USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the First church in Boston, 1630-1880 > Part 16
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to the General Court, dated May 20, 1669, (undoubt- edly written by Moodey,) giving the result of the sub- scription and the reply thereto from that body, acknowledging the gift, may both be found in the colony records.
In 1686 Charles Morton, pastor of the First Church in Charlestown, formed an association of ministers in imitation of one in Cornwall, England. Moodey was a member of this body, which met at the College once a month.' Its primary object was " the promotion of the gospel and our mutual assist- ance and furtherance in that work ; " but matters of civil policy and government were often referred to them for advice. It was the custom at this time for the minister to preach a sermon to a condemned man, who was forced to give his attendance, and Thursday Lecture was appropriated for this purpose. On March 6, 1686, Moodey performed this dismal service in his " Exhortation to a Condemned Male- factor."
" Edward Randolph says, Moodey was one of the ' Five ministers of Boston who were in the Councill Chamber on the eighteenth of Aprill [1689], when the Goven' [Sir Edmund Andros] and myselfe were brought out of the Fort before them, writing orders, and were authors of some of their printed papers.'"
1 James Allen and John Bailey were also members of this body, which discussed " Thirty important cases ; among others, 'Whether Instrumental Musick may be used by the Church of Christ in His Publick Worship and Service.' Resolved in the negative: I will not hear the melody of thy Or- gans." MS. in Mass. Hist. Soc. Library. See post, Chap. VI.
141
JOSHUA MOODEY.
1671-1710.]
In 1693 he returned to Portsmouth to resume the charge of his former parish, and ended his days as their minister in "usefulness, love, and peace." Cot- ton Mather-who preached his funeral sermon from Acts vi. 15 : " Looking steadfastly on him, they saw his face as it had been the face of an angel"-says he died at Boston (where he went for medical advice) at Cotton Hill, being there on a visit, July 4, 1697, aged sixty-five. His days were probably shortened by overwork. In the manuscript journal of Rev. John Pike, a son-in-law of Moodey, and formerly minister of Dover, N. H., it is written : "July 4, 1697, Mr. Joshua Moodey deceased of a wasting consumption at Boston, sab : day, little past 5 afternoon."
A full account is extant of the trial and pun- ishment of Joshua Moodey at Portsmouth for re- fusal to administer the Lord's Supper in such form as was set forth in the book of Common Prayer. Previous to this proceeding against him, Moodey had aroused the ill-will of Governor Cranfield by calling a member of the church to account for false swearing, and obliging him to make public con- fession before the church. . The Governor, who, as was said, had already compromised the matter with the offender, and declined to allow any further pro- ceedings to be taken, determined to have his re- venge upon Moodey for his zeal in this direction.1
1 " The warrant of commitment, dated 6 February, 1683-4, commanded the Marshal to 'apprehend the body and person of Joshua Moodey, . . . and carry him to the prison on Great Island; . . . and the prison keeper, Rich. Abbott,' was 'required to receive . .. and keep him in safe custody, in the
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FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1671-1710.
In one of the letters which Moodey wrote during his imprisonment by Cranfield, the patient fortitude of the man is clearly shown. " The good Lord pre- pare poor New England for the bitter cup which is begun with us, and intended (by man at least) to go round. But God is faithful, upon whose grace and strength I beg grace to hang and hope." This letter he signed "Christ's prisoner and your humble servant."1 After suffering about thirteen weeks' imprisonment, by the interposition of friends Moodey obtained a release, though under a strict charge to preach no more within the province, on penalty of further imprisonment. Previous to his coming to Boston in 1684, it had been decided at a town meeting in New Haven, on March 17, to in-
said prison, -he having been convicted of administering the sacraments con- trary to the laws and statutes of England, and refusing to administer the sacraments according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England, and the form enjoined in the said statutes, - there to remain for the space of six months.'"
The court which tried' Moodey consisted of six members, four of whom were for a conviction and two for an acquittal. Of these four, Robie and Greene at first entered an acquittal, but were finally won over by Cranfield. " Not long after, Green repented, writes Moodey, and made his acknowledg- ment to the pastor, who frankly forgave him. Robie was excommunicated from Hampton church for a common drunkard, and died excommunicate, and was by his friends thrown into a hole, near his house, for fear of an arrest of his carcase. Barefoot fell into a languishing distemper whereof he died: Coffin was taken by the Indians, and his house and mills burnt, himself not slain, but dismissed." - SIBLEY's Harvard Graduates, Vol. 1. 373, note.
1 Mass. Ifist. Soc. Coll., IV. 5.
" About 20 March, 1683-4, while Moodey was in prison, he wrote to In- crease Mathier : 'I lately recd two letters, one from the church of N. Haven, a 2d from 3 magistrates there, in order to my removing thither ; & I may add à 31 & 4th from Bros. Whyting & Collins to back their motion. But I am at present too fast fixed for moving.'" - SIBLEY's Harvard Graduates, Vol. I. 375, note.
143
1671-1710.] JOSHUA MOODEY.
vite him to become their minister. His reason for declining this offer was because he still "felt bound to his former people, and would be as near as possible to them."
In 1685 Cranfield, the Episcopal governor, left the country in disgrace, and Moodey had frequent intercourse with his Portsmouth flock until his final return, eight years later. His funeral at Boston was largely attended by ministers, magistrates, and others, and he was "interred in the tomb of the worshipful John Hull" in the Granary Burying Ground, the day before Commencement at Har- vard. Moodey was remarkable for his steady de- votion to all that pertained to his sacred calling. Such tasks as he performed, part of the time in the midst of so much having a tendency to distract his attention, seem almost incomprehensible. He left ninety-three manuscript volumes, containing four thousand and seventy sermons, making an average of two and one half a week for a period of thirty years.
The success of his pastoral labors was wonderful, considering the many obstacles in his way. At Portsmouth, where his ministry was so interrupted, the number of admissions reached one hundred and sixty. But more worthy of remembrance than any- thing else, because so uncommon in those days, was his entire freedom from the witchcraft craze. Here again he suffered persecution, though in the end he was sustained in his course. One Philip Eng-
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FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1671-1710.
lish, a well-to-do merchant of Salem, was impris- oned with his wife for witchcraft in Boston jail, through the intercession of friends, and because the former place afforded no further accommoda- tion. During the day they were allowed to go at large on bail, "on condition of their lodging in jail." Moodey was at Boston at the time, and deter- mined to set them free. With this purpose in mind he invited them to church, and preached from the text: " When they shall persecute you in one city, flee to another." Following up his sermon with some wholesome advice of a more private nature, he finally induced them to make good their escape. They succeeded in reaching New York, and there remained till the storm of persecution subsided. The service which Moodey performed on this occa- sion was gratefully remembered by the descendants of English in after days, but at the time so great was the displeasure which his conduct created that it is said to-have caused his removal from Boston back to Portsmouth.
" Moodey was twice married, and had several chil- dren." His first wife was probably a daughter of Edward Collins of Cambridge, and sister of Rev. John Collins, of London. "His second wife was widow Ann Jacobs, of Ipswich, who survived him. One of his daughters, named Martha, married Rev. Jonathan Russell, of Barnstable, grandfather of Eleazer Russell, Esquire, of Portsmouth. Another, Sarah, the second daughter, married Rev. John Pike,
1671-1710.] JOSHUA MOODEY. 145
of Dover, N. H., several of whose children were baptized by their grandfather. The other daughter was Hannah. We do not learn that he had more than one son, Samuel, who was for several years a preacher at New Castle (Great Island)."1 Of the direct descendants in the male line of Wil- liam Moodey, the father of Joshua, fifteen have graduated at Harvard College, nine of whom be- came ministers.
In his will Moodey left particular directions about avoiding the extravagance so common at funerals, and further directs that " if I die in Portsmouth, my body shall be laid in the burying place there, under the great stone, by the side of the oak, where I buried my first wife and the deceased children I had by her."
According to Emerson,2 in 1684, "sixty-four per- sons were admitted to communion in this decade of years [while the church was under the sole care of Allen], thirty-nine of whom were females. During the same period seventy male and seventy-seven female children were baptized."
We now enter upon a period of unusual disquiet. Andros, previously Governor of New York, came to New England in 1686, with a commission giving him almost unlimited authority. He early proved his hostility to the established system of churches, and manifested a strong preference for the Church 1 Sketches of the Moody Family, 48, 49. 2 History of First Church, 129.
10
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FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1671-1710.
of England. "The first Episcopal society in Bos- ton was formed this year, and the service of the Common Prayer book introduced. This was ef- fected before the arrival of Andros. Randolph, who was active in forwarding the design, had suggested a contribution towards building an edifice for the church, but without effect.
" Andros, on the day of his arrival, applied for the use of one of the churches in Boston. The minis- ters and leading laity, who were consulted on this occasion, agreed that they could not with good conscience consent to such a use of their meeting- houses.2 In the following spring what had been withholden as a matter of right was taken by power. The Governor, after viewing the three churches in town, sent Randolph for the keys of the South meet- ing-house, that he might have prayers read there ; and without the consent and against the will of the proprietors, made use of their meeting-house for divine service." 3
Emboldened by his success on this occasion, An- dros made further attempts to dislodge Congrega- tionalism and establish Episcopacy. It was provided, for instance, that no marriage should be legal unless
1 The formation of the first Episcopal society took place June 15, 1686. The first meeting took place in the east end of the town-house (where the old State House stands). History of King's Chapel by Greenwood (1833), and by Henry W. Foote (1882).
2 " Tuesday, Decr 21, 1686. There is a meeting at Mr. Allen's of ye Minis- ters, and four of cach Congregation : 'twas agreed y' could not with a good Conscience consent yt our Meeting Honse should be made use of for ye Comon pray worship."-SEWALL'S Diary.
8 Hutchinson, Vol. I. 420, note. Foote's History of King's Chapel ( ISS2).
147
1671-1710.] JOSHUA MOODEY.
solemnized by an Episcopal minister. Not content with this, even, he abolished fasts and thanksgivings appointed by the court, and threatened to take away their meeting-houses. The proclamation of King James at last served to quiet the fears of the people.
First Church "voted [Nov. 6, 1687] by the unanimous consent of the brethren y' An Addresse should bee drawne up To bee sent to his Majestie in y' names to Expresse y" humble Thankfullnesse for his gracious declaration of Lib- ertie to o' consciences and securing o' liberties.
"JAMES ALLEN.
"Mr Chevers only mo y' It might bee knowne w' was writt, It was Answered y' was a libertie for any y' desired it to see it at my house, wch satisfied. Aft' we was the vote forementioned." 1
Matters at last came to such a pass, through the arbitrary course of the Governor, that Increase Mather was despatched to England to make per- sonal intercession with the king. The result of this mission was to bring things to a satisfactory issue. The abdication of James and the deposition of An- dros followed in rapid succession. Finally, the new charter was acceded to, and what threatened to be a serious revolt, if not rebellion, was averted.
The church records at this date contain a mixture of church and what we should call corporate mat- ters. Some of the entries are interesting as show- ing the good care that was taken of the ministers, as well as the peculiar way of providing for them.
1 Church Records, 45.
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FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1671-1710.
Thus, directly after a list of admissions for the year 1690, appears the following :-
"Sept. 24, 1690. Att a church meeting at the Teachers house was unanimously Voted, That M' Jeremiah Dummer, Capt. Pen Townsend, M' Tim : Thornton, doe assist the Dea- cons, acquaint y" selvs wth the Church Treasure & use y' prudence for Supplies for the support of the officers w" Con- tribution is wanting for Preachers among y" and particularly for wood for this yeere." 1
The following year a similar entry occurs, provid- ing {10 a year for wood for the teaching officer. At this period the teacher of First Church had the use of the ministry house, a plentiful supply of wood, and forty shillings per week. The following entry shows with what strictness the Sabbath day was then observed: -
"July 26. 91. Voted That each one will endeavor to p'vent pollution of the Lords day by any of ye familie, & y they will shutt up shops before Sun downe on the Last day of the weeke And keep y' Children & servants w"in doores, God assisting." 2
From 1685 to 1692 the records show an increase of one hundred and ten members, of whom ninety- two are females; also two hundred and fifteen bap- tisms, of which one hundred and eleven are females."
The charter of Massachusetts was declared void in 1686, and for a period of five years there existed a kind of interregnum. In the year 1692, when the
! Church Records, 52. 2 Ibid. 53.
8 Emerson's History of First Church, 142.
-
149
1671-1710.] JOSHUA MOODEY.
witchcraft craze was at its height, the new or pro- vincial charter went into effect, destroying the con- trolling- influence of the church in civil affairs.1 The change which thus took place was important in another respect. The doors were now thrown open to liberty of conscience, hitherto entirely restricted. The only class against which oppressive measures were still in force was the Jesuit. 2 In 1697, " while Stoughton was in the chair," we find a law of the province corresponding to the English law "against Jesuits and popish priests, and similar orders were passed in New York, prohibiting their residence in that colony ; alleging that they instigated the Indians to attack the English and all other Protestants." 3
In the year 1693 both John Bailey + and Benjamin Wadsworth' were invited to assist "the present " teacher in the work of the ministry. After the first invitation was extended to him, in November, 1693, Wadsworth continued to preach as a probationer simply until Sept. 8, 1696, "when he was inducted by the neighboring ministers, with a formality hitherto unpractised in the land; "6 and for a little more than
1 Ante, Chap. III.
2 Holmes's Annals, Vol. II. 5.
3 Bradford's History of Massachusetts (1620-1820), 94
4 " July 17. Voted yt or Teacher doe invite Mr John Bayley to Assist him in Preaching constantly while among us 3 times in a month or oftner if hee please." - Church Records, 54.
5 " Voted this : Nov. 28. 93. At a meeting of the Church at my house unanimously yt or Teacher Invite M' Wadsworth to assist him constantly once a month or any other vacancy in Preaching, & any other help hee shall judge needfull." - Ibid. 54.
6 " Jan. 21. 96, Benjamin Wadsworth admitted a member. Aug 9. Voted anew a choice of Mr Wadsworth to teaching office. And Sh of September to
1
150
FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1671-1710.
a year, until the death of Bailey interrupted the union, the church remained under the care of three ministers.
LIFE OF BAILEY.
John Bailey was born, Feb. 24, 1643, near Black- bourn, in Lancashire, " of a very pious mother," who early trained him to " the service of the Lord." His father was a man of dissolute habits. When Bailey was but a child, his mother called the family together and made him offer prayer. Whereupon the youth- ful petitioner spoke with such effect as to turn the father from his evil ways and lead him into paths of righteousness. Bailey was taught grammar by Sagar, and the higher branches by the " famous Dr. Har- rison," and began preaching at twenty-two in the neighborhood of Chester. He afterward lived about fourteen years at Limerick, in Ireland, and there had great success as a preacher. He was offered prefer- ments, even a bishopric upon the first vacancy; but, like his predecessor Wilson, he spurned them all from a dislike to the requirements which they in- volved.
He was twice imprisoned for non-conformity. The first time was in Lancashire jail, during his ministry at Chester; the second was in Ireland. When before the judge on the latter occasion he said to him :-
bce the day of ordination. 5 Neighbour churches voted to bee sent to, the North & South in Boston, Charlestowne, Dorchestr & Roxbury. Aug. 30. Voted that after Mr Wadsworth ordination hee shall bee declared a Pastor to this church." This vote was executed 8 Sept. 1696. Ibid. 56.
1671-1710.] - JOHN BAILEY. 151
"' If I had been drinking and gaming and carousing at a tavern with my company, my Lords, I presume that would not have procured my being thus treated as an offender. Must praying to God and preaching of Christ, with a com- pany of Christians, that are as pecable and inoffensive, and serviceable to his Majesty and the Government as any of his subjects, must this be, a greater crime?' The Recorder answered, 'We will have you to know it is a greater crime.'"
For some time during his imprisonment in Ire- land, his congregation daily visited him, dividing it- self into seven parts for this service .. But finally a stay was put to these proceedings. At last, in order to regain his liberty, he was obliged to accept the required condition and leave the country. He was not permitted even to preach a farewell sermon, but subsequently wrote an earnest letter of advice and exhortation.
John Bailey came to New England in 1684, with a younger brother, Thomas, who was also a minister. On his arrival at Boston, Bailey preached for Mr. Willard at the South Church, while the Watertown Church treated with him on the subject of a settle- ment. Judge Sewall has the following entries in his journal at this period : - .
"Thursday, March 12, 1683. Mr. Jnº Bayley preach'd from Amos 4. 12, and Mr. Willard from 2 Cor. 4. 16, 17, 18. Both Sermons and Prayers excellent. In ye even 2 first staves of ye 46th PS. sung. (p. 2.) "Not a Sabbath-day, Sept' 20. Mr. Jnº Bayley preached wth us all day : Mr. Wil- lard at Watertown." (p. 38.) "Fast-day, March 25, 1686. Mr. Willard exerciseth all day, Mr. Bayley being constrained
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FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1671-1710.
to keep house by reason of ye Gout." (p. 75.) " Mr. Jnº Bayley preaches his farewell sermon from 2 Cor. 13. 11, goes to Watertown this week, July 25, 1686." " July 28. A considerable Troop from Watertown come & fetch Mr. Bayley; some of ours also accompany them." (p. 89.)
He was installed at Watertown, Oct. 6, 1686, as the fourth minister of the church. The ceremony of laying on of hands was omitted on this occasion.1 As Judge Sewall records it: "Mr. Bailey was not ordained as Congregational men are."
His brother Thomas was soon after chosen assist- ant, but died within a year or two, at the age of thirty-five. In 1690, the year after the death of Thomas, Henry Gibbs was called to supply the va- cancy, and accepted the invitation, to take effect in November. Gibbs seems to have filled this place at intervals previous to a regular appointment, when the elder Bailey was perhaps suffering from illness. For some unknown reason, possibly on account of con- tinued ill-health, Bailey removed to Boston in 1692. The next year he was invited to become assistant at First Church. Here he stayed until the close of his life.
His last days were attended with great suffering. He exercised great control over himself, however,
1 The same omission took place at the installation of Charles Morton, who was settled over the First Church in Charlestown in 1686. " 1686, Nov. 5, Mr. Moodey in 's prayer [on that occasion] s'd, tho' that wch would have been gratefull to many (viz. laying on of hands) was omitted, or to that purpose." -SEWALL'S Journal (Feb. 1684-5-1703), 97.
See also Norton's letter to Hugh Boscawen, copied in Samuel Mather's Apology for the Liberties of the Churches in New England, 148. The cere- mony was revived at the reordination of Bridge in 1705.
153
1671-1710.] JOHN BAILEY.
and was full of confidence in a better world to come. To those of his people who came to New England with him, and attended at his bedside, he said, " I charge you that I find you all safe at last." At another time he was uneasy in his mind, but even then was able to say that " the Master hath done all things well." When his friends who were gathered round him began to weep, he reproved them, saying, "Away with your idols; away with your idols." Shortly before his last illness, his journal says, "I was affected with what I read of Mr. Shewel of Cov- entry, who died in the pulpit. Lord, let me not die meanly ; but in dying, bring much glory to thee." He seems to have realized these last wishes, for his closing words were, " Oh, what shall I say? He is altogether lovely. Oh, all our praises of Him are
poor low things !
His glorious angels are come for
me." He died on Sunday, Dec. 12, 1697, at the age of fifty-three. In a sermon begun just before his fatal illness, but never finished, he used the text, " Into thy hand I commit my spirit." Cotton Mather preached his funeral sermon from the same words (Ps. xxxi. 5), on a very cold day (Thurs- day, December 16), in presence of a large com- pany. His body was interred in the Granary Burying Ground.
The great characteristic of Bailey was forbear- ance, for which he had ample training. His preach- ing seemed to make a deep impression. John Dunton, the eccentric bookseller from London, says :
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FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1671-1710.
"I heard him upon these words, ' Looking unto Jesus,' and I thought he spake like an angel." By nature sensitive, he never shrank from any duty, but served his people in a faithful and conscientious manner. He used to say: "Three things I desire to get ; patience under the calamities of life, impatience under the infirmities of life, and earnest longings for the next life." Another of his earnest prayers was that "we may not be of the number of them who live without love, speak without feeling, and act without life."
The journal of John Bailey, begun in Ireland, and brought over with him to this country, contains some interesting entries. Besides his Irish experiences, there are notes of a domestic nature. He seems to have been worried by accounts, for in one place he exclaims : " I'll proceed no further ; it's enough to make a man mad to take notice of dayly ex- penses."
The following is among his marriage records : " There was by the General Assembly sitting in October or November, 1692, an order made for Min- isters marrying, as well as Justices of the Peace, which hath encouraged me to do it at the impor- tunity of friends." Hutchinson says that "among our ancestors there was no instance of marriage by a clergyman during their charter; but it was always done by a magistrate, or by persons spe- cially appointed for that purpose, who were con- fined to particular towns or districts. If a min-
Benjamin Wadsworth
I55
1671-1710.] BENJAMIN WADSWORTH.
ister happened to be present, he was desired to pray." 1 "' 1
In a blank leaf of Bailey's book entitled "Man's Chief End to Glorifie God," presented to the Mas- sachusetts Historical Society, there is the following memorandum respecting his descendants : " Now living of his offspring in Boston, Sarah Belknap and Abigail Willis, and three great-grandchildren, namely, Charles Willis, Jr., Nathaniel Willis, and Abigail Willis, May 28, 1771."2
John Bailey's widow became the second wife of Peter Thatcher, of Milton, Mass.
LIFE OF WADSWORTH.
Benjamin Wadsworth, son of Samuel and Abigail (Lindall) Wadsworth, was born at Milton, Mass, in 1669. His father was captain of a company of sol- diers, and distinguished for his bravery in Philip's War. The spot on which he fell in battle (at Sud- bury, Mass.), in 1676, is marked by a monument in memory of him, and of those who were slain with him, " erected by this (his seventh) son." 3
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