USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Historical discourse delivered on the fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the Dudley-street Baptist church, Boston (formerly Roxbury), Mass., March 9, 1871 > Part 2
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* The name was changed to "The Dudley-street Baptist Church, Rox- bury," Feb. 28, 1850. Roxbury became a city in 1846, and was annexed to Boston, January, 1868.
t See Appendix A.
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member of this church. Five others are still living, four of whom are connected with Baptist churches in other places, -three brethren and one sister. Surely God's goodness has been richly experienced, in that one-fourth of that little company, after the lapse of fifty years, are still living to recall the hopes and the fears, the faith and the self-denial, the faces and the scenes, of those early days. "With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation." *
On Wednesday, the 14th of March, by invitation of the church, a council of pastors and delegates from neighboring " Baptist churches met at the house of Mr. Antipas Jackson, whose wife was a member of the church, to consider the expediency of recognizing this body of disciples as a Chris- tian church, and giving to it the fellowship of neighboring bodies of like faith. Councils for such an object were not so common in those days as they have been since ; and that council, as we look back upon it, appears to us no ordinary one, both on account of the object which it met to consider, and on account of the noble men who composed it. The First Church of Boston, which was still in deep sorrow at the loss it had sustained in the early death of Mr. Winchell, sent Deacon Prince Snow and Deacon James Loring. The Second Church sent Dr. Baldwin, Rev. Elisha Williams, and Deacon J. C. Ransford. The Third Church was represented by Rev. Daniel Sharp, Ensign Lincoln, Thomas Ford, and Deacons. Thomas Kendall. and Ward Jackson. Rev. Bela Jacobs brought with him, as delegates from the Cambridge Church, Deacon Levi Farwell and Deacon Elijah Corey. And from Newton came Elder Joseph Grafton and Thomas Hovey. They were all there, those honored pastors and
* See Appendix B.
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no less. honored deacons and brethren, whose names we still mention with love and reverence. They came with ear- nest hearts to do business for the Lord. Of course, the ven- erable Dr. Baldwin was chosen moderator. Ensign Lincoln was clerk. Having carefully "examined the proceedings of the Christian friends in Roxbury, and their views of the gospel," so the record reads, "and being satisfied with their correctness," it was " voted, that we publickly express fellow- ship to them as a church of Christ." The public services occurred in the afternoon, at two o'clock. Rev. Mr. Sharp. preached the sermon, from I Tim. iii. 15 : " The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." Father Grafton offered the prayer of recognition, and Dr. Baldwin expressed the fellowship of the churches. Rev. Bela Jacobs, Rev. Elisha Williams, and Rev. John Parkhurst participated in the services. Of the character of these services, we have only the brief statement of the clerk, tltat "a pleasing scene was enjoyed,"- a scene pleasing, we doubt not, to the great Head of the Church, as well as to the hearts of his believ- ing people. In the evening, the house was again opened for public worship ; and Rev. Mr. Grafton preached.
Mr. Lincoln supplied the pulpit until April. Though he afterward preached occasionally, his intimate labors with the church then ceased. He would have them no longer depend upon him. They had become a church : they must now have a pastor who could be with them during the week, and devote himself wholly to their spiritual welfare. When we remember the labors of that good man in this commu- nity, so faithful and successful, and stretching over a period of nearly three years, we think it not too much to say, that God used him and honored him as the founder of this
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church of Christ. . The second pastor of this church pays a just and affectionate tribute to Mr. Lincoln's character and labors. "Especially do I recall," he says, " the preach- ing of that modest, unassuming; and yet wise and pre-emi- nently good man, of blessed memory to me, - Mr. Ensign Lincoln, to whom, under God, the Dudley-street Baptist Church owes its existence more than to any other human agency." And subsequent pastors, as well as he, have all been able to bear witness to the influence of Mr. Lincoln's " excellent spirit," which has seemed to pervade the church to the present time.
Mrs. Tucker, widow of Mr. Beza Tucker, presented to the church the plate which was used at the first communion service, and which is still in the possession of the church, and is part of that now used by us .* The first deacons chosen were Thomas Griggs and Timothy Corey, both of whom lived in Brookline. Several persons having given good evidence to the church that they had been born again, Rev. William Gammell, pastor of the church in Medfield, was invited to come and preach and baptize. He came on the 13th of May, preaching during the day, and baptizing
* This plate was once stolen from the old meeting-house. Deacon Brooks, who has for fifty years taken care of it, was in the habit of bringing it in a basket to the church on Saturday evening before the first Sunday of each month, in preparation for the communion. One Saturday evening, as he came to the church, bringing his basket, he noticed two men lying on the grass in front ; but he thought nothing more of them until Sunday morning, when it was found that the basket with its contents had disappeared. The thieves, however, having found that " all is not gold that glitters," or silver that shines, threw away the plate ; and it was recovered, and restored to the church, but not in season for that communion. The wine, and a spoon of genuine silver, were disposed of differently. The plate of the Episcopal Church was kindly loaned to the church for that day.
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seven converts in Stony Brook. One of those baptized was Antipas Jackson, at whose house the council for recog- nition had met. Within two months of the time of his baptism, his wife was removed to the church triumphant. This was the first death in their number ; and against the name of Hannah Jackson they wrote affectionately, " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." One of the number baptized on that occasion, Mrs. Rebecca Cheney, is still living and a member of this church. It is recorded that " this was the first administration of baptism in Roxbury. About two thousand persons were present, and all appeared solemn." Those early out-of-door baptisms were attended by large numbers of people, of all classes in the community, who, for the most part, looked upon them with attentive and respectful bearing. It was almost literally true, that the whole village turned out to witness them. And the ordi- nance can never lose its attractive power as the beautiful and appropriate symbol of Christian truth. On one occa- sion, the number present was so great, and all were so eager to witness the solemn rite, that they crowded upon the logs and planks which extended out over the water near the old dam, where the service was to be performed. Suddenly the plank on which stood one of the most excellent and highly esteemed Christian citizens (but not a Baptist) gave way, and he was subjected, in the presence of all, to an unwilling immersion. He went away from the brook as dripping, but we fear not as happy, as the willing converts. We think that was an immersion, but not a baptism.
The people enjoyed the Medfield pastor's services so much, that they thought they should like to become a little better acquainted with him ; and so, on the third day of June,
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they unanimously invited him to become their pastor. They were probably forgetful of that principle of Christian ethics, which, in the words of Rev. Dr. Benedict, declares it to be " as wicked to steal a shepherd as it is to steal a sheep." We suppose that churches, then as now, did not feel the force of such moral truth, unless it was their shepherd who was to be stolen. However, though the intent of their hearts was so manifest, they were not permitted to accom- plish it. Rev. Mr: Gammell felt it to be his duty to remain where he was.
In June, the church received a generous gift from the brethren of other churches, who had purchased shares in the meeting-house when it was erected. Twenty-two shares, valued at fifty dollars each, were donated to it by different persons ; Dr. Baldwin himself giving one, Heman Lincoln two, Ward Jackson and Elijah Corey four, and Levi Farwell six. The year passed away, and the church was still without a pastor. There was no Newton Theo- logical Institution at that early day, close at hand, to which it could look. The pulpit was supplied from Sunday to Sunday by Rev. Elisha Williams, Rev. Henry Jackson, Rev. Henry J. Ripley (afterwards, when the seminary at Newton was established, and for many years, Prof. Ripley, at whose feet many of us who are in the ministry to-day have had the delightful privilege of sitting), and by many others.
In January, 1822, Rev. Joseph Elliot of Rockingham, Vt., was engaged as a supply, and preached four Sabbaths. On the 10th of February, the church gave him a unanimous call to remove to Roxbury, and assume the pastoral care of this people. This call, being seconded by the society, was accepted by Mr. Elliot on March 24; and he became the
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first pastor of this church. A council was called, consisting of pastors and delegates from neighboring churches, before which Mr. Elliot gave an account of his conversion, his call to the ministry, and also a statement of the doctrine which he intended to preach. This was a custom which has fallen very much into disuse among us now after ordination. At the public services of installation on the same day (April 10), Rev. Daniel Sharp, who seems to have been a favorite preacher with this people, preached the sermon from 2 Cor. v. 19: "Now, then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us : we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Rev. Joseph Grafton offered the installing prayer. Rev. Dr. Baldwin addressed the new pastor, and Rev. Bela Jacobs addressed the church. Rev. Francis Wayland, jun., who, a few months before, had been called to the pulpit of the First Baptist Church in Boston, extended the hand of fellowship. Mr. Ensign Lin- coln, and others, also took part in the services. It is remembered by one who was present on that occasion, that Dr. Baldwin charged the new pastor so to live, that it should not be said of him, when in the pulpit, that he ought never to go out of it, and, when out of it, that he ought never to enter it. Mr. Elliot at that time was about thirty-three years of age, of noble form, large and full features, very genial in his bearing, and, moreover, an excellent preacher. We are persuaded that there must have been something unusually attractive in his sermons, and manner of present- ing the truths of the gospel. He had preached at the First Church, as a candidate, before Mr. Wayland's settlement, and some of the people were much pleased with him : indeed, a few of them preferred to listen to his preaching to that of
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their own pastor, whom a majority of the church had called. They were wont frequently to walk out to Roxbury on the Sabbath to hear Mr. Elliot, who had been their favorite can- didate; and then they would, in a very unhandsome manner, " bear home glowing reports of the sermons they had heard during the day, and tell at the evening meeting how cordial- ly that 'dear, good man' had received them, and how he hoped they would come again."* You all know how Mr. Wayland put a stop to all attempts to bring those offenders to discipline, and also checked their running away from their own sanctuary, by suggesting, that on account of the great distance, and the inability of those members to pro- vide a carriage for themselves, the church would better do so; and he himself actually headed a subscription for that purpose. This incident bears witness as much to the great kindness and generosity of Mr. Wayland's heart, as to the attractiveness of Mr. Elliot's preaching. Mr. Elliot won many strong friends while here; and quite a number were baptized, and united with the church. But his stay was of a short duration. He resigned, amid considerable disaffec- tion, June 24, 1824, having been pastor of the church but two years and three months. He was dismissed from this church to the Baptist church in New Ipswich, N.H. Hav- ing labored in the ministry in various places in New Eng- land, New York, and Ohio, for more than forty years, often meeting with great success, his labors resulting in extensive revivals of religion, he was, for the last three years of his
* See Historical Address on the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the First Baptist Church, Boston, by Rev. Rollin H. Neale, D.D., p. 43. Also A Memoir of the Life and Labors of Francis Wayland, D.D., LL. D., vol. i. P. 129.
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active life, agent for the work of Bible-revision, -a subject which was then beginning to agitate the Christian commu- nity. Having prosecuted his agency with great faithfulness and exhausting zeal, he was rendered helpless by a stroke of paralysis ; and, after lingering for eighteen months, he died at Monmouth, Ill., on. Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858, in the seventieth year of his age.
In December following Mr. Elliot's resignation, the church and society, having enjoyed the labors of Mr. Wil- liam Leverett for more than two months, unitedly extended to him an invitation to accept the pastoral office, and labor permanently with them. This he consented to do, by letter of Jan. 1, 1825. Mr. Leverett was then young, without pastoral experience, and not ordained ; but he was favorably known in this vicinity; and this union was destined to con- tinue through many years, and to result in great spiritual blessing to this people. He was publicly ordained, and . set apart to the work of the Christian ministry in Roxbury, the twentieth day of January. Rev. Daniel Sharp was again called upon to preach the sermon. His text was 2 Tim. iv. 2, " Preach the word ; be instant in season, out of season ; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine." The ordaining prayer was offered by Rev. Bela Jacobs. Rev. Stephen Gano gave the charge to the candidate. Rev. Dr. Baldwin addressed the church, and Rev. Henry Jackson gave the hand of fellowship. Rev. Francis Wayland, jun., and Rev. Lucius Bolles, D.D., assisted in the services. Rev. Mr. Leverett's health, while here, was such as to require great care on his part ; yet he accomplished, with little or no interruption, the arduous duties of his position during a period of more than fourteen
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years. His ministry was blessed with several seasons of revival ; and during it many men and women were con- verted, and brought to feel the power of the Saviour's love, and to see the blessedness of his service, and have been valuable members of this church and of other churches. In the year 1827, thirty-eight persons were baptized ; and in 1831, forty-one. Other years show a less, but still a good number of baptisms, when we take into consideration the size of the church and the population of the community at that time. Mr. Leverett's preaching was eminently scrip- tural, sober, and instructive. He was not given to foolish sayings, either in the pulpit or out of it. To him, preaching was a solemn thing ; and he endeavored always to make the hearing also a solemn thing. While praying, in almost every prayer, "Create in us clean hearts," he showed that his prayer was answered by the purity of his life and con- versation. By a steady and safe growth, the church was prospered under his ministry.
During the period of Mr. Leverett's pastorate, there were many and great changes. In 1828, the Brookline Baptist church was organized ; and the majority of the members constituting it were dismissed from this church for that purpose. Twenty-one persons were dismissed, and among them were both of the deacons of this church, and other excellent members. Their removal seemed, at the time, a very heavy loss for this still small body of believers. Until 1832, evangelical Christians of different names throughout the town were wont to worship in this common sanctuary. Four denominations of Christians were represented in the congregation ; yet the harmony of the society was undis- turbed, and general good-feeling prevailed. This was the
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
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one place of assembling for them, the one temple to which they came up to worship, in some cases from great distances. For many years, their horses stood with no protection from cold or storm. Afterward, numerous horse-sheds were built, and were well occupied. In 1832, the Episcopalians, with the utmost friendliness, separated, to establish a church of their faith, and, two years subsequently (in 1834), the Orthodox Congregationalist families, twelve or fifteen in number, having not only worshipped with this society, but having labored zealously to promote its interests, withdrew in excellent spirit to organize a church, and build a house of worship for themselves. Some fears were undoubtedly entertained that these withdrawals, following so soon after the removal of the Brookline brethren, would materially weaken the society. Yet, in 1835, to meet the wants of an increasing congregation, the house of worship was enlarged, being cut into, and lengthened by the insertion of eighteen feet ; thus furnishing thirty-two additional pews. The small vestry was disposed of, and a larger one erected the same year. These, certainly, were indications not of a crippled, but rather of the prosperous condition of the society.
We have hardly alluded to any thing like persecution in those early years of our history. So general was the spirit of friendliness manifested, that the church has not had it in its heart to record, or even to remember, the opposition which it sometimes met. It was known that the pastor of the First Religious Society was opposed to the commence- ment of any new religious movement in this place ; and it was a regard for his feelings, to some extent, and a scrupu- lous observance of parish lines, inherited, brought over from the mother-country, and still existing at that time, that
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made the Orthodox Congregationalist pastors of Boston unwilling to approve and help forward those first evangeli- cal efforts here. Yet we are not aware that Dr. Porter or his people encouraged the slightest manifestation of violent opposition. There were, however, some irreligious, evil- minded, wickedly-disposed persons, who reproached true religion and its professors, who did all they could to hinder the progress of the truth by setting the minds of others more against it, and disturbing religious meetings, foolishly trying to resist the almighty Spirit and truth of God. It cost something to come out from the world, and become a disciple of the meek and lowly Saviour then, as it always has." The offence of the cross cannot cease. "They that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." A sad day will it be for this church, or any church, when fashion stands at the door and invites its votaries in ; when admission to it requires no sacrifice of worldly pride, and subjects no one to the scorn of worldly men. There could be no more conclusive evidence than this of a fatal defection from the spirit and doctrine of the gospel of Christ. A man must now, as of old, take up his cross, if he would follow Him. In those days, the meetings, not infrequently, were disturbed in various ways. On one cccasion, during the delivery of a sermon in the evening, the enemies of religion, hearing that there was an increasing interest in religious truth, placed a heavy squib beneath one of the windows and discharged it : the bells were rung, and an alarm of fire given. But God caused the wrath of man to praise Him. The religious interest deepened from that evening: the meetings were more fully attended ; and thirty-eight persons were baptized, and received into the church. The old meet-
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ing-house was once fired by an incendiary ; but that was as late as the autumn of 1847. But, thanks to our faith in those Baptist principles which always keep us "at Enon, near to Salim," there was much water here. The fire was quickly discovered, and was extinguished by means of the water in the baptistery without much damage.
After a pastorate of much more than the ordinary length, Rev. Mr. Leverett presented his resignation to the church and society, July 7, 1839. It was accepted with many expressions of grateful and affectionate appreciation of his services. An additional six-months' salary was given to him : he was requested to occupy the pastor's pew with his family, and invited to preside at all meetings of the church until a pastor should be secured. Brother Leverett, how- ever, soon removed from Roxbury, and became pastor of the Baptist church in East Cambridge. In 1855, his health not being sufficient to enable him to fulfil, satisfactorily to himself, all the labors of the pastoral office, he retired from it. He continued to preach, however, as a supply, until a few years since; and is now living at Newport, R.I., in the seventy-second year of his age, in the enjoyment, after a laborious and useful life, of the rest and comfort of his pleasant home. May God's rich blessings continue with him until the end of life ! This is the prayer of the few now living here whom he was instrumental in leading to the Saviour ; and we who have entered into his labors unite with them in the prayer to-day. We regret exceedingly that he has been compelled to decline, on account of age and bodily weakness, our pressing invitations to return and help us celebrate our fiftieth anniversary.
Rev. Thomas Ford Caldicott was the next and third
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pastor of this church. He was born in the village of Long Buckby, Northamptonshire, England, March 21, 1803. His father was a lay-preacher of the Baptist church in the village. Young Caldicott was apprenticed to the early trade of Wil- liam Carey. He was converted at the age of seventeen, and soon was encouraged to preach in adjacent villages. His desire to enter the ministry of Christ being approved by the church, he prosecuted his studies under different in- structors ; in the mean time opening a day-school. In 1827, he was led to seek a field of labor on this continent, arriving at Quebec, where he taught school, and preached as he had opportunity. "Subsequently he became connected with the Seventy-ninth Highland Regiment, first as tutor to the 1 family of the commanding officer, and then as regimental schoolmaster." * But he was ill at ease : he wished to give himself wholly to the work of preaching the gospel. Hav- ing been previously ordained, he was called, in 1835, to Lockport, N.Y., where he became pastor of the Baptist church. In October, 1839, he was invited by this church and society to supply the pulpit for six months. This he consented to do, and June 7, 1840, accepted a formal call from them to become their pastor. His entrance into this relation was publicly recognized, Aug. 30, by appropriate services. The sermon was preached by Rev. Robert Turn- bull. The others who officiated on the occasion were Rev. William Hague, Rev. William H. Shailer, Rev. Baron Stow, Rev. Rollin H. Neale, and Rev. Joseph W. Parker, names which bring before all of our minds pleasant and familiar faces, - names of pastors, all of whom are now living (with the exception of that eminent preacher whose memory we
* See Memorial of Rev. T. F. Caldicott, D.D., published at Toronto, 1869.
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love to honor *), and, though thirty years have gone by, are still in the active ministry ; and we haven't begun to call them old.
Mr. Caldicott's personal appearance, his habits of thought, and style of preaching, are too well remembered by you to require particular mention. His coming and preaching were immediately blessed by the outpouring of God's Spirit in a remarkable manner. The time was most favorable. He began his ministry here in 1840, - the beginning of a period memorable in the history of so many of the churches of Christ throughout New England. And Mr. Caldicott was the man whom God chose for the time and place. Con- versions followed conversions ; baptisms followed baptisms. During the year, one hundred and one persons were received into the church on profession of their faith in Jesus Christ. During the year 1841, there was a withholding of converting influences ; but in 1842 the special tokens of God's favor ยท were again enjoyed, and with similar results. The pastor was permitted to baptize the same number as in 1840. That year (1842), twenty-three others were added to the church on profession of faith, being baptized by Rev. Mr. Hervey, who was laboring at Jamaica Plain, where there was no Baptist church. The accessions of those two years were larger than those of any other years in the history of this church. A re-action followed, as we find to be fre- quently the case, presenting to us the strange phenomenon of an enlarged church with apparently less vital power than it had before. Some, undoubtedly, were found afterward not to have the oil of grace in their hearts, and the church was compelled to attend to not a little unpleasant disciplinary
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