Congregational Churches 
 
 Massachusetts 
 
 Convention of Ministers 
 
 An Historical Sketch 
 Of the Convention 
 
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NOV 1 1 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 OT THE 
 OF THE 
 
 CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS 
 
 IN 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS ; 
 
 WITH 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF ITS FUNDS ; 
 
 ITS CONNEXION WITH THE 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS CONGREGATIONAL CHARITABLE SOCIETY; 
 
 AKB ITS 
 
 RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
 MDCCCXXI. 
 
 P'.intcd for the Convention. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE: 
 
 PRINTEB BY HILLIARD AND METCALF. 
 1821. 
 
IN CONVENTION 1st OF JUNE, 1820, 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Porter of Roxbury, Rev. Dr. Holmes, Rev. John 
 t, Wlihe Scribe were chosen a Committee to prepare for 
 
 flln this Convention and the Congregational Charitable Soeiet) 
 aid suclrother articles of information, as, in their judgment, may be 
 
 instructive and profitable. 
 
 JOHN CODMAN, Scribe of Convention. 
 
HISTORY OF THE CONVENTION. 
 
 Uf the origin of the convention of congregational 
 ministers in Massachusetts the notices are very imper- 
 fect. The silence of the early historians on this subject, 
 especially of Winthrop and Hubbard, is presumptive evi- 
 dence, that there was no organized Convention before 
 the year 1680. It does appear, however, that the minis- 
 ters were early accustomed to meet together at the time 
 and place of the annual election. The patriarchal char- 
 acter of the government, and the intimate connexion of 
 the church with the state, may, perhaps, account for this 
 early usage. From the first settlement of Massachusetts, 
 there was a confidential intercourse between the ma<ris- 
 trates and the ministers, who mutually gave and received 
 counsel, as the circumstances of the churches or of the 
 community required. It was intended to settle and main- 
 tain a Christian commonwealth ; and their cooperation to 
 that great object was considered as a right and a duty. 
 While the magistrates were expected and asked to give 
 their advice in some cases, and to exercise their power in 
 others, for the well founding of churches, and for preserv- 
 ing their order and peace ; the ministers were expected 
 and asked to give their opinions and counsel in the ex- 
 igences of the state. Disputes between the principal 
 officers, and the different branches, of the government 
 were, at an early period, referred to the arbitration of the 
 ministers ; who were also called upon to assist in settling 
 the principles and rules of government. 
 
4 
 
 As early as the year 1634, " the ministers and other the 
 most prudent of the inhabitants" were consulted " about 
 a body of laws, suited to the state of the colony, and about 
 an uniform order of discipline in the churches." When 
 the first laws of the colony were framed, the approbation 
 of the ministers was a condition of their validity. In 
 1635, Governor Winthrop observed : " The deputies hav- 
 ing conceived great danger to our state, in regard that 
 our magistrates, for want of positive laws, in many cases, 
 might proceed according to their discretions, it was agreed 
 that some men should be appointed to frame a body of 
 grounds of laws, in resemblance of a Magna Charta, which, 
 being allowed by some of the ministers and the General 
 Court, should be received for fundamental laws." " Mr. 
 Cotton was at first requested by the General Court with 
 some other ministers, to assist some of the magistrates" in 
 that work ; and afterwards the General Court appointed a 
 committee of some magistrates, some ministers and some 
 others to perform that service : " Also the elders [minis- 
 ters] who had been requested to deliver their judgment 
 concerning the law of adultery, returned their answer 
 with the reasons thereof." The compilation of laws was 
 at last referred to Mr. Cotton and Mr. Nathaniel Ward, 
 each of whom "framed a model, which, in 1639, were 
 presented to the General Court, and by them committed 
 to the governor and deputy and some others to consider 
 of, and so prepare it for the court," at another session. 
 " At length to satisfy the people it proceeded ; and the 
 two models were digested with divers alterations and ad- 
 ditions, and abbreviated and sent to every town to be con- 
 sidered of, first by the magistrates and elders, and then to 
 be published by the constables to all the people, that if 
 any should think fit that any thing therein ought to be 
 
altered, he might acquaint some of the deputies therewith 
 against the next court."* 
 
 The early fathers of New England, with all protec- 
 tant divines of their day, " allowed a power in the civil 
 magistrate, for the preservation of the church in cases 
 temporal, so far as belongeth to the outward preservation, 
 not to the personal administration of them ;" and held, 
 that " the ordinary helps and external means, for the up- 
 holding and maintaining of peace and truth in the churches, 
 in way of a civil power, is only a pious and Christian 
 magistracy, where a nation is blessed with it, so as by the 
 help of the ecclesiastical and the civil power, acting in a 
 way of subordination each unto other, all differences arising 
 may easily be composed."! The early custom of an 
 Election Sermon is confirmatory of these principles, and 
 of the influence of the ministers in the state. On these 
 occasions, the rulers were publicly and solemnly reminded 
 of what was believed to be their duty and their right, in 
 religious concerns. " The eye of the Civil Magistrate," 
 said one of the preachers, " is to be the securing of the 
 way of God that is duly established : and if any where 
 this be the duty and concern of rulers, it is most of all so 
 in New England, which is originally a Plantation, not for 
 Trade, but for Religion."! 
 
 We perceive, then, in the genius and character of our 
 primitive institutions, why the ministers, from the first, 
 would be induced to meet at the time of the sitting of the 
 general court ; but of any proceedings, in the name and 
 character of a Convention, during the first half century, 
 we have no evidence. 
 
 • NVinthrop's Journal, 1632— 1639. Hubbard's Hist. New Eng- 
 land, ch. xxvi, xlvi. 
 
 t Hubbard's Hist. New England, chap. Ixx. Platform, chap. xvii. 
 X President Oakes's Election Sermon, May, 1673. 
 
6 
 
 The first Sermon before the ministers in Convention, 
 that has come to our knowledge, was preached by Rev. 
 John Sherman of Watertown, in 1682. During the suc- 
 ceeding years of calamity, until the deposition of Andros, 
 and the Revolution in England, in 1689, there is no ac- 
 count of Convention. Whether that Revolution, and the 
 acts of the provincial legislature, passed soon afterwards, 
 affecting ministers and churches, influenced the ministers 
 to a more formal organization of a Convention, or to a 
 more stated attendance at the annual meeting, or what- 
 ever were the cause, this appears to be the epoch of a 
 regular Convention. 
 
 From the beginning of the government under the char- 
 ter of 1692, the congregational ministers of Massachusetts 
 " practised the holding of a. convention in Boston, on the 
 next day after the general election of counsellors."* In 
 Mather's Magnalia, 1698, there is a distinct reference to 
 the Convention. The Rev. Mr. Hooker, towards the close 
 of his life, had advised to the constant meetings of minis- 
 ters. " According to the advice of Mr. Hooker," says Dr. 
 Mather, " it has been the care of the ministers, in the 
 several vicinages throughout the most part of the country, 
 to establish constant meetings, whereat they have inform- 
 ed one another of their various exercises, and assisted one 
 another in the work of our Lord : besides a general ap- 
 pearance of all the ministers in each colony, once a year, 
 at the town, and the time of the General Court for Elec- 
 tions of Magistrates in the colonies. "f In a later work 
 of the same author the Convention is expressly mentioned, 
 with the time of its meeting, its leading objects, and the 
 custom of an annual Sermon : " How often Provincial 
 Synods were held in Firmilian's time, is evident from that 
 
 * Appendix to Dr. Thachers Sermon before the Massachusetts 
 Congregational Charitable Society. 
 t Magnalia, Book v. p. 58. 
 
Report of his, Per singulos cuinos in unum conveniunt. The 
 churches of New England can have no such thing report- 
 ed of them. They have no provincial synods, and their 
 occasional synods, on special emergencies, and of smaller 
 dimensions, are but as the occasions happen for them. 
 The thing among them that is the nearest thereunto, is a 
 General Convention of ministers (which, perhaps, are not 
 above half) belonging to the Province, at the time of the 
 Anniversary Solemnity, when the General Assembly of 
 the Province meets, on the last Wednesday in the month 
 of May, to elect their Counsellors for the year ensuing. 
 Then the Ministers, chusing a Moderator, do propose 
 matters of public importance, referring to the interest of 
 Religion in the churches ; and though they assume no 
 decisive power, yet the advice which they give to the peo- 
 ple of God has proved of great use unto the country. 
 There is now taken up the custom for (Concio ad Clerum,) 
 a Sermon to be preached unto the Convention of Minis- 
 ters, on the day after the Election, by one of their num- 
 ber, chosen to it by their votes, at their meeting in the 
 preceding year. At this Convention, every pastor, that 
 meets with singular difficulties, has opportunity to bring 
 them under consideration. But the question most usually 
 now considered, is of this importance, What may be fur- 
 ther proposed, for the preserving and promoting of true piety 
 in the land ? Excellent things have been here concerted 
 and concluded for the propagation of religion, and collec- 
 tions produced for that purpose in all the churches. And 
 motions have been hence made unto the General Assembly, 
 for such Acts and Laws as the morals of the people have 
 railed for."* The Governor of the Province, and such 
 
 " Ratio Disciplinae Fratrum Nov-Anglorum : " A Faithful Ac- 
 count of the Discipline professed and practised in the Churches of 
 New England," 1726. 
 
n 
 
 counsellors as lived in Boston, together with the represen- 
 tatives of the town, and the Speaker, were invited to dine 
 with the ministers on the day after the Election — " some 
 small resemblance," says Dr. Mather, " of what is called 
 The Feast of Moses and Aaron, in the Netherlands." 
 
 The Convention has been accustomed to address the 
 civil rulers, and to use its influence for the encourage- 
 ment of learning, and the conservation of the public liber- 
 ties. It has presented addresses to the King, to the Gov- 
 ernors, to the Provincial Congress, and to the President of 
 the United States ; and memorials to the Congress of the 
 United States. After addressing the late king at his 
 accession, the Convention voted thanks to governor Ber- 
 nard " for the kind care he was pleased to take of their 
 address to his Majesty ; as also, for the regard which he 
 has shown to the interest of learning in the Province — 
 and humbly to desire the continuance of his Excellency's 
 favour to Harvard College in Cambridge." 
 
 The Convention has maintained a friendly and Chris- 
 tian correspondence with other associated ministers, of the 
 Protestant Reformed churches, at home and abroad. In 
 1750, " the Convention being sensible of the great import- 
 ance of cultivating a stricter union with our brethren of 
 the Presbyterian and Congregational denominations in 
 England, and particularly their deputation at London," 
 voted to choose annually a committee in their behalf, " to 
 manage and cultivate said union and correspondences, 
 and annually report their proceedings to the Convention, 
 and receive their directions from time to time." On the 
 reception of a letter from delegates from the Associated 
 pastors in Connecticut and a committee of the Synod of 
 New York and Philadelphia, inviting them to join with 
 them in a proposed convention at New Haven in 1 767, 
 the Convention voted : " That although we are not pre- 
 
pared to send delegates to the proposed Convention, yet. 
 we take this occasion to declare our sincere affection to 
 our brethren, and our fellowship with them in the gospel, 
 and our readiness to unite our counsels and endeavours 
 with them for the spreading of the Gospel, and defending 
 the religious liberties of these Churches; for cultivating love 
 and harmony among ourselves and with our friends abroad, 
 and for promoting the kingdom of our common Re- 
 deemer." A committee of correspondence was chosen ; 
 and instructed also, to write to the committee of deputa- 
 tion of Dissenters in England, "to thank them for the 
 concern they have expressed for our Religious Liberties ; 
 and to desire that they would give us their assistance, and 
 use their influence for the preservation of the same, and, 
 in particular, that a bishop may not be sent among us." 
 In 1668, the thanks of Convention were voted to Rev. 
 Dr. Chauncy, "for his just and seasonable Remarks on a 
 late Sermon of the bishop of Landaff, preached before the 
 Society for propagating the Gospel ; as also for his learn- 
 ed and judicious Reply to Dr. Chandler's Appeal in favour 
 of an American Episcopate ;" and, in 1770, " for his 
 learned and judicious Reply to Dr. Chandler's Vindication 
 of his Appeal." 
 
 In 1771, the Convention chose a committee, "to main- 
 tain a correspondence with our brethren in the Southern 
 Governments ; and, in 1 792, a committee, to consider the 
 proposal of forming a correspondence with the General 
 Presbytery of the Southern States, and General Associa- 
 tion of Congregational Ministers in Connecticut." In 
 1793, a committee of correspondence was chosen, with 
 instructions to write to those two bodies, " proposing to 
 them not to receive or countenance any candidate from 
 us, who does not bring credentials from a regular body 
 among us known to them, and assuring them that we will 
 2 
 
10 
 
 observe the same rule with respect to candidates from 
 them ; and informing them that we shall be glad to hear 
 from them upon all subjects which relate to the interests 
 of our common Christianity, and to communicate every 
 information upon such subjects as may tend to promote 
 the interests of Religion." 
 
 The Convention has occasionally called the attention 
 of ministers and churches to the principles of their Plat- 
 form, and given cautions and admonitions against preva- 
 lent errors. In 1702, it published "A Seasonable Testi- 
 mony to the glorious doctrines of grace, at this day many 
 ways undermined in the world." In 1704, "to serve the 
 great intentions of religion, lamentably decaying in the 
 country," it was proposed by Convention : " That the 
 pastors of the churches personally discourse with the 
 young people in their flocks, and with all possible pru- 
 dence and goodness endeavour to win their consent to the 
 Covenant of grace ; that, to this end, they adopt the prac- 
 tice of making their personal visits to all the families that 
 belong to their Congregations ;" that, as far as practicable, 
 they thus induce their people " publicly and solemnly to re- 
 cognise the Covenant of God, and come into such a degree 
 of the Church state, as they shall be willing to take their 
 station in, but not to leave off, till they shall be qualified 
 for, and persuaded to, communion with the Church in all 
 special ordinances ; that for such as have submitted to the 
 government of Christ in any of his churches, no pastors 
 of any other churches, any way go to shelter them un- 
 der their wing, from the discipline of those from whom 
 they have not been fairly recommended ; that they who 
 have not actually recognised their subjection to the disci- 
 pline of Christ in his church, yet should, either upon their 
 obstinate refusal of such a subjection, or their falling into 
 other scandals, be faithfully treated with proper admoni- 
 
11 
 
 tions — about the method of managing which, the pastors 
 with their several churches will be left to the exercise of 
 their own discretion." The desire and intention were also 
 expressed, " That at the General Convention of Ministers, 
 there may be given in an account of their success" in the 
 proposed undertaking ; "that the Lord may have the glory 
 of his grace, and the condition of religion may be better 
 known and served among us." In subserviency to these 
 intentions, it was proposed, " That the Associations of the 
 ministers in the several parts of the country may be 
 strengthened ; and that they may hold more free commu- 
 nications with one another."* In 1756, on receiving a 
 letter with papers from a number of aggrieved brethren of 
 a Church, relating to the installation of a minister, the 
 Convention voted it as their opinion, " that all such pro- 
 ceedings as these are represented to be, are very irregular, 
 against which they think themselves obliged to bear their 
 testimony, as having a manifest tendency to destroy these 
 churches, if not seasonably discountenanced." In 1757, 
 it was " recommended by the Convention to the ministers 
 and people throughout the Province, to give themselves to 
 more solemn and devout prayer, and reformation of man- 
 ners, in this very important crisis of our public affairs." 
 The same year, the Convention directed a letter to be 
 written to a distant people, that had received their chari- 
 ties, " expostulating with them upon their doing so little 
 towards the support of the gospel, and ordinances of reli- 
 gion among them ; and representing to them, that if they 
 persist in such a conduct, the Convention must withdraw 
 the large assistance they have so long afforded them for 
 this purpose." In 1773, it was voted, that the state of 
 the churches in this Province, with respect to church 
 order and discipline, is such as to require the attention of 
 this Convention. A committee was chosen, to make clili- 
 * Ratio Disciplinee, 177 — 179. 
 
12 
 
 gent inquiry into the sense and meaning of the Platform 
 of Church Discipline, and the general practice of our Fa- 
 thers and of the Churches in this land from their days, 
 with respect to church order. The Report of this com- 
 mittee was directed to be printed and published. 
 
 Before the institution of Bible Societies, which have so 
 wonderfully contributed to the diffusion of the holy Scrip- 
 tures in our time, the Convention paid particular attention 
 to this most important subject. On receiving an Address 
 from the North Association in Hampshire county, in 1 782, 
 representing the great want of Bibles in that part of the 
 country, and praying the Convention to use their influ- 
 ence by petitioning the General Court to grant assistance 
 and encouragement for printing the Bible in this country ; 
 and several similar representations from other parts of the 
 country ; the Convention chose a committee, to take the 
 subject under serious consideration, and use such means 
 as should to them appear most promising, " to put it in 
 the power of those who are destitute of Bibles, to pur- 
 chase them in the most cheap and expeditious manner." 
 An Address, in 1789, from the Association of ministers 
 in and about Cambridge, relative to licensing, encourag- 
 ing, or employing candidates for the ministry, induced 
 the printing and publishing of " A Recommendation from 
 the Convention of the Congregational Ministers at Bos- 
 ton, May 26, 1790." After a preamble, stating the 
 grounds of the recommendation, the Convention, 
 
 1. Recommend it to all young gentlemen, who design to 
 devote themselves to the work of the ministry, to spend that 
 portion of time in the study of divinity, previously to ap- 
 pearing in the pulpit, which improved and judicious advi- 
 sers shall think necessary to qualify them for public teachers. 
 
 2. They earnestly recommend it to Congregational 
 Ministers and People, not to encourage or employ any 
 
13 
 
 one as a candidate for the ministry, except he show by 
 written testimonials, that he has been carefully examined 
 respecting his acquaintance with the principles of natural 
 and revealed religion, and other things necessary to qua- 
 lify him for the work of the ministry ; and that he is pro- 
 perly recommended to it, as a man of knowledge and 
 good character, by some regular Congregational Associa- 
 tion or Presbytery. 
 
 3. To ministers not associated, they suggest the import- 
 ance of their commencing members of regular Associa- 
 tions, as soon as opportunity present; for, say they, " we 
 are all members of the same body, and are called by the 
 Gospel of Christ to cooperate with each other, in promot- 
 ing the interest of a learned, judicious and religious min- 
 istry." 
 
 In 1799, the Convention unanimously voted an Address 
 to their brethren of the respective Associations, and the 
 unassociated ministers in this Commonwealth, " recom- 
 mending to them seriously to consider the alarming pre- 
 valence of infidelity and immorality ; and exhorting them 
 to vigilance and activity in their several stations, in resist- 
 ing the progress of those principles, and reviving and 
 promoting the spirit of true Christianity, by those means 
 which they may think most expedient." 
 
 In 1802, the Convention published an Address, express- 
 ing their sentiments "on the propriety and importance 
 of using the Scriptures in Schools ; calling the attention 
 of their brethren, of the people at large, and especially 
 of those who are by law appointed the visitors of our 
 schools, to this interesting subject." 
 
 In 1804, a motion was made in Convention, to address 
 the Associations of Congregational Ministers on the subject 
 of forming a Convention " for the purpose of agreeing 
 upon a plan of friendly ministerial union, and for estab- 
 
14 
 
 lishing a General Association. " The Convention chose 
 a committee to consider and report upon the Proposition ; 
 instructing them to transmit it to the several Associations 
 of Congregational Ministers in the Commonwealth, re- 
 questing them to take the subject into their serious con- 
 sideration, and to offer their sentiments upon it to Con- 
 vention through their committee previously to the meeting 
 of the Convention in May, 1805." At that meeting, the 
 committee reported the returns they had received ; and, 
 on the whole, concluded their Report in favour of the 
 Proposition. After a discussion of the Report, and 
 mature deliberation, the question oi acceptance was deter- 
 mined in the negative. 
 
 On certain questions relating to church order, proposed 
 to the Convention by an Association in 1813, the Con- 
 vention, learning " that a particular case exists, which 
 gave rise to the questions, and to which the opinion of 
 Convention, if pronounced, would in all probability be 
 applied," declined giving a distinct answer ; but earnestly 
 recommended, "that, in any case of difficulty existing be- 
 tween churches, means should be employed in the proper 
 ecclesiastical way, and with the spirit of Christian meek- 
 ness and charity, to bring it to an amicable adjustment, or 
 a regular decision." 
 
 Where the Convention was accustomed to assemble, 
 in early times, does not appear. After the American revo- 
 lution, the meetings were held in the old Courthouse, 
 until the erection of the new one ; since which time the 
 Convention has been indulged with the use of that con- 
 venient edifice for its annual meetings. About a century 
 since, as we learn from Dr. Mather, a dinner was gener- 
 ously provided for the Convention by the deacons of the 
 united churches in Boston ; and the governor and princi- 
 pal gentlemen in the government were invited with the 
 
15 
 
 ministers on that occasion. How long this usage contin- 
 ued is not known. In 1 769, the Convention voted thanks 
 to Dr. Sewall, then in the decline of life, " for his kind- 
 ness and hospitality in accommodating the Convention ior 
 so many years at his house." For several years, the 
 ministers of Boston were accustomed to invite the mem- 
 bers of Convention to dine at their tables. In 1806, a 
 dinner was provided by a subscription of sundry gentle- 
 men in Boston ; and the surplus of the money, thus gen- 
 erously subscribed, was to be given to the Congregational 
 Charitable Society. The thanks of the Convention were 
 voted to those gentlemen for their attention and liberality 
 — which have since been often experienced. More 
 recently, the congregational societies in Boston have pro- 
 vided a liberal entertainment for the Convention, under 
 direction of the deacons of their churches ; of which a 
 grateful sense has been testified by their votes. 
 
 Objects of Convention. 
 
 From the transactions of the Convention it appears, that 
 its design has been, to promote brotherly love and religious 
 improvement ; to give advice to ministers in difficult cases ; 
 to consider the best means for preserving and promoting 
 piety ; to concert measures for the propagation of religion, 
 and to promote collections for that purpose ; to act in 
 concert, as far as suitable to the ministerial character, in 
 all matters of general concern, respecting the interests of 
 religion, and the order, peace, liberties, and prosperity of 
 the Congregational Churches ; to hold correspondences 
 with other associated pastors and churches, relative to the 
 interests of the church and of religion ; to aid poor par- 
 ishes in supporting their ministers ; to assist indigent min- 
 isters, their widows and orphan children ; to provide 
 
16 , 
 
 funds for the relief of widows and orphans of ministers, 
 and direct the distribution of this charity ; to bear testi- 
 mony against prevailing errors in doctrine, discipline, or 
 manners ; to remonstrate to delinquent churches and peo- 
 ple concerning neglect to support the gospel ; and to 
 recommend whatever may be of general use to ministers 
 and churches, or to the commonwealth and country. It 
 also appears, that the proceedings, relative to objects and 
 ' persons external to the Convention, have always been by 
 way of counsel, recommendation, advice, or congratula- 
 tion ; and not on the ground of assumed or delegated 
 authority. 
 
 Origin and state of the Fund. 
 
 The Convention appears to have kept no records until 
 1748. It was then voted, at the annual meeting, to have 
 a blank Book, in which should be entered the minutes of 
 the Convention, with the votes and accounts. Minutes, 
 it is evident, had been previously kept ; for, at the same 
 meeting, " the minutes of the transactions of the last Con- 
 vention were read." The collections, too, it appears, had 
 already been such as to require a treasurer ; for the ac- 
 counts of the last year were presented and accepted ; the 
 thanks of Convention were given to Dr. Sewall, the 
 treasurer, for his care and fidelity ; and he was requested 
 to continue in the office the ensuing year. By an appli- 
 cation from a society in Rhode Island, requesting " assist- 
 ance towards the maintenance of a minister," and by 
 other evidences, it appears, that the Convention had alrea- 
 dy " dispersed abroad" its alms. A measure was now 
 adopted for the establishment of a Fund. It was voted, 
 "that the Convention recommend it to the ministers 
 through the Province, that they endeavour that there may 
 
17 
 
 be a Collection in their several Congregations towards a 
 Fund for the propagation of the Christian religion." 
 
 The monies, collected by the Convention, appear to 
 have been distributed among indigent ministers until the 
 year 1762. A question was then proposed, " Whether the 
 Convention will choose a committee to consider what may 
 be done to render their annual contribution more exten- 
 sively useful and beneficial ; and in order hereto, whether 
 a part of it should be applied to the use of ministers' wid- 
 ows and children, who might need the same, as well as to 
 indigent ministers." It was voted in the affirmative ; and 
 a committee was accordingly chosen. 
 
 Of the Collection that year, four pounds ten shillings 
 were appropriated to the proposed Fund for ministers' 
 widows and children. This was the commencement of 
 the Convention's Fund.* 
 
 At the annual meeting, 30 May, 1 765, the Convention 
 voted, that the unappropriated part of the Collection this 
 day be added to the sum already in the treasury, to lie as 
 a Fund towards the support of ministers' widows and 
 children that are indigent, agreeable to some plan that 
 may hereafter be agreed upon by the Convention ; and a 
 committee was chosen to prepare and offer a plan accord- 
 
 * The Collection was £"0Z. 6s. 3d. (old tenor.) I. s. d. 
 
 Of which, appropriated to 6 ministers ... 80 4 
 
 " " to 1 widow 3 17 6 
 
 to poor ministers' widows 2 5 
 
 " to proposed Fund . . 4 10 
 
 90 16 6 
 
 Of the unappropriated money were voted, 
 
 To Providence, to support preaching 50 
 
 Rev. O. Campbell, (Tiverton) 79 9 9 
 
 Rev. Mr. Torry, (S. Kingston) 50 
 
 179 9 9 
 
 3 
 
18 
 
 ingly. In 1766, the committee not reporting a plan, 
 another committee was chosen to prosecute the design ; 
 and a vote was passed, " That the money already in hand, 
 and what may this year be devoted for a Fund for the 
 relief of poor ministers' widows and children, be put into 
 the hands of the Rev. Dr. Sewall, Dr. Chauncy, and Mr. 
 Cooper, to be by them improved at interest for the use 
 aforesaid." A committee was thus appointed annually, 
 to act as trustees, until the incorporation of a Society for 
 the care and management of the Fund. 
 
 In this " day of small things," a valuable legacy was 
 bequeathed to the benevolent object, which had long been 
 occupying the thoughts and care of the Convention. Mr. 
 Judah Monis, a Jew by birth, who had embraced the 
 Christian religion and been baptized at Cambridge, where 
 he lived many years as a Hebrew instructer, died in 1 764, 
 leaving most of his estate to this pious charity. How it 
 was to be managed and applied, appears by the Will : " I 
 also will that all my real estate be sold by my Executors 
 
 and that the proceeds of such sale be deposited in the 
 
 hands of the Rev. Messrs. Nathaniel Appleton, minister of 
 the first Parish in Cambridge, Ebenezer Gay of Hingham, 
 minister of the first Parish there, John Martin minister of 
 the second Parish in Westborough [now Northborough], 
 Andrew Eliot of Boston, minister of a Church of Christ 
 there, and Thomas Barnard of Salem, minister of a 
 Church of Christ there, or their respective successors in 
 said office, for the relief of the poor widows of the minis- 
 ters of Christ in the Province in this form, namely, the 
 
 principal sum to be let out on lawful interest by the said 
 ministers, and their said successors in the office aforesaid 
 forever, and the interest thereof distributed by them or the 
 major part of them, as they, with the advice of the Con- 
 vention of the Ministers of the Congregational persuasion. 
 
19 
 
 at their Anniversary Meeting, shall judge proper forever.'" 
 Mr." Monis also gave, for the same purpose, sucli part of 
 his personal estate, as should not, after his decease, be 
 found disposed of to other persons or uses. On the set- 
 tlement of the estate, the sum ordered by the Judge of 
 Probate to be paid to the Trustees, 23 May, 1766, was 
 one hundred and eleven pounds, sixteen shillings, and 
 eight pence.* The Convention, thus encouraged to pur- 
 sue their object, voted, that year, " That the sum of one 
 hundred pounds of the unappropriated money, collected 
 this day, be added to the sum already collected towards a 
 Fund for the relief of Indigent Widows and poor orphan 
 Children of Ministers, to be improved at interest, agree- 
 able to a vote of the Convention passed this day."f 
 
 In 1 767, the committee, chosen to prepare and offer a 
 plan for a Fund, reported, that the Convention empower 
 a number from themselves to apply in their name to the 
 General Court for an act of incorporation, " in order to 
 the more effectual management of the Fund to be raised 
 for the relief of their Widows and orphan Children ;" 
 pointed out means to raise this Fund, and to direct as to 
 its application ; and recommended, " as it will be some 
 
 * The Monis Fund is now 8400 ; the interest of which the 
 Trustees annually divide among four widows, with the concurrence 
 of Convention, to which they make an annual Report. 
 
 t On the Record of this year is entered the following " Account 
 of the several sums already devoted to the proposed Fund for the 
 relief of the Widows and orphan Children of poor Ministers." 
 
 I s. d. 
 Appropriated in the Collection, May 27, 176-2 6 15 (old tenor) 
 
 May 26, 1763 48 8 5 
 
 May 29, 1765 4 15 
 
 Voted the whole unapprop. coll. May 29, 1765 211 1 4 
 
 Appropriated in the Collection May 29, 1766 4 19 
 
 Voted of the unapprop. coll. May 29, 1766 100 
 
 375 18 9 
 
20 
 
 time before a corporation can be constituted and the con- 
 stitution receive the royal assent, that, in the mean time, 
 the money collected at the annual Convention, except 
 what may be appropriated, be put into the hands of a 
 number of the Convention to be by them, as Trustees, put 
 out at interest, and that the interest be disposed of annu- 
 ally, by the Convention, on the forenoon preceding the 
 public Exercises and Collection, to such Widows and 
 orphan Children of Ministers of the Massachusetts Pro- 
 vince, as they shall think fit." The Convention accepted 
 the Report, and voted, " that it be forthwith carried into 
 execution." A vote was also passed, That the proposed 
 Incorporate Society do consist of an equal number of min- 
 isters and of lay-gentlemen ; and that the whole number 
 should be thirty. Fifteen laymen, of distinguished character 
 in the state, and the same number of ministers, were then 
 " nominated and voted to be first members of the proposed 
 Incorporate Society." At the head of the former appears 
 the name of " His Honour Thomas Hutchinson, Lieut. 
 Governour." The commotions, soon after excited in the 
 Province by the Stamp Act ; the dissatisfaction with the 
 gubernatorial administration ; and the revolutionary war, 
 which convulsed the country, and put " all the founda- 
 tions out of course," sufficiently account for a delay of the 
 execution of the plan of Convention for several years. 
 After the successful termination of a long war, and the 
 tranquil settlement of the commonwealth as an Indepen- 
 dent State, the plan was auspiciously resumed. 
 
 In the mean time, the Fund of the Convention received 
 a considerable addition from the estate of the Hon. John 
 Alford, Esq* of Charlestown, lately deceased, who had 
 given a discretionary power to his Executors for appro- 
 priations to certain charitable and literary objects. At 
 a meeting of the Convention in 1775, a letter was com- 
 
21 
 
 mupicated from Richard Cary, Esq. informing the Con- 
 vention, that the Executors had agreed to give fifty pounds 
 sterling to the Fund for the relief of the Widows and 
 orphan Children of poor Ministers out of the estate of 
 Col. Alford. It was stated, at the same time, that this 
 sum had been received by the Treasurer of the Conven- 
 tion. The particular acknowledgments and thanks of the 
 Convention were presented to the Executors of the Will 
 of Col. Alford, " for this kind and liberal donation, where- 
 in they have not only evidenced a generous pity to a dis- 
 tressed and very helpless part of the community, but have 
 discovered a friendly regard to the Ministry of this Pro- 
 vince." The Convention embraced this opportunity " to 
 testify their grateful sense of the noble benevolence of the 
 Honourable and w r orthy Testator; and to express their 
 pleasing expectation, that his munificent bequest, so wise- 
 ly distributed, by his Executors, to this and other exten- 
 sively useful institutions, will serve to transmit the memory 
 of Col. Alford with honour to the latest posterity." 
 
 In 1788, the Convention voted, That the Trustees now 
 living be desired to continue ; and chose a committee " to 
 prepare a plan for a Fund to be established in this Com- 
 monwealth for the relief of the Widows and orphan Chil- 
 dren of poor Ministers, and for other purposes which may 
 be mentioned in said plan ;" and to lay the plan before 
 the General Court of this Commonwealth, and to use their 
 influence to obtain a Charter. In 1784, the committee 
 reported a plan, and the form of a Bill for an Act of In- 
 corporation ; and after some emendation, a committee was 
 chosen, to fill up the blanks, and perfect the Bill for a 
 Society to be incorporated, and, when completed, to use 
 their best endeavours to obtain a Charter of the General 
 Court. In 1785, the Convention voted to renew their 
 application to the General Court for the same purpose. 
 
Connexion between the Convention and the Congregational 
 Charitable Society. 
 
 An Act of Incorporation was at length obtained. At 
 the annual meeting of the Convention in 1786, a commit- 
 tee on the subject made report ; and the act was read. 
 It was passed 24 March, 1786, and was signed, as ap- 
 proved, by governor Bowdoin. The preamble states its 
 origin and object : " Whereas a number of congregational 
 ministers within this Commonwealth have petitioned, and 
 it appears to the General Court expedient, that a number 
 of persons be incorporated into a Society for the humane 
 and benevolent purposes of affording relief and support to 
 the widows and children of deceased ministers and other 
 persons therein mentioned : Be it therefore enacted by the 
 Senate and House of Representatives in General Court" 
 &c. The names of twenty persons are inserted in the Act ; 
 ten of whom were laymen, and ten ministers. The Act 
 incorporates them into a Society by the name of the 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS CONGREGATIONAL CHARITABLE SOCIETY ; 
 
 and ordains, " that they and such others as shall be duly 
 elected into the said corporation, shall be and remain a 
 body politic and corporate, by the same name, style and 
 title forever." One article of the Act requires, that all 
 grants, donations, devises and bequests, made to the So- 
 ciety, shall be used and improved to the best advantage ; 
 and that the annual income shall be applied to the support 
 of such widows and children of deceased congregational 
 ministers, as have been or shall be settled within this 
 Commonwealth, and of widows and children of the presi- 
 dent and professors of the University in Cambridge, as, in 
 the opinion of said corporation, shall be proper objects of 
 the said charity." The Act requires the Society to meet 
 some time in the month of May annually; and gives 
 
23 
 
 power to elect by ballot any other person or persons as 
 members of it : " Provided always, that the said Society 
 shall not at any time consist of more than thirty members ; 
 provided, also, that the same proportion be observed in 
 the said elections, between the clergy and the laity, 
 which is observed in this act." A meeting was called and 
 holden in the Senate chamber in Boston, 24 May, 1786, 
 and the Society was organized by the choice and qualifi- 
 cation of the several officers named in the Act of Incor- 
 poration. 
 
 After the reading of the Act in Convention, a com- 
 mittee was chosen to confer with a committee of the 
 Society, on such measures as should appear to be most 
 conducive to the purposes of the institution ; and the next 
 morning, the committee made the following Report : 
 
 " It appears to your Committee, that the Society, lately 
 incorporated by the name of the Massachusetts con- 
 gregational charitable society, is so constituted as to 
 answer the general purposes for which Convention has 
 so long wished to have a Society incorporated ; and your 
 Committee think it advisable, that Convention order the 
 Treasurer to deliver such monies as he may now have, 
 belonging to Convention, into the hands of the Treasurer 
 of said Society, by some vote of the following kind : 
 
 " Whereas there is now in the Treasury of Convention 
 the sum of five hundred and seventy one pounds one shil- 
 ling and seven pence, in public and private securities, 
 which sum has been given by divers persons, the interest 
 of which is to be used for the benefit of the poor widows 
 and orphans of deceased Ministers, which monies the 
 Convention wish to have in the hands of a legal Trust ; 
 Therefore, 
 
 " Voted, That the Treasurer of the Convention be 
 directed to put the above mentioned securities and what 
 
24 
 
 other property he may have belonging to the Convention, 
 into the hands of the Treasurer of the Massachusetts Con- 
 gregational Charitable Society, to be improved by said 
 Society in such ways as, in their wisdom, they shall 
 judge most conducive to the benevolent purposes of the 
 Donors ; the interest of which securities, and such other 
 property, as the Convention may put into the hands of 
 said Society, to be distributed from time to time, agree- 
 ably to the advice of the Convention." The Report was 
 accepted. 
 
 The Convention, accordingly, transferred to the Socie- 
 ty, in trust, 571/. Is. 7c?. From that time to the present, 
 the funds of Convention have been held and improved in 
 the same manner as the Society's stock ; and an an- 
 nual account is rendered to the Convention of their exact 
 state.* 
 
 In reference to the Incorporation of the Society, it has 
 been observed : " This indulgence of our government to 
 the clergy, and the respect so universally paid to religious 
 institutions by the rulers of our state, will continue the 
 encouragement to men of literary talents to settle as minis- 
 ters ; and will give ease to the pained hearts of many, 
 who, after spending the prime of their life in labours to 
 promote the happiness of others, are leaving widows and 
 orphans on the arms of public charity. The act by which 
 this Society is established, independent of pecuniary con- 
 siderations, has an unfailing influence to render the office 
 of a minister respectable. It is the Commonwealth's 
 smile of approbation upon the office, and will render to 
 
 * In 1820, the Fund of Convention, before its appro- 
 priations, was $5824 83 
 
 Appropriated 300 00 
 
 Amount of the Fund 85524 83 
 
25 
 
 the clergy a substantial support in the important duties oi 
 it. Perhaps there never was an institution, which was 
 pointed more directly to proper objects of charity, or in 
 the execution of which, the principles of true benevolence* 
 could be exerted in a manner more productive of the Gen- 
 eral good of the country."* 
 
 The Convention has, of late years, added to the Annual 
 Collection, after the Convention Sermon, for immediate 
 distribution, #300 ; and the Contribution at the Annual 
 Collection has been from 300 to 600 dollars. The 
 Massachusetts Congregational Charitable Society have, 
 of late, annually voted #200, to be added to the Collec- 
 tion ; and this is distributed by vote of the Convention 
 among a number of widows of deceased ministers. The 
 Society have given, besides, a considerable sum, annual- 
 ly, to those objects of their bounty, whose circumstances 
 were peculiarly necessitous.f " But they have felt it a 
 duty, in the management of their funds, to endeavour 
 to add something to the capital, by reserving annually 
 a portion of the interest ; so that in time, it may be 
 hoped, the proceeds may be more adequate than hereto- 
 fore to the applications continually urged for help and 
 relief. They acknowledge, with pleasure, the liberality 
 of many ; and doubt not the continued benefactions of 
 
 * " History of the Society," in an Appendix to Dr. Thacher's 
 Sermon in 1795, "By a member who is not a minister." It is as- 
 cribed to the late governor Sullivan. 
 
 t In 1820, the Congregational Charitable Society voted, 
 
 To be added to the Collection - - - g200 
 
 " given to indigent widows - - . iooo 
 
 The Society has paid from its own Funds, 
 
 (Total amount) To widows and orphans - - - 3875 
 
 " To Convention - - - - 2150 
 
 From Fund of Convention (per order) 3269 31 
 
 •i 
 
26 
 
 the friends of religion, to a charity so important and 
 interesting."* 
 
 The Convention embraced all the congregational minis- 
 ters in the Commonwealth, including the District of Maine, 
 until the formation of Maine into a separate State, in 1820. 
 A committee, chosen the last year by Convention, "to 
 take into consideration the subject of the appropriations of 
 the charity of Convention to widows in Maine," have been 
 officially informed, that a similar Convention has been or- 
 ganized in Maine, since the separation. " A majority of 
 the Associations were in favour of such a measure. Of 
 this public notice was given, and a meeting of congrega- 
 tional ministers requested. On the 18th of January a 
 respectable number of them assembled and formed them- 
 selves into a Convention on the same broad basis, on 
 which the Convention in Massachusetts is established." 
 A correspondence and conference have been held with the 
 officers of that Convention, and a satisfactory arrangement, 
 in relation to the Fund, is expected to be made at the 
 
 * '• Account of the Mass. Cong. Charitable Society," 1815. 
 Beside numerous other less, but valuable donations, the Society 
 have recorded the following : 
 
 John Winslow, Esq. of Dunstable, " towards a per- 
 petual fund" - • - - - £200 = §666.66 
 Hon. Thomas Russell - - - - 200 = 666.66 
 Jonathan Mason, Esq. - - - ■ - 200 
 Joseph Barrel!, Esq. ----- 400 
 Miss Anna Cabot Lowell, beside §5000, in trust, for 
 
 this and other purposes - 1000 
 
 Hon. Samuel Dexter, (Sen.) 200 
 
 John Derby, Esq. a legacy - 1000 
 
 Subscriptions procured by Samuel Eliot, Esq. 
 
 upwards of 4000 
 
 Mrs. Lowell, widow of the late Judge Lowell - - 2400 
 
 Hon. Peter C. Brooks 200 
 
 Samuel Eliot, Esq. a legacy ----- 3000 
 Joseph Coolidge, Esq. a legacy - 500 
 
27 
 
 next annual meeting of the Massachusetts Convention. 
 The remembrance of our brethren w ill not be obliterated, 
 nor our sympathies with their widows and orphan chil- 
 dren extinguished, by a political division of the Common- 
 wealth. What should be the measure of our charity, upon 
 this change of relations, is for the Convention to deter- 
 mine. 
 
 Rules and Regulations of Convention. 
 
 I. The Convention is opened on the day of the Gen- 
 eral Election, at 5 o'clock, P. M. ; and on the following 
 day, at 11 o'clock, A. M. a Sermon is delivered in public 
 before the Convention, and a Collection made for the 
 indigent Widows of congregational ministers. 
 
 II. Every ordained Congregational Minister, having 
 the care of a particular church within this Common- 
 wealth shall be considered as a member of this Conven- 
 tion ; the Presidents and Professors in the Theological 
 departments in any public seminary in this Common- 
 wealth may be admitted by special vote, and no others 
 shall be eligible : yet, congregational ministers, dismissed 
 from their pastoral relation with good recommendations, 
 and continuing to preach, as candidates for settlement, 
 may be honorary members, and have the privilege of sit- 
 ting and deliberating in the Convention, but not of voting. 
 
 III. The person who preaches the annual Convention 
 Sermon shall be considered as Moderator of Convention 
 for that year. 
 
 IV. When any person has any subject or question to 
 propose to Convention for their consideration, he shall 
 give it in, before the Convention proceeds to business, to 
 the Scribe of Convention, to be by him put on the list of 
 articles to be acted on by Convention, which list shall be 
 
read before business commences ; or, if he be prevented from 
 doing this by necessity, he shall deliver it, stated on paper, 
 to the Scribe, who shall read it to the Convention, that it 
 may be at their disposal ; and no person shall be allowed 
 to speak more than twice on the same subject, except by 
 leave of Convention. 
 
 V. A Standing Committee of thirty shall be appointed, 
 five of whom shall be chosen centrally, and the remainder 
 in different parts of the State. The five shall act as a 
 Reporting Committee, to receive from the other members 
 of the Committee applications and statements of facts in 
 behalf of persons who may be subjects of the charity of 
 the Convention, and having considered the same, shall 
 judge of the persons to be relieved, and the proportion to 
 be given to each, and make report to Convention on the 
 first day of their meeting, annually. 
 
 VI. The indigent widows of congregational ministers, 
 and their orphan children under age, are the proper ob- 
 jects of the charities of Convention. 
 
 When the widow of any congregational minister is 
 considered an object of the charity of the Convention, it 
 is desired, that, by the first of May in each year, answers 
 may be given, by one of the Standing Committee to the 
 Reporting Committee, to the following questions : 
 
 1 . What is her age ? 
 
 2. What are the number, the sex, the ages, and the 
 circumstances of her children ? 
 
 3. What is a fair estimate of her property ? 
 
 4. What is her ability to help herself ? 
 
 5. What connexions has she, who are bound to afford 
 her assistance ? And in what way do they assist her ? 
 
29 
 
 6. What is her income ? 
 
 7. What peculiar circumstances render her an object of 
 charity ; or make it desirable, that she should have aid 
 this year ? 
 
 The Standing Committee are also desired to give notice 
 to the Scribe, whenever an alteration takes place in the 
 circumstances of the widows, who are objects of charity. 
 
 TREASURERS OF THE CONVENTION. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Sewall, 
 
 Ebenezer Pemberton, 
 Andrew Eliot, 
 William Gordon, 
 Simeon Howard, 
 Oliver Everett, 
 Joseph Eckley, 
 John Eliot, 
 William E. Channing, 
 Charles Lowell, 
 Francis Parkman. 
 
TllEACHERS OF THE CONVENTION SERMON. 
 
 By whom. 
 A. D. Rev. 
 1682 John Sherman, 
 
 1722 * tCotton Mather, 
 
 1723 fNehemiah Walter, 
 
 1724 fPeter Thacher, 
 1726 fWilliam Williams, 
 1728 John Williams, 
 
 1738 John Barnard, 
 
 1739 Nathaniel Eelles, 
 
 1740 Thomas Prince, 
 
 1741 f Ed ward Holyoke, 
 
 1742 Israel Loring, 
 
 1743 f Nathaniel Appleton, 
 
 1744 f Charles Chauncy, D. D. 
 
 1745 f Peter Clark, 
 
 1746 fEbenezer Gay, 
 
 1748 Edward Wigglesworth, D.D. 
 
 1749 John Barnard, 
 
 1750 William Welsteed, 
 
 1751 Samuel Wigglesworth, 
 
 1753 f Samuel Phillips, 
 
 1754 Stephen Williams, 
 
 1755 Joseph Parsons, 
 
 1756 Hull Ahbot, 
 
 1757 fWilliam Rand, 
 
 1758 f Jonathan Townsend, 
 
 1759 Ebenezer Pemberton, 
 
 1760 William Balch, 
 
 1761 fEbenezer Parkman, 
 
 1762 Samuel Mather, 
 
 1763 John Lowell, 
 
 1765 Charles Chauncy, D.D. 
 
 1766 Thomas Prentice, 
 
 1767 Andrew Eliot, D.D. 
 
 1768 f John Tucker, 
 
 1769 Samuel Dunbar, 
 
 1770 Samuel Cooper, D.D. 
 
 1771 Robert Breck, 
 
 Of -what place. 
 
 Water town. 
 Boston. 
 Roxbury. 
 Milton. 
 Hatfield. 
 Deerfield. 
 Marblehead. 
 Scituate 
 Boston. 
 
 Pres. of H. Coll. 
 Sudbury. 
 Cambridge. 
 Boston. 
 Salem Village. 
 Hingham. 
 S. T. P. Harv. Coll 
 Andover. 
 Boston. 
 Ipswich. 
 Andover. 
 Springfield. 
 Bradford. 
 Charlestown. 
 Kingstown. 
 Needham. 
 Boston. 
 Bradford. 
 Westborough. 
 Boston. 
 Newburyport. 
 Boston. 
 Charlestown. 
 Boston. 
 Newbury. 
 S tough ton. 
 Boston. 
 Springfield. 
 
 Text. 
 
 Rev. ii. 19. 
 1 Tim. i. 12. 
 Phil. i. 21. (MS.) 
 Col. iv. 11. 
 
 Col. i. IS. 
 
 1 Sam. iv. 13. 
 Isai. ix. 7. 
 Matth. xvi. 6. 
 
 Matth. v. 13, 14. 
 Titus ii. 15. 
 Romans iii. 1, 2. 
 John i. 32. 
 
 2 Corinth, iv. 1. 
 
 1 Tim. iv. 6. 
 
 2 Corinth, xi. 2. 
 Acts x. 36. 
 Exodus xxv, 8. 
 Matth. v. 14, 15, 16. 
 
 1 Thess. ii. 4. 
 
 1 John, 8. 
 Rom. xi. 13. 
 
 2 Corinth, i. 12. 
 2 Corinth, v. 14. 
 2 Corinth, xi. 28. 
 2 Corinth, vii. 2. 
 Acts viii. 5. 
 
 1 Corinth, xiv. 1. 
 James v. 19, 20. 
 Col. iv. 11. 
 Gal. i. 8, 9. 
 Rev. xii. 1. 
 Heb. xiii. 1. 
 
 • Dr. Cotton Mather's Sermon, in 1689, has been erroneously supposed to 
 have been delivered before the Convention of Ministers. It was " preached to 
 the Convention of the Colony." 
 
 f The Sermons with this mark f are in the Library of the Massachusetts 
 Historical Society. A complete series of them would be highly valued by a 
 Society, whose objects are, " the collection and preservation, for the use of 
 the public and posterity, of all documents relating to the history and anti- 
 quities, ecclesiastical, civil, and natural, of our country." 
 
31 
 
 1772 fSamuel Locke, D. D. 
 
 1773 -j-Edward Barnard, 
 
 1774 James Chandler, 
 
 1775 Benjamin Stevens, 
 
 1776 Samuel Cooke, 
 
 1777 Samuel Langdon, D.D. 
 
 1778 Isaac Morrill, 
 
 1779 Samuel Webster, 
 
 1780 Ebenezer Bridge, 
 
 1781 John Mellen, 
 
 1782 Thaddeus Maccarty, 
 
 1783 Daniel Shute, 
 
 1784 Joseph Willard, 
 
 1785 Phillips Payson, 
 
 1786 Moses Hem men way, 
 
 1787 Gad Hitchcock, 
 
 1788 Nathan Fiske, 
 
 1789 Jacob dishing, 
 
 1790 Simeon Howard, D.D. 
 
 1791 Jason Haven, 
 
 1792 Josiah Bridge, 
 
 1793 Thomas Barnard, 
 
 1794 Chandler Bobbins, D.D. 
 
 1795 Henry Cumings, D D. 
 
 1796 fJeremy Belknap, D.D. 
 
 1797 fDavid'Tappan, D.D. 
 
 1798 JDavid Osgood, D.D. 
 
 1799 -j-Eli Forbes, 
 
 1800 John Latlirop, D.D. 
 1S01 f Joseph Dana, D.D. 
 
 1802 Peter Thacher, D.D. 
 
 1803 Thomas Prentiss, 
 
 1804 Nathanael Emmons, 
 
 1805 Zedekiah Sanger, 
 
 1806 tJoseph Lyman, D.D. 
 
 1807 tJohn Beed, D.D. 
 
 1808 Daniel Chaplin, 
 
 1809 Samuel Spring, D.D. 
 
 1810 fEliplialet Porter, D.D. 
 
 1811 -j-Keuken Puffer, D.D. 
 
 1812 Jedidiah Morse, D.D. 
 
 1813 John T. Kirkland, D.D. 
 
 1814 Jesse Appleton, D.D. 
 
 1815 Charles Stearns, D.D. 
 1*16 William E. Channing, 
 
 1817 Alvan Hyde, D I). 
 
 1818 Henry Ware, D.D. 
 
 1819 fAbiel Holmes, D.D. 
 
 1820 Aaron Bancroft, D.D. 
 
 Pres. of H. Coll. 
 
 Haverhill. 
 
 Bowley. 
 
 Kittery. 
 
 Cambridge. 
 
 Pres. of H. Coll. 
 
 Wilmington. 
 
 Salisbury. 
 
 Chelmsford. 
 
 Hanover. 
 
 Worcester. 
 
 Hingham. 
 
 Pres. of H. Coll. 
 
 Chelsea. 
 
 Wells. 
 
 Pembroke. 
 
 Brookfield. 
 
 Waltham. 
 
 Boston. 
 
 Dedham. 
 
 Sudbury. 
 
 Salem. 
 
 Plymouth. 
 
 Billerica. 
 
 Boston. 
 
 S. T. P. Har. Coll. 
 
 Medford. 
 
 Gloucester. 
 
 Boston. 
 
 Ipswich. 
 
 Boston. 
 
 Medfield. 
 
 Franklin. 
 
 Bridgewater. 
 
 Hatfield. 
 
 Bridgewater. 
 
 Groton. 
 
 Newburyport. 
 
 Boxbury. 
 
 Berlin. 
 
 Charlestown. 
 
 Pres. of H. Coll. 
 
 Pres. of B. Coll. 
 
 Lincoln. 
 
 Boston. 
 
 Lee. 
 
 S. T. P. Har. Coll 
 
 Cambridge. 
 
 Worcester. 
 
 2 Corinth, iv. 2. 
 John iv. 36, 37, 38. 
 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. 
 Matth.xxiv. 45, 46. 
 1 Thess. ii. 4. 
 Gal. i. 11, 12. 
 Dan. xii. 3. 
 Matth. vii. 23, 29. 
 
 Acts ii. 42. 
 
 1 Thess. ii. 4. 
 Eccl. iii. 1. 
 Acts xx. 26. 
 Rom. xi. 13. 
 
 2 Tim. i. 8. 
 
 Exod. xxviii. 36. 38. 
 Matth. xiii. 33. 
 2 Corinth, vi. 3, 4. 
 
 Rom. i. 16. 
 
 Rom. i. 9. 
 
 Luke xiv. 23. 
 
 1 Corinth, i. 10. 
 
 Isaiah i. 18 
 
 1 Corinth, xi. 1. 
 
 Matt, xxiii. 8, 9, 10. 
 
 Mai. ii. 7. 
 
 1 Thess. iv. 17, 18. 
 
 2 Corinth, xi. 3. 
 Coloss. iv. 11. 
 
 1 Tim. i. 5. 
 Tit. ii. 11, 14. 
 
 2 Tim. i. 10. 
 John xiii. 13. 
 Isai. ii. 4. 
 
 2 Pet. ii. 1. 
 John xx. 31. 
 Titus i. 7. 
 Philipp. i. 17. 
 
 From an inspection of the subjects it is evident, that the Dis- 
 course has always been considered, not as a mere Charity Ser- 
 mon, but a Concio ad Clerum. 
 
32 
 SCRIBES OF THE CONVENTION. 
 
 174S, Rev. Mather Byles, Boston, 1755 
 
 1755, Rev. Jonathan Mayhew, Boston, 1757 
 
 1757, Rev. Samuel Cooper, Boston, 1758 
 
 1758, Rev. Andrew Eliot, Boston, 1761 
 
 1761, Rev. Samuel Mather, Boston, 1762 
 
 1762, Rev. Ebenezer Bridge, Chelmsford, 1763 
 
 1763, Rev. Ebenezer Parkman, Westborough, 1766 
 1766, Rev. Amos Adams, Roxbury, 1776 
 1776, Rev. Jacob Cushing, Waltham, 1779 
 1779, Rev. John Lathrop, Boston, 1787 
 1787, Rev. John Clarke, Boston, 1792 
 1792, Rev. John Bradford, Roxbury, 1794 
 1794, Rev. Jedidiah Morse, Charlestown, 1800 
 1800, Rev. John T. Kirkland, Boston, IS 10 
 1810, Rev. John Pierce, Brookline, 1820 
 1820, Rev. John Codman, Dorchester. 
 
 Form of a Bequest or Legacy. 
 
 Item, I give and bequeath the sum of 
 to the Massachusetts Congregational Charitable Society, in trust, 
 to be applied, at their discretion, to the relief and support of the 
 widows and children of deceased ministers, and other persons 
 mentioned in the Act of Incorporation. 
 
i v 
 
 
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