USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of Boston, the metropolis of Massachusetts, from its origin to the present period; with some account of the environs > Part 24
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The Court of general sessions of the peace approved the scheme adopted by the town, and publick notice was given by Samuel Gerrish, town clerk, ' that the said markets will be opened on Tuesday the fourth day of June next.' The News-Letter of June 6th, gives the following account and re- marks. 'On Tuesday morning last, being the 4th of June, at Sun- rising, the Bell rang the first time for opening the publick Mar- kets the first time in this Town, at the three several places as- signed, and now conveniently prepared therefor, agreeable to an Order or By-Law of the Town, legally approved, ratified, and confirmed by the Court of General Sessions of the Peace for the County of Suffolk : which Order has been published in this and the other publick News Papers. The Concourse of People (Sellers, Buyers, and Spectators) at the Market Places was very considerable ; abundance of Provisions were brought thither for Sale. Those that exceeded. in Goodness and Cheapness, went off quick, but those that were poor or dear, more slowly. It's tho't the said Markets carried on con- formable to the Restrictions, Limitations, and Regulations of the said Order, will by Experience be found very beneficial, as to this great Town in general, and to our Country Friends in particular, in many Respects, but more especially in having certain fixed Places of Resort both for selling and buying the Necessaries of Life from Day to Day : And the cheaper and better the Commodities brought for Sale are, certainly the more vendable they will be ; which no doubt will induce our Country Neighbours to endeavour to bring as good to the Markets as they can :- Their Interest, as well as the Town's, has been jointly consulted and aimed at herein.'
Many people were dissatisfied with this experiment, and in the course of three years the clerks were discontinued, the South end market converted into shops, the North taken down to be used in constructing a work-house, and the one at the Town-dock was demolished by a mob.
We proceed to notice the formation of the Ninth Congrega- tional society or the church in Lynde-street, called the West church, which was ' gathered,' to use the technical language of our fathers, 'on the third of January, 1736. The covenant
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
was subscribed by seventeen persons, after solemn prayer and preaching, in presence of Thomas Prince, pastor of the Old South, and Thomas Foxcroft, pastor of the First church. On the same day Mr. Wm. Hooper, who was employed as a private tutor in a family near town, was unanimously chosen their pastor. Mr. H. was a native of Scotland, a man of more than ordinary powers of mind, of a noble aspect, an eloquent, popular preacher : it was on his account chiefly, as there is reason to think, that this church was formed. He was ordained on the 18th of May, 1737. The persons who formed the church were Hugh Hall, Wm. Stoddard, from the Old South ; James Gooch. jr. John Darroll, John Daniells, from the First church ; Jos. Ricks, John Pierce, Samuel Sprague, Jos. Badger, from Brattle-street ; Wm. Williams, from first church in Cambridge ; Eph. Copeland, Abijah Adams, John Scot, from the New North ; Wm. More, from the Old North ; and Jas. Watson, Robert Watt, John Moffatt, not before church members. All the Congregational church- es in town, together with Mr. Le Mercier's, were invited to assist in the ordination. All the parts in the solemnities were assigned by the church, except the right hand of fellowship, which the council claimed a right to assign .*
* See Rev. Dr. Lowell's Historical Disc. Dec. 31, 1820.
Covenant of the West Church.
1. We declare our belief of the S. S. as the word of God, and perfect rule of faith and obedience, resolving by his grace to conform to them. And we adhere to the faith and or- der of the Gospels, as exhibited by these churches in their confession of faith and platform of church discipline for the substance of them. 2. We give up ourselves in an everlasting cov- enant to the Lord Jehovah who is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as to our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier, to love, obey and serve him forever. 3. We own and submit to the L. J. C. as the head of his body the church, receiving and relying upon him as the great High Priest, Prophet and King of our Salvation. 4. We give ourselves each to other by the will of God, engaging by his help to carry it towards one another as fellow members in chh. society, to watch over one another in brotherly love, and to walk together in a due sub- jection to and attendance upon the orders and ordinances appointed by Christ, and enjoyn- ed his churches in the Gospel. 5. We thankfully acknowledge that our posterity are inclu- ded in the gospel covenant, and accordingly promise to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and to own them in their covenant relation according to the rules of God's word. 6. We promise to do our endeavour to procure the settlement and con- tinuance of all the officers appointed by Christ the great Shepherd for the edification of his church, and to do our duty faithfully for their maintenance and encouragement, and to car- ry it towards them as the Gospel requires. 7. We promise to preserve communion with the churches of Christ walking together in the faith and order of the Gospel, by giving and receiving mutual counsel and assistance in all cases where it shall be needful .- And now we repair to the Blood of the great Sacrifice for the pardon of all our sins, depending en- tirely upon our L. J. C. for acceptance with God, and for his good Spirit, to enable us to keep his holy covenant. And we humbly ask the prayers of God's people, that we and our offspring may obtain all the blessings of this covenant, for the sake of J. C. to whom with God the Father, and God the Holy Ghost, be glory in the churches forever. Amen.
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
In 1738 the district of Romney Marsh was separated from Boston, and incorporated into a town by the name of CHELSEA. There was great opposition to this step on the part of the old town, and the principal objection was raised on the ground that it would lessen the ability of the town to bear the burden of taxes, some of the wealthy inhabitants residing or own- ing property at the Marsh, which would thus be placed be- yond the reach of the assessors. An attempt had been made two years before, by the country towns in the county of Suf- folk, to rid themselves of the expense of a connection with Boston, by having the town erected into a county by itself, but the opposition from Boston was at that time successful.
The religious world had now experienced a state of quiet for more than fifty years. Primitive zeal in practice and strictness in principle had given place to feelings, which sa- voured more of indifference and unconcern. Individuals were sometimes emboldened to lift their voices to warn or to re- prove, but it was only to be heard and be disregarded. The arrival of the celebrated George Whitefield roused the whole continent from this sort of lethargy. Wherever he appeared, crowds thronged to hear his exhortations. Multitudes atten- ded him in his journeys from place to place, and his progress was regularly reported in the papers of the day. We find his entrance and stay in Boston thus related :-
'On Thursday evening (Sept. 18, 1740) the Rev. Mr. Whitefield arrived here by land from Rhode Island, being met on the road and conducted to town by several gentle- men. The next day in the forenoon he attended prayers in the King's Chapel, and in the afternoon he preached to a vast congregation in the Rev. Dr. Colman's meeting-house ; Saturday, in the forenoon, at the [Old] South church, to a crowded audience ; and in the afternoon to about 5000 peo- ple on the Common. Lord's-day, A. M. he went to hear Dr. Colman, and in the afternoon, having preached to a great number of people at the Old Brick church, the house not be- ing large enough to hold those that crowded to hear him, he went and preached in the field to at least 8000 persons. On Monday he preached in the morning at Mr. Webb's, and was to have served in the afternoon at Mr. Checkley's, but for an accident which happened just before the time when the ser- vice was to begin. Some person broke a piece of board, in one of the galleries, to make a seat of it. The noise alarmed some that heard it, and they imprudently cried out that the galleries were giving way. The house being prodigiously crowded, the whole congregation was put into the utmost con- fusion and disorder ; so that, being in the greatest concern how to save their lives, some jumped off the gallery into the seats below, others out of the windows ; and those below
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pressing to get out of the porch doors in haste, several were thrown down one over another, and trod upon by those who were crowding out. Many were exceedingly bruised, and others had their bones broken : five persons died within two days. Mr. Whitefield's presence of mind did not forsake him ; he led the anxious throng immediately to the Common, and preached to them from the words, Go ye out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in.' Mr. Whitefield continued this incessant labour here for a week, then travelled eastward a few days, returned and spent the second week of October in and about Boston. He preached his farewell sermon, of a sabbath evening, on the Common, ' where it is supposed upwards of 23,000 people attended.' It is almost needless to observe that opinions were various con- cerning the benefit achieved by this visit. Whether evening lectures had been in practice before, we know not, but we find it advertised, as if it were something new, that one is now (Oct. 21.) established, to be held weekly, at Dr. Colman's church.
Considering that the Tenth Congregational, the Second Baptist, and the Eleventh Congregational churches, took their rise from circumstances, which ' possibly had some con- nexion with the religious excitements of this period,' we shall bring an account of those churches into this chapter. The Tenth Congregational was that which is known as Samuel Mather's. This gentleman was a son of the venerated Cotton Mather, and, after his father's death, was chosen, Jan. 28, 1732, to supply his place as colleague with the Rev. Joshua Gee, at the Old North. 'He was recommended to them not only by their respect for the ancient family, but by his own character for diligence, zeal, and learning, of which he certainly pos- sessed an uncommon share. His union with the people of the Old North continued but nine years, when, on account of some dissatisfaction with his preaching, which was thought by some not to be sufficiently explicit upon certain points of doctrine, together with some other grounds of uneasiness, a division took place in the church.' Mr. Mather first asked a dismission in Feb. 1741, which the church declined to grant, and the matter was submitted to a council, in compliance with whose advice they voted, Oct. 23, to dismiss him from his pastoral relation and allow him a year's salary. On the 21st of Dec. following, a number of the ' brethren gave the church to understand, that they conscientiously thought themselves called to promote the building of a new meeting-house,' and were accordingly dismissed. Their number was thirty. On the 29th of the 5th month, 1742, sixty-three women were dis- missed to unite with them, and it is probable that their meet- ing-house was ready to be occupied about that time. It was
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
located at the corner of North Bennet and Hanover streets. Mr. M. received a diploma of doctor of divinity from Har- vard College in 1773. He continued in the pastoral office until his death, which took place June 27, 1785, at the advanc- ed age of seventy-nine years. 'He left positive orders that his interment should be private and without any ceremony- also signified his desire that he might not have any funeral encomiums from any quarter.' Most of the persons who were at that time worshipping with him, returned by his advice to the church from which they came out, and the house was soon after purchased and enlarged for the accommodation of a society of another denomination. It was a wooden building. ' What is called the Second Baptist church in Boston com- menced in the following manner. A number of brethren, who had for some time enjoyed communion in the First Bap- tist church in this town, became dissatisfied with the doctrinal sentiments of their then pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Condy. They charged him with having departed from the sentiments on which the church originally covenanted.' After stating their views to him in writing, under date of Sept. 29, 1742, and not obtaining any satisfactory answer, they withdrew from his ministry, and on the 27th of July, 1743, three of their num- ber (James Bownd, John Procter, and Ephraim Bosworth,) covenanted together as a church, 'purposing, by the Lord's grace enabling, to hold fast those great though now much ex- ploded doctrines, of election, justification by faith alone, par- ticular redemption, final perseverance, and original sin or the total depravity and absolute enmity of all mankind, by their fall in Adam, to God and the gospel of his Son, until irresistible grace do change the hearts of those who are the elect of God.' On the same day, John Dabney and Thomas Boucher, then Ephraim Bownd, and then Thomas Lewis, acknowledging the aforenamed persons ' to be the First Bap- tist church in Boston,' were admitted to be fellow members. The meeting was then adjourned to the evening, when they made choice of Mr. Eph. Bownd to take the pastoral charge of them. His ordination took place on Wednesday, Sept. 7th, at Warwick, R. I.
This society held their Lord's-day meetings for publick worship, at the dwelling-house of Mr. James Bownd, in Sheaf-street, near Copp's hill, from Oct. 3, 1742, until June 3, 1745, when they removed to Mr. Procter's school-house, and there met until Lord's-day, March 15, 1746, when the first sermon was preached in their new meeting-house, which stood on the spot now occupied by the church. It was a wooden building of 45 by 33 ft. finished in a plain, but decent style. Near the head of the broad aisle was prepared a font
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or cistern, in which their candidates were immersed : it con- tinued in use for more than forty years .*
A narrative of the founding and settling of the new-gather- ed [Eleventh] Congregational church in Boston, was publish- ed by the Rev. Andrew Croswell, their pastor. It states, that on the 17th of February, 1748, a number of persons, al- most all of whom were members of other churches, thinking it for the glory of God to be a distinct, but not a separate church, (as was expressed in several letters sent for dismis- sions,) did, after solemn fasting and prayer, embody into a church state. The articles and covenant with which they were embodied are given at large in Mr. Croswell's narrative. The covenant is almost word for word like that of the New Brick church. In their articles they require ' it as agreeable to Scripture, that those who are admitted members of our church should give an account of a work of the law and of the gospel upon their souls,' first to the minister and after- ward to the church. They require the same from any can- didate for the ministry, ' to prevent, (say they,) as much as
* After an introduction, appealing to the S. S. primarily, and to the London Baptist print- ed Confession, subordinately, as the rule and standard of their faith and practice and church discipline, we find the
Covenant of the Second Baptist Church.
We whose names are hereafter written, vizt. some that it hath pleased God through the riches of his grace to call out of darkn. into his marv. light, and to reveal his son in us, whereby we know that the L. is our God, and having shown unto us our duty and priv. as believers, (vizt. not only to separate from the world bothi as to doctrine and practice and worship, but also to congregate and embody ourselves into chh. state,)and being thro' grace well satisfied concerning our mutual nearness to the Lord, and standing together in the per- son of Christ, and being brought in some blessed measure into oneness of sp. being baptized by one s. into one body, and being agreed in the great and sublime truths of the gospel, we do therefore in the name and fear of the L. give up ourselves unto the L. and unto one another by the will of G. to walk together as a chh. of C. in the fp. of the gospel, and in the observance and practice of the laws and ordinances, wh. C. bath appointed his N. T. churches to be in the pract. of, so far as he hath or shall enlighten us into the kn. of our duty and priv. and as the L. shall please to help us. We will freq. assemble ourselves together, as a chh. of C. to attend upon our L. in the service of his house, esp. every first day of the week ; and as we shall be enabled by his grace and conducted by his sp. we will stand up together for the truth and cause of C. against all opp. raised against it by the world and carnal pro- fessors ; and by the same help we will watch over one another in the L. And as we shall be under the conduct of Jehovah the Spirit, we will keep the doors of God's house open always to believers in C. who are sound in faith about the salv. of God's elect as it is by the Father's grace thro' the Son's redemption ; and as our G. will help us, we will keep them always shut ag. unbelievers and profligate persons. And now as a test. of our cordial belief of those former doctrines of f. contained in the printed declaration afsd. and of our holy reso- lution in the strength of grace to stand and walk together in the fp. of the gospel, we call not only heaven and earth to witness but we also subscribe the same with our hands.
See Rev. Dr. Baldwin's Dedication Sermon, 1811, and New Year's Disc. 1821.
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in us lies, any unconverted minister being ever concerned with this church.' They maintain, that, in case of incorrigi- ble fault in a minister, ' this church hath full power to take from him that power over them which they gave to him, though, as we profess ourselves to be Congregationalists, we think that, in such and other difficult cases, it would become us as Christians to seek the advice and assistance of other churches of Christ :' and they acknowledge the Westminster Confession ' to be an excellent system, though no human com- posures are perfect and of divine authority.'
Mr. Croswell was invited by this church to become their pastor. The church in Groton (Conn.) over which he had been settled, having voted him ' liberty to act as he thought duty, he gave an answer in the affirmative in publick, declar- ing to all present, that the design of himself and his friends was only to be a distinct church, and that they professed no separation from Calvinistical ministers.'
About the latter end of August, the church sent letters to a variety of churches to come and assist in the instalment, which was to be, Oct. 5, 1748. The [Old] South church in Boston utterly refused to be concerned in the affair, judging it had ' an unhappy tendency to crumble the other Congrega- tional churches in town into small societies.' The council considered the objections, but thought them of insufficient weight to prevent their proceeding ' to the instalment, which was carried on in a very reverent and godly manner.'
The narrative goes on to say, ' God knew the place where we assembled was too strait and the difficulties that would attend our building an house, and therefore he himself found an house for us.' It was the meeting-house of the French Protestant church,* which, as we have before related, was about this time dissolved. They disposed of their right in the house in School-street to Thomas Fillebrown, James Dav- enport, Wm. Hickling, N. H. Proctor, and Thos. Handaside Peck, as trustees of Mr. Croswell's church. We have sought in vain for the records of this society, and are therefore una- ble to say how long it maintained a visible standing among the churches of Boston. Mr. Croswell became blind in the latter part of his life, but, notwithstanding that infirmity, con- tinued his professional labours ; and could always be depend- ed upon, in cases of emergency, to favour his brethren with an extempore sermon ; he died ' April 12, 1785, in the 77th year of his age.' The meeting-house soon after passed into the hands of another people.
* It has not been usual to include this in our enumeration of the Congregational church- es : though it appears to have been considered a sister-church in cases of ordination.
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
CHAPTER XLI.
Oh ! is there not some patriot, in whose power That best, that godlike luxury is placed, Of blessing thousands, thousands yet unborn, Through late posterity ? . Thomson.
AFTER the destruction of the old market-houses, the opin- ion of the inhabitants continued to be as various as before, some very earnestly desiring, and others as violently opposing the re establishment of them. In the year 1740, Peter Faneuil. Esq. made an offer to build, at his own expense, a complete structure or edifice on the town's land in Dock- square, to be improved for a Market, for the sole use, benefit, and advantage of the town, provided that the town would pass a vote authorizing it, and lay the same under such prop- er regulations as should be thought necessary, and constantly support it for the said use. On the 14th of July, a town meet- ing was held, when a petition of Thomas Palmer and others to the number of 340 was read, praying that the town would accede to the proposal. A vote of thanks to Mr. F. was im- mediately passed without opposition : but when the question came, whether the town would authorize a market to be built, it was carried by a very small majority : 367 yeas to 360 nays. The work was accordingly commenced on the 8th of the following September, and it was finished Sept. 10, 1742, on which day ' Mr. Sam'l Ruggles, who was employed in building the market-house, waited on the selectmen by order of P. Faneuil, Esq. and delivered them the key of said house.' 'On the 13th, a meeting of the town was held in the Hall, and a motion was made, by the Hon. John Jeffries, Esq. that the thanks of the town be given to Peter Faneuil, Esq. for his no- ble and generous benefaction of the Market-house to the town, which, as an instance of gratitude in the town to its amiable benefactor, we have thought proper to transcribe.
' In Town Meeting, Boston, Sept. 13th, 1742.
' Whereas information was given to this town, at their meet- ing, in July, 1740, That Peter Faneuil, Esq. had been gen- erously pleased to offer, at his own proper cost and charges, to erect and build a noble and complete structure, or edifice, to be improved for a Market, for the sole use, benefit, and ad- vantage of the town; provided the town of Boston would pass a vote for that purpose, and lay the same under such proper regulations as shall be thought necessary, and constantly 30
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
support it for the said use. And whereas at the said meeting it was determined to accept of the offer or proposal aforesaid; and also voted that the selectmen should be desired to wait upon Peter Faneuil, Esq. and to present the thanks of this town to him, and also to acquaint him, that the town have, by their vote, come to a resolution to accept of his generous offer of erecting a Market House on Dock Square, according to his pro- posal. And whereas Peter Fanueil, Esq. has, in pursuance thereof. at a very great expense, erected a noble structure, far exceeding his first proposal, inasmuch as it contains not only a large and sufficient accommodation for a Market place, but las also superadded, a spacious and most beautiful Town Hall, over it, and several other convenient rooms, which may prove very beneficial to the town, for offices, or otherwise. And the said building being now finished, has delivered possession there- of to the selectmen, for the use of the town ; it is therefore ' voted, That the town do, with the utmost gratitude, receive and accept this most generous and noble benefaction, for the use and intentions it is designed for, and do appoint the Hon. Thomas Cushing, Esq. the moderator of this meeting, the Hon. Adam Winthrop, Edward Hutchinson, Ezekiel Lewis, and Samuel Waldo, Esqrs. Thomas Hutchinson, Esq. the Selectmen and the Representatives of the town of Boston, the Hon. Jacob Wendell, Esq. James Bowdoin, Esq. Andrew Oliver, Esq. Capt. Nathaniel Cunningham, Peter Chardon, - Esq. and Mr. Charles Apthorp, to wait upon Peter Faneuil, Esq. and in the name of the town, to render him their most hearty thanks for so bountiful a gift, with their prayers, that this, and other expressions of his bounty and charity may be abundantly recompensed with the divine blessing.'
A number of laws were passed for the regulation of the Market. A Clerk was to be annually appointed, and Mr. Faneuil had liberty to nominate one to serve until the annual meeting, in March.
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