USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Roxbury > History of the First Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts, 1630-1904 > Part 16
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Elected Jan. 7, 1878 DAVID MILLER HODGDON AUGUSTUS PARKER ADAMS AYER
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Elected Jan. 6, 1879 DAVID MILLER HODGDON HENRY A. S. D. DUDLEY HENRY WARE PUTNAM Elected Jan. 1, 1883 DAVID MILLER HODGDON HENRY WARE PUTNAM CHARLES MILTON SEAVER
Elected Jan. 7, 1884 DAVID MILLER HODGDON CHARLES MILTON SEAVER CHARLES ANDREWS GRINNELL
Elected Jan. 7, 1889 DEPENDENCE STURTEVANT WATERMAN HORACE BACON JAMES CLARKE DAVIS
Elected Jan. 4, 1892. DEPENDENCE STURTEVANT WATERMAN JAMES CLARKE DAVIS SAMUEL EVERETT TINKHAM
SEXTONS
EDWARD TURNER served from Feb. 27, 1796, to April 28, 1812.
At a meeting held April 28, 1812, Edward Turner was elected to attend funerals, &c., Mr. Hervey Woods to do the other work of the sexton and Mr. Abraham Crawley to wind up and take care of the clocks.
HERVEY WOODS served from April, 1813, to April, 1819. EDWARD TURNER served from April, 1819, to April, 1821. JOHN SEAVER served from April 28, 1821, to Feb. 29, 1844. WILLIAM SEAVER served three months to Jan. 28, 1825. (John Seaver was probably absent.)
HORACE BACON served from March, 1844, to June 30, 1850. NATHAN HAYNES served from July 1, 1850, to April 1, 1857. THOMAS COLLIGAN served from April 1, 1857, to April 1, 1877.
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CHARLES S. CHAMPNEY served from April 1, 1877, to March 14, 1897.
JOHN HALL served from March 14, 1897, to June 20, 1897. JOHN B. JOHNSON served from June 21, 1897, to May 15, 1904. WILLIAM SLATER served from May 15, 1904.
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With the nineteenth century there came a change in the creed of the old church. The earliest intimation of dissent in Boston from the Calvinistic creed of the Congregational church was in 1747 when Jonathan Mayhew was settled over the West church in Boston. After the Revolution many Unitarians, then called Arminians, filled the Congregational pulpits in and around Boston, and by 1782 Unitarianism was brought prominently to the front. In our church, Dr. Porter's sermon before the Convention of ministers in Boston may be called the turning point, and since his day we have become a Unitarian church.
The committee, to whom was left the choice of plans for a new Meeting House, had three placed before them from which to choose, and that of the Newburyport Meeting House appeared to them the most suitable for Roxbury. The architect of that building is unknown, though tradition says it was Timothy Palmer. With a few alterations this plan was adopted and Mr. William Blaney appears to have been the chief consulting architect. May 26, 1803, the Building committee was directed to build stairs and make entrance to the gallery at the East end in the most convenient mode consistent with the present plan.
July 20, 1803, " the builders began to raise the frame and finished raising it in four days without any evil occurance," and when completed the building proved highly satisfactory, and was thought to be one of the most commodious and
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beautiful of all the old Meeting Houses in New England. The timbers were massive, the proportions good and the acoustie properties perfeet. The building measures 80 feet by 70 feet on the outside with a seating capacity of about one thousand.
Its great simplicity is its most striking feature. It has no ornamentation, with the exception of the Memorial Tablets recently put in, and is without stained glass windows. For a century it has proved a Meeting House in the most devout sense of the word. A place of worship and religious devotion, with old associations of our immediate ancestors.
The corner stone at the west corner was laid with appro- priate ceremonies and there was supposed to have been deposited under this stone a eireular silver plate with the inscription : -
This Building desig- ned for the Publick worship of God was fou nded with harmony and love by the first Parish in Roxbury May 2d 1803 Laus Deo.
Ten years later at a meeting of the Parish Committee, May 10, 1813, Capt. Jonathan Dorr received from Mr. Ebenezer Brewer this identical plate which he was requested to place in the hands of William Heath, Jr., Treasurer. This event took place soon after a discourse by Rev. Dr. Porter from Acts xviii, 17, "Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things." Upon the back of the plate when returned there was found attached to it a piece of paper on which was written
This Building, dasig; ned for the Publiek
worship of GOD. was four nded with harmony and
love, by the first Parish in 2ª Roxbury May 1803
LAUS DEO.
THE PLATE.
leit
THE PLATE AS RETURNED WITH INSCRIPTION
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This Tallant which the sloth full servant hid in earth mite have been sold for six shillings and seven pence and given to the poor But Galleio cared for none of these things.
May 7, 1804, the Parish voted to purchase only one clock for the inside of the Meeting House until the pews are sold. This clock was made by Simon Willard and is undoubtedly the one still in the church.
May 10, 1804, shortly after 9 o'clock in the morning, Mr. Lewis Hoyt, the auctioneer, proceeded to sell the pews which continued through the day and the pews were all sold, except- ing Pew No. 1 reserved for the Pastor and his family, and Pews Nos. 85, 86, 87, 88 reserved for the future disposition of the parish, realizing the sum of $7706. The surplus arising from this sale, after all the just demands arising in consequence of building said meeting house were paid and deduction for a new clock, was paid to the several persons who were assessed and did pay a Parish Tax in this Parish for the last year in proportion to the said tax they severally paid in said Parish the last year, being the year 1804.
This New Meeting House was dedicated to the service of God on Thursday the 7th Day of June, A.D. 1804. Sermon by Dr. Porter, the text being Ezra vi, 16, "And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy." The 10th day of June, 1804, was the first Sabbath on which there was preaching in the new house.
By vote of the parish, Feb. 11, 1805, town meetings in the
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Meeting House were interdicted, and as a result a town house was built soon after.
In April, 1805, a committee reported to the Parish that an act of incorporation similar to the one granted to the first parish in the town of Groton, Feb. 21, 1804, with few alterations and additions would be suitable for this Parish. At the same time it was voted not to raise Mr. Porter's salary to $1000, but allow him $800 and his wood.
In April, 1806, the new clock with one dial was set up in the tower of the new meeting house by Mr. Simon Willard who made it at a cost of $858.00.
Thomas Williams, Jr., presented an Elegant Folio Bible to the Parish April 25, 1806, and on the same day the Parish voted to have the bell rung at one o'clock noon and at nine o'clock in the evening.
July 4, 1808, the citizens of the Town of Roxbury in Com- memoration of the Anniversary of American Independence celebrated the day by a procession which was formed at the house of Mrs. Burrell at twelve o'clock under the direction of Major Bosson, Marshall of the Day, and moved from thence to the Rev. Dr. Porter's Meeting House under the escort of Capt. Bicknell's company of Artillery. The exer- cises in this House began with (1) a prayer by the Rev. Dr. Porter; (2) Hymn to Freedom, Tune Old Hundred; (3) Declaration of Independence read by Mr. Abraham Fox; (4) Oration by Mr. N. Ruggles Smith; (5) Ode for the Fourth of July, 1808, Tune, Rise Columbia. This was the First Public event in this house.
In April, 1810, it was voted that the time of intermission of Divine service be lengthened the three summer months only, to three hours; that is to say, the Second bell to begin ringing one quarter of an liour before three, and in 1811 the time was lengthened to between May 1 and Sept. 1.
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In April, 1812, the Parish Committee agreed with Mr. Edward Turner for him to attend funerals, &c., and with Mr. Hervey Woods to have charge of the Meeting House, to ring the bell at one o'clock every day, Sundays excepted, and at 9 every night in the year, to see that no horses are tied to any part of the Meeting House, and that no posts are set on the hill without the consent of the Committee, for which services he was to receive $84.00 per year. They also agreed with Mr. Abraham Crawley to wind up, oil and keep the two clocks for $7.00 per year.
Sept. 23, 1815, the meeting house was a little damaged by a hurricane.
July 10, 1816, the surplus arising from the sale of Pews with current Bank Bills remaining in the Treasury was appropriated for the use of the Parish.
In April, 1817, the Parish declined to purchase one or more stoves for the purpose of heating the meeting house.
June 6, 1817, the window over the middle door at the West end of the meeting house was broken by some malicious person or persons.
In Oct., 1817, a committee consisting of Mr. John Clap, Mr. George Ziegler and Mr. Eleb Faxon was chosen to look out a suitable piece of land for a Burying Ground, ascertain the price of the same and report at the next meeting. They made a verbal report at the next meeting in Dec. when a committee, consisting of Mr. Eleb Faxon, Ebenezer Seaver Esq., Mr. George Ziegler, Joseph Harrington Esq. and Mr. John Clap, was chosen to purchase in behalf of the Parish a suitable piece of ground. At the Annual Meeting held April 13, 1818, the committee reported that they had agreed to purchase in behalf of the Parish a tract of land of Doctor Samuel Bugbee (of Wrentham) situated nearly opposite the Mansion of the late Doctor Davis and containing about an
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acre and a half for the consideration of $1000.00. It was also voted to dispose of the musical instruments belonging to the parish which were not useful. Mr. Simon Willard continued to have charge of the clocks in 1818.
The present bell purchased of Mr. J. W. Revere was cast at the Foundry in Canton, Mass., and was raised to its present position May 27, 1819. It weighed 1538 lbs. and cost $692.10 less old bell sold for $215.50 leaving a balance of $476.60 which was the cash payment. In 1820 the meeting house was warmed by two stoves costing $258.16. At a meeting of the Parish held Feb. 10, 1820, it was voted not to oppose the prayer of William Hannaford and others for an act of Incorporation as a Society of Universalists in the Town of Roxbury.
During the night of May 26, 1820, some evil minded per- sons entered the meeting house and tore away the cushions from the pulpit and totally destroyed the valuable Parish Bible and committed other depredations.
June 24th of the same year the Holy Bible, which is now (1908) in the Pulpit, was presented to the Parish accompanied by the following note: -
ROXBURY, June 24, 1820.
Gentlemen,
The Holy Bible that accompanies this Note is presented to the first or Easterly Parish of this Town by their Hum! Servt
SAMI J. GARDNER.
Messrs. JOHN CLAP - Committee of said Parish.
NATHI S. PRENTISS
WILLIAM DAVIS
to which the following acceptance was made.
ROXBURY, 26th June, 1820.
Saml J. Gardner Esq.
Dear Sir: We, the undersigned, the Committee of the First Parish in Roxbury, for ourselves, and in behalf of said Parish, do hereby acknowledge
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the Receipt of an elegant Church Bible, by you presented to the said Parish. We beg you will be assured, Dear Sir, we duly appreciate your kindness in bestowing so valuable a present. Be pleased to accept our most cordial wishes, that you may long enjoy Health, Prosperity and Happiness. And what can be more conducive to Happiness, than the pleasure derived from the consciousness of having voluntarily performed a liberal and at the same time a Good Act.
JOHN CLAP WM DAVIS N. S. PRENTISS 1 Parish Committee.
After Jan. 31, 1822, the records of sales of pews were kept in a separate book having previously been included in the general records of the parish. Mrs. Hannah Jackson and Kendall Brooks left this church and became original members of Dudley St. Baptist Church. Sunday evening March 31, 1822, there was a Concert in this Meeting House. March 21, 1825, the last meeting of the First Parish in Roxbury took place, and April 4, 1825, the first meeting of the First Religious Society in Roxbury took place in the Town House.
The Act of Incorporation is as follows: -
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE
AN ACT declaring and confirming to the Pew-holders the property in the Congregational Meeting-House, in the First Parish in Roxbury, and authorizing them to raise monies by taxing pews.
SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that all persons who now are, or may hereafter become proprietors of the pews in the Con- gregational Meeting-House in the First Parish in Roxbury, are hereby declared to be a body politic and corporate by the name of the "FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY IN ROXBURY," with all the powers, privileges and immunities usually granted to such societies: And said Corporation shall be, and hereby are deemed in law to be, seized of the same Meeting-House and the land under, adjoining and belonging to the same, and the privileges and
.
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appurtenances thereto appertaining; reserving, however, to the several new proprietors, their rights and interest in said pews respectively.
SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That said proprietors shall meet on the first Monday of April next, and afterwards on the first Monday in January, annually, at said Meeting House, or such other place as the Standing Com- mittee shall appoint, and after choosing a Moderator, shall choose a Clerk, who shall record all the votes and proceedings of said proprietors, and be sworn to the faithful discharge of his duties; they shall also choose a Treas- urer, who shall give bonds for the discharge of the duties of his office, and also a Standing Committee of three discreet persons to manage their affairs, to continue in office one year, and until others are chosen: Provided however, if from any cause, any of said officers are not chosen at said meeting in April next, or at any annual meeting on the first Monday in January, said officers may be elected at any other meeting duly notified for that purpose; and said committee may notify any meeting by causing printed or written notifications to be delivered to the proprietors, or left at their dwellings, three days at least before such meetings, or by leaving the same in the pews of the pro- prietors, should a day of public worship intervene.
SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That said proprietors shall have power to repair, alter, or rebuild their Meeting-House; and shall have all the rights in relation to the same and the support of public worship therein, which said parish have hitherto had, and shall be bound by all the contracts made by said Parish.
SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That said Corporation may take, hold and possess, by gift, devise, purchase or otherwise, real and personal estate, not exceeding forty thousand dollars exclusive of their Meeting-House and its appurtenances, as a ministerial fund, the interest only of which shall be expended annually in such manner as the Deacons of the church in said society, and the Standing Committee for the time being may deem fit, or the proprietors by their vote direct; and those only whose pews are taxed shall be deemed legal voters; and said corporation may make and establish by-laws for the better ordering their affairs, provided the same are not repugnant to the constitution or laws of this commonwealth.
SEC. 5. Be it further cnacted, That all monies necessary for the support of public worship in said Meeting-House and incidental charges, which may be duly voted to be raised shall be assessed by the Standing Committee on the Proprietors of the pews on the lower floor in said Meeting-House, accord- ing to a scale of valuation agreed upon by a vote of said Parish passed on the twenty-second day of November last, which is not to be changed for the term of ten years from the first day of April next, but after that time may be altered, and gallery pews may be included if deemed expedient, having regard to the situation and value thereof; and the said committee shall make out lists of such assessments, stating the number of each pew, the name of
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the owner, and the amount assessed thereon, and deliver the same to the Treasurer who shall collect such assessments, and pay the same out on orders to be drawn by the Clerk, under the direction of the Standing Com- mittee.
SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That said proprietors shall hold their pews under their respective deeds, and the same shall hereafter be considered personal estate, and whenever any transfer of any pew in said Meeting- House shall be made, the old deed shall be given up and a new deed made in the name of one person only, to be signed by the Treasurer and counter- signed by the Clerk; and no conveyance shall be valid, until noted on the records of the Corporation.
SEC. 7. Be it further enacted, That if any proprietor shall neglect to pay his or her assessment, for the space of six months after such assessments is laid and notified by posting at the door of said House, the Treasurer shall advertise the pews of such delinquent for the space of three weeks, by post- ing notices at said Meeting-House and two other public places in said town, stating the time, place and cause of sale, and then if all the arrears are not paid, he shall sell the same at auction to the highest bidder, and after deduct- ing all sums due with costs of sale and charges of conveyance, shall pay over the balance, if any, to the owner.
SEC. 8. Be it further enacted, That any person wishing to dispose of his or her pew, shall first give notice thereof to the Standing Committee, stating the name of the person to whom it is intended to sell, and offering the same to said Corporation at cost, and if said Corporation shall not elect to pur- chase and pay for such pew within thirty days from such notice, the same may be sold to one person only, provided all dues thereon be first paid.
SEC. 9. Be it further enacted, That this act being accepted by a major vote of said Parish, shall be binding on all parties concerned therein and the present Treasurer or Standing Committee of said Parish, may call the first meeting under this act, and shall continue in office until others are chosen.
IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Feb. 26, 1825. This Bill having had three several readings, passed to be enacted.
WILLIAM C. JARVIS, Speaker.
IN SENATE, Feb. 26, 1825.
This Bill having had two several readings, passed to be enacted.
NATHANIEL SILSBEE, President. February 26, 1825.
Approved. MARCUS MORTON.
A true copy. Attest: EDWARD D. BANGS, Sec.
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AT a meeting of the Proprietors of the Pews of the First Religious Society in Roxbury, held Jan. 15, 1855,
Voted, That the Standing Committee shall not be at liberty to expend for any object more money than the Pew Proprietors shall raise and appro- priate for any such object; and shall not expend, for any purpose, not authorized by them, and shall not borrow any money for any purpose what- ever, without a special vote, nor contract any debt in behalf of said Pew Proprietors, without a special vote of said Proprietors authorizing it."
JOSEPH W. TUCKER, Clerk. A true copy. Attest:
JOSEPH W. TUCKER, Clerk.
The First Annual Parish Meeting (under the Society's new title) took place on Monday, Jan. 2, 1826, and thereafter the Annual Meeting occurred on the first Monday in January in each succeeding year.
At a meeting of the Society held May 10, 1830, the Vote to call Mr. George Putnam as Colleague Pastor was passed unanimously with the exception of one vote only. The per- son who put in the negative vote called on the Moderator after the Meeting stating that his negative was not on account of any dislike to Mr. Putnam, but on account of his having a wish to hear him preach a few more Sundays previous to his being called as a Colleague Pastor, and he further stated that he would wish to withdraw his negative, and that the choice might be considered as unanimous. The Church Members of this Society met at the House of their Rev. Pastor in the evening after the Meeting of the Society and after an appro- priate Prayer voted unanimously their approbation of the doings of the Society in calling and inviting Mr. George Putnam to become their Colleague Pastor. Mr. Putnam replied to the above invitation as follows:
TO THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND SOCIETY IN ROXBURY
Christian Brethren I have received through your Committee your invitation to become Colleague with your present Pastor in the Christian Ministry. The harmony of all your proceedings and the apparent cor- diality of your invitation have been very satisfactory and gratifying. And
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now having, as I believe, weighed the subject with that serious deliberation which its importance demands, I do cheerfully and without one dissenting thought or feeling, accept your call and consent to become your minister as soon as my professional studies shall be so far advanced, that I can obtain the usual testimonials.
In so determining I have marked the intimations of Providence, I have listened for the injunctions of duty, I have consulted the desires of friends, and asked the counsel of the wise, and all these concur with every inclination of my own bosom in dictating the answer I have given you.
I am not insensible to the great and untried responsibilities which I am taking upon myself, and I trust that the cheerfulness and hope with which I come to you, are tempered with a just diffidence and humility. Cherishing a deep desire and firm resolve to devote to your service, and spend in the way of my duty, whatever strength Almighty God may graciously give, I commit all else to his wise guidance and disposal - looking for his blessing and your kind indulgence.
(Signed) GEORGE PUTNAM.
CAMBRIDGE, May 21, 1830.
June 15, 1830, it was voted that the Standing Committee have liberty to lower the Pulpit fourteen inches providing on examination they find such alteration will not operate to the injury of any Pews in the Gallery and that the expense be defrayed by subscription and not by the Society.
Wednesday, the 7th day of July, 1830, was fixed on for the day of Ordination and for the Council to meet at the Norfolk House at 9 o'clock A.M.
Some of the parishioners, feeling disposed to encourage the arrangements that were made for the Ordination of Mr. George Putnam as Colleague Pastor, agreed to take one ticket each at three dollars for the Dinner to be provided for the council and others that may join on the occasion, they were,
John Bartlett, D. A. Simmons, Nath! Dorr, Charles Hick- ling, Charles Davis, Thos. K. Jones, Caleb Fellowes, John Lowell, Thos. Simmons, Dan'l A. Sigourney, Isaac Davis, Jos. Harrington, Enoch Bartlett, William Phipps, William H. Spear, Chas. Davis Jr., Horatio Davis, George Simmons,
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William Fisk, Mr. Dyer, Eph™ Harrington, W™ Dove, Thomas Brewer, B. F. Copeland, G. L. Brewer, Eliab Brewer, S. G. Robbins, Sherman Leland, Benj. Weld, S. C. Thwing, Watson Gore, Asa Bugbee, Benj. Balch, John Hovey, S. H. Hunneman, Jos. Callender, Wm Davis Jr., F. S. Eastman, Jonª Dorr.
H. A. S. Dearborn was absent on a journey, Joseph Hall declined his ticket and Mr. Lithgow returned the ticket.
July 7, 1830. The order of services at the ordination of Mr. Putnam was as follows: Introductory Prayer by Dr. Gray of Roxbury. Selections from the Seriptures by Mr. Austin of Brighton. Hymn. Sermon by Mr. Dewey of New Bedford. Anthem. Ordaining Prayer by Mr. Osgood of Sterling. Charge by Dr. Ware of Cambridge. Right Hand of Fellowship by Mr. Newell of Cambridge. Original Hymn. Address to the Society by Mr. Parkman of Boston. Prayer by Mr. Capen of South Boston. Anthem. Benedic- tion by Mr. Putnam.
Rev. Dr. Porter died Saturday night, Dec. 7, 1833. A Committee was appointed to make suitable arrangements for the funeral of the revered and lamented senior Pastor demon- strating the affection and respect with which the Society regarded his pure and exalted character and to offer such evidence of regret and condolence to the Family of the deceased as may justly represent the intensity of interest they felt in the melancholy event. They were Deacon William Davis, Deacon John Clap, John Lemist, B. F. Copeland, Watson Gore; the Standing Committee, Dr. John Bartlett, Charles Davis, Joseph Harrington, Ebenezer Crafts, David Dudley, Jona Dorr, Sherman Leland, Sam'l J. Gardner. They were requested to meet at the Church directly after the evening service. On the succeeding Wednesday his funeral was attended by a large concourse in his meeting
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