History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 34

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 34

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that is sung, and join with the understanding and affections in the sublime employment, and thus make melody, at least in their hearts, to the Lord. And here, my brethren, I would suggest to you the pro- priety of performing this part of the service, even when we do no more than perform it in heart, in a standing rather than in a sitting posture."

An organ was placed in the church in 1827, and the sermon on music was repeated, with the insertion of these remarks: "The introduction of an organ, instead of diminishing, should increase the number of singers in the congregation. It is not, you will re- member, intended as a substitute for the voice, but as an aid to it. It may be accompanied by those who are not thoroughly skilled in music, though great care should be taken not to violate either the time or the harmony. In the use of this instrument, it is hoped and believed great regard will be shown to the spiritual nature of the worship which it is in- tended to aid. It is not meant for an entertainment, but for an improvement; not simply to delight the ear, but to inspire the heart. It will not, I trust, be suf- fered to overpower the vocal music, of which it should be but an accompaniment. Let us have the distinct articulation of the human voice, that it may not give an uncertain sound, or be so merged in the sound of an instrument, that the meaning cannot be under- stood. Let us remember, my brethren, that we are required to sing with the spirit and with the under- standing." Whatever improvements the years may have brought, the opinions and desires of Dr. Holmes are as timely to-day as when they were first expressed.

We are brought now to events of a more weighty and less pleasing nature. In 1827 there was formed " The First Evangelieal Congregational Church in Cambridgeport." The distinctive word in this title is "Evangelical." That word liad come to bear a pre- cise, and, in some degree, a denominational signifi- eance. It marks the controversy which engaged the re- ligious world in this region and had very serious results for many churches. Into the general movement we do not propose to enter. We are only to recall facts, without opinions. So far as the First Church in Cam- bridge is concerned, the facts are in print, in rare pamphlets and in local histories, and need only a brief rehearsal in these pages.

On the 20th of July, 1827, a memorial, signed hy sixty-three members of the parish, was presented to Dr. Holmes, remonstrating with him for diseon- tinuing professional exchanges with certain clergy- men, and recommending a return to his former cus- tom. It was not a question of courtesy, but one of a much graver nature. We must go back a little. As early as 1787 Unitarianism, which had been adopted by many persons, ministers and others, became a "substantial reality " in this community hy the action of the society worshipping in King's Chapel, Boston, which modified the English Liturgy it had been

CAMBRIDGE.

using. The minister had changed his own doctrinal views, and the change in the service of the church followed. For many years this remained the only conspicuous church in New England which was con- fessedly Unitarian. The new views, however, extended and became very influential. By the time which we are now reviewing, a large part of the ministers of the churches in this neighborhood had embraced the new principles of belief. "The Unitarian Association " was formed about this time. Of course, all this changed the relations in which ministers stood toward one auother. Freedom of professional inter- course became restricted. There were men of all degrees of conviction and confession, with extreme men on both sides and those of moderate views standing between them, some nearer one end aud some nearer the other. The minister here knew all this, and was affected by the movement in which he was not disposed to take a prominent part. But it came to pass here, as elsewhere, that some ministers who had been invited to his pulpit no longer received such proposals. It was less the fact than the occa- sion and meaning of it which attracted attention and led to the action which has already been mentioned. A large majority of the legal voters in the affairs of the parish were found on the Unitarian side. They complained of the change in the pastor's practice, and asserted that he was changing the policy of the church, and deviating from the custom of his immedi- ate predecessors, and departing from the views which had governed his own procedure and shaped his own preaching. They complained that, while he excluded some ministers whom they liked to hear, he introduced other preachers whose teaching was offensive to them. Out of this state of things grew the memorial, in which the signers gratefully testi- fied to the order, peace and harmony with which the church and society had walked together, and ex- pressed their fear lest there should arise disaffection and disunion in consequence of the pastor's action. They requested him "to exchange a reasonable pro- portion of the time with such respectable clergymen of liberal sentiments in this vicinity as had hereto- fore been admitted into his pulpit, and with others of similar character." The pastor replied, in dignified terms, that he thought a personal interview with him would have been more favorable to truth and peace. To show that the charge complained of was not alto- gether on one side, he said that some liberal ministers were of the opinion that such exchanges as were pro- posed were not desirable. He added: "The subject is believed to be uniformly left to the discretion of the pastors, who are, or ought to be, the best judges of what is profitable for their hearers, and who are bound religiously to determine what is right and consistent for themselves." We cannot pursue the controversy, which was prolonged and intense. The effort of the parish was to secure the preaching of Unitarian ministers for a portion of the time by

exchanges, or by the settlement of a colleague, or by the introduction of such ministers at times when there was no established service. To neither of these measures would Dr. Holmes consent. He claimed that he must adhere to the principles of the church during its entire history ; that he could not depart from them, or suffer others to lead the people away from them. The Shepard Historical Society has a written document which he prepared and en- titled, " Religious Principles of the Ministers of Cam- bridge." By citations from their writings, he traces the line of doctrinal teaching from Shepard to him- self, and adds : "Doctrines held and taught by the present pastor from the commencement of his min- istry here to this time ; collected from his discourses on the anniversary of his installation." The object was to show that he was continuing the instruction for which he was called to the church. The church upheld the pastor in his course, and expressed their approval of his teaching. They remonstrated in writing against the action of the parish. "Let us not attempt to drive from us a man by urging upon him a course of measures which, should he submit to them, would render him a stranger among his brethren, not satisfy those who make the demand, and would leave him dishonored in his own eyes and in theirs. . We also apprehend that, were the females of this parish allowed to come here and speak, a majority of them would entreat you to for- bear ; and we would hope that we shall not be regard- less of their feelings, because they are not allowed the poor privilege of begging you to consider them." It became evident that the matter was not to be settled by discussion, and men turned to the congregational method of relief. The parish proposed to the pastor that an ecclesiastical council should be called to advise in the premises. The church and a minority of the parish declared that usage in New England, and invariably in this parish, required that the church and parish should concur in all matters touching the settlement or the removal of a min- ister. It was, therefore, proposed that the church should be a party in calling the council. To this the parish refused to accede. The parish said that if the church were admitted "they would make all the resistance in their power to the attempts of the parish to remedy the evils of which they complained, and would give Dr. Holmes all their assistance and support in his opposition to the principles and wishes of the parish." The church was not allowed to join in calling the council. Dr. Holmes said "that he was not at liberty to overlook or to interfere with the equitable claims of the church, and that he would consent to a mutual ecclesiastical council, if regularly called, according to the usage of our churches; that is, by the church and parish together."

The discussion effected nothing, and the parish proceeded to call an ex parte council, which assembled in the Old Court-House on the 19th of May, 1829. It

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

was composed of the representatives of six Unitarian churches. A copy of the complaint against the pas- tor was given to him before the meeting of the coun- cil. When the council assembled Dr. Holmes denied its jurisdiction, and the church and a minority of the parish also remonstrated. The council, by a commit- tee, gave Dr. Holmes and the remonstrants an oppor- tunity to present further information. The pastor received the committee with his accustomed courtesy and replied " that he had no further communication to make to this council." The complaint of the par- ish was heard, evidence was received, an argument was made by the counsel of the parish, Hon. Samuel Hoar. The council finally voted " that the First Par- ish in Cambridge have sufficient cause to terminate the contract subsisting between them and the Rev. Dr. Holmes as their minister, and this council recom- mend the measure as necessary to the existence and spiritual prosperity of the society." The parish ac- cepted and confirmed the "result" and voted, June 8, 1829, that the " Rev. Dr. Abiel Holmes, be, and he hereby is, dismissed from his office of minister of the gospel and teacher of piety, religion and morality in said parish, and that all connection between said Holmes as such minister, or teacher, and said par- ish, do and shall henceforth cease." A grant of three months' salary was made " to said Holmes, on equit- able principles, but not as legal right," and he was to have the use and occupation of the real estate held by bim as pastor of the parish "until, the 25th day of January next, but no longer."

In a communication made on the 12th of June the committee of the parish inform Dr. Holmes that "they have employed a preacher to supply the pulpit in the meeting-house of the First Parish in Cam- bridge on the next ensuing Sabbath, that they will procure and employ a preacher or preachers for the succeeding Sabbaths, and that your services will not be required or authorized in the public religious ser- vices in the meeting-house in said parish hereafter." Dr. Holmes had not consented to the council, but had entered his protest against it. He did not accept its result. He wrote in reply to the notice which had been served on him : " I now give notice to you, and, through you, to the inhabitants of the parish, that I still consider myself as the lawful minister of the par- ish, and hold myself ready to perform any and all the duties, in or out of the pulpit, which belong to my office as pastor of the First Church and Society in Cambridge." The closing communication was ad- dressed to Dr. Holmes by the parish committee. They say, "In answer to your said letter, said com- mittee, in behalf of said parish, state to you that said council had jurisdiction of the complaint exhibited to said council against you ; that said result is legal and valid; that said dismission from said office conforms to said result and to law ; that your connection with said parish as their minister is legally dissolved; that you are not the minister or pastor of said parish, nor

have you been such minister or pastor since said dis- mission ; that as such minister or pastor you do not owe any such duties as aforesaid to said parislı, and that said parish refuses to accept from you any ser- vice, or services, as such minister or pastor thereof. Hereafter yon 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."

Thus the pastor of thirty-eight years was turned from the door of the meeting-house. There was but one course open to the church, and that was to with - draw from the meeting- house from which their min- ister was excluded. The church and pastor crossed the street and began religious services in the Old Court House, in the presence of "a full, attentive and solemn assembly." On his last Sabbath in the meet- ing-honse Dr. Holmes preached from the words, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." The next Sabbath morning he preached from the words, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you ; but rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's suf- ferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." The encour- agement was commended to " all who are in affliction, and especially to the church and the attendant wor- shippers constrained to assemble in this place."

"The whole number of members belonging to the church at that time was about ninety, fully two-thirds of whom followed the pastor and attended upon his ministry. The number of male members was twen- ty-one, fifteen of whom were the uniform friends and supporters of the pastor, and two only took an ac- tive part in the measures of the parish " for his dis- mission. Of the whole number who usually wor- shiped in the meeting-house previous to the separa- tion, about one-half withdrew and worshiped statedly where the church and pastor continned their services.

On the 17th of June, 1829, an advisory council met at the invitation of the church and pastor. After hearing the statements which were made by those who sought advice, the council reached this "result :" " As Dr. Holmes is still, according to ec- clesiastical usage, the pastor and minister of the First Church and parish in Cambridge, and as the parish has by its votes excluded him from its pulpit, the council approve the course pursued by him in continuing to perform parochial duties whenever and to whomsoever he may have opportunity, and advise him and the church and other friends of truth not to forsake the assembling of themselves together, but to maintain Divine worship and the celebration of Divine ordinances." The church accepted this ad- vice and resolved to follow it faithfully. As the churclr was now separated from the parish, after a union of nearly two hundred years, it was necessary,

CAMBRIDGE.

in accordance with the custom of the times, to or- ganize another society, which should include persons who were not members of the church, and should be in the place of an organized parish in connection with the church. Such a society was formed, and it was voted unanimously that it should be called " The Holmes Congregational Society." Dr. Holmes declined the proffered honor, and advised that the new society should bear the name of the first minister of the church. In accordance with this wish the new body took the title which it still bears. "The Shepard Congregational Society." The pastor could not connect himself with this organization, because he held that he had not been legally or reg- ularly dismissed from his connection with the old parish, which he had served so long. But the church joined itself to the new society in order to main- tain "the worship and ordinances of the gospel, ac- cording to the established principles and usages of Congregational churches in this Commonwealth."

In the records is an account of a meeting of the church held on the 20th of November, 1829, at the house of Mr. Jacob H. Bates. The record is too long to be copied here, and it is already in print. It begins : "Whereas the Rev. Dr. Holmes, the pastor of this church, has been excluded by a committee of the First Parish in Cambridge from the desk and sanctuary where he has so long officiated, under pre- tence that he is legally dismissed from office," and after declaring the views of the church in regard to Dr. Holmes and the parish, continues : "In consid- eration of all the circumstances, and having con- sulted with the Rev. Dr. Holmes, our pastor, whose relation to us as a church we wish to hold sacred and inviolate, and finding that in present circumstances the choice of a colleague pastor meets with his en- tire approbation ; therefore, voted, 1st, that until such time as our rights, with those of our pastor, shall be respected, and the privileges of the gospel minis- try be enjoyed, as heretofore, in connection with the First Parish in Cambridge, we will, as a church, ac- cede to the invitation of the Shepard Congregational Society and co-operate with it. . . . Voted, 2d, that in pursuance of their object, and subject to the sev- eral conditions expressed in the first vote, the church now unite, and call Mr. Nehemiah Adams, Jr., who has been heard by us for several Sabbaths with high approbation, and in whom we have full confidence, to the office of colleague pastor in this church in connection with the Rev. Dr. Holmes as senior pas- tor." The society concurred in this vote, and Mr. Adams was called. The salary offered him was $850 for the first year, to be increased $50 each year until $1000 was reached. It is said, however, that by private subscription the salary was made $1,000 from the beginning. The invitation was given and accepted. The Baptist Church of Cambridgeport kindly offered its house for the service of ordination. The council met on the 17th of December, 1829.

Twenty-three churches were represented. The list of ministers contains many names well known then and afterwards. There were John Codman, William Jenks, Lyman Beecher, Edward Beecher, Benjamin B. Wisner, Moses Stuart, George W. Blagden, Sam- uel M. E. Kettle, better known as William M. Rogers. Dr. Codman was moderator. The action of the previous advisory council was submitted by the church, and a remonstrance which had been pre- sented to the pastor-elect by a committee of those members of the church who had remained with the parish. After the preliminary proceedings com- mon in such cases the services of ordination were held. The sermon was preached by Professor Stuart, and Dr. Holmes gave the charge to the pastor. Mr. Adams was born in Salem, Mass., February 19, 1806, and graduated at Harvard College in 1826, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1829. His ser- vices were sought elsewhere, but he was persuaded to accept the Cambridge invitation. It was thought by many that he was especially needed at a time when the faith of churches and individuals was in question. Dr. Holmes was in his sixty-sixth year, and did not feel equal to the labors which were incident to the new conditions of the church.

Dr. Holmes' sermons, at this period, give an insight into the state and feeling of the people. One manu- script is marked, " June 7, 1829: in meeting-house." Another, "June 14, 1829: A.M. Camb. Court-house." These have been already mentioned. One sermon is marked: "Dec. 20, 1829, A.M., 1st Sabbath after ordination of Mr. N. Adams." The text was happily chosen : "Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear; for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do." He said : " Receive him. Treat him with candor and equity; preserve unity and peace; and pay an attentive and serious regard to his ministry."

The services of the Sabbath were divided between the two ministers-the senior preaching in the morn- ing and the junior in the afternoon and evening. The congregations were good, especially in the even- ing, when many visitors would come to hear the new minister in a place usually devoted to other purposes. There were large additions to the membership of the church. Meetings for prayer and religious confer- ence were held for a time in private houses, and were finally established in a large room fitted up for that purpose, in the house at the northwest corner of Mt. Auburn and Brighton Streets. There were times when the people carried their own lamps for the evening services, which gave the bystanders a chance to nse their cheap wit.

When they felt able to do so, the church and so- ciety erected a meeting-house on the corner of Mt. Auburn and Holyoke Streets. To do this they needed and procured the assistance of many friends, near and remote. Indeed, they were assisted, at first, in supporting their regular services. It is believed that

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the senior pastor drew no salary after the separation. The land for the new house was given by Miss Sarah Ann Dana. It is said that Dr. Holmes was the largest contributor to the building fund. Ground was broken at six o'clock on the morning of the 5th of August, 1830. On the 21st of September the corner-stone was laid with an address by Rev. Sam- uel Green, of Boston. One sentence will show some- thing of the feeling which marked the occasion : " We speak with pride and boldness, as becometh the descendants of Puritans on Puritan ground." On the 23d of February, 1831, the house was dedicated with a sermon by the senior pastor from Jeremiah vi. 16: "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." The new house was much admired. Henry Greenough was the architect. Washington Allston furnished the plan of the house and had much pride in the building. He liked to take strangers at even- ing to a particular spot, about a hundred yards south- east of the church, where he would bid them mark the simple beauty of the unassuming structure, re- peating the familiar lines :

" If thou would'st view fair Melrose aright,

Go visit it by the pale moonlight."

A silver plate enclosed in a box of lead was placed under the corner-stone, with this inscription :

" To Jesus Christ and the Church, The Pillar and Ground of the Truth -First Church and Shepard Society, in Cambridge :

ABIEL HOLMES, - Pastors ;

NEHEMIAH ADAMS,

WILLIAM HILLIARD, } JAMES MUNROE,

Deacons.

xxi September, MDCCCXXX."

But the troubles were not over. In 1831 Abel Whitney, deacon of the First Parish Church, de- manded certain articles of church property, to wit: the church fund, the poor's fund, the communion service and baptismal basin, the church record and papers, the library and a few minor things. The demand was refused, and a suit at law was begun against Deacons Hilliard and Munroe, as represent- ing the church, and they were held to answer in the sum of five thousand dollars. The church appointed a committee to take legal advice and to defend the church so far as it could be done, or, if it was neces- sary, to surrender the property. They found that by a decision of the Supreme Court of the State the church could not retain the property and it was ac- cordingly given up under the constraint of the decision. The decision under which they were obliged to do this was given in 1820, in what is known as the Dedham case, or, more exactly, Baker and another vs. Fales. The rule laid down was this: "Where a majority of the members of a congrega- tional church separate from the majority of the par- ish, the members who remain, although a minority, constitute the church in said parish, and retain the rights and property belonging thereto." The Court

drew a broad distinction between the church in its civil and its ecclesiastical position : "That any num- ber of the members of a church, who disagree with their brethren, or with the minister, or with the par- ish, may withdraw from fellowship with them and act as a church in a religious point of view, having the ordinances administered and other religious offices performed ; it is not necessary to deny, indeed, this would be a question proper for an ecclesiastical council to settle, if any should dispute their claim. But as to all civil purposes, the secession of a whole church from the parish would be an extinction of the church; and it is competent to the members of the parish to institute a new church, or to ingraft one upon the old stock if any of it should remain; and this new church would succeed to all the rights of the old in relation to the parish." It was not denied that there could be a church without a parish “in an ecclesiastical sense." There was nothing to be done under this construction of law but to give up the property. This was done and a receipt was taken on the 28th of December, 1831, for "the church fund and poor's fund, belonging to said church, amount- ing, in money and securities for money, to the sum of four thousand one hundred and fifty-four dollars and three cents; also, the communion service of said church, consisting of four silver tankards, seven silver cups, one silver spoon, six britan- nia dishes, two napkins, one table-cloth and basin, four books of church records, and sundry files of papers, and a trunk and box containing the same; also, the library of books, with the shelves for the same, and nine dollars and ninety-nine cents for the same." The church fund was originally constituted by the gift of fifty pounds by a member of the church, and largely increased by contributions of the church members at the Lord's Supper. "A part of the church plate was given to the church, and the rest was purchased with its own fonds." The baptismal 7 basin was the gift of the Rev. William Brattle, "to the church of Christ in Cambridge, my dearly beloved flock."

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 34

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034