History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 118

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 118

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When Mr. Willis became the pastor of the First Church (March 25, 1792) he brought with him this Confession of Faith and Covenant. There is no rec- ord of its adoption by the First Church ; yet it ap- pears to have become, in some way, its Creed and Covenant, and to have remained snch so long as that church was permitted to sustain any relation to the First Parish.

Mr. Willis also not only brought into the First Church the members of the South Church (very few probably in number), who had been religiously edu- cated under his Arminian preaching and creed, but also brought back to the First Parish, at least, if not into the church, the score of men who were so in- tensely dissatisfied with Mr. Judson's " Bade Hop- kintonian Principels," and who, in consequence of his ordination, withdrew to the South Parish. The only class of people in New England, at that time, having any connection with evangelical churches, who were strenuously antagonizing orthodox beliefs, were the so-called Arminians. The twenty-one se- ceders, who were so bitterly opposed to the evangeli- cal beliets of Adoniram Judson, were delighted with the bchef's of Mr. Willis. This corroborates the view that both Mr. Willis and the seceders from the First Parish were Arminians.

Less than three years after the settlement of Mr. Willis as pastor of the First Church, at a church meeting hehl November 10, 1794:

The church record adds :

" After some time spent, with respect to the first, the Church ad- journed to the 24th iustant."

The next records are as follows :

" Nov. 24 the Church met according to adjournment. After sobie time spent, being much divided in sentiment, and several members be- ing absent, voted to adjourn, for further consideration, to ye first tues- day of April next, to meet at the north meeting-house.

" 1794 .- At a Church meeting Decembr 19th the Pastor communicated to them a Request to him Signed by a Number of the Brethren of the Church to appoint a Chh meeting, that the Last Vote of the Church might be Reconsidered, and the matter then under Consideration be taken np, if the Chh should think fit,-after some Conference, the Church Voted in the Negative, by the majority of One.

" 1795, April 7th .- The Church met according to adjournment, and 1ªt Chose Deacon Ramsdell Moderator. 2ndly, the Church being almost equally divided, relative to the subject, which had been under consid- eration, voted, that the Meeting be dissolved ; which is accordingly dissolved.“

It is quite probable that Mr. Willis, early in his ministry with the South Church, introduced " the half- way covenant," so-called-that is, invited people of respectable character and conversation to receive baptism and own the church covenant,-without coming to the Lord's Supper,-in order that their infant children might be baptized; and that, at a later date, he took a further step, and invited to "full communion,"-that is, to the Lord's Supper, as well as to baptism,-all persons of decently moral character and life. It is certain, as the church records show, that he attempted to introduce the half-way covenant into the First Church; and quite likely he attempted to accomplish this as a prepara- tion of the church to take a further step, and receive into full membership all persons who were not openly immoral. The tendency of the half-way covenant, and of receiving to full communion those who gave no evidence of having been born of the Spirit, was to fill the churches with unconverted members, and the pulpits with unconverted ministers. The church rec- ords clearly show how perilously near the First Church in Malden-the church of Mathews, Wigglesworth, Emerson and Thacher-came to abandoning its an- cient evangelical faith, and entering upon a conrse which would have brought it speedily to Unitarian- ism, or Universalism, and then very likely to a lingering death like that of the South Church, and finally to extinction.

REV. AARON GREEN, THE ELEVENTH MINISTER OF THE FIRST CHURCH .- He was born in Malden, Jan. 2, 1765, and was the son of Ezra and Mary (Vin- ton) Green. Ile was the grandson of Samuel (born in Malden in 1679) and Martha Green; and the great-grandson of John Green, who was probably born in Malden in 1650, and was the son of James Green, who came from England, and settled on Mys. tic side in 1647. Rev. Aaron Green was graduated at Harvard College in 1789, and was ordained in his native town, Sept. 30, 1795, as colleague pastor with the venerable Mr. Willis. Atter the death of Mr. Willis, in 1801, Mr. Green remained the sole pastor

" The Pastor acquainted the brethren with his desire of knowing their mund, talath to the admission of any of a blameless life and con- vernation, to the owning or recognizing of the Covenant, that their children might be admitted to Baptism,-also relative to the terms or manner of re elving metubers Into full communion (i.e.), with or with. ont a written Relation "

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of the First Church until he was dismissed, August 8, 1827. The period of his entire ministry in Mal- den was nearly thirty-two years. In 1796 he mar- ried Eunice Orne, of Lynnfield, and their children were four sons and one daughter. His half-brother, Dr. Ezra Green, born June 17, 1746, graduated at Harvard in 1765, a surgeon in the army and navy during the War of the Revolution, settled in Dover, N. H., and married Susannah Hayes. He died July 25, 1847, aged 101 years. Another half-brother, Bernard Green, boru .Jan. 14, 1752, was in the army of the Revolution, served the town of Malden in various offices, represented it in the Legislature, and died July 15, 1839, aged eighty-two years. Rev. Aaron Green, upon the resignation of his pastoral charge, removed to Andover. Like his two brothers, he reached a good old age. He survived all his college class- mates, and died Dec. 23, 1853, eighty-nine years of age

Theologically, Mr. Green was in sympathy with his predecessor and colleague, Rev. Eliakim Willis. Tradition represents him as preaching none of those great truths of revelation which the Holy Spirit is wont to use for the conviction and regeneration of men. His hearers were never aroused by the stu- pendous proclamations that " Except a man be born. again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God," nor were they urged to instant "repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ," as conditions of salvation. Doubtless Mr. Corey is correct in affirming that " Mr. Green, whose sermons were rarely doc- trinal, but mainly on the practice of piety and the efficacy of good works, was of the Arminian School, and it is said that his preaching was not displeasing to a majority of his hearers." The constant burden of the Arminian preaching in that day, we are told, was " do and live, do and live," and it is added, that " the congregations were all the while doing less and becoming more dead." Doubtless no minister holding an earnest evangelical faith, like that of Rev. Adoni- ram Judson, could have been called and settled as a colleague with Rev. Mr. Willis; or if called, it would have been by only a bare majority of the church, and in the face of a most remorseless opposition from the parish ; and the faithful pastorate of such a minister would have been more burdened with tribulation and persecution than was even that of Mr. Judson. Mr. Green, however, for a time at least, gave satisfaction to the majority of his people. He seems to have ac- cepted heartily Mr. Willis' Arminian creed and cov- enant. Indeed, under his direction, that document was printed as late as 1823, and it was set forth as the "Confession of Faith, and the Covenant of the First Congregational Church in Malden." In this printed copy are found a few, yet important, changes from the original form. There is no reason, however, to believe that these changes were made by Mr. Green. They were probably made by Mr. Willis himself, at the time he persuaded the First Church to adopt this

creed and covenant. The changes, however, were not for the better. The Confession of Faith (as distin- guished from the covenant), in its original form, had three articles of belief-one very defective, respecting the being and character of God; another, as equally defective, respeeting the sacraments of the church; and a third respecting "the communion of the churches." The third article of belief is omitted in the printed form which is represented to have been adopted by the First Church. Very likely this change was made in expectation that ere long the church could be wrested from "the communion of Churches," which it had so dearly prized through all its long history. But if such an expectation was cherished by any, they were destined to be disap- pointed. Several other changes were also made, all disclosing a positive trend towards a still more un- evangelical faith. In the mean time there were few additions to the church, and many in the congrega- tion, hearing nothing from the pulpit which con- vinced them of the truth, the reasonableness and the mighty spiritual power of the great historic beliefs of this church, were becoming increasingly averse to them.

Under such conditions there must have come sooner or later a crisis. In those days few Arminians in the pulpits, or in the pews, remained stationary. Ere long some of them denied the personality and regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, and became Universalists ; others denied the divinity and propitiatory sacrifice of Christ, and became Unitarians. In the third decade of the present century each of these issues was reached by different persons in Malden. A few became Uni- tarians. A larger number became avowed Universal- ists. Had the Universalists at this time quietly with- drawn from the First Church and Parish, as they had

a perfect right to do, and organized their own church and parish, and built their own house of worship, as the Baptists had already done, and as the Methodists were then doing, it would have been, beyond all ques- tion, honorable on their part, would have prevented a great and prolonged conflict, and saved the town from what is now, and must forever remain, a most painful passage in its history. But they decided to take a different course.

The first signal of the coming contest appears to have been an article in the warrant for a parish meet- ing, to be held May 8, 1826, which read thus :

" 8th. To see if they [the members of the First Parish] will permit Ministers of other denominations in good standing to preach Lectures in the Brick Meeting-House, when the same is not occupied by their re- spected Pastor, and pass any Votes on the subject that the good of the Parish, The promotion of friendship and good will may suggest, Agire- able to the petition of William Barrett, Enq., and others."

At the meeting held on May 8th it was voted " Not to admit Ministers of other denominations in good standing to preach in the meeting-house when it is not occupied by our Rev. Pastor." The next year, upon the written request of Artemas Cutter and twelve others, an article to the same effect, but in

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

more explicit terms, was inserted in the warrant for a parish meeting, as follows :

"To see if they will permitt ministers in good standing of the Universalist denomination to preach Lectures in the Brick meeting-house when it is not in use by our respected Pastor, and pass any Votes on the subject that they may think Propper." At the meet- ing of the parish hekl agreeably to this warrant on January 8, 1827, it was " Voted, second, To permitt ministers of the Universalist denomination to preach Leetures in the Brick meeting-house when it is not in use by our respected Pastor. Voted, third, To choose a ('ommittee to wait on our respected Pastor and get permission of him for Preachers of the Universalist denomination to preach lectures in the pulpit of the Brick meeting-honse."

A week later, or on Jannary 15, 1827, a written re- quest, signed by William H. Richardson and twenty- seven others, was presented to the Parish Clerk, to call a parish meeting, to act upon two articles :-

" First, To choose a moderator. Second, To see if the Society will Prohibit Ministers of the Universalist denomination preaching Lectures in said Brick Meet- ing-house." At the meeting of the parish, held in accordance with this request, on January 24, 1827, it was " Voted, not to prohibit Ministers," etc. On January 27, 1827, Joseph Lynds and ten others re- quested the clerk to call a meeting of the parish, to be hell February 3, 1827, to act upon two articles, the second of which was, " To see if the Society will prohibit Ministers of the Universalist denomination," etc. The society met according to the warrant, Feb- rnary 3d, and " Voted not to prohibit Ministers of the Universalist denomination preaching lectures in the Brick Meeting-house."

A similar article was in the warrant for a parish- meeting to be held May 27, 1827, but at the meeting it was voted to pass over that article. On June 10, 1827, the resignation of Mr. Green was read from the pulpit, by the preacher for the day, Rev. Mr. Sewall. The conflict in the parish had evidently become ex- tremely violent, and the pastor eould endure it no longer. lle was a good and kind-hearted man, and had been generally beloved by his people. His preaching had been so indefinite and neutral as to give no offence to anybody ; and now, in the time of strife, he thought to keep his speech aud conduct so indefi- nite and neutral as to satisfy both parties. But, as usual in such cases, he seems to have satisfied neither. The Universalists had no further need of him, as he would not announce himself a Universalist, and unite with them in their attempt to change the long estab- lished religions faith of the church and parish. The members of the church (who, though now few in number were nearly all, strange to say, considering the religious instruction they had so long been receiv- ing-thoroughly orthodox in their beliefs), were dis- pleased, because their pastor did not take an open and firm stand with them, and lead them in a brave

defence of the ancient faith of their church. He could not see it to be his duty to take either course, but in the midst of the battle determined to flee from the scene, and leave the contending parties to settle their strife as best they could.

In his letter of resignation, while he expressed sin- cere affection for his people, and gratefully recognizes their love and kindness to himself, he also speaks in plain terms of his grievous trials, and earnestly de- fends the neutral course he had taken, which seems to have been severely criticised by some of his people. His resignation was accepted, after he had been kindly invited to supply the pulpit for a short time. An ecclesiastical council was called to approve of this sundering of the pastoral tie, and he was dismissed August 8, 1827, with warm commendations from the council and from both the church and the parish.

THE SEPARATION OF THE FIRST CHURCH FROM THE FIRST PARISH .- Previous to May 8, 1826, cer- tain members of parish had become acquainted with several Universalist ministers. " Whittemore, Ballou, Streeter and Dean, Universalists, had preached in Mal- den in the old brick school-house once standing on Pleasant Street." At the above date began the efforts, already noticed, to introduce into the pulpit of the First Church these or other Universalist preachers, al- though Mr. Green was still the pastor,-efforts which overwhelmed him with grief, forced his resignation, and brought on a controversy which for years filled the town with the most painful dissensions and bit- ter enmities.

Mr. Green's resignation of his pastoral office did not arrest, but rather intensified, the contest between the Universalists and those who adhered to the ancient faith of the church. The struggle, however, was con- tinned mainly, not within the church, but within the parish. It would seem from the records of the par- ish, and also from those of the Church, that the Uni- versalists were now determined that the entire prop- erty of the parish should be used-as it never before had been used, and as it was never entrusted to the parish to be used-for the support of a Universalist minister and for the propagation of Universalism in Malden. On the other hand, nearly all the members of the First Church resented the attempt to settle over them a Universalist minister, without the vote of the church and against its will. They knew that from the beginning the Congregational Churches had enjoyed the priceless liberty and the sacred right of electing their own pastors; and that the parish, at a later date, had come into being mainly to exercise a trusteeship in the service of the church, and had never intentionally, by the Bill of Rights or by any legislation, been invested with the right to vote in the election of a pastor, except in concurrence or non- concurrence with an election previously made by the church ; and that all the property in the care of the parish was trust property-property entrusted to it for certain specific purposes and for no other-which

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could never be honestly and rightfully used except in support of the faith and the minister of that particu- lar church to which the parish itself was legally and organically united.

The number of the members of the church at that time, according to the church records, was eighty- three, twenty of whom were males, and sixty-three were females. The number of active members then living in Malden was probably less. The male mem- bers doubtless, were all, or nearly all, members also of the parish, and others in the parish sympathized with them and actively supported them. The women of the church were not members of the parish; had they been, the final issue of the conflict, beyond question, would have been quite different from what it was. The comparative strength of the two parties was usually indicated in the choice of a moderator at the parish meeting, although often the number of votes cast was not recorded. At a meeting of the parish held Aug. 1, 1827, in the choice of a moderator, "Ed- ward Wade, Esq. (the candidate of the Universalists), had eighty-eight votes, and Ephraim Buck, EsQ. (the candidate of the Congregationalists), had one hun- dred and eleven, and was elected." This was an im- portant meeting, for (on account, apparently, of some illegality in the calling and transactions of several previous meetings, including the annual meeting in May), all the parish officers were to be elected, and, what was of still more moment, " a committee to sup- ply the pulpit was to be chosen." As the Congrega- tionalists were now the majority, they elected the parish officers and also the committee to supply the pulpit.

But at the next annual parish meeting, held March 20, 1828, although the number of votes cast for moder- ator was not recorded, Edward Wade, the leader of the Universalists, was elected to that office, and all the parish officers elected, also the five members of the committee chosen to supply the pulpit, were Universalists. It would be interesting to know how the orthodox majority of the year before. had been overcome, and a Universalist majority had been gained. But the parish records are silent upon this subject, and they were never again under the control of the Congregationalists.

Previous to this annual parish meeting the Rev Sylvanus Cobb, a young Universalist preacher of considerable reputation in his own denomination, and especially distinguished as a controversialist, had preached several times in Malden, probably in the hall of the school-house then standing on the south side of Pleasant Street, upon the site now occupied by the Masonic Building. Mr. Cobb had made a favor- able impression upon the Universalists, and at the parish meeting above referred to (March 20, 1828),

" The following motion was made and adopted, viz., that from the high oppinion this society Entertaing of the Revd Sylvanus Cobb our Committee he requested to Employ him as our Minister for one year- on such terms as shall be satisfactory to him and honorable to the so- ciety-and in case of his delinquency for any part of said time, euch other person or persons as they may think proper."

But at a parish meeting held June 25, 1828, it was

" Voted, To adopt the motion made in writing by Mr. Benjo G. Hill, which is as follows-That the high satisfaction derived from the Pas- toral Laboure of the Rev. Sylvanus Cobb since his stay in Malden that it is deemed a subject of expediency to appoint a Committee to wait on him to obtain his terms of settlement with the society and report (as soon as can be convenient) to this meeting. Voted, That Mr. Benje Lynde, Wu Barrett and Dea. Ebent Towosend be a committee for the purposes above. Voted, Not to proceed any further on business of this meeting untill the committee aforesaid report their doings."

This committee, after an interview with Mr. Cobb, who was already residing in the parsonage, returned to the meeting and presented in writing a long report, in which are stated in minute detail the terms upon which Mr. Cobb agrees to settle "over said Parish or Society as their Pastor." The society at once voted that the report be accepted, " and that Mr. Cobb be settled agreeably thereto; " also that the "installa- tion " shall take place July 30, 1828, and that a com- mittee be chosen "to write letters of communication to the several Clergymen which they may deem pro- per to officiate at the solemnization of the connection between this society and the Rev. Sylvanus Cobb." Several other votes are entered upon the record as having been passed, and finally the clerk records that, by vote, the meeting was dissolved, and officially signs his name. Then he adds another record, as follows:

" N. B. this Vote was taken but overlooked to be put in ite regular place, which vote was as follows, viz., Voted, that this Parish concur with the recommendation of the church. . . . The recommendation is as followeth . . . at a meeting of the first church of Christ in Malden at the Parsonage house June 23, 1828, voted unanimously thut thie church recommend to the Parish with which we stand connected to settle Rev. Sylvanus Cobb as our Pastor. Eben". Townsend, Clerk pro tem. Altest Chr. Hill, Parish Clk."

On the day appointed for the installation services, (July 30, 1828) " the Council met in the parlors of William Barrett-Hosea Ballou, of Boston ; Sebastian Streeter, Thomas Whittermore, of Cambridge ; Russell Streeter, of Watertown, and Walter Balfour, of Charles- town, assisting."

Turning now to the records of the First Church in Malden, we find several entries which are of marked significance, especially when compared with the above recorded transactions of the so-called " First. Church," and of the First Parish. Under date of " Malden, May 31, 1828," is found the following record of action taken by the First Church at a church meeting :

" Whereas a complaint has been laid tin before the First Congregn- tional Church in Maldon against Br. Ebenezer Townsend, specifying that, contrary to the wishes and faith of the Church, he is aiding and assisting in supplying the pulpit in the First Congregational Society in this place with an Universulist preacher, which doctrine to this Church is heresy ; and whereas the first and second steps according to the gospel have been taken with him without obtaining satisfaction ; und whereas he has been cited to appear before the Church and answer to said com- plaint, and he having failed to render any satisfaction to the Church , therefore Voted, that we consider said Townsend's (condurt ?), as stated in the above complaint, a breach of Church covenant, and that he be no longer a member of this Church. Voted that the above be read be- fore the Church at their next conununion, before the administration of the ordinance of the supper.

Attest, EPHRAIM BUCK, Clerk."

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

The next record presents a scene which most pa- thetically discloses the sweet and tender spirit of the pastorless church and the unfailing fidelity of its members to their evangelistic and Christly mission, even in the darkest days of its great tribulation. The record reads thus:

" MALDEN, June 1, 1828.

" This day the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered, andl four persons were admitted by profession to this Church, viz .: Urialı Oakes, Jr., Granville Jefta, Charlotte Oukes and Eliza A. Pierce. The three first were baptised. Attest,

" EPHRAIM BUCK, Clerk."

This scene, coming in as it does in the height of the battle, amidst the clash of arms, "the thunder of the captains and the shouting," seems even now like a ritt in the overshadowing blackness through which can be seen heaven.

The record immediately following the above is as follows:

" MALDEN, July 30, 1828.

" This day the Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, an Universalist prencher, is said to be installed to the pastoral care of the first church in Malden. The church, having heard that the above installation was to take place, pre- pared and sent in the following [retuvastrance, but the council refused to hear it.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 118

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278