of ordination." The suit against Mr. Torrey was carried on by the united vestries of Christ Church and King's Chapel. Dr. Cutler, the minister of the former, who had been a Congregational clergyman, spoke, in a letter, of these lands granted by Congregationalists for Congre- gational purposes, as a tract " claimed by the Church of Eng- land, in opposition to the saints here, who would inherit the earth." The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Herring, "stead- fastly asserted the justice of Mr. Torrey's claim." Mr. Samuel Holden, then at the head of the Bank of England, at Dr. Col- man's request, managed the affair in London for the South Kingston Church and the New England Congregationalists.1 . At a Meeting of the Brethren by Adjournment Nov. 27 1738. Voted, I. That there be given out of the last collection, the sum of 26. 8. o. towards defraying the charge of defending the cause of the Ministerial Lands in South Kingston, which being added to what was then appropriated to said use, makes the sum of Sixty Pounds. II. That there be allowed out of the collection, to the Rev. Mr. Ezra Carpenter, the sum of ten pounds towards his support and en- couragement in preaching the Gospel at Hull. 1 Foote's Annals of King's Chapel, suits, which are known respectively as vol. i. pp. 466, 467. The Prince Library Torrey vs. Gardner, and McSparran vs. contains the documents in both these Hazzard. 49Q HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. III. That the sum of ten pounds be laid out in Books of Piety, to be distributed by the Pastors to proper objects of such a charity. And then the Meeting was adjourned to Monday, the 18th of December next. Joseph Sewall. Deer 18. 1738. At a Meeting of the Brethren, — Voted, That the Report of the Committee appointed by the Brethren of this church and congregation to consider of the Proposals to estab- lish a fund for charitable and pious uses, be Accepted, and recom- mended to the South Church, in order, if they see cause, to its being voted and established.1 Joseph Sewall. March 18. 1738-9. Lord's Day P. M, The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stay'd, and Voted, That there be another publick collection for charitable and pious uses, on the Anniversary Fast, March 29th Current; And that the rest of the Congregation be notified of this vote, next Lord's Day, and be desired to concur in the said collection. Joseph Sewall. 1 [The following has been preserved, which we suppose to be the draft of the report referred to in the above entry : — Whereas there has been a Proposal made at a stated Half Yearly Meeting of the Brethren of the South or 3d Church and Congregation in Boston that some Part of the Unappropriated moneies which are or may be collected or Given for Charitable and Pious uses, should as we find ourselves able from time to time be made a stated Fund, the Income whereof to be Improved for said uses as the said Brethren and their successors shall from Time to Time determin ; Voted, That the said General Proposal be accepted : and that 20/ in Bills of the new Tenour or equivalent to them be now Granted out of the monies already collected for the said uses and settled as the Fundation or Beginning of the Fund aforesaid, and for the further establish- ment and security of the said Fund for the said uses, It is more Particularly voted as follows 1. That there be 5 of the said Church and Congregation i. e. constant attend- ants with said Church and Congregation in their Publick worship, chosen by the said Brethren as their Trustees of the said Fund for the said uses in behalf of the said Brethren, to continue in the said Trust till the said Brethren or their suc- cessors shall see cause to chuse others in their Room, and to be accountable to the said Brethren and their successors or their committees from Time to Time. 2. That the Principal of said Fund together with all additions that shall be made thereto by charitably or Piously disposed Persons, shall be kept perpetu- ally intire, without being broken in upon on any occasion : But shall be either constantly Let out to Interest on double security, or Laid out in some Real Estate bringing in some Income, or building on or improving the Real Estate belonging to the said Church or to the said church and congregation, as the said Brethren and their [successors] shall from time to Time determin. 3. That the Bonds for monies let out to Interest by the said Trustees, be made Payable to the said Trustees, or to the Major Part of them. 4. That whenever one or more of the said Trustees shall be disabled or remove his constant attendance from worship- ping with the said Church and Congrega- DEATH OF SAMUEL CHECK LEY. 49 1 March 29. 1739. General Fast. Collected for charitable and pious uses, Unappropriated, ...... .£83. 2. 2 Appropriated, towards the Fund for Ministers' Widows &c 5. 10. o To the Fund for pious and char, uses, . . 5. o. o To Revd. Messrs Bass, 1. o. o Torrey, . . . . 1. o. o To Nurse Kinney . . . . • .1.0.0 Towards defraying the charge of defending the Ministerial Lands at Kingston . . . 1. o. o 14. 10. o Total £97. 12. 2 At a Meeting of the Church and Congregation April 2. 1739. It being represented by the Deacons that there is in their hands about Eighty Pounds ; Voted — That the said sum be equally given to our Revd. Pastors to encourage them in their labors among us. Voted — That the Hon. Samuel Welles, Esq. Capt. Armitage and Mr. Thomas Foster be a committee to view the House where the Rev. Dr. Sewall dwells, to consider and report what is necessary to repair it, with an estimate of the cost. Voted — That said committee consider and report whether it be necessary and proper to make a cellar in the front of said House at the East End, and the Cost. The Report to be made on next Monday. Voted — That for the time to come, these stated Meetings be on the 2d- Mondays of October and April. The Meeting was adjourned to next Monday, at 12 aclock. Joseph Sewall. Deacon Samuel Checkley died, December 27, 1738, in his tion or be removed by Death or Other- ensuing, for the said Brethren to consider wise that the said Brethren will proceed and vote upon, as they shall judg proper, to chuse another or others in their Room, Unanimously voted as soon as may be conveniently, not ex- by the com'tee ceeding a 12 month. T. Prince 5. That at the stated meetings of the May, 3. 1738. said Brethren in every spring annually Present they shall chuse a committee to stand for Honbl E. Lewis the year ensuing to examin into the J. Willard Dr. Sewall state of the said Fund, both as to Prin- A. Stoddard T. Prince cipal and Interest, consider what addition S. Wells may be made thereto, and how to dis- E. Winslow ^ £sas pose of the said Incomes for the said J. Winslow \ uses and make their Report to the said D. Henchman Brethren at their stated Half Yearly T. Hubbard Meetings, both in the Fall and Spring 492 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. eighty-sixth year.1 Nearly twenty-five years before, Mr. Pem- berton had called the attention of Judge Sewall to the broken condition of his health, when suggesting that there should be one or more additional deacons chosen, but he survived that pastor twenty-two years. He had filled many responsible posi- tions in the town and province, — selectman, representative, justice of the peace, county treasurer, town clerk. "In all which Places," says the News - Letter, " He behav'd Himself with such Prudence, Meekness and Fidelity as to gain the gen- eral Esteem and Love of all acquainted with Him." It was said of him further : " His greatest Honour, and for which his memory is Blessed, was his eminent, unaffected and vital Piety." For fifty-three years he was a member of the South Church. His wife, Mary, daughter of Joshua Scottow, died seventeen years before him. Of their eleven children, only two survived their parents, Richard and Samuel, the latter being pastor of the New South Church. There were- now only two deacons in the Old South, Daniel Henchman and Jonathan Simpson ; and Thomas Hubbard was chosen to fill the vacancy. Mr. Hubbard joined the church in 1730, and had already served on important committees. He was born in Boston in 1702, and graduated at Harvard College in 1721, in the same class with Charles Chauncy, Ebenezer Pemberton, Josiah Winslow, Stephen Sewall and others. We shall have occasion to speak of his public ser- vices when we come to the mention of his death in 1773. At a church Meeting April 9. 1739. Thomas Hubbard Esq. was chosen into the Deacon's office ; And the Pastors and Deacons were appointed a Committee to desire his acceptance of said office. And, Whereas Deer 18 1738, At a Meeting of the Brethren of the South Church and Congregation, there was a Report relating to a Fund for charitable and pious uses agreed upon, and Recommended to the said South Church, in order if they see cause, to its being voted and established ; said Report was Read, Voted, and Established ac- cordingly, and is as follows, 1 1738. Dec 26. "Died Col. S. Check- funeral I went to. Dr. Checkley's." — ley, Esq., at Boston, my wife's grand- Lynde Diaries, p. 154. father, and was buried 1st. January in The younger Judge Lynde married the tomb, our burying Place by Common. Mary Bowles, of Roxbury, a grand- May these instances of mortality put us daughter of Samuel Checkley, and a on preparing for our own great change ! " great-granddaughter of Joshua Scottow. 1739. Jan. 1. " Fair cold day. Col. She was also descended from the Rev. Checkley buried, aet. 84 years ; after John Eliot. A CHARITABLE FUND. 493 At a Meeting of the Committee of the Brethren of the South or Third Church and Congregation in Boston, of which Messrs Sewall and Prince are Pastors, to consider of the Proposals to establish a cer- tain stated Fund for charitable and pious uses, as well as for the sup- port of the Widows and Fatherless Children of the Pastors of said Church from time to time, as other uses of a Charitable and pious nature. The said Committee after diverse consultations, propose that the said Fund be begun, continued and established under the following Regulations. I. As diverse Brethren of the said Church and Congregation have declared that they contributed at the last general collection for such uses, with a view to put their monies into the said Fund which had been a little before moved ; The committee Propose that twenty ounces of Silver be purchas'd with part of the monies then collected, and be appropriated and settled as the beginning of said Fund for said uses ; But that no addition shall be made to said Fund out of the public collections for time to come, but by the particular Appropriations of persons inclin'd to encourage the same, express'd by writing annexed to their monies appropriated. II. That the Pastors and Deacons of the said church, for the time being, be the Trustees of said Fund, to manage the same in behalf of the said church ; the major part of said Trustees to have Power of acting, and all and each of them to be accountable to the said church, or their committees from time to time. III. That the principal Stock of said Fund, together with all Addi- tions that shall be made to said Principal, by Persons disposed thereto, either by Contributions, Presents, Deeds, Wills, or otherwise, shall be kept perpetually intire, without being broken in upon on any occasion : But the principal monies shall be either constantly let out to Interest or laid out in some real Estate bringing in some Income, or building on, or improving the real Estate which shall belong to said Church, as the said Church shall at their Half Yearly Meetings from time to time determine. IV. That in the Bonds for monies belonging to said Fund, let out to Interest by the said Trustees, the Principal and Interest shall be expressed by ounces of silver, and be made payable to the Major Part of the said Trustees ; the Borrower and two sufficient sureties, to be bound both jointly and severally for the same ; and neither the Bor- rower nor either of the sureties to be of the said church or Congregation. V. That while there shall be no widow or Fatherless child of any of the Pastors of the said church, the Interest and Incomes of that part of the Fund raised for them shall be added to the principal stock, not to be divided again ; But when there shall be a Widow or father- less child or more, of said Pastors, it shall be left to the said church 494 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. to judge and order how much of the Interest and Income shall be disposed of for their support from time to time ; and when to cease supporting them : But of all other parts of said Fund, it shall be left to the said church at their half yearly Meetings to dispose both of the Interest and Incomes, to any kind of charitable and pious use what- ever, as they shall think adviseable. VI. That there shall be a stated half yearly meeting of the Brethren of said church, viz. one in the Spring, and another in the Fall annu- ally ; that at their said Meeting in the Spring they shall chuse a com- mittee which shall consist of members as well of the said congregation as of the said church, to stand for the year ensuing, and continue till others shall be chosen in their room, to examine into the state of the said Fund, both as to principal Stock and Incomes ; consider how to order the same according to the preceeding Articles, and make their Report to the said Brethren at their stated half yearly Meetings, both in the Fall and Spring ensuing, for the said Brethren to consider and vote upon as they shall judge proper. VII and lastly, Whereas there are stated half yearly Meetings of the Brethren both of the said South Church and also of the congre- gation with them ; For the preservation of mutual Harmony and good Agreement, it is yet further proposed that the said committees shall also at the said half yearly Meetings last mentioned, from time to time lay their aforesaid Reports before the said Brethren ; that the said Brethren may express their minds thereupon, and give their advice when they see cause, to the said church accordingly. October 18. 1738. Unanimously agreed to by the said Committee present, to be offered as their Report to the Brethren of the said South Church and Congregation at their next Meeting, in order to its being agreed upon and Recommended, if they see cause, to the said South Church, to be voted and established. Eze. Lewis Pr. order of the Committee. December 18. 1738. At a Meeting of the Brethren of the said South Church and Congregation this Report was agreed upon and Recommended to the said South Church, in order if they see cause, to its being voted and established. Voted and established by the said church at their Meeting April 9 1739. Joseph Sewall Thomas Prince. We have abundant evidence that from its earliest days the South Church, as a church, met in a generous spirit the various claims which were made upon its Christian liberality, and that it felt its responsibility for the advancement of religion beyond its own parish limits, as it might have opportunity. Soon ORGANIZED BENEVOLENCE. 495 after the settlement of Mr. Prince in the co-pastorate with Mr. Sewall, its liberality took on a more systematic and definite form. It voted, March 13, 1725-6, " that there be a publick collection on our anniversary Fasts and Thanksgivings, to be bestowed on pious uses, and for the advancement of Christ's Kingdom," and it appointed trustees for the "evangelical treasury" thus estab- lished.1 This action was so far modified the following year, that a special vote was required for each semi-annual collection, as the occasions came round, and the church held in its own hands the distribution of the money. The votes thus made necessary we have given and shall continue to give, as they are recorded. To some of our readers they may seem monotonous ; but we cannot help thinking them very suggestive. The members of the church were brought face to face with the necessities of the poor among themselves, and with the struggles of other churches and their ministers in outlying and destitute neighborhoods. The officers must have had plenty to do in carrying out the wishes of the brethren as expressed by the many votes appropriating money, in' addition to what devolved upon them in the adminis- tration of the ordinary temporalities. The day for the combina- tion of churches in organized societies was not yet come. There were the three Propagation societies in Great Britain, which were represented here by commissioners, and with which the churches were more or less affiliated ; but with this excep- tion, each local church was a society by itself, for charitable and missionary work. The final adoption by the South Church, April 9, 1739, of the Report of Mr. Ezekiel Lewis and his com- mittee, was a renewed recognition of the responsibilities at home and abroad, which it had already been endeavoring faith- fully to meet, and was a step forward in the attainment of steadiness and directness in aim and plan. May 24 Mr. Edwards of Northampton preach'd my Lecture from 1 Tim. 2. 5. Lord bless the labors of thy Servant, and confirm his health. May 31. Revd Mr. Eels preach'd to the Rev'd Convention.'2 1 Sam. 4. 13. Collected about 173^. Aug. 12. We had a Collection towards defraying the charge of the case relating to the ministerial Land at Kingston.3 Sept 2. I preach'd again from Deut. 5. 12-14 [the fourth command- 1 See ante, p. 41S. 3 [See ante, pp. 488, 489. This collec- 2 [This is the first time Dr. Sewall tion is not mentioned in the records of speaks of the Convention by that name.] the church.] 496 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. ment]. Then read the Proclamation for preventing Disorders on the Lord's day. Deliver'd a word or two after reading it. Oct 3. The Rev. Mr. T. Prentice (dismiss'd from the Church in Arundel) receiv'd the Charge of the Church at Charlestown as a Col- league Pastor to the Revd Mr. Abbot. Mr. Abbot began with Prayr. Mr. Prentice preach'd from 2 Cor. 6. 1. I gave the Charge, (Hands were not imposed,) Rev. Mr. Appleton, the Right Hand of Fellow- ship. I had a difficulty in my own mind about this affair ; however I engaged in it. O Lord govern it in mercy. Make thy Servant a Blessing to this Flock.1 (J. Sewall.) At a Meeting of the South Church and Congregation, Octr 8. 1739. It being represented by the Deacons, that there is now in their hands about seventy two Pounds, arising from the rents of the cellar and the weekly contribution, Voted — That the said sum of 72Z.be equally given to our Revd Pastors, further to encourage them in their labors among us. And whereas, there has been laid out in repairing the Ministerial Houses more than one hundred Pounds, and the allowance made to our Revd Pastors hitherto, has been represented by them as insuf- ficient for the necessary support of their Families, therefore, Voted, That there be a collection on Lord's Day the 21st Instant, to answer these occasions ; and that next Lord's Day the Deacons be desired to acquaint the Church and Congregation what may be neces- sary for said uses. Joseph Sewall. Novr. 11. 1739. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stay'd and Voted as follows, Whereas, not long time since there was a publick Collection, both to discharge the late repairs of the Church's Houses, and for the necessary support of the Pastors' Families ; but the said collection amounted to no more than was sufficient to discharge the said repairs ; whereby there was nothing left as was intended, for the support of their Families ; and whereas the stock for charitable and pious uses is like to suffice for the relief of the poor through the following winter ; Therefore, Voted, that there be a publick collection for our Revd Pastors, on the next General Thanksgiving Day Novr. 29, and the rest of the Church and Congregation are desired to concur, and assist therein. Novr. 29. 1739. Collected ^93. 18. 2 Joseph Sewall. 1 [The Rev. Thomas Prentice, Harv. town until after the Revolution. We do Coll. 1726, was pastor of the church in not know what caused the difficulty in Arundel, Maine, until 1737, when it was Dr. Sewall's mind, on the occasion of dispersed during the Indian wars, and he his settlement. It may have had refer- had since been living in Cambridge. He ence to his removal from Arundel; or continued in the pastorate at Charles- the call may not have been unanimous.] FAST DAY, 1740. 497 March 16. 1739-40. The Brethren of the Church and Congrega- tion stay'd and Voted, I. That there be given out of the stock for charitable and pious uses, ten Pounds to the Revd Mr. Nathanl [? Ebenezer] Goold, and ten Pounds to the Revd Mr. Daniel Elmer, in consideration of the loss of their Houses by fire, and to encourage them in Preaching the Gospel.1 II. That there be another Publick Collection for charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Fast March 27. Current ; and that the Rest of the Congregation be notified of this Vote next Lord's Day, and be desired to assist in the said collection. Joseph Sewall. March 27. 1740. General Fast. Collected for charitable and pious uses Unappropriated ^76. 9. 5 Appropriated To the Fund for char, and pious uses, . . £ 5. o. o To the Fund for Ministers' Widows . . . £ 3. o. o To the Revd Mr. Daniel Elmer . . . . ^12. o. o To Revd Messrs Bass £ 1. o. o Carpenter . . . . £ 1. o. o Torrey £ 1. o. o £23. o. o Total £99. 9. 5 At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation, April 14. 1740. Forasmuch as there are considerable deficiencies in our weekly con- tributions for the support of our Revd Pastors, and our frequent Meetings about the same are judged inconvenient and not reputable ; Therefore, Voted, That Josiah Willard and Samuel Welles Esqrs. and Mr. Thomas Cushing, be a Committee to find out some proper method for raising a sufficient allowance for our Revd Ministers. Voted, That ^26. n. 4 now remaining in the hands of the Deacons be given equally to our Revd Pastors. Voted, That .£50. of the late collections for charitable and pious uses, be disposed of by the Deacons in Wood and other Necessaries for the Poor of this Church and Congregation. Adjourned. 1 [The Rev. Ebenezer Goold or Gould, the church in Fairfield in 1728. Both Yale College, 1723, was settled at Green- these clergymen were settled over Pres- wich, near Fairfield, New Jersey. Pro- byterian churches, but their sympathies fessor Dexter says that his parsonage were largely with New England Congre- was burnt, with all its furniture, about gationalism. Mr. Goold was settled this time. The Rev. Daniel Elmer, afterward at Middletown, Conn. See Yale College, 1713, was ordained over Yale Biographies, pp. 110,282.] 498 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. After several Adjournments the Brethren met May 5th 1740, and Voted as follows ; I. Inasmuch as it is universally acknowledged by us that a decent and honourable support is justly due to our Revd Pastors, who labor in the Word and Doctrine among us, and it is apprehended that the most likely method to obtain a sufficient sum for that end is to come into a new subscription, what each one is willing to allow weekly, especially as our circumstances since our last subscription are so much altered by the death of some, and removal of others from us ; that so there may be raised with more certainty, a sufficient sum for this and all other necessary charges, and that the stated Meetings twice a year to consider of this affair, may be superceeded, and laid aside ; Therefore Voted, That there be a new subscription taken of the members of the church and congregation as soon as conveniently may be, that so we may allow to each of our Revd Ministers nine Pounds pr week in the present Currency of Bills of Credit, compared with silver at 29 sh. pr ounce, besides their Wood and Houses ; and in order thereunto, it is thought necessary that the weekly contribution should arise to £22. pr week, or thereabout ; and therefore it is hoped and desired that all persons as they are favour'd with Estate and Income, will be liberal and enlarge their contribution and subscription, that so there may be no room for any complaints for the future. II. That Mr. Benjamin Clark, Capt Nathaniel Vyal, Mr. John Knee- land and Mr. John Simpson, be a Committee to take a new subscrip- tion of the members of the church and congregation who doe not now subscribe, as soon as may be Anthony Stoddard Modr. Mr. Joseph Gardner, Harvard College 1732, was ordained at Newport, May 14, as co-pastor with the Rev. Nathaniel Clap, over the First Congregational Church in that town. Several of the Boston ministers took part in the services, and Mr. Gee preached the sermon. May 9. I set out with Mr. Hubbard for Newport. Lodg'd at Car- penter's. May 10. Got into Newport before Sunset, lodge at Mr. Dehane's. May 11. I preach'd for Mr. Gardner, A. M. from 1 Pet. 2. 7. Mr. Clap from Phil. 1. 27. P. M. May 14. Mr. Joseph Gardner was ordain'd. I began with Prayr. Mr. Gee preached from John 10. 11. Mr. Webb pray'd before and after the Charge which was given by Mr. Clap. Mr. Serring * gave the 1 [The Rev. James Searing, Yale Col- Congregational Church, Newport. The lege, 1725, was pastor of the Second Rev. Ezra Stiles was his successor.] ORDINATION AT NEWPORT. 499 Right Hand of Fellowship. The People, among whom were several Quakers, seem'd to attend with seriousness. O Lord Bless this Flock and in the United Labors of thy Servants, grant them the fulness of the Blessing of the Gospel. 15. We set out for Boston, lodg'd at Doggit's. Got well home 16. about sun-set, having experienc'd much of God's Goodness. May 29. Revd Mr. Prince preach'd the Convention-Sermon from Isai. 9. 7. Collected 232. 9. 3 (J. Sewall.) CHAPTER X. 1740-1744- MR. WHITEFIELD'S FIRST VISIT. THE REVIVAL PERIOD. THE period to which we have come is known in our re- ligious annals as that of the Great Awakening. During the time covered by the last chapter, there were revivals of religion of great power and interest in the central part of Massa- chusetts and in Connecticut, one of the most memorable being that which took place at Northampton under the ministry of the Rev. Jonathan Edwards. In 1739, George Whitefield, who had spent four months in Georgia, and who had returned to Eng- land for full ordination as a presbyter in the Established Church there, came again to these shores, and after preaching to im- mense congregations in Philadelphia and New York, went to Savannah, to enter upon the living to which he had been pre- sented by the Trustees of Georgia. The pastors of Boston were greatly impressed by what they heard of his remarkable endowments and great success as a preacher of the gospel, and were anxious that he should visit New England ; and Dr. Col- man and Mr. Cooper, the ministers of Brattle Street Church, endeavored to prepare the way for his coming by warmest com- mendation of himself and his work in a preface written by them to a sermon on the Character and Preaching of Mr. Whitefield, by the Rev. Josiah Smith, of Charleston, South Carolina.1 In this preface it was said : As to the person referred to and named, " he is the wonder of the age ; and no one man more employs the pens, and fills up the conversation of people, than he does at this day : none more admired and applauded by some, contemned and reproached by others : the common lot of the most excellent men the world has ever had to show ! " Of his coming to Boston, and of the religious condition of the town at that time and during the twenty years immediately preceding, 1 Mr. Smith preached a sermon in ciples — which was printed in Boston in 1742 — Jesus Persecuted in His Dis- 1745. MR. PRINCE'S RETROSPECT. 501 we have an account by Mr. Prince, the substance of which we shall give, for the most part in his words.1 Going back to the time of his return from Europe in 171 7, Mr. Prince says : " On my said return, there were five congre- gational churches settled with pastors in this town, though now they are increased to five more. The pastors were Dr. Increase and Cotton Mather of the North Church ; Mr. Wadsworth with Mr. Foxcroft chosen his colleague of the Old Church ; Mr. Colman and Cooper of the Church in Brattle Street ; Mr. Sew- all of the South Church ; and Mr. Webb of the New North : All most happily agreeing in the Doctrines of Grace, as laid down in the shorter and larger Catechisms and Confession of Faith, drawn out of Scripture 'by the venerable Assembly of Divines at Westminster, as well as the Confession of Faith agreed to by our New England Synods, and almost the same with the other. And this Town and Country were in great tranquility both civil and religious. But though there were many bright examples of piety in every seat and order ; yet there was a general complaint among the pious and elderly per- sons, of the great decay of Godliness in the lives and conversa- tions of people both in the town and land, from what they had seen in the days of their fathers. There was scarce a prayer made in public by the elder ministers without some heavy lamen- tation of this decay : In their sermons also they frequently mourned it : And the younger ministers commonly followed their example therein." " In the spring of 1721, the eight ministers who carried on the public Lecture, taking into consideration the lamentable defect of piety among our young people, agreed to preach a course of sermons at the Lecture to them. The audiences were consider- ably crowded : And while the Word of God was loudly sound- ing, he lifted up his awful Rod, by sending the small-pox into the town, which began to spread to our general consternation : Scarce a quarter of the people being thought to have had it ; and none of the numerous youth under eighteen years of age, it being so many years since that fatal pestilence had prevailed among us. The sermons were quickly printed, with another 1 This narrative appears in the second etc. The idea of the publication origi- volume of the Christian History, pub- nated with the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, lished in 1743 and 1744, "containing The form was probably suggested by the accounts of the revival and propagation Weekly History of the Progress of the of religion in Great Britain, America," Gospel, printed in London. 502 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. added by the venerable Dr. Increase Mather, for further benefit. Many of the younger people especially were then greatly awak- ened : And many hundreds of them quickly after swept into eternity. "In the spring of 1722, the distemper left us: But so little reformed were the surviving youth, that at the end of the sum- mer the pastors agreed to move their churches to keep in each successively a Day of Prayer and Fasting to ask of God the effusion of his Holy Spirit, particularly on the rising generation. And the churches readily received the motion. But though a solemnity appeared on many, yet it pleased the holy God to humble us and sparingly to give the blessing. " And though in the spring of 1726, in an awakening view of the deplorable decay of Family-Religion, as a principal source of all other decays, the pastors went into a course of public lectures on that important subject; yet they had the further sorrow to see those lectures too thinly attended to expect much benefit from them.1 " But after all our endeavours, both our security and degener- acy seemed in general to grow, 'till the night after the Lord's Day, October 29. 1727 ; when the glorious God arose and fear- fully shook the earth through all these countries. By terrible things in righteousness he began to answer us, as the God of our Salvation. " On the next morning a very full assembly met at the North Church for the proper exercises on so extraordinary an occasion. At five in the evening a crowded concourse assembled at the Old Church ; and multitudes unable to get in, immediately flowed to the South, and in a few minutes filled that also. At Lieutenant Governor Dummer's motion, who was then our Com- mander in Chief, the Thursday of the same week was kept as a Day of extraordinary Fasting and Prayer in all the churches in Boston ; not merely to intreat for sparing mercy, but also to implore the Grace and Spirit of God to come down and help us 1 The several subjects in this course Ezek. xvi. 20, on Improving the Cov- of lectures were these: Dr. Cotton enant relating to Children; Mr. Fox- Mather, Job viii. 6, on Household Piety croft, Col. iii. 18, 19, on Conjugal Duties ; in general; Mr. Colman, 2 Sam. vi. 20, Mr. Checkley, Col. iii. 20, 22-24, on me on Family Worship ; Mr. Thacher, Gen. Duties of Children and Servants ; Mr. xviii. 19, on Family Instruction; Mr. Waldron, Prov. xiv. 11, on the Character Sewall, 1 Sam. iii. 13, on Family Gov- and Doom of Wicked Houses ; Mr. Gee, eminent; Mr. Prince, Lev. xxiii. 3, on Eccl. vii. 14, on Family Providences, Family Sabbatizing ; Mr. Webb, Psalm especially afflictive, Improved. Mr. ci. 2, on Family Example ; Mr. Cooper, Sewall's sermon was preached May 12. SPECIAL SERVICES. 503 to a sincere repentance and returning to him. And as the Houses of public Worship were greatly crowded, the people were very attentive. " The ministers endeavoured to set in with this extraordinary and awakening Work of God in Nature, and to preach his Word in the most awakening manner ; to show the people the vast difference between conviction and conversion, between a forced reformation either in acts of piety, justice, charity, or sobriety, by the mere power of fear, and a genuine change of the very frame and relish of the heart by the supernatural efficacy of the Holy Spirit ; to lead them on to true conversion and unfeigned faith in Christ, and to guard them against deceiving themselves. " In all our congregations, many seemed to be awakened and reformed : And professing repentance of their sins and faith in Christ, entered into solemn covenant with God, and came into full communion with our several churches. In ours, within eight months after, were about eighty added to our communi- cants. But then comparatively few of these applied to me to discourse about their souls, 'till they came to offer themselves to the Communion, or afterwards : The most of those who came to me seemed to have passed through their convictions before their coming to converse with me about approaching to the Lord's Table : though I doubt not but considerable numbers were at that time savingly converted." * This awakened interest in spiritual concerns, however, did not long continue, and " a spiritual slumber seemed soon to seize the generality, even the wise as well as foolish virgins." During the next three or four years there was a greater declension than ever, and so dissatisfied were the pastors of the town with the condition of things, that in the summer of 1734 they agreed to propose another course of days of prayer and fasting among their several congregations, to humble themselves before God for their unfruitfulness under the means of grace, and to ask the effusion of his Spirit to revive the power of Godliness among them, which the people " readily complied with and observed." The 20th of August was the day set apart for the purpose by the South Church;2 "And though the sovereign God," says Mr. Prince, " was pleased to give us now and then a sprinkling, 1 Among those who joined the South Alden, Green, Oliver, Franklin, Fleet, and Church at this time were the pastor's Morse. daughter, Deborah Prince, and members 2 See ante, p. 469. Both the pastors of the families of Dawes, Kneeland, preached. 504 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. for which his Name be praised, yet the parching drought con- tinued, and he made us wait for a larger effusion." The pastors who were thus anxious and well-nigh discouraged about the spiritual life of their churches heard with the deepest interest of the work of grace " in the westerly parts of the country," — at Northampton and the adjacent towns, and in "the neighbouring colony of Connecticut." "The solemn rumour of that surprizing Work of God resounding through the country, was a special means of exciting great thoughtfulness of heart in many irreligious people; and great joy in others, both in the view of what the mighty power and grace of God had wrought, and in the hopeful prospect that this blessed Work begun would go on and spread throughout the land. And as this excited the extraordinary prayers of many, so it seemed to prepare the way in divers places for that more extensive revival of religion which in five years after followed." In the mean time, how- ever, the general decay of piety in the town seemed to go on. At the South Church, while some applied for membership, a few only came to their ministers in concern about their souls ; and it was the same in the other congregations. But from the year 1738 the pastors had "received accounts of the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, as a very pious young minister of the Church of England, rising up in the spirit of the reformers, and preaching their doctrines first in England and then in America, with surprizing power and success," and there was a general desire that he should visit New England. He ac- cepted, as soon as he was able, the invitation to come hither, and on Thursday evening, September 18, 1740, he arrived in Boston. We learn from his journals that he was met four miles from the town, on the road to Bristol and Newport, by one of Governor Belcher's sons and other gentlemen, by whom he was conducted to the house of Mr. Staniford,1 a brother-in- law of Dr. Colman. At the request of several ministers and others who had called upon him, he led their united devotions in thanksgiving for his safe arrival and prayer for a blessing on his labors. Among those who called the next morning was Mr. Josiah Willard, the secretary of the province, with whom he 1 We suppose this to have been John Cambridge Street, and an estate on what Staniford, who owned five or six acres is now Tremont Row, near Howard of land bounded by Bowdoin Square, Street. See the " Gleaner " Articles by Green Street, Chambers Street, and N. I. Bowditch. MR. WHITEFIELD'S ARRIVAL. 505 had been in correspondence for some time. Governor Belcher received him with the utmost respect, and requested fre- quent visits from him. He attended service at King's Chapel, and afterward had an interview with four or five ministers of the Church of England, who began to discourse, not on the moral and religious condition of the town, but on the validity of Presbyterian ordination, and to question him on some of the doctrines which he preached. He did not give them an oppor- tunity to deny him their pulpits ; it should be said, however, that they treated him with more civility than he had received from other ministers of his own church.1 In the afternoon of the same day, as Mr. Prince tells us, Dr. Sewall and he made him a visit ; " found several ministers and other gentlemen of the town with him, and that Dr. Colman and Mr. Cooper had engaged him to preach this afternoon in their House of public Worship : and in about an hour we went to the place which quickly crowded with two or three thousand people. He began with a short and' fervent prayer : and after singing, took his text from John xvii. 2. (" As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.") Gave us a plain, weighty regular dis- course : representing that all our learning and morality will 1 For an account of Mr. Whitefield's This was at the mansion in Medford, then visit to New England from an Episcopa- a part of Charlestown, which Mr. Royall lian point of view, see Foote's Annals of had just inherited, with a large fortune, King's Chapel, vol. i. pp. 503-514. The from his father. In 1740 he was about letters of Dr. Cutler, of Christ Church, twenty-one years of age. On his mother's could have been written only by one who side he was a descendant of Jacob El- had been born, brought up, and ordained iot, one of the founders and first deacons in the Congregational body, and then had of the South Church. His grandfather, gone over to another denomination. Mr. Asaph Eliot, owned the covenant there Commissary Price's sermon on Mr. in 1679, and his mother, Elizabeth Roy- Whitefield was not unlike the generality all, became a member in 1707. He was of the preaching about him in the Eng- a man of high character and devout lish Church at home at the time. On spirit. He was perplexed as to his duty the other hand, Mr. Foote points out at the time of the Revolution, but was that when Mr. Whitefield came to Bos- prevailed upon to adhere to the cause of ton in 1747, he visited Mr. Isaac Royal, the Crown, and he left the country, to a worshipper at King's Chapel, at his which he was much attached, never to residence in Charlestown ; and that when return. " While he was known to have he died at Newburyport, in 1770, the much in common with the little band of Rev. Edward Bass, afterward bishop of loyalists who were gathered about Bos- the Protestant Episcopal Church in Mas- ton and Cambridge, yet he was still faith- sachusetts, was one of the pall-bearer.s. ful to the people's church, and most of The journals show that in 1740 Mr. his family ties held him to the popular Whitefield passed a night (October 10) cause." — The New England Royalls, by at Mr. Royal's, " a young rich man." Edw. D. Harris, p. 23. 506 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. never save us ; and without an experimental knowledge of God in Christ we must perish in hell forever. He spake as became the Oracles of God, in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. And especially when he came to his application, he addressed himself to the audience in such a tender, earnest and moving manner, exciting us to come and be acquainted with the dear Redeemer, as melted the assembly into tears. "Next morning, at Dr. Sewall's and my desire," continues Mr. Prince, " he preached at the South Church to further ac- ceptance. He spake with a mighty sense of God, eternity, the immortality and preciousness of the souls of his hearers, of their original corruption, and of the extreme danger the unre- generate are in ; with the nature and absolute necessity of regeneration by the Holy Ghost ; and of believing in Christ, in order to our pardon, justification, yielding an acceptable obedi- ence and obtaining salvation from hell and an entrance into heaven. His doctrine was plainly that of the reformers : De- claring against putting our good works or morality in the room of Christ's Righteousness, or their having any hand in our jus- tification, or being indeed pleasing to God while we are totally unsanctified, acting from corrupt principles, and unreconciled enemies to him : which occasioned some to mistake him as if he opposed morality. But he insisted on it, that the tree of the heart is by original sin exceedingly corrupted, and must be made good by regeneration, that so the fruits proceeding from it may be good likewise ; that where the heart is renewed, it ought and will be careful to maintain good works ; that if any be not habitually so careful, who think themselves renewed, they deceive their own souls ; and even the most improved in holiness, as well as others, must entirely depend on the Right- eousness of Christ for the acceptance of their persons and ser- vices. And though now and then he dropped some expressions that were not so accurate and guarded as we should expect from aged and long studied ministers ; yet I had the satisfaction to observe his readiness with great modesty and thankfulness to receive correction as soon as offered." On Sunday morning Mr. Whitefield attended service at Brat- tle Street and listened to Dr. Colman. In the afternoon he preached "to a very thronged auditory, and with great and vis- ible effect, at Mr. Foxcroft's meeting house." Immediately after, he addressed twelve or fifteen thousand people on the Common. On Monday morning he preached at the New North, MR. WHITEFIELD AT CAMBRIDGE. 507 Mr. Webb's ; and in the afternoon he went to the New South, Mr. Checkley's, but a panic had struck the great congregation there, and when he arrived he found it in terrible confusion. There was no real cause for alarm ; but in their haste to escape from the building some threw themselves from the windows, others from the galleries, many were trodden upon, and five persons were killed.1 Mr. Whitefield adjourned the service to the Common, where, although the weather was wet, several thousands listened to him. On Tuesday he went to Roxbury, accompanied by Dr. Colman and Mr. Secretary Willard, to see Mr. Walter, the colleague and successor of John Eliot ; 2 on his return he dined with the secretary, and preached in the Second Church, Mr. Gee's, "but not to a very crowded auditory," be- cause the people were in doubt as to where he was to preach ; later he had "a thronged auditory" at the South Church, and after this he exhorted and prayed, as he did every day, at his lodgings. Wednesday was spent at Cambridge, " the Chief college for training up the sons of the prophets in all New England." The record of this visit led to important results, and we give the ac- count as first written and published by Mr. Whitefield : " It is scarce as big as one of our least colleges at Oxford ; and, as far as I could gather from some who well knew the state of it, not far superior to our universities in piety and true godliness. Tutors neglect to pray with and examine the hearts of their pu- pils. Discipline is at a low ebb. Bad books are becoming fash- ionable among them. Tillotson and Clark are read, instead of Shepard, Stoddard, and such like evangelical writers ; and, therefore, I chose to preach from those words — ' We are not as many, who corrupt the word of God ; ' and, in the conclusion of my sermon, I made a close application to tutors and students. A great number of neighbouring ministers attended, as indeed they do at all other times, and God gave me great freedom and boldness of speech. The President of the College [Mr. Hol- yoke3] and minister of the parish [Mr. Appleton] treated me 1 Dr. Sewall says : " There was a vast out of the Window, and was kill'd by the Assembly at Mr. Checkley's, to hear Fall. Others were grievously wounded." him ; but were thrown into great Confu- 2 Mr. Walter met him afterward at the sion from a groundless imagination that governor's table, and complimented him the Gallery gave way. Several were trod by calling one of his sermons Puritanis- to death as the Crowd press'd out of the mus redivivus. House, 3 died almost presently, 2 since 3 President Holyoke, in his Conven- of their Wounds. I think a Lad jump'd tion sermon, May 28, 1741, said : "And 508 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. very civilly. In the afternoon I preached again in the College Yard with particular application to the students. I believe there were seven thousand hearers. The Holy Spirit melted many hearts." While at Cambridge he paid his respects to the lieutenant-governor, Spencer Phips. On Thursday Mr. Whitefield preached the lecture in Dr. Sewall's place at the First Church, and afterward dined at the governor's with most of the Boston pastors. His journal says : " Before dinner, the governor sent for me up into his chamber. He wept, wished me good success in the name of the Lord, and recommended himself, ministers and people, to my prayers. Immediately after dinner, at the governor's motion, I prayed explicitly for them all." The governor sent him in his carriage to the ferry at the north end of the town, where he crossed to Charlestown and preached there. On Friday he preached at Roxbury, and later in the day spoke from a scaffold erected outside Mr. Byles's meeting-house in Hollis Street.1 On Satur- day he preached in the morning at Mr. Welsteed's, and in the afternoon on the Common, both times with very great effect. He dined this day with Colonel Wendell. On Sunday morning he preached at the South Church, on the story of Zaccheus, "to a very crowded auditory, with almost as much power and visible appearance of God among us as yester- day in the afternoon," and collected about five hundred and fifty pounds currency for his orphan house in Georgia. He was though religion is still in fashion with been made upon it, either as to the prin- us, yet it is evident that the power of it ciples there prevalent, or the books there is greatly decayed. Indeed, those two read ; and though such as have given pious and valuable men of God, [Mr. out a disadvantageous report of us in Whitefield and Mr. Tennent,] who have these respects, I doubt not, have done it been labouring more abundantly among in a godly jealousy for the Churches of us, have been greatly instrumental, in the Christ, that are to be supplied from us, hands of God, to revive this blessed yet, blessed be God, they are at least work ; and many, no doubt, have been mistaken herein ; nor has that society savingly converted from the error of been in so happy a state as to these their ways, many more have been con- things, from the time that I was first ac- victed, and all have been in some meas- quainted with the principles there, which ure roused from their lethargy. But the must be allowed to be the space of four power of religion had been greatly weak- or five and thirty years at least, as it is ened, and hath for a long time been too at this day." much in show and profession only." Re- 1 In his journal he says that he spent ferring to criticisms upon the college, Friday evening with several ministers at he said : " I can, from my own examina- Mr. H n's. This was probably at Mr. tion of things, assure this venerable as- Henchman's ; he was one of the deacons sembly that that society hath not de- of the South Church, and lived in Court served the aspersions which have of late Street, near Tremont. LECTURE AT THE SOUTH CHURCH. 509 taken very ill after dinner, but was able to preach at Brattle Street, where he collected four hundred and seventy pounds. "In both places, all things were carried, on with great decency and order. People went slowly out, as though they had not a mind to escape giving ; and Dr. Colman said it was the pleas- antest time he had ever enjoyed in that meeting-house through the whole course of his life." After sermon he felt refreshed, supped early, had an affectionate visit from the governor, preached to a great number of negroes, at their request, and with great effect, on the story of the Ethiopian eunuch, and on his return to his lodgings exhorted the crowd which was await- ing his arrival. Early on Monday morning, September 29, he left Boston on an excursion to the eastward. He preached at Marblehead, Salem, Ipswich, Newbury, Hampton, Portsmouth, and York. At the last-named place he saw the venerable Samuel Moody, whom he had been anxious to meet. On his return, he spent the Sunday at Salem, where he preached twice, and in the Epis- copal church read prayers and assisted at the sacrament. On Tuesday he preached "with much power," both morning and evening, at Brattle Street, and on Wednesday, morning and evening, at the New North. Here " there was more of the presence of God through the whole ministration than ever he had known at one time through the whole course of his life." On Thursday. he preached the lecture at the South Church.1 He had chosen another text, but it was much impressed on his heart that he should preach from our Lord's conference with Nicodemus. A great number of ministers were present ; and when he came to the words " Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things ? " he says : " The Lord enabled me to open my mouth boldly against unconverted ministers ; to cau- tion tutors to take care of their pupils ; and also to advise min- isters particularly to examine into the experiences of candidates for ordination. For I am verily persuaded the generality of preachers talk of an unknown and unfelt Christ ; and the rea- son why congregations have been so dead is, because they have had dead men preaching to them." 2 In the afternoon he ad- 1 On this Thursday there were two whose was the Lecture, preach'd in the services ; Mr. Webb preached at the Old, So great were the Numbers. P. M. usual place, and Mr. Whitefield at the in the Common." South Church. Dr. Sewall says: Oct. 2 He dined again this day with the 7. " Mr. Whitefield preached ... in governor, who told one of the ministers our meeting-house, while Mr. Webb, present, who had lately begun to preach 5IO HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. dressed another immense audience on the Common. On Fri- day he preached at Charlestown and at Reading, and on Satur- day at Cambridge, from the meeting-house steps, to a great body of people, who stood very attentively, though it rained, and at the latter part of the sermon were much affected. The subject was " Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteous- ness." x The morning of Sunday, October 12, was spent in conversing with those who came for spiritual advice. He then preached with great power and affection at the South Church, which was so exceedingly thronged that he was obliged to enter at one of the windows. His text was Jer. xxxiii. 6, " And this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness." 2 " He dined with the governor, who came to him after din- ner, weeping, and desired his prayers. He heard Dr. Sewall in the afternoon [on Isai. xlviii. 17, 18]. He was sick during and after the exercises, but went with the governor in his coach, and preached his farewell sermon on the Common to near thirty thousand people. Great numbers melted into tears when he spoke of leaving them. The governor then went with him to his lodgings. He stood in the passage and spoke to a great company, both within and without the doors ; but they were so deeply affected, and cried out so loud, that he was obliged to extempore, that he was very glad he had fault with them. Before the questioner found out a way to save his eyes. had well begun to consider what hope of 1 Mr. Secretary Willard wrote to him acceptance with God any one durst cher- soon after : " Mr. Webb tells me that ish, if the atonement was only for the divers young men in this town, who are elect, his soul was called to repent and candidates for the ministry, have been believe ; for Whitefield was too wise at brought under deep convictions by your winning souls to leave his ' application ' preaching, and (as he hopes) are carried to the last : he would put an application off from the foundation of their false to every paragraph rather than fail in hopes (their own righteousness) to rest getting practical results. In his sermon only on Christ for salvation." Dr. Col- on ' The Lord our Righteousness ' he man wrote : " At Cambridge the Col- rushes straight in among his hearers' lege is a new creature; the students full doubts and troubles — doubts and trou- of God, and like to come out blessings bles which his own rebukes and plead- in their generations, and to be so now to ings have created, and exclaims, ' Who each other." knows but the Lord may have mercy on, 2 " Nor was it so much the theology of nay, abundantly pardon you? Beg of the sermons as the spirit of the preacher God to give you faith ; and, if the Lord which won the people's ear and heart, gives you that, you will by it receive Love is more than theology, both with Christ with His righteousness and His God and man, and that was never absent all. You need not fear the greatness or from any sermon of Whitefield. Con- the number of your sins.' " — Gledstone's gregations had no time to settle down Life and Travels of George Whitefield, upon his theological mistakes, and find pp. 346, 347. IMPRESSIONS OF BOSTON. 511 leave off praying. The governor was highly pleased to see the power of God. The remainder of the evening was mostly spent in conversation with inquirers." It was at the close of the rec- ord of this memorable day that the great preacher summed up in his journal his general impressions of Boston : — Boston is a large populous place, very wealthy ; has the form kept up very well, but has lost much of the power of religion. I have not heard of any remarkable stir in it for these many years. Ministers and people are obliged to confess, that the love of many is waxed cold. Both, for the generality, seem too much conformed to the world. There is much of the pride of life to be seen in their assem- blies. Jewels, patches and gay apparel are commonly worn by the female sex. Little boys and girls I observed commonly dressed up in the pride of life ; and the little infants that were brought to baptism, were wrapped up in such fine things, and so much pains taken to dress them, that one would think they were brought thither to be initiated into, rather than renounce, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world. . . . One thing Boston is remarkable for, — the external ob- servation of the Sabbath. Men in civil offices have a regard for reli- gion. The governor encourages them, and the ministers and magis- trates seem to be more united, than in any other place where I have been. Both were exceedingly civil to me during my stay. I never saw so little scoffing ; never had so little opposition. But one might easily foresee, much would hereafter arise, when I come to be more particular in my application to particular persons ; for, I fear, many rest in a head-knowledge, are close Pharisees, and having only a name to live. . . . Boston people are dear to my soul. They were greatly affected by the word, followed night and day, and were very liberal to my dear orphans. I promised, God willing, to visit them again, and intend to fulfil my promise when it shall please God to bring me again from my native country. In the mean while, dear Boston adieu. The Lord be with thy ministers and people, and grant that the rem- nant that is left according to the election of grace, may take root downwards, and bear fruit upwards, and fill the land.1 Dr. Sewall wrote in his diary : — Oct. 13. He left the Town. It is wonderful to behold a young man (about 26) Preaching thus twice a Day, with great earnestness, the Gospel of Christ. Many, partly among the Youth, seem to be affected. O let good Impressions be fix'd, and issue in a sound 1 In preparing this account of Mr. field, M. A., by Robert Philip ; The Whitefield's first visit to Boston we Great Awakening, by Joseph Tracy ; and have consulted his Journals, also The The Life and Travels of George White- Life and Times of the Rev. George White- field, M. A., by James P. Gledstone. 512 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Conversion. Let not our Goodness be as the morning cloud ! O God, humble and quicken me ! Enable me, thy Ministers, thy people, to Improve aright this extraordinary Dispensation ! O revive thy work among us ! Save thy people ! I hope some of Mr. W.'s dis- courses were very affecting to me. O Lord, teach me, thy People, to profit ! Dr. Colman wrote to Mr. Parsons, then of Lyme, "We have had a week of Sabbaths." Mr. Prince, two or three years later, thus spoke of Mr. White- field's going away : " As far as I could then see or learn, he parted in the general esteem and love both of ministers and people ; and this seemed to continue 'till the Journal of his travels in New England came abroad, wherein some passages offended many, and occasioned their reflections on him." What these " reflections on him" were we shall see in connec- tion with his next visit to Boston. He himself was afterward brought to comprehend and frankly to acknowledge what a seri- ous mistake he had made in recording his opinions upon such slight personal acquaintance with the country and the people, and, of course, largely on hearsay testimony, and, still more, in publishing them. He was not the last visitor to these shores, however, to err in the same way. It should be remembered in his defence, that at the time of this visit he had not completed his twenty-sixth year, and that he had met with a reception in New England which was enough to turn the head of a man many years older. When he left Boston on Monday morning, on his way to Northampton, to see Mr. Edwards, Governor Belcher took him in his carriage to the ferry, embraced him, and with tears bade him farewell. But this did not satisfy the governor; he drove the next clay to Marlborough, met the great preacher there, and accompanied him to Worcester. On finally parting with him he said privately, " Mr. Whitefield, go on in stirring up the ministers ; for reformation must begin at the house of God : and do not spare rulers, no, not the chief of them, any more than ministers." He asked him to pray for him, that he might hun- ger and thirst after righteousness, and again took leave of him with tears. " I have often thought," says one of his biographers, the Rev. Robert Philip, " whilst reviewing the sweeping and se- vere invectives which Whitefield so bitterly repented, that no small part of the blame lay at the governor's door. A charge like this, uttered with tears and entreaties, was enough to mis- MR. WHITEFIELD'S DEPARTURE. 513 lead a cooler man than George Whitefield. I must, therefore, say of it what he said of his own conduct, ' It was well meant, but it did hurt.' '! To his credit for impartiality, it should be added that he did not spare the governor himself, but before leaving New England thus wrote to him : " I thought your ex- cellency wanted a more clear view of your own vileness, and of the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ. I mean a more experimental view : for what is all head-knowledge, without that of the heart ? It only settles people more upon their lees. May God give you to see and to follow the simplicity of the blessed Jesus ! Hon- oured Sir, I make no apology for this freedom ; your excellency bade me not spare rulers — no not the chief of them." * This plainness of speech did not displease Governor Belcher, who loved him almost as a son, and the two were afterward to meet on intimate terms in New Jersey.2 The religious interest in Boston did not abate on the depart- ure of Mr. Whitefield. " Great numbers in the town were so happily concerned about their souls " as had never been seen there before, except at the time of the earthquake in 1727. The people wanted to hear their ministers more than ever, and " the assemblies both on Sabbaths and Lectures were surprizingly increased." It was decided to set up a public Lecture " at Dr. Colman's Church, near the midst of the town, on every Tuesday evening. Lord's-Day afternoon, October 19, public notice was there given of the proposed Lecture to be on Tuesday Evening following : which the religious people in general received with so much joy, that when the evening came, the House seemed to be crowded as much as if Mr. Whitefield was there. It was the first stated Evening Lecture in these parts of the world : and the venerable Dr. Colman began it with a most suitable and 1 He was no more stern in dealing of the town ; containing just reproofs of with the governor than with himself, our backslidings, and in a most moving Only a few days before, he had written and affecting manner, making use of our in his journal : " Went in his [the gov- great profession and great mercies as ar- ernor's] coach to the end of the town, but guments with us to return to God, from had such a sense of my vileness upon whom we had departed. Immediately my soul, that I wondered people did not after this, the minds of the people in stone me." general appeared more engaged in reli- 2 Of Mr. Whitefield's preaching at gion, showing a greater forwardness to Northampton Mr. Edwards said : " The make religion the subject of their con- congregation was extraordinarily melted versation, and to meet frequently to- by every sermon ; almost the whole as- gether for religious purposes, and to em- sembly being in tears for a great part brace all opportunities to hear the word of sermon time. Mr. Whitefield's ser- preached." — Christian History, vol. i. mons were suitable to the circumstances p. 367. 514 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. moving sermon, forthwith printed." The text was, " Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows ? " In opening, the excellent pastor, speaking for his brethren and himself, said : — Our dear people, your ministers have with pleasure seen you in the weeks past, old and young, parents and children, masters and servants, high and low, rich and poor together, gathering and passing as clouds in our streets, and as doves on the wing in flocks flying to the doors and windows of our places of worship ; and hovering about the same, those that could not get in. The fame of a singular fervent and holy youth, and extraordinary servant and minister of Jesus Christ, (who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire,) had prepared you for his visit; and with raised expectations we received him, even as an angel of God for Jesus sake ; as the apostle St. Paul was received by the churches in Galatia. God gave him a wonderful manner of entrance among us, just as in other places before us, among the brethren of our denomination ; and we were sometimes melted together in tears, ministers and people, parents and children, under the commanding addresses of love to his Saviour and our souls. We led you with a visible pleasure in our faces to the solemn and great assemblies, and looked on you there with great satisfaction, in your uncommon regards to the beloved ser- vant of Christ, for the truth's sake that dwelleth in him, and the love of the Spirit filling him, and reigning in his ministrations to us. And now our beloved brethren and sisters, you and your children, we are going to prove, confirm and increase, by the will of God, the seeming good dispositions begun or revived in you, toward Christ and his word, in a just and reasonable pious care and solicitude for your salvation. On Tuesday evening, October 28, Dr. Sewall preached in the same place, from Ezek. xi. 19, 20. "The House was then also greatly crowded with attentive hearers : and so it continued to be on these Lectures for many months after." Novr. 2. 1740 The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stay'd and Voted as follows, viz ; I. That forty six pounds be given out of the Collection for chari- table and pious uses, to the Poor of this Church and Congregation, to supply them with Wood and other Necessaries. II. That there be given out of said collection, To the Revd Mr. Richard Pierce 10 pounds to encourage him to continue Preaching the Gospel at Dartmouth. A FAST-DAY SERMON. 515 III. To the Revd. Mr. Timothy White 10 pounds towards his Sup- port in Preaching the Gospel in Nantucket. IV. To the Revd. Mr. Ezra Carpenter 5 pounds towards his Sup- port in Preaching the Gospel in Hull. V. The Remainder 5/. 9. 5. to be distributed in Books of Piety by our Pastors to proper objects of such a Charity. Joseph Sewall. On the 29th of November, the House of Representatives, "taking into consideration the many tokens of Divine dis- pleasure upon this Province, and more especially the pressing difficulties which have long attended and do still attend the publick affairs thereof, and which are likely to increase upon us, unless the Government be led into some measures for the speedy remedy thereof," asked the governor to appoint a day of fasting and prayer to be solemnized by the General Court, " as well for themselves as in behalf of the people of this Province." The council concurred, and the governor appointed Wednesday, December 3, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, for a service to be held in the council chamber.1 Dr. Sewall preached, taking his text from Jonah iii. 10, — Nineveh's Repentance and Deliver- ance. In the application of his subject, the doctor spoke very plainly to his distinguished audience: — "Let the Lord's Day," he said, "be strictly observ'd ; for God hath set the Sabbath as a sign between him and his people, that he is the Lord who sanctifieth them. Let the most effectual means also be used that the great abuse of taverns may be reformed ; that these be not converted into tippling and gaming houses for town-dwellers, to the dishonour of God and hurt of the Common-Wealth. Let the foun- tains of justice be kept open and pure, that judgment may run down as waters ; and that such as thirst after righteousness may come freely and be refreshed. And whereas the present difficulties which embar- rass our affairs, do very much arise from the want of a suitable medium of trade, and different apprehensions in the Legislature about supply- ing the Treasury, whereby the publick debts are, in part at least, left unpaid, and the country naked and defenceless, in this day of calamity and war : I can't but humbly apprehend, that this awful frown of Providence calls aloud to you further to consider, whether there has not been great injustice and oppression with relation to the Bills of Publick Credit which have pass'd among us, from their sinking and uncertain value ; and to use your best endeavours that whatever Bills shall pass for time to come in lieu of money, may be a just medium 1 A similar service was held December 10, 1736. $l6 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. of exchange; for a false balance is abomination to the Lord ; but a just weight is his delight. Prov xi. i. Whatever methods may be propos'd to extricate us out of our present distress, justice and equity must be laid in the foundation ; or we may expect that the Lord who loves righteousness and hates wickedness, will confound our devices, and bring them to nought. But then, I presume not in the least measure to determine whether this or that way is right. May that God before whom all things are open and naked, direct your. Excellency and the whole Court, into such paths of righteousness as shall lead to our deliverance and safety ; that we may neither oppress one another, nor become a prey to an insulting enemy ! May you be fill'd with the most tenderly and fatherly compassion for your people, under the present distress and danger, and do all you can to relieve them ! And if there should be a difference in your opinion about the way, may you be enabled to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, that the. God of peace maybe with you, who has promis'd to guide the meek in judgment ! " l A vote of thanks to the preacher was passed in the council, and was concurred in by the House, and a copy of his sermon was requested for publication. The committee on the part of the council, — John Osborne and Ezekiel Lewis, — as well as the secretary who attested the vote and the governor who ap- proved it, were members of his church.2 On the 13th of December, the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, of New Jersey, whose preaching had aroused multitudes and been the means of bringing many into the church, arrived in Boston, and began his labors on the next day, being Sunday, at the New North, preaching morning and afternoon. Mr. Prince says : " He did not indeed at first come up to my expectation ; but afterwards exceeded it." " He seemed to have no regard to please the eyes of his hearers with agreeable gesture, nor their 1 [Dr. Sewall had preached on the felt in prodigious strength. However currency question at the Thursday Lee- doubtful the legal right of the British ture, in December of the year before, government to interfere, there is no Judge Lynde says: — doubt of the disastrous tendency of the 1739. Dec. 6. "Fair. Dr. Sewall course which the Province was disposed preached about acco. of Emission ; dined to pursue." — History of N. Eng., vol. iv. at Mr. Lewis's." — Lynde Diaries, p. 160. pp. 548, 549. The paper currency had Palfrey says : " Throughout the ad- depreciated seventy-five per cent.] ministration of Governor Belcher, the 2 The winter of 1740-41 was a severe finances of the Province were in an ex- one, and to mitigate the sufferings of the tremely discouraging condition. The poor of the town, collections were taken temptation to make a fictitious currency, in February, in all the congregations, and to defer the times for payment, was The amount collected at the South such as in like circumstances is always Church was ^105. THE REV. GILBERT TENNENT. 517 ears with delivery, nor their fancy with language ; but to aim directly at their hearts and consciences, to lay open their ruin- ous delusions, shew them their numerous, secret, hypocritical shifts in religion, and drive them out of every deceitful refuge wherein they made themselves easy, with the form of godliness without the power. And many who were pleased in a good conceit of themselves before, now found, to their great distress, they were only self-deceived hypocrites. And though while the discovery was making, some at first raged, as they have owned to me and others ; yet in the progress of the discovery many were forced to submit ; and then the power of God so broke and humbled them, that they wanted a further and even a thorough discovery ; they went to hear him, that the secret corruptions and delusions of their hearts might be more discovered ; and the more searching the sermon, the more acceptable it was to their anxious minds." 1 Mr. Tennent spent more than two months in Boston and the neighborhood. He preached his farewell sermon in the Brattle Street meeting-house, on Monday, March 2, 1741, " to an audi- tory extremely crowded, very attentive and much affected." His text was Acts xi. 23, " And exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord." "It was an affectionate parting, and as great numbers of all conditions and ages appeared awakened by him, there seemed to be a gen- eral sadness at his going away." "And now," continues Mr. Prince, "was such a time as we never knew. The Rev. Mr. Cooper was wont to say, that more came to him in one week in deep concern about their souls, than in the whole twenty-four years of his preceding ministry. I can also say the same as to the numbers who repaired to me. By Mr. Cooper's Letter to his friend in Scotland, it appears, he has had about six hundred persons in three months time : and Mr. Webb informs me, he has had in the same space above a thousand." "The people seemed to love to hear us more than ever." The Tuesday evening Lecture at Brattle Street was not suf- ficient, and it was decided to open another Lecture on Friday evenings at the South Church. We quote now from the records : — 1 Dr. Sewall says : Tuesday, " Jan. There were Notes for about 54 under 20. I preach'd the Evening Lecture from Conviction. . . . Besides several young John 16. 8. Reprove the world of Sin. Children concerned for their Souls." 518 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. April 12. 1741. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stay'd and Voted — That there be a weekly Evening Lecture opened by our Pastors, on Friday next, while it shall please God to continue the Desire, which at present is manifested by great numbers to hear the Word of God. Voted, That there be another public Collection for charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Fast, April 23. Current ; And that the Congregation be "notified of this Vote the next Lords-Day, and be desired to assist in the said Collection. April 23 Collected 94/. 10. o, of which was appropriated, To the fund for charitable and pious uses, . 5. 0.0. To the Rev. Mr. Pierce of Dartmouth, . 1. 10. o. Joseph Sewall. Dr. Sewall preached on Friday evening, April 17, from Job xvi. 8 : " And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a wit- ness against me : and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face." He preached three other discourses from the same text, and the four were printed, with a preface, in which he said : — It hath pleased the sovereign and gracious God, in whose hand our times are, to ordain that we should live under some peculiar advan- tages for our precious souls. For to the ordinary means, we have super-added the manifestation of the Spirit, in extraordinary works of grace. We have lately heard glad tidings from one place and another, that many are enquiring the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward ; and some are declaring what God hath done for their souls. Yea, God hath brought this work home to our own doors, and we hear many crying out, What must we do to be saved ! And there are a number hopefully rejoicing in God's salvation. Of such a season as this it may well be said, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee : Behold, now is the accepted time ; Behold now is the day of salvation. I hope God's people are reaping the fruit of their prayers, particularly on extraordinary days of fasting observed with an especial view to this great blessing, the plentiful effusion of the holy Spirit. O there's great reason to fear that another like season will never, never return upon you. Soon after, another lecture, every Tuesday and Friday even- ing, was opened at the New North, so that " three of the most capacious Houses of public Worship in town " were in use for this purpose ; l " besides the ancient Lecture every Thursday 1 Referring to Brattle Street, the Old hold three thousand people." The ca- South, and the New North, Mr. Prince pacity of these meeting-houses could not says, " The least of which I suppose will have been very closely calculated. SOME RESULTS OF THE REVIVAL. 519 noon, at the Old Church." " Nor were the people satisfied with all these Lectures : But as private societies for religious exer- cises, both of younger and elder persons, both of males and females by themselves, in several parts of the town, now in- creased to a much greater number than ever, viz. to near the number of thirty, meeting on Lord's-Day, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings ; so the people were constantly employ- ing the ministers to pray and preach at those societies, as also at many private houses where no formed society met ; and such numbers flocked to hear us as greatly crowded them, as well as more than usually filled our Houses of public Worship both on Lords-Days and Lectures, especially Evening Lectures for about a twelvemonth after." As to the South Church, says its pastor : " Within six months from the end of January 1 740-1, were three score joined to our communicants : the greater part of whom gave a more exact account of the work of the Spirit of God on their souls in effectual calling, as described in the Westminster Assembly's Shorter Catechism, than I was wont to meet with before : be- sides many others I could not but have charity for, who re- frained from coming to the Table of Christ for want of a satisfying view of the work of renovation in them. Mr. Ten- nent being so exceeding strict in cautioning people from running into churches, taking the sacred Covenant, and receiving the Lord's Supper the seal thereof, 'till they had saving grace ; that diverse brought to very hopeful dispositions, yea, some I doubt not, to embrace the Saviour in all his offices, were through fear and darkness kept from coming into full communion. Or other- wise, many more I believe, would have entered ; who had they the like experiences a year before, I doubt not would have readily offered themselves, and we should have as readily re- ceived them, and would now, as some of the most hopeful Christians. So far did Mr. Tennent's awakening ministry shake their hopes and hinder them, that those whom I appre- hended to be thirsty, and thought myself obliged to encourage, I found the impressions of his preaching had discouraged. Yea, some who had been in full communion were made so suspicious of themselves, as to refrain partaking ; and I had no small pains to remove their scruples." 1 1 The whole number received into not equalled and surpassed until the the membership during the year ended year 1827. Twenty-one owned the cov- March, 1742, was sixty-nine. This was enant in 1741, many more than in any 520 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. "In this year 1741," says Mr. Prince, " the very face of the town seemed to be strangely altered." And writing to Dr. Isaac Watts, in the autumn of the same year, Dr. Colman said : " Thanks be to God, in our Province the impressions of religion grow and increase in a happy, wise, sedate manner, such as gives a joyous prospect relating to the next generation, that our young ones will be wise, grave devout parents to their children. I know not how to admire the pleasant gracious work of God : our Lectures flourish, our Sabbaths are joyous, our churches increase, our ministers have new life and spirit in their work."1 We have similar testimony from a prominent layman. Mr. Secretary Willard wrote as follows to Mr. Whitefield : " There has been so evidently the finger of God, in directing you into this Province, and (after your departure) the Rev. Mr. Tennent, through your earnest and importunate request to him, and in the wonderful success that has attended both his and your min- istry, as also the labours of our own ministers for some months past, that many that like not the work are sadly put to it, to keep their eyes shut against the evidences of it." 2 There had been a terrible fire in Charleston, South Carolina ; three hundred houses in the best part of the town had been destroyed, and a cry for help reached the Northern communities. year since that time. Among them was participation in the communion was as Thomas Prince, Jr., who was, no doubt, follows : " It seems to me that where one of those to whom his father referred there is a thirst for Christ and his as prepared for full membership, but spiritual benefits, that thirst is raised by held back from asking for it by the dis- the Spirit of Christ : And in raising such couraging character of Mr. Tennent's a thirst, he qualifies for them, shows his preaching. This young man edited and readiness to satiate it, invites, requires, published the Christian History, under and gives sufficient grounds for coming his father's supervision, and evidently to him at these Pipes of Living Waters ; took the deepest interest in the advance though we may'nt be sure whether this of the kingdom of Christ in the world, thirst arises from a renewed heart or no: He died, much lamented, September 30, And thither therefore should we come 1748, aged twenty-six. He graduated at with a humble sense of our emptiness Harvard College in 1740, and in the and unworthiness, and with our thirsty catalogue his name stands first in the souls reaching forth to Him, to receive list. The class had twenty-two mem- from his open, offered and overflowing bers, and among them were Samuel fulness. If I am mistaken, I desire to Adams, the Revolutionary patriot, George see it." Bethune, Benjamin Stevens, and Samuel x Mr. Prince's narrative of the Re- Langdon, president of Harvard College vivals from which we have quoted, is to from 1774 to 1780. be found in the Christian History, vol. The Rev. Mr. Prince's opinion on ii. pp. 374-400. qualification for full membership and 2 Whitefield's Journal. GOVERNOR BELCHER SUPERSEDED. 52 1 At a Meeting of the South Church and Congregation, May 20. 1741. Upon reading the Brief emitted by His Excellency the Governour with the advice of His Majesty's Council, for Exciting to a charitable Contribution, for the necessitous sufferers by the late dreadful Fire in Charlestown, South Carolina ; Voted, That there be a public Collection on the Lord's Day, the 31st of this Instant May, to be put into the Hands of Francis Foxcroft, Jacob Wendell and Anthony Stoddard Esqrs. and invested in such Things as the Governour and Council shall judge to be most for the service and relief of the most necessitous Sufferers by the late fire in Charlestown : And to be transmitted to Messrs. Benjamin Savage, Thomas Cooper and Joseph Moody, of said Charlestown, Merchants, to Distribute according to their best Discretion to the said necessitous Sufferers only. Joseph Sewall. Soon after this, Governor Belcher was superseded in his high office by Governor Shirley. The position of a royal governor in Massachusetts was always a trying and difficult one ; there was a perpetual resistance on the part of the representatives of the people to the prerogative which it was his duty to maintain, and Mr. Belcher, with all his personal influence and popularity, succeeded no better in harmonizing the differences between the crown and the province than did some of those who had gone before him or who were to follow him. Palfrey admits that " the general course of his administration had been not other- wise than advantageous to the provinces which he governed." He had made bitter enemies in Massachusetts by his opposition to the Land Bank, and in New Hampshire, on a question of boundary; while in London he was compromised by the cir- cumstance that his brother-in-law, Richard Partridge, who' sometimes acted as his agent there, was agent also of the friends of the Land Bank. Intrigues for his overthrow at court had long been in progress, and at length, by a combination of cir- cumstances, they were successful.1 1 " Whilst Mr. Belcher, by his vigor- affected party in Massachusetts who had ous opposition to the Land Bank, was been using what interest they had in rendering himself obnoxious to one half England against him. Lord Wilmington, the people of the province, measures President of the Council, the Speaker of were pursuing in England for his removal the House of Commons, and Sir Charles from the government. Besides the at- Wager, First Lord of the Admiralty, all tempts which we have mentioned from had a favorable opinion of Mr. Belcher. New Hampshire, which had never been So had Mr. Holden, who was at the head laid aside, there had always been a dis- of the dissenters in England, and all 522 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Thomas Hutchinson, writing from London to Judge Lynde, at this time, said that several incidents had concurred to pro- mote the ultimate success of these schemes ; " but," he added, " I had it from Lord President's own mouth that Governor Bel- cher's security for some time had been his steady conduct in the affair of the money, and that his brother Partridge's patron- izing the Land Bank when before the House of Commons had done his business." l The same authority, in his History, says : — A few weeks' longer delay would have baffled all the schemes. The news arrived of his negativing thirteen counsellors and displacing a great number of officers concerned in the Land Bank, and his zeal and fortitude were highly applauded when it was too late. Being in London at this time, I had opportunity of fully informing myself of these facts. Certainly, in public employments no man ought to be condemned from the reports and accusations of a party without a suf- ficient opportunity given him to exculpate himself, — a plantation gov- ernor especially, who, be he without guile or a consummate politician, will infallibly have a greater or lesser number disaffected to him.2 The following is an account by a participant in the proceed- upon one occasion or another had ap- anonymous letters addressed from Mas- peared for him. The most unfair and sachusetts to dissenting clergymen in indirect measures were used with each of England." — Jacob B. Moore, in Am. these persons to render Mr. Belcher ob- Quarterly Register, May, 1841. noxious and odious to them." — Hutch- Governor Belcher wrote to Henry inson's Hist, of Mass., vol. iii. pp. 355, Sherburne, July 20, 1741 : " The change 356. in this province was certainly the most The chief points of the intrigue surprising and unexpected to all my against Governor Belcher have been thus friends, being done soon after the most summed up : " His enemies charged solemn and sacred promises to the con- him, 1. With being friendly to the Land trary. But there is no faith in man, Bank scheme ; 2. With having counte- whose ' heart is deceitful above all nanced the waste of the king's timber ; things, and desperately wicked.' God and 3. With contriving the ruin of the alone is unchangeable, and there must dissenting church in New England. The thy trust be fixed." He also wrote to first charge was so far from being true Dr. Watts, March 2, 1743: "If the late that most of the opposition to his admin- change that has passed over me from a istration in Massachusetts arose from glaring public station to an obscure pri- his decided opposition to the Land Bank, vate life may lead me to a more close The second was equally false, and origi- communion with God, even to a life hid nated with the adherents of Dunbar, in with Christ in God, happy, for ever New Hampshire, who sent a forged rep- happy and glorious, will be the ex- resentation to London, using the names change." of J. Gilman, Joseph Lord, George Ger- 1 The Diaries of Benjamin Lynde and rish, Peter Thing, and John Hall, of of Benjamin Lynde, Jr., p. 222. Exeter. The third had no better foun- 2 [Hutchinson's History, vol. iii. p. dation, and was supported only by forged 358.] GOVERNOR SHIRLEY SWORN IN. 523 ings of the transfer of office from the retiring to the newly appointed governor : — Friday, August 14. The procession met in this manner — a com- mittee of the Council and Representatives, viz : ... to the number of ... , about 1 1 o'clock, waited on the Hon William Shirley Esq. attending till 12 at his house; then proceeded in order, with several of the old Council viz : Adam Winthrop Esq. Judge Dudley, Lewis Wadsworth etc Esqs. who walk'd in company with Mr. Shirley, the High Sheriff Winslow and officers marching before, till they joyned the Guards and militia, who had waited and drawn up before Governor Belcher's street gates ; and then immediately Governor Belcher, with several gentlemen, Justices of the Peace, etc., and only myself of the old Council, according to direction (as also the others of the old Council should) joyned Mr. Shirley in his Procession. Thus, after a short compliment, Governor Belcher walked in the middle, Mr. Shir- ley on his right hand, and Lt. Governor Phipps on his left ; then fol- lowed Lynde and Winthrop, Dudley etc. In the Council Chamber, the Commission in form was read by Secretary Willard, and then Governor Shirley, by the Secretary, was sworn, viz : upon the Evan- gelists, the usual oath, and then, to his Administration oaths as usual. Upon which finished, Governor Belcher rose up and taking Governor Shirley by the hand, surrendered the chair to him with a very friendly, cheerful and courteous congratulation, wishing him all happiness and prosperity in all his administrations and government ; upon which Gov- ernor Shirley from the Chair returned him the same compliment of thanks for his good wishes ; and after the Proclamation, both Gov- ernors and the Lt. Governor, Shirley in the middle, with the Council in order, proceeded to dinner with them at Withered's.1 The new governor was a worshipper at King's Chapel, and naturally the Episcopalians in the town were much pleased with the change. The Rev. Roger Price thus wrote, when the first rumors of it came to hand : — There is a current report here that our present Governour, Mr. Bel- cher, who is a rigid Dissenter and a bitter enemy to the Church, is in some danger of being put out of his Government for Male administra- tion ; which is matter of great joy to the Majority of the people here, and in particular, you may judge, to every true member of the Church, under whose despite and Oppression we have long groan'd. It is likewise rumour'd that Mr. Shirley, an Old England Gentleman, not unknown to the Duke of Newcastle, is like to succeed him. This doubly adds to the publick satisfaction, which is as general as can well be imagin'd, from the good character the Gentleman has establish'd 1 [The Lynde Diaries, pp. 114, 115.] 524 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. here, by his Generous and Courteous behaviour and experienc'd abili- ties ; and so unexceptionable will this change be, that I believe Mr. Belcher's own Friends, which indeed are but few, would scarce mur- mur at it. I must own I heartily wish him success.1 When Mr. Belcher went to England, a year or two later, he speedily vindicated his character and conduct, and exposed the baseness of the means which had been employed for his over- throw. He was restored to the royal favor, and was promised the first vacant government in America. For this he had to wait several years. In 1747 he was appointed to the governor- ship of the province of New Jersey, and he took the oaths at Perth Amboy on the 10th of August. Here " he ruled with success, and with satisfaction to himself and the people," 2 un- til his death, which took place at Elizabethtown, August 31, 1757, in his seventy-sixth year. His body, at his request, was brought to Cambridge, to be buried with his father and grand- father. Princeton College, of which he was one of the chief founders and promoters, stands as his most enduring and illus- trious monument.3 President Burr said of him in his funeral sermon : — The scholar, the accomplished gentleman, and the true Christian were seldom more happily and thoroughly united than in him. His ears were always open to real grievances. The cause of the poor, the widow, the fatherless, as well as of the rich and great, was by him favorably heard, and the wrongs of all readily and impartially re- dressed. He was indeed a minister of God for good unto his peo- ple. In the autumn of 1741, the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock, one of 1 [Foote's Annals of King's Chapel, second charter passed the great seal of vol. i. p. 529.] the province, and continues to be the 2 Palfrey's History of Mass., vol. iv. fundamental instrument of the institu- P- 5^2- tion (modified in some few instances by 3 "Measures were taken during the subsequent legislation) to the present administration of Governor Morris to time." Governor Belcher received the obtain a charter for a college, but with- first honorary degree conferred by the out success, and not until October 22, college, that of A. M., in 1748. His son 1746, was there one obtained, during the Jonathan received the same degree from administration of President Hamilton, it in 1756, and Mr. Whitefield in 1754. but nothing had been done before the The college was removed from Newark arrival of Governor Belcher to perfect to Princeton in 1756, and the first build- the institution. Soon after he reached ing erected there was named by Gov- New Jersey Governor Belcher interested ernor Belcher Nassau Hall. — New himself to secure a more perfect char- Jersey Archives, First Series, vol. vii. ter, and otherwise to promote its sue- p. 116, note. Princeton Triennial Cata- cess. On the 14th September, 1748, the logue. THE REV. MR. WHEELOCK'S VISIT. 525 the founders of Dartmouth College, visited Boston, and the fol- lowing is from his private journal : — Oct. 6. Set out for Boston. Met by dear Mr. Prince and Mr. Bromfield about eight miles from Boston. Came in to Mr. Brom- field's. Soon after my arrival, came the Hon. Josiah Willard, Secre- tary, Rev. Mr. Webb and Mr. Cooper, and Major Sewall, to bid me wel- come to Boston. At six o'clock, rode with Mr. Bromfield in his chaise to the north end of the town, and preached for Mr. Webb to a great assembly. After sermon, returned to dear Mr. Webb's ; pleased with the conversation of dear Mr. Gee. Oct. S. Went to Dr. Colman's meeting ; preached with considera- ble freedom. Dined with the Doctor. Went with Mr. Rogers to Mr. Prince's. Preached to a full assembly. After meeting, was followed by a great throng of children, who importunately desired me to give them a word of exhortation in a private house, which I consented to do, though I designed to go and hear Mr. Prince, who, being by, de- sired that I would have it publicly, which I consented to. Oct. 9. Visited this morning by a great number of persons under soul trouble. Refused to preach, because I designed to go out of town. Just as I was going, came Mr. Webb, and told me the people were meeting together to hear another sermon. I consented to preach again. A scholar from Cambridge being present, who came to get me to go to Cambridge, hastened to Cambridge, and, by a little after six, a great part of the scholars had got to Boston. Preached to a very thronged assembly, many more than could get into the house, with very great freedom and enlargement. I believe the children of God were very much refreshed. They told me afterwards, they believed that Mather Byles was never so lashed in his life. This morning, Mr. Cooper came to me, in the name of the Hon. Jacob Wendell Esq., and earnestly desired a copy of my sermon, preached in the forenoon of the Lord's day for the press. O, that God would make and keep me humble.1 Novr 8. 1 741. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stay'd and Voted, I. That 88 pounds, the whole of the last Collection for charitable and pious uses, unappropriated, be given to the Poor of this Church and Congregation to supply them with Wood and other Necessaries. II. That there be another Public Collection for Charitable and pious Uses on the Anniversary Thanksgiving Novr 12. Current. 1 [The Great Azvakening,^. 203. Colo- 22, 1765, we suppose to have been their nel Jacob Wendell lived on the corner of daughter. Colonel John Wendell, neph- School and Common (now Tremont) ew and partner of Jacob Wendell, lived streets. He married Sarah, daughter of on the corner of Prison Lane (Court James Oliver ; and Elizabeth Wendell, Street) and Tremont Street, next door to who joined the South Church September Deacon Henchman.] 526 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Novr. 12. Collected 93. 18. o Appropropriated to the Fund for Charitable and pious uses • • . 5. o. o 98. 18. o Joseph Sewall. The first serious division in any of the Boston churches, growing out of the recent revivals, took place this winter. Mr. Mather was dismissed from the colleague pastorate of the Sec- ond Church, December 21. Thirty men and sixty-three women, members of the church, who were his friends, withdrew with him ; the number that remained with Mr. Gee were eighty men and one hundred and eighty-three women. Mr. Mather had caused dissatisfaction on the part of many by what was consid- ered by them to be a want of explicitness in his doctrinal state- ments, and it is evident that he was out of sympathy with Mr. Gee on the subject of Mr. Whitefield's preaching and its results.1 Suspicions and charges of impropriety of conduct were also current against him. "Mr. Mather, on finding that such a state of things existed, asked a dismission. The church refused to grant it, and proceeded to an investigation of the charges. Not being able to agree as to the truth of the accusa- tions, or to bring about any satisfactory issue, they called in the aid of an ecclesiastical council. The churches invited to form the council were the Rev. Dr. Colman's, Dr. Sewall's, Mr. Webb's, Mr. Foxcroft's, and Mr. Checkley's. So far as can be ascertained from various sources, — for the matter is not clearly stated on the church records, — the council held two meetings. The result of the first was a letter of advice to the church, on one part, and Mr. Mather, on the other, as to their several du- ties till the time to which the council adjourned ; perhaps with the hope that, before the adjourned meeting, the difficulty might be healed." Thereupon the church voted that if Mr. Mather would comply with the advice given to him, it would attend upon his ministry and strive to effect a reconciliation until the time to which the council was adjourned. Mr. Mather, on his part, promised that he would use all proper means to en- lighten his mind on certain subjects mentioned by the council ; that he would endeavor to be more frequent and distinct in 1 The Rev. Henry Ware, Jr., says : excitements of that period, about which "This was in 1740 and 41, and possibly his colleague, Mr. Gee, was so zealous." had some connection with the religious — Two Discourses, p. 23. THE REV. SAMUEL MATHER. $27 preaching on the nature, and pressing the necessity, of regen- eration by the spirit of grace ; and that he would endeavor, fur- ther, to beware of anything in his sermons or conversation which might tend to discourage the work of conviction and conversion then in progress. Harmony, however, was not re- stored. The church voted that Mr. Mather had not satisfacto- rily fulfilled his engagement, and when the adjourned meeting of the council was held the church was advised to dismiss Mr. Mather, and to continue his salary for one year, the ministers promising to give their services in preaching as often as re- quested, in order to encourage and help the church under the pecuniary burden. " The separated party, with Mr. Mather, afterwards sent a letter to the church, offering to return ; or, if not allowed to do so, expressing their conscientious purpose to build a new meeting-house. The church voted that their return, and the resettlement of Mr. Mather, would not be con- sistent with the peace and edification of the church." They proceeded to erect a house of worship in Hanover Street, at the corner of North Bennet Street, a site occupied in later years by the Universalists.1 On the nth of January, 1 741-2, most of the associated pas- tors of the town agreed on a course of days of prayer in their several churches, " to bless the name of God for spiritual bless- ings already received in the remarkable revival of his work among us and in many other places ; to seek of God the more plentiful effusion of his Holy Spirit ; that the Lord would pre- serve us and his people from everything that hath a tendency to quench his Spirit and obstruct the progress and success of his good work ; and that it may go on and prosper, 'till the whole land shall be filled with the blessed fruits of the Spirit." The action of the South Church was as follows : — Feby 14. Lord's Day. 1 741-2 The Brethren of the Church stay'd and Voted, That the 26th of this Instant be observed as a day of Prayer, to ask of God the more 1 Robbins's History of the Second the period of his dismission, December Church, pp. 120- 123. Dr. Robbins 21, 1741, until his death, June 27, 1785, adds : " The fact that so many persons he continued to be the minister of a sep- of good character supported Mr. Mather, arate congregation, most of the mem- and undertook the arduous and expen- bers of which, at his decease, returned sive work of building a new church to to the Second Church." Dr. Joseph S. sustain him, would seem to afford good Clark says that the flock returned to their reason to doubt whether the charges of former fold in accordance with the dying impropriety were well founded. From request of their pastor. 528 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. plentiful effusions of his Spirit, particularly on this church and con- gregation ; and to Bless his Name for Spiritual Blessings already re- ceived. Joseph Sewall. Dr. Sewall preached on this occasion, and in the course of his sermon said : " Let the success which God hath of late given to the ministers of the word above what we have known in times past, animate us to labour more abundantly. . . . And let not any pervert what has been said, to prejudice themselves or others against that wonderful work of grace, which I verily believe, God has wrought in this town and other places." In this last sentence there is an intimation that there was a dispo- sition in certain quarters to misjudge the work, and that a dif- ference of opinion in reference to it was beginning to manifest itself, which, as we shall see, developed into a very wide diver- gence during the next few years. March 28. 1742. Lord's Day. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stay'd and Voted, I. That twenty pounds be given out of the Collection for Charita- ble and pious uses towards the encouragement of some suitable per- son or persons to Preach the Gospel at Little Compton and the neigh- bouring towns. II. That ten pounds be expended in Books of piety, to be distrib- uted to proper objects by our Revd Pastors. III. That the Deacons be empowered to distribute the remaining sum of £63. 18. o to the Poor of this Church and Congregation. IV. That there be another collection for Charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Fast approaching, April 8. ; And that the Congre- gation be notified of this vote, and be desired to assist in said collec- tion. April 8. Collected for charitable and pious uses as follows, Unappropriated ........ 68. 5. o Appropriated to the Fund for Charitable and pious uses. 5. o. o 73- 5- o Joseph Sewall. On the 14th of April Mr. Andrew Eliot was ordained at the New North Church as colleague pastor there with Mr. Webb.1 His father, of the same name, became a member of the South Church in 1701 ; and he was baptized by one of its pastors in 1718.2 He graduated at Harvard College in 1737. At the or- dination Dr. Sewall offered prayer, Mr. Eliot preached from 1 1 The Rev. Peter Thacher died Feb- 2 " Andrew of Andrew and Ruth ruary 26, 1738. Eliot," baptized December 28, 1718. THE REV. JAMES DAVENPORT. 529 Cor. iv. 2 ; Mr. Webb gave the charge, and Mr. Appleton, of Cambridge, the right hand of fellowship. The Rev. Ebenezer Parkman, of Westborough, who was present, records in his journal : " Avast assembly, and a glorious time of God's grace." Mr. Prince mentions an incident which shows the excitable state of the public mind at this time : — On Friday Night July 30, 1742, at the Lecture in the South Church, near nine o'Clock, being very dark, there came on a very terrible Storm of Thunder and Lightening : And just as the Blessing was given, an amazing Clap broke over the Church with piercing Repetitions, which set many a shrieking, and the whole Assembly into great Consterna- tion : God then appeared " terrible out of his high Places ; they heard attentively the Noise of his Voice, and the Sound that went out of his Mouth ; he directed it under the whole Heaven, and his Lighten- ing to the Ends of the Earth ; after it a Voice roared, he thundered marvelously with his Voice : and at this the Hearts of many (as Eli- hu's) trembled, and were moved out of their Places " for near two Hours together. And yet in all these Displays of the Majesty of God, and terrifying Apprehensions of Danger of sudden Destruction, neither in this surprizing Night, nor in all the Course of thirty Years have I scarce known any by these Kinds of Terrors brought under genuine Convictions. And what Minister has a Voice like God, and who can thunder like Him ? A few weeks before this the Rev. James Davenport, of Long Island, had made his appearance in the town, "and then," says Mr. Prince, writing two or three years later, " through the awful Providence of the Sovereign God, the wisdom of whose ways are past finding out, we unexpectedly came to an unhappy pe- riod, which it exceedingly grieves me now to write of." Mr. Davenport was a lineal descendant of the Rev. John Daven- port, whose removal from New Haven to Boston, three quarters of a century earlier, had divided the First Church ; and his coming at this time was to be followed by results even more disastrous. He " early caught the revival spirit, which, in him as in many others, soon rose to enthusiasm, and ended in fanat- icism. In the progress of his wild career, and before his ex- travagances had crippled his influence, he came to Charlestown." 1 This was on Friday evening, June 25. On Sunday morning he attended public worship and went to the Lord's Table, but re- mained at his lodgings in the afternoon, " from an apprehension of the ministers being unconverted." " Monday afternoon he 1 Clark's Hist. Sketch, p. 167. 530 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. came over the ferry to Boston." The ministers were a good deal alarmed. " Instead of taking no notice of him," says Dr. Wisner, " and thus effectually discountenancing his irregulari- ties, the ministers of Boston, with the best intentions, but most unhappily, pursued a course in regard to him which at once attracted universal attention to him, awakened a general de- sire to see and hear him, and contributed to procure for him sympathy as a persecuted man." 1 Being together in a meet- ing of the Association, they " sent to signify that they should be glad to see him ; whereupon he presently came, and they had long and friendly conferences with him about his con- duct on that and the following day. On Thursday, July i, they thought themselves obliged to publish a declaration of their judgment concerning him," in which, while they " own'd that he appeared to them to be truly pious, and they hoped that God had used him as an instrument of good to many souls," they bore their " testimony " against him in several " particulars," on account of which they declared that they "judged their present duty not to invite him into their places of public worship." 2 The result of this action is thus given by Mr. Prince : " Upon pub- lishing this declaration on Friday, many were offended : And some days after, Mr. Davenport thought himself oblig'd to be- gin in his public exercises to declare against us also ; naming some as unconverted, representing the rest as Jehosaphat in Ahab's army, and exhorting the people to separate from us : which so diverted the minds of many from being concern'd about their own conversion, to think and dispute about the case of others, as not only seem'd to put an awful stop to their awakening, but also on all sides to roil our passions, and pro- voke the Holy Spirit, in a gradual and dreadful measure, to withdraw his influence. And now a small number from some of our churches and congregations withdrew, and met in a dis- tinct society. The cry, What shall I do to be saved ? soon ceased to be heard. But few were added to the churches. The heav- enly shower in Boston was over." Mr. Davenport's case was not left to the action of the minis- ters alone. The grand jury took it up, and in their presentment, 1 Wisner's History of the Old South Abbot and Thomas Prentice, of Charles- Church, pp. 103, 104. town. Mr. Chauncy appears to have 2 This declaration was signed by all been present at the conversations with the Boston ministers except Mr. Chaun- Mr. Davenport ; he probably declined to cy (the junior pastor of the First sign the paper because it bore general Church), and by the Rev. Messrs. Hull testimony in favor of the revival. MR. DAVENPORT INDICTED. 53 1 August 19, set forth that "one James Davenport, of Southold — under pretence of praying preaching and exhorting, at divers places in the towns of Boston and Dorchester, and at divers times in July last and August current, — did — in the hearing of great numbers of the subjects of our Lord, the King, ma- liciously publish, and with a loud voice utter and declare many slanderous and reviling speeches against the godly and faithful ministers of this province, but more particularly against the ministers of the gospel in the town of Boston aforesaid, — viz: that the greatest part of said ministers were carnal and uncon- verted men ; that they knew nothing of Jesus Christ, and that they were leading their people, blindfold, down to hell, and that they were destroying and murdering souls by thousands ; the said James Davenport, at the same time, advising their hearers to withdraw from the said ministers, and not to hear them preach ; by means whereof, great numbers of people have with- drawn from the public worship of God and the assemblies by law required."1 The indictment was sustained. Davenport was arrested on Saturday, August 21, and refusing to give bail, though two gentlemen offered to be his sureties, he was com- mitted for trial. "The sheriff offered him perfect liberty till the day of trial, if he would promise so to conduct, that he should receive no damage ; but he refused to promise, and was kept in comfortable quarters." " On Tuesday, August 24, the Rev. Messrs. Colman, Sewall, Checkley, Welsteed, Byles and Gray, addressed a note to the court, then in session, entreating that no severity might be used on their account, and that the matter might be conducted with all the gentleness and tender- ness which their honors might judge consistent with justice and the public peace." Davenport was declared by the verdict to have been non compos mentis when the words charged against him were uttered, and therefore, technically, not guilty. This verdict was as just as it was humane, for the man was un- 1 Among the witnesses before the grand since 1728, had been a member of the jury was H. V., who testified that Mr. South Church. He married Mary Pem- Davenport said in July, on Copp's Hill, berton, a daughter of its third minister, " Good Lord, (or O Lord), I will not the Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton ; and one mince the matter any longer with thee ; of his daughters became the second wife for thou knowest that I know, that most of its deacon, Jonathan Mason. He had of the ministers of the town of Boston nine children baptized between 1728 and and of the country are unconverted, and 1743, three of whom, Mary, Katharine, are leading their people blindfold to and Elizabeth, afterward became mem- hell." This witness was undoubtedly bers of the church. His sons were John, Hugh Vans, a Scotch merchant, who, Ebenezer, William, and Samuel. 532 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. doubtedly insane during this period of his life.1 But his insanity did incalculable mischief, for all his wild words and deeds were laid to the charge of the revival spirit then prevalent in the churches ; and although he made a solemn retractation in 1744, the echo of his words and the sweep of his influence had passed far beyond his control. This retractation was sent to Mr. Prince, for publication in Boston, by the Rev. Solomon Wil- liams, of Lebanon, Connecticut, who, in a letter enclosing it, said : " He is full and free in it, and seems to be deeply sen- sible of his miscarriages and misconduct in those particulars, and very desirous to do all he possibly can to retrieve the dis- honour which lie has done to religion, and the injustice to many ministers of the gospel.',' 2 At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation Novr. 1. 1742 Voted — I. That the Deacons give thirty pounds out of the last collection for Charitable and pious uses to the Poor of this Church and Congregation to supply them with wood and other necessaries. II. Whereas there is a considerable deficiency in the Church Stock to pay the necessary charges arisen : Voted — That there be a collec- tion on the Thanksgiving approaching for that purpose, and that the rest of the Congregation be notified of this vote, and be desired to assist in said collection. III. The Committee for Seating having acquainted the Brethren of a Petition of sundry persons, praying that the seats next the wall of the Men's front Gallery may be turned into Pews : It was Voted, That said Committee be desired to take the care of that affair, and order it according to their Discretion, IV. That Messrs. John Trail, Andrew Eliot, Isaac Walker and William Ireland, be a committee to take subscriptions of the church and congregation for the weekly contribution. Joseph Sewall. Novr. 11. General Thanksgiving, collected .£115 for the use above said. 1 He organized a company of his fol- jewels, and necklaces was ordered by lowers into a church in New London, him to cure his followers of their idola- Conn., and, March 6, 1743, in imitation trous love of such objects. John Lee, of of the " pyramid of vanities " of Savona- Lyme, according to Trumbull, said that, rola at Florence, two hundred and fifty for himself, his idols were his wife and years before, be caused a bonfire to be children, whom he could not burn, as the made of wigs, clothing, and jewelry, and word of God forbade it, and that idolatry to the burning heap were added copies could only be suppressed by a change of of the writings of Beveridge, Flavel, heart. Increase Mather, Colman, and Sewall. 2 See The Great Awakening, pp. 241- The destruction of fine clothing, rings, 255. THE ANNUAL CONVENTION, 1743. 533 March 13. 1742-3. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stay'd ; and voted as follows — I. That ten pounds be given out of the last collection for Charitable and pious uses to the poor of this Church and Congregation in Books of Piety. II. That the remainder of said Collection, about twenty pounds, be given to the Poor of this Church and Congregation to supply them with the Necessaries of life. III. That there be another Collection for Charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Fast March 24 Instant, and that the congregation be notified of this vote and be desired to assist in said collection. Joseph Sewall. March 24 1742-3. Collected as follows Unappropriated ^86. 2. 9 Appropriated to the fund for charitable and pious uses ...... To Dr. Sewall To Mr. Prince .... To Mr. Byles 5- 0. 0 2. 0. 0 . 2. 0. 0 2. 0. 0 97- 2. 9 Joseph Sewall. At a Meeting of the Brethren of the S. Church and Congregation April 3. 1743. Voted — That thirty Pounds be given to Mr. Simeon Brown out of the last Collection for Charitable and pious uses, towards his support under the great Loss which he has sustained lately by Fire. Joseph Sewall. The controversy between the friends and the opposers of the recent revivals was becoming more and more heated, and the churches and ministers were gradually separating into two fac- tions. At the annual convention of the pastors of the Massa- chusetts churches, held in Boston, May 25, a "Testimony" was promulgated " against several errors in doctrine and disorders in practice, which have of late obtained in various parts of the land." It had been drawn up by a committee, was read and accepted paragraph by paragraph, and the moderator, the Rev. Nathaniel Eells, of Scituate, by a majority vote of thirty-eight ministers, was directed to sign it in the name of the convention.1 1 This paper magnified the errors in the revival, and would not have con- doctrine and disorders in practice which, tained one word in recognition of the in some places, had attended or followed revival itself but for the strenuous in- 534 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. The manner in which this paper had been introduced and adopted occasioned much dissatisfaction and some angry correspondence. It was questioned whether there would have been a majority in its favor but for the votes of ministers from other provinces, and whether more than " one fifth of the ministers in Massachusetts would have subscribed their names, if the proposal for a per- sonal subscription had prevailed." Another convention was called, therefore, by those who had been in sympathy with the revival, to meet in Boston on the day after commencement at Cambridge. Those who could not be present, and who were opposed to the testimony issued in May, were asked to " send their attestations, and communicate their thoughts seasonably in writing:." Dr. Colman was chosen moderator of this second convention, with Dr. Sewall as assistant, and Mr. Prince and Mr. Hobby were chosen scribes. Dr. Colman excusing himself, Dr. Sewall acted as moderator. On the first day, after "decla- rations, discourses and debates," the following vote was passed, without objection: — We, pastors of churches in the provinces of the Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire in New England, met at Boston this seventh day of July 1743, being persuaded there has of late been a happy revival of religion, through a remarkable divine influence, in many parts of this land, and apprehending it our duty to give an open con- junct testimony, to the glory of God, to an event so surprising and gracious, as well as against those errors in doctrine and disorders in practice, which, through human frailties and corruptions and the per- mitted agency of Satan, have attended it, and in any measure blemished its glory and hindered its advancement ; came to the following reso- lution : that a committee be chosen to consider the premises and make a report tomorrow morning at nine o'clock. The committee consisted of Dr. Sewall ; Mr. Wigglesworth, of Ipswich ; Mr. Prince ; Mr. Adams, of Newington, New Hamp- shire ; Mr. Cooper ; Mr. Rogers, of Ipswich ; Mr. Leonard, of Plymouth ; and Mr. Hobby, of Reading. The paper reported next morning is admirable in expression, fervid and evangelical in tone, and thoroughly frank in its discriminations. Two or three paragraphs will illustrate its general tenor : — If it is the duty of every one capable of observation and reflection, to take a constant religious notice of what occurs in the daily course sistence of Dr. Sewall, and the only sen- of pure religion in any parts of our land tence he was able to insert in it was this : at this time, we would give unto God all " and where there is any special revival the glory." A SECOND CONVENTION. 535 of common Providence ; how much more is it expected that those events in the divine economy, wherein there is a signal display of the power, grace and mercy of God in behalf of the church, should be observed with sacred wonder, pleasure and gratitude ! Nor should the people of God content themselves with a silent notice, but publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all his wondrous works. More particularly, when Christ is pleased to come into his church in a plentiful effusion of his Holy Spirit, by whose powerful influences the ministration of the word is attended with uncommon success, sal- vation-work carried on in an eminent manner, and his kingdom, which is within men, and consists in righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, is notably advanced, this is an event which, above all others, invites the notice and bespeaks the praises of the Lord's peo- ple, and should be declared abroad for a memorial of the divine grace ; as it tends to confirm the divinity of a despised gospel, and manifests the work of the Holy Spirit in the application of redemp- tion, which too many are ready to reproach ; as it may have a happy effect, by the divine blessing, for the revival of religion in other places, and the enlargement of the kingdom of Christ in the world ; and as it tends to enliven the prayers, strengthen the faith, and raise the hopes, of such as are waiting for the kingdom of God, and the coming on of the glory of the latter days. But if it is justly expected of all who profess themselves the dis- ciples of Christ, that they should openly acknowledge and rejoice in a work of this nature, wherein the honour of their divine Master is so much concerned ; how much more is it to be looked for from those who are employed in the ministry of the Lord Jesus, and so stand in a spe- cial relation to him, as servants of his household, and officers in his kingdom ! These stand as watchmen upon the walls of Jerusalem ; and it is their business not only to give the alarm of war when the enemy is approaching, but to sound the trumpet of praise when the King of Zion cometh, in a meek triumph, having salvation. For these and other reasons, we, whose names are hereunto annexed, pastors of churches in New England, met together in Boston, July 7, 1743, think it our indispensable duty, (without judging or censuring such of our brethren as cannot at present see things in the same light with us,) in this open and conjunct manner to declare, to the glory of sovereign grace, our full persuasion, either from what we have seen ourselves, or received upon credible testimony, that there has been a happy and remarkable revival of religion in many parts of this land, through an uncommon divine influence ; after a long time of great decay and deadness, and a sensible and very awful withdraw of the Holy Spirit from his sanctuary among us. The report proceeds to show that the recent work was re- markable and extraordinary, " on account of the numbers 53^ HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. wrought upon," " with regard to the suddenness and quick prog- ress of it," and " in respect of the degree of operation, both in a way of terror and in a way of consolation." That there were imperfections in it is admitted ; but sorrow is expressed that accounts should be published abroad representing it as " all en- thusiasm, delusion and disorder." It is not to be denied, that in some places many irregularities and extravagances have been permitted to accompany it, which we would deeply lament and bewail before God, and look upon ourselves obliged, for the honour of the Holy Spirit, and of his blessed operations on the souls of men, to bear a public and faithful testimony against ; though at the same time it is to be acknowledged with much thankfulness, that in other places, where the work has greatly flourished, there have been few, if any, of these disorders and excesses. But who can wonder, if at such a time as this, Satan should intermingle himself, to hinder and blemish a work so directly contrary to the interests of his own king- dom ? Or if, while so much good seed is sowing, the enemy should be busy to sow tares ? " After solemn, repeated prayer, free inquiry and debate, and serious deliberation," the report was adopted. The first to sign it were the venerable Samuel Moody, of York, and John White, of Gloucester, who were at college together nearly half a cen- tury before. The Boston pastors who signed it as it was adopted were Dr. Sewall, Mr. Prince, Mr. Webb, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Foxcroft, Mr. Gee, and Mr. Moorhead, minister of the Presbyterian church in Long Lane. Others approved of the testimony for the substance of it, but were not satisfied with what was said about itineracy or the intrusion of ministers and others into the parishes of ministers without the consent of the latter, which disorder they thought was not sufficiently testified against. Among these were Dr. Colman, Mr. Checkley, and Mr. Eliot, of Boston ; Mr. Abbot and Mr. Prentice, of Charles- town ; Mr. Eells, of Scituate ; Mr. Parkman, of Westborough ; and Mr. Maccarty, of Kingston. On the other hand, Mr. Prince, and a few with him, objected to the clause relating to itinerat- ing ministers, because, as adopted, there was danger of its being "construed and perverted to the great infringement of Christian and human liberty of conscience." The number of signers at the meeting was sixty-eight ; attestors by letter, forty- five : total, one hundred and thirteen. Dr. Chauncy (he had recently received a diploma from Edinburgh), Mr. Mather, Mr. A SECOND « testimony:' 537 Byles, Mr. Welsteed, and Mr. Gray 1 took no part in the pro- ceedings ; Mr. Appleton, of Cambridge, sent his attestation, and no doubt was in full sympathy with Dr. Sewall and Mr. Prince in their estimate of the revival.2 Lord's Day Novr 13, 1743 The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stay'd ; and Voted as follows — I. That what remains in stock be expended by the Deacons to sup- ply the Poor of this church and Congregation with the Necessaries of life. II. That there be another collection for charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Thanksgiving Nov 24 Instant. III. That the rest of the congregation be notified of this vote and be desired to assist in said collection. Joseph Sewall. having a plausible appearance, yet of a dangerous tendency : ministers go- ing from place to place ; illiterate per- sons exhorting publicly ; claims to im- mediate impulses of the Spirit ; false notions about saving, justifying faith ; and freedom and uncharitableness in the judgment of others. These and other things he mentioned as stumbling-blocks to be apprehended and avoided ; " but then," he added, " there are stumbling- blocks on the other hand, yea, most dan- gerous rocks, which ministers, if they would be as lights unto the world, must point out, and warn seasonably and ear- nestly against. Thus, the denial of there having been a glorious work of God in the land of late ; and the speaking dis- paragingly of those convictions, and all that serious concern that has been stirred up in multitudes, as if there was nothing of the Spirit of God in any of them; and as if all the religious commotions had been the work of the devil, or had been wrought in a mere mechanical way ; and the ridiculing and reproaching such per- sons in general and without distinction, and discouraging rather than encourag- ing any concernedness of soul, and so the lulling men asleep in their carnal se- curity again, that began to be roused up, and the settling them in their natural, unconverted state ; these, I say, are dan- gerous things, and ministers must hold up the light of God's word, and show people the danger hereof." 1 " The two pastors were not among the most distinguished in town, though faithful and highly respectable men. During the great religious excitements of this period, they appear to have fallen in with the current. I find, however, from a well-written, serious, animated sermon, delivered in 1742, at an ordina- tion, by Mr. Gray, that he was fully aware of the dangers and evils of that period, and did not hesitate to speak of the 'discord, division, bitterness, clam- our, wrath, evil speaking, groundless surmises and jealousies ' which prevailed in the churches. Neither of the minis- ters, however, were among the leaders on either side, though possibly it was to his opinion on this subject that Welsteed alluded, when he said, in his last illness, ' I have in some things thought different- ly from my brethren, but I thank God I have constantly meant well.' " Mr. Wel- steed confined himself in preaching to the doctrines of religion which are not disputed amongst sound Protestants, and the " impressive duties of repentance, faith, love and universal and constant obedience." — Ware's Two Discourses, pp. 29, 31. 2 We have quoted from Mr. Hol- yoke's Convention Sermon of 1741. Mr. Appleton preached before the Con- vention in 1743. He was "a man fa- mous for his extreme care, if any care can be extreme, always to speak the ex- act truth." He referred to certain things 538 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Anniversary Thanksgiving Nov 24 1743- Collected as follows for charitable and pious uses. Unappropriated Appropriated To the Rev Mr. Prince For three Widows .... Towards the fund for charitable and pious uses . Lord's Day, Novr. 27. 1743. A Letter was read the second time from the Rev'd Mr. Othniel Cam- bel, Pastor of the Second Church in Plimpton, and from twenty-two Brethren desiring our assistance in Council under their present Diffi- culties : In answer to which the Brethren Voted, that there should be a letter sent to them, giving the reasons why we did not send, and offering some advice to them ; which was drawn up and sent accord- ingly. Joseph Sewall. Mr. Campbell was ordained over the Second Church in Plympton, now Carver, in 1734, and was dismissed in 1744. A contemporary account says that he was dismissed " for giving way too much to itinerants, though it is doubtful whether his friends or his enemies are the greater number. It is thought he has had hard measure, being, in the main, an honest and good man." He removed to Tiverton, Rhode Island, where he re- ceived an annual appropriation from the South Church for more than twenty years. His wife was Katharine, daughter of Simon Willard, and granddaughter of the Rev. Samuel Willard.1 As one of the results of Mr. Davenport's coming to Boston, we have seen, in Mr. Prince's statement, that a small number withdrew from some of the churches and met in a distinct so- ciety. We find two other references to this separatist move- ment in the Christian History, and the records of the South Church throw light upon it. And now a small number from some of our churches and congrega- tions (some had been communicants formerly, and some added lately,) withdrew and met in a distinct Society : whereof four males and two or three females were of our communion. . . . Some time after, a man of the separate Society became a Saturday- Baptist : who being dip'd in the country, and having hands laid on 1 Mr. Campbell was born in Bridge- Grindall Rawson, Nathaniel Eells, and water, and it is said that he was nearly Andrew Croswell. He signed the Testi- thirty years old when he entered college, mony of July 7, 1743. According to the He graduated in 1728, in the same class Harvard Catalogue, he died in 1778. with Jonathan Belcher, Simon Bradstreet, See Willard Memoir, p. 400. A SEPARATIST CHURCH. 539 him, thought himself a minister, drew five women after him and pro- ceeded to dip them : yet they all have since deserted him. But six males of the said Society with one of Brookline, a town about five miles off, went on to associate as a church, owning the Assembly's Confession of Faith, and professing themselves congregational ac- cording to our New England Platform : And have not yet returned [November, 1744] to the several churches whence they went. . . . Be- sides the aforesaid four Males and two or three females of the South Church, I know not any who have left our communion But the rest of our said numerous and former additions continue with us ; and as far as I know, their conversation is as becomes the Gospel. Nor do I hear of more than one of those who have left our church that has fallen into other censurable evil, nor in the other churches in town, except a few of the New North.1 The four male members of the South Church referred to above were John Gridley, who became a member in 1722 ; Wil- liam Story, in 1738; and William Richie Love and Nathanael Wardell,2 who joined in 1741. It was the last named who had been immersed, and, without suitable preparation, had entered upon the work of the Christian ministry. A few years later, as we shall see, he was cut off from the church for the sins of pro- fanity and intoxication. At a Church Meeting, Deer 25. 1743. Lord's Day. Our Brother Nathanael Wardel junr was called for, and appear'd owning and justifying the Articles of charge brought against him, saving that he so far declar'd his meaning relating to his bold pretence to Inspiration, that the Brethren saw meet to drop that Article ; And he being desired to withdraw to an house near, when sent for could not be found. 1 [Dr. Pierce, in one of his historical hackney coach in Boston. He died De- discourses, mentions Mr. Elhanan Win- cember 18, i72i,and his widow, Frances, Chester as a separatist or " new light " was licensed by the selectmen, July 10, in Brookline in 1744, who afterward be- 1722, as an innholder in room of her came in turn a Baptist, an Universalist, husband. (See the Sewall and Lynde and a Shaker. His son, of the same Diaries.) At a town meeting, September name, was one of the earliest preachers 21, 1737, we find that the "proposals of in the United States of the doctrine of Nathanael Wardal Junr. for erecting an final restoration.] engine for weighing hay," were read ; 2 The admissions to the South Church and, in 1746, Nathanael Wardell's term recorded under the name of Wardell are, for using " the engine erected for weigh- 1721, Jonathan; 1741, Nathaniel ; 1743, ing hay at the south part of the town" Frances. Jonathan had wife Katharine, having expired in May, persons wishing who died December 28, 1705, and after- to take a lease of it were requested to ward wife Frances. He kept the Orange apply to the selectmen. In the town Tree Inn, near the head of Hanover records the names Wardell and Ward- Street, and in 1712 set up the first well are used interchangeably. 54° HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. The Admonition and suspension drawn up in writing was then read and voted as also that said Admonition and suspension should be sent in a letter sign'd by the Pastors and read to him, which was done accordingly the next day and is as follows, Brother Nathanael War del, Whereas you have for some time withdrawn in a disorderly manner from the communion of this Church, after you had solemnly promised to walk with us in a due Submission to and attendance upon all the Orders and Ordinances of the Gospel ; and whereas to some hurtfull errors which you have persisted in, you have added a bold intrusion into the Pastoral Office, without any regular Call or due Qualifications, and have presumed to administer the Seals of the Covenant to some that have been misled by you, by which sacred things have been pro- faned, and contempt cast on the Ordinances of our Lord Jesus Christ ; And when admonished by your Pastors, have still persisted in your offensive conduct ; Yea when your Pastors and a number of the Brethren sent for you, being appointed by the Church to treat with you, you refused to come. And lately in the publick Assembly, when one was admitted to our Communion, you openly renounced the Church as Idolatrous. And when after all this, the Pastors with a Committee of the Brethren from the Church reasoned with you about your offences, and offered matter of conviction to you, instead of retracting them, and promising amendment, you still renounced Communion with the Church, declaring that you looked upon us as a synagogue of Satan : Upon the account of these offences, We Doe, in the Name of our Lord Jesus, rebuke and admonish you ; and we suspend you from the Communion of this Church, till you shall manifest repentance. We pray God to sanctify this Censure which is now passed upon you, to awaken you to due consideration, and recover you from your Strong Delusions ; That you may repair to the Blood of Jesus for cleansing, and to the Holy Spirit for effectual conviction and Humili- ation, and thus return to God by Christ, confessing and forsaking your sins ; Upon which, we shall with joy restore you to our Charity and Communion ; which may God grant of his great mercy in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Joseph Sewall Thomas Prince. Lord's Day April i. 1744. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stayed and voted, That the Deacons supply the Poor of the Church and congregation with wood and other necessaries as shall be found needful out of the remainder of the last collection for charitable and pious uses. J. Sewall. LETTER TO THE SEPARATISTS. 54 1 April 22 1744. The Brethren of the Church were stay'd. The Pastors with the Committee appointed by this Church to Dis- course with the three Brethren who lately sent a letter to the church signifying they had embodied into a church state with others, and asking a Dismission from the Church &c ; and to offer our Thoughts to the church concerning them, make our Report as follows — That we have met several times about this affair, and have en- deavour'd to convince and reclaim them, but in vain ; And therefore humbly propose that such a letter as this be sent in the Name of the Church to the said Brethren in answer to theirs, if the Church see cause : Which proposed letter is as follows, Brethren Whereas you have for a considerable time separated yourselves from us, after you had solemnly promised to walk with this Church of Christ in due submission to, and attendance upon all the Orders and Ordinances of the Gospel ; and have lately informed us by a Letter that you had proceeded to embody with others into a Church State, and then not only asked a Dismission from us, but also our approba- tion of the work you were engaged in : These are to signify unto you, that we are grieved and offended with you for this your Conduct, apprehending it to be contrary to the word of God. Rom. 14. 19. Let us therefore follow after the things that make for peace ; and things wherewith one may edifie another. 16. 17. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause Divisions and Offences, contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned ; and avoid them. 1 Cor. 12. 25. That there should be no Schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care over one another. Eph. 4. 1. 23. I therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all low- liness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love ; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Heb. 10, 25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is . And contrary to our Plat- form of Discipline Chap 13. S. 1. 2. 5. and opposite to that spirit of Christian Charity and meekness, watchfull care over, and tender con- cern for the welfare of this Church, which our glorious Head and Lord requires of all the Members, and accordingly we judge that your Departure from us is unsafe and sinfull, and may not consent unto it : But earnestly exhort and advise you to search your Hearts and Ways, and return to your Duty. And we beseech our most mercifull God to humble you for, and for- give the sins committed in an Hour of Temptation ; and turn you from 542 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. the Error of your ways ; as also to over-rule all events to the Honour of his Name, and advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus, to whom be glory for ever Amen. This Letter was voted and sent to our said Brethren April 24 1744 Sign'd Joseph Sewall Thomas Prince Pastors of the South Chh in Boston in the Name of the said Chh. Superscribed to Messrs. John Gridley William Storey William Ritchie Love. The Committee above mentioned are, The Hon'ble Ezekiel Lewis, Josiah Willard, Anthony Stoddard, Samuel Welles, Thomas Cushing Esqs and the Deacons.1 May 6. 1744 The Church stay'd. A Letter was read from several Brethren of the first Church in New- bury desiring our assistance in council under their present difficulties : Upon which some of the Brethren observed that we were not suf- ficiently informed that all proper means had been used to heal their differences among themselves ; and it was then Voted — that the Pas- tors with the Committee above named should write to them to obtain further light as to their affairs, which was done accordingly ; Upon which they signified to us by Letter, that they would not have us take the trouble of sending untill we should hear further from them. Joseph Sewall. In 1743 several members of the First and Third churches in Newbury, of which the Rev. Christopher Toppan and the Rev. John Lowell 2 were the respective pastors, seceded, and soon 1 [This separatist church appears to the negative." Mr. Ephraim Clark was have been formed July 18, 1743. In a ordained pastor of this church in 1748. narrative to which we shall refer again Mr. John Cleaveland preached for it for in the next chapter, it is said : " After a time, soon after leaving Yale College, we had thus embodied, we thought it our and received a call from it, which he duty to seek some faithful minister to go declined. He was settled, in 1747, over before us as a pastor, and accordingly the church in what is now Essex, formed applied to several, who from time to time by a secession from the parish, of which preached with us, till at length we invited the Rev. Theophilus Pickering was min- and called the Rev. Mr. Andrew Croswell, ister.] to take the pastoral care of us ; who - Grandfather of the Rev. Charles finally gave us an unexpected answer in Lowell, of the West Church, Boston. TROUBLES IN NEWBURY. 543 after formed another church.1 On the 24th of July, 1744, an ex parte council, consisting of eight churches, met at the call of the seceding brethren of the First Church. This was the council to which the South Church was invited, and in reference to the objects of which it wanted further light. In its Result the coun- cil justified the brethren who had appealed to it, and condemned Mr. Toppan ; it advised these brethren to hearken to any reason- able method whereby their final separation from the church and parish might be prevented, and concluded by saying : " However we utterly disapprove of unnecessary separations as partaking of great guilt and accompanied with great scandal, yet looking upon your circumstances as extraordinary and deplorable, we cannot think you blameworthy, if with good advice you seek more wholesome food for your souls and put yourselves under the watch of a shepherd in whom you can confide." Another ex parte council met August 31, at the call of Mr. Toppan's friends, which acquitted the pastor of nearly all the allegations brought against him by the aggrieved brethren, cen- sured these brethren, and advised them to return to the bosom of the church, and to the pastoral care of him who had been so faithful and useful a pastor over them for nearly fifty years.2 This advice was not taken ; and the brethren, nineteen in num- ber, formed a church, January 3, 1746, which is now the First Presbyterian Church of Newburyport. Two or three months later, thirty-eight brethren of the Third Church, having been un- able to obtain letters of dismission and recommendation, were received without letters into the new church, of which the Rev. Jonathan Parsons, of Lyme, Connecticut, had become the min- ister.3 Mr. Parsons was a warm personal friend of Mr. White- field, who died at his house in 1770. Lord's day, May 10, 1744. The Brethren of the church stay'd. A Letter was communicated from the Church in Newport of which 1 The Rev. Thomas Smith wrote in his nent. The consequence of this state of journal (see Coffin's History), February things, was divisions and contentions in 2, 1745 : all the churches, and many years elapsed " The enthusiasm in favor of the before the storm became a calm." expedition against Louisburg was ex- 2 Coffin's History of Newbury, p. 214. traordinary, and almost unanimous, 3 In 1749, the petition of one hundred whilst on the subject of the religious and seventy-nine persons, belonging to tenets and practices of Whitefield and Mr. Parsons's congregation, asking to be his adherents, the community was di- freed from paying taxes to the First and vided, and almost every man was either Third parishes, was dismissed by the an ardent advocate or a decided oppo- General Court. Ibid., p. 218. 544 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. the Rev'd Mr. Nathanael Clap is Pastor, desiring our Assistance at the Ordination of Mr. Jonathan Helyer to the Pastoral Office. The Pastors declared that they could not conveniently attend the service at the time proposed, which Excuse was accepted, and they were desired to signify it to said church in a Letter which was done accordingly.1 June 17. 1744. The church stay'd : And upon reading a Letter to us, signed John Gridley, William Story, William Richie Love, Voted — that the former committee (above named) be appointed to join with our Pastors in considering said Letter, and make Report to the church so soon as conveniently may be. J. Sewall. At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation June 18. 1744. The Report of the Committee appointed to view the Ministerial Houses and other Estate, Read. The Fences ordered to be repaired, but not so high as now, except in the front, next the street. Voted — That there be a committee of five persons viz. S. Welles, A. Oliver Esqrs. Capt J. Armitage, Mr. T. Foster and Mr. J. Kneeland, to view Mr. Prince's House, make an estimate, and report to the Breth- ren, how much money will be necessary to repair the House for next Winter, and what it will cost to repair it so as to last for ten or twenty years ; this report to be made this day three weeks. And the Dea- cons are desired to take care to repair the slating, fences and steeple, and provide a Ladder. The meeting then adjourned to this day three weeks. Then met Monday, July 9. 1744. And the Report of the Committee being read, Voted That said committee be desired to procure ground cells and other things necessary to lay open Mr. Prince's House, so as to put in new cells, and close it up again, if they find studs, Joyce, and summers in such a condition as that it may be worth while to come into the larger repair. And make report to the Brethren for further direc- tion. 1 [Mr. Clap was the first minister to rejoiced much in spirit at the sight of welcome Mr. Whitefield on his arrival me, and prayed most affectionately for a in New England, September 14, 1740, blessing on my coming to New England." who says of him, he was " the most ven- Mr. Clap graduated at Cambridge in erable man I ever saw in my life. He 1690, and died in 1745. looked like a good old Puritan, and gave Mr. Helyer graduated at Cambridge me an idea of what stamp those men in 1738, in the same class with Oxen- were who first settled New England, bridge Thacher, Josiah Crocker, and His countenance was very heavenly. He Benjamin Adams. He died in 1745.] A SECOND LETTER. 545 N. B. The Report of the Committee in several articles, was, that the expense of repairing the House in which the Rev'd Mr. Prince dwells, would amount to £325. o. o. O. Tenor. And that £$0. O. T. will make said House habitable till next summer. July 16. 1744 At a Meeting etc. Voted — The larger Report of the Committee be accepted — and that Messrs Jer. Belknap, John Comrin, Jos. Jackson and John Scollay be a committee to collect the money for repairing the Ministry Houses etc and that Sam. Welles Esq. Edw. Winslow Esq. and Capt. J. Armitage be a committee to see the repairs as above effected ; and that John Hunt Esq. be Treasurer to receive the money that shall be collected, and pay it according to the order of said com- mittee. Joseph Sewall. The Pastors with the Committee1 met accordingly [see June 17] con- sider'd said letter, and drew up an answer which was offered at a church Meeting July 15 1744, accepted, and voted to be sent to said Brethren signed by the Pastors in the name of the Church, And is as follows, Brethren We have received your Second Letter and are grieved to find that you continue to justify your conduct in separating from us, and embody- ing as you say into a church state with others ; though you were under prior Obligation to us by your Church Covenant, which you could not be released from by such a confederation without our consent or knowledge. Indeed you say that you moved to the Revd Pastors again and again for a Dismission — But then, when in this peculiar case, they required your reasons for such a proceeding in writing, that they might lay them before the Church ; You refused till such time as you embodied with others, by which action you declare that you did not think yourselves bound in conscience to give the reasons of your conduct to this church, as was justly desired of you, and so in an orderly manner to seek a Dismission. And whereas you have given us no reasonable satisfaction for your unwarrantable Separation from us, and we apprehend that this sepa- ration is not likely to serve your Spiritual Edification, but much the contrary ; We abide by our Judgment and Advice given you in our first Letter, and can by no means doe any thing to encourage your irregular Proceedings. We again Beseech our merciful God to turn you from the Error of your Ways, and Forgive you for Christ's sake ; and it is our repeated and earnest prayer that God would overrule all 1 [For the names of this committee see ante, p. 542.] 546 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. events to the Honour of his Name and advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever Amen. Boston July 17. 1744 Joseph Sewall Thomas Prince Pastors of the chh in the name of said chh. To Messrs. John Gridley, William Story and Wm Richey Love Joseph Sewall. Lords Day Septr. 2. 1744. A Letter desiring our assistance in Council, from the Brethren that have separated from the church in New Haven, under the Pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Noyes ; was readd, and after Discourse had upon it, Voted, that a Letter be sent signifying that we have not light to grant their Request. A Letter was sent accordingly, signed by the Pastors, in which the great Distance of the way and our small acquaintance with their affairs, were hinted as considerations discouraging our sending to the Council proposed. Joseph Sewall. This separatist movement in New Haven was the result of Mr. Davenport's teaching there. On his arrival in the town in the autumn of 1741, " his descent from the famous John Daven- port, the first pastor of that church, his consanguinity with several reputable families, and especially his reputation for uncommon sanctity and usefulness, procured him a favorable reception. Mr. Noyes, the pastor of the church, admitted him to his pulpit, and there appears to have been no visible oppo- sition till he pronounced Mr. Noyes an unconverted man. On this, Mr. Noyes called a meeting of several friends, September 21, among whom were the principal officers of Yale College, to whom Davenport gave some very frivolous reasons for believing that Mr. Noyes was unconverted. The result was that he was thenceforth excluded from the pulpit. How long he continued there is uncertain ; but after his departure, and before the end of the year, his followers organized a separate church, which, after several years of controversy, numerous councils, and some confessions, came to be acknowledged as a regular church, and still subsists and flourishes." 1 Lord's Day, Novr. 11. 1744. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stay'd and Voted, That there be a collection for charitable and pious uses on the 1 TAe Great Awakening, p. 237. Bacon's Historical Discourses, pp. 212-220. DEBORAH PRINCE. $47 Anniversary Thanksgiving Nov 22. Instant; And that the rest of the Congregation be notified of this vote, and desired to assist in said collection. Joseph Sewall. Anniversary Thanksgiving Novr. 22 1744 Collected. Unappropriated . . . 114. 2. 2 Appropriated to the pious and charit. Fund . 5. o. o To buy Necessaries for the Poor . . . 24. o. o To widow Mary Alden 1 . . . . . 4. o. o 147. 2. 2 We have quoted freely from Mr. Prince's narrative of these times. It will be interesting, we think, to insert here part of a letter written by his gifted daughter Deborah to her English relatives, under date of March 4, 1743. In it she gives an intelligent account of the extent and power of the revival, and of the opposition which it encountered.2 In my last letter to my grandmother, which was above two years ago, I gave some account of the revival of religion in this town. Since which it has spread from one end of the land unto the other ; and that cry, What must we do to be saved ? has been made almost uni- versally in many places. Without doubt you have heard various reports concerning this glorious appearance, some perhaps greatly to its disadvantage. For it is represented in the most odious colours by its enemies, from the pulpit and press. Some call it the work of the Devil ; others, who deny revelation, call it Distraction ; and others represent it as mere Mechanism. And they spare neither cost nor pains to bring others to their various opinions. But He that sits in the heavens laughs at their vain attempts, and often discovers their deep laid plots, and makes them turn out to the advancement of that cause which they so violently oppose. But how much soever you have heard of the errors and disorders, L believe the one half of the glory appearing in this land has not been told you. Indeed it is inexpressible; so great, that it is the opinion of many eminent divines, that it is the dawning of that glorious day, 1 [Mary Alden was the wife of Wil- Dr. Wisner's History, p. ill. Mr. Ham, son of the second John Alden, who Prince's other daughters were, Mercy, died in 1702.] who joined the church November 6, 2 Deborah Prince became a member 1743, and died December 18, 1752, aged of the South Church August 19, 1739, twenty-seven; Sarah, who joined the and died July 20, 1744, in her twenty- church April 21, 1745, married Moses first year. Her father obtained the Gill in 1759, and died August 5, 1771, above letter from England after her aged forty-three ; and Grace, who died in death. It is printed in the Appendix to 1743, in infancy. 548 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. when the whole earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. It seems as if the Lord was hastily calling in his elect. Sometimes a new face of things spreads over a whole town in a week or two's time. Sometimes there has been an hundred struck with convictions together in one sermon. Yea, at Portsmouth, it was reckoned there was a thousand awakened to a deep concern about their souls, in about three days time. And great num- bers have come out of their distress, lively, zealous, meek and humble Christians. It has been very remarkable at Middleborough, where my uncle Thacher l lives ; who, before this, was so discouraged with his un- successfulness that he was upon the point of leaving his people. Sometimes there would not be above two or three in a year join to the church : and now, in a little more than half a year, he has taken in an hundred and fifty ; the most of whom give a very satisfactory account of the work of God upon their souls. It has been as remark- able in many other places. One minister in the country told my father, that there was not one family in his parts but had one or more in it awakened. Another writes him word that, in another town, there were two hundred hopefully converted in two months time. Vast numbers of Indians have, to all appearance, been called out of dark- ness into his marvellous light. In this day of great grace, in one place, where great numbers of them live, who would hear nothing of the Gospel, but were most obsti- nately bent against it, and zealous for the worship of their false gods, when one of our zealous ministers went to preach, at first they were very surly and would hear nothing, but told the minister they did not want him there. But he, inspired with a divine courage and a most ardent love to Christ and their perishing souls, would not leave them 1 [The Rev. Peter Thacher, of Middle- course, which was on the 8th of the borough, was a son of the Rev. Peter month, by telling his people that he did Thacher, of Milton, cousin of the Rev. not know whether he should ever see or Peter Thacher, of Weymouth and Bos- speak to them again. Returning home, ton, and grandson of the Rev. Thomas he told his wife he did not know but his Thacher, first minister of the South work was done. He was restless that Church. He married Mary, daughter of night, and rapidly declined till his death, Samuel Prince, and sister of the Rev. which was on the Sabbath, April 22d. Thomas Prince. He was ordained at ' On Wednesday afternoon,' says the the age of twenty-one, the church at that Rev. Mr. Prince, ' was such an extraor- time having only twenty members. He dinary confluence from the neighbour- did not long survive the great revival of ing towns, as was never seen in the place 1 741 and 1742. "In his own spirit, the before, to attend the funeral. When the revival never suffered any abatement, but coffin was carried out, there was great rather grew brighter, till its light was lost weeping. — When set on the edge of the among the glories of the heavenly world, grave, it lay there some time, and they During the first week in April, 1744, he seemed to be loath to let him down ; nor preached to his own people and at Plym- did I ever see so many weepers before.' " outh eight times; closing his last dis- — The Great Awakening, pp. 175, 176.] DEBORAH PRINCE'S LETTER. 549 so ; but, when night came on, laid him down to sleep upon the ground in one of their wigwams. And though he was in danger of being mur- der'd, and only one Englishman with him, such was his confidence in God, that he slept very securely; and when waked in the middle of the night, by the Indians getting up and coming into the wigwam with their large sticks, only said to his companion, " Brother, if the Lord has any work for us to do, we are immortal till it is done, and if he has not, they will only give us a sweet push into eternal rest." But the Lord suffered them not to hurt them. And in the morning, the minister fell to exhorting and pleading with them, with so much earnestness and affection as something moved them ; and they told him, if he would go on the side of a hill where there was no snow (it being winter) they would hear him. So he did ; and they sent and gathered a great number together. And while he was saying the cxv Psalm, of the vanity of the idols of the heathen, they were convinced that the idols which they and their fathers had worshipped from time immemorial, were no gods, and asked the minister what they must do with them. He told them they must burn them immediately. Some of them ran and fetched four images, which they said they and their fathers had worshipped, and burnt them, with indignation at their own stupidity. By this they were prepared to receive the Gospel ; at the preaching of which great numbers were brought under deep conviction of their lost condition by nature, and of their absolute need of Christ. And numbers have attained to a joyful discovery of his all-sufficiency and readiness to save even them, and give a clear and satisfying account of their closing with him by faith : They discover a great dis- trust of themselves ; and, sensible of their own ignorance, are glad of instruction, and very earnest to learn to read, that they may know the will of God in his word. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. I could not forbear giving you a particular account of this remarkable occurrence, it was so pleasing. But I must conclude. So numerous are the triumphs of our glorious Redeemer over his enemies in this day of his power and grace, it would fill volumes to be particular. On the 29th of May, 1744, Deborah Prince was "seized on a sudden with a slow fever, and upon going up to her chamber drop'd a word, as if she should never come down alive." She died on the 20th of July, and on the Lord's day after her funeral, her father preached a most affecting sermon, which was printed, with the title, " The Sovereign God Acknowledged and Blessed, both in Giving and Taking away." CHAPTER XI. 1744-1749. MR. WHITEFIELD'S SECOND VISIT. THE FRENCH WARS. THE SEPARATISTS. MR. WHITEFIELD, on his second arrival in New Eng- land, landed at York, Maine, October 19, 1744. He was accompanied by his wife. Mr. Moody called upon him, and said, " Sir, you are, first, welcome to America ; secondly, to New England ; thirdly, to all faithful ministers in New England ; fourthly, to all the good people in New England ; fifthly, to all the good people of York ; and sixthly, and lastly, to me, dear sir, less than the least of all." The Christian History announced his arrival, and added " that his intention was, to pass on to Georgia ; and, as he goes on, to meddle with no controversies, but only to preach up the parts of vital piety and the pure truths of the gospel, to all that are willing to hear them." He preached at York and at Portsmouth ; at the latter place he was taken very ill, and both he and his friends thought he was going to die. As he was getting ready for his journey to Boston, the MR. WHITEFIELD'S ARRIVAL. 55 1 Rev. William Shurtleff, a classmate of Dr. Sewall and Mr. Prince, and one of those whose names had been appended to the Testimony of July 7, 1743, wrote : "The prejudices of most that set themselves against him before his coming, seem to be in a great measure abated, and in some, to be wholly removed ; and there is no open opposition made to him. I have frequent op- portunities of being with him, and there always appears in him such a concern for the advancement of the Redeemer's King- dom and the good of souls, such a care to employ his whole time to these purposes, such sweetness of disposition, and so much of the temper of his great Lord and Master, that every time I see him, I find my heart further drawn out towards him." In the Christian History we have the following announcement of his arrival in Boston : — Saturday, November 24, the Rev. Mr. Whitefield was so far revived as to be able to take coach, with his Consort, and set out from Ports- mouth to Boston ; Whither he came, in a very feeble state, the Mon- day Evening after : since which he has been able to preach in several of our largest houses of public Worship, particularly the Rev. Dr. Colman's, Dr. Sewall's, Mr. Webb's, and Mr. Gee's, to crowded as- semblies of people, and to great and growing acceptance. At Dr. Colman's desire, and the consent of the Church, on the Lord's day after his arrival, he administred to them the Holy Communion.1 And last Lord's day he preached for the venerable Mr. Cheever, of Chelsea, and administred the Holy Supper there. The next day preached for the Rev. Mr. Emerson of Maiden. Yesterday he set out to preach at some towns to the Northward ; proposes to return hither the next Wednesday Evening, and, after a few days, to comply with the earnest invitations of several ministers, to go and preach to their congregations, in the southern parts of the Province. 1 [As this communion service was af- after Sermon, on their coming to the terward the occasion of severe criticism, Communion Table, only address'd them the following explanation of the circum- in such Terms as these — The Rev. Mr. stances was printed in the Christian His- Whitefield being providentially with us, tory (vol. ii. p. 376) :" The Doctor having I have ask'd him to administer the Or- such an Opinion of the Catholick Spirit dinance. And the Doctor says, that by of his Church, like his own, had desir'd the Countenances of the People, it Mr. Whitefield to administer for him : seem'd to him to be universally agreea- and comformable to a common Practice ble to them. And no Objection being of getting other Ministers to join in the made, it was constructed by our Inform- Administration, he thought it unneces- ers that the Church consented to it, sary in a formal Manner to ask the Con- and which we think was constructed sent of the Church, and having plainly justly. However this we leave to every intimated his Intention in his Prayer Reader's Judgment."] 552 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. He comes with the same extraordinary spirit of meekness, sweetness, and universal benevolence as before : in opposition to the spirit of sep- aration and biggotry, is still for holding communion with all Protestant Churches. In opposition to enthusiasm, he preaches a close adher- ence to the Scriptures, the necessity of trying all impressions by them, and of rejecting whatever is not agreeable to them, as delusions. In opposition to Antimonianism, he preaches up all kinds of relative and religious duties, though to be performed in the strength of Christ ; and, in short, the doctrines of the Church of England, and the first Fathers of this Country. As before, he first applies himself to the understandings of his hearers, and then to the affections : and the more he preaches, the more he convinces people of their mistakes about him, and increases their satisfaction. We attach great importance to this testimony, coming from such a man as Mr. Prince, so learned, so judicious, so thoroughly — in the best sense — a man of the world, and so free from any tendency to fanaticism. The popular enthusiasm was perhaps nearly as great as it had been four years before ; yet the atmos- phere into which Mr. Whitefield had now come was very differ- ent from that which he breathed during his earlier visit. Death had made some changes. At Brattle Street he must have missed the excellent William Cooper, who had been one of his first and most faithful friends ; : and, in the older of the South Church parsonages, the chair of Deborah Prince had recently been made vacant. Political changes, also, had taken place. Jonathan Belcher was not now in the Province House, and his powerful influence was no longer available to give to the visitor the highest social recognition and support. How valuable this 1 "On Tuesday Morning the 13th In- 1 Thess. iv. 14, and Dr. Colman in the stant, [December 1743,] died in the 50th afternoon. Mr. Prince preached on the Year of his Age, after a few Days Illness next Lord's Day, from 2 Timo. iv. 7; of an Apoplectick Paralytick Disorder, and " the rest of the ministers followed, the Rev. Mr. William Cooper, one of in their course, preaching with great the Pastors of the Town, to the inex- affection." pressible Grief of his venerable Col- We have before us a sermon by Mr. league, the Rev. Dr. Colman, those of Cooper, the title of which is " One shall his immediate Charge, and indeed of all be taken and another left," and which, thro' the Town and Land, who have a the title-page tells us, was preached " to Savour for experimental Religion, and the Old South Church in Boston, March know how to prize the godly Man, and 22, 1740-1, A Season wherein there was the faithful Minister." — Christian His- a remarkable Display of the sovereign tory, vol. i. p. 337. Grace of God in the Work of Conver- Mr. Prince was one of the bearers at sion, Publish'd by the Request, and at Mr. Cooper's funeral. Dr. Sewall, his the Expence of an Honourable Person brother-in-law, preached at Brattle Street belonging to that Church." This person, on the following Sunday morning, from as we suppose, was the governor. DISCUSSIONS AND DIVISIONS. 553 influence had been previously we infer from a paragraph in one of his letters : — He honoured me with great honour, and the clergy paid the nod, and obeyed. In many, I then perceived, it was quite forced ; and, I think, when at his table, I whispered to some one and said, " If ever I come again, many of those who now seem extremely civil will turn out my open enemies." The event has proved that in this respect, I have been no false prophet. You know where it is written, " There arose a king who knew not Joseph." But, many or all, my poor labours are yet attended with the usual blessings. It was inevitable that Mr. Whitefield's reappearance in New England should prove to be the occasion of warm discussions and sharp divisions among the clergy. The leading men had already taken sides for or against him and the measures which he was supposed to represent. Testimonies and counter-testi- monies had been signed and published ; and now that he was come hither again, the practical question presented itself to every minister of a parish as to the kind of reception that should be accorded to him. Should he, or should he not, be in- vited to the pulpit ? This question was promptly answered in the affirmative by several of the Boston pastors, and some of the largest meeting-houses in the town were opened to him. The Boston pastors were not unanimous ; but there was such a de- cided majority of them in his favor that the influence of the town, as a whole, was felt to be on his side. Hence a remon- strance was addressed to the associated ministers of Boston and Charlestown by two " neighboring associations of ministers in the country." It was dated December 26, 1744, and the first signatures, representing the two bodies, were those of Caleb Cushing, of Salisbury, and John Barnard, of Andover.1 The signers disclaimed all desire to dictate to the Boston ministers 1 The members of the first of these The members of the second were : John associations were: Caleb Cushing (1692), Barnard (1709), of Andover; Joseph Par- of Salisbury ; Joseph Whipple (1720), of sons (1720) and William Balch (1724), of Hampton Falls ; John Lowell (1721), of Bradford; James Cushing (1725), of Newbury; Paine Wingate (1723), of Haverhill; Christopher Sargeant (1725), Amesbury; Jeremiah Fogg (1730), of of Methuen ; William Johnson (1727), Kensington; Nathaniel Gookin (1731), of Newbury; John Cushing (1729), of of North Hampton, N. H. ; Elisha Od- Boxford; Thomas Barnard (1732), of lin (1731), of Amesbury; Peter Coffin Newbury; and Edward Barnard ( 1736), (I733). of Kingston; William Parsons of Haverhill. We give the years of (r735). of South Hampton, N. H. ; and their graduation at Cambridge, to show Samuel Webster (1737), of Salisbury, approximately their age at this period. 554 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. as to what preachers they should receive or refuse, but justified their public remonstrance in this instance by saying that the consequences of Mr. Whitefield's reception would not be con- fined to the congregations which he might address, but would be general and far reaching, affecting the interests of many other ministers and churches. They assumed, as an undisputed truth, that great and grievous disorders had prevailed among the churches, through the influence of itinerant preachers, and they asked whether Mr. Whitefield approved of these disorders, whether he were against separations, whether he were an enemy to enthusiasm. Further, they avowed their belief that his former visit had done more harm than good. In the expression of this opinion they were consistent with themselves, for several of them had been opposers of the revival in all its stages, and the name of no one of them had appeared among its friends. On the 28th of December, the faculty of Harvard College issued a Testimony against Mr. Whitefield. In this paper he was charged with being an enthusiast ; that is, " one that acts either according to dreams, or some sudden impulses and im- pressions upon his mind, which he fondly imagines to be from the Spirit of God, persuading and inclining him thereby to such and such actions." He was criticised for the harshness of his judgments, as expressed in his published journals, for example, — that " the generality of preachers " talked of " an unknown and unfelt Christ," and that " as for the universities " at Cambridge and New Haven, " their light is now become darkness, darkness that may be felt ; " his extempore manner of preaching was pronounced " by no means proper ; " and, lastly, the faculty said, " We think it our duty to bear our strongest testimony against that itinerant way of preaching, which this gentleman was the first promoter of amongst us, and still delights to continue in," and they quoted against him his own remark : " God seems to show me it is my duty to evangelize, and not to fix in any par- ticular place." Pastors were recommended, therefore, to advise with each other in their several associations, and to consider whether it were not high time to make a stand against the mis- chiefs which seemed to be threatening the churches. Two, at least, of the faculty of Harvard College — President Holyoke and Professor Wigglesworth — had been favorable to the revival, and we may fairly assume that they did not intend, in this Testimony, to place themselves in hostility to it. Nor need their action and that of their colleagues be attributed ACTION AT CAMBRIDGE. 555 altogether to Mr. Whitefield's injudicious strictures upon the colleges and the clergy ; for President Holyoke, in defending his own college against these strictures, after their first publica- tion, had courteously said that he doubted not those who had given out a disadvantageous report had done it "in a godly jealousy for the churches of Christ," which were to be supplied from the colleges with their future ministers. At an association meeting at Cambridge, January i, 1745, Mr. Appleton asked his ministerial brethren to advise him with reference to a request made to him by a number of his church and congregation that he would invite Mr. Whitefield to his pulpit. Among those present were Mr. Williams, of Weston, Mr. Cotton, of Newton, and Mr. Turell, of Medford, who, as well as Mr. Appleton himself, had not hesitated to declare that a great work of grace had been witnessed in the land. " After supplications to God, and mature consideration of the case pro- posed, and the several pleas made in favor of said request, and the state of the town, as also the many weighty objections which lie against the said Mr. Whitefield with respect to his principles, expressions and conduct," it was voted unanimously that it was not advisable, " under the present situation of things," that Mr. Appleton invite Mr. Whitefield to preach in Cambridge, " and they accordingly declared, each of them for themselves, that they would not invite the said gentleman into their pulpits." 1 For the changed attitude towards Mr. Whitefield of such men as Mr. Holyoke, Mr. Appleton, and Mr. Turell, and of the ven- erable Mr. Walter, of Roxbury, who had been so warm in his commendations at Governor Belcher's table, but who gave in his adhesion to the views of the three associations and of the college faculty, we find an explanation, which seems reason- able, in the following sentences of a careful and conservative writer :2 — When Whitefield first arrived at Boston, he came at the invita- tion of several of the leading pastors and others, to labor a few weeks 1 The members of the association who Medford; Nicholas Bowes (1725), of united in this vote were : John Hancock Bedford ; Samuel Cooke (1735), of Cam- (1689), of Lexington ; William Williams bridge. We give here also the years of (1705), of Weston; John Cotton (1710), graduation from college. of Newton; Nathaniel Appleton (1712), 2 The Rev. Joseph Tracy, author of of Cambridge; Warham Williams (17 19), The Great Awakening, whose narrative, of Waltham ; Seth Storer (1720), of as well as the various " Lives " of White- Watertown; Ebenezer Turell (1721), of field, we have followed in the text. 556 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. with them and for them. This kind of " itinerancy," if it might be called by that name, had always been practised and approved in New England. It continued to be practised, without objection, during this revival, by Edwards and others. After Whitefield's return to Eng- land, he published the declaration already quoted from his journal: " God seems to shew me it is my duty to evangelize, and not to fix in any particular place." At first, partiality for its author prevented any unfavorable interpretation of this language ; but experience at length taught the public what it meant. The evangelizing was to be per- formed, not in regions where Christ had not been named, or where there was a destitution of the means of grace, but among old and established churches, even if supplied with able and faithful pastors. A divine command to evangelize in such places, evidently implied a divine command to pastors and people in such places, to welcome his evangelical labors • so that whenever he should come, none could re- fuse him without being guilty of rebellion against God. Whitefield may not have been fully aware of the import of his claim ; but Daven- port and his associates understood it, and felt equally sure that God had called them also to evangelize in the same style. They went forth accordingly, and demanded admission into churches where they had not been invited. If the pastor refused to welcome them, they appealed at once to his people, denounced him as an enemy of the work of God and a child of the devil, who was leading them blindfold to hell, and called upon them to separate from him. Regard for eccle- siastical order being thus trampled under foot, there was nothing to hinder laymen from receiving and obeying the same " impressions." A swarm of unordained exhorters accompanied and followed the ordained itinerants, and penetrated into still other parishes and neighbourhoods, spreading enthusiasm and confusion wherever they went. And for all this, both the itinerants and exhorters quoted Whitefield's authority. This led to a reconsideration of the whole subject. It was found that Whitefield's language and conduct would bear the construction which his enthusiastic friends had put upon them. His extravagant com- mendations of Davenport were remembered. His regard for dreams and impulses were called to mind. And then, he was a clergyman of the Church of England, and could not be supposed to have any spe- cial regard for Congregational church order. Though he must have been informed of the disorders committed under the sanction of his name, he had never denounced them, or authorized any of his corre- spondents to do it for him ; and since his return, though frequently called upon to speak, he preserved an unbroken silence, and even allowed the Christian History to announce that he intended to take no part in any of these controversies. From all this, many inferred that he approved the disorders that had been committed, and would labor to promote them ; and others believed that they grew naturally THE VA RIO US " TES TI MONIES. " 557 out of faults of which he had been guilty, so that he was, in an im- portant sense, " the blamable cause " of their occurrence ; and that, as he intended to continue the practice of the same faults, his labors would promote the same evils. On the 15th of January, the "Sentiments and Resolution" of an association at Weymouth were ordered to be printed. The Rev. Mr. Eells, of Scituate, was a member of this body. Its utterance was in " a better spirit, or at least in a better style," than that of some of the other bodies. The signers said in reference to Mr. Whitefield's itinerancy : " Whatever charity may prompt us to think of the honesty of his design, yet we cannot but disapprove of him as an itinerant preacher. We know not any such officer appointed by Christ, the Head of the church, nor what warrant Mr. Whitefield can plead, besides his own impulses and impressions, for his acting in that capacity." They were surprised and grieved, also, that he, a priest of the Church of England, should administer the Lord's Supper in Congregational churches. Late in the same month, a pamphlet appeared, containing the Testimony of an association convened at Marlborough, and that of a number of ministers in the county of Bristol. These were in a worse spirit than any that had been previously published. We need not quote from them, but no proof has been found that any of those who signed them had ever been friends of the revival. The total number of pastors who signed the various testimonies to which we have referred was sixty-three. " Of these, nine are known to have been early friends and promoters of the revival, and it is probable that others were on the same side ; but concerning the early sentiments of the greater part of the sixty-three there is no proof, while it is certain that some of them were opposers from the beginning." In the mean time, Mr. Whitefield's friends among the Boston ministers did not waver. Mr. Prince, Mr. Webb, Mr. Foxcroft, and Mr. Gee were his constant advisers. Mr. Foxcroft and his colleague, Dr. Chauncy, were on opposite sides in the contro- versy, but their personal relations do not seem to have been disturbed in consequence.1 The former was in an enfeebled 1 When Mr. Foxcroft died in 1769, ing that he was righteous in the eye of a Dr. Chauncy said of him in his funeral strict law, he accounted himself an un- sermon : " He was a real good Christian ; profitable servant ; fixing his dependence, a partaker of the Holy Ghost ; uniform not on his own worthiness, not on any in his walk with God in the way of his works of righteousness which he had commandments, though, instead of trust- done, but on the mercy of God and the 55§ HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. state of health, as the result of an attack of paralysis nine years before, and although he continued to preach to the time of his death, his more sturdy associate must have been able to exer- cise a predominating influence in the affairs of their parish. The latter succeeded in keeping Mr. Whitefield out of his pulpit, when it was proposed to ask him to preach the Thursday Lecture. Mr. Prince wrote to Dr. Chauncy on Wednesday, January 30, 1744-5 : — I desire to know whether you judge there is any need of my asking your consent to my inviting a minister to preach my Lecture at the Old Brick. In answering which you will oblige Your humble servant. Dr. Chauncy replied on the same day : — Rev. Sir, In answer to your question, I would ask you another, viz. whether you would express a suitable regard to me, and some others who statedly attend the Thursday lecture, and are united with you in carry- ing it on, to ask a gentleman to preach it, whose conduct has been such (in our apprehentions) that, if he preaches, you know we cannot be present, but must be obliged to tarry at home ? Your humble servant. In answer to which, Mr. Prince immediately wrote : — Rev. Sir, I perceive the purport of your letter is, that if I got Mr. Whitefield to preach, that you and some others are of such a separating spirit that you will not attend the public Lecture : which I am sorry to see. In such a Season as this, should you not rather set a contrary ex- ample, while you are publickly condemning such a spirit in others ? Mr. Whitefield will hear you, but you will not hear him. Pray who appears most for separation or union ? Methinks you should be glad of an occasion to show as good a spirit as he.1 Dr. Chauncy was the leader of the opposition in Eastern Massachusetts. He was an able, energetic, and strong-willed man, but he was also cold and unimpressionable ; and it is not strange, perhaps, that he could neither appreciate nor under- stand the burning zeal and sacred enthusiasm which marked the atoning blood and perfect righteousness x [Mass. Hist. Collections, vol. xxxii. of Jesus Christ. His writings evince a pp. 238, 239. Mr. Prince's notes are clearness of perception, copiousness of preserved in copies made by him upon invention, liveliness of imagination, and the sheet on which Dr. Chauncy's note soundness of judgment. They bear tes- was written. Many of the words are in timony also to his unfeigned piety." an abbreviated form.] CHAUNCY AND WHITEFIELD. 559 labors of Whitefield. He had published, several months before, " Seasonable Thoughts on the State of Religion," in which there was no single word of satisfaction at or sympathy with the deep work of grace which had pervaded the land, which had quickened the religious sense of the people, and which had gathered tens of thousands into the membership of the churches. In all that had taken place, he could discern nothing to com- mend, but everything to criticise. He did not discriminate between the general impressiveness and solemnity of the re- vival and the sporadic cases of extravagance which appeared upon its surface.1 He was unable to recognize in Whitefield an exceptional man, raised up and endowed by Divine Provi- dence, as almost everybody now admits, to do an exceptional work ; but he was quick to detect and to expose his limitations, and to magnify the mistakes which were chargeable to his youth and temperament.2 For him, the few crude generalizations of the journals more than counterbalanced the marvellous pulpit eloquence which in England moved such men as Garrick, Ches- terfield, Lyttelton, and Pitt.3 Not that Whitefield was above criticism ; but surely there was something in him to admire and to commend. Holyoke, Appleton, Eells, and others had criticised him, but they had done so with a certain degree of discrimination and appreciation. Chauncy alone, among the leading men on that side in and about Boston, seems to have conceded no qualifying conditions and to have refused all praise.4 1 Dr. Colman said : " We have seen for the strictures upon the colleges and little of those Extreams or supposed the ministers generally. Blemishes of this work in Boston, but 3 " Whitefield's preaching was such as much of the blessed Fruits of it have England had never heard before, theatri- fallen to our Share. God has spoken to cal, extravagant, often commonplace, but us in a more soft and calm Wind ; and hushing all criticism by its intense reality, we have neither had those Outcries and its earnestness of belief, its deep, trem- Faintings in our Assemblies, which have ulous sympathy with the sin and sor- disturbed the Worship in many Places ; row of mankind. It was no common nor yet those Manifestations of Joy in- enthusiast who could wring gold from expressible which now fill some of our the close-fisted Franklin and admiration Eastern Parts." — Christian History, vol. from the fastidious Horace Walpole, or ii. p. 3S6. who could look down from the top of a 2 Whitefield said of himself, in a letter green knoll at Kingswood on twenty dated February 19 : " Some unguarded thousand colliers, grimy from the Bristol expressions, in the heat of less experi- coal-pits, and see as he preached the tears enced youth, I certainly did drop. I was ' making white channels down their black- too precipitate in hearkening to and pub- ened cheeks.' " — Green's Short History, lishing private information, and, Peter- p. 718. like, cut off too many ears." We think 4 Of Dr. Chauncy, Professor Tyler that Mr. Tennent was largely responsible says, " He was a man of leonine heart, 560 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Mr. Whitefield could not but take notice of charges brought against him by men so high in position and influence. His reply to Dr. Chauncy, written while he was ill at Portsmouth, now ap- peared, with a "preface to the reader," dated January 18, and five days later he finished his reply to the faculty of Harvard College. He wrote in a frank and manly way, and evinced a most excellent spirit towards those who had criticised him. He made explanations and concessions on certain points, and de- fended himself against such charges as he felt to be unjust or untrue.1 He did not, however, satisfy his critics ; and it was hardly to be expected that he should do so, for they had not formed their opinions hastily or without due deliberation. Dr. Chauncy answered for himself, and Professor Wigglesworth for the college. In February the faculty of Yale College published a " Declaration," sustaining the positions taken by the associa- tions in Massachusetts and at Harvard College, and especially finding fault with an intention, avowed to Mr. Edwards, of bring- ing over " a number of young men from England to be ordained of strong, cool brain, of uncommon moral strength. He bore a great part in the intellectual strife of the Revolution ; but before that strife was opened he had moulded deeply the thought of his time, both by his living speech and by his pub- lications. These were mostly sermons ; but as sermons they had an extraordinary sweep of topics, from early piety and the lessons of affliction to earthquakes in Spain, murder, religious compulsion, Presbyterian ordination, legislative knav- ery, the encouragement of industry, and the capture of Cape Breton. " The prevailing trait of the man was intellectual genuineness in all things, and utter scorn of its opposite in anything. He had a massive, logical, remorseless understanding, hardy in its processes, and unwilling to take either fact or opinion at second hand. On the great themes that were then in debate among men, he put himself to enormous re- search. One of these themes was the Episcopacy. He gave four years of hard reading to it, first in the Scriptures and in the Fathers, then in all modern books on both sides of the controversy. Other themes were the doctrines of human de- pravity, retribution, and the like. He settled himself down for seven years to the study of these doctrines in the New Testament, especially in the Epistles of St. Paul, and finally in all other books within reach ; and he thus worked his way ' into an entirely new set of thoughts ' on those matters. He was an orthodox rationalist ; and he stood in the line of that intellectual development among the clergy of New England which at a later day culminated in Unitarianism." — Hist. of Am. Lit., vol. ii. p. 200. 1 His kind and generous spirit was in the end recognized at Cambridge. In 1764 he solicited donations of books for the college library, after the disastrous fire there ; and four years later, President Holyoke being still alive, the following minute was recorded : " At a meeting of the President and Fellows of Harvard College, August 22, 1768, the Rev. G. Whitefield having, in addition to his former kindness to Harvard College, lately presented to the library a new edition of his Journals, and having pro- cured large benefactions from several benevolent and respectable gentlemen ; Voted, that the thanks of the Corporation be given to Mr. Whitefield, for these in- stances of candor and generosity." MR. WHITEFIELD'S POPULARITY. 561 by the Tennents." This whole painful controversy need not be detailed in these pages. Neither side was wholly right or wholly wrong ; but although on some points the critics were undoubtedly right, we cannot help thinking that Mr. Whitefield had the advantage of them in the spirit which he manifested.1 The popular sympathies were certainly with him ; and while the war of pamphlets was waging among the clergy, he was preach- ing in Boston and in the neighboring towns to immense con- gregations. He was urged to set up a six-o'clock morning lecture, such as he had established in Scotland a few months before. He complied with the request, and a small room was taken for the purpose, as it was supposed that but few would attend. On the first morning, however, when he preached from the words, "And they came early in the morning to hear him," there was so great a crowd that it was found necessary, for the future, to have recourse to one of the largest meeting-houses. " The streets were all astir on those dark February mornings with the eager, punctual hearers who were going to the lectures on Genesis." " One morning the crowd was too dense to be penetrated, and he was obliged to go in at the window. Imme- diately after him came the high sheriff, who had been hostile to the ' new lights,' and the sight of whose face, as it appeared through the window, almost made the astonished people cry out ' Is Saul also among the prophets ? ' " 2 It was at this time that Mr. Whitefield's friends in Boston offered to build for him " the largest place of worship ever seen in America," but he wisely declined. He knew that he was not adapted for the steady duties and constant routine of the pas- toral work. Nor would it have been right for him thus to enter into competition with the existing churches, and with the able 1 Cowper has done justice to his spirit Like him he labor'd, and like him, content in lines which, we think, will aptly illus- To bear il> suffer'd shame where"er he went- trate our account of Whitefield's visits 2 The high sheriff here referred to was to New England : — Benjamin Pollard. Edward Winslow, He loved the world that hated him : the tear who had held this position for many That dropp'd upon his Bible was sincere ; years was promoted to the bench in Assail'd by scandal and the tongue of strife, Whitefield wrote to a friend, His only answer was a blameless life : ,-. i ,- , , ^ u-rr u \. a a j 1, .1 . t a a u .u . .u .u j _ February 6, that the sheriff, who had And he that forged, and he that threw the dart, * *•"« ""'J "» _ » Had each a brother's interest in his heart. been "foremost in persecuting the good Paul's love of Christ, and steadiness unbribed, Mr. Davenport," was " a little COn- Were copied close in him, and well transcribed. vinced." Mr. Pollard discriminated, no He follow'd Paul -his zeal a kindred flame, doub between Mr. Davenport and Mr. His apostolic charirv the same. _, , , , , Like him, cross'd cheerfully tempestuous seas, Whitefield. The former had retracted Forsaking country, kindred, friends and ease ; his errors six months before. 562 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. and faithful men who were serving them in the ministry.1 Under his preaching, during this visit, there were " movings " and " meltings " as before, and there were some interesting cases of conversion ; but there was no revival, in the technical sense of that word. " People heard, and were affected, but there was no spreading among the impenitent, as if by sym- pathy, or by a simultaneous impression upon all, of those views which constitute conviction of sin. Nor ought anything else to have been expected. Both ministers and people were thinking too much about the man, to profit by his preaching." The admissions to the South Church in 1745 were rather below the annual average number, and they were comparatively few during the next nine or ten years. At a Meeting of the Church and Congregation Feb. 11. 1744-5 Voted, That the Honble E. Lewis, A. Stoddard, Wm Foye T. Cush- ing and Mr. Ox. Thacher, be a Committee to examine the Accounts of the Committee for Repairs ; and make their Report as soon as may be. Voted, That there be a further Tax on the Pews towards defraying the Charge of repairing the House in which the Rev. Mr. Prince re- sides &c. viz £4. on each floor-Pew, £2. on the front Pews in the Gal- lery, and £1. on the back pews in said Gallery O. Tenour. Voted, That Messrs. Jer. Belknap, John Symmes, Ephrm. Copeland and David Jeffries be a Committee to collect said money, And that John Hunt Esq be continued the Treasurer. Joseph Sewall. Lord's Day Febr. 24 1744-5 The Deacons were allowed to spend fifty pounds out of the last Collection for Charitable and pious uses towards the relief of the Poop of this Church and Congregation. Joseph Sewall. Four days later, on Thursday, February 28, a day of prayer and fasting was observed throughout the province, with refer- ence to the expedition then preparing for the capture of Cape Breton and its fortified city, Louisburg. In 1744, the war be- tween England and France, known as the War of the Austrian Succession, was entered upon ; the first knowledge of it came to the people of New England through the capture of the small English garrison at Canso by the French. By the Peace of Utrecht in 1713, the island of Cape Breton had been made over to France. Mr. Prince, who was in England at the time, said of 1 In Philadelphia, he was offered j£Soo out of the twelve, if he would become a a year, and liberty to travel six months settled minister there. WILLIAM PEPPERRELL. 563 this cession : " All true-hearted Britons who knew the circum- stances of the island, most grievously lamented the resigna- tion, as full of teeming mischief to the British trade, wealth and power, and as one of the most fatal acts of that unhappy ministry," — the Tory ministry of Harley and St. John, two men described by Macaulay, the one as a solemn trifler, the other a brilliant knave. Governor Shirley, prompted by "a bold, energetic, and imaginative adventurer," William Vaughan, determined to attempt the recovery of this island, and the re- ligious excitement yielded for the time to the interest of the community in the fitting out of the expedition. Mr. Prince, in his Thanksgiving Day sermon, preached a few months later, names, among the Providential steps "which led us to the ad- venturous enterprize," the abundant crops of the previous year, whereby the provinces were prepared to supply so great an armament, and the remarkably favorable state of the weather. He says : " It was wonderful also to see that during those two usually stormy months of February and March, the only season for our preparation, God was pleased to give us such a constant series of moderate and fair weather, as in that time of the year has scarce ever been known among us : So that there was scarcely any impediment to our officers going about and enlist- ing, or of our soldiers in marching, or our vessels in fitting, or our coasters in bringing us provisions, or our Committee of War in their various preparations, 'till all were ready to sail." The command of the expedition was entrusted to William Pepperrell. He was a warm friend of Whitefield, and a con- stant attendant upon his ministrations ; 1 and he went to the great preacher for advice, before accepting the responsibilities of the appointment. As has been well said, Whitefield showed a knowledge of the world in dealing with the question, cautioning Pepperrell that, if he should fail, the blood of the slain would be laid to his charge, while, if he should succeed, he would be pursued by the envy of the living.2 He accepted, however, and 1 When Mr. Whitefield landed at 2 Whitefield spoke to Pepperrell with York, in October, 1744, Mr. Pepperrell his wonted frankness and freedom, when " went with some friends in his own he said " that he did not indeed think boat," to bring him to his house at Ports- the scheme proposed for taking Louis- mouth, but he was not well enough to burg very promising, and that the eyes come. It was at the house of Mr. Jo- of all would be upon him. If he did seph Sherburne, at Portsmouth, also not succeed, the widows and orphans of spoken of in the text, that he soon after the slain soldiers would be like lions had the illness which all thought would robbed of their whelps ; but if it pleased prove fatal. God to give him success, envy would 564 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. then Mr. Joseph Sherburne, one of the commissaries, came to Mr. Whitefield to say that unless he would favor the expedition, " serious people " would be discouraged from enlisting, and, fur- ther, that he must give a motto for his flag. To this Mr. White- field demurred, but at length yielded, and gave them Nil despe- randum, Christo ducc. As soon as it was known what he had done, great numbers enlisted. He was urged to go as a chap- lain, but declined. Before the expedition embarked, the officers asked him to preach to them, and he gave them a sermon on David at the Cave of Adullam. He described the motley band gathered at the cave, and then showed how distressed sinners come to Jesus Christ, the spiritual David ; he exhorted the sol- diers to behave like the soldiers of David, and the officers to act like David's worthies, and added that if they did he doubted not there would be good news from Cape Breton. " And now," says Mr. Prince, " our army of three thousand land soldiers, with all kinds of stores being ready to sail about the 20th of March, in about a hundred vessels, besides five hun- dred soldiers more sent from Connecticut, and three hundred and fifty from New Hampshire, — we had almost every gloomy pros- pect to make us tremble. For our inland borders were now left bare of a great part of their strength, by the listing of so many of their able men voluntiers in the expedition. And if the en- terprize succeeded, the heavy debt would almost sink us. But if, for our offences, God were carrying forth a great part of the Flower of our Country to be destroy'd, a most dismal scene of ruin seem'd to follow ! . . . The hearts of many of the wisest ashore now seem'd to fail. Some repented they had voted for it, and others that they had ever promoted it. Some judged it best after all for every man to go home ; and the thoughtful among us were in great perplexity. But yet a wonder it was to see, that those who were venturing into the danger, seem'd to be fullest of trust in God and courage. Many fill'd their vessels with prayers ; and asking ours, they threw themselves into the Divine protection, in the name of God they set up their ban- ner, and away they sail'd. Pray for us, and we '11 fight for you — was the valiant and endearing language wherewith they left us." And those who remained at home did pray for those who had endeavour to eclipse his glory. He had but if Providence really sent him, he need, therefore, if he went, to go with a would find his strength proportioned to single eye, and then there was no doubt, the day." THE ATTACK ON LOUISBURG. 565 gone. Mr. Prince adds : "As it was very encouraging to think how many pious and prayerful persons were embark'd in the cause, which we accounted the cause of God and his people ; it gave further ground of hope, to see such a spirit of supplica- tion given to many in this town and land on this occasion. For, besides the solemn days of publick and general prayer ap- pointed by these three Governments, there were particular days observed in several congregations. There were also in divers towns religious societies, some of women as well as others of men, who met every week, more privately to pray for the pres- ervation and success of their dear countrymen : And I have been well informed of their extraordinary fervency, faith and wrestlings, as so many Jacobs, in this important season. Psalm cviii. 10-13, was usually among our petitions." 1 Colonel Pepperrell was a nephew by marriage of Dr. Sewall,2 and several of the officers and men belonged to the South Church and congregation. Richard Gridley, who distinguished himself as an engineer during the siege ; under whose super- vision the fortifications round Lake George were to be con- structed, a few years later ; who was to be by the side of Wolfe at his death on the Plains of Abraham ; and who, still later, was to render eminent service to his country at Breed's Hill, and in the siege of Boston at Cambridge, — married a daughter of a South Church family, Hannah Deming, and (as we suppose) himself became a member in 1 75^- Mr. Whitefield preached a farewell sermon at Mr. Webb's, on the 19th of June, at five o'clock in the afternoon, from Eph. vi. 10-19, and soon after left for New York and the South.3 The 1 " Who will bring me into the strong 2 William Pepperrell married (Febru- ary? who will lead me into Edom? ary 21, 17-2-3) Mary, eldest daughter Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us of Grove Hirst, and granddaughter of off ? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth Judge Sewall. with our hosts? Give us help from Dr. Colman, of Brattle Street, mar- trouble : for vain is the help of man. ried as his third wife (August 12, 1745) Through God we shall do valiantly: for he Mary, sister of Colonel Pepperrell, and it is that shall tread down our enemies." widow of the Hon. John Frost. May 2. 1745. "The Thursday Lecture 3 Mr. Whitefield did not come to New was turned into a Fast by the ministers England again until the autumn of 1747. on account of Cape Briton Expedition The opposition to him seems then to Mr. Prince began with prayer at ten have abated. He wrote : " The flocking o'clock. Mr. Webb preached. P. M. and power that attended the word, was Mr. Checkley prayed and Dr. Sewall like unto that seven years ago. Weak preached. Mr. Welsteed prayed last, as I was, and have been, I was enabled [added later] and this day the Grand to travel eleven hundred miles and Battery at Cape Briton was delivered up preach daily." He sailed soon after for to us." — John Phillips, MS. Diary. the Bermudas. 566 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. General Association of Connecticut had just declared that as he had been "the promoter or at least the faulty occasion" of the prevailing errors and disorders, it would not be advisable for the ministers to open their pulpits to him during " his prog- ress through this government," or for the people to attend "upon his preaching and administrations." x Intelligence of the capture of Louisburg reached Boston about break of day on the 3d of July. Dr. Chauncy, writing on the 4th to his brother-in-law, the hero of the hour, said : " The people of Boston before sunrise were as thick about the streets as on election day ; and a pleasing joy visibly sat on the countenance of every one you met with. We had last night the finest illumination I ever beheld." A public thanksgiving was ordered ; and the meeting-houses, which had been filled with waiting suppliants, were now thronged with grateful worship- pers. Lord's Day July 14. 1745. The Brethren of the church and Congregation stay'd and Voted, — That there be a collection on the general Thanksgiving next Thurs- day to relieve such necessitous Persons of this Church and Congrega- tion whose Husbands or other Relatives have lost or ventured their lives in the Expedition against Cape Breton : And if there shall be more than a sufficiency to supply These, that then others under like circumstances be consider'd, as the Brethren of the Church and Con- gregation shall determine. Joseph Sewall. General Thanksgiving for the Conquest of Cape Breton July 18, 1745- Collected one hundred and thirty pounds for the use above said. Joseph Sewall. Mr. Prince preached from the text, "This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes." In the application of his subject he reviewed the remarkable steps, twelve in number, which led " to the adventurous enterprize," and " the more surprizing steps of Providence succeeding therein to the happy accom- plishment," also twelve in the enumeration. In closing his discourse, which was one subdued and devout utterance of joy- ful praise, he said : " May this happy conquest be the dawning earnest of our Divine Redeemer's carrying on his triumphs thro' the Northern Regions ; till he extends his Empire from 1 The General Association of Con- tor, and the Rev. Elnathan Whitman necticut met at Newington, June 18. scribe. See Walker's Histo7y of the The Rev. Benjamin Colton was mo&era- First Church in Hartford, p. 307. THE CAPTURE OF LOUISBURG. 567 the Eastern to the Western Sea, and from the River of Canada to the Ends of America."1 The news of the victory was received in England with much rejoicing. " The captured standards were borne in triumph from Kensington Palace to the City, and were suspended in St. Paul's Church, amidst the roar of guns and kettle-drums, and the shouts of an immense multitude." The home government assumed the whole cost of the expedition ; General Pepperrell was created a baronet of the United Kingdom, and the valuable services of Richard Gridley were properly recognized, and his future promotion assured.2 At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation, Septr. 30. 1745. Voted, as follows, That the Report of the Committee to whom was referred the Accounts of the Repairs of the Ministerial Houses &c exhibited by a committee appointed to have the oversight and direction thereof ; and also the Accounts of sundry charges exhibited by the Deacons ; be accepted. That the Gentlemen present subscribe what they will farther give to defray the charges unpaid of repairing the Meeting House and the Ministerial Houses ; and that a Committee be appointed to goe to such absent Persons of the Church and Congregation, as it may be thought will give to defray such Charges. That Messrs. Malachi Salter Junr and William Taylor, be the Com- mittee for that Service. That John Hunt Esq. Treasurer be impower'd to pay to the several Persons not yet paid for the repairs &c. what remains due to them ; and also the charges that have been or may be about the Well at the Revd. Mr. Prince's House, after the several accounts have been exam- ined and allowed by the Deacons. That the Hon. Ezekiel Lewis, Anthony Stoddard and Thomas Cushing Esqrs be a Committee to examine the Deacon's Accounts. That the present Seaters are continued till the further Order of this Society. That it is expedient and necessary that the Contributors on the Lord's days should mark the money they put into the Boxes, that it may be known what each Person doth contribute. That the committee for the time being for ordering and regulating the Pews and Seats in the Meeting House be impower'd and directed, 1 This sermon was published in Bos- - For an account of Richard Gridley ton and in London. Dr. Chauncy and his public services, see Oration by preached a thanksgiving sermon on the D. T. V. Huntoon, at the unveiling of his same day, " Marvellous things done by monument at Canton, Mass., May 30, the Right Hand and Holy Arm of God." 1877. 568 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. that when any Pew or part of one be hereafter dispos'd of by them to any Person, to make it a condition in the Tenure thereof, that the Person to whom the same shall be assign'd, doe pay or contribute weekly for the support of the worship of God and other charges, such summe in lawful money as shall be agreed upon between them and the party ; and shall also be obliged to pay their proportionable part of such sums of money as may be necessary for this Society to raise in order to defray the contingent charges that may arise from time to time : Provided that no whole Pew be assign'd to any Person for the future,, unless he be oblig'd to pay weekly, at least fifteen pence in lawful money, and so in proportion for any part of one ; and also for Gallery-Pews after said rate, or in proportion to their Cost and Value ; and this to continue, till the Church and Congregation shall alter or order otherwise. Joseph Sewall. Lord's Day Deer i. 1745. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stay'd, And Voted That there be a Collection for Charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Thanksgiving, next Thursday, Deer 5 Instant : And that the rest of the Congregation be notified of this Vote, and desired to assist in said collection. Joseph Sewall. Anniversary Thanksgiving Deer 5. 1745. Collected. Unappropriated .... 163. 15. 6 To the Charit. and Pious Fund . 5. o. o To two poor Widows . . . 2. 10. o 171. 5. 6 Lord's Day Deer. 15. 1745 The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stay'd, and Voted, That the Deacons be empower'd to expend one hundred pounds of the collection for Charitable and pious uses, for the relief of the Poor of this Church and Congregation, to be laid out in Wood and other Necessaries of life. 2. That twenty pounds of said collection be laid out in Bibles Cate- chisms and other books of piety ; and given to proper Objects of such a Charity. Joseph Sewall. The Hon. Thomas dishing, a merchant, and speaker of the House of Representatives, died April 11, 1746, aged fifty-two.1 1 He was born in Boston, January 30, after completing his college course. Mr. 1694. His father, the Hon. Thomas Prince preached a funeral sermon from Gushing, was a representative and coun- the words, " Help, Lord, for the godly cillor. Samuel Adams, the patriot, was man ceaseth, for the faithful fail from in his counting-room for a short time, among the children of men." DEATH OF THOMAS CUSHING. 569 He graduated at Harvard College in 171 1, and was converted a year or two later. He " applied himself to merchandize, not neglecting the occasional study of the English history and polit- ical constitutions." He married Mary, youngest daughter of the first Edward Bromfield, and this, perhaps, brought him to the South Church, which he joined in 1730. " He was distin- guished by his wealth, his abilities, his zeal for his country's service, his integrity, and in a peculiar manner for his piety." The revival of religion in Boston, a few years before his death, gave him great delight, although he was grieved at the impru- dence and extremes of some and the indiscriminate opposition of others. Mr. Prince said of him in his funeral sermon : " I found that in a small, relaxed and feeble body, there dwelt a great, a lively, a strong and well composed soul." He remarked to a friend, when conversing on the responsibilities of public men in times of difficulty : " Men may be a long while great patriots from moral or political principles ; or party or worldly interests ; or the applause or esteem of others. But there is nothing like the special grace of God, a believing view of his present eye and future judgment, and an interest and conscience wholly subjected to him, to keep men steady to the public inter- est in times of trial." * His distinguished son of the same name, who graduated at Cambridge in 1744, with Samuel Welles, Jonathan Mayhew, Edward Bass, and others, joined the South Church with his wife, Deborah Fletcher, in 1755, and was an active member until his death in 1788. Two years after the death of Mr. Cooper, the Brattle Street Church made choice of his son, Mr. Samuel Cooper, as asso- ciate pastor. Three other young men, John Walley,2 William 1 Mr. Cushing is believed to have been that parish ; and any one so preaching, the author of a pamphlet of sixty-six coming from another colony, "foreigner pages, printed in 1744, entitled "A or stranger," whether a regularly ordained Seasonable Plea for the Liberty of Con- minister or only an exhorter, was to be science, and the Right of private Judg- sent out of the jurisdiction as a vagrant ment in Matters of Religion, without any person, and if he returned was to be Controll from human Authority — being put under bonds for ;£ioo to keep the a Letter from a Gentleman in the Massa- peace. chusetts Bay to his friend in Connecticut." 2 John Walley was the third of the It was a protest against an enactment name and lineage, in the membership of passed in Connecticut in 1742, with a the South Church. He graduated at subsequent amendment, under which a Cambridge in 1734, and was settled at settled minister was to be deprived of his Ipswich, in the South Parish, in 1747. ecclesiastical rights, if he went beyond his He was a nephew of Mrs. Sewall. parish limits to preach in another parish, Mr. Samuel Cooper was a nephew of except by invitation of the minister of Dr. Sewall. 570 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Vinal, and Samuel Langdon, had preached each one month as candidates, " all of them," say the records of the church, " to the great acceptance and esteem both of the pastor and the con- gregation." It was natural that Dr. Colman should express, as he did publicly, a decided preference for the son of his old friend and colleague, and that a majority of the church should be in favor of him, also. Mr. Samuel Cooper, by request, preached a sermon on the 6th of April, in which he gave " a confession of his faith to the general satisfaction of the audience," and on the 2 1 st of May he was ordained by a council representing the churches of Boston, Charlestown, and Cambridge. In arranging for the ordination, the church voted, " That in case the reverend pastor, Dr. Colman, should find himself disabled by the infirm- ities of age or bodily weakness to preside in the proposed ordi- nation, pray, and give the charge with the imposition of the hands of the Presbytery, then he be desired to request the Rev. Dr. Sewall, in the name of the church, to preside and lead in that part of the solemnity." "This service," says Dr. Lothrop, "he subsequently performed," and, he adds, "this shows, at least, what our church at that time thought of its rights, and to what a limited extent it considered a discretionary power at- tached to the council." Dr. Colman preached the sermon, as he had done at the ordination of the father in 1716; his text was Jer. xxiii. 31, 32, and he improved the occasion to rebuke the separatists, who were working almost incalculable mischief in many of the churches. He expressed the wish " before God, and in* his fear, that those among ourselves who have of late years taken upon themselves to go about exhorting and preach- ing, grossly unfurnished with ministerial gifts and knowledge, would suffer those words of the Lord to sink deep into their hearts, to check them in their bold career, and blind censures of many faithful pastors, into whose folds they are daily breaking, and because of the mildness of our spirits towards them, seem to grow the more bold and fierce. And it were greatly to be wished that people would beware of such straggling, illiterate teachers, and avoid them, in whatever appearance of sheeps clothing they may come." 1 1 We cannot agree with Dr. Palfrey preacher, from the time when his fame and Dr. Lothrop that this passage was first reached Boston. The letter to Mr. pointed at Whitefield, or that it indicates Williams, of Lebanon, upon which (to- a change of feeling towards him. We gether with the above passage) Dr. Pal- find no evidence that Dr. Colman ever frey relies to show that a change had faltered in his admiration of the great taken place, was written before White- A THANKSGIVING SERMON. 571 The war spirit was again prevalent this summer. General Pepperrell and Admiral Warren arrived in June from the scenes of their joint triumph in Acadia, and were welcomed with much enthusiasm. Soon after, the news came to hand of the victory- near Culloden, of Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, over the Young Pretender, and " a Day of General Thanksgiving for the Great Deliverance" was observed on the 14th of August. At the South Church, Mr. Prince preached an historical discourse from Ezra ix. 13, 14. He sketched the history of the Stuarts from the marriage of Charles I. to a French princess, — " the per- nicious fountain of almost all the miseries of the British nations ever since," — to the Revolution of 1688; he enumerated the various conspiracies and invasions undertaken subsequently, in the interest of the Pretender ; and after showing what the result would have been to the cause of religion and liberty, if any of these attempts at the Crown had been successful, he enlarged, as he had done the year before, upon some of " the signal ap- pearances of God " in behalf of his people.1 field's second visit to Boston, when he was heartily welcomed to the pulpit and the communion table at Brattle Street. See Lothrop's History of the Church in Brat- tle Street (1851), pp. 69, 70. There had been more or less con- fusion at Mr. Webb's under one or two of Mr. Whitefield's sermons, in con- sequence of outcries and other manifes- tations of excitement ; and Dr. Colman wrote to the latter, urging him to dis- courage everything of the kind, and in- timating that such scenes would be more in place within other walls, meaning, as we suppose, the assemblies of the separatists. 1 To show how evenly balanced the Protestant and Jacobite parties in Eng- land were in 1701, Mr. Prince reminded Resistance was the general cry: Dr. Sacheverel, for promoting these slavish doctrines, and arraigning the Revolution, was almost everywhere extoll'd to the skies ; and wherever he went, applauded, crowded and almost adored by the mul- titude : The freeholders in the counties and corporations mostly chose those into the Parliament who were known to be Tories, attach'd to the Tory ministry ; and the greater part of the then clergy of the Church of England joined with them, and were continually crying up Hereditary Right, Passive Obedience, Non-Resistance and Down with the Whiggs who zealously stood up for the Revolution and Protestant Succession." Macaulay says of this period : " A foolish parson had preached a foolish his hearers that the vote in the House of sermon against the principles of the Commons to settle the descent of the Crown was determined in favor of the Protestant succession bv the casting vote of the Speaker ; and he added : " I am an eye-witness to the following instances — That when the Whiggish ministry in Queen Ann's Reign in 1710, were turned out and the Tory came into their places, the stream of the nation appeared plainly with the Jacobite party : Hereditary Right and Passive Obedience and Non- Revolution. The wisest members of the government were for letting the man alone. . . . The impeachment was brought ; the doctor was convicted ; and the accusers were ruined. The clergy came to the rescue of the persecuted clergyman. The country gentlemen came to the rescue of the clergy. A display of Tory feelings, such as England had not witnessed since the closing years of Charles the Second's reign, appalled the 572 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. But the exultation of this Thanksgiving Day was speedily changed into anxious fears and forebodings. The loss of Louis- burg had been a most mortifying blow to France, and it was determined, at all events, to recover the famous fortress and to invade New England. A large fleet under the Duke D'Anville, as admiral and general, was despatched from Brest ; this was "the greatest and most powerful armament against these North- ern Colonies, that was ever sent into North America : Having twenty men of war, a hundred transports, about eight thousand disciplined troops with veteran officers, and vast quantities of provision, powder, shot, arms, cannon, bombs and mortars, suf- ficient to take the strongest places."1 The fate of this proud armada was most tragic. The stars in their courses seem to have fought against it. Coming by a southern route, the voy- age across the Atlantic was protracted and tedious ; sickness attacked the troops, and as the vessels approached the coast of Nova Scotia, they were scattered, and some of them broken, by heavy gales. Fogs were then encountered ; and it was not until the 12th of September that the Duke entered the port of rendezvous, Chebucto, to be met there by a fraction only of his command. " Finding his few ships so shattered, so many men dead, so many sickly, and no more of his fleet come in, he sunk into discouragement, and September 15 died," having taken poison, as is supposed. On the following day, the rear-admiral arrived, with five ships of the line and twenty-seven of the fleet, but in such a condition that the troops had to be landed and the vessels repaired. The vice-admiral, Estournell, "in con- sideration of the deplorable case they were in, proposed to return to France to save the rest of the men ; " but he was overruled by a council of war, and on the morning of the 19th, he was " found in his apartment, fallen upon his sword." The chief command now devolved on the rear-admiral, Jonquire, who, with his officers, determined to make an attack on Annapolis, and then perhaps on some place on this coast, before returning ministers and gave boldness to the of Boston, when passing through a still Queen. She turned out the Whigs, more terrible trial. John Kneeland ad- called Harley and St. John to power, vertised, July 7, 1774, an extract from it, and dissolved the Parliament. The " reprinted at this Time with a View to elections went strongly against the late encourage the People of God to put their government." — Essays, vol. iii. p. 130. Trust in Him, and to call upon his Name, 1 See Mr. Prince's Thanksgiving Ser- under the severe and Keen Distresses mon preached November 27, 1746. This now taking place in Boston and Charles- sermon was recalled by the next genera- town, by the rigorous Execution of the tion for the encouragement of the people Boston Port Bill." "MR. THOMAS PRINCE LOQUITUR? 573 home. They had given up the idea of attempting Louisburg, and on the 13th of October, with about forty sail, they took their departure from Chebucto. Their appearance before Boston was expected daily. Richard Gridley, under the direction of Gov- ernor Shirley, had been engaged on the harbor defences ; and several thousand men with arms, from the surrounding country, some of them coming from as far as Brookfield, were assembled for the defence of the town. At this supreme moment the people crowded their meeting-houses, as was their habit at such times ; and what took place at the Old South, on a solemn day of prayer, has found a permanent record in the sermons of the theologian and among the ballads of the poet. " While Mr. Prince was officiating on this fast day, and praying most fer- vently to God to avert the dreaded calamity, a sudden gust of wind arose (the day had till now been perfectly clear and calm) so violent as to cause a clattering of the windows. The rev- erend pastor paused in his prayer, and, looking round upon the congregation with a countenance of hope, he again commenced, and with great devotional ardor supplicated the Almighty to cause that wind to frustrate the object of our enemies, and save the country from conquest and popery. A tempest ensued, in which the greater part of the French fleet was wrecked on the coast of Nova Scotia." 1 President Dwight, of Yale College, when preaching on prayer, thus referred to this event : " I am bound, as an inhabitant of New England, to declare that were there no other instances to be found in any other country, the blessings communicated to this would furnish ample satisfaction concerning this subject to every sober, much more to every pious man. Among these, the destruction of the French armament under the Duke D'Anville, in the year 1746, ought to be remembered with grati- tude and admiration by every inhabitant of this country." Long- fellow has put these words into the mouth of Mr. Prince : — A fleet with flags arrayed Sailed from the port of Brest, And the Admiral's ship displayed The signal : " Steer southwest." For this Admiral D'Anville Had sworn by cross and crown 1 Dr. Wisner quotes this statement and Mrs. Mason, well-known aged mem- from the Columbian Centinel, 1821 ; and bers of the South Church, give substan- he says that he was told by Mrs. Hunt- tially the same account of Mr. Prince's ington that she had heard Mrs. Waters praying on this fast day. 574 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. To ravage with fire and steel Our helpless Boston Town. There were rumors in the street, In the houses there was fear Of the coming of the fleet, And the danger hovering near. And while from mouth to mouth Spread the tidings of dismay, I stood in the Old South, Saying humbly : " Let us pray ! " O Lord ! we would not advise ; But if in thy Providence A tempest should arise To drive the French Fleet hence, And scatter it far and wide, Or sink it in the sea, We should be satisfied, And thine the glory be." This was the prayer I made, For my soul was all on flame, And even as I prayed The answering tempest came ; It came with a mighty power, Shaking the windows and walls, And tolling the bell in the tower, As it tolls at funerals. The lightning suddenly Unsheathed its flaming sword, And I cried : " Stand still, and see The salvation of the Lord ! " The heavens were black with cloud, The sea was white with hail, And ever more fierce and loud Blew the October gale. The fleet it overtook, And the broad sails in the van Like the tents of Cushan shook, Or the curtains of Midian. Down on the reeling decks Crash'd the o'erwhelming seas ; Ah, never were there wrecks So pitiful as these ! Like a potter's vessel broke The great ships of the line ; They were carried away as a smoke, Or sank like lead in the brine. O Lord ! before thy path They vanished and ceased to be, When thou didst walk in wrath With thine horses through the sea ! MR. PRINCE'S ACCOUNT. 575 Mr. Prince, in his Thanksgiving Sermon six weeks later, thus speaks of the day of fasting and what followed : — The same day, viz. Thursday October 16, is kept the day of general fasting and prayer throughout the churches in this Province, on this great emergency, And that very night ensuing, the glorious God entirely baffled all their purposes, and put a total end to their mis- chievous enterprize. He mightily arose, and wrought a full salvation for us. He sent a more furious storm of wind and rain and hail, than ever, [the fleet had encountered a heavy storm near Sable Island the day before] — which held to the next day noon, — which they could not stand before, — which so dispersed and broke them, they could never get together again : And several ships were so crazy, and weakly handled, that 'tis apprehended by our dismissed captives, who were in the same storm, that some were overset, some others foundered and sunk in the mighty waters : And the remaining men of war in view, so shattered and discouraged, that they determined for the West India Islands, and sent their Nova Scotia pilots home, with orders to their French and Indian army who had marched to Annapolis to leave their enterprize and get away. The scattered remnants, it seems most likely, are gone back to France, abased and confounded. In the midst of all this excitement, the church was consider- ing the question of discipline, and inquiring how it might raise the standard of Christian living in its membership. One result was the appointment of a standing committee, some of whose functions were to be similar to those of the church committee of the present day. At a Church Meeting July 14. 1746. Whereas there has been a Proposal made for the revival of our Church-Discipline, and for assisting the Pastors in the Exercise there- of, and in other Emergencies, Voted, That there be a Committee chosen to take this Matter into their mature Consideration, and make Report to the Church on Mon- day August 4. next at 10 a-clock A. M. Voted, That the Honble John Osborne, Ez. Lewis, Josiah Willard, Anthony Stoddard Samuel Welles Esqs. and the Deacons, together with our Pastors, be the said Committee. Joseph Sewall. Augt. 4. The Meeting was so thin that we further adjourned it to the 10th instant. Lord's Day Augt 10. 1746. The Church stay'd : the Report of the Committee was read and accepted, and is as follows ; viz. The Committee chosen by the South Church in Boston, July 14. 576 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. 1746, to consider the Proposal made for the revival of our Church- Discipline ; Report as follows ; Whereas the Watch and Discipline of this Church have been too much neglected ; We purpose by the help of God, more carefully to attend our duty in watching over one another in love, and with a Spirit of meekness, agreeable to our solemn Covenant-Engagements : And whereas there may difficulties arise relating to our Discipline, and help be needed, either in a more private way of healing offences, or in preparing matters for the Cognizance of the Church where it may be necessary, and in other Emergencies ; It is Proposed, that there be a Committee chosen from among our Brethren to advise with our Pastors and be helpful to them in the matters above said : The said Committee to consist of five Persons, and to be chosen annually. Voted, That the Church proceed to the choice of said committee, Lord's Day Augt. 24. Instant, after the public-Exercises P. M. and that the choice be made by written Votes. Lord's Day Augt 24. 1746. The Hon. Ezekiel Lewis, Josiah Willard, Deacon Henchman and Mr. Edward Bromfield, were chosen by written votes. The Lord's Day following, Augt. 31. Coll. Winslow was chosen by written votes. Joseph Sewall Lord's Day Novr 16. 1746 The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stay'd, and Voted That there be a Collection for Charitable and pious Uses on the Anniversary Thanksgiving next, Novr 27. Instant : And that the Rest of the Congregation be notified of this Vote, and desired to assist in said Collection Joseph Sewall Novr. 27. Public Thanksgiving, Collected. Unappropriated . . . . £176. 16. o Appropriated For the Charitable and Pious Fund . . £ 21. o. o For the chh. of Tiverton, towards Mr. Cam- bell's support, £ 14. o. o For Mr. Willoughby,1 13. o. o For the Widow Simpson . . . . 3. 00. o For the Widow Holland . . . . 2. 10. o For the Widow Morse . . . . 2. 10. o 232. 16. o 1 [Francis Willoughby, grandson of — the early friend of the South Church, the deputy governor of the same name, — was born September 28, 1672. He 11 THE SALVATIONS OF GOD IN 1746:' $77 Mr. Prince preached the sermon on this occasion, from which we have already quoted, "The Salvations of God in 1746," — perhaps the most celebrated of all his patriotic utterances. His text was Exodus xiv. 13 : "Stand still, and see the salva- tion of the Lord." The opening paragraph, on which the doc- trine of the sermon was founded, and to which the historical passages gave ample illustration, was as follows : — The existence of an absolutely perfect Being, which we call the Deity, unavoidably infers his absolutely perfect Providence, exactly answerable to the absolute perfection of his nature. For as his un- derstanding is absolutely perfect, it must needs eternally have seen all things possible to be and come to pass, both by his influence and per- mission : And as, out of all these possibilities, his absolutely perfect wisdom must needs select those to come into existence which are fittest (all things perfectly considered) to be effected and permitted; the same wisdom will eternally direct him, both in creating, support- ing, over-ruling and permitting, in a perfect correspondence with his absolutely perfect foresight. Lord's Day, Jan'y 11. 1746-7 The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stay'd and Voted, That the Deacons be empower'd to lay out one hundred and fifty Pounds of the collection for Charitable and pious uses, for the relief of the Poor of this Church and Congregation, in Wood and other Necessaries of life. A letter was then read from the Church and Society in Tiverton, asking our Charitable assistance towards purchasing Land for the sup- port of the Ministry among them : In answer to which, It was agreed that said Letter should be read before the Congregation next Lord's Day P. M. ; and that such as were disposed, should be desired to make their offerings the Lord's day after, with their weekly contribution : had two children by his first wife, Be- as Fitch, Edward Hutchinson, Jacob thiah Gedney, born in Salem, before Wendell, Nathanael Cunningham, and 1 7 10. He was representative in 1713. others, to erect a market-house on land In 17 16, he married, as his second wife, leased from Jonathan Willis. He served Sarah, daughter of the Hon. John Wal- as clerk of the market at the South End ley, and widow of Charles Chauncy, until 1737, when he was chosen overseer merchant; she died in 1726. In 1733, of the granary (where Park Street when three market-places were estab- Church now stands), in place of the late lished in the town, Mr. Willoughby was Jonathan Williams. He held this office chosen " Clerk of the Market for the for several years at an annual salary of Space at or near the Great Tree at the ^100, but, as we suppose, had lost it South end by Mr. Eliots." In 1734 he when he began to receive aid from the was placed on the committee with Thom- South Church.] 57^ HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. The Letter was read accordingly, Jany. 18, — And Jan'y 25. 1746-7, there was collected, for the use aforesaid . ^170. o. 6 Feby 1. was added . . . . . 2. o. 6 Since added ...... 6. 12. 10 178. 13. 10 Joseph Sewall. Lord's day March 29. 1747. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stay'd and Voted, That the Deacons expend the remainder of the Collection for Char- itable and pious Uses for the relief of the Poor of this Church and Congregation, in Wood and other Necessaries of life. Joseph Sewall. There is no record of the collection made on the Anniversary- Fast Day in the spring of 1747. Mr. Jonathan Mayhew was ordained pastor of the West Church on the 17th of June, as the successor of Mr. Hooper. This church and its first minister do not seem to have been in full sympathy with the other churches and ministers in the town ; and when Mr. Mayhew was settled they were not repre- sented in the proceedings. The ordination was to take place on the 20th of May ; but of the five churches invited to be in attendance on that day, — Mr. Mayhew's at Tisbury, Mr. Gay's at Hingham, Mr. Appleton's at Cambridge, the First Church, Boston, and the Church in Brattle Street, Boston, — only the Cambridge and Hingham churches were represented. Mr. Mayhew, of Tisbury, was no doubt detained by some accident ; but there must have been a weighty reason for the declination of the two Boston churches which had been invited, as well as for the non-invitation of the other churches in the town. Only two churches being in attendance, not " the major part of those that were invited, the reverend pastors thought it advisable not to proceed, and advised the church to apply to other churches." In the second invitation no Boston church was included ; to the churches of Tisbury, Hingham, and Cambridge were added those of Mr. Hancock at Lexington, Mr. Smith at Weymouth, Mr. Cotton at Newton, Mr. Cook at Sudbury, Mr. Cook at Me- notomy, Mr. Bryant at Braintree, and Mr. Prescott at Salem Village, all of which accepted and attended on the 17th of June. Four others which had been invited did not attend.1 The ser- 1 The churches which were invited, Williams at Watertown, Mr. Clarke at but did not appear, were those of Mr. Salem Village, Mr. Sparhawk at Salem, DR. CHAUNCY AND MR. MAYHEW. S79 mon was preached by Mr. Gay, of Hingham ; the charge was given by the Rev. Experience Mayhew, the venerable father of the pastor-elect ; and the right hand of fellowship was extended by Mr. Prescott, of Salem Village. The foregoing list of names is interesting as showing the theo- logical divergence which at this time existed among the Con- gregational clergy of Massachusetts, and which was determined for the most part by the line of separation drawn in the White- field controversy. Mr. Appleton and Mr. Cotton had received Mr. Whitefield cordially on his first visit, and had rejoiced in the great revival of that period ; but they had been frightened by the extravagances of those who had come after him, and had now taken a position of quasi hostility to him. Mr. Hancock, Mr. Gay, and Mr. Smith, from the first, had been able to see nothing in the revival to praise, but everything to deprecate. No one of the others, unless we except Mr. Experience May- hew, had ever committed himself to the side of Mr. Whitefield and the revival. But this does not explain the absence of Dr. Chauncy, and other pastors in Boston who were more or less in sympathy with him ; and we must infer either that it was under- stood that the churches to which they ministered were not in accord with them on this issue, or that Mr. Mayhew held certain opinions which it was known that they could not approve. Mr. Mayhew did not accept the doctrine of the Trinity, although, Dr. Lowell says, in the faith of other doctrines, that of the atonement among them, " he was most firm and steady." On the other hand, Dr. Chauncy was probably a Trinitarian, but he rejected the doctrines of a limited atonement and reprobation.1 Any such differences, however, did not long keep them apart from each other, or from their brethren ; and their sturdy indepen- and Mr. Rogers at Littleton. We have the doctrines of grace as revealed in the taken our facts in relation to Mr. May- Holy Scriptures." hew's ordination from Dr. Lowell's His- Dr. Frothingham, writing of Dr. torical Sermon, December 31, 1820. Chauncy's theological views, does not 1 Dr. Lowell says that the friends who affirm positively that he was not a Trin- knew Dr. Mayhew best described him as itarian. His words are: "As to the "a man of real piety and true devotion, doctrine of the Trinity, though the sub- an upright, sincere disciple of Jesus ject had not risen into controversy in his Christ." " He was not an advocate for day,T have always supposed that he was the sentiments of Luther or Calvin, but non-Nicene on that point. Such a sup- for primitive Christianity, a zealous con- position would certainly correspond best tender for the faith once delivered to the with the general complexion of his reli- saints, not receiving the doctrines of gious opinions." — Ellis's History of the grace as taught at the reformation, but First Church, p. 193. $8o HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. dence and persistent and powerful opposition both to hierarchy and monarchy, in the years then approaching, will ever be re- membered in New England in the history of religious and civil liberty. At a Meeting of the Church and Congregation July 6. 1747. Whereas the Church and Congregation at a Meeting May 5. 1740 Voted that a subscription be taken in order to raise for each of our Rev'd Pastors, nine pounds per week in Bills of Credit, composed with silver at 29 sh per ounce, the value whereof the Deacons have made to them from time to time till Novr 2. last: And Whereas the Necessaries of life as well as the price of Silver, are now, and have been for some months past so advanced that fifteen pounds of our present Currency will not purchase more than nine pounds would, at the time said vote was pass'd ; Therefore Voted That the Deacons be directed to make good to each of our Rev'd Pastors, the sum of fifteen pounds O. Tenor, per week, for the cur- rent year, beginning Novr. 1. last, and that the Church and Congrega- tion be notified hereof, the next Lord's day, and desired to advance their contributions proportionably for this purpose. The Report of the Committee for auditing the Deacons' Accounts is as follows, " The Committee to whom was referr'd the Consideration of the Deacons' Accounts, having had the perusal of their account belong- ing to Church and Congregation, have maturely consider'd and exam- in'd the same from Augt. 1722 to the 31st of March last; and Report that they find a Ballance of ninety seven pounds, nineteen shillings, Old Tenor, in favour of the Church and Congregation then remaining in their hands, which they carry to a new Book : Which is humbly submitted by Eze. Lewis Antho. Stoddard." Boston, May 20, 1747 Voted unanimously to accept said account. Joseph Sewall. When Mr. Mayhew was settled at the West Church his sal- ary was fixed at fifteen pounds a week, old tenor ; while preach- ing as a candidate he had received eight pounds a week. There had been much suffering among the ministers of the province because of the fluctuating nature of the currency. Dr. Chauncy, in his Election Sermon in 1747, dwelt upon the injustice of this ; and the rebuke was so little relished by the legislature that it hesitated about publishing the sermon, according to custom. At about the same time he and Mr. Foxcroft addressed a severe letter to their congregation, asking them to " pitch upon some method " for the proper supply of themselves and DEATH OF DR. COLMAN. 58 1 families with the necessaries of life. It was referred to a com- mittee for consideration, and led to a satisfactory readjustment of their stipend.1 The action of the brethren of the South Church, July 6, was undoubtedly prompted, in part at least, by Dr. Chauncy's sermon. The devoted missionary, David Brainerd, made a visit to Boston in the summer of 1747, staying with Mr. Edward Brom- field at his house in Beacon Street.2 He was most cordially received by the good people of the town ; but he was in the last stages of consumption, and died soon after at Northampton. On Sunday, July 19, he worshipped with the South Church. He wrote in his journal : " I was just able to attend public wor- ship, being carried to the house of God in a chaise. Heard Dr. Sewall preach in the forenoon ; partook of the Lord's Supper at this time. ... In the afternoon, heard Mr. Prince preach. I saw more of God in the wisdom discovered in the plan of man's redemption, than I saw of any other of his perfections, through the whole day." On the following day he bade farewell to his kind Boston friends.3 The excellent Dr. Colman died August 29, aged seventy- three. He was received by many with suspicion and coldness when he returned to his native town at the beginning of the century to take the pulpit at Brattle Street, but he lived down all prejudice, and won to an exceptional degree the confidence and affectionate regard of the whole community.4 His rela- 1 Ellis's History of the First Church, and he appeared very ingenious, observ- pp. 189, 190, 203, 204. ant, curious, penetrating, especially in 2 Mr. Bromfield built the first house in works of nature, in mechanical con- Beacon Street, at or near what is now trivances, and manual operations, which Freeman Place. (See the cut at the increased upon his studying the mathe- head of this chapter.) It stood very matical sciences, as also in searching high, and commanded a fine view. Here into the truths of divine revelation, and the third Edward Bromfield was born in into the nature of genuine experimental 1723, and died in 1746. He joined the piety." South Church in 1741, and graduated at After Mr. Bromfield's death, his man- Harvard College in 1742. He was the sion was bought and occupied by his first person in America to make a micro- son-in-law, William Phillips, and later scope, grinding and polishing his own it was occupied by his great-grandson, lenses ; and if he had lived, he would Jonathan Phillips. See Mem. Hist, of undoubtedly have achieved great dis- Boston, vol. ii. p. 521. tinction in science. Mr. Prince said of 3 Mr. Brainerd's ordination sermon him : " From his childhood he was was preached by the Rev. Ebenezer thoughtful, calm, easy, modest, of tender Pemberton, then of New York, after- affections, dutiful to his superiors, and ward of Boston. kind to all about him. As he grew up * Dr. Lothrop says of Dr. Colman : these agreeable qualities ripened in him ; "Firm without obstinacy, conciliatory 5§2 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. tions with the ministers of the South Church were always intimate. The South Church participated in the services of ordination at the Old North, September 3, 1747, when the Rev. Samuel Checkley was installed there as colleague with Mr. Gee. Mr. Checkley was son of the first minister of the New South, and grandson of the deacon of the Old South, both of the same name. Dr. Ware says that he was distinguished "for a peculiar sort of eloquence, and an uncommon felicity in the devotional service of public worship." Mr. Gee died in 1748. Lord's Day Septr. 20. 1747. The Brethren of the church were stayed ; and by written votes chose the same Committee, whose Names are mentioned above [see August 24, 1746] for the year ensuing. Joseph Sewall. Lord's Day, November 15. 1747. p. m. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stayed and Voted, That there be a Collection for Charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Thanksgiving next, viz. November 26. current ; and that the Rest of the congregation be publickly notified of this vote next Lord's Day, and desired to assist in the said collection. Thomas Prince. Public Thanksgiving Novr 26. 1747. Collected, For the Char, and Pious Fund . For the Rev. Mr. Cambell of Tiverton For the Widow Morse .... For Mr. Francis Willoughby For the Widow Holland .... For the Widow Thwing .... For the Widow Rouse .... Unappropriated, for Char, and pious uses Total To which are added ..... 289. 9. 8 without compromise, dignified without the new church, and carry out with pride or pretension, a polished gentle- mingled wisdom, firmness and gentle- man in his manners, a patient student ness the customs and principles which it and thorough scholar in his learning, had adopted, and to him do we greatly enlarged, penetrating, comprehensive in owe it, that the most important of these his views and principles as a man, sin- customs and principles received at last cere, benevolent, devout in his faith and the approval and adoption of most of the feelings as a Christian and a pastor, he New England Congregational churches. was admirably fitted to take charge of — Hist, of the Ch. in Brattle St., p. 97. £15- 0. 0 6. 0. 0 6. 0. 0 4- 0. 0 3- 0. 0 2. 0. 0 1. 10. 0 37- 10. 0 228. 9- 8 265. 19. 8 23- 10. 0 ELECTION OF SEATERS. 583 The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stay'd, Lords Day Deer. 6. 1747. And Voted, 1. That the Deacons be empower'd to expend two hun- dred pounds O. T. of the Collection for Charitable and pious uses, for the relief of the poor in this Church and Congregation, in Wood and other Necessaries of life 2. That twenty Pounds of said collection be laid out in Bibles and other Books of Piety; and given by our Pastors to proper objects of such a charity. At a Meeting of the South Church' and Congregation, 18 Tanv 1747-8. & J y Voted, That there be seven Seaters chosen to stand for one year, and until further order, and upon counting and sorting the votes brought in for this purpose, the following Persons appear'd to be chosen ; viz. Ezekiel Lewis, Edward Winslow, Joshua Winslow, Francis Borland Esqrs. Mr. Timothy Prout, Mr. Edward Bromfield, Thomas Hubbard Esq. Voted, That the said Seaters advance seventy five per cent on the prime cost of such Pews as they shall hereafter dispose of, until further order ; the advanced sum to be paid to the last Owner, if an original Proprietor ; or otherwise to be proportion'd by the Seaters between the last Owner and the former Owner or Owners. Voted, That twenty pounds, old tenour, per week, be paid to each of our Rev'd pastors for one year next ensuing. Voted, That there be a Committee appointed to value the several Pews and seats in the House, and consider the circumstances of the Proprietors ; and make report what is reasonable each Person or Seat should pay weekly for support of the Ministry: And that a subscrip- tion in consequence thereof be offered to the several Pew holders or other Proprietors, in order to subject themselves and their seats to such tax. The Committee appointed were Messrs. Lewis, Oliver, Hubbard, Eliot, Walker, Tyng and Traile.1 1 [There were several Scotch families silver, books on history and divinity, a in the South Church, among them those pew in the South meeting-house, and a of Bethune, Vans, Traill and Scollay. note of hand of John Groat of the Ork- John Traill, with his wife Mary, entered neys. Mr. Traill had no children, and the membership August 24, 1735. He one half of the property went to his was born in Westness, in the island of nephews and nieces. One of the former Rowsay, one of the Orkneys, February was Robert Traill ; he married Mary 5, 1694; he became a prosperous busi- Whipple of Portsmouth, N. H. Their ness man in Boston, and died intestate, daughter, Mary, married Keith Spence, in the autumn of 1749. His widow ad- also from the Orkneys; and their daugh- ministered on his estate, Abiel Walley ter, Harriet Brackett Spence, became the and Thomas Hubbard being her bonds- wife, in 1806, of the Rev. Charles Lowell, men. In the inventory we notice, inter for more than fiftv years pastor of the aha, four hundred ounces of wrought West Church, Boston.] 584 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. The Meeting was then adjourned to Monday 25. Inst. 10 aclock A.M. Then met and Voted, Voted, That Messrs. Kneeland, Cushing and Seth Foster be desired to wait on the absent Brethren with the Assessment and Subscription prepared by the Committee. Voted, That the Deacons be desired to keep an account of the several sums contributed for the support of the Public Worship, by the respective Pewholders or others who shall mark the same ; that it may be known by the Church and Congregation whenever they shall desire it. Joseph Sewall. Lord's Day April 17. 1748. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stay'd, and Voted ; That there be a Collection for charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Fast next, April 28. Current ; and that the Rest of the Congregation be notified of this vote next Lord's day, and desired to assist in said collection. Lord's Day, April 17. 1748. The Brethren of the Church were stayed, and a Letter readd from the Church in Salem, lately under the pastoral care of the Rev'd Mr. S. Fiske, now of the Rev'd Mr. D. Leavitt testifying against the mis- conduct of their Brethren from whom we had withdrawn communion, for their refusing methods of peace &c. And a letter from said Brethren acknowledging their offence, and asking Forgiveness and reconciliation. Upon which the church Voted to take off the sentence of Non- Communion, and restore those Brethren to their Charity. And a Letter was written to said church to signify the same, signed by the Pastors.1 Joseph Sewall. Public Fast April 28, 1748. Collected. For the char, and pious Fund Rev. Mr. Cambell Mr. Willoughby . ... Widow Arnold ..... Unappropriated . 1 [This was the Third Church in in the pastorate in 1745 by the Rev. Salem, founded in 1735 by Mr. Fisk and Dudley Leavitt, Harv. Coll. 1739. his adherents. Mr. Fisk was succeeded Dr. Ware says : " It is not until Oc- • 5- 0. 0 • 4- 0. 0 0 • 1. 0. 0 19. 0. 0 . 188. 6. 0 207. 6. 0 Joseph Sewall, THE SECOND CHURCH IN IPSWICH. 585 Lord's Day July 10. 1748. The Brethren of the Church were stayed, and a Letter readd from the Second Church in Ipswich desiring our Assistance in Council, and Voted, one of the Deacons, Messrs. Thacher, Loring and Eliot, with our Pastors, or one of them were chosen to goe as Messengers from this Church. Joseph Sewall. There had been serious trouble in the Second Church of Ipswich (now Essex) for several years. In 1741 some of the members became disaffected towards their minister, the Rev. Theophilus Pickering, because of his want of interest in the revival. In 1744 they preferred formal charges against him to the church, and failing to obtain satisfaction they withdrew from its communion and began to hold religious services by themselves. In 1746 the Second Church called an ex parte council for advice, which judged that the "aggrieved brethren " had received harsh treatment in certain particulars, but it found "no just cause of offence" affecting Mr. Pickering's orthodoxy and ministerial character. The conduct of the brethren in with- drawing from the church, setting up a separate meeting, and inviting persons of doubtful character, coming to them in a dis- orderly manner, to teach them from time to time, was pronounced unjustifiable; although "great tenderness and even long-suffer- ing " were recommended to the church in its dealing with them. Peace, however, could not be restored between the parties, and the separating brethren proceeded to the formation of a new church — the Fourth — and called Mr. John Cleaveland, who had been preaching for them and previously to the Separatist Church in Boston, to settle with them as their minister. He was ordained February 25, 1747. The churches which assisted on the occasion were the First of Ipswich, and the Second of Kittery, delegates from other churches invited being detained by the inclemency of the weather. " The action of the First Church in this particular was resented by the Second Church, and made the ground, first, of an offer by the Second Church to call a mutual council. A council being declined by the First Church, letters subsequently passed between the churches, ending with an admonition to the former from the Second Church. To this admonitory letter the First Church replied, tober, 1745, that I find a letter of peni- who took off the sentence of non-com- tent acknowledgment, entreating to be munion, with the express exception of restored to communion, was received the late minister." — Two Discourses, and acted upon by the Old North Church, 1S21, p. 52.] 586 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. justifying its action, whereupon more letters followed, and finally a call was made by the Second Church upon seven churches to second their admonition. These churches failing to respond at the appointed time, the call was revived for this council to meet July 19, 1748; when six of the seven churches called appeared by their elders and delegates. Upon requesting the appearance of the separating brethren, and the representatives of the First Church, it appeared that notice had not been regularly given to either, and though, on this account, a formal appearance was declined, not only the pastor of the First Church and several of its members were present before the council, but a leading member of the separating congregation was admitted, upon his request to appear in a private capacity. The council was there- upon adjourned, to meet on the 26th at the Old South Meeting- house in Boston." On reassembling in Boston, the council, after deliberation, agreed upon eight articles of advice, in which both the Second Church and the separating brethren were commended in some respects and condemned in others. The First Church was en- treated to revise its conduct in the matter of the ordination ; the separating brethren were advised to consider meekly the censure passed upon them, and the Second Church was re- minded "that where there are divisions there ought to be great searching, each one of his own heart," and was exhorted to behave towards the separating brethren " with all Christian moderation, without any further disciplinary process against them, and to be ready to permit their return, if they should so desire, without any severe demands upon them." * . The First Church in Ipswich also had been disturbed and divided. Its senior pastor, the Rev. John Rogers, died in 1745, and in the following year Mr. John Walley was called to settle as colleague with the surviving pastor, the Rev. Nathaniel Rogers. Mr. Walley was not willing to exchange with Mr. Cleaveland, and Mr. Rogers objected to him on this account.2 1 See an exhaustive note on the Ips- and esteem him to be a sound andjudi- wich church troubles, by Mr. Abner C. cious divine, a serious, humble, inward Goodell, Jr., in the Arts and Resolves of Christian, and a person of great prudence the Prov. of Mass., vol. v. pp. 533-537. and excellent temper, and one that is like 2 Mr. Josiah Willard wrote to Mr. to be the instrument of as much happi- Rogers : " I think myself obliged to let ness to you and your people, if he should you know that I have not only often heard settle among you, as any man I know of Mr. Walley preach, but have a very inti- in the world." mate and familiar acquaintance with him, Mr. Walley left Ipswich, because of his SENTENCE OF EXCOMMUNICATION. 587 The more conservative brethren thereupon withdrew, the Fifth or South Church was organized, and Mr. Walley was ordained as its pastor November 4, 1747. Nathanael Wardel, who had been admonished and suspended in 1743, for disorderly conduct as a leader in the separatist movement of that year, was now called to account and dealt with for breaches of the moral law. Lords Day, Aug. 14. 1748. The Church was stay'd P. M. and considered the case of our Brother Nathl Wardel, who was admonish'd and suspended by us Dec. 25. 1743, for several hanous sins: But instead of giving Christian satis- faction, it has been represented that he has further offended by re- peated acts of profane swearing and excessive drinking : Accordingly the Church Voted that they would farther hear his case next Tuesday at 10 oclock A. M. and D[eacon] Henchman and Mr. Bromfield were desir'd to take care that the Witnesses be ready; and the Pastors were desired to warn said Wardel of the meeting and require his attendance. At a Meeting of the Church Augt 16. 1748 After Prayer to God, and hearing the Witnesses Voted ; 1. That Nathl. Wardel junr has been frequently guilty of profane cursing and swearing when in drink and free from it. 2. That said Wardel has liv'd in a course of the sin of Drunkenness. 3. Nathl. Wardel junr. having refus'd to hear the Church, and not manifesting any repentance upon account of the Crimes for which he was solemnly admonish'd and suspended Dec. 25. 1743; And having since added other hainous sins to them, viz. frequent profane cursing and swearing, and a course of Drunkenness : We apprehend that the rule of God's Word, the Honour of our Lord Jesus, and the Credit of our holy Profession require us to cast said Wardel out of the Church ; And the Pastors are desir'd accord- ingly to Pronounce the sentence of Excommunication upon him. 4. That this Solemn Sentence of Excommunication be pronounced on the Lord's Day of the 28th Instant P. M. before the Congrega- tion ; and that said Wardel be notified of it, and requir'd to be pres- ent. Lord's Day Augt 28 1748 The Sentence of Excommunication was pronounced before the Congregation, And is as follows ; ill health, in 1764. " Being well versed order of the General Court in their own in the French language, he instructed tongue. After he left his people at Ips- the French neutrals [brought from Aca- wich, he preached for the French Hugue- dia] who were located at Ipswich by nots in Boston." (Felt.) 588 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Nathl. Wardel junr. Whereas you have openly enter'd into Covenant with God, and with this Church, and have broken this holy Covenant ; And whereas when you had been solemnly admonished and suspended by this Church for several hainous violations of God's Law, and after long waiting, you have refused to hear the Church, and not manifested any repentance ; yea have added to these offenses the aggravated crimes of profane cursing and swearing, often repeated ; and a course of drunk- enness : This church having taken your case into their serious and prayerful consideration, and after a fair hearing of the Witnesses, came gen- erally into this Vote, viz. That they apprehend that the rule of God's Word, the Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Credit of their Profession requir'd them to cast you out of the Church : Accordingly, We the Pastors of said Church doe in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the concurrence of this church, Pro- nounce the Sentence of Excommunication upon you, and Declare you to be cut off and put away from the communion of the church as un- worthy of the Privileges of a Church-Member, and that you are not to be look'd upon and trusted as one belonging to the visible Church of Christ ; and we accordingly require the Brethren, in the Name of our Lord Jesus, to withdraw themselves from you as from one walk- ing disorderly, and that they doe not keep company with you, saving in the discharge of those Duties which natural, domestic, or Civil relations require. And this awful sentence we pass upon you with sorrow of heart, not for your Destruction ; but with earnest Prayer to our glorious Lord, who has appointed this ordinance of discipline, that He would sanctify it, to bring you to serious consideration and saving repent- ance, that we may have the joy to restore you with a spirit of meek- ness, and that your soul may be sav'd in the day of the Lord. At the same time, We also declare to you from the word of God, that if you add to your other Offences the Contempt of this Ordi- nance of Christ, and goe on obstinately in your sins, you must be con- demned with the world, when the Lord Jesus shall be reveal'd from heaven, with His mighty Angels, in flaming Fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ : who shall be punish'd with everlasting destruction from the Presence of the Lord, and from the Glory of His Power. May God prevent this of His infinite mercy in Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be Praise and Dominion for ever and ever, Amen. Joseph Sewall. Thomas Prince. THE REV. ANDREW CROSWELL. 589 N. B. Said Wardel left the Assembly while the sentence of Excom- munication was pronounced. Accordingly it was voted that a copy should be sent and deliver'd to him in writing, which was done. Augt. 25 1748. Lord's Day. The Brethren of the church were stay'd, and a letter readd sign'd Tho. Fillebrown, James Davenport, Nathl. Procter, desiring our assist- ance at the Instalment of the Rev. Mr. Crosswell. Vote was in the negative. And then Voted that the Hon J. Osborne, E. Lewis, J. Wil- lard and S. Welles, be a Committee to join with our Pastors in draw- ing up a letter to signify our dissent and the reasons of it. Oct. 2. Said letter was readd and Voted, And was sent accordingly to the New gather'd Church, sign'd by the Pastors in the Name of the Church, directed to the committee who sign'd their letter. And a copy of said letter was also deliver'd to the Moderator of the coun- cil conven'd for the Instalment of said Mr. Crosswell. The last two entries bring us again to the dissensions and divisions which came after the visits of Mr. Whitefield and some of his followers to New England. "On the 17th of Feb- ruary, 1747-8 a number of persons, almost all of whom were members of other churches, thinking it for the glory of God to be a distinct, but not a separate church (as was expressed in several letters sent for dismissions) did after solemn fasting and prayer embody into a church-state." This is the opening sen- tence in a " Narrative of the Founding and Settling of the New- gathered [the eleventh] Congregational Church in Boston," written by the Rev. Andrew Croswell, and printed in 1749. It does not appear that any churches had assisted at the organ- ization of the new society, or that it had received ecclesiastical recognition of any kind. Nor does it appear that any formal protests had been entered against it by the neighboring churches before the time fixed for installing its pastor-elect. Had its choice fallen upon a somewhat different man, it is possible that no decided opposition would have developed against it then. Mr. Croswell graduated at Harvard College in 1728, and was settled for several years at Groton, Connecticut. On the first arrival of Mr. Whitefield in New England, he entered with much zeal into the work of the revival. He warmly espoused the cause of the Rev. Mr. Davenport, as against the ministers who refused to admit him to their pulpits : and he defended his courses, after he himself had publicly and in print expressed his sorrow at much that he had said and done. Mr. Croswell was a fair representative of certain men and women to be found in 59° HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. the churches of every generation, who are censorious and un- compromising in their judgment upon the inconsistencies and imperfections of their fellow-members, but very complacent in their estimate of their own religious attainments and of their own standing before the Lord and Master of all. Such people can make themselves very uncomfortable to their associates, and it is altogether unsatisfactory to have much to do with them. When they are willing to go off by themselves, and or- ganize a church of their own, it seems to us that the churches can well afford to let them go and carry out their own ideas in their own way. Mr. Croswell was not strictly what was called a separatist at the time, but he was so much of a controver- sialist and such a fault-finder that he was always antagonizing his brother ministers. He was a decided Calvinist, but less severe in his opinions than many of those who opposed him. They thought that his tendencies were Antinomian, while he retorted that theirs were Arminian. It is difficult to define his position with any degree of exactitude. He claimed to repre- sent Mr. Whitefield, but ministers like Mr. Edwards and Mr. Prince, and laymen like Mr. Josiah Willard, were opposed to him. David Brainerd, who during his college course at New Haven had come under Mr. Davenport's influence, almost with his dying breath condemned Mr. Croswell's attitude towards the ministers and churches. Mr. Croswell preached for several months to the little church gathered in 1743, with which (as we suppose) Mr. Ward el was connected for a time. On the 10th of December, 1746, he was invited to become its minister. He continued to preach to it, but did not answer its call until December 2, 1747, when he declined it for reasons given, as follows : — 1st. Because though the number of the members of the Church was at first very small, a considerable part have already turned out rigid Separatists. 2ndly. and principally, because there is a vein of rigid Separation running through the Articles ; no doubt, the general laxness and formality in the churches was a means of the Brethren's running into the other extream. However, as I believe the Spirit of Christ to be a Spirit of Union, and that this Spirit will not accompany any Zeal which is not countenanced by his Word, I always have had melan- cholly apprehensions and presages that God will not bless you as a church, though I hope he will bless your persons and families. . . . So I can truly say, that if there were a number who would assent to such articles as I think agreable to Scripture, and would unite into a MR. CROSWELVS INSTALLATION. 591 Body, desiring me to preach the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ to them, and to take the oversight of them : Things would look with a very encouraging aspect, and I should not dare to answer them in the negative. The members of the little church felt aggrieved at this an- swer. They complained of the long delay ; they said that Mr. Crosvvell had had their Church Articles in his hands for revis- ion, and they had expressed their willingness to accept any changes recommended by him ; and they protested against his evident purpose to create a division among them, and to draw away some of their number after himself. They were desirous that the brethren who were forming a second " new gathered church " should unite with them, and that Mr. Croswell should be the pastor ; but the latter was not willing, and he closed his ministry with what, in order to discriminate, we must call the church of 1743, on the 20th of March, 1748. On the 30th of the next September, Mr. Ephraim Clark was ordained to the pastoral office in this church, with the imposition of hands, " three churches being met in Council by their pastors and del- egates, and assisting in the work." We know nothing whatever of this council, and nothing of the further history of the church, except that Mr. Clark was preaching to it three years later.1 Only two of the Boston churches were invited to assist at the installation of Mr. Croswell as pastor of the church gath- ered in 1748. Of these, one was the South Church; the other we do not know. Only four churches were represented in the proceedings : the First Church, Plymouth, the Rev. Nathaniel Leonard, pastor ; the Fourth Church, Bridgewater, the Rev. John Porter, pastor ; the Second Church, Plymouth, the Rev. Jonathan Ellis, pastor ; and the Church in Middleborough, the Rev. Sylvanus Conant, pastor. Mr. Leonard, Mr. Porter, and Mr. Ellis signed the "Testimony" of July 7, 1743. Mr. Conant was settled as the successor of the Rev. Peter Thacher, in I745-2 1 In the Congregational Library, Bos- 2 Mr. Thacher died April 22, 1744. ton, we find " A Discourse on Justifica- The Rev. Sylvanus Conant, Harv. Coll. tion by Grace : Being the substance of 1740, began his ministry at Middlebor- two Sermons delivered to the new gath- ough September 9, 1744, and was or- ered Congregational Church of Christ dained March 28, 1745. " He continued in Boston, By Ephraim Clark, Pastor of his ministry, at first, at the house of the said Church. Boston 1751." A Nar- Madam Thacher, and after the new rative is appended, from which we have meeting house was built (which was the gained most of the information given in same year) in that house till his death, the text. which was of the small-pox, Dec. 8, 1777." 592 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. There were three courses open to the South Church, when invited to assist at this installation. The first was to be pres- ent, and to participate in proceedings of which its judgment did not approve, in a compliant spirit of easy-going good nature. The second was to be present, and to spoil the proceedings by an unseemly interference and dissent.1 The third was to decline the invitation, and to communicate its reasons for so doing in writing. We might be sure beforehand that the church would choose the last of the three, as it did ; and it selected some of its wisest and most influential lay members to unite with its pastors in drawing up its letter, which was addressed to Messrs. Thomas Fillebrown, James Davenport, and Nathaniel Procter,2 and was as follows : — Brethren, We have received yours of the 29th of August last, desiring our assistance at the Rev Mr. Crosswell's instalment. We send these to give you the Reasons why we decline answering your Request. 1. It seems to us that your leaving the Ministers and Churches in this Town, which you belonged to, is from such a Disaffection to them as is unjustifiable. 2. Though we would be very tender of the Rights of Conscience, yet inasmuch as there are other Congregational Churches in Town, who have pious and orthodox Ministers, where you might be conveniently accommodated, we cannot see any just reason for such a Multiplica- tion of Churches ; but judge it hath an unhappy Tendency to crumble them into small Societies, and hinder their Christian Union and Com- munion. 3. We apprehend that Mr. Crosswell hath given just Matter of Offence to these Churches, and their Pastors, and vented some dan- gerous Errors, without publishing any Retraction. Thus in a pam- phlet entitled A Reply to the Declaration of a number of the associated Ministers in Boston and Charlestown ; Mr. Crosswell hath justified the 1 " To which end we find reason also and not with a Noise, Wrath and Bitter- to add our Testimony against all Indecen- ness, Disagreeable to such a Solemnity." cy and Irregularity in the Management — A Seasonable Testimony to Good Or* of a Publick Dissent from and Opposi- der in the Churches, by Inc. Mather, p. 18. tion unto the Ordination or Instalment - The only other members of the of a Pastor over a Flock, whensoever church known to us are William Hick- there may be Occasion for so Melan- ling and Thomas Handasyde Peck. Mr. cholly an Action, which rarely happens. Procter became a member of the Second . . . Christianity requires that this be Church, August 16, 1730, and Mr. Hick- done, when it becomes Necessary, with ling of the South Church, January 17, much Modesty and Calmness, Meekness 1730-31. The latter, a "noted distiller," and Gravity, Wisdom and Seriousness; died December 10, 1774. PROTEST OF THE SOUTH CHURCH. 593 Rev. Mr. Davenport's disorderly Conduct, and injuriously treated said Ministers for bearing their faithful and seasonable Testimony against those Disorders, which Mr. Davenport himself, hath since publickly condemned and retracted ; Mr. Crosswell hath also published a Reply to a Book of the late Reverend and Excellent Mr. Dickinson, entitled A Display of God's Special Grace, attested by Seven Ministers of Boston : x In which Reply, are contained such offensive Passages as these fol- lowing, " telling how to come to Christ, however specious it may look, is indeed and in Truth, stopping Sinners from coming at all." Page 7. " That Manifestation, or a Persuasion of our Justified Estate is essential to the Exercise of saving Faith." Page 11. " That when Men do exercise true saving Faith, they are always sensible of it." Page 12. Again Mr. Crosswell blames said Ministers for holding " that Per- sons must find out their Justification by their Sanctification," and for holding that " if Persons maintain a Course of vital and true Holi- ness, they need not doubt but they are the Children of God." Page 12, 13. He charges said Ministers in joining with Arminians in the same dreadful Work of stopping Souls from coming to Christ ; and saith that the said Ministers do in effect, tell close Hypocrites that they are travelling apace to Heaven, though God knows they are going down to Hell. Page 14, 15. He further saith that the Doctrine of Men's finding out their Justi- fication by their Sanctification, would be likely to fix such as are en- quiring what they shall do to be saved, upon a sandy Foundation. Page 16. And that said Ministers have done what will be a Means of damning many Thousands of Souls, unless the infinite Mercy of God prevent. Page 18. He further declares as follows, " I have heard much of your humble doubting Christians, but I never saw one yet, nor did any one else ever see one ; they are meer Chimeras in Religion, certain imaginary Monsters that never were nor indeed can be." Page 20. "That a Believer in the dark can't repent of one of the Sins which he daily commits." Page 22. We might mention other Expressions which Mr. Crosswell hath 1 [The seven ministers were Dr. Col- Boston pastors, "as containing doctrines man, Dr. Sewall, Mr. Prince, Mr. Webb, that are most dangerous and destructive Mr. Cooper, Mr. Foxcroft, and Mr. to the souls of men." Mr. Pomroy was Gee. A preface, dated New London, arrested in May, 1742, with Mr. Daven- Conn., November 5, 1742, is signed by port, and taken to Hartford, to answer Timothy Allen, Andrew Croswell, Tim- to the charge of collecting assemblies of othy Symmes, and John Curtis, and in people, mostly children and youth, and it is quoted the opinion of Eleazer under the pretence of religious exercises, Wheelock and Benjamin Pomroy, in inflaming them with doctrines subversive condemnation of the book issued by the of all law and order.] 594 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. published in this and other Pamphlets, which are grievous to us, and many godly People which have read them ; but we forbear, and it is with Sorrow that we have been obliged to recite these, not only as a Reason of our present Conduct, but as a Means, if God please, both to awaken Mr. Crosswell to a serious Consideration and Retractation of them, and of warning you against them 4. From the before mentioned offensive and dangerous Passages, we can't but be greatly concerned for you, in proposing to sit under his Ministry, unless proper Satisfaction be given, and are afraid of his leading you both into greater Disaffection to pious and orthodox Min- isters, and into such Opinions as may endanger your Souls. On which Accounts also, we can't comply with your Request, in assisting his Settlement with you, but earnestly pray that the God of all Light and Grace would open his and your Eyes, and lead you into the Paths of Truth and Righteousness and Peace, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever, Amen. We are your Brethren in the Bonds of the Gospel Joseph Sewall ) Pastors of the South Thomas Prince ) Church in Boston In the Name and at the Desire of the Church. " The South Church," says Mr. Croswell, in his Narrative from which we take the correspondence, " seemed to be set upon making sure work ; " and, on the 5th of October, it sent Dea- cons Henchman and Hubbard with a copy of this letter super- scribed to the Reverend Moderator of the installing council, Mr. Leonard. " This being read before the Council," adds Mr. Croswell, " I was desired to speak to it ; which I did for an hour or more : during a great part of which time I did not rec- ollect that the cause I was pleading concerned me ; nor do I remember that my will was ever so long a time, and so entirely swallowed up in the Will of God." He denied that he was con- trolled by any spirit of separatism, and insisted that the passages quoted from his writings should be taken in the connection in which they were written. The council adjourned to the next day, to enable him to reduce his remarks to writing, and he was then inducted into the pastoral office. The council sent a communication to the South Church, justifying its action on the ground that the new church was not gathered in a spirit of separation, that its articles and covenant were in harmony with Congregational usage, and that no charges had been brought against the moral character of Mr. Croswell or any of the members. The committee sent the following reply to the letter which had been addressed to it : — MR. CROS WELL'S REPLY. 595 Reverend and Beloved The two first articles of your Letter relate to us only and not to our Minister: To which we would reply, that our leaving the other Min- isters and coming together into a Church-State, was not for such Dis- affection as you seem to imagine, but for our better Edification, and also, that we, being professed friends of the present Reformation, might have a pulpit open to receive Mr. Whitefield, and others whom we look upon to be the zealous and faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ, who are so commonly shut out of other pulpits. To the Rev. Messrs. Joseph Sewall and Thomas Prince, Pastors of the South Church in Boston, to be communicated to said church Thomas Fillebrown, \ James Davenport, > Committee Nathaniel Procter ) In the Name and at the Desire of the Church. Mr. Croswell also sent a letter, from which we quote the open- ing paragraphs : — My Fathers and Brethren, The great freedom you have lately taken with my name and char- acter in representing me, by a Letter to my People, and to an Eccle- siastical Council, as a minister very dangerous to the souls of men, whereby you did what lay in your power, to stop my mouth from preaching the glorious Gospel of the blessed God ; will at least, ex- cuse the freedom I take in writing you this letter. As soon as I heard you were taking counsel together against me, by your committee, I went and told Jesus : I poured out my com- plaints before him, I showed before him my trouble; and was enabled so entirely to put over my cause into his hands, that from that time, though I was not thoughtless, I was no more distressed about the event, than if I had only heard you were consulting together against some other man, whom I knew nothing of. However, though I stayed myself upon my God, and was kept in perfect peace ; it was my constant cry at the Throne of Grace, that I might learn all those lessons which I ought to learn from such an ex- traordinary proceedure against me ; and particularly that I might be brought so low, that whereinsoever I was blameworthy, I might be willing to confess and to give glory to God. God heard this prayer — and accordingly, when I answered for myself, I did not perceive the least disposition to hide or cover, but owned I had been out of the way ; and that many expressions in my pamphlets were too sarcastical and cutting, and had cut me since a great many times. Nay, I took a sweet pleasure in making these confessions ; because by bearing tes- timony against myself, I bore testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ. And from the same principle, I trust, of magnifying Christ, whatever 596 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. it costs me, I now declare, that if you will take the pains to shew me the particular passages in my books, which you apprehend, bear too hard upon ministers in general, or Boston ministers in particular; wherein the word of God appears against me, I will give you a written, or, if you please a printed recantation. But this very principle which makes me with delight, condemn my- self for every word I have printed, which don't savour of a gospel- spirit, keeps me from condemning myself for any doctrines, because I verily believe them to be the truths of the gospel. He goes on to explain and defend his views on justification and sanctification, and, before he closes, administers this rebuke to the South Church and its ministers : — Nay, let me leave this one word with you to think upon, viz. That you cannot reasonably expect much of the presence of Christ in your assemblies, while Mr. Whitefield and other godly Ministers, who occa- sionally come to Boston, are industriously kept out. Mr. Croswell's disappointment and irritation, in view of the opposition which he met on his removal to Boston, should be accepted, perhaps, as an excuse for this unjust remark ; for he must have known that Dr. Sewall and Mr. Prince had been from the first among the warmest and most valued friends and ad- visers of Mr. Whitefield. Dr. Sewall, in the annual conven- tion of 1743, had led the minority in calling for a proper rec- ognition in the " Testimony " of the recent revival ; and Mr. Prince, in his writings in the Christian History, has preserved for all time the most accurate and sympathetic record we have of the work of grace of that period in the various churches of New England. That the South Church was one of the only two churches in the town invited to the installation shows that its attitude was regarded as not unfriendly to the general religious movement which the new church was supposed to represent. The trouble was that its pastors and their brother ministers discriminated between Mr. Whitefield and many of those who followed him and who shared his zeal but not his power. It is very doubtful whether any organized opposition would have met the great revivalist on his second visit to New England had it not been for these men, towards whose extravagances he was himself only too lenient.1 It is a question whether even Mr. 1 Mr. Whitefield wrote to Dr. Colman, lest I should divert people's minds from September 24, 1742 : " I go on preaching the simplicity of the gospel. I have often the cross and the Redeemer, and desire found that opposing, instead of hurting, to say as little as possible about others, makes erroneous people more consider. COUNCIL AT MED FIELD. 597 Tennent's coming to Boston, which was at Mr. Whitefield's suggestion, was an unmixed good ; certainly, Mr. Davenport's coming was an unmixed evil. It does not appear that the South Church and its ministers replied to any of these communications ; they had accomplished their object, which was to protest, and not to enter into a con- troversy. The new church bought the Huguenot Meeting- House, in School Street,1 and continued in existence until the death of Mr. Croswell, in 1785. Octr. 16. 1748. Lord's Day. The Brethren were stay'd, And the Hon. John Osborne, Ezekiel Lewis, Josiah Willard Esqrs Deacon Hubbard and Mr. Edward Brom- field were chosen to be the Committee for the year ensuing. Joseph Sewall. Lord's Day, Octr. 23. 1748 Church stay'd. Letter read from the Church in Medfield, desiring our Assistance in Council. Granted, and one of the Deacons, and Messrs Thomas Paine and Andrew Eliot were chosen as Messengers.2 able. This made me wish the Boston ministers would not say so much about the exhorters. It will only set the peo- ple more upon following them." 1 The French Protestant church, in January, 1704-5, bought of James Mears, hatter (a member of the South Church), a piece of land in School House Lane, now School Street, and ten or eleven years later a small brick meeting- house was erected on it. This is the property which was sold to Mr. Cros- well's congregation. Subsequently, it passed into the hands of the Roman Catholics, and mass was said there for the first time November 2, 17SS. See Memorial History of Boston, vol. ii. pp. 253. 254- 2 [The Rev. Jonathan Townsend, Harv. Coll. 1741, was ordained as the successor of Mr. Baxter, October 23, 1745. There was some dissatisfaction with the selection, " which grew into a permanent disaffection." In 1746, "sev- eral dissatisfied brethren asked to be dismissed to the second church in Wrentham. This was refused, and they then asked that a council be called to adjust the differences between them and the church. This was also refused. It seems that these brethren had charged that the church had broken covenant in regard to discipline, but in what par- ticulars is not known." In 1747, " the church voted that those who have charged the church with a breach of covenant should come no more to the communion till satisfaction was made for the injury done by the charge. This was defined, by vote, to mean exclusion from sitting at the Lord's table, and taking any part in church action." In 1748, " the num- ber of dissatisfied church members was increasing, and the church finally voted to call a council. Some matters in dis- pute had been laid before the council called at the time of Mr. Townsend's ordination. The church now did not wish to have those matters reopened. As a result of the council, the platform of church discipline agreed upon at Cambridge in 1648 was accepted; and one of the disaffected, William Plimpton, was received back to fellowship." — Tilden's History of the Town of Medfield, pp. 136-138.] 598 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Lord's Day, Novr 13. 1748 The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stayed ; and Voted, 1. That the Deacons be empower 'd to expend the whole of the last Collection which is not appropriated, for the relief of the poor of this Church and Congregation. 2. That there be a Collection for Charitable and pious uses, on the Anniversary Thanksgiving Nov. 24 current ; and that the Rest of the Congregation be notified of this Vote next Lord's Day, and desir'd to assist in said Collection. J. Sewall. Lord's Day Nov. 20. Church stay'd. Letter read from the East Precinct in Attleborough desiring our Assistance in the Gathering of a church there, and in ordaining Mr. Peter Thacher Pastor. Granted, and Messrs Oxenbridge Thacher and Joseph Jackson were chosen Messengers. Joseph Sewall. The East Church, Attleborough, was organized November 30. Mr. Thacher, who had been preaching statedly to the con- gregation for five years, was eldest son of the Rev. Peter Thacher, of Middleborough, and a great-grandson of the Rev. Thomas Thacher. His mother was a sister of Mr. Prince. Mr. Oxenbridge Thacher was an uncle of the pastor-elect ; he was a graduate of Harvard College, in the class of 1698, had been a preacher, and later was a prominent citizen of Boston, select- man and representative. Public Thanksgiving Novr 24. 1748 Collected To the pious and Charitable Fund Rev. Mr. Spencer ...... Mr. White of Nantucket .... Minister of Freetown .... Widow Arnold ...... Widows Thwing and Rouse . Unappropriated ..... Since added To the Rev. Mr. Cambell of Tiverton Mr. Brett of Freetown Lord's Day March 12. 1748-9 The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stayed ; and Voted, *IO. 0. 0 10. 0. 0 5- 0. 0 1. 0. 0 2 0 3- 0. 0 31- 0. 0 229. 12. 8 260. 12. 8 10. 0 10. 0 A DAY OF PRAYER. 599 That the Deacons be empower'd to expend the whole of the last un- appropriated Collection, for the relief of the poor of this church and congregation ; which they apprehend will be sufficient till the next Fall : And whereas it was necessary that sundry repairs should be made on the Meeting-House and Fences, and on the Ministerial House in which Dr. Sewall dwells, to the amount of about ^"400. O. T., Voted That there be a Collection on the Anniversary Fast, March 23, Instant, P. M. towards defraying said charges ; and that the Rest of the Congregation be notified of this Vote next Lord's Day, and desir'd to assist in said Collection. J. Sewall. March 19 1748-9 Lord's Day. The Church was stayed ; And James Bow, negro, was admonish'd and suspended from the communion of this Church upon account of a course of gross Lying, Promise Breaking, and fraudulent Dealing. Joseph Sewall. Anniversary Fast March 23 1748-9 Collected for the uses aforesaid [March 12] £186. 7. 11 Lord's Day April 16. 1749 The church was stayed, and the following Proposal was made and generally agreed to ; viz : Having taken into serious consideration the lamentable decay of the Power of Godliness, and our own unfruitfulness under the means of Grace ; Voted, that Tuesday the second of May next, be observed by us as a Day of Prayer with Fasting, to humble ourselves before God, and seek to Him to revive His work among us and His people by pouring out His Spirit from on High upon us and our offspring ; And that the Congregation be notified and be desired to join with us in the religious exercises of said Day. The second of May (1749) was accordingly observed by us as a Day of Prayer with Fasting. Joseph Sewall. The admissions to the church had been very few for several years, nor was there much advance in the number until 1756. At a Meeting of the Church and Congregation, May 22 1749, Voted, That Messrs. Oliver, Walker and Cushing be a Committee to receive from the Deacons an account of the weekly contributions since the subscription of the Pew holders Jan 13. 1747, for the support of the public- Worship, and make report to the Church and Congrega- tion of any deficiency in the Payment of said subscription : And whereas, the sum of ^737. O. T. is now wanted to lay in Wood for the Rev'd Ministers, and to repair the Meeting House ; that said Com- mittee make an assessment of said sum upon the said deficient per- 600 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. sons, and the remainders on the several Pewholders and others in the same proportion as the former assessment was made both upon their Pews and Persons, or as near as may be, and offer the same at the Adjournment of this meeting, with the Preamble of a Subscription ; that each person may give his consent to the Payment of the sum assess'd upon him. Voted, The same allowance to the Ministers [twenty pounds, old tenor, a week] for another year compleat. Voted, That the Deacons be impowered to receive the Sum of ^500. O. T. left to the poor of the Church and Congregation by Mr. Nath. Cunningham deceas'd, and give a full discharge, with the acknowledgments of this Church and Congregation for so generous a Benefaction. Voted, That the Committee of Seaters be impowered to make a suitable number of Wall-Pews in the lower Gallery, at the West End of the Meeting House, to set a price upon them, and a weekly tax as a condition of the Proprietors holding the same. "Voted, That 20/s O. T. per week, be allow'd the sexton for the year ensuing. Adjourned. July 10. 1749 Voted — That Messrs. Ox. Thacher Esq. T. Paine, J. Prince and W. Taylor, be a Committee to wait upon the absent Brethren with the subscription prepar'd and now laid before the Church and Congrega- tion, in order to raise the sum of ^700. O. T. for purchasing Wood, repairing the Meeting House, and discharging debts already contracted for the service of the Society ; and that the said Committee take with them the list of such of the Brethren as are by the Deacons rendred deficient in their contributions, and labor to collect the deficiency of such as shall appear to them to be in arrears ; and pay the money col- lected into the Hands of the Deacons, to be applied to the uses afore- said. And that Col. Winslow and Mr. Foster be desired to advise and assist in repairing the Meeting House. J. Sewall. On the 24th of August a general thanksgiving was observed throughout the province, " for the extraordinary reviving rains, after the most distressing drought which have [sic] been known among us in the memory of any living." Mr. Prince preached from Psalm cvii. 33-35, on the Natural and Moral Govern- ment and Agency of God in Droughts and Rains. This sermon was printed, and passed through two or three editions, one of which was inscribed to the Royal Society. We quote two or three paragraphs : — THE DROUGHT OF 174Q. 601 Let us remember how greatly he distressed us in the late most ex- traordinary long, extream, destroying Drought, and in many Places Swarms of various Sorts of Insects devouring all before them. I have met with none that remembers the like Distress. The first Crop of Hay which was our chief, yea with many the sole Dependance, to support the Cattle for our five Months foddering Season, so far cut off ; that most of the people had but a Fourth Part, many but a Fifth, many but a Tenth of what they us'd to mow ; and many none at all, being oblig'd to turn their Cattle into their only mowing Ground to keep them from perishing : And how affecting was it to see them empty, pining and go lowing about for want of Food ; their Owners pittying, but unable to help them. . . . Let us never forget our great Extremity, our growing Difficulties, our threatning Dangers ; our affecting Prospect of loosing half our Stocks ; being oblig'd to send not only five Hundred Miles to Pensyl- vania, but even to England above three Thousand, neither of which was ever done before, for Hay, to save some of our Cattle alive ; — Yea the Prospect of more distressing Want of Bread for Ourselves and Children ; neither having it, nor wherewith to purchase it. Let us remember how awful the Displeasure of God appeared ; and how we humbled ourselves before Him, fasted, confess'd our Sins, and cried for Mercy. Thursday June 15, was our Day of general Fasting and Prayer throughout the Province And now behold in what a wonderous Manner, he has heard and answered ; given us gentle and moderate Showers, almost every other Day, with most suitable Intervals of warm Weather, revived many of those Fruits of the Earth which seemed irrecoverable, causing them surprizingly to flourish, that we are like them that Dream ; destroying the devouring Insects, and even giving the Hopes of a plenteous Harvest ! Lord's Day, Sept. 10 and by Adjournment, Sept. 24. 1749 The Brethren of the Church stayed, And the Hon. Josiah Willard, Deacon Hubbard, Oxenbridge Thacher Esqrs Mr. Hugh Vans and Mr. Jonathan Loring, were chosen to be the Committee for the year ensuing. Joseph Sewall. Lord's Day Octr. 1, 1749. The Brethren stayed, when a Letter was communicated from the Church in Shrewsbury, desiring our Assistance in Council. Granted. Messengers chosen, One of the Deacons and Mr. Oxenbridge Thacher.1 J. Sewall. 1 [The Rev. Job Cushing was minister subject of church discipline, and at length of Shrewsbury at this time. . There had a council was called to harmonize them, been differences of opinion among the Of the eight churches invited, six " met members there for many years, on the on the nth of October, 1749, and, on 602 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Lord's Day Novr 5. 1749. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stayed, and Voted, That there be a Collection for Charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Thanksgiving Novr. 16. Current: and that the Rest of the Congregation be notified of this Vote next Lord's Day, and be desir'd to assist in said Collection. J. Sewall. Thanksgiving Novr. 16. 1749. Collected 242. 11. 8 the evening of the 13th, gave a result and read it to the brethren. It was left with them, and on the 30th of October the church, by a vote, accepted it." Nothing further respecting the proceed- ings of this council can be gleaned from the record. — Ward's Hist, of the Town of Shrewsbwy,^. 172.] *&.\ Date Due ""Tf^JSW"1"" itfllitfliiffff ^- 1— * ^•WaWMH&rfl^ ^^^^^^*>_ utw .Biiinir