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 4
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discordant elements, what a sweetener of bitter waters, is holy freedom.
My sympathies are not with Episcopalians or royalists, as such. They rather cleave to the puritans, whether in the mother country or in this - that noble company, who separated themselves from the corruption which was in the world through lust, the lust of pleasure and the lust of power, and founded an asylum on these shores for virtue and liberty. But they had their faults ; and ex- clusiveness, which was one of them, deserves reprobation, wherever and by whomsoever it is manifested. In looking at those times which are · now passing under our review, I may be permitted to rejoice, therefore, and I do rejoice, that the Episcopalians accomplished their object, and ob- tained a house of prayer which they could call their own ; in which they could worship God in their own chosen way, and commemorate their Lord without going through a discipline of rigid creeds and confessions, and baptize their children as they themselves were baptized in the land of their birth.
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FROM THE ARRIVAL OF MR MYLES, THE SECOND RECTOR TO THE DEATH OF MR BRIDGE, HIS FIRST ASSISTANT.
AND THE PRIESTS WAITED ON THEIR OFFICES. - 2 Chron. vii. 6.
A BISHOP THEN MUST BE BLAMELESS - VIGILANT - APT. TO TEACH. - 1 Tim. iii. 2.
THE successor of Mr Ratcliffe, as minister of the " Congregation of the Church of England in Boston," was the Rev. Samuel Myles. As the records of the church show that the first weekly contribution after the deposition of Andros was paid to Mr Myles, July 1, 1689, and that on the 27th of July, a disbursement was made " for the accommodation of Mr Ratcliffe for his voy- age home," there is reason to believe that both these gentlemen were present at the opening of the newly erected church. Taking into view the highly excited state of the popular mind at the time, it is not likely that any great ceremony was attempted on the occasion.
---
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I presume, though I am unable to state it as a fact, that Mr Myles was sent over from England to the Episcopalians, by their diocesan, the Bish- op of London, because such was the constant practice. He waited regularly on his office, from the time of his induction, June 29, 1689, to some time in July, 1692,* when he took a voyage to the mother county, for the purpose of laying before the high authorities there the con- dition of the Chapel and congregation, and ob- taining aid in their behalf.
In his absence the pulpit was supplied by a Mr Smith, who officiated till the middle of June, 1693; and from that time till the return of Mr Myles, it was filled by Mr George Hatton.
Of the former of these gentlemen I can learn no particulars. Of the latter there is a notice in the records, which will be copied in its place.
On the 24th of July, 1696, Mr Myles return- ed from England, having executed his commission in such a manner as to infuse new life into his con- gregation. He had found means so to interest the royal partners, that they extended to the church their personal protection and patronage ; and though Queen Mary died while he was in London, William III. continued to perform what she had engaged to do on her part for the adher-
* Mr Myles's last receipt at this period is dated July 17, 1692.
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ents to the English establishment in these distant dominions. The influence of the Bishop of London was no doubt the channel through which Mr Myles effected his purposes.
His arrival is thus recorded. " Boston, 1696. This year Mr Samuel Myles, Pastor of this Church, returned from England; hee arrived July 24th and brought with him part of the Gift of Quene Mary performed by King William after her decease, viz. the Church furniture, which were A Cushion and Cloth for the Pulpit, two Cushions for the Reading Deske, a carpet for the Allter, all of Crimson Damask with silk fringe, one Large Bible, two Large Common prayer Books, twelve Lesser Common prayer Bookes, Linin for the Allter. Also two surplises."
Soon after is the following notice, which has just been referred to, respecting Mr Hatton. " Boston, October 28th. Mr George Hatton, who had preached here in the Absence of Mr Myles for about three years, at his going home to the Island of Providence the Church presented him with twenty pounds, which was paid him. Tenn pounds by Thaddeus Mackarty and Tenn pounds by Capt. ffra ffoxcroft out of the church stock."
Then are recorded gifts to the church in mon- ev. from Dr Bullivant, and Capt. William
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Higgins, commander of his Majesty's ship the Arundell, after which is the following memoran- dum ; " The Decalouge, viz. thee tenn Com- mandments, the Lord's Prayer and the Creed, were drawne in England and brought over by Mr Samuel Myles in July, 1696."* A costly service of communion plate is described as brought over by Capt. John Foye, the next year; another proof of the bounty of the King and Queen.t It formed a part of the service no doubt, which was carried back to England by Dr Caner, in the war of the revolution.
But a more substantial evidence still of the
It is no stretch of charity to believe that the honest war- den who made this memorandum knew better how to keep the Decalogue, than he did to describe or to spell it.
+ " Boston 1697, then received of Mr Myles too great Silver Flagons, and one sallver and one boul and one Civer all of Sillver which was given to the Church by the King and Queen and broughtover by Capt. John Foye, Received by me Giles Dyer Church Warden."
Mr Giles Dyer seems to have had a generous soul, which was inflamed with the desire of imitating the royal benefac- tors of the Chapel ; as his own records may witness. "To my Labor for making the Wather Cock and Spindel, to Duing the Commandements and allter rome, and the Pulpet, to Du- ing the Church and Winders mor to Duing the Gallarey and the Kings Armes, fortey pounds which I Freely Give, G. Dyer." In return for these benefactions the church should have taught Mr Dyer the useful science and accom- plishment of Orthography. "Duing," probably means painting, which was Mr Dyer's business.
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royal favor, was an annuity of one hundred pounds, for the support of an assistant minister at the Chapel ; though some subsequent events made it extremely doubtful whether this provision was for the real benefit of the cause.
The first assistant appointed by the Bishop of London, was a Mr Dansy, who died on his pas- sage to Boston .* The next was a Mr White, who was sent with Lord Bellomont, when that nobleman came out to succeed Sir William Phips in the government of New England.t The man of war in which they sailed was blown off to Bar- badoes, where Mr White died. Thus twice de- prived of their expected minister, the church applied for another, in a letter to the Bishop, of the 2d of May, 1698. A letter of the same date is re- corded, being a congratulatory address to the Earl of Bellomont, on his arrival at New York. It is superscribed " To his Excellency, Richard, Earl of Bellomont, Capt. Generall and Governour in Chief of his Majesties Provinces of the Massa-
* Mr Myles married his widow, and went to housekeeping, and his salary was increased in consequence from two to three pounds per week.
t Sir William Phips arrived with the new charter May 14th, 1692. He returned to England in 1694, and died there Feb. 18, 1695. Richard, Earl of Bellomont, arrived in New York, May, 1698, and in Boston, May 26, 1699.
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chusetts Bay, New York and New Hampshire ;" and is in the adulatory style common to such addresses.
With the new Governor arrived a very valua- ble present of books to the Church from the Bishop of London .* A complete catalogue of them is preserved in the book of records of this period, and an examination of it enables me to say, that they formed a theological library which was perhaps the best at that time in the country, and would be now considered as of great excel- lence and such as any institution or individual might be glad to possess. It was carefully de- posited in boxes made for the purpose by order of the wardens, and placed in Mr Myles's house. It has since been neglected, dispersed and abused in various ways, till the sad remnant was saved, : by being deposited a few years ago in the Libra- ry of the Boston Athenaeum.
The receipt of these books was acknowledged in a letter to the Bishop, dated 21 July, 1698, written by the wardens in behalf of the congre- gation. " We have received," say they, "an- other experience of his Lordship's care and kind- ness in sending us a Library, which we have received in good condition, and having this op-
* The gift of books was actually from the King. This I infer from its being afterwards called the King's library.
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portunity of a worthy Gent. Coll. Andrew Hamilton, Late Governor of the Jerseys, may not omit to render your Lordship our most hearty thanks ; and shall see them improved to the true intent : for the present have lodged them in Mr Myles his study, for the use of him, the assistant when he comes, and his or their successors, and take care that no abuse or imbecilment be made of them."
In a third letter of the 21st November, same year, the wardens renew their request for an as- sistant to Mr Myles, " for," they urge, " should any sickness or distemper happen to him, we should run adventure of being dispersed, which would overthrow in an instant what we have been this ten years endeavoring, the firm estab- lishment of a Church of England Congregation in this place." They further entreat his Lord- ship not in the least to admit of Mr Myles's re- moval, " for he is well liked of all of us," say they, " a good liver and a painfull preacher." They end by assuring his Lordship that they are very zealous in promoting their increase, " and are intended, finding it will be needful, to enlarge their chapel."
The following letter mentions the arrival of an assistant.
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" Right Honble and Right Reverend Father in God. May it please your LordsP.
We have gladly received the effect of our formers by the appearance of Mr Christopher Bridge amongst us. Which favour of your Lordship we acknowledge with all thank- fulness : And doubt not but he will be to satis- faction : We shall constantly pay him 40 shillings a week, which we began the 5th instant the first day of his arrival. Also we continue unto Mr Myles his 3 pounds a week, besides his perquisites, and shall not be wanting in our due respects to both of them. We have received the goods from Mr Wessendunck, and pray the continuance of your Lordship's favour. We shall alwaies endeavour to approve ourselves
Y' LordPs Most obedient Sons. GEORGE TURFREY Wardens JOHN INDICOT
Of the King's Chappell in Boston in New England.
20 March, 1693."
The Mr Wessendunck mentioned in the above letter, was an original member of the church, and at this time their agent in London, who transacted their business, and through whom their letters were transmitted. The " goods," were articles of merchandize, in which form it
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was more advantageous to the church to receive the king's bounty than in money.
About a month after Mr Bridge's arrival, the congregation, whose temporal concerns had hith- erto been managed by two wardens, voted to constitute a body of vestrymen to be joined in authority with the ministers and wardens. This vote was passed on Easter Monday, April 10th, and the next day the vestrymen were chosen, according to the following vote.
" Voted that Francis Foxcroft, Thaddeus Mackarty, Thomas Newton, Giles Dyer, Benja. Mountfort, John Cooke, Savil Simpson, Edward Lyde and Edward Turfrey be a Vestry of this Congregation for one year ensueing, to advise and consult with the Ministers and Wardens upon and concerning all matters and things as shall by them be from time to time thought necessary to be done and performed relating to the said Church, and the placing, and seating of persons therein, and to represent the whole congregation in all matters and things whereunto the consent of the same is necessary. And that whatsoever the Wardens with the advice of said Vestry or major part of them shall do in the premises be accounted the act of the whole Congregation. Provided that this shall not be understood so as to hinder the Wardens from paying the weekly
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allowance of 3 1b to Mr Myles, 21b to Mr Bridge, 5s. to Edward Hill, Sexton, and 151b a year to John Giles, Clerk, without the consent of the said Vestry, but that they pay the same as has been accustomed.
" Voted also That a Vestry be alike annually chosen."*
The next month, May 1699, Lord Bello- montt came to Boston from New York. The churchmen must naturally have expected that much consequence, if not advantage would be gained to them by counting a nobleman among the members of their society, and they exerted themselves to show him attention. They fitted up a state pew for him, and at their Easter meeting, April 1, 1700, at which he was present, placed him first on their list of vestrymen. But it was his Lordship's policy, as it was for his in- terest, to conciliate the general favor, and there- fore though he attended public worship at the
* The next year, April 1, 1700, the number of vestrymen was increased from nine to eleven, the next year to thir- teen, and the next to twenty. In 1706 it was agreed that there should be " twelve, besides his Excellency, the Left. Governor, ministers and church wardens, in the vestry." Dudley was then Governor. Afterwards the number was constantly varying.
t Hutchinson spells the name Bellamont.
#" 1 Aprill. By Capt. ffoxcraft pd for my Lord's pew to Mr Everard £13. -. "
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King's Chapel, he went also to hear the congre- gational ministers at the Thursday Lecture, and was so far from imitating the conduct of Andros, that he was inclined perhaps to the opposite error of indifference to his own mode of faith .* Thus it happened to the episcopalians as has often happened to others before and since, that one worldly interest was counteracted and nul- lified by the operation of another equally as worldly. There was little time, however, for the noble governor and vestryman either to pat- ronize or disappoint them. He went back to New York this year, where he soon after died.
In the beginning of the year 1702, news was received of the death of King William, and the Church was put in mourning. Before his de- cease, Mr Joseph Dudley, who had rendered himself so obnoxious here, as in many things the coadjutor, and, for his own selfish ends, al-
*Hutchinson in his second volume, page 112, tells in a note this anecdote of the Governor. "Among the more liberal was one Bullivant, an apothecary, who had been a justice of peace under Andros. Lord Bellamont, going from the lecture to his house, with a great crowd round him, passed by Bullivant standing at his shop door loitering. ' Doctor,' says his lordship with an audible voice, ' You have lost a precious sermon to day.' Bullivant whispered to one of his companions who stood by him, ' If I could have got as much by being there as his lordship will, I would have been there too.' "
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most the creature of Randolph, had interest enough to obtain while in London, the appoint- ment of Governor of Massachusetts, which he had so long and eagerly coveted. On his reappearance in Boston, invested with his new dignity, he was received kindly, and with a for- getfulness of past offences. He joined himself to the congregation of Queen's Chapel, as it was now called, on the accession of Queen Anne ; and his name, together with that of the Lieuten- ant Governor, constantly appears on the list of vestrymen ; it having been voted that these two magistrates should belong to the vestry from their office.
We now come to an unpleasant part of the history of the church. Toward the end of the year 1703, it was voted at a vestry meeting that Mr Bridge, the assistant minister, should proceed to England in order to solicit subscriptions for enlarging the chapel, a measure which had been made necessary by the increase of the congrega- tion. But either before he took his voyage, or during his stay in England, or after his return to Boston, there were misunderstandings between him and Mr Myles, which grew into serious di- vision, and threatened the church's peace and prosperity. Something too, which I do not clear- ly understand, is said about Mr Bridge's breaking
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open a letter written by Mr Myles, and sending it to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London for their inspection, thinking that would injure Mr Myles. At any rate, the Bishop of London was so much displeased with Mr Bridge, and as it would seem, with the church also, that he sent an order for his removal, and deprived the church of part of the one hundred pounds a year which they drew from the royal bounty. The church was alarmed, and at a ves- try meeting held on the 19th of August, 1705, voted that articles of agreement and peace should be drawn up, and presented to the two ministers to be signed by them. Such a paper was accor- dingly prepared, consisting of a preamble and eight articles, which was signed by the two ministers on the 22d. By this agreement they bound themselves not to join with any persons in doing, saying or reporting anything that should tend to the damage or dishonor of either ; that they should unite in promoting the welfare of the church, and that they should not officiate anywhere but in their own chapel, without mutual consent. Mr Bridge was not to receive any perquisites, which all belonged to Mr Myles as minister of the church, and were appropriated to him by the bishop's especial order; and neither of them was to warn any vestry without the full concur-
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rence of the other. These were the main arti- cles ; and a copy of them was transmitted to the Bishop of London, inclosed in a letter from the wardens, in which they assure his lordship that in many things he had been misinformed, that Mr Bridge was not of a proud, lofty and haughty, but of a courteous and agreeable deportment, as became his profession and the gospel, and that both of their ministers were worthy of their esteem, " whether in regard of their doctrine, life, or conversation." They speak of an inclosed affidavit, which they trust will clear up the diffi- culty about the intercepted letter, and humbly beg the continuance both of the salary and of Mr Bridge's stay with them.
The Bishop of London at this time was Henry Compton, who held that see from the year 1675 to 1713, in which year he died. The present cathedral of London was commenced by Sir Christopher Wren, about the time of his induc- tion, and he lived just about long enough to see its completion. He was wise, energetic, moder- ate and munificent. "The princesses Mary, and Anne, (both successively queens of England) were educated, confirmed, and married by him, and he also crowned the former, together with her husband, William III." " He warmly inter- ested himself to bring about the revolution of
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1688, and was afterwards one of the commission- ers for the reform of the liturgy," in which en- terprise his own liberal and tolerant intentions were unhappily defeated.
From such a bishop, it was to be expected that whatever demanded attention in the way of duty, however distant it might be from the place of his residence, would be attended to in a proper manner. In answer to the representations of the church here, he sent a letter, which is marked throughout by a practical good sense, joined with good feeling, which show that he was well fitted for his responsible office. It is to be clearly seen from it, that he was not a man to be trifled with, and that having authority, he was determined to exercise it in a steady and decided manner, and as much for the real benefit of the church as pos- sible. As this letter may give us some idea of the way in which our predecessors in this church used to be governed, and as it is itself a good letter, from a distinguished person, I make no apology for giving it entire. Fortunately for us, as I think, we now govern ourselves, without in- terference from bishops at home or abroad ; but while the church was lawfully under such authori- ty, it could hardly have had a better overseer than Henry Compton, Bishop of London. " The Copie of my Lord of London's Letter," say the records, " is as ffolloweth."
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" GENTLEMEN, - I am sorry with all my heart you have so little concerned yourselves for the peace of the church, as to uphold a controversy which may so easily be laid asleep, and whilst these two gentlemen are together upon the same place I do not see how it ever will be effected. As to your imagining that I might too easily blame Mr Bridge concerning the letter of Mr Myles which was broken open, I can assure you the first copy I saw of it was sent up in triumph to London, either by Mr Bridge or his order, from Plymouth or Portsmouth, soe that I took it not at second hand ; though I blame Mr Nicholls ex- tremely for promoting that which he must needs know could produce nothing but animositie, but can by noe means excuse Mr Bridge; and in- deed I hope there is none among you that can approve of that malitious practice of spreading about copies of this letter, which must needs breed very ill blood among you. But I say this rather for my own justification, than that I would quarrell any further with Mr Bridge on that ac- count, and therefore I shall not be soe earnest for his removall, otherwise than that I am convinced it is impossible for him and Mr Myles to live to- gether in peace. I know his spirit is too high to submit to that subordination which it is absolutely necessarie he should comply with whilst he stayes
5
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at Boston, soe that I would by all means advise him to goe to Narragansetts, where he may have an hundred pounds per annum sterling, besides what perquisites he may make upon the place, and there he will be his own Master.
" You must likewise give me leave to tell you that I think you have made a great mistake in one of the articles of reconciliation which you have drawn up, where you have in a manner sett Mr Bridge upon an equall foot with Mr Myles, by making the call of a Vestry depend upon their joynt consent, whereas Mr Bridge hath nothing more to doe in the Church than what Mr Myles shall direct him, as he is the Curate and Assist- ant ; wherefore you must pardon me, if after all the due regard I have for you, I must deale soe plainly with you as to tell you that you have been carried on too far in this matter by some that have more respect of persons than for the reall good and peace of the church. I know I shall be forced at last to recall Mr Bridge, and therefore I wish you would persuade him to make it his owne choice to retire to some other place, where he shall find me his sincere friend, notwithstand- ing all that has been said. - I pray God direct you for the best, and desire you would believe me, Gentlemen,
" Your most assured friend and servant
" H. LONDON.
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" Postcript. - I forgot to give you a more par- ticular account in the inclosed of Mr Bridge's proceedings in that letter of Mr Myles ; that he writt from the Port in England, before he went away, to Mr Wessendunck, to take care to com- municate that same letter, or the copie, to my Ld. Arch Bp. of Canterbury, and myselfe ; which I think is evidence enough of his concern in it. " Fulham : feb : 12 : 1706. H. LONDON."
The effect produced by this letter may be seen from the following record, which precedes the copy of it.
" Boston, Sept. 23. 1706. Att a meeting of the Vestry at Mr Paule Dudley's, his Excellency being present, my Lord of London's letter was read relating to Mr Bridge his removall to the Narrowgansetts &c. to which he complied, and wished me, Savill Simpson,* to tell Mr Myles that he left the Charge of the Church wholly to his care, and intended to goe to Narragansetts in three days."
Thus was this very disagreeable affair termina- ted, affording, most probably, some matter of triumph to the many, who, as the wardens in their letter to the Bishop express it, waited for and would have greatly rejoiced at the halting and
* Junior warden this year.
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destruction of the episcopal church. We are not permitted, happily, to believe Mr Bridge's char- acter to have been an unworthy one, for the war- dens speak of him with regard and respect, and the Bishop promises to him the continuance of his friendship ; but it is impossible to suppose, from what the records deliver to us, that his con- nexion with the church could have been of much service to it, or to the episcopal cause.
PERIOD FOURTH.
ARRIVAL OF MR HARRIS. - CHAPEL ENLARGED. -- FIRST ORGAN .- ATTEMPT TO MAKE AMERICAN BISHOPS.
PRAISE HIM WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS AND ORGANS. Ps. cl. 4.
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