USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Church manual : the confession of faith and covenant of the First Congregational Church in (North) Weymouth, Mass., founded 1623 > Part 2
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James Jones. Norton Pratt. Hervey Cushing. Dea. Abner P. Nash. Joseph Loud, Jun. William Otis Nash. Salome, w. of Robert Burrell.
Wd. Phebe French.
Sophia, w of Luther Pratt. Jane W. Whitmarsh.
Lucy P., w. of N. Stoddard. Emeline A., w. of Rev. W. Cor- nell.
Lucy, w. of Cyrus Hunt. Abigail, w. of William Loud. Clarissa H Ford.
Elizabeth, w of John Loud.
Nancy, w. of Dea. El. Bates. Susan Bicknell.
Ebenezer Humphrey.
Betsy, w of E Humphrey.
Wd. Elizabeth Higgins. Ruth Dyer. James Bates.
Clarissa, w of J. Bates.
1829. Wd. Hannah Canterbury ..
Catharine, w. of Theodore Pray.
Paulina, wd. of R. Blanchard. Asa White. 1830.
Wd. Mary Holbrook.
Lucy, w. of Laban Dunbar.
Anna, w. of D. H. Vining. 1832.
Cotton Bates. Rhoda, w. of C. Bates.
Warren Loud.
Susan, w. of W. Loud.
Wd. Rebecca Cushing.
Hannah, w. of A. Stoddard. Joshua Holbrook. Nancy, w. of J. Holbrook. Salome, wd. of Jonathan Robbins. David Pratt, 3d. Eleanor, w. of D. Pratt, 3d. Nancy B. Webb. Wd. Hannah Waterman.
Sophia R., w. of Solomon Wildes. 1833. Nancy, w. of David Pierce. Priscilla Blanchard.
1834. Rev. John C. Phillips. Harriet W., w. of Rev. J. C. Phil- lips.
1835.
Elizabeth Loud. Averic P. S., w. of James White. 1837.
Miriam, w. of Rev. Willard Jones. Deborah A Pratt.
Wd. Mary Wildes. 1838.
Rev. Joshua Emery, Jun. Harriet, w. of Rev. J. Emery, Jun. Mary, w. of Enoch Lovell. Selima Wildes.
1839. Rev. Willard Jones.
Mary, w. of John White. Rebecca, w. of Stephen Bicknell, Jun. Jane L., w. of Harrison Bicknell. Mary Pratt. 1841.
Samuel French. Ruth, w. of S. French.
Rebecca, wd. of Asa Pratt.
Elizabeth, w. of Albert Hum- phrey. Wd. Sarah Shaw.
Isaac Reed. Cynthia, w. of I. Recd. Cynthia Reed.
Eliza, w. of Benjamin Pratt.
Mary Ann, w. of Thos. Holbrook.
Lucy Ann, w. of Edwin Pratt. 1842.
James Bates, 3d. Rebecca, w. of J. Bates, 3d.
Lot W. Bicknell.
Adeline, w. of L. W. Bicknell. John Binney. Anna B , w. of J. Binney. Thomas Cleverly.
Elizabeth, w. of Thomas Cleverly. John Cushing. Elizabeth W , w. of J. Cushing. John Cushing, 2d. Mary E., w. of J. Cushing, 2d. William French. Hannah, w. of William French. Lemuel French. Mary L., w. of L. French.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
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Thomas Humphrey. Marina, w. of Thomas Humphrey. Jairus B. Lincoln. Priscilla S., w. of J. B. Lincoln. Henry Newton.
Jane L., w. of H. Newton.
Abigail, wd. of Abner Pratt. Mary, w. of Elisha Pratt. Lemuel Torrey.
Nancy S., w. of L. Torrey. James Torrey.
Catharine, w. of J. Torrey.
Harrison Bicknell.
Martha, w. of C. S. Cleverly.
Francis E Loud.
George H. Pratt.
Eliza Loud.
Joseph H. French.
Bethia B. Loud.
Zechariah Hunt.
Harriet T. Loud.
David Pierce.
Mary N. Pratt.
1843.
Wife of Robert Lougee.
Susan, wd. of Thomas Bicknell. Loisa, w. of A. P. Ladd, M. D. Sarah, w. of Asa Dyer.
|Ann, w. of Nathan Holbrook. Hannah Humphrey. Susan Loud.
Hannah W., w. of William Oti Nash.
Nancy, w. of Peter Lincoln. Susan Tirrell.
Sarah A., w. of N. Pratt.
Charlotte, w. of Josiah White. Jacob Shaw.
Mary P., w. of J. Shaw.
Caleb S. Cleverly.
James Blanchard. Otis S. Blanchard.
Laban Dunbar.
Edwin Pratt. Benjamin Franklin Pratt. John D. Salisbury. 1844.
William Wildes. Judith, w. of William Wildes. 1846.
Emeline F., wd. of Warren Dun- Nahum Brown. bar.
CHICAGO
MEMORIAL
OF THE
TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE SETTLEMENT OF
REV. JOSHUA EMERY,
PASTOR OF TITE
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,
WEYMOUTH, MASS.
SERMON
PROCEEDINGS AND ADDRESSES
ON THE OCCASION OF THE
TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INSTALLATION
OF THE
REV. JOSHUA EMERY,
-
AS PASTOR OF THE
OLD NORTH CHURCH, WEYMOUTH, MASS.
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Printed by request of his People, and of the two Churches uniting with them on the occasion of the Public Services.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
Boston: ALFRED MUDGE & SON, PRINTERS, 34 SCHOOL STREET. 1863.
COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
FRANCIS E. LOUD,
EDWIN PRATT,
WILLIAM WHITE,
JAIRUS B. LINCOLN
ELNATHAN BATES, JUN.
4098
ANNIVERSARY SERMON.
-
ANNIVERSARY DISCOURSE
DELIVERED BY
REV. JOSHUA EMERY,
JANUARY 25, 1863.
B RETHREN AND FRIENDS: The lapse of time has brought us to the last hour in the twenty-fifth year of your pastor's settlement. It is well that we notice an event which is not of frequent occurrence in these times. When your pastor, at his in- stallation, was charged by an elder brother " to live and die with this people," he had more reason to anticipate being called to give account of his ministry, than being continued to rejoice with you in this anniversary. But the years have fled, and the Lord of the vineyard has been pleased to retain his servant in the service of this heritage. While now the last moments are flying, it may be for our mutual benefit to pass over again, as it were, hand in hand, heart with heart, the familiar paths which we have walked together in the years of our union as pastor and people.
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QUARTER-CENTURY CELEBRATION,
There are many texts suited to direct our medita- tions in the circuit of this hour. The one that will be developed and applied, as we proceed, is in these words : " The God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people." Psalm LXVIII: 35.
Following the spirit of this statement may be suited to revive the memory of strength received from God, by which we have been enabled to do whatever has been rightly done, and to bear whatever has been patiently borne, and to rejoice in whatever good we have enjoyed.
I. As to the duties connected with our mutual rela- tions.
The pastor's duties are described by Paul in his charge to Timothy and Titus; all which, in one of the Epistles to the Corinthians, are expressed or implied in the few words: " It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful;" faithful to God, to himself and his people. From God, in the careful and earnest study of his word, he must receive the message suited to the condition and wants of his people. It may be a doctrine which the wise of this world call foolishness, or some harder name. It may be a truth that stirs up the fountains of the natural heart, much to the discom- fort of any who love the pleasures of sin, and prefer being left to the quiet of carnal security. It may be a word of needed reproof, that cuts like a two edged
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OLD NORTH CHURCH, WEYMOUTH, MASS.
sword, or pierces like an arrow from the bow drawn at a venture. It may be an overture of peace, with con- ditions and motives to its acceptance; or a declaration that seals the doom of those who continue to reject it. Whatsoever the message, whether it come by way of Sinai or Calvary, if it come from God it must be deliv- ered as written. The bearer of dispatches among men may exercise discretionary power by virtue of special instructions. But, however it may be with servants of human governments, the bearer of dispatches from the court of heaven has given him no discretional power in this service, as to modifying the message or its terms. He may not add to or take from what he is commanded to speak, without incurring peril to many souls beside his own.
It is well that we have one book on which no van- . dalism may be committed, by the learned or the unlearned, with impunity. In it are the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Its light reveals to man the true God in his glorious perfections, and reveals man to himself in his imperfections. It brings to our view what the sin of one man has done, and what the grace of God is sufficient to do; how this grace may be of personal and eternal benefit to the soul, or, failing in this, what to man must be the future consequences of its not being appreciated and accepted. We discover by the same light, that in the Son of God, the Christ of promise, the propitiation for the sins of the whole
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QUARTER-CENTURY CELEBRATION,
world, through faith in his name and by repentance towards God, and by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, according to God's eternal purposes of mercy with reference to his people, is our only hope of a glorious and blissful immortality.
It has been the duty of your pastor to discourse on these and kindred themes in his weekly ministrations, " not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God." How far he has succeeded or failed in this part of his duties, they are the best prepared to judge, whose attendance in the house of God has been the most constant, and with the honest desire to receive spiritual instruction. "I judge not mine own self." "He that judgeth me is the Lord; " and compared with his judgment, "it is a very small thing that I should be judged of man's judgment."
And yet the manner, though not the matter when the exact message from God is open to criticism and man's judgment. Whether or not the message has been delivered in plain and simple language, without equivocation, illustrated and enforced in a way to con- vince, urged by affectionate and earnest persuasions to its acceptance, I am quite willing should be decided by those who have received it into good and honest hearts. I have no doubt that my own judgment in this matter would be far less favorable than yours has
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OLD NORTH CHURCH, WEYMOUTH, MASS.
been, through years of apparent interest in my minis- trations. In this we shall agree, that one whose mission it is to " beseech men to be reconciled to God," should use words the best fitted to enlighten the mind, and produce conviction of its alienation and peril, its necessities and opportunities.
There are other and minor duties, though not unim- portant, which a pastor owes his people. Parochial visits, except in cases of unknown omission, have not been less frequent than once a year to each family. Visiting the sick and the afflicted has taken me to many of your homes more times than I can state with exact- ness. There are very few of your dwellings which I have not entered to perform funeral rites over the remains of loved ones gone down the valley. We have mingled our tears and sympathies in days of bercave- ment and sorrow, and together cast our burden upon the Lord. Many have been the social meetings for prayer and religious conference; many the interviews for per- sonal conversation with those seeking the way of life. These, and other like services, are rightly classed with duties which a pastor owes his people, and in which, as in all other duties, your pastor feels that the God of Israel has been his strength, so far as they have been performed to his acceptance and your profit.
But there is another aspect of our mutual relations to which I turn with the more satisfaction, because of being able to speak with more confidence. This is said
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QUARTER-CENTURY CELEBRATION,
with reference to duties which a people owe their pastor. The pleasure of reviewing this part of our connection will be increased by allowing individual exceptions to be passed over unnoticed.
If it has been my duty to come into the sanctuary, from Sabbath to Sabbath, it has been your duty to provide for its being opened, and for the comfort of those who assembled within its gates. This you have not failed to do, continuing in office our worthy friend, who has had the care of this house from the third year after. it was built to the present time. It may be added, that we have usually found here a cool and well aired refuge from the heat of a summer day, and gener- ally from the cold of a winter's day has awaited us here a warm reception. Then, too, you have believed, and acted on the belief, that a becoming respect for the house of God requires that it should not be less attrac- tive than your private homes, which are fitted up for the reception of social guests. The quiet of ingress and egress, compared with former years, is also worthy of a passing notice.
If it has been my duty to take the lead in offering the prayers of the people on the Sabbath, it has been your duty to see that the praises of the sanctuary are conducted in a manner and spirit suited to the place, and the occasion of our religious service. This has been done, as well to our united satisfaction and enjoy- ment, as to the credit of those who have occupied the
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OLD NORTH CHURCH, WEYMOUTH, MASS.
seats of singers. While we are grateful for the enjoy- ment which this important part of our worship has contributed in past years, we may be hopeful of the future, especially that our prayers and praises, ascend- ing with our voices, may ever be such offerings as will elevate our affections and be acceptable to God in .. sacred worship.
If it has been my duty to come before you with God's message, it has been your duty to hear it with respectful attention. From respect to the sacred office and the thrice sacred message, such has been your duty. . In this I have had no cause to complain, but much reason to be thankful, that the Lord has inclined you to reverence his sanctuary, in giving respectful attention to its services. I am happy to say, and with the utmost sincerity, that I have seldom noticed a breach of propriety in this house of God. This is no small commendation, which, while honorable to God, has been an encouraging testimony of respect for the pastor.
If it has been my duty to serve you in spiritual things, it has been your duty to provide for my com- fortable support. This you have not failed to do, having received of God the ability, and what is most frequently wanting, the willing mind, to provide for your minister's comfort; even to his being pleasantly settled in the parsonage which was built for him by the parish at his coming among you; and to which may be
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QUARTER-CENTURY CELEBRATION,
added, as being intimately connected with a minister's comfort and usefulness, as well as with a people's reputation and prosperity, promptly meeting other expenses attendant on maintaining public worship, according to the rule, " Owe no man anything, but to love one another." I know not how much of the praise is especially due to " the parish committee," or to your several committees, including assessors, collect- ors and treasurers, but it is worthy of being noticed here, and to the credit of all concerned, that the one hundred quarterly payments of my salary, so nearly as memory serves me, with one exception, and that by reason of a change of the quarter day not known to the collector, have been ready on the day that each was due. More than this to their commendation, with reference to the punctual payment of salary, I am con- fident no minister can say of his people for so many successive years. And to this may be added, that very few complainings have been heard in our streets, as if maintaining the institutions of the Gospel was felt an oppressive burden. Whatever has been suggested, which seemed to be for the good of the parish, has met with your ready cooperation. Without waiting to be importuned, you have anticipated what might be con- ducive to our prosperity. This is proved, as examples, by the way we came to have a valuable organ in the church, and a commodious chapel erected for our social worship.
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OLD NORTH CHURCH, WEYMOUTH, MASS.
But I forbear, lest I seem to be undoing much which I have been trying to do, through these twenty-five years in teaching lessons of humility. That no such detriment may come from any words of commendation now uttered, I pray you to join with me in a hearty application of the text, that the God of Israel is he who giveth strength and power unto his people. The praise belongs to him, who has given us the needed ability and wisdom to perform our mutual duties, so far as they have been performed to his acceptance.
II. As to our varied cares and trials, there is good reason to say that the God of Israel has been our strength.
The care of the church, with respect to the order and ordinances of the Gospel; the care of families, seeing that no detriment come to either church or people through the pulpit or any other medium of moral instruction ; encouraging the strong and fortify- ing the weak against being unwittingly drawn into sympathy with ephemeral agitations, or being led astray by those who " have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the error of Balaam;" watching at every avenue where secret foes are wont to lurk, that none fall a prey to the sceptical, the profane and the vicious; aiming to promote purity of heart and life in the community, as the only sure foundation of per- manent peace and prosperity ; zealous that the church, " not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, should 2
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QUARTER-CENTURY CELEBRATION,
be holy and without blemish, careful to maintain good works;" laboring, praying, watching for the moral and spiritual improvement of the whole people : these and like things are included in a pastor's care; and it is one part of the people's care to sympathize and coop- erate with him in every such good work. In so far as you have done this, we have had cqual reason to be thankful, especially to Him who has been our strength.
Though our trials may not have been greater in num- ber or severity than usually fall to the lot of those " who through faith and patience inherit the promises," we have felt the need of God's strength for our sup- port. It is no small trial to a preacher that he seldom or never writes a sermon, or performs any public ser- vice, which gives himself entire satisfaction. More frequently than is known, except to God and himself, and perhaps to his own family, the pastor goes home from the Sabbath services to suffer in depression of spirits, that his labors have not been more acceptable to God and more to the profit of his people. When he has done the best that he could do, he often feels that he has been an unprofitable servant. There is no visible proof, many and many a time when he is preach- ing, that his hearers are being so convinced by his instructions as to be immediately moved in the right direction by appeals to the conscience and the heart. They may listen with great respect, but are not per- suaded to cast in their lot with God's people, and begin to live for immortality. Though they mean no disre-
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OLD NORTH CHURCH, WEYMOUTH, MASS.
spect to the preacher, this frequent or continued indif- ference to his message becomes to him a sore trial. The parent may know something of this, when his pre- cept upon precept, meant for the best good of his chil- dren, is not heeded. The pastor knows and deeply feels it, when any, who profess to be the children of God, do not honor him by a godly walk and conversa- tion. When the conduct of some is so inconsistent with the vows which are upon them, as to make it necessary to the honor of Christ and the integrity of the church that they be excluded from the fellowship of believers, great is the trial which is shared with the pastor by the whole church.
There are other trials which are met outside of the church and the sanctuary, and apart from public ser- vices. If the people were already perfect, there would be less need of a minister among them. Because it is human to err, and sometimes to be selfish, there are divers opinions and lines of action with reference to matters of sufficient importance to engage public atten- tion. The community is made up of different disposi- tions and tastes ; intellectual and moral, as well as sen- sorial tastes; and distinguished by numerous shades of moral and social character. When the pastor fails to adapt himself to these differences, so far as this may be done in being "all things to all men," without the sacrifice of principle, the failure is a trial to his own mind. If by word or act he has given offence, however unintentional or whatever the provocation, he himself
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is the chief sufferer. If words or acts, meant to offend him, do not produce this effect in the worst sense, they do become to him one part of his trials. But especially do profane words and ungodly doings in the community annoy and grieve him, because of the dishonor cast on God, and of the ruin which such evil doers bring on themselves, and upon others who are unwittingly exposed to their pernicious influence.
There are also numerous trials growing out of the nature of the social relations which exist between a pastor and his people. Who is weak, and he is not weak ? Who of his people is in sickness or affliction, or in any trial, and he not suffer from the same cause ? That he is not more frequently exhausted by these repeated drafts on his sympathies is a wonder to him- self, especially in times of prevailing sickness and mul- tiplied afflictions. The disappointments and embar- rassments and fears, with all other perplexities, which do sometimes disturb his people, so far as known to the pastor, touch a sympathetic chord in his heart, causing it to vibrate with theirs, as if smitten by the same stroke. When he knows that in many or any of the homes among his people are aching hearts, whatever the cause, he feels their pain. For if one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; especially is this true of the pastor's sympathy with his people in all their known trials.
In all trials shared between us by reason of our mutual relations, it has been our blessed privilege to
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OLD NORTH CHURCH, WEYMOUTH, MASS.
receive from the God of Israel sufficient strength to bear them, until He brought deliverance. If sometimes dark and heavy clouds seemed to be gathering over us, they did not long shut out the glorious sunshine of heaven; and soon a voice was heard from the invisible presence, saying, " In a little wrath I hid my face from thec for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thec." In this, "the Lord thy Redeemer " has not failed to verify His promise. He has given us strength to endure, and courage to perse- vere, with stability of faith in His word, when visiting us with only a gracious discipline in all our mutual and personal trials. Thus " He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might He increaseth strength." For " they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as cagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
III. As to whatever good things have been made our portion, we are indebted to the Giver for any enjoyment had in the right use of them.
Much of the good which God bestows on his creatures is only possessed, never enjoyed. All the rich possess wealth, but only the few enjoy it. Health is a possession, but is not always so appreciated as to be enjoyed. The same may be true in respect to all civil and social advantages. We see and feel this in the contrast, when, instead of peace and 2.
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QUARTER-CENTURY CELEBRATION,
prosperity, demons of war, the miserable creatures of ambition and rebellion, are let loose upon the land. It is equally true with reference to religious privileges. The Bible is a rich possession in the family; the insti- tutions of the Gospel are a valuable possession in the community. But in either case, the greatest good is in the enjoyment which comes from the right use of any such possession. For if the word of God and its appointments are enjoyed, then we delight to honor Him in our hearts and by our service.
This enjoyment includes the soul's being renewed, which is the work of God by his Spirit. There is no true spiritual enjoyment, until this work has been accomplished. This proves that we are indebted to God for whatever enjoyment of good comes to us from religious sources. We have had religious enjoyment on the Sabbath in the house of God; and on week days in social worship or private meditations; in times of spiritual refreshing, when christians have been revived and quickened, when few or many souls have been con- verted. The Bible, the Sabbath, the sanctuary; all means of religious culture, are among the good things which God bestows on a people with the gift of a pastor. It is through and of Him, that we have had any real enjoyment of these benefits.
The continuance of the church and the parish, con- tinued peace among the people as a whole, continued harmony between pastor and people, continued ability . with a willing mind to maintain the institutions of
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OLD NORTH CHURCH, WEYMOUTH, MASS.
religion, and continued appreciation of these benefits, are to be numbered with the good things in which pastor and people are mutually concerned. And to these may be added the many social enjoyments, multi- plied and refined through the general influence of the Gospel in giving character to society.
It would not be casy to form an estimate of the influence which the institutions of religion exert on society through a period of twenty-five years. This influence begins with the family at the altar of mar- riage vows. It is felt in the nursery and primary school, and through all the ascending grades into the university. It is felt by scholars and teacher. appren- tice and master, quickening and directing the aspira- tions of each in his particular sphere. It is felt in every department of enterprise, and industry, and professional life. For it is through the silent and diffusive influence of Gospel institutions, that the com- munity in which they are maintained is lifted and held above the ignorance and vices of a people who have no knowledge of the true God, - wherein the children · born and educated in this community during the last quarter-century are more enlightened and virtuous than those born and living within the same period in Cen- tral Africa; for this distinction they are indebted chiefly to the influence of the Gospel and its institu- tions. The advantages of education, the rewards of enterprise and industry, the free and equal access of all to the honors and emoluments of merit; the inalien-
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