USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of King's Chapel, in Boston : the first Episcopal church in New England : comprising notices of the introduction of Episcopacy into the northern colonies > Part 11
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and which will include in them a total alienation of the property of said house from the use intended by the original donors or founders.
JAMES IVERS, for himself and Jas. Trecothick, Esqr. GILBERT DEBLOIS, for himself, Lewis Deblois, and Henry Leddell. JAMES LLOYD, for Win. Vassall, Esqr. HENRY SMITH for Henry Lloyd. JAMES APTHORP. CHARLES WILLIAMS. THEODORE DEHON. JOHN Box. JOHN HASKINS. LYDIA Box. MATTHEW NAZRO. AMBROSE VINCENT. GRIZZELL APTHORP. DOROTHY FORBES.
ANSWER TO THE PROTEST, BY THE WARDENS.
The Wardens of the Chapel being two of the un- doubted proprietors of it, think themselves called upon to vindicate the conduct of that church respecting the ordination of the Rev. Mr Freeman on the last Lord's day. They would have been happy if some of the former proprietors had not thus obliged them to ap- pear in public ; but the foregoing protest being of such a nature as to mislead the public at large, obliges them to display the impropriety of it. At the same time from the respect due to some persons whose names appear in the protest, they are very unwilling to hurt their feelings, which must. necessarily be done in the following remarks.
Before they enter on the merits of the cause, it will not be amiss to go over the names and circumstances of the Protestors, and leave the world to judge of the expediency or propriety of their acting in this matter at all. - Previous to their dissent a Committee from their body called on the senior warden desiring in- formation respecting the ordination. This desire being made known to the vestry, they empowered a
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committee to wait upon them and to furnish them with a copy of the votes relative to the business ; among which votes there was one expressly forbidding any votes by proxy. Notwithstanding this, five proxies have appeared in behalf of those whose local situa- tion and circumstances do not at present admit of their voting. The dissentient committee were at the same time informed that if any objections lay against our procedure a meeting should be called, and they heard upon the subject before the time fixed for the ordina- tion. No such meeting was desired, and the ordina- tion accordingly took place. On Saturday evening previous to the ordination, another Committee called on the Wardens and presented the protest, which was on the next day after service laid before the church and congregation, and dismissed by an unanimous vote for reasons which will be given. Now let us see who the Protestors are, and what right they had to make this protest, and how far their right extended,
The protestors consist of 17 in number, five of whom we conceive had no right to protest at all, for although the agents who appear for them may be their lawful attorneys in secular matters, yet we do not believe it probable that they can be competent judges of their opinions on matters of faith ; and there is quite as much reason to think that some of them at least would unite with us in opinion, as that others would unite with the Dissentients. For instance how does Mr Ivers or Dr Lloyd know that Mr Trecothick and Mr Vassal would not join in the ordination? As how- ever it is very improbable that Mr Trecothick, who is settled in business in London, and has a family and connexions there, will ever come to this country, ex-
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cept on a visit, this vote can hardly be reckoned. The same may be said of Mr Henry Lloyd, whose depar- ture we most sincerely lament ; Mr L. Deblois and Mr Leddell. Where then could be the necessity of ap- plying to these gentlemen for their opinion ? Or must a church in this country be deprived of the bene- fit of the holy ordinances lest the mode of administer- ing them should not be agreeable to some of its breth- ren at a distance ? However, to gratify our dissentient brethren, we will admit the votes of these five. The next person we shall mention is Mr James Apthorp of Braintree, a gentleman who left this town several years ago, and joined himself to the church at Brain- tree, and who although he was upon the spot when Mr Freeman was chosen Minister of the Chapel, and had heard of the amendments making in the Liturgy, yet never appeared to disapprove of them ; and yet he and all the other proprietors were desired in public prints to appear, and show cause if any, why the church should not proceed to the business which they
. have since transacted. With how much propriety therefore he appears in the above protest, the candid will judge. - The next three persons we mention are Mrs Forbes, Mr Dehon and Mr Nazro, neither of whom have worshipped at the Chapel since 1775, altho' they are worthy proprietors ; but have continued to worship at Trinity Church previous to any alteration in our service. - We have now mentioned eight persons out of the seventeen of whose right to interfere we leave to the decision of the public. Of the remainder we might except against Mrs Box as an elderly lady who has been unable to attend public worship for several years past ; and to Mr Haskins and Mr Williams as
,
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having voted for many of the alterations. As we do not recollect whether Mr Ives and Mr Box voted for the alterations, we shall not include them in that num- ber. - With respect to Madam Apthorp and Mr Vin- cent, they have frequently worshipped with us since the alterations were made, and therefore cannot be presumed to object on that account, but only on ac- count of the mode of ordination.
The last person to be mentioned is Mr Gilbert Deb- lois, a gentleman, who, having so lately returned among us, we fear has not had time to pay sufficient attention to the alterations, but who, we hope when he has done it will make us happy in returning with his family to our Christian communion. Now let us see how many of the old proprietors, those we mean who were such before the war, are still remaining with us. Of these, as it appears by the Church books, there are twenty- Jour ; who without mentioning any other persons, be- ing a large majority, are fully justified in taking upon them the conduct and management of the church. But beside these there are twenty other persons who having joined themselves to the church by purchasing pews and becoming proprietors, have an undoubted right to give their assent and vote in Church transac- tions. We might go on, and reckon a great number of other respectable persons, who by occupying pews and statedly paying their dues, have likewise a right of voting. And of these Old and New proprietors and Occupiers not one dissenting voice was heard respecting the ordination.
We will now enter upon the merits of the protest itself. The protest begins thus, " Whereas certain persons calling themselves a majority of the proprie-
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tors of the Stone Chapel," did &c. - We acknowledge this to be true ; and whereas this majority consisted of at least five if not six to one of the proprietors, no man in his senses will assert that they had not a just right so to do. But what have they done ? " They have declared that the pews of a number of the origi- nal proprietors are forfeit on account of their absence." But the Protestors do not say that these forfeitures are just, by the very tenor of the deeds ; nor do they say that there is a standing vote of this Church, that if any of said proprietors either by themselves, or their special attorney apply within a certain time, they shall be reimbursed the expenses of their pews, after deducting the arrears due upon them ; - nor have they given the reason for this step, which was to defray the necessary expenses of repairs of damages incurred during the war, and the time in which the Church lay unimproved, and to finish the building. They further say that those pews "have been sold to persons who never were of the Episcopal Church." This is a very extraordinary remark. We would wish to know if in the Episcopal Church or elsewhere, any person, whose life and conversation was blameless, was ever prevent- ed from joining any particular society, or becoming the proprietor of a pew, provided there was room for him and he able to make good his purchase. We have always believed that the Episcopal church displayed a liberality in this respect which was truly commenda- ble. And when a person has once become a purcha- ser, we wish to know by what authority he can be prohibited from giving his vote in any case whatever, and whether such a proprietor's vote is not as valid as even the first and most respectable of its Founders ?
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We are not able to find any record of this church from its foundation which prohibits the sale of pews to persons of any persuasion whatever ; and the old pro- prietors of the Church we doubt not are so far from disapproving of the sale of pews to the late purchas- ers, that it would make them happy to dispose of as many more to persons of equal merit. We would ask these Protestors if they do not wish from their hearts that the Episcopal church in general might grow ? and how is it to grow, if not by additions from other churches ? But look at the other Episcopal Churches in this town ; of whom do the far greater part of them consist, but of those who were educated in another persuasion? and are they allowed to have no vote at all? But this matter is too futile for serious discus- sion.
The Protestors next say that " these new proprie- tors have introduced a Liturgy different from any now used in the United States." This assertion is on many accounts very extraordinary. Before any alter- ation was made in the Liturgy, was it not considered at a meeting of the Members whether any alterations in the service were necessary ? was it not voted in the affirmative by Messrs Haskins and Williams ? was not a committee then appointed to inquire what alterations were necessary ? Did not that Committee consist of persons, who have always been of the Church ? How then can it be said to have been done by the new pro- prietors ? This is a subterfuge too little to be offered to the public in a matter of such importance. Further, was there not an unanimous vote at the first meeting of the Committee before any business was acted upon, that it was still the opinion of the Committee that some
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alterations were necessary ? We pledge our word to the public for the truth of the affirmative of these queries ; and also that Messrs Haskins and Williams voted personally for many of these alterations tho' not all. And now because the business has not termin- ated exactly to their minds, they appear thus openly against the Church. However, as we greatly respect these gentlemen as worthy, conscientious men, we will not wound their feelings by saying more on this part of our subject.
We come now to the last article to be taken notice of, which is that " we have introduced articles of faith which in their opinion are unscriptural and heretical, and have thereby deprived many of the proprietors of their property in the house, and the privilege of wor- shipping God therein according to the dictates of their consciences." As to depriving them of their property, the church never had a thought of doing it. We shall be very happy in having them join with us in religious worship ; but if they cannot do this, they may still re- tain or doubtless dispose of their property in the Church to great advantage. As to the introduction of any articles of faith, the charge is totally without foundation. We have no articles of faith but the Apostles' creed. It is true some parts of that are omitted, and for these omissions all the members of the Committee voted, Mr Haskins and Mr Williams not excepted. That the world however may know what those tenets and articles are which are so unscriptu- ral, we hereby declare, that we worship and adore one only living and true God, the parent of mankind, the bountiful Giver of all Good ; that we offer our adora- tions to him in the name of his dearly beloved Son,
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the Redeemer of mankind ; and that we expect and hope for pardon and acceptance and eternal happiness only thro' the mercies of God in Jesus Christ. And if this is the doctrine which they call heresy, we pro- fess thus to worship the God of our fathers.
XIII.
ORDINATION OF THE REV. JAMES FREEMAN.
ON Sunday, 18th November, 1787, after the Rev. Mr Freeman had finished the reading of Evening prayer, the Wardens joined him in the reading desk, when the Senior Warden (Thomas Bulfinch, M: D.) made a short but pertinent address to the vestrymen, proprietors and congregation, on the importance of the service in which they were now engaging.
" Brethren of the Vestry, proprietors and congrega- tion who statedly worship in this Church ! At your last meeting at this place you appointed this day for the ordination of the Rev. Mr Freeman ; you then deter- mined it by a vote which I shall now read, to be signed by the wardens on your behalf. But as this mode of procedure may appear new and unprecedented to some of this Audience, it may not be amiss to assign a rea- son for adopting it.
" It is now upwards of four years, since you made choice of the Rev. Mr Freeman for your Minister, since which time you have been anxious for his ordi- nation, that he might be empowered to administer the
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ordinances of the Gospel - and although you have re- peatedly sought for this power, yet you have not been able to obtain it. Some hopes have been conceived from the American Bishops, the Right Rev. Dr Sea- bury, and since from the Rt Rev. Dr Provost, but that prospect being still distant, you have adopted the pre- sent mode, rather than be longer deprived of those ordinances. As the business before us is of a serious and important nature, it becomes us to begin it with a solemn address to the great Parent of mankind."
The first ordaining prayer was then read by the Rev. Mr Freeman. The Senior Warden then read the or- daining vote, Viz. " We the Wardens, vestry, propri- etors and congregation of King's Chapel, or first Episcopal church in Boston, do, by virtue of the third article in the declaration of rights, hereby solemnly elect, ordain, constitute and appoint the Rev. James Freeman of said Boston to be our Rector, Minister, Public Teacher, Priest, Pastor and teaching Elder, to preach the word of God, and to dispense lessons and instructions in piety, religion, and morality ; and to minister the holy sacraments in the congregation ; and to do, perform and discharge all the other duties and offices, which of right belong to any other Rector, minister, public teacher, Pastor, teaching elder, or Priest in orders.
" And it is hereby understood and intended, that the authority and rights hereby given to the said James Freeman, to be our Rector, Minister, public Teacher, Priest, teaching Elder and Pastor, are to remain in full force so long as he shall continue to preach the word of God, and dispense instructions in piety, religion and morality, conformably to our opinions and sentiments of
13
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the holy scriptures, and no longer : and that our judge- ment of his not thus conforming to our religious senti- ments and opinions, shall be ascertained by the votes of three fourths of the wardens and vestry, and of three fourths of the proprietors usually worshipping in said church, separately and individually taken."
"Brethren ! if this vote be agreeable to your minds, if you readily and cheerfully adopt it, if you mean to convey all the powers expressed in it - please to sig- nify it."- In token of their unanimous approbation, the proprietors lifted up their right hands.
"If it is your desire that the said vote be now signed by the wardens in your behalf, please to signify it."-
The Proprietors, as before, unanimously lifted up their right hands. - The Senior Warden then ad- dressing Mr Freeman, said-" Revd Sir, it appears by the vote in favour of your ordination that you are law- fully chosen - it is expected that you now declare your acceptance of the choice." - Mr Freeman then read and presented to the Senior Warden the following subscribed by him. Viz - " To the Wardens, Vestry, proprietors and congregation of the Chapel or first Episcopal church in Boston. Brethren, with cheerful- ness and gratitude I accept your election and ordina- tion which I believe to be valid and Apostolick. And I pray God to enable me to preach the word, and to administer the ordinances of religion in such a man- ner as that I may promote his glory, the honour of the Redeemer and your spiritual edification.
JAMES FREEMAN."
The Senior Warden then delivered to Mr Freeman a copy of the ordaining vote signed by the Wardens, and laying his hand on Mr Freeman, said, " I do then
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as Senior Warden of this church, by virtue of the authority delegated to me, in the presence of Almighty God, and before these witnesses, declare you, the Rev. James Freeman, to be the Rector, Minister, Priest, Pas- tor, public Teacher, and teaching Elder of this Epis- copal church ; - in testimony whereof I deliver you this book (delivering him a Bible) containing the holy oracles of Almighty God, enjoining a due observance of all the precepts contained therein, particularly those which respect the duty and office of a Minister of Jesus Christ. - And the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you , and give you peace now and forevermore." The whole Assembly as one man, spontaneously and emphatically pronounced AMEN.
The Rev Mr Freeman then read the second ordain- ing prayer, and after an Anthem was sung by the choir, preached on the duties and offices of a Christian Min- ister. Another Anthem then closed the Evening service.
XIV.
DR BELKNAP'S REMARKS ON MR FREEMAN'S ORDINATION.
[See page 142.]
For the Centinel.
A ROWLAND FOR YOUR OLIVER.
ON Sunday the 18th inst. was exhibited at the house formerly called the King's Chapel, an instance of the public exercise of a long dormant right, which every
* In answer to a scurrilous piece in a preceding paper.
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Society civil and religious has to elect and Ordain their own officers. It is to be observed that application had been made to one or more of the lawned successors of the humble apostles, for ordination in the Episcopal mode, but it was withheld on account of the unpliable integrity of the Candidate, in scrupling subscription to articles of faith of human composure. And though the Bible, the work of Prophets, Evangelists, and Apos- tles, was acknowledged as the standard of faith, yet this acknowledgment was insufficient! When priestly usurpation is carried to a certain pitch, the people (thank Heaven) can, and will find out their own rights, and know how to exercise them. Invested with this right by the God of nature, secured in the exercise of it by the civil constitution, and encouraged by all the consistent friends of order and liberty ; the independ- ' ent congregation by their representatives publickly in- vested with the ministerial office a sensible, honest man, who publickly accepted the Bible as the only standard of his faith, and directory of his preaching and ministra- tions. Thus without any mysterious unintelligible ceremonies ; without any assumption of apostolick powers; without any pretended superiority of office ; without any affected communication of sacerdotal effluviæ, was a servant of Jesus Christ introduced into his office in a style, simple, decent, primitive and con- stitutional. Then was cut the aspiring comb of prela- tic pride, - then was undermined the pompous fabrick of hierarchical usurpation ;- then was pricked the puffed bladder of uninterrupted succession ; while the eye of liberty sparkled with joy, and the modest face of primitive, simple, unadulterated Christianity brightened with the conscious smile of a decent, man- ly, substantial triumph.
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XV.
CLERICAL EXCOMMUNICATION OF MR FREEMAN.
[See page 142.]
From the Centinel of Jan. 28. 1788.
EXCOMMUNICATION.
MR RUSSEL. By publishing the following Protest, or Excommunication in the Centinel, you will oblige yr humble servant,
JAMES FREEMAN, Minister of the Stone Chapel, Boston.
Whereas a certain congregation in Boston calling themselves the first Episcopal Church in that town, have in an irregular unconstitutional manner, intro- duced a Liturgy essentially differing from any used in the Episcopal churches in this commonwealth, and in the United States, not to mention the Protestant Episcopal church in general, and have also assumed to themselves a power unprecedented in said Church, of separating to the work of the ministry Mr James Freeman, who has for some time past been their Read- er ; and of themselves have authorized or pretendedly authorized him to administer the Sacraments of Bap- tism and the Lord's Supper ; and at the same time most inconsistently and absurdly take to themselves the name and style of an Episcopal Church : - We the Ministers of the Protestant Episcopal church whose names are underwritten, do hereby declare the proceedings of said congregation usually meeting in the Stone Chapel in Boston, to be irregular, unconsti- tutional, diametrically opposite to every principle
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adopted in any Episcopal Church, subversive of all order and regularity, and pregnant with consequences fatal to the interests of religion. And we do hereby, and in this public manner protest against the aforesaid proceedings, to the end that all those of our commu- nion, wherever dispersed, may be cautioned against receiving said Reader or Preacher, Mr James Free- man as a clergyman of our church, or holding any communion with him as such ; and may be induced to look on his congregation in the light in which it ought to be looked on by all true Episcopalians.
EDWARD BASS, of St Paul's Ch. Newburyport. SAMUEL PARKER, Trinity Ch. Boston. WILLIAM MONTAGUE, Christ Ch. Boston. JOHN C. OGDEN. Queen's Chapel. Portsmouth N. H.
Dec. 1787.
XVI.
SOME NOTICES OF THE REV . SAMUEL CARY.
[See Page 145.]
The Rev. Samuel Cary was the son of the Rev. Thomas Cary of Newburyport, in which place he was born, Nov. 24, 1785. He was graduated at Harvard University in 1804. He studied divinity at Cambridge for three years, and was invited to preach on probation at King's Chapel in Nov. 1808. He was ordained, Jan. 1, 1809. He was married in 1811, and died Oct- 22. 1815.
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His publications are, 1. A Discourse before the Merrimack Humane Society ; 1806. 2. A Discourse at his own Ordination. 3. A Discourse delivered on the Day of the National Fast; Sept. 9. 1813. 4. A Sermon before the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company ; June 6. 1814. 5. A Discourse on the Igno- rance of the true Meaning of the Scriptures, and the Causes of it; 1814. 6. Sermon on the Death of Madam Susan Bulfinch ; Feb. 26. 1815. 7. Review of English's " Grounds of Christianity Examined ;" 1813.
The intelligence of Mr Cary's death called forth warm and heartfelt tributes of respect and love from his friends. A Sermon on the occasion by the Rev. Dr Freeman, and a part of a sermon by the Rev. Henry Colman, in which his virtues and talents were feeling- ly portrayed, were printed, though not published. His congregation ordered a monument to be erected over his remains, and an epitaph in Latin to be inscribed on it, which was from the pen of his classmate, Professor Andrews Norton.
An account of Mr Cary was also published in Eng- land, in the Monthly Repository for December, 1815, consisting principally of an extract from a Funeral Discourse delivered the Sunday after his decease, at the Essex Street Chapel, by the Rev. Thomas Belsham. As this extract contains an interesting narrative of the circumstances attending his death, I will here copy the larger portion of it, without apology.
" Dr Freeman, after twenty years' active service in the church, finding his health beginning to decline, requested and obtained from his numerous and flourish- ing congregation the assistance of a colleague. That colleague was the Reverend Samuel Cary, a young
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man of distinguished ability, and piety, who on the first of January, 1809, was ordained co-pastor with the Reverend Dr Freeman. The talents and the virtues of this excellent young man are spoken of in the high- est terms by all who had the happiness of his acquaint- ance, and especially by those who enjoyed the great privilege of attending upon his ministry.
" The greatest advantages were naturally antici- pated from this auspicious connexion. The venerable pastor of the society whose precarious health led him to apprehend that his own labours might be speedily ter- minated, or at least frequently interrupted, was delight- ed with the prospect of leaving the people of his charge, the objects of his affectionate solicitude, and particularly the rising generation, in whose welfare and improvement he felt a peculiar interest, under the care of one who would follow his steps, and perfect the work of instruction and edification which he had so happily begun. The members of the society also rejoiced that they had found a minister who in- herited so large a portion of the spirit of their admired and beloved pastor ; and one who would be so well qualified, with divine assistance, to support and to carry on the great cause of truth and goodness, when his venerable colleague should in the course of nature be dismissed from his labours, or by declining health and the infirmities of advancing years be under the necessity of retiring from his official duties. ' With such an affectionate people' (saith this exem- plary minister of Christ, in a charge delivered upon the solemn occasion of Mr Cary's settlement as a co- pastor with him) ' my brother has reason to hope that his life will be happy. And you, my friends, on your
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