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 9
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With regard to our religious opinions, we in- deed differ widely, in some respects, from those who once met for worship in this temple. Of these it is sufficient to say, that we believe them to be true and scriptural, and hold them to be precious. Though we have no objection to the name or office of bishop, when used in a scriptural sense, and exercised in a scriptural manner, yet we claim to be interpreters of the meaning of scrip- ture, on that as well as on other topics, for our- selves. And though we refuse not to be designa-
* The Latin inscription on this tablet has been greatly and deservedly admired. Over the tablet is a marble bust of Mrs Shirley.
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ted by the term episcopal, yet so long as episco- palians deem the doctrine of the trinity to be essential, and an assent to it indispensable, we, as Unitarians, cannot join with them, nor can they receive us ; and our communion with our Unita- rian brethren of the Congregational order must necessarily be much more intimate than with them. But we retain and prefer the ancient Liturgy, simplified and altered in conformity with our opinions, and in this respect differ from Con- gregationalists and others who use no regular form of public worship. In unity of spirit and the bond of peace we desire to join with all our brethren, and in righteousness of life to be re- conciled unto God, through his Son Jesus Christ.
This is not the place to enter into an argument concerning the truth or excellence of our doctrin- al opinions, as compared with those of our pre- decessors. I must, however, observe, that if we have not more truth, we certainly have more · peace than they. This is not to be attributed, however, so much to our change of religious sen- timents, as of our political and ecclesiastical con- dition. It has given me pain to relate the conten- tions and troubles which arose from time to time between the rector and his assistant, and the church and their ministers, and principally concern- ing services, prerogatives and perquisites, from the
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beginning down to the revolution. From that date, from the very time of our severance from the mother church and the parent state, there has been not a single disagreement from those causes, or from any cause, so far as I can learn. The words of the prophet which stand at the head of this discourse, sound in this connexion like prophecy for us. "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts, and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts." So may it ever be. "Peace be within thy walls ! - for my brethren and com- panions' sakes I will wish thee prosperity."
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APPENDIX.
I.
CURIOUS EXTRACTS FROM THE OLD RECORDS.
.Aug. 8. 1686. Pd Mr Maccartie for the outside of the pulpit Cushion and Silke £1, 7s. Pd Mr Buckley for makeing fringe and Tassells and Silke 10s. Pd. Mr Shippen makeing the Cushion, for the feathers, pillow, and Case, 16s.
Sept. 20. Pd for wood delivered the old Elathera inan and woman 10s.
Nov. 1. By money given a poore man in Necessi- tie, 2s.
July 22. 1689. By cash paid Mr Miles and Clarke £1, 5s. And to old goody, a poore woman, 5s.
July 23. By Cash paid for our Church Bell to Mr John Butter by Mr ffoxcroft, £13, 5s.
Feb. 20. By Cash for one and twenty weekes for Mr Miles at 12s. per weeke, for meatte, drinke, wash- ing, lodging, fire and candle, £12, 12s.
July 10. Being a day of Humilliation, Recd for the poore £3, 5s &d.
Sept. 21. 1691. It must not be forgot that Sir Rob-
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ert Robbinson gave a new silk damask cushion and cloth pulpit cover.
Mr John Mills, a Barbados gentleman gave a piece plate, a Cup.
Dec. 25. 1691. Mr Thomas Gold and Mr Wm. Weaver gave a brass standard for an hour-glass.
April 3. 1692. Payd for greene boughs against Whitesun-tide 1s 4d.
January, 1695-6, Governor Nicholson sent ffox- croft a bill for sterl. £15, and ordered the disposall thus, £5 to the minister, £5 to the poore at Xmas, £5 to buy bibles with Common prayers and singing psalmes for the poorer sort of the Church.
1697. WhitSunday, Paid Mr Coyneyball for buy- ing and carting Poses, and hanginge the Doares, Ss.
Dec. 20. Paid for a stone Gug Clark Hill broak, 6s.
Crismas day, paid for Bread and Wine at the Sacra- mant, 12s.
March 29. 1698. Paid Mr Shelson for his Loucking after the Boyes, £1 .*
.April 1. 1699. By Loss in brass money, 13s.
July 24. 1701. At a vestry meeting. Ordered. that Clerke Hill shall wash the Church once in a month during the Summer ; Sweep it twice in every week, and brush the dust off the seats, shelves and tops of the pews; Shall go out and appease the boys and Negros and any disorderly persons ; to provide a seat for Strangers according as they appear; to ring the bell, open the doors and windows and shut them as formerly, and take care of the books, &c.
* The miserable spelling which occurs in the four last en- tries is to be placed to the account of the churchwarden, or his amanuensis, and not of the age.
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Aug. 4. Paid for scouring the brass frame for the hour glass, 10s. Paid for broom and brush and pail 3s.
March 28. 1702. Recd from Doct Checkley, being most part bad money £1 5 8.
Nov. 23. Paid Mr Childe painting the hour glass, 3s.
Aug. 17. 1705. Vestry meeting. Ordered that the Deed of Land given by Coram, lying at Taunton, be recorded, that the Church Wardens enquire into the value of the Land, and to deliver their opinions to the Vestry at their next meeting.
April 15. 1713. James Perry chosen to look after the Boys, and is to have 26s. per yeare for the same.
Voted that there shall be 20 Vestry men beside the Govr Left Gov' Church Wardens and minister. That whereas Judd had 5s. per week, he shall have 6s. The last Bell to ring at 10 of the Clock in the Morn- ing the whole yeare, and 3 o'Clock in the Afternoone from the 10th of March to the 10th September, and at 2 the other months. The Bread and Wine at the Com- munion to be payd out of the Contribution money. The Psalmes of Tate and Brady to be sung in the Church. Every Sunday the Commandments are to be read at the Communion Table.
Aug. 12. Voted that the Pillers, Capitalls and Cor- nish of the Church be painted wainscott colour, before the scaffold be taken down.
Nov. 16. 1714. Voted by the Vestry (with Mr Myles's Approbation) that Mr Harris may go Home ; he proposing to return by Midsummer next ; and that Mr Myles be allowed 20s. more per week during Mr Harris's absence.
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April 18. 1715. Mr James Baker chosen Clerk for the year ensueing, he behaving himself as he ought to do.
July 10. 1717. Vestry Meeting. Upon reading an Agreement of the Neighbourhood of School Street re- lateing to the Paveing of the same, it was then and there Agreed that the present Church Wardens should agree with suitable persons to pave the Churches pro- portion in said street, and to pay for the same out of the Church Stock, if they cannot obtaine subscriptions for the same.
Decemb. 6. Voted that there be a new Pulpit forth- with built, and that it stand against the pillar in the officers Pew.
Voted that Mr Mills and Mr ffrancklin have liberty to build a Tomb under the East End of the Church.
April 18. 1720. Those that have the possession of pews and don't pay contribution, to have them taken away and sold to others that will ; notice being first publickly given, the Churchwardens being empowered to dispose of them.
That D. Rutley be appointed to keep good order amongst the Boys, and that for his trouble he be allow- ed 12d. per Sunday .*
April 6. 1724. Voted, by a vote of the congrega- tion, that Mr Nathaniel Gifford be organist for the year ensuing, and that he play a Voluntary before the first Lesson, and attend the Church upon all Holy Days.
* To keep good order among the boys, or in the words of the vote of 1701, " to appease the boys and negros," was in fact a regular office in the church, for many years, dis- tinct from the sexton's,
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June 4. Voted that Mr William Randle be sent to the Reverend Mr Henry Harris, to desire the letter he promised to give the 30th of last April ; and answered he had no timely notice, and that he would have nothing to say to us.
Voted that the Minister and Churchwardens of the King's Chapple make a faithfull and just representa- tion to my Lord of London of the Revd Mr Henry Harris's conduct for the last two years.
April 4. 1727. Voted, that the Church Wardens for the time being provide a good strong Box, with three different Locks and Keys, one of which Keys shall be always kept by the eldest Church Warden, one other key, by the other Church Warden for the time being, and the third key by such proper person as the Congre- gation shall appoint, and that the Box containing the Church money shall be lodged at the ministers house.
Voted. That Mr Job Lewis be the third person to keep the third key for the year ensuing.
Voted. That the said Church Wardens and said Mr Job Lewis shall meet at the place where the said box is kept on the first Monday in every Month, and make fair entries in the book, and put into the said strong box such monies as shall be in the eldest church Wardens hands, and do all other business relating to the stock which is never managed only by the eldest Church Warden, except paying the weekly saleries and mending the windows. And that no sum of money shall be put out to Interest without the consent of two of the key keepers at least. And in case any one of the key keepers should want any money upon Interest with Good Security, he shall have the approbation of the other two. And that no person shall have any Sum exceeding one hundred pounds without Land Security.
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APPENDIX.
Aug. 3, 1727. At a meeting of the Vestry at Mr Thomas Selby's, voted, that the Church Wardens be desired and empowered to sign a certain memorial to the Generall Court, in relation to the ministers of the Church of England in Boston being overseers of the Colledge att Cambridge.
Voted, that the Church Wardens shall be empowered to pay one half of the present contingent charge, and what hereafter may arise by presenting to effect a certain memoriall to the Great and Generall Court ex- hibited asserted and maintaining of the Right of the Rev. Dr Timothy Cutler and Samuel Miles being re- jected as Overseers of Harvard Colledge according to the originall Establishment.
April 29. 1728. Voted that the Governors Pew be new lined with China, and that the Cushions and Chairs be covered with Crimson Damask, and the Cur- tains to the Window be of the same Damask.
Nov. 25. Voted that the Church wardens look into the Vault where Mr Myles lyes interred, and consider what may be proper to be done in removing his Corps, and to act as they shall think proper.
July 25. 1729. Voted that a Gallery be built on the South and S. East of the Church, excepting over his Ex- cellency's seat, over which there is only to be a passage.
Hug. 11. 1730. Voted, that His Excellency Gov. Belcher's Arms be painted and put over his Pew in King's Chapel.
March 26. 1733. The Rev. Mr Roger Price claimed his right of choosing a Church Warden, but was over- ruled by the Congregation.
March 30. Voted, that the pew (No. 62) that was formerly the Reverend Mr Samuel Myles's, our late minister, be a Ministeriall Pew forever.
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APPENDIX.
Oct. 11. Voted, that the Brass Stand for the hour glass be lent to the Church of Scituate, as also three Diaper napkins, provided the Reverend. Mr Addington Davenport their minister gives his note to return the same to the Church wardens of this Church for the time being whensoever this Church shall see meet to demand them.
Oct. 29. Voted, that Robert Auchmuty, John Reed, John Oberine, William Shirley and William Bolan Esqrs, have, each of them, a retaining fee of three pounds for the service of the suffering members of the Church of England in this Province.
May 22. 1734. Voted, that the Church Wardens be empowered to have a place fixed up in the Belfrey to place the Books in belonging to the Library of King's Chapel, and that the Books be removed from Mr John Barnes's house to said place in the Belfrey, the Church Wardens taking a Catalogue of the same.
April 7. 1735. Voted, that the Church Library be delivered unto the Rev. Mr Roger Price for the use of the Ministers belonging to the Church of England in Boston, he giving a Receit to be accountable for the same to the Church Wardens for the time being, when and so often as desired by the Church.
June 17. 1737. Whereas Thomas Child one of the present Church Wardens is chose a Juryman for the next Inferior Court of Common Pleas to be holden at Boston the first Tuesday of July next, Voted, that he do not serve, and if he is fined, to appeal to the Seshions and stand tryall, and the Charge to be paid out of the Church Stock.
Sept. 5. The Rev. Mr Price informed the Vestry that severall Gentlemen had desired him and the Rev.
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Mr Davenport to performe Divine Service in Trinity Church untill the said Church was supplied with a Minister, and desired to know if they had any objec- tion. The major part was of opinion they might sup- ply that Church till Easter next.
May 15. 1738. Voted, that the Sexton be sent to each family of the Congregation of the King's Chappell, with one of Mr Commissary Price's Sermons preached on the death of the Queen, and that a Church Meet- ing be called as soon as conveniently can be to know whether the charge shall be paid out of the Church Stock.
April 14. 1740. The question being put whether the Pew number 39 is become vacant by the Rev. Mr John Checkley's removal with his ffamily to Providence in Rhod-Island Government, and being there settled as a missionary to the Church there - and it not ap- pearing that he has paid contribution according to the votes of this Church - It passed in the affirmative.
April 3. 1740. Recd. of Mr Sylvester Gardner Six- teen Pounds Two Shills, in full for Wine for the Chap- ple for the year past. JNO. HANCOCK.
May 16. 1751. Voted, that the following advertise- ment be printed in the Newspapers that come out on Monday and Tuesday next, and that the Wardens cause the same to be done.
Advertisement. - Upon the melancholy News of the death of his Royal Highness the late Prince of Wales, the Wardens and Vestry of King's Chapel mett, and voted that the same be Solemnised at King's Chapel on Wednesday the 22d instant. Upon which occasion the Pulpit will be hung in Black, and a Sermon preached by the Revd. Mr Caner suitable to that So- lemnity. Divine Service will begin at 11 O'Clock.
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APPENDIX.
Oct. 31. 1753. That a Guinea each be given to Jeremiah Gridley and James Otis Esqrs. as a retain- ing fee for defence of the Church's right to the Lands at Taunton left to the Chappel by Mr Thomas Coram, in case a suit should commence on said account. And that Eliakim Hutchinson take the conduct of said affair in behalfe and for the benefite of the Church.
May 27. 1754. At a Vestry. Eliakim Hutchinson Esq. reported, that agreeable to a vote of the Vestry the 31st October, 1753, he had settled the affair of the Land at Taunton left to the Chapel by Mr Thomas Coram, with Mr Stephen Burt the present possessor, and the said Burt would pay the Gentlemen of the Ves- try one hundred pounds Lawfull money within twelve months from the 25th of this instant, upon their suffer- ing a recovery against them at the next Inferior Court at Taunton in the County of Bristol, and giving a Quitt Claim to said Land. - Voted that Eliakim Hutchinson be impowered to procced in the above affair according to the agreement made with Mr Burt, and that the hundred pounds Lawful money when re- ceived shall be applyed towards the building of the new Chapel.
Aug. 21. 1754. Voted that no Negros be admitted to sitt or stand in any of the Isles dureing the time of Divine Service, but that the Sexton be directed to order them up into the Gallery.
Oct. 13. 1759. Whereas the Governor, Council and house of Representatives appointed Tuesday the 16th Instant to be observed at Doct Sewall's meeting house as a Public Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the great Victory his Majesty's Arms has obtained over the French at Quebeck, and for reducing that City to
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APPENDIX.
Obedience of the Crown of Great Britain - Voted, that the same be observed at the same time by this Church, and that the Rev. Mr Caner be desired to preach on that Occasion.
Sunday, March 30. 1760. A Brief was read in the Church for a collection to be made the 3d of April to- wards the relief of the sufferers in the great Fire which happened in this Town on the 20th March, 1760.
Agreeable thereto there was collected on said 3d of April, being the annual Fast day appointed by the Government Nine hundred and twenty five pounds six shillings old Tenor towards the relief of said suffer- ers ; which sum was paid into the hands of John Phillips Esq. Treasurer to the Committee appointed by the Government to distribute the same.
(A collection had been made Nov. 25, 1759, for the sufferers by another fire, at which were collected £529 12s. Old Tenor.)
April 1. 1771. Whereas the Hon Lieutenant Gen- eral Shirley, formerly Governor of this Province, lately deceased, did for several years attend the public wor- ship at King's Chapel, to which he was a warm friend and a very generous benefactor - For his more Hon- orable Interment and to testify their gratitude for his many useful and excellent services, the Proprietors of said Chapel have this day Voted, that John Erving Jun. Esq. have liberty to deposit the Corps of the said Lieut. Gen. Shirley, and any other of his family, or decend- ants, in the Tomb No 18 under said Chapel.
April 20. 1772. Voted that the Vestry be desired to . form a plan for one or more Stoves in the Church, and report to this Congregation.
Aug. 13. The question being put whether the Ves-
APPENDIX. 161
try has power to regulate Toleing the bell for funer- als, voted in the affirmative.
Voted, that that the first and second bell for Funer- als be Toled in the usual manner, and but Eight min- utes each time.
Voted that the manner of Toleing the third or pass- ing bell be altered, and that she strikes only four times in a minute.
Dec. 1. Voted, that the Rev. Dr Caner and the Churchwardens wait on his Excellency the Governor, and return him thanks for procuring the King's donation for a Service of Plate and pulpit Furniture for the King's Chapel.
Voted, that as Salem Church has made application to this Church at Easter last for their old pulpit Furni- ture as soon as they shall receive their new, by the influence of Governor Hutchinson, Vote that the Minister and Wardens deliver to them the Old Furni- ture on their application for the same.
Voted, that three new Folio prayer Books be also given to Salem Church, who we understand is almost destitute of common prayer books, for their Reading Desk and Clerks Desk.
II.
KING'S CHAPEL LIBRARY. [See page 55.]
1. A record of the meeting of the Proprietors, at which it was voted to deposit the library in the Boston Athenæum.
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APPENDIX.
July 27. - At a special meeting of the proprietors held pursuant to the usual notification, at the Vestry immediately after morning service on Sunday, 27 July, 1823.
Revd. Dr Freeman opened the meeting by stating the object for which it was called, with suitable re- marks ; after a short discussion Col. May proposed the following which was unanimously adopted. viz.
Whereas the Books belonging to King's Chapel Li- brary, were in the year 1807, by permission of the Pro- prietors deposited with the Theological library in the Vestry Room of First Church, in Chauncy Place ; and whereas the Proprietors of the Theological Library, have at a regular meeting lately passed a vote, that in their opinion it is expedient and advisable for the pre- servation of the books and for the better accommoda- tion of the Proprietors, that the said Theological Library be removed from First Church vestry, and placed in the Atheneum under charge of the proper officers of that institution.
Therefore - Voted, that the Proprietors of this Church do consent and agree that the said books be- longing to King's Chapel library be removed carefully with the other books of the Theological library from the Vestry of First Church to the Atheneum, and de- posited in the keeping of that establisliment on the following conditions.
First. That a fair catalogue of all said books, be made out by the Librarian of the Atheneumn, and lodged with the Wardens of this Church.
Second. That the Ministers of this Church and their Successors shall be entitled to the privileges of Life subscribers of the Boston Atheneum.
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APPENDIX.
Third. That the Wardens of the Church, for the time being, shall have the right to visit semiannually the Atheneum, to witness the safe keeping and good order of the books.
Fourth. That the Proprietors of this Church shall have the right to withdraw and remove from the Athe- neum at any time and without cost or expense all the Books which they hereby consent to deposit there whenever a majority of said proprietors, at a regular meeting, shall so determine.
EBEN. OLIVER. Jos. MAY. Wardens.
2. The agreement between the wardens of King's Chapel and the Trustees of the Atheneum relating to the said deposite.
BOSTON, JULY 31, 1823.
It is hereby agreed by the standing Committee of the Trustees of the Atheneum to receive the deposite of the Library known by the name of the King's Chapel Library on the terms following - to wit.
First. That the Ministers of said Chapel shall be admitted to the Rooms of the Atheneum as Life sub- scribers while said library remains in the Atheneum.
Second. That the books of said Library shall be properly arranged in the Atheneum in the room appro- priated to Theology, and an accurate Catalogue of the same shall be made out and preserved, it being always understood that the said library shall remain under the care of the officers of the Atheneum, shall be subject to all the rules of that Institution, and furth- er that the Atheneum shall not be accountable for any
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loss or injury that may happen to said books other than shall arise from manifest negligence, the same care being taken of these books as is taken of the Books of the Atheneum. For the Committee, THEODORE LYMAN, JR .*
III.
ADDRESS OF THE CHURCH TO THE BISHOP OF LONDON, IN FAVOR OF GOVERNOR DUDLEY.
BOSTON, NEW ENGLD, FEB. 4, 1705-6.
May it please your Lordship,
The constant experience we have of your Lordships fatherly care over us encourageth us freely to address your Lordship, being sensible of your great regard and esteem for his excellency our Governor.
Therefore we are humbly bound to informe your Lordship that he has been very successfull in his gov- ernment for the security of the country from the Indians to the observation of all Her majesties good subjects, the ennemie haveing been often defeated and the frontiers preserved more than in any former trou- ble.
That notwithstanding the taxes have been and are very burthensome to support and carry on the war
This same agreement was subscribed by Ebenezer Oliver and Joseph May on the part and in behalf of the Proprietors of King's Chapel.
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wee are engaged in against the French and Indians, who in conjunction have done us much mischiefe, yet, through the noted prudence and good conduct of his Excellencie the ennemie have not only been repulsed but are now constrained to abandon their own coun- tries and places of retreate unto some hundreds of miles distance from these parts ; the administration of the Governmt and expense of the Revenue is and has been such as give a general satisfaction and make us easie and thankfull unto God, for her Majesties wisdome and good grace to us in appointing such an one over us, who by his long experience in government and knowledge of the country in particular renders him (as we humbly conceive) the most proper person to promote and maintaine the honour and interest of the Crowne, here every thing proceeding well except the govrs own salary which is by no means sufficient notwithstanding her Majesties repeated comands in the matter ;
That his constant attendance and care for the peace of the church and support and honor thereof is appa- rent to all men as well as his example of justice and vertue, upon all which account wee are humbly bold to informe your Lordship this his continuance in the government will be most acceptable to all her majes- ties good subjects, merchants 'and planters that have their dependance on the government of England as well as the Church here, and therefore humbly pray your Lordships favourable acceptance and representa. tion of this our address as need be for Collo Dudley's continuance in the Governmt which wee are well as- sured will be to her Majesties honour, the peace and
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satisfaction of this province, and most particularly of ourselves and the congregation of the Church of Eng- land under your Lordships care and patronage here. We are, My Lord, with all submission, Your Lordship's most Humble, most dutifull, and most Obedient Servants,
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