USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Historical discourse at Worcester, in the Old south meeting house, September 22, 1863; the hundredth anniversary of its erectiion > Part 4
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that the support of public worship is not properly a political but a religious duty ; or in other words that while the sup- port of public worship is, like worship itself, a duty incum- bent on all, it is also, like worship itself, a duty to be volun- tarily and freely rendered. By the establishment of that principle, the relation of the Church to the State, and to all subordinate bodies properly political, has been materially changed. And how much has Christianity, as a power in society, gained by that revolution ? How could the church- es of Massachusetts (for example,) have sustained themselves in the conflict about the moral character of the institution of slavery, if the free action of churches and pastors had been constantly embarrassed by a dependence on town meetings or on any other municipal authority ? All history shows that the power of the church, as a Divine institution bearing witness for truth and righteousness, is limited and restrained instead of being aided by political alliances. There can be no doubt that the absolute freedom of the American churches augments beyond all calculation the power of their testimony on every moral question.
But not only has the relation between the Church and the State been changed ; there has been a no less significant change in the purely ecclesiastical relations of this ancient Church. A hundred years ago there was only one church in Worcester, and that one church was strictly Congrega- tional in its forms and Calvinistic in its statements and illustrations of Christian doctrine. How different are its relations now ! Not only is it surrounded by other churches holding the same forms and traditions with itself, but also by churches that worship the one God, through the one Me- diator between God and men, in other forms, and in accord- ance with other traditions doctrinal and ecclesiastical. I
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am not going to imply that the diversity of Christian churches, with their separation from each other under various sectarian names and banners, is good in itself. But this I am sure of: In the existing condition of Christian- ity, the multiplicity and diversity of churches, notwith- standing all the narrowness on one side or the other which produces schism among those who ought to tolerate each other in the same communion, is favorable to liberty of individual thought and conscience among Christians. Will any man deny that it has been so here ? Can any fail to see what the tendency is? When the Edwardean Calvinist and the Wesleyan Arminian, having drawn apart into separate bodies, are compelled to recognize each other as " evan- gelical " and as holding the essential things in the doctrine that is according to godliness, theology has made great progress in spite of theologians ; and men begin to see in what direction lies the path to visible unity among believers in Christ.
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There is yet another and perhaps still more significant change in the position and relations of the Church. What were the charities and the aggressive enterprises of this Church a hundred years ago ? How far, and in what meth- ods, did it recognize the essential aggressiveness of Chris- tianity as related to the misery, the ignorance and the wickedness of the world ? In those days the Church cared for itself and for all who dwelt within its parochial bound- aries. Beside the ministration of the word in two services of publie worship every Lord's day, there was the monthly lecture preparatory to the celebration of the Lord's Supper; there was the regular catechising of the children in the form of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism; there were neighborly charities for the relief of the poor or the afflict-
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ed ; and the pastor of the Church, being also an officer and servant of the town, regarded every family in the town, and every individual, as under his official care, so that every house received his official visits. What was there more than this ? There was prayer and aspiration for the coming of God's kingdom. There lingered, doubtless, in many hearts a tradition of the labors which Eliot performed a hundred years before among the heathen between Worcester and Boston ; and some elderly people retained a vivid recol- lection of how the saintly Brainerd, whose biography was a fresh and popular religious book, had worn himself out with toil and hardship among the Indians just this side of Albany and on the line of communication between New York and Philadelphia. Some there may have been to whom the experiment which had been for thirty years in progress at Stockbridge, and in which so distinguished a man as Jonathan Edwards had labored for a while, was suggestive of great things yet to be attempted in behalf of . the heathen world. But how unlike is the remembrance of what was a hundred years ago, to the present position of this Church, and of every Christian church in this land, as related to the world that "lieth in wickedness !" How unlike to the aggressive activity of Christianity as now developed here and everywhere! The idea of enterprise and action for the kingdom of God, for the diffusion of Christian influences far and near, and for the conversion of all men "from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God," has become in all free countries, and in proportion to their freedom, the most obvious and impres- sive distinction between the churches as they are and the churches as they were a hundred years ago.
The change to which we are now adverting becomes more
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significant to our thoughts as we remember where this Church was a hundred years ago, and where it is now. In 1763 the western limit of Christendom, on this parallel of latitude, was between Albany and Utica, about two hundred miles from the meridian of Worcester. All beyond to the Pacific ocean was savage paganism ; and in all that ocean there was not one green isle that had received the law of God. New England was then upon the western frontier of the Christian world. And where are we now ? Christian civilization with its Bible, with its Sabbaths, with its schools, with its temples, with the tree of life whose leaves are for the healing of the nations, has extended itself westward beyond the Alleghanies, beyond the Mississippi, beyond the Rocky Mountains. Along the rushing waters of the Ore- gon, and where the sun, rising from behind the sierras of California, goes down into the western ocean, there are Christian homes and Christian temples. Still farther west the " island-world " of the Pacific is receiving the gospel ; and, farther yet, the light, in its circuit round the globe, is dawning on the oldest orient. Protestant missionaries are invading the remotest and most barbarous lands; and all the languages of the earth are receiving the gift of letters that they yma record the oracles of God, and are becoming musical with worship offered in the name of Christ. In no period of the same duration since the age of the Apostles has there been so great an extension of Christianity as in the century since 1763.
What then may we not hope for in the future ? Some of our grandchildren will be living in the sixty-third year of the twentieth Christian century. What revolutions of empire they will have seen; what progress will have been made in the recovery of man's dominion over nature; what
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wealth, derived from sources and productive powers not yet discovered, will then adorn the earth; what victories will have been gained over human misery and wickedness for the kingdom of Christ, it is not for us to know. But we know that God's work of making all things new is not yet com- pleted. That great work of God, now advancing with accelerated movement, will proceed along the ages, subor- dinating to itself the growth and decay of nations, the vicissitudes of war and peace, the progress of human know- · ledge and of arts that minister to human welfare, as well as the aspirations and endeavors of all godlike souls, -till earth and heaven worshipping in one grand chorus, and reflecting to each other the glory of their Maker, shall keep the Sabbath of the new creation.
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Some things, I said, remain unchanged. Pastors and teachers die, and their memory lingers for a while in loving hearts and then becomes traditionary ; but while ye remem- ber them who have had the rule over you, who have spoken to you the word of God, while ye follow their faith consid- ering the end to which their life of faith has led them, ye remember also that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever." Successive generations in the Church move onward to the general assembly and church of the first-born, but the Church of God remains,
" Nor can her firm foundations move, Built on his truth, and armed with power."
We who keep this festal to-day are soon to disappear, for " all flesh is grass and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth ; but the word of our God shall stand forever." Heaven and. earth shall pass away, but thy word, O Christ, shall not pass away! " And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."
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ORDER OF EXERCISES IN THE CHURCH.
1 .- VOLUNTARY, on the Organ, by Mr. H. L. Ainsworth, the Organist of the Church.
2 .- INTRODUCTORY REMARKS,-By Hon. Ira M. Barton, the Pres_ ident on the occasion.
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3 .- CHANT, by a select Choir in the antiphonal or responsive manner of the most ancient Church, A. D. 500.
Psalm XLVI.
1. God is our refuge and strength. a very present help in trouble.
2. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea,
3. Though the waters thereof rour and be troubled.
4. Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
5. There is a river, the streams whereof Shall make glad the city of God ;
6. The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.
7. God is in the midst of her ; she shall not be moved.
8. God shall help her, and that right early.
9. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were mored ; He uttered his voice, the earth melted.
10. The Lord of Hosts is with us ; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
11. Come behold the works of the Lord, What desolutions he hath made in the earth.
12. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth, He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder ; He burneth the chariot in the fire.
13. Be still, and know that I am God.
14. I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
15. The Lord of hosts is with us ; The God of Jacob is our refuge.
16. The Lord of Hosts is with us ; The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Amen.
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4 .- INVOCATION, By the Pastor, Rev. E. A. Walker.
5 .- Hymn, lined off to the Congregation, by Dea. Allen Har- ris, in the " usual way" of A. D. 1763.
Ps. 103-verses 17 to 22 inclusive. New England Psalm and Hymn Book, 1762.
T'une-" WINDSOR,"-Called in the Scottish books of Psalmody, "DUNDEE."
1. Who fear the Lord, his mercy is On them from ave to aye ; So, likewise doth his righteousness On children's children stay.
2. To such as keep his cov'nant sure, Who do in mind up lay The charge of his commandment pure, That it obey they may.
3. The Lord hath in the heavens high Established his throne ; And over all his royalty Doth bear do-min-i-on.
4. O ye his angels that excel In strength, bless ye the Lord, That do his word, that hearken well Unto the voice of 's word.
5. All ye the armies of the Lord O bless Jehovah still : Ye ministers that do accord His pleasure to fulfill.
6. Yea, all his works in places all Of his do-inin-i-on, Bless ye Jehovah : O my soul, Jehovah bless alone.
6 .- READING OF THE SCRIPTURES, by the Pastor.
7. PRAYER, by Rev. Seth Sweetser, D. D.
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8 .- HYMN, by the Choir, with accompaniments of stringed instru- ments, in the manner of A. D. 1800.
A Version of Psalm XLIV .- Tune, NORTHFIELD.
1. Lord, we have heard thy works of old- Thy works of power and grace, When to our ears our fathers told The wonders of their days ;
2. How thou didst build thy churches here ; And make thy gospel known ; Among them did thine arm appear, Thy light and glory shone.
3. In God they boasted all the day, And in a cheerful throng Did thousands meet to praise and pray And grace was all their song.
4. As thee, their God, our fathers owned So thou art still our King ; O, therefore, as of old to them, To us deliverance bring.
9 .- DISCOURSE, by Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D.
10 .- PRAYER, by Rev. Willard Child, D. D.
11 .- HYMN, written for the occasion, by Mrs. E. A. Walker, and sung by the choir, with organ, in the manner of A. D. 1863.
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Tune-" ANTHO," composed by Edward Hamilton Esq., the Musical Director.
1. The Aloe, in the Northern clime, Gathers its strength from sun and rime, Transmuting into healing leaves Whate'er from Nature it receives.
2. But not until a hundred years, The glory of its life appears, The sweetness, treasured hour by hour, The Century crowns with perfect flower.
3. And thus our ancient Church O, Lord ! Has scattered healing leaves abroad ; A hundred years its influence bless, Thousands its saving power confess.
4. O, let this natal-day behold Its strength and fragrance all unfold ; Accept the glory of its days, The blossom of its garner'd praise.
DOXOLOGY. Congregation join. - Old Hundred.
Praise God from whom all blessing flow,
Praise him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly Host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
12 .- BENEDICTION, by the Pastor.
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The church was quite filled by a large, intelligent, and much interested audience. The choir under the direction of Edward Hamilton, Esq., consisted of about forty members, invited from the different choirs of the city, and their performances gave great satisfaction to the audience.
APPENDIX.
1-PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARISH, AND OF THE COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
At the Annual meeting of the Parish, March 30, 1863, it was voted to choose a committee of seven, to see what action (if any) the Parish would take for the proper observance of the Centennial Anniversary of the erection of their meeting house; to report at an adjourned meeting. And Col. James Estabrook, Dea. Al- len Harris, Daniel Ward, Dea. Caleb Dana, Dea. Richard Ball, Samuel A Porter, and Daniel Tainter, were chosen.
At the adjournment, the committee reported in favor of the commemoration of the event; that a committee of fifteen should be appointed to make all fit and proper arrangements for the occa- sion ; and that as the expense must be very considerable, it should be defrayed by subscription This report was accepted, and the following committee appointed : Col. James Estabrook, Dea. Allen Harris, Dea. Richard Ball, Daniel Ward, Waterman A. Fisher, Samuel A. Porter, Calvin Taft, Aury G. Coes, George A. Chamberlain, William G. Moore, Dexter H. Perry, Dea. Charles A. Lincoln, Franklin Whipple, William D. Holbrook, and John Boyden. To these were added Dea. Caleb Dana and Ira M. Barton.
The Committee met in the Chapel May 7, 1863, and organized by appointing Col. James Estabrook, Chairman, and William D. Holbrook, Secretary.
Ira M. Barton, Allen Harris and Caleb Dana, were chosen a committee to procure a person to deliver a discourse on the pro- posed occasion ; to divide the committee of seventeen into appro- priate sub-committees and report at an adjournment, May 21st.
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They accordingly reported in favor of dividing the committee of arrangements into sub-committees, upon the following subjects, and such committees were appointed, to wit :
ON COLLECTING FACTS :
Allen Harris, Ira M. Barton,
Daniel Ward,
Caleb Dana,
George A. Chamberlain.
ON INVITATIONS :
Caleb Dana, Waterman A. Fisher,
Samuel A. Porter,
Richard Ball,
James Estabrook.
ON DINNER AND LEVEE :
Richard Ball, Charles A Lincoln,
Waterman A. Fisher, Calvin Taft,
Samuel A. Porter.
ON MUSIC : John Boyden, Wm. D. Holbrook, Franklin Whipple.
ON FINANCE :
Calvin Taft, Wm. G. Moore,
Charles A. Lincoln, Aury G. Coes,
Allen Harris, Dexter H. Perry.
The general committee also appointed Ira M. Barton as Presi- dent for the occasion, and Col. James Estabrook, Marshal, with John Boyden and Samuel A. Porter, and such others as the Mar- shal might designate, as assistants. Subsequently, the following gentlemen were so designated as Assistant Marshals : William D. Holbrook, William II. Jacobs, John D. Lovell and Jonathan B. Sibley.
At adjournments of the General Committee, the following gen- tlemen were appointed Vice Presidents : Henry Goulding, Osgood Bradley, Luther Stone, Henry Prentice, Stephen Taft, Dana II. Fitch, Alfred Parker, Luke B. Witherby, Dr. J. E. Linnell, Au- gustus N. Currier, Daniel Tainter, Walter R. Bigelow, Samuel Smith and Simcon Clapp. ,
The Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D. of New Haven, Conn. was unanimously chosen to deliver a discourse ; and Tuesday, Septem- ber 22, 1863, at 101, A. M., was appointed the time for the servi- ces in the Parish Church.
The committee on invitations, with the approbation of the gen-
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eral committee, issued notes of invitation to the several classes of persons referred to by the President in his introductory remarks, to which there was a liberal response either in person or by letter.
NOTE ON INVITATION.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
To
Worcester, Sept. Ist, 1863.
Dear Sir :
The First Church and Parish of the City of Worcester will commemorate the One Hundreth Anniversary of the erection of their present House of Worship, by a Centennial Celebration, on the twenty-second day of September, instant.
A discourse will be delivered on the occasion by Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D., of New Haven, Conn.
Services at the church will commence at 103 o'clock, A. M.
The undersigned, in behalf of the Committee of Arrangements, respectfully and cordially invite you to be present and unite with us in the services and festivities of the occasion.
CALEB DANA, SAMUEL A. PORTER, JAMES ESTABROOK, W. A. FISHER, RICHARD BALL. -
Committee on
Invitations.
The committee were also authorized to present tickets for the dinner to the choir, and to aged and infirm members of the church and parish.
The Committee of Arrangements met in the Chapel on Monday, Sept. 28, 1863.
On motion of I. M. Barton, it was unanimously voted, that the thanks of this committee be presented to the Rev. Dr. Bacon for his valuable and interesting Discourse, delivered on the occasion of the hundredth Anniversary of the erection of the House of Wor- ship of the First Parish in Worcester, and that he be requested to furnish a copy of the same for publication.
On motion of Dea. Richard Ball, I. M. Barton, Dea. Allen Harris and Dea. Caleb Dana were chosen a committee to commu- nicate the above vote to Dr. Bacon, and also to publish his Dis- course and the proceedings of the occasion.
At a subsequent meeting of the Committee of Arrangements, they voted that the following matter be embraced in the publica- tion. In addition to the introductory remarks of the President,
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and the Order of Exercises in the Church, an Appendix, embra- cing,
1. An epitome of the proceedings of the Parish and Committee.
2. Sentiments and proceedings at the table after dinner.
3. Proceedings in Mechanics Hall.
4. Historical Notes.
2 .- EXERCISES AT THE DINNER TABLE.
After the services in the church, the invited guests and holders of tickets, under the direction of the marshal and his assistants, proceeded to the Bay State House for dinner.
An agreeable re-union was had in the saloons of the Hotel, and at three o'clock, P. M., the company, consisting of about three hundred gentlemen and ladies, sat down at dinner; the blessing being invoked by the Rev. Dr. Alonzo Hill, the minister of the Second Parish.
The exercises after dinner, commenced with the remark of the President, that having occupied the attention of the company so long in the church, the residue of their time belonged to their respected invited guests; from as many of whom as practica- ble, we were all desirous of hearing. Before, however, giving sen- timents calling for particular responses, he desired to give utter- ence to one, which in the present exigency of the country, and upon all occasions, whether grave or festive, was first and uppermost in his own mind, and to which he knew that the whole company would very heartily respond. Our former respected min- ister, the Rev. Horace James, is at his chosen post of duty, as Chaplain of our 25th. Regiment of Volunteers ; and a large number of the young men of our parish, with many comrades from the other parishes of the city. early volunteered in defence of the Union, and as our first sentiment, we give you,
1. OUR COUNTRY AND ITS BRAVE DEFENDERS.
The President then remarked, that the favor with which the sentiment was received, indicated that the company regarded dis- loyalty to the Union as treason; and if so, a want of proper respect for our City Government, must be, at least, petit treason- As the representative of that government, we are happy to recog. nize the presence of our Mayor, with his predecessors, and it is a pleasant fact, for the truth of which we have the satisfactory testi- mony of his honored mother, that he is a lineal descendant, on the
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`maternal side, of those distinguished benefactors of the Old South, the Judges Chandler; bearing the Christian name of one who was long a prominent member of that parish, and subsequently the principal founder of the Central Church. In the expectation that · we may hear from him, we give you as a sentiment,
2. Our City Government :
Identified with no particular sect ; by supporting public order, they cherish and sustain all.
His Honor, Daniel Waldo Lincoln, the Mayor of the City, respon- ded to this sentiment, remarking, that with a slight variation of dates, this hundredth anniversary of the erection of the Church of the first parish, would answer for the hundred and fiftieth anni- versary of the incorporation of the town of Worcester, with which the parish was originally identified ; concluding with a sen- timent of respect for its founders and friends.
It is befitting that we should now hear from the distinguished first Mayor of our city. We might allude to the high executive and judicial offices, which he long and ably sustained in the Com- monwealth. But on this occasion, we have to speak of him as our former local Chief Magistrate. And of his services in that behalf, it is but just to say, that as the first Mayor of the city, he gave the form and direction to the administration of our city govern- ment, that have commended it to the continued favor of our citi- zens. We have received a whole handful of sentiments, compli_ mentary to our honored guest, but none to which this company will more heartily respond, than the simple aspiration for
3. The prolonged life and health of Ex-Governor Lincoln.
To this sentiment the venerable ex-Governor responded with the buoyancy of youth, and the wisdom of age. Amongst his recol- lections, those of the Rev. Dr. Austin, who was installed as the minister of the Old South in 1790, were peculiarly interesting. He described the Doctor as having been a " perfect Boanerges" in the pulpit ; while out of it he was much addicted to the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, and was, by no means, unmindful of the amenities of social life. Of the successor of Dr. Austin, the Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, he spoke as a man of fine taste, and one of the most amiable men in the world. But the ex-Governor ingen- uously stated the fact, that in his younger days, when a member of the Bar, he had been the counsel of Mr. Goodrich in some unfor-
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tunate difficulties, so that his auditors might judge what deduction if any, should be made from his favoring testimony, on account of his relation to his client.
The President then adverted to the fact appearing elsewhere in these proceedings, that nearly all the clergymen of the Old South had been drawn from the state of Connecticut and Yale College; and amongst them, the last but not the least, the present incum- bent of the pulpit. This fact no doubt suggested the following sentiment, which the company will, at once, recognize as coming from one of the ancient and patriotic members of our Home Guards.
4. The State of Connecticut and Yale College.
They have generously supplied our Church and Parish with many worthy pastors; but they have always been careful to keep in reserve a powerful home force.
By this, the President remarked, the author of the truthful sen- timent, no doubt meant, that with all their liberality in supplying others with ministers, they had always managed to save their BACON.
To this sentiment the Rev. Dr. Bacon, notwithstanding his inter- esting service of two hours, in the pulpit, responded with the ability and aptitude, for which he is always and everywhere dis- tinguished on such occasions.
The President resumed, saying that it had been customary to award to the Old South the honor of the maternity of the other parishes in the city. If so, the second parish must be regarded as her first born. At first, not cherished with the utmost affection, but set out in much the same way that Abraham and his wife set out Hagar. Not that this people became Ishmaelites. For though they soon became a strong people, they have always dwelt amongst their brethren of different persuasions, in great social harmony.
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