First Parish Church, Unitarian, Beverly, Mass. a vol. of historical interest pub. in honor of the 275th anniversary of the founding of the church on Sept. 20, 1667, Part 10

Author: First Parish Church (Beverly, Mass.)
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: [Beverly, Mass.]
Number of Pages: 264


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Beverly > First Parish Church, Unitarian, Beverly, Mass. a vol. of historical interest pub. in honor of the 275th anniversary of the founding of the church on Sept. 20, 1667 > Part 10


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 (link on the Part 1 page).


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2. One silver mug, marked, "The Legacy of Rev. and Mr. Tho. Blowers to the First Church in Beverly Dec'd. June the 17th, 1729."


3. One silver mug, marked "The Gift of Hannah Stone to the First Church of Beverly 1735."


4. One silver mug, covered marked "The Legacy of Deacon William Dodge to the First Church of Christ in Beverly who died Jan'ry 8th, 1746 -. "


5. One silver mug, covered, marked "The half of this vessel was Given to the First Church of Christ in Beverly by Capt. I. Herrick and his two Sons and the other half by Deacon I. Wood and his two Sons H., H. I., H. 1747 I. W.I. W."


6. One silver mug, covered, marked "By a Subscription of a number of the Brethren & Sisters of the First Church in Beverly, procured & collected by John Thorndike junr. one of the Church A. D. 1754."


7. One silver mug, covered, marked "Purchased with six pounds of ye stock of the First Church in Beverly & a Subscription of ye Brethren & Sisters, procured & collected by John Thorndike Junr. one of ye Church A. D. 1754."


8. One silver mug, covered, marked "The Gift of Mrs. Mary Barnard, Relict of the Rev. John Barnard of Marblehead, to the First Church in Beverly 1778."


9. One silver mug, covered, marked "The Gift of Mrs. Eliza- beth Boyles to The First Church in Beverly 1785."


10. One silver tankard, covered, marked "The property of the First Church in Beverly. Bought with the church's stock by a com-


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TILICHTKA 13 EMEYI


mittee consisting of the Pastor, and Deacon Benjamin Cleaves, and Deacon Robt. Roundy 1798."


11, 12, 13, 14. Four silver plates, marked "The property of the First Church of Beverly. Purchased by the Pastor, Deac'n Benj'n Cleaves, and Deac'n Robert Roundy, 1801."


15. One open silver cup, marked "Presented by Mrs. Mary Dane to the First Church in Beverly, March 2d, 1831."


16. One silver baptismal bowl, marked "The Property of the First Church in Beverly, June 1772."


The following articles of historical interest are also owned by the First Church :


The christening robe used during the pastorate of the Rev. Joseph Champney 1729-1773.


The study chair used by the Rev. Joseph Champney.


THE PULPIT BIBLE


In 1773 the Bible which rests today on the pulpit desk was bought by subscription among members of the Parish, and was presented to the Church. It is the 1759 printing of the King James' version, and came from the press of Thomas Baskett, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty. Public reading of the Scriptures was first intro- duced May 2, 1773. Before that time it had been avoided as an Episcopal practice which was distasteful to the Puritans.


The Bible was re-bound and the Singing Pew furnished by a number of ladies in 1804. It was again re-bound in 1845.


FIRST PARISH RECORDS


The records of the First Church in Beverly from 1667 to 1772 were copied by William P. Upham and printed by the Essex Institute of Salem in 1905. The baptismal records were annotated by Augustus A. Galloupe. There were fifty signers of the original church covenant. All the parish records are preserved in a safe in the build- ing of the Beverly Historical Society.


(Furnished by Mr. Charles Woodberry.) Massachusetts Archives at State House, Boston 1668 BASS RIVER FREEMEN


Peter Woodbery [others illegible] Being inhabitants of Bass- River in Salem & desirous to bee free of this Colony are all of them


100


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Communion Silver Used in Present Communion Service


Numbers correspond with those in the list on pages 99 and 109


4 Covered Mug 1746


5 Covered Mug 1747


12 Plate ( Revere) 1801


11 Plate ( Revere ) 1801


10 Tankard ( Revere ) 1798


6 Covered Mug 1754


7 Covered Mug 1754


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approued members of or Church at Bass-Rivr aforesaid in full Comunion with us & without offence 29:2:1668.


per me John Hale Pastor of ye Church at Bass Rivr


Thomas Lorthropp & John hill doe testifie that these persons aboue mentioned are settled inhabytants, householders & aboue 24 years of age


Tho Lorthropp John Hill


All these Admitted to freedom by ye whole Court 14 may 1668.


(From manuscript of Mr. Charles Woodberry.)


AN EMINENT DELIVERENCE OF MR. JNO HALE OF BEVERLY & HIS FAMILY FROM LIGHTNING


Fbr: 19, 168 8/9


His relation whereof is this. My wife, two maids & two children were by ye kitchen fire; myself with Deacon Hill in my study & hear- ing ye thunder smart, were going down to Comfort ye family & as we came to ye head of ye Staires (D. Hill part down) we were both struck wth Lightning in our right Armes & right Legs, yet neither of us heard ye thunder or saw ye Lightning; He was less strook, & sooner got down staires; I was truck down upon my knees, by ye post we used to lay hands on, as we goe up & down staires & unable to stirr for some time; but heard som of my family crying out of hurt below ; at last I got down, my foot as it were dead, & leg full of paine, but wth help got to lie down on a bed ; my elbow seemed out of joynt, & arm hung down like a stick ; wth mch paine in it, but my fingers seemed dead; I have a bruise on my face, but suppose it might be wth my fall. In less yn hour I found life in all my limbs, & that no bone was broken or joynt, unless some small starting out of a bone in my wrist (praised be ye Lord) I find ye post I was by, shivered on 3 sidese. But to come to ye Rest; ye Lightning came down ye chimney, brake out some bricks just above ye mantle tree ; Hurt my wife and English maid on their heads, & ye negro on her right Arm, yet all pretty well againe (thro' mercy) it bowed out two paines of glass in ye kitchen, but brake out no glass & on ye other side of ye house beat out ye bottom of a paile, and touch severall pewter platters; on ye top of ye kitchen Chimney it brake out 20 bricks ; and on ye other side of ye roof made an hole about 8 foot long & then beat out ye North end of ye kitchen about 8 foot long & 3 foot wide, & tore out many other boards at ye


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7


end. Without doors it killed me a cow, and in ye stable one Lamb wch the Lord accepted of instead of our lives. How unsearchable are his ways & paths past finding out &c. I find no mark on my body but a blue spot on my heele a 1/4 of an inch long & 1/2 so wide & some- what sore & one spot on ye sole of of my foote but not sore.


Taken out of his own Letter sent to his Bro: Wilson in Charlestowne,


Rev. Jno Hale, above referred to was the first pastor of the Bev- erly First Parish, and lived at that time on Hale St., almost opposite the present Bancroft House.


(From Beverly Town Records.)


At a meeting of the Select men February ye 2 170 2/3


Reconed with Jonathan Rayment for timber for a pare of Stocks & for halling sd timber to our meeting house.


Paid to Nathaneell Hayward for a Whele for our bel and other work done to meeting hous. 1 .. 00 .. 00.


Paid to Peter Wooding for puting up ye vane of ye meeting hous


Ordered that Collector Robert Morgan pay unto Peter Groves Thirteen Shillings & Sixpence out of the Towns Money in his hands it being for Making & Setting up a whipping post-5 January 173 5/6


Robert Hale Town Clerk


(From the Parish Records.)


LETTER FROM THE REV. JOSEPH WILLARD


TO THE PARISH AND CHURCH ON THE OCCASION OF HIS ELECTION TO THE PRESIDENCY OF HARVARD COLLEGE, WHICH OFFICE


HE LATER ACCEPTED.


To the inhabitants of the first parish in Beverly in parish-meeting as- sembled Novr 19, 1781.


Brethren,


When I settled in this place I had no thoughts but of continuing with you in the work of the ministry, during my life. But God, in his providence, has so ordered, that I have been unanimously elected, by the Corporation and Overseers of Harvard College in Cambridge, to the office of President of that Society; and by a Committee from them, have been desired to accept that trust, as one of great impor- tance, and which presents a sphere of usefulness to mankind, much more extensive than my present one. This election, for a good while, greatly embarassed my mind, and I found it difficult to determine what


102


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وحالدول


Communion Silver Made by Paul Revere


Numbers correspond with those in the list on pages 99 and 100


10 Tankard 1798


11 13 Plate 1801


Plate 1801


12


Plate 1801


I ought to do. But after a prayerful consideration, weighing things on every side, and consulting the most judicious persons, I have been inclined to think, that duty calls me to accept the invitation from Cambridge. And this weighs much with me, that should I go there, it will not be a deserting of the service of the churches of Christ, but I shall be more in the way of promoting their interests, by being at the head of one of those societies, from whence they are supplied with pastors. It has indeed given me great pain, when I have thought of a dissolution of my pastoral relation to you, among whom I have lived in love and peace, for so long a time and to whom, I hope, my ministry has not been altogether unprofitable. But as I have seemed, by the voice of providence, to be called to leave you, I have at length been induced to consult the brethren of the church upon the subject, and have asked their consent to my going to Cambridge. After several meetings, they have concluded not to act as a separate body, but with, and as a part of the parish. The matter is therefore referred to you brethren, at this meeting, and I ask of you that consent, which I be- fore asked of the church, when they met by themselves.


I pray that you may have all needed direction from above, and may be led to that decision, which will eventually be most for the divine glory.


I am, brethren, your affectionate pastor JOSEPH WILLARD


(From the original bill now to be found among the records of the First Parish.)


1785 Dr The first Parish of Beverly to Lar. Thorndike


May 11th & 12 to Entertaing the Counsal & Diluates & other Gentle- men at the ordination of Mr. Joseph McKeen viz


30 Boles of punch Before the peopel went to meting at 2s £ 3 0 0


80 peopel Eating the morning at 1s 6d 6 0 0


10 Bottels of Wine Before went to meetings at 3s 1 10 0


68 Dinners at 3s 10 4


44 Boles of punch while at Dinner & after Dinner at 2s 4 8


18 Bottels of wine at 3s 2 14 0


6 peopel Drank tea at 1s 6d 9


0


40 horses


3 0


0


4 horses two Days & nights


0 16 0


8 Boles of Brandy 0 12 0


Cherry Rum


1 0 0


3 of the Gentlemen servants 2 meals Each & Drink the day 0 12 0


1


£34 5 0


0


0


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٤ باست اد


as it appears by the bill of fair Colo Larkin thorndike is a looser


2 0 By the Entertainment, the Committee agree to allow


36 5 0


Col. Thorndike was Captain of the Minute-men of the lower Parish of Beverly, who marched for Lexington, and reached Meno- tony (now Arlington), to intercept the British on their retreat from Concord to Lexington, on April 19, 1775. He was subsequently promoted to a Colonel, March 4, 1778, 8th Regt. He kept a public house at the corner of Hale and Briscoe Sts. Died at Ipswich Dec. 19, 1796.


(From the Parish Records.)


LETTER FROM REV. JOSEPH McKEEN


ON THE OCCASION OF HIS ELECTION TO THO PRESIDENCY OF BOWDOIN COLLEGE, WHICH OFFICE HE LATER ACCEPTED


To the people of the first church and parish in Beverly.


Men and Brethren,


Having been elected by the trustees and overseers of Bowdoin college to the presidency of that institution, and having after mature deliberation thought it my duty to accept the appointment, I have not without pain contemplated a removal from this place, where I have lived happily for more than seventeen years.


The invitation, which I now have to leave you, was not solicited on my part ; but the providence of God has opened a new field of labor for me, in which I may be as usefully employed as I could be here, and where I may have greater advantages for the education of my children. I therefore request you to consent that my pastoral and ministerial relation to you may be dissolved on the 23d day of August next, or on any earlier day, which may be agreeable to you. Your conference will confer a new obligan on me to pray for your temporal and eternal welfare.


In the bonds of christian love, I am your humble servant


Beverly, 21 June 1802.


JOSEPH McKEEN


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بحيعرفه بايدعيد ربع


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Baptismal Font in Northeast Corner of the Church


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(From the original bill now to be found among the records of the First Parish.)


MARCH 11th 1786


The first Pairrish in Beverly Dr to S. Goodridge for Expinces for the Pairrish Commetty


to Six Dinners 12 | to tow bouls of Punch 4 | £0


Do to five bouls half of Grog 7 | 4 to one bottel wine 5 | 0


12 4 Do to nine Suppers 18 | to Eight boul half flip and grog 11 | 4 .. 1


9 4 24 to thre bouls of Punch 6 | to fore Suppers grog 6 | 4 0 12 4 April 8 to tow bouls grog 2 | to five Suppers 7 | 6 bouls Punch grog 0 11 10


Do 28 to thre Dinners 6 | to a boul half Punch 2 | 6 0


8


6


Do to thre bouls grog 4 |to thre Dinners 6 0 10 0


May 9 to tow bouls Punch 4 | to grob 1 | 8 0 5


8


July 22 to thre Dinners 6 | to a boul of Punch 2 0 0 8


to a boul grog 1 | to tow Dinners 4 | 0 5 0


Do 23 to a Boul of Punch 2 | to a boul grog 1 | 8


0


3


8


to one boul Punch 2 | one Supper 1 | 0


3 0


Do 25 to thre Dinners 6 |to tow bouls grog 2 | 8 0


8


8


to thre bouls and thre quarters grog 5 | to half a boul Punch 1 6


0


Do 30 to tow Dinners 4 | Do to tow Dinners 4 | 0


8


0


Augst 18 thre bouls half grog 4 | 8 to tow Dinners 4 |


0


8


8


Do 21 to tow bouls grog 2 | 8 to thre Dinners 6


0 8


8


Do to thre bouls grog 4 | to one bottel wine 5| 0 9


Do 24 to fore Suppers 4 | 8 to thre bouls grog 4 | 0


8


8


Sept 3 to grog 6 | fore Suppers 5 | 4 to tow bouls Punch 4| to grog and Paper 3 | 11 to thre Dinners 6 |


0


15 4


Do 24 to grog 2 | 8 to thre Dinners 6 | to tow bouls Punch 4


0


12 8


Do 25 to a boul Punch 2 | to thre Dinners 6


0


8


0


to grog 2 |8 to flip 1 | to grog 6 | to flip 2 | 0 0


6 2


Do to grog


0


3


4


Erros accepted Pr Samuel Goodridge


9 4


£10


10 8


5


5


8


5


5 8


Samuel Goodridge Esqr Committee of Correspondence and Public Safety during Revolutionary War; Justice of the Peace, &c. Very prominent and active in the public service. He kept a public house, near where the Catholic Church is now located.


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1


16 0


Do 24 to thre Dinners 6 | to fore bouls grog 5 | 4 0 11 4


0


9 11


0


£11 0 0


L


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ORGANIZATION


OF THE FIRST PARISH IN BEVERLY


UNITARIAN


Organized 1667 225 CABOT STREET, BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS PARISH HOUSE: 9 FEDERAL STREET


MINISTER


REV. WILLIAM H. GYSAN, MA., TH.D.


RESIDENCE : 53 LOTHROP STREET TELEPHONE 3850


OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES FOR 1942


MODERATOR: DR. C. BOARDMAN BURNHAM


CLERK: EDWARD H. OBER


TREASURER: FRED H. PORTER, Monument Street, Wenham.


COLLECTOR: LESLIE MORGAN, 19 Abbott Street


PARISH COMMITTEE: DR. J. VERNON MUIR, Chairman, 299 Cabot Street RICHARD H. WINCHESTER, RICHARD C. SOUTHWICK, ROBERT L. SPILLER, FORREST E. TARR


PLEDGE COMMITTEE: ADON R. HOAR, Chairman


USHERS: NORMAN WILKS, SR., Chairman


PARISH HOUSE COMMITTEE: ROBERT ROBERTSON, Chairman


HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE: MRS. GARRETT P. S. CROSS, Chairman


CHURCH SCHOOL COMMITTEE: MRS. RICHARD C. SOUTHWICK, Chairman DECORATING COMMITTEE: MRS. RUEL P. POPE, Chairman SOCIAL ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE: MRS. BERTRAM P. FLOYD, Chairman NOMINATING COMMITTEE: CHARLES E. OBER, Chairman DEACONESSES: ELIZABETH D. WEBB and RUTH L. LOVETT CHURCH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: DONALD ROBERTSON


(to June 1942)


106


MONTAGNABRO 8571 6V812H IM LEARITY


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ORGANIZATIONS


FIRST PARISH CHURCH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR CHURCH: Junior Church, for children from the fourth grade up, meets on Sunday at 9:45 a.m., in the upper hall of the parish house. The Lower Church School, for kindergarten and primary pupils, meets on Sunday at 11 a.m., in the lower hall of the parish house. Director of Religious Education, the Minister; secretary-treasurer of the Church School, Miss Winifred Upton; librarian, Hope Crombie; principal of the Lower School, Miss Marion Tucker; chairman, Junior Parish Committee, Miss Nancy Black. PARISH AID ALLIANCE: MRS. RICHARD H. WINCHESTER, President


Meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 2:30 p.m. in the Parish House.


OLD SOUTH CLUB (an evening Club for women) : MRS. EDWARD A. ROBINSON, President.


Meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish House. LAYMEN'S LEAGUE: MR. DONALD ROBERTSON, President.


Meets on the first Thursday of the month at the Parish House, 6:30 p.m. JOHN HALE SOCIETY (for high school age young people, 15-21) : KEITH RAYMOND, President.


Meets Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish House.


A SOCIETY FOR OLDER YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUNG MARRIED COUPLES will be organized this fall.


ORGANIST and CHOIR DIRECTOR: RALPH EMERSON STEVENS, 245 Wash- ington Street, Belmont.


SEXTON: PHILIP R. MORRILL, 22 Washington Street.


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107-108


الت أسماء


الفار


TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIFTH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEES


General Committee


Bernard S. Leslie, Chairman


Miss Nancy Black


James W. Blackmer


Albert Boyden


Dr. C. Boardman Burnham


Mrs. Robert H. Gamble Miss Hester Mitchell


Leslie Morgan


Dr. J. Vernon Muir


Charles E. Ober


Edward H. Ober


Mrs. Ruel P. Pope


Henry S. Pearson


Keith Raymond Donald Robertson


Robert Robertson


Frederic H. Sanborn


Richard C. Southwick


Robert L. Spiller


Forrest E. Tarr


Miss Winifred P. Upton


Mrs. Richard H. Winchester Richard H. Winchester


Anniversary Service Committee


Robert L. Spiller, Chairman


Albert Boyden


Dr. C. Boardman Burnham


Dr. J. Vernon Muir


Mrs. Ruel P. Pope


Mrs. Donald Robertson


Frederic H. Sanborn


Norman Wilks, Sr.


Mrs. Samuel P. White


Invitation Committee


Henry S. Pearson, Chairman


Mrs. Emily G. Baker


Miss Mary L. Boyden


Mrs. C. Boardman Burnham


Mrs. Andrew K. Creesy Miss Sarah E. Creesy Miss Emma McC. Driver


Mrs. Adelaide Lovett


Mrs. Henry S. Pearson Chester C. Pope


Robert Robertson Mrs. Albert R. Sampson


Publication Committee


Bernard S. Leslie, Chairman Charles E. Ober Robert L. Spiller


Church History Committee


Calvin Pierce, Chairman Albert Boyden


Miss Katherine P. Loring


Memorials Committee


Charles E. Ober, Chairman


Mrs. Arthur A. Forness


Mrs. A. Scott Fraser


Edward H. Ober


Forrest E. Tarr


Exhibit Committee


Miss Winifred P. Upton, Chairman


Herbert W. Dana


Mr. and Mrs. Nathan H. Foster


Adon R. Hoar


Henry Jacobson


Miss Alice G. Lapham


Mrs. Bernard S. Leslie


Miss Ruth Lovett


John C. Lovett


Miss Hester Mitchell


Mrs. W. H. Robertson


Miss Elizabeth D. Webb


Miss Elsie Woodbury


Anniversary Tea Committee


Mrs. Richard H. Winchester, Chairman Mrs. Alexander Black


Mrs. Guy B. Chaloner


Mrs. Samuel B. Crombie


Mrs. Garrett P. S. Cross


Mrs. Oscar R. Frost


Mrs. Robert H. Gamble


Miss Pauline Hutchinson


Mrs. Carl Jacobson


Mrs. Henry H. Jacobson


Miss Ruth Lovett


Miss Adelaide Lovett


Mrs. George P. McDonald


Mrs. J. Vernon Muir


Mrs. Edward A. Robinson


Mrs. Anna H. Stewart


109 -110


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The Two Hundred and Seventy Fifth Anniversary Service and Installation of the Fifteenth Minister October 11, 1942 2:30 P.M.


1


i


ROBERT L. SPILLER, Chairman


PROCESSIONAL HYMN


OPENING SENTENCES AND INVOCATION REV. FRED R. LEWIS, Unitarian Church, Gloucester


ANTHEM The Choir


SCRIPTURE LESSON


HOWARD CHARLES GALE, M.D., Unitarian Church, Peabody


OFFERTORY SENTENCES REV. WILLIAM STANLEY NICHOLS, Litt.D., Danvers


OFFERTORY


Organ and Choir


HYMN


ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS


REV. SAMUEL A. ELIOT, D.D., LL.D., Minister-emeritus, Arlington St. Church, Boston, and past president of the American Unitarian Association


ANTHEM


The Choir


ACT OF INSTALLATION OF THE REVEREND WILLIAM HERMAN GYSAN, TH.D., as the fifteenth pastor, conducted by Dr. J. Vernon Muir, chairman of the Parish Committee


PRAYER OF INSTALLATION


REV. BRADFORD E. GALE, First Church in Salem CHARGE TO THE PASTOR AND PEOPLE REV. DAN HUNTINGTON FENN, M.A., Director of the Department of the Ministry, American Unitarian Association GREETINGS TO CHURCH AND PASTOR, from THE FIRST CHURCH IN SALEM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN IPSWICH


CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN WENHAM SECOND PARISH IN BEVERLY UNITARIAN CHURCH, MANCHESTER ESSEX UNITARIAN CONFERENCE THE BEVERLY MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION THE CITY OF BEVERLY


HYMN BENEDICTION ANNIVERSARY TEA IN THE PARISH HOUSE


THE MINISTER


111-112


£


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CHRONOLOGY OF THE FIRST PARISH AND CHURCH IN BEVERLY


1649 (Dec. 10)


Members of the Salem church living at Bass River (later Beverly), on the north side of the ferry, petition the rest of the church "for some course to be taken for the means of grace amongst themselves, because of the tedi- ousness and difficulties over the water and other inconveniences."


1650


(Aug. 2)


After hearing a renewal of the preceding request made on July 22, the rest of the church permit the Bass River members to seek and employ a teacher, while still holding communion with the Salem church.


1656-64


Joshua and Jeremiah Hubbard, as religious teachers, "dispense the word of life" at Bass River.


1656 The first meeting-house erected on the site of the present Salvation Army building, at the northwest corner of the old burial ground. House also used for a school and for public business. First bell presented by Capt. Thomas Lothrop, who obtained it as a prize of war, from a friary in Port Royal.


1664 Mr. John Hale of Charlestown, a graduate of Harvard College, called to be teacher at Bass River.


1667


(Apr. 23)


Bass River members petition the Salem church to grant them permission to form a separate church society with John Hale as their pastor. Petition signed by Roger Conant, forty-eight other members, and twenty-four not in full communion.


1667 (July 21)


At a meeting adjourned from July 4, the Salem church grants Bass River members liberty to be a separate church, "only they continue members until their being a church."


1667 John Hale called to be pastor at Bass River, uniting the usually distinct offices of teacher and pastor in his person.


(Aug. 28) 1667 (Sept. 20)


John Hale ordained, with help of pastors from Salem, Ipswich and Wen- ham, and "the Church of Christ at Bass River" organized with fifty charter members, whose family names are: Hale, Dodge, Woodberry, Brackenbury, Stone, Connant, Patch, Hill, Lovett, Haskall, Sallows, Lathropp, Corning, Morgan, Blacke, Ellenwood, Dixey, Wolfe, Baker, Bishopp, and Luff. They adopt a simple, liberal covenant and a Calvinistic confession of belief.


First member received by letter: Mrs. Rebeckah Hale of Salisbury.


1667 (Sept. 22) 1667 (Oct. 13) 1668 (Oct. 14) 1682


First child baptized: Abigail Sallows.


Beverly organized as a town, with Andrew Elliott as the first town clerk. First town meeting held on Nov. 23.


Second meeting-house erected, on the present site. A special room is pro- vided in the meeting-house as a storage place for the town's ammunition. Second bell installed.


1685-6 1692


Elizabeth Bishop of the Beverly church becomes first victim of the witch- craft delusion. Mr. Hale at first supports the prosecution of witches, but later, after the accusation of Mrs. Hale, he reverses his position. Mrs. Hale's noble character a potent force in destroying the witchcraft delusion. Mr. Hale publishes "A Modern Inquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft." Town appoints overseers to prevent boys and idle men, sitting out of public view, from acting disorderly during church services.


1697 1698-9 1700 John Hale dies. Thomas Blowers becomes the second pastor (1700-29).


113


НЕМАЯ ТЕЖН ЭНТ ЗО УЗОЗОЙОГНО


1712 1713


Third bell presented by Robert Briscoe.


Second Parish organized in North Beverly.


Mr. Blowers reads 122nd Psalm at raising of the Second Parish meeting- house.


Mr. Blowers takes lead in organizing the Beverly Ministerial Association, which continues to this day.


1718 Robert Briscoe presents to the church a silver communion mug, the earliest piece in the collection of parish silver, which numbers sixteen pieces.


1727-28


Individual public confession of faith and religious experience dispensed with on joining the church.


1729 Joseph Champney becomes the third pastor (1729-1773). Col. Robert Hale draws up seating rules for 332 men and 321 women.


1736


The church rejects a proposal to have ruling elders.


1764


The first choir selected and seated together to revive psalm-singing and to improve the regularity of worship.


1766


An attempt to introduce Watts' Psalms and Hymns in the church service is at first opposed, but at length succeeds.


1770


Third meeting-house erected, on the present site, its oak frames being retained in the present building. During construction of the meeting-house services are held under a large elm tree in front of Mr. Champney's house (Dane and Hale Sts.).


1772


Joseph Willard becomes colleague pastor to Mr. Champney.


1773 A Pulpit Bible is bought by several men of the parish, and on May 2, 1773 the Bible is read for the first time in a public service in the church. This Bible, the King James' version printed by Thomas Baskett of London in 1759, still lies on the pulpit desk.


1773


Joseph Willard becomes the fourth pastor (1773-81).


1774


The choir is installed in the front gallery, opposite the pulpit, "to pitch the tune and take a lead in singing."


1775 The meeting-house is fired upon by the British ship of war Nautilus, but is not hit.


1781


Joseph Willard resigns to become president of Harvard College (1781-1804). Joseph McKeen becomes the fifth pastor (1785-1802). present Y.M.C.A. building.




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