USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Danvers > Exercises in celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the First Church, Congregational, Danvers, Massachusetts: October 8th to 15th, 1922; with an address at the centennial of the Sunday School, November 17th, 1918 > Part 7
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REV. D. EMERY BURTNER, D. D., of Lynn Moderator of Essex South Association of Congregational Churches
It gives me an unusual pleasure both personally and on behalf of the Essex South Association of Congregational Churches to extend to you greetings and felicitations on the attainment of two hundred and fifty years of associated church life. I welcome the opportunity all the more because if our Congregational system is weak anywhere it is in the direction of an adequate expression of the fellowship of the churches. My old professor, Dr. Timothy Dwight of Yale, used to liken the Congregational churches to a bag of beans, which, he said, was hard to split because only loosely held together by the denominational bag. Doubtless this loose alliance of the local churches has advantages over those tied more firmly together. But we do well to try to cement more strongly the ties which bind the churches of our order to- gether, and occasions like the present furnish a valuable opportunity to do so.
The previous addresses have covered quite completely and effectively the subject before us. Yet I venture to say that we do not and cannot estimate the worth to this community of this historic old church whose roots are in the life of the first settlers of this region and whose Sabbath bells have summoned the people from their homes to the worship of God and the service of men. No one can disentangle the strands of influence which have been woven into the life of an individual or a community, but much of that which is higher and finer in human nature in this neighborhood was contributed by this ancient church on the hill. It is safe to say that this organization ministering to the men and the women and the boys and the girls coming under the scope of
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THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
its beneficent power for two and a half centuries has done more to shape their lives in spiritual things than any other factor or factors.
You who constitute the church as it is today have entered into an invaluable heritage. May it enlarge and deepen and heighten in your care so that you may be able to hand it on to those who come after you with added strength and in- creased influence.
God speed you in your mission of service through the coming years, and gird you with might from on high for the coming tasks.
Permit me again to tender to you my heartfelt congratula- tions and the best wishes of the churches of the Essex South Association I have the honor to represent on this glad occa- sion.
HON. ARTHUR H. WELLMAN, of Topsfield Moderator of the State Conference of Congregational Churches
I am happy to bring to you the greetings and congratula- tions of the churches of the Massachusetts Congregational Conference. Doubtless all of the churches would have gladly sent delegates to honor this church on its anniversary had it been possible to do so, for men naturally reverence an old church.
For two hundred fifty (250) years people have gathered here to worship God and help their fellow men. Who can estimate the influence of such a work? Not only has it per- meated this community but it has gone wherever those touched by its power here have wandered throughout the earth. Its extent no man can know.
On an occasion like this we meet and praise the men of olden times, but most of us in the back of our minds have a feeling that, after all, we in our day are greatly superior to our fathers. We do not always say this in words, but it is a belief upon which many of us often act.
If some of these men of two centuries and more ago should come back here today we think we would like to ask them why they persecuted the Quakers, why they punished people
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FIRST CHURCH, CONGREGATIONAL, DANVERS, MASS.
for crimes they did not commit, why they were so unjust in many ways. Such questions would be natural, but could not these men of long ago, as well as we, ask questions which might prove embarrassing? Will the acts of our time cen- turies hence look any better than do those of our fathers to us ?
Recently some men on the other side of the Atlantic, de- siring a wider dominion, commenced a cruel war, the most terrible the world has ever known. We are still mourning our dead and groaning under the burdens it has imposed upon us. A comparatively few men of one country undertake to force all others to pay tribute or suffer for the necessities of life. We elect men to offices of honor and responsibility oftentimes whom we know to be wholly unfit for the places. Do you think that such things as these and many others equally bad could be explained to the satisfaction of the old Puritans ?
We boast of the progress which has been made in our time, and it is true that there has been a great material advance. We talk across continents and seas; we travel in a manner which would amaze our ancestors of a few generations ago; we have done many noble and splendid things; but, after all, in the things which really count in this world and in the world to come, are we any better than men of two and one- half centuries ago? Do we exceed them in honesty? Is our religion more to us than was theirs to them? Are we more willing than they to make sacrifice for others? Do we know more of the will of God than did they? Are we more earnest in striving to do His will?
MONDAY, OCTOBER 9 "AT HOME" OF LADIES' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY
The women's special contribution to the 250th anniversary exercises was an "at home" on the afternoon of Monday, October 9, from 2:30 until 5 o'clock.
Invitations were sent to the women of the churches in town and in the Essex South Association, and the response was generous. Many came from Salem, Marblehead, Pea- body, Lynn, Saugus, Topsfield, Beverly, Medford, Hyannis on the Cape, and Peterboro, N. H. There were 250 in all. Mrs. Anne V. B. Adams and Mrs. Henrietta S. Rice, wives of former pastors, and Mrs. Austin Rice of Wakefield were among the number.
The church hall was attractively decorated with palms, autumn leaves, and chrysanthemums, while bitter-sweet ber- ries formed the chief adornments of the little tea tables. During the afternoon delightful vocal music was furnished by Miss Mabel Benvie of Danvers and Mrs. Esther Liebsch of Salem, while Mrs. Chester Wheeler and Mrs. Lloyd Pitman rendered pleasing piano duets.
Mrs. Augusta M. Peabody and Mrs. Abbie J. Hutchinson, both long-time members of the Ladies' Benevolent Society, poured the tea, while sandwiches, home-made cakes and con- fectionery were served by Mrs. George H. Clark, Mrs. Jas- per Marsh, Mrs. Fred A. Chase, Mrs. P. N. Wettlaufer, Mrs. C. L. Stone and Mrs. Fred E. Sawyer.
The hostesses were Mrs. Alexander Gardner, president of the Ladies' Society; Mrs. Frank Prentiss, vice president ; Mrs. A. V. House, wife of the pastor; Mrs. Walter A. Tap- ley, Mrs. E. H. Gilford, Miss Sarah W. Mudge, Miss F. J Bowdoin and Miss Nettie Pratt.
The stage was furnished as an old-fashioned parlor and several rare pieces of furniture were displayed.
The parsonage, the Holten House and the Wadsworth house were also open and many guests were received at these places. All who attended will long remember the notable occasion.
Order of Exercises
AT THE CELEBRATION OF THE
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OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
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FORMERLY
SALEM VILLAGE, MASS.,
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1872
TEN O'CLOCK, A. M.
VOLUNTARY ON THE ORGAN.
ANTHEM BY THE CHOIR.
READING OF THE SCRIPTURES.
ORIGINAL HYMN
PRAYER.
HYMN.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
By the Pastor of the Church.
ANTHEM.
DINNER.
TWO O'CLOCK, P. M.
VOLUNTARY.
ANTHEM.
LETTERS AND ADDRESSES, By Invited Guests, former residents, and Gentlemen conversant with the Annals of the Village.
PRAYER.
-
ANTHEM.
SOCIAL GATHERING IN THE EVENING.
RAIL ROAD NOTICE.
Coaches will leave the Church at 3 45, and 5 30, P.M. to connect with trains on the Essex R. R. And at 3 30, 4 and 5 45, to connect with trains on the Boston & Maine Rail Road.
Isaac W. May, Printer, 29 State Street, Boston
DADER CE PERFORMANCES
AT THE*
DEDICATION OF THE Mesting House in North Danvers, NOVEMBER 91, 189
I Voluntary by the Choir.
II. Anthem.
When the Lord shall build op Zion, He shall appear in Ins glory. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prospet that love thee Peace he within the walls, and plenteousness within thy palaces. This shall be my rest krever, bere will I dwell, for I have a delight therein
III. Reading the Scriptures.
IV Original Hymn, by a member of the Society.
How pare are the joys of the bless'd! On pinions of light they arise . D'erpass'd is the Jordan of Death, They wing their bright way to the skies.
In holy. - will hotier songs, Their beans all enraptur'd with love. They suell the high praises of heaven, And shout ibe loud anthems above.
Then come to the house of the Lora'. Religion,-Oh ! make her thine owo ; Twill bt for this glunous reward, When earth and ber scenes are wubdrawa
On bim who administers bere, Unmeasured the Spirit be poured, With grace in his walk, and his word, To do the whole will of the Lord
.With or benten-well beaten oil, This lamp of the Lord e'er be fill'd Na dienness be found in its may Nu truth of God's word be wibbeld
May truth, as it breaks on the mind Chase error and sin far away , hs light bearn efulgenre divine, And darkness be changed for the day
The stranger, who enters these courts, Out brother, and fnend, may be be T' our hearts, and the source of our joys, Be welcome, to-day, and for sye.
We'll bow to our Maker in prayer ; We'll join our glad voice in the song ; Ascnpuons of praise ever bear To Gud, and the Lamb, on the Throne
V Dedicatory Prayer. VI. Anthem.
The Lord is King, nud hath put on glorious apparel, and girded himself with strength He hath mide ibe round world so sure, that it cannot be removed, Tby testimonies, O Lord, are sure, very sure Holiness becometh thine bouse forever. Area
VII. SERMON.
VIII. Original Hymn, by a member of the Society.
The Lord ascend« his barning throne,- Hark ' Gabnel sinkes his golden lyre My work is baish'd-It is done- Re-echoed ab the heavenly chou
Temples'on earth to God are raised, And praying men are galber'd ibere ; The word is preach'd, and souls are sav'd, God's bourseball be a house of prayer.
Oh ! God of awful mijesty, Send prace within these sacred wills , The Spint's power, to make us free, Auf thy nich grace to rest ou al !.
This House we consectale to Thee ; Write on its portals, "Gate of Heaven :" Oh ! Lamb of God, present our plen,. That contrite souls be here forgiven.
IX. Concluding Prayer.
X. Anthem.
With Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of Heaven, we land and magnify thy glonons name, evermore praising thee, and saying Holy Lord God of Hosts-Heaven and earth are full of thy glory Glory be, to thee, O Lord most High Amen.
XL Benediction.
[Megiever Prom-dla
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10 THE BANQUET
The high tide of sociability and reminiscence was reached at the banquet Tuesday evening. The collation was served by Schlehuber of Lynn, caterer, more than three hundred partaking. The tables were spread in the church hall and the smaller vestry, the two being thrown into one by raising the sliding partitions. The tables extended lengthwise of the commodious room thus formed, some also being placed upon the platform at the side. The head or guest table was crosswise of the hall at the end nearest the church audi- torium. Facing the guest table, and at the far end of the room, the orchestra, known as the "Curtis Trio," was located. The platform tables were reserved for the special soloists and the band of singers, who from time to time led the banquet- ers in old-time songs.
Following the repast the pastor, Rev. A. V. House, opened the awaited post-prandial part. He stated that the hand- dipped bayberry candles which adorned the tables and gave the fitting illusion of antiquity, were a gift from the Kim- ball sisters, daughters of the late William Henry Kimball, long-time member of the parish, and their own handiwork.
By vote of the company greetings were sent to Mrs. Daphne Hutchinson and Mrs. Maria Putnam Hood, who of the living members had been longest associated with the church. Mr. House failed to mention, as he had intended to, the presence of descendants of Rev. Peter Clark, pastor 1717-1768, Mr. George H. Clark, his son William Hobart Clark and sister Miss Annabel Clark, and the fact of their attendance is here appropriately recorded.
The pastor closed his brief opening by introducing Rev. Austin Rice, D. D., as toastmaster, an office the duties of which Dr. Rice discharged in a very engaging manner.
In his greetings Dr. Rice referred to the spirit of happi- ness, of harmony and of social good-will which had so long existed in the parish. He said, "Every one who has had the privilege of living in this town and worshiping in this noble church feels a debt of gratitude for the inspiration and friendships which have come to them. May the happi- ness and joy of this hour be a promise of years of growing service in the Master's name."
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Of the list of announced speakers Prof. Gilbert H. Tap- ley, of Dartmouth College, and Rev. James Richmond found it impossible to attend. Prof. Tapley sent a telegram of congratulation. Also Dea. William Siner of Marblehead was obliged to leave before being called upon. Mr. Siner was for a long period a faithful worker in the church, having been a deacon for over eleven years; superintendent of the Sunday School for ten years; and parish clerk for twenty- five years. Regret was felt that he could not be heard.
With these exceptions the program was carried out as given.
WILLIAM B. SULLIVAN, of Danvers
The Bay Colony first conceived the idea of independence.
Endicott, Winthrop, Dudley, Saltonstall, and their asso- ciates declared that the only condition on which they would remove to America was that the Charter should remove with them.
This simple declaration clearly shows the intent of estab- lishing effectual independence. By making the transfer of the Charter a condition precedent to their emigration, there- by severing themselves from all responsibility to persons in England, and by their undeviating course of policy after they landed here, they gave notice that they firmly intended from the first to set up a sovereignty of their own. They paid no attention to the question of what powers were granted in the Charter.
By this forceful conduct they transformed a private act of incorporation into a civil constitution of state, under the authority of which they made peace and declared war, created courts, coined money, raised armies, built fleets, laid taxes, and inflicted fines, penalties and death without asking or receiving any authority from the king. The Colonial Legislature prescribed the qualifications of those who should enjoy the rights of citizenship or those who should be ex- cluded from its privileges. For sixty years succeeding the settlement, the Bay Colony was to all intents and purposes a republic or a free Commonwealth.
"The whole history of the Colony under its first charter shows that the people paid very little regard to its provisions
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FIRST CHURCH, CONGREGATIONAL, DANVERS, MASS.
or limitations, so far as the general management of their government or their own internal policy was concerned, and that it was chiefly used as a shield against the complaints and encroachments of the Crown."
Judicial History of Massachusetts, page 16.
On May 18, 1631, in the General Court, it was ordered that "noe man shalbe admitted to the freedom of this body polliticke but such as are members of some of the churches within the lymitts of the same."-Mass. Bay Records, Vol. I, page 87.
Henry Lynn "for writting into England falsely and mal- litiously against the government and execution of justice here" was ordered whipped and banished on September 6, 1631, while Thomas Knower was put in the stocks for say- ing that if punished he would have the legality of his sen- tence tried in England .- The Founding of New England, Adams, page 151; Massachusetts Records, Vol. I, page 91.
The oath of an inhabitant, adopted April 1, 1634, was as follows :
"I do here swear and call God to witness that being an inhabitant within the limits of this jurisdiction of the Mas- sachusetts I do acknowledge myself lawfully subject to the authority and government there established."-Mass. Records, Vol. I, page 115.
The oath of a Freeman, adopted May 4, 1634, was as fol- lows :
"I, A. B., being by God's providence an inhabitant and freeman within the jurisdiction of this Commonwealth, do freely acknowledge myself to be subject to the government thereof and therefore do here swear by the great and dread- ful name of the everlasting God that I will be true and faithful to the same, and will accordingly yield assistance and support thereto."-Mass. Records, Vol. I, page 117.
Early in August, 1634, Jeffries, one of the old planters, received a letter from Morton of date May 1, 1634, in which he gave information that upon renewal of complaints, the Privy Council had declared the Massachusetts patent to be void; and that the king had "resumed the whole business into his own hands and given order for a general governor for the whole territory to be sent over."
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THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
Thereupon the members of the Colonial Legislature all agreed that if a general governor was sent they ought not to accept him but should defend their lawful possessions if they were able; otherwise to avoid or protract .- The Bay Colony, by Northend, pp. 104-109.
The Colonial Legislature, on December 7, 1636, voted that there was no need of such a ruler .- Mass. Records, Vol. I, page 185.
The Colonial Legislature, in its address to Parliament in 1646, in answer to the remonstrances of certain malcontents, used the following language :
"The highest authority here is the General Court, both by our Charter and by our own positive laws."-Story on the Constitution, Vol. I, page 40.
In 1664 the king sent over a commission which visited the Bay Colony to hear and determine all matters of com- plaint. The commission consisted of Col. Richard Nichols, Sir Robert Carr, George Cartwright and Samuel Maverick. They arrived in Boston in July, 1664, but their authority was resolutely resisted, and after a violent controversy the attempt to establish their jurisdiction was defeated and they were never recognized as such in Massachusetts .- Judicial History of Massachusetts, page 36.
In 1689 the Bay Colony made Andros, the Royal Gover- nor, a prisoner.
In Chalmers' Political Annals of the United Colonies, published in 1780 under the auspices of the British Govern- ment, it is said that "the early and undeviating spirit of independence which actuated the first immigrants to Massa- chusetts, is constant, unequivocal and conclusive."
A few extracts from that work cannot fail to be inter- esting.
Book I, Chap. VI, page 136:
The Charter of Charles the First obtained in March, 1628- 9, was the only one which Massachusetts possessed prior to the Revolution of 1688 and contained its most ancient privi- leges. On this was most dexterously engrafted not only the original government of that Colony but independence itself. Book I, page 158 :
The nature of their government was now (1634) changed
FIRST CHURCH, CONGREGATIONAL, DANVERS, MASS. 71
by a variety of regulations, the legality of which cannot easily be supported by any other than those principles of inde- pendence which sprang up among them, and have at all times governed their actions.
Book I, Chap. VIII, pages 177-178 :
The most inattentive must perceive the exact resemblance that the Confederation of the United Colonies of New Eng- land in 1643 bears to a similar junction of the Colonies in 1775. Both originated from Massachusetts, always fruitful in projects of independence. Wise men at the era of both remarked that those memorable associations established a complete system of absolute sovereignty.
The consent of the governing powers in England was never applied for and was never given.
Book I, Chap. VIII, page 181 :
Massachusetts, in conformity to its accustomed principles, acted during the civil wars almost altogether as an indepen- dent state. It formed leagues not only with the neighboring colonies but with foreign nations without the consent or knowledge of England. It permitted no appeals from its courts to the judicatories of the Sovereign State, without which a dependence cannot be preserved or enforced ; and it refused to exercise its jurisdiction in the name of the King of England. It assumed the government of New Hampshire and Maine. It erected a mint at Boston impressing the year 1652 on the coin as the era of independence, thus evincing to all what had been foreseen by the wise, that a people of such principles, settling at so great a distance from control, would necessarily form an independent state.
Book I, Chap. VIII, page 185 :
Massachusetts outwitted Cromwell in 1653. They de- clined his invitation to assist his fleet and army destined to attack the Dutch in Manhattan.
Book I, Chap. XVI, page 400:
Disregarding equally her Charter and the laws of England, Massachusetts established for herself an independent gov- ernment similar to those of the Grecian Republics.
The Puritans came here to establish and maintain the lib- erty of their own consciences. On the subject of religious
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THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
liberty their intolerance of other sects has been criticized as an inconsistency. It seems to me that this charge pro- ceeds on a false assumption. They had left the comforts of kindred and home and had dared the dangers of the sea and the still more appalling terrors of the wilderness-for what? To acquire liberty for all sorts of consciences ? Did they come on a crusade in behalf of the rights of all man- kind? They did not. They came in support of their own rights and liberties.
Whom should they have tolerated ? An emissary of Charles the First and Archbishop Laud? Having fled into the wil- derness to escape the persecutions of the hierarchies of the English Church, should they at once have admitted into their society the very people from whom they had fled? Those who are disposed to condemn them on this account do not realize the necessity of their condition. Had the Puritans in 1628 attempted to establish a state on the basis of perfect freedom of religious opinions, i. e., on a basis of liberty for all sorts of consciences, it would in that age have been an- archy. It cannot be questioned that all the fond hopes they had cherished from immigration would have been lost. The agents of Charles and James would have planted here the monarchy of England and the hierarchy of the English Church.
New England up to this day would have been a colony of England and America's independence would yet have to be vindicated.
The Province Charter dated October 7, 1691, arrived here on May 14, 1692. Under this Charter the Church of Eng- land established churches in the Bay Colony, and great jeal- ousy arose between the Congregational ministers and the ministers of the English Church.
The Provincial Legislature always sustained the Congre- gational ministers against the ministers of the English Church, but when appeals were taken to the English gov- ernment, orders in ouncil were passed overruling the Pro- vincial Legislature.
The Massachusetts spirit for independence was maintained all through the Provincial Government, and when the imme- diate causes of the American Revolution arose, all the Massa-
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FIRST CHURCHI, CONGREGATIONAL, DANVERS, MASS.
chusetts Congregational ministers joined hands with Sam Adams, John Adams, Samuel Holten, John Hancock, El- bridge Gerry, and the other American patriots, to forever abolish English domination in America. Most of the Revo- lutionary companies were mustered in the Congregational churches.
"In Danvers the Deacon of this parish was elected captain of the Minute Men and the minister his lieutenant. The Company after its field exercises would sometimes repair to the meeting-house to hear a patriotic sermon or partake of an entertainment where zealous Sons of Liberty would ex- hort them to fight bravely for God and their country."-The Pulpit of American Revolution, XXXVI.
Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth, the minister of this church, must have given his benediction to the Danvers companies on their march for Lexington and Concord at the outbreak of the war.
At the close of the American Revolution, the great prin- ciple of the independence of the churches was established. Now every individual can unite with whichever church he pleases. America guarantees universal religious liberty. The liberty of individual conscience is safe because this is for the common interest of all. No other security for liberty of conscience was ever devised except the independence of the churches. There can be no greater human security than common right placed under the protection of common in- terest.
Apart from the religious aspect of the work of the Puri- tans, to which I make no allusion, America owes them a debt of gratitude.
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