USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The confession of faith and covenant of the Mount Vernon Congregational Church, in Boston, Mass. Organized June 1, 1842 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
- 974.402 B65boh
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00084 1012
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/confessionoffait00moun 0
THE
CONFESSION OF FAITH AND
COVENANT
OF THE
ional
IN
BOSTON, MASS.
THEY NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
ORGANIZED JUNE 1, 1842.
BOSTON: PRESS OF J. H. BARNARD, No. 50 BROMFIELD STREET. 1 872.
THE 1818028
CONFESSION OF FAITH
AND
COVENANT
OF THE
ingrenational Church
0
IN
BOSTON, MASS
NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
ORGANIZED JUNE 1, 1842
BOSTON:
PRESS OF J. H. BARNARD, 50 BROMFIELD STREET, 187.2.
Purina 1901
28441.086
D
-5001 Members changing their residence,- especially when leaving the city, whether for a year or for an in- definite time,-are earnestly requested to send a writ- ten notice of the change to the Clerk of the Church. This will relieve the Church Committee of much labor. -See note to "Standing Rules."
BRIEF HISTORY
OF THE
Mt. Vernon Congregational Church,
IN BOSTON.
DURING the years 1840 and 1841, several brethren of the Orthodox Congregational churches in Boston were impressed with the importance of forming a new church in the city, with a view of obtaining the services of the Rev. EDWARD N. KIRK, as its pastor. These impres- sions having been strengthened in the latter part of the year 1841, during a season of special religious interest in the churches, a meeting of pastors and lay brethren was called to consider the subject, December 16, 1841.
The following is a transcript of the official record of that meeting :-
A meeting of the pastors and several lay brethren from the Orthodox Congregational churches in this city, was held at the house of Deacon Daniel Safford, on Thursday, Dec. 16th, 1841, at 3 o'clock, P. M.
4
The meeting was called to consider the expediency of form- ing a new Orthodox Congregational church in this city, and inviting the Rev. EDWARD N. KIRK to become its pastor.
There were present, of the Pastors the Rev. Messrs. Aiken, Adams, Winslow, Rogers, Blagden, and Towne, and the Rev. Seth Bliss, Secretary of the American Tract Society; of the lay brethren, Deacons. Samuel T. Armstrong, Pliny Cutler, Daniel Safford, Lewis T. Stoddard, Eliphalet Kimball, Lem- uel P. Grosvenor, N. P. Rogers, Charles Scudder, Daniel Noyes, James Tufts, and Charles Stoddard, Messrs. Moses L. Hale, George W. Crockett, Samuel IIubbard, Thomas A. Da- vis, Charles W. Homer, and William W. Stone.
. Samuel T. Armstrong was called to preside, and William W. Stone to act as Secretary.
The Rev. N. Adams led in prayer. The Rev. Mr. Aiken stated the object for which the meeting was called, and each individual present was requested to express his views of the proposal. The Rev. Messrs. Rogers, Aiken, Winslow, Ad- ams, Blagden, Towne and Bliss were unanimously of opinion that a new Orthodox Congregational church in this city should be formed without delay, and that the Rev. EDWARD N. KIRK should be obtained, if possible, for its pastor; and expressed their readiness to render any aid in their power towards ac- complishing the object.
The lay brethren present unanimously coincided in these views, provided satisfactory assurances could be given that sufficient funds could be obtained to erect a house of worship.
On motion of the Rev. Mr. Bliss, a committee of nine was appointed to take the subject into consideration, and to take such measures for the accomplishment of the object, as they should deem expedient, with power to fill vacancies in the committee.
The following brethren were appointed on this committee : Rev. Seth Bliss, Deacons Pliny Cutler, Charles Scudder, Charles Stoddard, Julius A. Palmer, Daniel Safford, Messrs. George W. Crockett, Moses L. Hale, and William W. Stone.
After the reading of the above records by the Secretary
.
,
5
and their adoption as the doings of the meeting, Rev. Mr. Aiken led in prayer, and the meeting was dissolved.
SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG, Chairman.
WILLIAM W. STONE, Secretary.
The committee of nine thus constituted (Messrs. L. P. Grosvenor and George R. Sampson having been substituted for Deacons Cutler and Stoddard, who were unable to serve,) held various meetings from December 16th to the 29th of March following, for prayer and con- sultation, in which the enterprise was often discussed in all its bearings ; and after obtaining the names of twenty-five brethren, who professed themselves ready to be united with a new church on condition that the Rev. Mr. KIRK should become its pastor, they dissolved, transferring to these brethren all their powers and in- structions, and commending them and their enterprise to the Great Head of the church, and to the confidence and co-operation of their brethren in this city. Five of this committee believed that duty required them to give themselves personally to the enterprise.
During the months of April and May, the brethren who had thus associated themselves, met frequently to promote the object which they had in view, and held a weekly meeting for prayer. The Rev. EDWARD N. Kirk having signified to a committee of the brethren his intention to accept the invitation of the new church to become its pastor, whenever such church should be formed ; an Ecclesiastical Council was called, and con- vened in the vestry of the Park Street meeting-house, on the morning of Wednesday, June Ist, IS42, when twenty-five brethren and twenty-two sisters, who at
6 .
their own request were dismissed from their several churches for the purpose, were regularly organized into a church.
The consecrating prayer was offered by the Rev. William Jenks, D. D., pastor of the Green Street church in Boston, and the fellowship of the churches expressed by the Rev. William M. Rogers of the Cen- tral church.
The churches represented in this council, were all the Orthodox Congregational churches in the county of Suffolk ; second church in Dorchester ; Mercer Street Church in New York city ; First church in Malden ; Evangelical Congregational church in Cambridgeport ; Eliot church in Roxbury ; First Congregational church in Charlestown ; Winthrop church in Charlestown ; First church in Cambridge.
Upon the same day the Rev. EDWARD N. KIRK was invited by the new church to become its pastor ; and having accepted the invitation, was installed in the af- ternoon by the Ecclesiastical Council called to organize the church.
At a meeting of the brethren holden upon the eve- ning of June Ist, 1842, Thomas Adams, Daniel Safford, Julius A. Palmer, and Marshall S. Scudder were cho- sen Deacons of the church.
The church held its first public religious exercise in the Old South Chapel, which was generously tendered for its use by the Old South Society, upon Sabbath, June 5th, when the Lord's Supper was administered, and sev- eral infant children received the ordinance of baptism.
On the 19th day of June, 1842, public worship was commenced in the Lecture Room of the Masonic Tem-
7
ple, and continued there until the 31st of December, 1843.
The first meeting with reference to the erection of a house of worship was convened January 3d, 1843, by a public notice from the pulpit on the preceding Sab- bath. At this meeting it was determined, after delib- eration and prayer, that the time had arrived when we were called, in the providence of God, to go for- ward and erect another sanctuary for His worship. A subscription was accordingly commenced for the pur- pose, and subsequently the following gentlemen were elected a Building Committee, with full power to select the location and erect the building, to wit :- George W. Crockett, William W. Stone, Daniel Safford, John Slade, Jr., Roland Cutler, Freeman L. Cushman, and George F. Homer.
After many ineffectual attempts to obtain a situation combining the requisite advantages, the committee in the month of May succeeded in contracting for an es- tate on the north side of Somerset Court, now ASIIBUR- TON PLACE, a site unequalled perhaps by any in the city for the purpose, considering its quiet location, and - its advantages for ventilation and light.
On the 23d of June, 1843, the church voted to as- sume the name of "Mount Vernon Congregational Church," adopting the name by which the western sec- tion of the hill on which the building is erected has long been known.
The corner-stone was laid on the morning of July 4th, 1843, on which occasion an appropriate address was delivered by the pastor, and the Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D., led in prayer.
8
On the 7th of September, 1843, the stockholders met pursuant to a warrant duly issued by a justice of the peace, and were organized into a Corporation accord- ing to law, by the passage of the necessary votes, and the appointment of Standing Committees.
The following articles were adopted as the basis of union between the church and society :-
"The following plan of organization is hereby adopted by the Mount Vernon Congregational Society, which shall be permanent, and to the several articles of which all deeds of pews shall be made subject :
"I. Whenever the church and society shall be destitute of a settled pastor, a joint committee of the church and society, consisting of nine persons, of whom five shall be chosen by the church and four by the society, shall supply the pulpit, and adopt all measures necessary to that end. Temporary supplies of the pulpit, during the absence or sickness of the pastor, shall be provided by the pastor and deacons of the church, and the bills of expense necessarily incurred for that purpose, shall be submitted to the Standing or Prudential Committee, and when approved by them shall be paid by the Treasurer.
"II. The church shall have the right to select the pastor or colleague pastor, (whenever the church and society shall deem it expedient to have a colleague pastor,) to be proposed to the society for their concurrence. If such selection is ap- proved by the society, a joint call from the church and society shall be extended the person selected; but in case of non-con- currence, the church shall select until the society concur ; when a joint call as above shall be given to the person so se- lected and approved.
"III. The amount of salary to be paid to the pastor, or colleague pastor, shall be fixed by the society.
.
9
"IV. By the word church, hereinbefore used, is meant male members of the church of the age of twenty-one years and upwards."
The house having been completed on the 4th of Jan- uary, 1844, just six months from the day on which the corner-stone was laid, it was solemnly dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. The pastor was assisted in the services of the occasion by the Rev. Messrs. Adams, Winslow, Rogers, Aiken, Blagden and Jenks.
The dimensions of the building are 75 feet by 97, con- taining 120 pews on the lower floor, and 50 in the gal- lery, in which 1200 persons may be comfortably seated. The basement story contains, besides the several com- mittee rooms, a commodious chapel, 68 feet long by 48 feet wide, and fifteen feet high, which accommodates 600 persons with seats.
This church at its organization consisted of 47 mem- bers. Since that time there have been added 1596, of whom 919 were from other churches, and 677 by pro- fession. The present membership is 542.
The ordinance of baptism has been administered to 197 adults and 446 children.
No record of contributions for benevolent objects was kept previous to the dedication of this house. Since that time, a period of 28 years, there has been contrib- uted, (in addition to $60,000 for the erection of the house, and the ordinary current expenses, the sum of $295,417.48, varying from $3,975.90, the lowest, to $19,477:46 the highest, in any one year.
On the 3d of February, 1856, it pleased the Great Head of the Church to call to his heavenly home Dea-
2
IO
con DANIEL SAFFORD, who, next to the pastor, had been our leader from the commencement of the enter- prise.
In commemoration of the event, the church placed upon its records the following Preamble and Resolves :
"It having pleased the Wise Disposer of all events to remove from the church on earth our senior Deacon, the late Hon. DANIEL SAFFORD, the surviving members, with a,deep sense of an irreparable loss, adopt the fol- lowing Resolves :-
"I. That we bow submissively to the divine will, under this afflictive dispensation, which has deprived us of an honored leader, and a beloved brother, while we devoutly acknowledge our obligations to the Giver of all good, who placed him here as one of the original members, and continued him as ' a burning and a shining light' to the end of his mortal life.
"II. That we appreciate his example and influence in all that was noble and praiseworthy, and would cherish a grateful remembrance of his wise counsels, liberal contributions and unceasing labors for our welfare, and also of the kindness and affectionate sympathy ever manifested towards us, both as a private member and officer of the church."
The preceding resolutions were moved by the Hon. George W. Crockett, who had been intimately associ- ated with Deacon Safford in the labors and sacrifices which resulted in the establishment of this religious so- ciety. On the 14th of August, 1859, he too was called to go up higher in the kingdom of our Lord, and has entered, as we trust, upon the reward of "a good and faithful servant." Brother Crockett was the chairman of the Committee who built the meeting-house, and who had superintended the society's financial affairs from its organization to the time of his death, a period of sixteen years.
To his prudence, judgment, practical wisdom and ef- ficient skill in executing the pecuniary measures of the enterprise, we are greatly indebted for the successful
r
·
II
plans and financial prosperity by which we have been favored from the beginning.
In December, 1856, the Pastor left Boston on a mis- sion to Paris, France, by request of the American and Foreign Christian Union, to superintend the establish- ment of American Protestant worship in that capital, and the erection of a chapel. He returned September 1857, having successfully accomplished the work which was the object of his voyage.
The early members of the church will always cherish the memory of Brother ALBERT HOBART, as remark- able for the punctuality and constancy of his attendance upon all its meetings, the fidelity with which he sought to promote its interests, and the accuracy and neatness with which he kept its records. On the 15th day of January, 1867, he was called to bid adieu to earth, and as an expression of the feelings of the church, the fol- lowing resolution was adopted :-
"That in view of the recent death of Brother ALBERT HOBART, one of the original members of this church, for many years its efficient Clerk and Treasurer, and to the end of his life one of the Church Committee, the Mt. Vernon Church desire to place upon record their sense of the loss which they have experienced in the removal from earthly activity of their much- esteemed brother, and their gratitude to God for having so long continued his Christian usefulness, and for having enabled him to honor his profession by an uniformly exemplary and consistent character."
June Ist, 1867, being the twenty-fifth anniversary of the organization of the church, and the installation of its pastor, was appropriately observed by a reunion of the past and present members. Meetings were held in the afternoon and evening, at which grateful acknowl-
I 2
edgments were made of the favor of God, as manifested in our history, and pleasant reminiscences were indulged of bygone days, and touching allusions made to those of our number who had left us either for other fields of usefulness on earth or for more exalted privileges in heaven.
The health of Rev. Dr. Kirk having been impaired for several months, on the first of. Sept., 1869, he sent the following communication to the church and society :
"DEAR BRETHREN AND FRIENDS :
"I have anxiously awaited the test of time to determine the will of God concerning my future course. My own expe- rience confirms, at length, the judgment of my medical friends that, in justice to the Lord whom I serve, to the people so dear to me, to the cause I have supremely at heart, I can no longer bear the responsibility of acting pastor of Mt. Vernon church. You imperatively need a leader in the full possession of all his powers, mental and bodily. I ask not a dismission from the pastoral office, but from its cares, duties and emolu- ments. Choose, then, a man of God, competent to take the entire charge of the church. Let him understand that I shall be, in fact, his assistant, and ready to render every aid in my power. I do not ask for a severance of the tie that now so happily unites us, because I have no desire to form any other connection.
"Whatever my future relations to you may be, my heart shall ever revert, with thankfulness to God, to the memories of the past; and my desire and prayer will ever be for your prosperity as a church, for the presence of God in your dwel- lings, and for your eternal salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ. May you receive a baptism of the spirit of grace and supplication for the present important crisis in the history of our beloved church; and may grace, mercy and peace be with you evermore,
" Your affectionate pastor, "EDWARD N. KIRK."
13
At a united meeting of the church and society, held on the 24th of the same month, the following resolutions were adopted by a unanimous vote :-
"I. That the letter of our pastor, Rev. Dr. KIRK, stating that the con- dition of his health compels him to change his official relation to this church and society as its pastor, has filled all our hearts with the most sincere re- gret.
"II. That we are deeply grateful to a kind Providence for the harmoni- ous relations which have, without interruption, existed between our pastor and this church and society from its foundation, and that his faithful, able, and devoted ministrations, for so long a period, have awakened towards him feelings of the highest respect and affectionate regard.
"III. That under this dispensation of Divine Providence, which for the present deprives him of the hallowed privilege of preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ, we offer to him our tenderest sympathies; and that we ear- nestly pray that his physical energies may be so fully restored that we may be permitted again and often to listen to his voice of admonition, of exhorta- tion, and of prayer, and that he may yet be enabled, under the continued di- vine blessing and guidance, to lead many souls to the Saviour."
On the 12th of April, 1871, a unanimous call of the church and society having been extended to Rev. SAM- UEL E. HERRICK, he was installed as associate pastor with Rev. Dr. Kirk.
After preaching a few weeks, agreeably to an ar- rangement made before his installation, he visited Eu- rope, and was absent about four months, during which time extensive repairs and improvements were made in our house of worship.
On the 14th of March, 1872, Deacon JULIUS A. PALMER, an honored officer of the church from its or- ganization, whose health had been declining for several years, was transferred from the church militant to the church triumphant.
1
14
In view of this bereavement, the following Preamble and Resolutions were adopted by the church :-
" Whereas, it has pleased our Heavenly Father to remove by death our. honored and esteemed brother in Christ, Deacon JULIUS A. PALMER :
"RESOLVED, I.' That this church bows in humble submission to His will who alone can determine the best time when, and the circumstances un- der which, His children may be transferred from this sphere of duties, of trials, and of joys, to that upper sanctuary where tears shall be wiped from all eyes, and there shall be no more death.
"II. That we gratefully recognize the eminent usefulness of our late brother and fellow-Christian, as one of the original founders of this church, whose sound judgment and wisdom have often been illustrated in its past history, and whose life and character furnish an example not only of consci- entious devotion to the discharge of his duties as one of its officers, but also in the diversified relations of society. Honorable in his commercial life, and in the performance of his public duties as a citizen, intelligent and affable as a friend, amiable and affectionate in the domestic circle, faithful to the trust of the widow and fatherless, and a humble follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose cause he earnestly endeavored to promote, we may well seek to emulate his example."
Mount Vernon Church has contributed greatly to the strength and prosperity of other churches, in suburban cities and towns, having dismissed and recommended to them a large number who have become pastors, dea- cons and efficient members.
In reviewing the way in which the Lord has led us, the many tokens of his favor we have received during the thirty years of our existence as a church, while we raise our "Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us," it becomes us gratefully and humbly to con- secrate ourselves anew to His service, relying upon the presence and power of the Spirit to give us continued and increasing prosperity.
JUNE 1, 1872.
.
15-16
PASTORS.
EDWARD NORRIS KIRK, D. D., installed June 1, 1842. REV. SAMUEL E. HERRICK, installed April 12, 1871.
DEACONS.
THOMAS ADAMS,
Chosen June 1, 1842. Dismissed Feb. 5, 1847.
DANIEL SAFFORD,
Chosen June 1, 1842. Died Feb. 3, 1856. .
JULIUS A. PALMER, Chosen June 1, 1842. Died March 14, 1872.
MARSHALL S. SCUDDER, Chosen June 1, 1842. Dismissed Nov. 21, 1845.
HENRY HILL, Chosen Jan. 16, 1846. Resigned Jan. IS, 1850.
OLIVER B. DORRANCE,
Chosen Feb. 19, 1847. Resigned Jan. 17, 1851.
JAMES WILLIAM KIMBALL, Chosen Feb. 19, 1847.
ANDREW CUSHING, Chosen Feb. 19, 1847.
JOSEPH C. TYLER, Chosen Feb. 1, 1855. Term of office expired Feb. 2, 1871.
LANGDON S. WARD, Chosen Feb. 2, IS55.
JOHN M. PINKERTON, Chosen Feb. 17, 1860.
THOMAS Y. CROWELL, Chosen Feb. 21, IS72.
17
ECCLESIASTICAL PRINCIPLES AND RULES.
(Adopted June 23, 1842.)
Rights of the Church .- This church is indepen- dent so far as relates to its internal organization and the regulation of its affairs. It is amenable to no other ecclesiastical body, unless by its own consent, or accord- ing to regular and established Congregational princi- ples. With these limitations, it controls the admission, discipline, and removal of its members, according to its own understanding of the word of God.
Connection with other Churches .- This church will extend to other Evangelical Congregational churches, and receive from them that fellowship, advice, and assistance, which the law of Christ requires. It will extend the usual rights of communion, and practise the usual transfer of members, according to its own convic- tions of duty. It holds itself bound to regard the decis- ions of mutual councils, and to seek the promotion of peace with all the churches of our Lord.
Officers .- The officers of the church shall be the Pas- tor or Pastors, and Deacons. To the pastor pertains the 3
18
office of Moderator. It shall be the duty of the deacons to preside in the absence of the pastor, in rotation ; to · assist in the administration of the Lord's Supper ; to dis- tribute the charities of the church; to aid the pastor generally in the spiritual care of the flock; and, in his absence, to provide a supply for the pulpit. The number of the deacons shall be fixed by the church as its inter- ests from time to time may require, and no person shall hold the office more than six years without a re-election. At every annual meeting there shall be an election of one deacon, it being understood that the term of one incum- bent shall expire annually, according to seniority of ap- pointment.
Admission and Transfer of Members .- The church will examine all applicants for admission. It will grant dis- missions to its members in regular standing, on their ap- plication in writing, and recommend them to the fellow- ship of other churches. All such applications to be referred to the church committee, when presented, to be reported upon at the next succeeding meeting of the church. . Members removing from the city, or who from other cause may cease to worship with this church shall be required to obtain their dismission within one year thereafter, unless circumstances be such as to render an union with any other church inexpedient; and in such case they shall inform the church why they have not re- quested a removal of their connection. It is expected that members of other churches who may wish to com- mune with this church for more than one year, will re- quest a dismission from their respective churches and an admission to this church, unless they give satisfactory reasons for delay to the church committee.
19
Rights of Members .- Every member has a right to church privileges, unless forfeited by misconduct ; and when thus forfeited, he can be deprived of them only by regular process. The presentation of complaints shall in all cases be first made in writing to the church com- mittee, whose duty thereupon it shall be to secure, if practicable, an amicable and scriptural adjustment of the matters complained of, and failing in this, to report the same to the church. When a member is accused, he shall be seasonably furnished with a copy of the com- plaint, and shall have a full hearing. While the trial is pending, the accused is expected to abstain from partici- pating in the Lord's Supper.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.