USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Chelsea > Documentary history of Chelsea : including the Boston precincts of Winnisimmet, Rumney Marsh, and Pullen Point, 1624-1824, vol 2 > Part 25
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" [Supra, vol. i. pp. 233-241.]
247
FORMATION OF A CHURCHI
CHAP. XXVII]
kinton upon the account of the Congregational Principles: after the letter was read, the Church referred the matter to farther con- sideration till next Lords day. then I acquainted the Church, that had been with me to desire to make her peace with the Church, on account of her sin of Fornication &c, and that I had appointed her to attend the Church on the sixth of July next, Our Sacrament day, in order thereunto, the Church approved of my doings herein without any opposition. Then the Church proceeded to the consideration of their choice of Mr Jacob Hassey to the Office of a Deacon their last Meeting, because some mani- fested great uneasiness about that Vote, desiring the Church to reconsider it; after considerable arguings pro and con; When it was put to the Vote, Whither the Church did abide by their former Vote, it passed in the Affirmative by a great Majority of at least two to One: Then the Church proceeded to make Choice of Deacon Chamberlane, Mr Samuel Tuttle, & Mr Nathanael Oliver to treat with Capt. Samuel Watts, & Deacon William Hassey about their accepting the Office of Ruling Elders to which they had been Chosen, and report their answer to the Church as soon as con- veniently might be. After Mr Jacob Hassey declared his unwill- ingness to serve in the Office of Deacon, but he was desired to take the matter into farther consideration, and so the Meeting was concluded. Attest Th: Cheever.
[42] The Church was stayed, & concluded not to comply with the desire of Hopkinton Church.
[July] : 6: - who had fallen into the sin of Forni- cation, having been with me in Order to giving satisfaction to the Church attended at this time according to my Direction. After her Confession was read to the Church; when the Question was put, Whither they were satisfied with what she Offered, so as to · restore her to their Charity & Communion, the Church Unani- monsly declared their acceptance. Attest. Thomas Cheever.
[Angnst] 31 : I stayed the Church, & read the 2ª letter from the Church of Christ in Hopkington desiring this Church to send their Elders & other Messengers to meet with the Elders & Mes- sengers of several other Churches in an Ecclesiastical Council. on the 3ª Wednesday in September next, to Consider & advise them in the case of five Members of Framingham Church who desired to be received into the Church of Hopkington; the Church con- sented to Comply with the desire of Hopkington Church: but it was desired that Our Ruling Elders might be Ordained before that time; accordingly it was Voted that Our Ruling Elders should be
42 [The date has been worn away.]
248
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XXVII
Ordained the fourteenth day of Septemb; & then they Nominated Mr Nathanael Oliver & Mr Benjamin Floyd to attend that Service with my self & Elder Watts.
Sept. 14: This day, according to the former agreement of the Church, Capt. Samuel Watts, & Deacon William Hassey were Sol- emnly Ordained to the Office of Ruling Elders in this Church of Christ.
17 My self with Elder Samuel Watts, Mr Nathanael Oliver, & Mr Benjamin Floyd according to former appointment, went to Hopkington, where we Mett with ye Elders & Messingers of the Church of Berwick, of Boston Old South, & of the Old & New- North Churches, & of Mr Loring at Sudbery; After a full hearing of all that was offered on both sides, the Council after serious & deliberate consideration of the whole case, Unanimously advised the Church of Hopkington to receive those Members.
21 I acquainted the Church with the issue of the Council at Hopkington. Then I read a letter from the 2ª Church of Christ in Maldon to this Church to entreat such an act of Communion that they would send Delegates with their Rev! Pastour & Elders, in conjunction with the Churches of the Old & New-North in Boston, of Charlstown, the first Church in Maldon, the 2ª Church in Brantry, the Churches of Scituate, Pembrook, & Hannover, to Assist in the Ordination of the Revd Mr Joseph Stimpson to the Pastoral Office over them, the 24th day of Septemb. The Church complied with their request, & chose M' Jacob Hassey, Mr Samuel Tuttle, Mr Samuel Floyd, & Mr Thomas Pratt to attend that Service.
24: This day the Elders & Messengers of the Churches mett in Council at Maldon, and after their Covenant was read; and the Result of the Council of three Churches by whom they were imbodied into a distinet Church state was read, and after the Consideration & debate upon what was Offered by the Revd Mr Emerson & a Committee of his Church in Objection to the Pro- ceeding to Ordination. The Council Voted that they were a Church of Christ & to be acknowledged as such, and that what had been Objected was not Sufficient to hinder the Proceeding to Ordination, - Accordingly they immediatly Went to ye Meeting house. Where ye Revª Mr Stimpson was Ordained after ye usual manner.43
Oct: 27. At a Church Meeting according to appointment for choosing a Deacon. Mr Jacob Hassey was chosen to ye Office of a Deacon by a great Majority of Voters. At the same time by a
43 [Corey, Malden, chap. xvi.]
-
219
CHAP. XXVII] FORMATION OF A CHURCH
Vote of the Church the Ruling Elders were desired to sit in the Pulpit. Also it was Voted Unanimously that Mr John Brintnall be desired to sett the psahn, & to sit in the foreseat.
1738; Septemb: 24. I acquainted the Church with a letter from Mr Welsteed's Church, desiring of their Revd Pastor and Elders with other Delegates, to joyn in Counsel with the Elders & Messengers of Severall other Churches, upon Wednesday 27th of this instant Septemb, ye day appointed for the Ordination of Mr Ellis Gray: ye Church consented, and voted to send the two Deacons, viz. Deacon Chamberlane & Deacon Hassey, Mr Nathanael Oliver, Mr Jolm Floyd, & L; Nathan Cheever to attend that Service.
Septemb : 27: This day the Rd. Elders & Messengers of Eleven Churches, viz: all in Boston with Roxbury and Charlstown, mett in Council ; & ye Revd : M' Ellis Gray was Ordained to ye Pastoral Office.
1741/2 : March : 15. A Church-Meeting appointed to deal with M' Elisha Tuttle for his Withdrawing from the Communion of the Church, which he had done a considerable time, : he declared the reason was, he apprehended that he was Slighted by the Church and they did not show that Regard to him which they did to Other Brethren, and he thought severall of them were prejudiced against him &c: and mentioned some words and actions of some of the Brethren which he took as evidence thereof; these things made him so uneasy in his Mind that he thought it not fitting to Come and sitt down at the Lords table with them &c. After considerable debate, and the answers given by those Brethren to what Mr Tuttle Objected and declaring they had uo personal Prejudice against him, and should be glad if he would return to his Duty: Mr Tuttle Owned that he had done wrong in his Absenting himself so long. without endeavouring to remove those Prejudices : and promised that for the future he would attend his Duty in Communion with the Church as long as should be for his edification : hereupon the Brethren declared themselves satisfied therewith, and Mr Tuttle said, he did thankfully accept it. Attest Thomas Cheever Pastor.
To the Revd Mr Thomas Cheever Pastour of the Church of Christ in Chelsea to be Communicated : Rovd Honoured & Beloved.
Taking into Consideration the various Rebukes of Divine Prov- idence upon us of late with respect to M' Fisk &c. and being will- ing to exercise a Godly [ ] over our Selves, & to confess our faults to our fellow Professours, as it may appear to us to be our Duty. We would now in this explicit manner freely acknowledge, that We were greatly Wanting in love to and Concern for those
250
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XXVII
Once called the Aggrieved Brethren of Our Church, in the time of our Controversy with them, and did not use the Means proper to Quiet and satisfy them : viz : by Consenting to Meet as a Church. And were | far] from paying due Regard to the Venerable Coun- cils that came to Salem in that time, We now believe came out of love, and with a Sincere Aime to do the best service they could : We also Acknowledge Our fault in speaking Slightly of Councils, and the Constitution that we now profess to hold, viz: that ealled Congregational. We entreat, that all our Sister Churches & Chris- tian Brethren would forgive Overlook & Pray for us their Brethren in the faith of the gospel: Tim Pickering & Abijah Estis: in the name and at the Desire of the first Church in Salem. particu- larly those that [were] in Communion in the time of the late Controversy.
I read this letter to the Church before the Congregation, Octob : 20: 1745: and propounded to the Church, that if they did accept the acknowledgement therein made by the sd first Church in Salem, so as to' restore them to their Comunion and all the privi- ledges and acts of Communion which the Communion of Churches do allow and require they should Manifest it by the Usual Sign of uplifted hand which they did :
Attest Thomas Cheever Pastour.
251
CHAP. XXVIIIJ W. MCCLENACHAN'S PASTORATE
CHAPTER XXVIII
REV. WILLIAM MCCLENACHAN'S PASTORATE
T THE records of the Rinney Marsh Church by Thomas Cheever cover the thirty-two years between October 19, 1715, when he was ordained, and September 24, 1747, when, by reason of age, and at his request, he was relieved, and Nathaniel Oliver, Jr., appointed church seribe.
The ministers of the Boston churches, of which before 1739 that of Rumey Marsh was one, were supported by free weekly contributions; but in the country, compulsory laws were necessary,1 and thereafter the town stood to the church as the modern religions society now does.2
As the town and church were coordinate bodies for the maintenance of religious worship, their separate action as leading to the purpose of each, is best shown by interlacing their records chronologically: and thus I shall present them. But first I gather from the town records a few items abont religious affairs between 1739 and 1747 before continuing those of the church.
In the warrant, May 20, 1742, was this article: " Will the town hear a petition of the proprietors of the new meeting house, and accept the same as the town's house." 3 I find no action then or afterwards.
March 7, 1743. Would the Town purchase a Bell? Passed in the negative: reconsidered and left to Thomas Pratt. Nathan'l Oliver, Jun., Deacon Jacob Hassey, to consider.
Voted to accept of Joshna Cheever a convenient spot of land
1 Hutchinson, Hist., i. 427.
" Dr. Tuckerman, twenty-fifth anniversary sermon, says, that Cheever received his support from the voluntary contributions of those who heard him. But, in March, 1748. the town voted him. "£12. 10 shillings, old tenor, quarterly, during his life. as a consideration of his quitting any claim he may have to the contributions, hereafter to be made on the Sab- bath," Page 6, note.
3 Town Rec., i. 9.
252
HISTORY OF CHELSEA ICHAP. XXVIII
for a town burying-place. Nath. Cheever and Samuel Pratt to inquire into an old grant (as is supposed) where the burying- place is.1
May 18. Accepted the offer of the Hon'ble Samuel Watts, Esq., of £100, old tenor, to purchase a Bell, and the report that a bell of 300 pounds weight, or thereabouts, would do. Hon. Samuel Watts, Esq., to procure it.5
March 5, 1744. A committee was appointed to endeavor to raise twenty pounds, old tenor; and if they do, to wait upon Samuel Watts, Esq., and request him to add to it his donation, and send for the Bell as soon as may be."
May 17, 1744. Voted twenty pounds more, old tenor, towards the Bell .. Nathaniel Oliver, Jun., John Brintnall, Stephen Kent, with the advice and assistance of Samuel Watts, Esq., to send for it as soon as may be.7
March 4, 1745, the town, getting ready for the bell, Voted that the Selectmen take care of the Meeting House in repairing the platform on the steeple.
" Ye affair about ye Bell referred till next May meeting." 8 No action is mentioned until three years later, March 18, 1748, when it was " Voted that Hon'ble Samuel Watts, Esq., send to England for the Bell that he offered to give to the town." ? That was the last of it.
Jany. 12, 1746-7. Voted to comply with the desire of rev- erend Mr. Cheever to supply the Pulpit this eold season, and fifty pounds, old tenor, for the charges; leaving the number of days of such supply to the discretion of Samuel Watts, Thomas Pratt, and Samuel Pratt.1º
July 16, 1747. - A meeting of the freeholders and other inhabi- tants, to see if the Town will raise money to support the preaching of the Gospel, and choose a committee to provide a minister and lay out the money (if raised for that purpose) and take proper measures to provide a parsonage, in order to settle a minister. Voted to raise eighty pounds old tenor to support the preaching of the gospel, Hon. Samuel Watts, Esq., Elder Hassey, and Mr. Thomas Pratt a committee to provide a minister and lay out said money. Then proposed to choose a committee to provide a par-
4 Town Rec., i. 11. Vide Suff. Deeds, L. 94, f. 275.
Town Rec., i. 12.
Ibid., 13, 14.
7 Ibid., 14.
8 Ibid., 15.
Ibid., 26.
10 Ibid., 19.
253
CHAP. XXVIIII W. MCCLENACHAN'S PASTORATE
sonage in order to settle a minister: and after considerable debate passed in the affirmative. Honorable Samuel Watts, Mr. Samuel Tuttle, and Hugh Floyd were chosen, 11
As arrearages have been brought up, entries from the town and church records will now appear in chronological order.
Chelsea, Sept. 24, 1747. At a Clmreh meeting at the house of the Pastor and moderator of said meeting: He proposed to the Church his desire that Nath'l Oliver, Junr., might be appointed scribe to make and keep a record of the Church's proceedings, which was voted, Nem'e Contrad'e.
Voted, that Wednesday, the 7th of October, next, be a day of fasting and prayer, to implore the direction of Almighty God in the choice of a minister, as colleague with the Rev'd Mr. Cheever. Messrs. Samuel Floyd and Nathan'l Oliver, Junr., in the name of the Church, to invite the Rev. Messrs. Appleton, Emerson, Abbott, Hobby, Prentice, and Cleaveland, to assist in said Solemnity. Elder Hasey to make provisions at his house for the entertainment of said gentlemen, at the church's charge.
Elder Watts, Elder Hascy, and Nathan'l Oliver, Junr., to settle the Church's account with Deacon Hasey, and report there- upon at their next meeting; the same committee to request the donation of Mr. Hugh Floyd, deceased, of his Executor; and if they receive the same in cash or plate, give a discharge therefor, and the Rev'd Messrs. Appleton and Abbott be desired to preach the sermons on the intended fast.
Adjourned to the first Monday after the fast, at Elder Hasey's house, at 3 o'clock, to receive the above reports, and transact any other business.
Die Sabali, Sept. 27, 1747. After divine service the Rev. Mr. Cheever informed the Church that the Rev'd gentlemen appointed to attend the Fast proposed, could not officiate on said day, but would endeavor it on Wednesday, the 14th Octob. Voted to post- pone said Solemnity till Wednesday, and adjourned to the Monday following.
Oet. 1, 1747. To see if the town will empower the former committee; or choose a new one, to supply the pulpit three months, on such terms as the town shall agree on. To see what sum of money the town will raise to defray the charge thereof. Voted to empower, the former committee. Then asked how long said Committee shall supply the pulpit and after long debate,
" Town Ree., i. 22.
254
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XXVIII
Voted they shall provide for six months, and to raise £120, old tenor, to defray the charge thereof.12
Die Lunae, Oct. 19. The Church met at the house of Mr. Nathan Cheever, inasmuch as the Rev'd Pastor could not travel so far as Elder Hasey's, to which the Church was adjourned.
The Committee reported that the Church was indebted for elements two pounds, thirteen shillings and five pence, old tenor, and the account for the poor stood Cr. in favor of the Church eight pounds, ten shillings and four pence - that there was also in the Deaeon's hands an English shilling and a new England sixpence.
Also reported that they thought proper that the heirs of Mr. Hugh Floyd, deceased, should themselves purchase a piece of Plate with their father's Donation, and present the same to the Church; which Reports were severally aceepted.
Elder Hasey then presented his aecount of Charges at the last fast, which was £9-0-2, old tenor. Allowed. Proposed to dis- charge the same by subscription. Subscribed, £9, old tenor; more than discharged Elder Hasey's account. Delivered to Dcacon Hasey, and he desired to Credit the Church therefor.
Moved and seconded that the Church proceed to the Choice of a Colleague with the Rev'd Mr. Cheever. Passed in the negative. Voted the town's committee be desired to request and agree with the Rev'd Mr. Wm. McClenachan to preach for the term of two months, on further probation. Then the moderator after prayer adjourned Sine Die.13
12 Town Ree., i. 22, 23.
13 Rev. William MeClenaehan, probably one of those Seotchmen whose aneestors settled in the north of Ireland, was invited in 1734 to preach at Georgetown, Maine, by thirty-nine male Presbyterian chureh members, being a majority of that church, and he officiated there for several years, though not without mueh opposition. He was a man of great ardor of temperament, which oeeasionally involved him in trouble. He seems to have been unstable and unreliable. Rev. Mr. Smith's Journal, May 29, 1736, says: "I went over to Mr. Allen's: met the ministers on the affairs of the Irish," and again, November 15, 1736, " Mr. Maeelanathan installed. I had a elash with him." (Willis's Hist. Portland, 384, 385.) Who Mr. Allen was, and what the affairs of the Irish were, are best told by MeClenaehan himself, in a petition to the General Court, May 25, 1740, in which he says that " being regularly initiated into the ministry of the Gospel aeeording to the Kirk of Scotland and having been installed to preach to a number of people of the denomn. of Presbyterians in sd. Town of Falmouth, who have hitherto Endeavored to Support your Petr. in his said Ministry and who notwithstanding are obliged to pay Taxes towards the Support & Main- tenanee of the Congregational Ministers of sd. Town," and therefore asks for a hearing by the Court. August 20th, 1740, in another petition he repeats the grievanees of the second parisli, and sets forth the short com-
1
255
CHAP. XXVIII] W. MCCLENACHAN'S PASTORATE
Nov. 3, 1747. Voted to accept Mr. John Hessey's estate, as purchased by the selectmen, and raise money to pay for the same - ings of the Rev. Benjamin Allen, in respect to Congregational order, discipline, and doctrine; and his refusal " to have any application to an ecclesiastical judicature, Saying the law was his Support, thereby he wonld oblidge them to maintain him, and he cared uot if ever he saw any of them in his meeting honse." He concludes by asking a hearing, civil or cecle- siastical, in any way the General Conrt might appoint. That body dis- missed the petition as irregular, it not having proceeded against the Rev. Mr. Allen in an ecclesiastical way. ( Mass. Archives, xii. 162, 166.) But this was mere subterfuge.
Mr. MeClenachan's first ministry at Georgetown was short, and that at Cape Elizabeth still shorter. In 1742 he was again at Georgetown, and in 1746, Chaplain to Brigadier Waldo's regiment in the expedition to the Bay of Fundy, from which he returned to Boston in February, 1747. The next year he was preaching in Chelsea, and was invited to settle, though with considerable opposition. One of the dissentients wrote to Mr. Smith in August, 1748, for some account of him, saying, " that after all my in- quiries into his character, to ire it still appears bad." Abont 1754 he became a convert to the Church of England, and was sent by the society for propagating the gospel as a missionary to Georgetown, Dresden, and ucigh- boring places on the eastern frontier. He arrived in Kennebec in May, 1756, and established himself at Richmond. In 1758 he moved to Pennsyl- vania, and was settled over a society in Philadelphia. (Willis, supra. 1 find a reference to R. P. Robbins, Philadelphia Hospital of the P. E. Clurch, but have not been able to verify it.)
The following notice of Rev. William McClenachan is from a sermon by Rev. Joseph Thekerman, D.D., preached on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his settlement at Chelsea, pp. 6-9.
" Mr. MeClenachan came into the town a stranger; and after preaching by successive invitations for ten months, and exciting great interest in the pulpit, and as great doubts and fears concerning himself ont of it, it was at length 'agreed, that three of the neighbouring ministers should be ro- quested to examine him, with regard to his principles, and other abilities for the work of a gospel minister.' The three gentlemen appointed to this service declined it, and advised the church to apply to the association of ministers in Boston. Application was accordingly made to, the Boston Association, who also refused to examine him, on the ground that they were unacquainted with him, and that it would be a deviation from their practice. But on the 13th of April, 1748, the church voted. ' by a great majority, to invite Mr. MeClenachan to be their pastor; and to request the town, as soon as may be, to join with them in giving this invitation.' Accordingly, on the 3d of May, following, the church having received a vote of the town to coneur with them, the 2d [28th ] of September was appointed for his inauguration. In this interval, however, new doubts arose respect- ing the character of the pastor eleet; a church meeting was called to obtain, if possible, a solution of them; and this satisfaction not having been obtained, the time of ordination was postponed. But on the 12th of October, a council assembled for the purpose of indneting him into his office. A memorial was presented to them by five members of the church. stating their objections to the ordination of Mr. MeClenachan. And though he acquitted himself to the satisfaction of the council from mnost
256
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XXVIII
£1160. Voted to choose a committee to take a deed of said estate in behalf of the town, and improve the same to the best advantage
of the charges made against him, it was determined that the day of ordina- tion should be deferred to the third Tuesday of December. The council met again, according to adjournment; adjourned again to the twentieth; and, after a long debate, voted to install Mr. McClenachau on the succeeding day. Ilis ministry here was short; and I think that it eould neither have been profitable to others, nor happy to himself. He never acquired the eon- fidence of those who were at first dissatisfied with him. But as a preacher, I am told, that he was quite as eloquent as Whitefield. Many of the parish, however, would not hear him, and united themselves, during his ministry, with the religious society in Malden. But many also, from the towus about us, as regularly travelled far to worship here. In December, 1754, he desired a dissolution of his pastoral relation to this church; but it was unanimously voted by the church not to dismiss him. Without regarding this vote, Mr. MeCleuachan soon dissolved the relation by leaving the town, after having officiated as its pastor for six years. He immediately united himself with the Episcopal church, soon went to England, and there, or in Ireland, became a minister under the establishment. 1 know but little more of him. But it is worthy of notice, that, during his ministry, it was voted by the church, 'that it shall not be a term of communion, that per- sons to be admitted into the ehureh shall exhibit a written relation, so termed, as has heretofore been the practice in this church '; - ' that divine service, for the future, upon all fast days, be performed with singing psalms as upon the Lord's day'; ' and, after considerable difficulties and objections, that Watts' Psalms and Hymns should be adopted, instead of the version that had hitherto been used in publick worship.'"
Cf. Foote's Annals of King's Chapel, ii. 178-180.
Mass. Archives, xii. 162. "To his Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esqr : Capt Generall and Governr in Chiefe in and over his Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England. The Honble his Majesties Coun- cill and house of Representatives for said Province in General Court assembled the 25th day of May Anno Domini 1740 . . .
" The humble Petition of William McLenechan elark in behalfe of him- selfe & his hearers of the Denomn of Presbyterians in the Town of Fal- mouth in the County of York .
" Sheweth That your Petr being regularly initiated into the ministry of the Gospel according to the Kirk of Scotland and haveing been Installed to preach to a number of People of the denomn of Presbyterians in sd Town of Falmouth, Who have hitherto Endeavd to Support your Petr in his said Ministry And who notwithstanding are obliged to pay Taxes towards the Support & Maintenance of the Congregational Ministers of sd Town - Which your Petr & his hearers of the denomn of Presbyterians apprehend to be a great hardship in their present infant Setlements - Your Petr further shews that by the Royall Charter granted to this Province Toleration is granted to all denomns of Christians Except Papists. And this Honble Court pursuant thereto has made Sevll Acts for the reliefe of Sevll denoms of Christians - to Ease them from pay- ing towards the Support of any other clergy but their own to which your petr humbly apprehends his hearers of the Denomn of Presbyterians are Equally Intitled.
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