USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > History of Newburyport, Mass., 1764-1905, Volume I > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61
As Rector of St. Paul's church, as well as bishop, he was highly esteemed and added to the number of his friends in the parish as well as in the diocese. Money was raised to build a new church and January 25, 1800, the General Court author- ized " The Proprietors of the Episcopal Church in Newbury- port " to appoint an agent to sell and remove the old church
1 Acts and Resolves, 1793-1794, ch. 44.
2 Life and Times of Edward Bass (Addison), p. 321.
7
At a CONVENTION of CLERGY and LAY-DEPUTIES of the Pro- teftant Epifcopal Churches hereafter named, holden at SALEM, in the County of Essex, and Common wealth of MASSACHUSETTS, October the fifth and fixth, 1790, viz. St. Paul's Church, NEWBURY- PORT, Chrift-Church, BOSTON, St. Thomas' Church, TAUNTON, St. Andrew's Church, SCITUATE, Trinity Church, MARSHFIELD, St. Peter's Church, SALEM, Trinity Church, Boston, St. Michael's Church, MARBLEHEAD, in the Common-wealth of MASSACHU- SETTS, and Queen's Chapel, PORTSMOUTH, in the State of NEW- HAMPSHIRE.
A Plan of an Encefalical Conflitution was reun, and coolderet by paragraphs, and, after fundry Amendments, was unanimcaly Approved, and is as falores, vis .- An icelefaltical Conflitution for the Government of the Epif- wafel Churches in this Common wealth, and Jak other Churches as may be Admitted and Accede to the fame. - TEST. A Convention of La Recher Episcopal Chase & alo fall 'Mehr da Common; por adu " dre mos previous notice being acce le so this Condition, to costal of the Charge of de mand even, of fury dection intended, be sure flanding Committee ; and every fuch churches, and one " > << Depois + X eline des, being Japon, to Liftden fall be by B ...
F
be choley by each (' preparan, it is held at Bo ros, on the Tadays 211. The perhar offer of a Biffop confuting in the power of Ordination preceding the last Wednesday in Me cenaal : But the tane and place of land Combination out of fupuntencing the Clergy of his Diocefe, and of meeting thall be funket to al manor te dar Convention, and Ipara myennes Precedence in HatteSia, & Allenbles, the fame thail be accordingly fo exer- cied in this Cầu. h. may be called at cher times to the Bulge for the time being, and also in the nuwinter herein after provide ..
2. A majority of the Clergy ant of the Lie Departs of the Congress tions adopting this Conflitutym, Fill be affenbled, before tar Cosvere f thall proceed to Bufines, except that the members present thall have your to adjourn from day to day, not exceeding three days in the whole , and, if' a majority Shall not then be afembled, the members prekat my adjourn, wil -
3. The Clergy and Lay-Deputies in Convention, fhall deliberate in one body, but fhall vote as two diflindt Orders ; and the cortarience of both Or. ders fhill be necesfairy to give validity to every menfur ...
4. Fach Congregation reprefented in Convention, fhall have und Vot and no Deanty thill represent more than one Compression.
5. In Convention, a person fall profile with the tale of President; an when a Bifhop fall be properly Curfew rated and ferled in this Church, Shall be, by virtue of his office, a number of the Constant; and, wa prefent, fhill prefide routein.
6. A Secretry thill be appointed by the Convention, removeable at pl fore, who hill keep a far Record of g . Resolves and Proceedings of Convention, and have the faine in his sullody, As long as he thall contrak office.
1
7. Standing Rules, for the orderly conducting, of business, Shall be eflabs. Tithed at the Gift Meeting of the Convention.
vention, produce a Testimonial of his appointment, fubloubrd by one or bothy of the Church-randens, or by the Clerk of the P. actors.
9. Tlu Clergy, who fhall mmifter in tus church, fhall conffi of the three orders of B.Almops, Priefts and Deacons.
10. No Bifhop fhall ever be elected for this Church, but at the annual
AT the faid Convention it was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, That Copies of the faid Plan of a Conftitution he tranfmitted to the feveral Proteftant Epifcopal Churches in thi. Comnion-wealth, anden the States of New-Humpfhire and Rhode-Ifland, and that it be, and hereby is Recommended to the Clergy of thofe Churches, to attend sand to the Congregations respectively, to Elect one, or more Lay-De- puties, to affemble in Convention, to be holden in Bofton, in the County of Suffolk, on the lall Theftlay of January next ; and, that the faid Deputies be authorized, in behalf of their refpective Congregations, to agree upon, and, by and with the content of the faid Clergy, who fhall be then convened, to Eftablith the faid Conftitution for the future Government of the faid Churches.
Atteft. DUDLEY ATKINS TYNG, Secretary.
I2. No Paar. Con'te Shall be inflicted by the Biffen, upon any Clergyman un fer hi, .mpeition, other than fhall he directed by the inftitu- then at this Chave hereafter made in Convention.
13. No Chygryn an thall hereafter bi fatled in any of the Churches who Aball accul the , Constitution, bard 's thall produce fufaint Teltimonials of his having bees regulath Ordained by a Bring ..
IA N. perfon thall be admitted to Holy Owers, until he hall produce There Bishop fast fedory Ventionhar com vertation, figned by three Clop www. ar the ical.
13. No perfon thall be mitted to Print & Online andif he fall have at- tained the age of twenty -four years, uniefs fpecially recentrer a GRasto by the Convention, nor to Deacon's Orders, until he then have artamed the age of twenty- one vrars.
16, No Bithop of another Cherch But evende los Iphone : Authority. in bons Church, unleis in care of the var thev thricof, or at the requen of the Bethop of this Church, and tan, oni to Calm and Contin ; de forme, in cafe of a vacancy, at the request of place Curaymen ; and the latter, by defire of the Clergyman and Moosibers'of a particular Carxh.
17. The forlag Conmutter hall confitthe three Cheegiren and three Lay-Deputies, to be elected by the Convention, who shall have the power # prioned in the toph Andis, ast atin power to call predial Meetings of the Convention, as they may think gecefary, and to provide a fuitable place for the allenbling thereof: And no Regret, Shall be tranhtel sens final Meeting of the Convention, other than fuch ax thall be mentioned in the No- tification for fuch meeting.
18: This Conftution fhall not be fubjest to alteration in any Article. ex- copt at the Annual Meeting of the Convention ; nor unles fach alteration fall have been proposed, at leaft, one Meeting previous to its adoption.
EDWARD BASS, Prefident.
PRINTED BY JOHN MY CALL IN NEWBURYPORT.
261
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH
and build a new one on or near the same spot. A contract was made with Stephen Toppan to furnish the materials and erect the new building. The corner-stone was laid with Ma- senic ceremonies on the twenty-second day of May,' and the church was completed and consecrated on the eighth day of October following. The reredos, organ and bell, taken from the old church, were set up in the new one, and a bishop's mitre, carved in wood, was placed above the bell tower to indicate that the new edifice was a cathedral. The Newburyport Herald announced, November 17, 1801, that Philip Kent, a member of the Washington Light Infantry company, having died, a memorial service was held " at St. Paul's Cathedral," on Sunday, the fifteenth day of November at which a discourse, appropriate to the occasion, was delivered by the Right Reverend Bishop Bass.2
While the church was being built, in 1800, Timothy Dexter gave the proprietors one hundred pounds, equivalent in cur- rency, at that date, to three hundred and thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents, to be expended in purchasing a new bell, but with the consent of the donor the money was used for other purposes.3 The old bell was hung in the new bel- fry, where it remained for ten years.4 It was cracked, Decem- ber 23, 1810, while being rung for evening service, and was replaced, February 14, 1811, by a new one, cast, in 1809, by Revere & Son of Boston. This bell met with a similar mis- hap. It was rung for the last time October 1, 1899, and, sub-
1 Newburyport Herald, May 27 and 30, 1800.
2 On the twenty-fifth day of June, 1801, Thomas Cary, Jr., delivered an address before the members of St. Peter's Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons which was subsequently published in answer to the following request: "Voted, unanimously, that Jonathan Gage, P. M., Samuel A. Otis, P. M., and Charles Jackson, P. M., be a committee to present the thanks of St. Peter's Lodge to our Brother Thomas Cary, P. M., for the oration delivered this Day at St. Paul's Cathedral and to request a copy for the Press. Abraham Perkins, Secretary."
3 The following notice painted on glass and suitably framed hangs in the choir room of the parish house :-
" MR. TIMOTHY DEXTER Generously gave the sum of $333.33 Towards the Finishing and Ornamenting of this church."
4 This bell was probably purchased for St. Paul's church in 1746. In the account of expenditures for that year is the following item: "Cash paid Poor for hauling the Bell " and the next year Thomas Smith was paid £12, 18s. for " work on the Bell."
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, 1801.
263
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH
sequently was placed in an alcove prepared for it in the tower of the church.
A new bell, from the foundry of Meneneely & Co., West Troy, N. Y., bearing the following inscription : "To the glory of God and in loving memory of the Rev. James Morss, D. D., Rector of St. Paul's Church, Newburyport, Mass., 1803-1842. Christmas, 1899," was purchased and hung in the belfry. It was rung for the first time the first Sunday after Epiphany, 1900.
The first organ brought to the town of Newbury was set up in St. Paul's church in 1756, eight years previous to the incor- poration of Newburyport. It was imported from England by Thomas Brattle, and at his death became the property of King's chapel, Boston. The organ was used at the services held in St. Paul's church until 1836, when it was sold and removed to St. John's church, Portsmouth, N. H., and a new one purchased, which occupied a conspicuous place in the front gallery until the summer of 1866. A larger instrument from the manufac- tory of S. S. Ham- ill, East Cambridge, was completed in December of that year and set up on IN MEMORY OF THE LIGHT REV.EDWARD . BASS.D .D. BORN . NOV . 23 . 026. DIED : SEPT: JO.1805 the floor of the church on the northwesterly side of the chancel. In RECTOR OF ST.PAVIS CHYRCIA NEWBURYPORT · MASS ** FROM A·D :1)52 .10.1803 . February, this or- gan was sold and a new one purchased, at an expense of six CONSECRATED HIsifor OF MASSACHUSETTS MAY : 9 :079). thousand dollars, from the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Conn.
A marble tablet, a sterling silver communion service,
TABLET TO BISHOP BASS.
264
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
and the clock now in the tower of the church, were purchas ed by a committee appointed to expend the sum of twenty-five hun- dred dollars bequeathed to the proprietors of St. Paul's church by John Q. A. Williams of Boston, in his will, proved January 31, 1887.ª
Since that date, a reading desk, altar cloths, and other gifts in brass and bronze, have been presented to the church, and recently Frederick S. Moseley, Esq., has added a new chande- lier, choir stalls and pulpit to these memorial gifts.
The stone chapel, in the church yard, on the northwesterly side of the church, was erected in 1862, by Rev. William Horton; D. D., in memory of his daughter Anna M. Horton, who died in 1857. It was consecrated May 27, 1863, by the Right Reverend Manton Eastburn, D.D.
Christ chapel, built by Daniel W. Piper, in 1886, on land owned by him on Merrimack street, near New street, was con- veyed, February 1, 1904, to the proprietors of St. Paul's church, to be used for religious purposes only.2 Services are held there at the usual hours on Sundays and holy days throughout the year.
Rev. Matthias Plant, minister at Queen Anne's chapel, had charge of St. Paul's church from its organization in 1740 to his death, April 2, 1753. Since that date the ministers have been as follows :-
Rev. Edward Bass, from April 2, 1753, to September 10, 1803.3 Rev. James Morss, from October 19, 1803, to April 26, 1842.
Rev. John S. Davenport, from December, 1843, to Nov. 12, 1844. Rev. Edward A. Washburn, from October 9, 1845 to August 3, 1851.4 Rev. William Horton, from September 1, 1853, to October 29, 1863. Rev. John C. White, from October 29, 1863, to April 18, 1870.5
1 The testator provided in his will that the tablet should be suitably inscribed to the memory of the Right Reverend Edward Bass, D. D., and that the communion service should be used on Sundays and holy days in memory of his honored parents, " Abraham and Ann Williams who for many years worshipped in said church."
2 Essex Deeds, book 1731, p. 221.
3 Mr. Bass was associate-minister from November, 1752, until Mr. Plant's death.
4 Mr. Washburn officiated as rector from March, 1845, but was not ordained until October ninth.
5 Mr. White was an assistant minister in St. Paul's church from January 19, 1863, until Rev. Mr. Horton's death, Oct. 29, 1863.
265
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND SOCIETY
Rev. George D. Johnson, from November 1, 1870, to October 5, 1875. Rev. Edward L. Drown, from May 3, 1876, to December 20, 1883. Rev. James H. Van Buren, from November 20, 1884, to July 1, 1890. Rev. William C. Richardson, from September 15, 1890, to July 1, 1897. Rev. Arthur H. Wright, from March 5, 1899.
The one-hundredth anniversary of the consecration of Rev. Edward Bass, bishop of Massachusetts, was celebrated in Trinity church, Boston, May 7, 1897, and in St. Paul's church, Newburyport, Saturday and Sunday, May eighth and ninth, 1897.
It is a noteworthy fact that the Right Reverend Edward Bass, first bishop of Massachusetts, Right Reverend James H. Van Buren, first bishop of Porto Rico, and the Right Rev- erend Thomas M. Clark, for nearly fifty years bishop of Rhode Island and four years presiding bishop of the Protestant Epis- copal church in America, were closely indentified with St. Paul's church and the parish of which it forms a part, -the oldest organized parish now subject to the Episcopal form of church government in the diocese of Massachusetts.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
In 1742, a small house of worship was erected on the east- erly side of High street, near the southeasterly corner of King street, in Newbury, and in 1746 a few individuals residing in that vicinity organized a church and elected Rev. Jonathan Parsons of Lyme, Conn., pastor. September 15, 1748, the members of the newly organized church voted to unite with the presbytery of Boston, and establish in Newbury, a relig- ious society " after the manner of the Kirk of Scotland." In the month of October following, they petitioned the General Court for relief from taxes imposed upon them for the support of public worship elsewhere. The prayer of the petitioners was not granted, and several unsuccessful attempts were made, during the next ten or fifteen years, to amend or repeal the law relating to the taxation of property for religious purposes. Although the desired legislation was delayed for many years, the First Presbyterian society continued to thrive.
In 1756, a committee was appointed to purchase land and,
266
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
build a new meeting house, on the corner of King and School streets, and when a part of Newbury was set off and a new town incorporated, in 1764, the land on which the new meet- ing house had been erected was within the limits of Newbury- port. " An act to impower the proprietors of the meeting house in the town of Newburyport where the Reverend Mr. Jonathan Parsons officiates to raise money to defray minis- terial and other charges " was passed by the General Court June sixth and approved by the governor June 14, 1764.1
Rev. George Whitefield, the famous evangelist, died Sep- tember 30, 1770, in a house on School street owned and occu- pied by Rev. Jonathan Parsons. He was buried in a crypt, or tomb, built of brick, under the pulpit of the meeting house where Rev. Mr. Parsons officiated. Many visitors were allowed to descend into the crypt and gaze upon the mortal remains of the eloquent preacher. Previous to the remodel- ling of the meeting house in 1829 the large bone of White- field's right arm mysteriously disappeared. It was carried to England where it remained for many years, but was returned in September, 1849.2
In 1772, Rev. Jonathan Parsons was seriously ill, and re- mained an invalid until his death, July 19, 1776, although he occasionally preached during the last two years of his life. He was succeeded by Rev. John Murray, who was installed pastor June 4, 1781. Mr. Murray was a popular preacher and a brilliant orator. Rev. William Bentley, of Salem, Mass., a Congregational clergyman, wrote in his diary that he went, Monday, April 30, 1787, from Salem to Newburyport in a chaise. The next day he wrote as follows :-
Tuesday, [May 1] was the quarterly Fast at the Presbyterian Church. The rigid doctrines of the confession were pleaded by Mr. Murray in the morning, but rendered tolerable by the uncommon eloquence of Mr. M. who exceeds in delivery all his contemporaries of New England. He stands low and appears to speak from the memory, but really has his notes before him. In prayer he lifts his hands and sometimes applies
1 Mass. Archives (Court Records), vol. 25, pp. 33, 103, 108, 223 and 227.
2 Rev. Jonathan F. Stearns announced in the Newburyport Herald, Oct. 2, 1849, that the missing bone had been returned with a letter stating facts that established its identity beyond a reasonable doubt.
267
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND SOCIETY
them to the breast but uses no other gesture. In his sermon he is not in the least affected in his manner ; he triumphs over his audience and sup- ports attention for three hours. . . . I dined on Wednesday with Mr. Murray. His affability is engaging. He is agreeable in spite of his doctrines.I
Rev. Mr. Murray died March 13, 1793, and on the twenty- second day of February, 1794, the members of the religious society, " whereof the Revd John Murray deceased was late Minister," was incorporated by the name of " The Presbyte- rian Society in Newburyport " and authorized to choose asses- sors and tax the owners or occupants of pews for the support of public worship.2
On the nineteenth day of November following, Rev. Daniel Dana was installed pastor. Many persons, dissatisfied with his theological views, left the society and organized a new one which was afterwards incorporated by the name of the Second Presbyterian Society in Newburyport.
June 14, 1815, the pastor, deacons and elders of the First Presbyterian church were incorporated and authorized to hold real or personal estate and sell the same at their pleasure.3
In 1819, the church voted to purchase and set up in the meeting house two large stoves at a cost not exceeding one hundred dollars. In 1829, the old galleries and pews were removed and other alterations made. A new pulpit, with a new brick crypt under it, enclosing the remains of Rev. George Whitefield, the evangelist, Rev. Jonathan Parsons, the the first pastor of the church, and Rev. Joseph Prince, an intimate friend of Whitefield and Parsons, was built on the southerly side of the meeting house to take the place of the old pulpit that stood on the easterly side. A cenotaph, de- signed by Strickland and cut in marble by Strothers of Phila- delphia, was erected under the eastern gallery, by William Bartlett, Esq., of Newburyport "to the memory of the Rev. George Whitefield." 4
1 Diary of William Bentley, in the possession of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, vol. X., p. 159. Typewritten copy of this manuscript diary in Essex Institute, Salem, Mass., vol. I., p. 114.
2 Acts and Resolves, 1793-1794, ch. 44.
3 Acts and Resolves, 1815-1816, ch. 14.
4 Newburyport Herald, July 31, 1829.
268
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
Although the meeting house was built in 1756, the steeple was not completed until 1759. The first bell was probably hung in the belfry in 1785 ; the second, cast by Revere & Son, Boston, in 1802, was purchased in 1803, and still rings loud and clear for Sunday morning service or week-day meetings for conference and prayer.
I
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN MEETING HOUSE IN 1829.
In 1785, or soon after that date, a clock with three hex- agonal dials, cach dial having an hour hand in the form of an arrow, but no minute hand, was purchased and set up in a room provided for it in the steeple, just below the belfry. In 1848, when repairs were being made on the meeting house,
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN MEETING HOUSE ; 1905.
270
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
the steeple was found to be unsafe. The bell and clock were removed and a number of horses, oxen, men and boys, with ropes and blocks, were employed to pull the steeple down. It fell to the ground with a loud crash.' A new steeple was built. The old bell was hung in the new belfry, and the old clock had a new room provided for it in the tower. In 1895, the clock was replaced by a new one, presented to the society by Dr. Daniel T. Plumer and Misses Jane, Maria, and Mehita- ble T. Plumer, in memory of their brother, Albert Plumer, who died October 14, 1894.
Rev. Joseph Adams of Byfield parish, Newbury, a graduate of Harvard college preached for two or three years in the meeting house erected in 1742, on High street, near the cor- ner of King (now Federal) street. He labored earnestly and faithfully to organize an independent church and society, but failed to receive the full confidence and support of the congre- gation to whom he ministered.
November 25, 1745, more than one hundred members of the First Parish church signed an agreement to withdraw from communion with that church and unite with the unorganized society in extending a call to Rev. Jonathan Parsons, of Lyme, Conn., to become their pastor. On the third day of January, 1745-6, a new church was formed, and three months later six ruling elders were chosen.2
Since that date, the ministers of the First Presbyterian church and society in Newburyport have been as follows :-
Rev. Jonathan Parsons, from March 19, 1746, to July 19, 1776.
Rev. John Murray, from June 4, 1781, to March 13, 1793.
Rev. Daniel Dana, from December 19, 1794, to November 19, 1820. Rev. Samuel P. Williams, from February 8, 1821, to Dec. 23, 1826. Rev. John Proudfit, from October 4, 1827, to January 24, 1833.
Rev. Jonathan F. Stearns, from October 16, 1835, to October 14, 1849.
Rev. Ashbel G. Vermilye, from May 1, 1850, to April 14, 1863.
Rev. Richard H. Richardson, from April 24, 1864, to October 28, 1868. Rev. Charles S. Durfee, from September 8, 1869, to July 29, 1872.
Newburyport Herald, July 11, 1848.
2 For further details in regard to the organization of this church see "Ould Newbury," pp. 508-525; History of Newbury (Currier), pp. 381-384; Origin and Annals of the First Presbyterian Church (Hovey), pp. 20-40.
NORTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY 271
Rev. William W. Newell, Jr., from May 7, 1874, to June 30, 1880.
Rev. Charles C. Wallace, from May 3, 1881, to October 3, 1888.
Rev. Brevard D. Sinclair, from May 1, 1889, to November 21, 1892. Rev. Horace C. Hovey, from May 9, 1893.
NORTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
After the death of Rev. John Lowell, May 15, 1767, the members of the First Religious society, unable to agree upon a minister to succeed him, considered it advisable to divide the society and form two separate churches.
At a town meeting held December 17, 1767, Cutting Moody, Samuel Greenleaf, Jonathan Bradbury, Richard Smith, Ed- mund Bartlet and George Burroughs presented the following petition, which was promptly granted :-
Whereas a number of the Inhabitants of this town have invited Mr. Marsh' here to preach to them for a season & have no suitable Place provided to carry on publick worship in : They would ask the Favour of the Town to give Leave for their meeting in the Town House for that purpose untill they can be otherwise accommodated.2
The town house was a two story wooden building on the corner of Essex and Fish (now State) streets. It was also used as a court house, and, December 29, 1767, Edmund Bartlet, Cutting Moody, Cutting Bartlet, Obadiah Horton, Abel Mer- rill, and others, " part of the congregation under the pastoral care of the late Rev. John Lowell," applied to the court of general sessions for liberty to use the court room for public worship, which was granted, the petitioners agreeing to leave it in good order.3
January 10, 1768, the First Religious society " voted to divide the church, and, also, "that the church plate and stock be divided."
On the fourth day of March following, the friends of Rev. Christopher B. Marsh, with the assistance of Rev. Oliver Noble of Newbury, organized a church, adopted a covenant and con-
1 Rev. Christopher Bridge Marsh of Cambridge, Mass.
2 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., p. 117.
3 Records of the Court of General Sessions (1767), p. 141.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.