USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > History of Cambridge, Massachusetts. 1630-1877. With a genealogical register > Part 31
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No.21. Winthrop ..
No.22. Sparhawke.
No.23. Oliver.
No.24.
Josiah Morse.
ERECTED IN CAMBRIDGE 1756.
No.28.
E.Ruggles.
No.27.
Bordman.
No.26.
Eben! Stedman.
Caleb Dana .
293
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
The house thus erected by the joint contributions of the Col- lege, the Parish, and individuals, served its purpose until 1833, when it was taken down, and the land on which it stood was sold to the corporation of Harvard College. " In this edifice all the public commencements and solemn inaugurations, during more than seventy years, were celebrated ; and no building in Massachusetts can compare with it in the number of distinguished men, who at different times have been assembled within its walls. Washington and his brother patriots in arms there wor- shipped, during the investment of Boston by the Provincial army, in 1775. In 1779, the delegates from the towns of Massachu- setts there met and framed the Constitution of the Common- wealth, which the people of that State ratified in 1780. There Lafayette, on his triumphal visit to the United States, in 1824, was eloquently welcomed, during the presidency of Dr. Kirk- land." 1
Long before the " triumphal visit " of Lafayette, and several years before the erection of this famous edifice, another distin- guished foreigner, Rev. George Whitefield, visited America, creating nearly as much excitement as Lafayette himself ; with this difference, however, that while all united to honor the one, the other was vehemently applauded by some and resolutely and sternly opposed by others. Without discussing the subject in controversy between him and his opposers, it is sufficient here to record the historical fact, that the Pastor of the Cam- bridge Church and the Faculty of Harvard College set their faces as a flint against Mr. Whitefield, who had denounced the Col lege and the New England clergy, as teachers of an unsavory and unprofitable religion, and alleged that a large number of grave and learned divines, held in honor and reverence through- out the vicinity, were in fact unconverted and destitute of vital piety. Professor Wigglesworth and others published vigorous replies to Mr. Whitefield, who was finally induced to retract or essentially modify his accusations against the College. Mr. Ap- pleton declined to admit Mr. Whitefield into his pulpit, in accord-
B. Hancock,
10. 0. 0 Josh. Morse, Aaron Hill, 8. 1. 0
6. 13. 6
Pr. Holyoke, John Dickson,
20. 0. 0
13.
6. 8
Rich. Dana, 15.
0. 0
Caleb Dana, 13.
6. 8
Mr. Fletcher,
14. 0. 0
Lt. Gov. [Phips]
40. 0. 0
Mr. Inman,
10. 0. 0
L. M. 836. 2. 0 = in O. T.
6270. 1. 3 .
The sum total is not precisely accurate. A copy of the original Plan of this meet- ing-house is here reproduced.
1 Quincy's Hist. Harv. Univ., ii. 463.
294
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
ance with the advice of his brethren, which was published in the " Boston Evening Post," Jan. 7, 1745, as follows : -
" Cambridge Jan. 1, 1744-5. At a meeting of the Association of this and the neighboring towns, present, the Reverend Mes- sieurs John Hancock of Lexington, William Williams of Weston, John Cotton of Newton, Nath1. Appleton of Cambridge, Warham Williams of Waltham, Seth Storer of Watertown, Eben". Turell of Medford, Nicholas Bowes of Bedford, Samuel Cook of Cam- bridge. The Rev. Mr. Appleton having applied to his brethren of said association for our advice, relating to a request which hath been made to him by a number of his church and congregation, that he would invite the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield to preach in Cambridge ; after supplications to God and mature consideration of the case proposed, and the several pleas made in favor of said request, and the state of the town, as also the many weighty ob- jections which lie against the said Mr. Whitefield, with respect to his principles, expressions, and conduct, which are not yet answered, nor has any Christian satisfaction been given by him for them ; considering also how much the order, peace and edifi- cation of the churches of this land are endangered, together with the unhappy, divided state of many of them; - It was unani- mously voted, that it is not advisable, under the present situation of things, that the Rev. Mr. Appleton should invite the Rev. Mr. Whitefield to preach in Cambridge. And they accordingly de- clared, each of them for themselves respectively, that they would not invite the said gentleman into their pulpits. je - The above advice was signed by each member of the association.
" Attest,
JOHN HANCOCK, Moderator."
Another article relative to the same subject appeared in the " Boston Weekly News Letter," June 27, 1745: " Whereas it is reported in the Gazette or Journal of this week, that the Rev. Mr. Whitefield preached last Saturday at Cambridge, to prevent misapprehensions and some ill consequences which may arise from thence, you are desired to give your readers notice that he preached on the Common, and not in the Pulpit ; and that he did it, not only without the consent, but contrary to the mind, of the Rev. Mr. Appleton the minister of the place."
As early as May, 1747, a petition was presented to the Gen- eral Court that the inhabitants of that part of Cambridge which afterwards became the town of Brighton might be incorporated as a separate religions precinct. A protest was presented by other persons residing on the same territory, and the petition
295
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
was dismissed. After a like unsuccessful attempt in April, 1748, the petition was renewed by a committee in December, 1749, in which it is said, " There is within the bounds of the proposed new parish on the south side of the river, . . . . . 2660 acres and 81 rods of land, by the plan; 42 dwelling-houses ; about 50 families ; above 50 persons in full communion with the church ; and this part of the town's proportion to the Province Tax in 1748 was £700. 118. 8ª., old tenor, and 67 ratable polls, about 290 souls." It is also said : " We have supported the gospel among us some part of the year for fourteen years, during which time we set apart a house for divine worship that had been a dwelling-house : upon finding it too small for the congregation we erected a convenient house for the worship of God, . ... and soon after we had winter-preaching in this house we con- cluded to have summer-preaching in it also : and we are now in the 5 year that we have had constant preaching."1 This peti- tion, like those which preceded it, was dismissed. It was fol- lowed by another in June, 1758, in which it is more definitely stated that it was " necessary for the inhabitants on this side the river, about twenty-seven years since, to procure preaching among ourselves during the winter season, which we for the space of fourteen years continued to support at our sole expense, paying our full proportion of the gospel in the old town ; but afterwards finding the house in which we met neither convenient nor large enough for the purpose, we did about thirteen years since erect a meeting-house of suitable dimensions in the most suitable place to accommodate the people on this side the river, and have ever since supported the public preaching of the gospel among us at our own charge (except about ten or eleven pounds per annum which has been allowed us by the First Parish for a few years last past)," etc.2 So strong was the opposition, however, that this petition was dismissed ; and another which was presented Feb. 22, 1774, met the same fate. At last, nearly half a century after the commencement of regular religious services (for the winter), and about thirty-five years after the erection of a meet- ing-house in which public worship was offered throughout the year, the inhabitants on the south side of the river were incor- porated by the General Court, April, 1779, as a separate precinct with authority to settle a minister, and to provide for his support by a parish tax, - " excepting Samuel Sparhawk, John Gardner, Joanna Gardner, and Moses Griggs, and their estates, who shall
1 Mass. Arch., xii. 368-371. 2 Mass. Arch., xiv. 73-76.
296
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
be exempted from all ministerial taxes to said precinct, so long as they shall live or reside within the same, or until they or either of them shall give their hands into the Secretary's Office of this State, desiring that they with their estates may be considered as part of said precinct." The subsequent proceedings are related by Dr. Holmes in "Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc.," vii., 36, 37: " In 1780, the church members on the south side of Charles River in Cambridge presented a petition to the church, signifying their desire to be dismissed and incorporated into a distinct church, for enjoying the special ordinances of the gospel more conveniently by themselves. The church voted a compliance with their peti- tion ; and they were incorporated on the 23d of February, 1783. The Reverend John Foster was ordained to their pastoral charge, November 4, 1784."
Besides the incorporation of the second and third precincts, re- sulting in the establishment of two more churches professing the same faith which had distinguished the parent church during the century and a half of its existence, Dr. Appleton witnessed yet another secession from his congregation, involving what he must have regarded as. a departure from the faith and order of the churches. A subscription was commenced in 1759 for the erec- tion of an edifice, which was opened Oct. 15, 1761, for the wor- ship of God according to the forms prescribed by the Episcopal Church. The organization and history of Christ Church Parish will be more fully noticed elsewhere. It is sufficient to say here that it drew from Dr. Appleton's parish several of its richest and most aristocratic members. Socially and financially, he must have regarded their secession as a serious loss.
The ministry of this sixth pastor of the church was long and peaceful, - two thirds of a century in length, but not marked by any very extraordinary characteristics. " The written record of his labors as pastor comprises little more than long lists of persons received to the church, of adults and children who were baptized, and of persons married. The summing up is as follows : children baptized, 2,048 ; adults, 90; admissions to the fellowship of the church, 784. All through this long ministry the pastor was busy in the duties of his office, preaching the word, striving for the salvation of those under his care, and for the edifying of the body of Christ."1 Among the methods adopted for the furtherance of this object, Dr. Holmes says that " in 1736, a committee, chosen by the church to consult with the
1 Mckenzie's Hist. Lect., p. 147.
297
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
pastor respecting measures to promote a reformation, proposed and recommended to the church, as what they ' apprehended might be serviceable for reviving religion and suppressing growing dis- orders,' that there be a number of wise, prudent, and blameless Christians chosen among themselves, whose special care it should be to inspect and observe the manners of professing Christians, and such as were under the care and watch of the church. The pro- posal was adopted, and a committee was appointed, for the pur- pose expressed in the recommendation. This committee, which was a kind of privy council to the minister, though without au- thority, appears to have been very serviceable to the interests of religion ; and it was renewed annually, for the space of about fifty years." 1 It was provided that this committee shonld con- sist of " three in the body of the town, one upon the common, one in Charlestown End, two at Menotomy, and two on the south side of the River." The members first elected were Samuel Danforth, Esq., Andrew Bordman, Esq., John Bradish, Deacon Samuel Bowman, Benjamin Goddard, John Cutter, Ephraim Frost, Daniel Dana, and Deacon Samuel Sparhawk.
The faithful and useful services of Dr. Appleton were recog- nized by the College in the bestowment of a degree, which, how- ever common it may have since become, had never before been conferred by that corporation, except upon Rev. Increase Mather in 1692, and which was therefore a notable mark of honor. The record bears date July 9, 1771 : " The Rev. Mr. Nathanael Ap- pleton having been long an ornament to the pastoral character and eminently distinguished for his knowledge, wisdom, and sanctity of manners and usefulness to the churches, and having for more than fifty years exerted himself in promoting the in- terests of piety and learning in this society, both as a Minister and as a Fellow of the corporation, therefore, Voted, that the De- gree of Doctor in Divinity be conferred on the said Rev. Mr. Nathanael Appleton, and that a Diploma for that purpose be pre- sented to him."
The longest human life has an end. On the verge of ninety years Dr. Appleton on account of his " very advanced age and growing infirmities " requested that a colleague might aid him in the pastoral office. Accordingly, Rev. Timothy Hilliard was elected by the church and congregation and was duly installed. Dr. Appleton survived this event less than four months. " His public usefulness, though diminished, for a few of his last
1 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., vii. 33, 34.
298
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
years, by the infirmities of age, did not entirely cease but with his life. He died Feb. 9, 1784, in the ninety-first year of his age, and sixty-seventh of liis ministry ; and New England can furnish few, if any, instances of more useful talents, and of more exemplary piety, united with a ministry equally long and success- ful."1 A memorial tablet marks the resting-place of his body in the old burial-ground.
The prolonged pastorate of Dr. Appleton was succeeded by the shortest which the church experienced, from its organization in 1636 to its division in 1829. Rev. Timothy Hilliard, born in Kensington, N. H., 1746, H. C. 1764, Tutor 1768-1771, Chap- lain at Castle William, 1768, was ordained at Barnstable, April 10, 1771. The climate proving unfavorable to his healtlı he resigned his charge at Barnstable, and was installed at Cam- bridge as colleague with Dr. Appleton, Oct. 27, 1783. His ministry here did not continue quite seven years, yet it was pro- ductive of good fruits. His immediate successor, Dr. Holmes, says of him : "Placed by Providence in this conspicuous station, his sphere of usefulness became much enlarged, his labors being now extended to the University. For this new sphere he was peculiarly qualified. 'His pulpit talents were excellent. He was pleasing in his elocution. In prayer he was exceeded by few, being ready in his utterance, pertinent on every occasion, and devotional in his manner. His discourses from the desk were never such as could be said to have cost him nothing, but were well studied, pure in the diction, replete with judicious senti- ments, clearly and methodically arranged, instructive, serious, practical, and truly evangelical ; so that his public services were useful and edifying to all ranks of men, both learned and un- learned.' He was ' ever viewed by the Governors of the Univer- sity as an excellent model for the youth under their care who were designed for the desk ; and they considered his introduction into this parish a most happy event.' . .. . Though firm in the maintenance of his own religious sentiments, he was 'eminently candid, and ready to embrace all good men.' In public and private life, he was exemplary for virtue and piety. . . " There was no minister among us,' said President Willard, 'of his standing, who, perhaps, had a fairer prospect of becoming extensively useful to the churches of Christ in this Common- wealth.' . ... In his last illness, which was very short, he was supported by the Christian hope, which gave him a religious su-
1 Coll. Mass. Ilist. Soc., vii. 62.
299
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
periority to the fear of death. . . .. He died on the Lord's-day morning, May 9, 1790, in the forty-fourth year of his age." 1 His ." bereaved, affectionate flock," erected a suitable monumen- tal slab, in the old burial-place, over his mortal remains.
Mr. Hilliard was succeeded in the pastoral office by Rev. Abiel Holmes, who was born in Woodstock, Conn., Dec. 24, 1763, Y. C. 1783, and was ordained pastor of a church at Midway, Georgia, Sept. 15, 1785, which church removed thither bodily from Dor- chester, Mass. He resigned his pastorship of this church in June, 1791, and was installed pastor of the church in Cambridge, Jan. 25, 1792. His ministry was long and eventful. His parish was much enlarged by the establishment and growth of villages at Cambridgeport and East Cambridge, and it was subsequently diminished by their incorporation as a separate parish,2 and the organization of churches in both villages. A new church was organized, Nov. 6, 1814, under the auspices of tlie College, which withdrew many of the officers and students from his congrega- tion. These changes were effected peacefully, and with the cooperation of Dr. Holmes. He preached at the dedication of the meeting-house of the Cambridgeport Parish, and at the or- dination of their first minister. He also assisted in the organi- zation of the College Church.
But another change occurred, which occasioned much grief and sadness, and which he resisted earnestly and steadfastly though unsuccessfully. About the year 1815, a difference in opinion, which had for several years existed between the Trinitarian and Unitarian Congregationalists, attained such prominence as to dis- turb the relations between pastors of churches, and to rend the churches themselves into fragments. Such was the sad effect here. The pastor felt it to be his duty to bear testimony against what he regarded as the errors of Unitarianism, and to prevent their dissemination from his pulpit. A majority of his church approved the measures which he adopted, and adhered to him with unswerving fidelity. A minority of the church, with a majority of the parish, disagreed with him in opinion, and in- sisted that, if he could not conscientiously teach such doctrines as they believed to be true, he should at least allow other clergy- men to do so in his pulpit. A long and unhappy controversy en-
1 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., vii. 64-66. The quotations by Dr. Holmes are from President Willard's Sermon at the funeral bridge. of Mr. Hilliard.
2 The Cambridgeport Parish, which in- eluded both Cambridgeport and East Cam-
-
300
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
sued, which resulted in a division of the church. For obvious reasons, the particular incidents of this controversy are not here repeated. Each party published its own version of the whole matter in 1829: one, in a pamphlet of 58 pages, entitled, " An Account of the Controversy in the First Parish in Cam- bridge ; " the other, in a pamphlet of 103 pages, entitled "Con- troversy between the First Parish in Cambridge and the Rev. Dr. Holmes, their late Pastor." It may suffice to record the re- sult. An ex-parte council, called by the First Parish, assem- bled May 19, 1829, and, after due deliberation, " Voted, That there is plenary evidence of the facts, that Dr. Holmes has ma- terially varied in his ministerial and Christian intercourse from that of his two immediate predecessors, and from that of more than thirty years of his own ministry ; that such change more essentially affects the peace, comfort, and edification of the Par- ish, than any mere change in speculation, or in points of dogmat- ical theology ; that this change has been persisted in, contrary to the repeated remonstrances of a large majority of the Parisli, con- sisting of about three-fourths of the legal voters, including several members of the church ; that this course has greatly grieved them, and so far impaired their confidence in their pastor, as to preclude the possibility of continuing his ministerial relation to them, either with comfort to himself, or any prospect of advan- cing their religious interests. Voted, That the First Parish in Cambridge have sufficient cause to terminate the contract sub- sisting between them and the Rev. Dr. Holmes, as their minister, and this Council recommend the measure, as necessary to the ex- istence and spiritual prosperity of the society. This Council wish it to be distinctly understood," it is added, " that the ser- vice, to which we have in Providence been called, is one of the most painful services of our life. We do not arraign or condemn the motives of the Rev. Dr. Holmes. We are happy to testify that all our impressions of his course, during the peaceful state of his society, are associated with the most interesting and hon- orable views of his ministerial character and the Christian spirit." 1 In accordance with this " Result," the Parish notified Dr. Holmes, June 11, 1829, that his " services will not be re- quired or authorized in the public religious services in the meet- ing-house in said Parish hereafter."2 And, as Dr. Holmes ex- pressed the opinion that he was still the legal minister of the Parish, and professed a willingness to perform all his pastoral
1 Controversy, etc., pp. 87, 88.
2 Ibid., p. 97.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
and ministerial duties, as heretofore, the Parish committee, on the succeeding day, closed the correspondence thus : "You do not owe any such duties as aforesaid to said Parish, and that said Parish refuses to accept from you any service, or services, as such minister, or pastor, thereof. Hereafter you cannot occupy nor use the pulpit of the meeting-house of said Parish, as it will be exclusively appropriated to such preacher, or preachers, as said Parish shall employ to supply it."1 On the next Sabbath, Dr. Holmes and those who adhered to him held religious services in the old Court House. They also called an ex-parte council, which assembled June 17, 1829, and, after a full examination of the case, agreed in this result: " In view of all the facts and evidence presented to this council, they are unanimously of the opinion, that the Rev. Dr. Holmes has not in any way forfeited his office as pastor of the first church and parish in Cambridge ; and that he is still, according to ecclesiastical usage, the pastor and minister of said church and parish." 2 As before stated, a majority of the church adhered to Dr. Holmes, and acknowl- edged him as their pastor ; but the majority of the parish would never thereafter acknowledge such relationship, and the breach between the two has never been healed.
The minority of the parish organized a new society, and adopted the name of the " Shepard Congregational Society," with which the majority of the church, claiming to be the First Church, united to maintain public worship and the ordinances of the gospel. Dr. Holines soon asked for a colleague, and his request was granted. Rev. Nehemiah Adams, Jr., was ordained Dec. 17, 1829. On account of physical debility, Dr. Holmes requested a dismission, which was granted by the church, and confirmed by a council. He preached liis farewell sermon Oct. 2, 1831. He continued to preach occasionally until near the close of his life. He died, of paralysis, June 4, 1837, in the 74th year of his age. It is worthy of notice, that even during the unhappy controversy in the parish, no " railing accusation" is known to have been heard against the moral and Christian character of Dr. Holmes ; even the council, which determined that he had forfeited liis ministry by a steadfast persistence in what he regarded as his duty contrary to the desires of others whose opinions differed from his own, bear a frank and manly testimony to his worth and sincerity as a Christian. His present successor in the ministry has thus described his labors and his character : "The minis-
1 Controversy, etc., p. 98.
2 Account of the Controversy, etc., p. 55.
.
302
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
try of Dr. Holmes here was but a few months short of forty years. With a single exception, it was the longest which the church has known. For nearly the whole of the time he was the only pastor in this part of the town, and he stood at the centre of a large parish, making his influence felt in every direction. He preached the word with fidelity and diligence. He fulfilled the various offices of our holy religion. He instructed the children, and gave them books. He formed libraries for the use of the parish. He watched over the schools. He gave of his substance to the poor. He brought into the parish the aid of others whom he esteemed able to edify the people. He zealously followed every good work. . ... Dr. Holmes left. a large number of printed works, consisting chiefly of sermons preached on various occasions. . . .. He published a small ' History of Cambridge,' 1 which is invaluable to any one interested in the ancient town. His largest work was ' The Annals of America from the Discov- ery by Columbus in the year 1492 to the year 1826. . . .. He was connected with a number of societies. From 1798 he was a most devoted friend of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and for more than twenty years its corresponding secretary. He was one of the founders of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, and of the American Education Society. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the Trustees of the Institution at Andover, and an Overseer of Harvard University. His degree of Doctor of Divinity was re- ceived from the University of Edinburgh about 1805, and he was . made Doctor of Laws by Allegliany College, in 1822." 2
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